Newsletter
Week 7 Term 2

Teamwork

As we pursue excellence, we must not take the social dynamics that enable our success for granted.

Students and staff are familiar with our regular presentations at assembly, like today’s, where we present flagship teams ahead of their final competitions and acknowledge others who have contributed. These are important moments, but these are by no means our only teams.

It can be convenient to narrow our definition of ‘teams’ as just applying to sport. I prefer to broaden that definition and challenge students to see all groups as teams. 

We challenge our boys to think about their contributions to the teamwork of all their teams. This includes in their family; in class; across their year level; in ensembles; as cast or crew; in their activities groups; in social groups; and in their sporting teams.

The home environment and family is the flagship team in any boys’ life. For our boarding students, their family is a little bigger and spread across locations. Their parents entrust our outstanding BGS Boarding staff team and partner with them in caring for their sons.

I know many families share partnerships with relatives and friends who help with babysitting, or school drop-off and pick-up, as part of their home team. I know my wife and I do, and our children benefit greatly from this teamwork.

Our students are immersed in teams in almost every aspect of their education. They are encouraged to think for and be themselves and contribute their talents for the benefit of the team, of which they are an essential part.

Whether a defined academic class, small discussion group, year level group or just a social group playing handball together – these are all teams in which boys can learn about themselves and others in a superior manner to what they may be able to accomplish their own. This is also teamwork.

Many in our community performed or were in the audience for Grammar Community in Concert last weekend. Those who were there experienced something truly extraordinary – a cinematic journey tied together by a wide range of ensembles performing both modern and classic movie themes. It took hundreds of people working together as members of smaller ensembles, masterfully guided, to create one grand experience. Hundreds of coordinated individuals created an unforgettable evening through teamwork.

This week, our Senior Dramatic Production of Lord of the Flies commenced. I am yet to see the show at the time of writing as I will attend closing night on Friday. I cannot wait to journey into this other world created by a dedicated group of staff and students. Having seen only small moments of rehearsals, I am excited to finally witness the product of these months of rehearsals by this large team.

In sports, we are more used to the notion of teams. Look deeper, and you will notice the deliberate design of our Cocurricular offerings. Every sport combines individual pursuit with team effort. To represent BGS, you do so as a member of a team.

You may run your own race at Cross Country, but your result contributes to a team score. You may be the fastest swimmer at the School but the GPS Championships are a team-scored event. Debating may have individual speakers, but they too are members of teams. In Rowing and Sailing, we use crew boats and not individual vessels. In Tennis, boys play singles and doubles as members of a team. Cricket, Volleyball, Football, Rugby, Basketball, Gymnastics, Fencing, Chess and even Track and Field are all team sports, where the efforts of individuals make the team.

In emphasising this point at assembly this week, I shared a quote from the 1967 Round 2, number 17 draft pick in the NBA, who will be remembered by most for his coaching stint between 1989 and 1998 at the helm of the Chicago Bulls – Coach Phil Jackson:

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.

It has been my experience that teams are important to all of us. We are social beings who, to varying degrees and at different times, need others as well as our solitude.

Great learning is a social experience, improved when shared by a diverse peer group.

We become better at self-regulation through our interactions with others, and as a result we become better versions of ourselves through teamwork.

With one of our core BGS values in mind in leadership, I believe that humility is one of the most important qualities of any leader, and that teams only succeed if members and leaders have the capacity and willingness to put others before themselves.

In speaking on this topic of teams at assembly, I reminded boys of our social responsibility to our teams. On any given day, a member of our team may need the kind of support that only a team can provide. Our membership of teams at school, at work, in class and in rehearsals is a gift.

By giving ourselves to the team, we contribute to a group that may just be the most important team for one of your members on that day. It may be as important to them as family is to me or you.

We remind students to embrace their teams. Value them. Show patience when someone gets it wrong, knowing that you will be that person at some point. We challenge our students to contribute their best to each of their teams.

What do they get out of this? Their strength, character, success, and achievement will be enhanced exponentially by their teamwork and how they choose to engage or not.

Teamwork does make the dream work, for all of us.

I wanted to take this opportunity to praise the quality of the performing arts programs at Brisbane Grammar School.

