Newsletter - Term 4, Week 9 2023
Principal's Update
School Purpose Statement
This term I have been working with the staff and Governing Council to update the School Purpose Statement, which was originally developed in 2017. Much has changed at the school over the last 6 years, and we all agreed a new statement was needed. After much consideration the new School Purpose Statement, to be launched from the beginning of 2024 is:
Golden Grove High School is proud to provide quality public education for all young people in our community. Our purpose is to achieve “Success for All”. This means we notice and celebrate every young person for who they are. Our commitment is to support all students to:
- Develop purpose, belonging, and wellbeing,
- Become thriving learners,
- Transition to a fulfilling future.
Our school values of Respect, Equality, Pride, Integrity, and Resilience are the foundation for everything we do.
We believe this statement provides clear direction and a strong commitment for what we will deliver for every young person in our care.
School Events/Activities Update
The first half of term 4 has seen an abundance of events which have showcased the absolute best parts of our beautiful school community.
Our Year 12 students have completed their final exams and have submitted their last pieces of work for assessment. We now eagerly await the outcomes of their hard work. Final results will be released by the SACE Board on Monday 18 December. I want to take this opportunity to thank all Year 12 students for being wonderful ambassadors for the school and to wish them all the best for a fulfilling future. Their success would not have been possible without the guidance, support and care provided by the Year 12 subject teachers and the amazing Year 12 Sub School Team of Cheryl Watt, Kathy Hodgson, Natasha Dunn.
The 3-day Ginger Lemongrass Festival, hosted by Golden Grove High School on our oval, was a huge success. Thousands of community members embraced the opportunity to immerse themselves in the very best of Asian food and culture surrounded by bamboo huts and colourful lanterns. 16 vendors, representing a wide range of Asian cultures, provided festival guests with a smorgasbord of scrumptious food offerings. There was a range of music and dance performances as well as cultural games to keep the crowd entertained, and the henna stall was very popular. A massive shout out to School Culture Assistant Principal, Sarah West, for her amazing leadership and organisational skills. Without Sarah, this unique event would not have been possible.
Big thanks to our wonderful Music teacher, Jenni Stam, for organising and running a very successful Music performance night last Tuesday. It was very well attended – the band room was completely full! Congratulations to the Year 7, Year 9, and the combined Year 10/11 classes. It was fabulous to once again have live public Music performances back on the school’s event calendar.
Congratulations to Anne Young, Lynette Haines, and Justine Edge for creating another highly successful Year 7 to 10 Dance spectacular. The Rec and Arts Theatre was packed out for both performances. The highlight for me was the combined Year 7, 8, 9, and 10 General class performance of Thriller. AMAZING!!
Congratulations to the Year 7/8 Boys Touch Football team, coached by the incredible Anthony Grandison, who won the State Champion title earlier this term.
Executive Team Update
Congratulations to Michelle Parkes who was successful in winning the ongoing Principal position at Pooraka Primary School. We thank Michelle for leading the implementation of our new middle schooling model in 2021 when Year 7 students joined secondary schools for the first time. Michelle started in her new role this term.
Kirsty Ujhelyi has taken over the Assistant Principal, Head of Middle School role for the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024.
Sarah West will also continue in the Assistant Principal – School Culture, Communication and Community Engagement role for another 12 months.
I wish you and your family a safe and wonderful festive season and a happy new year. See you all again in January.
Peter Kuss
Principal
Ginger Lemongrass Festival
Fate brough the opportunity for our school to partner with Asia Oasis to bring the first Ginger Lemongrass Asian street food festival to our school oval this November. We were particularly excited to partner with Asia Oasis because of their strong passion for providing cultural immersion and educational opportunities to young people. Not only do they commit to providing a rich diversity of Asian cuisines, Asia Oasis take the time to curate a festival that provides patrons with an experience where they can explore various cultures, traditions, arts and music. Before the festival, our principal Peter Kuss and myself were invited to a vendor tasting night as special judges to determine which vendors would be most suitable for the festival, and can I tell you, it was definitely a perk of our roles getting to sample 44 dishes!
