Primary School
Welcome to 2026 in Primary at GSG
We are so excited to welcome all 271 students this week as they begin their academic year with us. Our teachers have spent many hours creating incredible spaces and learning opportunities for our students inside and outside the classroom. The sounds of joy could be heard all over the campus the morning of day one, from the coffee van right through to bus duty. Thank you for entrusting us to be the heart of your child’s education and welcome to the wonderful community that is GSG. Please enjoy a photographic snapshot of Week One.
At our Years Three to Twelve Welcome Assembly on Tuesday, Ms Field and I had the opportunity to speak about beginning the year as the Heads of Primary and ECC. Please read below a transcript of what was shared with our students.
Welcome Back to School – A Focus on Connection and Community
Mrs Ranger
Welcome back to everyone in our school community. As we begin the year, my two focus words are Connection and Community. We are one school and one community and that begins with caring for every learner − especially our littlest ones.
In Early Childhood, nearly everything is a first. The first goodbye at the gate (often harder for adults than children). The first lunchbox opened upside down. The first discovery that paint feels much better on arms than on paper.
This year, we warmly welcome everyone − new students and familiar faces, excited students and worried students, those racing through the gate and those holding on just a little longer. Every child belongs here.
Our school is alive with sound and wonder: busy chatter, crashing blocks, joyful squeals when a worm is discovered or when shoes light up for the very first time. Starting (or returning to) school is brave work. It is learning to share, to ask big questions and to try again.
We wish all our students a year filled with exactly what they need to grow, succeed and make their own wonderful impact on the world.
Ms Field
Good morning and welcome back to a new school year.
I hope families enjoyed a restful break and are returning refreshed and ready for the term ahead. It has been wonderful to see our returning students, and we extend a very warm welcome to those joining us for the first time; you are already part of our special GSG community.
As the year begins, we encourage all students to approach each day with curiosity, kindness, joy and a willingness to try something new. Our teachers are prepared, classrooms are ready and we are excited to see what our students will achieve this year.
We are pleased to welcome several staff members to Primary School:
Miss Krista Hunter as our roving EA
Mr Joel Davison to Year Five
Mrs Gemma Sandy to Year Six
A welcome back to Mrs Elizabeth Hardey, teaching Year Three this year
With 137 students across Years Three to Six, Primary School has grown significantly. With this growth comes a few changes to spaces and routines:
Year Five is now located in the Amity building
Year Six is now based in TC 9 and 10 (former Languages rooms)
The foyer near the Tamungup bathrooms is now a storage area for Year Six and is accessible only to Primary School
Tamungup bathrooms are for Years Five and Six, while the former Primary School bathrooms are for Years One and Four
The Leaf and Spider playgrounds are now designated quiet areas for Years Five and Six (no ball games)
Primary School students may use extended play areas at recess and the turf area at lunch
For our younger students:
The ECC basketball courts and nearby tree/stage area are for Years One to Three only
These students will also enjoy loose parts play and Tonka trucks
They are not permitted past the bottlebrush trees, ensuring access to safe, age-appropriate play spaces
We ask our whole school community to support and respect these changes. Clear routines allow teachers to focus on positive interactions and learning, rather than managing movement between spaces.
Let’s continue to support one another, work hard and make this a term we can all be proud of.
Welcome back. We look forward to a fantastic start to the year.
Information for 2026
- School bell times aligned with Secondary School - Lunch is 1.15pm to 1.50pm. Teachers will take Primary School students out at 1.05pm for a seated class lunch before play time.
- Year One and Year Two can now be found in the Primary School building, Djinda to Pre-Primary in the ECC building.
- Ms Meghann Ritchie remains our Learning Support Coordinator.
- Mrs Hayley Ranger is Head of Early Childhood (Pre-Kindergarten to Year Two).
