Newsletter
Week 2 Term 1

BGS Effective Thinking Cultures

It is important to establish effective classroom routines with our students at the start of each school year. At BGS, teachers dedicate much of their time to this pursuit as it pays significant learning dividends down the track. We also focus on supporting each boy’s development as an effective thinker and learner.

BGS Effective Thinking Cultures aims to develop each student’s thinking skills, building their capacity to apply their knowledge strategically and meet unanticipated challenges in various contexts. The end goal is to build each student’s capacity to be an independent and self-regulated life-long learner.

Consolidation and Preparation time

Effective thinking and learning capacities are developed over time through a school-wide culture that prioritises constant and intentional exposure to these skills. One of the ways BGS has done this is by introducing daily Consolidation and Preparation (CP) time: a period where students have time to make sense of their classroom experiences and plan the next steps in their learning.

In CP time, boys focus on effective strategies for consolidation, preparation and revision. Having the opportunity to develop and repeat these self-directed strategies in a dedicated, structured period encourages boys to develop productive personal and academic habits.

Consolidating means bringing learning together in a meaningful and coherent way. Activities that help consolidate learning include: using graphic organisers to represent understandings; reviewing and editing writing; undertaking exercises to check detail and increase precision; and identifying questions or uncertainties to seek assistance from peers or teachers.

Students may also spend CP time in preparation for upcoming lessons by reading, viewing and reviewing essential material or completing pre-quizzes. Preparation leads to more active and insightful engagement in learning activities and is essential to maximise learning, reduce anxiety and build good scholarly habits.

Revision is the third aspect of CP time. Building easily retrievable knowledge networks in long-term memory is a foundation of academic success. Until an idea or an understanding is stored in long-term memory, it has not been learned. Students are encouraged to regularly and repeatedly review consolidated ideas, procedures, and understandings to improve memory function.

This week, students were provided with a CP Time Student Handbook that details how the time can be used most productively. This information will be explored and reinforced in the coming weeks by CP teachers, Form Tutors and Heads of Year.

Parents can support their son’s engagement with CP time by showing an active interest in how and why he is using this time, and encouraging him to optimise the opportunity it presents.

University of Melbourne validation

At the end of last year, we received the 2021 Effective Thinking Cultures Evaluation Report – an internal assessment of our strategic approach and efforts to develop the quality of instructional practice in BGS classrooms to optimise learning and the development of our students as self-regulated learners.

Notably, we submitted the report for external evaluation to validate the rigour and integrity of its research methodology, findings and recommendations. We were privileged to engage with the Centre for Program Evaluation (CPE) at the University of Melbourne in this process.

It was affirming to receive their evaluation and positive endorsement for the quality of our report, along with their congratulations on our commitment and skill in the research process, particularly during the pandemic’s disruptive and challenging circumstances. This validates our strategic goal of building the School’s capacity as a learning organisation – a collective culture in which we seek to expand our capacity to continually improve through the evidence we collect about our teaching and our students’ learning.

Overall, the report provided a strong endorsement of our progress in developing cultures of effective thinking, as well as detailed recommendations for strategic focus in 2022.

2022 focus

This year, we will focus on improving the various structures and programs we have implemented over the past few years and allowing them to develop and mature. Among these is the Years 7 and 8 Applied Thinking subject and CP time for all our students.

We will also maintain a strong focus on professional learning activities for teachers. These activities build their theoretical understanding of the learning process and their skill in implementing learning strategies, particularly those evidenced to elicit student thinking.

A third focus will be to continue building the leadership capacity of our academic middle leaders, who are vital to ongoing improvement and innovation in our educational program.  

We are proud of our progress in developing and implementing our Effective Thinking Cultures, and we are determined to build on it.

Home-based Learning

I have often written about the positive impact a strong partnership between parents and school can have on student outcomes. This partnership can be the magic ingredient for success.

Recently, I read an excellent article focusing on parents' role in home-based learning. It covered important aspects of success in this area and how the support of parents was crucial to positive outcomes. I sincerely thank all parents for your commitment during home-based learning. The School's efforts in creating comprehensive home-based learning would not have had the same success without your support.

