PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME

TED KOSICKI, PRINCIPAL

WELCOME

Semester 2 is the final culmination of formal schooling for our Graduating Class of 2021 and it comes with a variety of emotions, all signalling an end to a long educational journey. The Valedictory is a way of celebrating their time at school, giving them opportunity to ‘shine’ for the last time. We wish our Graduating Class of 2021 much success in their chosen future endeavours.

The School Production, Music Farewell Concert and Extravaganza have all been completed showcasing of talent within our community and it has been nothing short of remarkable. Thank you to all our performers and helpers for giving so many students an opportunity to be on the ‘big stage’ and to shine.

At the Secondary Presentation Night, the Anglican Schools Commission and GMAS proudly announced a new cutting-edge state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre to begin construction on our campus in 2023. The Centre will further enhance our Schools

existing performing arts curriculum in this world-class performance venue. More information including plans can be found on our website www.gmas.wa.edu.au.

Mr Ted Kosicki Principal

Primary School

BOOK WEEK

READ. DREAM. SHARE

National Childrens Book Week has been an annual

tradition dedicated to spreading the joy of reading,

and GMAS does just that. Friday 27 August, our

students and teachers celebrated the worlds that

exist between the covers of great books. The

costumes were amazing and there were smiles

all around as sudents paraded dressed as their

favourite book character.

Mrs Mahoney had our Primary School Students in

fits of laughter as she MC’d the event.

WORLD WIDE MATHLETICS CHALLENGE

Nothing captivates our Year 5G Class than exciting interfaces, rewards, engaging activities and competing worldwide. The ‘Maths Olympics’ ran for 2 weeks with Class 5G competing against over 6000 other classes across the world. The students gave up the majority of their recesses, lunchtimes, before and after school, to compete in this challenge. Their hardwork paid off - they came 5th worldwide!

BREEZEWAY MURAL PROJECT

A select number of Year 5 and 6 students were asked to participate in the ‘Breezeway Mural Project’ in recognition of their excellence in the Visual Arts area. The project offered a one-on-one Visual Art experience for the selected students. Discussing and reinforcing concepts in design development, working collaboratively, colour theory and painting were all explored. Students researched animals and coral/seaweed species that grew under the jetty & each student was given a section to design and paint. They then had to collaborate with another student to fit their designs together seamlessly.

ROBOTICS AND THE ROBOCUP

IN THIS FAST CHANGING TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD

Digital Technologies is an important subject area. It introduces computer

science concepts, including students learning about digital systems,

collecting, managing and analysing data and creating solutions using digital

devices. Students also learn the essential lessons of cyber-safety and learn

to be responsible digital citizens.

GMAS Students from Pre-Pimary to Year 6 learn to programme a variety

of floor robots, use interfaces and create animations using blockly coding

language. The applications and devices used allow students to achieve at

their individual level and demonstrate their creativity and understanding.

The Technologies curriculum helps students develop skills in collaboration,

communication and problem solving, preparing them for future jobs – many

that don’t yet exist!

An extension for our Year 3 to 6 students is the ‘Coderdojo’, our very popular

after school coding club, (students can learn to code, build a website, create

an app or a game, and explore technology in an informal, creative, and social

environment). It was very exciting seeing our first Year 6 and 7s compete at

the RoboCup State Robotics Competition and make the State Finals! We are

super proud to work with talented students and give them opportunities to

excel at a state level competition run by Scitech and Curtin University. GMAS

was also delighted to take a group of Year 3s and 4s to the ‘First Little Lego

League’ competition in Bunbury.

GMAS additionally partners up with Code Camp to host school holiday

computer game and animation programming courses.

Digital Teaching Specialist Mrs Carolyn Herring

A BRIGHT FUTURE AT GMAS

THE BENEFITS OF EARLY LEARNING Our Little Georgies program is in full swing and the popularity of the Early Learning Centre continues to grow, with the program options expanding to reflect the ever-growing demand for places. Children who attend Early Learning (our Little Georgies) are more prepared for kindergarten, such as being familiar with structures and routines of a school day.

In beautiful unique spaces which are creatively designed to encourage exploration and grow curiosity, there is plenty of play, laughter and fun to be heard. The benefits of qualified and passionate teaching staff and access to the school’s community, resources, facilities and events, the students grow and flourish. There is always a lot going on as the children learn how to cooperate with other kids their age. They learn to share and take turns speaking. GMAS encourage children to make a connection in a subject, using their creative skills, develop psychological, social, and emotional growth and make learning natural and engaging. They also start to discover interests that they hold for a lifetime.

