Blue Mountains Grammar School Newsletter

Vol 3, 22nd February, 2019

FROM THE HEADMASTER What’s in it for me? Dear BMGS community Over the last week, I enjoyed getting to know some of our new families. During my address to them at Icebreakers I read a poem that I wrote for the Preparatory School Parent Information Evening the week prior. The poem was written with all those who were beginning at a new school in mind. I have included the text of the poem at the bottom of this article. It speaks of our vision for our students and our intentionality about nurturing the treasure inside each one. It speaks of our goal of equipping our students to flourish into the future. These are sentiments that can’t be wholly captured in prose or poetry and yet rise from the heart of every parent and every Blue Mountains Grammar School teacher. At those same events, and a number of others this past week, I have spoken about the value of a Grammar Education; one designed with a vision in mind - a vision of the most capable, intelligent, creative, connected, and well-adjusted young person any of us can imagine. The image in my mind is of a young person who exhibits love and respect for others; who is characterised by integrity, kindness, and humility; and who has an outward-looking, other person centred perspective which gives expression in a desire to serve. Whilst only one aspect of my vision, it is a very important component. For this reason I am proudest of our School when Prep or Junior School students include others in their games to ensure they aren’t lonely and to ensure they know that they belong; when Senior School students spend the whole day at the Swimming Carnival cooking and preparing sausage sandwiches for hungry swimmers; when at this week’s Open Morning, Senior School leaders remain in conversation with visiting parents an hour after leading them on a generously lengthy tour. I am proudest of our students when they think of others above themselves, when they pay a personal price to make someone else’s life better, when they seek to make the world a better place, and when they do these things without asking “what’s in it for me?” Our students are fabulous and so is the culture we have created among them and for this reason, my desire is that as many young people as possible benefit from a Blue Mountains Grammar School education.

In my first few weeks I have been thoroughly impressed by our students, the School culture, the quality of the learning, the variety of opportunities provided them, and the amazing staff who bring all of this about. I know that any enquiring parent that experiences the School will be equally impressed, and yet at our Open Morning this week there were very few parents who took the opportunity to do so. I am starting to ask why? Some of the questions I asked at the Vision and Values Workshops were designed to get to the heart of that question. If you feel as though you have some insight into the answer I would love to have a chat… One thing I know for sure is that no parent decides on a school, or even to look into the possibility of choosing a school, especially not one for which they will need to make a sacrifice, without having a conversation with someone associated with that school. At the Vision and Values Workshops I asked those who are also proud of our students, those who love our school as much as I am beginning to, to consider becoming part of an unofficial coalition of School advocates, a ‘viral marketing force’, that will flood the Mountains with the good news about our School. To my surprise, in response, I was faced with the question “what’s in it for me?” The most important benefit for families is that a school’s reputation stems from what people believe about it and then say to others about it. If Grammar is to sustain its wonderful reputation throughout the Mountains and surrounds, we need to first of all be excellent, then people need to know it, and finally they need to share it. Without a great deal of positive word-of-mouth Grammar’s reputation will languish and this will impact every one of us. In schools, a great reputation attracts great teachers, and we all know that the good things that happen in schools happen because of our teachers. Happy, committed, expert teachers are the heartbeat of every great school. So, it is in the interest of every School family to do all that they can to enhance Grammar’s reputation. Secondly, any vision for the future of a school looks to enhance, supplement, and extend. I would never want our School to be over-sized, but I am charged with the responsibility to return it to a more sustainable size. This would require us to increase Primary classes to 20 which would approximately double the Preparatory and Junior Schools. It would also allow us to readily fill the three Year 7 classes each year and replace, from a waiting list, any students that move on throughout their Senior School years. A slightly larger school brings with it the resourcing that permits a School to better serve each of its students. More students equates to more staff, more expertise, more individual passions, more support for learning and wellbeing, more curricular and co-curricular programmes, more lunch-time activities, more inter-school interactions, and more options for students generally. More students also equates to more, and better quality, facilities. Parents who are worried that more students equates to larger class sizes need not fear. Grammar’s classes will always be appropriate to facilitate the standards of excellence we expect of our teachers and students. However, more students will certainly change the extremely small early learning classes and that is a very desirable outcome, given that one of the prime objectives in early childhood education is the development of socio-emotional skills. So, whilst “what’s in it for me” sounds to me like a counter-cultural question for Grammar, if you are among those who are asking it, there are a multitude of reasons that any member of any school should sing its praises from the rooftops.

