Edition Ten 05 AUGUST 2022
THE DRAGON
Know le d g
e Faith S e r v
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FORTNIGHTLY NEWS AND EVENTS FOR ST GEORGE’S PARENTS
From the Principal Tina Campbell
A very warm welcome back to Semester 2 to all our families, and a particular welcome to those families who are new to St George’s this Term.
examinations with evening revision and study sessions running in the Laurence Library, managed by key academic staff until 7pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.
With School events back in full swing it has been lovely seeing so many families in person at our recent events. We are certainly hitting the ground running at St George’s with the Academic Awards Assembly, Parent – Teacher evenings, NAIDOC Week Service, as well as our annual Photo Days already having been ticked off for the Term.
Students may stay directly after school or head out for dinner and return a little later to join these important study seminars to assist in their preparations for MOCK examinations later this term and their final ATAR examinations in Term Four. Please do encourage your child to join us. According to Professor John Hattie, Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, in his broad based research, which reviewed in detail a range of evidence based high impact teaching strategies, ‘cooperative learning is most powerful after the students have acquired sufficient surface knowledge to then be involved in discussion and learning with their peers – usually in some structured manner’ and ‘students use the power of peers positively to progress learning’ - John A. C. Hattie, ‘Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximising Impact on Learning’. This type of learning will be clearly evidenced in these study seminars for all students in attendance.
Term 3 promises to be another busy term filled with a range of opportunities and challenges in and outside of the classroom for our students. Some of the key events this Term include the Inter House Athletics Carnival, Science Week, Open Day, Anglicare Optus Sleep Out, ASC Piano Competition, Year 10 Camp, St George’s Sleep Out on the Roof, Father Gifts Commissioning as our School Chaplain, our 2023 Student Leadership decisions, R U OK? Day, Book Week Dress Up and so much more in between. For our Year 12 students, the Term will conclude with their MOCK examinations and today we had fun celebrating their 100 days at school for this their final school year. It was a touch of fun, camaraderie, and friendship for our wonderful Year 12s. We have also earnestly started preparing our ATAR students for their final
Finally, I must continue to mention COVID-19, albeit briefly. We have currently removed all restrictions at St George’s other than the requirement to isolate for 7 days if you test positive and to test daily and wear a mask if you are a close contact of a positive case. 1
St. George's Anglican Grammar School – THE DRAGON
Given the high levels of COVID-19 and influenza currently in the community however, it remains imperative that any students with symptoms do not attend school. Please continue to notify the school via our COVID hotline if your child/ren have tested posted to COVID-19 on COVIDabsence@ stgeorges.wa.edu.au. We will continue to protect our school community by encouraging regular hand washing, managing ventilation, and daily ensuring additional cleaning to high touch surfaces is maintained. More RAT kits will be sent home shortly for families and I thank you for your continuing support throughout this pandemic. Students and staff are also being encouraged to wear a mask where they cannot easily physically distance themselves from others. As always, if cases continue to rise or health advice in this regard changes, the School may introduce additional measures at any time. Warmest Wishes Mrs Tina Campbell Principal
School Operations Shannon Allen
Despite finding ourselves in the bleak mid-winter, Term Three has started with a flourish of excitement.
Finally, it has been exciting to welcome Year 12s into the Laurence Library of an evening to make use of a quiet and supported study space. I hope more students take up this option to build strong study habits in the lead up to Mocks and WACE exams.
It has been lovely to be so warmly welcomed to St George’s and to immerse myself in the culture of the school. The Academic Awards Assembly in Week 1 was a fitting occasion to herald in the new term. Congratulations to all students who were recognised for their academic achievements in Semester One and thank you to all parents and special guests who were present in St George’s Cathedral to share their support. We were back to the Cathedral on Monday for our moving and informative NAIDOC assembly. Some reminders for the start of Term 3. Please remember that winter uniform includes a blazer), tights (without holes) for girls and a tie for all. Girls need to check their hem lengths and avoid rolling up their skirts. Some students need to shine their shoes and it would be great to see more pride taken in representing St George’s in full uniform.
Coming up in the next fortnight
If you are yet to order your school photos, please do so online within the next 7 days. This can be accessed through www.3p.net.au and using the Shoot Key FN3T95K. If absent students still desire a photograph, these can be taken at the 3P studio prior to the 12 August. Please contact the studio directly to make an appointment.
