Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolWe know that the quality of the BGS staff is a key driver in determining the excellent outcomes our boys achieve across the whole school.
To continue to consider how we can best look after our staff, during our whole-school professional development day at the beginning of this term, we asked our staff to identify the top three character strengths they value most and that encapsulate the essence of their work at BGS.
Here are the three character strengths our staff ranked as most important:
- Love of Learning: This is the driving force behind our curiosity, growth and continuous improvement – leading to a lifelong passion for self-improvement. When staff show this value in action, it sparks motivation and growth in our students.
- Kindness: The heartbeat of our culture, kindness is what encourages trust, care and connection in every interaction. It reminds us that the education of our boys requires backbone, but also heart.
- Teamwork: Built on collaboration, shared purpose and mutual support. We achieve more together, and we seek to model this spirit of unity is something for our students every day.
For our staff, these strengths are lived values and remind us of the importance of focusing not only on the academics but also on the emotional wellbeing of not only the boys at BGS, but everyone in our community.
Finally, you may have seen BGS in the media this week, we were named The Age’s Schools that Excel winner for southern Melbourne and we featured in the Herald Sun in an article on Positive Masculinity.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolLast week’s Book Week celebration of Book an Adventure was a great success with plenty of variety, colour, noise and fun! Our boys enjoyed the dress-up parade and art and craft activity in their classroom, an author presentation by Jack Heath (Years 4-6), annual bookmark competition and attending the Meerkat Production performance (ELC-Year 2) of The Garden of Broken Things, one of the shortlisted 2025 books. This week, our Year 3 boys have been visited by author/illustrator, Heidi McKinnon.
It is important we provide a variety of experiences, both at home and school, to continue to develop a love of reading amongst our boys. Book Honouring, the Premier’s Reading Challenge and Beanstack Digital reading log (Years 3-6) are several initiatives our boys are engaged in. Ultimately, our aim is for our boys to read because they want to, not because they have to.
Thank you to Laura Hall and Rebecca Taylor for their coordination of our Book Week activities and to all parents for your support.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- The Year 6 production of Newsies Jr will be held on Wednesday 10 September and Thursday 11 September from 7.00pm in the Rosstrevor Hall at BGS. We encourage our ELC to Year 5 boys and families to support their Year 6 buddies.
Tickets are now available for all ELC – Year 5 families here. Tickets are $20 each. All tickets need to be purchased prior to the performances as there will be no ticket sales available at the door.
- Our next Ute Full of Food will be held Thursday 18 September. 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.
Student Achievements
Snow Sports Results
Congratulations to the boys in Divisions 4, 5 and 6 on a magnificent start to the Vic Interschools Snow Sports Championships campaign. All the boys showed great sportsmanship, fantastic school spirit and determination to do their best. Their effort was rewarded with BGS being ranked second in the Primary Boys Schools’ championships.
Division 4
Ski Cross – We had 16 entrants for this event and a fantastic run for the boys. Well done to Tom Salvo and Luca Rehder who have individually qualified for the National championships.
Alpine GS – Congratulations to Tom Salvo on 1st place and Luca Rehder in 8th place and qualify for Nationals. The BGS A team Tom Salvo, Luca Rehder, Darby Effeney and Rory Lawson came third and are off to Nationals.
Moguls – BGS boys put in a huge effort and did us proud. Both teams came in the top 23, well done!
Snowboard GS and Snowboard Cross – Three boys entered these two events and placed and particularly well. In Snowboard GS the team came 6th and Hudson Korber, Jax Uglow and Jasper Morley qualified for Nationals. Shout out to Jasper Morley and Hudson Korber who entered all three ski races and the two snowboard races. Great effort.
Division 5
Alpine GS – There were 10 BGS athletes who all competed very well, finishing mostly in the top 100.
Ski Cross – A determined group of 9 competed in this event and once again finishing mostly in the top 100. Congratulations to Felix Lewis who made the top 20 and qualified to compete at the National championships.
Moguls – Boys competed with style and Jack Lane, Felix Lewis and Fred Paton were rewarded with a team 4th securing a spot in Nationals.
Snowboard GS and Snowboard Cross – Congratulations to Barry Bai who came 3rd in Snowboard GS and 4th in Snowboard Cross. Barry will be going to Nationals for both.
Division 6
Alpine GS – For some, this was their first time in representing BGS in Snow Sports. Well done to the four boys who competed. Congratulations to Henry Dou who finished in 13th place and has qualified to compete at the National championships.
Ski Cross – Congratulations to Henry Dou who place 20th and will be competing at Nationals.
Thank you to all our volunteers throughout the week for your assistance during the competition. It is greatly appreciated. A shout out to all Team Managers and a special mention to Troy Gendala for their efforts and support.
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreWith spring just around the corner, we have hope for blue skies and warmer days ahead of us. At the beginning of the week, the boys focused on finishing off their secret business in preparation for Father’s Day next Sunday.
Although I won’t ruin the surprise, the boys have thoroughly enjoyed focusing on their dads or grandfathers over the past fortnight. Their creative skills have been flourishing with each boy making something special to take home this weekend.
The boys have thoroughly enjoyed their Invicta classes, especially attempting to rope climb up the Ninja warrior curved wall. It’s wonderful to observe the confidence and skill development they have gained this year in the space and under the teaching of Mr Hayes, our Junior Physical Education Teacher. He is always ready to tackle the boys’ energy when they arrive with excitement and leaves them ready for their morning tea refueling.
Over the next two weeks, we will be working closely with our ELC4 boys in regards to understanding online safety and age-appropriate content when using iPads or devices at home. Being online has many benefits for young children, including opportunities to explore their creativity, improve language skills, solve problems, and build connections. There are however risks and by talking to the boys about online safety we aim to build the foundations for safer online experiences as they grow older.
Parenting Tip
Three Conversations Every Family Should Master
Wouldn’t it be amazing to become a super communicator with your children? Imagine fewer misunderstandings, less conflict, and deeper connection, all because we learned how to communicate in a way that really lands with our kids.
In a recent conversation on the Happy Families Podcast, author and journalist Charles Duhigg shared a simple yet powerful framework that can help parents radically improve their conversations with their kids.
Dr Justin Coulson details in the link below what every parent needs to know, and how to use it at home.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
JPG News
End of Term Lunch
The JPG will again be offering an end of term lunch for the ELC and Junior School boyson Friday 19 September 2025. Lunch will include a pie, juice and treat. The cost will be $10.00 (extra pie $6.50). Online ordering is available through Flexischools online ordering system.
Orders must be placed by no later than Friday 12 September 2025 at 5pm – no late orders will be accepted. Please note that normal canteen ordering will not be available on this day.