The Perfect Place She started school on Wednesday, And she woke at half past four She dressed up in her uniform Then waited at the door You remember just like yesterday When she began to talk. And how she was so keen to run As soon as she could walk.

She’s so clever and creative and so insightful too She’ll conquer all before her There’s nought that she can’t do So deep down in your heart You’d prefer she was in class So that she can learn and grow so her dreams will come to pass. The Grammar Grads that you have met that stand up straight and tall are what you want her to become so life won’t make her fall I am sure between the home and school we will know what to do To give her all that she could need so she will flourish too. We have the end point in our mind Our vision’s what we heed, To nurture what’s inside of her, and equip her to succeed. One day you’ll stand to watch her when she graduates with grace, And on that day you’ll still be sure, You found the perfect place.

Ian Maynard Headmaster

FROM THE CHAPLAIN Gratitude, a Bridge to Happiness So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” - John 11:41-42 (NIV). On the weekend I was listening to an inspiring podcast by author A.J. Jacobs who described strategies for being happier through gratitude. His strategies were funny, endearing, and most importantly, useful. Jacobs says that gratitude (sometimes known as thankfulness) and happiness are so closely linked that they might as well be the same thing. More than the pursuit of money and an increase in social status, being consistently grateful can lead to a much more fulfilling life. Jacobs’ book Thanks a Thousand recalls his journey of thanking everyone around the world who is involved in making his morning cup of coffee. He goes as far as tracking down the inventor of the coffee cup lid and the person who keeps pests away from the coffee beans in the warehouse where they are stored (some of these people are weirded out by this but ultimately are thankful in return as they generally receive very little thanks). On this podcast* Jacobs humorously describes ten excellent ways to

practise gratitude in our everyday lives, two of which I will describe in more detail at the end of this article. Jesus was a pioneer in the field of gratitude. He lived His life in thankfulness to God for always listening and being there for Him. As the Bible passage from John shows, Jesus wanted everyone around Him to know how thankful He was to God, and by publically showing this gratitude He knew that others would come to believe in God. Jesus showed how much God cares for all of creation by explaining that even the sparrows and the wildflowers are masterfully designed and loved despite their smallness and seeming unimportance (Matthew 6:26-30). Thankfulness is intertwined throughout much of Jesus’s teaching in the Bible as He shows thankfulness for food, companionship, people listening to Him, and for the chance to spread His gospel of grace, forgiveness, and love. Despite Jesus living a life of gratitude and giving, many of the people He healed were amazed but few thanked Him for what he did. The Samaritan leper was the only one of ten lepers who came back and thanked Jesus after he healed them (Luke 17:11-19). The prostitute was the only person at Simon the Pharisee’s party to express appreciation to Jesus for the forgiveness he offers to all (Luke 7:36-50). But Jesus didn’t live a perfect life in order to be thanked, He gave His life so that everyone can see how much God loves the world. Saying “thank you” is one way to show appreciation for this life we have been given and these simple two words can help us live in the moment. This may sound strange but being specific and intentional in our thanking makes life feel real - thankfulness to God makes life come alive. Returning to A.J. Jacobs, there were two strategies that really stood out to me as something I would like to try. The first being to consciously focus on the good that happens each day. We are all genetically inclined to remember the negative much more than the positive; we tend to forget about many of the things that go right every day. By remembering the positive moments and even writing them down in the evening, we can gain a clearer picture of how much good happens in our daily lives. The second strategy I liked was counting things we are grateful for as a way to fall asleep at night (rather than counting sheep). He says to begin with the letter A (for example, ‘I’m grateful for the apple pancakes my kids made on the weekend) and then work your way through the alphabet. Jacobs has never made it to Z before falling asleep. What are you grateful for and can you find time this week to share your gratitude with someone else, or even God? *Recommended listening/watching this week is A.J. Jacobs’ 10 Strategies to be Happier through Gratitude on Tim Ferris’ podcast. This podcast can be watched on YouTube or listened to via most podcast apps.