The school was filled with excitement as we watched the huts, lantern walls and vendors prepare for the 3 day festivaal that ran from the 17th to 19th November. Our students had exclusive access to the festival on the Friday school day, with many classes taking the opportunity to extend their learning outside of the classroom. We were incredibly proud and thankful for the many student, staff and parent volunteers who offered their time over the weekend to support the festival as a real community event. I know being there across the weekend, I had the chance to see so many familiar faces and meet their families as well.
The Ginger Lemongrass Festival was a unique opportunity for our school and we really valued being able to invite the wider community to come and enjoy a food festival close to home and connect with our school community. The feedback we have received from those who attended has been wonderful and confirms for us the importance of events such as this for connection, learning and community spirit. We look forward to expanding on this opportunity next year!
Thank you to the Asia Oasis team for being open to a new idea, and to our special guests who helped us open the festival including TTG Mayor Marijka Ryan, State member for King Rhiannon Pearce and Federal member for Makin, Tony Zappia.
Sarah West
Assistant Principal for School Culture, Communications and Community Engagement
Meet GGHS Family
Dina Casiou - School Service Officer - Disability Unit
Education- I completed my year 12 education with high distinctions in Chicago USA. Family- I have been married for 41 years, I have a son who is 38 years old and a daughter who is 33 years old. They are both married with children. My son has3 children a daughter and 2 sons and my daughter has 2 sons. My husband and I are blessed to have 5 grandchildren who keep us very busy. Interests- In my free time I love cooking and spending time in my garden gardening. Favourite Food- I enjoy all Greek cuisines. Favourite movie- I love My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Overseas travel- I would love to go overseas again to visit my family who live in the USA. Proudest accomplishment- Since I have been working in the disability unit for several years my proudest accomplishment has been seeing all the year 12s complete there schooling and then when you see them out in the community after many years they still remember you and come up to you with big hugs and thanks and can't wait to share with you their accomplishments since leaving high school.
Middle School
Celebrating Success in the Middle School
We are delighted and proud to share the success of our recent events celebrating our exceptional Middle School students. During our Years 7, 8 and 9 celebration assemblies held over the first few weeks of this term we recognised and rewarded the hard work, dedication and commitment of our students during Term 3. It was truly inspiring to witness the growth and achievement of a record number of our young people, reinforcing our school values of pride, respect, equality, integrity and resilience. Highlights included the stories behind the recipients of the Values Awards in Year 7; the wonderful blend of fun and games in the Year 8 Assembly in conjunction with hearing Mr Josh Davis talk passionately about the importance of integrity; and hearing the Year 9s talk about the special bonds they have made in their Groves while acknowledging an exceptional number of academic achievements awards.
The celebrations didn’t end there! Following the assemblies we hosted a Middle School Celebration Morning Tea to honour and applaud the exceptional performance of students who received a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 7.5 or above. The Celebration Morning Tea was not only a time for recognition, but also an opportunity for students to come together in a relaxed and joyful setting. It provided a platform for our young people to share their academic experiences, exchange ideas, and foster a sense of camaraderie among high-achieving peers.
We believe that acknowledging and celebrating academic success and personal growth is crucial in motivating and inspiring our Middle School students to reach their full potential. The achievements of our students reflect not only their dedication, but also the support they receive from their teachers, parents, and the entire Golden Grove community. As we look forward to the continued success of our students, we express our gratitude to the parents/caregivers for their unwavering support and encouragement. Your involvement in your child’s education plays a pivotal role in their journey, and we appreciate your commitment to fostering a positive and empowering learning environment.
Kirsty Ujhelyi
Assistant Principal: Head of Middle School & Whole School Teaching and Learning
Middle School - Term 4
Term 4 of Middle School is a crucial period for our young people and at Golden Grove High School we have focused on making this a term of celebrations. Term 4 is not only an opportunity for students to showcase the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired over the year, but also a time for reflection and preparation for the following year. Our Year 7s are getting ready to move in to their second year of high school with confidence of what it means to be a high schooler. Our Year 8s are moving in to their final year of Middle School and are set to become the next leaders of this wonderful stage of schooling. Our Year 9s have graduated and are setting their sights on the adventures that moving in to the Senior School will bring.
