I am immensely proud of our talented boys and the inaugural Dance Night, the successful productions of The Lion King JR. and Strictly Ballroom, featuring record numbers of engaged students, and the introduction of the House Drama competition, all of which underscore the vibrant growth of creativity here at BGS as well as shape our students' holistic development.

Every year at BGS, I am filled with gratitude for being part of this wonderful community; 2023 was no exception. Thank you to the teachers and the school staff for the fantastic activities that they have offered and thank you to every one of my fellow Tonners, whose friendships have made this year truly remarkable.

This year we saw that Art can be a fantastic conduit for community engagement and for bringing people together. Whether through our project at Bayley House, our Inaugural Secondary School Exhibition or through their work in classes, 'standing beside' my students as they have courageously created and connected has been a privilege

Have you ever asked yourself, ‘Why Am I living? Why am I on this Earth? What do I want to accomplish?’ American writer Mark Twain said that the two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. So, go find your why. Fight for it. Protect it. And do everything in your power to make it happen.

Witnessing the growth of the boys’ musical abilities is such a gift. It is definitely extra special for the Music staff as we know the boys from their beginner experience in the Junior School right through to the senior Secondary School Ensembles: from the Pageant to the Melbourne Recital Centre, from clunky squeaks to symphonies – it’s all to be celebrated!

You are ready to take on whatever challenge comes to you in the future. But there is one thing you can improve upon. Tighten your grip on the shield. Don’t let it go. Don’t relent for a single second on the values of this school, on your care for one another, on your willingness to celebrate the abilities of others.

Instructional coaching is an integral part of our staff development program. We have the privilege to serve our colleagues and ‘stand beside’ each one as they work towards mastering their craft. The majority of our teaching staff worked with a coach this year, and they should be enormously proud of their achievements.

Failure is not something to be feared or avoided. It is an essential part of the growth process, and it is through our failures that we can become stronger, more resilient, and more successful.

We celebrated many milestones in 2023: our student numbers hitting a record high of over 1500, the introduction of two new Houses, our emphasis on nurturing positive masculinity, and our broadening co-curricular activities with a focus on creativity. We empowered boys to challenge gender norms by learning culinary skills and expressing themselves through dance and stage performance. These initiatives sparked new and exciting opportunities for both boys and staff to play a part in the school's success.

A challenging yet rewarding step closer to the finish line. It’s been amazing to see all these years of effort start to take shape, ‘standing beside’ each other as knowledge turns into action

Sport teaches boys many life lessons including teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline and how to win and lose with dignity. This year, it has been wonderful to witness boys across all age groups and ability levels thrive in the wide variety of sport offerings at BGS. A grateful and rewarding journey to be part of.

I will remember this year for the many wonderful opportunities in which to participate. I especially enjoyed the Lion King Production, Dance Troupe, Camp Hattah Kulkyneand the many life-long friendships that I made along the way.

Embracing failure in teaching has been central this year, inside and outside the classroom. Empowering students to take risks, learn from mistakes, and develop essential skills like adaptability and perseverance. From Y7 Woodwork to F1 in Schools World Finals, this approach develops crucial skills such as adaptability and perseverance, preparing students for real-world challenges. Learning from failures becomes an integral part of success.