When speaking to students about their progress at school, I often say, "when it works, it is your fault, and when it doesn't work, it is your fault". They like the idea that when they succeed, they too are responsible for the outcome. As teachers and parents, we support the boys to help them improve their approach. I congratulate and thank students and staff for last week's home-based learning.

Old Boy Tutors

Old Boy tutor details are available via each year level section of MyGrammar. Boys are welcome to approach listed tutors as required. More tutors will be added once recently graduated Old Boys have completed their child protection training. Note, sessions in The Lilley Centre are not permitted until after Friday 4 March.

Director of Boarding
Berian Williams-Jones

Boarding redevelopments completed

Harlin House was formally re-opened on Sunday afternoon. The ceremony marked the completion of a significant project that transformed Harlin House into a modern home for boys in Years 9 to 12 and created a specialised house for Middle School boarders.

Many boarding schools across Australia have seen substantial changes over the last two decades, moving away from spartan facilities and self-initiated recreation programs. Most have invested in revising cultural and recreational programs to provide a rich and diverse experience outside of the classroom. Facilities are one part of the key that can enrich these experiences and encourage a sense of belonging.

Thanks to the generous support of donors including Old Boy Matt McLennan '86 and the P&F Auxiliary, BGS was able to produce a $5 million redevelopment that offers leading boarding facilities, reflecting our aspiration to be the leading school for boys in Australia. To my knowledge, there is not a facility that compares to it in Queensland.

What pleases me the most is being able to offer our boarders the very best possible living environment. Harlin and Griffith Houses have been designed to provide a private space for each boy, allowing them to thrive as members of our community. Rooms in Harlin House are completely enclosed, and the open-air rooms in Griffith House have privacy doors for age-appropriate care.

It was a privilege to be invited to unveil the plaque at the Harlin House Re-Opening Ceremony alongside BGS Board of Trustees member Mr Stephen Bizzell '84. I am glad to be able to add to the rich history and legacy of boarding at BGS.

The re-opening of Harlin House coincided with welcoming a new cohort of boarders. They enjoyed an action-packed Orientation Program over the weekend and quickly settled into their new home. I sincerely thank the BGS Boarding team for their contributions to the program and the 2022 Boarding Prefects for their inspirational leadership. See photos below. 

The start of term has also seen some new staff join BGS Boarding. Welcome to Assistant Head of Boarding and Head of Harlin House Mr Tim Fulton, Houseparent Mrs Debbie Cross, Boarding Tutor Mr Patrick Last, Activities Tutor Mr Chris Wigell, and Residential Supervisors Ms Elizabeth Jackson, Mr Adrian Lomas and Mr Harry Higgins. I look forward to sharing a more detailed insight into boarding staff in the coming weeks.       

Director of Student Wellbeing Programs
Philippa Douglas

Welcome to all new students and families who start their BGS journey in 2022, and our returning community members. There are many exciting opportunities for students who wish to participate in the various Student Wellbeing programs this year.

Public Purpose

The Public Purpose program gives boys opportunities to contribute to their community. The program is designed to foster student leadership and is project-based.

More information is available via MyGrammar, including a summary of projects on offer in Semester 1 and contact details for the corresponding teacher coordinator.

Students wishing to be involved in Public Purpose activities must complete the relevant sign-on surveys, which can be accessed via MyGrammar in the Wellbeing > Public Purpose section.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms Crystal Thompson at crystal.thompson@brisbanegrammar.com.

Gender Respect Project Group (Public Purpose)

The Gender Respect Project Group is open to boys in Years 9 to 12. It provides an opportunity for boys to safely discuss a range of topical issues and educate the BGS community about gender differences and inequalities, the importance of developing respectful relationships, and finding solutions for a more equal and just world. For more information, please contact me at philippa.douglas@brisbanegrammar.com. Sign on for the Gender Respect Project Group here.