During our Years 7, 8 and 9 celebration assemblies held over the first few weeks of this term we recognised and rewarded the hard work, dedication and commitment of our students during Term 3. It was truly inspiring to witness the growth and achievement of a record number of our young people, reinforcing our school values of pride, respect, equality, integrity and resilience. Highlights included the stories behind the recipients of the Values Awards in Year 7; the wonderful blend of fun and games in the Year 8 Assembly in conjunction with hearing Mr Josh Davis talk passionately about the importance of integrity; and hearing the Year 9s talk about the special bonds they have made in their Groves while acknowledging an exceptional number of academic achievements awards.
The celebrations didn’t end there! Following the assemblies we hosted a Middle School Celebration Morning Tea to honour and applaud the exceptional performance of students who received a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 7.5 or above. The Celebration Morning Tea was not only a time for recognition, but also an opportunity for students to come together in a relaxed and joyful setting. It provided a platform for our young people to share their academic experiences, exchange ideas, and foster a sense of camaraderie among high-achieving peers.
On Monday 11th December, 160 Year 9 students were invited to a special Middle School Graduation lunch at Sferas Park Suites and Convention Centre. The venue was set up beautifully with settings you would expect at a wedding. Nothing short of what our wonderful Year 9s deserved to celebrate the end of their middle schooling journey. The students were excited to celebrate with their peers and Grove teachers, and they looked amazing! Everyone enjoyed their 2-course buffet style lunch and all-you-can drink soft drinks package. The photo wall was extremely popular as the kids captured memories of the day. We finished the day by presenting our major school awards to some extremely deserving young people, and we even had some playful student voted awards to distribute. We wish all our Year 9s the very best for moving in to the next phase of their schooling and can not wait to see all they will achieve in their senior years!
To conclude our celebrations for the term, on Tuesday 12th December, we hosted our Year 7 & 8 Final Celebration Assembly. We were joined by Ms Rhiannon Pearce, MP State Member for King, Mr Darren Walker, Governing Council Chairperson, over 50 family members and caregivers of award winners, and a wide range of leadership and teaching staff of our wonderful Middle School students. This formal assembly provided us with the opportunity to celebrate the achievements, growth and spirit of our incredible Year 7 and 8 students. This assembly was not just a recognition of academic excellence, but was a celebration of character, kindness, and the positive impact that each of our students have had on our school. We were entertained by the wonderful Year 7 Music students and the Year 8 Special Interest Dance class. It was a truly spectacular morning!
We believe that acknowledging and celebrating academic success and personal growth is crucial in motivating and inspiring our Middle School students to reach their full potential. The achievements of our students reflect not only their dedication, but also the support they receive from their teachers, parents, and the entire Golden Grove community. As we look forward to the continued success of our students, we express our gratitude to the parents/caregivers for their unwavering support and encouragement. Your involvement in your child’s education plays a pivotal role in their journey, and we appreciate your commitment to fostering a positive and empowering learning environment.
We wish you Merry Christmas can not wait to see the successes 2024 will bring!
Kirsty Ujhelyi
Assistant Principal – Head of Middle School & High Quality Teaching and Learning
Year 7 & 8 Final Assembly
Year 9 Final Assembly Celebration
Year 10 Final Celebration Assembly
On Wednesday of week 7 we celebrated the end of the school year at a celebration assembly with our year 10’s. During this event we presented a number of prestigious awards to a group of very deserved students.
Prestigious award winners:
School Values awards: Isla & Alora
Acknowledgement award: Mikayla & Abby
Discovery Centre award: Bailey K
FLO award: Chase
Yr. 10 ADF Long Tan Award – Braden
Y10 ADF Future Innovators Award – Justin
Service to GGHS awards: Kiera, Annabelle, Lena, Bailey H
Sports Champion award – Emma & Tyson
State representatives – Blake, Brooke, Charlotte
Excel Award – Samantha & Elizabeth
Prestigious Awards
Year 10 Special Interest Dance class – special award for school service and high performance in all areas of the dance program.
