Thursday, 09 August 2012
From the Head of Rosstrevor
It is amazing to think that already we are preparing for the move of our boys into their next year levels in 2013. As has been communicated to parents this week, there are two Information Evenings on next week which parents are strongly encouraged to attend.
On Monday night, following on from feedback received from parents last year, we are running a Year 8, 2013 Parent Information Evening. The main intention of this evening is for the Year 7 and 8 Co-Ordinator of Teaching and Learning, Mr Scott Anderson, to speak on the Year 8 Academic Program and then provide the opportunity for parents and their sons to speak to staff representing the four LOTES available to boys in Year 8. This is intended to provide parents with additional information to assist them with their son’s subject choices for 2013. Please click here to download a copy of letter outlining details
On Tuesday night, the Sea Change and Year 9 Information Evening will be held in the Senior School. This likewise is intended to be an opportunity for our Year 8 parents and their sons to hear more about the Sea Change program and also Year 9 in general. Given the wide number of choices available to boys next year in Year 9, both in the curricular program and the various activities of the Sea Change program, it really is imperative that at least one parent and their son attends this very important evening. Please click here to download a copy of a letter outlining details
Following on from these evenings, it is important that parents are aware that subject choices for 2013 are due no later than 4.00pm on 17 August 2012.
Important Dates
August 10
Rotating Subjects Cycle 2 concludes
August 11
Rosstrevor House Athletics
August 13
Year 8 (2013) Subject Information Night
August 14
Year 7 Immunisations
Year 9 (2013) Sea Change Information Night
August 15
Debating with Firbank at BGS (2.00-3.30)
August 17
Ute Full of Food
Whole School Open Morning
Year 7 Combined Morning with Firbank at BGS
August 20
Mid Term Holiday
August 22
Book Club with Firbank at FGS (1.25-2.25)
August 24
Year 7 Social with Firbank at FGS
August 25-26
Getaway Weekend (Year 8 Fathers and Sons)
August 26-28
Interschools’ Snow Sports Championships
August 27
Philosophy Colloquium with Firbank at BGS (2.00-3.30)
August 28
Fathers’ Day Chapel Service
August 30
School Concert Rehearsals (all day)
School Concert Melbourne Recital Centre (pm)
September 19
Year 8 Excursions (off campus all day)
September 20
Year 8 Combined Morning with FGS at BGS (am)
Year 7 Excursions (off campus all day)
September 21
End of Term 3
Important Notices
House Athletics this Saturday 11th August – Sandringham Aths Track, Thomas Street Sandringham 8.30am for a 9.00am start.
This Saturday is the 31st Annual Rosstrevor House Athletics carnival. Rain, hail or shine we require all boys to attend the meet and compete in the event. Those who are injured have been designated to help so there is a role for all boys no matter what level or ability. Parking is limited at the venue so please arrive early and the canteen will be operated by the Rosstrevor Parents’ Group to fuel the early start. All parents are encouraged to attend and enjoy the morning.
Brendan Savage
2012 Winter APS Sport Season
The Winter Sport Season has come to an end after a gruelling yet enjoyable 10 week season. As always the boys represented themselves and the school with pride and as I spoke about at the Rosstrevor soccer presentation, all boys upheld the school qualities of Respect, Accountability, Integrity & Passion. Personally, I would like to thank all the hard work from the boys, staff, coaches and parents for their willingness and help throughout the season. It takes a lot of effort to have a successful and well organized season and this one went off without a hitch. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight a few outstanding efforts.
• Lucas Derrick being the 3rd boy from Year 8 in BGS History to represent Soccer at 1st XI level
• 7 BGS Footballers representing SMJFL interleague sides
• Lachlan McLeod representing BGS in First XI Hockey
• Jamie Miller being selected to trial in the U/12 VRU squad
• Sam Stevens consistently performing in the open age group throughout the Cross Country season
Now we are in full preparations for Athletics and Water Polo in the coming weeks so please stand by for more outstanding school and individual results in the coming editions.
