Last night members of Girls Grammar’s Parents and Friends Association met for our September meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our P&F for their generous donations that will benefit our girls in a variety of ways. The following items have been funded by the P&F and include: four 6mx3m RGGS marquees, 10 bean bags for student use in the library amphitheatre, various outdoor seating and shade structures, outdoor play set for our younger students and a Yamaha piano and stool. We look forward to seeing these items arrive and in use by our school community in the coming weeks.
While on the topic of upgrading facilities and resources across the school I would like to recognise the input of students, staff, parents and Old Girls in completing the Master Planning Survey that was emailed out. This week we have had Architects from Fulton Trotter on site preparing a new Master Plan for Rockhampton Girls Grammar School. We value everyone’s input when it comes to the future of our buildings and grounds and appreciate all thoughts on our current facilities and future priorities for the school. Fulton Trotter’s next visit to Girls Grammar will be early in Term 4 and will include a stakeholder meeting with school community representatives to assist in identifying and prioritising projects for RGGS.
Feedback from some of the survey questions mentioned the need to upgrade the pool and changeroom facilities. I can provide exciting news that this has been prioritised and is extremely close to completion. Kasey Mitchell and her facilities team have been working tirelessly on many projects currently underway across the school, and the pool has been just one of them. The finishes and tiling looks superb and the colour and clarity of the water looks so inviting now that it has been re-filled. The change rooms have been completely upgraded and re-painted with new cubicles and finishes and the result is fabulous. The girls will be so impressed when swimming begins again in Term 4.
A friendly reminder about the bus zone on Agnes Street. This is a 2 minute pick up and drop off zone between 7.30am and 9.00am and 2.30pm and 4.00pm. Please be mindful of this when dropping off your girls and picking them up in the afternoon as buses are regularly pulling in and out of this zone.
As we approach the end of term we have many transport requests for boarding students. Whilst we appreciate and understand that there are restrictions on transport availability, this is causing added pressure to the staffing in the boarding house. We ask that parents communicate with Stacey McCarthy, Head of Boarding before making bookings for your daughter, preferably during work hours. Whilst on the topic of student leave, students have begun Term 4 curriculum and current Year 11 students began learning Year 12 content this week. Whilst we understand that at times there are circumstances that require it, requesting leave for your daughter in Week 9 does affect their learning. Even if you are planning for your daughter to keep up to date via Microsoft Teams, this online and independent mode of learning doesn’t include the explicit teaching required to begin new curriculum content provided on site by teachers.
To conclude this week’s newsletter, I wish the Year 4, 5, 6 and 7 students and staff an enjoyable experience at their respective sleepover and camps next week. I would also like to congratulate our Year 11 students who presented leadership speeches this week. They showed courage and confidence when addressing their peers in Year 5 through to 12 and I wish them all the very best in their leadership journey. On Friday 10 September, following Narrah’s Touch Carnival, Primary Ball Games and Jump Rope for Heart Jump Off, the 10 elected Prefects for 2022 will be announced at our end of Term 3 Assembly.
Kara Krehlik
Acting Principal