Newsletter
Week 3 Term 1

Class of 2021 academic results

The outstanding academic outcomes of the Class of 2021 were built on their consistent application of learning, despite numerous challenges and disruptions. Their impressive QCE subject scores show boys remained focused and improvement-orientated right through to their final external examination.

The median ATAR 95.30 reflects the depth and commitment of the Class of 2021’s collective scholarly achievement.

I commend and acknowledge the excellent performance of the many young BGS men who earned over $1.3 million total in scholarships to study at leading tertiary institutions around the nation, including four prestigious Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships to The University of Queensland.

ATARs and scaling explained

ATARs are one of many measures available to recognise academic excellence; albeit, the QCE subject scores truly capture the serious study and effort undertaken over the two senior years.

The intended purpose of ATAR – the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank – is to rank students solely for university entry. After their first year of study at university, a student’s ATAR is supplanted by their GPA for future course applications. Students should regard their ATAR not as an outcome, but as a tool with a very specific purpose and use-by date. Once a student commences further study, many other pathways and opportunities continue to open up. The breadth and depth of a BGS education then proves durable and valuable as our young men move further into their professional lives and careers.

ATARs are calculated by QTAC based on a student’s QCE performance, scored as a result out of 100 for each subject. Universities require a specific entrance rank because there are more applicants than places available. In Queensland, the ATAR is the new mechanism for rationing and assigning limited places, replacing the OP, which itself replaced the TE.

There has been much ill-informed commentary about the ‘weighting’ of subjects and various rank pros and cons that follow a student’s subject selections. It is important and timely to provide an educative ‘fact check’: subjects are not weighted and there is not a hierarchy of syllabuses.

QTAC uses the process of scaling subject results to assist in developing granular ranks demanded by universities to prioritise entry to the places available. Furthermore, the availability of places in high demand courses such as medicine and law continues to narrow with school leavers competing against older entrants.

Universities use very fine variations in rank to assign a small number of places in the most popular courses. ATARs provide the finer variations in rank required through the annual process of scaling. Each year’s scaling process involves identifying subjects taken by students who have performed more highly overall in their studies and then adjusting all subject means accordingly. Therefore, the scaling parameters are unique each year and are directly dependent on who is enrolled in a subject and how well they have performed across all of their other subjects. In very simple terms, scaling arranges subjects according to the total academic performance of all the students in Queensland enrolled in that subject.

Our advice to students entering senior years remains consistent: create a course of study for yourself that is balanced, meets prerequisites and, most importantly, includes subjects you enjoy and in which you will find success. The QCAA and QTAC endorse this advice as it represents the surest path to a fulfilling senior schooling in terms of quality of experience and QCE-ATAR outcomes.

Our priority as educational leaders is to shift the conversation and emphasis from a single ATAR number to having every BGS student focus on his quality of learning to create a lifelong learning culture. I encourage parents to reinforce this message with their sons.

Excellence is only achieved by deliberate practice sustained day after day and not by speculative discussions of circumstances or events beyond our control. Each boy’s pursuit of excellence is different.

Our Year 12s start their mid-term assessment block in March, and it is a great opportunity for seniors to establish a firm foundation of IA results for 2022. I wish the Class of 2022 every success in their endeavours.

Infection control is a significant focus at BGS to assist with minimising the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible. BGS Staff are closely monitoring mask use and pedestrian flow around campus to ensure students follow the relevant protocols and directions. Classroom ventilation protocols and hygiene are also important components that enhance the safety of all staff and students.

Students are checked each morning at Tutor Group to ensure they are not displaying any symptoms that indicate they may be unwell. Any student deemed to be displaying unwell symptoms is sent to the BGS Health Centre and their parents or caregivers are asked to collect their son. I understand the challenges that go along with this direction and appreciate your support.

Further students have tested positive to COVID-19 this week and we continue to ensure appropriate measures, in accordance with Queensland Health guidelines, are taken to minimise the risk of further infections at school.

Click here to view a summary of what to do if a student feels unwell or tests positive for COVID-19. We encourage parents and caregivers to vaccinate your sons against COVID-19 if eligible.

The below information was shared with BGS parents and caregivers via email on Tuesday this week. I have included it as a reminder for parents.

COVID-19 Positive Cases

Appropriate measures, in accordance with Queensland Health guidelines, have been taken to minimise the risk of further infections at school. Please continue to:

• Monitor yourself and your family for COVID-19 symptoms.
• Stay home if displaying any symptoms or feeling unwell. You should attend your local Queensland Health testing clinics where students are prioritised to get a free rapid antigen test (RAT).
• Continue to follow all Queensland Health advice.
• If a potential positive case of COVID-19 is identified at school, the student will be isolated in the BGS Health Centre until he is able to travel home to quarantine. The student will be issued with a RAT kit to be used at home.
• If a student tests positive outside of school, they will be required to quarantine at home.
• If a household member tests positive, the student will be deemed a close contact and will be required to quarantine.

