Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolThe Duigan Centre embodies eight years of collaboration, the generosity of our donors, and a shared vision brought to life, one of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the pursuit of excellence.
More than 750 people in our community have toured the centre in the past week. The Hon Nick Duigan (grand nephew of pioneer aviator and Old Boy John Duigan) officially opened the centre on Thursday 27 February and Bishop Kate Prowd performed the blessing.
Following music from our String Quartet, our wonderful Ten Tonners sang The Duigan Centre Anthem, composed by Ellis Cregan (Year 9) for his iDesign project. In Ellis’s words: ‘I was inspired by our new Duigan Centre which represents the best of our values and learning at BGS.’
We then opened the doors to our community on Saturday who were impressed with the new teaching and learning environment that the centre affords our students and staff.
It is my hope that The Duigan Centre helps our students to connect with our School’s rich history through the stories of those Old Boys who have gone before them, such as John Duigan, be inspired by their courage and vision and that they carry with them a piece of John Duigan’s extraordinary spirit and values.
Enjoy the long weekend.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolLast Friday was our School Officers’ and Chapel Servers’ Induction Service with all boys from Prep to Year 6 attending. It was so rewarding to see the leadership of our boys, as our Prep to Year 2 boys entered St Andrew’s Church for the first time our Year 4 to 6 boys were guiding, modelling behaviours and demonstrating the BGS way.
We have so many varied opportunities throughout the year where we see the warmth, direction and care our older boys provide to our younger boys. Thank you to Father Lord who led the service, Emily Fairweather and Borwick House Choir for the superb singing and to the family members of our School Officers and Chapel Servers who supported their sons. We look forward to the leadership of our Year 6 boys throughout 2025.
In my address to our boys, I shared two dares from The Book of Dares, 100 ways for boys to be kind, bold and brave. The first dare, was, ‘dare to be a leader‘. What does it mean for our Year 6 boys to dare to be a leader?
Being a leader has a different meaning for each of us. All of our Year 6 boys wrote a letter to me last year and they told me what leadership meant to them. For some the title of leader and the concept of leadership feels like big shoes to fill and they would prefer to not have a badged position but looked forward to being a Year 6 buddy to a Prep or Year 4 boy.
There are many ways to be a leader. Sometimes it can mean taking an important role in our School, classroom or sports team. Other times, it means doing things that show what’s important to you like recycling to protect the environment, raising funds to assist those less fortunate than we are by supporting various charities or volunteering your time to help others.
Even though the idea of leading can make you think of being strong and forceful, listening to other people, encouraging different options and challenging ideas are great ways of leading. I challenge our Year 6 boys to embrace leadership this year, be a leader in your home, at school and your community.
The second dare was ‘dare to say, I love you’. Eight letters, three simple words, one scary phrase? Saying ‘I love you’ out loud is one of the hardest things for anyone to do but especially for boys. Some suggest that sharing feelings is not natural for boys and only girls do. Saying ‘I love you’ can be uncomfortable. But telling someone you love them is good for you, it can make you happier, stronger and healthier. Reminding family members and friends that they are loved will make them feel appreciated and cared for.
This weekend, I dare you to say ‘I love you’ to someone you care about and see how it makes them feel. There is a good chance they will say it back. And it is always nice to share and feel loved.
Best wishes to all families for the extended holiday weekend.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- Tomorrow boys will participate in our Prep – Year 6 House Swimming carnival. Further details are available via the BGS app. Years 3 – 6 will depart at 8.45am and Prep – Year 2 at 10.30am.
- 2026 Term Dates are now available
Liz Dendrinos
Acting Director of the Early Learning CentreThis week, to help us celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the boys were treated to a very special visit from our Headmaster, Ross Featherston and Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior School, Peter Tellefson.
Wearing their aprons and chef’s hats, Mr Featherston and Mr Tellefson poured, flipped and served pancakes to some very hungry boys. It was remarkable to listen to the entertaining conversations occurring as the boys watched and waited patiently for their pancakes to be served.
