Weekly eNews

Ross Featherston

Headmaster, Brighton Grammar School

As our students grow and move through an increasingly complex world, it is important that we help them discover their interests, broaden their aspirations and begin thinking about the many possibilities that lie beyond school.

This journey starts early in the ELC and Junior School, where curiosity, confidence and a willingness to explore are encouraged, and continues through the Secondary School as boys make more informed decisions about life beyond school.

Recent Australian findings from the Australian Council for Educational Research have shown that senior students who receive dedicated career guidance feel far more confident and well‑prepared when considering their future pathways. This is exactly the kind of support we want for our boys.

Our Careers Expo this week, featuring industry specialists and representatives from a range of tertiary institutions, gave students valuable insight into possible study options and career directions.

It was wonderful to see so many boys and their families taking advantage of this opportunity on Tuesday evening. My sincere thanks go to our Old Boys and members of our wider community who generously volunteered their time to support the event.

Finally, I wish our boys the very best as they represent BGS in the days ahead: our sailors competing at the State Championships tomorrow, our STEM Racing teams heading into the national finals, and our rowers preparing for the Head of the River on Saturday.

Peter Tellefson

Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior School

I always enjoy the opportunity to escape from the office and see our boys in action.  I was fortunate to spend time with our Year 5 staff and boys at the Briars this week.  It is rewarding to see our boys respond to the various challenges they face whilst on camp; homesickness, change to routine, different food and sleeping arrangements and activities that may take them out of their comfort zone. 

These experiences build the boys’ resilience, and they have great support from the staff and their friends. The boys embraced the various activities, both indoors and outdoors; giant swing, leap of faith, flying fox, archery, bushcraft, damper making, group games, scavenger hunt, obstacle course, bushwalking and overnight campout.  I enjoyed my time visiting camp; the boys’ support, encouragement and care for each other was impressive to see.

A strong sense of belonging and connectedness has a positive effect on boys’ self-esteem and confidence. Our Outdoor Education Program, House System and the Buddy Program are opportunities, over and above the pastoral support our boys gain from their day-to-day classroom experiences, that enhance the boys sense of belonging and connectedness.

Wilson House Happenings & Reminders

• We welcome our Prep – Year 2 Fathers next week to our Father’s mornings on Wednesday 25 March (Prep), Thursday 26 March (Year 1) and Friday 27 March (Year 2). See the BGS app for further details.

• JPG Easter Raffle & Donations – Each boy is asked to contribute an Easter egg for the raffle. Other donations of any type of Easter items (bunnies, chickens, fluffy toys, baskets etc.) are most welcome. Donations can be left in the tubs provided in Junior School Reception and the ELC.

Raffle tickets sales are now open, Prep – Year 6 will be able to purchase from the playground before school or by placing tickets in an envelope in the box at reception.  A ticket collection box is also available in the ELC.  Please see the BGS app for further details.

• Our first Ute Full of Food for this year will be held on Thursday 2 April. Brighton Grammar has a long-standing commitment in supporting St Mark’s Anglican Church in Fitzroy. All food items will be transported by the Ute to St Mark’s, where it is distributed to needy families. Dried pasta; tinned meats, vegetables and fruits; breakfast foods; tea and coffee – all these would be much appreciated. The Ute will leave the Junior School at 9:00am.

Items particularly requested are: breakfast cereals, sugar, jams and spreads, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, noodles, biscuits, tins of vegetables, fruit and fish are particularly welcome, meals-in-a-can, toilet paper, bathroom supplies. Given that some of St Mark’s clients are street people and often sleep rough, ring-pull cans are preferable; they don’t always have access to can openers or cutlery. Our generosity is certainly appreciated.

Student Achievements

• Congratulations to the following Year 6 boys who will be appointed to leadership positions at tomorrow’s Assembly;

Art – Brandon Currie, Jason Li, Thomas Mills, Yash Singh Banswara, Roman Stavros, Thomas Wang, Jaiden Wu

Science – Linc Casper, William McConaghy, Jasper Morley, Louis van der Griend

Technology – Jackson Bartlett, William Giddings, Nathan He, Henry Lapitan

• Congratulations to David Mi, William Curtin, Leo Hu, Felix Lewis, Jason Li, Nathan He, Liam Xu, Robin Guo, Dominic Du Rieu, Caleb Shen, Shaurya Shah, Barry Bai, Henry Lapitan, Jonathan Cao, Ray Chen, Jack Moncrieff, Ryan Cao, William Liao, Leon Savides, Arthur Wang and Bentley Zeng who performed at the recent Upper and Lower Strings Soirees.

• Best wishes to the Enzo Zhang and Sam Jane who were selected to compete at the Regional Swimming trials next week.

New BGS Volunteer Induction process

We are pleased to launch our new BGS Volunteer Induction Portal. All volunteers engaged in child-connected work must complete this induction to ensure they are informed, supported and meet the requirements to work with children. This includes understanding the BGS Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, and your responsibilities regarding records management, information sharing, and reporting obligations.

