Primary School
Every week is exciting in Primary School with the diverse range of curriculum and cocurricular on offer. This week we celebrated our GSG mothers and mother figures with our ECC Mother’s Day Morning. A big thank you to our ECC teachers who go above and beyond every year to ensure this is a special day on our calendar.
Tomorrow, we come together to celebrate our first Primary School assembly for the term, and I look forward to seeing the Year Five class showcase what they have been learning.
The World’s Greatest Shave is also on tomorrow. Crazy hair is encouraged as we donate to a worthy cause and witness our secondary students shave their luscious locks for a worthy cause.
Culture, Engagement and Excellence
Mother’s Day Morning Tea
Mrs Hayley Ranger, Chef Nick and his team, and Ms Hitchcock organised a lovely morning tea whilst Mrs Ranger, Mrs Meg Hartley, Mrs Fiona Gouldthorp and Ms Donna Diletti created an array of activities for our students and their special guests.
Eagles Cup
Our mixed Years Five and Six team started the 2024 Eagles Cup season with a sensational win away at St Joseph’s last Thursday. The weather held out for us, and our players played hard for four quarters.
Noah Sanders started off the goal rush, Kaiden Dawes slotted a hat trick in the third, and there were at least three goals kicked in each quarter. Our midfield dominated with Lachie Christidis tapping wherever he wanted, the untackleable Kobi Rochester and Chris Sleeman powering out of congestion, and Maggie Stephens owning the ball movement down her wing. Our defence held strong throughout, only allowing two points for the game, with some last line efforts from Robbie Fergie who proved his skills forward and back, and the sweeping half-back line of Harry Berryman and the Stone brothers.
Round Two kicks off on Thursday 16 May at 1.30pm, so we are looking forward to seeing more goals from Kate, more tackles from Zara, and more supporters cheering us as we take on Albany Primary.
Briefing News
Our Year Six leaders are doing a wonderful job with taking more responsibility for running our briefings at 10.05 am on Mondays. They have been taking the initiative to discuss how our school values can be shown through characteristics. Joele discussed how commitment can be shown through good organisation and gave some examples of strategies to use like packing your sports bag the night before training or packing your library bag into your school bag the night before library day.
Commitment
Values Awards
Year Three: Mason Fourie
Year Four: Maya Durant and Leah Scott
Year Five: Malachy Williams
Year Six: Mia Palmer and Ellah-Rae Warne
Staff Changes
Two weeks ago, Principal Mr Mathew Irving announced some upcoming staff changes.
A summary of the Primary School changes is below:
Week Seven: Mrs Hayley Ranger and Miss Carys Nichols step up from Assistant to Acting Head of Primary School whilst I take long service and parental leave. I look forward to being back in time for our end of year celebrations and know that our thriving Primary School will be well looked after during my leave.
Miss Claire Hard returns from parental leave on Monday 27 May to take up roles in Djinda on a Monday and Friday, and Kindergarten on a Thursday. We are excited to have Miss Hard back with us and for Ms Suzanne Youens to increase her Learning Support load after working in Djinda during Miss Hard’s leave.
Mrs Lauren Truscott rejoins GSG after spending time teaching in Perth, having a family and working as part of our relief staff team. Lauren will be in our Year Six Nichols class from Week Seven, supporting Miss Carys Nichols as she steps into her admin role and will take on additional art classes in Semester Two as well.
Mrs Julie-Anne Ramsell joins our team of education assistants this term from Week Five, supporting students in Pre-Primary, Year One and Year Four. Having spent time with some of our students as an allied health assistant, she is familiar with GSG and we look forward to her being part of our team.
Mrs Hannah Craig is returning to us in Pre-Primary on a Thursday from Term Three. She did a wonderful job with our Kindergarten class last year and we are delighted to have her back.
Ms Meghan Ritchie joins us in a full-time capacity from Term Three, moving from one day a week in Pre-Primary to being our full-time Year Three teacher whilst Mr Geoff Hardey takes a well-deserved long service leave break in Semester Two. We wish his family well as they travel abroad, and know our Year Three students are in competent hands.
Upcoming Events
Friday 10 May – Crazy Hair Day and Year Five Assembly
This year we have another amazing group of eleven Year Twelve students, and Mr Irving, cutting or shaving their hair as part of the World’s Greatest Shave. They are raising money for blood cancer research and your support would be greatly appreciated. They will be shaving their hair during lunch on Friday of Week Four (Friday 10 May) outside the Pratten Centre, and everyone is encouraged to come to watch and cheer them on. Crazy Hair Day supports cancer research as well.
On the day, wear your most colourful (non-permanent) or creative hairstyle to school, and bring a gold coin donation.
All families are welcome to attend Year Five Assembly, 2.20pm start in the Hall.
Wednesday 15 May – Boarding Field Day
Mr Ashley Keatch, Head of Boarding, has organised a field day to showcase our boarding life. Primary School students have been invited to join the day by visiting the field day during lunchtime. There is a dress up day for Secondary School students. Primary School students will come in their normal uniform but if they would like to wear an outback-themed hat (Akubra, wide-brimmed style) instead of their usual school hat at recess and lunch that day, they are welcome to with a gold coin donation to The Darcy Effect.
Thursday 16 May – Walk/Ride to School Day
We had a huge turn out last time and we are hoping the weather will turn it on for us again. Students are encouraged to walk or ride their bikes to school. Please meet at Coraki Park for an 8.00am departure. Helmets are a must for our bike riders. Younger riders may like to join the ride from the Fish Traps where the flat path begins. Please wait with your parents and join the riders as they come past.
There will be staff members with the riding group. Primary School students participating are welcome to wear their sport uniform for the day and enjoy a milo and muffin at the Library on arrival. Bags will be brought to school on the minibus which will leave the front of the school at 8.50am to take parents back to their cars.
I look forward to seeing some crazy hair tomorrow and wish our GSG mums and mother figures a wonderful day on Sunday.
Ms Leah Field | Head of Primary