“At GMAS, we recognise the early years as a time of exploration and discovery, and believe that each child is a strong, capable and resilient learner who abounds with awe and wonder” Mr Conor Martin, Acting Head of Primary said.

JUNIOR ETHICS OLYMPIAD

WHAT IS AN ETHICS OLYMPIAD? An Ethics Olympiad is a competitive yet collaborative event in which students analyse and discuss real-life, and timely, ethical issues. It differs from a debate in that students are not assigned opposing views rather, they defend whatever position they believe is right and win by showing that they have thought more carefully, deeply, and perceptively about the cases in question.

GMAS entered two Year 5/6 teams in the Western Australian Junior Ethics Olympiad. This is the first time it has taken place at a junior level. The event was held via Zoom with schools from the Eastern States and New Zealand competing.

Some of the issues discussed included: do you need a reason to be happy? and Is it OK to tell a white lie?

Both teams performed well with one of our teams coming in 9th (out of 22 teams). Our students are so very fortunate to have this opportunity to stretch their thinking and to engage with ‘real’ philosophers’.

The Prometheus program at GMAS is a Gifted and Talented program for students from Year 5-9. The program has two key aims:

to develop each student’s critical, creative and collaborative thinking skills and support them to become innovative and resourceful global citizens; and

to improve student wellbeing, so that students can engage confidently and meaningfully in their education and lives beyond.

INDIGIFEST EXCURSION

OUR FUTURE FILMMAKERS The IndigifestOZ Schools experience was held at Busselton Tennis Club and our Pre-primary to Year 2 students paid a visit on Friday 27 August. The Activity Zones included the special VR experience Virtual Whadjuk, learning about film technologies, plus stunt performances and make-up effects made for very excited and engaged children.

IndigifestOZ showcases quality Indigenous film works and engages filmgoers through a combination of Feature Films in General Screenings, Short Film events and in the free Community Screenings. In promoting Aboriginal film works, new audiences develop, as does an increased awareness and understanding of culture and appreciation of Aboriginal talent.

YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME

Dads and father-figures in our community spent some quality time with their children during a special Father’s Day sausage sizzle breakfast.

During the week there was plenty of hammering as our Year 2s were very busy building tool boxes with the help of the experts from Bunnings.

Our P&F stall made sure it was stocked full of ‘Dad Goodies’

during the day for the students to buy gifts.

JUNIOR SCHOOL EXTRAVAGANZA

THROUGH THE DECADES

There was plenty of excitement and tons of talent as

our students showed off their best dance moves and

singing voices. Almost 400 Junior School students

showed how capable and courageous they were in

front of a cheering, toe tapping, full-house.

Friday 24 May 2019

PROUD STUDENTS

EMPOWERING ALL STUDENTS TO BECOME ADVENTUROUS LIFELONG LEARNERS

Parents were invited to visit classrooms from Pre-

Primary to Year 5. The students excitedly presented

their years worth of work to their very proud parents.

The child’s individual learning styles, their interests and knowledge, really shines through.

A TASTE OF YEAR 7

A SNAPSHOT This day is designed to allow students to experience a day in our Middle School and the exciting opportunities that await them at GMAS in 2022. Students were engaged in a variety of activities from food preparation to forensic investigation and even spent some time getting acquainted with the Green Screen & Aquaponics! Guided by our Middle School Leaders, they were in great hands.

KNOCKING ON MIDDLE SCHOOLS DOOR

A MEANINGFUL MILESTONE Year 6 Graduation is a time for our students to

celebrate their achievements; show appreciation to their teachers and enjoy the friendships that they’ve formed. Our Graduation Ceremony plays an important part in the GMAS Primary School life, as they mark the end of an era and the start of a new part of their lives.

Excitement, apprehension and pride is felt as they start making their journey through Middle School. The tradition of the Year 5 P&F representatives organising and catering this special ‘Moving On’ ceremony, makes the evening a great GMAS community

event.

The celebrations continued on the last day of School with the annual Primary School Nativity Play and the Primary School Presentation Evening, where we recognised our high achieving students.