Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolIt was wonderful to witness our Athletics boys competing at the APS Finals at Lakeside Stadium last weekend. Congratulations to all students participating (particularly our Year 12s), and to our dedicated staff and parents who contributed to and supported the team. It was a fantastic showcase of high performance in action and a testament to the strength of our community at BGS.
I am also very pleased to share some exciting news that marks another milestone in the sports arena: Tennis.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our boys and the wider community, BGS has entered into a long-term partnership with Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club (RSY), which also manages Dendy Park Tennis Club, to oversee all aspects of Tennis coaching and development at the School.
This collaboration will open the doors to a broader range of community-based programs from junior development to adult cardio Tennis, squads, and private coaching.
From Monday 27 October, APS Tennis coaching will also commence using the guidance of the RSY Dendy Park coaching team for the 2025/26 APS season.
The partnership also enables the use of our new three-court rooftop facility atop The Duigan Centre, which will now serve as the official home of the St Andrew’s Tennis Club.
This initiative represents an exciting new chapter for Tennis at BGS. I invite you to read the letter from Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club’s CEO, with further details to be shared on how members of our community can also get involved.
Finally, it was a truly special occasion to farewell our Valedictorians – the Class of 2025. We wish them every success in their upcoming exams and future pathways. Monday’s Valedictory celebrations were enjoyed by all across the school, from ELC to Year 12, and especially by me, as I had the privilege of experiencing the day not only as Headmaster, but also as a father.
Have a great week.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolAll Junior School boys and staff have enjoyed participating in our Year 12 end of year celebrations. Beating the Bounds on Monday was a wonderful experience to be a part of. It brings back a host of times, places, events and faces for the Year 12s and their families as they process, pray, reflect and visit the Secondary School Quadrangle, St Andrew’s Church, Wilson House, Urwin Centre, Crowther Oval, The Clock Tower and the Oak Tree. This is a powerful and meaningful experience as en masse approximately 700 people processed to the different above-mentioned parts of the School.
It was certainly a buzz for our Early Learning Centre boys to high-five the Year 12 boys as they entered the Junior School. Hamish Featherston, our 2019 Wilson House School Vice-Captain, spoke fondly of his memories of Junior School days. Congratulations to our Junior School Captain, Billy Bannister, who spoke superbly on behalf of the Junior School community. I appreciate the excellent work of our Grounds and Maintenance staff, as Wilson House looks a picture.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- Best wishes to our Year 3 to 6 boys who are completing various instrumental AMEB exams. I appreciate the efforts of our Music staff in preparing our boys.
- Please mark Friday 14 November in your diary for the Junior Parents’ Group’s Family Fun Night from 4.30pm – 8.00pm. This is our major JPG fundraiser for 2025 and I am sure we will all enjoy this year’s event. The organising committee is working hard to ensure this year will be entertaining for all. Further details are available via the BGS app.
- I have recently received a number of complaints from neighbours in Grosvenor Street as parents are not parking appropriately and obstructing driveways particularly at pick up time at the end of the day. I have also noticed an increase in congestion on Grosvenor Street as parents are arriving as early as 2.45pm and ‘lining up’ within the car park and on the street. This makes it very difficult for ELC3 parents (2.30pm finish) and ELC4 parents (2.45pm finish) to park and collect their sons. I understand that parents who have sons in the ELC will park and wait until 3.20pm to collect older siblings but I would ask Junior School parents not to arrive before 3.00pm please. Our system works effectively once the boys are dismissed at 3.20pm, and on most days the car park is clear by 3.30pm. I would ask for parent assistance to help ease the congestion by not arriving so early. All boys are supervised in the car park until 3.45pm which provides 25 minutes for ‘pick up’.
Student Achievements
Junior School Spelling Bee
Congratulations to the following boys who were Year Level winners in the Year 3 – 6 Spelling Bee.
Overall winner – Charlie Lorback
Year 6 – Charlie Lorback
Year 5 – Joe Hall
Year 4 – George Chamberlain
Year 3 – Jagger Lees
Piano Collaboration Concert
Last Thursday evening, our boys joined the Secondary School musicians and performed in a Piano Collaboration concert. The standard of performances was outstanding considering this was for many boys their first concert. The audience was delighted to listen to a showcase of duets, trios and other piano ensemble work.