Student Absences

• Students and staff must not attend school if they are sick or showing symptoms of COVID-19. The usual processes for student absences continue – please email absences@brisbanegrammar.com.
• The School Marshals will send a short survey to parents of boys who are absent. This will allow the School to monitor COVID-19 cases.
• Parents should continue to send their sons to school unless he is unwell or is required to isolate.

Infection Control

• BGS students are required to wear masks except when eating, seated in their relevant playground area, or seated in a classroom. BGS staff will continue to be very particular that students accept responsibility for correctly following mask protocols.
• BGS teachers may remove their mask to teach.
• We encourage students and staff to use P2 or N95 masks.
• The School is implementing air quality measures to reduce the risk of respiratory infection in the classroom (e.g. ventilation protocols, air purifiers, adjustments to air conditioners, random CO₂ monitoring etc).

Teaching and Learning

BGS uses three technology applications to deliver curriculum and allow students to progress in their learning: Microsoft Teams (used for day-to-day lesson instructions and check-ins); One Note (used for class notes, resources and readings); and Canvas (used mainly for whole cohort outlines of units and assessment).

• Your son must open these applications every day to check for updates and directions. His class Team for each subject should be the first application he checks.
• If your son is absent from school, it is advisable – when he is able – to check-in via Teams Chat with his teachers to let them know his progress and seek clarification as required.
• It is important for students to let their class teachers know if they are well enough to participate in learning from home.

Boarding

BGS Boarding has instigated a routine testing procedure each Monday and Thursday afternoon. There have been no cases in the boarding houses during the past week, a testament to the way the boarders have embraced mask wearing and hygiene in both Griffith and Harlin Houses.

Cocurricular Sports and Music

Please continue to check information about individual sport and cultural programs on the relevant Cocurricular pages on MyGrammar and the BGS app.

Volunteer Vaccination Requirement

In accordance with Government directives, all community members who wish to engage as a BGS volunteer this year must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Evidence should be emailed to the School using this address: vax_status@brisbanegrammar.com.

Key Staff Contacts

There may be occasions when parents are uncertain of the School's position on certain matters. I encourage parents to contact the following SLT members to seek clarification as appropriate:

• Senior School matters: David Carroll
• Middle School matters: Rebecca Campbell
• Academic matters: Steve Uscinski
• Cocurricular matters: Greg Thorne

Further Information

Stay up to date by regularly checking the Queensland Government COVID-19 website.

 

Yours sincerely,

David Carroll
Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

View the below video showing construction progress on the BGS STEAM Precinct across the summer holidays.

For news and information on STEAM, visit @STEAM.education.BGS on Instagram, or the STEAM Precinct page on the BGS website.

Post World II Honour Board – call for information

Brisbane Grammar School has a long tradition of recognising the contribution of our Old Boys in the armed services. The Great Hall contains honour boards listing the names of those who served in the Boer War, World War I and World War II.

A fourth honour board recognises past students who served their country in the armed forces in operational areas after WWII. This board was established by the Old Boys’ Association in the 1990s.

BGS is running an information campaign to update the Post World War II service honour board. If you, or a relative of yours, served with the Army, Navy or Airforce we invite you to submit details so we can recognise that service.

Please complete the form here.

Student Wellbeing Cultural Projects

If you were present at 2021 BGS Speech Day or watched the event online, you would have heard the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Headmaster and the 2021 School Captain refer to three Cultural Projects that have been part of the Student Wellbeing Team tasks for the last 18 months.

The first and the most advanced is the Bullying Cultural Project. The School has partnered with Dr Karyn Healy – an expert in bullying prevention – to ensure the project is focused on an evidence-based approach when developing strategies to improve the environment of students.

The Respectful Relationship and Healthy Sexuality Cultural Project has been in progress for approximately 12 months. With the assistance of Dr Tessa Opie, BGS has evaluated its approach to this area and collected data representing the student voice. Associate Professor Michael Flood will also work with the Student Wellbeing Team later this year, covering topics relating to respectful relationship education and positive healthy masculinity.

The third Cultural Project focuses on Student Leadership Development and Selection Process. Associate Professor Fiona Kate Barlow will work with BGS towards the end of Term 1 to commence this project.

The three Cultural Projects are interconnected. Academics involved in each project are working together to ensure the best outcome for current and future students at the School. I have led various schools in student wellbeing since 1998, and this is the most exciting project I have been involved in during that time.

