Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolInvolvement in co-curricular activities, whether sports, community service, the creative arts or technology, helps our students discover their talents and strengths beyond academics.
They offer valuable opportunities to learn new skills, explore their interests, develop their personalities, and more importantly have fun.
This week’s co-curricular schedule includes the Year 6 Canberra trip, the Year 9-10 Tiwi immersion journey, rehearsals for the upcoming joint musical production Frozen JR. with Firbank, debating programs and fundraising activities organised by our Prefect group for Foodbank.
Often the boys enjoy themselves so much that they don’t realise the deeper learning taking place, such as the important lessons of teamwork and self-discipline and building bonds with others outside their regular circle of classroom friends.
It’s a reminder to all of us that we should continue to look to expand our experiences, develop our skills and find new passions throughout all stages of our lives.
Finally, as a member of the APS Steering Sub-Committee, I am pleased to share our latest update on the strategic review of the APS Sport program and its emerging themes.
Enjoy your weekend.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolI look forward to supporting our Year 12 students who will be playing their final APS winter fixture this Saturday, for many students this is end of a long journey of APS fixtures. That said, if our first XV Rugby team are successful in this weekends semi-final they will get another week of sport, and another shot at a premiership.
Last Saturday the first XVIII football were victorious in their match against St Kevins, confirming that they will be APS premiers in 2024. A further win this Saturday will assure them as stand alone victors, we wish them well.
During yesterday’s assembly we were treated to beautiful solo voice performances by Ethan Rowe (Year 12) who performed Anthem from the musical, ‘Chess’ and Jackson Chaponnel (Year 8) who performed a piece from our upcoming production of Frozen Jr. It is so pleasing to see our students who turn out en masse to support our first XVIII win the 2024 APS Premiership, show equal support to the talents of our performing artists.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Watch this week’s What Am I Learning to see Dr Swann and Head of VCE, Amy Atchison discuss the support Year 12 boys receive as they navigate the VTAC application process
- Thursday 1 and Tuesday 6 August – Parent Teacher Student Discussions
Classes will conclude at 1.00pm on both days - Friday 2 August – Secondary School ‘Art Off’
- Friday 2 August – Year 10 BGS/FGS Respectful Relationships with Hannah
- Monday 5 August – the crane will be removed from the new building site resulting in a partial road closure for cars and pedestrians on St Andrews Street (from Church St roundabout to Lindsay St/Outer Cres). Please plan ahead for any traffic disruption and limited pedestrian access during this time.
- Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 August – Frozen JR tickets now on sale
- The 2024 BGS Winter Appeal. To donate please click here, please ensure you include ‘Winter Appeal’ in your payment description
- Monday 19 August – Mid term break
Australian Synchrotron Visit
Recently, Unit 1 and 2 Physics students had the incredible opportunity to visit the Australian Synchrotron, one of Australia’s most significant pieces of scientific infrastructure.
From the outside, the Australian Synchrotron resembles a roofed football stadium. However, inside it is a vastly different scene. Instead of grass and seating, there is a large circular ring housing an electron travelling at 99.9997% the speed of light.
This high-speed electron generates powerful beams of light, one million times brighter than the sun, which are utilised at individual experimental facilities to examine the molecular and atomic details of a wide range of materials.
During their visit, the students learned about the advanced techniques employed at the synchrotron, which are pivotal to research in various critical fields, including health and medical sciences, food safety, environmental studies, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy, mining, agriculture, advanced materials and cultural heritage.
This visit was an invaluable experience for the students, providing them with a firsthand look at cutting-edge scientific research and technology. It highlighted the practical applications of their physics studies and inspired many to consider careers in scientific research and related fields.
Christopher Dale
Head of Physics
Languages Week
Last week we celebrated BGS Languages Week. The purpose of BGS Languages Week is to celebrate not only the BGS Languages, Chinese, French, Latin and Japanese, but all of the languages that our community speak.
On Monday students participated in a fun photo booth activity where languages students and teachers had fun dressing up in different culture dress and learning about other cultures. Students also had the opportunity to experience Japanese kendo with Mr Nagayama.
Throughout the week language students participated in cooking classes in the BHIVE, building knowledge and a love for the culture of the language they are studying.
Then in pastoral time, students participated in a Language Week Quiz. Students had to listen to a number of teachers saying the phrase ‘studying languages expands my horizon’ in a language other than English and then correctly guess the teacher speaking and the language they were speaking in.
It was fun to listen to a range of different languages like Albanian, Swedish, Spanish and Welsh from a range of staff including staff who have grown up speaking this language and staff who have studied this language.
We want to celebrate languages and that all language learning to any competency is valuable because all language contributes to our identity, our understanding of culture and our communicative abilities.
Thanks to everyone who participated in BGS Languages Week.
Melissa Faulkner
Head of Languages Faculty
Breakfast with Lou Pascuzzi
Please join us at our next BGS Business Breakfast on Tuesday 3 September at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
Following early successes in the healthcare sector, Lou Pascuzzi, CEO of TLC Healthcare, has been instrumental in a wealth of brand transformation, strategic implementation, and company growth across multiple companies within the sector.
Lou arrived at TLC Healthcare in 2013 tasked with using his demonstrated history to rejuvenate the aged care industry.
As CEO, Lou has developed innovative corporate strategies and scaled up organisational capabilities to execute his vision, making TLC a revolutionary force within the industry.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insight into behind-the-scenes data and intel from Lou – book now!
New Centre Update
Now only months away from completion, our Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship has seen a vast amount of progress.
The facade is advancing well with the impressive Learning Lane and Centre entranceway now very visible from St Andrews Street. Behind the external glass, the internal services are very well progressed with some sections approaching 80% completion of their fit out.
In addition to the many families who have made a gift to the project over the past four years, we are particularly thankful to the 36 families who have chosen to secure their place on our artistic installation.
If you would like to join these families and recognise your family within this unique feature of the Centre, please visit our website or contact Eden Phillips, Advancement Manager.
From Reverend Waterhouse
I’ve always thought that a highlight of any Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is the procession of participating nations into the stadium; or, in Paris’s case, within boats upon the River Seine!
Not only is the entrance something of a lesson in geography and national flags, but there are always countries present that you would normally never hear much about or even know the location of; who could easily point to Belize, Eswatini, Palau or Sao Tome and Principe on a world map?
I’m reminded of when the apostle John, exiled on the Greek island of Patmos, is writing his Revelation (the last book of the Bible) and he witnesses a future procession of the nations, not to a sporting contest, but around the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ …
‘I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”’ [7:9-10].
You don’t need to be an athlete to be a part of this heavenly gathering, only a follower of the King of kings himself.