Brendan Savage
Director of Sport & Activities (Rosstrevor)
School Music Concert – Melbourne Recital Centre
The School Concert will be held at The Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday, 30 August from 7.30pm. We are delighted to, again, be able to perform in this world class venue and your support of this event would be appreciated by all the musicians and staff. The Concert will include boys from Years 4 to 12 involved in the Choirs, Guitar Ensembles, Big Bands, Concert Bands and Orchestras. This is the cultural highlight of the School Calendar showcasing the variety of the music program at the School. Tickets are now available for purchase, Adults $30.00 Students $15.00, from the Melbourne Recital Centre either online http://www.melbournerecital.com.au/whatson/buytix?perfid=4416, by telephone 9699 3333 or in person at the Box Office, ground floor of the Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank. There will be a transaction fee charged by the Recital Centre on each transaction, not each ticket, so get a group together to buy your tickets.
The week that was
Year 8 Camps
Last Friday saw the conclusion of the Year 8 Camp program with the return to school of 8C, 8D and the remaining boys of 8A with Mr Keane and Mr Savage. This camp, like the previous one, was undoubtedly a great success and I have received a lot of positive feedback from the boys regarding their overall enjoyment of the experience.
Hockey Presentation Night 2012
On Monday night, 160 staff, coaches, parents and boys celebrated the end of a successful season of Hockey with a dinner and presentation of trophies in Robert Sanderson Centenary Hall. Season reports from the Captains of each side, Justin Branson, Lachlan Collie, Jerry Lee and Robert Tongs provided entertaining summaries of the seasons of each of the Rosstrevor teams, interesting insights into the players and recognition of the support and encouragement from their coaches and managers: Mr Tutera and Ms Ting. Congratulations to Jack Coleman, Jerry Lee and Robert Tongs who were the Best and Fairest winners for their respective teams. Congratulations to all the boys for their efforts this year.
The Week ahead
DAV Public Speaking
All DAV Debaters have received an email with details of Monday night’s debates. The topic is ‘That the Olympic Games are more trouble than they are worth’. Year 7 teams will have a planning and preparation workshop at lunch time on Friday, while Year 8 teams will have theirs on Monday. Boys should be at the venue by 5:50 at the latest, and parents are very welcome to stay and watch the teams in action. It’s always a great evening.
Firbank Debate
We’re planning to defend last term’s great debating results on Wednesday afternoon at Firbank. Year 7 debaters will argue the topic ‘That we should say what we think’ while the Year 8 teams will be arguing ‘That rights are more important than security’. Reports will be in next week’s newsletter.
Nerelie Teese
TIC Debating and Public Speaking
Ute Full of Food
Advance notice that the next Ute full of Food will be held on Friday 17 August. Boxes will be placed in each Form room tomorrow and as per usual we are looking for boys to bring along at least two items of non-perishable food from home to donate to the St Marks’ Community in Fitzroy.
Open Day
Advance notice also of the School’s Open Day to be held on Friday week (August 17). If parents are aware of any friends who might be interested in learning more about Brighton Grammar School, it is not too late to register for the morning by ringing Jo Hudson on 85912202.
From the Head of Year 8
We are all BGS boys and proud of it too
If you are an Old Boy of the school you may well remember the words above from the old ‘games songs’ sung at Assembly. I have been reminded over the course of the last week of the special bond that exists between boys at Brighton Grammar School. While this unique culture is spread among the many activities that we offer, I will highlight sport on this occasion.
A traditional dose of healthy banter exists between our 8A Soccer and 8A Football teams throughout the winter season, as with many differing football codes. When it comes to the crunch, however, both sides wear the BGS colours and are on the same team. This was most evident last Saturday as both teams travelled down to Geelong Grammar School for their final fixture of the season. As both fields were parallel to each other, both coaches stood together facing the opposite direction, meaning the boys in both sides mingled while on the bench. At the conclusion of the soccer game, at approximately half time of the footy game, the soccer boys were outstanding in their support of their oval-ball counterparts and all and sundry sang the song at game’s end to celebrate two impressive victories.
