Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolIn these final weeks of term, a high priority for our staff is to provide feedback to each boy across the school and his family on his overall performance in 2024 and his next steps for 2025.
Self-reflection and critical thinking are important aspects of our Effective Learner Model and coaching programs.
Through Parent Student Teacher discussions, exam handback, student reports and coaching dialogue with House Tutors, boys learn to receive feedback, engage in conversations about their learning and progress, and set goals for next year.
Likewise, organisations succeed by listening to their stakeholders and considering their input. As in previous years, we are asking parents to complete this brief School Improvement Tool Survey which will help us gain valuable insights into our strengths and identify areas where we can improve.
Similarly, the APS sought feedback this year from APS students, schools and the broader community through a strategic review of its sports programs which attracted strong engagement. After consideration of this feedback, an update is available for you to read here.
Finally, congratulations to Brighton Grammar’s Team Lunar who achieved third place at the F1 In Schools World Finals in Saudi Arabia representing Australia, a remarkable effort by our students and staff.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolLast night was a fantastic evening of celebration and recognition.
Thank you to all who came along to our Presentation Evening. I would particularly like to acknowledge our incoming School Captain, Charlie Sabin for his inaugural speech as leader of the School. We know the boys of 2025 are in good hands.
My thanks also to the staff who put so much hard work and effort into making the evening such a success.
It has been another big week with coaching, exam handback and promotions taking place. Well done to all the boys for their hard work leading up to the exam period.
A highlight of the week was our Team Lunar winning third place outright at the F1 in Schools World Finals in Saudi Arabia. Congratulations to Year 10 students Leo Jansen, Oliver Chernikeeff, Liam Jones, Carey Tong, Max Zilberman and Kenneth Yeung, BGS staff members Jamie Watson, Thivi Athipar and Mat Steed and mentor Jenson Galvin (OB 2023).
Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you at our Community Carols service on Monday night.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- 2 December, 7.00pm – Community Carols Service at St Andrew’s Church
- 10 December, 12.30pm – Term 4 2024 concludes. The BGS buses to Port Melbourne, Mentone and Caulfield are scheduled to leave New Street at 12.50pm
- 30 January, 8.30am – Term 1 2025 commences
- SchoolPix Group/Team photos taken in Term 4 are now available for purchase, please see BGS app for details
Year 10 Flight Project
In the Year 10 Physics elective, students explored the principles of flight through the design and construction of gliders. A number of students produced excellent gliders including Liam Jones who built a remote-controlled balsa wood plane from scratch.
This hands-on project connects students to our School’s rich history of aviation, particularly the pioneering achievements of Australian aviator and Old Boy John Robertson Duigan (OB 1901).
Duigan’s remarkable feat of constructing and piloting Australia’s first powered, controlled aircraft in 1910 with limited resources exemplifies the ingenuity and resilience celebrated in this elective.
Just as Duigan’s passion for engineering and experimentation led to groundbreaking accomplishments, this project inspires students to apply their knowledge of physics creatively while fostering problem-solving and technical skills.
It highlights how innovation can thrive with curiosity and determination, even in modest circumstances.
Chris Dale
Head of Physics
Anglicare Toy Appeal
BGS is partnering with Anglicare to help make a difference this Christmas by taking part in The Anglicare Christmas Toy Appeal. We kindly ask for donations of unwrapped toys to be left under the Christmas Tree at the Urwin Centre or at the St Andrew’s end student reception.
All gifts will be donated to Anglicare for distribution to families who are doing it tough this Christmas.
Go Green Grammarian
We are excited to announce that production of the 2024 Grammarian yearbook is now underway.
To help us achieve our sustainability goals, we are offering families the opportunity to opt in to receive a digital copy of the Grammarian which will be available to view in early December.
Please opt in for the online edition here. If we do not hear from you, we will assume you would like a printed copy (one per family) which will be distributed to students in Term 1, 2025.
Thank you for your support of the Grammarian yearbook. We hope you enjoy celebrating the memories of this year.
From Reverend Waterhouse
This Sunday 1 December marks a significant day in the year: the beginning of the Christian calendar, which always starts with the first Sunday of the season of Advent.
Advent, meaning “arrival” is the name for the four Sundays leading up to the celebration of Christmas, which commemorates the birth of the Christ-child, Jesus: God the Son.
The Incarnation (God taking on flesh) is a uniquely Christian concept and is a wonderful fulfilment of many promises made in the Old Testament. For example, the prophet Isaiah, writing in the eight century BC, affirmed: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ [9:6].
Sound familiar?
When we finally get around to again seeing Nativity scenes in the shopping centres and singing the carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing, I hope that we can be stirred in our hearts by the wonder of the truth contained in the line: ‘Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.’
Christ is hope personified and what the world needs today more than ever.