Newsletter
Week 8 Term 1

This semester, Year 7s have enthusiastically engaged with our new Middle School subject – Applied Thinking (AT). 

Applied Thinking helps develop a student’s capacity for lifelong thinking and learning by:

• establishing a shared understanding of what constitutes learning and a shared language for talking about it
• promoting curiosity and inquiry
• creating meaningful experiences that help to build self-regulatory capacities
• learning specific strategies to improve the effectiveness of learning.

Applied Thinking allows students the opportunity to learn explicitly about learning and thinking without the constraints of syllabus mandated content. This enables a focus on developing students' thinking strategies and their ownership of learning. Importantly, it is expected that students will make connections between the ideas they explore in AT and how those ideas relate to their learning in other curriculum areas.  

Much of the learning in Applied Thinking is facilitated through highly engaging, experiential learning experiences. In the last few weeks, our Year 7 boys have:

• collaborated to create a shelter while trapped in an Antarctic blizzard
• created an Avatar to represent their current perception of themselves as a learner
• pondered why they are so motivated to learn to play a “Mario Brothers” game relative to other learning opportunities
• considered how realistically the movie Inside Out portrays the role of emotions
• connected their experiences at Moogerah to learning dispositions in both video and written form
• graphed their ability to focus over a period of time.

Year 7 students are at the beginning of an exciting deepening of their capacity to think in a more abstract and self-regulated fashion. They have surprised and delighted their Applied Thinking teachers with their capacity for honest and insightful reflection.

In the coming weeks, the boys will undertake a personal learning project on a topic area that interests them. As they set goals and reflect on their engagement, difficulties, and successes on this learning journey, they will move closer to realising the course’s key objectives.

The School is indebted to a dedicated team of Middle School teachers who are developing, delivering and refining this innovative course. Applied Thinking is subject to a detailed monitoring plan, and feedback from students and teachers will inform its ongoing development. 

Year 8 students will undertake Applied Thinking in Semester 2.  

Cocurricular Support

Last weekend was a very busy one for many of our Year 12 students and boarders. Large numbers of boys showed up to support our debaters, rowers and volleyball players as they competed in key events. The BGS boys showed excellent behaviour at each of these activities.

We are very clear in our expectations of boys in terms of supporting the BGS Cocurricular programs. Their cheering must show support for the BGS team, not be directed against the opposition. They must respect the rules and expectations of the particular activity (for example, not cheering during speeches at Debating). Finally, the boys know that they must uphold our high standards irrespective of what the opposition crowd does.

This does not mean that we want our boys to be quiet. On the contrary, we expect them to be loud, high spirited, and in many cases, we understand that they will depart the venue sweaty and exhilarated! But we want them to understand that it is possible to be simultaneously passionate and respectful.

I was extremely proud of the way the boys showed their support last weekend. I have no doubt they will continue to maintain their standards as the year unfolds.

With academic and cocurricular schedules ramping up, the BGS campus has been buzzing in the last few weeks. The message I wish to pass on to the school community emphasises the importance of taking time – taking time to relax, taking time to reset and taking time to recover.

It is easy for boys, especially at a school with such a successful collection of alumni as BGS, to become blindly focused on their ‘end goal’. Whether that be an ideal ATAR, membership of a flagship sporting team, or perfecting an instrument, many like me risk their own wellbeing in striving for these goals. Taking time to reset provides an opportunity to maintain your wellbeing alongside your pursuit of success.

Boys at BGS are encouraged to take part in activities to provide a healthy outlet away from academic work. Term 1 activities such as Rowing, Debating, Volleyball and Music are in full swing, typifying examples of boys taking time and engaging in school life in a balanced way.

Finding this balance is indeed a lifelong job and is easy to disregard, but it is extremely important and worthwhile, especially in a busy world. As the School Song puts it, while it may be a lesson of labour, it is certainly a lesson of truth.

William Staib
School Vice Captain

Acting Dean of Studies
Kate Stevenson

As we near the end of term, students in Years 5 to 11 will be assessed in each of their subjects. Students are encouraged to continue to use consolidation periods effectively to revise and prepare. 

Students can check details of their upcoming assessment in their Outlook Calendars and are encouraged to speak with their teachers if they have any questions or concerns about assessment requirements. Families can access the Assessment Schedule via the Academic section of MyGrammar.