9 August
Parent Teacher Interviews (Face to Face)
11 August
Inter-House Athletics Carnival, UWA SportsPark
12 August
Principal’s Coffee Morning
A gentle reminder to students regarding co-curricular. If you have committed to a co-curricular activity, you must attend every session and communicate any absences to the coordinating teacher.
12 August
Anglicare Sleep Out, Optus Stadium
15-19 August
Science Week
16 August
1500m & High Jump, UWA SportsPark
17 August
Parent Teacher Interviews (Online)
19 August
St George’s Open Day
All school events are published on the School Calendar and it is important that this is checked regularly for changes and updates. Next week we have our second round of Parent Teacher Interviews, with an online offering scheduled for the following week.
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Chaplain’s Corner In my culture we say, ‘To learn a people’s language is to become their friend, and to learn their ancestral customs is to become their kith and kin.’What wonderful opportunities this term have already been availed to us as a school to learn about important symbols, art, culture, and history of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. Among the important events for me as School Chaplain so far have been the two trips to the Art Gallery in the city (AGWA) with our Year 8 students which Mrs Carol Wohlnick (Head of Visual Arts) and I organized and led. Our students had the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal symbols, art, culture, and history. Apart from touring the amazing Art Gallery, they also experienced making some Aboriginal ‘totem’ symbols such as birds, snakes, trees, and tortoise, using the dry ruppia plant and various colourful wool threads. Some of the students who were not able to come to the Art Gallery due to the limited spaces availed to us, remained at the school where they made some colourful Aboriginal bangles.
Cathedral. Marie took time to explain the meaning of the Smoking Ceremony and land to Aboriginal people. What a memorable service it was!
Upcoming events We now have a Reconciliation and Action Plan (RAP) Committee. The first meeting will be held on Monday 22 August. Baptism and Confirmation Classes start this Thursday 4 August 3.30-
4.30pm and will run on all Thursdays this Term and part of next Term, a total of 10 sessions. Baptism & Confirmation by Archbishop Kay on Sunday 20 November. I am looking forward to the Anglicare Sleep Out at Optus Stadium next Friday 12 August.
On Monday 1 August, we welcomed one of the Aboriginal elders, Marie Taylor, to conduct a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country for us during our NAIDOC service at St George’s Anglican
Father Gift
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Pastoral Focus Hilton Hardman
Year 12, 100 Day Celebration
Protective Behaviours Program
Today, Friday 5 August, marked the 100th day of the school year for our wonderful Year 12 students.
Our students had their first session this week on the topic of recognising and reporting abuse. This topic falls as part of the four Focus Areas in this mandated course.
On this day, our Year 12s students were given the theme “Come dressed like you are 100 years old”. Many laughs were shared, and the Year 12 students brought fantastic energy around the School.
The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS: CPC) is evidence-based, best practice curriculum developed collaboratively with child protection experts, teachers, educational leaders, and other professionals to support students to understand these important themes.
This group is fast approaching graduation and what will be their final few months at St George’s. There are many planned celebrations this Term in the lead-up to the Class of 2022’s final day of school.
The KS: CPC is predicated on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS: CPC Themes are: Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people
Term 3 Guest Speakers
we trust
We have a range of Guest speakers visiting us this term, presenting to our students on a variety of topics.
The two KS: CPC Themes are explored through four Focus Areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students.
Year 7 – Youth Choice Performance will be coming in to deliver an interactive presentation on Bullying and Cyberbullying.
The four KS: CPC Focus Areas are: Term 1: Term 2: Term 3: Term 4:
Year 9 and 11 – Paul Litherland will deliver his presentation on Online Safety, Social Media, and Gaming.
Focus Area 1 - The right to be safe Focus Area 2 - Relationships Focus Area 3 - Recognising and reporting abuse Focus Area 4 - Protective strategies
Year 8 and 9 – Anglicare WA will be delivering a presentation on Mental Health.
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Curriculum Update
Laurence Library Extended Hours
Anthony Bochrinis
Calling all Legendary Learners! The Laurence Library now has extended hours from Mondays to Thursdays until 7:00pm for Year 12 students in the lead up to their Mock Examinations in Weeks 8 and 9.
Year 10 Subject Selection Interviews Subject Selection Interviews begin this week for our Year 10 students as they nominate their preferences for courses of study for Year 11 2023. These interviews will be coordinated by our Subject Selection team. During this process, the student will share what courses they have nominated for and the rationale behind these choices. This is to ensure a cohesive combination of courses for Year 11 is undertaken and advice offered regarding post-graduation prospects pathways.