I will continue to provide updates about these Cultural Projects as they progress.

2022 Prefect Induction

On Friday last week, our 2022 Prefects were recognised at a special event at Victoria Park. The occasion was attended by many parents. It was a fantastic morning and a wonderful way to acknowledge our 2022 student leaders.

View a gallery of photos from the event via the School's photo management system, Pixevety. If this is your first time accessing Pixevety, please view the user guide, which provides instructions on how to access, navigate, search and download photos. The system uses single sign on and must be accessed via MyGrammar > Useful Links > Pixevety. Once activated, you will be prompted to enter a login email and password, but please do not attempt to login this way. Instead, go back to MyGrammar and click on Pixevety again. You can then view the photos by clicking on MyGrammar > Pixevety > Students > Prefect Induction Breakfast.

Director of Boarding
Berian Williams-Jones

Leadership in Boarding

Last Friday, it was my great privilege to present leadership badges to our Boarding Prefects at the Prefect Induction Ceremony, held at Victoria Park. While the surrounds lacked the typical formality and audience of Centenary Hall, the event was no less important or significant as the young men formally took up their office for the year.

Of course, leadership means different things in different contexts and there is certainly a difference between leadership in the day school to that in Boarding.

The prefects who lead our residential community have already made a considerable and significant contribution to Boarding through their leadership of the Boarding Orientation program. The three-day event, supported by various smaller sessions throughout the first week at school, is a demanding start to the year and one that requires a degree of commitment and fortitude. However, we do recognise that setting the tone from the start is very important and to the credit of Sam, Finn and the wider team, their input this year was first rate, and has been significant in supporting a large cohort of new students to adapt to Boarding.

Leadership is not limited to being a Boarding Prefect and there are many opportunities to lead throughout the School and in Boarding.

Our House Family tutor group structure provides outstanding opportunities for our seniors to lead younger boarders through the buddy structure and regular duties. Seeing our senior boys assist with laundry, attend prep and work alongside the Middle School students, and then to socialise in Griffith House is particularly heartwarming.

Equally, our Boarding Council structure sees each year group represented and provides a student voice regarding the residential program, the operation of the Dining Room and recreation and activities. This is a vitally important element of an empowered community, and a wonderful example of younger students having a leadership role.

Director of Student Wellbeing Programs
Philippa Douglas

Respectful Language

In today’s world, it is common to hear offensive language on the streets, social media, streaming services and in some forms of modern music. While swearing is becoming more common and less taboo, the use of derogatory language or the act of swearing at or about someone is a form of verbal violence. It transgresses the usual rules of social interaction by impinging on an individual’s self-image and sense of dignity.

It is becoming apparent that some young people are being influenced by the language they hear. Proliferating the use of swear words can sometimes normalise, glamorise and desensitise their impact on kids who may misunderstand the true meaning of some derogatory terms. While some students may use swearing or derogatory terms as a misguided attempt at belonging, others may use it simply because they are still learning how to moderate their language.

This Special Report offers a number of guidelines to help manage a suitable approach when discussing the importance of respectful language.

Acting Director of Counselling and Academic Services
Dr Nathan Simmons

Year 12 Assessment | Illness on the day of a test or during Year 12

Year 12 students who become ill or experience an adverse event at the time of assessment in Units 3 and 4 must obtain appropriate medical documentation to support any extension or application for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA).

There are key criteria for internal assessment:

• The illness or event must be unforeseen and beyond a student's control. Examples are illness, injury and funerals of close family members.
• The situation cannot be of the student’s own choice or that of their parents/guardians, such as family holidays.
• In the first instance, we are required to implement AARA at the school level. Students should apply for AARA using this form.

All requests must be accompanied by appropriate documentation. The School will then assess the application to decide if the Headmaster reports it to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) or if a formal AARA application to the QCAA needs to be made.

School approved absences

There are situations where a student may need to request a school approved absence. Examples are representing Australia at the Olympics and international university entrance examinations. The guidelines for these absences are complex and must be discussed with the School.

External examinations at the end of the year

If a student does not attend a scheduled QCAA external exam at the end of 2022, there are no possible alternative arrangements.

If a student is unable to complete an external exam, they must apply under illness and misadventure guidelines, and there are strict requirements for detailed medical documentation.

For non-medical claims, supporting documentation can come from authorities such as a police officer or social worker.

Any queries about the above can be directed to Director of Assessment and Reporting Mark Schumann (Mark.Schumann@brisbanegrammar.com) or me (Nathan.Simmons@brisbanegrammar.com).

