Dear Parents, 

As we reach the final full week of the academic year, this update offers an opportunity to look both back and forward: to celebrate the growth, resilience and achievement of our students, and to share further clarity on the leadership structures that will support their journey next year. 

From August, our Primary and Secondary teams will work with even greater vertical alignment, ensuring that the experience of students from the Early Years through to High School is coherent, connected and consistently ambitious. Ms Wanita Woithe, Vice Principal Primary, and Ms Jen Grace, Vice Principal Secondary, will lead this work across their respective phases, supported by newly appointed Assistant Principals who will bring sharper phase oversight, stronger transition planning and more consistent care for students at every stage. 

This alignment matters. It enables us to think carefully about the whole student journey, not only the year a child is currently in, but the knowledge, habits, confidence and character they are building over time. It also strengthens the way our teams collaborate around curriculum, wellbeing, expectations and communication, so that families and students experience GIS as one connected school community.

◆ PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEADERSHIP FOR 2026-27 

 
As Vice Principals, at the heart of our core values is a shared belief that every student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We envision a school where every child is developing the resilience and empathy needed to face the future. Inspired by the philosophy of Ubuntu - "I am because we are" - we value the power of collaboration and the strength that comes from a united community. 

We are honoured to be part of the GIS learning community, one that is deeply committed to excellence and dedicated to nurturing each student’s potential for growth. Our role is to help create an environment where each learner’s strengths, interests and aspirations are recognised, supported and celebrated so that they can truly flourish. 

As we look ahead to the next academic year, we are excited to build upon the strong foundations already in place, working alongside our newly appointed Assistant Principals: 

•  Ms Anneka Bowles, Assistant Principal / Phase Lead Early Years 

•  Ms Helen Bruce, Assistant Principal / Phase Lead Upper Primary 

•  Mr Sean O’Regan, Assistant Principal / Phase Lead Middle School 

•  Mr Lewis Griffiths, Assistant Principal / Phase Lead High School 

Together, we remain committed to building a nurturing, connected and future-focused learning environment for all. 

◆ PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATE 

 
As we approach the end of another wonderful school year, our students are looking forward to celebrating their achievements and preparing for the exciting journey ahead. They are especially looking forward to the end-of-year celebrations on the last day of school, Thursday 2 July. 

Our Grade 5 students will have the opportunity next week to visit the Middle School and meet some of the staff members who will be part of their next chapter. Due to the recent situation in the region and the temporary school closure, these activities had to be postponed; we are pleased that they can now take place. 

Students across the other grade levels have also had, or will soon have, the opportunity to visit their next year’s classrooms and learning spaces. These transition experiences help build confidence, reduce uncertainty and generate excitement for the year ahead. 

This year has asked a great deal of our students. They have worked hard, shown remarkable adaptability, and demonstrated resilience as they moved seamlessly from in-school learning to remote learning. We are incredibly proud of the maturity, perseverance and positive attitude they have shown throughout these changes. 

A reminder that students’ report cards will be available this afternoon.

◆ GRADE 5 GRADUATION 

It was a joy to celebrate our Grade 5 students this morning as they crossed the stage and received their certificates, marking the completion of their Primary School journey. Sharing this special moment with families and staff made the occasion even more meaningful. 

Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Middle School will bring new opportunities, greater responsibilities and exciting challenges. We have every confidence that our students are ready for what lies ahead. 

Congratulations, Grade 5 students, on a fantastic year and a successful completion of your primary years. We are incredibly proud of all that you have achieved and of the young people you have become. 

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our parents for their ongoing support, trust and partnership. Your encouragement and collaboration have played an essential role in your children’s success. 

To our staff, thank you for your dedication, care and unwavering commitment to our students. Your hard work and passion make a lasting difference every day.

Today, we celebrate all that you have accomplished and the growth you have shown along the way. 

You have everything you need to make a difference. You are equipped with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and competencies that will help you navigate the future. Most importantly, you carry with you the values nurtured by your families and by our school community. 

Believe in yourselves, stay curious, embrace challenges and continue to be kind. We look forward to seeing all that you will achieve in the years ahead. 

◆ SECONDARY SCHOOL UPDATE 

As we approach the end of the academic year, I would like to take a moment to thank our students, parents and staff for their support, commitment and partnership throughout the year. It has been a real privilege to be part of the GIS community and to work alongside so many people who care deeply about our students, our school and the experience we provide every day. 

At the beginning of the year, we spoke a great deal about the importance of being the best version of ourselves. For our students, this meant showing up each day ready to learn, to contribute, to be kind, to take responsibility and to make the most of the opportunities in front of them. For our staff, it meant continuing to raise the standard in our classrooms, our relationships, our communication and the care we provide. For all of us, it meant recognising that excellence is not only seen in awards or final outcomes, but in the daily choices we make and the standards we hold ourselves to. 

This year, we have seen that message come to life in many different ways. We have seen students represent GIS with pride in sport, the arts, MUN, service, leadership and community events. We have seen students challenge themselves academically, grow in confidence, support one another and take greater ownership of their learning. We have also continued to develop our academic pathways, including exciting opportunities linked to Pre-Med, Aviation, Sport Science and the wider IB journey. These developments reflect our ambition to provide students with meaningful opportunities that connect their learning to the world beyond school. 

As we close the year, we also look forward to celebrating many of our students at the upcoming Secondary Academic Awards Ceremony on Monday 29 June. Families of award winners have already received a separate invitation with the event details, including timings, uniform expectations, guest arrangements and the livestream link for those unable to attend in person. This ceremony is an important moment to recognise achievement, commitment and contribution, and we look forward to sharing that celebration with our students and families. 

If there is one message I would like to leave with our community, it is this: schools are at their best when they help each person become more of who they are capable of being. Not perfect, not finished, and not without mistakes, but braver, kinder, more ambitious and more willing to contribute than they were before. This year, we have asked our students and ourselves to raise the standard and to be the best versions of ourselves. My hope is that this continues to be part of the GIS story: a community that aims high, looks after one another, learns from every challenge and remembers that excellence is built one choice, one lesson, one conversation and one act of kindness at a time. 

As this will be my final community update, I would like to sincerely thank you for the warmth, trust and support you have shown me this year. GIS is a very special community, and I am grateful to have been part of it. I wish the new Secondary Leadership Team, our students, staff and families every success for the year ahead. I know the school will continue to grow, strengthen and achieve great things, and I look forward to hearing about all that the GIS community goes on to accomplish. 

Aaron Kane
Head of Secondary 

◆ CLOSING REFLECTION 

As we move into the final week of term, I want to thank every member of our community for the part you have played in this year’s journey. It has been a year of learning, transition, resilience and renewed ambition for GIS. We have celebrated significant milestones, navigated moments of disruption, strengthened our leadership structures, and continued to place students at the centre of every decision. 

With warmest wishes for a restful weekend. 

Nevita Pandya
Principal / CEO 

WhatsApp Channels

Primary and Secondary WhatsApp Channels for our GIS community. These Channels will run on WhatsApp, meaning you will be able to manage your own notification settings and access the updates easily.

It is important to note that only our Parent Relations Executive, Helen Gornall, will be able to post messages to

these Channels and this will only be to share announcements/updates applicable. We encourage you to check

the relevant Channels regularly to remain informed about the latest developments.

For any queries on Slices, please call or WhatsApp Andrea from Slices on 050 504 5908

Kind reminder to ensure students accounts have enough credit loaded so they do not face issues purchasing food. 

GIS Community Calendar 25/6

If you would like to subscribe to the the GIS Community Calendar, please click HERE for the link.  

This calendar will be continually updated to reflect key dates and events.