It has been fantastic to see so many Year 12 students use the Laurence Library space this week as a quiet space to focus on assessment preparation, or to work in small groups to bounce ideas off one another about their learning, and to have ready access to their teachers for further advice and support. Hot Chocolate and Coffee will be bountiful in supply, and I strongly encourage all Year 12 students to come as regularly as possible in this great environment for after school study to assist them to achieve to their potential and nail their examinations!
Student interview times will be advertised through SEQTA.
OLNA Round Two 2022
Academic Awards Assembly
OLNA Round Two is fast approaching and will take place at the following dates and times: Tuesday 30 August
OLNA Writing
Periods 1-2
Wednesday 31 August
OLNA Writing Catch-Up
Periods 1-2
Thursday 1 September OLNA Reading
Periods 1-2
Friday 2 September
OLNA Numeracy
Periods 1-2
Tuesday 6 September
OLNA Reading and OLNA Numeracy Catch-Up
Periods 1-2
Students will be notified in Week 3 of this term to confirm their participation in Round Two of OLNA.
Elevate Education On Friday 29 July, we hosted our Semester One Academic Awards Assembly at St George’s Cathedral. It was a magnificent event to acknowledge the many efforts of our students throughout Terms One and Two. If you missed the event or would like to view a recap of the highlights, you can watch the recorded live stream via this link.
On Wednesday 27 July, our Year 12 ATAR pathway students attended a seminar run by Elevate Education. Elevate Education use young high achieving graduates within the state to speak to current students to offer their ‘tips and tricks’ regarding study skills and exam techniques that worked for them. Our Year 12 students were provided with a practical framework for exam preparation and the three evenly spaced steps that must occur for effective revision: note taking, memorisation and practice papers. I hope that the Year 12 students found the information useful and are now using this advice to study smarter in the lead up to final examinations.
It was fabulous to see many conversations flourish with our inaugural awarding of Half Colours across the categories of Academics, Arts, Service and Sports. We hope to being able to award full colours to many of these students at the end of the year.
We are excited to work with Elevate Education into the future to equip our students with necessary skills for academic success. They will be back on campus to run sessions for our Year 11 students very soon.
Click here if you would like to find out more information regarding the criteria for our newly created Colours Awards System. 5
St. George's Anglican Grammar School – THE DRAGON
to achieve your goals and many pathways to attain your dream career. So, my advice, is that if you are willing to work hard and persevere for what you want – anything is indeed possible. How to help your teen make good decisions about school and life
Decision-making skills can help your teen make good choices and set them up for success later in life. Students face choices including selecting subjects, choosing friendships, deciding how to cope with exam stress and deciding their values and what they stand for. Excitingly, our Year 10 students are starting their subject selection process. This is a formative time for every student as they begin to make choices that will help to inform their future.
Spark their Future is a Queensland Government resource that has useful articles and videos to help you understand the nuances of school life for twenty-first century teens. Another resource to help your child with future career options is the Explore Careers Quiz. This quiz helps students discover the Australian industries and various careers which may be right for them. Results are provided alongside information about Australian organisations participants could work for.
For Mr Bochrinis and I, it is a privilege to support and guide students at this time. This week, we will sit down with each student to discuss their many different pathway options for their future.
No matter what age, it is important to periodically make time as a family to explore different careers and consider the best pathway to help your teenager get to where they want to ultimately be.
In Careers classes, students have spent time exploring what ignites their curiosity by mapping out a personalised career plan. This has helped students to explore career paths that they might not have considered until now. The key message in classes is that if you can dream it, you can be it. We live in a connected society, with many ways
Don’t forget to also check out the latest edition of the Career Compass for the most up to date university and pathway information. Mrs Sharan Tagore APEx and Careers Coordinator
Third Term began with a flourish as we announced the opening of the Library for Year 12 students after school until 7pm Monday to Thursday. Offering the Year 12 ATAR students space, time and academic support leading up to their Mock examinations should provide much needed assistance for our students as they face the end of their secondary journey.
titles for staff and senior students. These books included Silver, by Chris Hammer, The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams and Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart. Our most popular books for recent borrowing have been David Walliams’ The Beast of Buckingham Palace and Robin Hood by Robert Muchamore.
Week 1 saw a wonderful celebration of NAIDOC Week. The library had a display of books as well as historic footage on e-boards throughout the school. The week culminated with a special service and celebration of country in St George’s Cathedral on 1 August. In Week 2 our clubs recommenced. The Lego Club are effectively half-way through their monumental build of the Titanic. The Media Club is growing now with 8 students from Years 7 to 10. This club is open to all year groups and senior students are encouraged to join. Students can work on developing short films as well as learning how to create other media to support the library and promote student activities.
