Newsletter
Week 5 Term 2

National Boarding Week 

This week we celebrate our Boarding community in line with National Boarding Week. It is a chance for us to acknowledge the students, teachers, staff and families that play a part in making the boarding experience at BGS the best it can be.  Morning Teas and student-guided tours were hosted at Harlin House throughout the week, giving our Boarders a chance to show off their accommodations and explain the intricacies of boarding to their guests.

I’m proud to say that our Boarding community is truly diverse. Our students come from all over Australia and the world to learn and live at BGS, and every boarding enrolment represents a supreme vote of confidence in the School. Families choose us to raise their boys, knowing they will have access to the best – in facilities, teaching, wellbeing and cocurricular opportunities.  

But it doesn’t stop there.  

Just like the day school, BGS Boarding is underpinned by values of endeavour, learning, respect, leadership, and community, and our focus is on nurturing our boys intellectual, physical, and emotional wellbeing.  

The focus on wellbeing has never been greater. We’ve made strategic decisions to rebuild accommodation that incorporates spaces for recharging as well as socialising. Furthermore, dedicated staff who reside on site, like Senior Boarding Tutors that live alongside the students, ensure we can respond to any issues quickly and support the boys' social, emotional and physical wellbeing.  

Our team are truly dedicated and committed to supporting students to become thoughtful, confident men of character who contribute to their communities. Living together in a considerate and cooperative way is in many ways excellent preparation for the real world, and we take our responsibility of shepherding our Boarders through any growing pains very seriously.

Above all, we strive to ensure each boy builds a close supporting relationship with parents, staff, and their boarding community. Feeling seen, understood and taken care of is essential for a successful boarding experience; after all, connection is a cornerstone of wellbeing.

I would like to acknowledge our team in the boarding houses, Health Centre, Kitchen, Laundry, Cleaning, and maintenance – for their committed to making BGS a home away from home for our boarders.  

It really does take a village to raise a child, and I am proud to be part of this family. 

The Year 9 Outdoor Education program has commenced at Moogerah. This year's program is focused on Leading Self, allowing students to experience a significant pedagogical as they take on more responsibility and begin to take the lead in activities. The Year 9 expedition saw the students spending two nights at Bitenbar; they also went on a student led journey to one of the most impressive mountains in the Scenic Rim, Mt Greville. 

Cashy Luo was consistently keen and enthusiastic throughout the week, offering support to others in the group. Jackson Peck beat one of the staff in the knot tying competition, and won the privilege of having his backpack transported back to the centre.

Hugo Smith showed confidence and fearlessness when confronted with heights, leaping to headbutt the ball on the pole jump. Similarly, Matthew Overlack, who struggles with heights, exhibited staunch determination and completed the high ropes by sheer force of will.

Will O’Connell showed excellent rock-climbing skills completing some of the more difficult routes on our wall. 

We also had 7D completing their OE experience for this year, bringing great energy and enthusiasm. Atti Kath was very interested in the cultural lesson and asked mature, thoughtful questions. Will Thies, George Douglas and Angus Hetherington kept the group going with their infectious spirit of endeavour. 

Year 11 Outdoor Education Leaders Flynn Horton, Alec Fitzgerald, Henry Hyde, Adriano Gianfelici, Mark Humphreys and Hudson Pherous focused on supporting their respective classes, offering guidance and assistance at every opportunity. 

A short movie of the boys' experiences can be viewed via the 9A Video, 7D 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. 

 

It is time to once more get moving for the Push Up Challenge!

This annual fundraiser aims to create awareness and much-needed support for a variety of charities aligned with mental health. This year we've set ourselves a grueling challenge indeed: Participants are expected to do 3144 push ups in 23 days (or a part thereof),  between June 1 and June 23. We hold push up stations at school throughout that time to support boys doing their part.

Last year, we had over 700 students and members of the School community signed up and involved. We raised over $11,000, setting a pretty high bar - and this year we want to try and beat it!

Last Thursday afternoon our BGS Guide Dog Ambassadors hosted a Dining in the Dark High Tea fundraiser to continue our support of this wonderful charity and our BGS sponsored Guide Dog, Hope.

The event was a huge success and provided some food for thought for our sighted guests. Attendees attempted to eat their high tea blindfolded, which gave us all a new appreciation of the lives of the visually impaired. We were privileged to hear from Guide Dogs Client Ambassador, Brent Matthews, about his journey and how being paired with his Guide Dog, Jaycee, has changed his life.

