Rosstrevor, the Middle School of Brighton Grammar School comprises Years 7 and 8. It is a vital, self-contained community within the broader campus.
Rosstrevor exists because we recognize the significant transitional issues that arise for boys around the time they move into secondary school. By having a discreet middle school, we are able to take into account latest research on the education of boys and assist them to make a seamless transition into their secondary schooling.
This journey begins while boys are still in Year 6 and consists of two Orientation Days with a range of activities throughout the days which have the express purpose of assisting boys to familiarise themselves with the Rosstrevor environs as well as their new Form Group and their Form Teacher. Some external testing also takes place at this time to assist the School in identifying the relative academic strengths and/or weaknesses of the year level to assist the school to plan its academic programs for the forthcoming year.
As boys settle into Year 7, they are taught by a Form Teacher who will also teach them two academic subjects, take them to Camp (Gippsland Lakes) early in Term 1 and almost certainly be involved at some stage coaching sport to boys in their form. The Form Teacher therefore takes on a pivotal role for the boys as they begin their secondary schooling.
At Year 7, all boys will study the core subjects of Mathematics, English, Science, History and Geography, study four LOTES out of Japanese, Chinese, French and Latin (one LOTE per term), participate for approximately 9 weeks in each of our Rotating Subjects which include Woodcraft, Drama, Art and Information Technology as well as Physical Education, Music, Religious Education, Health and Personal Development. Boys with an identified learning difficulty are able to substitute Extra English instead of a LOTE. Homework and time management are often raised as genuine concerns for boys entering Year 7 and early in Term 1, boys will be provided with significant support to assist them to become more organized and to study more effectively.
The school has a strong tradition in both Sport and Music. All boys will be involved in the school’s sporting program in Summer and Winter Seasons. In Summer, boys choose from Cricket, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball whilst in Winter, the choices are Football, Soccer, Rugby, Hockey and Cross Country. In Spring, boys have the choice of either Athletics or Water Polo to participate in.
All boys at Rosstrevor learn a musical instrument. Boys will choose from a wide range of musical instruments and study it for two years with all boys having the opportunity to be involved in Whole School Concerts which are held annually.
An enrichment program is also offered at Rosstrevor with boys being provided with the opportunity to study Philosophy, Psychology, Literature or History. Our top Mathematicians are invited to join Mathematics enrichment whilst boys are also encouraged to be involved in our Middle School Philosophy Colloquium, Robotics Program and Tournament of Minds. Chess is a very popular activity at Rosstrevor and early in Year 7, all boys are provided with instruction in the basics of Chess. At Rosstrevor, all boys are required to undertake Debating and Public Speaking and after instructional sessions are provided with the opportunity to be involved in House and/or Inter-School Debating.
We have a very strong relationship with Firbank Grammar School. This extends to sharing activities with them in Chess, Debating, Public Speaking, Bookclub and Philosophy Colloquiums. There are also a number of combined days where the boys of Rosstrevor and the girls of Firbank undertake a range of curricular, co-curricular and social activities with each other.
Throughout Year 7, boys will experience a number of Experiential Learning activities which include a mixture of physical, cultural and city-based experiences. Known as “Terrific Tuesday”, “Wonderful Wednesday” etc, these days have proven to be a very worthwhile educational addition to the Rosstrevor curriculum.
Boys also undertake a number of field trips all designed to raise the environment awareness of the boys. Guest speakers also play a prominent role in the Rosstrevor program with a wide range of speakers throughout the year provided again to raise the awareness and consciousness of Rosstrevor boys in a wide range of areas.
Each year, the school targets a fundraising venture and undertakes a series of activities to raise funds. Last year, Rosstrevor raised over $5000 to support a number of Vietnamese Orphanages which ultimately provided significant educational and residential improvements to the orphans. Another significant Fundraiser is the annual Walkathon which raises a significant quantity of money for Bayley House and Frankston Camp.
Rosstrevor places a significant emphasis on the involvement of parents in the lives of their sons. A number of functions are organized throughout the year highlighting the special relationships boys have with both their mothers and their fathers as they move towards adulthood.
The journey continues into Year 8 with the most significant point of difference being Year 8 boys are now the leaders at Rosstrevor. School Leaders are chosen across a broad range of fields with almost 70% of boys at Year 8 involved in at least one position of responsibility. Student leaders are supported through an extensive leadership training program
Year 8 boys are again supported by a Form Teacher who will be actively involved in the learning of boys in their Form Group but it is also expected that boys will be begin to become more independent learners and taking more responsibility for their learning. Subject choices remain essentially the same as per Year 7 but boys choose two of the four LOTES to study.
Sport choices remain the same as Year 7 although in Term 3 and 4, boys may begin Rowing training as a precursor to the Year 9 Rowing program.
As the boys enter the final stages of Year 8, they are assisted with their journey into Year 9 and the BGS Sea Change program, by a number of Orientation Days during which boys familiarize themselves with the new environs of the Senior School.
At Rosstrevor, all of our curricular programs at both levels are designed to emphasize participation and to give everything a go, under the principle of “You get out of a school, what you put into it”.