Since the beginning of the year, we have built our collection to 1,400 books and borrowing started in Term 2. Since then, 447 copies have been borrowed. I am currently reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer and Scrublands by Australian writer Chris Hammer. Both these novels are available in our Library.
The end of Week 2 saw the delivery of new exciting young adult books for our students. We also had a delivery of new senior fiction
Dr Annette Pedersen
Together, let us read. Library Services Coordinator 6
St. George's Anglican Grammar School – THE DRAGON
Around the School
I would like to thank the staff for making such an awesome event possible. Thank you to the parents and students who donated, this is a cause that I believe is vital in schools and its importance continues to grow. A special shout out to the Student Guild who went above and beyond on the day, helping to set up and run events and ensuring that everyone felt included and celebrated the end of term with gusto.
Year 12 Biology Perth Zoo Excursion
On Thursday 28 July, the Year 12 ATAR Biology class went on an excursion to Perth Zoo. Despite the forecast predicting wet weather, it turned out to be perfect weather for a day trip to the Zoo!
Thank you to everyone that donated, we reached our goal, raising $1,000 in just 4 days for Headspace. A big thank you also to our food providers who donated 10% of their proceeds from the event, bringing the total to $1,200.
As part of their course of study for “Unit 4 – Surviving in a changing environment”, the ATAR Biology students are learning about “Homeostasis” and how organisms have developed remarkable adaptations which allows them to survive in some of the harshest environmental conditions on Earth. The excursion included a 1-on-1 seminar with a zoo keeper to discuss this area of study and gave them insight into what working as a zoologist at Perth Zoo is really like.
Finally, I would like to thank the students of St George’s and Lincoln House in particular for being amazing once again. I look forward to our next big event. Mr Vincent Lim Head of Lincoln House
The session ended with the zoo keeper bringing out a special guest, with students getting hands-on interaction with a snake!
Outdoor Education At the end of Term 2, Outdoor Education students were kept very busy.
Mr Peter Quan Science Teacher
Lincoln Charity Day
In Week 8 the Year 9 and 10 students enjoyed the State Orienteering Championships at Whiteman Park, Year 9s went Orienteering in Kalamunda in Week 9, and the Year 10s headed to Dwellingup for some Mountain Biking in Week 10.
Lincoln Charity Day was held on Friday 1 July, the last day of Term 2. This event was held to help fundraise and raise awareness of positive mental health. We were extremely lucky to have excellent weather. The students had a great time in the park playing on the inflatables and participating in team games. 7 St. George's Anglican Grammar School – THE DRAGON
Connect in any given year. And, they need ½ a million dollars a year to keep the Street Connect Bus and services running. Click Donate Now to Team St George’s. The 2021 Team St George’s raised a total of $3,900 of the almost $150,000 raised. A massive effort (for 8 students) that we hope to eclipse this year. This year, Team St George’s has set a goal of $4,000. In the first week of Registration, Team St George’s has raised $1,300. We are well on our way and warmly welcome more Year 10-12 students to join the team! Mr Ryan McBride Service-Learning Coordinator
All excursions were a great success, providing students with practical and active opportunities to develop their positive relationships with the environment, peers and themselves, through their interaction with the natural world.
Sharing Chinese Food and Language
In Term 3, Outdoor Education have welcomed a new group of students to complete the course throughout Semester 2. This Term Year 9 students will be taking part in Orienteering and Sustainability Studies and Year 10 will be Mountain Bike Riding and Trangia Cooking. If you have any questions about the program run at St George’s Anglican Grammar School please contact me directly on jsullivan@ stgeorges.wa.edu.au Mrs Jackie Sullivan Outdoor Education Teacher
Anglicare Sleep Out
At the end of Term 2, the Year 10 Mandarin class enjoyed some Chinese food at “Mr Bun”, a Chinese noodle shop located in the heart of the City of Perth. Students had to use their Mandarin language skills to order their meal and the restaurant owner went above and beyond, by engaging the students in many conversations in Mandarin throughout their visit.
The Anglicare WA OPTUS Stadium Sleep Out is on Friday and Saturday, 12-13 August. It challenges young people to swap their school bag for a sleeping bag and ‘sleep out’ at Optus Stadium for young people experiencing homelessness. Hundreds of high school students gather for a night to remember. As well as raising funds for an important cause, they experience a side of homelessness that they may have never considered before. It is an experience not to be missed!