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Guide Dogs staff and all of the BGS families who donated to our silent auction on the day. To all of those who attended and helped raise funds towards Hope’s training, we thank you so very much. Without the support of our great BGS community and our leaders Ms Gardner and Ms Thompson, we would not be able to achieve all that we do. Thank you.

Photos of the event can be accessed here pixevety - Guide Dog Fundraiser afternoon – by Lewis Carroll and Christopher Lee

Year 12 Personal Pitch and LinkedIn Sessions 

Next term we will be providing Personal Pitch and LinkedIn sessions to interested Year 12 students. We have a number of students undertaking personal pitches - be it for university scholarship applications, interviews for Tuckwell or Ramsey programs, internship interviews, or MMIs for medicine entry.  To assist, we will be providing a skills-based workshop for students interested in this area, as well as a LinkedIn workshop to explore the practical aspects of setting up an account and profile.  Students will explore nuanced ways to make their profile stand out to recruiters and colleagues in their chosen future profession. This is an interesting initiative for us as we seek to provide our students with the very best transition to their post-schooling pathways and we look forward to exploring the various avenues together.
 

Year 8 Learning Conference 

We were delighted to welcome Year 8 parents to our Learning Conference on Wednesday afternoon, as part of our Applied Thinking program. The Learning Conference was designed to help parents support their sons' learning through developing a deeper understanding of learning strategies and greater insight into their sons as learners.  Parents and boys had the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, engage in conversations about learning powers and review and refine the boys’ Learning Improvement Plans. Engagement levels were high, and it was encouraging to see and hear the boys (and their parents) reflecting on their learning strengths and identifying areas requiring further development.  We hope the Learning Conference has prompted some interesting conversations at home around self-regulation and how to be more effective learners.   

 

Academic Support Clubs 

Please refer below for information regarding the Academic Support clubs available for Middle School students.  Boys are welcome to attend at any time and do not need to register for these activities.   

Year 5 Spelling and Grammar Support (Wordsmiths) 

When:  Tuesday    

Time: 7:30am  

Where:  MS302 

Contact:  Stella Gardner (stella.gardner@brisbanegrammar.com) and Kim Child (kim.child@brisbanegrammar.com)  

 

 Year 6 Spelling and Grammar Support (Wordsmiths) 

When:  Wednesday    

Time: 7:30am  

Where:  MS302 

Contact:  Stella Gardner (stella.gardner@brisbanegrammar.com) and Kim Child (kim.child@brisbanegrammar.com)  

 

Year 5/6 Maths Support (Pythagoras Club):   

When:  Thursday morning  

Time: 7:30am  

Where:  MS301 

Contact:  Peter Hunter (peter.hunter@brisbanegrammar.com)  

 

Year 7 Maths Support (Fibonacci Club):    

When:  Tuesday and Thursday mornings  

Time: 7:30am  

Where:  MS203 

Contact:  Hamish Benson (Hamish.benson@brisbanegrammar.com)  

 

Year 8 Maths Support (Archimedes Club):  

When:  Monday and Wednesday morning  

Time: 7:30am  

Where:  H402 

Contact:  Harrison Lucas  (Harrison.lucas@brisbanegrammar.com)  

On the second of May, Brisbane Grammar School Eco Marines students embarked on an experience at Tangalooma, a renowned resort on Moreton Island off the coast of Brisbane. The aim was to educate and inspire young people to take action to protect and preserve the environment and especially ocean and marine life. The experience was not only educational but also impactful, providing students with the opportunity to learn about environmental conservation and meet new people. 

 

The Eco Marines experience began with an introduction to the program, highlighting the importance of protecting the ocean and marine life. The students were then given a tour of the grounds including the beach and facilities. During the tour, we learned about the various marine species that inhabit the area and the threats they face from pollution, overfishing and other human activities. Urban Utilities provided an insight into the water cycle and the importance of what goes down our drains at home. 

 
We were introduced to various conservation initiatives, such as sustainability in the fashion industry and ecological fishing practices. After the tour, the students participated in various activities designed to promote environmental awareness and conservation. These activities included a sandcastle competition, scavenger hunt and a sustainable eating workshop. 

 
The students were also given the opportunity to interact with marine life, such as dolphins, and learn about the importance of protecting these animals and their habitats. The dolphin feeding was an excellent opportunity for us to interact with the Tangalooma marine environment.  

In conclusion, we had a fun and educational day on Moreton Island, and we hope we can inspire our peers to become more aware of rubbish disposal and the plight of the oceans. 