We also encourage students to prioritise their health and wellbeing by maintaining or making improvements in terms of nutrition, sleep and exercise. 

If students experience challenges in managing their workload or priorities, they should speak with their Tutor Group teacher or Head of Year. They can also make a time to speak with our counsellors on the top floor of The Lilley Centre so that we can provide support.

If a student is unwell and unable to sit an exam or hand in an assignment, they will need to obtain a medical certificate and complete a Request for Alternative Assessment/Extension form available on MyGrammar.

The QCAA requires more detailed documentation for any Year 12 student who is unable to meet assessment requirements. This includes a confidential medical report completed by a health professional and a parent application for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments. Both documents can be found via the Academic section of MyGrammar.

Director of Boarding
Berian Williams-Jones

Sleep routines

With the first term almost complete, we are reflecting on our processes and practices within Boarding. Given that the whole school has just completed its annual sleep study review, our recent focus has been on the data relating to sleep within Griffith and Harlin House.

The data confirms we have very good sleep patterns in Boarding. While our bedtimes suggest a somewhat more relaxed approach than at home, we see a much later wake up time than the day boys, and on the whole, boarders sleep longer.

Ever since sleep expert Lisa Maltman’s first involvement with the School, we have used her insight and knowledge to create the best possible routines and conditions within our boarding houses. Her company, The Sleep Connection, uses the most relevant recent studies to support many schools in developing processes to promote healthy sleep.

On Monday this week, we discussed with the boarders the three core elements central to good sleep: routine, conditions and calmness.

In Boarding, routine is king. They are the foundation for daily life and give each boy security and reassurance through the all-important adolescent years.

Each weeknight, our bedtime routine starts in Griffith House at 8.15pm, with all boys in bed at 8.45pm before lights out at 9.15pm. In Harlin House, the routine begins at 8.45pm for Years 9 and 10, and at 9.30pm for Years 11 and 12. We adjust lighting within the building and remove unwanted distractions by managing mobile devices.

We know these actions are important in facilitating sleep and will continue to ensure boarders are able to get the sleep they need.

Set bedtimes and handing in beloved phones may also be a routine when boys return home. We remain appreciative of the support from parents regarding our routines.

We will conduct our annual sleep survey for Boarding parents in Week 9. We would like your feedback regarding what you think is working well, and any improvements we could introduce to ensure we manage good sleep for the boys.

Director of Outdoor Education
Derek Jervis

Week 7 at Moogerah began with day trips for 5C and 5D, with a focus on learning about the Outdoor Education activities. Due to the low water level of Lake Moogerah, currently at 12.5%, the journey to the water became an activity itself. The boys navigated to checkpoints to arrive at the water’s edge for a paddle. Hopefully, before the time this cohort completes their Moogerah experiences, the lake will be full again!

Year 11 Outdoor Education Leaders Alistair Hoole, Zak Warburton, Arki Flaskas and Raphael Paino shared stories with the boys about their past experiences at Moogerah and guided them through the activities.

This week, the Year 8 cohort began their Outdoor Education experiences, focusing on the concept of community. The residential camping and dormitory component of this program, along with the focused teamwork activities, provide many opportunities for the students to develop their community values.

George Swann was an excellent participant. He demonstrated a range of outdoor skills and stepped up into a leadership position during the teamwork tasks. Ricky Wang was positive and enthusiastic even during the challenges, always giving his best.

Salvatore Leotta was a thoughtful participant. He contributed to the success of the group during the expedition tasks of cooking, cleaning, and setting up tents and was very strong in the teamwork tasks. Lachlan Elf was willing to take on every challenge. His enthusiasm and energy had a positive impact on his class.

Bas Stoneley was an excellent supporter and leader. He showed leadership potential when he made a great effort to support his peers and took a lead role navigating to the campsite. Miles Cooper was also a strong and capable navigator who engaged in the whole program, and James Bingham entertained the class by telling stories around the fire at the campsite.

Year 11 Outdoor Education Leaders Will Sheedy, James Horton and Ned Madden were a strong group of leaders who mentored the class and made excellent contributions to the program by participating, leading and facilitating activities.

A short movie of the boys' experiences can be viewed via the 5C/D Video and 8A Video links.

