Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolWelcome to a new term and a new semester.
With our focus on academic excellence, I am delighted to report that yesterday two Old Boys and three current students each received one of the State’s highest academic honours, a Premier’s VCE Award for 2023.
Congratulations to 2023 Old Boys David Yang (also our 2023 Dux) and Nicholas McCluskey and to current Year 12 students William Wang, Leonard Shen and Will Crocker.
Pictured L-R: Amy Atchison, Wen Yang, Leonard Shen, William Wang, Mingdong Yang, Will Crocker, Katie White (Absent: Nicholas McCluskey)
These awards are presented to the top-performing students across each VCE subject in any given year. For five BGS students to be acknowledged in one year is a record for our School and reflects the determination and commitment of these students to their studies.
It also shows we are on a positive trajectory in terms of academic performance and our evidence-based teaching and learning through the Effective Learner Model.
I hope your son has a fulfilling and productive term.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolWelcome back!
We hope you enjoyed the break and had a wonderful time with your family.
This term, we are excited to welcome three new teachers to BGS: Olivia Colasurdo (Mathematics), Lowri Williams (Science) and Rosy Clarkson (Food Tech).
We also acknowledge new appointments of existing staff: Peter Bailes as Acting Head of Year 7 for Term 3, Madeleine Dwyer as Acting Director of Operations and Sarah-Rose Stoneman as Acting Head of Humanities for the next 12 months.
We are looking forward to this weekend’s winter sport fixtures as we reach the critical point of the season. Our First XVIII Football team will face Haileybury, another undefeated team, in what could be a season-defining game.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Tuesday 23 July – Outdoor Ed Expo (Years 8-9)
Further information available on the BGS app - Tuesday 23 July – Subject Information Night (for current Year 8-10 students)
Each year group starts in the Robert Sanderson Centenary Hall and then proceeds to the Subject Expo- Year 8 (2024): 6.30pm
- Year 9 (2024): 7.00pm
- Year 10 (2024): 7.30pm
- Thursday 1 and Tuesday 6 August – Parent Teacher Student Discussions
See email sent 17 July for details on how to book your interviews
Classes will conclude at 1.00pm on both day
Term 3 Outdoor Education Expo
The BGS Outdoor Education Department invites families of Year 8 and Year 9 students to the Term 3 Outdoor Education Expo on Tuesday 23 July.
This event has been organised to showcase the amazing resources that BGS families have available to support them in preparing for Year 8 Hattah-Kulkyne and Year 9 Great South West Journey Outdoor Education programs.
Doors will open at 5.00pm, with various displays from trusted gear providers and the Outdoor Education team. Parents and students will have the opportunity to ask questions, view examples of suitable equipment and food, and try out gear in person.
The Year 8 presentation will begin at 5.30pm, offering an in-depth look into the program. This will run for approximately 60 minutes, with time allotted for parents to ask questions.
The Year 9 Great South West Journey presentation will commence at 6.30pm. As this program is scheduled to run in November, the presentation will provide a brief introduction, with a more detailed information night planned for 8 October 2024.
For those unable to attend, copies of both presentations will be available on SchoolBox.
Any questions should be emailed to the Outdoor Education Department
Lucy Kervin-McDermott
Outdoor Education Program Coordinator
Chess Tournament
Congratulations to Team 1 who ended up in the top 10 teams of the 27 teams who participated. A great achievement for the BGS teams who participated.
Team 1
Kevin Zhang, Alexander Cena-Bandosz, Mark Lu, Anbo Wang, Tom Hara and Phong Nguyen
Honourable mentions:
James Lipovetski, Kewen Zheng, Will Luo, Yiding Hong, Jack Tan, Aaron Quach, Frank Sun, Zane Li, George Milen, Ingram Fergus, James Melgaard, Kayaan Saluja, Ieuan Hill, Nayan Shrivastava
Rhonda Shamoail
Science Teacher
Firbank Dance Night
Don’t miss the Firbank Grammar student-led showcase of choreographed works, also featuring our Brighton Grammar Dance Troupes on Friday 26 July, 7.00pm. To book tickets and further information visit our website.
Friends Of Art – Term 3 Meeting
The newest BGS parent group
All parents and teachers are welcome to attend our next meeting to discuss and plan new projects to support the Art Program at BGS. If you would like to be a part of this dedicated group of teachers and parents please join us on Wednesday 31 July, 4.30pm in the Urwin Centre Conference Room.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to be involved or find out more, please email Friends of Art to register your interest.
From Reverend Waterhouse
During the school holidays, I travelled down to Phillip Island and spent time exploring some of the sublime walks around the rugged coastal cliffs. The combination of the red granite rocks and aqua-coloured waters was truly magnificent.
Several times during the hikes, I took the opportunity to simply stand still for a few minutes and listen to the regular rhythm of the waves crashing onto the rocks below. It was a profound reminder that while the pace of human life is often frenetic and erratic, there is something of a comforting permanency to the sound of the movement of the ocean.
Indeed, it reminds me of the fixed nature of God, whose sustaining love and generosity towards his creation does not change.
In Psalm 93, the hymn writer affirms: ‘The LORD is robed in majesty. Mightier than the breakers of the sea – the LORD on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm for endless days.’
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is described as ‘the same yesterday and today and forever.’ [Hebrews 13:8].
What a comfort that is in a world of often overwhelming change.