Weekly eNews
Ross Featherston
Headmaster, Brighton Grammar SchoolI’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics over the past week – not only do I love watching all sports, but it’s a rich source of learning and inspiration for our boys, combining education with entertainment in a meaningful way.
The stories of athletes overcoming challenges impart valuable lessons about hard work, resilience, and determination. These narratives can inspire our boys to tackle their own obstacles with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
Within our own community of Old Boys and Hall of Fame members, we have previous Olympians including Dylan Alcott AO (OB 2008) Tennis; Travis Brooks OAM (OB 1998) Hockey; Andrew Cooper OAM (OB 1982) Rowing; Ben Hance OAM (OB 2018) Swimming; and Gary Minihan (OB 1979) Athletics. Last Saturday Ben Canham (OB 2015) rowed in the A Final for Australia in the men’s eight. These individuals serve as positive role models for our current students, embodying the principle and one of my favourite sayings, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’.
The Olympics also offer a cultural education, exposing students to global diversity and practising empathy and respect for different cultures and traditions. This can help broaden their worldview and understanding of international communities.
Understanding the scientific principles behind athletic performance, such as biomechanics and sports medicine, provides practical applications for STEM education. Students can see real-world examples of physics and biology in action.
This iconic event promotes physical fitness, with the hope it motivates boys to engage in various sports and emphasising the benefits of a healthy balance and an active lifestyle.
Overall, the Olympics are a comprehensive educational tool that enriches our boys’ understanding of the world, promotes healthy habits, and inspires them to strive for excellence in all areas of life.
Finally, I congratulate the members of our First XVIII Football team who have won the APS Football Premiership outright for 2024. We now look forward to this Saturday’s game where our First XV Rugby team will face St Kevin’s at Trinity Grammar at 12.30pm.
Have a great weekend.
Simon Angus
Deputy Headmaster, Head of Secondary SchoolA huge congratulations to the First XVIII Football team for winning the APS Football Premiership outright over the weekend! The entire school community is incredibly proud of the team’s achievement and, to celebrate this success, we are planning a special premiership celebration involving the whole school.
Our best wishes to the First XV Rugby team members as they prepare for their Grand Final against St Kevin’s College this weekend. Good luck team!
Tonight is the opening night for our School’s production of Frozen JR. The students and staff have put in countless hours of preparation, and I am sure it will be a spectacular performance. I am very much looking forward to it.
On another note, the Parent Teacher Student discussions have concluded, and I thank all the parents and teachers for their time and effort in making these meetings productive and meaningful.
Meliora Sequamur.
Happenings & Reminders
- Watch this week’s What Am I Learning to see Dr Swann, Ms Zekirija and James from Year 8 discuss the importance of the swimming program
- Watch the recently presented Safe Partying Webinar – now available on Crowther eNews
- Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 August – Frozen JR
- Friday 16 August – The 2024 BGS Winter Appeal and Sleep Out
- Monday 19 August – Mid term break
- Tuesday 20 August, 7.00pm – Choral Journey Concert
- Thursday 22 August, 6.00-9.00pm – Ministry of Art Charity Art Show and Silent Auction
- Tuesday 27 August, 7.00pm – Journey Concert: Strings Spectacular
- Thursday 29 August – Journey Concert: Bands Showcase
ART OFF Challenge
Now in its second year, the House Portrait Competition ART OFF challenge was met head-on by competitors who raised the bar considerably on last year. The 2024 brief was House Leaders in House Colours.
Each House nominated a challenger in three categories: Years 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. Students were given just over a week of preparation time before the competition culminated in the ART OFF Challenge, where all challengers congregated and finished their entries in 30 minutes.
There was a new category also this year, the House Captain’s Challenge. These entries are on larger panels and can be worked on by anyone in a House group, under the leadership of House Captains. These are worth double points and have a longer timeframe for completion.
BGS Artist-in-Resident Caroline Barrett and our inaugural Art Captain Luca Spampinato (OB 2022) will fill out this year’s judging panel before works go on display briefly in the Urwin Centre later this term.