Around a fire stoked by black wattle and eucalyptus from our Moogerah country, Mr Jon Hodges acknowledged the traditional custodians of the country on which we gather, Meanjin (Brisbane - Spring Hill), the Jagera and Turrbul people. This Smoking Ceremony, held on the Boarders’ Lawn last Friday, has become a tradition for our boarders to mark the beginning of their new year on campus. Each year, Mr Hodges brings boys together to pay their respects to our traditional custodians and sincerely wish one another the very best for the year that lies ahead of them as boarding brothers.

Mr Hodges shared the significance of the Smoking Ceremony with the boys as a sacred and spiritual part of Aboriginal lore and life. The ceremony is used to cleanse ourselves and the country of bad spirits and promote protection and wellbeing as we start our 2022 journey together.

As boys walked through the smoke of the fire, Mr Hodges challenged boys to think about how they intend to support and care for one another and their country in the coming year. He also reminded them of the many generations of Jagera and Turrbul men, women, and children, and BGS Boarders who have lived on and learned on this country before them.

Mr Hodges is a Brisbane Grammar School Outdoor Education Teacher and Loreman. His passion and knowledge for Aboriginal culture and history is highly regarded. We are very thankful for his efforts to share his knowledge and experience in this meaningful tradition for our boarders each year.

Crystal Thompson
Public Purpose Leader

At this week’s assembly, we announced our Semester 1 Class Captains. BGS School Captain Hamish Moss shared the seniors’ vision for 2022 and assisted with presenting our Class Captain badges. Congratulations to those who have been elected by their peers and teachers to represent their class.

Leadership is one of the core BGS values. All students are encouraged to practise leadership through ‘leading self’, ‘leading others’ and serving their communities in a variety of different ways.

Today, I reminded the boys that it does not take a badge to be a leader, and each of them can develop their leadership capacity through their daily words and actions. Simple gestures such as helping a classmate or staff member, congratulating the opposition at a sporting fixture or picking up rubbish left behind in his eating area reflect leadership. Formal opportunities to demonstrate servant leadership exist through roles such as Class Captain, Library Monitor, and on the Public Purpose Committee. Students wishing to join the Public Purpose Committee have been invited to sign on via their year level Teams channel.

Outdoor Education has also commenced for our Year 7 students. With a strong focus on personal and group development, the Outdoor Education program provides countless opportunities for the boys to develop and reflect on their leadership skills and capacity. Despite the change in format, boys have enjoyed their two-day experience. 7C, 7D and 7E will visit Pepperina Hill next week.

This week, we also hosted our Parent Information evenings. Thank you to all who joined us online. If you were unable to attend, please view the recording via the MyGrammar year level pages. The recording will expire mid next week. The PowerPoint slides for each presentation have also been added to MyGrammar.

Representative Sport

The process for nominating for representative sport is slightly different for each age group. Relevant information can be found via MyGrammar > Cocurricular > Representative Sport (listed under the ‘Sports’ header). An expression of interest form has also been posted via the Years 5, 6 and Year 7 Microsoft Teams channels.

City District trials | Years 5 to 7 (born in 2010 to 2012)

Expressions of interest are open for representative City District trails in AFL, Basketball, Football and Rugby League. City District acts as a filter for primary school aged students to be selected to participate in Met North regional trials. It is open to boys in Years 5 to 7 born in 2010 to 2012.

Each school is only allowed a certain number of students in the district trials. We will have to choose who the successful applicants are in some instances.

BGS will send parents of successful City District applicants the necessary forms to be completed, including a permission slip that must be printed and handed to MS reception for signing and stamping. Boys then collect these forms to take to the trials, along with hard copies of all other paperwork. Boys will not be allowed to trial without these hard copies.

Met North | Year 7 (born in 2009) and Years 8 to 12

The representative pathway for Year 7 boys born in 2009 and Years 8 to 12 boys is via direct nomination to Met North.

Interested boys must download and complete necessary forms from MyGrammar > Cocurricular > Representative Sport (listed under the ‘Sports’ header).

Boys also require a School Permission Form, which Assistant Director of Sports Mr Greg Di-Losa will print out, sign and stamp. It is the boys’ responsibility to collect this form from Mr Di-Losa in the Indoor Sports Centre. Once again, the boys need to take a hard copy of all paperwork to the trials with them.

Interwing Volleyball for Year 7

Year 7 boys are invited to participate in the Interwing Volleyball competition next Wednesday 23 February. An expression of interest survey has been posted via the Year 7 Teams channel, and all interested players are encouraged to nominate. Nominees will be placed in teams by the Wing Captains and Wing Coordinators

Matches will be played during Break 2 each Wednesday for the remainder of the term. This competition is part of our leadership project, and we are looking forward to seeing our Wing Captains develop their skills in this area.

