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Learning this week has been both varied and exciting at our Campus with many lucky students experiencing both the outdoor classroom and the Melbourne classroom.
This morning we celebrated our Citizens of the Term. The award is based on our school values of compassion, leadership, (personal) excellence, responsibility and respect and to give greater responsibility to our students, each class voted on who they thought should be Citizen of the Term.
As Term 2 finishes, I’d like to commend the students on their amazing energy, their positive engagement in their own learning, their respectful engagement with each other, their compassion for others and their willingness to embrace so much of what our School has to offer. Many of these qualities are evident in reports which have been distributed today; however, there is also great feedback in the reports which highlights ways in which students can continue to grow and learn.
It is incredibly pleasing for me to reflect on a very successful and positive term for our School....
This week, the Garnsey campus officially began Semester 2 with a new timetable and a new Arts subject or elective for our Years 7-9 students.....
Actions speak louder than words, which best describes our SRC’s efforts over the last few weeks....
Under difficult circumstances this week, our campus has produced what I see as the perfect production........
It has been a busy time in the English department this semester as we have welcomed four new staff members who are teaching at Garnsey for the first time.....
It has been another busy term for the Gippsland Grammar Garnsey students and ISC staff.....
Year 10 and 11 students have completed examinations this week and teachers have been finalising reports ready for the proofreading process.......
This morning we were treated to a wonderful Fellowship by our Year 1 McCubbin students. They focused on teaching us all about the brain and how we can become better thinkers and learners.....
As one of our focuses in learning is to promote the student voice, for this week’s newsletter I have sourced my content from the students.
Each year our Pathways staff support our Year 7 and 8 students to participate in competitions which challenge their problem solving skills and also encourages them to work in teams.
As part of the Outdoor Education experience students reflect and document their learnings in a program journal.
|
Team |
GGS |
BH |
WINNER |
|
Hockey |
1 |
1 |
Draw |
|
Football (Boys) (away) |
12 |
As members of the School Executive team met with our indigenous students for our annual Reconciliation Week morning tea this week......
This week we celebrated Reconciliation Week in a number of ways. Students from all year levels learnt about how reconciliation promotes respect....
This week I have spent some time in our classrooms to providing relief for our specialist teachers and part-timers to write their reports........
As we move towards the end of Term 2, the Science department staff and students have been working together to set the foundations for academic success......
“Whether they are conscious or not, people live by a core idea, or set of ideas.”
- John Armstrong
Year 7 student Katelyn Henderson will compete at the Australian Gymnastics Championships
As I write this newsletter on Thursday evening, I am sitting at St Margaret’s School, Berwick, while 36 members of our debating team from Years 8-12 are busily preparing their debates.
This week I spent some time at a conference for all Heads of Junior Schools at Independent Schools across Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.....
I am writing this week’s newsletter in the beautiful surrounds of Hepburn Springs where I am attending the IPSHA Tri State Conference along with many other Heads of Campus....
This week at the Garnsey campus we have taken the opportunity to use today’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)......
At this morning’s Fellowship we had the great opportunity to find out about our Year 5 and 6 cultural tour of Japan.....
Today is Walk Safely to School Day and so many of our staff and students began our day with a brisk walk to school from the bakery.....
The annual Year 11 Ball was held last Friday at the Sale Memorial Hall and once again it was a great success for the School......
Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers and grandmothers in our school community.......
Cross Country can be a challenging event for many and it is with this in mind that I congratulate every student from Foundation to Year 6 for participating......
SEISA ATHLETICS
We were most excited to hear the terrific results of five of our students who represented Gippsland Grammar at the SEISA athletics in Melbourne this week.....
HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY
We began this week with our House Cross Country and were blessed with wonderful weather and great support from parents and friends.....
Year 9 Melbourne Experience
Our Year 9 Melbourne Experience began this week with one of our academic classes travelling to Melbourne on Monday to base themselves at our new classroom at Flinders Street.....
Problem Solving is an important skill in Mathematics, where we ask students to use their knowledge and skills to work through a problem. In Years 7 and 8, students are required to complete Problem Solving Tasks each semester.....
This week at the School Association’s Annual General Meeting, Mrs Kate Young presented some proposed changes to the School’s constitution....
It was great to see so many people from our community involved in the ANZAC Day.....
Welcome back to Term 2, and I hope all families had an opportunity to spend quality family time during our two-week break......
Our students arrived happily for Term 2 on Tuesday morning greeting each other excitedly in the playground......
would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our families well for the upcoming term break and also a happy Easter. We have been celebrating Easter early at Gippsland Grammar and I may have managed to consume a couple of early eggs and a hot cross bun.
“When kindness and respect thrive over bullying, hate and prejudice, all young people are free to realise their potential”........
I would like to begin by wishing everyone a safe and happy Easter holiday with family and friends......
Spending the day at The Abbey on Raymond Island together has been a lovely way to conclude our term......
The Senior Girls Tennis team continued their winning tradition this week by taking out the SEISA final in convincing fashion.....
Our debaters enjoyed a very successful evening on Thursday night, winning 8 out of 10 debates....
House Athletics Results:
Spirit Shield
Wellington Binks
Age Champion
F M
Under 13 Grace Ng (CD) Harry Lancaster (TH)
It was a great pleasure to travel to the RAAF Base East Sale on Monday afternoon to join some of our RAAF families for afternoon tea......
On Wednesday afternoon I took my young family to the peaceful gathering in the Sale mall to show support for the Muslim community.....
Referring to our Parent Engagement model (please see below), I have this week seen evidence of the share and support component through the Parent-Teacher interviews.....
It was a great pleasure to officially welcome our new chaplain, Jackie Belot, to Gippsland Grammar on Wednesday this week as she was commissioned by the Right Reverend Dr Richard Treloar.....
Thank you to our grandparents and special friends who came to our Fellowship last week.........
For our Year 6 class, Mr Cook and myself, our school week commenced on Sunday as we travelled to Melbourne for the Halogen Youth Leadership Conference.
At Gippsland Grammar we aim to create a safe and supportive school community for everyone. he importance of kindness and respect can never be overstated.
It has been a week of sharing happy moments with our friends and colleagues in Sale this week. Joining in the exciting official opening of the new Year 3/4 building at St. Anne’s....
To describe this week as busy would be an understatement! Our school community officially opened our new 3&4 building.....
On March 4, 2019, thirty-five Year 10 students travelled to Lakes Entrance to conduct a field research task to answer three propositions:
As the sun rose over the Barwon River early last Saturday morning, and our junior and intermediate girls worked with their coaches to set up their boats.....
I have always had strong, independent women play a significant role in my life - my mum, wife, sisters and now daughters.
It has been a challenging week for many in our School community, with the threat of fires.
Suggestions on hosting and attending parties
Growing up in our complex society today is no easy matter. Young people have more temptations to face, including drugs and alcohol ...
The start of any School year is a busy time for reviewing and managing a number of important compliance and emergency issues.
I hope that our parents and carers found this week’s Parent Teacher Interviews valuable and informative.
This morning at Fellowship members of the Green Team shared their knowledge with us and reminded us of our role in keeping our environment healthy and clean.
As Directors we are privileged to be able to serve as members of the Gippsland Grammar Board.
From local to international sites, our students have enjoyed and benefitted from some wonderful experiences off campus over the last few weeks.
We had a great Fellowship this morning, formally acknowledging our Year 6 students, who have taken on leadership roles this year.
It has been a week of learning for many of us, with our children’s best interests at the forefront, as always.
Grades are part of the assessment story in schools. However, in this day and age, students are no longer defined by them.
A highlight for me this week was being a part of our Year 2 Geography excursion, swimming with the students at the Sale Aquatic Centre.
With the swimming carnival completed, our attention has quickly shifted to our future production of The Wizard of Oz and the announcement of roles.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year was celebrated in a truly positive and engaging way this week at the Garnsey campus.
This morning, we held our Campus Captains induction for 2019. Regan Leeson and Indiana Hicks have already had a considerable impact through their leadership skills.
Today at Fellowship we celebrated the beginning of a new school year! We reflected on the strength of a school community and the support it provides for its students, families and staff.
The Wellington Shire and Community Power Hub Latrobe Valley are conduction a information session.
Please click here to view the flyer.
Drought Assistance
The Victorian government has announced a drought response package targeting Central and East Gippsland.
It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome our students to the 2019 school year. It was wonderful to see the smiling faces returning after the summer break and fantastic to see so many new students beginning their careers at Gippsland Grammar.
It has been both energising and exciting to welcome the students back to School this week and to hear their chatter as they pass by my office.
We enjoyed morning tea with our new Foundation and Transition parents in the library this morning, continuing our commitment to building strong connections within our school community. It was well attended, with parents able to meet our Principal, David Baker and our new chaplain, Reverend Jackie Belot.
Our students arrived today with the sound of laughter and cheerful conversations to commence the new school year. After days of planning, preparing classrooms and professional learning, our teachers were delighted to meet their students.
Monday 4 February
- Assembly
Tuesday 5 February
- Swimming Trials for Year 3-6 students
Parent access to VOS in 2019
You may already have met VOS – our exciting new School portal and Learning Management System (LMS). Utilised by staff and students in 2018, you will receive a communication before Term 1 commences ...
Shining stars amidst a galaxy of bright performances.
Gippsland Grammar has had another stellar year, with nearly 40% of VCE students achieving an ATAR score in excess of 80, placing them in the top 20% of the state.
On behalf of Gippsland Grammar, I would like to wish our friends and families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. My thanks to every member of our School community for a fabulous 2018.
We have arrived at the end of another School year. As we look forward to Christmas and our summer holidays, I thank all students, families and staff for another wonderful year ...
What a week it has been! We began our final week of school for 2018 with our Prep Christmas Concert. Those in attendance witnessed a singing extravaganza from our youngest students.
As our year draws to an end, it is time to reflect and be grateful for the year that has been.
To our parents, I am thankful for your support and the trust you place in us each day.
This week has been full of excitement and anticipation as new students attended our school for the first time. Many were here as part of the Garnsey Campus rollover, with more than 100 students and their parents attending the Year 7 Orientation on Tuesday.
Respectful Relationships is an initiative to help young Victorians deal with a range of challenges. It promotes equality and helps boys and girls learn how to build healthy relationships.
Today was a day full of excitement as our students discovered their teacher, classmates and classroom for 2019. New and existing students spent the majority of the day with their 2019 class, experiencing what learning is going to be like next year.
Our week commenced with a bright array of Christmas colour and cheer, with our campus raising more than $700 for those less fortunate in the community.
In 2019 the incentive scheme for paying your fees in advance will be changing. To help you understand the new scheme and how it may benefit you, the Business Manager is running a webinar.
Tuesday 11 December
- Studio Arts Gallery Excursion
Wednesday 12 December
- Carols by Candlelight –Sale Botanical Gardens (5.30pm)
Monday 10 December
- Prep Christmas Nativity, 9.00am
Tuesday 11 December
- Citizen of the Term Assembly, 9.00am
Monday 10 December
- Sport Uniform today
- Dedication of the SRC Wellbeing Chair after assembly
- Kurrajong and Melaleuca Eagle Point hike and BBQ
- Dulcie Holland Rehearsal
This week I felt a sense of new beginnings in the air as our Garnsey students started rollover and our Year 6 students eagerly and patiently prepared themselves for next week’s orientation. New beginnings mean new opportunities and a chance to start again, learning from past failures.
Thank you to all those parents, students and staff who participated in the uniform survey. The purpose of this review was to determine whether key stakeholders in our School community thought that our uniform was still meeting its purpose, and whether adjustments to support comfort and equity were considered important by those in our community.
This morning our campus gathered for one of my favourite events of the year, the ELC Christmas Concert. Each year, our ELC students put together a Christmas Concert that includes wonderful costumes, songs and a great message.
Throughout the week, we have engaged in a number of significant community and campus events. Supporting each other and sharing our knowledge, our experience and our expertise is what enables a community to grow.
Monday 3 December
- St Anne’s Christmas Service, 9.00am
Tuesday 4 December
- 2018 Year 6 at Orientation, Garnsey Campus
- ELC and Year 5 Buddies -Tabloid Sports Carnival, 9.00am
Tuesday 4 December – Friday 7 December
- Yr 7 Orientation Week
Monday 3 December
SRC Out of Uniform Day-Wear Christmas colours and bring a cash or gift card donation.
East Gippsland Shire Summer Reading
Last year the Summer Reading Club was a huge success!
It is with great pleasure that I announce the new staff who will be joining Gippsland Grammar in 2019. After a recruitment process that began in August, we can now share the following appointments:
The end of our 2018 academic year has arrived and we are now “rolling over” to a new academic year on Monday. It has always been important to us to mark these milestones and celebrate the connections made throughout the year.
We are entering the ‘pointy’ end of the school year with plenty going on between now and the last day of term on 13 December.
A short week for students it may have been, however, I have a lot to share with you, both news of activities past and planning for the weeks to come.
Monday 26 November
- Year 4 to Camp Rumbug
- Dulcie Holland Rehearsal
Tuesday 27 November
- Prep 2019 Transition Session 9.00-11.00am
- Prep Information Evening 6.00-7.00pm
The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Bairnsdale Library
The East Gippsland Shire Library will be hosting a special Saturday storytime session during Social Inclusion Week aimed at children aged 3 - 10.
After School Care at St Anne's ...latest Sherpa Kids newsletter.