Director of Student Wellbeing Programs
Philippa Douglas

Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Education

On Monday, Brett Lee from Internet Safe Education spoke to boys in Years 7 and 8 about the realities of the online world. To help boys understand their rights and responsibilities online, Brett shared stories covering cyberbullying, sexting, the law and the internet and digital footprints.

Brett aims to empower young internet users with practical strategies and knowledge about how to avoid creating a negative reputation online, as well as teach them appropriate language and actions.

Further parental resources can be accessed via the SchoolTV Cybersafety Series.

Closing the Gap

This week, we acknowledged National Closing the Gap Day. Year 12 boarder Michael Dingo led the assembly with an Acknowledgment of Country and shared his insight into the significance of this day. We also invited Professor Derek Chong to address the BGS community.

Professor Chong is Queensland's first Indigenous psychiatrist. He is the Senior Medical Officer at Bullinah, Jullums, Rekindling the Spirit and Mulungu Aboriginal Medical Services. He started his career as a residential care worker, then a psychiatric nurse, Program Development Officer in Forensic Mental Health and District Coordinator of Indigenous Services. He then studied and practised medicine before becoming a psychiatrist.

Professor Chong’s mother's people are from Mt Tamborine, the Wongaburra clan of Mullanjarli tribe of the Yuggerah Nation, and his father's people, the Kunjun and Walkamin are from the Tate Region and Kowanyama.

The boys in the Closing the Gap Committee hosted a morning tea for Professor Chong, where they learned more about the inspirational work he does. It was a privilege for our school community to hear Professor Chong speak.

Indigenous Student Painting

A special painting created by six Indigenous boarders is now on display in the common room at Griffith House.

Last year during the uncertainty of COVID, the boys came together to work on a project they felt would connect them to their homes and communities.

Entitled Totems, the painting incorporates each of their totems in the School’s light dark blue. A totem is a natural object, plant or animal that provides a spiritual connection to the land to help guide a person on their journey.

Each totem is passed to these young men by either their elders, parents or grandparents and they carry this spiritually with them for their whole lives. From the leaving of their communities to travelling to reach BGS, this is their story, and the painting shows the meaning and connection that these totems hold for them.

Artists:

• Steven Baronio Year 12 (2020), Kurigarakan Man — SALTWATER CROCODILE
• Kieron Saunders Year 12 (2020), Butchulla Man — BLUE WHALE
• Michael Dingo Year 12, Yatamji Man — BARRAMUNDI
• Hoby Kulla Kulla Year 10, Lama Lama Man — SEA EAGLE
• Micah Leaupepe-Perkins Year 10, Gumbaynggir Man — MINDEN SHELLS
• Darcy Lewis Year 8, Ininiga Man — SERPENT DREAMING

Nick Byron
Head of Residence (Harlin House)

This week, the Student Representative Body (SRB) and the Public Purpose ‘Days of Significance’ committee ran inclusivity week: a week to celebrate and improve our community’s willingness to accept and acknowledge everyone, embrace difference, and find common ground. This culminated in the National Day of Action Against Bullying today.

Inclusivity is about diversity and unity. It’s about recognising our tendencies to judge others, as well as our unconscious bias. If we are aware of these uninformed perceptions, we can work to not characterise or profile people.

It’s also about getting along with those who may have different views, opinions or attitudes to you; and giving people you don’t expect to be part of your ‘crowd’ a chance. It’s about valuing our differences, the nuances in our perspectives, and always remaining open to new ways of thinking.

By acknowledging our differences, we can continue to foster our own culture of inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Bullying is the antithesis of inclusive behaviour. On this national day of action, we remember that sanctioning harmful and hurtful conduct corrodes our community at its foundations. We must never fall into the trap of victimising our most vulnerable.

Inclusivity can be easily improved. Empathising with others, respecting people’s boundaries, or talking to someone who looks lost or lonely are all simple, yet actionable, ways to improve your own inclusivity. While we cannot fully understand what it would be like to walk in others’ shoes, by trying, we develop empathy, and we bring everyone closer through tolerance and acceptance.

As educator and author Stephen R. Covey put it: “Strength lies in embracing differences, not in similarities.”

The week was a great success. We created daily notices and posters for the digital screens, which encouraged students to think about how we can ensure our actions are always inclusive of others.

