From the Head of Secondary

This week we introduced the Great Southern Grammar Student Council. It comprises four students from each year, one from each House, and we held our first meeting on Wednesday. The purpose of the Council is to represent 'student voice'. Better decisions are made when we have a clear picture of how the students feel on a whole range of issues from the canteen menu to elective choices to creating more pleasant environments for recess and lunch breaks.

I look forward to working with this semester’s Student Council:

Baudin - Menari Deegan (Year Eight), Matilda Cook (Year Nine), Jocelyn Cybula (Year Ten) and Sam Jeffery (Year Eleven)

Camfield - Hannah Hull (Year Seven), Lucy Bailey (Year Eight), Iris Miller (Year Ten) and Kevin Sibosado (Year Eleven)

Mokare - Sophie Pearson, Fenella O’Neill, Venja Ruggera, Chelsea Pearson and Noah Hagnhofer

Wilson - Myla Griskonis , Riley Jenkins, Charlie Hill, Abbey Andrew and Pippa Wilson

Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA)

At the end of the Secondary School journey, each student needs to meet a literacy and numeracy standard as part of their requirements to achieve their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). This is achieved through OLNA which comprises three tests: writing, reading and numeracy. At school, students have six opportunities to achieve this standard from the end of Year Nine through to the end of Year Twelve. Students who achieve a particular standard in their Year Nine NAPLAN are not required to sit OLNA.

Like NAPLAN, the OLNA process has had some significant changes put in place for 2023 and beyond. Great Southern Grammar will now be offering the opportunity to sit OLNA in Terms Two and Three each year to our Year Eleven and Twelve students. Students in Year Nine will sit OLNA in Term Four and students in Year Ten will sit OLNA in Term Three.

All Year Ten students have recently had their OLNA reports from School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) released through SEQTA and these reports show clearly which of the standards (writing, reading or numeracy) have been met. If your child will be required to sit one or more OLNA, correspondence will be sent out closer to the time with details of dates, times and locations for each test. In the meantime, class time and Academic Support is being offered to help students prepare for OLNA.

Values and Christian Service (VACS)

Please see student reflections below:

Lachie Steytler, Year Twelve Mokare

This term in VACS the Year Tens, Elevens and Twelves are competing in a variety of House sport activities. This time spent with other year groups and people that I would normally not interact with is an excellent opportunity to create friendships and diversify the relationships with people at GSG. The program promotes a deeper interconnection within the school and helps bridge the gap that exists between year groups. Being able to get out of the classroom and have fun exercising is a welcome change to the constant classroom setting, and with VACS being on a Wednesday it is a great mental break in the middle of the week. The program is something that I, and many other students, look forward to during the week and I am excited to participate in different sports and activities with different people throughout the year.

Chloe Wisewould, Year Eleven Baudin

This term in VACS we have been playing a variety of sports. We have been able to connect with the other years and work as a team. These sports include Netball, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Touch Rugby and Tail Tag. Everyone is enjoying the time out in the sun and playing competitive sports. Each year has been getting involved and bonding with one another to make it more fun. The Houses are playing against each other and having rivalry, competition and getting everyone involved. It is a good way to start the year and help connect the Secondary years together.

Isaac Moane, Year Eleven Camfield

This term in Secondary VACS, we are focusing on team sports. The Year Tens, Elevens and Twelves each get assigned to a mixed team in which they participate in each week. There are six different sports: Volleyball, Basketball, Tail Tag, Softball, Netball and Touch Rugby. My team is Camfield Two and we are playing Softball at the moment, which is a good sport as it’s a sport in which everyone gets a go, whether it be batting, bowling, or fielding everyone contributes. Each week your team goes up against other Houses which is also fun as it gives us a bit of House competition. The next two sports my team and I are playing in are Volleyball and Basketball. Overall, I believe that the team sports are good VACS lessons as it gives us the opportunity to talk to peers that we wouldn’t usually talk to.

Harley Roberts-Johnson, Year Eleven Mokare

This term in secondary school VACS, the Year Tens, Elevens and Twelves have started their six-week sports rotations. The sports consist of: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Netball, Touch Rugby, and Tail Tag. With each House getting divided up into smaller teams and then versing the other groups. So far, my group – Mokare 1 has played volleyball against some of the other house groups. Mokare was victorious in volleyball with Wilson and Baudin putting up a good fight. It was also good to see everyone participating and putting in their best effort and using teamwork to effectively get the ball over the net. Even Doctor Mitrovski decided to have a go. The House competition was also high and everyone tried their best at a sport they may or may not have played before. We look forward to what sports we will play in the coming weeks and the competitive House spirit.

Sophie Pearson, Year Seven Mokare

I’m doing photography and really enjoying it. The cameras are easy to use and I like that you’re allowed to photograph anything you like. Today we went down to the Wildspace.

Menari Deegan, Year Eight Baudin

Lego is fun. Each week we get a different theme and we work in different groups with different people. Last week we had to build something from space and this week we had to build something edible. It’s good not knowing what you need to build until you get there!

Myla Griskonis, Year Seven Wilson

I am enjoying working with other people in Cooking. So far we have made cinnamon scrolls and rocky road – rocky road was my favourite. I am looking forward to making biscuits next week.

Uni Roadshow

Next Wednesday 1 March we are excited to welcome the Uni Roadshow back to GSG. All students from Years Nine to Twelve will participate and all families are welcome to attend the parent session from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. There will also be a public session on Thursday 2 March from 5.00pm to 6.30 pm at UWA in Albany.

Please also note that Perth Residential Colleges are now open for applications for students wishing to study in Perth in 2024.

Mrs Victoria Turnor | Head of Secondary

Mokare News

It’s been a wonderful first few weeks for Mokare in the new Secondary School structure. Our homeroom teachers Mrs Cooper, Ms Mordy, Mrs O’Donnell, Mr Gugenheim and Mr Donaldson have been busy running various activities to help establish relationships amongst the students in their homerooms. Walking around in the mornings, it has been great to see students engaging in ping pong games, charades competitions, Wordles, Heardles and many other activities. On Tuesday morning some homerooms celebrated Shrove Tuesday by cooking and eating some very tasty pancakes with all the trimmings.

The wonderful spirit brimming in Mokare culminated in a very successful Years Seven to Nine Interhouse Swimming Carnival, where participation was outstanding with many students pushing their boundaries and competing in the Championship pathway. All students who swam on the day are commended for their excellent attitudes towards the carnival. As well as this we had some excellent results in the Years Ten to Twelve VACS Sports games last week, with many wins underpinned by brilliant attitudes and participation. GO MOKARE!!!

Mr Bryce McLean | Head of Mokare

ATAR Revision Course

Each course is six hours (three hours a day, over days days) and taught by a fully qualified teacher. So what can you expect from an ATAR Revision Course?

Comprehensive revision of Term One content
In-depth preview of Term Two content
A boost to your confidence, knowledge and understanding
Guidance from a highly qualified ATAR subject specialist, ready to help answer questions
Familiarise yourself and practice different exam-style questions
A course workbook to help you revise at home
An engaging and interactive learning environment alongside your peers

Courses are available at Rossmoyne SHS, Perth Modern School, Duncraig SHS and online.

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