On Monday, 22 October, our Prime Minister, the Hon. Scott Morrison delivered a national apology to survivors of victims of Institutional child sexual abuse in Australia.
We have now completed most of our assessments and curriculum for the year and our planning for Rollover at Garnsey Campus is well underway with a new timetable and classes being finalised.
Congratulations to Regan Leeson and Indiana Hicks who have been elected St Anne’s Campus Captains for 2019. Our Campus Captains have a major role within our school community.
The James Beard Hall was filled with song on Monday as each House performed enthusiastically in the House singing competition. An introduction solo by Aiden Rodriguez for Wellington Binks was a highlight, along with all Houses singing a campus favourite ‘1000 reasons’ in unison.
Monday 19 November
- Report Writing Day (Student Free)
Wednesday 21- Thursday 22 November
- Tertiary tours
Monday 19 November
- Report Writing Day-Student Free Day
- ELC Reception and Pre-Prep 2019 Orientation Day
Monday 19 November
- Report Writing Day, student free
- ELC Orientation Day
Friday 23 November
- Staff Professional Development Day, student free
A message from the Anglican Bishop of Gippsland, the Right Reverend Dr Richard Treloar, as published in the Gippsland Anglican.
Religious freedoms: freedom from, or freedom for?
Anglicanism is a ‘church-in-society’ tradition. That is, we take our place as a church in the rough and tumble of the culture around us.
Uniform survey
Our survey about the contemporary and inclusive nature of the School uniform has been well received by parents and will remain open for another week.
Digital Technology at St Anne’s in 2019
Digital Technology at St Anne’s will take a big leap next year, with all year levels (Foundation to Year 6) participating in regular ICT classes.
The week has moved very fast with the Melbourne Cup public holiday allowing for an enjoyable break on Tuesday. On Wednesday we welcomed Glen Dihood, Year 7 Co-ordinator at Garnsey Campus and Stewart Llewellyn, Head of Boarding, to our Bairnsdale Campus ...
This House Drama Festival, with a theme based on songs by The Beatles, was wonderfully hosted by our Drama Captains, Abby and Flynn. The students and staff were treated to superb performances prepared by each House, with Cranswick-Dargo taking out the shield this year.
The Year 12 end-of-year examinations are in full swing and many students sat the English exam last Wednesday. Both Literature and English Language will be examined next week, and we wish students of those subjects well in their preparations.
Please click on the following links below explaining and displaying the Year 10 and Year 11 Exam Timetable and Rules of Examination. Thank you
Digital devices during family time could exacerbate bad behavior
By Michael Hawton, Child Psychologist (MAPS) and Parentshop founder.
Team: Junior Cricket
Players player: Harper Fox
Coaches Award: Zane Waixel
Best on Ground: Tom Wrigglesworth
Score: GGS (4/166) vs St. Pauls (10/45)
Monday 12 November
- Year 10 Exams Commence
Monday 12 November – Friday 16 November
- Year 9 Electives
Monday 12 November
- House Singing Competition 12:20pm – families welcome!
- ELC Reception and Pre-Prep 2019 Information Evening 6:00pm
Monday 12 November
Year 6 Pop up Shops
Tuesday 13 November
Year 6 Pop up Shops
I was recently asked if I was winding down at work as we approach the end of the year. My answer was a resounding no!
There is no doubt that Gippsland Grammar students look smart, represent the School with pride and have a sense of connection when they wear our uniform.
The ‘Outdoor Classroom’ day on Thursday set the theme for the week! Through varied activities, our students experienced learning in our environment, caring for our environment and staying safe in our environment.
Changes to Year Level Names
Last night we had the pleasure of hosting the parents of our 2019 Reception, Transition and Foundation students at our annual Information Evening.
A number of Year 8 classes have been selected to take part in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
Not every act of meanness is bullying
By Michael Hawton, Child Psychologist (MAPS) and Parentshop founder.
Team: Junior Cricket
Players player: Zane Waxiel
Coaches Award: Lily Lindon
Best on Ground: Laird McRae
Score: GGS (3/86) vs Beconhills Berwick (0/99)
Tuesday 6 November
- Melbourne Cup – Public Holiday
Wednesday 7 November
- 8D participate in TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) Session Assessment
- Premiers Reading Challenge – Luncheon
Gippsland Dragon – 12:35pm
Monday 5 November
- Year 4 Excursion to Gumbuya Park
Tuesday 6 November
- Melbourne Cup, student free
The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Bairnsdale Library
The East Gippsland Shire Library will be hosting a special Saturday Storytime session during Social Inclusion Week aimed at children aged 3-10.
Monday 5 November
- St John’s First Aid in Schools Program
Tuesday 6 November
- Melbourne Cup Day Holiday
What a week it has been for Gippsland Grammar. We formally farewelled our Year 12s on Wednesday as they enjoyed their last official day as students.
On Tuesday this week, our Year 12 students enjoyed their final classes before Wednesday’s Celebration Day and the commencement of study leave. All schools have their own rituals and celebrations at this time of year.
I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with our Year 5 students at their Coonawarra camp this week: spending time in the outdoors, working with students on their leadership, problem solving, building resilience and reconnecting with nature.
Our Year 5 students have enjoyed their outdoor educational experience at Coonawarra, with ideal weather and terrific resilience building activities.
What do you see in this picture?
With this one question and a carefully chosen work of art, teacher of Art and Design at Gippsland Grammar, Ms Nadine Lineham, opens the door towards deeper learning.
Monday 29 October
- Year 9 Peer Support
- Year 7 (Group 2)Packing Session
Monday 29 October
- State Athletics, Melbourne. Best of luck to Kael, Ashleigh and Zara
- Year 3 and 4 to Fairy Dell 10:00am-2:00pm
Monday 29 October
- SSV State Track and Field Championships
Wednesday 31 October
- Year 6 Excursion to Kilmany
- Beeswax Wrap Workshop, 3:45pm in Art Room, bookings essential
This week, our students treated us to a wonderful Spring Concert at The Wedge in Sale. Their commitment to their performances, combined with great talent, was amazing.
Spring Spectacular
The Annual Spring Concert, held on Monday night at The Wedge in Sale, was a great display of musical talent.
Today we enjoyed a wonderful Fellowship, hosted by Miss Wheeler and our students from Year 3 Flynn. The focus, ‘Being grateful for what we have’, was an important message throughout.
Gippsland Grammar is renowned for its approach to outdoor education, supporting our students to develop personal resilience while appreciating the great outdoors.
We’re skipping through the term!
Jump Rope for Heart is well underway and it’s great to see so many children out in the playground skipping with smiles on their faces.
Monday 22 October
- Leading Senior Constable Toni Redshaw for Cyber Awareness. Parent Session at 3.30pm. Student sessions during the school day.
Monday 22 October
- Wellington School Shoot - Longford
Tuesday 23 October
- Immunisations (Yr 7) (9:00am-10:00am)
Winners please collect your prize from the Music Department or contact Sue Bryant 5143 6381.
Thank you
Monday 22 October
- Pre-loved Book Sale, Library
Tuesday 23 October
- Year 5 depart for Coonawarra Camp
- Pre-loved Book Sale, Library
Team: Junior Cricket
Players player: Harry McCann
Coaches Award: Laird McRae
Best on Ground: Austin Bauer
Score: GGS (9/104) vs Newhaven (9/118)
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our students back for the final term of 2018. Term 4 is traditionally a very busy term, with many activities and functions.
With the weather warming up a little, it’s time to start the business of Term 4. I welcome all students and families back to School and hope the holidays were restful for everyone.
Welcome back to an exciting term ahead. I hope you have all had a chance to refresh after a busy Term 3. This term promises to be full of great learning opportunities for our students.
‘Creativity is never right or wrong,’ states Georgie Heath. ‘It is about making inventions,’ suggests Piper Jankowiak. It is all around us this week as we proudly present our 2018 Art Show.
Fifteen students from Years 9 – 11 went to Japan during the September holidays. We spent time at our Sister School, Hikarigaoka Girls' High School, for the first seven days.
Spring Concert, Mon 15 October, 6pm The Wedge
http://thewedge.com.au/event/gippsland-grammar-spring-concert/
Gippsland Grammar has two new national equestrian champions.
Siblings Alice and Will Murray both won their respective showjumping titles at the Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships last week.
Tuesday 16 October
- Year 6 depart for Karoonda Park Camp
- Gippsland Region Athletics, Newborough
Monday 15 October
- Art Show Open today 9:00am-4:00pm
- Silent Auction of Art Works finishes at 4:00pm today
Saturday 13 October
- VATE English Revision Lecture
- Monash University Caulfield (7:00am-6:00pm)
There was a genuine feeling of excitement at all our campuses today. The weather has warmed up, the holidays are upon us, our senior students can see the light at the end of the tunnel and the footy finals are well under way.
House Drama
We enjoyed another wonderful celebration of the Arts during our annual Drama festival. More than 70 students from Years 7 – 12 were involved in the House plays held on Thursday and performed again on Thursday night in Garnsey Hall to friends and family.
What a term! This term has been packed full of learning and special events. We had a fantastic Father’s Day celebration, engaging Spring Concert, Tournament of Minds, Commemoration Day, Book Week, Bike Education, NAPLAN, Literacy and Numeracy Week to name a few.
Last week included the official RUOK day, but it needs to be every day - at school, in the workplace and in the community. The message behind RUOK day is to simply have a conversation - check in on a friend, a colleague, a neighbour to show that you care.
Practice Exams Timetable
Year 12 Practice Exams: Monday 1 October - Friday 5 October (in Garnsey Hall unless otherwise stated)
Click HERE to access the timetable
Code Kids
Code Kids School Holiday Program:Thursday 27 September or Thursday 4 October (10am to 1pm) at the Bairnsdale Scout Hall.
Saturday 22 September – Wednesday 3 October
- Japan Study Tour
Friday 28 September
- AFL Public Holiday
Monday 8 October
- Term 4 commences
Tuesday 9 October
- Concert Band 2.45-3.30pm
Wednesday 10 October
The Maffra and District Agricultural Society are holding a Children's 100m Foot Race at the Maffra Show's Night Carnival Please see the Children's Foot Race Flyer and Entry Form.
Please click on the twilight basketball flyer for information and times.
Monday 8 October
Term 4 commences
PE Lawn Bowls Program commences for Year 3-4
Friday 12 October
House Handwriting Fellowship, 9:00am
Tuesday 16 October
Year 6 depart for Karoonda Park Camp
Gippsland Region Athletics, Newborough
This week Australians recognised and placed mental health and awareness on the national agenda as we participated in RUOK Day.
Year 8 Innov8tion Day
With students dressed as ‘game changers’ and ‘change makers’, the inaugural Innov8tion Day was a great success. With students engaged in collaborative learning in a variety of subject areas, the day was filled with problem solving, quizzes, great curiosity and learning. Well done to all students on their participation.
NAPLAN
All parents with children in Year 3 or Year 5 would have received their child’s NAPLAN results for 2018. Students were assessed on their Numeracy, Reading, Writing and Language Conventions. The evidence collected from NAPLAN provides the School, teachers, parents and students with a snapshot of student learning.
As I write this newsletter, I am also preparing for Year 3 camp and looking forward to sharing the pleasures of the beautiful Banksia Peninsula with our students. In anticipation, I thank Ms Hunter, Ms Crowe and Maddie McCarrey for their time and commitment to the students over the two days.
Canberra Trip- Year 11
Earlier this term the Year 11 Geography students travelled to Canberra to gather data about tourism within the nation’s capital.
Snow, snow and more snow! It’s been an exciting term in Outdoor Education in the Year 9 Alpine Program. With another year of fantastic snow cover, the Year 9 students encountered the alpine country at its best. Their experience was enriched by the array of weather conditions, ranging from blue skies to huge snow dumps.
Bairnsdale and District Agricultural Show 2018 - Wearable Recycled Art Fashion Parade
Open to All Grades 5 and 6 students. Theme ~ Recycling Plastics
Aim: To create a piece of Wearable Fashion from Recycled Plastics.
Monday 17 September
- Wellbeing Week
- Whole School Walk around the Lake, 9:00am
- Bike Education Program – Long Ride, Years 5 and 6
Wednesday 19 September
- Walk to School, 8:10am, cnr Foster St & Guthridge Pde
- Bike Education Program – Long Ride, Years 3 and 4
Monday 17 September
- Wellness Week
- Victorian Bike Education Challenge
- ¾ Chemistry Revision – St Paul’s Grammar Warragul
Tuesday 18 September
- Wellness Week
- Year 7 Big Day Out
- Year 7 Outdoor Education Information Evening (6.00pm-8.00pm)
Monday 17 September
- Kanga 6’s at the Wy Yung oval for Year 3 and 4 students.
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
Tuesday 18 September
- Concert Band 2.45-3.30pm
- Prep class to visit the All Abilities Playground for a Coding excursion to test the car counting app that they have created.
There has been a great feeling around the School this week as we experienced our first glimpse of spring - a small sample of the warmer weather to come.
State Champions in Clay Target titles
Congratulations to the Gippsland Grammar Shooting team who won the State clay target championships in Echuca on Monday.
Rock and Roll is alive and well at Gippsland Grammar. Last night’s Spring Concert was such a wonderful celebration of our students’ musical talent.
A large contingent of enthusiastic musicians entertained a full St. John’s church on Monday night at our Term 3 Soiree.
Maths Department News
Years 7-9 students, as well as some senior students, have recently completed the Australian Mathematics Competition.
