Senior School

From the Head of Senior School 

Last Friday we began the Student Leadership process for 2022. I spoke with all the Year Eleven students about what we expect and what we hope they will gain from being a student leader. All the information is contained in the Student Leadership Handbook, which can be found on MyGSG in the Senior School section if parents are interested.

To quote a small part of the Handbook:

Some are entrusted with specific leadership roles, and are appointed School Prefects, but all Year Twelve students, by dint of their senior status in the School, are considered leaders, and are encouraged to assume leadership in an area of their interest and influence. 

Our objectives are many:

Student leadership gives vital opportunities for personal growth. We want our students to learn and appreciate the value of commitment, both to other people and to their own ideas, initiatives and projects. It is often a challenge for young people to assert themselves, and to take a stand for what they know to be right. We aim to equip our students with sound values and morality, and the confidence and self-assurance to back themselves to assert them. In a world where it seems that personal accountability is diminished in the face of denial or blame shifting, our leaders need to model principled and accountable behaviour. Their integrity will give them strength and greater self-confidence; it is general character development which will stand them in excellent stead in their lives post school.

We hope our students will experience the satisfaction and reward of turning an initiative into a successful reality, of making a strong and lasting difference to their own and the lives of others at the School. The perseverance and commitment to seeing an initiative through, with the inevitable challenges that will be faced along the way, develops resilience and determination. The self-belief to introduce and implement a project, and to bring others on board through enthusiasm and inspiration, is an invaluable experience.

We hope our student leaders will experience the satisfaction of ownership and shared purpose in assisting the staff with the running of the school and the management of students. We will give them the opportunity to work in situations where the stakes are higher, where the consequences are greater. This will help them to develop a sense of responsibility, and enhance their confidence in dealing with adults. 

Finally, we view student leadership as a service role to all others in the School community. The School’s core values of  Integrity, Respect, Compassion and Commitment are lived by our school leaders. Leadership grounded in these values will be empathetic, considered and effective.

I encourage all Year Eleven students to back themselves if they have an interest in leading their peers. If in any doubt they should consult their Head of House to discuss their suitability and interest. I acknowledge it does not appeal everyone, but my message to the students is don’t miss an opportunity!

Mr Mark Bonnin | Head of Senior School

Hospitality 

Year Eleven

Appetisers continue to be on the menu for the Year Eleven VET Hospitality students.  Coconut prawns with lime aioli, and mini lemon tarts have been the recent highlights.  These students are in the process of designing their own savoury and sweet appetisers and we look forward to seeing their finished products over the coming weeks.

Year Twelve

The Year Twelve VET Hospitality students are nearing the end of their Barista course, fine tuning their espresso coffee skills.  Each week, the class makes individualised espresso coffee orders for staff as a team, simulating what it would be like in industry.  Students deliver the coffees to staff around the school to practice their customer service skills.  Soon they will have a final assessment by an industry assessor from Hospitality Group Training in Perth who will discuss the role, the policies, and procedures as a Barista, and watch the students make and explain the twelve standard espresso coffee styles available in Western Australia.

Mrs Teresa McAllister | Hospitality Teacher