Today, students handed out National Day of Action Against Bullying support cards and accepted messages for the ‘Inclusivity Board’ in The Lilley Centre that offered support for each other. At lunchtime, students saw a display of solidarity against bullying on the Boarders’ Lawn – a collection of signs with messages promoting inclusivity.

A video made by SRB and Public Purpose students was also shown during assembly. The students’ response to the week was amazing; it truly encapsulated students ‘belonging to the blue’.

Sam Bizzell
President of the BGS Student Representative Body

Pi Day at BGS

Pi (π) is an irrational number starting with the digits 3.14 and continuing infinitely. It is the ratio found when a circle’s circumference is divided by its diameter. People around the world celebrate all things mathematics (especially pi) on 14 March. In America, the date is formatted as 3.14, or the third month and the 14th day.

Here at BGS, we celebrated Pi Day on Friday 12 March. The day kicked off with the UQ/QAMT Problem Solving Competition, where 100 students from Years 5 to 12 participated by independently solving five complicated mathematical problems in two hours.

In addition to Mathematics teachers parading their mathematical appreciation outfits and devouring pies throughout the day, the inaugural BGS Pi Recital Competition was a definite highlight. Nine students from Years 5 to 12 turned up to The Lilley Centre Forum to demonstrate their skill of reciting the digits of pi. We had a large, captivated audience watching and following along in awe. Setting the first BGS record, the winner for 2021 was Oscar Tan from Year 11, who was able to recite pi to 201 digits. Well done, Oscar!

Thank you to the BGS community for making Pi Day 2021 so much fun.

Rebecca Mills and Lizzy Van Rooyen
Senior Maths Extension Coordinators

City District Sport

Applications are open to sign on for trials for City District Touch and Rugby teams. Click for information about Touch and Rugby.

If you are interested, please completed our internal expression of interest surveys for Touch and Rugby. Students are asked to access complete the surveys using their BGS email account.

Team	Won by
5A	Brisbane Grammar School
5B	Brisbane Grammar School
5C	Gregory Terrace
5D	Gregory Terrace
6A	Brisbane Grammar School
6B	Brisbane Grammar School
6C	Brisbane Grammar School
6D	Gregory Terrace
7A	Brisbane Grammar School
7B	Gregory Terrace
7C	Gregory Terrace
7D	Brisbane Grammar School
7E	Gregory Terrace
7F	Brisbane Grammar School
8A	Gregory Terrace
8B	Gregory Terrace
8C	Gregory Terrace
8D	Gregory Terrace

Team	Name
5A	Lewis Carroll
5B	Ethan Moore
5C	Tom Smith
5D	Noah Wu
6A	Max Woolley
6B	Lachlan Webber
6C	Hugo Liberatore
6D	Owen Zhong
7A	Oliver Mellick
7B	Jed Siganto
7C	Tommy Hajkowicz
7D	Charlie Miller
7E	Isaac Reid
7F	Oscar Kroon
8A	Vishnu Kangatharan
8B	Henry Slatter
8C	James Reinke
8D	Rayan Mazumder

Team	Won By
5.1	Gregory Terrace
5.2	No Debate
6.1	Gregory Terrace
6.2	Gregory Terrace
7.1	Brisbane Grammar School
7.2	Gregory Terrace
7.3	Gregory Terrace
8.1	Brisbane Grammar School
8.2	Gregory Terrace
8.3	No Debate

Year Level	Name
Year 5	Gray Dalton
Year 6	Jaedon Nguyen
Year 7	Lachlan Lee
Year 8	Matteo Boccolacci

Team	Won by
7A	Gregory Terrace
7B	Brisbane Grammar School
7C	Gregory Terrace
7D	Brisbane Grammar School
7E	Brisbane Grammar School
8A	Gregory Terrace
8B	Brisbane Grammar School
8C	Brisbane Grammar School
8D	Brisbane Grammar School

Team	Name
7A	Cashy Luo
7B	Leroy Zhou
7C	Ollie Kerr
7D	Rohan Morris
7E	Ashton Hamra
8A	Harvey Gatehouse
8B	Liam Cook
8C	Angus Benjamin
8D	Chris Zhu

The Years 5 to 7 Public Purpose committee is again running a donation drive to support RSPCA Queensland in their efforts to help the thousands of animals that enter their shelters each year.