- Ms Leah Field is Head of Primary (Year Three to Six)
Class Teachers and Education Assistants
Djinda
Teachers: Mrs Jodene Skeet, Mrs Hayley Ranger and Ms Leah Field
Education Assistant: Mrs Tertia Le Roux and Mrs Esta Steer
Kindergarten
Teachers: Mrs Gemma McPhee and Miss Claire Hard
Education Assistants: Ms Tertia Le Roux, Mrs Rachel Veldman and Ms Louise Urquhart
Pre-Primary
Teachers: Ms Suzanne Youens and Mrs Rochanne Bloor
Education Assistants: Miss Lisa Farrell, Mrs Caroline Cameron and Mrs Kym Clifford
Year One
Teacher: Mrs Fiona Gouldthorp
Education Assistant: Mrs Julie-Anne Ramsell
Year Two
Teacher: Ms Donna Diletti and Mrs Tahlia Street
Education Assistants: Mrs Caroline Cameron and Mrs Rebecca Western
Year Three
Teacher: Mrs Elizabeth Hardey
Education Assistant: Mrs Linda O'Keeffe
Year Four
Teacher: Mr Geoff Hardey and Mr Peter Carman
Education Assistants: Mrs Elisabeth Magri and Mrs Jo Wegner
Year Five
Teachers: Mr Joel Davison and Ms Gracie Laneaux-Neale
Year Six
Teachers: Mr Paul Osborne and Mrs Gemma Sandy
Education Assistants: Mrs Bron Davey and Mrs Liz Irving
Specialist Teachers:
Languages: Ms Vanessa Krier
Physical Education: Mr Stephen Berryman
Music: Ms Emma Luxton, Mrs Kaila Pelser and Ms Sarah Stopher
Art: Ms Angela Diletti
Drama (Years Five and Six): Ms Katie Gunning
Digital Technologies (Years Five and Six): Mr Kieran Bailey
Library (Pre-Kindergarten to Year Two): Ms Elinor Couper
Christian Studies (ECC): Mrs Hayley Ranger, (PS): Ms Leah Field
Food and Fibres Technologies (Years Five and Six): Mr Kane Smith
Co-curricular
Interhouse Swimming Carnival for Years Three to Six
Please remember to complete the nomination form here by Friday 13 February. If a nomination is not received, students will be placed in the Carnival Pathway. If your child is not participating, please contact stephen.berryman@gsg.wa.edu.au.
All the details for the Interhouse Swimming Carnival for Years Three to Six were in the Primary School section of this week’s Bulletin here.
Horizons
Horizons begins in Week Three. Information, including the registration form, will be sent in the coming days.
Intraschool Tennis
This year, to create a pathway for tennis, we propose introducing an intraschool competition for students in Years Three to Six. Students wishing to participate should have a basic understanding of the rules and be able to play the game. No date has been set for this competition at this stage, as we are first seeking expressions of interest. Selected students from this group will then be invited to represent the school at an interschool competition being held in Mount Barker during Term One. Please complete the expression of interest form here if you would like your child to be considered.
Before-School Supervision
On-site supervision is available from 8.10am until the classrooms open at 8.30am. Students must be signed in for this by a parent/guardian.
With the increase in the number of ECC students, we ask that before-school supervision students stay in the building where their classrooms are.Years One and Two will now be supervised in the Primary Building. Djinda to Pre-Primary will continue to be supervised in the ECC.
To support our duty staff, please can those families that arrive early and stay with their children, ensure they are away from the before-school play areas to support the duty teacher in maintaining eyes on the correct children. You are welcome to supervise your own children in the playground or engage in a quiet activity with them in the foyer.
Upcoming events for Term One
Week Two
- Monday 9 February, Leaders' Induction Ceremony, Pre-Primary to Year Twelve, in the Multi-Purpose Sport Complex at 10.15am
- Wednesday 11 February, Camfield Day, wear your crazy socks (gold coin donation) and bring some change for the cake stall at recess
- Friday 13 February, Parent Information Sessions, ECC, Primary and Secondary School 5.00pm to 6.00pm
- Friday 13 February, P&F Welcome Sundowner, outside the Pratten Centre, 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Week Three
- Friday 20 February, Primary School Assembly run by Year Six Leaders, in the Multi-Purpose Sport Complex, 9.00am
- Friday 20 February, P&F Primary School Meet and Mingle, ECC playground, 3.30pm to 5.00pm
We hope you have had a great start to the term. Please do not hesitate to contact anyone from the Primary School team to help the beginning of the year run smoothly.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Ms Leah Field | Head of Primary and
Mrs Hayley Ranger | Head of Early Childhood