Team	name
Year 8	Jake Parker
Year 8	Lachlan McMaster

Team	name
10 years	Kiran Kumar
11 years	Thomas Bender
12 years	Aiden Grady

Team	name
7A	Will Greene
7B	Derek Feng
7C	Daniel Bent
7D	Aum Bhatt
7E	Ethan Hilford
8A	Archie Boorer
8B	Sebastian Labagnara
8C	Jeric Gao
8D	Riley Booker

Glenn McFarlane
Head of Activities

Library Lovers’ Day

February 14 is celebrated as a day of love around the world, but it’s not just for people. Libraries have chosen to mark the day as a celebration of their staff and the work they do to provide support for their communities. This year’s theme was Share the Love.

BGS Libraries celebrated with special bookmarks for Middle School boys and activities for classes. Year 7 boys participated in the ‘Speed Dating a Book’ activity, which saw them having timed readings with a book before moving on to the next one. The boys enjoyed the process as it enabled them to try out books in a genre different from their usual choices.

Staff were also involved with special treat deliveries to staff rooms.

Vicki Palmer
Teacher Librarian

Cast Announcement | Senior Dramatic Production — Lord of the Flies

BGS Drama facilitates three full-scale dramatic productions for boys across Years 5 to 12. We are committed to inclusive practice, as well as promoting and maintaining the excellent standard and quality of our productions. We champion diversity within casting decisions and are dedicated to creating a safe and supportive audition environment where actors are empowered to do their best work. We encourage boys to build their resilience when they are not selected for their preferred role, and our transparent selection helps them understand the process and reasoning. Students are also given the opportunity to be involved in technical teams to pursue the art of theatre making.

We are delighted to announce the cast in this year’s Senior Dramatic Production — Lord of the Flies.

Cast

• Harry Cardell-Ree
• Oliver Christie
• Jonty Davis
• Morgan Jury
• Bayden Kohn
• Jasper Lindgren
• Toby Logan
• Brad Mackintosh
• Declan Mount
• Sean Moyle
• Luke Murphy
• Jonathan Neep
• Alden Sommerfeld
• Alfie Sprott
• Connor von Hoyer-Davies

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

Patrick Last and Naomi Russell
Senior Dramatic Production Creative Team

Upper Intermediate String Festival

We wish our young string players the very best for their upcoming festival. Brisbane Girls Grammar School is the official host of the event, and we thank them for making it happen.

Given event disruptions during the pandemic, it is delightful that Guarneri Strings and Tartini Strings, along with their conductors Mr Stephen Chin and Ms Alison Harbottle, will be able to enjoy collaborating with other string community members once again.  

Each ensemble will perform individually and join together for some mass items. It is a valuable opportunity for boys to grow and develop as musicians, and I’m sure they will enjoy the experience.

The festival concert will be held at the Old Museum Building on Wednesday 23 February from 6.00pm. Parents are welcome to attend the concert. Book your free tickets here.  

Music Soiree and Music Support Group Welcome Function

The first on-campus music event, held on Friday 18 March, will be a delightful twilight musical performance followed by a social function.

Various ensembles will perform in the Great Hall at 5.00pm. This will be the first opportunity for some of our advanced ensembles to share their music with you in the lead up to Grammar Community in Concert on Saturday 28 May. The Music Support Group will then hold a short social function for BGS Music parents to meet each other.

Please save this date. More details will be available shortly.

Peter Ingram
Head of Music

Resilience

Congratulations to all BGS Cocurricular participants on their performances to date. It would have been understandable for our teams to start their seasons slowly after the disrupted start to the school year. Instead, each sport has shown great mental resilience and has produced strong performances.

Mentally resilient people remain focused on the important tasks regardless of how many obstacles are presented. Resilience is built through small wins.

The flagship BGS Volleyball team demonstrated this resilience over the weekend. In a tense game, our First VI secured a remarkable victory over long-standing rivals Gregory Terrace. With very few points separating the two teams, our boys remained focused on their processes, concentrating one point at a time to ultimately win the contest. The individual choices we make daily build our mental resilience, and credit is due to the players and their coaches for their results thus far.  

At BGS, individual and team selections are always contentious, whether for preseason grading, weekly teams or selection for championships or events. We understand this can sometimes cause issues and conflict; however, boys are encouraged to use the opportunity to develop their mental resilience.

In 2022, many BGS Sports and Activities will look to provide explicit structure and clarity around selections through identifiable selection policies. Sports and Activities will communicate these policies in advance for community members.

Boys’ enjoyment remains the top priority. While this will not solve all issues, we hope that our team and school culture remains positive through this greater transparency.

