Grammar School in Brighton
We have a diverse student body representing a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. We offer a strong academic curriculum as well as a broad range of co-curricular programs. The School has a proud history of outstanding results while emphasising the importance of the broadest possible education.
It is always a highlight for the students and their families as they remember and reconnect with events that shaped the boys’ time at BGS. Thank you to all boys, staff and parents who have contributed so much to ensure a successful start to the year. I appreciate the commitment of our staff to provide your son with many positive learning experiences this term. All Year 9 students embarked on Breakthrough experiences last week, comprising five days of immersive learning. Through the teacher-student coaching program, your sons were prompted to dissect their current reality and make specific plans moving forward that serve their desired outcomes. Whilst we know this process has the power to significantly increase wellbeing, hope, resilience and academic performance, one key to its success is engaging with the coaching formula in all the various elements of school life.
The year level was split across both campuses with the day filled with a mixture of academic classes as well as relationship-building activities. Highlights for the year 7s included exploring each other’s school environments and getting to know each other. The spotlight has been on Science this week with many fantastic events happening around the school to celebrate Science Week. The visit from ‘Rookeepers Wild Display’ was a highlight, with the week being capped off tomorrow with rocket launches on the Crowther.
Pleasure and pride if they are performing well but considerable angst when children are not progressing as you hoped. Being online has many benefits for young children, including opportunities to explore their creativity, improve language skills, solve problems and build connections. Thank you to Laura Hall and Joanne Davies for their coordination of our Book Week activities and to all parents for your support.
Well done to all the students for working together and using their language skills to crack all the codes to find a sweet prize in the safe. Year 10 students took on interesting roles in their French class at the start of this term.They acted as inspecteurs to solve the heist of the century in the Escape Room, Le Cambriolage. This sleep out gave boys an opportunity to empathise with the kind of experiences that may seem alien to us but are commonplace for those who have to tackle Melbourne’s harsh winter nights without shelter on a regular basis. We ask parents of our multigenerational BGS boys to complete the BGS Generations Form so that the School can acknowledge our current second, third and fourth generation BGS boys. If parents have already completed this form, there is no need to do so again. A big congratulations to all of the boys for a great first week of ‘big boy’ school.
Shoutout to all Rugby and AFL players who went on trip and tours over the break. By the time your son arrives in the Urwin Centre for Learning, he will be familiar with the physical grounds, his peers, the teaching staff and the School culture. Our Transition Program aims to build confidence and resilience in your son as he begins to develop positive relationships with key staff members and a new peer group. The focus is on offering alternative pathways for students who may not aspire to a traditional model of success. The school’s academic results have steadily improved over the past five years, due to a research-based unified teaching model. Although results are important, Ross says academic performance and personal development are inextricably linked.
The ISBC represents over 500 boys’ schools worldwide, with the shared goal of encouraging boys to feel connected and engaged in their learning and with their community. The conference confirmed for me that our school is leading the way in our focus on providing a targeted wellbeing curriculum specific to the needs of boys. There is no doubt Wilson House is a busy learning community for boys, staff and parents. Our boys are fortunate to be provided with such a variety of learning experiences. Boys and staff alike will all look forward to the two week holiday break.
It enables businesses owned by Old Boys and parents, current and past, to partner with BGS by offering financial or in-kind support to the School. The support of corporate partners makes a significant difference to what we can achieve at BGS. Many of our partners also offer our boys a diverse range of opportunities during the year.
Boys will preview the fair during library sessions on Monday and Tuesday. Any orders placed after this time will be delivered the following week to classrooms. Probationary Prefects for next year were announced, and today our 2024 Prep and Year 4 students began their transition program while the Class of 2023 had their final day of schooling before Valedictory celebrations. Yesterday we reflected on the Anzac’s in our Anzac Day Chapel and honoured those who fought for our way of life. This is always a moving service perhaps highlighted by the marching in of the recently found cannon. Many thanks to Father Waterhouse and our guest speaker, Mr. Justin Stark, for delivering a wonderful service.
New students will be allocated to a House from one of the 8 Houses as a part of their commencement at BGS. With growing enrolments, we believe that this expansion will help ensure all students feel an integral part of their Houses and provide a smaller tutor group setting. With over 15 years of experience, Josh is well-known for his innovative teaching strategies and dedication to student wellbeing. Named for Francis Balfour-Melville – an exceptional academic student, who graduated from Cambridge and the University of Melbourne with First Class Honours.
Ongoing education and communication to staff will be made via a yearly briefing at an employee professional learning day. Yesterday we held our Remembrance Day service, and we were again impressed by how respectful the boys are in Chapel, particularly as we have many Old Boys attend this annual event. The JPG will again be offering an end of term lunch for the ELC and Junior School boys on Thursday 6 April 2023.