PRINCIPAL’S ANNUAL REPORT The annual Opti-MINDS regional challenge was conducted at JCU and Grammar fielded 7 teams from Years 6-10. The Year 7 team comprising Vrinda Baveja, Bowen Cooke, Alyssa Lee-Knauer, Kevin Mathew, Emma Robertson and Christopher Wrigglesworth (7/2014), under the guidance of Mrs Pamela Abraham won the Division 1 Social Sciences challenge and earned the right to compete in the finals in Brisbane, where they were awarded the ‘ Spirit of Opti-MINDS’ Award. Praneeth Kurapati, Sachin Patel (8/2014), Samantha Hammond and Cassie Fisher (9/2014) won the North Queensland final of the Readers’ Cup Competition and travelled with Mrs Cheryl Kybus to Brisbane for the State Final and achieved 4th place overall. Townsville Grammar Junior School’s premier chess team consisting of James Cuttell, Daniel Lindsay-Shad (7/2014), Georgia Gorrie (6/2014) and Alexander Scarcia (5/2014) made a clean sweep of the three rounds of the North Queensland Primary Schools Chess Championships. This saw them achieve top status in North Queensland Primary Chess for the second year in a row and earned them the opportunity to attend the State Chess Championships in Brisbane with Mr Chris Gray, where they successfully defended their title of Queensland Regional Primary School Chess Champions. At North Ward, the Premier Division team won its first two rounds and came 3rd in the final deciding round. Brendan Pierotti (9/2014) remains the top individual secondary player in the district and continues to impress with his incredible skill on the chessboard. The 15th Annual Cultural Awards Ceremony was held in early October. The awards presentation and cocktail function, organised superbly by Mrs Susie Ahern, provided an opportunity to acknowledge high achieving Creative Arts, Debating and Public Speaking students from Years 5 to 12. Many of the School’s outstanding young achievers were directly involved in performing or speaking throughout the year and, not surprisingly, after the success of this year’s Middle School Concert, Eisteddfod performances and Debating Championships, there were many deserving award recipients. Three hundred and eighteen students across Years 5-12 received Cultural Awards and this year’s Perry Award recipients were Aleeah Winkler and Lachlan Dwyer (12/2014). Sport is an integral part of co-curricular life at Townsville Grammar School. Director of Sport, Mr Ken Raven and Junior School Sportsmaster, Mr Leigh Fotheringham, have been wonderfully supported by energetic and passionate Directors; Mr Corby Green (Rowing), Mr Giles Derrett (Rugby), Mrs Prue Watson (Netball) and Mr Glenn Beringen (Swimming). North Ward Housemasters, Ms Naomi Adams (Rowland), Ms Catherine De Freitas Pessoa (Whight), Ms Jamie Coulch (Miller) and Mr Chris Cuthill (Hodges) have guided their respective Houses through Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals. Each of these Directors and Housemasters are supported by teaching staff who coach and manage the many teams and squads that participate in a range of sports.
2014 School Magazine
Highlights for the year have included claiming the Overall Champion Girls School title for the Townsville Secondary Schools Competition. This title factors in performances at the Interschool Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics carnivals. The secondary boys won Overall Champion Boys at the Interschool Cross Country and the Junior School won the Primary Interschool Swimming shield for the second consecutive year.
“One hundred and two students achieved individual recognition for their North Queensland, Queensland and Australian representation, across 26 sports throughout the year.” The following students gained selection in Australian squads or teams this year: Hannah Astbury (11/2014) for Hockey, Jordan Baxter (8/2014) for Tae Kwon Do, Chelsea Gerrard (12/2014) for Triathlon, Anna Staib (12/2014) and Alexander Ellis (12/2014) for Athletics. The following students gained selection in Queensland squads or teams this year: Tamara Astbury (12/2014) for Hockey officiating, Emma Barsi (11/2014) for Sailing, Chris Barsi (9/2014) for Sailing, Ryan Baxter (7/2014) for Tae Kwon Do, Joshua Bertucci (9/2014) for Futsal and Football, Mason Blizzard (8/2014) for Futsal and Football, Emily Busch (12/2014 for Indoor Netball, Travis Busch (7/2014) for Indoor Cricket, Brendon Granata (12/2014) for Go Karting, Emma Henderson (11/2014) for Athletics, Sarah Hesp (11/2014) for Basketball, Kate Irving (10/2014) for Gymnastics, Sanjeevan Ketheesan (10/2014) for Hockey, Jacob Krayem (7/2014) for Football, Kira Muller (10/2014) for Pool Rescue, Tesfa Nethery (8/2014) for Cross Country, Yideg Nethery (7/2014) for Athletics, Lauren Nolan (7/2014) for Tae Kwon Do, Annelise Pretzsch-Kalsgaard (11/2014) for Athletics, Jake Rebgetz (12/2014) for Indoor Cricket and Mixed Netball, Jordan Reichhold (10/2014) for Basketball, Sheridan Reichhold (10/2014) for Basketball, Dominique Rowbotham-Spampinato (6/2014) for Football, Anna Staib (12/2014) for Netball, Kajsa Souter (9/2014) for Athletics, Thomas Watson (11/2014) for Rugby officiating and Joshua Williams (11/2014) for AFL. The annual Sports Awards Assembly recognised students for their achievement in attaining North Queensland, Queensland and Australian representation. The major individual award winners at this year’s Assembly were: Chelsea Gerrard (12/2014), Pierre De Cobertin Award and Principal’s Female All Rounder; Kajsa Souter (9/2014), Middle School Sportswoman of the Year; Yideg Nethery (7/2014); Middle School Sportsman of the Year; Jake Rebgetz (12/2014), Principal’s Male All Rounder; Hannah Astbury (11/2014), Davida Tucker Sportswoman of the Year; Aidan Leong (12/2014), Bill Tucker Sportsman of the Year.
Page 9