Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2013

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Open Day: Embracing future Grammar girls ELIZABETH REDMOND AND SOPHIE WEIR, HEAD GIRLS AUTHORS ARTICLE

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to speak to two groups of prospective Girls Grammar parents and their daughters. The delight for us came at question time when we were met with many raised hands and eager faces from the young ladies in the audience. While their questions focused more on where they would be sitting at lunch or whether there is a Formal to look forward to, their excitement and anticipation about becoming Grammar girls was undeniable. These girls, already so interested and keen to learn about their future, were a testament to the fact that Girls Grammar will no doubt have a confident and enthusiastic group of future students. It brought back fond memories of our own first encounters with the School, both the nervous anticipation and the excitement at starting a new adventure. In these sessions Ms Jameson, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, reiterated something we’d heard a number of times throughout our years at School: ‘Once a Grammar girl, always a Grammar girl.’ Perhaps now, with the end of our own time here looming, we begin to understand this mantra. With this biggest term of our schooling clouding the view of how close we are to the finish line, we hope that, as a cohort, we remember to cherish each other and make the most of the little time we have left as Girls Grammar students. We believe that, as a Year 12 cohort, we have lived our motto: the exciting challenges of embracing our new Year 8 buddies and leadership; welcoming our principal, Ms Euler; exploring our new Sports Campus at Fig Tree Pocket; and greeting future Grammar girls on Open Day and wrapping them in the rainbow colours of the Houses and those of our special spirit days. Naturally, our entire education at Girls Grammar has been enhanced by the dedication and support of the academic and professional staff, and of our parents. While the girls love to run around and show off our wonderful School on Open Day, we know that, more importantly, the evening is the culmination of everyone’s efforts and we fully appreciate their energy, imagination and commitment. It is comforting to be reminded at times like this that — even though next year and in the years beyond, we may not tie our hair every day with the same blue ribbon — the education, friendships and memories given to us by Girls Grammar will always remain with us.

OPEN DAY EMBODIES THE YEAR 12 motto for 2013: Embrace the new! Link the Blue! The evening sees the campus lit up with fairy lights and lanterns, flooded with staff, girls, and prospective students. Opening our gates to the community means this evening is one of the most exciting events of the School year — the one time of the year when all aspects of Grammar life are truly on show.

Among the stalls selling fairy floss and the Fathers Group sizzling sausages, it was easy to get lost in everything going on at Girls Grammar. Every girl took part, whether it was the talented Senior Drama Company performance in the Gehrmann Theatre, an elegant rhythmic gymnast performing her routine in the Sports Centre, or the many ensembles, concert bands, orchestras or choirs showcasing the hard work of the past term in the Creative Learning Centre. Students from all year levels involved themselves in this evening, painting a portrait of the vibrancy of Grammar life. Simply by walking down Gehrmann Lane or taking a trip around the CLC, you were inundated with various displays of Sport, Drama, e-Sports, Service, Calligraphy Club, the Libellum Society, Chess Club, Anime Club or Debating. On a day-to-day basis, individual students are always so busy experiencing both curriculum and co-curriculum that it is often easy to miss the wider range of truly exciting aspects of Grammar life. The message of Open Day is that — somewhere amongst the myriad of sports, music, drama groups and countless other clubs — there is a place for everyone. Open Day presents an excellent opportunity for young prospective students and families to see this. Girls can sample a taste of what they have to anticipate and the many choices available to them.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE