Whole School News
Shelter Together
As part of the Certificate IV Business course in Year Eleven, our class has partnered with the Albany Community Foundation to organise the Shelter Together Community Bank Albany Homelessness Fundraiser 2026.
Shelter Together is a community event held at the PCYC, aimed at raising funds to support people experiencing homelessness. The money raised goes into the Crisis Response Fund to provide support and relief for people in our community who are experiencing housing stress.
The event is happening this week, on Friday 7 August. Year Eleven students are planning and coordinating the event alongside numerous community members, local support agencies and businesses.
As part of our goal to raise as much money as possible, we have an exciting raffle running within the school community. Prizes include a trailer of jarrah wood, art pieces, a luxury two-night stay in Bremer Bay, and a meat raffle. You can buy a raffle ticket to enter for a chance to win one (or more) of our amazing prizes. To purchase a raffle ticket please click here.
The raffle will be drawn, and winners will be announced, at the event on 7 August. Winners will also be notified by email.
If you'd like to support us without purchasing a raffle ticket, you can make a donation here: Shelter Together Community Bank Albany 2026
Shelter Together is open to the public from 4.30pm this Friday at PCYC. We welcome everyone’s attendance and fundraising support.
Miller Stevenson | Year Eleven Student on behalf of the Certificate IV in Business & Certificate IV in Work Skills Class
Artist in Residence: Laura Newbury
We are delighted to have Albany artist Laura Newbury with us at present. Laura has been working with our Year Five and Year Six Visual Arts classes. Much of Laura’s printmaking has been inspired by the joys of dinner tables and lounge rooms, celebrating the time spent with family and friends in these places.
Students have brought in delightful images of their dinner tables; there is a great variety, including some wonderful camping meals. These have then been transferred to collagraph plates, which will be printed this week.
Laura had a solo exhibition earlier this year at the Vancouver Arts Centre and is definitely an artist to keep an eye on.
Ms Rachel Mordy | Head of the Arts
From the P&F
Save the Date – Kingfisher Fair & Open Day!
In this re-imagined event, parents are no longer required to design, donate to, and run a class stall, as the focus is now on friend-raising and community engagement over fundraising. But, perhaps you could:
- volunteer to bake sweet treats for the Tea House
- volunteer to organise the famous Pet Parade
- join a group of general volunteers to manage the fun activities we have planned
- oversee the carriage rides
- donate goods to the Market Stall
P&F Tea House
Call out for baked treats and volunteers. Do you have an events or Hospitality background? We are on the look-out for someone who may like to coordinate the Tea House and oversee the setup and decorations etc. There are notes available from previous years so you wouldn't be starting from scratch.
- Sign up to provide specific baked goods, or loan equipment HERE
- Sign up to help out on the day, choose your time slot HERE
General Volunteers - can you help?
Volunteer opportunities for "Kingfisher Fair & Open Day Volunteers" are now open. All time slots are for one hour only.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Set up and pack down
- General volunteer (to help where needed)
- Wine Bar (RSA required)
- Supervising an inflatable. You will receive an induction and then your role will be to mark off the timeslot on children's wristbands and then time the session. Couldn't be easier!!
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the sign-up sheet:
Market Stall
We will be holding a Market Stall. If you have items you would like to donate on the day (or a little earlier), please let julia.bairstow@gsg.wa.edu.au know. This could be pot plants, home-grown fruit and vegetables, firewood, homemade cards, books, games and toys in good condition, bags of manure, seedlings etc.
Pet Parade
Would your pet like to join in the fun of the Fair? If so, register them for the Pet Parade now for a $5.00 entry fee, which can be paid in advance (cash in an envelope to the main Reception, with your name) or on the day.
On the day, please make sure that your pet is on a leash when on school grounds.
The parade will be held at 1.15pm (meet at the flagpole at the quad) with categories for:
- Best Dressed Pet
- Owner/Pet Look-Alike
- Best Behaved Pet
- Star of the Show
If you have any queries, please email Community Engagement & Enrolments Manager, Mrs Julia Bairstow.
Mr Jason Pages | P&F Coordinator
Book Week
It is with the utmost excitement that this author brings news of a highly anticipated event fast approaching on our school calendar. As Week Six draws near, our school shall once again be swept up in the magic, wonder and imagination of Book Week. Book Week is always a highlight of the school year, and we are excited to celebrate Book Week 2026 with our school community.
