From the Head of Senior School

To celebrate their becoming the senior members of the Senior School, the Year Eleven students had the annual Mocktail Party on Tuesday night. The usual array of exotic and imaginative concoctions was on offer – certainly there were some very innovative and interesting flavours created! As always those offerings were matched by a dazzling display of OpShop finery; it always amazes me what outfits the students can come up with on the $20 spend!

Students enjoyed dancing and a range of competitions. Very great thanks to Mrs McAllister, Mrs Wesley, and the Year Eleven Hospitality students.

This week the Year Nine students are joining their Senior School homerooms as they prepare to transition into Senior School. They have also joined Senior School VACS, which this term is Clubs.

Finally, the WACE exams begin next Monday, and we extend our best wishes to all those students preparing for their exams.

Mr Mark Bonnin | Head of Senior School

VET Afternoon Tea

Last week GSG celebrated the many achievements of our Year Twelve VET students at Retravision Stadium over an afternoon tea. Students who choose a VET pathway at school are preparing themselves with industry required skill-sets that put them in a good position for after school. They all achieved some great results and experiences through in-school certificates such as Certificate IV & III Business; Certificate III Sport & Recreation; Certificate II Hospitality; Certificate II Information and Technology and SRTAFE opportunities in Pre-Apprenticeships to School Based Traineeships.

Well done and a special mention to Samara Ravenhill-Dennis who walked away with Certificate IV in Preparation for Nursing, Certificate III Health Services (SBT), Certificate III Sport & Recreation and a Certificate II Hospitality.

Mrs Angela Ferreira | VET and Careers Coordinator

Boarding Valedictory Dinner

Last Thursday night was a wonderful celebration of our Boarding Valedictorians with their family and boarding staff. The evening began with a welcome and reflection by the outgoing Boarding Captains, Karis Cristinelli and Daniel Cosh, who each spoke movingly of their time in boarding and expressed their gratitude to their parents, their cohort and staff for supporting them along their journey.

Stephanie Lamont led a group of boarders in a musical presentation, which entertained everyone and reflected just how much talent there is in the boarding community. There were prayers, blessings and a staff reflection, amusingly exploring all the skills the Year Twelve students will need for life after school and the level of preparation different students have already exhibited. Whilst being served dinner by the superb Year Eleven Hospitality students, everyone enjoyed watching a slideshow presentation of the Year Twelve students. The parent responses by Mrs Anita Penny and Mrs Deb Crisinelli were appreciated by all and the night concluded with a toast to Year Twelve by Mr Mark Sawle.

Each boarder received a gift from the boarding staff of a photo book for their time in boarding and an engraved pen. It was lovely to see the students collecting messages and well-wishes written in the back of these books throughout the evening. It was a memorable evening of sharing and reflecting on the amazing Year Twelve boarding cohort of 2021.

The evening would not have been possible without many staff contributing and we thank Mrs Di Franzinelli, Chefs Nick and Tyler, the Hospitality team led by Mrs Teresa McAllister, Mrs Julia Bairstow and Ms Cat Woods from Community Relations, the IT team and each person who helped bring the evening together.

Ms Vanessa Bromhead | Head of Senior Boarding

Farewell by Year Twelve Student

As I sat down to write this speech, it suddenly occurred to me how broad a subject it is to talk about a schooling experience, and… it got me thinking, exactly how much time have I spent at school? Well, I did some calculations and from the time I walked into the kindergarten classroom, up until this point right now, I have spent approximately 19,000 hours in school. Wow. To say that I LOVED school in Junior school may be a sure way to earn myself a label somewhere along the lines of ‘lame’, but I would be lying if I didn’t. There were countless occasions that I dressed myself in school uniform, only for Mum to wake up and inform me that it was, in fact, the weekend. Deflated, I would trudge back to my room and get changed.

Interestingly enough, if someone asked me to recount precisely what it was that I was learning in the classroom from Years 1 to 10, I’m not entirely sure I would have an answer. Yet, I have so so many memories from this time. Some of my favourites include;

Convincing my Pre-Primary teacher that she was the one who left her expensive scarf in the dress-up box, which prompted myself and three other girls to cut it up into a dress, it was a beautiful dress, may I add
Having wet socks for a week straight after rowing upstream for two days on Year 9 outward bound.
A soccer ball hitting one of the overhead, hanging ceiling lights in the Middle School corridor, only for a green sandwich to fall from the top of it and disintegrate into dust as it hit the floor.
Dodging vomit as someone was sick from the top mast of the Leeuwin… and many more.

However, it is the memories I share with my peers and friends which spring to mind most prominently. Just as I can’t remember much of the content I’ve learned in the classroom, I can’t remember much of what has caused the good memories with friends, all I have left is the strong connections with those people. I have been so very privileged to witness our year group bond and become closer over the course of this year and I hope this will be true for the Year Tens and Year Elevens too.

I will take this opportunity also to thank our teachers and the staff who have guided us throughout our schooling journey at Grammar. (For some of us, this is 13 years). I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say that we could not have done this without you. Actually quite literally because I don’t know about you, but there is no way I could have taught myself the content needed to pass the exams. Your constant compassion and understanding, commitment to our learning and ability to become more like good friends than teachers, has served to ensure that the last two years have been ones filled with great fun, even despite the hard work.

To the Year Tens and Year Elevens, you are now the “big kids” of the school. Never underestimate how much power this holds. I am consistently amazed at how many ECC students know my name after spending only three lunchtimes with them. I, myself, still hold fond memories of older students taking the time to take interest in my life while I was in ECC – you have a big impact and lasting impression. Make your impact one that you will be proud of. All I can say is enjoy your time here, when you’re on the cusp of entering the big, scary adult world, you realise how much you actually find comfort in not having to think about what to wear every morning.

And Year Twelves, in case we won’t hear enough of it on Friday, good luck. In the mixed emotions of excitement at what lies ahead, and shock at how quickly this last year has passed, remember to enjoy the time we have left together. I wish everyone the best, thank you.

Ciara Franklin | Year Twelve Student

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