Sunday 9 September
Tournament of Minds Victorian Championships, Latrobe University
Tuesday 11 September
Wellington Division Track and Field, Garnsey Campus
Instrumental Soiree, Chapel of St Anne, 6.00pm
Monday 10 September
- Division Athletics at Howitt Park. Good Luck Team!
- Uniform Shop at the Bairnsdale Campus for Summer Uniform Fittings 2.30-4.00pm
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
East Gippsland Libraries School Holiday Program
School Holiday Activity Session-Owl Pencil Holder
Come and decorate an owl pencil holder and also design some creative pencil toppers which you can keep. The activity will include stories and games. Bookings are essential. Phone the library or book in person at the library for this free event.
Suitable for ages 5-12.
I have recently been involved in discussions regarding proposed changes to the manner in which our funding from the Federal Government is calculated. As a member of the Victorian Ecumenical System of Schools (VESS), we have been concerned that the proposed changes may impact on our funding as a school.
We have had an interesting focus on our environment this week, with our Green Team running an inspiring assembly on Monday and students participating on a Climate Justice Summit over several days. Below is the prayer for the environment, read at assembly, which highlights the beauty and significance of the environment for all of us.
Today we celebrated Father’s Day across the school. The ELC held a morning breakfast for fathers and special friends, while our junior students took part in a wonderful Fellowship, run by our Student Representative Council. This was followed by a sausage sizzle and games around school with our fathers and special friends.
Last Saturday our two Tournament of the Minds teams and a large contingent of parents and teachers travelled to Churchill. Bairnsdale Campus entered the STEM and ARTS challenges.
Sunday 2 September
- Father’s Day
Monday 3 September
- National Literacy and Numeracy Week
- Student Support Group Meetings
Tuesday 4 September
- SRC Beyblades Competition
Thursday 6 September
Team: Intermediate Netball A
Players player: Ella Halket
Coaches Award:Tilley Gordyn
Best on Ground: Piper Conway
Score: GGS (34) vs Newhaven (45)
Team: Intermediate Netball B
Players player: Jade Halket
Coaches Award: Amy baker
Best on Ground: Sienna Privitera
Gippsland Grammar boys got off to a good start in the senior football as Berwick turned up to the wrong ground, which meant they were a little late and under prepared. This showed on the scoreboard as well, with Berwick not bothering the scorers too much in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Our English students have been exploring a range of texts this term and, in so doing, they have learned to organise their responses into a formal piece of writing, namely an analytical essay.
Monday 3 September
- Soiree at St John’s 6:00pm
- No Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal today
Monday 3 September
- State Clay Target Championships (Bendigo)
Tuesday 4 September
- VCE Drama Performance Rehearsal (Stratford Courthouse)
Wednesday 5 September
- All Schools Track Relay (Albert Park)
- 7C & 7D Geography Fieldtrip
As I write this newsletter, I remind myself that we are already more than half way through the term and our Year 12’s are quickly approaching their final days as students at Gippsland Grammar ...
It’s been another busy week at Garnsey Campus with Year 11 students on the scene in Canberra on a week-long Geography excursion; Year 10 students participating in a 3-day leadership retreat at Camp Rumbug near Foster ...
We are officially half way through Term 3 and the year is flying past very quickly. Term 3 and 4 are when we regularly notice students making significant improvement in their academic, social and emotional development.
Week six of Term 3 is always an exciting time for teachers and students. It is traditionally Book Week, when students from many schools and year levels celebrate the magic of books, bringing to life their favourite characters.
Physical Education and Health at Gippsland Grammar is more than just playing games. We aim to give our students the knowledge and positive experiences that will encourage them to be fit and healthy members of our community.
Chamber Music Soiree
If Thursday evenings Chamber Music Soiree is any indication, the program presented by Gippsland Grammar students forecasts a very bright future.
Tuesday 28 August
- Latrobe Valley Climate Justice Summit at Federation Uni
Wednesday 29 August
- Latrobe Valley Climate Justice Summit at Federation Uni
Thursday 30 August
- SEISA Winter Finals
- ISC Bookclub Excursion to Melbourne Writers Festival
- Collegians Cricket Club is currently taking registrations for U16, U14, U12, U11 and Milo Cricket
- Registration Night Wednesday 29th August 4:30pm at College Ovals
- For more information email CollegiansCricketClub@gmail.com or contact Anthony Callahan 0418 541 351
Saturday 25 August
- Tournament of Minds Competition, Federation University, 12.30pm-4.00pm
Tuesday 28 August
- Sale and District Track and Field, Garnsey Campus for selected students
- Parent Teacher Interviews, Teachers and Specialists, 3:30pm – 6:00pm
Please see the attached Flyer for the 2018-19 season. Longford Cricket Club
Online Gaming Afternoon - Be Internet Awesome
Help us celebrate eSmart Week and enjoy an afternoon of fun and games at the library. A range of online games will be available for various ages to learn how to make smart decisions online.
Monday 27 August
- Gippspell-Good luck to Grace, Pippa, Cooper and Ashley
- Pie Day orders due back today
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
- Collegians Cricket Club is currently taking registrations for U16, U14, U12, U11 and Milo Cricket
- Registration Night Wednesday 29th August 4:30pm at College Ovals
- For more information email CollegiansCricketClub@gmail.com or contact Anthony Callahan 0418 541 351
This week we welcome the new Anglican Bishop of Gippsland to Sale and our School. The Right Reverend Dr Richard Treloar will be officially installed at St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale on Saturday morning.
We farewelled the girls from Hikarigaoka Girls High School, Japan, at our assembly on Monday. The girls were each presented with a certificate and their Commemoration Day gift of “Is Emu off the Menu?” before performing a song and presenting a farewell speech to the assembly.
This morning we celebrated ‘Book Week’ during our annual Fellowship organised by Mrs Eliz Noble and our Library Monitors. Book Week gives schools the opportunity to read and celebrate great literature.
I am delighted to share the official results of last week’s House Athletics: while we were, at times, challenged by the weather, the day finished successfully with a win by Cranswick Dargo.
Sports Report
SEISA Round One: Gippsland Grammar vs Beaconhills Pakenham
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Team: Intermediate Boys Football |
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Players player |
Will Hall and Cal Hennig |
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Coaches Award |
Ben Lang and Lachie Hicks |
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Best on Ground |
Junior Bradshaw and Hunter Pearce |
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Score: GGS(130) vs St Pauls(20) |
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Chamber Concert, Thursday 23 August
Chapel of St Anne, 6PM
All welcome! No cover charge.
Sunday 19 August
Tournament of Minds Practice, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Monday 20 August
Parent Teacher Interview bookings open at 9.00am
Monday 20 August
- Book Week Assembly
- Banksia and Correa Geography Incursion
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
Children’s Book Week at the Bairnsdale Library
Dress Up Competition and activity session. Come dressed as your favourite book character, listen to stories and take part in your very own mini dinosaur excavation dig. A costume parade will be held with prizes awarded for the best dressed.
Date: Saturday 25 August
Time: 10.00-11.15am
Phone 5152 4225 or book in person at the library for this free event.
Monday was Gippsland Grammar’s Commemoration Day, the day we celebrate the August 1970 decision of the councils of the Church of England Girls’ School and Gippsland Grammar Boys’ School to amalgamate.
Commemoration Day Service
Held on Monday, 6 August, our annual Commemoration Day service celebrated the decision in 1970 to join together St Anne’s Church of England Girls Grammar School with the boys Gippsland Grammar School.
House Athletics Carnival
The Crowded House song ‘Four Seasons in One Day’ crossed my mind after Tuesday’s House Athletics Carnival. Students, teachers, parents and carers battled the elements at Garnsey campus, with Wellington Binks victorious in a tight contest.
Two very significant events occurred this week, reminding us of how fortunate we are to be one of three campuses at Gippsland Grammar.
Gippsland Grammar vs Newhaven
Senior Boys Football
Best on Ground: Ari Fleming
Coach’s Award: Harry Preston and Harrison Cook
Players Player: Ari Fleming
Score: Gippsland Grammar (162) vs Newhaven (69)
Gippsland Grammar’s shooting team performed well at the South East Zone Schools Down The Line Championships held in Frankston last week earning an invitation to compete at the State championships to be held in Echuca next month.
Term 3 continues to be a busy time for the Science Department. Our teachers have been working hard to ensure that students at all levels are developing a sound understanding of how the world around them functions.
Monday 13 August
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
Wednesday 15 August
- Safer bus travel incursion
Thursday 16 August
Monday 13 August
- Science Week
- Bike Ed- Bike checks for those students using their own bikes
- Year 6 Virtual Learning Excursion through Melbourne Museum
- Wellington Division Basketball, Maffra
Monday 13 August
- Maths Competition (Yr 7’s P1&P2)
- Maths Competition (Yr 8’s & Yr 9 ‘s P3 & P4)
- NQE Biology Examination
- Rowing Information Evening-Chapel of St Anne
Tuesday 14 August
This week at Garnsey Assembly I felt a need to speak to the students regarding the value of education and the opportunities that they are presented with by attending Gippsland Grammar.
ICAS Science and Digital Technologies awards
Congratulations to students who have completed the University of New South Wales Global ICAS tests. ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program for primary and secondary school students.
Campus Captain’s Leadership Day
Yesterday our Campus Captains and I ventured to Caulfield Grammar to take part in an action packed Student Leadership Day.
Last week in my newsletter I wrote of the positive impact our senior school prefects had on our students here at Bairnsdale with the strong messages they delivered at Fellowship. At our Monday morning assembly, without any warning, I asked Jadah Frith to share his thoughts on the Fellowship.
Many Faiths, One People: Y7 tour of places of worship in Greater Dandenong
This was one of those once in a lifetime experiences: visiting and listening in-depth to a Rabbi, Yakkov Glasman, at the synagogue of the Hebrew St Kilda Congregation; a personal assistant to the Sikh temple, Ms Gagandeep Kaur; a Buddhist abbot, the Venerable Muruthamru Pannaloka and an Imam, Professor Ismet Purdic at the Bosnia & Herzegovina Islamic Mosque.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is called the NDIS. It’s a new way to help people under 65 with disability get care and supports.
Gippsland Grammar vs Beaconhills Pakenham
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Team: Intermediate Boys Soccer |
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Players player |
James Lancaster |
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Coaches Award |
Kiernan Kelly |
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Best on Ground |
Luka Blackmore |
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Score: Gippsland Grammar (2) vs Beaconhills Pakenham (1) |
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Tuesday 7 August
- House Athletics Carnival- Garnsey ovals
Friday 10 August
- Fellowship – House Public Speaking Competition Prep – 6
Monday 13 August
- Bike Ed- Bike checks for those students using their own bikes
Monday 6 August
- Commemoration Day-Year 5 and 6 and the Bairnsdale Singers to the Garnsey Campus
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
Tuesday 7 August
- Prep 100 Days of School celebration at the All Abilities Playground
- Concert Band 2.45-3.30pm
Wednesday 8 August
Monday 6 August
- Commemoration Day Celebration
Garnsey Hall - 12.00pm-12.50pm - Year 9 (group2) Packing Session
This week we took the opportunity to induct new staff into our School, a process that we complete twice a year. While the induction has a compliance component around School policies and procedures, we also take the opportunity to ensure that new team members understand and commit to our School culture.
The importance of recognising the excellent educators at Gippsland Grammar
We are very fortunate to have so many excellent educators on staff at Gippsland Grammar, and it would be wonderful to see them recognised for their work. Nominations are now open for the 2018 National Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Celebrating St Anne’s Day each year is an important tradition, not only for our current students, but also for an amazing group of past students known affectionately as Green Grubs.
While our Prep students were thrilled to see Mrs Sue Chapman last week and Ms Libby Crowe this week, both were upstaged by another new member to the class - ‘Freddy the Snowman’. Although his time at Gippsland Grammar was short lived, his impact was high.
Music Department Tuned In
Preparations are well underway for some exciting music events this term.
Our Senior Girls Soccer team won their SEISA match 2-1 and enjoyed a celebratory photo. Congratulations to:
Monday 30 July
- Hooptime, Year 5 & Year 6
Tuesday 31 July
- ICAS English
Monday 30 July
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
Tuesday 31 July
- ICAS English
- AMEB Piano Exams
- Concert Band 2.45-3.30pm
Open Rehearsal
The East Gippsland Symphonia and East Gippsland Brass will hold an open rehearsal for anyone interested in joining. Everyone welcome, bring your instrument.
When: Sunday 29 July 2018
Time: 2.00-4.00pm
Venue: Picnic Point Band Room, Cnr Drevermann and Bredt Street, Bairnsdale
It has been great to welcome our students back to School after the mid-year holidays. As I mentioned to the St Anne’s students earlier in the week, it was wonderful to see their happy and engaged faces. I appreciated the cheerful manner in which they greeted each other and me.
Welcome back to Term 3. After an enjoyable three-week break, it has been wonderful to welcome back teachers, support staff and students this week.
Great start to the Term
We have had a fantastic start to Term 3. Teachers and students have come back energised from our 3 week break. We officially welcomed Mr Brett Glover, who will be teaching Music while Mrs Katie Germaine is on Parental Leave for the remainder of the year.
Our return to school has been a smooth and happy one, with much laughter and chatter to be heard. We welcomed the Newstead family to our school community, with Josh commencing in Kurrajong and Tess in Correa.
