Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolTogether with our students’ wellbeing, our staff’s personal development is also a priority. This is founded on the understanding that the quality of education provided to your sons is inherently linked to the standard of teaching and learning provided.
The principles outlined in our staff wellbeing program offer valuable guidance that can be applied universally. These include strategies for effectively using screen time that supports health and wellbeing, optimising our sleep patterns and developing good routines that can enhance productivity and motivation. Our Crowther Centre provide many resources including position papers and weekly eNews to support parents and students.
Self-care practices to boost physical and mental health have the potential to benefit all members of our community. Research suggests that the three key pillars of our Positive Masculinity program – authenticity, motivation and connection – contribute to leading a fulfilling life.
I recommend to all parents register to attend Crowther’s interactive +M workshop in the Rosstrevor Hall on Wednesday next week to hear about the work we are undertaking in this space with your son and how you can support his personal development at home.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolJunior School Psychologist, Ms Olivia Tims, works at Wilson House three days a week supporting staff, boys and parents. Olivia has vast experience working with primary aged children in a school environment and works with individuals, small withdrawal groups, class and year levels.
Olivia meets with all new boys to assist them with their transition. The boys she has met with have shared some interesting insights and general impressions of BGS:
Year 5: ‘You can ask questions when you want- it’s OK to ask for help here’.
Year 5: ‘I could never really understand things such as what a simile was, but after Mrs Bolton explained it to us, it all makes sense to me now!’
Year 4: ‘It’s a lot more organised here and the teachers are calmer’.
Year 4: The lessons are a lot more fun and I’m finally feeling challenged with the work’.
Year 3: ‘From day one, I didn’t feel lonely, the boys have been nice to me’.
Year 2: ‘Design and Tech is cool and you get to create new things’.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- We have enjoyed welcoming our Prep and Year 1 fathers this week for classroom activities and look forward to our Year 2 dads joining us tomorrow morning. See the BGS app for further details.
- JPG Easter Raffle and Donations – Each boy is asked to contribute an Easter egg for the raffle. Other donations of any type of Easter items (bunnies, chickens, fluffy toys, baskets etc.) are most welcome. Donations can be left in the tubs provided in Junior School Reception and the ELC.
Raffle tickets sales are now open. Prep – Year 6 students will be able to purchase from the playground before school or by placing tickets in an envelope in the box at reception. A ticket collection box is also available in the ELC. Please see the BGS app for further details.
- Our first Ute Full of Food for this year will be held on Thursday 3 April. Brighton Grammar has a long-standing commitment in supporting St Mark’s Anglican Church in Fitzroy. All food items will be transported by the Ute to St Mark’s, where it is distributed to needy families. Dried pasta; tinned meats, vegetables and fruits; breakfast foods; tea and coffee – all these would be much appreciated. The Ute will leave the Junior School at 9.00am.
Items particularly requested are: breakfast cereals, sugar, jams and spreads, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, noodles, biscuits, tins of vegetables, fruit and fish are particularly welcome, meals-in-a-can, toilet paper, bathroom supplies. Given that some of St Mark’s clients are street people and often sleep rough, ring-pull cans are preferable; they don’t always have access to can openers or cutlery. Our generosity is certainly appreciated.
- On Wednesday 2 April at 7.00pm we invite all parents (Prep – Year 12) to join us for an interactive Positive Masculinity Parent workshop.
- Next Friday 4 April will be our final day of Term 1. The following is an outline of the day:
8.50am – Chapel – Prep to Year 6
9.20am – Assembly (St Andrew’s Church) Parents are welcome to attend
12.15pm – JPG Lunch – Please note there are NO Tuck shop orders available
2.00pm – Tabloid Sports – boys wear their Sport Uniform/House Polo Shirt
3.20pm – Normal Dismissal
- JPG End of Term Lunch – final orders due by tomorrow Friday 28 March – order through Flexischools.
Student Achievements
- Congratulations to the following Year 6 boys who will be appointed to leadership positions at tomorrow’s Assembly.
Art Monitors – Archer Brockett, Giorgio Colla, Kane Corcoran, Christian Ferdinands, Charlie Hodges, Cooper Johnston, Edward Jukes, Jacob Qu
- Congratulations to the following Year 5/6 boys who will be presented with Term 1 APS Sport Awards at this week’s assembly.
- Congratulations to Boni Wu and Ben Scales who performed at the Woodwind Soiree last Wednesday.
- Last Friday a team of six Junior School swimmers competed in the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Swimming Championships. The boys represented the school with distinction and were well supported by parents and Aaron French. We had some great swims, both individual and relay, with Zane Mtenje finishing first and second in his Breaststroke and Freestyle events and our 12/13 year old relay team finishing second. We wish Zane good luck at the State final where he will compete in the 50m Freestyle event at MSAC on Thursday 1 May.
Liz Dendrinos
Acting Director of the Early Learning CentreThe boys this week have taken every opportunity to flourish in the sunshine. The weather has been very kind to us, and unusually warm for Autumn.
Our wonderful new playground has provided opportunities for the boys to explore, engage and use their imagination. This has highlighted the importance of giving children time outdoors to practise basic playing skills.
It reminds us as adults of our childhoods when we were left to our own devices on weekends to play with our neighbours outside, playing all day long, and learning essential life skills.
The ELC3 boys have started to gain confidence outside and explore all areas of our play space. It is quite a big area for a little 3-year-old, and we have noticed the boys observing their big brothers from the ELC4 classes attempt challenging climbing structures.
Our waterplay areas have been popular, and as much as we try to cover the boys in wet weather clothing, they certainly find a way to get their uniform wet! We thank all parents for providing spare clothes in their son’s school bag for these occasions.
Our Specialist programs continue to engage the boys by focusing on a sense of belonging and self-identity as well as supporting the boys with social and emotional language. Drama has focused on role play and acting out everyday scenarios helping the boys to further build on their social skills and language.
Parenting Tips
Tricks To Get Kids Talking
Your child climbs into the car after school, and you eagerly ask about their day. You’re genuinely excited to see them. The response? A mumbled ‘fine’, and that’s it.
Whether you’re facing a tight-lipped five-year-old who’s suddenly turned into a mime artist or a teenager who communicates exclusively in shoulder shrugs, cracking the code of kid communication can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark.
But here’s a ray of hope: research from the Harvard Family Research Project reveals that persisting with open dialogue doesn’t just improve today’s family dynamic — it weaves stronger decision-making abilities into your children’s future and creates family bonds that can weather any storm. Read below on how to make conversations happen.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
JPG News
JPG Easter Collection & Raffle
JPG Easter Donations – Each boy is asked to contribute an Easter egg for the raffle. Other donations of any type of Easter items (bunnies, chickens, fluffy toys, baskets etc.) are most welcome. Donations can be left in the tubs provided in Junior School Reception and the ELC from Monday 17 March.
Raffle tickets sales are available from Thursday 20 March. Prep – Year 6 will be able to purchase from the playground before school or by placing tickets in an envelope in the box at reception. A ticket collection box is also available in the ELC. Please see the BGS app for further details.
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.