Principal's Post

Embracing Respect and Adventure

Welcome back to another year of learning! 

The start of the school year is always a time of great anticipation and much excitement. Whether your child is new to St George’s this year, or they are returning after a fun-filled summer holiday break surrounded by family and friends, the first few weeks of a new school year are special times for staff and students alike.  For everyone there is that wonderful sense of a new beginning and a fresh start.

2024 has already started with vibrancy, energy and momentum. The buzz of a little over 550 St George’s students have brought the floors, hallways, classrooms and stairwells back to life. There has been lively chatter, delightful laughter, positive learning and even sensational singing and dancing on some days throughout the school. It has been a positive start to the school year with lots of smiles. 

The Class of 2024 have led the way by embracing the formality of their Commissioning Service as our student leaders, learning what the year ahead might hold for them at our Senior Students Day, excitedly wearing their leavers jackets even in the recent heat wave that we have been experiencing here in the city, and celebrating their final year all together by dancing the night away at their much-anticipated Year 12 Ball. It has been a brilliant start.

We have warmly welcomed our new students, new staff and our new families to what will quickly become their second home. The New Parent Sundowner was a wonderful event which showcased our special sense of family and acknowledged the fact that great schools always come back to the relationships between the child and the teacher – St George’s is a great school. [See Page 9 of The Dragon for more upcoming parent events.]

We celebrated the 2023 academic results with our inaugural High Flyers assembly and it was inspiring to hear from three of our Grammarians as they reflected on their learning journey and what had enabled them to find such success as they now head off to university and pastures new. They each had their own story to tell and offered some amazing tips and tricks to achieve success in Year 11 and 12. 

Academia and Wellbeing was a focus for our newly revamped Year 11 and 12 Parent Information Night where we learnt of the variety of skills that our senior students will require need to harness this year to enable them to thrive this year – having down time disconnected from technology, being organised, utilising the skills and expertise of their teachers, studying with their friends, using the Legendary Learners Hub and so much more. We wish them well as they navigate the increased demands of Year 11 and 12.

Music has also played its part in the first few weeks of the school year with our very own unique school band, Electrocity, performing to a packed audience as part of the Fringe Festival. As the only school to be part of the Fringe Festival it was an absolute delight to see Electrocity perform in what was a sensational celebration of the incredible talent of our musicians here at St George’s Anglican Grammar School. Make sure you grab your tickets for Sounds at Sunset later in the term where a broader range of our musicians will be on stage. 

In commencing the 2024 academic school year, prepare yourself as parents of St George’s children for an adventure. Real adventures in today’s world can be rare, but the educational adventure that your child will undertake this year within the confines of our school here in the city is real and it will bring our 2024 school theme of ‘Respect’ to life. In Term One our focus is to respect ourselves. In Term Two we will be prioritising respecting others. Term Three will look at ensuring that we all respect our own and each other’s learning and finally to conclude the year, Term Four will concentrate on respecting our environment. 

The Student Guild already have grand plans for the 2024 school year, and I know that they will ensure that everyone plays their part in making 2024 a brilliant year for the whole school community – hold on to your hat!

The school year is consistently about change, growth and development. Your child will learn to collaborate, communicate, think creatively and critically and they will clearly develop their strong sense of character. They will create new friendships, find their tribe, try new activities, conquer a variety of challenges and experience a wide range of new subjects. My hope is that they will all find joy in their school journey this year and, supported by their teachers and friends, have a chance to shine and be a superstar at least once. Supporting our children in receiving and making the most of a strong and vibrant education is an absolute gift – a priceless gift that will last a lifetime.

With the first edition of The Dragon for 2024 I feel privileged to be part of this incredible school family. I thank you for your support and look forward to celebrating our many successes that the 2024 school year will bring.

Warm regards,

Mrs Tina Campbell

Principal