Newsletter
Week 3 Term 3

In recent months, as Government and Health Officials set out the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been told that “this is a marathon, not a sprint”.

Hearing this, I reflected on the upcoming GPS Cross Country event at Ipswich’s Limestone Park, and more broadly on the journey of a BGS education. I wanted to share my optimism for our students, and thoughts on recent research into a thinking education.

Each year, a strange phenomenon plays out at the start of the GPS Cross Country Open age race – defying logic, science and, in most cases, team orders. It has no impact on the race, and while a participant may grab the spotlight briefly, they soon feel the burn. They also discover how important it is to preserve their adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stores throughout the 6km race.

The best runners start strongly, keeping clear of their competitors. They find gaps and get a good line of sight for the first gully, the start of the course’s first ascent. While they appear to be sprinting, they are not. They have learned their limits for each part of their race, and they choose patience.

Every year, one or two competitors have the misguided view that getting to the first gully ahead of the field is a win. They lead the high-quality field for a few fleeting seconds before being gobbled up by a wave of disciplined runners who understand that the finish line is where it counts – about 5.5km away.

The GPS Cross Country Championships on Tuesday 4 August is the culmination of months, and in some cases, years of training. Training that has been honed through learning.

At BGS, our educational program is informed by a school-wide approach to teaching and learning called Effective Thinking Cultures, which focuses on students understanding what is valued in the process and product of their thinking. In their recent report to the Senior Leadership Team, Dr Hannah Campos Remon and Dr Peter Taylor with our Executive Director – Educational Innovation Jacqui Zervos, described the behaviour of a student engaged in a thinking education.

He responds to what is happening around him – he does so often and confidently. He moves around to different areas and groups of people and knows who he wants to talk to and why. He asks questions like “what if…?”, “why not?” and “does that mean…?”. He develops strategies and options. He makes decisions and tests them. His focus is on inquiring, problem-solving, creating, resolving. Information is useful to him in terms of how and what provokes him to think, and there is a clear purpose and relevance that drives his curiosity and learning. Importantly, these dispositions for learning are the same that will serve him well in later life in professional, interpersonal and community domains.

This describes our students in the classroom, the laboratory, at rehearsals, in training or competition.

I have no doubt that, despite the lack of a crowd, next week’s Cross Country event will see another 220m sprinter using his ATP reserves at the start of the race. I know that it will not be a BGS student, as our students know that the fleeting spotlight is the antithesis of nil sine labore.

BGS Cross Country runners are well equipped to apply themselves to the end goal – contributing to their team score over the full race. They will respond to the technical elements of the course and the tactical manoeuvres of their peers to optimise their success.

I spoke to the boys at today’s Virtual Assembly about extending this idea to their own learning journey at BGS. Students can choose their thinking and response to the multitude of opportunities before them. Each lesson, each morning, each rehearsal, each training session, each day. I told the boys: You can, quite literally, “choose your own adventure”. This should fill them with optimism and excitement.

My optimism extends to our students as future professionals, leaders, fathers and husbands, in a world that needs their help. Our aim is to equip students for the uncertainty ahead, so that each boy is there at the end of the race when it really counts.

COVID-19 planning and student behaviour

Although the School’s formal communication regarding COVID-19 is less frequent, our work behind the scenes continues. Each week, key staff meet to refine the School’s processes to manage potential issues.

Transmission is currently low; however, the COVID-19 team is preparing for a potential future outbreak. While everyone in Queensland hopes to maintain low rates of infection, this situation can change quickly. It is important we are ready for Government directives or potential emergency changes if a COVID-19 case is identified in the BGS community.

If we are affected, the School will follow the BGS Procedure for Immediate COVID-19 Shutdown . Please read it to familiarise yourself with the process and discuss with your son.

We continue to remind boys about the importance of hand hygiene, covering their mouth when coughing and not attending school when unwell. I would appreciate if you would also remind your sons so that we can continue to create a safe environment.

On another matter, I wish to remind parents that boys should not be in the CBD after school, unless they are required to catch public transport via the city. Visiting McDonald’s or other venues is not appropriate. The School Marshals will be present in the city to make sure boys are behaving appropriately.