ISC staff have been supporting English teachers as Year 7s participated enthusiastically in Literature Circles. The students read a wide range of books; Titanic, The Green Bicycle, Northern Lights, Happiest Refugee, Diary of a Wimpy kid, A Little Piece of Ground, which covered wide-ranging issues from early Australia: refugees, women in Saudi Arabia, fantasy, Palestine, parent/child relationships, bullying.
McColl Club Friends of Rowing - AGM
When: Tuesday 7 August
Where: Meeting Room Garnsey Campus
Time: 7:30pm
We will again be holding a sale of lost property at the Parent Teacher Interviews on Wednesday evening next week. The Student Support Office is overflowing with rugby tops, tracksuit pants, a few blazers, shoes, jumpers, drink bottles and other items which are all un-named. Items will be sold for $2.00 - $10.00 depending on their condition.
Monday 23 July
- Year 9 Group 1 packing session
Tuesday 24 July
- Hikarigaoka Exchange students arrive
- Year 11 VCE Chemistry - (Federation University)
- Year 9 Alpine Program
Wednesday 25 July
Tuesday 24 July
- Swimming Program commences for Mackellar, Barton, McCubbin, Bradman, Chisholm, Bass and Mawson
East Gippsland Shire Library
Lego Club
Bookings are now being taken for the Library LEGO Club being held at the Bairnsdale Library on Wednesday, 8 August from 4:00pm – 5:00pm.
Monday 23 July
- Tuckshop
- Dulcie Holland Band rehearsal
I would like to take this opportunity to wish our families a safe and enjoyable midyear break. It has been pleasing to read our student reports and the majority of our students have worked very hard this semester to achieve some excellent results. I know that all of our students and families are looking forward to a well-earned break.
As we come to the end of a long Term 2, I want to commend the students on their amazing energy, positive engagement in their own learning, their respectful engagement with each other, their compassion for others and their willingness to embrace so much of what our School has to offer.
It has been a massive Term 2 for all involved in our school community. Our hugely successful Aladdin Jr musical, beginning of our new 3/4 Learning center, student reports, Eisteddfods, Winter Sports, Fellowships, Jo Lange parent information session, ELC Quality Assessment, Soirees and House Cross Country were some of our key events.
Our students certainly do experience a rich learning environment. Our school’s professional growth and feedback program allows me to observe classes in action; it has been most pleasing to see the successful implementation of Solo Taxonomy across the curriculum.
Courage to Care
During the last week of Term 2, three groups of students from Gippsland Grammar participated in sessions with Courage to Care.
The Music Department would like to welcome back an Old Scholars to the School to teach voice. Miss Georgia Dixon will be joining us from Term 3 at Garnsey and St Anne’s campuses. If you are interested in enrolling your child to learn voice with Georgia, please complete the application form at either Garnsey or St Anne’s Music Centre.
Gippsland Grammar Vs Beaconhills Berwick (3-0)
Tom Wrigglesworth scoring two and Zaine Waixel scoring one.
Players Player: Aden Best
Coaches Award: Zoe Bolton and Jack McConachy
Best on Ground: Tom Wrigglesworth
Monday 16 July
- Staff Professional Development Day (Student Free)
Tuesday 17 July
- Term 3 commences
Thursday 19 July
- SSV Cross Country State Championships, Bundoora
- SEISA Cross Country Newhaven, selected students only
Let me introduce you to Dash the Seal and Squirt the Crocodile. Dash and Squirt are the practice pets who will be visiting our instrumental music students’ homes during the remainder of the year. They are coming to listen to your child practising and playing music and to encourage your child. They are looking forward to hearing all of the amazing music and instruments that our children play.
Monday 16 July
- Professional Learning Day (Student Free Day)
- Blackwood House Re-Opens at 2.00pm
Tuesday 17 July
- Term 3 Commences
Wednesday 18 July
Monday 16 July
- Staff Professional Development Day (Student Free)
Tuesday 17 July
- Term 3 commences
Thursday 19 July
- SSV Cross Country State Championships, Bundoora
- SEISA Cross Country Newhaven, selected students only
Monday 16 July
- Student Free Day-Professional Learning Day
Tuesday 17 July
- Term 3 Commences
- Bairnsdale Singers 2:45pm-3:30pm
- Tournament of Minds
Wednesday 18 July
- Tuckshop
Thursday 19 July
Decorate an Apron
Join us for our mid-year school holiday program activity session. Listen to stories, play games, win prizes and decorate your own apron using special fabric paints and felt pens, stamps and found objects. For ages 5 – 12. Bookings essential.
Bairnsdale Library, Tuesday 3 July (2:00pm–3:30 pm)
As I write this week’s newsletter, I am in Shanghai visiting new students and their families. The six students joining Gippsland Grammar in Term 3 to complete Years 11 and 12 all currently attend Ivanhoe Grammar’s Shanghai Campus.
General Achievement Test (GAT)
All students studying a Unit 3/4 VCE VET subject sat the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Wednesday this week. The GAT is a test of general knowledge and skills in writing, numeracy and reasoning.
For those families connected to Year 4 Freeman, you will be aware that Mr Lamb has created a Star Wars theme within the classroom. That theme was on show this morning during Freeman’s entertaining Fellowship. Freeman students incorporated Star Wars and the importance of a Growth Mindset.
Over the last few weeks, I have toured a number of potential families through our campus. While there is much information to share about our campus, I always commence our discussion with our statement of wellbeing.
Wednesday 20 June
- Wellington Division Winter Sports
Friday 22 June
Junior Mixed Hockey
Gippsland Grammar 10- Beaconhills Berwick 0
Players player: Zane Waixel
Coaches award: Austin Bauer
Best On Ground: Tom Wrigglesworth
Junior Netball A team
Gippsland Grammar 23 - Beaconhills Berwick 28
Monday 18 June
- Howard and Schuback Championships (Shooting)
- Year 9 Wills Bake Sale (World Vision)
Tuesday 19 June
- Middle Years Soiree
Chapel of St Anne (6.00pm-9.00pm)
Wednesday 20 June
Monday 18 June
- Dulcie Holland rehearsal
Tuesday 19 June
- Bairnsdale Singers 2:45-3:30pm
- Tournament of Minds
Wednesday 20 June
The rowing community (McColl Club) is seeking a donation of an old washing machine in working order. If you have one to donate, could you please contact Jane Baker, Sian Smith or Nick Bartlett. Sian Smith
0417 130 271.
Thank you
I recently caught up with some school friends and we chatted about schools today and how different they are from when we went to school; my friends are all parents now, as am I, so it was interesting to exchange views on how we see schools and education, now that we have kids of school age.
Year 8 Peer Activity Leaders training
Twenty-eight of our Year 8 students enjoyed a day in Blackwood House this week, undertaking training as Peer Activity Leaders (PAL). Heads of Year 7 and 8, Mr Glen Dihood and Mrs Faye Kennedy trained the students, who will now commence activities with their peers.
Learning About Learning
For a few years now, Gippsland Grammar has had a strong focus on making our students’ learning and thinking more visible. If you walk into any classroom you will see a lesson’s learning intention, or the ‘big picture’, prominently displayed.
The notion of lifelong learning was very evident on Tuesday afternoon as Heidi and Reuben McInnes’ grandparents arrived at our reception with violins in hand. Assuming they were for their grandchildren, I was pleasantly surprised that they themselves were heading down for violin lessons with Hilary Rigg, our new violin teacher.
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea is the Cancer Council’s most popular fundraising event and the largest, most successful event of its kind in Australia.
Crashendo!
Crashendo Bairnsdale invite you to a combined String and Wind workshop.
Junior Mixed Hockey
Gippsland Grammar 6- Beaconhills Berwick 0
Players player: Brooke Marshall
Coaches award: Austin Bauer and Eloise West
Best On Ground: Tom Wrigglesworth
Junior Netball A team
Year 9 Food for Entertaining boiled eggs, with soldiers and black pepper, or is it???? Year 9 Food for Entertaining have finished their amazing decorated cakes and to continue with playing with the senses they have created a Hesten inspired dish.
Term 2 is an exciting and busy time in Year 9 at Gippsland Grammar. At the beginning of May the first group of Year 9s started their Melbourne Experience with a sense of eagerness and apprehension; not quite sure what to expect for their two weeks in the city, but ready for anything.
Monday 11 June
- Queen’s Birthday Holiday
Tuesday 12 June
- Bairnsdale Singers 2.45-3.30pm
- Tournament of Minds
Wednesday 13 June
- ICAS Spelling Competition
- Tuckshop
Thursday 14 June
Monday 11 June
- Queen’s Birthday (Student Free)
Wednesday 13 June
- ICAS Spelling
Wednesday 14 June
- ICAS Writing
- Gippsland Region Cross Country, Lardner Park
Friday 15 June
Monday 11 June
- Queens Birthday (Public Holiday)
Tuesday 12 June
- Gippsland Grammar - Open Morningfrom (9:00am-11:30am)
Wednesday 13 June
- GAT
- ICAS Spelling Exam
Thursday 14 June
GAT (General Achievement Test)
FOR YEAR 11 AND 12 STUDENTS
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Wednesday |
10:00 am – 1:15 pm General Achievement Test (GAT) |
At Assembly, at the start of National Reconciliation Week (NRW), I normally urge our students to think beyond the hype generated by big events like the AFL’s Indigenous Round, to try to develop a deeper understanding of what the week is really about.
Semester 2 starts soon
There have been very few events on which to report this week, as students and their teachers have been focused on completion of courses for Semester 1 and the subsequent assessments that accompany the end of semester.
Our Wednesday night Aladdin Jr performance was a culmination of teamwork across Gippsland Grammar. Our students’ performances throughout the two days was amazing, demonstrating wonderful singing and acting.
Reconciliation Week for our campus commenced last Friday with Blackwood’s Fellowship. We have flown the Aboriginal flag this week as a sign of respect and acknowledgement for this significant event.
Year 10 and 11 exams
Year 10 and 11 Exams commence Monday 4 June and conclude on Friday 8 June. All Exams are held in Garnsey Hall unless otherwise stated on the Exam Timetable. Uniform must be worn and all rules adhered to. Year 10 students cannot exit the School when not undertaking Exams.
NEURODAY: Victorian Student Neuroscience Conference, Saturday 21 July, MLC
This event is open to all secondary students across Victoria. Students may be registered by their families or through their school.
VCE Music Performance Soiree
Last night we celebrated an excellent semester’s work by our VCE Music Performance, Unit 1 and 3 students, at the VCE Music Soiree in the Chapel.
Monday 4 June
Year 6 Excursion to Glenmaggie Weir
Wednesday 6 June
Day 2 School Photos – School Leaders, Choirs, Instrumental Ensembles, Mawson Class Photo, Staff Photo
Monday 4 June
- No tuckshop today
- Soiree at St John’s 6.00pm
- NO Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
Many of you will have noticed that our building works at St Anne’s have begun and that structures are emerging from the rubble of the old houses originally situated on this site.
SEISA Visual Arts day
As part of our co-curricular program at Gippsland Grammar, students had an opportunity to participate in the SEISA Visual Arts day on Tuesday 22 May at Beaconhills College Berwick.
At Gippsland Grammar, we provide a range of opportunities for our students to develop and showcase their learning and talents.
At today’s Fellowship our Year 6 leaders spoke of the significance of Reconciliation Week.
An information session for next year’s International Schools Choral Music Society (ISCMS) trip to Shanghai Feb 16 -25, 2019 will be held in the Lecture Theatre on Wednesday 6 June at 6:00pm.
We were excited to launch our new ‘Career Tools’ web page this week, available via a Quick Link on the home page of our School website at www.gippslandgrammar.vic.edu.au
It has been a very busy autumn for the Outdoor Education team. Our Year 9 students have completed the Lake Tali Karng bush walk and Year 8 has completed the Mitchell River adventure program.
Monday 28 May
- Yr 9 Melbourne experience (Group2 Week2)
Tuesday 29 May
- Yr 9 Melbourne experience (Group2 Week2)
- da Vinci Decathlon State Finals
- ICAS Science Exam
Wednesday 30 May
Monday 28 May
- Aladdin Jr Musical Rehearsal
Tuesday 29 May
- ICAS Science
- No Swimming Program today
- Aladdin Jr Musical Full Dress Rehearsal
- Aladdin Jr Opening Performance, 6:00pm at the Wedge
Wednesday 30 May
Monday 28 May
- Reconciliation Week
- No tuckshop today
- Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
Tuesday 29 May
- Bairnsdale Singers 2:45pm-3:30pm
- Tournament of Minds
- ICAS Science Competition
Wednesday 30 May
Sisterhood: She is…Strong
A session to build your strength, in every way. All women welcome! $2 entry donation, light supper provided. RSVP/Qs to Von Dubbeld (0400 321 670).
Date: Monday 28 May
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Venue: St John’s Church Hall.
This week, students from Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 completed the NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy) tests that are conducted by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
Notification of important bus and traffic management changes from Monday 21 May
The School has been working with Wellington Shire, Public Transport Victoria and the Wellington Bus Network to determine a safer solution for all students, including pedestrians and bike riders ...
Most weeks at school are busy, but I can truly say that this week was really busy! NAPLAN played a large part for our Years 3 and 5 students this week.
After a very busy first four weeks of term, this week has seemed comparatively quiet. That is, until I look back today at the week’s activities!
Coding Challenge Success
This semester, Year 9 Digital Innovations students have been developing a range of computer skills in order to become creative users of technology.
A reminder the School photographer, Lisa Baker, has put the Year 11 Ball photos online. They are ready for viewing and ordering now. Please go to lbphotos.com.au.
