From the Deputy Principal

On reflection

As you can see, I love this time of the year, as I get to dress up and join in the Easter Hat Parade. I also love this time of year as the end of term is a good time to reflect and I have recently found myself reflecting on where we were this time last year…and I shudder in remembering!  Some correspondence to you, from about this time last year said: As we take on the challenge of providing an innovative, progressive education to your children, we are conscious of how you as parents are experiencing the Covid-19 crisis. This is not easy. We are all experiencing the challenge differently. My message to you is that we are with you all the way. We are here for you and your children and we will see this through together, as a community. 

Reading this reminded me that regardless of the challenges we face, we are always much better equipped to face them together.  We did see it through!  And we did it together, as a community, the way we always see through a challenge. This week I’ve seen so many examples of us working together as a community for the benefit of our children, from our brilliant Easter Hat Parade this morning to our older students mentoring younger students in our boarding houses.  From the information about early years literacy to establishment of new sporting structures and feedback about P&F events; I am convinced we are all better, together.  Education is very much about us working in partnership with you.

Please, keep in contact with us. Let us know if you have ideas or feedback.  Connect to your P&F representative (see the P&F page on MyGSG). Email your child’s class or homeroom teacher.  Contact your child’s teacher, Head of Year or Head of House.  Feel free to ring or email me.  I welcome your suggestions about how we can keep working together to support our children. 

Special guest: Melinda Tankard Reist

We are delighted to be able to bring Melinda Tankard Reist, renowned writer, speaker and advocate for women and girls to GSG to speak to students and parents in April. Melinda will explore the proliferation of sexualised images and messages which contribute to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and sexuality in young people.  Melinda’s presentation to parents is entitled Navigating a se*ed-up world: How can we help our children resist harmful messages from media + pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships?  Melinda will provide practical tips and resources to help us achieve this. 

Melinda will present to parents on Thursday 22 April at 7.00pm to 8.15pm.  If you would like to attend our parent and community session, please secure your seat here .  Registration will close at 3.00pm on Tuesday 20 April.  We will open this opportunity to the wider community this week, so don’t miss booking your place, and feel free to invite family and friends.

Further to this, Melinda will speak to girls in Years Nine to Twelve, boys in Years Ten to Twelve as a group and boys in Years Eight and Nine as a group.  The approach is very much about educating our students and providing them with strategies to cope personally with issues that may confront them.  

More details about Melinda can be found on her website  https://melindatankardreist.com/

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is on Sunday 25 April and students may like to attend services in Mt Barker, Denmark or in Albany.  Numbers for participants in the march in Albany are restricted and information about participation in the march has been sent to students and families as appropriate.  If your child is not marching, you may like to join the Albany Anzac Day service in Anzac Peace Park from 10.15am on the day.  Alternative service details are as follows:

Denmark

Students meet Mrs Meredith Wright outside the Denmark RSL Hall on Strickland Street from 10.20am, ready to march to the War Memorial at 10.30am.

Mount Barker 

Students meet Mr Kieran Bailey on Lowood Road near the Library at 10.30am, ready to march to the Mount Barker War Memorial for wreath laying.

Middle and Senior School students who are participating in a march in any of these locations are to wear their presentation school uniform, including blazer, long pants or skirt and tights and the formal school hat. Hats will be available for loan from the Uniform Shop. Please click here to read the loan details.  Junior School students are to wear their green school jumper with their presentation uniform. 

Students attending the memorial services and not marching are welcome to attend without wearing school uniform.

Mrs Emma Franklin | Deputy Principal