Forward July 2015 | Page 51

PR E PA R ATORY S C HO OL Meet Daniel Griffiths Daniel Griffiths is the Preparatory School’s Sports Coordinator, responsible for the physical education program and organising all of the sporting events for the Preparatory School. As an Old Boy of the school, (St 9599), Daniel has a strong connection with Guildford Grammar School. After graduating from Edith Cowan University, where he completed a Bachelor of Science (Sport Science) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Health and Physical Education), he spent two years travelling around the United Kingdom, Europe and South America and spent eight weeks in the Caribbean watching the 2007 Cricket World Cup. When he returned to Perth, Daniel took up a teaching position at Ellenbrook Christian College, where he stayed for seven years. Daniel really enjoys his role at Guildford Grammar Preparatory School because he teaches students across a range of year levels and provides them with the opportunity to get involved in a variety of sports and events. Daniel is responsible for organising the swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals as well as coordinating the Year 4 and Year5/6 JPSSA sporting fixtures on Thursday afternoons. In addition to this, he makes an effort to be part of other activities around the School, having recently shaved his head as part of the World’s Greatest Shave. He has established a running club, which meets twice a week. The running club has brought 50-60 parents and students together to train under athletics coach Ebony Talbert, and this year the group entered their first ever Guildford Grammar School team in the HBF Run for a Reason. Outside of teaching, Daniel has played cricket for the Midland-Guildford Cricket Club for twenty years and also enjoys playing golf, tennis and basketball socially. He maintains strong support for any Western Australian team in any sport, but he closely follows the Western Warriors, Perth Scorchers, West Coast Eagles and the Swan Districts Football Club, so it’s no surprise that Cricket and Australian Rules football are his favourite sports! His passion for teaching sport extends outside of the School, with his role as the Assistant Coach of the Western Australian under-15 cricket team. The most important things in his life however are his beautiful wife and his two sons – Harrison (4) and Mitchell (2). Welcome to Guildford Grammar School Daniel, you are already a much appreciated and valued member of the School community, both as a staff member and as an Old Guildfordian. Preparatory School Swimming Carnivals Quarter Carnival following their swimming lessons to family and friends. It was a fantastic morning of swimming. All students should be proud of their efforts. With an extremely high temperature forecast, it looked like the evening of February 24 was going to be the perfect time for students to be in the pool. Fortunately for the spectators and staff we had an early maximum, and a late afternoon breeze which made conditions slightly more comfortable for everyone. 2015 JPSSA Swimming Carnival From our Quarter Carnival, students were selected to form our 2015 JPSSA Swimming Squad. Following a fortnight of early morning and after school technique and race strategy sessions from our Head Coach, Mr Brett Tongue, students represented the school at the JPSSA Swimming Carnival at HBF Stadium on March 5, 2015. The first event of the evening was a new event to the program in 2015 – the Open 100m Individual Medley. Showcasing the best swimmers from Years 4, 5 and 6, it was a great way to open proceedings. After a close race, the inaugural winner of the trophy was Brayden Scully (Year 6, South). After a fantastic evening of racing, involving some courageous individual efforts and enthralling relays, the winning Quarter was South. Thank you once again to the Guildford and Kalamunda Swimming Club and Mr Trevor Verran for their support and loan of their timing system, which was integral to the Carnival running smoothly. Dolphin Carnival Following on from a successful fortnight of swimming lessons, the Dolphin Carnival was held on 25 February. Year 1-3 students participated in Freestyle, Breaststroke and Backstroke events as well as pool noodle and kickboard races. Students relished the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities All of the preparation for the carnival paid off, with students swimming admirably all afternoon. Guildford Grammar Preparatory School was right in the mix and finished fourth overall in a tight contest where only a few points separated second, third and fourth place. All students should be commended on the way they represented the School; we