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Senior School Coordinator
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Angela Tanham as Senior School Coordinator effective 1 November 2016.
Mrs Tanham is our current Head of House for Lincoln, Teacher Librarian and Accounting Teacher.
We look forward to Angela’s leadership and management within the Senior School.
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Art Exhibition
Wednesday 19 October marked the official opening of the 2016 St George’s Anglican Grammar School Art Exhibition. The collection, which was showcased in the foyer at Central Park, celebrated the excellent work of Visual Art and Design students from Years 7-12.
The Reverend Peter Laurence OAM, Chair of School Council and CEO of the Anglican Schools Commission, praised the students for their work and reaffirmed the value of ‘The Arts’ in education, in his official speech. Ms. Wohlnick congratulated the following award winners for their amazing artworks:
The St George’s Anglican Grammar School Principal’s Acquisition Prize Senior 2016:
Gemma Edwards – Serena – Acrylic on canvas
The St George’s Anglican Grammar School Principal’s Acquisition Prize Junior 2016:
Eliza Griffin – Imagine – Pastel on paper
People’s Choice Award
Wenjia (Joy) Chen (Runner Up – Alex Baxter)
The evening was well attended, with guests enjoying the delicious catering and ambiance of the venue, whilst viewing the incredible work on display.
Katie Fassom
Head of Mandela House
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Graduation
What a splendid day we enjoyed as we congratulated and farewelled the Class of 2016!
Our graduating class started their day with a sumptuous breakfast in the Cafeteria. As tradition dictates, the students were entertained by the Heads of House reading out “It wouldn’t be Year 12 if…” – a personal memory for each of the students.
In the sacred space of our Chapel, the glorious St George’s Cathedral, the Year 12s had their final worship service with their parents, guardians and carers, followed by a morning tea.
At the afternoon assembly the whole school had an opportunity to say goodbye to the Year 12s, who have been their big brothers and sisters of the St George’s family, providing mentorship and friendship. The Head Boy and Head Girl of 2016 and other members of the Guild had an opportunity to speak to the School. It was quite clear that this wonderful group of students feel a strong connection to the School. Their sincerity and gratitude shone through as they told of their enduring memories, relationships formed and what they valued about their alma mater. The Head Boy and Head Girl for 2017 addressed the Class of 2016, thanking them for their contribution to the School, and providing some wisdom for their future.
In the evening, the formal Graduation Ceremony took place in the Cathedral where the awards were given out. Each Head of House then introduced their students, who were presented their Graduation Certificate by the Principal. Before Mrs Diggeden and the CEO of the ASC, The Revered Peter Lawrence, addressed the Class of 2016 with wise words, the Valedictorian, Khairyll (James) Hampson, spoke eloquently to his peers. The joyous occasion ended in Burt Hall with a lavish supper served by a group of dedicated Year 11 students and the Guild of 2017.
Susan Lazenby
Head of English
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ORACY Australia 2016
During week three this term, all Year 8 students completed a major speaking and listening assessment in their English classes before two adjudicators from ORACY Australia Inc. ORACY used to be known as the English Speaking Board and it offers certificates that rate oral proficiency against national accredited standards.
As part of the Year 8 Assessment A programme, students had to complete (1) a 4 minute speech on an area of personal involvement then answer questions on their topic; (2) spend 2 minutes reading aloud from a favourite novel; (3) perform a memorised 2 minute oral interpretation of a poem, and (4) a listening component where students are expected to ask the presenter broad, open questions.
I am pleased to report that all students were awarded a high certificate or above, with 39% of our students reaching the top “outstanding” level. These results are particularly impressive and are indicative of the effort our Year 8 cohort demonstrated throughout the process. Even more pleasingly, our students have further developed their confidence in public speaking and many of them commented on how much they had learnt through this challenging task.
Well done to Outstanding Certificate Winners:
Nor Al-Maliki
Jack Blatchford
Alice Conroy
Eliza Griffin
Halla Harding
Josie Indrizzi
Petra Tan
Scott Robertson
Teacher
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Sport @ St George's
This term, we have played Softball and Cricket at Supreme Court Gardens. The fundamental movement skills focused on are throwing, catching and striking and object control skills with bats and gloves. Students improved their knowledge and understanding of the rules, strategies, techniques and terminology used in these sports.
Perfect performance comes from on-going regular practice. Sports like softball are introduced for a period of four to five weeks during which all students achieve improvements. It is quite remarkable how many can now catch a ‘fly ball’, have learnt to hit a ball in the ‘strike zone’ and successfully apply skills in games which were of a great standard. This was only achievable by the students’ willingness to move out of their comfort zone and give it a go. I would like to thank all of the students of St George’s for their willingness to try, to put themselves out there, to know they may not be good at something but still be willing to attempt the skill or try the activity. It is a credit to each and every one of them!
Well done students, it has been a fantastic year of sport, camaraderie and good fun learning and developing skills to enable participation in modified games! I encourage you to keep approaching sport knowing that if you never stop trying then you will succeed and improve.
I would like to commend Mr Yousri Gharsallah who supports the Physical Education Programme. Yousri plays in Premier League Soccer here is Perth and is a talented Goal Keeper. He is working hard at building our soccer programme and is keen in building our junior inter-school soccer teams in 2017. Yousri has been a great role model and lots of fun for our students and I have appreciated his willingness to assist me in all that I do.
