Secondary School

This week, during assembly, we celebrated our Endeavour Award recipients in Years Eight, Ten, and Twelve. These awards are presented at the end of each semester to students in each class who have been recognised by their teachers for working hard to reach their personal best. Regardless of individual scores and results, these students demonstrate a strong work ethic, respond positively to feedback, and consistently show respect. It was wonderful to celebrate students for achieving their personal best, regardless of how they compare to others in terms of results. The hardest part for our teachers is only being able to choose one student per class!

Mr Jordan Owenell | Deputy Principal - Head of Secondary 

Young Writers Workshop

Last term, in March, we went to the Vancouver Arts Centre to do a Young Writers course with Sally Murphy, the author who wrote Pearl Versus the World and many other stories. She taught us many poetry techniques, like using certain language techniques (for example, metaphors and similes) to our advantage; how to write poetry without the typical rhyming; and how we could use poetry to spark emotion, such as sadness, in the reader. It was a hugely helpful experience and has influenced how I write since then.   

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from such a talented author, and over the past year and this one, I have learned so much from the program. I hope to continue working with new authors through Young Writers for the rest of this year and, hopefully, the next. 

 - Saffron Tapscott | Year Eight Student

Last Wednesday was the second Young Writers Workshop of 2026. As always, we had a visiting author conducting the workshop. The author this term was Aśka, who has written notable graphic novels like Stars in Their Eyes and The Friendship Paradox. This term’s workshop was on graphic novels, so we spent the whole time drawing (which was very fun). 

During the day, we did activities such as drawing jellybeans (harder than it sounds, though) and onomatopoeia in comics; we drew some interesting comic strips and characters with different emotions. Our comics had an added sense of depth with the onomatopoeia; it was brilliant seeing them come to life with the new techniques.  

At lunchtime, we headed across the street to Paperbark to buy books written by Aśka and  have a browse. The workshop ended at 2.30pm and we meandered our way out of the library, taking a little extra time to have our books signed, say thank you, and bid farewell to our fellow young writers. It was an amazing and intriguing experience where my fellow writers and I learned a number of new techniques. I can’t wait for the next one.

- Edith Thompson | Year Eight Student

My classmates and I benefited so much from the experience and it is incredible how much you can learn in just a day. As someone who has dreamed for almost my entire life of publishing a book of my own, it was inspiring to learn from real people who’ve successfully shared their life’s work with the world. I learned so much from both Aśka and Sally Murphy and can’t wait to see what I can learn from the next talented artist brought to Albany by the Young Writers Program. 

Finally, we would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Bradbury. You are the reason we can do this great program.  

Term Two Young Writers was a wonderful experience and I’m looking forward to next term’s workshop! 

- Cecilia Nowak | Year Eight Student

GSSSSA Football Carnival

The Years Seven and Eight GSSSSA Football Carnival on Thursday 11 June was a fantastic day, filled with energy, teamwork, and strong performances from both teams. It was particularly pleasing to see so many students eager to represent the school, setting a positive tone from the outset.

The boys competed with determination, matching it with some of the top teams and showing real grit throughout the day. They finished third overall, securing a well-earned win in their final playoff match. Their teamwork and willingness to support one another stood out.

The girls had an exceptional carnival, finishing on top after winning all of their matches convincingly. Their teamwork, communication, and positive spirit were highlights, especially during a strong performance against St Joseph’s College in the grand final.

A big thank you to our Year Twelve students, parent supporters, and Mr Cosh for his coaching, whose support helped make the day a success.

Mrs Kate Mitchell | PE Teacher and Mr Lachie Steytler | Sports Assistant 

Inspiring Futures: Girls in Physics Brunch at UWA

Yesterday, Ms Thomas took 11 students from Years Eight and Nine to the University of Western Australia to attend the Girls in Physics Brunch. This wonderful initiative aims to inspire and encourage more young women to pursue Physics in Year Twelve and consider future pathways in STEM beyond secondary school.

During the event, students heard from Jess, a young female engineer, who shared her personal journey into a STEM career and offered valuable insights into opportunities in the field.

The girls enjoyed a delicious breakfast and engaged in a range of hands-on Physics activities, making it both an inspiring and interactive experience for all involved.

Ms Diane Thomas | Teacher