The Anchor

From the Principal

School Ball

Under COVID restrictions, the much-anticipated Year Twelve Ball was held and was truly a success.  The background planning completed by Mrs Turnor, Mrs Poole and the Year Twelve Ball Committee included a new red carpet entry, delicious food menu and an opportunity to dance the night away.  Whilst wearing of masks was required inside, this did not dampen the enthusiasm for the night of festivities.  The night was worth the wait.

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

The School is participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA).  The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.  Planning for a safe and supportive school community requires a whole-school community approach.  Whole-school responses to bullying prevention builds a positive and supportive environment by incorporating strategies for intervention at all levels, inclusive of students, teachers, parents and carers.  Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying.  The key characteristics of bullying include:

  1. Power imbalance
  2. Deliberate intent to cause harm and
  3. Ongoing and repeated behaviour

While the following behaviours of peer aggression do not constitute bullying, these behaviours may still be serious and require intervention at home and at school:

  1. Arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
  2. Single acts of social rejection or meanness, or
  3. Isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence

Student Code of Conduct

After six months of consultation with students and staff, the GSG Student Code of Conduct has been launched.  The document reflects our school values and provides students with directions about what behaviour is expected of themselves and others.  In an entertaining virtual assembly on Monday, the students ‘took over’ the presentation to launch the Student Code of Conduct. This provided students with an outline of the Code that will continue to be shared in the coming weeks. You can watch the live streamed assembly here.  

 

I encourage parents to read the Code.  If you have any feedback, please contact your Head of Subschool.

 

Student Code of Conduct

 

School Registration

Many of you will be aware that the School, in order to operate and receive government funding, is required to undergo a periodic re-registration process.  Our last re-registration took place in 2017 when we received a five year term, this term expires this year, 2022.

 

We began preparing for re-registration early in 2021, amongst other things, with a review of policies and procedures.  Please take the time to review our Code of Conduct and Parent Code of Conduct Communication Guidelines. These policies are linked to the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. I invite your thoughts and comments to policychange@gsg.wa.edu.au by Friday 1 April 2022.  

 

Policies | GSG Website

 

Compliment from a member of the public

This week we received a compliment for one of our players in the Boys Year 3/4 Grammar Griffins basketball team.  The comment is highlighted below:

“I would like to compliment the Year 4 boy who wears the number 11 and played against the Tigers yesterday.   This boy showed wonderful sportsmanship, repeatedly helping other players of both teams up when they tripped over, giving them pats on the back and encouraging them to continue.  My son was playing on the opposing team (Tigers) and the friendliness of the Grammar players was so clear that he commented on it as well at the end of the game.  I would have liked to compliment the boy and his family/coach after the game, but they left before I got the chance.  The entire Grammar team showed wonderful enthusiasm and support for each other which is a credit to the players and their coach”.

Air Purifiers

The School has been sourcing a range of purifiers for various common areas and offices to sanitise the air to reduce the spread of viruses.  This is another strategy which will contribute to making the school’s spaces safer.  One of the locations for the air purifier is the School Library which is consistently visited by various students throughout the day.  

COVID-19

A reminder that you can access the Great Southern Grammar COVID-19 updates on MyGSG, or by clicking here.

 

Mr Mark Sawle | Principal