In the past week, I have attended Grammar Community in Concert and the Senior Dramatic Production, both of which were exceptional representations of the high-quality composition of BGS staff and the amazing contributions by BGS students. In both Music and Drama Departments, we are fortunate to have leaders who are exceptional practitioners and who care deeply about the program and the people. Peter Ingram (Head of Music) and Ben Newth (Acting Head of Drama) are to be commended for bringing people together to showcase student and staff talent.

Grammar Community in Concert is a fabulous school event. Not only does it showcase BGS talent, but it also allows the BGS and BGGS communities to come together. The Community Choir is a feature and I praise Mr Ingram for his direction and sensitive leadership of singers with varying degrees of talent and musical confidence. He makes the experience "fun, challenging and safe", declared one participant.

Naturally, there are many others who warrant public acclaim. I thank Michael Allport (Assistant Head of Music) and Miranda Ward (Music Administrative Assistant). Ms Ward quietly manages the many tasks without fuss or fanfare and Mr Allport provides incredible musicianship in accompanying many performances. I share my appreciation for such a rewarding community event and acknowledge the BGS Music directors, teachers, instrumental tutors, and ensemble conductors. The boys were also marvellous. A large contingent of students performed classic pieces from movies. I also thank BGS Old Boy Angus Duncan '21 for being our witty master of ceremonies for Cinematic: Grammar Community in Concert 2022.

Similarly, I acknowledge those who offered so much to the Senior Dramatic Production. The BGS Theatre was transformed into an apocalyptic setting; dystopia materialised, and respect vanished. In the absence of rules, the fragility of civilization was exposed. After beholding the carnage of World War II and the ensuing threat of Cold War superpowers, Sir William Golding was stirred to write Lord of the Flies and BGS Drama staff were brave enough to stage the production. My deep appreciation is extended to Patrick Last (Director), Naomi Russell (Creative Producer), Ben Newth (Technical Director), Tanya Neilsen (Artistic Director), Jack Woolrych (Production Assistant), the cast and crew and everyone who contributed to the production. The boys were incredibly committed to the production, which is a credit to the adults who worked so closely with them over many months of rehearsals.

In closing, I wish to thank everyone involved in the School’s Cocurricular program this term. With Grammar Community in Concert and Cross Country now complete, the Senior Dramatic Production nearing its conclusion, Fencing, Gymnastics, Tennis and Football ending in the following weeks, Debating continuing in the QDU competition, as well as pre-season training for Basketball, Chess, and Rugby; it is fair to say that BGS offers an extraordinary range of activities. I thank Greg Thorne, John Clancy, Greg Di-Losa, Glenn McFarlane, Adam Bloch and all directors, coaches, conductors, coordinators and everyone involved for making the BGS Cocurricular program a safe and enjoyable space for BGS students to compete and play.

Anthony Micallef
Headmaster

Cold and flu

Cold and flu viruses continue to impact students across all year levels. I encourage you to ensure your sons maintain good hygiene practices. Please continue to keep your son at home if he is unwell.

COVID-19

• COVID-19 cases remain low at BGS.
• All cases of COVID-19 must stay at home for at least seven days from the date the test was taken. More information here.
• Close contacts with symptoms must stay home and get tested for COVID-19.
• Close contacts without symptoms may return to school but must wear a mask for seven days after the case’s test date if over the age of 12.
• Staff and students over the age of 12 returning to school after isolating due to COVID-19 must wear a mask for seven days post-isolation indoors and outdoors when they cannot socially distance.

Vaccination

Staff and students are encouraged to vaccinate for both influenza and COVID-19.

Assessment and absence from school

If your son is absent for a prolonged period due to illness or isolation, the information below outlines arrangements to support the continuation of learning and assessment.

• Arrangements and adjustments to schedules can be made to enable students to fulfil their assessment commitments
• Submission of an AARA application will enable the School to manage extensions (go to MyGrammar and search ‘AARA’; this will link the form)
• Where extended absences seriously impact a student’s progress, alternative arrangements can be explored; in the first instance, contact the relevant Head of Year (and Head of Middle School Curriculum, Ian Grice for Middle School students)
• Whenever a student is absent, encourage him to stay in touch with his learning and his teachers through Teams, OneNote and Canvas; this will make for a smoother return to school

Cultural Project: Respectful Relationships and Healthy Sexuality

In last week’s Newsletter, I shared a flow diagram on GrammarWell for Cultural Project 1: Bullying. This week, I am pleased to also share the flow diagram for Cultural Project 2: Respectful Relationships and Healthy Sexuality. Click here to view the latest updates in the Cultural Projects section on GrammarWell.