Representative Sport

Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to participate in representative sports at district, regional, and state levels for a variety of activities.

If you are interested in nominating for trial selections, please view the relevant information for a variety of sports and activities can be found via MyGrammar > Cocurricular > Representative Sport (listed under the ‘Sports’ header). All parents and students are encouraged to navigate this page, including the Representative Sport Pathway – Process document, to gain a greater understanding of the process.

The trial calendar is busy, and boys are encouraged to pay careful attention to the Representative Sport page on MyGrammar for trial notices. Nominations for all representative sport must be received before the respective deadlines.  

Greg Di-Losa
Assistant Director of Sport

Round 3 of the 2022 GPS Cricket season was our first opportunity to play a complete round of fixtures against GPS opposition. Gregory Terrace were going to be tough opponents for our Cricket program. I am very pleased to report that we dominated the top end of the program, clinching five wins from eight A-level matches, including a comprehensive victory by the First XI.

A midday storm put a dampener on afternoon matches at both venues; however, thanks to the help of many of our parents and players, we were able to take the covers off carefully and resume all fixtures scheduled to be played on turf wickets. Matches being played on synthetic wickets were unfortunately cancelled.

In a relatively evenly contested round, out of the 25 GPS matches played, BGS won 11, with one tie. Congratulations to the 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 7C,  9A, 10B, 10D, 11A and First XI teams on their victories. Special mention to the Year 7 cohort for winning all their GPS fixtures. A shout out to the 9B team who narrowly lost their match off the final ball. The spirit and level of competition across all matches is to be commended, and our boys’ adherence to maintaining the spirit of cricket and our willingness to fight to the end was most impressive.

The 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 7C, 10B, Second XI and First XI teams have maintained their undefeated GPS records. Round 4 of the GPS season is against Ipswich Grammar School in 15 GPS fixtures, with nearly all other GPS schools providing opposition in supplementary matches.

Round 3 notable performances

Isaac Lutz (10A) – 50 (56)

Max Clark (11A) – 60 (77)

Soham Sane (11A) – 58 (63)

Angus Tolhurst (First XI) – 45* & 0/12 (10)

Callum Vidler (First XI) – 3/19 (7)

Adam Johansen (6A) – 28 (16)

Aamay Wadhwani (6A) – 26 (24)

Aadya Wadhwani (6A) – 26* (23)

Hugo Spencer (9A) – 4/17 (5) & 41 runs

Team of the Week

BGS 6A 5/171 def GT 10/170

On Saturday, the 6As travelled to Tennyson to play Gregory Terrace. BGS lost the toss and were sent to field. GT were eventually all out for 170. Devam Shah and Francis Wallwork were the pick of the bowlers with 2/19 and 2/7 respectively. Devam also narrowly missed out on the first hattrick of the season. Chasing 171 for victory, BGS started positively and raced to 1/50 inside the first 7 overs. Solid contributions from Ethan Bester (18), Aamay Wadhwani (26), Adam Johansen (28) and Aadya Wadhwani (26) ensured a win with six overs to spare. A great all-round team performance.

Player of the Round

For the second week in a row, BGS Vice Captain of Cricket, Angus Tolhurst, has demonstrated a steely resolve under pressure to deliver two not-out innings which secured victories for the First XI team. He has also been outstandingly economical with his bowling – his latest performance seeing him bowl 10 overs for just 12 runs. He also finished 45* to steer BGS to victory in a tight run chase under gloomy skies last weekend. A very deserved winner of Player of the Round

Our cricketers took the opportunity mid-week to cheer on Old Boy Matt Renshaw at the Gabba. Queensland didn’t win, but our boys were grateful for Matt taking the time to stop by for a photo.

I wish all our cricketers the best of luck for Round 4.

Trevor Irvine
Cricket Director

Fencing sign on 

Thank you to those who have already signed on for Fencing. Students can access the form via the Fencing section of MyGrammar and must sign-on using their BGS login. Parents are not able to do this on their behalf. Sign-on closes Wednesday 2 March. 

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.  

Note, not all students need to trial to participate in Fencing. Only those who nominate must attend trials. Please check the schedule via MyGrammar.

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. Please register here. This link is also available via the Fencing section of MyGrammar.

The meeting will be recorded for parents who are not able to attend. A link will be available via MyGrammar soon after the event.

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.

Melanie Chin
Fencing Director

The third GPS Rowing regatta was held on Saturday 12 February, and had similar conditions as the previous regatta. A gentle tail breeze built to strong gusty winds by the final races of the morning. These conditions are never ideal for rowing but are an important challenge for the boys to embrace.

This week, BGS rowers were better prepared and enjoyed more successful racing.