Year 10 Special Interest Dance
Congratulations to all award winners, you should be proud of yourselves. We would like to wish all students a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year. We hope that you can all take some time to re-charge and prepare for a big 2024 and the continuation of your SACE journey. Our best wishes also go out to those students leaving GGHS.
'Big achievements come one small advantage at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time' - Jim Rohn
Senior School
Year 10 – Empowerment Program
On Thursday of week 3, a group of Year 10 students travelled down to Adelaide Oval for the PAFC Empowered program, follow up day. It was an enjoyable experience that touched on some important messages for young women. A number of speakers shared their story with the students and it was especially interesting to hear from the PAFC AFLW players, that included club champion Erin Phillips. Thanks to PAFC for putting on this event and I hope the girls took something out of the day.
Year 10 Celebration Assembly
On Thursday of week 2 we held our termly assembly for the Year 10 students. During this assembly we celebrated a number of things from Term 3 such as Positive Behaviour records, 100% attendance, school sport and ATSI news amongst other things. In addition to this, we showcased student work from term 3 and got to look at some of the awesome things that have been happening in our classrooms. We finished with some fun games with some chocolate prizes for the winners. Looking forward to a busy and brighter Term 4 in the lead up to the summer holidays!
Final Awards Ceremony
On Wednesday 22nd November the year 11 cohort gathered for their final awards assembly for 2023. This was a formal occasion attended by several local sponsors and members of parliament who sponsor some of our awards.
It was a celebration of the achievements of many students who have succeeded above and beyond in several areas such as overall Academic Achievement, performing arts, sports, languages, FLO, Discovery Centre, VET and the school values.
We were also treated to a dance performance by our stage 1 dance students and we looked back on photos of the many events and memories we have made this year.
The final term for Year 12 students went as quickly as a cheetah chasing a gazelle. Incredibly fast.
The Class of 2023 decided to celebrate their last week of school in “Spirit” style. This involved dressing up on consecutive days in pyjamas, Adam Sandler and Dynamic Duo. We learnt even more about each other in this time and students and teachers went all out with their costumes and props.
The dress up days led to the annual breakfast where students feasted on bacon and eggs expertly cooked by staff, the way Mr Watson cooked his egg in a hole was next level. Students again enjoyed each other’s company as they asked teachers and friends to sign their T-shirts.
Breakfast ended with a colourful explosion consisting of both staff and students showering each other with an array of coloured powder and then sneakily ended in a drenching of several unexpected teachers.
Graduation was a mixture of tears, laughter, happiness and nostalgia. Students were able to reflect on their years at GGHS, starting with Year 8 and their camp at Victor Harbour leading into Year 9 the year of covid and zoom calls. Year 10 they were excited to finally be able to wear white shoes and the health class were mothers to babies for the first time. Free lessons in year 11 consisted of time spent at KFC and outdoor ed camps to Kuipto forest and Point Turton were a highlight. They finished with describing their final year as one they will remember for the mobile phone ban, the Nutbush, the amazing formal and relationships they formed.
Now they eagerly await the 18th of December when SACE results are released.
Professional Development
This term we had our final Student Free Day for the year. While students enjoyed the long weekend in November, staff spent the day on-site engaging in their Learning Area teams to finalise our 2024 planning and curriculum writing. We have had a strong focus this year on ensuring that our teaching and learning programs align with the most current version of the Australian Curriculum, and that all students have access to a guaranteed and viable curriculum. This essentially means that we have a commitment to sharing with each the best of what we do, and teams have picked the best of what everyone does to make a common program that all students get the opportunity to engage with.
We are also excited to share with you the other recent endeavors of our dedicated staff as they continue to embark on a journey of professional growth and development. At Golden Grove, we believe that fostering a culture of continuous learning not only enhances the capabilities of our teachers, but also enriches the overall educational experience of our students.
