Weekly eNews

Thursday 13 November 2025

As you’ve likely seen in the media, new national laws will soon limit access to social media platforms for children under 16.

From 10 December 2025, the Australian Government will introduce minimum age requirements as part of the Online Safety (Social Media Minimum Age) Act.

As a school, we welcome this step as part of our shared responsibility to create safe, healthy and focused digital environments for our boys.

In preparation, we will be updating our device settings so that from December 2025, social media and YouTube will no longer be accessible on any school-issued student device, whether used at school or at home. This proactive step reflects our ongoing commitment to digital safety and learning readiness across all environments for your son(s).

We know many families are already having conversations about healthy online habits, and I encourage you to visit the eSafety Commissioner’s Social Media Age Restrictions Hub for practical resources and guidance. The site offers helpful advice on how to talk with young people about online boundaries and safe technology use.

Additionally, our School Counselling team have written the following article, which I also recommend you read.

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us keep our boys safe – both on and offline.

It has been an exciting time for the School with the official opening of the new Secondary School Library and Resource Centre and Ian McPherson Food Tech Centre in the Duigan Centre. These purpose-built facilities provide inspiring spaces for students to read, create, and explore hands-on learning in new ways.

We are thrilled about the opportunities these areas will offer, from encouraging a passion for reading to developing valuable practical skills and we look forward to seeing our students make the most of all that these new spaces provide.

Our Year 9s departed on Tuesday morning for the Great South West Journey, an experience designed to challenge them physically, mentally and emotionally. The program cultivates skills that extend well beyond textbooks and exams, drawing on the key +M principles of connection, motivation, and authenticity.

We wish our Year 10 and 11 students well as they commence their examinations today. Once all Year 7-11 exams conclude, students will enter into Promotions Classes on Thursday 27 November. All students are expected to attend for the entire promotions period. 

Yesterday we held our Remembrance Day service, and we were again impressed by how respectful the boys are in Chapel, particularly as we have many Old Boys attend this annual event. This year’s service was another moving event. 

Complimentary tickets are now available for our upcoming Presentation Evening on Wednesday 26 November. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of 2025 together. Bookings can be made here.

Meliora Sequamur.

Happenings & Reminders

• Wednesday 26 November – Secondary School Presentation Evening. Book tickets here.
• Monday 1 December, 7.00pm – Community Carols at St Andrew’s Church
• Tuesday 9 December – Term 4 concludes

Top Performers

We’re proud to share that four of our Secondary School students have recently made headlines for their outstanding achievements in sport. These young athletes have earned well-deserved recognition at state and national levels.

Arki Butler (Year 11) has been named by AFL Victoria as a member of the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy squad.

The National Academy comprises 50 of the country’s most talented young footballers who have been selected to take part in the high-performance program during their AFL Draft year. Each of the squads features 25 players who will be eligible for the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft.

Year 10 student Hamish Ward has been selected for the Rugby Australia national Under 16 team.

Hamish will be a member of a 25 player squad from around the country that will come together for an end of year development camp, culminating in a match against the Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club in December.

Kaevish Bhasin (Year 9) has been named by The Herald Sun newspaper as a player to watch this APS Cricket season.

Kaevish was the School’s youngest First Cricket XI debutant last Cricket season while in Year 8 since Will Pucovski (OB 2015)  and he took 6-11 off 10 overs against Carey later in the season. The Herald Sun described Kaevish as a name to watch in years to come.

Finally, Leo Wang (Year 7) competed with the Year 7 BGS Futsal team at the Australasian Champion of Champions Cup hosted in Brisbane by the Australian Futsal Association in Brisbane last month. Leo was selected as an All Star player of the competition for his exceptional individual performance in our team’s Quarter Final win. 

Our congratulations to these students for their remarkable accomplishments.

Photo credits: Herald Sun, AFL Victoria, Rugby Australia.

Creative Arts Showcase

The Secondary School Creative Arts Showcase captivated the community, celebrating the exceptional talent, hard work, and imagination of our Secondary School students.

The highly anticipated Opening Event and Exhibition on 7 November kicked off the week-long celebration. The evening began at 5.30pm with a warm welcome from Headmaster Ross Featherston, setting the stage for a sophisticated and inspiring night dedicated to the Creative Arts.

The exhibition featured an outstanding collection of works across a diverse range of disciplines, highlighting the depth of creativity within the Secondary School. Attendees were treated to impressive displays from students in Art, Media, Product Design and Visual Communication Design.

Guests enjoyed delicious nibbles expertly prepared by our Food Technology students, while the atmosphere was further enhanced by a captivating live musical performance from talented BGS musician, James Melgaard. The opening night was a full sensory experience! Read full report from Michael Hawkins, Head of Art.

Important Update: Student Device Safety and Usage Policy

In line with the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which restricts social media and YouTube access for children under 16 from 10 December 2025, the School is taking proactive steps to protect our students online.

From 10 December 2025, all BGS student laptops will remain child-safe and learning-ready at all times, extending our current school-hours restrictions to home use.

To support focus and wellbeing, gaming will no longer be permitted on school devices. This aligns with expert recommendations from Headspace and our commitment to a safe, productive learning environment.

From Reverend Waterhouse

On Monday morning this week, it was a pleasure again to lead a blessing and prayer for the Year 9 cohort, as they prepared to embark on their 12-day Great South West Journey.

There is something significant about the notion of journeying together; sojourning together; being on a pilgrimage together.

In the Jewish Old Testament, when God’s people, Israel, set out for the Promised Land (the land of Canaan) from Egypt, the journey took approximately 40 years! During that time, God lived with his people through a fancy tent called a tabernacle, which was great source of comfort for the people. No matter where they went, God promised to be present with them.

In the New Testament, right before his ascension to Heaven after his resurrection, Jesus is speaking to his disciples – who are a little confused, sad and uncertain – and he says to them, ‘Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ [Matthew 28:20].

In other words, through their lives of witness, Christ will always be there.

The good news is that the same gracious invitation continues today. No matter who we are, our background or our level of faith, if we accept the offer of Jesus to journey with us, he promises to be with us until the end of the ages, through all the peaks, troughs and trials of life.

This is an adventure worth taking!  

Diary Dates

• Wednesday 26 November Secondary School Presentation Evening