Year 9 boys enjoyed good performances across the rounds, with 3 second place and 3 third place results in Round 1. This was followed by an excellent A final, which saw the First and Second quads finishing third and fourth respectively, only 0.76 seconds apart.

Year 10s had a better day, improving on their performances from Regatta 2. The Year 10 Seventh quad won their race by 11 seconds, while the Fifth quad enjoyed a strong second place result. Other tight margins saw the Second, Third and Fourth quads just miss the podium with strong fourth and fifth place results. In the B and C finals, our Third and Fourth quads had dominant performances to claim first and second place, while the First quad rowed an impressive first place to win the B Final by 5.24s.

The Year 11s had an improved regatta with strong rows, which are improving weekly. Testament to the resilient Year 11 Second VIII who raced for BGS proudly while they were down several students. The Year 11 First VIII had a strong performance, rowing into second place and securing a birth in the Opens A final against friendly rival BGS Open First VIIIs.

Our Opens were out in full force for the first time this season, welcoming our Open Third VIII to the GPS competition for the first time this season. It is wonderful to see so many Year 12 boys on the water and representing their school. All crews did BGS proud and will be working hard to ensure their best performance at Head of the River in three weeks.

This Saturday is a bye round for GPS Rowing. We encourage all boys to take advantage of the bye to get ahead on their academic workload.

Matt Marden
Rowing Director

2022 BGS Swimming Championships

The 2022 BGS Swimming Championships were held at the Chandler Aquatic Centre on Wednesday afternoon, and it was encouraging to see over 120 boys from Year 5 to 12 competing.

There were many great performances. Most notably, eight new School Championships records were established. Special mentions to Year 7 student Eugene Lee, who broke five records during the event. Year 6 student Mason Gao broke two records and 2022 Swimming Captain Will Jordan set a record in the Open 100m Butterfly. Congratulations to the overall School Champions from each age group.

Name	Event	Time
Mason Gao	11 and under 50m Freestyle	31.03
	11 and under 50m Breaststroke	38.56
Eugene Lee	12 and under 50m Freestyle	29.73
	12 and under 50m Backstroke	35.56
	12 and under 100m Freestyle	1:07.87
	12 and under 50m Butterfly	32.83
	12 and under 200m Individual Medley	2:49.17
Will Jordan	Open 100m Butterfly	56.80

Age	Place	Name	Points
10 and under	First	Kiran Kumar	53
	Second	Harry Macaulay	28
	Third	Arthur Kim	24
11 and under	First	Lachlan Donaldson	49
	Second	Aidan Shen	47
	Third	Mason Gao	37
12 and under	First	Eugene Lee	58
	Second	Sebastian Ashby-Cliffe	46
	Third	Joshua Spiez	30
13 and under	First	Matthew Nathan	70
	Second	Thomas Elliott	69
	Third	Hudson Slater	49
14 and under	First	Cashy Luo	72
	Second	Declan Simpkins	69
	Third	Charles Nelson	50
15 and under	First	Charlie Lutton	65
	Second	Roc Woodhouse	58
	Third	Christopher Nathan	53
16 and under	First	Edward Nelson	71
	Second	Lachlan Elliott	58
	Third	Rupert Sommerville	36
Open	First	Will Jordan	70
	Second	Edward Sommerville	58
	Third	Sam Mellick	41

BGS Swimming – Grammar Only Night (Friday 25 February)

The annual Grammar Only Night provides an opportunity for the BGS Swimming community to come together one last time before the GPS Swimming Championships. The focus will be on building team spirit, connecting with our rich swimming history and having one last hit-out in the pool before the big day. Swimmers must register for the event via the survey on the Swimming section of MyGrammar.

Grammar Only Night will be held at BGS next Friday 24 February, at the BGS Swimming Pool from 3.30pm. We will be running a modified program for Grammar Only Night this year with no parent spectators due to limited space and COVID restrictions in place. Please see the timeline below.

Time	Detail
3.15pm	Students meet at BGS Swimming Pool. Leave bags in the grandstand.
3.30pm	All students to sit on the pool deck in front of the new poster.
3.30pm - 3.50pm	Head Coach welcome BGS Swimming History New inductee into BGS Swimming Hall of Fame
3.50pm - 4.00pm	Swimming Captain address
4.00pm - 4.30pm	Junior GPS 50m Freestyle races Senior GPS 50m Freestyle races
4.30pm - 4.45pm	Old Boy relay team warm-up
4.45pm	Annual BGS students vs Old Boy relay
5.00pm	Grammar Only Night concludes

Matt Logan
Swimming Director

It was a remarkable round against our long-standing rivals Gregory Terrace last Saturday.

