Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolWelcome back to a new school year. I’m pleased to share that 2025 is shaping up to be both exciting and productive for our community.
Over the holiday break, our grounds, maintenance, and building teams have been hard at work, helping to bring several projects to completion or close to it, including The Duigan Centre, designed for our older students, and the new playground in the ELC, crafted especially for our youngest boys.
Looking ahead, our key priorities for 2025 include:
- Academic Excellence, with a focus on creating engaging learning experiences.
- Wellbeing and Positive Masculinity
- Creativity
- High Performance in everything we do, each and every day.
I encourage you to take a moment to watch my welcome video, where I share further insights into the year ahead.
I look forward to connecting with you in 2025 and greatly appreciate your continued support of BGS.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolIt was a pleasure to welcome all boys and families to the commencement of the 2025 School Year today. Staff will establish routines quickly and it will take some time for the boys to settle in, but I am sure all parents are pleased to have their sons back at school.
A special welcome to our new boys and their families, time will fly quickly, and I am sure with the supportive network that exists at Wilson House you will feel a strong sense of connection and belonging.
Welcome to our new staff Conall Chivers (4 Bass Homeroom teacher), Enda Crosbie (5 Scott Homeroom teacher), Alannah Rowell (6 Investigator Homeroom teacher) and Luke Hayes (Physical Education teacher). Victoria Fisher also returns from parental leave to teach Year 2.
Thank you to Lynn Bullock, Tamara Andrew and Rebecca Darling for all their ‘behind the scenes’ preparation and to Dwi (Maintenance) and Shin (Grounds) for their work to ensure all was in readiness for our return to school.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- We look forward to our Parent Information Evenings next week from 7.00pm – 8.30pm. Our Prep to Year 3 Parent Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 4 February and Year 4 – 6 next Thursday 6 February. ELC will be held on Thursday 20 February. Please see the BGS app for further information.
- I ask our Junior School parents to co-operate with the School policy and not include nuts or food containing a high concentration of nuts such as peanut butter in their boys’ lunches.
- BGS has a policy which requires parents who wish to assist or participate in any class activities or excursions to have a current ‘Working with Children Check’. Application forms are to be completed online.
- Parents are encouraged to access the 2025 Junior School Handbook which will answer many questions and assist with your son’s transition.
- When entering and exiting the Grosvenor Street car park the safety of our boys is paramount. The drop-off/pick-up zone is on the left-hand side of the driveway. Parents who use the drop-off/pick-up zone will need to approach this area via the northern (Oval) side of the tree at the far end of the car park. The exit lane is on the right-hand side; these areas are clearly marked. To assist with the flow of traffic in the car park we ask all boys from the ELC and Junior School not to play on the Adventure Playground after school. Read here for further directions. I would ask all parents to support this request.
- The Tuckshop is organised and staffed by Pinwheel & Co. Orders can be placed online via the Flexischool’s website by 8.30am each day.
Liz Dendrinos
Acting Director of the Early Learning CentreAs another year begins and we excitedly welcome new friends to the ELC, we also know that some boys (and parents) may experience separation anxiety at drop off in the morning. This can begin from Day 1 or may be delayed until Week 2 or 3 (after the honeymoon period as we call it).
With separation anxiety, experience tells us that the longer the goodbye, the longer these anxious moments will last for your son to fight for his parent or caregiver to stay for that extra cuddle or kiss.
A loving, quick and confident goodbye helps your son’s brain and body to adapt and reduce the fight or flight neurochemical reaction. We also understand how hard this can be for parents and caregivers and are here to assist in enabling a positive and smooth start to the day.
Our ELC boys have certainly started to settle into their new classes, venturing out to connect with new friends and establish trusting relationships with our teachers. The boys’ afternoon programs are operating in their own classroom so please feel free to connect with your son’s teacher and assistant teacher to see how his day has been in these transitional weeks. Our monthly programs will be communicated to all families next week, and we look forward to sharing with you the amazing experiences the boys will participate in over the coming weeks.
We encourage all parents to regularly check Schoolbox for updates on your sons learning.
A friendly reminder during Term 1 we require the boys to have sunscreen applied on arrival ready for the day.
A big congratulations to all the boys for a great first day of “big boy” school.
Parenting Tips
School Transitions
Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher year level or embarking on a journey through Secondary School, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!
However, for many it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children. Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety so the process is an enjoyable experience for all.
It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools and for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.
Read more on how to assist your child during school transitions below:
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist
Information for families on the Optus network
For BGS students and families having difficulties signing in to the BGS app, Schoolbox, Synportal or our school system and are Optus customers or have devices linked to the Optus network, please follow these instructions.
Settings for all devices – mobile phones, laptops etc – will need to be updated to ensure sign-on of BGS services.
Please contact Parent Assist for further assistance.
Celebrating sons and grandsons of Old Boys
Boys take great pride when following in the steps of their fathers, grandfathers, uncles or great uncles. The School also takes much pleasure in celebrating this multi-generational link.
To assist us, we ask parents of our multi-generational BGS boys to complete the BGS Generations form so that the School can acknowledge our current second-, third- and fourth-generation BGS boys. If you have already completed this form, there is no need to complete it again.
For any enquiries about the BGS Generations Program contact Kate Speirs, Alumni & Community Manager, by email.
JPG News
JPG News
The Junior Parents’ Group will hold its first JPG meeting for 2025 at 8.45am on Tuesday 4 February in the GBR Hall. All those that wish to gain further information on the JPG activities are welcome to attend.
Year Level Representatives and Volunteers
The JPG are looking for Year Level Representatives. For Year Level Reps, it is preferable we have one volunteer from each class, but 2 – 4 people per Year Level is great. Representatives work as a team to co-ordinate social events within their year level and arrange volunteers for one event per year within their Year Level (i.e. organising 4 volunteers for end of term lunches or gift wrapping as required). Tasks are neither onerous nor time consuming and it is an opportunity to facilitate communication, connectedness and contribution within the school community.
Please email Junior Parents Group if you are interested in being involved, either representing your Year Level or any form of volunteering. The more the merrier.