Welcome back to our entire Garnsey Community! I hope that our students and families have had an enjoyable break and are excited for the year ahead.

The first day of the year is special for all students. However, it is particularly special for our new Year 7 students who officially started at Garnsey on Tuesday. Ashton Court was full of excitement as our new students lined up ready for registration, with many probably not realising they are about to form friendships that will last a lifetime. All students have received their laptops, met their subject teachers and participated in swimming trials as preparation for the House Swimming Carnival in Week 2. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions; however, we are so proud of the progress our Year 7 students have made so far.

It is often said that a school does not feel like a school until it is filled with students. This can be most apparent at the start of the year as our campus begins operations while students remain on holidays. Though Garnsey has been quiet, it has allowed us time to develop some key areas of the campus which we hope will improve the experience of students at Garnsey. Significant progress has been made to the exterior of the new Art & Design building, providing more space for our students to interact and socialise, including the addition of new recreational court spaces. We are also nearing the completion of the landscaped feature entry, which has been inspired by student designs. We are very excited to see the final product in the coming weeks in preparation for the building’s official opening later this term.