Secondary School

Welcome back to the final term of 2024—it's hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, filled with quality time spent with family and loved ones. It's been fantastic reconnecting with students and hearing about their holiday adventures, with some even enjoying the warmth of other climates. As we return, there's a real sense of excitement as the days grow longer, and the promise of summer is just around the corner.

This term, like the ones before, it will be a busy one, packed with opportunities, events, and milestones. A particularly significant moment is upon us as we prepare to celebrate our Year Twelve students who are about to conclude their school journey. It’s a special time for them, and we’ll be acknowledging their hard work and achievements in the weeks to come.

For all students, I encourage you to make the most of these last weeks of the school year. Stay focused, keep working hard, and seize every opportunity—whether academic, social, or extracurricular—that comes your way. This is a time to finish strong, and I know you’re all capable of ending the year on a high note. 

Let's make this final term a great one! We start this with the Interhouse Athletics Carnival on Friday. All parents are welcome to come and watch through the day. Good luck to all students.  Enjoy the day. 

Our School Captains, Maddie and Louis, said the following at Assembly this week:

Maddie 

Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to school for the term. I hope you all had a great holiday.

We’re now in the final term of this year, and this assembly marks one of the last with the current Year Twelve students. Leading up to valedictory, I have been reflecting on the past years at school with our year group. 

One of the things that always stood out among our year to me was how supportive everyone is. When I’m having a bad day, I always know that there is someone to lean on at school. I always know that there will be someone to talk to at a lunch or recess if I need someone to listen and I know that one of my friends will check on me throughout the day. 

A quick ‘how are you going’ or ‘are you okay’ can go a long way. It is such an important question that it now has a whole day dedicated to it. RUOK day is always in September, and this year, it was on the same day as our Baudin Pink Day. It encourages people to check in with the people around them, whether they are your friends or not. If you are the one to ask the question, sometimes being a friendly face or a listener is all your friend will need, but sometimes they might need you to ask the question again the next day, or the next week, to make sure they are still okay. 

Sometimes people don’t even realise they’re struggling until someone brings it up. Having a conversation can help them realise their feelings and show them that it’s okay to ask for help and tell people what support they need. 

I think it is especially important to support your friends coming up to the end of the year. Everyone is tired, and tests and exams pile up. With all this on your mind, it can be difficult to prioritise your mental health until someone points it out to you. 

Even though RUOK day was last term, World Mental Health Day is tomorrow, so I encourage you all to check up on your friends this week. 

I hope you all have a great start to the term.

Thank you.

Louis

Good morning staff and students,

Welcome back to school for the final term of the year. I hope you all have enjoyed your holidays and are looking forward to Term Four. Reflecting on all my time at GSG, I’ve experienced many challenges and successes along the way. Allowing me to learn some valuable lessons.

One of the most important things that has helped me achieve many personal goals is showing integrity. Growing up, I was often told to follow what I believe in and stay true to my values, even when those around me may not. This principle has shaped who I am today and influences how I approach my everyday life.

One experience that really highlighted this for me was during the Year Eleven Outdoor Ed hiking camp. We were told to pack only the essentials for a three-day hike, leaving behind what we knew wasn't important. The hike that followed was full of challenges. The trail was steep and sandy in many parts, there were injuries, and sometimes a race against time to reach our campsite before nightfall. Despite all of this, whatever happened we kept moving forward towards our goal.

Throughout the hike, we all contributed as a team, whether it was making dinner, setting up camp, fetching clean water, or helping each other with strapping our ankles and blisters. Through these actions, we showed a shared commitment to our common goal: helping each other reach our campsite each night. Things didn’t always go according to plan, but through the challenges, we developed trust and respect for each other. 

School, in many ways, is a similar journey. There will be challenges between where you are now and the end of Year Twelve. But no matter how tough it gets, continue to stay true to your values and what you believe in. Eventually, everyone realizes that you are all part of a team, working towards the same goal. So, continue to bring others along with you on that journey.

I hope you all have a good week and make the most of the athletics carnival.

Thank you.

Mr Neil Ferreira | Acting Head of Secondary