From the Principal

GSG Vineyard

Without parents and community involvement, the annual GSG grape picking was held yesterday morning. The early morning start did not deter staff and students in working in collaboration to fill the containers bound for pressing and processing. The vines have a unique history at the school, having been planted by students and staff in 2015. The grapes picked will be part of the third bottling of Grammar Grown wine. We look forward to the wine to be available to the community later in the year. I wish to thank Agriculture teacher Mr Julian Gugenheim for his coordination, staff and students for assisting in this unique school event. 

ANZAC Day

Great Southern Grammar has a proud history of supporting and having an active presence in the ANZAC Day activities in Albany and across the Great Southern region.  This year, due to COVID restrictions, a modified program will be conducted by the organising committee.  A smaller contingent of students will be representing the School in formal proceedings.  Hopefully, this will not dampen the day for those involved, including the Albany RSL Sub-Branch and City of Albany as its significance is vital for the education of our youth.  For those families who cannot attend or view a live stream of the service, Albany RSL President Helen Tasker, suggests personal or family driveway commemoration is still a great way to honour our war heroes.

Surf Online Safe, Paul Litherland

WA Australian of the Year (2022), Paul Litherland, addressed Years Six to Twelve students online this week about improving their internet awareness.  His experience with the Technology Crime Investigation Unit of WA Police, provided invaluable information and education for our students.  Paul provided up-to-date trends and tips on how to navigate social media and gaming sites.  He regularly pointed to pitfalls and opened students’ awareness to the dangers that may surround inexperienced users.  In the evening, Paul delivered a similar online session for parents, this again was a high-quality workshop for those who registered.

“I really enjoyed the talk from Paul regarding online safety, and my friends did as well. The things that stood out to me were the huge amount of social media that my age group uses, but also that my siblings, who are in the Year Six and Year Four age group are using. One thing that Paul mentioned was that companies try and get young people into the social media world early because the multi-millionaires are trying to get us sucked into new things that we shouldn’t really be doing!

On behalf of the Middle School, I would like to say thank you to Paul for coming to speak to us (online) today. The talk was really valuable, entertaining, and thought provoking.” - Jocelyn Cybula | Year Nine

Wearing Masks

Students and staff have been diligent in wearing masks at school. Next week the school will continue to educate people on the importance of wearing masks correctly and recalling personal hygiene action that should be taken to enhance the safety of each other and ourselves. 

Colour Run 

Students are looking forward to the GSG P&F Colour Run on 6 April, to celebrate the end of term.  And nothing makes a celebration better than sharing the joy!  Whilst we spray around some colour, we can also spray around some kindness by fundraising for the Albany Youth Association and Ronald McDonald House. Collect donations in the lead up to the big event HERE, or simply bring along a cash donation on the day. 

Community

Last Friday, Year Nine trumpet student Edie Hawke played the last post at a memorial service on the stairs to the Desert Mounted Corps memorial. Half way up there is a seat named in memoriam of Pte John Atkinson (member killed in Korea). The occasion was the presentation of a Korean War medal to the family of the only Albany boy killed in Korea (1951) – Pte John Atkinson. The Medal was presented to the family by the Korean Ambassador Mrs Fay Duda. It was a wonderful opportunity for Edie to give back to the community and the family and dignitaries very much appreciated her involvement.

Vale Bill Bird

Mr William (Bill) Bird was the School’s inaugural P&F President from 2002 until 2004. Bill and his wife Sharon have always been staunch supporters of Great Southern Grammar since the School’s foundation. Their son Chris was enrolled in 2000 and graduated in 2005 and daughter Sarah enrolled in 2002, graduating in 2009. Bill sadly passed away on Friday 11 March, he was 81. On behalf of the School community, I extend our thoughts and prayers to Sharon and the extended Bird family. We will miss Bill’s familiar presence at all our special events.

Mr Mark Sawle | Principal