Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolAs the APS sports summer season wraps up, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on just how much sport enriches our boys’ lives, not only by keeping them active and healthy, but by helping them grow as learners and as young men.
Research from The University of Sydney continues to highlight what many of us see firsthand: regular participation in sport is associated with stronger academic outcomes, including improved NAPLAN results, attention, memory and school completion rates.
This is why our Secondary School students compete in summer and winter seasons of APS sport, and our Junior School program ensures that the foundations of skill, teamwork, and enjoyment are laid early.
Parents are the quiet achievers of school sport: driving boys to early‑morning trainings, keeping them fuelled, and cheering from the sidelines. Just as importantly, you help shape how your sons handle competition and honour the spirit of the game. These lessons often last far longer than the final score.
Finally, I congratulate our APS Swimming and Diving Finalists who competed at MSAC on Tuesday afternoon and wish all teams the very best this weekend – particularly our tennis players competing for premiership honours. All are welcome to support at the Junior School Tennis Courts, BGS v CGS from 8.30am.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolIt was a pleasure to watch our rowers compete at the Head of the River at Nagambie Lakes on Saturday, followed by our sailors racing in St Kilda on Sunday. These performances reflect many hours of dedicated training, and we congratulate all boys involved.
On Tuesday, our swimmers and divers competed at the APS Swimming and Diving Finals at MSAC. It was great to see the boys finish in the top half of the draw, a strong result and a credit to their effort and preparation.
At yesterday’s assembly, we announced our new International Student Leaders, a well‑deserved acknowledgement of their hard work and commitment. We were also treated to an amazing musical performance by Nayan Shrivastra.
This evening, I’m looking forward to visiting our Year 7s on the Mornington Peninsula. It’s always a highlight to see the boys outside the classroom, building connections and taking on new challenges through the Outdoor Education program. Thank you to all parents for your support in preparing them for this experience.
This Saturday marks the first APS Grand Final for the year, with our tennis team qualifying to take on Caulfield. We’re proud to be hosting the match on our home courts and warmly invite our community to come along to the Junior School Tennis Courts to support the boys. Play begins at 8.30am.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Monday 30 March – Semester 1 Concert – Large Ensembles
- Crowther eNews explores VCE homework and the power of the Three W’s
- Thursday 2 April – Term 1 concludes
- Tuesday 21 April – Term 2 commences
- Bayside Council is installing new pedestrian crossings at the New St/St Andrews St/Park St/Well St roundabout. Roadworks begin late March for up to 3 months (7.00am–5.00pm, weekdays). The community should expect staged closures, detours, traffic controllers, and some pedestrian and parking disruptions. New St works are scheduled to occur first during Term 1 school holidays.
Lower String Soiree
It has been a wonderful term for our Secondary School string students, with a group of talented performers from Years 7 to 10 stepping up to present some truly impressive solo work at the Lower String Soiree. The breadth of repertoire on display — spanning classical masterworks, film music, and contemporary pieces — reflects the diverse musical journeys our students are undertaking. Read more.
Harry Tsai
Head of Strings
Food Tech Creations
Our Year 10 Food Technology students have been applying the design process—investigate, generate, produce and evaluate—within the theme of The Science of Food as part of their assessment task to create a healthy bowl dish.
The photos capture students in the production stage, bringing their ideas to life using fresh, seasonal ingredients. They applied their understanding of nutrition, flavour combinations and the chemical and physical changes that occur during food preparation. Each bowl demonstrates creativity, careful planning and thoughtful presentation, with a variety of cuisines.
Alice Mondon
Food Technology Teacher
Music Awards
We are delighted to share a remarkable achievement from our Music Department: three talented students, Raymond Wang (violin), Isaac Goh (violin), and Yiding Hong (double bass) have been awarded the prestigious Associate Diploma in Music at the ceremony held on Sunday, a testament to their extraordinary dedication, discipline, and love of their craft. More details.
Harry Tsai
Head of Strings
Creative Art Captains’ Induction & Afternoon Tea
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.
From the Archives
In 1911, BGS won the Schools Amateur Athletic Association of Victoria tennis trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
Seated front right is J. B. Armstrong, Mrs Crowther’s nephew. The following year, John Armstrong was Dux of the School.
Good luck to our tennis players this weekend.
New BGS Volunteer Induction process
We are pleased to launch our new BGS Volunteer Induction Portal. All volunteers engaged in child-connected work must complete this induction to ensure they are informed, supported and meet the requirements to work with children. This includes understanding the BGS Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, and your responsibilities regarding records management, information sharing, and reporting obligations.
We welcome and are so grateful for our volunteers, who are a testament to the immensely strong and supportive community we have here at BGS. If an opportunity presents and you would like to take on a volunteer role, please be sure to contact the Compliance team for further guidance and the link to the new Volunteer Induction Portal. By completing this induction, you will be contributing to our shared responsibility of maintaining a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all children and young people in our care.
Examples of volunteer roles at BGS include; attending excursions, being part of a ‘Friends Of’ Parent Group, supporting onsite and offsite School events where students are present, accepting a volunteer sports coaching position
Please contact Compliance@brightongrammar.vic.edu.au if you have any further questions.
School Policies
All School policies are available on Schoolbox via the dedicated tile on the homepage. We encourage you to review these and direct any feedback or queries to compliance@brightongrammar.vic.edu.au.
Parking Reminder
We have been advised that Bayside City Council is actively enforcing parking restrictions in the St Andrews Street pick-up zones, with a number of fines recently issued to drivers.
Please ensure you carefully observe all posted parking signs and time limits when collecting your son, including remaining only for the permitted duration and using the space strictly for pick-up.
Council inspectors may monitor the area remotely, so fines may be issued even if an officer is not visibly present.
2027 African Safari Tour
In September 2027, our students will have the extraordinary opportunity to take part in the 2027 African Tour; an unforgettable cultural and educational experience. Open to all current students in Years 8–11, this immersive journey will allow students to explore the rich traditions, history and daily life of African communities while developing a deeper global perspective. Countries visited will be South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
A highlight of the tour will be an authentic African safari, where students will experience breathtaking landscapes and encounter iconic wildlife up close in their natural habitat. This unique adventure promises to be both inspiring and life changing.
Families are encouraged to learn more by collecting an information brochure from the Urwin Centre reception or from Student Services at the St Andrew’s end of the school. Parents and students are also warmly invited to attend the online Parent Information Session on 30 March.
For further details, please contact me.
Biddy Duckham
Mathematics Teacher
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
Last weekend, there was an election in the state of South Australia. There were no real surprises that Premier Peter Malinauskas and his Labor government were returned for a second term.
During a four-year cycle, every state and territory in Australia will face an election and while it is easy for us to be almost indifferent to what goes on in other parts of the country, we are reminded in the Bible that it is ultimately God who grants earthly powers and appoints leaders.
When Jesus was giving testimony before Pontius Pilate, he made this bold statement: ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’ [John 19:11].
The apostle Paul, too, in his first letter to his protégé, Timothy, instructs that ‘requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ [1 Timothy 2:1-2].
It is right and proper to pray for our political leaders and so I encourage you to pray the prayer below from our Anglican prayer book:
Most gracious God, ruler of the nations,
we pray for the parliaments of this Commonwealth of Australia,
their members and officers.
Direct their work and influence their decisions
to the advancement of your glory,
and the safety and welfare of this country,
so that peace and happiness, truth and justice,
may be established among us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.