We are asking for donations of clean towels and blankets, dog and cat food (tinned and packaged), as well as dog and cat toys.

Donations can be dropped into the collection bin outside the Middle School Reception between 8.00am and 8.15am every morning this term.

Help us to help the animals!

Justin Shears and Stella Gardner
Years 5 to 7 Public Purpose Coordinators

The last eight weeks have included many highlights, some learning opportunities and some incredible achievements by BGS students participating and performing in a wide range of cocurricular sporting and cultural activities.

Over the last three weeks, there have been no fewer than three GPS Championships, in Sailing, Swimming and Rowing. These have all taken place while our Cricket, Volleyball and Debating programs have continued their GPS fixtures. At the same time, our musicians have been preparing for the Music Soiree this evening, and the cast and crew of A Few Good Men have continued their preparations for what will be a wonderful production. The most important people at the centre of all these endeavours are our students. While they have been doing all of this in their cocurricular lives, they have also excelled in their day-to-day lives as students at Brisbane Grammar School.

Why take the time to explain all this? Our sporting and cultural Cocurricular programs exist within an educational setting, and an extraordinary one at that. We are working with some of the most talented students in Australia. Every one of our programs is targeting success in the only way we know how: by setting the bar high, understanding our students, having an exceptional knowledge of the competitive and performance context and demanding only the highest standards of ourselves and our boys – and always within an educational context. At the same time, we must remember that we are working with young men who make mistakes, get tired, have limited time, and are living with both their own expectations and those of others.  

Our culture is as much about supporting participation as it is about optimising performance. Do we win all the time? Of course not – no one does. When we don’t, we challenge the boys to reflect on their preparation and performance; to look for the positives and what they might learn from the experience to take into the next experience. We do not play the blame game, as it is, ultimately, self-defeating.

Last Saturday, I watched BGS crews win. I saw them finish in last place. I watched some crews who were just happy to get on the water, and others who had their best row of the season only to finish mid-field. At Terrace, I watched our First VI Volleyball team fight their way back into a game, which they ultimately lost to a better team on the day. At Tennyson, I had the pleasure of watching the last hour of the First XI Cricket game, where our boys had a well-deserved breakthrough win, much to their delight.

At the end of every instance, regardless of the result:

• the boys gathered together;
• they spoke to each other and celebrated or commiserated together;
• their coach asked them for feedback on what they thought about their performance together; and
• the coach listened, prompted further reflection, and set the tone for the next challenge.

In each case, I was a fly on the wall and there was no script followed; this process happened naturally. The insight of the boys into their own performance was exceptional.  

Those who know me and other SLT members well know how competitive we are, so there is no doubt that we want our students to be able to win and win well. We also want them to perform to the best of their ability. Sometimes they will do this and still not win. Should they face defeat, disappointment, misfortune or failure, we want them to know how to deal with it, learn from it, and carry those lessons and reflections forward and guide their future success.

We often hear that winning is a habit. It is a good habit, but a better one is the pursuit of a personal best. We all want good habits for our children and if they are focused on achieving their personal best this maximises their chances of winning. In some sports and divisions, we have teams who have not won a game in seasons. We know which teams these are, and we have placed our best coaches with those teams. They may not have had their breakthrough yet, but they will. Along with the good habit of winning, there are a lot of other good habits and life lessons to pick up in well-structured school-based cocurricular programs, which complement outstanding Teaching and Learning and best-in-class Student Wellbeing practices; all of which embed our school-wide Effective Thinking Cultures.

Optimising the quality of our cocurricular and educational offerings for our students, enhancing culture, and consistently reflecting and improving what we do is what drives and motivates me each day.

To this end, over the coming weeks, students, parents, coaches, and other staff will be offered the opportunity to provide feedback on their Cocurricular experiences this term. As we did from the feedback in Term 3 of last year, we will create a summary of the feedback we receive and these will be published to the relevant MyGrammar Cocurricular page for your Cocurricular program during the following term.

The feedback you provide will also be used in the formal Season Review process which the Cocurricular leaders conduct with program leaders and head coaches at the start of the next term.

My request is that you take the opportunity to participate in this feedback process and that you provide us with feedback that will help us celebrate successes, reflect on challenges and propose solutions so that we may constantly evolve and improve within our educational context.   