Student Reconciliation Committee

The Student Reconciliation Committee is open to boys in Years 5 to 12 and aims to educate the BGS community about the significant issues Indigenous Australians face. This is an action-based group involved in planning and running projects to advance and facilitate reconciliation at BGS. We already have a number of projects lined up for this year. For more information, please email Ms Crystal Thompson at crystal.thompson@brisbanegrammar.com and sign on here.

External Public Purpose service recognition

While the School offers a diverse range of Public Purpose experiences, students across all year levels are encouraged to seek other opportunities outside of BGS. For participation to be officially acknowledged on school records, students will be required to document their service within the guidelines of the School’s Public Purpose critical reflection framework. This can be found in the Public Purpose News section of MyGrammar, along with a summary of the program.

SchoolTV

SchoolTV is a great resource. There are two editions that are relevant at this time of year: school transitions and surviving Year 12.

• School transitions is suitable for all parents, whether they have a son starting in Middle School, a teen transitioning to Senior School, or a child starting at a new school.
• Surviving Year 12 offers parents advice on how to help their young adult survive and get through the final year at school with guidance on how to minimise the impact on family life.

Acting Director of Counselling and Academic Services
Dr Nathan Simmons

Ms Dale Nicholas is on well-deserved leave, so students and families will be hearing from Ms Jo Baxendell and me quite regularly across the course of this term.

Year 12 Post-School Planning Conversations

We will advise students when their Tutor Group has their appointment window to see us. Please note that there is no advantage or disadvantage in being seen first or last. Everyone will be seen; this process takes time across three terms.

Students will be issued an appointment link where they may choose one of the available slots in the timeframe allocated to their Tutor Group. It is the students’ responsibility to click on the link emailed to them and book in a time. Students will have a two-week window to book in for their initial conversation.

Overseas Study Options

Later in the year, we will host information sessions for US and UK options with guest speakers where available. Ms Baxendell looks after all UK applicants, and I look after all US applicants. Specific guidelines on all required documents are set for student to assist with on-time applications. International applications involve additional requirements and alternative deadlines.

QTAC

We intend to host a Zoom session later in the year where QTAC will go through their application process. This is a great opportunity for Year 12 students and families to hear from QTAC directly and ask any relevant questions. It is a night not to be missed.

Medicine Applicants

BGS is hosting an online medicine information session on Friday 18 February from 7.00am to 8.00am.

Representatives from James Cook University, Griffith University and The University of Queensland will outline medicine program options at their respective institutions. Instructions on how to register for this event will be emailed to Year 12 parents/caregivers early next week.

This session will be held in conjunction with BGGS and will be the only medicine specific event held this year.

NSW and ACT University Admissions Centre (UAC) Year 12 online conference

UAC Digital is presenting their annual Year 12 conference on Tuesday 26 April. This event should be attended by students interested in attending university in NSW or the ACT in 2023.

The conference is designed to outline different degree options across many universities, in addition to exploring scholarship and accommodation options.

Details:

• Tuesday 26 April 2022
• 6.00pm to 7.45pm
• Register: Year 12 Conference (easywebinar.live)

Orientation Program and establishing routines

The Middle School bounced back to life this week as boys returned to campus. It was wonderful to witness their excitement and enthusiasm as they reunited with friends, navigated their new social spaces and settled into new classes. Years 5 and 7 students participated in a two-day orientation program intentionally designed to establish social connections, build positive classroom culture, and familiarise the boys with their new surroundings.

Establishing productive classroom routines was also a priority this week. Our teachers will continue to reinforce these over the remainder of Term 1. Routines play an important role in maximising learning time, developing organisational skills and promoting independence.

I strongly encourage boys to develop consistent and effective home learning routines from the outset. Helpful tips for the boys include:

• Creating a weekly timetable and scheduling ‘home learning’ time each day.
  • Years 5 and 6: 30 minutes per day
  • Years 7 and 8: 45 – 60 minutes per day

• Checking their Student Journal to prioritise the home learning activities to be completed that day. Using the ‘due date’ column in the Student Journal helps the boys to prioritise activities.

• Setting up an organised and well-resourced physical space that is free from distractions.