We welcome and are so grateful for our volunteers, who are a testament to the immensely strong and supportive community we have here at BGS. If an opportunity presents and you would like to take on a volunteer role, please be sure to contact the Compliance team for further guidance and the link to the new Volunteer Induction Portal. By completing this induction, you will be contributing to our shared responsibility of maintaining a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all children and young people in our care.

Examples of volunteer roles at BGS include; attending excursions, being part of a ‘Friends Of’ Parent Group, supporting onsite and offsite School events where students are present, accepting a volunteer sports coaching position

Please contact Compliance@brightongrammar.vic.edu.au if you have any further questions.

Liz Dendrinos

Director of the Early Learning Centre

The highlight of our week was watching the boys arrive dressed in their cultural attire to commemorate Harmony Day and the ongoing message that, Everyone Belongs. This day offered numerous opportunities for the boys to unite and celebrate their cultural heritages alongside fundamental Australian values. Within the classrooms, we took time to reflect, discuss, and recognise everyone’s identity, inclusivity, and sense of belonging.

Respect is a crucial component of our curriculum in the ELC, and guiding the boys’ behaviours to demonstrate respect towards their peers and teachers is vital to this. This is essential for providing the boys with a sense of security and identity. When children possess a positive sense of identity, it helps them to engage in respectful, responsive relationships, thereby enhancing their involvement and interests in the curriculum and their school environment.

Another outstanding example of how Brighton Grammar communicates the principle that Everyone Belongs was the recent invitation offered to our Pre-Prep boys to explore the STEM Racing room, located in the BHIVE building in Secondary School. Upon their arrival, the boys were greeted by Mat, Marco, and Reggie, who are actively involved in the project and kindly took time from their busy schedules to share their work with the boys.

Mat explained the various phases involved in presenting a racing car, starting with the initial computer design and concluding with the final product. He showed the boys how the car evolves from a piece of balsa wood, complete with wheels, logos, and sponsorships. The boys were filled with excitement when they were given the opportunity to handle the model cars and imagine how they would one day be designing their own versions of a racing car.

Next week, we will commence our Easter crafts in preparation for our Buddy Easter egg hunt. A heartfelt thank you for all the Easter raffle donations and tickets purchased thus far. The boys are closely monitoring our donation box in the foyer each day!

Parenting Tip

Celebrating Harmony week

Harmony Week is held annually in March across Australia. The goal is to encourage everyone to appreciate and celebrate differences and promote a sense of community and belonging. To read more, see the link below for suggestions on how parents can engage their children in discussions about diversity, inclusiveness and multiculturalism.

Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist

Upper Strings Soiree

Last Wednesday, the Upper Strings Soirée began the year with a wonderful afternoon of music, showcasing the enthusiasm and dedication of our young musicians.

Our Junior School performers included David Mi, William Curtin, Leo Hu, Felix Lewis, Jason Li, Nathan He, Liam Xu, Robin Guo, Dominic Du Rieu, Caleb Shen, Shaurya Shah, Barry Bai, Henry Lapitan, Jonathan Cao, and Ray Chen.

Many of these boys had only just begun learning their new repertoire for the year, yet they eagerly stepped forward to perform. In the spirit of the school’s vision for the year, Make it Happen, the soirée provided a valuable opportunity for students to build confidence by sharing their music with an audience.

Wei Tsai (Harry)
Head of Strings

Teamwork in action

Brighton Grammar staff from across the school laced up their runners and hit the track together in the 2026 Corporate Relay Run at the St Kilda Catani Gardens.

Seven staff teams from the Junior and Secondary Schools and Professional Support took on a field of 150 for the 3 X 5km race, scoring top five results in several categories. Read full report from Rob Hayward, Head of Classical Studies.

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge 2026

 The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Brighton Grammar Junior School is excited to be participating. The VPRC application offers a range of exciting features including:

• access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs)
• a modern user-friendly interface
• rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
• the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review.

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition, but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 6 September 2026. Further details are available via the BGS app.

JPG News

JPG Easter Collection & Raffle

JPG Easter Raffle & Donations – Each boy is asked to contribute an Easter egg for the raffle.  Other donations of any type of Easter items (bunnies, chickens, fluffy toys, baskets etc.) are most welcome. Donations can be left in the tubs provided in Junior School Reception and the ELC.

Raffle ticket sales are available from Thursday 19 March.  Prep – Year 6 will be able to purchase from the playground before school or by placing tickets in an envelope in the box at Reception.  A ticket collection box is also available in the ELC.  Please see the BGS app for further details.

End of Term Lunch

The JPG will again be offering an end of term lunch for the ELC and Junior School boys on Thursday 2 April 2026. Lunch will include a burger, juice and treat. The cost is $10.00 (extra burger $4).  Online ordering is available through Flexischools online ordering system. Orders must be placed by no later than Friday 27 March 2026 by 5.00pm – no late orders will be accepted. Please note that normal canteen ordering will not be available on this day.