Hair letters

Several hair letters either have been or will be shared with families regarding their son requiring a haircut. Please support the School with this process. If you require guidance around haircuts, please review the School’s expectations on the various Year Level sections on MyGrammar.

Student Wellbeing

With only a couple of weeks left in this term, we want to ensure that boys get the right amount of sleep, nutrition, and exercise. It is also important that, even in this busy period, there is a balance between the various activities that boys engage in. With exams upon them, I suggest you look at restricting the number of social events your son attends. This will allow him to finish well while providing time to study and maintain good sleep habits.

Parents need to speak up

Did you ever have a time when you wanted to say something to your child’s school, but thought it was best not to do so? At a recent conference, the suggestion was that this can be common for parents. The thinking is that they do not want to draw attention to their son, or the School might take it out on him. I remember hearing the same style of thinking at a restaurant one night with a group of people who said you never complain about the food or service at a restaurant as you do not know what they will do.

Both examples assume the worst in a situation, and in my experience neither is accurate. I have regularly shared my desire for us to work together as our common aim is to assist your son. Please get in contact with the School if you ever have any feedback to share with us.

Date Claimer

A reminder to all parents and students that the final day of Term 2, Friday 17 June, will be a 12.00PM finish.

At Brisbane Grammar School we have five consistent values, all of which are wonderfully summarised by the statement that we aspire to be ‘a respectful community that embraces learning, leadership and endeavour.’

In BGS Boarding, we have put those five values into our residential context. Under the heading of endeavour, our statement asks boys to ‘challenge yourself, and others, to make the most of the opportunities offered to you, and in doing so be an ambassador for Boarding at Brisbane Grammar School’.

At a recent Boarding Assembly, I shared a wonderful quote from Winston Churchill with the boarders. He simply stated that ‘with opportunity, comes responsibility’.

In my address, I first explored the responsibility of being a member of the Brisbane Grammar School community, and the additional expectations that come with being a boarder. We often describe ourselves as the heart of the School but that needs to be the reality, rather than a well-worn phrase. I was therefore delighted not only by the wonderful support offered at the First XI Football match on Saturday but also by the significant number who then asked to stay to watch the First XV Rugby play a warm-up fixture against The Southport School. It is heartening when boys willingly want to support their peers in their endeavours, and I was encouraged by the strength of the BGS Boarding community.

I also touched on the topic of making the most of the opportunities offered to us as individuals. The most obvious opportunity is the numerous cocurricular sports or activities on offer. Just this Saturday we witnessed boys represent the School at Fencing, Football, Tennis and Rugby, as well as performing in the Music program as part of Grammar Community in Concert. It is heartening to see so many boys actively engaged on a weekly basis. With Term 3 now firmly on the horizon, I encourage all our boarders to seek out those opportunities.

BGS is delighted to host an admissions visit from Ms Dayna Li from the University of British Columbia, Canada, next Friday. Ms Li will outline UBC's programs, their scholarship opportunities, and a snapshot of life as an Australian student in Canada. All interested students from Years 9 to 12 are welcome to attend.

Venue: Seniors’ Room, The Lilley Centre
Date: Friday 10 June
Time: 7.30am to 8.15am
Please register via email: studentservices@brisbanegrammar.com

Nathan Simmons
Acting Director of Counselling and Academic Services

Director of Outdoor Education
Derek Jervis

The Year 9 Outdoor Education program has commenced at Moogerah. The program is focused on ‘Leading Self’ and the students experience a significant pedagogical shift where they take on more responsibility and begin to take the lead in their activities. The Year 9 expedition takes the students to a new campsite at Bitenbar and a student-led journey to one of the most impressive mountains in the Scenic Rim, Mt Greville.

Isaac Richardson was consistently keen and enthusiastic regardless of the situation. Isaac kept a smile even in challenging moments, was well organised and consistently the first student ready. Jace Ramalingam took on the challenges of the week with enthusiasm. Jace stepped up to challenge the staff during the knot tying competition and was within a second of beating Mr Fairley.