BGS recorded 19 wins from 22 matches on the day in our first full round of the season. It was amazing to hear about strong performances from all Year 7 teams and breakthrough wins for our Year 8s. 

In 2022, we formalised our program pursuits; winning mindset, taking account for our actions and being the ultimate teammate. All players were challenged to operationalise these pursuits by showing us what these look like on a BGS Volleyball court, and I am proud to report we delivered.

It was incredible to see the difference one week of team training made, as all teams found the perfect balance between competitiveness and sportsmanship. We are all excited to see what tomorrow holds.

The challenge for all teams is to benchmark our Round 3 performance as a minimum standard as we look to improve again tomorrow.

This week we take on an emerging program in Ipswich Grammar School. I urge all teams to maintain our standards and be mindful of allowing complacency to set in. It is a long season, and we take it week by week; that is Our Way.

Please remember to check the draw carefully as there are a number of venues. IGS has advised that no spectators are allowed at the IGGS venue.

My top three moments from last Saturday are:

• Wins for our Years 7 and 8 teams
• One of our best program performances against Gregory Terrace in recent times
• The strong display of support for the First VI

Rhys Cox
Volleyball Director and Head Coach

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 in Week 4. Regular Robotics sessions are Wednesday lunchtimes in CB103 and after school each Wednesday in Bread House (across the road from BGGS) until 4.15pm. After school sessions for new students will be held from Week 5. 

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.

Simon Canfield
Robotics Coordinator

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. 

Volunteers

The Auxiliary is very thankful to the wonderful parents who regularly give their time so generously to feed and clothe BGS students.

Any parents who wish to enjoy the camaraderie of the Tuckshop and/or Grammar Shop are encouraged and welcome to join our friendly team. There are a range of days and times for parents who wish to be involved, and we would love to hear from you. For more details, visit MyGrammar > P&F Auxiliary > Volunteers welcome!

Tuckshop

Open weekdays before school and during breaks.

The Tuckshop provides a 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. If you still have not received your backordered magazine racks, please contact the Grammar Shop.

SENIOR WINTER UNIFORMS

Senior winter uniforms (blazer, long-sleeved white shirt, trousers, black belt and optional navy jumper) are to be worn by all senior students from Tuesday 3 May 2022. These items are now available for purchase from the Grammar Shop. 

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

Notice of Annual General Meeting | Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 6.30pm

The Brisbane Grammar School Parents’ and Friends’ Association (Inc.) (“BGS P&F”) AGM, will be held on Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 6.30pm in The Lilley Centre Function Room at BGS.

P&F Association parent members (all parents and guardians of students currently attending Brisbane Grammar School) and friend members (those accepted as a member following application) are entitled to attend and vote. All are eligible to nominate for positions on the Management Committee. 

The voluntary positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer will be declared vacant.

Nominations must be returned by email to the P&F Management Committee Secretary, Kristine Luke at kristine.luke@gmail.com by 5.00pm Tuesday 1 March 2022 for the nomination to be proposed at the AGM. Nomination forms for these positions may be obtained here.

Further enquiries should be directed to the P&F Management Committee Secretary at kristine.luke@gmail.com

Save the date | 2022 BGS Art Show

Welcome to all new and returning BGS parents.

We are thrilled to announce the 2022 BGS Art Show will be held earlier in the year, with the Gala on Friday 6 May and a viewing on BGS Open Day (Saturday 7 May).

The BGS Art Show is a premier celebration of professional artists, local and abroad. The show features established and emerging artists, as well as stunning contributions from former students and esteemed BGS Art Department staff.

Staged over two days, the show commences with an ticketed Gala event with all works available for sale. The show features over 200 items ranging from paintings, drawings, ceramics, mixed media, sculpture, and jewellery.

All funds raised contribute towards the development and maintenance of the BGS Art Collection, Emerging Artist Awards, and resources and projects for the School’s Art Department.

The very special and highly sought-after event in the BGS social calendar is an occasion for all BGS year groups, their family and friends, and wider community members.

Be sure not to miss out on this year’s show. Keep up to date on works for sale and ticketing by simply following us on Facebook and Instagram.

April Whittam
Art Support Group

BGS Golf Day 2022 | Friday 22 July

Tee up your team. After COVID interrupted our event plans in 2021, the rescheduled BGS Golf Day will be held on Friday 22 July at The Brisbane Golf Club.

The BGS community is invited to join us for a great day of golf to support the BGS Bursary Fund. Players of all skill levels are welcome. 

Register for the event here. 

If you are interested in sponsoring the event or donating a prize, please contact the BGS Alumni and Community Relations Manager Carla Hardy on +61 7 3834 5206 or carla.hardy@brisbanegrammar.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