Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolAs you’ve likely seen in the media, new national laws will soon limit access to social media platforms for children under 16.
From 10 December 2025, the Australian Government will introduce minimum age requirements as part of the Online Safety (Social Media Minimum Age) Act.
As a school, we welcome this step as part of our shared responsibility to create safe, healthy and focused digital environments for our boys.
In preparation, we will be updating our device settings so that from December 2025, social media and YouTube will no longer be accessible on any school-issued student device, whether used at school or at home. This proactive step reflects our ongoing commitment to digital safety and learning readiness across all environments for your son(s).
We know many families are already having conversations about healthy online habits, and I encourage you to visit the eSafety Commissioner’s Social Media Age Restrictions Hub for practical resources and guidance. The site offers helpful advice on how to talk with young people about online boundaries and safe technology use.
Additionally, our School Counselling team have written the following article, which I also recommend you read.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us keep our boys safe – both on and offline.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolLast Friday, our Year 4 Young Warriors program, facilitated by Brittany Richards (Director of Experiential Education), provided an opportunity for our Year 4 boys and their mentors to participate in various activities and have one-on-one time to connect and focus on the importance of relationships.
The evening was a great success, with many highlights for young and old, but it was most rewarding to hear the quality of conversations, love, emotion and ‘honouring’ between the boys and adults.
Thank you to Brittany Richards, Ingrid Howren, Cathy Box, Conall Chivers, Emily Russell, Matt Barker, Claire Clarke, Luke Hayes, Rebecca Taylor and Brent Brickhill, as well as Monica Le Couteur, for her story time session, and to our boys and mentors for supporting the night. These opportunities are what make our school a special place to belong to.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- All is in readiness for tomorrow’s Family Fun Night, 4.30-8.00pm on Red Square, with a bit of luck the weather will be good to us. Our organising Committee, Ross Stewart, Leigh Peckham, Alex Dever and the JPG, have planned tirelessly to ensure the success of the night, all that is required is your presence.
Please support the JPG’s endeavours as this is their major fundraising event for the year. Parents are invited to BYO drinks (no alcohol)/snacks, there will be Primo Pizza, Twisted Fisherman, Sam’s Sizzle, Smart Amusement rides and a dunking machine. Food trucks do not always have Eftpos available, please ensure you have some cash on hand.
Online ticket sales have now closed; wristbands will be available at the gate for $50.00 per child on Friday evening. A reminder to parents, boys are not to attend unsupervised.
- The Junior School Presentation Night will be held on Thursday 27 November at Monash University – Clayton Campus, Robert Blackwood Hall from 7.00pm. This is a compulsory school event for all boys from Years 3-6. Bookings are now open, with over 450 seats already booked. Please see the BGS app for further details.
- Thank you to our Junior School parents who joined the discussion on supporting our boys to navigate screen time safely. Read more in the latest Crowther Centre eNews.
Student Achievements
Junior School Soiree
Well done to the following boys who performed at the Junior School Soiree on Wednesday:
Elliott Mace, Shaurya Shah, Bentley Zeng, Hugo Briscoe, Jenson Brennan, Sam Auditore, Jesse Richards, Jacob Qu, Darby Effeney, Roman Stavros, Ryan Cao, Hamish Wilson, Fraser Shaw, Cale Donald, Johnny Brown, Krish Kanda, Noah Soo, Edward Burchell, William Wang and Ryan Qiu.
Thank you to parents and families for your continued support of our Music program.
Semester 2 Specialist Effort Cards
Congratulations to the following boys from Prep to 6 who will be presented with Semester Two Effort Cards for Art, Chinese, Science and Design & Technology at tomorrow’s Assembly.
Visual Art – Max Tepe, Lucas Hoofdman, Henry Galindo, Fletcher Cannington, Finn Driver, Cooper Tepe, Yash Singh Banswara, Jake Sowerby, Xander Ottley, George Whittle
Chinese – Fynn MacGregor, Spencer Membrey, William Qi, Fletcher Cannington, Matthew Davies, Leo Gieschen, Alex Hope, Will Verco, Rory Donaldson, Lachlan Uber, Sam Jane, Rory Donaldson, Lachlan Uber, Sam Jane, Noah Nandwani, Fraser Shaw, Zac Turton, Matthew Trubiano, Jackson Bartlett, Ed Jukes, Max Adem, Seb Hussey, Ryan Axup
Science – Oliver Brindle, Evan Zhou, Arthur Wang, William McPherson, Gus Donald, Teddy Ratnagobal, William McPherson, Hunter Bryant, Oscar Luo, Henry Angus, Parker Dawson
Design & Technology – William Liao, James Trubiano, Lingchen Meng, Luca Goodall, Will Isard, Baxter Riddell-McCalman, Thomas a’Beckett, Robbie Jane, Parker Dawson
Primary State Athletics
Well done to all the boys who represented BGS at the State Athletics Championships last week. Special mention to Zane Mtenje, Jack Moncrieff, Joe Wilson, Asher Brown and Teddy Ratnagobal in their individual events, who can all be proud of their achievements and conducting themselves so professionally. Special mention to Asher Brown, who placed 3rd in 9/10 Year Old 1500m and 800m events.
The 11 YO Year relay team Harry Scotis, Lawson Hollow, James Forbes, Hamish Wilson and Chris Pittis (Reserve) finished a close 5th in the final of their event.
The 9/10 YO Year relay team of Will Lyng, William McPherson, Asher Brown, Teddy Ratnagobal, Elliot Mace (Reserve) and Joe Wilson (Reserve) won Gold to be crowned State Champions!
Congratulations to all the boys involved.
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreAlthough the weather has been up and down, it hasn’t dampened our spirits as the boys excitedly watched the Centre slowly turn into all things Christmas this week!
Our Christmas rehearsals have been in full swing, with our first practice taking place in the GBR Hall, located across the Junior School Oval. Very soon, the boys will be walking to the Rosstrevor Hall on the corner of Allee Street and New Street for our formal practices.
All boys will be leaving the ELC at 9.10am so we please ask families to have the boys at school by 9.00am for a quick departure. We will leave a sign in the foyer to let families know where we are if you are running late.
We couldn’t believe that even Santa has sent us a letter with treats to say how proud he was of each of the boys. The magic of Christmas is certainly sparkling in the ELC.
Invitations will be sent soon for our pageant on Thursday 4 December. We hope that all family and friends can attend this fabulous event.
We look forward to seeing our families at the Family Fun Night tomorrow. This evening we welcome our 2026 families for our Parent Information Evening, we hope this provides valuable insight into our wonderful programs.
Liz Dendrinos
Acting Director of the ELC
Parenting Tip
Do you speak other languages at home?
Worried your child isn’t getting enough English exposure outside school? Do not abandon your home language, say Australian Catholic University researchers Valeria Maria Rigobon and Rauno Parrila.
It is common for Australian children to grow up with languages other than English in their family lives. More than one-fifth of Australians report speaking a language other than English at home.
But when it comes time to start school, it’s common for parents to worry about raising a child to be bilingual or multilingual. They may wonder, am I harming my child’s English development if I speak another language at home? Read more below.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
Second hand Uniform – Summer Shirt Sale
- Buy one short-sleeve shirt for $20, get one free
- Sizes 6-12 only
- Sale ends Friday 28 November or while stocks last
To order, email Friends of Music.
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. Rides are suitable for children 3 years and older. Adults and children under 3 are entry free. Online sales have now closed, wristbands will be available to purchase at the gate.
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