Mr. Luke Webb

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF TEACHING & LEARNING Assessment for learning Last year at about this time, I printed the following summary of the way assessment practices have been shifting both at BMGS, and more broadly in education. At the beginning of the academic year, it’s a timely reminder of how things might look different for parents compared to their own schooling, or that of older siblings. In the past, students in Years7 to 10 would complete one major summative assessment task a term, plus other “formative” tasks and tests. However, we are moving towards a system that looks at assessment in a different way. Research has highlighted that there are three different types of assessment, and this is reflected in the approach of NESA (The NSW Education Standards Authority):

http://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/english/english-k10/syllabus-assessment/

That’s all well and good, but what does that actually mean? Assessment happens all the time: it’s not a once a term high-stakes test or project. Students require more feedback than simply at the end of a single large task. It occurs

when teachers observe students working, individually or in groups when they collect activities to mark and when students complete larger tasks and examinations.

All of these form an achievement profile, a summary of the things students have demonstrated they have achieved, and those things towards which they are still working. For that reason, everything students do in class and at home matters, because it forms part of their opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. It also helps students take responsibility for their learning, as they actively work with their teachers to evaluate areas of learning success and what areas still need attention. At the beginning of each unit, a student’s teacher will be able to tell them what elements of the course will be measured in that unit and the methods by which they will gather information. This is likely to involve things such as class tests, experiments, writing activities, discussions, physical activities and so on. Usually, each term, there will be at least one activity that will be completed by everyone in the group / grade. These are important, but no more important than any other task. Feedback The purpose of feedback is to move learning forward. Research indicates that when given marks students don’t respond to the written feedback (Butler 1987, Kluger & DeNisi 1996,Wiliam 2011). Even when the marks are accompanied by feedback, the comments are ignored. Put simply, those given feedback as marks are likely to see it as a way to compare themselves with others (ego-involvement), those given only comments see it as helping them to improve (task-involvement). The latter group out-perform the former. Equally as important, marks don’t provide accurate feedback about what a student needs to develop – the conversation (and learning) ends with the mark, because it seems indisputable (Dressell 1957, Kohn 1994).

Whilst we can’t get rid of marks altogether – our final examinations and much of our university entrance processes depend on them, we want to refocus learning in the younger high school years, in order to maximise student growth and achievement. Consequently, we are moving away from mark-based feedback in Stage 4. We want our students in Stage 4 to be learning and growing all the time. A growth mindset approach highlights that students need to keep developing – no matter how strong they currently feel they are in a subject, there is always more to learn and further extension of their skills (Dweck 2000). By applying marks it limits our stronger students, so they think they have “made it” (or at 18/20 almost made it!), and for our struggling students it reinforces negative self-perceptions, that we want to help them to break free from. We are all learners and we can all keep learning! As we continue to refocus our learning, direct communication will come home to our Year 7 students and families, and opportunities to discuss this new approach will be made available. References Butler, R.(1987) Task-involving and ego-involving properties of evaluation: Effects of different feedback conditions on motivational perceptions, interest, and performance, Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol 79(4), Dec 1987, 474-482 Dressel, P. (1957) Grades: One more tilt at the windmill, Basic College Quarterly (Michigan State Univeristy), 6 Dweck, C. (2006) Mindset: The new psychology of success, New York: Random House Kluger, A.N. and DeNisi A. (1996). The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory, Psychological bulletin Kohn, A. (1994) Grading: the issue is not how but why. Educational Leadership 52(2), 38-41

Mrs. Megan Hastie

FROM THE REGISTRAR The Semester 2, 2018 edition of the Altiora has been published and may be viewed via the following link: http://www.bmgs.nsw.edu.au/news-and-events Miss A. Cranna

