Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolWelcome back to students and families. This term is a busy one, and at this week’s Professional Learning Day, we took the opportunity to come together as a staff and reflect on our progress for 2026 and plan for the terms ahead.
In particular, four thriving staff teams reported on their 2026 goals and their work to achieve them. We know that cohesive staff groups are associated with positive student outcomes as their energy and commitment flow directly into classrooms, co-curricular programs and pastoral care.
There was a commonality among the four teams that shared their practices with our staff on Monday: they were clear about their goals and purpose, collaborated generously, shared expertise and modelled the respectful relationships we want our students to learn. This culture strengthens consistency, innovation and wellbeing across the school.
Importantly, all teams valued autonomy and trust, and staff who are trusted and empowered are better able to know, inspire and challenge each student.
Finally, the strength of the music program was on display at the Semester 1 Large Ensemble Concert at the end of term, where 299 Secondary School boys took to the stage, showcasing their talent. We now look forward to our Y7-9 production Rock of Ages later this term.
This performance reflects a broader and exciting trend in Performing Arts at BGS. Over the past five years, student participation has grown significantly across our choir, band, string ensembles, school productions and music and dance programs, enriching the boys’ creativity and the cultural life of our school.
As we approach Anzac Day this Saturday, it is also a timely reminder of the role music plays in moments of reflection and remembrance within our community.
Lest we forget.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolI hope all our BGS families enjoyed a restful Easter break and had the opportunity to spend some quality, peaceful time together.
There was plenty of action during the break for BGS boys, with students and staff participating in a number of tours and training programs, including the Snowsports Canada Trip, the Rugby Gold Coast Tour, and the Year 7 and 8 Football pre-season camps in Queenscliff.
This term, we have several staff stepping into new roles: Nicole Clarke (Acting Director of Students), Josh Moore (Acting Head of Pastoral Operations), Zoe Tamplin (Acting Head of Melville), and Peter Bailes (Acting Head of Crowther).
Yesterday, we came together for our Anzac Day Chapel Service to reflect on and honour those who have served our country. I extend my sincere thanks to Rev Peter Waterhouse for leading such a thoughtful and meaningful service.
Finally, best of luck to our First Teams as they kick off their winter sport season this Friday. We look forward to supporting them throughout the term.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Tuesday 28 April, 5.00pm – Jazz Night Concert, Rosstrevor Hall
- Wednesday 6 May – Mother’s Day Chapel (Years 7 & 8)
- Wednesday 6 May, 7.00pm – Crowther Workshop: How to reduce the stress of Year 12, Urwin Centre – Nexus
- Wednesday 13 May – Mother’s Day Chapel (Years 9-12)
- Wednesday 13 May to Saturday 16 May, 7.00pm – Senior Years Production: Rock of Ages Teen Edition
Making Tracks
With fresh snow and blue skies, a group of Secondary School students and teachers made the most of every run on the Snowsport Tour to Canada during the holiday break.
Whether carving up the slopes or perfecting their snowsport skills, the tour was an unforgettable experience in the mountains.
Training and teamwork
The First XV Rugby squad enjoyed an outstanding week on the Gold Coast during the school holidays.
They combined high quality training, team building and a valuable practice match in Brisbane against a representative side.
The tour provided an excellent opportunity for the team members to strengthen connections, raise standards and prepare strongly for the season ahead.
Australian Junior Athletics Championships
I’m pleased to report on outstanding performances from Year 9 students Teddy Bowen and Archie Sideridis at the 2026 Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane over the School Holidays. Teddy Bowen enjoyed a very successful championships, finishing with a full set of national medals. He won gold in the Heptathlon after a tough two day competition, going into the final event, the 1500m, with a slim nine point lead. In an exciting race, he kicked strongly at the finish to secure the title by 29 points.
Teddy also claimed silver in the Long Jump, jumping a big PB of 6.92 m with his final jump, before being narrowly overtaken in the last round by the NSW winner. Threatening more APS records this coming season. He rounded out his championships with bronze in the High Jump, clearing a PB height of 1.92 m. Archie Sideridis also had an excellent championship run. Asserting his dominance in U16 middle distance, he won gold in the Under 16 1500m in a time of 3:56:85, showcasing tactical awareness, finishing speed and grit. He backed this up with a gutsy run for silver in the Under 16 3000m, finishing in 8:50.29.