Congratulations to our Junior School pianists; William Giddings, Harry Jacka, Henry Kalmanovich, Jake Knipe, William Liao, Jude Lindsay, William McConaghey, David Mi, Zane Mtenje, Xander Ottley, Patryk Paolacci, Dara Pyrlis, Loukas Pyrlis, Tony Tran, William Wang, Ethan Xu, Bentley Zeng.
Thank you to Susie Heggie for her organisation and to all Music staff for their continued great work with our budding musicians.
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreThis week began with the wonderful BGS tradition of Beating the Bounds for our Year 12 boys on Valedictory Day. It is always one of the highlights for the year as we gather as a school community to recognise this important milestone. The ELC 3 and 4 boys braved the wet weather to farewell the Year 12 boys and their families as they revisited each section of the school on their last official day before exams.
It only feels like yesterday when some of the Year 12s were in the ELC, playing games in the playground, singing, dancing, and celebrating each milestone. Seeing our ELC3 boys standing next to them really pulled at our heart strings. Where does the time go? And how we need to treasure this precious time with them! We wish the Class of 2025 all the best in the coming weeks for their exams and hope that the next 13-14 years don’t go as fast!
We love a celebration in the ELC and this week we celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The classrooms were full of colour as the boys made beautiful Rangoli patterns and lanterns. Acknowledging cultural celebrations provides the boys with opportunities to learn about various traditions and values.
Swimming also began on Wednesday for ELC 4 Wallaby and Bandicoot students. The boys were happy to be back in the water, practising the various physical routines. There was lots of laughter and splashing as they went through their drills.
Parenting Tip
Parenting Styles
There’s no such thing as perfect parenting. But by understanding and learning more about different parenting styles and how they influence children, you can make informed choices about the approach that best suits your family. And remember, styles are not fixed – they can evolve over time as your child grows and their needs change.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
JPG News
The Brighton Grammar Junior School Family Fun Night is back in 2025!
Join us for a fun night of rides, food trucks and entertainment on the Red Square from 4.30 – 8.00pm on Friday 14 November 2025.
Tickets are $50 per child. The Family Fun Night wristband gives each child unlimited rides. Each child will receive a show bag when the wristband is pre-purchased via Trybooking. Rides are suitable for children 3 years and older. Adults and children under 3 are entry free. Tickets are on sale now.
WIN BIG in our Family Fun Night Raffle
Get ready for your chance to win incredible prizes – and support our annual Family Fun Night while you’re at it!
GRAND PRIZE – A $5000 VIVA Holidays Travel Voucher
Dreaming of your next getaway? This is your ticket to paradise, donated by VIVA Holidays.
SECOND PRIZE – A luxurious Beach Box at Dendy Beach for a full day of sun, surf, and relaxation – the ultimate summer experience!
THIRD PRIZE – A stunning “Wings” Signed Framed Print (1.2m x 60cm) of Jordan de Goey (Collingwood FC) – the perfect collector’s piece for any fan!
Raffle tickets on sale now – $10 per entry or 3 for $25 – Winners drawn 9.00am, Friday 21 November 2025
Pudding and Christmas Cake Varieties available for purchase:
The Brighton Grammar Junior Parents’ Group is delighted to once again offer you a superb range of homemade Mandi’s Christmas Puddings and Christmas Cakes, just in time for Christmas!
- Traditional Christmas Pudding (round 500g, 1Kg, 1.5Kg, 2Kg; log 500g, 1kg)
- Macadamia and Brandy Pudding (log 500g, 1Kg)
- Gluten Free Pudding (round 500g, 1Kg; log 500g, 1kg) (no gluten, lactose or dairy)
- Date and Toffee Pudding (log 500g, 1Kg)
- Triple Chocolate Pudding (log 500g, 1Kg)
- Chocolate and Orange Pudding (log 500g, 1Kg)
- Chocolate Rum and Raisin Pudding (log 500g, 1Kg)
- Mango & Brandy Pudding (log 500g)
- Mandi’s Classic Christmas Cakes (600g or 1.4Kg) (The cakes come beautifully boxed)
FINAL ORDERS BY 5.00pm Thursday 6 November – No late orders can be accepted
The puddings will be sent home with the boys before the end of Term 4.
Orders are open now via TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/DGJZY