Isaac Chan embraced the opportunities of the program and commented on the beauty of the local area. Isaac displayed the behaviours associated with leading self and impressed the staff with his preparedness. Nick Carroll was a hard worker and valued member of his expedition group. Nick did a huge amount of work for his group to get them organised and cleaned up after meals on the expedition.

Kody Goss took on the challenge of the pole jump as part of the high ropes activity. Kody jumped hard, managed himself at height and demonstrated some great leaps to easily hit the ball. Dominic Fan maintained a great attitude throughout the program. Dom was enthusiastic and had a positive influence on his peers, showing a great capacity to stay focused on a task like cooking, fire lighting and navigation. Darcy Lewis was an excellent Outdoor Education student. Darcy was keen, enthusiastic, and demonstrated the motto at Moogerah that ‘it’s the effort put in that counts’. Darcy and Jace coordinated their double kayak and won the sprint race at the end of the session.

Year 11 Outdoor Education Leaders Seth Fidler, Sebastien Roy-Bryant and Aden Whyte were a standout team of leaders. They focused on supporting the Year 9 students, offering guidance, and assisting the Outdoor Education staff at every opportunity.

A short movie of the boys' experiences can be viewed via the 9A Video link.

Outdoor Education photos are now available via the School’s photo management system, Pixevety. The platform helps the School safely manage and share our photos. This user guide 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 the Outdoor Education Year 9 folder in Pixevety.

Director of Student Wellbeing
Philippa Douglas

Respectful Relationships

Recently, students from the Gender Respect Project Group attended a breakfast with students from Educate and Empower at BGGS.  The event, called Understanding Each Other, allowed students to discuss topics important to young people today and strengthen their understanding of diverse perspectives.

Students discussed in mixed groups what they believed to be the challenges faced by boys and girls today that they wanted known or heard. Issues relating to consent, gender stereotypes, social media, and stigma were common themes raised in the context of respectful relationships. Student feedback from both schools was positive. Further opportunities for collaboration are planned for Term 3.

The Student Wellbeing Curriculum is continually reviewed to ensure students have access to reliable and relevant information and opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions about respectful relationships and healthy sexuality.  Next term, we will welcome back Dr Tessa Opie, who will run a series of student presentations.

Students can access a range of resources on GrammarWell. Also provided is information to assist parents in having conversations with their children under Respectful Relationships in the For Parents section.

STEAM and Related Learning

STEAM education at Brisbane Grammar School will embrace the opportunities of the new state-of-the-art STEAM Precinct, opening in 2023. The precinct is the most significant new infrastructure in the School’s 150-year history. It will be a place of learning that fosters discovery, innovation and adaptive expertise.

The application of Effective Thinking Cultures across all teaching at BGS supports students’ abilities to think flexibly, strategically, and meaningfully into their unknowable future. This aligns with the STEAM approach that reflects contemporary ways of thinking, working, and communicating, which will be evidenced across our teaching and learning, cocurricular and student wellbeing programs.

It has been valuable to engage with theoretical concepts that underpin STEAM or STEM learning, including the consideration of design thinking skills, spatial pedagogies, e-learning and digital technologies. We have been fortunate to also have support from the tertiary sector that has included visits to the UQ School of Engineering, Venture’s Discovery (creating entrepreneurial thinkers) and QUT’s Centre for Robotics.

This semester, priority was given to reimagining the current Signature Programs to a three-day, STEAM-based immersion program. This began with the conceptualisation of the Year 8 Innovation Summit that values the process of discovery, not just knowledge. Further development has seen the creation of nine programs for Year 8 including Sports Science, Coding and Engineering. Our goal is to engage students in a highly collaborative inquiry process that will cultivate a new generation of students with STEAM competencies and discipline adaptability. Key staff across the Middle School and Senior School have been participating in professional development to collaborate on the creation of these programs, to be delivered next term.

Student STEAM Spotlight

Apple’s WWDC22

Congratulations to Year 11 student Rahul Kumar, who is an award recipient for Apple’s WWDC22 (Worldwide Developers Conference). Rahul was acknowledged for his outstanding submission for the Student Challenge App Design. 

