Newsletter
Week 6 Term 4

Data Security

BGS EdTech continues to evolve the School’s IT Infrastructure while remaining mindful of the growth of digital threats.

EdTech has recently commissioned external reviews by data and cyber experts. These reviews have resulted in several recommendations, all of which have been accepted. The team is currently implementing new processes and procedures to strengthen the School’s data security measures.

Systems Renewal

In 2022, EdTech has pursued opportunities to improve and upgrade some of the current school and student management systems, focusing on the least efficient areas. The team is continually exploring and, in some cases, piloting solutions in the following areas:

• AARA
• Excursion Management
• Timetabling and scheduling

These efforts will continue in 2023, with the incremental release of system improvements aligned with the applications roadmap. This is enabled by a flexible cloud-based architecture and strong data governance and management strategies.

The team is committed to minimising disruption to teachers and students throughout the year. The rollout will be carefully coordinated to minimise adverse impacts while ensuring any changes bring swift and measurable improvements to school operations.

Data to support learning

Each boy’s learning journey is unique and depends on his aspirations, aptitudes, dispositions and interests. We always aim to support each boy as he traverses his own unique learning path.

Technology affords us the opportunity to observe changes over time in a student’s journey, and allows us to ask more probing questions, identify patterns early and, if necessary, intervene earlier.

The framework for Effective Thinking Cultures that has been implemented in recent years places BGS in a unique position to make effective use of our data. The establishment of the School’s new data warehouse will enable this by allowing the aggregation of different data sets to tell the story.

Triangulating students’ academic results with their NAPLAN results, learning plans, feedback on their IA’s, engagement in cocurricular and cultural programs and other important data categories will support teachers enable boys to reach their full potential.

The new data warehouse infrastructure is due to be installed and operational in early 2023.

Digital Strategy and Transformation update

The School’s Digital Strategy was recently reviewed to ensure continual alignment with changing marketing conditions, technological advancements, and the School’s overall strategy. Over the past two years, significant progress has been made via the Digital Transformation Program (DTP), allowing a much clearer path to emerge.

As the DTP enters its third year, our priorities shift slightly to focus on improving the digital experience of the school community and continue to provide the very best in enabling technology and systems. The Digital Strategy priorities in 2023 are as follows:

• Building digital capability and foundations;
• Digital Enablers and Sustainable change;
• Student Experience and Digital Economy;
• Digital Learning and Innovation;
• Personalising the Digital Experience;
• Personalised learning and data informed experiences; and
• Innovating and enabling agile ways of working.

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.

I spent much time over the weekend drafting addresses for the Year 8 Tie Ceremony and the Year 12 Senior Badge Presentation. Both rituals provide a wonderful opportunity for parents, staff and students to come together to celebrate important milestones.

In recent years, BGS has expanded opportunities for parents to be part of these milestones. During Term 3 and Term 4, Year 10 parents have been invited to be part of the final Outdoor Education experience by visiting Pepperina Hill on respective Fridays for lunch and the opportunity to reflect.

Outdoor Education is an important part of the BGS landscape for boys from Years 5 to 10. It is important that we acknowledge the final stage and having parents attend has added to the experience.

With the final Year 10 camp now complete, I wish to thank the incredible number of Year 10 parents that attended as well as our Outdoor Education staff for their work in providing such a wonderful program.

Our vision to be the best school for boys in Australia is enhanced by the quality of the programs offered at Moogerah. I encourage parents to accept the invitation to attend the Year 10 Outdoor Education ritual when boys attend their final camp for the year.

Congratulations to the Year 10 cohort for completing this program and I encourage you to consider applying for the Outdoor Education Leaders role in 2023.

Brisbane Grammar School is monitoring the health and wellbeing of its community amid reports of a “fourth wave” of COVID-19.

At this stage, the School is not being impacted by a surge in cases. Nevertheless, it is important for students to maintain strong hygiene practices to minimise the impact of viruses on themselves and others.

Queensland’s COVID-19 traffic light signal today switched from “green” to “amber”, which means there are moderate rates of community transmission of COVID-19.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced new recommendations including to wear a mask indoors, on public transport, and in hospitals. A full list of recommendations can be viewed here.

It is important to note these are not mandates, and there is currently no advice directly related to schools.

BGS asks parents and caregivers to keep sick or unwell boys at home.

The Rolls of Honour at BGS record the names of 430 Old Boys who gave their lives in war. Today we remembered those boys and the thousands of Australians who have served their country.

Early this morning a group of Middle and Senior School boys laid out the poppies in front of the War Memorial Library, which was open to staff and students today as part of our Remembrance Day commemoration.

The honour rolls have scrolled all day on our screens throughout the school and the Rilatt Bell struck 11 times at 11.00am to mark the armistice.

One of the stories told today was that of Thomas Robertson. A fine athlete and scholar at BGS from 1909 to 1911, Robertson enlisted in the 15th Battalion and took part in the Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1915. He was killed two days later, on his 21st birthday.

Mr Carroll made the point during the formal acknowledgement at Senior Assembly that “the great human values of loyalty, gratitude and respect always shine through and impel us not to forget, but to remember.”

Chris Price
School Historian and Archivist

Director of Boarding
Berian Williams-Jones

Positive Transition

On Tuesday, BGS Boarding commenced its Positive Transition orientation program for boys who will join the community in 2023.

Positive Transition is our banner for the orientation of new boarders and families to BGS Boarding.

The chosen title – Positive Transition – reflects our understanding of the challenges of that process. For any child, the change in circumstance from living at home to calling Boarding their ‘home away from home’ is significant.

From experience, and the various professional learning we have all attended, we know that the process is transitional and that there are many steps or stages in that process.

We have chosen to join ‘transition’ with ‘positive’ to reflect the benefits of a boarding or residential experience, alongside our efforts to provide that for our boarders.

Our Information Evening was a wonderful opportunity to virtually meet all those new families and share with them an insight about Boarding at BGS. It was the first steps in building a relationship between home and school that underpins a successful boarding experience.     

As we become increasingly adept at thinking in a transitional way about the BGS Boarding journey, it was good to be able to share sound advice as to what families can do in November ahead of joining the community in late January 2023.

Being able to provide worthy insight into the practicalities of living in Griffith or Harlin helps to prepare boys and families for what living in a community requires, as well as easing some of the understandable anxiety that surrounds the change.  

It was also an opportune moment for parents to seek clarification during the Q&A session in the latter half of the evening. It was wonderful for the parents to access a whole range of staff and to witness the level of care and consideration that exists within the residential community.

In closing, I thank Mr Fulton, Mr Power, Mrs Power, Mrs Cross, and Mr Smith, for their support and contribution to the evening.    

Director of Counselling and Academic Services
Dale Nicholas

External Examinations – Illness and Misadventure

Source: Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority

Any absence from 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 final Year 10 program for 2022 was disrupted by severe wind on Tuesday evening, and the class hiked an extra five kilometres to return to the safety of Pepperina Hill before the severe conditions hit. The rock climbing and abseiling activities were cut short, but the class demonstrated initiative and resilience to pack up quickly and return to the centre.

They re-joined the expedition along the Teviot Range the next day when conditions improved. The rest of the program continued as planned, and the class embraced the opportunities to lead and swim in the creek at the end of the day.

Alistair Jackson was a great contributor to his group, leading by example and showing great initiative and decision making. Nick Silverston proved to be an excellent leader, displaying empathy towards other students and supporting his peers during the challenging expedition.

Benji Edwards took the opportunity to get involved in leadership and decision-making during navigation discussions. Joshua Kenward and Thomas Poll were both strong leaders and supportive group members. Isaac Lutz was the motivator during the expedition. His impromptu singing and song selection kept the group positive as they climbed to the summit of Mt Moon.

Lucas Stay reflected on his experiences at Moogerah and drew on what he had learnt about himself and his peers during the outdoor education journey.

“I have seen others in a new light, being able to experience challenges with them, whilst also being immersed in a beautiful part of nature. Even better than this perhaps, I have seen and come to understand myself in a different way. Noticing and realising parts of my own character. Moogerah has been a wonderfully fun time but has really helped me develop a sense of character and to really understand the character of those around me.”

A short movie of the boys' experiences can be viewed via the 10I 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.

Help raise 'Hope'

Meet ‘Hope’, the two-week-old yellow Labrador that wants to be a Guide Dog when she grows up. The name was chosen by the BGS Public Purpose Youth Ambassador students as a reward for their amazing efforts in raising $13,000 in support of Guide Dogs.

Very soon, Hope will embark on the first stage of her journey to becoming a trusted guide for someone in our community with low or no vision.

Can you open your heart and your home to help raise Hope?

We would love to see her grow and learn within the BGS community as we continue to support her next year as well through our Guide Dogs Youth Ambassador Program.

All associated costs including food, equipment, flea/worming treatments and vet care will be provided by Guide Dogs. You will be given all the support you need and regular training classes to set Hope up for a successful career as a Guide Dog.

To find out more, email Bec at r.mccormack@guidedogsqld.com.au.

CLICK HERE for more information about puppy raising.

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. 

CLICK HERE to book online via QPAC. Seating is a maximum of two seats per family.

Should you have any ticketing queries, please contact Rochelle Lynch on 3834 5262.

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

Horror Week

There were ghosts and ghouls aplenty in the two Middle School Libraries last week with activities themed around the horror genre.

Year 5 boys were transported to a haunted house in England with a surprise ending in a short story by Chris Priestley. Year 6 boys created horror haiku poems or five-word stories which are on display in the MS Library.

Year 7 boys followed the creepy tale of a man with a golden hook for an arm, while Year 8 boys learned why they should never stop on the motorway.

Lunchtimes were filled with scary screenings, murder games, trivia competitions, spooky games, creepy science, and startling scavenger hunts.

It was a great week!

Vicki Palmer
Teacher Librarian

As we approach the final weeks of the 2022 school year, one could be forgiven for thinking the cocurricular season enters a twilight phase following the completion of the GPS Track and Field Championships. This could not be further from the truth.

Boats are on the water for the rowing season, cricket bats are out, swimming caps and goggles are on, and volleyball nets are up. BGS offers year-round opportunities for boys to engage in a variety of cocurricular programs, a process which assists the development of multi-sport athletes. Boys are to be congratulated for the manner in which they have transitioned into the pre-season for those respective sports. I look forward to seeing the rewards for their efforts when we enter fixtures in Term 1 next year.

The Performance Development Department recently attended the Australian Strength and Conditioning (ASCA) Conference. This allowed exposure to a series of presentations from industry leaders from Australia and abroad, and challenged staff to continue the pursuit of excellence. A fantastic opportunity to self-reflect was provided through the varied formal and informal conversations with colleagues from other high schools and sporting organisations. I am confident that the systems and programs within the BGS Performance Development Department provide the best opportunity for your son to succeed.

During the evening, the ASCA Awards recognised best practice and leaders within the industry, with BGS Peformance Coach Sophie Pidcock named the 2022 Performance Development Coach of the Year. This is a national, peer-nominated and board-endorsed award recognising outstanding service in the delivery of coaching to youth. Sophie received the award from BGS Strength and Conditioning Director Nathan Parnham, who in 2021 was the recipient of the same award. This speaks volumes about the knowledge, quality and passion within the department and outlines the level of professionalism and expertise we provide at BGS.

Please know that all programs – Hercules, Foundations, and General User Weights – will continue as usual through to the completion of term. Once the boys commence their holiday period, the Weights Room will remain open until Friday 9 December via an adjusted timetable. This will be communicated via MyGrammar. Please make contact if you have any further questions regarding Performance Development at BGS.

Lessons and Carols 2022 – Love at Christmas

Tickets are selling fast for Lessons and Carols, to be held on Saturday 26 November at St John’s Cathedral. Don’t miss out on hearing our wonderful choirs – Grammar Singers, Grammarphones, Chamber Choir, GVE, and Grammar Voices – as they sing you into this Christmas.

We have had our first combined rehearsals with the special brass and percussion ensemble and it is sounding amazing! I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy what our talented students will present. CLICK HERE to book tickets now.

