Geraldton Grammar School

Happy New Year // Goodbye 2022. Hello, 2023. Make every day count.

Merry Christmas // Sending you glad tidings this Christmas from all the staff and students at Geraldton Grammar School.

Christmas can be a difficult time for some people for lots of different reasons, so if you or someone you know needs to speak to someone and get some support this Christmas contact these support services:
https://www.lifeline.org.au
https://www.beyondblue.org.au
https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Wellbeing // Christmas and the holiday season can be a difficult time for some people who struggle to navigate the celebrations and festivities going on around them. They might be dealing with the strain of financial pressure, work demands, recent events, grief, or a challenging family situation.
If there's someone who's finding this time of year tough you can make a difference by checking in and having a meaningful conversation with them.

'Tis the season to be asking R U OK?

Click here for some ideas to help you support someone you know who might be doing it tough
https://www.ruok.org.au/supporting-someone-at-christmas

Office Closed // Just a reminder that the school office is now closed for the holidays. It will be reopening on Monday 16 January. The school answerphone will be regularly monitored if you have any urgent questions. Call 9965 7800 or email [email protected].

Foodbank Appeal // Thank you to everyone who donated to the Foodbank Christmas Appeal organised by the Year 7s. Foodbank WA

Early Learning // Last week our Pre-Primary, Year 1 and Year 2 students walked across George Road to visit Kidz Retreat's magical mailbox to post their letters to Santa. Thank you Kidz Retreat for sharing the magic of Christmas with our students, we love your elf tunnel!
Kidz Retreat

Awards // Well done to all the students who took home awards this week from the Primary Presentation Evening on Tuesday and the Secondary Presentation Cenemon this afternoon. You are living examples of the school motto - Striving for Excellence. Congratulations.
More photos can be found on the Parent Hub: https://geraldtongrammarschool.wa.edu.au/parent-hub/parent-information

Farewell // Last night at the Primary Presentation Evening the School farewelled our last founding staff member Berrice Lodge. In an emotional tribute, Berrice was given 25 colourful gerberas by past and current students to mark the 25 years she had been part of the school. Another gift was a unique piece of artwork designed by Primary Art Teacher Mrs Eliott-Lockhart and created by our students. Thanks for your dedication to Geraldton Grammar School Berrice.

Uniform Shop // This week is the last week the uniform shop will be open before it closes for the holidays. It is also the last chance to get your hands on a piece of Geraldton Grammar School history - the girl's straw boater. Come and grab yours today. Pickup is from the uniform shop on Tuesday from 1-4pm or Thursday from 8-11am.

GENESIS // On Friday the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery held its annual GENESIS Secondary Student Art showcase displaying 125 pieces of artwork created by students in the Midwest.
Geraldton Grammar School students who took home awards were:
Year 12 Winner - Hannah Curnow for her painting 'Her Room'
Year 8 Winner - Riley Fong - for his lino print 'Shackers'
Sol Jones and Shanaya Gronow were awarded Highly Commended for their selected works. Congratulations to all the students who have work selected. All the artwork can be viewed in the art gallery until February.

Geraldton Regional Art Gallery

Staff News // Santa came early to Geraldton Grammar School this afternoon to deliver a present to Principal Mrs Flint who is celebrating a special milestone birthday today.

Motivation Monday // Welcome to Week 9 and the last week of term for 2022

PEP Rep // Calling all primary parents! If you can spare some time in 2023 to help your child's class please contact Kristy Fong.

Year 6 Graduation Assembly // This morning the primary school held a special assembly to mark the end of primary school for our Year 6 students. With prayers, thanksgiving messages and music from the Primary Choir. Thanks to all the family and friends who joined us today to help celebrate.

Foodbank // The Year 7 2022 Foodbank Appeal ends TOMORROW. Please drop off your donations of non-perishable items that are in date and personal hygiene and household items at one of the following locations:
Primary Admin
Front Office Admin
Library
I Block

Thank you.

Beacon // Here is the last instalment of the Beacon for 2022.
Click the link below or find it on our website.
https://indd.adobe.com/view/3b1b4cef-b3a0-4989-a5a4-32412daf64c7

Secondary Art // The Year 9 students were tasked with photographing a small collection of "something" and enlarging their photographs into larger paintings. Here are some of their Micro-Macro paintings.

Motivational Monday // Welcome to Week 8

Alumni // Tonight some of our past students joined us for the Class of 2012 - 10 Year reunion. It was great to hear what they have been up to since leaving school. Thanks for making the effort and we hope you enjoyed the evening.

Gym Grand Opening // After a long wait the Geraldton Grammar School gym is now officially open. As promised Greenough students entered the gym first to explore, play some basketball and do cartwheels on the new floor. Thanks to all the parents, alumni and community members who joined us for this very special occasion.

Foodbank Christmas Appeal // The Year 7 students are currently organizing the annual Foodbank appeal. They would love the school community’s support in helping provide meals for families doing it tough.

