Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolAs we begin the new semester, we look forward to renewed energy and purpose, particularly for our Year 12 students who are entering the final stretch of their school journey and looking to finish the year on a high note.
Our commitment to academic endeavour was exemplified this month as Christopher Chhour (OB 2024, Co-Dux of School), Will Crocker (OB 2024), and current Year 12 student Justin Le were honoured with Premier’s VCE Awards for their outstanding achievements in the 2024 VCE examinations.
Chris and Will further distinguished themselves by being among only 23 students across Victoria to receive the Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Award, presented to students who earned study scores of 46 or higher in at least five subjects.
The themes of high performance and evidence-based teaching resonated strongly throughout this week’s staff development days and were further reinforced at the International Boys’ School Coalition conference in Boston, which I attended with colleagues over the break.
The experience reaffirmed our commitment to positive masculinity, the science of learning and educational best practice.
Finally, a reminder that our mobile phone initiative, the Harmony Project, is now in place and I encourage you to familiarise yourself with its practical framework, which is designed to support the wellbeing and learning outcomes of our boys.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolWe hope you had a restful and enjoyable break with your families.
Over the holidays, many students and staff took part in incredible experiences. A special welcome back to those involved in the UK Cricket Tour, the Year 10 Tiwi Islands Immersion, Year 9 Football Camp, and the Australian School Teams Sailing Nationals.
Thank you also to those who worked hard over the break preparing for upcoming events including SpongeBob: The Musical rehearsals, F1 in Schools, STEM Racing, and Snowsports trials.
We’re delighted to welcome back Alison Wigg and Josh Moore from maternity and parental leave.
This term also sees the introduction of our new mobile phone policy. We thank students for their maturity and cooperation in adapting to these changes, which have been made with your wellbeing and learning in mind.
Term 3 is often seen as the turning point of the year. In AFL, the third quarter is called the Premiership Quarter; in golf, it’s known as Moving Day, and at BGS, Term 3 is when momentum builds. This is a big term, with significant moments for every year level, from academic milestones to co-curricular challenges and leadership opportunities.
Best of luck to our First XVIII Football team as they take on Caulfield Grammar at home this weekend. With both teams currently tied second on the ladder, it’s sure to be an exciting contest.
Wishing everyone a positive and productive Term 3!
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Tuesday 29 July, 5.30-6.30pm: Year 8 Outdoor Education Expo at Rosstrevor Hall
- Tuesday 29 July, 6.30-7.00pm: Year 9 Outdoor Education Expo at Rosstrevor Hall
- Tuesday 29 July, 6.00-9.00pm: Year 9-11 Subject Information Night at RSCH
- Monday 4 August, 7.00pm: Having Positive Conversations (A workshop for International Parents and their sons) at Annandale Library
- Thursday 7 August, 3.00-9.30pm: Parent, Teacher, Student Discussions
- Tuesday 12 August, 2.00-8.30pm: Parent, Teacher, Student Discussions
- Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 August: Spongebob the Musical at Rosstrevor Hall
- SchoolPix Summer Sports photos are now available for purchase, order details here.
Tonners supporting those in need
With donations provided by our community for Ute Full of Food in the last week of Term 2, a team of boys and staff caught a minibus to St Mark’s Community Centre in Fitzroy to help pack and sort the food.
St Mark’s provides different amenities to those on the streets such as packages of food, and a temporary place to sleep. Using the food donated by the BGS community, St Mark’s will make sure that goods are given to those in true need of a meal.
Will Van Wijgaarden
Year 9
Outdoor Education Expo
The BGS Outdoor Education Department invites families of Year 8 and Year 9 students to the Semester 2 Outdoor Education Expo on Tuesday 29 July, from 5.00-7.00pm.
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 (a second info night will be held for GSWJ on 7 October).
Copies of both presentations will be available on SchoolBox. Read more here.
Lucy Kervin-McDermott
Outdoor Education Program Coordinator
Sailing Nationals
Brighton Grammar proudly fielded two teams at this year’s Sailing Nationals in Goolwa, South Australia.
Our Division 1 boys battled through a tough first day to climb from 16th to finish 4th overall in the Swiss league, an incredible comeback showcasing grit and determination. Our B team also sailed strongly throughout the event and finished 19th.
Read full report from Harrison Chapman, Head of Sailing.
Save the Date
Tickets go on sale for the 2025 Pink Dinner this Monday! A fun night for the women of our BGS community to connect, share some laughs, and this year, support the Leukaemia Foundation.
Book a table of 12 or individual tickets (we’ll aim to seat you with your preferred Year level).
Booking link for Monday 9.00am can be found here
From Reverend Waterhouse
I trust the recent mid-year holidays gave us some time to enjoy much-needed rest. God himself rested after the six days of creation, as a means of showing us what it means to participate in both seasons of labour and resting from our labour, enjoying what our hands have accomplished.
An unexpected blessing for me during the break was being invited to have a day’s skiing at Thredbo; something I haven’t done for about seventeen years!
At one stage, I seemed to be stuck on the upper half of the slopes, unable to find the right ski run back down to the beginner slope, where my daughter was. After looking at some signs, I decided to travel on a Blue run -which was both icy and steep – as it was the most direct route back to the terminal.
At the risk of being overwhelmed by the incline and length of the run, I decided that the best way forward was to simply focus on the twenty metres of snow in front of me and navigate it through some winding S-shaped movements down the hill.
It was a sensory reminder of the importance of sometimes fixing our eyes on the immediate and what we can control, not necessarily what is in the far distance.
In Hebrews 12:2, we are encouraged to ‘fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith’. If we do so, we will always have a reliable path to follow in this life.