Secondary School

This week we enjoyed a wonderful Chapel service led by Reverend Karen Cave. Our students provided wonderful reflections before Rev. Karen addressed the Secondary School and told us the story of St Patrick and the work he did in Ireland and the key messages that he preached. Our guitar ensemble was outstanding as they provided a beautiful tune to create space for us to reflect. Next week on Monday, our Mokare leaders will host our Assembly and we look forward to hearing from our Mokare students on the theme of Compassion, one of GSG’s key values. 

NAPLAN 

This week we have supported our Year Seven and Year Nine students through their NAPLAN assessments. It is always a slightly nerve-racking time for students. Whilst it does not contribute to school reports, it gives us some valuable data on how our students are tracking, not only in relation to their school-based grades but also in relation to other students across the country.  

Walk to School Day 

Today we walked to school from the King River Bridge across to the campus. It was a lovely community-building event and open to all students and families from Pre-Kindy to Year Twelve, walking past the ancient Menang Fish Traps and through our treasured Wild Space down at Oyster Harbour. 

Hawaiian Ride for Youth 

On Tuesday 25 March we welcome the Hawaiian Ride for Youth peloton to campus. The riders will share a special assembly with us and we will hear from a guest speaker. The peloton is riding in support of Youth Mental Health and the funds raised go towards Youth Focus. We will support the riders as they embark on a 700km journey north towards Perth, through the Wheatbelt, providing numerous keynote speeches in communities along the way. 

Year Eleven and Twelve GSSSSA AFL Football Carnival 

This week our Years Eleven and Twelve students, and some Year Ten students, participated in an AFL football carnival at Retravision Stadium. It was a fantastic spectacle where our students played three games of football against other school teams. We had a male and female team. Our boys were able to win the grand final and our girls made the grand final but suffered a narrow defeat. It was a fun-filled day enjoyed by all.

Jarrad Inman and Angus Moir 

Jarrad and Angus will visit GSG on Friday and speak and perform a song in the Hall at lunchtime. Jarrad and Angus are in town for a performance at the Town Hall on Saturday as part of the band 'Ricky Neil Junior'. Angus is an GSG alumni music student now studying guitar at WAAPA, and in his fourth year. Jarrad is an Indigenous musician and actor, who has worked with WA Opera company, the production company Breaksea and with celebrated Australian artist Gina Williams. Jarrad an Angus will also spend time with our Senior Indigenous students on Friday to discuss life after school. We are very lucky to have Jarrad and Angus joining us. 

Gate2Plate Willyung Farm 

Next week our Hospitality students help support the Gate2Plate Field Day at Willyung Farm. Our students will host the Pop-Up Coffee Shop for the event, so they are sure to be very busy! Our Head of Technologies teacher Mrs Teresa McAllister will oversee the event and we thank her for providing our students with these wonderful experiences.

Mr Jordan Owenell | Deputy Principal - Head of Secondary 

Rowing 

Student Reflection

The world is silent at five o’clock in the morning, until the alarm goes off that is. A loud, blaring fire alarm sounding noise fills my room, almost making me regret the decision of choosing rowing as a sport. However, this feeling only lasts for about ten minutes. Once I arrive at the river, the early morning seems 100% worth it. 

The sun has barely risen over the riverbank, the soft orange light reflecting across the glassy Kalgan River. There is no loud cars driving, no sound of a boat motor running, nothing except the voice of Ingrid and Dr Mitrovski yelling to bring the dingy into the water and take oars out of the shed. 

A typical rowing morning will look very different, depending on what level you are. If you are just starting rowing, you will be in a single skull (one person in the boat) learning the basics of rowing. Once you have mastered the basics, you will then move into doubles (two people in a boat) and quads (four people in a boat). You will also be able to row upriver and admire the beautiful Australian bush when you transition out of a single skull.

Rowing has been such a fun sport for me over the past three years, it has made me stronger and expanded my skills greatly. I also love the variation that every session offers. 

One day you may be in a double with your best friend, and the next week you may be in a quad with people of any year.  It is a fantastic opportunity and even if you are finding it difficult to begin with, the delicious breakfasts afterwards definitely help. The pancakes on Tuesday and the bacon and eggs on Thursday are the real motivators on the challenging mornings. 

Sophie Atkins | Year Eleven student