The artworks will also be showcased fully at the respective Year 9-12 and Year 7-8 Art Exhibitions at the end of the year, with the results announced at Assembly during Term 3. It would not be a surprise to see some of the entries go up in staff offices shortly after!
Michael Hawkins
Head of Art
Sailing Achievements
In the first week of term, the Jock Sturrock Club headed to Goolwa in South Australia for the School Team Sailing National Championships. The regatta was a historic first for Brighton Grammar as the first Victorian school to take two teams to the event.
Following a number of podium finishes in recent years, the team had their sights on a Brighton Grammar win and were well set to make this a reality sitting in third place after Day 2; but alas it was not meant to be. A couple of small errors resulted in our boys being eliminated during the finals.
Both teams did a fantastic job of representing the School and made the most of the opportunity with their sights already fixed on winning next year’s championship.
For Sailing Captain Pierre Giggins and Lachlan Auden, the event marks their final sail for BGS. Both boys have been an integral part of our club, and we wish them well for their upcoming exams.
Harrison Chapman
Head of Sailing
Ringwood Eisteddfod Win
Year 7 student Samuel He recently participated at the 70th Annual Ringwood Eisteddfod competition and won first prize in the 16 Years and Under Acoustic Guitar Solo category. Samuel impressed everyone with his performance of Wongaling by Paul Svoboda.
This achievement shows Samuel’s hard work and talent, as well as the dedication of his music teachers at BGS. Congratulations to Samuel on his fantastic accomplishment! We look forward to hearing more from him in the future.
Winter Appeal
BGS is again excited to launch our annual Winter Appeal which runs throughout August. This vital initiative aims to support those experiencing homelessness by providing essential resources such as access to sleeping facilities, warm meals, and necessities, which most of us take for granted.
We are supporting The Good Box for a second year who do amazing work in this space by providing much needed items to the local homeless.
Your support is crucial. Donate here – it all helps!
A major event during the appeal is The BGS Winter Sleep Out, a wonderful opportunity to place yourself in the position of those who are not as lucky as us and gain a true understanding of their daily struggles.
On Friday 16 August, boys and staff, armed with only a sleeping bag, pillow and a box will sleep outside under our famed Oak Tree. The experience is a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, foster empathy, and truly connect with the cause.
We strongly encourage all boys to participate in the winter sleepout. Please email Anna Ladas to sign up!
Lachlan Lewis
Community & Service Prefect
Ministry of Art: Charity Art Show & Silent Auction
Join us on Thursday 22 August, from 6.00 to 9.00pm, for the Ministry of Art Charity Art Show and Silent Auction, held at the Ministry of Art, 15 Advantage Road, Highett.
Artworks from BGS Art students will be showcased alongside pieces from other Bayside schools, professional artists, and community members. Our talented students have crafted stunning works based on the colour palette Blue for this exhibition celebration. Read event details here.
Journey Concerts
The Music Department is pleased to showcase its fabulous music students over three Journey Concerts in August. All are welcome to attend.
- Choral Journey Concert – Tuesday 20 August, 7.00pm at St Andrew’s Church
- Strings Spectacular – Tuesday 27 August, 7.00pm at St Andrew’s Church
- Bands Showcase – Thursday 29 August, 7.00pm at Rosstrevor Hall
Friends of Music have organised a raffle with a chance to win four premium tickets to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Purchase raffle tickets here
From Reverend Waterhouse
One of the delights of the Olympic Games is sharing the joy of medal-winning athletes who are representing countries which normally would not feature on the dais for individual events.
Last Saturday, Carlos Yulo of the Philippines won his nation’s first ever medal for Gymnastics, by claiming the gold medal in the men’s exercise floor final.
He later affirmed: “I’m feeling grateful for having this medal and for God. He gave me the strength to get through this kind of performance and perform this well.”
Throughout the Bible, people are often thanking God for strength to either endure, persevere, overcome or recover, even those who once actively sought to fight against God’s plans for humanity.
The apostle Paul was such a transformed believer, and so in his first letter to his young protégé, Timothy, he writes: ‘I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.’ [1:12].
Where can we thank God for his renewing strength within us?