Secondary School

VACS Showcase

Our Values and Christian Service Showcase was a truly memorable event this week. Organised and led by our talented Art Captains, Ella Anderson and Lily Quick, the showcase brought the school community together in a celebration of creativity, service, and spirit. The atmosphere was electric as students gathered in their House groups, filled with enthusiasm and pride, to appreciate the incredible work produced by our Year Ten, Eleven, and Twelve students over the past six weeks.

The showcase featured a diverse range of artistic talents, from captivating watercolour paintings and striking photography to impressive woodwork creations. It was a testament to the students' hard work, dedication, and creativity, and their efforts were certainly admired by all.

The event kicked off with the much-anticipated 'Battle of the Bands,' where each House presented outstanding performances that truly showcased their musical talents. The energy and passion displayed by the students were infectious, and our team of judges had the tough task of choosing a winner. In the end, Mokare House was crowned the champion, with Wilson House coming in a close second. All four Houses put on fantastic performances, and it was wonderful to see so many students stepping out of their comfort zones and giving it their all.

We were also treated to a gripping debate between the Wilson and Baudin teams on the topic, "Does social media cause more harm than good?" Both teams presented compelling arguments, and while the judges were unanimous in their decision, many in the audience felt the result could have gone either way! Ultimately, Wilson House emerged victorious with a convincing case that social media does indeed cause more harm than good.

The entire event was a credit to the students and staff who organised, led, and supported each activity throughout the day. It was a wonderful example of our school values in action, highlighting the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and commitment that defines our community.

Congratulations to all involved for making this showcase such a success!

CinefestOZ

This year's Cinefest took place on Tuesday evening in Busselton, and it was a fantastic event celebrating creativity and storytelling through film. We are pleased to announce that several of our students participated in the competition, showcasing their talents and hard work.

We are particularly excited to share that Max Cruse and Grace Eckersley have won the Years Seven to Nine category, an outstanding achievement! Their dedication and creativity truly stood out among a competitive field of entries.

A full report about the event will be featured in next week's edition of The Anchor.

Mr Neil Ferreira | Acting Head of Secondary

Year Eleven ATAR Human Biology

On Tuesday afternoon, the Year Eleven ATAR Human Biology students were treated to a visit from two and a half very special guests. GSG Parent and local GP Obstetrician Dr Carly Roxburgh volunteered her time to visit our classrooms and teach us about pregnancy, the role of the placenta and foetal circulation. Dr Roxburgh's sister Joelle, who is currently 28 weeks pregnant, also kindly offered to be a model. Students were able to see the anatomy of a developing foetus in utero, through a portable ultrasound.

The session was engaging, informative and relevant— the Year Eleven ATAR Human Biology students have recently been learning all about 'Reproductive Biology.' Unsurprisingly, students were buzzing with excitement and had many questions for our guests. Everyone came away with a new appreciation for the intricate and complex processes that occur for the human species to continue to exist. The Year Eleven ATAR Human Biology students, Science teaching staff and the GSG community are very grateful for this wonderful learning opportunity. Many thanks to Carly and Joelle.

Ms Louise Denholm | Teacher

From the Careers Centre

Year Ten Work Experience

The Year Ten Work Experience program is a valued and integral part of our Careers curriculum, designed to broaden students' understanding of the world beyond the classroom. This week, the school has been abuzz with our Year Ten cohort eagerly sharing their experiences and reflections from last week’s work placements.

This program offers students the invaluable opportunity to engage in real-world scenarios, deepening their understanding of potential career paths. It also serves as a platform for personal growth, enhancing their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking.

Some of the student reflections include:

Ava Marmion

It was definitely one of the most valuable and amazing programs Great Southern Grammar offers. I feel like I have a higher drive to work at school knowing that something so fun and exciting is waiting for me at the end of my school life.

Willow Powell

My experience with Tom Price Primary School was a very beneficial and rewarding experience. I loved every minute of it and learned so many new things. It confirmed my thoughts on wanting to be a teacher and helped me determine what sort of teacher I want to be as well as what year group I want to be with. Working in the teaching workplace and being treated as an adult helped me determine what it would actually be like to work in a school environment, and I have determined that it would be amazing. I am so thankful for the opportunity and loved the experience. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved!

Gladis Markey

For Work Experience this year I went to McLeods Lawyers, I absolutely loved this experience and learnt more about career choices for the future. Through the week I worked at reception, made matter files, read previous matters, read some of the land acts and even became the outside clerk for the day. I would recommend this to everyone that gets the opportunity to because it is such a good experience and so worth it, and really teaches you about future careers and can really help with a decision in the future.

