Welcome back to the final term and what an action-packed calendar we have in place for these 9 weeks! The break was an opportunity for us all to draw breath and enjoy some amazing weather. The coming of spring has seen the Senior Campus gardens come into bloom and it is a visual vista! Thanks to our Grounds team for all they do to ensure that the Mowbray campus is looking so welcoming. It is fitting that as we say goodbye to Grade 12 next week that they will have such a vibrant backdrop for their memories.
The Junior Campus is also looking great and although its gardens are less established, the greening of the campus took a significant leap over the holidays with the installation of trees, planter boxes and vines dotted all around campus. We are grateful for the donations of many Broadland Old Girls to the discreet “Greening of Broadland” campaign over the last 18 months. I would also like to acknowledge the supply of plants, time and effort given to plant and mulch over a couple of weekends by owners of Kiwi Landscaping and Maintenance (and Grammar parents) Stu and Georgia Greig. In 12 months from now, there will be a green transformation!
Monday’s assembly at Junior School was a wonderful celebration of distinctive achievements by our Junior School students with state and national representatives recognised for their efforts. It came on the back of a wonderful weekend at the Royal Launceston Show where Grade 6 Asha G. won the most Promising Artist Award, Grade 4 students came 1st and 3rd in the Scarecrow Competition. On Wednesday morning Grade 12 students who attend the ELC and Junior School were back on campus for a breakfast and to catch up with staff from back in the day! Mr Zantuck and Ms Kaye gave fond recounts of the cohort and their achievements and idiosyncratic behaviours that the students will be remembered for.
On the Senior Campus we celebrated the launch of the 2023/4 Rowing season with the Blessing of the Fleet and Rev’d Pickering gave a stirring and humorous dousing of the boat used for the occasion (apparently not protecting it too well though with it being ironically involved in an accident the next morning and no longer having a hull!). We also came together for the launch of the School Musical for 2024 which is (drum roll)…able to be seen on a social media post coming your way soon!
At the SC presentation and awards assembly, I gave a short reflection on the importance of leaning into your fears and focussing on personal growth over the final term. We then celebrated the “You can Stay” Grade 12 fundraiser with Captains Asha and Tom presenting to the Sony Foundation a giant cheque reflecting the Class of 2023 fundraising efforts to provide accommodation for regional young people and their families who must travel to the city for treatment. It is an amazing achievement. We also presented students who received Half Blues and Blues for their efforts in co-curricular. As I write this, our TCE Drama students are undertaking their performance examinations. Having seen them perform, I know they will do themselves proud. As we say farewell to Grade 12 next week, I know our Marketing team will be providing regular socials updates so we may celebrate with them and help them to finish well!
It is the time of year when inevitably in schools we announce retirements and those staff who have chosen to pursue other interest outside of the classroom. This year we will farewell Louise Peters whom after 40 plus years in education she has decided to close the curtain on her professional teaching career. Louise arrived at Grammar in 1995 and has taken many staff and students on a wonderful adventure in the world of Drama and Dance. Fiona Lockwood has also decided to conclude her time at Grammar and pursue other life priorities. A highly valued member of the English team Fiona has brought to her classroom a love of literature and experiences from her life abroad. Amelia Reynolds has been at Grammar for 11 years and has resigned from her current role as part-time Classroom Music Teacher, Choral Director and Vocal Tutor. We have witnessed outstanding choral performances led by Amelia on both campuses. We wish our colleagues and friends every success into the future.
Lastly, our thoughts and prayers are with all those around the world being impacted by the violence and atrocities of war. Our young people may well be impacted via social media imagery and families have received a communication from Heads of Campus regarding on how to best support those young people who may have unintended interaction with graphic image.
I look forward to seeing you around the grounds as summer sports resume and we come together to celebrate a great year for Grammar at numerous events.
Dale Bennett
Principal