Primary School

Greetings from the returning Year Four campers! 

Our adventures began on Monday with a geographical focus to complement our Rocks and Soil unit. We were joined by the insightful Mr Ritchie from Secondary School, who guided us around Albany’s wind turbines. Students took part in a scavenger-hunt-style game of bingo, ticking off features such as the wave platform, erosion, and gneiss as we encountered them along our hike. 

Did you know the combined circumference of the Year Four arm span was just enough to wrap around the base of a wind turbine? Our visit ended with two unforgettable highlights: learning about the history of the wave platform at the base of the Sandpatch stairs − where a breaching whale stole the show − and exploring Albany’s Natural Bridge and The Gap to witness firsthand how our coastline continues to evolve. 

After our outdoor adventures, we arrived at camp with much anticipation. Our dorms became our homes and our peers our family for the next two nights. Students brought a touch of GSG spirit to Quaranup, with ‘King of the Pack’ being happily played between activities. Camp life, however, was not quite like home; students took turns setting up and cleaning the dining hall for each meal, showing impressive responsibility and maturity. 

Day Two greeted us with classic early spring weather − blustery and cool − but that did not deter our enthusiasm. We began with a series of guided games run by GSG’s very own Year Ten Outdoor Education students, ranging from team challenges to chocolate-fuelled competitions. 

Our next rotation got us well and truly hooked: fishing off the jetty! Using hand lines and rods expertly baited by our Year Ten helpers, students eagerly waited for a bite. While dinner was not on the menu (thanks to our catch-and-release policy), a handful of fish − possibly the same one several times! − were proudly caught, unhooked, posed with, kissed and released. It was wonderful to see the students embrace an important part of Albany culture. 

The afternoon brought raft building and archery. Raft building tested teamwork and creative problem-solving, while archery quickly became a favourite − dry, warm and thrilling! Every student hit the target and, after some friendly competition, Sascha emerged as our top archer. 

That evening, we gathered for a skit night filled with laughter and imagination. Six groups performed hilarious re-enactments of life at GSG, complete with convincing impressions of Mr Irving, Ms Field, and Mrs Gouldthorp. 

Day Three began bright and early, with the generous (and slightly sleep-deprived) Mr Berryman taking keen campers for one last fishing session, this time reeling in squid! After breakfast, we hit the water again for canoeing. Three to a boat, students learned the four strokes on land before putting their new skills to the test. Some brave souls even stood atop their canoes, demonstrating confidence, balance and excellent swimming ability. 

Our camp concluded with a scenic bushwalk to the very tip of Point Possession. Fuelled by sweet treats and the thought of home, students explored local landmarks, animal tracks and even the historic Quaranup morgue. By the end, our snake count stood at a modest two! 

And just like that, our camp adventure came to an end. New friendships were formed, challenges conquered and plenty of stories created to share with future GSG campers. But do not just take our word for it. Here is what some of our Year Four students had to say: 

‘The canoeing was fun, the food was good, the mattresses were soft, and archery was amazing!’ Joel, Year Four 

‘Camp was the best day ever! Each thing we did was so much fun and the food was good.’ Raine, Year Four 

‘One thing I really enjoyed about camp was the bushwalk on the final day.’ Pippa, Year Four 

‘Camp was an amazing experience. We learnt how to work in teams and communicate nicely. It was enjoyable getting to know people in our dorms. My favourite part was fishing with Mr Berryman and spotlight in the evening.’ Hannah, Year Four 

Term Four Cup 

Under the guidance of Mr Geoff Hardey, Term Four AFL Cup competition for students in Year Two to Four is underway. We look forward to a season wrap up in coming newsletters. Congratulations to Red Vipers and Blue Kraken on their wins this week.  

Year Five Band Performance 

Research shows that at-least some musical education has a positive impact on social and cognitive development of children. And these effects are long lasting – better hearing, better motor skills, improved memory, better verbal and literacy skills. 

Alan Harvey, Musician and Neuroscientist 

Our incredible Year Five classes under the expert guidance of GSG music teachers Mrs Kaila Pelser, Ms Emma Luxton, Mr Joe Fowler and Mr Todd Manson, led by Ms Sarah Stopher, put on a concert band performance for families and Year Four students this morning. Students have been learning a new instrument throughout the year and ably put together full band, duet and solo performances. An amazing feat for less than a years worth of lessons. Well done all! 

Touch Rugby Australia Incursion 

Today's sports lessons had a touch rugby focus led by coaches from Touch Rugby Australia. Students for Years One to Six were able to give touch rugby a try. Year Six students already aged 12 who would like to play a short season of touch in Albany beginning next Wednesday until the end of term, are encouraged to reach out to Ms Field to register their interest.  

Classroom News 

We hope you enjoy reading about what has been happening in our Early Childhood and Primary School classes. 

Kindergarten 

In our inquiry ‘Helpers are all around us and we can be helpers too’ the students have been busy identifying many different helpers in our community. We have talked about doctors, teachers, firefighters, shop workers, and many more! Now, we are exploring where we can find each of these helpers and discussing in more depth how they help others. The students have also been sharing their own wonderful ideas about how they can be helpers, both at Kindergarten and at home. 