QUT Future You STEM Summit

The 2022 STEM Summit is set to teach students the importance of a STEM mindset, helping to guide a new generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to build the jobs of Australia’s future. Congratulations to Year 12 students Tyler Pearn, Marton Temesvari and Ryan Khan, and Year 11 students Rahul Kumar and Leo Zhang, who were selected in QUT’s 2022 program. The summit includes the STEM Tasters and STEM Internship modules and was open to high-achieving Years 11 and 12 students. Delivered in the September school holidays, both events offer the opportunity for students to expand their skill sets beyond the classroom and explore future career ambitions with like-minded peers, all before university.

The Future You STEM Summit four-day program also includes:

• inspiring keynotes with high-profile speakers;
• interactive Q&A panel sessions featuring local industry leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers; and
• QUT alumni, academics, and current students speaking about how they use their STEM mindset every day.

STEAM and STEM Opportunities

National Youth Science Forum
2023 Year 12 program
10 – 24 January 2023 | Applications now open

Early bird applications close 24 July. All applications close 14 August.

Attention Year 11 Science Students

There is an exciting opportunity for advanced Science students to apply for the 2023 Year 12 Program for the National Youth Science Forum.

At the program, students will have opportunities to:

• participate in tours of science and technology facilities;
• learn about cutting-edge research;
• engage with industry partners and research providers;
• learn about university and STEM career pathways;
• mix with other like-minded students from all over Australia; and
• network with former forum participants to further increase understanding of STEM-related study and career experiences.

The NYSF is delivered by youth for youth. Throughout the program, there will be optional activities to engage with, such as the STEM Challenges, The Great Debate, and the NYSF Talent Show. If you are interested and would like more information you can review the application form here:

National Youth Science Forum - Inspiring Australia's Young Scientists

For more information, contact Ms Tanya Neilsen:

Ms Tanya Neilsen
Principal Project Officer – STEAM and Related Learning
tanya.neilsen@brisbanegrammar.com

Artist Visit: Dr Chris Bennie

Moving image and installation artist Dr Chris Bennie challenged our Year 12 students to commit to the spontaneity and rigour of the creative process for their ‘Art as Alternate’ body of work last week.

Dr Bennie gave an inspiring artist talk to our Years 11 and 12 students in our IA2 exhibition space. Individual students also benefited from his insights as he conferenced alternate paths for their evolving inquiries. It is great to see students excited about IA3.

Students learnt that the life of an artist takes courage, rigour and hard work, but is also infused with play, spontaneity and reverie.

Year 12 Art as Knowledge Exhibition

Our Year 12 students shared their IA2 bodies of work with families and the BGS community last week in the Great Hall.

Various disciplines and areas of knowledge underpinned the students’ inquiries. These included the beauty and horror of nature, philosophy, coming of age, belonging, male rites of passage as well as hope and renewal in the face of devastation.

Anne Kennedy-Levesque
Head of Art

ICAS Assessments are independent online assessments designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. The assessments are based on the curricula for the relevant year. Students are asked to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of learning.

Before the end of term, boys will be invited to nominate to do assessments in Digital Technologies, English, Mathematics and Science. Middle School boys (Years 5 to 8) will be contacted by Mr Grice and boys in Years 9 to 12 will be contacted by Heads of Department. Numbers are limited so nominations will not guarantee participation; however, we will endeavour to accommodate all interested students. The competitions will be conducted after school. Boys in Years 7 to 12 who participate will need to bring their tablet on the day as the assessment will be done online.

Competition times

Subject	Nomination closing date	Competition date	Time (approx.)
Digital Technologies	Friday 17 June	Monday 8 August	3.15pm – 4.30pm
English	Friday 17 June	Tuesday 16 August	3.15pm – 4.30pm
Science	Friday 17 June	Wednesday 24 August	3.15pm – 4.30pm
Mathematics	Friday 17 June	Thursday 1 September	3.15pm – 4.30pm

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Schumann (Director of Assessment and Reporting) at mark.schumann@brisbanegrammar.com for enquiries relating to Years 9 to 12 or Ian Grice (Head of Middle School Curriculum) at ian.grice@brisbanegrammar.com for Middle School enquiries.

Mark Schumann
Director of Assessment and Reporting

This week, a selected group of students from Years 5 and 6 participated in the da Vinci Decathlon, a unique competition that borrows the sporting concept of the Olympic decathlon and the inspirational genius of Leonardo da Vinci to produce a set of challenges across 10 academic disciplines. During the competition, each team is confronted with multiple challenges to be completed within a set period. Teams must determine how they will collaborate to successfully undertake the combined challenge of diverse areas such as Science, Creative Producers, Ideation, Cartography and Engineering in the required time.

