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.
In the Secondary School, this change has been shaped by feedback from staff, students and parents. You can read more about the implementation of the new policy from Simon Angus, Deputy Headmaster/Head of Secondary School below.
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.
Further details, including specific FAQs, relevant to your son(s) are available on our website.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we embed initiatives that support your son’s growth, both in and beyond the classroom.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolAs our Headmaster outlined in his eNews, there has been a growing, evidence-informed shift among educators and policymakers towards creating phone-free school environments to support student learning and wellbeing.
In line with this and following extensive consultation with our school community, we will be implementing a new mobile phone policy from the start of Term 3.
From that time, all areas of the Secondary School will be phone-free. If students bring mobile phones to school, they will be required to turn them off and store them securely in their lockers for the entire school day.
Over the past weeks, we have held information sessions with the boys to explain the reasons behind the new policy and help them prepare for the change. We understand that transitions can be challenging, but with clear communication and a shared commitment, we believe this change will be a positive step for everyone.
We appreciate your support as we work together to promote an environment that prioritises focus, learning and wellbeing.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Term dates – Term 2 concludes on Friday 27 June and Term 3 commences on Wednesday 23 July
Student Achievement
- Congratulations to Toby Jones (Year 9) and Jack Salvo (Year 8) on their selection to the Victorian Development Squad for Snowsports. This alpine performance pathway recognises outstanding achievement in competitive skiing. We look forward to seeing both boys represent BGS in Snowsports during Term 3.
Musical Excellence
Brighton Grammar Secondary School Chamber musicians have achieved outstanding results at the recent Boroondara Eisteddfod Competition. Congratulations to the Year 7/8 String Quartet, Year 9 Piano Quintet and Year 8 String Quartet. Read full report from Harry Tsai.
Year 11 Amazing Race
Last week, our Year 11 students laced up their runners, teamed up, and raced through Firbank Grammar and Brighton Grammar for the annual Year 11 Amazing Race. Read more here.
Romeo + Juliet
Following the success of the inaugural Years 9–11 play In the Wings last year, casting is now complete for a bold new production of Romeo + Juliet.
Directed by Old Boys James Provis (OB 2019) and Ben Fox (OB 2023), with Henry Salisbury (OB 2023) as Technical Director, this year’s production will showcase the talents of a dedicated group of Years 9–11 students.
Performances will be held on 29–30 October. Stay tuned for ticket details.
Michael Kent
Head of School Productions (7-12)
Para athlete Visit
Accomplished para athlete Will Bishop visited Brighton Grammar to talk to our Firsts Hockey and Basketball teams and Urwin Centre leaders about his remarkable sporting journey.
Will, the son of SS French Teacher Pam Bishop, is an undergraduate student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, studying sports coaching. Read more.
Free Heart Checks
During the month of June, we are offering free heart health checks to all staff, parents and the wider community.
BGS will host a SiSU Health Station on-site at the Annandale Pavilion until Wednesday 25 June, 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.
From Reverend Waterhouse
Last Saturday, my family and I travelled to town to be enthralled by the stunning Melbourne production of Jesus Christ Superstar. It is a show with which I’m fairly familiar, both studying the show when I was part of a Year 11 Music class and being part of an amateur production of the show back in 1996.
The rock opera was not written by the composers to be an overt presentation of the gospel, but it does clearly articulate something of the final days of Jesus’s life, from Palm Sunday to Good Friday.
In one of the bigger song moments in the show, Jesus, when faced with the reality of his impending betrayal, trial and condemnation unto death, seems to suggest that the whole idea of his being a sacrifice for sin was his Heavenly Father’s idea, but not his.
However, in the gospel of John, we are reminded several times that the Son and the Father are one in purpose. Jesus said, ‘The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.’ [10:17-18].
Christ was not a passive casualty; rather, he was a willing victim, compelled by love.
That’s a superstar worth singing about!