These are outstanding results that the school is very proud of; these boys work very hard, and it is great to see this hard work pay off. Well done to Teddy and Archie on a terrific national championship.
Lachlan Connell
Head of Athletics
Tennis Success
Congratulations to our Firsts Tennis team for securing the 2026 APS Tennis Premiership – their second in 3 years. The BGS team performed consistently well throughout and completed an undefeated season, which of itself is a significant accomplishment given the strength of the opposition in the APS competition. This Premiership campaign commenced at the beginning of Term 3 in 2025 with a determination to reclaim the trophy that BGS had won in 2024.
The team was well led by Captain Markis Kallos and Vice-Captain Cooper Follett under the coaching guidance of Richard Fromberg and Marcus Brittain. With 11 regular players, there was both capacity and depth in the squad, and we hope to be just as competitive in 2027. In addition to Markis and Cooper, we commend the following players on this significant achievement as APS Premiers: Jack James; William Kallos; Lachlan King; Max Loosschilder; Kayaan Saluja, Harry Toomey; Harrison Yang; Kenneth Yeung; Max Zhou.
Peter Furey
1st VIII Tennis
Creative Art Captains’ Induction
Friends of Art warmly invite families to celebrate the induction of our Junior and Secondary Creative Art Captains.
Enjoy an afternoon recognising student leadership and exploring a selection of art project work from our senior students.
Thursday 30 April, 4.00pm
Senior Art Room, Duigan Centre
All welcome but please RSVP via TryBooking for catering purposes.
Mother’s Day Raffle
Purchase your tickets to support Friends of Art and go in the draw to win a fabulous Mother’s Day prize. Tickets are now available, with all proceeds supporting our Creative Arts students.
From The Archives
Since the time of the early Roman Empire, bugles have been used by armed forces to signal military commands and troop movements.
The ‘Last Post’ is a well-recognised bugle call. In the eighteenth century, it signalled that the troops had been inspected and the camp was secure for the night.
At the Anzac Day Service yesterday, Philip Edselius (Year 12) sounded the ‘Last Post’ to commemorate Old Boys who have died in war.
Until mid-May, military artefacts can be viewed in the Heritage Centre, located within the new Uniform Shop, including this bugle which is part of the School Cadet collection.
The 2026 Ross Williamson Scholarship
The Ross Williamson Scholarship, provided and subsidised by the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, is a bursary for boys whose parent/s are experiencing financial hardship.
The scholarship is open to boys over 13 years of age, who are baptised members of the Anglican Church and whose parents are in need of monetary assistance for providing their son’s education at an Anglican school in Melbourne or its suburbs.
To apply, parents need to complete this form and email it to headmaster@brightongrammar.vic.edu.au by 4 May 2026, marked Confidential: Ross Williamson Scholarship.
From Reverend Waterhouse
At the start of this week, I realised that I could not find my wallet. I searched every conceivable console in the car, every clothing pocket and every random setting-down spot at home, only to remember that I had placed it in the drawer of a small wooden side table in a holiday unit at Phillip Island that we had stayed at during the school holidays.
Thankfully, after a quick phone call to the real estate agent, the wallet was found by a cleaner and promptly posted back to me.
On reflection, it is interesting that something so compact can cause so much consternation. Of course, it is not the size of the object, but the value of its contents: bank cards, medical cards, membership cards, accreditation cards and a (small!) bit of cash. They are important to me and have great worth.
We are currently in the season of what is called Eastertide: the fifty days between Easter Day and Pentecost. The good news concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus – the gospel – when believed, is indeed a precious faith, for it has implications for both life now and the life to come.
According to the apostle Peter, this Christian faith is ‘of greater worth than gold’. [1 Peter 1:7]. It might be small, it might be simple, it might be relatively unpopular, but it is indeed precious, because it is based upon the sure promises of Christ, God’s ‘precious cornerstone’. [1 Peter 2:6].