Zachy Yap, Alex and Ben Wong, Thor Loch-Wilkinson and Severin Yon Gee 

 

After months of hard work for our athletes and coaches, the GPS cross-country season came to a close this week. The Limestone Park course once again proved challenging for all runners, and the effort on the faces of every athlete as they crossed the finish line, confirmed that our boys gave everything they had to give for the team.   

In the Junior Championships, our boys finished equal third which is the best result we have had in recent years.  Congratulations to Jayden Patten, 3^rd in the 10 Years, and Haydn Huang who came 1^st in the 12 years race. 

In the Senior Championships, Ethan Huang was 2^rd in the 14 years competition. 

The best trainer in each level was also acknowledged at the post event function.

Congratulation to Jayden Patten 10 Years, Joshua Rodins 11 Years, Shree Bhatt 12 Years, Tom Callinan 13 years and Philip Sangster 14 years. These boys completed around 50 training sessions and lead-up meets throughout the short season.       

This weekend we are away against Nudgee College in Football and Tennis and once again we have supplementary matches at other venues.  Please check MyGrammar for team lists, times, and venues.

Through a combination of illness, injury and difficulties associated with the draw, our Year 7 Football teams have struggled with numbers in recent weeks.  If you think your son may not be able to play in his allocated fixture, please let Mr Harvey, Mr Littlefair or Mrs Eveleigh know as early as possible.

Rugby preseason training sessions for 11 and 12 Years teams will commence next week.  11 Years on Wednesday afternoon and 12 Years on Thursday mornings.      

Football

Results: Round (4) v GT
 

TEAM	WON BY
5A	BGS
5B	BGS
5C	BGS
5D	BGS & GT
5E	GT
6A	BGS
6B	BGS
6C	BGS
6D	GT
7A	DRAW
7B	BGS
7C	BGS
7D	BGS
7E	GT
7F	GT
8A	DRAW
8B	BGS
8C	BGS
8D	BGS
8E	GT
8F	BGS

 

Football Player of the Week
 

Team	Name
5A	Oliver Farrelly
5B	Zachary Chow
5C	Xavier Coyle
5D	Will Himstedt
5E	Sebastian Soi
6A	Cameron Clark
6B	Marlin Ngo
6C	Simran Bansi
6D	Arthur Kim
7A	George Douglas
7B	Alfred Lu
7C	Manny Yang
7D	Henry Gannon
7E	Aarav Lalji
7F	Kusha Zareie
8A	Ziggy Arumugam
8B	Eugene Lee
8C	William Moore
8D	Joe Feltham
8E	John Stuckey
8F	James Irving

 

Cross Country

Cross Country – Meet (6) Runner of the Week
 

Year Level	Name
5	Heath Evans
6	Fraser Bell
7	Max Gatehouse
8	Alex Donaldson

 

Fencing

Results Round (2)

 

Year Level	Name
5	James Zhang, Chace Zheng & Daniel Zhang
6	Nicholas Bourne, Frazer Singleton & Jayden Lee
7	Maxim Mirkovic, Harry Chang, Ephraim Zhao, Louis Filei & Finn Betrame
8	Oscar Kim, Aiden Seo & Owen Zhong

 

Tennis

Results: Round (4) v TSS
 

TEAM	WON BY
5A	BGS
5B	BGS
5C	BGS
6A	BGS
6B	BGS
6C	BGS
7A	BGS
7B	BGS
7C	BGS
7D	BGS
7E	BGS
8A	BGS
8B	TSS
8C	BGS
8D	BGS

 

Tennis Player of the Week

 

TEAM	Name
5B	Kai Nasirpour
5C	Kai Liang
6A	Tony Chin
6C	Jason Ma
7A	Ethan Huang
7C	Jing Wong
8A	Lucas Han
8C	Alex Wong

Glenn McFarlane​

Assistant Head of Middle School ‑ Sport and Activities

 

 

Tickets are selling fast for your MUSICAL HOLIDAY of the year. It is going to be a fabulous event. Plan to come along to enjoy the music from our amazing musicians. Plan to catch up with friends for a drink in the beautiful Conservatorium Theatre or maybe for dinner at South Bank afterwards. There will be music for everyone. Get your tickets NOW! They are available on My Grammar or here - Grammar in Concert: Destinations Select Your Tickets - QTIX. (Adults $42 | Concession $32 | BGS and BGGS Students $12 Please note that performers do not need to purchase tickets.) 