The boys enjoyed this year’s event which for the first time was conducted online. Seeing other schools competing through the Google Meet feature and contesting an interschool Kahoot at the end of the day proved popular features this year. The da Vinci Decathlon provides yet another extension opportunity within our curriculum for boys to be challenged and engaged in new ways.

At this time of the semester, students unwell at home may miss scheduled exams at school, and in some cases may encounter difficulty in meeting assignment deadlines. We thank parents for helping to minimise the spread of illness by keeping their sons at home if symptomatic. Nevertheless, it is a priority for students to complete delayed assessment as soon as practicable. In short, the School’s assessment policy provides that –

• In the case of missed exams, students (or their parents) should complete a Request for Alternative Assessment/Extension (REX) form (this template is located in under Academic > Assessment in MyGrammar) and email it to the class teacher. The class teacher will advise when the exam will be made up (usually in the first period for that subject that occurs after the return to school).
• Where significant periods of illness are considered to have impaired a student’s ability to meet an assignment deadline, the REX form can used to apply for an extension prior to its due date. The class teacher will advise if an extension has been granted, although in the interests of fairness, each case will be considered on its merits.
• Where multiple pieces of assessment are affected, students may complete one REX form listing all affected assessments and email this form to each relevant class teacher and their Form Tutor. In these cases, the Form Tutor will seek to assist in establishing a workable catchup schedule to avoid too many assessments occurring on any given day.
• If absent for more than one week, a doctor’s certificate should also be provided
• If assessment cannot be made up during the term, it will need to be completed at the beginning of Term 3 and the Semester 1 report will include “No Result” entries. This is not the School’s preferred outcome; hence we appreciate parental support for students to prioritise the completion of assessment once they are well enough to do so.

Ian Grice
Head of Middle School Curriculum

As we come to the end of Term 2 sports, we are well underway in preparing for Term 3. Program leaders for Basketball, Chess and Rugby are well advanced in team selections and conditioning for their respective seasons, and our students are looking forward to competing shortly.

Another sport that uses Term 3 for preparation and conditioning is Track and Field. While the GPS Championships are officially on Friday 21 October, much of the team preparation must occur during Term 3. This year the BGS Track and Field program will reintroduce the classic 100 Yards and Mile events as the commencement of our Track and Field calendar. These events were last run officially in the GPS competition in 1968, before they were replaced by metric races – 100m and 1500m. The Track and Field community brought these races back to coincide with our School Championships in 1990 and they continued until 2011.

The competitors for the races were selected purely on times. Therefore, the six fastest boys in the School, regardless of age, got to compete in these historic events on the Oval in front of a massive school crowd on a given lunchtime.

The 100 yards is shorter than the 100 metres (at approximately 91.44m), and gave the athletes a chance to run under 10 seconds on grass as they did many years ago. The record holder for this event is Ken Bridger, who ran an impressive 9.82s in 2005, although quite a few other athletes have gone under the magic 10-second barrier.

No student from the School has been able to run a four-minute mile since we reintroduced the event, but the race is much longer than the 1500m which is run at GPS these days. The record is held by Peter Wiseman, who ran 4:35.70 in 1994.

To make sure our Middle School athletes do not miss out, we are also running a Middle School Gift event (80m) which will include the very best athletes from the younger grades.

What is so special about each of these events?

The first is that athletes are given a chance to compete in a race that no longer exists in any modern-day athletics program. The second, and I believe the most important, is that these athletes compete in front of unquestionably the largest BGS crowd in their time at the School, including administration, teachers, ground staff, coaches and students. The crowd is always loud, supportive of their year-level entrant, and incredibly enthusiastic. Pressure is also on the finish line judges as the races are always close, especially the 100 yards given the short distance.

The Middle School Gift will occur at lunchtime on Thursday 9 June, with the BGS 100 Yard Dash on Friday 10 June, and the Mile will take place on Monday 13 June during Break 2.

