From the Principal

Christmas Service

We began the week with our Christmas Service, a whole school event. This event is a wonderful lead into Christmas. It provides students and families with the opportunity to appreciate the real meaning of Christmas. The Year One students’ re-enactment of the nativity was a highlight. Thank you to Mrs Naomi Cooper for her reflection and coordination.

Year Six Graduation Ceremony

The new Year Six Graduation and inquiry learning display was a great celebration of the year and was well attended. The students proudly displayed their project work to parents and friends after the Graduation Ceremony. Project based learning is a powerful approach to deep learning and the new initiative from Mr Ken Raven with the support of Year Six teachers, Mr Paul Osborne and Mrs Leah Field, made the experience worthwhile. Well done to all the Year Six students.

City of Albany Christmas Pageant

We finished the year with a tribute to the stars at the City of Albany Christmas Pageant last Saturday. It was wonderful to have Cecile Williams as our artist-in-residence to create our totem poles with the Year Fives. A group of Years Five and Six students participated in the pageant and looked wonderful as they decorated themselves with outfits of yellow, white and anything that sparkled. It was a lot of fun!

We have just been advised that our float came second, in the 'Walking Floats' category. Congratulations.

Photos from Recent Events

All images from the recent Award Ceremonies can be found on MyGSG under Junior School, Middle School and Senior School.

Junior School Awards Ceremony
Junior School Christmas Concert
Years Seven to Eleven Awards Ceremony

Award Ceremonies

The Junior School and Years Seven to Eleven Award Ceremonies were held this week to celebrate the 2021 academic year. Preparing our students for life outside school is our priority, and whilst our academic excellence and pursuit will be upheld, the School will continue to seek purposeful engagement in the areas of co-curricular development, Griffins sport, Arts, community sustainability and servant leadership to ensure our students become equipped for the world they enter. There are many people who work together to achieve the School’s goals, I wish to thank Chair of School Council, Mrs Fran Leary and members of School Council for their guidance, wise counsel and governance. To Council sub-committees, the Finance Committee, Building and Grounds Committee and the newly formed Great Southern Grammar Foundation, thank you for the hours you volunteer to support this wonderful school.

To the P&F Management Committee led by President Mr Jim Darmody and class representatives, thank you for your wonderful contribution to school life. The introduction of the Great Southern Gathering and Kingfisher Fair were two significant P&F highlights.

We farewell a number of staff including Mrs Meredith Wright, Head of Humanities and Social Sciences who is retiring after an outstanding teaching career. We also farewell Mrs Shuko Doyle, Japanese teacher who has taught at GSG for 17 years. Our very best wishes go with Mrs Jacqui Van Rijn, Canteen Convenor; Head of Eclipse Boarding House, Mr Brenton Rice and our gap assistants, Mr Louis Stratico and Mr Joshua Jackson and Maths teacher Mr Jack Adams on their new journeys. We wish you all the best for the future, you are always welcome at Great Southern Grammar.

I thank the Executive team for their efforts throughout the year; to Deputy Principal Mrs Emma Franklin, for her tireless and skillful leadership in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the School, Business Manager Mr Andrew Orr, for his passion for driving change with sustainability and risk, Mr Adam Scott for initiating pastoral changes and VACS in the Middle School and congratulations to Mr Ken Raven on a highly successful first year as Head of Junior School. A special thank you to Mr Mark Bonnin who will relinquish his role as Head of Senior School after nine years. We welcome his continued contribution as a member of the teaching staff.

To our teachers, education assistants, boarding, business and facilities staff, thank you for your contribution throughout the year as we continually progress with our strategic direction.

Thank you, parents, for your faith and trust in us. It is your faith and trust that support our school and allow it to be a very special place.

May I wish you a safe and Happy Christmas,

Mr Mark Sawle | Principal