Great food, wonderful service and the perfect way for the students to develop their Mandarin language skills.
All funds raised go directly to Street Connect who work with young people on the streets of Perth to help them get their lives back on track. Sleep Out is the largest single fundraising event for Street
Mrs Danielle De Witt Foreign Languages Coordinator 8
St. George's Anglican Grammar School – THE DRAGON
Book Week is Coming!
ST GEORGE’S Start planning your costumes! Book Week is coming! The English and Languages Department will once again be offering spectacular prizes for this year’s best costumes. Our costume parade will be held on Friday 2 September.
Linus Miller Year 10
This year, we will be awarding prizes in three categories:
Linus recently represented St George’s in the final of the Rotary 4 Way Speech Contest and was awarded First Runner Up for his speech titled “The Power of a Good Book”. Congratulations Linus!
Best costume and runner-up – Years 7-9 Best costume and runner-up – Years 10-12 Best costume and runner-up – Faculty Hook up with some friends and come as Mystery Inc, besiege us with Minions or come as the characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Linus’s speech explored the benefits reading has on self, our community, and the broader global village, with a particular focus on how it encourages empathy. It was very well researched, and Linus was very popular amongst the Rotarians.
This is your chance St George’s to fill the City of Perth with much loved book characters.
The Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest focuses on building skills that can be utilised across all aspects of life. The ability to research and understand topics, write and communicate in a way that educates others and the skills to influence positive change are attributes that all future employers are looking for.
Mr Damien Kerrigan Head of English and Languages
Write a Book in a Day
On Friday 19 August, 25 of our Year 7 students will participate in this year’s Write a Book in a Day Program. Each group will conceptualise, plan, draft, illustrate and publish a book that explores their own creative responses to the prompts set out by the Cancer Council. Each team has established fundraising pages, to raise money for the Kids Cancer Project. Thus far, we have raised $700 for the Kids Cancer Project, but we hope to raise much more.
Students were challenged to identify a topic they feel passionate about and to adopt a point of view from which they will seek to persuade others. In doing so, they were required to evaluate their recommendation by answering the following questions: Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
If you would like to support our writing teams and donate to the Kids Cancer Project, click on the following links.
A fantastic achievement by Linus and a wonderful opportunity made available through St George’s membership of Rotary Perth.
Literacy Lions: Mia Mc Gurk, Zara Jones, Alovera George, Cate Williams, and Abbie Mutter.
Lia Watters
Happy Squirrels: Lawson Forester, John Skinner, Angus Lee, Harvey Miller, Eli Holbeach.
Lia Watters has been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2022 Cross Country Championship. The team will be competing at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Adelaide, South Australia from 27-29 August.
Year 7
The Bookworms: Phoebe Monk, Elsie Holden, Keira Bradley, Darcey Tibbitts, Meg Docherty Cow Goes Moo: Ruth During, Chloe Zhang, Lucas Holbeach, Julian Pivac, Izabella Kodituwakku Narrators: Jonty Keys, Lorelei Barnes-Smith, Quin Slater, Owen Smith, Brandon Coats
State representation is an honour and often represents a significant stepping stone in the ultimate achievement of senior and national selection.
Mr Damien Kerrigan and Ms Kelly Newbold
Congratulations Lia and good luck in Adelaide.
English Department 9 St. George's Anglican Grammar School – THE DRAGON
The past few years have been unprecedented. The pandemic, along with increasing poverty and disadvantage, are impacting more and more children and young people as they struggle through times of upheaval. At the same time, more young people than ever want to make a difference and take part in public discussion. That is why we believe that the Pens Against Poverty writing competition is such a valuable activity for students for further developing their empathy, understanding and expression. This year, students from Years 7-10 are invited to write short stories and poems on the theme, Finding a Home. The Pens Against Poverty competition gives children and young people the opportunity to use their voice and creative writing skills to heighten their awareness and understanding of poverty and social issues, allowing them to develop their creative skills to make a difference now and in the future.
Friday 12 August 2022 Optus Stadium Register Now
Donate Now
The competition is free, and the closing date is Friday 9 September 2022, with the winners announced during Anti-Poverty Week. Winning writers will be published online and have a chance to win some amazing prizes donated from the key sponsor, Hesta Super Fund. All the information is available on the website where entries can be uploaded directly. Mr Damien Kerrigan Head of English and Languages
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Contact Mr McBride on rmcbride@stgeorges.wa.edu.au for more information