Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolHigh performance is at the heart of why we do what we do.
While I see it every day in different ways around the grounds, two occasions especially stood out to me last week.
On Thursday, beneath the Duigan biplane, over 30 members of our community gathered in the 1882 Gallery to hear from our two STEM Racing teams, Lunar and Ad Astra, as they prepare to represent Brighton Grammar on the world stage in just three weeks.
The evening was made even more special by James Mitchell (OB 2022), who joined us live via video link from Aston Martin in Silverstone UK, where he is now completing his internship in Wind Tunnel Systems.
His engineering journey began in Year 7 through the F1 in Schools program – a powerful reminder of the doors that co-curricular opportunities can open. The Duigan Centre itself, named after John Duigan (OB 1901) is a daily reminder to our boys that they can (and should) dream big, as anything truly is possible.
That night, I also attended the final Music Journey concert for this term. The finale, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida (arranged by our Head of Strings Harry Tsai) brought together over 230 boys from Years 3 to 12, filling St Andrew’s with the resonant sound of strings played in unison.
Our boys can’t be what they can’t see. Whilst they learn from what they hear, the lived examples of what our boys see are also powerful learning opportunities. I am proud that both our younger alumni and our older students are setting such fine examples and showing what is achievable.
This week, I have also been visiting Old Boys in Brisbane and Sydney for our interstate reunions, reconnecting and sharing updates from BGS. These occasions underscore the importance of staying connected with our alumni, and it was great to hear their stories and the diverse paths their lives have taken since leaving our school gates.
Have a great week and wishing all our dads a happy Father’s Day on Sunday.
Peter Tellefson
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Junior SchoolOur ELC – Year 6 boys have enjoyed the opportunity to host their dads in the classroom this week. Lots of fun and learning took place through a variety of activities; straw rockets, quiz, creating lizard and platypus models, creating houses for a tooth fairy village, playing a Blooket and interviewing our special guests.
These activities have given our dads and special friends a window of opportunity to not only witness but also engage in the learning journey with our boys. Thank you to all dads, special friends, staff and boys for your support and engagement and best wishes to all our dads for Sunday.
The Performing Arts has certainly been a focus and highlight for us all in recent weeks. It is such a rewarding experience to see our boys ‘shine’, and they do so regularly. I know as staff and parents we are so often filled with pride and admiration for the boys of Wilson House, this is certainly the case with those who have performed in Choral, Strings and Concert Band Journey Concerts.
With Year 4 – Year 12 performing in these concerts, it is a wonderful opportunity for our Junior School boys to see the bigger picture and where their music can take them once they cross to Secondary School. Congratulations to all boys involved and thank you to our Music staff.
Our Year 6 boys have been working hard as they prepare for Newsies JR. I would encourage all ELC to Year 5 families to support our Year 6 boys as they perform next Wednesday and Thursday. We look forward to our Year 6s performances of Newsies JR. next week.
In the last week of term, Year 3 – 5 boys will join Secondary School boys as they perform in the BGS Dance Showcase on Monday 15 September. Tickets are available here.
Wilson House Happenings & Reminders
- Thank you to our ELC – Year 6 parents who have taken the time to complete the Mobile Device and Social Media survey. We look forward to providing feedback and next steps to be implemented in the Junior School.
- Thank you to the JPG and our Year 4 parents who assisted with wrapping the Father’s Day gifts.
- 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 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. Ticket sales close on Tuesday 9 September.
- 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.
- SAVE THE DATE – The Prep – Year 6 House Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 24 October at Duncan MacKinnon Athletics track. Parents are welcome to attend. There will be an opportunity for parents to join their son for lunch at approximately 12.45pm. Further details will be available on the BGS app in Term 4.
Student Achievements
- Congratulations to Jaxon Bennett (Year 1), Preston Liu (Year 2), Caleb Shen (Year 4), and Elliott Mace (Year 4) who recently submitted their poems to the Independent Schools Victoria Student Poetry Competition.
This annual competition invites students to express themselves through creative writing, and we are proud of our students for embracing the challenge.
Preston, Elliott and Jaxon chose to explore the theme of gratitude, reflecting on how it can lift one’s mood and deepen awareness of the people around us.
- Congratulations to the Year 3 – 6 boys who represented BGS at the APS Division Athletics Carnival last week. Further congratulations to the following boys have progressed to compete at the EMR Athletics Championships in October.
Zane Mtenje, James Forbes, Teddy Ratnagobal, Jack Tripis, Lawson Hollow, Asher Brown, Sam Martin, Hamish Wilson, Elliot Mace, Max Adem, Harry Scotis, Will Lyng, Harvey Billings, Jack Moncrief, William McPherson, Jack Bull, Chris Pittis, Joe Wilson, Edward Burchell, Ray Chen
Amelia Barrow
Director of the Early Learning CentreAs we know, getting outdoors and being active is a vital component of creating good habits for a healthy life. Within our daily programs we ensure to provide the boys with a variety of physical activities through structured and unstructured play.
The benefits are plentiful as being active builds strong bones and muscles; improves balance, movement and coordination skills; promotes mental, emotional and social wellbeing; and increases the boys’ thinking and learning skills. The Department of Health recommends for 3 – 5 year olds to be active at least three hours throughout each day and we know how much our boys love it!
Our Father’s Day evenings yesterday and tonight were planned to be jammed packed with creative and physical activities that kept our boys and dads and special guests on the go. We thank all dads and special guests for attending and wish them a happy Father’s Day this Sunday.
Journey Concerts
Music students from across the School have concluded their Journey Concerts for the year. The Journey Concerts consist of the Bands Showcase, Choral Concert and Strings Spectacular and feature hundreds of Year 3 to Year 12 students performing in three concerts over a week.
Highlights this year include the first performance of the Year 5 Junior Concert Band, Senior Big Band rocking the Church, Borwick House Choir’s beautiful performance of My Home, the Ten Tonners surprising the audience with a Rick Astley classic, the Year 12 string concertos and the 200-strong massed string piece, Viva La Vida.
Many thanks to all the boys, conductors and directors for their brilliant performances, and parents and carers for their continuous support of the Junior and Secondary Music programs. Thank you also to our wonderful Friends of Music for all of their support, and congratulations to Jared Quinert for winning the Friends of Music raffle – a $1000 Piccoli Portraits experience.
Jared Furtado
Director of Music
Head of Choral
Maths Night
At the Year 3 Family Maths night, parents and sons worked collaboratively exploring maths through hands on activities. Boys enjoyed challenging their parents through place value and fractions. Parents shared what they found they needed to put effort into when learning maths and encouraged their sons to practise things they found harder.
Mathletics is a great way to practise and build fluency. As the evening concluded, boys were encouraged to explore mathematics in their everyday life through shopping, games and sport. Thank you to our Year 3 families for their support of this event.
Brent Brickhill
Numeracy Coordinator (ELC3 – Year 6)
Parenting Tip
Anxiety & Young People
Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. It plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential dangers and adapt to new situations. It can motivate them to study for a test, practise before a performance, or tread carefully in unfamiliar settings.
However, for many children and adolescents today, anxiety can shift from being a helpful response to becoming intense, persistent and disruptive. When anxiety is left unrecognised or unsupported, it can begin to affect a young person’s wellbeing, learning, friendships and self-confidence. That’s why it’s so important for adult carers to understand how anxiety may present in children.
This edition of SchoolTV raises awareness and provides families with practical strategies to help young people manage anxiety in healthy, constructive ways.
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 boys on 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.