Later that same day, the might of the 1st XVIII Football side played Melbourne Grammar School in a much-hyped game that gave the home side a flittering hope of a premiership (not so due to a St Kevin’s victory against Xavier). The number of Rosstrevor boys present at the game, from all corners of the middle school, was inspirational. The game highlighted a lot more than just football; it was a celebration of being a BGS boy. Max Hayes a Year 11 boy and brother of Blake, commented to me after the game as we watched hundreds of younger boys kick a footy on the oval, “That used to be us”. He was right. Only a couple of years ago the same boys who are now held in the highest regard by our Rosstrevor boys were idolising the likes of Watts, Jacobs and Jakobi as they ran around on a Saturday afternoon.
…and so the tradition continues. As I can often be telling parents; while others can boast larger facilities and multiple campuses, there is an aspect of our school that is so very special and impossible to replicate.
Chapel Notes
Science Week presents an real challenge to the content and execution of Chapel. For some of the boys at Rosstrevor the Big Bang Theory (the idea not the television show) is sufficient and complete proof that Religion has been replaced.
After all the Big Bang Theory tells us how the world was created, and it does not involve a God. Whereas Religion tells us that God created the world in seven days, the truth of the matter is that that Big Bang Theory tells us far more than how our existence began, and God has more to say about life today than how it all began.
During Chapel this week some of the boys participated in an experiment, to replicate or represent part of a DNA helix. The complexity and presentation did not escape the attention of some of those involved. It was also noted that the scientist in charge of the genome project was once an atheist, and has become a person of deeply religious belief and practice.
Science and Religion need not be in conflict, although some scientist and some theologians delight in the conflict they construct.
In Chapel we also thought about the way in which science seeks to promote the good and betterment of humanity, but is also used for the destruction of lives and the further entrenchment of injustice and inequality. August the 6th is the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
We took time to pray for peace and the determination to work for the food of all. Faith and the practice of God cannot be ignored in the will to achieve harmony.
From the Library
To celebrate the National Hour of Reading, August 25, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. the Rosstrevor Library is able to provide limited copies of the Big Issue Special Fiction Edition at the great price of $3.50, a saving of $3.00. All orders must be pre-paid and there are only a few more places left. Details of this are included in this month’s New Books poster which was emailed to all students this week.
Happy Reading
Nerelie Teese
Teacher Librarian
General
Senior Music Camp
Information will have been received, earlier this week, by members of the Symphony Orchestra, Senior Concert Band, Big Band and Corelli Strings regarding the upcoming Senior Music Camp on Sunday 26 August and Monday 27 August. Could parents please ensure the consent and medical forms be completed and returned by next Wednesday 15 August. The camp is an essential part of the preparation for the School Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday 30 August.
Share Community Campus
Please click here to download a copy of this week’s Share Community Campus information. For information on the Resilence Seminar, please click here
BGS First XVIII Football
Please click here for an update
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Lost
Angus Wells 8D has lost his named blazer. If found, could you please return it to Angus, Mr Savage or Sally.
Found Property
White polo size L (16)
Sport
Sport results from last weekend. Please click here
Rugby End of Season Presentation Evening: Reminder
For catering purposes we really need to finalise numbers by early Friday morning at the latest please. The night is compulsory for boys, and parents and friends are very welcome. The cost is debited to the school account at $25 per head. Full buffet dinner is part of the night, followed by the teams and awards. The guest speaker for the night is current Melbourne Rebels backs coach Nathan Grey, who was in the 1999 World Cup winning Wallaby team.
All Rosstrevor Rugby boys were given a sheet at the meeting on Wednesday, and they have also been emailed home. Additional copies are at Reception or click here to download one.
Anthony Coghlan
TiC Rugby