Secondary School

Dear Secondary Community,

Thank you for joining us for the recent Parent Teacher Conferences. I hope you found the discussions valuable and that they offered clear insight into your child’s progress, growth, and next steps for the term ahead. These conversations are an important part of the learning journey, helping students to reflect, set goals, and take ownership of their progress.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please take a moment to share your thoughts using this link. Your input helps us continue to improve the experience we offer our students and families.

Secondary Snapshot

Throughout the year, we will be sharing a short Secondary Snapshot to highlight the wonderful work happening across our departments. These features will offer parents a glimpse into the learning, creativity, and collaboration taking place in our classrooms and beyond.

This week, our Science Department is sharing updates from their Lab Diaries, capturing moments of curiosity and discovery as students explore practical investigations and real world applications of their learning.

We are also pleased to spotlight our Islamic Department, who have shared pictures (collage 1 and collage 2) and a video from speaker’s corner, from the Muslim Student Association (MSA). The MSA students were recently recognised with certificates for their leadership and initiative in organising our school celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday, a beautiful reflection of service, faith, and community spirit within our school.

Supporting Student Wellbeing and Standards

Please note that our absolute priority is the safety, wellbeing, and learning of all our students. When individuals do not demonstrate the core values of the school, we use a wide range of strategies to support them. These can include learning conversations, behaviour support plans, targeted interventions with specialists both in school and externally, and when required, sanctions such as the removal of technology, reflection sessions during break or lunch, and in more serious cases, suspensions or expulsions.

Here at GIS, I am pleased to share that we have a great number of experts and resources available to us in supporting all students to be the best versions of themselves. We are deeply committed to helping each young person achieve this through strong relationships, consistency, and care.

Behaviour and Expectations

As Ms. Pandya shared in her message in the newsletter on Friday 10th October, we will be entering a short behaviour reset when we return after the break. This is an opportunity for all students to reconnect with the high standards and values that define our school: respect, punctuality, and kindness.

We ask that you take a few minutes to review her message and speak with your child before school resumes on Monday, October 20th, 2025. These conversations at home reinforce the shared expectations that help our students to thrive in a calm, respectful and purposeful environment.

Connection, Rest and Tech Free Time Over the Break

The upcoming three day break offers a valuable opportunity for families to reconnect, reflect, and refresh, especially for our teenagers, for whom meaningful personal connection can sometimes get crowded out by routines and screens.

I encourage you to consider carving out time for tech free experiences that build conversation, enjoyment, and shared memories. Below are some ideas your family might enjoy and adapt for older students:

• 101 Screen Free Activities - a comprehensive list of fun, low tech ideas for families

• 77 Things to Do Instead of Screens - creative ideas such as learning a poem together or hosting a family cook-off

• Non Tech Activities - outdoor and indoor ideas from gardening to family art projects

• 60 Team Building Activities for Middle and High School Students - engaging collaborative challenges suited to older students

• Offline Activities and Bucket List - creative, social, and hands-on experiences

Some simple activities to consider include:

• Organising a family scavenger hunt or trivia night

• Cooking or baking together and letting students lead

• Working on a family project such as gardening or a DIY craft

• Reading the same or different books and sharing reflections over meals

• Playing board games or card games that spark strategy and conversation

• Spending time outdoors on a walk, bike ride, or picnic

• Writing, drawing, or journaling as a way to unwind and express creativity

• Planning a small act of service as a family, such as a clean-up or helping a neighbour

These kinds of activities create space for genuine conversation, curiosity, laughter, and presence. I hope your family finds moments of connection, rest, and renewal together.

Looking Ahead

Our before-school care and after-school supervision programs are being finalised and will launch in early November. Further information will be shared soon.

As we head into the short break, I want to thank you for your continued support and engagement in the life of our Secondary community. We are incredibly proud of the work our students and teachers have done this term and grateful for the partnership that makes this possible.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, October 20th.

Kind regards,
Aaron Kane
Head of Secondary