Speaking of 2017: I have started getting together our School Swimming Team. I am excited to start the year with morning training sessions at Mercedes Swimming pool at 6am every Tuesday and Thursday. Our first session is on Tuesday 7 February 2017 in preparation for our Inter-House Swimming Carnival, with our famous Sync Swim performances, which will take place at Bold Park Swimming Pool on Wednesday 1 March. Hopefully we will be accepted into the Associated & Catholic Colleges (ACC) inter-school competition for 2017. Watch this space for updates! Please note that School bathers will be available from the uniform shop.
Lunchtime play is encouraged at Elizabeth Quay every Wednesday and Friday. We had a great ‘Skate It’ event where students and staff brought their ripsticks, skateboards and scooters and rode them around Elizabeth Quay. Some students played soccer and basketball while others just brought their lunch to enjoy it outside. This will continue for the rest of this term and into next year. With the strong summer sun we ask that you please ensure students have the School hat for PE and all outside activities.
In advance of the fast approaching festive season may I wish everyone a Happy Christmas, I hope you get lots of sports equipment from Santa!
Jodie Scheele
Sports Coordinator |
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Music News
In The Music Department
What a start to Term 4! On Wednesday 19 October our Chapel Band provided the music for the Anti-Poverty Service at St. George’s Cathedral. This year the focus was on domestic violence (leading to poverty). Later that evening our Jazz Ensemble played at the St. George’s Art Exhibition opening at Central Park. The next day Chapel Band were back at the Cathedral for the Year 12 Graduation Chapel, followed by student performances for the Graduation Assembly, and Swing Band at the Graduation Ceremony in the evening. The following week Swing Band and Jazz Ensemble performed at Royal Perth Hospital as part of their ‘On The Bridge’ concert series. A huge thank you to all the musicians who contributed to these various events!
This term we have also begun Songwriting and Production Workshops, run by our resident producer Byron Keno. Byron is a professional producer who has worked with a number of large labels such as Sony and EMI. Through his work with those labels he’s produced a number of top South African artists, and has mixed the soundtracks for the movies “Mama Jack”, “Mr Bones 2” and “Running Riot”. In 2010 he mixed the single “Hey You” for Australian Band, The Transients. These workshops are a fantastic opportunity for our students - we are very privileged to be able to access his expertise and knowledge.
Instrumental Program
The West Australian Newspaper recently published a feature in their ‘Health and Medicine’ section titled ‘Top 10 Health Regrets’. Many such as number 1 ‘Failing to Cover Up in the Sun’ and number 3 (Complications from Piercings) were unsurprising. Number 4 caught our attention - Quitting Music Lessons. The article summarised a now considerable (and growing) body of research that demonstrates that musical training is linked to better language and mathematical skills, higher IQ, improved well-being, and overall greater academic achievement. They are all good reasons to learn an instrument (along with evidence WA students who have studied music do better in their ATAR and the fact that playing music and learning an instrument physically alters to brain and strengthens the connections between the left and right hemispheres). However, the main reason is quality of life. Music is a major contributor to a life well-lived, both right now for beginners and into the future as more experienced musicians. Psychologists call the optimal experience derived from playing an instrument ‘flow’.
Applications to start learning an instrument in Term 1 2017 are now open. The application form and handbook can be downloaded from the School website.
Michael Newton
Music Coordinator
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Ski Trip 2017
This term the students in Years 7 to 10 have started regular service work, in respect of our motto of “Wisdom, Grace, Service”. The service being to serve others, especially “the least of these my brothers and sisters” (Matthew 25:40).
We had a fabulous 2016 Ski Trip where we stayed right up on the mountain in the thick of the snow at Matterhorn Lodge. It was so good that we are heading back to Perisher and Canberra next year! The trip will take place in the first week of the July School Holidays from Sunday 2 July to Saturday 8 July 2017. Expression of Interest forms will be circulated this week. Please return them to Ms Jodie Scheele.
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Rocket Launch
Students had some great fun with launching aquapod rockets during the Rocket Science co-curricular at Elizabeth Quay. Many bemused onlookers and the students were very excited. One priceless moment was when a student managed to catch the ‘rocket’ before it hit the ground.
Ormonde Waters
Rocket Science Coordinator
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Ping Pong-a-thon
The St George Dragonslayers participated in the Perth City Ping Pong-a-thon recently!
The event raised just over $18,200 to fight sexual trafficking and exploitation of children and young people in South East Asia. This money will go towards prevention – for example, keeping children in school; street intervention – providing those forced into the industry a safe haven and at times, a chance to be kids; justice – supporting lawyers who are prosecuting the perpetrators of these hideous crimes; and new futures – helping people who have escaped the industry hope for a brighter life ahead. Well done to the Dragonslayers and hundreds of others across Australia in playing ping pong and raising money.
One of the highlights for organiser, Mr Martin Dodge, was watching the school play alongside the homeless mission of St Bartholomew’s House and the company he works for, Cliffs (pictured below). Martin commented: “I’m still taking it all in, but no doubt, we’ll do it again next year!!”
Ernesto Ramirez
Dragonslayer Coordinator
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