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Swimming Carnival The Stage 2 students from the Preparatory School had a fantastic day last Friday when they joined with the students of the Junior School for the annual Swimming Carnival. Thank you to all the students from the Preparatory School for your participation and sportsmanship towards each other. Thank you to our parents for your support of the students and willingness to volunteer, and thank you to the staff and the Sports Department for making the day run smoothly. These types of events are a wonderful opportunity to not only get outside and enjoy the sunshine but for the students to come together and get to know one another, form connections across the campuses and experience greater diversity amongst their cohort. Opportunities such as these also aid the eventual transition of the students from the Preparatory School into the Junior School. We look forward to many more occasions throughout the year to develop these cross campus connections. Outside Achievements: We would love to hear about your child’s achievements outside the School (including awards, sporting and cultural achievements, newspaper articles etc.) in order to share them with the rest of the Preparatory at our weekly assembly. If you have something to share, please e-mail me directly at abrace@bmgs.nsw.edu.au and if possible include a photo. Alternatively, you can leave a quick note at Reception. Assembly Awards: Pre K: Yui Negishi Kindergarten: Emily Hyslop Stage 1: Edie Jensen and Carlyle Magee No Stage 2 awards were presented due to the Swimming Carnival Miss Alicia Brace

JUNIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

What a glorious day we had last Friday for our Swimming Carnival. The sun was shining and the pool refreshing. Participation rates amongst the children was high and even those not swimming showed great support and encouragement of their fellow House members. It was wonderful also to see so many parents and family members in attendance to cheer on the children. Thank you to all those who made the day possible: our student helpers from Senior School, our parent helpers, the teachers and especially our Head of Sport Mrs Megan Harris who convened a very successful carnival. Though still waiting to find out who our age champions are, we do know the overall result and congratulate Ziele Pitt House on their victory. The School’s representative team is soon to be announced and we wish them luck as they compete in the upcoming WAS (28th February) and HICES (6th March) Carnivals.

Also last Friday, many of the teachers and I enjoyed coming together with our new parents of the School, from all three campuses, as we gathered in Coorah for the traditional welcome party known as Icebreakers. I appreciated the opportunity to talk with a number of parents to find out how their child was settling in and I heard wonderfully positive comments about how children from Pre-K all the way to Year 6 have enjoyed their first few weeks and been made to feel welcome. That is a tremendous strength of our School and speaks volumes for the friendly and inclusive attitude of our children.

I look forward to meeting many of our Year 6 parents once again next Monday when we hold our Prefects’ Induction ceremony for our School leaders at noon in the Junior School’s Coote Hall.

Mr. Nigel Cockington

Student Awards This week the following award was presented in Assembly: Gold: Ezekiel Mamo (S1)

JUNIOR SCHOOL DEBATING

Our Junior HICES Debating team had a strong start to the season with a win against Scots All Saints in Round 1. They successfully argued for the Negative side on the topic that there should be a quota for indigenous athletes at the Olympics. The debaters are commended on the way they delivered carefully crafted and sophisticated arguments with confidence and clarity. Two of our new debaters stepped up at the last minute to be Chairperson and Timekeeper. We look forward to hosting Round 2 at home next month.

JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT

Basketball - Term 1 Round 10 5/6 Boys’ Gold played The Blazers - 5/6 Boys’ Gold won 32 to 7. 3/4 Blue played the Cheerios - The Cheerios won 35 to 10. 3/4 Gold played the Little Hoopers - 3/4 Gold won 15 to 10. 3/4 Red did not play due to a Bye. 5/6 Girls’ Red played the Gliders - The Gliders won 20 to 8.