Thank you
Events Co-ordinator
Gerardene Caldwell
Physical Education and Health at Gippsland Grammar is more than just playing games.
Inter House Cross Country Report
The Gippsland Grammar Inter House cross country was run on 16 May on a pleasant autumn day.
Monday 21 May
- Unit 1 Biology Excursion
- Year 9 Melbourne Experience - Group 2 (week1)
Tuesday 22 May
- SEISA Workshop-Beaconhills Pakenham
- Year 9 Melbourne Experience - Group 2 (week1)
Wednesday 23 May
Monday 21 May
Wellington Division Cross Country, Yarram
Wednesday 23 May
School Photos
Come and Try Year 7 Night
Monday 21 May
- No tuckshop today
- Kurrajong and Melaleuca Keeping Place excursion
- Grevillea and Blackwood Court House excursion
- Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
I recently caught up with another Principal from our region regarding general education issues and leadership of Schools. Towards the end of our chat, he turned to me and asked if I enjoy my job. My answer was an emphatic yes.
SEISA Debating, Public Speaking and Chess
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the SEISA cultural event on Tuesday this week.
Mother’s Day is such an important day. It provides a chance for everyone to acknowledge and to thank their mums for all they do for us. My own mother has played a huge part in my life.
Open Week has provided a great opportunity to showcase our terrific campus. There has certainly been a buzz in the air with school tours, information sessions and our ELC Open Morning, which were all very well attended.
Performing Arts
Through active participation in the performing arts, students come in to contact with other cultures and traditions, while learning much about each other and themselves. This semester, Gippsland Grammar students have had many opportunities to engage with the arts.
Sunday 13 May
Mother’s Day
Tuesday 15 May
Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN Language Conventions and Writing
No Swimming Program for Year 5
Monday 14 May
- Tuckshop
- Regional Golf Competition at Bairnsdale Golf Club. Good luck Xander, Oscar and Lochlan!
- Green Team propagating incursion
- Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
Piano Recital by Julie Lockhart
Special guests-Edward Pople (Violin) and Fiona Pople (Viola)
Last week the School’s Association and the Board of Directors conducted their AGM at Garnsey Campus. Those in attendance at the Association AGM heard presentations from the Chair of the Gippsland Grammar Board- Mr Bill Jones, the Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee- Mr Brendan Shepherd, our Business Manager and Company Secretary- Mr Chris Beckman, and myself. Discussion included minor changes to the Constitution to create a more gender friendly document.
2018 Year 11 Ball
The Year 11 Ball, held on Friday 27 April, was a great success again this year. Seventy-five students chose to participate, with others assisting as ushers and announcers. Sue and John Kennedy trained the students in three dances, which they presented to the assembled audience of family, friends and official guests: the Lucille Waltz, the Chicago Swing and the Evening Three Step.
Chisholm presented a wonderful Fellowship this morning, with a particular focus on one of our CLERR values - compassion. The students spoke about Mrs Caroline Chisholm who played a key role in improving the life of women and children in the 1800’s, in Australia and across the world.
I set our students a challenge each week at Monday morning assembly. It generally focuses on our CLERR values, with the intention of making our campus a welcoming place where all feel valued and safe.
Maths Department News
A group of enthusiastic students across Years 7-10 have been working on their submissions for the Australian Mathematics Trust’s, Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians. They have been completing problem-solving tasks designed to challenge and extend motivated mathematics students. They have recently submitted their work for the challenge stage and students will have the opportunity to go on to the enrichment stage later this term.
Tuesday 8 May
ICAS Digital Technologies
Wednesday 9 May
ELC Reception Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea, 2.30pm
Monday 7 May
- Bairnsdale Campus Open Week
- Tuckshop
- Pie day orders due
- Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
I was fortunate to attend the dawn service in Melbourne with my family this ANZAC day. It was a stirring service, with 38 000 people packed in to the forecourt at the Shrine of Remembrance to honour the sacrifices of our service men and women across the generations.
It was wonderful to welcome the Breathe Project’s Kat and Bodhi to Garnsey campus on Monday and Tuesday. All Year 7 – 12 students had the opportunity to engage in a one hour session introducing a breathing routine and talking about when it might be useful and why.
Year 5 Cuthbert presented at our weekly Fellowship this morning, demonstrating much resilience during their preparations. Mrs Liz Dawson broke her arm during the school holidays and has been unable to teach Cuthbert this term.
As the Bairnsdale community gathered at the cenotaph on ANZAC day to remember those who fought for their country, I stood beside our Gippsland Grammar students with pride.
Thursday 3 May
SEISA Athletics for selected students, Casey Fields
Friday 4 May
Year 2 Chisholm Fellowship, 9.00am
Monday 30 April
- Tuckshop
- Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
It was wonderful to welcome students and staff back this week to commence Term 2. We have also welcomed four new students to Garnsey campus and I wish them well in their transition and ongoing education journey with us.
This week we welcomed from Rwanda the Principal of Gahini Secondary School, Luke Karemangingo, and Bishop Manaseh. Luke and Manaseh will be spending the next three weeks visiting our School, St Paul’s in Warragul and Traralgon, as well as many congregations within the Gippsland Diocese. It is an absolute honour to welcome these ‘old friends’ back to our School.
After a nice holiday break, we have returned to school where the lovely autumn weather continues to brighten our days. Our students have commenced the term happily and quickly settled back into their routines.
I would like to welcome everyone back for Term 2. This term will be full of Musical preparations, challenges and wonderful learning experiences. We have three new students beginning this term: Olivia (Mackellar), Hanielle (Cuthbert) and Abigail (Chisholm). On behalf of Gippsland Grammar, I would like to welcome these students and their families to our school community.
Year 7 English students are working on their media analysis unit, which encourages them to critically analyse the advertisements they are exposed to and enhance their ability to be discerning. They will ultimately create a well worded, aesthetically pleasing advertisement.
Coding For Kids
Starting in Term 2, on Saturday mornings in Bairnsdale.
9:00am-10:00am- Kilobytes (beginners)
10.00am-11.00am- Megabites and Gigabytes (intermediate)
Please contact Sharen Cameron for more information on 0408 501 399
Monday 23 April
- Unit 1 Georgraphy excursion
- Lets Breathe Seminars (Yr 7-Yr 12)
Tuesday 24 April
- SEISA Surfing Carnival
- Lets Breathe Seminars (Yr 7-Yr 12)
- Yr 11 Ball Rehearsals - Memorial Hall
- Rwanda Parent Information Session - Chapel of St Anne 6:00pm
Monday 23 April
- Jo Lange Parenting Presentation, 6:00pm, Lorna Sparrow Hall
Tuesday 24 April
- Inter-House Cross Country, Catholic College Ovals, 9:00am
- No Swimming Program today
Wednesday 25 April
- ANZAC Day (Student free)
Monday 23 April
- Tuckshop
- No Dulcie Holland rehearsal today
Tuesday 24 April
- GRIN 8.10am
- Bairnsdale Singers 2:45pm-3:30pm
- Tournament of Minds
Wednesday 25 April
As the term comes to a close it is appropriate that we take the time to reflect on the many exciting activities that have taken place during Term One and also to acknowledge the great work of our students and staff during the previous eight weeks.
I wish all our families a happy Easter and holiday. As always, Term 1 has been a busy one and students and staff are both looking forward to and deserving of a break.
As we near the end of Term 1, we have an opportunity to reflect and reaffirm what is important to our school. It has been a huge term full of amazing community events, such as STAGGFAIR, Welcome Picnic, THRASS Parent Information Session, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Fellowships and much more.
Our final week for the term, while only a four day week, has been extremely busy, particularly for our Year 6 students. As the leaders of our campus, it is important to build their capacity in all aspects.
History
On 20 February, Ms Michaela O’Connor, Ms Sam Gladman and I accompanied our Year 10 History students to Melbourne to visit the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick.
Intermediate Girls Basketball
Gippsland Grammar (26) vs Beaconhills College Pakenham (32)
Intermediate Cricket
Gippsland Grammar 8/138 vs Beachonhills College Berwick 4/138
Gippsland Grammar won in the super over
Intermediate Girls Softball
Thursday 29 March
Term 1 concludes
Friday 30 March
Good Friday
Friday 13 April - Sunday 22 April
Under Age and Para Trials - Rowing (Sydney)
Monday 16 April
Term 2 commences
Tuesday 17 April
Drama for Kids
After School ‘Drama for Kids’ classes in Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance will be commencing in Term 2, brought to you by the people who brought you Peter Pan and Aladdin. Develop character, learn improvisation, boost confidence, explore emotions, enhance literacy skills, improve teamwork and social skills and have loads of fun!
Friday 30 March
Good Friday (Student Free)
Monday 16 April
Term 2 Commences
Wednesday 18 April
State Swimming Championships for selected students, MSAC
Friday 20 April
ANZAC Day Fellowship
Monday 23 April
Monday 16 April
- Term 2 commences
- Tuckshop
Tuesday 17 April
- GRIN 8.10am
- Bairnsdale Singers 2.45pm-3.30pm
Wednesday 18 April
- Tuckshop
- State Swimming -MSAC
Thursday 19 April
Community involvement was well and truly ‘on show’ last week at STAGGFAIR. While the weather dampened the event, it was still a successful day with many families attending and members of our community assisting in lots of different ways.
As I settled into my lounge on Sunday night, feeling a little disappointed that inclement weather had forced an early end to STAGGFAIR 2018, I quickly gained perspective when I watched the impact of fires in western Victoria.
Our biennial STAGGFAIR last weekend was a wonderful example of community engagement. Teams of Gippsland Grammar parents, friends, students and teachers worked together to organise and run a range of stalls, rides and entertainment.
Our children always colour our world and that was certainly the case last Sunday at STAGGFAIR. Sharing in the Dye Hard Fun Run with our enthusiastic School community was the highlight of the day for me.
Monday 26 March
Crazy Hair & Casual Clothes Day
Tuesday 27 March
Year 1 Excursion to Old Gippstown
SEISA Athletics Trials for selected students
Monday 26 March
- Tuckshop
- Halogen Leadership Conference, Melbourne-Year 6
Drama for Kids
After School “Drama for Kids” classes in Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance will be commencing in Term 2, brought to you by the people who brought you Peter Pan and Aladdin. Develop character, learn improvisation, boost confidence, explore emotions, enhance literacy skills, improve teamwork and social skills and have loads of fun!
As you read this week’s newsletters, you will find commentary on the activities that the School participated in this week as part of the National Day of Action (NDA) against Bullying and Violence. 16 March is the NDA for schools across the country and it has been pleasing to see how various school communities have engaged with this important national initiative.
National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence
It was important that in our busy STAGGFAIR preparation we pause to stand together on Friday 16 March to acknowledge the important message of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.
As we gathered on Tuesday morning for our weekly assembly, it was obvious that many of our students had experienced a big weekend. The Labour Day weekend is traditionally a weekend of sporting events. Swimming, tennis, gymkhanas, sailing, nippers and camping, to name a few, kept our families busy over the three days.
This morning our school community came together for St Anne’s biggest celebration of the year, our Grandparents and Special Friends Fellowship. Our guest speaker was Mrs Elizabeth Board. Liz is not only a Grandparent, but also a past Head of St Anne’s Campus. She spoke about the special connection and bond between Grandparents and Grandchildren.
The Parent/Teacher interviews for Year 12 students will take place on Wednesday 21 March between 4.00pm and 6.30pm in the Year 12 Centre. Parents/Guardians are asked to make appointments using our online booking system. Access is gained via the Gippsland Grammar webpage (http://www.gippslandgs.vic.edu.au).
(SEISA) Match Summary Sheet
Round 5 results (all teams played Beaconhills Berwick)
Team: Tennis A Boys
Players Player: Charlie Harrison
Coaches Award: Kai McDonald
Best on Ground: Will Runciman
Score: GG defeated by BCB
Saturday 17 March
Rowing-Events this weekend
Head of School Girls Regatta Geelong
RV Boys State Championships Nagambie
Nationals Rowing Syndey
Sunday 18 March
STAGGFAIR
Monday 19 March
Yr 9 Group Packing Session
Monday 19 March
Tuckshop
Soiree at St John’s 6.00pm
Tuesday 20 March
GRIN 8.10am
Icy pole sales at recess $1.00
Bairnsdale Singers 2.45pm-3.30pm
Parent Teacher Interviews 3.45pm-5.30pm (Classroom teachers only)
Wednesday 21 March
Tuckshop
This week the Service Captains went to the ELC, Prep and Year 1 classes to read to the students the story "True Blue Hand." The books were donated to the school by the author, Old Scholar Ainsley Kyder-Gould. The story encourages our children to be kind to uniqueness and 'get on' with 'getting on'. Thanks Ainsley and the Service Captains.
Cross Country training will be running before school on Thursday's from 8:30am-8:50am and Tuesday recess from 10:10am-10:30am. Any students interested bring along runners and meet Mrs Laverty out the front of the hall. Netball training will commence for year 3/4 students playing in the Saturday competition on Thursday lunchtimes please meet Mrs Laverty @ 12:40pm in the hall with runners.
Friday 16 March
Fellowship: Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 9.00am
Tuckshop closed
I would like to wish all of our families a happy and well-deserved long weekend. It has been a very busy term and the students have been incredibly active and involved in the life of our School.
