Principal's Post

Sea of red returns to the city

A very warm welcome to all connected with the St George’s Family as we commence the 2025 school year! Whilst I absolutely loved my time off over the summer, there is nothing more uplifting as seeing students return to school after a long break, refreshed and eager to catch up with their friends with a skip in their step. It always makes my heart sing to be back amidst the students and feeling that optimism that only a new school year can bring. 

A special welcome to our 148 new students and their families. I hope that they quickly get used to the many and varied demands of being a student within a vertical school in the heart of the City of Perth. We have had a wonderful start to the year, and I would like to congratulate everyone for commencing 2025 in such a positive, caring, compassionate and connected way. 

There is a real buzz around the school, and it has been delightful to see the vibrant sea of red blazers return to the city with an array of students enjoying the new shirts which can be worn outside of their shorts or trousers – they look great! The sense of belonging that comes from wearing a school uniform is something special for us at St George’s – the moment your child puts this school uniform on it is obvious that they are part of something bigger, part of Team St George’s. 

Our school theme for 2025 is ‘Find Your Brave’. The theme challenges us to try something new, to give everything our very best effort and to seek ways to test ourselves a little throughout the school year. It is about having high expectations and high levels of responsiveness. It has already set a brilliant tone to commence the school year. Young people must seek to put themselves through challenges, to push their own boundaries and to strive to exceed any presupposed limitations to allow themselves to grow in confidence and to trust in their abilities to successfully complete any challenges that they might face. St George’s students absolutely CAN do it.

We have already witnessed students ‘Finding their Brave’ in what has been a frantic first few weeks of the 2025 school year – our Year 7s have found their feet by making new friendships on camp, our Year 12s have challenged themselves to be ready for a big and fulfilling year. The final year of school is the culmination of so many years of formal education and with only a few short months to go, our Year 12s are ready to climb the mountain. Our Year 11s have started to understand the increased demands of Senior School life as well as the joys and delights of Senior Status; our Year 10s are busily planning for their social and our Year 8 and 9 students have signed up for numerous new co-curricular pursuits and have welcomed the new students into their year groups. We have indeed had a brave start to 2025. 

The Lunar New Year has been celebrated by many of our families as well as here at School. In the Chinese calendar 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. Wood Snakes are said to be precise, calm, creative and possess logical thinking – this bodes well for all of us and especially our Year 12s as they set their ambitions high for their final year of schooling. I hope that our intentions for 2025 are to harness the accuracy and imagination of the snake and make 2025 a fabulous community year for everyone connected with St George’s. 

We have packed much into the first three weeks and have lots to celebrate. Electrocity played to packed audiences as part of the Fringe Festival, and it was wonderful to see so many of the St George’s Grammarians return to be part of this very special group. My sincere thanks to Mr Michael Newton for ensuring the success of these performances prior to heading off on his 12 months of long service leave. Our Year 7s returned from their three-day camp at Swan Valley Adventure Centre to be spoilt with a Year 7 Picnic in the Park this afternoon to conclude the week. The Year 12 Commissioning and Captains and Prefects Investiture was a wonderful chance to recognise the leadership responsibilities of all our Year 12s. I am confident that they will lead the school with optimism this year. There was much excitement as we unpacked their leavers jackets to conclude this service. Our New Parents Sundowner was full of fellowship and our Year 11 and 12 Parent Information Evenings shared the demands of these final two years with our families. The Highflyers Assembly recognised the high achievers from the Class of 2024, and we hope might even have inspired some of our current students to reach these heady heights. And finally, we launched the Friends of St George’s – an organisation that we hope will continue to build and grow our connections as members of the St George’s Family. 

I would like to conclude by saying thank you to everyone for their hard work and commitment to our school community to commence the school year. Term One, Week Four is just around the corner with the beginning of formal assessments, assignments, and a School Eucharist Service. We are looking forward to a fantastic year together.

The 2025 school year has certainly been a lively and happy start. Enjoy a wonderful weekend everyone!

Mrs Tina Campbell

Principal