This year's inspiring theme, 'Symphony of Stories,' could not be more fitting. As a school community, are we not a magnificent symphony ourselves? Each student, each staff member, and each family contribute their own unique story, creating a rich and harmonious collection of voices, experiences and adventures. Together, we form our very own Symphony of Stories. This theme reminds us that every story has its own unique voice and that, together, books create a rich and wonderful symphony of ideas, characters, adventures and experiences.
Our much-anticipated Book Week Dress-Up Day will be held on Thursday 27 August. Students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character, author, book theme or as a part of a class theme and join in the celebrations. Where possible, we encourage children to choose a costume that is related to a book they know and love. Students are also welcome to bring along a copy of the book featuring their character to carry in the parade.
Where: Multi-Purpose Sport Complex
Time: 8.55am
Parents: We hope you will come!
As some of our Kindergarten children who attend three days per week are not at school on Thursdays, we will host a special Kindergarten Book Week Parade on the morning of Wednesday 26 August. Kindergarten students will parade around the classrooms, giving them the opportunity to share their costumes and celebrate their love of stories with the school community.
Time: 8.55am
Kindy Parents are welcome to attend.
Children enrolled in the Kindergarten five-day program may wish to wear their costume on both Wednesday and Thursday so they can participate in both celebrations.
We look forward to seeing the creativity and enthusiasm of our students as we come together to celebrate reading, imagination and the joy of books during Book Week 2026.
And what would Book Week be without a touch of friendly competition?
Throughout the week, students will participate in a variety of literacy activities that encourage a love of reading and celebrate the power of storytelling. Many classes will be exploring books connected to the theme, and some primary classes will be working on a shared class text. These class studies often generate rich discussion as students delve into the themes, characters and settings within their chosen books, developing a deeper appreciation of literature and the many ways stories connect us.
The much-anticipated Golden Leaf Competition shall return once more. Those wishing to earn glory, honour and perhaps a coveted golden leaf are encouraged to keep watch for further details in the coming weeks.
For now, dust off those books, gather your costume ideas and prepare for a week filled with reading, imagination and celebration.
Until more secrets are revealed, this author remains,
Yours in reading
Ms Elinor Couper | Head of Library Services
Book Club
We have now closed the book club order for Issue Five. We anticipate orders will arrive in Week Five or Six. Thank you for your support.
Recently published article: NAPLAN: We know how to close the reading gap.
An article published on Wednesday by Dr Helen Adam may be of interest to you given the recent media attention in regard to recent NAPLAN results. Helen Adam is an associate professor in the School of Education at Edith Cowan University. She is President of the Primary English Teaching Association of Australia (PETAA), a 2022 Churchill Fellow, a member of the First Nations Expert Reference Group for AERO, and a member of the Early Childhood Professorial Advocacy Council (ECPAC).
See the link below.
NAPLAN: We know how to close the reading gap. We must fund it now - AARE<https://blog.aare.edu.au/2026/08/05/naplan-we-know-how-to-close-the-reading-gap-we-must-fund-it-now/>
Ms Elinor Couper | Head of Library Services
Denmark Regional Roadshow Sundowner
We can't wait to connect with our Denmark families and friends at our upcoming Regional Roadshow Sundowner.
Whether you're a current family, old scholar, prospective family or friend of Great Southern Grammar, join us for a relaxed evening of conversation, delicious refreshments and community connection. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet our Principal, ask questions and chat with members of the GSG team about life at the School.
Date: Friday 28 August
Time: 5.00pm to 7.00pm
Venue: Boston Brewery, Denmark
A Message from the Albany Agricultural Society
The Albany Agricultural Society is delighted to invite students and their families to participate in the 2026 Albany Agricultural Show Horticulture Section, to be held on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November 2026.
This year's theme, 'Grow It, Nurture It, Show It!', celebrates the joy of gardening, creativity and learning through nature.
Entry is free for children up to 16 years of age, making this a wonderful opportunity for young people to become involved in one of Albany's longest-running community events.
Children can enter a range of fun and creative classes, including:
- 🌸 Grow Flowers
- 🌿 Create a Miniature Garden
- 🪴 Decorate a Pot
- 🌵 Plant a Cactus or Succulent
🍎 Make an Animal from Fruit or Vegetables
There are cash prizes, beautiful rosettes and Best Exhibit awards to be won, but most importantly, every child has the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and experience the pride of displaying their work to the community.