Over the course of this year, our staff has been actively engaging in a diverse array of professional opportunities aimed at honing their skills, staying current with educational trends, and furthering our commitment to success for all. Here’s a glimpse into some of the enriching experiences our teachers have embraced over this term:
- Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) workshops: EIF is an exciting new Stage 1 subject that supports students to learn more about themselves and explore their aspirations and future. Golden Grove teachers have been leading the way with the pilot of this exciting opportunity for students to build the knowledge, skills, and capabilities required to be thriving learners
- Orbis Year 7 to 9 Science program: Several of our staff engaged in a 5-day Years 7-9 Science program designed to deepen their pedagogies, including practical work in science laboratories, to engage students meaningfully in science across the middle years
- Curriculum inspiration days: Staff from a range of Learning Areas have sought opportunities to collaborate with other professionals in their fields to stay current and inspired with innovative ways to engage students and improve student outcomes
- Student wellbeing networks: Our staff are committed to the growth and success of all our students, knowing that supporting their wellbeing and sense of belonging is just as fundamentally important as supporting their academic success.
As we look forward to 2024, we can’t wait to see the positive impact these professional opportunities will have on our classrooms and the overall learning environment at Golden Grove High School. We extend our sincere appreciation to our staff for their unwavering dedication to high quality teaching and learning and supporting thriving learners, and to our community for your continued support. We wish you all the very best for the holiday season and are looking forward to more opportunities for growth in the new year.
Kirsty Ujhelyi
Assistant Principal: Head of Middle School & High Quality Teaching and Learning
PBL - Positive Behaviour for Learning at GGHS 2024
Throughout this year, we have shared with you the beginning of our journey to implement the PBL framework at our school over the next 3 years. We have already seen the positive impact this has had on our school practices and the connections students are making with their teachers through our pilot trials of classroom and whole school practices and context specific procedures that provide our students with the predictability and confidence to be successful at school.
When we aim to take on too much at once, we often become master of none, so our motto for PBL is 'Keep it simple. Keep it consistent'. Having the time this year to consult with our staff, students and families about how to embed this framework in a meaningful way has provided us the solid foundation to officially launch PBL across the school from the start of next year. We will start the year with embedding the behaviour expectations that were chosen for our new School Values Matrix (please see below) through a fortnightly focus across all year levels and all classes. Our hope is through a consistent approach, language and support, every student at our school can enjoy being a valued and responsible member of our community where they can thrive. We hope they share this journey with you and you may even notice them starting to implement PBL practices into their every day lives!
I want to take this opportunity to thank the students and families who have directly contributed to building the framework with us this year and we look forward to sharing more successes with you next year.
Sarah West
Assistant Principal for School Culture - PBL Lead Team
Wellbeing
Welcome our Additional Pastoral Care Worker
We have recently been lucky enough to receive some additional funding to support having another PCW in our school. Pastoral Care Workers provide much needed support to our students working one on one in a mentor capacity and managing some of the valuable school life programs in our school. Joshua Taplin has been appointed of GGHS and is a part of the Wellbeing Team alongside Mat O’Brien our long-standing PCW. We are so excited to introduce Josh to the students and families and look forward to utilizing his skills and local community contacts.
Over to Josh to tell you more about him…
'It brings me great excitement to have recently joined the team at GGHS as the new pastoral care worker. In collaboration with Mat O’Brien, my primary responsibility is to provide support and guidance to students and their wellbeing. I am very passionate about empowering young individuals to navigate and overcome their daily challenges.
My previous experience at Salisbury North Primary School over the course of 12 months equipped me with the necessary skills for this role. Additionally, I work closely with primary school kids each week as a children’s pastor. While transitioning to the high school environment poses new challenges, I bring with me a wealth of experience in mentoring and supporting teenagers.
