Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolAcademic engagement, high performance and creativity are at the forefront of our school’s focus this year.
A look at this week’s calendar illustrates well how we integrate these foci in the range of experiential learning experiences on offer as our Year 8 students undertake the challenges of the Hattah Kulkyne Journey, our Year 6 boys rehearse for their performances of The Pirates of Penzance Jr, our musicians together with Firbank Grammar present an exceptional musical showcase and our Year 12s engage in the Syndicate Learning program to prepare them for VCE exams.
All contribute to providing a holistic approach to our students’ development into adulthood.
We wish our team well as they kick-off the inaugural Positive Masculinity International Conference tomorrow. This event is a testament to the dedication of Dr Ray Swann who has led our work in promoting positive masculinity at BGS. With an impressive registration count of over 180 attendees, it is a clear sign that we are leading the way in this space.
Finally, this Sunday is Father’s Day, a time to reflect on the significant male role models in your, and your son’s, life. Happy Father’s Day to all BGS dads.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolLast week’s Book Week celebration, Read, Grow, Inspire was a great success with plenty of variety, colour, noise and fun!
Our boys enjoyed the dress-up parade and cross-age rotations from Prep to Year 6, participating in a variety of classroom activities, author presentation by Maurice Gleitzman, drop everything and read on Thursday and attended the Meerkat Production play focusing on the shortlisted 2023 books.
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 and Beanstack (Years 3-6) are a number of initiatives our students 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 Joanne Davies for their coordination of our Book Week activities and to all parents for your support.
Last Friday evening, I was fortunate to see a number of our Year 3 and 4 boys take to the stage with our Year 7 to 12 students for our inaugural Dance Night and what a first it was! The passion for dance and the obvious joy and pleasure the boys gained from the experience was obvious to see.
Congratulations to our Dance teacher, Chris Horsey, and our Drama teachers Claire Clarke and Michael Kent for their overall coordination and leadership.
Best wishes to all our dads for Father’s Day on Sunday.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- Thank you to all Year 3 boys and parents who supported last week’s Maths Night and to Brent Brickhill for his organisation.
- Our next Ute Full of Food will be held Thursday 14 September. Items particularly requested are: breakfast cereals, sugar, jams and spreads, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, noodles, biscuits, tins of vegetables, fruit or fish, meals-in-a-can, toilet paper and bathroom supplies.
- The Year 6 production of Pirates of Penzance Jr will be held on Wednesday 6 September and Thursday 7 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 now on sale for all ELC – Year 5 families. 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.
Student Achievements
- The School is always delighted when an Old Boy enrols his son at BGS. We will present Generation badges to the following boys at this week’s Assembly:
Oscar Betts, Hunter Bryant, Jensen Bryant, Max Edwards, Harry Hassall, Robert Jane, Henry Joynson, Jack Lane, Tom Liddell, Dylan McGilton, Jonathon Myers, Sammy Rose, Charlie Sanderson, Angus Stone, Archie Tims
- I was pleased to hear our Junior School boys competing in the various Snowsports Competitions enjoyed and acquitted themselves well last week. Congratulations to Charlie Quinert, Mason Grollo, Jack Rehder, Darby Effeny, Jax Uglow, Jack Lane and Patrick Thornborrow who qualified for the National Championships. Thank you to our parents for your continued support and to Cindy van Dijk, Mat Steed and Basia Quill for their coordination and management of the team.
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreWith Spring finally arriving tomorrow, 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 this 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.
A definite highlight this week has to have been welcoming dads and special guests to our Father’s Night celebrations. We took photos on arrival as a memoir for the night and enjoyed spending time in the classroom working together through a variety of activities.
From tie making, block construction, painting portraits and reading stories together, boys big and small had fun together!
Over the next two weeks, we will be working closely with our ELC4 boys in regard 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. This is an extension from last week when the boys were visited by the police to learn about the role the police play in keeping our community safe.
We would like to wish all of our dads, uncles and grandfathers a wonderful Father’s Day this Sunday and hope you are spoilt!
Parenting tips
How-to Healthy Parent
If there’s one thing, more than anything else, that our children need to thrive, it’s health involvement. It’s us. Being there. Not just for them, but with them. We don’t just have their back. We’re at their side… in healthy ways.
Read more about ways to be involved with your children below.
Olivia Tims
Junior School Psychologist/Head of Psychological Services
JPG News
End of Term Lunch
The JPG will again be offering an end of term lunch for the ELC and Junior School boys on Friday 15 September 2023. Lunch will include a pie, juice and a treat. The cost will be $10.00 (extra pie $5.00).
Online ordering is available through Flexischools. Orders must be placed by no later than Friday 8 September 2023 at 5.00pm – no late orders will be accepted.
Please note that normal Tuck shop ordering will not be available on this day.
