Newsletter
Week 4 Term 4

In recent weeks, I have been privileged to attend several functions organised by and for BGS Old Boys. Some gatherings were reunions, while others have been information sessions for the new STEAM Precinct. All have been lively, well-attended and vital expressions of the BGS community connection.

The consistent message I hear from Old Boys who attend these events – irrespective of age – is that BGS teaches them that education and learning can change lives. While exams and results are a necessary reality of all schools, the true value is found in the learning journey and finding new ways of thinking and working.     

Year 12 students have completed the first week of the external assessment block, with many large cohort subjects – English, Economics, Modern History, and Mathematical Methods – being examined. Despite the busy schedule that many of our Seniors are managing, I hear no complaints; indeed, my conversations affirm that our students feel well-prepared and ready for the challenges each day brings.

Brisbane Grammar School’s unique academic culture, where every student works to achieve their personal best, is again on display in The Lilley Centre this week. The place has been humming with collaborative and student-led learning.

Congratulations to all academic award winners for 2022, who have demonstrated sustained effort in their studies and maturity in leadership. I particularly acknowledge the duxes for the breadth and depth of their academic commitment: John Duncan (Year 12), Sze Yong Ng (Year 11), Archie Austin (Year 10) and Benjamin Li (Year 9). The term dux comes from the Latin ducere, meaning to lead or to guide. In education, the term dux refers to the leading student in a cohort. An effective leader or a good guide shows others the way. In the academic domain, we celebrate what the achievement of dux represents: a way or a path to fulfilment and success.

Prize winners in Years 9 to 12 will be presented with their awards on Speech Day, to be held on Wednesday 16 November at the QPAC Concert Hall. Details about arrangements for Speech Day, including the online booking of tickets, have been provided in recent newsletters and via parent portals. Award winners in Middle School (Years 5 to 8) will receive their prizes at Middle School Presentation Afternoon at QPAC on Wednesday 23 November.

I wish all students the best for their upcoming assessments and ask that parents encourage their sons to maintain good study routines until the end of the year.

Applications Open

BGS has a long and proud tradition of offering scholarships and bursaries to boys who have demonstrated they have the potential to derive great benefit from a BGS education.

A small number of Academic Scholarships (Trustees’ Scholarships) are awarded each year, based on demonstrated academic excellence, to boys commencing Year 7 and Year 10 in 2024.

The ACER Scholarship Examination will be held at the School on Saturday 25 February 2023. Registration is only available online and may be made via our website. Registration will close at midnight AEDST Monday 6 February 2023. Please note that no registrations will be accepted after the closing date.

Jamie Smith
Director of Enrolments

Brisbane City Council has advised the immediate closure of the footbridge that connects the BGS Tennis Centre with the School until further notice.

Click here to view alternative walking routes from the BGS Tennis Centre to the School.

Updates will be communicated as they are received from Council.

At the beginning of each new school year, Years 6 to 12 students take home a copy of the Brisbane Grammar School Magazine, an annual review of school events and cocurricular activities from the previous school year. 

We have identified that many parents prefer to read BGS publications online. This is a more environmentally sustainable option.

In January 2023, the 2022 School Magazine will be available to all parents as a free downloadable PDF. A limited number of hard copies will be printed, primarily for Class of 2022 students who will receive a copy at their home address in January 2023.

We encourage all other parents to read the School Magazine in the new paperless digital format. If, however, you still wish to receive a hard copy, please opt in here before Friday 26 November. Print copies will not be available after this closing date.

 Note, 2021 print opt ins will not carry over to 2022. If you wish to receive a print copy each year, a form will need to be completed each year during Term 4.

BGS would like to inform parents and guardians of key upcoming dates relating to 2023 fee accounts, as well as some reminders regarding the way in which fee instalment nominations are made (annual/quarterly/monthly). The online Fee Nomination Portal, used for the first time in 2022, will remain operative for 2023. Via this portal, you can: Nominate your payment structure – annual (with four per cent discount), quarterly or monthly. Nominate your payment method – direct debit (preferred) or ‘pay as you go.’ If you have selected direct debit, instantly set up your credit card or bank account for payments to be made throughout 2023. In the first week of November 2022, we will be emailing all BGS families with reminder instructions of how to use the portal, including the dates that the portal will be open to make these nominations. Date (2022) Milestone First week of November Email sent with detailed instructions for fee nominations via the portal Wednesday 16 November Announcement of 2023 fees Monday 21 November Opening of portal Sunday 4 December Closure of portal (all changes to fee nominations after this date will incur a fee) Mid December Final 2023 Fee Statements issued, based on fee nominations submitted If you do not make a nomination in the portal during the above window, your existing nomination preference, where applicable, will roll forward. Please monitor your emails in the first week of November 2022 to ensure you are aware of the key dates. This will ensure a smooth process for the issue of your 2023 Fee Statement and avoid the need for any rework over the term break, and any associated late change fees after final statements are issued.  There is a slightly different process and timeline for new students. If there are new families with students commencing at BGS in 2023 who are reading this newsletter, you will receive a separate email communication.

 

Christmas hampers

I am delighted with the number of students engaging in meaningful work through our Public Purpose program.

You will have seen the request in last week’s Newsletter, repeated below this week, for food items to assist us in putting together Christmas hampers for the St Vincent de Paul Society. We have also asked BGS families to bring in used/old footballs or rugby boots to share with Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland.

We need the support of parents to make this happen. If you can assist, please work with your son to support both important causes. I would also like parents to share this important work with their social networks. Teamwork is crucial. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Crystal Thompson or refer to the Week 3 BGS Newsletter.

Four weeks to go

There are four weeks left in the school year for students in Years 5 to 11. I encourage parents to ask their son to reflect on the standards he displayed in the first four weeks of school this year. I believe that how students finish the school year reflects how they return in the new year. With the support of the teaching staff, this will be our focus for the remainder of the term.

Focus on the small stuff – it won’t be easy, but the benefit for your son will be significant. If this is proving challenging, I encourage you to contact your son’s Head of Year for support.

Director of Boarding
Berian Williams-Jones

It's All About Culture

This week I was fortunate to attend a professional development opportunity hosted by the Australian Boarding Schools Association. The conference, titled ‘It’s All About Culture’, drew together boarding staff from across Australia and consisted of five sessions that each touched on a different element of developing or evolving the culture in a residential setting. 

I particularly enjoyed Susan McLean’s outstanding and confronting address about how to create a safe online culture for the young people in our care. As is the case with any parent, we do worry about what our children see online and how they respond to it, and Susan’s address pinpointed various strategies that could be employed. The final address of the day came from a panel of three principals, all of whom had worked in boarding, and their insights resonated with the staff who attended given their innate understanding of the challenges and rewards of boarding.

However, the presenter who made the greatest impression was Dr Arne Rubinstein. Following a stellar career in medicine, Arne founded the Rites of Passage Institute and authored the best-selling book, The Making of Men. His address resonated with me given the emphasis he placed on the developing of relations that engender and sustain a culture, including the significance of various rites of passage during every boy's BGS journey.

Various rites of passage are now well-established elements of our annual calendar in BGS Boarding, but it was good to be reminded of the significance of these events.

In the coming weeks a series of events will signify the rite of passage for our senior boarders as they come to the end of their journey in Harlin House, and for some that transition from Griffith to Harlin. We very much look forward to welcoming parents to our Year 12 Leavers Evening on Saturday 12 November, and while the ‘Last Supper’ on Tuesday 15 November is very much an in-house affair, the final departure of our senior boys over the bridge and through the guard of honour to the Boarders’ Lawn is very much a shared event with boarders young and old, Boarding staff and our Boarding families. I suspect this won’t be a brief affair this year and I’m sure a tear or two will be shed.

Equally, I am certain those Year 8 boys who now head to Harlin House for the next phase of their boarding journey are not only looking forward to a new environment and challenges, but equally to marking their graduation for a better term with our final celebrational meal and formally entering Harlin for the very first time as Year 9 boarders.

Director of Counselling and Academic Services
Dale Nicholas

External Examinations – Illness and Misadventure

Source: Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority

Any absence from the external examinations will require the submission of an illness and misadventure application to the QCAA which must be accompanied by a detailed medical report.

To make an informed decision about an illness and misadventure application for medical reasons, the QCAA requires a report from an independent health professional that includes the following details:

• the illness, condition or event (including details of a diagnosis, where applicable)
• date of diagnosis, onset or occurrence
• symptoms, treatment or course of action related to the condition or event
• explanation of the probable effect of the illness, condition or event on the student’s participation in the assessment.

Illness and misadventure applications for non-medical reasons, require written evidence from a relevant independent professional or other independent third party, such as a social worker, member of the clergy, police officer, or solicitor.

In all circumstances, the person providing the supporting documentation must have specific knowledge of the illness, injury, personal trauma or serious intervening event, and must not have a close personal relationship with, or be related to, the student.

Currency of supporting documentation

Supporting documentation must cover the date of the assessment for which the application is made.

A health professional providing evidence must have examined or treated the student, or have been consulted by the student, in the period from two days before the external assessment to one day after the external assessment.

Students and parents should ensure that the attached form is completed, and that Section C related to Illness and Misadventure has also been completed. This must be submitted to aara@brisbanegrammar.com within 24 hours of the relevant exam.

AARA Confidential Medical Report

Director of Outdoor Education
Derek Jervis

The 10G program was impacted by the wet weather event that intensified as the week went on. The class hiked and camped in the rain, and the group that chose to climb Mt Moon had a unique experience being surrounded by cloud and moody landscapes as they reached the summit. The severe weather hit as the class finished their expedition, so the class had to leave Moogerah early on Friday to avoid the chance of flooded roads.

The class must be recognised for the way they managed the challenging conditions and looked after one another. Jarrah Chien maintained a great attitude and put effort into every aspect of the program. He was willing to work hard, have fun and his sense of humour had a great impact on his group. Aiden Xiao was a kind and considerate student who contributed to both the physical and theoretical aspects of Outdoor Education. He understood the leadership objectives of the program and engaged in discussions about Indigenous culture and history.

Isaac Doan stepped up to lead the group as the prescribed leader, demonstrating initiative and choosing the most appropriate leadership style for the occasion. Neil Sarikwal was a mature, calm, and intelligent participant who was able to articulate and enact the leadership outcomes of the week.

William Ewart and Ethan Tiong were both capable and effective leaders during the expedition. They maintained a positive attitude in the challenging conditions and supported their peers. Dominic Forrest was a strong leader and effective collaborator who drew the group together to make decisions and put those decisions into action.

Thomas Ruddell was willing to speak up, make decisions and lead by example. Thomas volunteered as a leader and was effective as a prescribed leader when facilitating decision making. Nicholas Love was an excellent contributor in every way, putting the needs of the group first and volunteering for extra tasks including cleaning up.

A short movie of the boys' experiences can be viewed via the 10G 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 10 folder in Pixevety.

Shining stars in Mathematics

Congratulations to the students from Years 7 to 12 who received national prizes in the 2022 Australian Mathematics Competition. Based on their outstanding results, the following students from BGS have been invited to attend the upcoming 2022 AMC Awards ceremony in Queensland.

Jacob Duncan	Senior - Year 12 Prize/Best in School
Manoli Samios	Intermediate - Year 10 Prize
Benjamin Li	Intermediate - Year 9 Prize
Dennis Zhou	Intermediate - Year 9 Prize
Chris Zhu	Intermediate - Year 9 Prize
Tony Deng	Junior - Year 8 Prize
Callum Deacon	Junior - Year 8 Prize
Alexander Jiang	Junior - Year 7 Prize
Lucas Qu	Junior - Year 7 Prize

Further, the Australian Maths Trust brings together some of the finest young problem solvers from around the country for the AMOC Senior Contest. This invitation-only contest is a major part of AMT’s Olympiad program. It is used to identify talented students who may be invited to the AMOC School of Excellence in December, which is an important step in the pathway to representing Australia at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

We are pleased to announce that two Year 9 students Benjamin Li and Dennis Zhou have been invited to participate in the Junior Stream at this year’s Australian Mathematics Olympiad School of Excellence. The principal purpose of the School of Excellence is to develop the students’ maths problem-solving skills and help us identify students who may be invited to the further invitational events in the program leading to possible selection to the team for this year’s International Mathematical Olympiad.

Many thanks to our Maths Department led by Head of Mathematics Abigail Twyman who challenge, support, and guide our students to develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Tanya Neilsen
Principal Project Officer STEAM and Related Learning

Next generation

The Brisbane Portrait Prize celebrates Brisbane portrait artists and their sitters, and encourages public engagement with the arts. The Next Gen category is open to participants 18 years and under and encourages young artists to think about portraiture in a modern sense. 

Supported by Gadens, all entries into the Next Gen category are eligible for this prize. The paintings of two BGS students have been recognised as Highly Commended pieces in this year's competition. Gadens is currently hosting an exhibition of highly commended works in their foyer at 111 Eagle St, Brisbane.

During Art Club, Will Spalding (Year 11) created this beautiful painting of Ms Tanya Neilsen, entitled ‘Passion and Purpose’:

Ben Nguyen created this engaging self-portrait as part of the Sense-of-Self unit in Year 10:

The following two boys from Year 10 received an Honourable Mention by the judges of the Brisbane Portrait Prize for producing thoughtful and accomplished artworks:

Ben Treacy, with his painting entitled ‘Selfishly Selfless’:

Kayzer Ali, with his self-portrait entitled ‘Community’:

Congratulations to these four talented students!

Follow us on Instagram grammarart.bgs to view more examples of students’ exciting work.

Rebecca Masciantonio
Art Teacher

Year 11 Biology students this week travelled to Hastings Point in NSW for their mandatory field trip. The boys spent time learning about biodiversity and ecosystems and spent time collecting data. 

During the field trip, they discovered the impact that humans can have on the ecology of sand dunes, and about how rocks and tidal movement provide many different opportunities for life. The data collected also gave them an understanding of species distribution and richness.

The boys worked productively on both days and collected valuable data that will be further analysed in the coming weeks in class.

Andrew Skinner
Acting Head of Biology

Several BGS students submitted an essay or an independent source investigation to the Queensland History Teachers’ Association Historical Writing Competition. Eleven students from Years 8 to 12 were awarded prizes.

The Years 8 to 11 winners are, from left to right: Angus Ellerman (3rd, Year 10), Harry Cardell-Ree (2nd, Year 11 Ancient History), Isaac Robinson (1st, Year 11 Ancient History), Jack Matthew (Highly Commended, Year 11 Ancient History), Isaac Bassingthwaighte (2nd, Year 11 Modern History), Benjamin Li (1st, Year 9), Lachlan Lee (1st, Year 8), Shivam Pathak (2nd, Year 8).

Year 12 winners are, from left to right: Alex Thakur (2nd, Modern History), Lucas Sherington (1st, Ancient History), Jack Hunter (Highly Commended, Ancient History) and Carter Aitken (3rd, Modern History).

 

Christmas Hamper Appeal 

This Christmas, many of us are looking forward to sharing presents and enjoying the festivities with family and friends. However, this is not the case for many families who are struggling.

In partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Public Purpose group is collecting food items from the BGS community for Christmas hampers which will be delivered to families in need. These hampers may be the only gift some families receive this year.

The Christmas Hamper Appeal will run from Week 2 until Week 6 this term and we are asking each student to bring in one or two items – most of which can be found in your pantry.

Middle School boys should ask their Form Tutor about which items to bring in. In Senior School, each Form Group has been allocated specific items. Senior School boys can see below for which items to bring in, or in the Year Level Teams chat.

Thank you for your support to help families in need this Christmas.  

Stella Gardner
Teacher

Year 9

Tutor Group	Donation Items
0901	Tinned Ham (no spam)
0902	Tinned Fruit / Fruit Cups
0903	Long life Custard & Jelly Cups / Jelly packs
0904	Long life Milk
0905	Biscuits (sweet & savory)
0906	Spaghetti & Baked Beans
0907	Milo, Nesquick (chocolate/strawberry etc.)
0908	Soft drink (1L bottles) & Cordial
0909	Lollies & Chips
0910	Long life Juice
0911	Christmas Cake & Plum Puddings
0912	Tea & Instant Coffee
0913	Tinned Tuna & Tinned Vegetables
0914	Pasta Sauces, dry pasta & Gravy Power tins/packs
0915	Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
0916	Soaps & Deodorant (male & female)
0917	Spreads (Jams, Nutella, Honey, etc) & Cake Mixes/Pancake Mixes
0918	Cereals

Year 10

Tutor Group	Donation Items
1001	Tinned Ham (no spam)
1002	Tinned Fruit / Fruit Cups
1003	Long life Custard & Jelly Cups / Jelly packs
1004	Long life Milk
1005	Biscuits (sweet & savory)
1006	Spaghetti & Baked Beans
1007	Milo, Nesquick (chocolate/strawberry etc.)
1008	Soft drink (1L bottles) & Cordial
1009	Lollies & Chips
1010	Long life Juice
1011	Christmas Cake & Plum Puddings
1012	Tea & Instant Coffee
1013	Tinned Tuna & Tinned Vegetables
1014	Pasta Sauces, dry pasta & Gravy Power tins/packs
1015	Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
1016	Soaps & Deodorant (male & female)
1017	Spreads (Jams, Nutella, Honey, etc) & Cake Mixes/Pancake Mixes
1018	Cereals

Year 11

Tutor Group	Donation Items
1101	Tinned Ham (no spam)
1102	Tinned Fruit / Fruit Cups
1103	Long life Custard & Jelly Cups / Jelly packs
1104	Long life Milk
1105	Biscuits (sweet & savory)
1106	Spaghetti & Baked Beans
1107	Milo, Nesquick (chocolate/strawberry etc.)
1108	Soft drink (1L bottles) & Cordial
1109	Lollies & Chips
1110	Long life Juice
1111	Christmas Cake & Plum Puddings
1112	Tea & Instant Coffee
1113	Tinned Tuna & Tinned Vegetables
1114	Pasta Sauces, dry pasta & Gravy Power tins/packs
1115	Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
1116	Soaps & Deodorant (male & female)
1117	Spreads (Jams, Nutella, Honey, etc) & Cake Mixes/Pancake Mixes
1118	Cereals

Year 12

Tutor Group	Donation Items
1201	Tinned Ham (no spam)
1202	Tinned Fruit / Fruit Cups
1203	Long life Custard & Jelly Cups / Jelly packs
1204	Long life Milk
1205	Biscuits (sweet & savory)
1206	Spaghetti & Baked Beans
1207	Milo, Nesquick (chocolate/strawberry etc.)
1208	Soft drink (1L bottles) & Cordial
1209	Lollies & Chips
1210	Long life Juice
1211	Christmas Cake & Plum Puddings
1212	Tea & Instant Coffee
1213	Tinned Tuna & Tinned Vegetables
1214	Pasta Sauces, dry pasta & Gravy Power tins/packs
1215	Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
1216	Soaps & Deodorant (male & female)
1217	Spreads (Jams, Nutella, Honey, etc) & Cake Mixes/Pancake Mixes
1218	Cereals

Speech Day will be held Wednesday 16 November at QPAC Concert Hall for Year 9 (Prize Winners only) and all Years 10, 11 and 12 students. 

Parents of those attending can book online via QPAC, with a maximum of two seats per family. The booking link will be made available shortly.

All students in Years 10, 11 and 12 do not attend school that day and proceed directly to QPAC.

Similarly, Year 9 Prize Winners only do not attend school and proceed directly to QPAC.

All other Year 9 students not involved in Speech Day have an Independent Study Day at home. Supervision for quiet individual study will be made available in The Lilley Centre should any parents of Year 9 students wish to avail themselves of this.

Speech Day will be a normal school day with classes for Years 5 to 8.

A live stream will be available to view for all BGS community members. 

This week, Year 5 students travelled to Tallebudgera for the annual Year 5 camp. The Gold Coast Recreation Centre proved to be an ideal base from which the boys could explore the surrounds, including Tallebudgera Creek, Burleigh Head National Park and Palm Beach.

The three-day camp enabled the boys to take part in a host of fun activities including stand up paddle boarding, canoeing, bush walking, beach activities, kite making and test firing their own rockets.

Due to the recent inclement weather, the surf conditions were unfavourable; however, the boys had the opportunity to do a high ropes course which proved to be most popular.

Staying away from home for two nights was a challenge for some and marks a rite of passage for all Year 5 boys. It was good preparation for longer trips in coming years. There were plenty of tired eyes after evening activities and more than a few boys were ready for a nap on the bus ride back to Brisbane. 

The boys were fantastic in their response to the camp and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Thank you to our incredible Middle School staff who organised and attended the camp. 

Lessons and Carols

A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held on Saturday 26 November 2022 at St John’s Cathedral. The theme this year is ‘Love at Christmas’.

For those unfamiliar with this event, it is based on the traditional service made famous in England by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge. It consists of biblical and secular Christmas readings as well as communal singing of popular Christmas carols. These are interspersed with feature items from the School’s wonderful choirs Grammar Singers, Grammarphones, Chamber Choir, GVE, and Grammar Voices.

BGS choirs are excited to be joining forces with the School’s incredible brass and percussion students to perform Hark the Herald and the first movement of Gloria, by John Rutter. Add to this the pipe organ and our string players, this event is sure to uplift and inspire.   

The theme ‘Love at Christmas’ is a reminder that many people are struggling to make ends meet. The BGS community is in a position to help. A charity which directly helps people who are struggling is Rosies – Friends on the Street. Many services close during the holiday period, but Rosies remains open to ensure their patrons remain safe. 

Can you donate $10 to support one person through the festive season? Can you increase it to $40 to support an entire family? Rest assured that your money will go directly toward the provision of food and support for those who are reliant on this type of care. When you book your ticket, just click on the link and donate.

Let’s see how many people we can support this Christmas!

Lessons and Carols
Saturday 26 November, 7.00pm
St John's Cathedral (373 Ann St, Brisbane)
CLICK HERE to book tickets from Tuesday 1 November. They are FREE but book early to secure a place.

Peter Ingram
Head of Music

GPS Swimming Camp 2023 (Years 7 to 12)

The annual Swimming Camp will be held on the Sunshine Coast between Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 January 2023, during the last week of the Christmas school holidays. All swimmers from Years 7 to 12 (2023) are invited to attend.

The camp is an essential part of preparation for boys who are interested in trying out for the 2023 GPS Swimming Team. It will include pool sessions and a range of other activities. Please see the flyer or MyGrammar for further information and registration details for the camp. Please note that camp registrations and payment will close on Monday 14 November 2022, and that there are limited places available due to accommodation constraints.

Years 5, 6 and 7 Swimming Clinic 2023

The annual Year 5, 6 and 7 swimming clinic will be held at the BGS Indoor Sports Centre on Friday 20 January 2023. The intensive swimming clinic is an excellent opportunity for boys who are interested in trying out for the swimming team to kick start their preparations. It also gives those boys who are new to the BGS community a chance to familiarise themselves with the School and some of its staff and students. Sessions will involve stroke technique work in the pool, dry land training and race practice as well as some fun team-building activities. Please see advertisement below to register for this clinic.

Please check MyGrammar for all updated information about the upcoming season.

Matt Logan
Swimming Director

GPS Track and Field Championships 

BGS Track and Field athletes did the School proud at the 2022 GPS Track and Field Championships held last Friday 21 October.

In the Junior Carnival, outstanding performances throughout the morning allowed for a strong overall team performance. BGS finished in second place – the first time since 2018 that the School has made the podium. With seven individual winners and a further 29 place getters, all junior athletes should be proud of their efforts this season.

In the Senior Championships, the Under 16 and Open age groups showed resilience, pride and fortitude. A second-place finish in the 400m Hurdles by Captain Alex Thakur and strong performances in middle-distance events saw the senior group shine. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the 4x400m Open team which finished second, being edged out by just 0.4 seconds by a strong Churchie outfit.

The Under 13 to 15 age groups showed school spirit, skill and a range of talents to gain a number of placings in a host of events. This included Javelin, Shot Put, Triple Jump, High Jump, Sprint Hurdles, 800m and 1500m and 4x100m relay events. With 10 junior schoolboys competing at Regional and State competitions we already have an advantage in the 2023 season with these boys returning to compete with increased experience for elite competition.

The 2022 squad and GPS team improved its 2021 GPS point tally but were unable to improve on their 7th place. With the future training goals, routine, and our incredible junior athletes, we have big ambitions for the next few years. The squad will be starting up early Term 3 training sessions to continue this improvement, building upon the dominant displays shown this year.

Greg Di-Losa
Athletics Director and Assistant Director of Sport

Blazer Embroidery Information

Years 9 to 11 students who achieve academic awards will need to submit their blazers after Speech Day or in 2023 to have them embroidered.

Students who do not require their blazer for Speech Day can submit their blazer any time in Term 4 for return in 2023.

Any questions on blazers and embroidery should be forwarded to the Grammar Shop.

Grammar Shop

Open weekdays from 7.30am to 11.00am.

PAYMENT and ONLINE ORDERS

Grammar Shop 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).

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

A significant number of students are still coming to the Grammar Shop without sufficient funds on their BGS Card. 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. 

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 you collecting these items as soon as possible.

STYLUS PENS

The Toshiba stylus pens are no longer being sold in the Grammar Shop. However, we are selling the HP G3 stylus pens for $130. These pens can be used on all tablets, including Toshiba tablets.

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

The Normanby Blues will hold an Annual General meeting on Monday 21 November at 6.00pm at the Normanby Hotel in The Parlour Bar. Click here to view the agenda.

We would be delighted for interested Middle School parents to consider nominating for the committee. The younger age groups are an important stakeholder in BGS Rugby, and the work done by the committee today has the most impact on those boys coming through the Senior School in the future.

Anyone with an interest in BGS Rugby, from across all age groups, is more than welcome to attend. We are particularly keen to hear from anybody willing to take up a committee or office bearing position, in particular Secretary and Vice President. If you are interested, please contact Jonte Lowe on the email or mobile number listed below.

It will be a short meeting with an opportunity to catch up over a meal afterwards.

We look forward to a great year in Rugby fellowship and welcoming in the 2023 Normanby Blues Committee.

Yours in Rugby,

Jonte Lowe
Normanby Blues President

Mobile 0411 476 472
Normanbyblues.support@brisbanegrammar.com

Revised Schedule

The schedule for the BGS Cricket Gala Day Family Festival on Sunday 6 November has been revised. The Gala Day will now be a morning program only, running from 9.00am to 12.30pm. The Staff versus Students match will run from 12.40pm to 1.40pm.

CLICK HERE to register your attendance.

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

Term 4
Tuesday 4 October - Friday 25 November