I have also reminded boys about the importance of being respectful while on public transport. I expect BGS students to be the first to stand to offer their seat to an adult on the bus or train. I would appreciate your support in discussing these issues with your son.

Photos for cocurricular activities will be taken on Monday 10 August in Centenary Hall and outside the Great Hall. Please arrive five minutes before your scheduled photo time. Middle School Music students will need to bring a white shirt and tie to school for these photos.

Click here to view the schedule.

Director of Boarding
Berian Williams-Jones

Brisbane Grammar School held its first Virtual Open Day last Saturday. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this replaced our annual on-campus event. Had our traditional event been held, I was looking forward to showcasing our new boarding facilities. We also missed the Open Day Harlin House Coffee Shop, which is one of the more enjoyable and occasionally stressful events on our calendar for boarding families.

Instead, a very different experience replaced our familiar Open Day. Alone in a room in front of the camera, my only companion was a large screen that displayed questions and a clock that appeared to be counting down slowly. That said, it was evident that many viewers joined the Live Q&A. It was a great pleasure and privilege to be able to talk about Boarding at BGS. If you missed it, you can view the Live Q&A here.

A 30-minute online Q&A doesn’t compare to the experience of walking around the campus, but it was an excellent opportunity to connect with families all over the world who cannot attend our traditional event.

This week, I reflected on how we can communicate the nuances of boarding to our existing and prospective families in an online format. I quickly concluded that nothing could replace the face to face contact at the heart any school journey, and especially so in boarding. However, our BGS Boarding Facebook and Instagram pages, which already have over 600 combined followers, have been doing a great job at connecting with families online. Our Virtual Open Day echoed this, presenting an opportunity to connect with prospective families worldwide.

In the past fortnight, we have shared many events via social media that reflect day to day life in the Houses. These include the introduction of our Griffith House mascot Daisy the Dog, revealing the 2020 Boarding polo shirt, recognising House Heros, sharing news of former boarders in the NRL, celebrating birthdays, recording the first round of the boarders’ chess tournament and supporting boys taking part in the Blue League Basketball evening. And of course, I shouldn’t forget those all-important videos of our titanic boarding dodgeball clashes!

Each event as a stand-alone post represents very little, but together, they paint a picture of a full and vibrant community of young men. I invite you to follow the BGS Boarding Facebook and Instagram pages if you do not already do so.

Director of Outdoor Education
Derek Jervis

This week, 8C and 8D visited Moogerah for their Outdoor Education experience. Strong winds created some challenging paddling conditions, and the boys showed perseverance while continuing activities in the rain at the end of the week.

Ms Jenny Tap and Year 11 Outdoor Education Leader Thomas Fennon supported the 8C boys through the program. Jasper Gottliebsen and Hudson Pherous showed great skill development during the paddling session and demonstrated teamwork to get their kayak under control. Archie Austin was highly motivated and capable in the outdoors. He embraced the challenges and looked for ways to support his peers.

Owen Lin and Adam Jones demonstrated leadership potential when collaborating with their peers and finding a solution to the team initiative challenges. Jacob Choi was recognised for his maturity and forward thinking throughout the experience. The 8C class proved to be a particularly cohesive group, especially during the bushwalk to Mt Alford.

Ms Naomi Russell and Year 11 Outdoor Education Leaders Will Addis, Roshan Shami, Jack Fewster and Joel Furnell guided the 8D boys through the program. Ben Springall and Cooper Penrose decided it was more fun to spend time in the water than on the kayaks during the paddling session. They had a positive approach to the situation and showed resilience dealing with being cold and wet.

Harsha Cikaluru was a standout student. He proved to be mature and responsible, adding many good contributions during the two days. Hamish Cooke and Jarrah Chien were a positive influence on their peers. Their energy helped motivate the class to complete all the activities.

Lucas Bell was an excellent navigator during the bushwalk. He used his surroundings to make informed decisions about the walk and paid close attention to the details on the map. Drew Chudleigh put the needs of his group first during the group initiative activities and was a consistent contributor to the discussions throughout the program.

A short movie of the boys' experiences can viewed via the 8C movie and 8D movie links.

Outdoor Education photos will now be 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 can view the 8C and 8D photos by clicking on the Year 8 folder in Pixevety. 