Beyond the workplace, I am an avid enthusiast of soccer, basketball, and all things Marvel. My current workdays at the school are Thursdays and Fridays. The journey ahead excites me, and I am eager to contribute positively to the GGHS community! '
If you would like your child or young person to connect with Josh, Mat or any of the Wellbeing Team please email the Wellbeing Team on: dl.1834.wellbeing@schools.sa.edu.au
'Promise me you'll always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think' - Christopher Robin
School Life
Remembrance Day 2023
This year’s combined Campus Remembrance Day Ceremony, which was held on Pedare’s Jackson oval, was a moving and poignant commemorative assembly. We were once again fortunate to have representation from the Australian Defence Force, which is something that we highly value as it adds to the reverence of the event. Our Guest Speaker was Flight Lieutenant Justin Martin from the Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit, Royal Australian Air force. Able Seaman Sergiy Grynchuk, from the Royal Australian Navy Band played the bugle; Sergiy has been present at a number of our assemblies, and we always appreciate his contribution to the formal part of the commemoration.
The school’s Cadet Unit 432ACU, led by Captain (AAC) Ben Foxwell and Second Lieutenant (AAC) Melissa Ruciack, spent a lot of their parade times practicing for the assembly, with the help of retired GGHS teacher Mike Meredith, who is also an Army Reservist warrant officer. They did amazing work performing the Catafalque Party drill and flag raising roles, as well as the guard of honour. We had two air force cadets from 613 Squadron volunteer to be a part of the ceremony, which provided a tri-service feel.
FLTL Justin Martin gave a moving speech which connected our students into why we ‘remember’ service men and women from so many years ago and related it to current conflict situations. War is not to be glorified; however, it is appropriate to remember the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to enable us to enjoy the freedoms we now have living in Australia.
The three Campus Principals each played a part in the assembly, including laying a wreath on behalf of the three schools. The choir, led by Carly Meakin a teacher from Gleeson, comprised of two students from each school sang Two Brothers, Two Friends; a song purposely written by two former Pedare teachers about a local family – the Harpers – whose mother didn’t lock the back door of her home in the hope her sons would return from war unharmed. Other students had parts to read or recite and did exceptionally well; especially before the expansive audience of well over 3,000. Nadine Stroud, a teacher from Pedare, played the keyboard while two students sang the National Anthem to conclude the formal part of the assembly.
It is fantastic our young people are given the opportunity to be a part of this ceremony each year, and we are appreciative of our ongoing access to an ‘official’ element through the support and presence of Australian Defence Force personnel.
Linda DeBoer
Defence School Mentor
Music Night Performance
On Tuesday evening we had a little event- Music Night! It was a fantastic demonstration of our students' bravery, creativity, pride, resilience and musical talents, enjoyed by a very appreciative crowd of family and friends.
The night started with a bang! Our percussion ensemble channelled their inner Taiko-drummer playing strong rhythmic phrases and vocalisations. The beginner guitar group followed up with a rendition of ‘Green Onions’ before Daniel Christie performed a piano solo, ‘The Heart Asks Pleasure First’ composed by Michael Nyman. A challenging yet beautiful piece from the movie ‘The Piano’, incorporating different time signatures and feels throughout.
The Year 9 Class Band performed a set of 3 pieces- ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson, ‘1955’ by The Hilltop Hoods and ‘Viva la Vida’ with the final piece bringing the house down. The Coldplay classic featured lead instrumentalists Chloe and Blake with vocals by Jacob, Jethro and Hayden.
After a quick change over our Year 10 and 11 music students provided over an hour of entertainment, ranging from solo items, small ensembles as well as the class band. Every student rose to the occasion, bringing their absolute best to the stage. Items included a duet by Hayden and Lilly of ‘Golden Hour’ by JVKE, small ensemble performances by Olivia, Kade, Amelia, Jonathan and Ashley of ‘Fly Me TO the Moon’, and Jamie, Kerim, Hayden and Jordan of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. Our musicians had the audience captivated, with raucous applause after each performance. As their music teacher the highlight for me is the class ensemble songs- ‘Kryptonite’, ‘Street Spirit’, ‘Respect’, ‘You’ll Understand When You’re Older’, finishing the night with the upbeat, musical postcard ‘Valerie’.
For many of our students this was their first public performance, and they should be extremely proud of their efforts- I certainly am.
