Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolIn last week’s newsletter, I touched on the important transitions many of our students experience at this time of year.
These moments mark both an ending and a new beginning in the boys’ educational journeys and are significant rites of passage that shape their sense of identity, confidence and readiness for the future.
From our youngest learners stepping into Prep, to Year 6 boys moving into Secondary School, to our Year 12s preparing for life beyond BGS, each stage brings some anticipation and uncertainty. During these times, thoughtful planning, and a consistent and supportive environment help our boys feel secure and ready for what’s next.
Across all stages, I’ve seen the same spirit of care and growth from our ELC educators guiding boys through orientation and buddy programs, to our Year 7 transition program showing both resilience and enthusiasm. For our graduating Year 12s, today marks the end of classes and the start of new beginnings, supported each step of the way by our teaching and pastoral teams.
For parents, our key message is this: these transitions are shared journeys, strengthened by our three-cornered partnership between parents, teachers, and boys, helping them progress confidently into their next chapter.
This week, we also celebrated Team Lunar, our world-champion STEM Racing team, whose achievements were recognised in assembly and later at a morning tea hosted by the Chairman of School Council, Peter Ickeringill – a wonderful reminder of what perseverance and teamwork can achieve.
Finally, a shout-out to our Secondary School students competing at the APS Athletics Finals this Saturday at Lakeside.
Have a great week.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolThis week marks the end of academic classes for our Year 12 students, as they now prepare for Valedictory celebrations and a period of continued study and examinations.
We will celebrate Valedictory Day 1 tomorrow. Year 12s spend the morning in their House groups in a formal process of honouring each other and other memorable moments including writing letters to next year’s Year 7s.
This will be followed on Monday with the more formal Valedictory Day 2 where Year 12s, alongside their parents, Beat the Bounds of the School; taking a walk down memory lane and visiting all corners of Brighton Grammar. The day concludes with a formal dinner with Year 12 students and their parents at the MCC Dining Room.
At yesterday’s assembly, the long-awaited House Cup results were revealed. A huge congratulations to Melville House for taking out the win, with Armstrong House close behind in second, and Hancock House in third.
This year’s competition was strong throughout the year, with all Houses showing outstanding commitment and spirit across academic, sporting, cultural, and community events. We also celebrated students who received Academic, Chantology and Sport Colours, recognising their hard work, commitment, and pursuit of excellence throughout the year.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- 16 October, 4.30pm – Piano Event – Duos & Trios, GB Robertson Hall
- 17 October – Year 12 Valedictory Day 1
- 20 October – Year 12 Valedictory Day 2
- 24 October – Wear it Purple Casual Clothes Day
- 28 October, 4.30pm – Semester 2 Concert Chamber Music, GB Robertson Hall
- 30 October, 7.00pm: Year 9-11 play, Romeo and Juliet, at Rosstrevor Hall.
- 3 November – Mid-term Break
iDesign
iDesign continues to be a cornerstone of our school’s commitment to promoting innovation and future-ready skills. This dynamic program integrates cutting-edge technology with hands-on, project-based learning, empowering students to become the problem solvers and creative thinkers of tomorrow.
It provides an exciting platform for students to explore their passions, conceptualise, create, and iterate their ideas, developing skills for the modern world. Taking the top spot this year was Sam’s sustainability-conscious Simple Soy project, offering a creative solution to help save the planet.
Read full article by Charlie Huynh, Head of iDesign.
CPR Training
This week, as part of the Health, Wellbeing and PE Smart Choices topic, our Year 7 students participated in a special presentation.
As a Registered Paramedic, I took the opportunity to educate the boys on risk-taking, injury prevention, and how to appropriately engage with emergency services.
Using training mannequins and demonstrations provided by Dominik and Shannon from the Victorian Institute of Health, as well as another of our experienced Student Health Officers Belinda Simon, the boys had an opportunity to get hands-on by practising CPR and simulating giving each other trainer EpiPens.
The Year 7 boys were engaged throughout this session and are now equipped with some very beneficial first aid knowledge.
Cassandra Moor
Student Health Officer
Sweet Success
Kicking off the 2025 VCE examination period, Unit 3/4 French students completed their French oral exam in Box Hill at the start of term, followed by Unit 3/4 Japanese students who undertook their Japanese oral exams this week. French students were accompanied by Elodie Lyoen, Head of French, and Japanese students by Japanese teacher, Shintaro Nagayama.
Elodie Lyoen reports on the French oral exam excursion:
Despite the boys’ nerves, the 15 minutes spoken exchange with two assessors did not spoil their appetites and students enjoyed traditional savoury and sweet crepes at Roule Galette afterwards to celebrate this first of many achievements.