Mrs. Lori Gerrard

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL It has been said that your musical taste is determined between the ages of 14 and 24 years. (footnote to https://mic.com/articles/96266/there-s-a-magic-age-when-you-find-your-musical-taste-according-to-science#.rOIxZ94Y8) . While many ear buds are occupied with R&B, Rap and Indie Rock, I couldn't help but notice that one cultured young man was engaged with the soundtrack to Les Miserables this week. In fact, he then went on to provide an impromptu performance at 8:20am from the roundabout of one of the wonderful songs from this play which he was learning as he auditioned for the Senior Production. The Senior School is a dynamic place with a lot going on and our students are known for their willingness to step up to the challenges provided. This week, by my count, there are over 100 separate events occurring and I would like to commend students for their outstanding attitude, effort and engagement in the life of the school. This was also highlighted by the overwhelming interest shown by students and families for non-sporting co-curricular opportunities. Outstanding! This week I am excited to announce an expansion of the House Shield in the Senior School. After a number of conversations with the Heads of House and School Captains, the House Shield will now expand to celebrate the following four pillars to life in the Senior School. These are:

1. Academic Achievement - in relation to effort, maintaining academic excellence and academic improvement

2. Sporting Achievement - based on participation and results in carnivals and sport

3. Commitment to Co-Curricular Activities - for students who uphold the name of the school, actively promote the activity within the school and commit to an activity for a number of years

4. Service - through the service hours awards

These changes will be communicated to students and I look forward to seeing how the competition plays out as the year progresses with our first House tussle coming with this week's Swimming Carnival. May the best House win! I would also add that parents and carers will shortly be able to express interest in Winter Co-Curricular Sporting Activities. As with the non-sporting Co-Curricular Activities, all students will be emailed a link to a survey. Travel to and from School by Train Last week I meet with all train travelers to discuss expectations with students when traveling to and from the School by train. Our School is on show on the train and in Wentworth Falls Village and students have also been asked to be mindful of the public in the manner in which they cross the pedestrian crossing and move to and from the station. With a number of Year 12 students now driving to and from School, all of Year 11 students have now been deputised as Train Prefects. Their role is to monitor students while they wait on the platform and to be able to provide support to students as needed on the train. Student leaders play an important role in setting the tone in the Senior School and I would like to thank these students for their ongoing example and support for younger students. Mr. Andrew Beitsch

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC Icebreakers Mrs Cooney would like to thank the following members of the Chamber Ensemble who performed at the Icebreakers evening last Friday: Miriam Cooney (Year 12), Sel Hardaker (Year 11), Indigo Franklin (Year 10), Maeve Magner (Year 8) and Emily Colbran (Year 8). Encore Year 11 and 12 Elective Music students attended the Encore Concert at the Sydney Opera House on Monday evening. The Encore Concert showcases exemplary Compositions and Performance across all HSC Music courses. This year’s concert was a particular highlight as it was the 25th Anniversary Encore concert. Special thanks to Mr Col Burke who drove us all home in the bus at the conclusion of the evening. Choral Workshop Mountains Youth Choir is presenting a Choral workshop for children aged 9-16 years. The workshop will be led by Paul Jarman (choral conductor and composer) and will be held on 18th and 19th May. Further details will be forthcoming shortly. Diary Dates: Soiree#1: Thursday, 21st March Music Camp: Stanwell Tops, 14th to 17th April Mrs. Debbie Smith

FROM THE HEAD OF ELEARNING Tech Drop-In for Year 7 Starting Year 7 can be quite daunting in terms of the technology demands placed on students. For many Year 7 students, managing a laptop of their own is very different to the use of technology supplied in Primary School. Blue Mountains Grammar is keen to ensure that our new Year 7 students become comfortable and confident with technology as soon as possible. To meet this aim, I would like to inform you of some additional help I am providing in Term 1. On Fridays during Term 1 there will be a lunchtime session for students who need help with their laptops and software, or who wish to train as technology mentors for their peers. The sessions will occur in the Pitt-Owen Building in room P4. Students with an issue can come for as little or as long as they need and can bring their lunch with them. Students can drop in at any time throughout lunch. If you have a son or daughter in Year 7 and they are a competent laptop user you might wish to encourage them to consider the mentoring program. They will learn some new things about technology and also how to mentor others.

SENIOR SCHOOL

From the Head of eLearning (continued) If you have any questions, please contact me. If you have a child in a Year other than Year 7 and think they would benefit from some technology problem solving, do encourage them to drop in to the Friday sessions or find me at another time. Mr. Chris Huxley

FROM THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT Senior School English Tutoring Senior School English Tutoring is available for all students on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Simply come along to the LRC from 3:15pm to 4:45pm and make yourself known to the English staff member in attendance.