Thank you to the staff that supported not only in the lead up to but also during the performance, including Matt Ujhelyi and Lana Koval, our maintenance staff, Peter Kuss, Lucy Clashom, Jenny Christie, Belle Mackay, and Jane Roddy. Events like this don’t just happen- it takes a team effort.
We look forward to bringing you more music events in 2024.
Jenni Stam
Music Teacher
National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant - Dance
On November 4th, 38 of our Year 7 - 11 dance students performed at the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant. This event not only highlighted our students' talents but also provided a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate. We extend our sincere congratulations to all our students who participated, as well as parents and staff who supported them throughout the process. Organizing this event in a relatively short time was no small feat, and the dedication, hard work and passion of all involved was truly appreciated.
Canberra Study Tour
On the 25th of November, 40 Year 9 and 10 students and 4 teachers, travelled to Canberra for a week long Study Tour of our nation’s capital. While the overnight bus ride was exhausting, the students rallied for a jam-packed schedule.
New friendships were forged upon arrival with an afternoon spent at Big Splash Water Park, before settling into our dorms for the week. Students were fortunate to see Parliament sitting and meet their Federal MP the Honourable Tony Zappia at Parliament House. At the Australian War Memorial, our students participated in a Last Post Ceremony, where Ebony Maxwell and Emily Borg were chosen to lay a wreath at the Memorial’s Reflection Pool.
Over the course of the week, students were fortunate enough to train like an athlete (Australian Institute of Sport), act like a politician (Old Parliament House) and think like a scientist (Questacon). They were also able to develop a greater appreciation for Canberra and the fortune position we are in as Australians.
We encourage all current Year 8 students to consider travelling to Canberra in 2024.
Kelly Spalding
HaSS & Global Perspectives Leader
Year 11 Outdoor Education Canoeing Camps
During Weeks 2, 3 and 4 of Term 4, three Year 11 Outdoor Education classes embarked on their final camp, a canoe journey paddling around Ral Ral Creek in the Renmark region of the Riverlands. The classes demonstrated and developed their practical canoeing skills and collaboration and communication with their canoeing partner and classmates. The 3 classes faced a variety of challenges, from hot weather and strong winds, to capsizing, to missing a tent. In the face of these challenges, the groups demonstrated great resilience and teamwork, with one group also catching over 60 carp, a pest species of fish in the Murray River. Many of the students highlighted how they formed new friendships during the camp, and how the overall experience made them grateful for all the little things at home (including a nice warm shower and flushing toilet). We as teachers are very proud of the students efforts this semester, and it was great to culminate their learning on these successful camps.
Tayla Anderson, Thomas Moffat and Chris Wojtkowiak
Year 11 Outdoor Education
Semester 2 Dance Showcase
Well done Year 7-10 dance students on delivering an excellent performance at the Semester 2 Dance showcase on November 15th. We are immensely proud of your dedication and hard work throughout the semester.
National Recycling Week
♻️ Where does all our waste go beyond GGHS?
We went on a mission during National Recycling Week to find out!
12 of our leaders, teachers, SSOs, students and parents toured facilities which process everything from our red, green, yellow, 10c containers and e-waste bins!
What did we learn?
♻️ Electronics recycling - "Really old TV's are still around and you can recycle them along with mattresses and polystyrene at Electronics Recycling Australia!"
💛 10c containers - "There are so many different types of plastic bottles that need to be treated differently. Coloured plastic bottles are the most difficult to recycle so more companies should switch to clear. We're still a bit confused about lids on or lids off!"
❤️ Dry waste - "Our red bin waste is processed into an alternative fuel - it's basically burned to create energy"
"Batteries are an issue with causing fires in bin trucks. We need to recycle them at battery recycling units in supermarkets. Toys and other devices with embedded batteries need to be taken to e-waste recycling cages at Bunnings"
💚 Organics - "We need to remove plastic fruit stickers before putting in the green bin!"
"Putting food scraps in our green bin helps grow more food, and wine!"