GIRLS BRAINSTEM INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Gippsland Grammar entered two teams of Year 10 and 11 girls to participate in the BrainSTEM Innovation Challenge, a program which offers students the opportunity to work with a female Medical Researcher from either the Florey Institute, the Doherty Institute, the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre or the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
I am frequently amazed with the thinking and learning our students demonstrate. This was highlighted again this week during my weekly F.I.E lesson with our Year 3 students.
When walking into Bairnsdale Campus Reception it is obvious that an exciting event is drawing near. Lolly cups, posters, Easter baskets, chocolates, prizes etc. Of course, that event is STAGGFAIR!
Art & Design at Gippsland Grammar Flourishing
Once again Gippsland Art Gallery have opened their “Flourish” VCE Art Exhibition at the Maffra Exhibition space.
Monday 12 March
- Labour Day Holiday
Tuesday 13 March
- GRIN 8.10am
Sisterhood of East Gippsland- She is…Practical
Brought to you by the Sisterhood of East Gippsland, a place for women to enjoy themselves, discover the beautiful Truth of who they are and band together with their Sisters to make a difference in our world.
Last Saturday we conducted our Scholarship testing day for students wishing to apply for Scholarships in 2019. This was well attended and many students from Years 5-10 attended and sat our Scholarship tests.
SEISA Carnival success
Held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Thursday, the annual SEISA Swimming, Table Tennis and Badminton competition was a wonderful day. It’s always a great pleasure to be with these teams who are supportive of each other, competitive and genuinely engaged in the spirit of the day.
Monday 5 March
- Yr 12 Outdoor Education Sea Kayaking
- Yr 8 Meals on Wheels
- Yr 9 Group 2 Packing Session
Tuesday 6 March
One of the strengths of Gippsland Grammar is the commitment to professional growth and development for our staff. We know that our teachers are our most valuable resource in achieving our desired student outcomes. This week there has been great evidence of this belief and practice.
This morning we officially farewelled Mrs Merridy Ingrouille in a warm and, at times, emotional Fellowship. Merridy has had a huge impact on our students, parents, teachers and the culture of St Anne’s. Right up until her last days of teaching last year, Merridy remained passionate about her students, teaching and learning.
(SEISA) Match Summary
Round Two
The following information has been completed by the staff member in charge of the Gippsland Grammar sporting team.
Team: Intermediate Cricket
G.G.S vs. St Pauls Traralgon
Overall Score:
GGS: 2/195
(SEISA) Match Summary
Round Three
The following information has been completed by the staff member in charge of the Gippsland Grammar sporting team.
Team: Intermediate Cricket
G.G.S vs. St Pauls Warragul
Overall Score: St Pauls Warragul: 7/57
Monday 5 March
Preps begin fulltime
Tuesday 6 March
Wellington Division Swimming Carnival, selected students
Thursday 8 March
ELC Working Parents Night, 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Friday 9 March
Fellowship: House Singing Competition, 9.00am
East Gippsland Shire LEGO Club
Junior LEGO enthusiasts are invited to attend our LEGO Club sessions. The supervised sessions will incorporate freestyle creativity and some themed construction activities. Bookings are now being taken for the Library LEGO Club being held at the Bairnsdale Library on Wednesday 14 March from 4.00pm – 5.00pm.
Monday 5 March
- Tuckshop
- Dulcie Holland Band Practice, Garnsey Campus
I have been reflecting on the many events that occur in Term 1. As a School, we have a very busy calendar. It is important that we complete each event at the scheduled time to ensure we continue to offer many and diverse opportunities for our students, and that parents can connect with the School and feel included.
Wellington Youth Summit
A group of Gippsland Grammar students joined young people from across the Wellington Shire at the Wellington Youth Summit, held at the wonderful new Wellington Centre on Thursday.
At our Year 6 Captains’ and Monitors’ Fellowship this morning, Millie Dunnett and Joshua Strauss, 2018 School Captains, spoke to our students about the significance of being a leader. It was a fantastic opportunity for our emerging student leaders and student body to hear our School Captains talk about their experiences ...
It was with great pride that I heard of the successful day our swimmers had at the District Swimming competition. While they all returned adorned with ribbons, it was the report of the wonderful Gippsland Grammar spirit and sportsmanship displayed that really made me smile.
Year 12 Camp
Last Wednesday to Friday the Year 12 cohort and their Mentors; alongside myself, Andrew Nicholas, Steve McAnulty and Julie Ripon, headed off to the beautiful Forest Edge in Neerim East for the students’ final school camp as a year level.
Looking for host families in Term 3 (4 weeks)
Each year we are delighted to welcome a group of female Year 11 students from our Sister School in Japan, Hikarigaoka Girls High School, to Gippsland Grammar. The exchange program is an important program in the School and a valuable aspect of the School experience for our students.
Monday 26 February
- Tuckshop
- Dulcie Holland Band Practice, Garnsey Campus
Monday 26 February
Parent Teacher Interviews (Freeman only), 3.30pm – 5.00pm
East Gippsland Shire LEGO Club
Junior LEGO enthusiasts are invited to attend our LEGO Club sessions. The supervised sessions will incorporate freestyle creativity and some themed construction activities.
At Gippsland Grammar, we value the community connectedness that has been a positive aspect of our School for so many years. Many of our parents, grandparents and guardians are actively involved in the ‘life of our school’ through volunteering, assisting with the many and varied opportunities we offer our students.
Year 12 Camp
The opportunity to spend some time together and gain an understanding of expectations, procedures and opportunities in the year ahead is an important one for our Year 12 students. Students and pastoral staff, under the guidance of our VCE Co-ordinator Ms Justeen Hahn, travelled to Forest Edge camp at Neerim East on Wednesday for this three day program.
We began this morning with a wonderful Fellowship from Year 6 Goolagong, our first classroom Fellowship for the year. The focus was the endless opportunities we have to start over again. The beginning of the year tends to be the time when we attempt to turn over a new leaf, making resolutions to make fresh starts.
Last Friday we all enjoyed a terrific House Swimming Carnival with the weather much kinder to us than anticipated. I witnessed great individual sportsmanship and team camaraderie. Our Year 6 team prevailed once again in the teacher, parent, and - newly included - Old Scholars relay race. The big guns I spoke of last week didn’t quite get the job done!
Information Services Centre
What is a library in 2018 and why is it a unique whole School facility and library media centre? Students and teachers use our beautiful library for many reasons: during class, researching, studying, revising. At recess and lunch students are either reading, using it as a 'hangout' space, playing games like chess and others, doing 'the' puzzle, or just reading in a quiet nook.
Wednesday 21 February
No Preps today – SEAS Interviews
Barton Excursion to Art Gallery
Thursday 22 February
Volunteer Registration Session, 9.00am in the Computer Lab
After School Japanese Lesson 3, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Chisholm and Goolagong Excursion to Art Gallery
Monday 19 February
- Tuckshop
- Open Water Swimming program, Paynesville Foreshore-Year 6 students
- Dulcie Holland Concert Band Rehearsal, Garnsey Campus
Tuesday 20 February
- Bairnsdale Singers 2.45-3.30pm
Wednesday 21 February
East Gippsland Shire LEGO Club
Junior LEGO enthusiasts are invited to attend our LEGO Club sessions. The supervised sessions will incorporate freestyle creativity and some themed construction activities. Bookings are now being taken for the Library LEGO Club being held at the Bairnsdale Library on Wednesday 14 March from 4.00pm – 5.00pm. LEGO Club is for children aged 5 – 12 and bookings are essential. Bookings can be made in person at the library or by phoning 5152 4225.
As many of our families would already be aware, Gippsland Grammar is a member of the South Eastern Independent Schools Association (SEISA). This organisation provides our competition and participation for Sport and cultural events throughout the year.
Parents and Friends Welcome Drinks Friday 16 February
To be held in the Chapel of St Anne, Garnsey Campus, at 7.00pm on Friday 16 February, the annual Parents and Friends Association Welcome Drinks are an opportunity to meet new and current parents and members of the School Executive from across all campuses.
We officially inducted our Campus and House Captains for 2018 at this morning’s Fellowship. Principal, Mr David Baker, Deputy Principal, Ms Jan Henry and House Captains from Garnsey Campus added to the sense of occasion.
The warm weather has not intruded on the enjoyment of the children’s games at recess and the obvious pleasure of being back together again. Cricket has been a popular choice, with our senior students leading the way and involving many of the children across the school.
From the Boatshed
Term 1 is an exciting time for the rowers at Gippsland Grammar as the season builds to its climax in March. Returning from the summer holidays, our student athletes were thrown straight in to active training at camp in Johnsonville on the Tambo River.
Monday 12 February
House Swimming Carnival
No GRIN Sessions
Monday 12 February
-
Tuckshop
-
Dulcie Holland Concert Band Rehearsal, Garnsey Campus
Tuesday 13 February
-
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Welcome back!
It has been great to welcome staff and students to the beginning of another new year. In particular, it has been wonderful to see so many new faces amongst our students and in our staff room.
The 2018 school year has come around very quickly. I hope our School families are just as excited about the year ahead as I am.
A very warm welcome to all who make up our community as we commence the new school year. You have all been treated with a gentle transition back to school with a short two day week.
Stratford Pony Club Interschool Equestrian Challenge
Primary & Secondary School
Wednesday 21st February 2018
Sale Showgrounds, SALE 3850
Enquiries Phone: Kalinda Wade 0407 439 077 or Kylie Gault 0438 322 944
Stratford Pony Club Interschool Equestrian Challenge
Primary & Secondary School
Wednesday 21st February 2018
Sale Showgrounds, SALE 3850
Enquiries Phone: Kalinda Wade 0407 439 077 or Kylie Gault 0438 322 944
Bairnsdale Calendar Dates
Monday 5 February
- Tuckshop
Wednesday 7 February
- Tuckshop
- Prep Testing Interviews. No School for Prep students today.
Our Bairnsdale Campus is without power today (Thursday 25/01/2018) due to an upgrade of the power lines.
STOP PRESS
Dear parents and members of our School community,
I am thrilled to pass on a summary of our VCE results for 2017. These are a very pleasing set of results and I am extremely happy for our students.
As this is the final, formal newsletter for 2017, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our families and the broader Gippsland Grammar community a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
A Christmas Message from Rev'd Rich ...
Sociologists suggest that—even though we are more ‘connected’ by social media and other forms of technology than at any other time in history—we feel more disconnected from others than ever before.
Merry Christmas
What a week it has been! We began our final week of school for 2017 with our Prep Christmas Concert. Those who were there witnessed a singing and lighting extravaganza from our youngest students.
Our final week of the year has been one of celebration for all. The sound of rhythmic drumming could be heard across the river as the Year 6 students presented their final performance for DRUMBEAT.
Wednesday 20 December
School office closes for 2017.
Friday 15 December
Staff Day
Wednesday 20 December
School Office closes for 2017
Outdoor Movie Screening
You are invited to join us for an outdoor screening of the movie A Monster Calls based on a novel by Patrick Ness.
What a great time of year it is, particularly at Gippsland Grammar. Our final weeks of the School year are full of exciting and energising events that celebrate our year, congratulate those who are moving on to the next stage of their education and share the joy of Christmas.
Orientation Program
We have been thrilled to welcome the 2018 Year 7 students for their four day Garnsey Campus orientation program this week; our campus feels whole again, with all year levels present and going about their learning with great enthusiasm.
Classes For 2018
Today was a day full of excitement as our students found out their teacher, classmates and classroom for 2018. New and existing students spent the majority of the day with their 2018 class, experiencing what learning is going to be like next year.
This week’s events are a sure sign that the end of the school year is fast approaching. Our thank you morning tea for our wonderful volunteers was well attended on Monday morning. I once again acknowledge how fortunate we are as a community to have the widespread support that we do.
Information Services Centre (ISC)
It has been exciting to welcome the new Year 7s into the School this week. They have all completed orientation programs in the library (Information Services Centre, or ISC) and most have borrowed books to read over the holidays.
Year 2 Science
This week Year 2 have had a wonderful time finishing our Science Unit - Push and Pull. We explored friction this week while playing with some Billy Carts, kindly donated by Araluen Primary School.
Christmas Cakes and Puddings
The Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise are selling Christmas puddings and cakes as a fundraiser to support the numerous projects both locally and internationally that the club supports.
Monday 11 December
Prep Christmas Concert, 9.00am in the Hall
Tuesday 12 December
Tuckshop is closed this week
Monday 11 December
Double swimming lesson, including ‘Survival Experience’ for Banksia and Melaleuca. Please bring winter pyjamas to swim in.
ELC Reception Christmas party
Earlier this week we held our inaugural Twilight School event at our Bairnsdale Campus. The weather was kind and the campus looked wonderful. Mrs Evans and the team at Bairnsdale prepared a series of activities and lessons for our parents and students.
Celebrating Respect
We acknowledged White Ribbon Day at Garnsey Campus this week. Initiated by 8 Ries as their Service Learning project, and building on the Respectful Relationships Initiative we have introduced, the day was acknowledged in Chapel services.
Student Leadership
Firstly, congratulations to Zara Tacey and Nicholas Missen on being elected St Anne’s Campus Captains for 2018. Our Campus Captains play a major role within our school community.
I begin this newsletter with heartfelt thanks to the students, teachers and parents who made our Twilight School such a success. The response to the night was overwhelming with parents, teachers and students all engaged in learning.
STOP PRESS! Middle Years Concert Tonight Cancelled Due to Forecast Rain Event
To be rescheduled. Please stay safe on our roads in this weather.
