Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolUK neuroscience professor Matthew Walker spoke at the Sydney Writers’ Festival this week on how sleep can be harnessed to enhance learning.
After more than 20 years of research at the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Walker believes that sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our lives, affecting our wellness and longevity.
For parents of teenagers and younger children, good sleep habits can be an ongoing challenge.
Walker advises a good night’s sleep the day before and the day after an important exam for teenagers rather than staying up late to study, as the sleep the night prior helps to process new learned information, and the night after is when the brain saves and stores information.
For more sleep hygiene tips, the Crowther Centre has developed resources as part of our extensive parent program, including a position paper on sleep.
Finally, engagement, connection, and collective spirit have taken centre stage this week, highlighted by the lively interschool debate between Brighton Grammar and Firbank Grammar Junior School students on Monday, the generous response to our Annual Giving Day on Tuesday, and today’s vibrant Secondary School House Choral Festival.
I hope you have the opportunity to get a good night’s sleep this weekend (according to Walker, seven to nine hours is the optimal amount of sleep for adults).
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolDuring yesterday’s assembly, we celebrated both Reconciliation and Pride Week. Max Thomson (Year 10) and Angus Beaton (Year 11) shared reflections from their time on the Tiwi Islands, while our Inclusion Prefect, Andrew Zhang, provided insight into the history and significance of Pride Week.
Today, the House Choral Competition took place at St Andrew’s Church. It was, as always, a vibrant display of musical talent, House spirit, and friendly competition. Well done to Fairweather House on their win!
Next week Year 9 students will be participating in the Breakthrough Program, aimed to engender a greater connection to service and experiential learning for the coming years.
I look forward to hearing from the boys what they have learned from their chosen pursuits, ranging from art, service, indigenous educational programs and problem solving.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- 4 June, 7.00pm – Crowther Workshop: Supporting Healthy Relationships
- 9 June – School Closure: King’s Birthday
- 17 June – Coaching Day
- Term dates – Term 2 concludes on Friday 27 June and Term 3 commences on Wednesday 23 July
Sport Update
With the Winter Sport season now in full swing, it’s been fantastic to see our boys showing such dedication to their trainings and matches. The energy and enthusiasm on display each week reflect how much they enjoy not only competing but also spending time with friends and representing the school with pride.
Each week, over 58 Brighton Grammar teams take part in APS matches across seven sports, competing at venues near and far. It’s a huge effort, and we’re proud of the way our students are embracing both the fun and the challenge that sport offers.
We continue to encourage our boys to communicate proactively with their coaches and staff if they are unable to attend training or scheduled matches. Sport is a compulsory part of life at Brighton Grammar, and we expect every student to be available and ready to contribute each week.
First teams’ results (to date):
- Basketball: Currently sitting eighth on the ladder as we head into the redraw rounds.
- Football: Equal second, showing strong form. This weekend, the team faces Wesley College at Wesley, Glen Waverley, with a 1.00pm kick off.
- Hockey: In third place with just one loss so far. They take on Wesley Colley this weekend at Wesley, Glen Waverley, with a 9.45am start.
- Rugby: Undefeated and on top of the ladder. This week they travel to Haileybury College for a 11.30am kick off.
- Soccer: Holding fourth position, just four points behind top-placed Carey Grammar. This weekend’s match is against Wesley College at Wesley, Glen Waverley, for a 10.00am start.
Photos: Giuseppe Monti-Plummer (Year 9)
In addition, our Cross Country athletes have achieved outstanding team and individual results in recent meets, while our Dance students continue to work hard in preparation for their upcoming competitions.
Please note, there will be no APS fixtures over the King’s Birthday weekend.
We appreciate the continual support of our Sport program.
Rob Cooper
Director of Sport
State Champions
On Monday 26 May, the BGS Golf team competed at the inaugural School Sports Associations of Victoria (SSAV) Golf Championships at Lonsdale Links, following their APS title win in April.
Facing strong winds and top competition from across the state, the boys rose to the challenge.
Rupert Toomey (Year 12) led the way, winning the individual title by one shot (+2, 74). Alongside teammates Woody Aldridge (Year 12) and Zane Li (Year 10), the team recorded a combined score of 233, just enough to edge out De La Salle College by a single shot and claim the SSAV Teams Trophy.
Adding to the celebration, Rupert has been selected for the Victorian State Team to compete at the School Sport Australia Games in October.
Congratulations to Rupert, Woody, and Zane on this outstanding achievement. BGS is proud of your success at the highest level of School Golf in Victoria.