We are calling for non-perishable pantry items that are in date and personal hygiene and household items. These include:
Canned meals
Canned fruit and veggies
Long-life milk
Pasta sauce, spreads, jams
Nappies, baby food, formula
Pasta, rice and cereal
Toilet paper, deodorant, soap
Fruit mince pies, puddings, cake

The collection period will start Monday and run until the end of week 8.
Please drop your items off into the basket at one of the following locations:

Primary Admin
Front Office Admin
Library
I Block

Primary Parent Evening // Don't forget families of students going into Junior Kindy, Kindy, Pre-Primary and Year 3 in 2023 have their information evening tonight at 7pm. Meet in the Early Learning Quadrangle for a glass of wine and a nibble.

P&F Sundowner // On Friday the P&F are hosting their annual end-of-year sundowner.
Pre-orders for the grazing boxes close today. See the Parent Hub for more details: https://geraldtongrammarschool.wa.edu.au/parent-hub/parents-friends

Primary Disco // Christmas came early at school on Friday with the P&F organising a Christmas disco for the Primary students. Plenty of smiles, glitter and photos with Santa. Thanks for an awesome event.
Check out the P&F page for more photos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GeraldtonGrammarSchoolPandF

K-12 Science // On Thursday the Pre Primary to Year 2 classes visited the Secondary Science department to take part in some chemical science experiments. I think there might be a few requests for dry ice on their Christmas wishlists!

Outdoor Ed // This week the Year 10 Outdoor Education class wrapped up their lawn bowls sessions. A big thanks to John Lucas and Mrs Cripps for teaching us some tips and tricks!
Wonthella Bowling Club Inc

Book Fair // It has been a busy few days in the library at this year's book fair. Plenty of wishlists have been created and pocket money spent. Only two days left to make your purchases, come down and get some Christmas shopping done.

Early Learning // The Kindy students have been exploring the Science of 'optics' this term. They have been using their senses to discover the magic of colour and light. As part of this, they made suncatchers using different natural materials they collected from our beautiful school gardens.

Orientation Day // On Friday our new secondary students for 2023 joined us for the day to get to know the school, staff and other students ready for the new year. In teams, students went on a scavenger hunt, solved puzzles and even rewrote the school rules! We hope you have a great time and made some new contacts.

Motivation Monday // Welcome to Week 6

Book Fair // Starts on Monday in the Sheila Flanagan Library. Something for everyone and all purchases benefit our school.
For more information check out the Parent Hub:
https://geraldtongrammarschool.wa.edu.au/parent-hub/parent-information/scholastic-book-fair

Remembrance Day // The School Captains led the school in tribute and prayer at today's Remembrance Day assembly. Thanks to Jack for playing the Last Post and Cadet Bailey for raising the flag

Community // Soumya Kumar runs an Indian dance school in town where she teaches classical and Bollywood dancing. Soumya is a trained dancer who has been dancing since the age of three.

Many students from Geraldton Grammar School attend her classes. The students performed at the DIWALI dinner and then were invited by our Principal, Neesha Flint to perform at our school in yesterday's Primary assembly. Being a multicultural and inclusive school is very important to us.

Early Learning Science // Our Year 1/2 students are experimenting with how materials change as part of their chemical science topic this term. Lots of fun making playdough and observing how materials change.

Music // The Jazz Band started off the entertainment for the Midwest Charity Begins at Home Ball on Saturday. They played wonderfully and showed great perseverance with the wind and the sunset, playing each piece beautifully. It was also great to hear Schenay singing with the Jazz Band as her accompaniment.

Motivation Monday // Welcome to Week 5

Upper Primary Swimming Carnival // Yesterday the Year 5/6 students took part in a last-minute swimming carnival at Nagle Catholic College. After the disappointment earlier in the year in postponing the primary swimming carnival, it was great to see our older students taking to the water and competing with grace and good sportsmanship. Well done to all the swimmers and surely someone can break the Murchison winning streak in 2023!

Awards // Following in her sister Demi's footsteps, Amber was recently presented with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
To achieve an Award, each young person must learn a skill, improve their physical well being, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment.
An outstanding achievement, congratulations Amber.

🤩🥇 Local Legend 🤩🥇

Geraldton teenager Amber Bestry was recently presented with a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award by the Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson.

The Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award is the awards highest accolade and is bestowed upon young people who have shown commitment to self-improvement and community service across a wide range of challenging criteria.

Congratulations Amber on earning such a prestigious prize. You are a Local Legend🏆

Photo caption: Amber Bestry with Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson.

Photo: Geraldton Guardian

Incursion // Today a group of WASO musicians delivered an interactive workshop to our primary school students.
In addition to hearing the wonderful music created by professional musicians, students were introduced to each instrument and some lucky pupils got to try the instruments under expert guidance. Thanks for stopping by West Australian Symphony Orchestra

P&F // Orders for the P&F Peg Fundraiser need to be in by this Friday 4 November.

Order forms can be found on the Parent Hub: https://geraldtongrammarschool.wa.edu.au/parent-hub/parents-friends

Please give your completed forms to the primary class teacher or homegroup teacher. Forms can also be emailed to [email protected]