Forward December 2017 | Page 40

COMMUNITY FOSS Stronghills Picnic Day The FOSS Stronghills Family Picnic Day was held on Sunday 22 October on what turned out to be a beautiful spring day. Three fully- loaded buses departed from the DLD to transport 90 excited guests to our Stronghills site. Fortunately there was no singing on the bus, so the 40-minute drive went quickly and before we knew it we were disembarking and gearing up for a day of outdoor fun. After the safety briefing, introductions and morning tea the group split up to start their chosen activities. One group took off on foot with Dr Harris for a guided nature walk, another set off to try archery, some tried their hand at the low ropes course and some set out for canoeing on the dam. The ladies of FOSS cooked up a delicious sausage sizzle for lunch and a second round of activities filled the rest of the afternoon. The bus ride home was a quiet one, with more than a few people taking the opportunity for a quick snooze! Thank you to the FOSS team for an amazing day and to Mr Ashby and his team for looking after everyone. Guildford Arts Supporters – it’s a GAS! The Guildford Arts Supporters’ Group is a sub-committee of the P & F with the aim of supporting the School’s Arts Faculties in delivering programs and productions that are professional, and provide enriching experiences for the students. The committee is made up of mums and dads from the school community and members of staff across both the Preparatory and Senior campuses. We get together once a month to discuss current school programs that need our support, and work out how we can deliver! During 2017, GAS has contributed in the following ways: • Music – Providing volunteers for the numerous events throughout the year including Guildford on Swan, the Guildford Jazz Festival, the Music Eisteddfod and other performances. • Preparatory School – Fostering the link between junior and senior campuses and providing support across the Preparatory School Visual Arts, Music and Drama programs. • Other – Working as an Arts ‘think tank’ on ways we can support the teachers in program delivery. Liaising with the P & F committee via the Art Representative. • Debating – Assisting with funding student badges, catering and providing volunteers and support for the World Debating teams. The GAS committee is very proud of what has been achieved in our first year – it has been very rewarding to work in a more integrated manner with the teachers and faculty heads in the various Arts programs, and to see the value we have been able to add. We are hoping to grow our committee and volunteer base next year, and would love to hear from any parents that have ideas on ways we can improve the experiences of the boys and girls in the wonderful realm of the Arts. • Mock Trials – Providing support to the program via parent involvement. Mrs Shelley Robertson President of GAS • Drama Productions – Assistance with foyer decoration, costume management, sourcing props, front of house, service of food and beverages and more. • Visual Arts – Assistance with set-up and sales at the annual Art Exhibition. 41