From the Heads of Boarding
Wise Choices in Boarding
Trust and respect for fellow boarders and staff is an integral feature of living and working in a boarding school setting. At Great Southern Grammar we have a Student Code of Conduct, which was reviewed by the Year Twelve leaders, and reflects what we expect within the school. This goes further in boarding and our current boarding student leaders are currently reviewing the application of this document for boarding students. When students bring banned items onto campus or into the boarding houses, this breaks trust and shows disrespect to other boarders and staff.
Students are aware that there are a number of items banned on the GSG campus. These items are banned for the protection of students and staff. The issue of vaping is one which I have spoken to senior students about over the last number of weeks. Vaping is strictly prohibited at school and is a serious breach of the Student Code of Conduct.
Evidence is emerging about the serious damage vaping can cause to lungs and general health. We have spoken to students about the harm vaping can cause. Please see more information at this link Health effects of vaping. We encourage parents to chat with their students and discuss the dangers of vaping and encourage them to make wise choices.
COVID
COVID, COVID, COVID and more COVID, it feels like it is all we talk about! Unfortunately, we need to keep talking about it as it isn’t going away just yet. Whilst it feels that we have had many cases of COVID-19, we have been working closely with the WA Health Department. Recently, they informed us that they are very impressed by how we have handled COVID and the continued management of cases.
We were pleased to announce last week that compulsory mask wearing could cease in boarding for a while, with most students having had COVID in boarding. We are aware that we need to continue to closely monitor the situation and follow all government mandates and for that reason, mask wearing may return. All boarding houses continue to RAT test any students who have not yet had COVID and we are all following the COVID best practice guidelines.
National Boarding Week
National Boarding Week was celebrated from 15 to 21 May, and we have shared the article written by Boarding Captain Madison Smart for the Anchor as we feel it is the perfect reflection on a week well celebrated. Please see her article here.
Yalari
On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 May, Georgie Mullins, our Yalari Student Support Officer, and Vanessa Bromhead were privileged to represent Great Southern Grammar at a conference at Geelong Grammar School in Melbourne. The conference was organised by Yalari and titled, “Mental Health Assessment of Aboriginal Clients and Suicide Prevention in Aboriginal Communities Workshop”. Dr Tracy Westerman, was the facilitator and over two, very full days, we were challenged, informed, horrified, instructed and inspired.
Did you know that still only 10% of Aboriginal students in Australia complete Year Twelve? Why do you think this is so? This was just one of the many questions that had me thinking.
As a group we had our own cultural biases challenged and then were given the tools to challenge the current statistics and flawed testing procedures, and become accredited in alternate psychological testing procedures for these young people. The weekend also coincided with the beginning of Reconciliation Week and we were able to attend Geelong Grammar School’s Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.
I’m so keen to share all that I learnt with the everyone. I strongly recommend you visit Dr Tracy Westerman's institute, Indigenous Psychological Services. If you want to chat, or listen to me excitedly share what I’ve learnt, just let me know.
Sporting Uniform Design
We were so excited this week to finally receive the new netball uniforms for the Griffins. Each uniform has the unique Aboriginal design by Paige Narkle. It's wonderful to see the name of one of our boarders inside each of the uniforms for the Griffins. Congratulations Paige.
Reminders for Parents and Boarders
We want to remind boarders, and their parents, that chewing gum is not allowed at school or in boarding. It is an item that can often cause damage in buildings and we ask that you ensure your student is aware that they should not have chewing gum with them.
Recently, we have had an increasing number of parents asking that our GSG buses drop students to private homes or venues for leave. We cannot accommodate this. When a student goes on leave from boarding, boarding staff transfer the duty of care to the host or parent who collects the student. If we have a bus driver "drop" a student to a home or venue, this is not considered a safe transition of the duty of care for your child. Please ensure that the person hosting your student is aware that they will need to collect and return the student to the boarding house in person.
When students need to go into town for sports, the Plaza or other activities, it is their responsibility to book the GSG bus through our transport portal. The booking of a bus needs to happen before 9.00am each morning. Most of our students are brilliant at remembering to book buses, but there are those who forget. Our bus drivers plan their bus routes, the size of bus and timings based upon those who have booked. When students just arrive at the bus without a booking it makes things difficult. If a student does not book a bus, they may have their bus trip refused.
We understand that there are times when sporting games can go over time or a parent arrives at a game to watch and wants to take their child out after the game for a catch up. We ask is that students and parents communicate with the bus driver, or their boarding house, if a plan changes. Recently, we have had parents taking a student out after a sporting game and bus drivers very worried that they can't find a student and waiting for them, this then disturbs all the other students needing to be collected and worries staff.
Social Events
We hope to return to some boarding social events for parents and students next term, so please send any ideas for a social occasion that you might enjoy through to the committee. The Parent Committee meet in Week Eight, with the Boarding Forum on the last day of term.
Enjoy your extra long weekend with your family and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday from 4.00pm. Please make contact with your Head of Boarding House if you need to request an earlier drop-off time.
Ms Vanessa Bromhead | Head of Senior Boarding
Mrs Tara Ball | Head of Middle Boarding