Creative Arts and Technology
Refresh Exhibition Churchill
Federation University Churchill once again staged their ‘Refresh’ VCE Art Competition.
Monday 4 December
Christmas Service & Dressing of Christmas Tree, 10.30am
Tuesday 5 December
Year 6 Orientation at Garnsey Campus commences
Monday 4 December
- Morning Tea of Thanks 11.00am-everyone welcome
- Banksia, Melaleuca and Blackwood excursion to Paynesville (these classes to please wear sport uniform today)
- Double swimming lesson for Correa and Acacia – ‘Survival Day’ 12.00pm–1.30pm. Please bring winter PJ’s to wear in the pool.
Summer Reading Club
A Summer Reading Club will take place at East Gippsland Shire Library these summer holidays.
Last year the Summer Reading Club was a huge success!
I would like to thank all of our parents and other members of the School Community for allowing the School time this week: Time to finish the 2017 academic year and time to begin planning for 2018.
The end of our 2017 academic year has arrived and we are now “rolling over” to a new academic year on Monday. It has always been important to us to mark these milestones and celebrate the connections made throughout the year.
We are entering the ‘pointy’ end of the school year with plenty going on between now and 14 December. For the past few weeks, our teachers have been working hard preparing our students’ Academic Reports.
This week has been one of reflection. It began with a holiday for our students while teachers worked diligently on report writing. Student report writing provides an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate growth in our students, both personally and academically.
Outdoor Education (OE) and Year 9 Departmental News
The Outdoor Education program has ended for another year. This term has been hectic, beginning with the Year 7 students going on their first OE program.
My Year in Prep Mawson …
When I started School I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know anyone. My teacher’s name is Mrs Tayler.
East Gippsland Library Christmas Activity Sessions
The East Gippsland Shire Library will be running some children’s Christmas activity sessions and drop-in Christmas card making sessions in December.
Wednesday 29 November
Instrumental Soiree, Chapel of St Anne, 6.00pm
Thursday 30 November
Year 5 Bug Blitz Excursion, 9.00am – 12.30pm
Friday 1 December
Fellowship: ELC Christmas Concert 9.00am
ELC & Year 5 Christmas Picnic, Sale Botanic Gardens
Monday 27 November
-
Bridge Club Tournament at the Bairnsdale Bridge Club Rooms 9.00am-12.00pm
-
Grevillea shopping excursion, to purchase items for the ‘Dignity Bags’ for further information see https://www.sharethedignity.com.au/christmas-charity/
-
Banksia, Acacia, Correa and Melaleuca Swimming lessons
Monday 20 November
Student Free Day - Report Writing Day
St John’s Annual Fair- A Great Family Fun Day Saturday 18 November
Monday 20 November
- Report Writing Day-No School today
- No ELC Reception session today
- 2018 ELC Orientation Day for Reception (9.00am-10.00am) and Pre-Prep (10.30am-12.00pm)
- Bairnsdale Singers 3.30pm-4.15pm
This week has provided many opportunities for us all to feel a great sense of pride in our school. It began Monday night with our Soirée at St. John’s.
Plant the right seed and great things will grow…
This morning, students in Year 3/4 Flynn presented a meaningful Fellowship with a focus on our school motto ‘Plant the right seed and great things will grow.’
Over the last few weeks Year 2 have been writing recounts. We have looked at the parts of a recount; an opening sentence, paragraphs and sequence words.
Monday 20 November
- Report Writing Day (Student Free)
- ELC Orientation Day
- Camp Australia Closure Day Program, 8.30am – 5.00pm
St Paul's Cathedral - Messy church will be held this Sunday 19 November from 4 pm. All Welcome.
Free Community Fun Day - Sale Baptist Church
The annual FREE Community Fun Day is on Sunday 3th December, 10am to 3pm.
One of our key roles in the Pathways Department at Garnsey Campus is to offer support and strategies to our teachers so that, when required, they can make the most suitable adjustments to the individual programs of our students.
Ms Henry and I were delighted to attend the ACEL Awards Celebration this week. ACEL is the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, a national organisation dedicated to the support and development of leaders in educational settings.
We have now completed our assessments and most curriculum for the year and planning for Rollover at Garnsey Campus is well underway, with classes and a new timetable close to being finalised.
On Monday the children participated in a very informative first aid session delivered by St. John Ambulance member Natalie Carroll. Year 6 student Abi Carr shared her reflection of the day.
Monday 13 November
- Term 4 Soiree at St John’s
- Banksia, Acacia, Correa and Melaleuca Swimming lessons
- Tuckshop
- Bairnsdale Singers 3.30pm-4.15pm
Remembrance Day
Our School has a long standing, strong connection with the RAAF. We have many parents in our School community who have and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force.
Wednesday 15 November
- School Nurse visiting Prep students
Friday 17 November
- Fellowship: Year 3/4 Flynn, 9.00am
- 2018 Prep Transition Morning, 9.00am – 10.00am
Multiculturalism in Years 3-4
Renier Welgemoed and Inoka Rajapakse came to speak to Year 3 and Year 4 students about the similarities and differences between their countries of birth and Australia.
Peer Support Training
The training of our Year 9 students to act as Peer Support leaders has been a long held tradition at Gippsland Grammar.
Throughout this semester we have seen our performers at their very best. In the upper years, our VCE Theatre Studies and Music Performance students celebrated the culmination of many years of work to perform their theatre monologues and for the musicians, their solo performance repertoire.
Monday 13 November
- Yr 10 Exams commence
- Yr 9 Electives Program
As a teacher, I have always been curious to know more about the conversations my students are having in my class. What do they say to each other when I am not listening?
Family is very important to me. Lori, our daughters, my sisters, brother, their children and my parents are a close knit family. So when I forgot to call my Mum on her birthday, I felt terrible. Sorry Mum! It did however, provide me with the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices my parents have made for me.
Monday 6 November
-
St John’s First Aid in Schools program delivered to all children from Prep to Year 6
-
Banksia, Acacia, Correa and Melaleuca Swimming lessons
-
Tuckshop
-
Bairnsdale Singers 3.30-4.15pm
School Nurse Visit
The School Nurse will be at Gippsland Grammar to see Prep children on Wednesday 8 November. Prep families are asked to please return the school questionnaire if they haven’t already done so. Parents with children from Year 1 to Year 6 who have any concerns about their child’s vision and hearing, are welcome to see the nurse for a vision and/or hearing screening. To arrange a screening, please complete a school referral form, available from the school office, any time before Wednesday.
As I drove back from Year 5 camp at Coonawarra on Tuesday I was reminded of the beauty of our surroundings. Our students are so fortunate to have access to the mountains, hills, rivers and beaches on our doorstep which allow us to participate in an outdoor education program so close to home.
Camp Australia rolls now open for Student Free Day - 20 and 24 November, 2017
This week in After School Care we have been celebrating the up-coming Melbourne Cup, by painting winners cups and making horse puppets. The children also celebrated Halloween by making masks and 3D dinosaurs.
For your After School childcare needs, come and visit us at After School Care, located below the Japanese classroom. You can also visit our website www.campaustralia.com.au or call 1300 105 343 for more information.
Kelly and Mary
English
Our Year 12 English students completed their examination paper on Wednesday of this week, with Literature and English Language yet to be examined. The Department wishes all students well for their up-coming exams and their final results.
VCE examinations begin
Finally - but all too quickly - VCE examinations began this week with the English Examination held on Wednesday. All we can ask of students sitting these 2-3 hour tests is that they utilise the skills and strategies that they have learned over many years and give it their best effort.
I am writing this week’s newsletter from Shanghai, China where I am visiting Chinese schools and international schools in the area, accompanied by Mr Matthew Goss, who was based here for some years.
Tuesday 7 November
Melbourne Cup (Student Free)
Wednesday 8 November
T20 Blast Cricket, Year 5 and Year 6
Thursday 9 November
Year 5 Hollows Excursion to Melbourne University
2018 Prep Information Evening, Lorna Sparrow Hall, 6.00pm
Monday 30 October
-
State Athletics. Good luck to Georgia Shell and Cohen Frith.
-
‘Sink or Swim’ program for Prep to Year 6 students
-
Banksia, Acacia, Correa and Melaleuca Swimming lessons
-
Meals on Wheels deliveries. Thank you to Michael Wilmot.
Our week commenced with a sense of excited anticipation as we awaited the arrival of Chè Buckley who completed his fundraising ride from Wangaratta to Bairn
Monday 30 October
- State Track & Field Championships (Melbourne)
Year 6 Camp
After a two-hour journey, we settled in to our cabins at Gelantipy, which were more like small houses. We had a tour from Matt and Jason, the Camp Supervisors.
Please find below the link to the 2017 VCAA Exam Timetable and information from the VCE Co-ordinator regarding the VCAA exam expectations.
Yr 11 Exams will commence Friday 10 November not Thursday 9 November as indicated in the School Diary.
Thank you
Monday 30 October
- Yr 9 Peer Support - Garnsey Hall
- Halloween Bake Sale-7A fundraising for Rwanda (Quad)
- Yr 7 Outdoor Education - (Group2 Packing Session)
Tuesday 31 October
- Yr 7 Outdoor Education Program (Group2 7A & 7B) Begins
Lake Tyers
What will you take with you Year 12?
“Faith, hope and love abide and the greatest of these is love.”
In 1 Corinthians 13 we are urged to consider love as the greatest of gifts.
Physical Education and Health at Gippsland Grammar is more than just playing games. We aim to give all our students the knowledge and positive experiences that will encourage them to be fit and healthy members of our community.
It was this time last week that we were anticipating an evening of family fun in the form of a bush dance led by the Billy Tea Bush Band.
Tuesday 24 October
- Final Swimming Lesson for Goolagong
Thank you to Tasman and Mrs Dawson for your engaging Fellowship this morning, f
Junior Cricket
Thursday 19 October 2017
Gippsland Grammar v. Newhaven College
Result
Full Time:
Gippsland Grammar 3/78(15) defeated Newhaven 3/80(20) –
Match conceded by Newhaven
Player’s Player:
Connor Waixel
Coach’s Award:
Jasper Krzyzanowski
Best on Ground:
Liam Vaughan
Monday 23 October
- Immunisation (Yr7) & Yr 10 catchups
(9.30am-11.30am)
Tuesday 24 October
- Yr 11 Physics excursion to RAAF Flying School
(9.00am-10.45am)
Wednesday 25 October
- Yr 12's Last Day
Garnsey Campus has been abuzz this week. Students have been preparing for the annual Spring Concert, to be held at The Wedge on Friday night. It is exciting to be holding the event in such a venue and I encourage all families to come along and enjoy a special evening of great music, performed by our students.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Lisa Burgess and the ELC team at our Bairnsdale Campus.
Practise Makes Progress
Welcome back to Term 4! The school year is flying along and we have another term filled with learning, key events and much more. Some important dates coming up to be aware of: Twilight Soccer begins 16 October, Year 6 Camp 17 October, Regional Athletics 17 October, Spring Concert 26 October. Tuckshop will be closed on 20 October with a sausage sizzle at lunchtime instead. Sausages will be $2 each.
Monday 16 October - Twilight Soccer starts
Tuesday 17 October
- Gippsland Regional Athletics Competition
Newborough - Term 4 swimming lessons commences
- Year 6 Depart for Camp
PE
Walk to School encourages Victorian primary school kids to walk, ride or scoot to and from school during the month of October. The Walk to School program promotes regular physical activity in Victorian primary school students and helps children and their families establish active routines for life. It also supports primary schools, local councils and communities to make active travel easy, safe and accessible.
When: Friday 20 October, 7.30pm
Where: Esso BHP Billiton Wellington Entertainment Centre
Tickets available now at www.ebbwec.com.au or telephone the box office on 5143 3200
Adults $8.00
Student/Concession $6.00
Family $25.00
All Welcome!
Monday 16 October
- Wellington Schools Clay Target Championships
Sale Field & Game grounds - Unit 2 Chemistry Excursion to the Water Treatment Plant
- Yr 7 Group 1 Packing Session
Tuesday 17 October
Welcome back to a new term and the final countdown to the School year. It’s a busy time and I have no doubt the term will fly by as we farewell Year 12 students and then finalise courses before welcoming Year 6s for their transition program in only 8 weeks. I look forward to all that will be learned and achieved in Term 4.
Today we have concluded our term with thoughts of those who are close to our hearts and of those in need in our community.
Coding for Kids
Excite and motivate kids to explore IT and see computers as more than just a gaming or video device.
R U OK?
Last week I was listening to Triple J on the radio as I came to work and the announcers were talking about the R U OK initiative. Liam, one part of the Breakfast team, opened up about his battle with mental health issues.
Friday 22 September
- Fellowship: Citizen of the Term, 9.00am
- Footy Colours Day, gold coin donation
- Term 3 ends, 2.15pm
PE
Every October, ‘Walk to School’ encourages Victorian primary school kids to walk, ride or scoot to and from school.
Wellness Week 2018
Wellness Week celebrates the many things that contribute to our wellbeing.
French Study Tour
- 23/09/2017-04/10/2017
Friday 29 September
- AFL Public Holiday
Saturday 30 September
- Unit 3\4 Biology Revision Lecture
(10.00am-3.00pm) Lecture Theatre
Sunday 1 October
Term 3 was an exciting term in Outdoor Education, with the Year 9 Alpine Program and Year 7 Big Day Out.
It was great to have the students looking so fantastic on Medieval Day, which reflected their commitment to the event, as well as that of their families.