In Talk for Writing, we have been learning a new text called Helpful Pippa. We are busy learning the actions to help us retell the story. Pippa is a kind and helpful ambulance driver who drives around helping people who have hurt themselves. The students have really enjoyed connecting this story to our inquiry and thinking about all the ways we can show kindness and care, just like Pippa! 

Pre-Primary  

In our inquiry, we discovered that we also commemorate events. Commemorations are time for reflection and remembering. Events we commemorate in Australia include ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. We learned that Remembrance Day is held on 11 November and it is a time when we pause and think about the people that serve in the Armed Forces for Australia. We then used our fine motor skills to create Remembrance Day poppies. 

Year One 

The class has already learnt the Talk for Writing poem ‘The Day the Zoo Escaped’. They have identified the nouns, verbs and adverbs in the poem and then suggested their own animals, actions and adverbs for the innovations of the poem. Their ideas have been awesome! Letter writing has also been a focus, with the first letters already written. The Post Office letter box was opened on Friday, and letters were delivered for the first time! 

In Mathematics, work has started on the division of numbers and sharing, and the continuation of partitioning tens and ones. The class has also looked at the area of shapes, as well as the language of ‘least’ and ‘the difference between’. 

The inquiry unit ‘How do we use light in celebrations?’ took a scientific look at light sources and the students enjoyed classifying items as sources of light or items that reflected light. Birthday traditions were shared and then contrasted with birthday traditions from countries around the world, and Priscilla shared some interesting information and photos about the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

Year Two 

Money, money, money! We really enjoyed our hands-on activities with money this week. We enjoyed spending time in Diletti’s Delicatessen as well as playing games to add small amounts of money and even giving change.  

Also, we are very excited, as in Science our bean plants have begun to shoot and grow into seedlings, and we had a special delivery of caterpillars into our classroom! We have learnt that there is some real truth to the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as they are indeed VERY hungry!  

Year Three 

The business plans are coming together and Year Three is well on the way to preparing the most delicious icy treats anyone has seen for 12 months. Our customer surveys this week will help us to choose the flavours that everyone is most excited about, and our studies in Science will help us properly melt and freeze our ingredients (hopefully, with the minimum of evaporation). 

Our class is also adding anticipation to the excitement, with next week’s Year Three Campover looming large in everyone’s imagination. Pizza orders are being organised, spotlight batteries are being recharged and marshmallow roasting techniques are being rehearsed. Now, we just need to pray for lovely weather for our Castle Rock hike. 

Year Five  

Students’ leadership posters are on display and excitement is brewing for the upcoming leadership opportunities. This week students will have a go at running some House activities which were planned last week. We are looking forward to the Sustainability Symposium where government, community businesses and stake holders will be chatting to the students about initiatives, attitudes and innovations to help our Earth. It is not too late to join the Symposium as a guest in the afternoon. Please see Week Three Upcoming Events below for the link.  

In Science, students have been experimenting with light and how it is made up of a spectrum of colours, all with their own frequencies. Students have been looking at personification in writing and on Monday wrote some fantastic sentences using the playground as inspiration such as: The log was sleeping peacefully. and The monkey bars cheekily invited me to come and play. 

Year Six 

Our Year Six scientists have been busy exploring states of matter − solids, liquids and gases − and putting their knowledge to the test by designing and building their own solar ovens! Using only the power of the sun, students experimented with materials and designs to create the most effective oven capable of melting solid chocolate into gooey, delicious liquid form. It has been a sweet way to see science in action, and we can confirm the results were both educational and extremely tasty! 

Languages 

This week, we have been proving that learning French can be as fun as a game of hopscotch! Research backs us up: a 2025 study Integrating Human Movement in Learning by Björn de Koning, Shirong Zhang and Stoo Sepp found that movements (gestures, physical activity) supports language learning, particularly vocabulary. Our students have been practising their French oral skills through energetic games like ‘everyone’s it’ and other playground favourites. The laughter and excitement fill the room, but behind it all, real learning is happening. Who knew mastering French could look so much like playtime? 

Upcoming Events 

Week Three 

• Friday 31 October Albany Harbours Sustainability Symposium, open to the public from 1.00pm. To book your free ticket, please click HERE. 
• Friday 31 October House Activities, Pre-Primary to Year Six. House shirts please. 

Week Four 

• Monday 3 November to Friday 7 November Year Six Camp at Rottnest. 
• Thursday 6 November to Friday 7 November Year Three Excursion and Camp to Castle Rock and at School. 
• Friday 7 November Albany Show, Pupil Free Day. We hope to see you at the GSG stall. 

Week Five 

• Monday 10 November Solo Night, Year Two to Year Nine, Music Building, 3.30pm to 4.30pm 
• Tuesday11 November Remembrance Day Service, GSG, 10.35am 
• Friday 14 November 5.00pm andSaturday 15 November 11.00am Backyard Possum Encounter play, Albany Entertainment Centre  

Have a wonderful weekend.

Ms Leah Field | Head of Primary and

Mrs Hayley Ranger | Head of Early Childhood