Social Media and Digital Reputation

As a teen’s interest in sex develops, technology makes sexting easy, and unfortunately, acceptable among their peers. However, many parents are shocked to learn that children as young as 10 are sending naked pictures of themselves to friends and classmates via text and social media. This type of behaviour is seeping into primary school playgrounds, causing damage to young minds.

Sending this type of content is problematic for a child of any age, but over the years, there has been a staggering increase of pre-teens using mobile phones to share sexual images and videos. This behaviour is detrimental to their moral and ethical wellbeing and has legal implications, placing them at risk of criminal charges.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn how to approach the subject of sexting with their children and learn helpful strategies to deal with the fallout of their child sending or receiving sexual content.

Here is the link to the Sexting edition of SchoolTV.

Over the course of this term, boys in Years 8, 10, 11 and 12 will attend webinars hosted by Brett Lee from Internet Safe Education. Each webinar is tailored to suit the needs of boys at different stages of their development. Topics are detailed below.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss these issues, please feel free to contact me at philippa.douglas@brisbanegrammar.com.

Year	Topics
Year 8	Social Media – Valuing my online identity     Dealing with explicit online material
Year 10	Freedom of speech Managing others online
Year 11	Capabilities and limitations of technology Imaged based abuse
Year 12	Managing my digital reputation Protecting by future opportunities

Virtual Student Art Show

The first half of 2020 has shown us how quickly the world, and our perspectives, can change. The pandemic has changed the lens through which we view everyday life. It has also taught us to survey what we take for granted. Faced with the challenges of home-based learning, Visual Art students were resourceful and innovative in approaching the creation of their artworks.

Survey is an exhibition showcasing Years 5 to 12 artworks that represent the variety and diversity of student perspectives on our world.

Usually, students’ artwork would be displayed at events such as the Middle School’s Celebration of the Arts, Open Day and in senior exhibitions. The Art Department is so incredibly proud of the quality of students’ work that we felt it was imperative to share it with a wider audience. While COVID-19 restrictions limit our ability to open a physical exhibition, we have produced a virtual show available to the broader BGS community.

Although the artworks can only be viewed digitally, they represent an alternative lens, and offer an opportunity to look beyond the surface, to find those moments that catch our imagination. It is those connections that enrich our lives.

Click here to view the Virtual Student Art Show.

Kimberley Kovacevic​
Acting Head of Art

The annual BGS Public Speaking Competition is on in August. Keen speakers deliver an original speech to an audience of their peers on a topic of their choice. There is no fixed genre; it may be persuasive, informative, reflective or even narrative.

Boys who wish to participate in the Middle School trials on the following days should complete the Application Register at the Middle School Reception before the trials. 

Year	Week	date	time	location
Year 5 Trial	Week 6	Wednesday 19 August	12.30pm	MS104
Year 6 Trial	Week 6	Friday 21 August	12.30pm	MS104
Year 7 Trial	Week 6	Monday 17 August	12.30pm	MS104
Year 8 Trial	Week 5	Wednesday 12 August	12.30pm	MS104

Middle School year level finals will be held at the following times. If Year Level Assemblies are not permitted due to COVID-19 restrictions, student speeches will be filmed and presented during online assemblies instead.

Year	Week	date	time	location
Year 5 Final	Week 7	Wednesday 26 August	Period 3: 10.40am	Music Auditorium
Year 6 Final	Week 7	Wednesday 26 August	Period 4: 11.40am	Music Auditorium
Year 7 Final	Week 7	Monday 24 August	Period 4: 11.40am	Gallery
Year 8 Final	Week 6	Friday 21 August	Period 2: 9.25am	Forum

Boys in Years 9 to 12 who wish to speak should register their interest with Mr Greg Howes in person (in the English/History staff room) or by email (greg.howes@brisbanegrammar.com). Competition times:

Year	Week	date	time	location
Year 9	Week 5	Wednesday 12 August	3.30pm	Forum
Year 10	Week 7	Tuesday 25 August	3.30pm	Forum
Year 11	Week 7	Thursday 27 August	3.30pm	Forum
Year 12	Week 7	Wednesday 26 August	3.30pm	Forum

Carla Salmon and Greg Howes
Internal Public Speaking Coordinators

ICAS Assessments are independent, online tests designed to recognise and reward academic excellence and are based on each year’s curricula. Students are asked to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of learning.

