Secondary School

NAPLAN 

This week our Year Seven and Nine students have had the challenge of NAPLAN assessments. Our staff have done a wonderful job preparing the students for what to expect and helping to manage nerves. The most important thing for our students to realise is that we want them to try their best. NAPLAN, like any assessments, should not be about comparing yourself to someone else, but just to take it as an opportunity to give it your best shot.

Camps 

This week the Years Eight and Ten students have been on camp. I have been lucky enough to help out the Year Eight class in the Service Learning component of their camp, which has centred around helping residents at Baptistcare Aged Care Facility. It has been great to hear their stories and we have joined in with their morning exercises and some fun games like mini-golf and bingo! The students in Year Eight also undertake a Skill and a Challenge, their skill is learning sailing for a day and their challenge is a hike on the famous Bibbulmun Track near the Albany Wind Farm.

The Year Ten students left for their rafting camp on the Blackwood River on Monday, and all 70 of them hopped from camp to camp as they made their way down the river. It is a picturesque setting and sure to be a fun challenge. The reports back to home base so far have all been positive. 

International Women’s Day 

This week we celebrated International Women’s Day at our Assembly on Monday. We heard from our School Captain, Amy Medway, as well as our special Guest Speaker Ms Liz Stewart, Head of Breaksea House, who delivered key messages about standing up for yourself, following your passions, and being open to new opportunities. We also heard from a few of our Primary School students about some of the special women in their lives. It was good to see a number of families attending assembly and we shared a special morning tea afterwards in the Library. 

Wagin Woolorama and Katanning Sundowner 

Last weekend I was lucky enough to travel to the Wagin Woolorama to meet our regional families and to discuss the value of a Great Southern Grammar education to prospective families. We also had a lovely Sundowner in Katanning on Saturday night, meeting boarding families from the area. Our next opportunity to visit families in the regions is our visit to Frankland River on Friday 4 April. 

Walk to School 

On Thursday next week we encourage our students to take part in the Walk to School Day.  We walk together from Coraki Park departing at 8.00am. If parents want to park cars there and walk with students, a bus is available to transport parents back to the carpark after they arrive at school. It should be a wonderful walk along the Oyster Harbour boardwalk, past the ancient Menang fish traps.  

I wish our families a lovely week ahead.

Mr Jordan Owenell | Deputy Principal - Head of Secondary 

Arts Camp

The Years Eleven and Twelve Arts students had a fantastic camp to Perth last weekend, arriving to very balmy weather and a beautiful Perth sunset over Cottesloe Beach.

We set off by train on Friday to visit the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, which had some interesting and challenging work. At the WA Art Gallery we participated in their ‘Forecast’ workshop which involved lots of interactive activities including painting a disappearing forest. The ink literally disappears before your eyes on the canvas!

At the WA Museum Boola Bardip, we saw the Spinifex Art exhibition and had a VR video experience of the Kimberley, which was amazing, though left most of us a bit dizzy!

On Friday evening, we viewed August: Osage County by Black Swan Theatre Company at the Heath Ledger Theatre in Northbridge. The three hours and 45 minutes of duration were initially a little confronting, but the play was amazing. It was divided into three hour-long sections with two intervals and some very intense dramatic family scenes. It was very thought-provoking.

Our trip concluded with a printing workshop at Fremantle Arts Centre. We created imagery inspired by Brutalist architecture!!

It was a great weekend giving a taste of the cultural opportunities Perth and Fremantle have to offer.

Ms Rachel Mordy | Head of the Arts