Music Support Group

It was encouraging to have plenty of new and returning community members at the first meeting for the year.

With events now underway for the year, this much-appreciated group will meeting on Wednesday 24 March at 7.00pm in the String Room of the Music Building. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Grammar in Concert

Sunday 16 May, 4.00pm | Edmund Rice Performing Arts Performing Arts Complex, St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane

We are excited that Grammar in Music will be return to a live format this year. As always, our finest music ensembles will be featured and they are busily preparing for what will be a spectacular concert. Save this date in your diary and stay tuned for more information.

Peter Ingram
Head of Music

Fencing Training Times and Squads Available

Training times and squad lists are now available on MyGrammar. Please check these carefully and contact the Fencing Director if there are clashes, or you no longer wish to participate. Training starts in Week 1 of Term 2. 

Fencing Whites Hire Closed

Whites hire was this week. Thank you to all fencers who collected their whites.

Any fencer who still does not have whites and has not made separate arrangements must contact the Fencing Director. Whites are required protective gear that all fencers must wear to fence safely. 

Musketeers Welcome Function | Clarification of start time

7.00pm Saturday 27 March at Figs on Sylvan, Toowong.

RSVP for the Musketeers Welcome Function has now closed. The event at Figs on Sylvan will start promptly at 7.00pm not 6.00pm as previously advertised. We look forward to meeting everyone. 

Fencing Easter Holiday Camp

Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April in the ISC. Dates and times are now available on MyGrammar. The permission and sign on form will be available next week.

Brisbane School Teams Competition

The Queensland Fencing Association will be hosting the Brisbane Schools Teams Competition in Term 2. Round 1 will be held on Saturday 8 May at Yeronga. Parents and fencers will be notified as more specific information becomes available.

Melanie Chin
Fencing Director

On Saturday 13 March, BGS gymnasts took part in the MAG Senior Regional Championships at Coomera on the Gold Coast. Congratulations to the gymnasts who qualified for the Senior State Championships, to be held at Chandler from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 March. These boys were:

• Tennyson Ford, Level 7 under 13;
• Jacob Nucifora, Level 7 open;
• Oliver Waterhouse, Level 8 open; and
• Alistair Hoole, Fletcher Griffiths and Brooklyn Brougham, Level 9 under 17.

A special mention to Oliver Waterhouse for placing second AA in his division. Good luck to the gymnasts and coaches preparing for the next event.

Jack Coats
Gymnastics Club Director and Head Coach

The Head of the River was held at Wyaralong Dam on Saturday 13 March.

The 2021 season concluded with familiar and welcomed weather, with calm and flat conditions that aren’t normally experienced for the entirety of a GPS Rowing season.

The Year 9s started the day with their first Head of the River. They performed very well with two first places, two third places and strong fourth and fifth places. Congratulations to the Year 9 Second and Fourth Quads on their fantastic wins, capping off a great first season for the boys. We very much look forward to sharing memories with them in the future.

Although enjoying a great season, the Year 10s had a challenging Head of the River. Well done to the Year 10 Seventh Quad on a strong fourth place and all the Year 10s on their effort this season.

The Year 11s faced challenges during their 2021 season. The boys and their coaches showed great resilience to put together strong performances on the day. Well done to all boys and a special mention to the Year 11 Third Eight on a great season, culminating in third place at Head of the River.

Congratulations to our Opens, which is mostly comprised of Year 12s. The challenge of rowing in your senior year is significant, but very rewarding. These boys have been wonderful to work with, and we are very proud of their efforts. At the Head of the River, our newly formed Open Third VIII rowed their closest margin of the regatta season. The Open Second VIII had a fantastic row to finish fourth, only 1.3 seconds off third.

After a slow start, our First VIII rowed from seventh place into a very strong fifth, overtaking Brisbane State High School and Nudgee College to miss fourth place by only 0.53 seconds and third place by 2.4 seconds. This was a great performance by the opens in a wonderful contest.

Thank you and congratulations to our Captain of Boats Drew Weightman and Vice-Captain of Boats James Crilly for their leadership of the team this year.

Thanks to our coaching staff, who have put in countless hours of work to prepare boys to the best of their ability. Particular thanks to Jordan Schiller, Cat Paice and Sean Carolan for their exceptional work in BGS Rowing.