Please see click on the link to view the Year 12 Practice Timetable
I would like to wish all of our families a safe and enjoyable September holiday. This has been a very long and cold winter term and I know that many of our students are looking forward to a well-earned break after a very busy and blustery term.
With a touch of Spring supposedly in the air, our campers from Melaleuca set off to their camps to commence the school week. Our Year 3’s discovered the beauty of nearby Banksia Peninsula and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of Camp Coolamatong. As first time school campers, the boys and girls demonstrated both resilience and collaboration in all they did.
Coding Club
East Gippsland Shire Library will be running another round of Code Club at Bairnsdale Library in Term 4. Code Club teaches basic computer coding and we will be developing basic games and animation using Scratch https://scratch.mit.edu/
Monday 18 September
- Year 5 and 6 Excursion to Scienceworks and Melbourne Museum
- Tuckshop
- No Bairnsdale Singers today
Tuesday 19 September
- No GRIN until next term
Wednesday 20 September
School Camps
This week I had the opportunity to visit both our Year 3 and Year 4 students at their respective camps, Coolamatong and Camp Rumbug. My personal highlight was experiencing the joy and excitement of our Year 3 students, as we watched a pod of dolphins swimming around our boat on the Gippsland Lakes.
Our ToM kids certainly had a very exciting and very tiring day on Sunday. Unfortunately, they were not successful in achieving a place in the finals, but they came up with a clever creative play in three hours, which they performed in the afternoon.
Saturday 16 September
- ELC and Junior School Open Day
(9.00am – 11.30am)
Tuesday 19 September
- Year 5 Old Gippstown excursion
(9.00am – 3pm)
Wednesday 20 September
Monday 18 September
- Yr 7 LinC Supermarket excursion
- Theatre Studies Stagecraft Examination Performance
Drama Room
Tuesday 19 September
- Yr 10 Vietnam Vets Presentation
- "Trackies Tuesday" SRC Casual Clothes Day
- Yr 7 LinC Supermarket excursion
With only eighteen days of classes left until they break for study and final examinations, our Year 12s have been completing the final school-based assessments of their VCE this week and these will be completed next week. It’s both an exciting and nervous time for them and hence the break at the end of next week can’t come soon enough.
It is with great pleasure that the School officially launches its new branding and community outreach statement today. As many of you will have already noticed, several of our buses have been rebranded to better represent who we are as a School and to give a snapshot into the culture of our School.
This week has seen the culmination of many months of preparation, anticipation and collaboration in the presentation of our production, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’. It is not until you have experienced a production, that you understand the enormity of the task.
Uniform Shop Visit
Next Thursday, 14 September, the Uniform Shop will be visiting the Bairnsdale Campus from 2.30pm-4.00pm to take orders forsummer uniforms. Orders will be delivered to the Bairnsdale Campus prior to the end of the term, ready to wear from the beginning of Term 4. Please check your child’s summer uniforms now, and take advantage of this opportunity.
Bairnsdale Tennis Club
It’s time to register for the junior tennis summer season, played during Term 4, 2017 and Term 1, 2018. Registrations close on October 5 and teams will be published in the Bairnsdale News and on the clubhouse noticeboard. Registration forms are available from the School office or from the tennis club.
We have had another experience packed week at School, which was highlighted with the official opening of our Art Exhibition this morning.
Numeracy Week
Year 2 Barton and Chisholm combined with Year 3s from Flynn, Kingsford-Smith and Tasman to investigate and play strategy games for Numeracy Week. Pease ask your child to teach you '2Max', '3Pile Nim' or 'Sprouts' to discover the mathematics embedded in these games and have fun!
The Mathematics faculty has had a successful and exciting year with good competition results. We’ve been busy implementing SOLO taxonomy, as well as taking a ‘hands-on’ pedagogical approach to teaching, with a variety of extension and support programs made available to Years 7- 10.
On Thursday 31 August members of the ISC bookclub attended the Melbourne Writer’s Festival. They went to a talk on Feminism. Randa Abdel-Fattah and Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen explored the challenges and pressures facing 21st-century girls. They talked about what true equality looks like, and what being a feminist really means. Can a man be one, and how can we actually create change?
Our Junior Schools this week cast a warm glow across our School, a welcome distraction from the freezing cold weather that continues to test us all and leave many in our community suffering from winter lurgies.
As you are aware, we commence our week together as a campus with Monday morning assembly, where we share the week ahead and recognise our achievements, internally and outside of School. This week we ran well overtime as a result of all the wonderful activities our students are involved in and needed to share. We heard from our committed students and staff who competed in the ‘Tournament of the
Chè’s Ride for Cancer
Cancer is heart-breaking! It takes so many lives and the saddest part is almost everyone has been affected by cancer. SRC has decided to respond by supporting Chè on his personal venture to raise money for cancer research.
Zumbaree
Bairnsdale Cub Scouts are holding a Zumbaree to raise money to attend the 9th Victorian Cuboree from 2nd-6th October 2017.Please come along to a fun filled morning of Zumba dance.
When: Sunday 10 September
Time: 10.30am to 12.00pm
Where: Bairnsdale Scout Hall (Grant Street)
Fellowship this morning focused on the wonderful fathers and grandfathers we have in our School community. Our guest speaker, Scott Pearce, is not only a prominent figure in our local business and sporting fields, but is also a fantastic hands-on dad of two Gippsland Grammar boys. He shared his insights on being a father, including the ups and downs. Thank you Scott.
Our Dads are the BEST!
Our Dads care about us.
Our Dads love us.
Our Dads help us.
Our Dads cuddle us.
Our Dads make us laugh.
Our Dads are silly.
Our Dads are fun to play with.
Our Dads are hairy.
Our Dads are funny.
Our Dads trick us.
Our Dads are good to wrestle with.
Longford Lizards Junior Cricket-Registration Night 2017-18
MILO (5-9yrs) U11’s U12’s U14’s & U16’s
During the first week of the Term 1 holidays in 2018, I propose to take a small party of students to Marree in South Australia, to spend five days in Arabunna country with Reg Dodd, an Arabunna elder. We will learn about the history of the land and people from his perspective.
It has been another busy term in the English classroom, with students in a range of years focussed on responding to texts in the form of analytical essays. In the junior years, students having been honing the discrete writing skills that comprise high level written responses.
As teachers and educators we are very much in the business of thinking and learning. This is a very difficult business to be in as we negotiate with the minds of young people in the learning context of our classrooms. How can we design our lessons to create opportunities for students to engage in active thinking to help develop understanding and overall learning?
Despite a short week for the students, we have managed to include a number of extra-curricular activities once again for the children to enjoy.
It is hard to believe that we are already planning for 2018. The recruitment process for staffing has also commenced and I am excited to announce that we are searching for a Deputy Head of Campus, Pathways Coordinator, part time Physical Education Teacher and a Classroom Teacher.
In recent weeks I have spoken about our outgoing, or graduating, Year 12 class. At this time of year, I tend to reflect on the impact our School has had on these students. I try to gauge their level of exam preparedness and I wonder about their character and how well our School values are embedded into their lives.
Commemoration Day was an enjoyable way to begin our week together as a School. The day celebrates the amalgamation of St Anne’s Girls School and Gippsland Grammar Boys School. All students from Year 5 to Year 12 attended to understand how the School has grown to be what it is today.
In a recent visit to our Early Learning Centre, I noticed the Wellbeing Noticeboard, where parents can share strategies to improve family wellbeing. Suggestions include; having family outdoor time, family dinner time around the table (with the TV off), having two or three days technology free (again, no TV, phones, etc) for everyone, and many more ideas.
On Wednesday night, Regional Development Victoria conducted a forum at our Garnsey Campus. Influential and invested members of industry, local government, government agencies and the broader community met to discuss the prominent issues facing our region and to seek input regarding the future of Gippsland and, in particular, how we can develop Gippsland.
Being part of our giving School community is most rewarding, as is connecting to the broader community. This week I have witnessed generosity in many forms; volunteering brings people together, while encouraging us to reflect on all we have to be grateful for.
The weather was kind to us on Wednesday at our annual Inter-House Athletics Carnival. Year 3 to Year 6 students competed in a range of key athletic events, while our Prep to Year 2 students participated in modified events. It was amazing to watch the students challenge themselves—demonstrating sportsmanship and just having fun.
It seems strange that, as I write this newsletter, the School’s Excecutive and Board are working hard to plan for 2018. We are looking at our staffing needs, changes to structures and reviewing our 2017 goals in preparation for setting goals for 2018; which includes evaluating our progress against our first year objectives, as outlined in our Strategic Plan.
What a wonderful way to finish the week sharing the day with Correa and Acacia at the Abbey on Raymond Island. Reverend Rich, along with our school psychologist Steve McAnulty, connected beautifully with the children, promoting resilience and self-esteem throughout the day and focusing on wellbeing; spiritually, emotionally and physically.
I wish to thank the School community for its congratulations regarding my recent appointment as the permanent Head of St Anne’s Campus. It is a great honour and I look forward to leading our community into the future. Our dedicated team of staff and students has been most supportive as we strive to improve and embrace what the future holds.
As I write this week’s newsletter on Thursday evening, I am mindful that it is the opening night of ‘The Addams Family.’ As a recent inductee to the world of theatre performance, I appreciate the nerves and excitement felt by the cast as they wait for the curtain to rise; as they say in the theatre, ‘chookas.’ I have been privileged to observe rehearsals on a couple of occasions, along with a s
Term 3 traditionally includes cold winter days and often the restriction of indoor play for the students. Taking this into consideration and following on with the theme of ‘Wellbeing’ from last week, we will introduce a number of lunchtime clubs to cater for the outdoor challenges at this time of the year.
Thank you to all the parents who attended the important Semester 2 Parent Teacher interviews this week. Held in the Gymnasium due to the School Production set up in Garnsey Hall. This was a valuable evening and I am sure there was a lot of valuable feedback.
Before the holidays, I spoke of my intentions to travel to Halls Creek (WA) with Reverend Rich. Our purpose was to spend time with our students from this area; to meet and connect with their families and local organisations regarding an ongoing education program; and to learn about Aboriginal Culture in the East Kimberley region.
Hearing the many stories of holiday fun, travel, leisure activities, resting and relaxation, I believe the break was well received and very much enjoyed by all. I welcome our families and staff back to Term 3 and hope you are refreshed and ready to work through what is shaping up to be a full calendar.
Welcome back to Term 3! It’s been a busy first week back. I hope families spent some quality time together. We had multiple teachers head overseas to Scandinavia and some interstate. I have heard stories from parents and students about trips to the snow, Melbourne adventures and much more.
Welcome back to a new school term and all the excitement that lies ahead. After three weeks holiday our students have returned refreshed and, for the most part, keen to get back into some powerful learning with their classmates.
I would like to welcome our students and their families back for Term 3. It was great to spend some time with students this week; to see refreshed faces and hear of great journeys and adventures.
As we conclude another term, I want to commend our students on their amazing energy, positive engagement in their own learning, their compassion for others and their willingness to embrace so much of what our School has to offer.
I shall begin my final newsletter for Term 2 by acknowledging our students and their commitment to learning, along with their teachers who have spent considerable time preparing their school reports. A positive attitude drives learning and allows us to be the best we can possibly be. It was pleasing for me to see that so many of our students are striving towards this goal.
As I reflect on term 2, I realise that we have so much to be grateful for as a school. I am grateful for our wonderful school community; our students, parents, carers and teachers. I am grateful for those who work behind the scenes; our administration team, maintenance crew and our school cleaners, who do so much unheralded work.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish our students and their families a happy and safe mid-year break. It has been a full and satisfying semester and I must emphasise how proud I am of our students and their achievements. It has been an incredibly busy six months and we have shared many great moments.
The weekend has certainly come around quickly after the short week!
This week I have been locked away in my office (with the heating on!) reading our students’ Academic Reports. While I would normally prefer to be helping in a classroom, or playing down-ball against the students, rather than be trapped in my office, the opportunity to read each student’s report has given me excellent insight into the learning happening across our Campus.
I have just finalised plans to travel to Halls Creek during the upcoming holidays to visit the families of Irving Mosquito and Junior Bradshaw. I have been telling the boys for some time now that I would visit their community; with Reverend Rich’s help, and Ms Henry’s encouragement, we are planning to spend five days at Halls Creek at the end of the first week of the holidays.
Throughout this busy week I have identified great examples of leadership within the many activities that have occurred.
Interest, discussion and research about wellbeing have skyrocketed in the past ten years. Wellbeing is at the heart of our educational model, Academic Care. Without it, true learning is not possible. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Wellbeing Conference where we explored the factors, both positive and negative, that impact our personal wellbeing.
Semester 2 commences Tuesday 13 June
As you read this newsletter, our Year 10 and 11 students will have finished their mid-year examinations; topic tests and assessments for all students will be complete; and teachers will be correcting these tasks and writing reports. This brings to an end the work of Semester 1.
This week I had a visit from our St Anne’s Year One students. They have been studying Science recently and are particularly interested in sound and light. I was a little nervous and apprehensive about how I would keep them occupied and interested for an hour, but I accepted the challenge.
DESIRED SEARCH
TOPICS INTO THE
FIELD TO THE LEFT,
THEN PRESS GO.
SIMPLE, FUN AND
FOR YOU.
DESIRED SEARCH
TOPICS INTO THE
FIELD TO THE
BELOW, THEN
PRESS GO.
SEARCHING MADE
SIMPLE, FUN AND
FOR YOU.
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