Here's a reminder of what to expect: 

• Symphonic Band will start the show with a bang. Be prepared for the unexpected! 

• Grammarphones will be all about the journey as they perform a glorious piece from Canada and then an Australian song with some real groove! 

• Chamber Strings will serenade us with a European masterpiece from Mozart…………you’re sure to know the tune! 

• Vocal Group is sure to delight the audience with some quirky music form the far north of Queensland 

• Big Band can be big and brash and that will match the New York set they are preparing including a Sinatra-like performance of New York New York………but who’s the soloist? 

• Grammar Symphony Orchestra will take us to some exotic locations including Asia with their performance of Miss Saigon

• Grammar Singers will take us to Ireland with Danny Boy. They’re sure to make you cry! 

• Percussion Ensemble will take you on a wild train ride through the countryside. 

• GVE have prepared some highlights from the incredibly popular musical Hamilton. Will King George make an appearance? 

• The Massed Finale will land us safely back in Australia with a song which is sure to be an earworm as you leave the Theatre 

Make sure you’re there. Don’t miss out! 

Brisbane School Teams Competition for Years 7 to 12 

Fixtures Round 3 : 20 May 

Check the draw on MyGrammar.  It should also appear in Tableau.  Please let Ms Chin know if you are not able to fence at your allocated time.   

BGS Primary Internal Fixtures for Years 5 and 6 

Fixtures Round 3 : 19 May  

Fixtures Round 4 : 26 May 

Where: BGS ISC Cricket Nets 

When:

4 – 5 pm : all Year 5 fencers 

5 – 6 pm : all Year 6 fencers 

Weapon focus for Round 3 : Epee 

Team lists and piste assignments are available upon arrival.  Check MyGrammar for more details. 

We are fortunate to have Paul Crook, our Head Epee Coach, bring some fencers from his club on Friday afternoons.  It is great to have this opportunity for our boys to bout against fencers from other schools.   

Any parents who have photos of the events and would be willing to share, please email them to Ms Chin.   

 

Musketeers General Meeting 

The next Musketeers general meeting will be on Wednesday, 24 May, 2023 at 7 pm over Teams.  New members always welcome.  If any parent would like to join us, please email Ms Chin for the meeting link.   

 

Fencing Merchandise 

The Musketeers have fencing merchandise available for sale.  They have caps, hoodies, and stickers.  If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please contact them.  musketeers.support@brisbanegrammar.com 

BGS Rowing Alumni Update 

Over the last weekend the various University Conference Rowing Championships were held across the United States - and to our great delight, some of our BGS Old Boys were part of the action. Logan Ulrich (OB'17) rowed at the PAC-12 Championships in the Washington University 1st Varsity boat. In a hard-fought battle with arch-rivals CAL Berkley, Washington placed second.  

Earlier in May, Washington University raced and defeated a development Australian VIII, containing classmate Miller Rowe (OB'17) in the famous Windermere Cup regatta in Seattle.  

While Logan was racing on the west coast, Clancy Doe (OB'20) raced in the Eastern Sprints in New Jersey for Yale University. Clancy raced in the Yale V4 VIII and placed 3rd in the A Final, with the Yale Men’s team winning the overall championship. With Yale and Washing both qualifying for the IRA Championships, both Logan and Clancy will race in the 120th anniversary IRA National Championship Regatta at Mercer Lake, NJ in the first weekend in June. 

Closer to home, Paddy Holt (OB'16), is preparing to race in the Australian Men’s VIII at the 2nd World Cup regatta in Varese Italy from the 16-18 June. Paddy and the Australian team depart for Italy on the 6th June. 

We wish all our Rowing Old Boys the very best in their ambitious international endeavours!

 

School Pathways 

The future of Australian Rowing was on display at the Junior Trials and School Pathways Regatta at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) in late April. The lure of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is strong as some of the most talented young rowers from across the country suited up for the School Pathways Regatta. 

The best of the School’s Pathways Crews from across the country headed down the SIRC course, with the crews racing in Eights and Quads. Pathway crews are selected by each state, providing a representative opportunity for the best school-aged athletes. The School’s Pathway Eights event has been a part of the performance pathway for a decade, giving school-aged athletes a taste of the opportunities available should they continue down the High Performance path. Sam Forbes (Captain of Boats and 2023 BGS 1st VIII) was selected in the Queensland No. 1 Boys Pathway VIII and stroked the boat to a memorable victory in Sydney. Congratulations to Sam and his fellow crew members. 