Although a simple practice, visits such as these reinforce the message that each and every one of the boys is valued and important to the school. Through whole school experiences such as cooking, the boys are supported in connecting with their new surroundings whilst cultivating a positive relationship with each other and the wider Brighton Grammar School Community.
This week our Buddy program is in full swing, and we can see lovely bonds establishing amongst our boys and their big Buddies. Whether the boys are working together on a project in their classroom, playing fun group games on the oval, exploring the Junior School, or just being boys in the outdoor playground, they are happy to explore all that the ELC has to offer.
With many of our Buddies having been in the ELC before, it is lovely watching the boys walk down memory lane remembering what it was like to be a little boy in a big playground.
We thank all parents for making the time to meet with their son’s teacher at our Term 1 Parent/Teacher Interviews last week. The interviews provided the opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss how the boys have settled into their year and give an initial reflection of their development thus far.
Monday 10 March is Labour Day holiday and we wish all our families a well-earned rest and look forward to seeing the boys on Tuesday, refreshed and ready for a busy week ahead.
Parenting Tips
Helping your child make friends
One of the things children (and parents) may worry about at the start of the new school year is, will I have friends? This could be true for children starting or changing schools or simply going back to a new year with different class arrangements.
Read more below on how parents can talk to their kids about making friends.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge 2025
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Brighton Grammar Junior School is excited to be participating. The VPRC application offers a range of exciting features including:
- access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs)
- a modern user-friendly interface
- rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
- the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review.
The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition, but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 5 September 2025. More information here.
JPG News
This Mother’s Day give Mum, Grandma and that special person in your life a personalised gift of a makeup/utility bag with your son’s artwork in colour featured on the front.
Each bag (24cm x 15cm), also filled with delicious chocolates, costs $35 (plus TryBooking fee) and multiple orders for each child are welcome. Bookings close Friday 7 March. As these bags are printed externally, no late orders can be accepted. Your gift will be handed to the boys in time for Mother’s Day (Sunday 11 May). Queries to the Junior Parents’ Group.
End of Term Lunch
The JPG will again be offering an end of term lunch for the ELC and Junior School boys on Friday 4 April. Lunch will include a burger, juice and treat. The cost will be $10.00 (extra burger $4.00). Online ordering is available through Flexischools online ordering system. Orders must be placed by no later than Friday 28 March 2025 at 5.00pm – no late orders will be accepted.
BGS Generations, including Uncles!
The BGS Generations program acknowledges boys with BGS heritage including sons, grandsons, great-grandsons and, more recently, nephews and grand-nephews of Old Boys. In recognition of these ties, boys receive a pin to wear on their blazer.
The 2025 presentation of Generations pins is coming up soon so, please ensure we know all your family connections by completing this form here, if you haven’t already. This includes brothers, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, great uncles, and great grandfathers.
The School is always delighted when an Old Boy enrols his son at BGS, especially if the Old Boy himself is a second generation BGS student. Please note: When determining third or fourth generations, there is no distinction between paternal or maternal grandfathers and great grandfathers. Uncles and their nephews will receive a “Generations Family” pin in the absence of any other Old Boys in their direct lineage.
If you have any questions, please email Alumni & Community manager, Kate Speirs.
BGS Business Breakfast
Our next BGS Business Breakfast on 19 March features guest speakers Thomas Burns (OB 2016) and his sister Anabelle Burns, co-founders of Femmé Organic.
Owning and operating their small family business, Thomas and Anabelle are on a mission to inspire change and simplify the market by providing plastic free, organic, sustainable and biodegradable sanitary care products.
They are already making waves, stocking with large retail companies such as Priceline and partnering with businesses such as TLC Healthcare, Grill’d, KOOKAI, Cotton On, RACV and more.
Join us at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club to hear their story, from inspiration to concept, setbacks, criticism and now the thriving business that Femmé Organic is today.