Greg Di-Losa
Assistant Director of Sport

Grammar Community in Concert

Grammar Community in Concert was a cinematic triumph! The music was sublime and the visuals engaging. The crowd was captivated and the performers lifted to new heights. The auditorium was full and everyone left satisfied. From our Year 5 vocalists to our senior instrumentalists, the boys performed brilliantly. And let’s not forget the parents and friends of our Community Choir, who loved being a part of this production. Many thanks to the BGS community for their support too. It was a stunning success.

Official photographs will soon be available for purchase, while the professional video will be available for no extra cost for everyone who purchased a ticket and will otherwise also be available for purchase. When we have more information about what will be wonderful records of the night, we will let you know. Keep an eye on MyGrammar and future newsletters.

Enjoy some photos from the night below.

Chamber Music Concert

Thursday 9 June
6.00pm, Great Hall

The final BGS concert for the semester will be a delightful gathering of ensembles. While there will be featured performances by Philharmonic Orchestra, Parker Jazz Band and Flute Ensemble, there will also be presentations by a number of smaller ensembles. Students are always encouraged to collaborate with other boys and explore music themselves. This often happens in an informal way and so this concert gives these groups a performance opportunity. We hope you can come along and support our young musicians.

Peter Ingram
Head of Music

The best for the group comes when everyone in the group does what's best for himself AND the group.

John Nash

Fencing happens in teams of three or four fencers. It is an individual endeavour to do your best, which contributes to the team’s success as a whole. Comments indicate that our fencers are enjoying their experience with the sport so far this season.

Last Saturday, many fencers had to fulfil their commitment to Grammar Community in Concert. Although this meant significant absences within our Fencing fixtures – which, in turn, caused some teams to lose, the boys also learned about time management, resilience, and respect.

We must remember that Fencing is part of a comprehensive Cocurricular program within an educational context at Brisbane Grammar School. It is nice to be on the winning team, but this should not be at the core of why we engage in the sport. It is about creating the best experience for our boys to learn about themselves across the School in academic, cocurricular and wellbeing contexts. 

It is great to see all the diverse talents our fencers have. We also recognise the efforts of those who were able to fence and did so wholeheartedly, while being understanding towards team member absences. The support of their fellow students is also admirable. Fencers are ready for Round 5 and the finals in Round 6.

End of Season Function

Saturday 11 June 2022
6.00pm to 9.00pm
The Lilley Centre Learning Commons

Tickets on sale now. RSVP closes Monday 6 June.

Musketeers Call For Members

The Musketeers are most immediately looking for the following positions on the committee:

• Shadow President
• Shadow Treasurer

A new President and Treasurer will need to be elected at the next AGM. The Vice President role is currently vacant. 

The next General Meeting is next Thursday 9 June at a face-to-face venue and online for anyone who cannot attend. If you are interested, please contact me for location details. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

Brisbane School Teams Competition for Years 7 to 12

Fixtures Round 5: 4 June

Check the draw on MyGrammar or Tableau. Please contact Ms Chin if you are not able to fence at your allocated time.

A coffee van should be in the parking lot at Yeronga to purchase beverages throughout the morning. Thank you to the Musketeers for helping to organise this for us.

BGS Primary Internal Fixtures for Years 5 and 6

Fixtures Round 5: 3 June
Fixtures Round 6: 10 June
BGS ISC Cricket Nets

• 4.00pm - 5.00pm: all Year 5 fencers
• 5.00pm - 6.00pm: all Year 6 fencers
• Weapon focus: Sabre

Check MyGrammar for more details.

Important Dates

2022 Musketeers AGM will be held Thursday 11 August. More details to follow soon.

Melanie Chin
Fencing Director

This weekend marks our final home game of the season. Please note that some kick-off times are later than usual to accommodate Toowoomba Grammar School making the journey down the range. We have certainly faced some challenges in the past few weeks with the wet weather; however, I am delighted to say that this weekend will be a big one with all but two BGS Football teams playing at Northgate. Last week saw another reduced load due to the weather, but it was a successful day with nine wins, two losses and six draws. Well done, boys.

This weekend also sees two important events in our BGS Football calendar. Firstly, it is photo day. A schedule is available on MyGrammar and is linked below. With over 600 boys having their photos taken, please ensure that this schedule is adhered to.