Reasons to attend could include:

Extra help with literacy

Assisted study and reading time

Writing advice and editing

Assessment preparation

Please note: Students in Years 11 and 12 are encouraged to submit practise essays and extended response drafts to Mr Horne via email TWO days prior to attending tutoring to ensure prompt feedback on the day.

We look forward to seeing you there! Mr. Greg Horne

FROM THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT Mathematics Tutoring takes place in the LRC every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, from 3:15pm to 4:45pm. Bring along your Mathematics books and get help with any areas of concern, with revision for assessment tasks or with enrichment. Mrs Sam Coultas

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Over the past two weeks, Year 10 Wilderness Education students have been challenging themselves to abseil 200m, from the top of the escarpment to the valley below. It was certainly a heart-stopping moment for all when they first leaned back over that top edge and abseiled the first of at least five pitches. Year 10 have been warming up for this multi-pitch abseiling event since the end of last year when they completed Empress Canyon, and with visits to Narrow Neck in Katoomba where they honed their skills on cliffs up to 30m high. There was quite a bit of nervous energy in the days leading up to their excursion, but it was wonderful to see the perseverance and trust displayed by the students as they faced a difficult challenge. These Wild Ed students have been studying preparation and risk management of adventurous activities for over a year now so they were well aware of their own safety and that of their classmates. They all displayed excellent skills and compassion towards each other. This Friday the same group of students will be tackling three of the more advanced canyons in the Blue Mountains. Stay tuned for their stories soon. Mrs. Adele Stubenrauch

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE CAREERS ADVISER Careers Corner The first Careers Newsletter was published earlier this week with lots of wonderful information on all things Careers. This week’s Careers Newsletter contained something for everyone. Careers information can also be found on the Careers noticeboard outside the Mathematics rooms and in the LRC. Remember: It’s never too early to begin researching careers! At BMGS, Careers aims to create opportunities for students to explore future careers by accessing a range of resources and engage in the wider community. All students are encouraged to start thinking about what they might like to pursue after school and take the time to enjoy exploring what is out there. If you have any questions about anything on the Careers Newsletter or would like to make an appointment to see me, please do not hesitate to contact me on careers@bmgs.nsw.edu.au Mrs. Alicia Michielsen

FIJI TOUR 2019 Thank you to all those families who have paid the February instalment for the tour. If you have not completed this payment yet, could you please do so as soon as possible. Pre-departure Meeting We have set the date for this meeting, and it will be on Thursday, 28th March in Cuff Hall starting at 6:00pm. This meeting will be a fundraising venture as well as a means to inform you and your child final details on the itinerary, what to pack, and expectations of behaviour. The cost will be $30/family (maximum three people). This meeting is also compulsory as embedded in the information are the rules that reduce risks. All the staff would like to express our thanks for your support with this meeting. Fundraising In mid-March we will also be undertaking a Hot Cross Bun drive. This will be the major fundraiser for the semester. Please look out for more information on this event. Mrs. Jacqueline Haines and Mr. Praveen Singh

SENIOR SCHOOL

HEAD OF SPORT REPORT

This week is the final round of games before the Semi-Finals of the ISA competition. With many teams playing at Home it would be great to have as many supporters at possible to close off the summer season.

Congratulations This week congratulations are extended to Bethany Lane who was selected as a member of the NSWCIS Open Girls Cricket team. Bethany will compete at the NSW All Schools Cricket Championships from 12th to 14th March. We wish her all the best at these Championships.

Winter Sport Selections A survey has been sent to all students this week for them to make their selections for the 2019 Winter sport season. Choices are Boys’ and Girls’ Football, Rugby, Girls’ Hockey and Netball. The link has also been sent to parents. Please note only one application can be completed per computer. This is a Survey Monkey issue so it is best if you have more than one child for them to follow the link on their personal computers.

If you have questions regarding any of these sports, the relevant MIC’s email addresses are listed below.

