Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolThe importance of play in a child’s development has been gaining well-deserved attention recently.
This year marked the second UN-sanctioned International Day of Play, and an article in The Atlantic July edition highlighted how free movement is essential for children’s growth.
Closer to home, new Australian research is reinforcing what educators have long known: that play, especially the kind that involves a little risk, is vital for healthy development.
Professor Tonia Gray from Western Sydney University’s Centre for Educational Research found that risk-inclusive play not only supports physical development but can also contribute to better mental health outcomes later in life.
As we celebrate Health and PE week, I am proud that BGS is ahead of the curve in this space with our programs and facilities at Annandale for Secondary School students, and our Invicta program in the Junior School, where ELC to Year 6 students can metaphorically ‘climb trees’ in a safe and structured environment.
Through trampolines, climbing walls, ropes, obstacle courses, and parkour equipment, the boys are building their physical strength and learning to take calculated risks, set goals, and develop resilience and perseverance. These are not just playground skills; they are life skills.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that Kenneth Yeung has been appointed as Captain of School for 2026 with Jack Carson and Jack Power as Vice-Captains, and I offer my congratulations to these boys. I have no doubt they will lead with heart, dedication and a true sense of community.
Best wishes also to our Year 12s as they prepare for their final exams over the holiday break before school’s return on Monday 6 October. Please enjoy this short video featuring the year’s highlights to date.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolOur Year 6 performances of the Newsies Jr last Wednesday and Thursday were outstanding. The choral work, choreography, stage movement, costumes, sets and props all came together to ensure the performances were enjoyed by all. We need to remind ourselves that we were entertained by 11 and 12 year olds.
Thank you to Jared Furtado for his excellent planning, preparation and leadership as Director, to Emily Fairweather, Claire Clarke, Jamie Cooney, Rob Bater, Henry Jenkins and Alannah Rowell for their support, to Helen Brown for her costume co-ordination, to our Year 6 mums who assisted with the costumes and to Leighton Adem for his construction work on the Props.
Our boys’ enjoyment was obvious and they will have fond memories of their experiences on the stage. Congratulations to all boys, staff and to the many parents, families and ELC to Year 5 buddies of Wilson House for supporting the show.
Our boys’ creative talents continued on Monday evening and the Rosstrevor Hall was transformed from Newsies Jr to our 2025 BGS Dance Showcase.
Congratulations to our Year 3, 4 and 5 boys who joined our Year 7 – 12 boys, Firbank students and Hutchins School (all boys school in Hobart) on stage. It was wonderful to see them have so much fun as they danced with great joy and energy. Thank you to Claire Clarke, Monica Le Couteur and Chris Horsey for their coordination of our Junior School students’ involvement.
Thank you also to all staff, boys and parents for your efforts this term. Enjoy a well-deserved break and for those still interested or have an invested interest, may the best team win, go Pies!
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- Term 3 Interim Reports will be available to parents for all Prep to Year 6 boys from Wednesday 17 September. These Reports do not assess Achievement, but focus on Attitude, Effort and the development of various Personal and Social Skills. These reports will be available online.
- Tomorrow will be our final day of Term 3. 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 Sports – boys can wear their Sport Uniform/House Polo Shirt plus favourite football colours
3.20pm – Normal Dismissal
- SAVE THE DATE – The Prep – Year 6 House Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 24 October at Duncan MacKinnon Athletics track. Parents are welcome to attend. There will be an opportunity for parents to join their son for lunch at approximately 1.00pm. Further details will be available on the BGS app in Term 4.
- As marked in the Date Card, classes conclude for Term 3 tomorrow at 3.20pm. The first day of Term 4 is Monday 6 October when classes resume at 8.30am, and all boys from ELC to Year 6 are to wear their Summer uniform.
Student Achievements
- Congratulations to the following boys who will be presented with Term 3 Effort Cards at tomorrow’s Assembly.
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreReflection at the end of each term always creates celebrations of what the boys have achieved and the incredible programs across all four rooms. As we head into our final term for the year, which will be action-packed, it’s a great time to reflect on how far our youngest boys in the school have come this year in their development and love of learning.
Today is always a highlight in our ELC calendar with our keen footy supporters being able to wear their team colours and participate in footy drills and kick to kick on the oval. The energy in the Centre was electric all day, whether AFL enthusiasts or general sporting fans, the boys had the most wonderful day together, with one boy even suggesting, ‘Can every day be Footy Day?’ Our Headmaster Ross Featherston and Dr Ray Swann also treated the boys with hot dogs or alternatives as a mid-morning snack to keep their energy going!
For our term-time families, we wish you all the best for a relaxing break over the next two weeks and look forward to the boys’ return on Monday 6 October. For our 48 week Long Day Care boys, we know you have an exciting holiday program planned ahead in the care of our team.
On behalf of the ELC team, thank you to the boys and families for another spectacular term.
Parenting Tip
Changing the way we see our kids
Have you ever noticed how, when you’re thinking about buying a certain kind of car, you suddenly see it everywhere? It’s not a coincidence. Psychologists call it selective attention as we tend to notice what we’re already focused on. As parents, we do this with our children.
If you’ve had a rough day and your child is dragging their feet, mumbling, or rolling their eyes… you start seeing only those behaviours. Before you know it, every interaction feels like a battle. You expect the worst, and that’s all you see.
What you focus on grows. If we’re not careful, we can unintentionally reinforce the very behaviours we’re trying to change. Read more from Dr Justin Coulson below on how to change the way we see our kids.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist