From the Deputy Principal

New term, new beginnings

We are very pleased to be starting a new term and looking forward to being able to enjoy more events together in coming weeks. One of the things that I most enjoy about a new term is the opportunity to refocus on goals and start with something of a clean slate. For those students who were perhaps a bit disappointed with their achievements in Semester One, now is the time to make changes. The good news is, those changes don't have to be big ones. Even small adjustments to our routine, like getting up 15 minutes earlier or checking your diary before you pack for school, can have a big impact on your day. Perhaps there are opportunities to reflect at the end of the week and set an intention for the coming days; or an opportunity to remember what we are grateful for which may help us keep things in perspective. It's been great to see our students back at school and settling in so well.

NAIDOC Week

As you will see in other pages of the Anchor we have had a great celebration of Indigenous culture this week. I am so proud of the students involved in all the activities on offer, from Noongar Boodja Place Names (dual naming) to damper making, sausage sizzles to public speaking at assembly, I have been moved by their passion and sense of pride in their culture, which we are very privileged to share. We are very fortunate to have such great support from our Menang elders and emerging leaders and were privileged to welcome Uncle Lester Coyne, Aunty Eliza Woods, Aunty Annette Eades, Cheryleen Simpson, Talitha Archer and Dave Rastrick to school this week. A big thank you to Ms Rachael Colmer for her coordination and commitment to these fantastic events.

'Boys in Crisis' - Term Three

You are invited to two informative and relevant sessions on 'Boys in Crisis' curated by Mr Justin Coulson on Fridays in Weeks Two and Four from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the Wellness Centre (SS5). Afternoon tea will be providedas we share these meaningful and topical chat and chomp events. Please let Sheryl Moncur know of your interest for catering purposes. sheryl.moncur@gsg.wa.edu.au More information about this important topic is available on the 'From the Counsellor' page.

Keeping safe

In line with recent government advice, wearing masks indoors is strongly encouraged. We ask that your child wears a mask at school to keep our school as safe as possible. A reminder that masks remain mandatory on public transport, this includes all school bus services, along with buses for school excursions.

We ask for your support to explain to your child the importance of wearing a mask to reduce the risk of transmission in schools and the community. Parents can support GSG to be COVID-19 safe by:

wearing a mask indoors when visiting the school;
ensuring your family stays up-to-date with COVID-19 and flu vaccines;
testing your child for COVID-19 if they have symptoms or are a household close contact;
keeping your child home if they are unwell; and,
maintaining good hand hygiene.

An additional allocation of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) is being provided to students (20 per student) which will be distributed this term. In line with government directives, if your child is a close contact and does not have symptoms, they must return daily negative RATs to leave isolation and attend school, and must also wear a mask when outside their home (usual exemptions apply), as per the testing and isolation protocols. Further information can be found here . Close contacts who have symptoms should not attend school. Please click here to read a cross-sectoral letter with further information. If you have any queries, please contact me.

Mrs Emma Franklin | Deputy Principal