💛 Co-mingled recycling - "Not all plastic and metal goes in the co-mingled recycling"
"Place small bits of paper in an envelop or another paper item"
A big thank you and congratulations to the newly graduated "Binfluencers" in our school community!
Staff:
Mr Kuss - Principal
Ms Armstrong - Business Leader
Mr Hurst - Facilities Manager
Mrs Ujhelyi - Assistant Principal and HASS teacher
Ms Applegate - Science and Maths teacher
Josie - DC SSO
Laura Carrington - Sustainability Leader and Languages teacher
Students:
Daniel - Year 11 DC Sustainability class
Anabelle - Year 10 EMU Club Leader
Aura - Year 7 EMU Club
Parents:
Natasha - Anabelle's mum
Steph - Aura's mum
A big thanks to Educator Jo from KESAB (Keeping SA Beautiful) for being our tour guide!
Laura Carrington
Sustainability Coordinator
Year 10 Cheerleading
GGHS would like to congratulate Kaelyn Earnshaw and Ruby Sharkey on their achievement at the Australian Cheerleading championship 2023. This Competition was held in Melbourne over the weekend. These girls are doing amazing things and gaining experiences they will never forget. They also have more national dance events coming up soon, so we can't wait to hear how they go in this event. Well done girls!!!
Cheercon National championship
Congratulations to Lana and Kaelyn, from Year 10. They both participated in the Cheercon National championship that was held in Sydney this term. It was a tough division, with 9 teams competing. The girls finished second overall in a team hiphop competition and notch up another significant achievement in 2024. Lana also competed in the lyrical competition and came 3rd. GGHS would like to congratulate you both, you should be proud of yourselves and hopefully now get some time to rest over the holiday.
Road Safety Celebration
On Thursday of week 2 the year 11 cohort gathered for a lovely afternoon on the DRMC lawns. The purpose of this celebration was to acknowledge our year 11 students for attending and taking part in 2 Road Safety Awareness programs this year. We wanted to ensure students who attended were rewarded and are aware how highly we value road safety education here at GGHS. Our students safety awareness and knowledge as they enter the time of life of independent driving is paramount to ensuring all our students are safe in the community.
Students were treated to a donut and milkshake from ‘Van Dough’, we also had SAPOL and MFS in attendance who mingled with students to further spread their gratitude for student involvement in these programs.
Year 12 Student Led Fundraiser – Dyslexia Resources
Year 12 students Mahalya Rollins and Kyla Lockwood organised and ran a quiz night for family and friends in the DRMC during the year as a fundraising activity as part of their Social Interaction assessment component for their Society and Culture class.
Mahalya and Kyla did a fabulous job organising and running the evening with over 70 people attending. Participants engaged in quiz questions and games of skills, with other activities including the sale of raffle tickets and a silent auction. These initiatives brought the total amount raised to $930. The money has been used to purchase 21 books for the Thiele Library to support students with dyslexia. Please see below for the reasons why Mahalya and Kyla chose to raise money for this important cause.
The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations website (2023) reports that 1 in 10 Australian students will be diagnosed with dyslexia. Without effective support, resources, and awareness, this disability can cause major restrictions in schools, workplaces, and social situations. Dyslexia can also evoke feelings of insecurity and inadequacy in students. This social issue was chosen as it is relevant to our lives, as we have many friends diagnosed with this disability, and it is a disability that often goes unsupported. Our social action for this issue is to host a quiz night fundraiser to buy dyslexic-friendly novels for the school library. Although this disability is common in Australia, books printed in Dyslexic-friendly fonts are limited and expensive, with many being up to four times more expensive than standard-print novels. This limits the support that can be given to students through resources. The fundraiser will raise money to buy books and raise awareness for learning disabilities in students. This will be done throughout the night, as some quiz questions will relate to the social issue.
Mahalya Rollins and Kyla Lockwood
We are very proud of these students and wanted to share their story with the school community to showcase the leadership they have demonstrated to improve outcomes for students with learning challenges. Congratulations Mihalya and Kyla.
Peter Kuss
Principal
We wish all our families and community a happy and safe holiday break. See you next year!