Netball – Miss L Hall - lhall@bmgs.nsw.edu.au Girls’ Football – Miss L Wade - lwade@bmgs.nsw.edu.au Boys’ Football – Mr P Singh - psingh@bmgs.nsw.edu.au Rugby – Mr N Webb - nwebb@bmgs.nsw.edu.au Hockey – Mrs R Hyslop - rhyslop@bmgs.nsw.edu.au

As discussed in last week’s newsletter students wishing to trial for these teams must have full availability for the season. This includes weekday training and Saturday games.

Triathlon Clinic On Friday, 15th February the School ran a triathlon clinic for students interested in pursuing this sport on an individual basis. It was a very successful afternoon and the feedback from all students was very positive. We would like to thank Triathlon NSW and James for their professionalism in running this clinic. We are looking forward to some improved placings at the upcoming NSW All Schools Triathlon as a result of the skills acquired at the clinic.

Uniform Terms 1 and 4 Students either change back into their full School uniform or leave school in their yellow polo and sports shorts. If the weather is cold students may wear their full School tracksuit home.

Terms 2 and 3 Students either change back into their full School uniform including blazer or wear their full School tracksuit home. **Students are not permitted to wear sports hoodies to and from training.

These rules apply whether a student is travelling home on public transport, walking or travelling with parents. Please come and see me in my office if you have any questions regarding upcoming sporting events. Mrs. Megan Harris

SENIOR SCHOOL

Saturday Sports Fixtures 23rd February - Round 10 Team Opponent Venue Time Court/Field Bus INFO

Cricket 1st XI Oxley Home 10:00am Ziele Oval N/A

15s Wentworth Falls Top Reserve 8:30am Top Reserve Katoomba

N/A

Touch 1sts BYE BYE BYE BYE

N/A Football Junior A BYE BYE BYE BYE

Junior B BYE BYE BYE BYE

Boys’ 1st V St Pauls

St Paul’s Grammar

9:30am 1

Own Transport

Basketball U17 St Pauls 8:30am 2

U15 Gold St Pauls 8:30am 1

U14 St Pauls 9:30am 2

U13 Gold St Pauls 10:30am 2

U15 Blue Redlands Home 09:00am 2 N/A

U13 Blue Oakhill College Home 10:00am 2 N/A

Girls’ 1st V SACS Home 11:00am 1

N/A Basketball Open C St Spyridon Home 10:00am 1

Intermediates SACS Home 11:00am 2

Junior A St Paul's Home 12:00pm 1

Junior B Redlands Home 09:00am 1 N/A

SENIOR SCHOOL

ROUND 9 MATCH REPORTS

Girls’ Touch Football BMGS Junior A – Double Header Game 1, BMGS defeated Chevalier College, 4-2. Game 2, BMGS defeated Oxley College, 4-2 On Saturday Junior As had two games, winning 4-2 in both against Chevalier College and Oxley College. This put us through to the Semi-Finals. We played really well and worked together as a team. Tries were scored by Rosie, Koko and Darcy. BMGS Firsts drew with St. Andrew’s Cathedral School, 4-4 The Firsts girls’ team played a great game on Saturday. We maintained a strong defence and made it a tough competition for St. Andrew’s, coming out with a 4-4 draw. Thanks, girls, for another fun game of touch footy! Mia Walpole Mrs. Leah Opie – MIC Touch Football

Girls’ Basketball BMGS First V defeated Central Coast Grammar School, 26-6 This week the Firsts travelled up to Central Coast Grammar School. The girls came out strongly from the first whistle. We were definitely the dominant team of the day. We did struggle in parts of the game and we have a few things to focus on at training. However, overall, we came away with a great 20-point win. The final game of the season next week will be a tough one, but it will be good preparation for the upcoming Semi-Finals.