A reminder that you have the opportunity to help those in need this Christmas by donating to Rosies – Friends on the Street. Every $10 you donate will support a person through the Christmas season. The link is easily accessed when you book. Let’s see how many people we can support this Christmas!

Speech Day

It is exciting that this year’s Speech Day ceremony will mostly return to pre-Covid routines with an increased amount of music on show. This year, the Symphonic Band will be the first feature ensemble. This will be followed later in the ceremony with a collaboration between Big Band and Grammarphones.

These performances will be conducted by Mr Jim Noble at his final Speech Day before he retires. It will be great to honour and recognise him in this way. We wish Mr Noble and the performers all the very best on this significant occasion.

All participating students and their families should have received a letter with full details. Check MyGrammar for updates.

For the past few weeks, students in the BGS Cricket program have been working hard with specialist coaches in morning and afternoon sessions.

These talents were on display at Northgate last Sunday at the inaugural Willow Club Gala Day Festival. More than 150 BGS cricketers were involved in the T10 tournament which showcased plenty of big hits, crafty bowling and slick fielding by many boys across all ages.

Leading the charge with the bat was Jock Horton (Year 11), who thumped many sixes into the carpark as well as onto neighbouring fields, and Nick Walker (Year 8), who picked up wickets in each game he played in.

Josh Smith, who will commence at BGS in Year 5 next year, fielded brilliantly throughout the day taking four catches and two stumpings in one game. Josh is pictured below being chaired off the field after his standout performance. 

The Gala Day was a wonderful success. We thank all the new BGS families for getting involved and sharing the day with us. I would also like to thank all the Willow Club members for the generous time and energy they commited to preparing for the day and helping out in the canteen.

Thanks must go to the representatives from Brisbane Heat who set up stalls and provided off-field entertainment throughout the day. Thanks also to Emma Thompson from Pitch it Up who donated a training machines to the School and a lucky door prize (which was won by Year 7 student Henry Burke).

The final event for the day was the staff v students match played on the Main Oval. Bragging rights belong to the staff team who beat the students by over 50 runs! Thanks to all staff and parents for participating in the match, and I am happy to report all hamstrings and calf muscles remained unharmed.

The Powderfinger Cup commenced this week at Northgate with matches being played by all year levels against Gregory Terrace. Congratulations to the 5A, 6B, 9A, 10B and First XI teams on their victories. The 7A team came perilously close to snatching victory in their match, losing on the second last ball. The final ledger read GT 10 – BGS 5.

A significant improvement with our bowling consistency was noticed with nearly all Gregory Terrace teams restricted to scores of around 100 runs or less off 20 overs. More emphasis on strike rotation and urgency when running between wickets would certainly enhance our batting performances.

A reminder that our full training schedule is back in place next week starting Monday 14 November with both morning and afternoon sessions running.

Week 8 of Term 4 will see internal trial matches being played at Northgate each afternoon for all cricketers. Years 5 to 8 cricketers will play on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 November, and cricketers in Years 9 to 11 will play on Wednesday 23  and Thursday 24 November. Buses will again be available for all cricketers.

Trevor Irvine
Cricket Director

The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) is conducting a study involving rugby players, basketball players and swimmers from the nine Brisbane GPS schools to identify a blood biomarker for concussion.

It is not too late for your child to join the study and help make the sport they love safer.

CLICK HERE to register.

The research team has started baseline tests, which will continue until early 2023, but they need many more students to get involved. The baseline tests do not take long, and you do not have to start them immediately.

To find out more, visit QBI's website or call the research team today on 3443 3004.

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

Parents are warmly invited to attend the Annual General Meeting for the Hardwood Club Basketball Support Group.

The AGM will be held in the BGS Indoor Sports Centre at 6.30pm on Tuesday 15 November 2022.

All positions will be declared vacant, and nominations are welcome for the following positions:

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
General committee member

To RSVP, obtain a nomination form or to find out further information, please contact Hardwood Club President Rohan Dwyer at hardwood.support@brisbanegrammar.com.

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 position. 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

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

Term 4
Tuesday 4 October - Friday 25 November