http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au en http://backend.userland.com/rss2 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:18:35 +1000
I am delighted that much of the angst in the parent car parks seems to be dissipating; I thank parents for their tolerance and understanding. Last week I spoke with our local State Member of Parliament, Mr Steve Dickson, who has indicated that he is prepared to do all he can to assist in making the Mons Road entrance / exit safer for our School community. I encourage parents who feel strongly about our traffic access concerns to write directly to either Mr Dickson or to our local Sunshine Coast Regional Councillor, Cr Ted Hungerford outlining their concerns. I feel it important that our elected representatives understand how parents, as ratepayers and taxpayers, feel about the poor access we have to our school and the danger this poses to our children.

Last week I was bemoaning the lack of Government support in regards to the buses provided by Buslink in transporting so many of our students. This week I applaud the news from the Government that it has pledged $35 million boost to fund safer school buses in regional Queensland. Whilst I have yet to see the details of the announcement, I am hopeful that this will result in all Buslink buses that transport of children being fitted with safety belts.

Next week I am holding a parent forum to discuss drop-off / pick up and bus safety; if any parent wishes to attend, I invite them to register with my PA, Mrs Mary Glover.

On Wednesday evening this week, the P&F are hosting the first of their Networking Evenings; I look forward to meeting many parents as well as supporting this wonderful initiative of the P&F.

Over the past five years, the P&F has raised substantial funds for the school, most notably leading the air-conditioning of the school project in 2005 -6 and more recently, in raising funds for the Learn-to-Swim Pool. I ask all parents wherever possible to support these volunteer parents who are doing all they can to provide improvements to our School.

At the next meeting of the Headmaster’s Focus Group, the main agenda items will be car parking and school bus services. Any parent who would like to attend would be most welcome. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 24 February from 1.15pm to 2.30 pm in the Headmaster’s office. The purpose of the forum is to provide me with feedback to enable the school to continue improvements for our children.

With very best wishes,

Nigel ]]> http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/38.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/38.php Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:34:47 +1100 School
This explains Grammar’s determination to bring this concern to the attention of our politicians and local media. I consider student safety paramount and I will continue to champion, for our students, for belts to become compulsory on buses and for each bus to have provision for a seat for each student.

As you are aware, to improve student safety at the dropoff/pickup area, this area, and much carparking was revamped and rebuilt during the Christmas holidays. Whilst this area is now much safer for our students, the movement of cars and buses out of the school, during peak times, still poses its own set of frustrations. We have been able to gain pedestrian access for students through Gardenia Place – I suggest this may be a suitable pickup area for secondary students after school. I would also suggest that parents consider collecting their secondary-aged children after 3.40 pm – by this time, normally, most traffic has departed.

In addition, whilst I am only too aware of the frustrations of being caught in a traffic snarl, I ask all parents to show courtesy and respect towards each other, and our staff, at these busy times.

We are a community, and we work hard with students to promote the concepts of “caring” and “getting along” as key traits of a harmonious community. I would like our school community to be one where we are tolerant, show care for each other and where good manners are displayed, valued and appreciated.

The tragedies of the Victorian bushfires and the North Queensland floods have illustrated how the extremes of weather can wreak enormous havoc. At Assemblies this week, we have prayed for people suffering. The School Prefects will be organising activities to support victims of both tragedies. As a former Victorian and former resident of North Queensland, my prayers and sympathies are with those affected.

Wishing you a wonderful week

With very best wishes,

Nigel ]]> http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/37.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/37.php Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:30:12 +1100 School
back new students and families and extend a warm welcome to all new student and families. This year is shaping up as a great year for our school as we continue to build on the hard work and successes of previous years.

I take this opportunity to welcome new academic staff:
- Mr Mark Lingard (Head of Humanities)
- Ms Rachel Downie (Head of Visual Art)
- Mrs Jenny Clegg (JS Library Assistant)
- Ms Emma Cracknell (English)
- Mrs Kathryn Dolan (Year 1)
- Mrs Jo Donaldson (Year 2)
- Mr Nick Dutton (Year 7)
- Ms Susie Fergus (JS Reference Librarian)
- Ms Jenny George (Sec Library Assistant, Terms 1-3)
- Ms Carmen Johnson (English)
- Mr Darren MacLeod-Paterson (Marine / Science / PE)
- Mrs Caroline McLean (English contract, Terms 1 & 2)
- Mrs Julia Seccombe (Physics / Science)
- Ms Alicia Showler (MS Music / Drama / Christian Studies)
- Mrs Jayne Strohfeldt (Year 7)
- Mr Jaron Winter (Year 7)
- Ms Corinna Valencic (Prep aide)

These staff have had the opportunity to begin working with our returning staff – they are all looking forward to a wonderful year.

