Secondary School
There has been a buzz around the Secondary School this week with the Year Eleven leadership process. Students have been chatting in corridors about the people they would like to support for leadership positions. Next week, all those who nominated for positions will participate in a half day workshop exploring how they would like to make their impact as Year Twelves.
This week is Book Week! Today, the students dressed to impress as characters from their favourite books. Thank you to the parents who helped students with their costumes. It was also lovely to see so many staff members get involved. These types of events help build community through shared experiences. A huge thank you also to Mrs Elinor Couper and Mrs Ruth Speldewinde from the Library for all their organisation of activities throughout the week.
Mr Jordan Owenell | Deputy Principal - Secondary School
Poetry in Action Inspires and Engages Great Southern Grammar Students
Great Southern Grammar was delighted to welcome Poetry in Action for an engaging and memorable day of performance and poetry. Students from Year Six through to Year Twelve had the opportunity to experience poetry in a dynamic and accessible way, with both performances generating enthusiastic responses from students and staff.
For our Years Six and Seven students, Rhyme Battle Royale transformed poetry into an energetic, interactive experience. Featuring the five core elements of poetry — rhyme, rhythm, imagery, story and theme — the performance combined humour, audience participation and poetry games to capture the attention of younger students. While the students were initially quiet and reserved, the performers quickly won them over, with the highly entertaining 'rhyme tennis' activity bringing a noticeable burst of energy and enthusiasm to the room.
The students' engagement continued throughout the performance, particularly during the question-and-answer session. The performers were impressed by the quality and number of questions from the students, noting that even teachers were surprised by how enthusiastically the younger students participated. Their curiosity and willingness to engage demonstrated that the performance had successfully made poetry feel relevant, entertaining and approachable.
Our Years Eleven and Twelve students experienced Words of War, a powerful three-hander exploring the life and poetry of Wilfred Owen. The performance brought several of Owen's most significant poems to life while examining the complex relationship between his experiences as a soldier and his powerful anti-war writing.
Through an engaging debate over whether Owen should be understood as a reckless thrill-seeker or an anti-war truth-teller, students were encouraged to explore imagery, irony and rhythm, while considering the important connection between text and context. The performance challenged students to think critically about Owen's experiences and the realities of war, providing an excellent complement to their studies of poetry.
The senior students responded particularly strongly to the performance. The performers commented that the students were 'very switched on' and took the subject matter seriously. The ovation at the conclusion was described as 'pronounced and genuine,' while the subsequent Q&A generated insightful questions about Wilfred Owen and the First World War.
Perhaps the strongest indication of the impact of Words of War came when students were given the opportunity to vote on whether they would like to bring their War Poetry unit forward and expand the material into their upcoming assessments. The students overwhelmingly voted yes, demonstrating just how successfully the performance had stimulated their interest in the topic.
The Poetry in Action performers were equally positive about their visit to Great Southern Grammar. They praised the students' engagement across both performances, the quality of the questions asked during the Q&A sessions and the enthusiasm shown throughout the day. They also commented positively on the performance space and the warm welcome they received from the school community.
The visit was a wonderful example of how live performance can enrich classroom learning. By bringing poetry off the page and onto the stage, Poetry in Action encouraged students to listen, question, participate and think about poetry in new ways. From the laughter and energy of Rhyme Battle Royale to the thoughtful discussion and genuine response to Words of War, students across the school were given an opportunity to experience poetry as something vibrant, relevant and powerful.
Great Southern Grammar thanks the talented performers from Poetry in Action for their enthusiasm, professionalism and ability to connect with students across such a broad age range. It was a highly successful visit that left our students entertained, challenged and, most importantly, excited about poetry.
Mrs Samantha Ray | Head of English
Mountain Bike Expedition - Margaret River
The Year Twelve Outdoor Education students recently headed to Margaret River for their final assessed expedition and last camp together before finishing school. It was a fantastic way to wrap up their Outdoor Education journey, combining challenge, adventure and plenty of good memories.
The group tackled a range of mountain bike trails that tested their fitness, bike-handling skills and determination. From long climbs to fast descents and technical sections, students were pushed out of their comfort zones while building confidence on the bike. Thankfully, the weather was on our side, providing perfect riding conditions throughout the trip.
There were a few minor spills along the way, but nothing that dampened the enthusiasm of the group. Students supported one another, embraced the challenges and kept moving forward with positive attitudes.
Beyond the riding, the camp provided a great opportunity for students to spend time together, enjoy the outdoors and reflect on their time in the Outdoor Education program. It was a fitting way to finish their final expedition, with plenty of fun, laughter and achievement along the way.
A big thank you to Mr Neil Ferreira and Gap students Jodie and Ted for their help and support.
Ms Charlie Warren | Health & PE Teacher
Proposed Paris Tour 2027
We are delighted to be recommencing planning for the Paris Tour in 2027. We are now planning to offer it during the Term Three holidays in September and October 2027. The tour will run for ten days and is open to students enrolled in Years Ten, Eleven and Twelve in 2027.
Paris is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, offering a rich cultural heritage, world-renowned cuisine and fascinating history. The Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Palace of Versailles and Monet's Gardens are just some of the highlights of the tour. Please find a copy of the proposed itinerary here: Proposed Paris Tour Itinerary 2027
If you would like to express your interest in this tour, please complete the 2027 Paris Tour Expression of Interest form by Thursday 10 September. There will an information session on Monday 21 September in the school Library at 5.00pm. Please note that priority placement will be given to students who expressed interest in the tour earlier this year.
For further information, please contact the Paris Tour Coordinator, Ms Rachel Mordy
Ms Rachel Mordy | Head of Arts