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Public Purpose at Brisbane Grammar School
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The Public Purpose program at BGS allows students to be involved in a diverse range of action-based, adventure-based and entrepreneurial-based projects that challenge them to consider their role as global citizens. In Semester 1, students in Years 5 to 12 have been involved in a range of vertical project groups, including the Days of Significance Group, the Guide Dogs Youth Ambassador Project, the RSPCA Project, the World’s Greatest Shave Project, the Push Up Challenge and the Homework Club.

The World’s Greatest Shave Project involved over 60 students in Years 7 to 12 this semester and were able to rise to the challenge of raising over $22,000 to see some of our BGS staff shave their heads and beards for the cause. Yesterday, Mr Carroll, Ms Russell, Mr Walker, Mr Fulton, Mr Struthers, Mr Jones, Mr Holland and Mr Murray, and some of our BGS student fundraisers in Years 7 to 12, put their hand up for a haircut. Students in Years 5 and 6 participated by providing warm-up entertainment in the Crazy Hat Parade prior to the main event. Thank you to all of our supporters, staff who so generously shaved in the middle of a Queensland winter, students and Mr Scott Deegan and Ms Sharee Verdon.

The Push Up Challenge students and Mr Gus Robertson have been pushing for better since 1 June to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Funds raised will go to Headspace, Lifeline and Movember. Last year, BGS were awarded the highest number of participants in Australia in this challenge, and this year we have broken our own record with almost 700 boys involved. Please read below to see how you can support our boys and this wonderful cause to push for better! There is still time!

The Guide Dogs Youth Ambassador Project has had a fantastic semester with over 70 students in Years 5 to 12 involved in the group, 49 students registered on the fundraising page and over $10,400 already raised to assist Guide Dogs Queensland. This group has run bake sales and participated in educational opportunities where students could experience firsthand what it is like to live with a vision impairment. The group look forward to continuing their fundraising efforts for this wonderful initiative in Semester 2, while raising awareness and providing educational opportunities for students involved. Well done boys, and thanks to Ms Stella Gardner and Ms Sharee Verdon.

The RSPCA Project, involving students in Years 5 to 12, have collected a ute-load of donations from our BGS community this semester. Thank you all who supported this project by donating blankets, towels and pet food to support animals great and small and RSPCA Queensland. Thank you Mr Justin Shears, Ms Michelle Ragan and boys. We look forward to the Million Paws Walk next semester.

The Homework Club, in partnership with Communify, has continued to offer tutoring throughout the semester to students from Kelvin Grove State College, most of whom are from families where English is a second language. The number of Kelvin Grove students attending the Homework Club continues to grow, and it is wonderful to see so many of senior BGS boys involved, with over 50 students offering their time throughout the term.

The Days of Significance Group ran campaigns across the School to raise awareness of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on Friday 18 March in Term 1. This week, the students, with the support of Ms Carla Salmon, raised awareness of the importance of Men’s Health Week (Monday 13 June – Sunday 19 June). Students created posters and published notices in the Daily Bulletin to educate and inform the student community about the importance of taking care of themselves and each other, and how they can do this. This year’s Men’s Health Week theme is ‘Building healthy environments for men and boys’, which is certainly is at the heart of what we do each and every day through our Student Wellbeing program and Public Purpose group.

Crystal Thompson
Public Purpose Coordinator

 

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