Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolThere is a vital link between learning and personal development, and it takes a well-rounded approach to support the intellectual, emotional, physical and cultural growth of our boys.
Our co-curricular program plays a key role in this, offering activities that extend beyond the classroom.
This term has included music performance evenings, production rehearsals, successful sporting finals, a Model United Nations assembly, community service events, and Outdoor Education programs for our Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10 students.
The House system plays an integral role in this developmental process. This was particularly evident in the significant number of House Colours awarded to boys in the Secondary School this term, as well as the House spirit initiatives undertaken in the Junior School.
Together, these experiences enrich the academic curriculum and help students build essential skills in communication, critical thinking, and teamwork – skills that will serve them well both now and in the future.
I wish all families a safe and restful Easter and holiday break and look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Tuesday 22 April.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolLast week, I had the pleasure of visiting our Year 7 students on the Outdoor Ed journey on the Mornington Peninsula. It was fantastic to see the boys stepping out of their comfort zones, forming new friendships, and embracing experiences beyond the classroom.
Over the weekend I spent time with our sailors who competed in the State Championships at RMYC. This is a hotly contested competition against Victoria’s best sailing schools and Brighton Grammar School has again been proudly crowned State Champion. Congratulations to all our sailors for their brilliant tacking, jibing, luffing, rounding, helming and bearing away!
Additionally, our Rowing team delivered outstanding performances, with both our First VIII and Year 10A crews winning medals at the prestigious Australian Rowing Championships.
On Monday evening, I attended the Large Ensembles Concert – the quality and talent was truly outstanding. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved on a remarkable performance, a special mention to James Rodriguez for his performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto 23 alongside Corelli Stings and Winds.
Photo credit: James Li (Year 12)
Well done to our APS Swimmers and Divers for their success last week in the APS Finals, achieving 5th and 2nd place respectively. It is a long season with many early starts and all swimmers and divers should be proud of their achievements this season.
Best of luck to all students and staff heading off on school tours over the break, including the China Immersion Tour and the Japan Study Tour. We look forward to hearing about your adventures when you return.
Lastly, I wish everyone a wonderful Easter and safe travels over the break.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- 5 – 21 April – School Holidays
- View Crowther’s short video where Dr Ray Swann offers practical ideas on creating a unique time to reflect on the past 10 weeks.
Large Ensemble Concert
On Monday night, over 200 Secondary School students dazzled a packed St Andrew’s Church in the Semester 1 Large Ensemble Concert. The event showcased the following ensembles: Secondary String Orchestra, Corelli String Orchestra, Meliora Voices, Senior Choir, Secondary Percussion Ensemble, Intermediate Concert Band and Senior Concert Band.
Photos: James Li (Year 12)
Congratulations to all soloists: Ethan Xu, Christian Kara, Henry Barber, Callum Hull, Harry Young and a show stealing performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major from Year 10 student James Rodriguez. Special thanks to all Music Staff and the always supportive Friends of Music.
Pat Burke
Music Administrator
Year 7 Peninsula Program
Last week, the Year 7 students spent an action-packed five days on the Mornington Peninsula as part of Brighton Grammar’s Outdoor Education Program. Giant swings, damper baking and long hikes tested the boys and encouraged friendships to form that will last a lifetime.
Read Year 7 student Lance Sun’s rundown of the week.
Brighton Grammar’s Summer of Sport
This summer season saw more than 1,000 Brighton Grammar School students take to the fields, courts and waters, proudly representing our school across a wide range of APS sports. While we continue to celebrate our reputation as a successful APS school, we understand that true success in sport goes far beyond the scoreboard. Read full report from Tim Blackwood, Acting Head of Sport (Term 1).
Drama Ensemble Performance Evening
Our VCE Unit 1 and 3 Drama students took to the stage last night for their Ensemble Evening, showcasing original performances inspired by the pros and cons of the recently discussed ban on social media for young adults.
After seven weeks of researching, scripting, rehearsing, and devising their own pieces, the boys delivered thought-provoking and insightful performances to a large audience of peers and family.
The evening was a testament to the boys’ creative thinking, confidence, and camaraderie, developed through the collaborative process. It was an unforgettable showcase of talent and a celebration of the power of storytelling.
Michael Kent
Head of Drama
Music Award
Congratulations to Year 10 student James Rodriguez (currently studying accelerated Unit 1/2 VCE Music), who received his Associate Performer Diploma, Classical Pianoforte with Honours, from May Gavin, chairperson of the ANZCA Board of Directors.
From Reverend Waterhouse
In a couple of weeks’ time, we shall be in the midst of Holy Week: the seven days beginning with Palm Sunday, finishing with the commemoration of the glorious resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
This week, I shared at our Secondary School Easter service about how the Cross is God’s chosen symbol of hope: the hope of forgiveness; the hope of renewal; the hope of new life; and the hope of all things one day being put right.
Christian hope is not mere wishful thinking, but a sure expectation and a confident anticipation, with the Cross as the centrepiece.
This might seem a strange affirmation to make, for on Good Friday (the day of Christ’s execution), there was a tangible sense of hopelessness, as the Messiah, God’s anointed one, faced a hideous death in public, being hung upon a cross.
And yet, in AD 33, this same cross was radically transformed to something glorious and hopeful, because it represented the fulfillment of ancient promises that one day, the curse of death would be reversed.
When writing to the church in Rome, the apostle Paul confidently affirmed that, ‘everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.’ [15:4].
A happy Easter indeed to you all!