Thank you to David Weightman and the Tipperoo committee for all their work this season during the difficult COVID period. The challenges of fundraising were embraced wholeheartedly, and I know they are keen for your support to continue those fundraising efforts.

Our thanks and recognition go toward our parent supporters for hosting the Head of the River. Thank you to Anne Clifton, Dane Lockyer, Jim MacPherson and their respective teams of mums and dads who made last Saturday possible. Thank you also to Rob Finch and Simon McGuire for their outstanding commentary. Finally, thank you to Berthine Ommersen and Susie Cooke for their preparation of Saturday evening’s celebration of the boys.

Matt Marden
Rowing Director

Open First VIII	Old Boys Cup
BBC – 1st	ACGS – 1st
ACGS – 2nd	NC – 2nd
GT – 3rd	TSS – 3rd
TSS – 4th	GT – 4th
BGS – 5th	BBC – 5th
NC – 6th	BGS – 6th
BSHS – 7th	BSHS – 7th

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 school days before school, during breaks and at lunchtime.

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

The Tuckshop has a new 'Breakfast of Champions' menu here.

Grammar Shop

Open school days from 7.30am to 11.00am.

Senior Winter Uniforms

From Tuesday 4 May, all Senior School students must wear winter uniforms (blazer, long-sleeved white shirt, trousers, black belt and optional navy jumper). These items are available for purchase from the Grammar Shop. Year 9 students are encouraged to purchase their blazer this term rather than waiting until the beginning of Term 2.

It is now too late to submit blazers for award embroidery as we can no longer guarantee they will be completed before the winter uniform season begins.

Pre-loved Uniforms and Textbooks

The BGS P&F Auxiliary has an exciting new initiative – the Grammar Shop is trialling the sale of preloved uniforms. 

If you have any BGS uniform items that you no longer use, please consider donating them to the Grammar Shop. We will accept preloved items in very good to excellent condition. Complying items will be gratefully accepted at the Grammar Shop during opening hours. Bags of preloved items must not be left outside the door.

EMBROIDERY

Families who are waiting for returned embroidery should check here (MyGrammar > P&F Auxiliary > Embroidered Item Pick Up List) to confirm whether their items are awaiting collection in the Grammar Shop.

Payment 

Grammar Shop staff appreciate parents arranging payment for their sons prior to their arrival. Students can pay using credit or debit card, using funds on their account with the Grammar Shop or using their students ID cards (log into Student ID Account from MyGrammar to top up the balance).

Please call the Grammar Shop on 07 3834 5347 to discuss your needs.

Joanne Villiers
P&F Auxiliary

Tuckshop +61 7 3834 5229
Grammar Shop +61 7 3834 5347
Roster Secretary: Lana Szumowski auxiliaryvolunteers@brisbanegrammar.com

Grammar Shop hours
School days 7.30am – 11.00am

Tuckshop hours
School days 7.00am – 2.00pm

COVID has heightened a need for social distancing, and in many ways our homes have become a sanctuary for our closest loved ones. This year, the 2021 Art Show, Embrace. The Art of Togetherness, features an artist who strongly captures this sentiment. The Art Support Group is proud to announce Alexandra Matthews as our 2021 feature artist. She is a well-known Queensland artist and her work is an expression of her deep connections to her local Brisbane area. “I've always had an interest in creating images with a narrative. My Urban Landscape paintings are an extension of that,” Alexandra says.

The promotional material for the Art Show features Alexandra’s work, Budgie Love (pictured below), from her current collection. Alexandra's artwork appears in the Brisbane Grammar School Art Collection and Australian and international private collections, including the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Collections. She has won many prestigious art prizes and has been Artist-in-Residence many times at BGS. Her works continue to be one of the best sellers at the BGS Art Show.

We hope you can join us for the Art Show Gala Night on Friday 11 June to view Alexandra Matthews’ artwork, as well as the work of established and emerging artists. The evening will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the BGS community.

To keep up to date on the Art Show, artworks for sale and details on ticketing, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

BGS Art Support Group

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

Term 1
Wednesday 27 January – Thursday 1 April

Term 2
Tuesday 20 April – Friday 18 June

Term 3
Tuesday 13 July – Friday 17 September

Term 4
Tuesday 5 October – Friday 26 November

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.