In other exciting staff news, we welcome Mrs Sarah Atkinson, Mrs Wendy Armstrong and Mrs Jenny Tapp from maternity leave, Mr Ben Princehorn who has been working in Hong Kong, and Ms Jenny Roush and Mr Howard Croft who were on Long Service Leave in Term 4. Mr Dan Robotham was married in the holidays and Miss Leisl Walker became engaged! Mrs Tammy Gamble gave birth to
baby Logan.

During the holidays Mr Aime Marohasy resigned to take on a fulltime position at another school – we are currently in the process of filling this position. Ms Kylie Burnett, Dean of Studies in the Senior School, resigned to accept a position with the Block Grant Authority. Her position, for 2009, is being undertaken by Mr Simon Davis, who also filled in for Ms Burnett whilst she was on Long Service Leave in semester 2 last year. I take this opportunity to thank both Mr Marohasy and Ms Burnett for their contributions to Grammar and to wish them well in their careers.

By now, many parents will have heard news of our 2008 Year 12 results. Four students - Jack Bennett, Campbell Deans, Clare Harris and Aidan Vuocolo obtained OP 1 scores and four students - Carla Elliott, Bridget Heinius, Leanna Wang and Jonathan Whitburn obtained OP 2 scores. In total19.6% of our cohort obtained OPs 1- 5; 50% of our cohort obtained OPs 1- 10 and 69.6% of our cohort obtained OPs 1- 15. Importantly, of the QTAC offers we are aware of thus far, 74.7% of students have received either their first or second round University offer. I note in particular that Jack Bennett has been offered direct entry into Medicine at UQ; Campbell Deans has been accepted into the Dean’s Scholars Programme at QUT (Engineering); Miffy Bruce has commenced in the Navy
as a midshipmen and Laura Thomas was accepted into the Conservatorium at Griffith University.

These destinations reflect the diversity of our cohort – when we have more details, these will be shared with parents.

I congratulate our students and I thank their teachers for all their hard work.
Last year, in our parents’ survey, a number of parents highlighted areas they wished to see improved.

In response to this feedback,

1) we have, over the holidays, completely re-vamped the student pick-up / drop – off area to improve student safety as well as improving the internal road layout and creating more carparking spaces;

2) we will have, this term, a new format for Lion’s Roar, with an edition of Lion’s Roar being produced each week – more details to follow;

3) we have commenced a review of student uniform, in particular the secondary boys’ dress shirt and the formal dresses for primary and secondary girls. We will keep parents abreast of developments in regard to any uniform changes.

4) All teachers have been asked to be vigilant in regards to student appearance and behaviour – it is imperative we strive to maintain high standards at all times.

Wishing you all the very best for a great year!

Nigel
]]> http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/36.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/36.php Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:26:14 +1100 School
I take this opportunity to welcome the following new teaching staff: Ms Eileen Devillers as ESL Coordinator, Mr Nick Dutton in Science, Ms Christina Trypis in Year 4, Ms Lesley Cobden in the Junior Library and Mrs Amanda Collins will assist with Junior Sport. In our Administrative area, we welcome Ms Jacquie Valderrama as Accountant, Mrs Jan Grant as Academic Secretary and Ms Sue Whitehead as Finance Officer. ]]> http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/34.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/34.php Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:09:20 +1000 School http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/33.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/33.php Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:24:50 +1100 School http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/32.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/32.php Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:40:54 +1100 School http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/31.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/31.php Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:20:50 +1100 http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/30.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/30.php Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:05:12 +1100 School 40 Developmental Assets® for Adolescents (ages 12-18)

The www.search-institute.org has identified the following building blocks for healthy development – known as Developmental Assets® – that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

Source: www.search-institute.org
]]> http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/29.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/29.php Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:14:16 +1000 Parent Tips
Following the Open Day, we will be having the Grammar Art Show – once again, I invite parents and friends of the school to attend. ]]> http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/28.php http://www.scgs.qld.edu.au/school_life/grammar_central/blogs/headmaster-blog/28.php Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:44:32 +1000 School