Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolEarlier this year, I wrote to you about The Harmony Project: a whole-school wellbeing initiative grounded in the latest research on adolescent development and key factors that support positive growth with particular reference to technology use. If you missed it, you can read about the project here.
As part of this initiative, and following considerable consultation and reflection, I’m pleased to share that from the beginning of Term 3, Brighton Grammar School will become a phone-free environment from ELC 3 through to Year 12 during the school day. This has been the current practice from ELC3 through to Year 8, but it will now incorporate Years 9 through to 12.
This decision reflects our commitment to creating the best possible conditions for learning, connection and wellbeing. It also aligns with a broader, evidence-informed movement in education that recognises the impact of mobile phone use on attention, relationships and mental health.
We are presently evaluating the potential implications of the Harmony Project’s findings on the use of technology by our Junior School boys outside of school hours and look forward to collaborating with parents on this matter soon.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we embed initiatives that support your son’s growth, both in and beyond the classroom.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolThe hard work from last week’s intensive rehearsals at the Junior School Music Camp was evident at our Music Concert last Thursday evening. Our Year 3 to 6 musicians provided superb entertainment to a full house at St Andrew’s Church.
Congratulations to all boys, particularly those who performed for an audience for the first time. Special mention to our Year 6 leaders, Jenson Brennan, Anson Fu and Ryan Qiu who compered the evening and to our soloists; Edward Burchell, Jenson Brennan, Arron and Anson Fu, Ryan Qiu and Hugo Briscoe.
I appreciate the excellent work of all Music staff, Emily Fairweather for her overall co-ordination, to our Friends of Music and to all parents and family members for your continued support, thank you.
I have missed my ‘good mornings’ on the home front this week as I spent the last three days with our Year 6 boys and staff in Pormpuraaw on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula.
Our Indigenous Exchange program in the Junior School commenced in 2010 and is now in its 13th year, it was so obvious to me that deep learning was evident amongst our boys and their friends. This immersion experience has enabled our boys to have a deeper understanding of community, country and culture.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- Our Prep – Year 2 boys look forward to hosting their Grandparents and Special Friends on the following dates from 9.45am to 10.40am:
Year 2 – Thursday 19 June
Year 1 – Friday 20 June
Prep – Thursday 26 June
- Next Friday will be our final day of Term 2. The following is an outline of the day:
8.50am – Chapel – Prep to Year 6
9.20am – End of Term Assembly (St Andrew’s Church) Parents are welcome to attend
10.10am – Free time Winning House
12.15pm – JPG Lunch – Please note there are NO Tuck shop orders available
1.30pm – Tabloid/Maths games – boys can wear their Sport Uniform/House Polo Shirt
3.20pm – Normal Dismissal
- Our next Ute Full of Food will be on Thursday 26 June. 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.
- Prep to Year 6 Semester 1 Reports will be available online from 4pm Thursday 26 June via the BGS app. Parent-Teacher Interviews are scheduled for early next term on Wednesday 30 July and Thursday 31 July. Booking information will be posted early next term. Homeroom teachers and Specialist Staff will be available to meet with parents.
Student Achievements
- Congratulations to the following boys from Years 5 and 6 who will be presented with Attitude and Effort cards at tomorrow’s Assembly.
- Congratulations to the following boys from Prep to Year 6 who will be presented with Semester One Specialist Effort Cards at tomorrow’s Assembly;
Class Music – Teddy Melksham, Myles Gieschen, Reuben Du Rieu, Dara Pyrlis, Aaron Xu, Rocco Lambert, Oliver Brindle, Lenny Busietta, Nathan Yan, Joe Wilson, George Chamberlain, Teddy Ratnagobal, Chris Pittis, Noah Kemal, Ray Chen, Louis van der Griend, Jenson Brennan, Anson Fu, Henry Angus, Darby Effeney
- Congratulations to the following boys who will be presented with Term 2 APS Sport Awards.
- Well done to Asher Brown, Jack Lane, William McPherson, James Forbes, Alex Alderton, Chris Pittis, Zane Mtenje, Jack Tripis and Lachie Mylon who competed at the Regional Cross Country Championships last Thursday. Best wishes to Asher Brown and Jack Lane who have qualified to compete at the State Cross Country Championships next term. The boys’ performances and sportsmanship were outstanding. Thank you to Aaron French and Matt Barker for their management of the boys and to all parents who assisted with transportation and supported their sons.
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreOur buddy program is always a highlight of the week, and it is wonderful to see the boys being greeted with excitement and anticipation of what their session will explore.
The program offers benefits for both sides for the groups with the older boys feeling very important taking on the responsibility, and our boys looking up to their “big brothers”. It also allows the ELC boys to explore different sections of the School such as the Secondary School laboratory, variety of sports facilities, music and instrumental classes and art rooms.
Our ELC4 boys who are continuing on into Prep 2026 will have received their invitations to cheer on our First XVIII footballers who will play Caulfield Grammar on the Crowther Oval on Saturday 26 July (Term 3).
This is such a wonderful day for our little Tonners to act as the guard of honour for our footy players as they run out onto the ground and then watch the match with a few treats in the Annandale Pavilion. A reminder to please RSVP to me if you are joining us for this event.
A reminder from our Library to please ensure you return the borrowed book each week in your son’s library bag which can be placed outside his classroom in the library container. The boys love making the selection every week after making the walk-through with high fives and cheers from our Junior School friends.
For our boys enrolled in this upcoming holiday program, we have sent home the exciting program and look forward to seeing the boys. Although we like to give the boys a more relaxed scheduled, it is still full of fun learning opportunities and activity to keep our minds and bodies moving!
A reminder the ELC is closed in the third week of the holiday break from 14 – 17 July (inclusive) and reopens on Friday 18 – 22 July for the holiday program.
Parenting Tips
Unhurrying Childhood
During COVID lockdowns, despite how hard it was, many of us quietly promised ourselves, “We’re never going back to the rat race”.
For many of us, we appreciated the slower pace, the extra family time, and the relief from overscheduled calendars. And yet… here we are.
Read more below from Dr Justin Coulson on the age of the Hurried Child.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
JPG News
End of Term Lunch
The JPG will again be offering an end of term lunch for the ELC and Junior School boys on Friday 27 June. Lunch will include two slices of margherita pizza, apple juice and a chocolate treat for $10 (extra 2 pizza slices $5.00). Order by Friday 20 June at 5.00 pm through Flexischools.
Late orders will not be accepted, and normal canteen ordering will not be available on this day.
Coat Drive
We are collecting clean, pre-loved children’s coats to help ‘Our Village Australia’ (previously St Kilda Mums) support vulnerable families and children this winter. To donate, please drop donations in the marked collection bin at Junior School Reception before the last day of Term 2. The coats will be taken directly to Village Australia. Any questions email the Junior Parents’ Group.
Free Heart Checks at BGS
During the month of June, we are offering free heart health checks to all staff, parents and the wider community. This initiative aims to raise awareness about heart health within the BGS community.
From Thursday 12 June (after 3.00pm) – Wednesday 25 June, BGS will host a SiSU Health Station on-site at the Annandale Pavilion, providing convenient access for everyone to monitor their heart health.
The SiSU Health Stations offer quick, non-invasive checks that include measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, and other critical indicators of cardiovascular health.
Please share this with friends and family – we want everyone in the community to be involved and part of it.