This week at Rockhampton Girls Grammar School, we have been focusing on harmony, inclusion, diversity and acceptance. In our boarding community, we have girls from very diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and families. We celebrate the richness that this diversity brings to our community and we welcome and accept all new boarders who join us at Girls Grammar. This has been an obvious positive that I have observed since my arrival at Girls Grammar and it was good to see it showcased in a variety of ways across the week. On Wednesday, we watched proudly as our PNG girls performed at both the primary and secondary assemblies. Our students have also worn orange ribbons in their hair to symbolise harmony, experienced a wide variety of activities that showcase diversity and enjoyed food from cultures across the world. It has been a week of variety and choices which the girls have very much appreciated.
Dr Fry also spoke at assembly about the importance of not missing any school. This is pertinent for boarders as we often get requests for girls to leave early at the end of term. Our attendance policy, which can be found on our website under ‘Resources’, reinforces this message. Most of our secondary girls have started a new unit of work this week, which will continue next week. Early departure negatively impacts on students’ learning, as does the absence from study sessions which continue to be a focus during this time. Dr Fry explained to the girls the cumulative impact of absences, which affect learning outcomes not just in their current year of schooling but throughout their remaining secondary education.
We have also enjoyed celebrating sporting achievements this week. Our boarders have been part of our successful basketball team which won their semi-final on Tuesday. We have a number of boarders in our Rugby 7s team, which plays their semi-final game this afternoon. Our water polo players finish their season tonight. Next week will see many other Term 1 sports conclude.
This weekend we are heading off to Great Keppel island, hosting some senior boys from St Brendan’s College for a social, and, hopefully, heading to the Rugby 7s finals to cheer on our large contingent of boarders. We are also welcoming a new Year 9 boarder to our community which is terrific. Enjoy your weekend ahead – we certainly will.
Stacey McCarthy
Head of Boarding