• Checking their timetable then organising any materials required for the next day - for example, instruments, cricket bags and PE uniforms. Packing his school bag the night before alleviates the morning rush and minimises the chance of forgotten items.

Helping boys to develop an increased sense of responsibility and independence is a key goal of middle schooling at BGS. Establishing and practising productive routines at home and school is one way this goal can be achieved.

Over the next few weeks, Form Tutors will be contacting parents to check how each boy is settling into his new class. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your son’s Form Tutor or Head of Year if any concerns arise.

Enthusiastic boys have returned to school and found their way to the BGS Libraries. All three spaces have been filled with students eager to find old friends and make new ones, as well as grab a book or three to borrow. Break times have seen boys glued to the Winter Olympics as well as reading, playing games and finding a nice, welcoming space.

Years 5 and 7 classes have undergone orientation sessions where they learned how we operate at BGS. Each boy left with a book and gifts to mark the occasion. Year 5 boys received a BGS Library bag containing bookmarks, pens and information brochures.

All Middle School boys should have borrowed a book by now to read during English and Library lessons. There is a strong reading culture in the Middle School, championed by teachers and teacher librarians who work together to support the boys in their reading journeys.

Vicki Palmer
Teacher Librarian

Senior Dramatic Production

The 2022 BGS Theatre season has taken off with the reveal of our Senior Dramatic Production, Lord of the Flies.

A world on the brink of war. A plane crash. A deserted island.
In the absence of rules [and adults] the fragility of humanity is exposed.
Will you hunt or be hunted?

Many Years 11 and 12 students auditioned for roles in the production this week. The Creative Team was impressed with the talent, risk taking and preparation on display across the auditions. Thank you to everyone who participated in auditions this year, particularly with our adjusted return to campus plans.

We are looking forward to casting and beginning rehearsals next week.

Follow @grammarplay.bgs on Instagram for updates and behind the scenes footage.

Patrick Last and Naomi Russell
Senior Dramatic Production Creative Team

A new year of music-making is underway, and I am delighted to hear the sounds of rehearsals each morning and afternoon. I am optimistic about the return of concerts and festivals this year and look forward to all community members being part of the fun.

Below are photos of the 2021 Lessons and Carols. Note, some photos are still available for parents; please contact the BGS Music Office on 07 3834 5370 or music@brisbanegrammar.com for more information.

Music Tuition

Private lessons have started with group lessons this coming week. If you are yet to enrol for the year, it is not too late. Contact the BGS Music Office on 07 3834 5370 or music@brisbanegrammar.com.

Rehearsals

Most instrumental ensembles commenced rehearsals this week. Choir auditions have been running, with all choirs rehearsing next week.

Remember, there is a choir suitable for anyone who wants to sing; simply turn up to the Music Auditorium either on Thursday at 3.15pm for Vocal Group (unchanged voices) or Monday at 7.00am for Grammar Vocal Ensemble (changed voices).

COVID protocols

Boys are asked to:

• avoid gathering in large groups
• wear masks before and after rehearsals
• not share equipment/instruments
• use excellent hand hygiene and coughing practices
• stay at home if unwell

Note, choirs will be rehearsing with masks for the next three weeks.

Music Support Group | Meetings and AGM

The hard-working parents in the Music Support Group continue to raise money and support our young musicians, despite the lack of parent events. The first Music Support Group meeting is on Wednesday 16 February (7.00pm via Zoom) and the Annual General Meeting is at 6.00pm Wednesday 16 March (String Room and via Zoom). If you have any questions, please email support.music@brisbanegrammar.com.

Date Claimers

• Upper Intermediate Strings Festival: Monday 21 and Wednesday 23 February (after school)
• Music Soiree and Support Group Social: Friday 18 March (evening)
• Intermediate Concert #1: Thursday 28 April (6.00pm)
• Intermediate Concert #2: Thursday 5 May
• Grammar Community in Concert: Saturday 28 May at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music

The Senior Strings Festival has been postponed to Term 3.

Peter Ingram
Head of Music

Director of P.E., Sport and Activities
John Clancy

Sportsmanship

The BGS Cocurricular program aims to engage boys in a range of activities throughout their schooling while developing their appreciation for sports.