The second major event this weekend is the End of Season Presentation for Years 5 and 6, normally held after the last round of games at 12.00pm at Northgate. While there are still two rounds of fixtures to go after this weekend, this being the last home game we felt it appropriate to acknowledge their season thus far. The boys will have the privilege to meet our First XI Head Coach, former Socceroo and BGS Old Boy Matt McKay ‘00. A barbecue will be put on by our amazing Wembley Club, but we do need parents or volunteers to help with cooking. A link is available for Wembley Club volunteers on our Facebook page.

Another key date for your calendars is Friday 17 June, when we host our annual End of Season Function at Victoria Park Golf Club. This event celebrates the achievements of our BGS Football community, specifically for the Years 7 to 12 age groups. It is a wonderful evening where stories are shared, and individual and collective achievements are acknowledged. Click here for tickets or visit the Football section on MyGrammar.

Graham Harvey
Director of Football

Football team photo schedule | Saturday 4 June

Please note:

• All boys and coaches should arrive in full uniform and be ready for the photo at least 5 minutes before your scheduled photo time
• Please listen carefully and follow all instructions from the photographer
• Teams highlighted in yellow have photos scheduled for after your match
• No additional photos will be taken for late arrivals

2022 Football team photo schedule Saturday 4 June

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.

Grammar Shop

Open weekdays from 7.30am to 11.00am.

PAYMENT and ONLINE ORDERS

The Grammar Shop is currently operating cash free.  Purchases can be made in-store and online using Visa, Mastercard or your BGS Card account, which can be accessed here (MyGrammar > MyStudent > BGS Card).  

When the Grammar Shop is busy, it is difficult to stop and make calls to parents for payment.

Please ensure funds are available for students before they come to make purchases. If you have selected a 'daily limit' for the BGS Card account, this will need to be removed prior to the student making the purchase. 

The online store can be accessed by entering the BGS Card system and then clicking the ‘Grammar Shop Online’ link at the top centre of the screen.

Safety guidelines regarding social distancing and hand sanitising will continue in the Grammar Shop. 

Returned embroidery

Please click here or go to MyGrammar | P&F Auxiliary | Embroidered Blazer/Item Pick up list to check whether your blazer or other embroidered items are ready to be picked up. We appreciate your collecting these items as soon as possible.

Tuckshop

Open weekdays before school and during breaks.

The Tuckshop provides a selection of hot food, fresh salads, wraps, rolls and drinks.

The Tuckshop is currently operating cash free. Therefore, the BGS Student ID Card is the only payment method. Please add funds to your Student ID Card here (MyGrammar > MyStudent > BGS Card).

Safety guidelines regarding social distancing and hand sanitising will continue in the Tuckshop.

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

2022 BGS Rugby Season Launch and Parent Welcome Function

Everyone is welcome to come along and hear about the 2022 BGS Rugby program from Director of Rugby Phil Mooney at the Rugby Season Launch on Saturday 4 June. There will be coaches and training personnel to chat to as well as meeting other rugby parents.

As a special treat we have representatives from three BGS Premiership teams that have their 50, 30 and 10-year anniversaries this year (1972, 1992 and 2012). Speakers will share their experiences and how they contributed to subsequent success in life, through an entertaining panel facilitated by Ron Cochrane.

We are looking forward to welcoming new parents into the BGS Rugby community, particularly those new to the School. 

If you missed out on getting a ticket, it's not too late as there will be EFTPOS ticket sales at the door.

Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Wests Rugby Union Club
Address: Sylvan Road, Toowong

Following last year’s success, we will again auction 15 BGS Rugby supporter caps to parents wishing to boost the program through such means. Cap #1 will be auctioned on the night, #2 to #15 by way of online auction at the link below. Start bidding now to grab your favourite number.

Online Supporter Cap Auction 2022

Jonte Lowe
Normanby Blues President
M 0411 476 472
normanbyblues.support@brisbanegrammar.com

Meeting Notice

Parents of BGS gymnasts are warmly invited to attend the next meeting for the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Support Group. The meeting will be held in the Indoor Sports Centre (in the classroom opposite the weights room) on Tuesday 7 June at 5.45pm.

To RSVP or for any general enquiries, please contact:

Karuna Hoole / Arianne Nucifora
President / Secretary - MAGS Support Group
mag.support@brisbanegrammar.com 

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

Term 2
Wednesday 20 April - Friday 17 June

Term 3
Tuesday 12 July - Friday 16 September

Term 4
Tuesday 4 October - Friday 25 November