 Exciting news: Volleyball Queensland have released information about the upcoming trials for The 2023 Australian Youth Volleyball Championships (AYVC)!

Registrations to trial for AYVC are now open and if you believe you have what it takes to represent Queensland in Indoor Volleyball, we invite you to submit your trial nomination. BGS Volleyball has a long standing history of being represented in these state teams. In the past, we have found it the best approach to get a few players together to register and attend the trials as a unit. After all, being the “ultimate teammate” goes along way to supporting our volleyball stars beyond their BGS endeavours.

 
AYVC National Championships Dates

Date: 17 - 22 September 2023 

Location: Bendigo, Victoria  

Divisions: U14 (2010 and younger) / U15 (2009) / U16 (2008) / U17 (2007) / U18 (2006)  

 
 

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡  

Dates: 10 & 17 June, 1 July 2023 (Trial times listed on website)  

Locations: The Sports Centre, Boondall & The Gap State High School  

Fees: $30 trial fee per athlete 

To register for these trials please click here 

 

HAND BALLS FOR SALE 

The Grammar Shop is now selling BGS Hand Balls for $3.00.  Stop by and pick one up before school or during 1st break! 

PAYMENT AND GRAMMAR SHOP ONLINE ORDERS 

The online store can be accessed by entering the BGS Card system and clicking the ‘Grammar Shop Online’ link at the top of the screen.  Please allow a minimum of 24 hours before coming to the shop to collect your order.   

A significant number of students are still coming to the Grammar Shop with insufficient 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.  

UNCOLLECTED ONLINE ORDERS POLICY 

In the event items are not collected within 3 months of the online purchase date, the shop will refund the value of the items to the student's BGS Card and return the uncollected items to shop stock.   

PRE-LOVED UNIFORMS FOR SALE (INCLUDING BLAZERS) 

The Grammar Shop has a good selection of pre-loved uniforms including Middle School shorts and shirts, senior blue shirts, trousers, PE polo shirts, jumpers and blazers.  Parents are encouraged to browse our pre-loved section in the shop.  If you have clean, quality used uniforms you’d like to donate, please drop them at the Grammar Shop. We appreciate your kind donations. 

GRAMMAR SHOP 2023 TRADING HOURS 

OPEN: Monday - Friday 7.30 am – 11 am 

CLOSED: All public and school holidays. 

Tuckshop 

OPEN: Weekdays before school and during breaks. 

P&F Auxiliary 

Tuckshop 3834 5229      Grammar Shop 3834 5347         

Roster Secretary: Emma Kelso – email: auxiliaryvolunteers@brisbanegrammar.com 

Volunteer Roster commencing Monday 22nd May 2023 

WEEK FOUR	TUCKSHOP  BREAKFAST  7AM-8.30AM	TUCKSHOP  M.TEA / LUNCH  8AM–2PM	GRAMMAR SHOP  7.30AM-11AM
Monday  22 May	Breakfast volunteers required	Naomi Chambers  (Team Coordinator)	Joanna Yesberg
Tuesday   23 May	Breakfast volunteers required	Veronika Farrelly	Amanda Butler
Wednesday   24 May	Heather Norris  Helen Webster  Lena Xiong	Katie Hume  (Team Coordinator)	Justine Neep
Thursday   25 May	Catherine Savage	Rosalind Creedon  (Team Coordinator)	Susan Fuller
Friday  26 May	Melissa Daly	Alicia Klumpes  (Team Coordinator)	Nadine Kattan

Football End of Season Function – Saturday 10 June

Please save the date! Further information and booking details are coming soon.

The event will commence at approx. 6.30pm

 

Tennis End of Season Function – Saturday 10 June

Please save the date! Further information and booking details are coming soon.

The event will commence at approx. 6.00pm

Fencing End of Season Function – confirmed Friday 9 June

 

Gymnastics End of Season Function – confirmed Friday 10 June 

The Willow Cricket Support Group invites you to attend our Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday 7th June 2023 at 6.00pm at BGS in the Woolcock Room, Administration Building.

All voluntary positions on the support group committee will be declared vacant.

Nominations for the following positions must be received by Tuesday 6th June 2023:

President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer

To make a nomination for a position or RSVP for the AGM, please contact Jason Beikoff, Willow Club Secretary, on jason@retaillogic.com.au or 0421 078 133.

For more information about the Willow Club or the AGM, please contact Willow Cricket Support Group President, Sean Rothwell, on rothwell.sean@gmail.com or 0417 761 281.