Increasingly, data analysis has been applied to many schools' Cocurricular programs to justify roles and jobs, creating a ‘win at all cost’ mentality. Unfortunately, this can result in sacrificing good sportsmanship in order to gain a competitive edge.

Sports and activity should be enjoyable for all, and at BGS, sportsmanship is always rewarded over results. An admirable sportsman embodies fairness, ethics, respect and a sense of fellowship, and these qualities shine in the best sportsman during a loss. Boys are encouraged to pursue their own version of excellence while exemplifying sportsmanship.

I wish to reinforce the following points for boys representing BGS this weekend and throughout the year:

• respect the rights of fellow players, opposing players, coaches, and officials
• care for and respect the facilities and equipment provided
• maintain a high level of personal standards concerning behaviour, language and punctuality
• abide by the rules of the game and honour all decisions of officials
• ensure behaviour, comments and spectating is respectful of all and is positive and supportive.

A reminder that communication should initially be directed to the individual coach or the program director. MyGrammar will be continually updated with information for each program.

Involvement in BGS Sports and Activities

What you can do:

• stay up-to-date with information by checking the Cocurricular section of MyGrammar
• sign on to sports via links listed un each sport in MyGrammar when they become available (this usually occurs via a Forms survey in Office 365)
• install the BGS App on your phone so that push notifications can advise of any adjustments e.g. Weather interruptions
• avoid sending impulsive emails
• encourage boys to accept tough decisions, especially when it comes to team selections
• foster lifelong learning by encouraging boys to seek advice on how to improve
• remember that selection is an ongoing process, which may see boys move up and down during the season and from year to year

What we do:

• program design and coaching with a focus on accountability and alignment
• provide high-quality coaching within a considered curriculum
• provide transparency to assist a fair and thorough trial and selection process

A reminder to follow the BGS Cocurricular Facebook and BGS Cocurricular Instagram. Good luck all boys competing this weekend.

BGS cricketers undertook a comprehensive preseason, with an Annual Cricket Camp, Specialist Clinics, trials against interstate oppositions, and a round of internal fixtures during the bye round. This prepared BGS cricketers well to take on Brisbane State High School last weekend.

In a COVID modified start to the GPS season, only A teams in Years 7 to 12 competed in the first two rounds. BSHS has a strong cricket program, which was evident with many hotly contested fixtures.

The 11A and 9A teams had their totals reeled in with only a handful of overs remaining. The 8A team was on track at the halfway mark in their large run chase and the 10A team batted into a strong position only to see a middle order collapse put pay to their innings.

The BGS 7A team cruised to victory in their match, bowling BSHS out for 86 runs before knocking the total off for the loss of only four wickets.

Our Year 12s recorded victories in all matches contested. Interestingly, all BGS teams bowled first in their matches and restricted BSHS to scores around 100 runs. Each team went about their run chase, demonstrating maturity and calm under pressure to easily account for the totals with nearly 10 overs to spare.

Overall, the round was evenly shared, with BGS recording wins in four of the eight GPS matches contested. The major highlight came in the Third XI fixture, where Year 12 student Sid Nair picked up a hattrick. He finished the match with figures of 6/8 off 6 overs: a remarkable spell worthy of Player of the Round.

Round 1 notable performances:

• Hamish Mackay (7A) – 3/7 (6)
• Angus Tolhurst (First XI) – 40 not out
• Sid Nair (Third XI) – 6/8 (6) – including a hattrick

Welcome and thank you to our new Saturday Northgate Canteen Convenor Sue Boughen, who is sure to be appreciating the slower line pace of Cricket compared to Rugby. Thank you to all parents who selflessly gave up their time to volunteer in the canteen over the last two weekends. It would be great to see some new faces over the coming weeks, so please consider volunteering for a few hours when your sons play at Northgate to help share the load.

Thank you to Sean Rothwell and the Willow Club for their generous donation of a new bowling machine and iPads, which will be used for technical video analysis at training and electronic scoring on Saturdays.