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, UNSW has offered schools an additional sitting window to complete the competition. Brisbane Grammar School will run the ICAS Competitions in Mathematics, Science, English and Digital Technologies during Weeks 2 and 3 of Term 4 (between Monday 12 October and Friday 23 October).

Later this term (Weeks 5 or 6), boys who have achieved very well in their school subject and other assessments will be invited to participate by a Head of Department. There will also be consideration given to Middle School students who wish to self-nominate. The competitions will be conducted after school. Participating boys in Years 7 to 12 will need to bring their tablet for this online assessment. Computers will be provided for Years 5 and 6 participants.

Mark Schumann
Dean of Studies

The Quest – a Year 8 collaborative thinking activity

The Quest is an annual one-day activity that our Year 8 boys usually undertake with their BGGS counterparts. This year, we were without the girls due to COVID-19 restrictions. While this was disappointing for the boys, we had a great day of learning.

On Monday, students engaged in a ‘Chocolate Mission’ in unfamiliar teams of four from across the cohort. Boys had to design the branding and packaging of a new chocolate product, using elements of Mathematics (area and volume of curved shapes), English (persuasion and communication), Design and Humanities (ethics and sustainability).

Many students were challenged by the thinking and collaborative aspects of the task, including responding to time pressures and unfamiliar group dynamics. However, the day proved to be very enjoyable and produced many important learnings for our students.

Below are some extracts from students' reflections.

“…a good experience that helped me recognise how important collaboration and working together is.”

“I am good at accepting others’ ideas and mixing them with mine.”

“It was fun, challenging and a good teamwork experience.”

 “I could probably work on my problem-solving skills as they are a very important part of life

“I learned that I am more confident than I thought”

Ian Grice
Head of Middle School Curriculum

Creating the magic of theatre requires many hands

From Wednesday 19 August to Friday 21 August, the BGS community will have the opportunity to witness the hard work and dedication from our actors and technical team in Years 11 and 12. Many professional set designers, lighting designers and sound engineers have used their expertise to help our students and teachers bring the show to life.

The 39 Steps Creative Team would like to thank the maintenance team, as well as Mr Jamie Foulger and Mr Andrew Kennedy from the BGS Design Department for their immense support over the last few weeks. The extensive locations, characters and props would not be possible without the assistance of these departments. Their creative problem solving has been outstanding – from laser cutting props for shadow play to expertly crafting replica (prop) weapons – assisting our actors to create the magic of theatre.

We can’t wait for audiences to experience the intrigue. Stay tuned for information regarding ticket sales; limited seats will be available. Follow @grammmarplay.bgs on Instagram for behind the scenes information and sneak peek images.

Ben Newth, Patrick Last and Naomi Russell
The 39 Steps Creative Team

Concert Recordings

Given that it is Semester 2, it is unusual that most of our ensembles are finalising preparation for their first performance of 2020. The performances will be recorded formats, performances by intermediate groups progressively released and Grammar in Concert streaming later this term. We all look forward to hearing our wonderful musicians perform once again.

Last week, BGS Music students and parents were emailed a detailed outline of their rehearsal and recording responsibilities this term. All students must attend these recordings and be dressed correctly in their performance uniforms. Students must also attend rehearsals in the lead-up to recordings. Students who have competing BGS commitments are asked to put arrangements in place as soon as possible to be able to attend. If you have any questions, please contact the Music Office.

Good luck to our music boys and their conductors in the recording studio.

Peter Ingram
Head of Music
 

The GPS Chess competition started on Friday 17 July. In our first round against Toowoomba Grammar School, BGS had 25 wins, five draws and six losses. Wins were recorded by the Premier, Junior, Open A, Open C, Open D, Open E and Open F teams, with the Open B team managing to draw their opponents. It was an extremely successful night all round.

All teams are now well and truly into their coaching schedule. To give boys in the Open G, H and I teams more games, these teams will be playing on a rotational basis.

Today, we have a home round against Ipswich Grammar School. The Open H team will be playing in the Open F division. The Open F, G and I teams will have the round off.