Tim Blackwood
Golf Coordinator
International Culture Night
Last Friday, international students from Brighton Grammar and Firbank Grammar came together for a movie and pizza culture night.
The Chinese animated film, Chang An: Thirty Thousand Miles, offered a sweeping historical epic, exploring the lives of two of China’s most renowned poets from the Tang dynasty. Through stunning visuals and powerful storytelling, the film painted a vivid portrait of cultural heritage, artistic legacy, and the complexities of personal growth and enduring friendship.
As the poetry unfolded on screen, it also opened up a space for the international students from both schools to engage, not just with the film but with each other. The power of poetry transcended language barriers. We witnessed students with different cultural background laughing, sharing, and forming friendships in a uniquely meaningful way.
This cinematic journey wasn’t just about appreciating a film; it was about discovering the beauty of language, culture, and human connection. Through this shared experience, we began building a stronger, more inclusive community, one story, and one conversation, at a time.
Ethan Bao, Frank Wu & Jerry Mei Wen Yan
International Student Leaders International Students Coordinator
Community Spirit
We are truly overwhelmed by the support of our community for this year’s Enriching Minds Annual Appeal.
A total of 302 donors contributed over $208,000 (well exceeding our initial target of $160,000) for our redesigned library and resource centre.
A huge thank you for the generosity shown in helping to shape a future of literacy excellence and connectedness for our boys.
Eden Phillips
Head of Advancement
Grand Final Performance
A group of Year 7 students competed in the AFA State Futsal Competition this week.
Despite limited training sessions, the boys performed exceptionally well and made it all the way to the Grand Final. Unfortunately, the team lost a close game 3-1 and placed second in the competition.
Kogu Sabaratnam, Director of BGS+ and I were extremely proud of the boys and their efforts on the day.
Andy Burnett
Head of BGS+ Soccer and Futsal
Art and Afternoon Tea
Friends of Art extends a warm welcome to the Brighton Grammar community to spend an afternoon with our Art students in The Duigan Centre.
On Wednesday 4 June at 4.00pm the creative work of our Secondary School students will be on display and our Artist in Residence, Noni Drew, will be on hand to answer any questions. Read here for more details and to RSVP.
BGS Business Breakfast
Our next BGS Business Breakfast on Monday 16 June features guest speaker Joshua Ball (OB 2013), co-founder of Farmers Pick.
Joshua will outline the journey of this subscription-based service that delivers unconventional yet fresh produce directly to consumers, promoting sustainability and reducing food waste. Since inception, Farmers Pick has saved over 10 million kilograms of produce and expanded to a team of 120 employees.
Join us at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club to hear how Joshua and Farmers Pick continues to have a positive impact on both the environment and the economy.
Free Heart Checks at BGS
During the month of June, we are offering free heart health checks to all staff, parents and the wider community. This initiative aims to raise awareness about heart health within the BGS community.
From Thursday 12 June – Wednesday 25 June, BGS will host a SiSU Health Station on-site at the Annandale Pavilion, providing convenient access for everyone to monitor their heart health.
The SiSU Health Stations offer quick, non-invasive checks that include measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, and other critical indicators of cardiovascular health.
Please share this with friends and family – we want everyone in the community to be involved and part of it.
From Reverend Waterhouse
Last weekend, almost 800 members of the Melbourne Anglican Synod (the parliament of the Anglican Diocese) met at St. Paul’s Cathedral, in order to sing, listen, speak, pray and vote, for the purpose of electing a new archbishop, after the retirement earlier this year of Philip Freier after eighteen years.
After obtaining an initial list of about hundred names, four very capable candidates were short-listed and presented by the Nominations Board, with Bishop Ric Thorpe being voted in.
The Right Reverend Dr. Thorpe currently serves in a special episcopal role as Bishop of Islington in the Diocese of London. This encompasses diocesan, national and international responsibilities, with a focus on church planting.
Bishop Thorpe has visited Melbourne often and said, “We have come to love Melbourne over the years, as we have served and ministered in the diocese, in other denominations, and across the nation.” His passion was “seeing the whole Church of God thrive, enabling churches to be healthy, new congregations planted, and struggling churches revitalised.”
The appointment of Bishop Thorpe is an answer to much prayer, and as one of 24 Anglican schools in the Diocese of Melbourne, Brighton Grammar looks forward to his ministry amongst us and the wider Diocese in the coming years.
Bishop Thorpe will be installed as archbishop in St Paul’s Cathedral later in the year, on a date to be advised.