This weekend will be our first round with all teams playing. Best of luck to the boys as they take on Gregory Terrace. As always, I encourage all cricketers to play hard but play the game in good spirits.

Fencing sign on 

The 2022 Fencing sign-on survey will be available via MyGrammar and the Daily Bulletin next Monday 14 February. Students must sign-on using their BGS login. Parents are not able to do this on their behalf. Sign-on closes Wednesday 2 March. 

If Middle School students need help completing the form, they should see Ms Ragen in MS203 at Break 2 (12.55pm) on Wednesday 16 February or Friday 18 February.

Parent Information Evening

Parents are invited to attend the online Fencing Parent Information Evening via Teams on Tuesday 22 February from 7.00pm to 8.00pm. A link will be available soon.

Fencing trials

Trials for the BGS First IV and Year 10A will be held from Monday 14 March to Friday 18 March in the BGS Indoor Sports Centre. Boys who wish to trial will receive more information about their bout times once sign-on closes.  

Important dates

• Whites hire will be held from Monday 7 March to Friday 11 March.  
• Fencing Easter Camp will be held from Monday 11 to Wednesday 13 April.

We are still working with Queensland Fencing Association to make sensible judgements about fencing fixtures and the Term 2 Brisbane School Teams Competition. Parents and fencers will be notified as information becomes available. 

Melanie Chin
Fencing Director

The second GPS Rowing regatta was held last Saturday 5 February.

Strong winds created challenging racing conditions. Although starting well, many BGS crews struggled to capitalise on their efforts, either falling behind or enduring a mishap with the oars or boats. Despite this, boys and coaches should be proud of the resolve shown throughout the day.

Year 9 boys battled through the conditions, learning plenty about the importance of their bladework and boatmanship to produce great results. Congratulations to the Year 9 Fourth Quad on their gutsy win, the Seventh Quad on a hard-fought second place and the First, Third and Sixth quads on resilient fourth place results. Conditions intensified at the end of Round 1, leading to the cancellation of all Round 2 Year 9 races.

In Round 1, most Year 10 crews struggled to get on the podium due to some boat-stopping incidents. They improved in Round 2 to secure six podium finishes across the seven quads.

Year 11 and Open crews all enjoyed tough fought contests, although they were unable to capitalise on good starts. Year 11 boys finished with three fifth places and a sixth place. The Opens had two sixth place and two fifth place results. In Round 2, the Open First VIII demonstrated their potential near the line, rowing through a strong Nudgee crew to beat them by 0.38s.

Well done to Luca Porfyriou for filling in for a Year 9 Nudgee crew on the weekend and the Year 11 Second VIII boys who invited a Nudgee and Brisbane State High School rower into the crew to form a composite boat for Round 2. This was wonderful sportsmanship demonstrated by all boys.

The draw for GPS Regatta 3 (Saturday 12 February) can be found on MyGrammar.

Matt Marden
Rowing Director

Swimming

BGS swimmers recorded some solid swims at the second GPS meet of the season last Friday and were back in the pool shortly after for a busy week of training.

With only three weeks until the GPS Swimming Championships, it is crucial for boys to attend regular training sessions and lead-up meets. Race practice and relay changeovers will be a high priority over the coming weeks.

BGS Swimming Championships (Years 5 to 12)

Nominations are open for the annual BGS Swimming Championships, held after school at Chandler Aquatic Centre next Wednesday 16 February.

The School Championships are a great opportunity for the swimming team to practice their racing skills and record times that will be used for team selection later in the season. Trophies are awarded on Speech Day to boys who attain the most points in their age group (based on birth year). Boys who are keen to compete for Age Champion are encouraged to enter into all events to maximise their points during the afternoon.

Swimmers in Year 5 to 12 who wish to compete must complete this survey by 5.00pm Sunday 13 February.

Buses will transport all swimmers to and from Chandler. Parents are welcome to attend the event.