Nyomi Johnson

Work Experience was a really valuable experience for me. Going to a law firm was so interesting, while it showed me that corporate law isn't the path I want to go through, the one meeting I got to sit in on with a criminal law matter cemented my interest in this area. All the workers were really nice and kind, and we even got to celebrate one of their birthdays with a cake on Friday. Seeing how the law sector works, and the range of different specifications allowed me to narrow down my interest and also allowed me to cross some things off my list. Work experience is something I would highly recommend to all students to put in effort, as it can really benefit you in the long run.

Harrison Beres

I went to Arise Racing for my Work Experience; the week was filled with excitement. The highlight of the week was on Wednesday when a driver took a Lamborghini GT3 race car for a shakedown around the neighbouring track. The rest of the week included cleaning, fibre glassing and general setup and maintenance on radicals and Lamborghini. Massive thanks to Micheal and all the boys for one of the best weeks ever. I would highly recommend going to Arise Racing if you are interested in motorsports or mechanics.

Grace Bessen

Taylah and I went to the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury for Work Experience. One of our jobs was to feed 12 baby turtles as well as clean their tanks. We also had to clean small pieces of coral to ensure they would keep growing. This was an amazing opportunity, being able to learn so much from the staff and volunteers. This experience has helped both of us realise if this was a career path we would want to take in the future. I recommend anyone who is interested in aquaculture, marine studies or tourism to go here for work experience.

This year, our students ventured to placements as far afield as Perth, Bunbury, Karratha, Tom Price, and Canberra, while many opted for positions closer to home in Denmark and Albany. Our boarders also seized the opportunity to work in locations near their hometowns. As always, our Year Ten students were privileged to experience a diverse range of immersive placements across a broad spectrum of industries.

In 2024, placements spanned fields such as agriculture, tourism, real estate, marine conservation, trades, allied health, veterinary nursing, hospitality, education, aged care, and many more. It is always a joy to hear students reflect on the skills they have learned, the insights gained, the challenges they overcame, and the valuable connections they made.

A sincere thank you to the following businesses that hosted GSG students this year:

78 Dental
A Laurino & Co
Advance Family and Sports Podiatry
AFGRI Equipment
Albany Community Care
Albany Entertainment Centre
Albany Health Campus
Albany Plaza Discount Drug Store
Albany Primary School
Albany Shellfish Hatchery
AQWA
Arise Racing
Australian National Museum
Baboo Pastoral Company
Bob’s Bikes
BTG Mechanical and Performance
Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre
CBH
C&C Machinery
Charge Up Electrical Services
Chillakerup Farms
Cub House Child Care Centre
Dekker Electrical
Denmark Primary School
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions
Dowsett’s Automotive Services
Elders Pastoral Company
Everett Consulting
Gilbert Legal
Glow Experience
Golden Hill Steiner School
Great Southern Physio
Great Southern Specialist Centre
Great Southern Haulage
Good Start Early Learning Centre
H&H Architects
Hairscope Hair Salon
Hale School
HHG Legal
ICM Electrical
John Kinnear and Associates Surveyor
Katanning Police Station
Kate’s Place
Kwoorabup Nature School
Liberty Oil
Lockyer Primary School
McLeod Lawyers
Made to Move Physiotherapy
Mira Mar Veterinary Hospital
MMM Radio Station
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Pioneer Health
Pioneer Health Dental
Rainbow Childcare Centre
Ragamuffins Day Care Centre
Rangemount Pty Ltd
Ray White Real Estate
Rebecca Stephens MLA
Rugby WA
Spencer Park Primary School
St Mary's Anglican Girls School
Tom Price Primary School
University of Western Australia
WA Country Health Service
WACA
Water Corporation
West Cape Physio
Westerberg Marine
Williams Racing WA
Woodbury Boston School

The school is deeply grateful to the businesses that generously opened their doors to host our students, helping them develop skills and experience while shaping their aspirations for the future. We hope the enthusiasm, curiosity, and innovative thinking our students brought to your workplaces added a fresh perspective. A heartfelt thank you to the supervisors who dedicated their time to mentoring our students, answering their questions, and providing them with enriching activities during their placements. Your commitment to nurturing the next generation is truly commendable. We look forward to continued collaboration with your businesses in the years to come.

Mrs Renae O'Donnell | VET & Careers Coordinator

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