Grammar School in Brighton

At the Founder’s Day Chapel Service, Pendennis Chapter Old Boys joined students and staff to celebrate our  anniversary. Inspired by our history, House Captains rose to the challenge of the annual Beat the Buzzer quiz, with Crowther House as ultimate victors. “There is no current risk to the staff and students with the management controls that are in place. The areas of contamination at the school are covered and not accessible,” according to a spokesman.
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.

Awake marks a new phase in the Capstone program, as we approach the First Horizon we challenge the Year 10s to build a deeper connection to who they are and begin to consider who they want to become. This program focuses on developing new ways to tuning in to ourselves, building awareness, of our surroundings, our emotions, our needs and of things that might be holding us back. It’s about learning how to respond thoughtfully, rather than reacting to our emotions.
The Junior School Presentation Night will be held on Thursday 30 November at Monash University – Clayton Campus, Robert Blackwood Hall from 7.00pm. The commonality between these days is for boys and men to lead by example and work toward creating a safer and more gender-equitable future – both key tenets of our work in the positive masculinity space. I recommend this post by Dr Ray Swann on our strengths-based approach to working with boys in schools.

Raffle tickets will be  on sale from Monday 20 March until Tuesday 4 April. Prep – Year 6 will be able to purchase from the playground before school or by  placing tickets in an envelope in the box at reception. Prof Englar-Carlson and I were both interviewed on ABC Radio’s Drive earlier this week about our Positive Masculinity program at BGS.
Jenson Galvin, James Mitchell, James Tan and Matthew Westerman did the school proud as ambassadors at the event and have done a fantastic job mentoring Lunar and Phantom throughout the year. To assist us, we ask parents of our multi-generational BGS boys to complete the ‘BGS Generations form’ so that the School can acknowledge our current second-, third- and fourth-generation BGS boys. At the beginning of the year, staff will host a Parent information evening and discuss ways in which you can be involved in your son’s learning.

There has been some positive individual and team performances across the board over the first few weeks, while we have faced some challenges with Melbourne’s inclement weather . The mother of one of the vilified 12-year-old girls, who called herself "Jane", told ABC radio she did not blame the school for the incident, but held the boys' parents responsible. Brighton Grammar has expelled two senior students who set up an Instagram account that featured photos of young girls and invited people to vote for the "slut of the year".
At the Urwin Centre, boys will benefit from the renovation of the outdoor areas planned for the holiday break, which, from the beginning of next year, will provide them with additional spaces for play and socialising. Brighton Town Council issued a medal in 1897 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria . Brighton at that time had a population of 9,373 in an area of 3,288 acres. Its local economy included manufacturing, floriculture and horticulture, with tourism already a strong mainstay. A 'Special Survey' in the vicinity of the future Brighton, bounded by the coastline, North Road, East Boundary Road and South Road, was sold to Henry Dendy in 1841.
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.

Be part of our learn to swim program incorporating a range of aquatic disciplines, fitness and fun in our indoor facility. John Gray Scholarship holders are expected to complete their secondary education at BGS. That is why teenagers don’t always respond to situations with good judgement or an awareness of long-term consequences. The following tip sheet provides parents with some facts about the adolescent brain and how to best communicate with teenagers. Registrations are open for Connor’s Run and Brighton Grammar is taking part in the School Challenge.
MITS is a Year 7 transition school in Melbourne for Indigenous students from remote and regional communities. With a Year 6 exchange and Year 9 immersion programs, our boys have two opportunities to travel to Thaayorre Country and immerse themselves in the remote Cape York community of Pormpuraaw. Both teams were new at F1 at the start of 2022 and they both performed with distinction at last weeks’ event held over 5 days at the Penrith Panthers League Club. BGS boys understand there are many component parts of every boy and successful man. These component parts are represented within our student community as the ‘archetypes’ – the magician, sage, warrior and caregiver. More broadly, the terms ‘Creating, Learning, Playing, Being’ are recognised as strategic pillars that guide much of what we do at BGS.