Transport to and from Chandler – BGS School Swimming Championships

• 3.10pm: Boys meet at the front of BGS
• 3.20pm: Bus leaves for Chandler
• 3.50pm: Boys arrive at Chandler
• 7.30pm: Championships conclude
• 7.45pm: Boys depart Chandler
• 8.15pm: Boys arrive back at BGS (a notification will be sent via the BGS App when the bus departs Chandler)

Matt Logan
Swimming Director

Future Problem Solving competition sign on Year 7 to 12

BGS is again competing in Future Problem Solving (FPS), an international academic competition that runs all year. Brisbane Girls Grammar School students will be working with us for this activity.

Meetings will be held from Week 3 on Tuesday afternoons from 3.15pm to 4.15pm in CB103/4. All are invited to attend this meeting to find out more about the program.

Places are limited and competitive. All applicants must complete the application form here.

We are focusing on experienced FPS students from Years 7 to 12, but all interested students are encouraged to apply. Students should investigate the FPS Australia website and explore the Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS) program for more details.

If you have any questions, please contact me at simon.canfield@brisbanegrammar.com.

Simon Canfield
FPS Queensland State Convenor

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics signup

Students in Years 7 to 12 are invited to nominate for a place in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics competition teams. FTC Robotics is a competitive activity, and our aim is to have teams compete at the National Finals again this year.

New and existing students must complete the online application form here. We are holding an information session in CB103/4 on Wednesday lunchtime next week. Regular Robotics sessions are Wednesday lunchtimes in CB103 and after school each Wednesday in Bread House (across the road from BGGS) until 4.15pm.

FTC Robotics is a competitive activity where teams around Australia and the world compete in challenges. In Semester 1, we will be preparing for Freight Frenzy. Some team members may also enter MegaBot Madball.

There will be new challenges in Semester 2. Students will work in teams to design, build, code and drive robots based on competition guidelines.

National Robotics Competition Preparation

BGS Robotics students were scheduled to compete in the FTC State Robotics competition in November, which was rescheduled to early February. Unfortunately, teams around the country cannot compete in person so a virtual National Final has been formulated. Our five teams are finalising their robots for the event which takes place in late February. This game is called Freight Frenzy, and robots must navigate a complex transportation system by traversing barriers and racing against time to load and deliver essential items to those who need them most.

Old Boy Roboticist

BGS Old Boy Harold Walsh ’07 joined us for a build day during the holidays. Harold works with multinational technology company Softbank and spends a lot of his time in robotics. He kindly shared his knowledge and industry experience with our boys and with visitors from BGGS and St Peters Lutheran College.

Harold also brought along a Nao robot. This humanoid robot has some clever technology, including object recognition and fall recovery; it can even dance. Some of our senior students took the opportunity to ask Harold about career pathways. Our teams were inspired by meeting a roboticist, and it helped to spur them on in the lead up to the FTC National Finals.

Simon Canfield
Robotics Coordinator

Acts of service

Last Sunday, four students sacrificed their weekend sleep-in. They rose early to join the Ashgrove Bushcare Group in their endeavour to regain control over excessive weed growth along Enoggera Creek. Due to all the rain in the past weeks, Enoggera creek was full of water, but the weeds were abundant.

We pulled out an impressive amount of weeds, with the most bothersome weed undoubtedly being the cobbler’s peg. Its prickly reminders will likely be sticking to our clothes for a while. Luckily, the only creatures we encountered were some interesting looking caterpillars, spiders and a toad.

Thanks to James Fearon (Year 11), Tim Waller (Year 11), Nick Kelso (Year 8) and Thor Loch-Wilkinson (Year 7) for helping out the community on a Sunday morning. Well done, boys.

Beate Poida
Greening Grammar Coordinator

Last Saturday, BGS Volleyball hosted matches against Brisbane State High School. Each player in the Open and A level teams looked to demonstrate a winning mindset, take account of their actions and become the ultimate teammate.

It was amazing to see new players in our 7A team navigate their first match in the GPS competition. It was impressive to watch how quickly each player transferred training skills to match performance, making progress with every touch of the ball. We look forward to seeing this team develop across the season. It is clear the future is very bright.

