Weekly eNews

Ross Featherston

Headmaster, Brighton Grammar School

This year, APS Sport introduced Grand Final matches for Firsts teams, adding a new dimension to the APS competition. Following the success of our summer season highlighted by our APS Tennis Premiership, there is plenty to look forward to in the final weeks of winter sport.

Our First XVIII Football, First XV Rugby, First XI Soccer and First V Basketball teams are all performing strongly and remain firmly in contention for Grand Final appearances. We look forward to supporting them as they conclude their seasons.

Our broader co-curricular program continues to provide boys with meaningful opportunities to discover new interests, develop their skills and build confidence. This evening, our Dance Troupe will take to the stage at Firbank Grammar’s Dance Lab.

Next month, our Secondary School musicians, performers and production crew will join their FGS counterparts for the biennial Combined Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre and the Year 7-9s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory JR.

Meanwhile, our Junior School boys are eagerly preparing for their Year 6 production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR – another milestone in their BGS journey.

These experiences are the result of deliberate planning and a commitment to providing opportunities that support boys at every stage of their development. Every decision we make is guided by what will best serve our students, both now and in the future.

Through thoughtful planning and responsible stewardship of our resources, we can continue to provide exceptional opportunities while safeguarding the long-term strength and sustainability of the school.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the wide range of events over the coming weeks.

Peter Tellefson

Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior School

The corridors and playground certainly felt different last week as our Year 6 boys and staff travelled to Canberra.

They visited many sights:  Australian War Memorial, Questacon, Parliament House, The Royal Mint, National Capital Exhibition, Museum of Australian Democracy, National Electoral Education Centre, The High Court of Australia and National Arboretum. Canberra offers such a variety of educational programs focusing on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. 

As the boys visited the various sites, many compliments were made to staff in regard to our boys’ presentation, knowledge, and behaviour. I have also been impressed with the boy’s depth of knowledge and excellent responses to questions they were asked throughout the trip. 

I appreciate the overall co-ordination and leadership from Rob Bater, the great support from Jamie Cooney, Alannah Rowell, Enda Crosbie, Jane Lowe, Claire Clarke, David Eggleston, Joanne Davies, Monica Le Couteur, Rebecca Taylor, Brett Page, Sarah Straford and Luke Hayes.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, we are fortunate the Government contributes funding under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs.

Wilson House Happenings & Reminders

• Congratulations to Lauren Bruce (Junior School staff member – BGS+/Invicta) on her Silver medal in the Women’s Hammer event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

• Our Prep – Year 6 boys will welcome their dads into the classroom for activities and to celebrate Father’s Day from 8.30am – 9.15am as below:

Prep – Tuesday 1 September

Year 1 – Wednesday 2 September

Year 2 – Friday 4 September

Year 3 – Monday 31 August

Year 4 – Monday 7 September

Year 5 – Tuesday 8 September

Year 6 – Thursday 3 September

• This year’s Book Week theme is Symphony of Stories. The Book Week Parade will be held on Friday 28 August. See app for further details.
• Street Crossings & Road Safety – A reminder to parents and students that students must use the designated crossings when crossing the streets outside our school. Crossings available include:
  • crossing on Allee Street
  • crossing on Outer Crescent
  • crossing on St Andrews Street
  • traffic lights on New Street

    The safety of our students is paramount, and we thank you for your cooperation.

Student Achievements

• I was delighted to hear we had a good number of boys compete in the BGS Trials for the Snow Sports to be held later this term. I appreciate the combined time commitment and coordination of Nick Paton, Snowsports Committee President and Teacher in Charge, Brittany Richards. Many thanks to parents for their continued support.

Liz Dendrinos

Director of the Early Learning Centre

It was wonderful to observe our dramatic play areas, both inside the classroom and outside, this week. Buzzing with activity, we saw puppet shows, police officers, chefs, doctors, and many others!

Regardless of age, taking time to engage in play is essential for our health and wellbeing, and it also serves as a valuable learning tool for young children. Dramatic play allows children to portray various characters, stimulating their imagination and boosting their confidence.

Our weekly drama sessions with Mrs Zachest are also a highlight for the boys. This week, the emphasis has been on puppetry, puppeteering, and presenting work to classmates.

The boys have continued to immerse themselves in various characters, using vocal tension to create dramatic works that reflect their ideas. Drama is a fantastic way to prepare the boys for real-life situations while enhancing their social and emotional skills.

Today, we celebrated International Friendship Day, and it was heartwarming to hear all the boys share their thoughts on what it means to be a good friend. We concentrated on community connections and participated in activities that promote gratitude and positive friendships.

Thank you to our Pre-Prep families whose sons are moving on to Prep next year for attending the thrilling match last Saturday between BGS and Wesley College. We had the best seats in the house at the Annandale Pavilion, enjoying the match in style while cheering on our Tonners!

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Each year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). Criteria is used to identify students that receive reasonable educational adjustments or assistance because of a disability as determined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and the Disability Standards for Education 2005. The NCCD has been progressively implemented since 2015 and has recently been linked to funding for schools.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured.

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal. If you have any questions about the NCCD, please email David Eggleston.

Parenting Tip

Overcoming Procrastination

To stop procrastinating, we need to kickstart our momentum. To do that, we need to understand what is happening to our brain. Read more below on this topic from Andrew Fuller, Clinical Psychologist.

Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist

BGS Business Breakfast

Join us on Tuesday 25 August as we welcome Nicolas Cann (OB 2003), founder and CEO of Blobfish International and founder of Fur Media, as our Business Breakfast guest speaker.

What started as a simple idea in Australia in 2015 has grown into an international business operating across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US, with expansion into Japan and South Korea. Through Blobfish International, Nic helps some of the world’s biggest brands connect directly with consumers through targeted sampling, activations and partnerships.

Nic is also the founder of Fur Media, Australia’s pet-focused digital out-of-home media network, which reaches pet owners through more than 200 veterinary clinics nationwide.

Passionate about entrepreneurship and building scalable businesses from unconventional ideas, Nic will share insights into innovation, growth and creating memorable brand experiences.

Don’t miss this inspiring morning with one of Brighton Grammar’s entrepreneurial success stories. Book now.

BGS+ Swim Race Night

Whether it’s your first time racing or you’re looking to sharpen your race skills in a supportive and fun environment, this is a great opportunity to get involved, challenge yourself, and celebrate the progress you’ve made over the last term. 

Students from Years 2 – 6 are invited to compete at the BGS+ Swim Race Night on Friday 21 August from 6.00 – 7.30pm at the BGS Pool.  Warm up commences from 5.30pm.  Further details and booking information is available via the BGS app.

We’d like to see as many of you there as possible – it’s always a great night for swimmers, families, and supporters alike!

JPG News

This Father’s Day, give Dad, Grandpa or that special someone a personalised mug adorned with your child’s artwork, filled with chocolate treats. Each gift costs $35 (plus TryBooking Fee) and multiple orders for each child are welcome! 

Orders can be placed here, with orders closing Thursday 30 July. As these mugs are printed externally, no late orders can be accepted. Gifts will be handed to the boys in time for Father’s Day (Sunday 6 September). Further details are available via the BGS app.