Thank you to Madame Atchison for driving the group to the venue and back.
House Drama 2025
Congratulations to Rofe House, led by Kylan Thompson, on taking out the top spot in this year’s House Drama competition. This marks their third consecutive win since the event began.
Read full report from Michael Kent, Head of Drama (Year 7-12)
From Science to the Senate
Our students had an inspiring opportunity to meet Senator Michelle Ananda-Rajah at Firbank Grammar recently. Sen Ananda-Rajah shared her remarkable journey from medicine and a PhD to Federal politics, as the first Labor member for the seat of Higgins in Victoria and now serving in the Senate.
Students learned about the skills that underpin political leadership, how AI has changed her work and heard firsthand about her work on a Senate committee addressing misinformation around climate change.
Additionally, students learned about the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, important information for their VCE Legal Studies and Politics studies.
We are grateful to Firbank Grammar for hosting this experience.
Madeleine Dwyer
Head of Humanities
APS Rep Teams
Congratulations to Cooper Chilcott (Year 12), who was selected as a member of the 2025 APS Water Polo Representative team. Cooper helped the team achieve an impressive 11 – 7 goal win over the AGSV/MHS team recently.
The standard of competition between the Associations was outstanding, showcasing an impressive level of skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Congratulations also to Lachlan Collett (Year 8) who represented Victoria as part of the U14 and U16 Storm Touch Football teams that competed in the 2025 National Youth Championships (NYC) in Coffs Harbour earlier this month.
Touch Football teams from Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT competed against very strong regional representative teams from across Queensland and New South Wales.
Rob Cooper
Director of Sport
Strings Solo Afternoon
On Tuesday, we held a special event dedicated to celebrating the remarkable talents of our string soloists from both the Junior and Secondary Schools.
Secondary School performers included Leo Lin, Thomas Un, Ethan Xu and Bobby Ding.
From the heartfelt playing of our youngest musicians to the polished artistry of our more experienced students, the afternoon was a wonderful showcase of the depth, warmth, and versatility within our Strings family.
Harry Tsai
Head of Strings
Cricket Debut
Following his Australia U19 duties in the Test match against India, Year 12 student Thomas Paddington has debuted for the St Kilda Cricket Club Firsts in Victorian Premier Cricket this month.
Thomas made a great start taking 2-31 off his 12 overs, with another former Brighton Grammar student Cooper Rojko (OB 2024) taking the catch to capture his first wicket.
On hand to present Thomas with his cap was former Australian cricketer Shaun Graf.
BGS Creative Arts Showcase Opening Event
This year’s BGS Art Show will be held for the first time in The Duigan Centre, providing a wonderful new setting to celebrate the creativity and imagination of our students.
The exhibition will feature a range of works from across our creative faculties, including Visual Arts, Design, Media and Photography. Each piece reflects the skill, curiosity and unique perspective of our young artists.
Guests can also enjoy a live performance from our student rock band, sample delicious catering prepared by Food Technology students, and take part in an Art Auction featuring a work donated by our Artist in Residence. RSVP essential.
BGS Business Breakfast
Join us for this term’s Business Breakfast on Wednesday 29 October, with Troy McKinna (OB 1993), as he shares insights from 25 years building some of Australia’s most iconic brands.
From professional triathlete to corporate marketer and now start-up founder and innovation consultant, Troy’s journey is packed with stories: From presenting Mars Bar plans to John Mars, to launching the global Snickers “You’re not you when you’re hungry” campaign, and sponsoring BGS mates to kite surf Bass Strait for a PR stunt. He also works with his wife, Evette, at Agents of Spring – an insights and innovation agency that dives deep into consumer lives to uncover frustrations that spark breakthrough ideas.
Don’t miss this inspiring and entertaining morning.
From Reverend Waterhouse
It has been difficult this week to avoid knowing about the remarkable turn of events which have been occurring overseas in the Middle East, as we have witnessed the American president overseeing various gatherings, agreements and signings, which hope to bring a semblance of peace within a contested land.
In a region of the world that has known much hostility and heartache over the decades and especially in the last two years, the prospect of different peoples being able to live in some form of agreement or accord is indeed an enticing prospect.
We have a natural interest in the Middle East because it is both the biblical homeland and the setting of so many of God’s precious promises to his covenant people over the centuries.
One of these wonderful promises is found in the Jewish Old Testament, in the book of the prophet Isaiah, written over 700 years before the birth of Jesus: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ [9:6].
Ultimately, it is this special promised person who will be the one who brings enduring and transforming peace to many broken hearts.
Musical staff and students here at school are already preparing for our Christmas carols services at the end of the term, where we will once again sing of the Christ-child, born in Bethlehem. The Prince of Peace.