My top three moments from last Saturday are:

• seeing the stands full of BGS students for the First VI match
• the positive approach all BGS players took – win, lose or draw
• the echo of the BGS war cry after every win

This week, we are excited to have all 22 BGS teams enter the competition as we take on a consistently strong Gregory Terrace program.

Rhys Cox
Volleyball Director and Head Coach

The P&F Auxiliary is a subcommittee of the P&F Association that facilitates fundraising and fosters parent fellowship and the sense of strong community at Brisbane Grammar School. All profits are returned to the School to enhance the experience for students and families.

The Tuckshop and Grammar Shop are currently operating cash-free, so please plan accordingly. Safety guidelines regarding social distancing and hand sanitising will continue in both locations. 

Tuckshop

Open weekdays before school and during breaks.

The Tuckshop re-opens on Monday 7 February before school and during both breaks with its usual selection of hot food, fresh salads, wraps, rolls and drinks.

The BGS Card is the only payment method. Please add funds to your Student ID card here (MyGrammar > MyStudent > BGS Card). 

Grammar Shop

Open weekdays from 7.30am to 11.00am.

BACKORDERED SEQUEL BOOKS

Spanish textbooks and magazine racks from Sequel Books are currently on backorder. These items will be delivered directly to the School to avoid further delays.

PAYMENT and ONLINE ORDERS

Purchases can be made in-store and online using Visa, Mastercard or your BGS Card account, which can be accessed here. Please ensure funds are available for students before they come to make purchases.

Once you are in the BGS Card system, the online store can be accessed by clicking the ‘Grammar Shop Online’ link at the top centre of the screen.

embroidery

If you have placed embroidery and online orders, please collect them as soon as possible during opening hours. All new senior hats and hats submitted for repair last year are now available for collection in the Grammar Shop. 

Joanne Villiers
P&F Auxiliary

Tuckshop +61 7 3834 5229
Grammar Shop +61 7 3834 5347
Roster Secretary Lana Szumowski - auxiliaryvolunteers@brisbanegrammar.com

Grammar Shop hours
Weekdays 7.30am – 11.00am

Tuckshop hours
Weekdays 7.00am – 2.00pm

Due to social distancing, we can only have three volunteers for breakfast and six volunteers for morning tea and lunch.

The Normanby Blues Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 21 February from 6.30pm to 8.00pm at the Normanby Hotel.

We would be delighted if interested Middle School Rugby parents considered nominating for the Normanby Blues Committee. The younger age groups are an important stakeholder in BGS Rugby and the work done by the committee today has the greatest impacts on boys going through the Senior School in the future.

Anyone with an interest in the Rugby program is more than welcome to attend. We are particularly keen to hear from anybody willing to take up the Secretary role.

Items of business will be:

• 2021 Normanby Blues highlights
• Treasurer’s 2021 report
• Post investment review of 2021 catalyst purchase
• Table 2022 budget
• Normanby Blues resignations/appointments of the 2022 office bearers (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary)
• Decision on which 2022 Suncorp game to promote as the BGS Rugby Family and Friends event.

We look forward to a great year in BGS Rugby and welcoming in the 2022 Normanby Blues Committee.

Jonte Lowe
President Normanby Blues
jonathon.lowe@bhp.com
0411 476 472

The P&F Auxiliary AGM will be held on Wednesday 2 March at 9.00am online via Microsoft Teams.  

All current BGS parents are welcome to attend, and if you would like to do so, please RSVP by email to the P&F Auxiliary Secretary Kate Rutter (katerutter8@gmail.com) by 5.00pm on Monday 28 February. Kate will distribute a meeting link to attendees on Tuesday 1 March.

All voluntary positions will be declared vacant. Nomination forms are available on request from Kate and completed forms should be returned by Thursday 24 February to Kate or the P&F Auxiliary Office located at the Grammar Shop.

Please direct further enquiries to Kate.

Kate Rutter 
Auxiliary Secretary 
katerutter8@gmail.com

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

Term 1
Tuesday 25 January - Friday 1 April

Term 2
Wednesday 20 April - Friday 17 June

Term 3
Tuesday 12 July - Friday 16 September

Term 4
Tuesday 4 October - Friday 25 November