Good luck, boys.

Peter Brunckhorst​
MIC Chess

Photos for cocurricular activities will be taken on Monday 10 August in Centenary Hall and outside the Great Hall. Please arrive five minutes before your scheduled photo time. Middle School Music students will need to bring a white shirt and tie to school for these photos.

Click here to view the schedule.

The BGS 2020 Virtual Art Show, Iridescence, was off to a flying start on opening night last Friday, with some beautiful art pieces quickly snapped up. A very big thank you to the BGS community for your support in making our first Virtual Art Show a great success; your support is truly appreciated.

Lyn Barnes, our feature artist from Quilpie, provides a wonderful portrayal of the Channel Country landscape after the rains. Her artwork is simply stunning, and even more so when viewed in person, with the vivid colours of the red earth and blue skies created in pastels. Beautiful framing complements her art perfectly. Only two of her five pieces remain, so you will need to be quick to secure one! These artwork are displayed below.

More stunning artworks are available for purchase here.

The BGS Virtual Art Show closes at 5.00pm on Saturday 1 August. Purchases can be made by emailing art.committee@brisbanegrammar.com.

In your email, please include:

• Your name
• The name of the artwork/s you wish to purchase and reference number/s
• Your return phone number

Helen Wade
2D Curator

Since Brisbane Grammar School’s foundation in 1868, volunteers have contributed to the welfare and future of the School through their support and participation.

Each year at the Celebrating our Community event, BGS acknowledges the significant time and effort of our wonderful volunteers. An important element of this function is the presentation of the Betty Howell Awards.

Established in 2011, the Betty Howell Awards honour Mrs Joan Elizabeth (Betty) Howell, who had a 25-year association with the School as the wife of Maxwell Howell, Headmaster from 1965 to 1989. Betty was a passionate volunteer with the Art Support Group and the P&F Auxiliary Committee.

The award acknowledges community members who have given outstanding service through:

• voluntary assistance to the School
• active participation in School life
• initiation of new programs/activities to benefit the School
• support for the School's vision through encouragement and personal endeavour.

​BGS is seeking nominations from the community to recognise volunteers for their exceptional service. Nominations are now open and close 1 September 2019. For information about the nomination process click here. 

For further information, contact Advancement and Community Relations on 07 3834 5206 or communityrelations@brisbanegrammar.com.

 

 

Tuckshop +61 7 3834 5229
Grammar Shop +61 7 3834 5347
Roster Secretary Wendy Smith - wsmith@visis.com.au

Grammar Shop hours
Weekdays 7.30am – 11.00am

Tuckshop hours
Weekdays 7.00am – 2.00pm

Due to social distancing, we can only have three volunteers for breakfast and six volunteers for morning tea and lunch.

Term 3
Tuesday 14 July – Friday 18 September

Term 4
Tuesday 6 October – Friday 27 November

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

The P&F Auxiliary is a subcommittee of the P&F Association that facilitates fundraising and fosters parent fellowship and the sense of strong community at Brisbane Grammar School. All profits are returned to the School to enhance the experience for students and families.

The Tuckshop and Grammar Shop are currently operating cash-free, so please plan accordingly. Safety guidelines regarding social distancing and hand sanitising will continue in both locations. 

Tuckshop

Open weekdays before school, during breaks and at lunchtime.

The Tuckshop provides a selection of hot food, fresh salads, wraps, rolls and drinks. Please recharge your MSA cards here.

Grammar Shop

Open weekdays from 7.30am to 11.00am.

The Grammar Shop has recently relocated to the basement level of The Lilley Centre and we look forward to showing you our new premises. Staff need to maintain social distancing parameters of 1.5m, but students are welcome to try on uniforms themselves, or parents may wish to come to the shop to fit their son/s if they prefer. Please call us on 07 3834 5347 to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help.

Joanne Villiers
P&F Auxiliary

Light Dark Blue: 150 Years of Learning and Leadership at Brisbane Grammar School is available for purchase. The beautiful 500-page hardcover book updates the BGS story with previously untold anecdotes, rare photographs and illustrations. With a limited print run, it is sure to become a sought after collector’s item. Standard edition and limited editions are available.

Click here to view all BGS150 merchandise – limited stocks remain.