2018 Annual Report
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2018 Guildford Grammar School 2016 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Located on the leafy banks of the Swan River, Guildford Grammar School is a co-educational Anglican, independent day and boarding school where girls and boys from Kindergarten to Year 12 are equipped to live a life of purpose. Our purpose: Inspiring students to achieve personal excellence and to be outstanding citizens who work to create a just, loving and peaceful society. As one of Western Australia’s oldest independent schools, Guildford Grammar School has a proud heritage of providing an outstanding education. The School was formed in 1896, when pastoralist and Parliamentarian Charles Harper saw the critical need for better education as a way to transform young lives. We remain committed to our founding vision and focused on providing an education that will equip our students for life in the modern world. We know that the education landscape is continuously changing to fully prepare students for tomorrow. Children of today face a very different future to that of their predecessors. Our education philosophy is future-focused and we aim to instil boys and girls with the necessary skills for tomorrow. At Guildford Grammar School, students will learn to become independent thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. They will develop a thirst for knowledge so that they will continue to learn throughout their life. In our rapidly changing world students need the skills to adapt and grow. We are blessed with truly inspirational surroundings. Our spacious campus, located on almost 100 hectares of land on the banks of the Swan River, provides a magnificent backdrop for learning. In addition to the standard curriculum, our location and available land allows for a diverse range of sporting activities, with our main playing fields and rowing shed located on campus. Guildford Grammar School provides extraordinary opportunities that prepare boys and girls for a bright future. 2 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Headmaster’s Report To celebrate the year we have shared and of schools who had made the transition as we look ahead to our exciting future and knowing the quality of our students; together, I have chosen the theme of however, I must say that even I have been ‘Joy’, as a lens through which to view the impressed at how quickly the students have dynamic life of our school community adapted to the change. and to highlight the myriad of activities, The core drive for the change has always connections and special moments been about us more effectively delivering throughout 2018. on our Purpose for all of our students, With the increasing prominence of social regardless of gender. Survey feedback and media that seems to constantly play on our anecdotal evidence has indicated that new fears and encourage division it can seem a students have felt welcomed and that the challenge at times to find ‘Joy’. Negativity added diversity in the student body has had and despair can drain our resources and a positive impact on school culture. Male lead to a lack of hope for the future. and female student involvement in the academic program, artistic, sporting and When students ask me about a possible other cocurricular activities has certainly career in education I am always overly enhanced the full life of the school. effusive in my encouragement because I truly love working with young people. One As we look ahead to 2019, with male and of the key reasons is that they continually female students in all year levels, the new inspire you throughout the course of a boarding coeducational development plans school year and illuminate so many daily us to target strategies to specific year to be released and with our historic joint moments of ‘Joy’. levels to support students at the point of Captains, Rebecca Adamson and Nicholas need, an example being the well-received Sheppard leading the School along with Principal’ s often discuss the energy shot presentations by Mr Evans and Dr Harris on a diverse and dynamic Prefect group, we you can receive just by visiting the Early dealing with stress and anxiety leading into have every right to be full of confidence Learning Centre classes. And it’s not examinations. and thankful. because of the ego boost you get when asked incredulously ‘Are you really the big Our school specific Social and Emotional The Senior and Preparatory Schools raised Well-being Framework that was recently boss of the entire school’. lt1 s because over $64,000 in the World’s Greatest Shave released has our Anglican Ethos as one of the unabashed joy you witness as the this year. The School was presented awards of the key factors in supporting students’ students are involved in discovery and their for first place in the WA Education Category well-being. We are blessed to have two passion for learning. and second in the National Team Category inspiring Chaplains who challenge, support for outstanding fundraising achievement, It is a privilege each year to hear student and encourage our community with their speeches at both the Preparatory and thoughtful sermons. Earlier this year The Our 1st XI Cricket team earned the respect Senior School assemblies, during which I Rev Barry Moss reflected on the theme of the competition and the officials, not am continually impressed by the strength ‘Trust and Joy in the midst of Crisis’. It struck only for the quality of their performances of conviction in the message conveyed a chord with me and many other people but also for the spirit in which they played and the willingness to be vulnerable and at the time as a strong symbol of faith and the game. It was a wonderful moment connect on a personal level. For me these a caII to find the everyday moments of joy when the team presented the Darlot trophy are moments filled with ‘Joy’ as students through times of adversity and challenge to the School for the first time in 32 years. convey what is really important in life and in life. In the Royal Australian Chemical Institute reinforce the values we hold dear. To have The themes of Gratitude and Bravery that Titrations State Finals competition our three students this year courageously sharing Mr Wight has highlighted throughout the teams finished second, third and fourth in major hurdles they have faced in their lives year in the Preparatory School directly the State, a remarkable and unprecedented including struggles with their mental health link to this message. Through expressing achievement. has empowered others to seek assistance gratitude regularly, finding the moments of and speak from the heart. Cameron Schnell was awarded first position joy in our everyday lives and demonstrating in the WA Year 9 Mandarin Speaking Led by Captain of School Hendy McMahon bravery and resilience in the face of Competition. and Vice-Captain of School Duke Gordon, adversity we can develop a more positive In an incredible result a group of our Year 6 the Prefects this year have focussed their outlook on life. highly talented mathematicians competed messaging and role modelling on ensuring Not surprisingly, the most common in the Year 7 division of the ‘Have Sum Fun’ that no students are left on the outer. This question I have been asked throughout mathematics competition and finished has had a powerful impact on the student 2018 has been ‘how is it going with the third in the State. body and has lifted the bar in expectation. girls in the school’? In most cases people We must always strive to ensure that all are surprised to hear that we have actually Emily Nayler won five gold medals at the students feel connected and valued. had girls in the Preparatory School for State Age Swimming Championships, making her state champion in all those It was very pleasing to see a significant over 40 years. My answer to the question events. increase in the percentages of students that has consistently been ‘incredibly well and rated their Social and Emotional Well-being that it has been a very smooth transition In the City of Swan Youth Out Loud public from a student and staff perspective’. I was in the upper levels of the ACER survey in speaking competition, Emerson Varris was confident of this having visited a number 2018. Analysis of the results has enabled 3 2018 ANNUAL REPORT awarded the overall best speaker, Charles This year we farewell some particularly long of School Council, and Patron, Honorary Gregorini Shield and our students won six serving members of staff. Life Member and former President of out of the nine awards. The Old Guildfordians Association. The Mr Roger Budler has provided dedicated, School owes a great debt to John for his Zachary Matthews was selected as the passionate and inspiring leadership over a tireless service and dedication to the Hasluck Leadership Award recipient and 20-year period in his role as Deputy Head of School. This contribution is exemplified made the State Final of the Plain English- Preparatory School. His emotional farewell through his book ‘Merging Streams’ which Speaking competition. assembly captured the respect he has earned and how appreciative the school records the story of the Cloisters Trust In the lnterschool Equestrian Festival community is for all he has given. I thank and its relationship to Guildford Grammar Audrey Bell placed first in the Preliminary him for his wonderful service and wish him School. John played a pivotal role in the Dressage as well as in Secondary Show- an enjoyable well-earned break prior to any independent incorporation of the School jumping. new challenge life will bring. in 1952 and as The Hon David Malcolm AC wrote in the foreword to the book, ‘he was The Guildford Grammar School Big Band Marie Tullio left earlier this year having were invited to perform the opening one of the saviours’ of the School.