SENIOR SCHOOL

BMGS Open C defeated Barker College, 33-2 In our second last game of the season, the Open Cs played very well against Barker College. Our defence was outstanding as usual, with every player managing to pressure the ball everywhere on court to gain numerous intercepts and steals. The Open C’s attack was equally impressive, as they were able to take what they had learnt in training and apply it to a game environment successfully. I am very pleased that the girls continue to listen to the feedback I give them and implement these tactics into their game. Well done, girls! BMGS Intermediate B defeated Central Coast Grammar School, 14-10 After the long trip to Central Coast Grammar for our last away game of the season, the Intermediate girls were fired up and ready to go. After CCGS scored the first basket, it was clear that this was going to be a tough game. CCGS’s full court press proved to be a challenge for the Intermediate girls, preventing us from taking control of the game. The BMGS girls’ persistent defence ensured that CCGS only led by 1 point at half time. The team didn’t let the score bother them and went out hard in the second half, working out how to overcome the full court press and working well as a team to put some points on the board and take the lead. The game was challenging for the girls, and their ability to adapt to different defensive strategies to win the game will serve them well leading into the Finals. BMGS Junior A were defeated by Central Coast Grammar School, 47-10 This week we travelled to Central Coast Grammar School, and we knew we would be in for a challenge as this team has always been very consistent and well drilled. From the first whistle the girl never gave up and put in 100% effort. We put in place some goals we wanted to achieve for this game and the girls completed each of them. They should be really proud of their efforts as we come into our last game of the season this week. BMGS Junior B were defeated by Central Coast Grammar School, 32-9 The Junior Bs had a tough match against the well placed Central Coast team on the weekend. After a few early baskets from CCGS, the girls were able to slow the pace with some strong defence. Unfortunately, Central Coast was able to limit the girls’ scoring as well. Our team played hard throughout the game and they should be proud of their efforts. The girls are looking forward to their final home game of the season next weekend. Mr. Chris Ingold – MIC Girls’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball BMGS U13 Blue were defeated by St Patricks College, 36-9 This round, the boys travelled to Auburn to play against a very strong St Pat’s team, who are leading the competition. The boys started off strongly and gave 100% but unfortunately the St Patrick’s team were too strong and ran away with the game. The boys’ sportsmanship on the day was a credit to them all. We will look to continue developing our skills as we move towards the Finals. BMGS U13 Gold were defeated by St Pius X College, 45-15 Unfortunately, this week our U13s came up against some very talented opposition, who were unforgiving in their attack. Although they put up a good fight, the boys went down in the end regardless of their hard efforts. However, their Finals campaign is still very much alive and our next game will give the boys the opportunity to get back on track. BMGS U14 were defeated by St Pius X College, 45-20 Proving a tough school to beat, our U14s went down in their game against a tough St. Pius side. Losing a bit of steam towards the end, our boys still maintained a positive attitude and continued to display good sportsmanship. Looking for a win this week, the boys will be working hard to hone their skills to deliver a final blow to wrap up the season. BMGS U15 Blue were defeated by Oakhill College, 31-18 The U15s Blue team continued to perform to their peak abilities and improve on their game, showing outstanding teamwork. Oakhill, who sit on top of the Division’s ladder, began the game rather loosely and they threw some passes away, giving our boys the opportunity to make some breakaways. Even so, these opponents secured more baskets despite our tight defence. The second half had Oakhill sweating and calling timeouts as they feared BMGS’ abilities and realised we were playing a serious game. Literally springing back from their ankle injuries, Flynn Boundy and Flynn Shiels both played excellent and energetic games.

SENIOR SCHOOL

The BMGS boys could have snatched a win if they had matched their playing intensity of the second half with the first. Nevertheless, the vast improvement from this match against Oakhill compared with their previous meeting is something of which the boys should be very proud. BMGS U15 Gold defeated St Pius X College, 40-17 The U15s Gold continues to make consistent strides towards showcasing their full potential. This week, the team started off strongly, preventing the opposition from scoring for most of the first half. Their strong defence was a key factor throughout the game, as they gradually grew their lead. With greater focus, the boys can show the rest of the competition schools that they mean business. This week they will be looking at refining their skills to ensure they wrap up the season with a strong win before the Finals. BMGS U17 were defeated by St Pius X College, 40-10 This week the 17s came up against some strong opposition in a well-drilled and highly skilled St Pius team. The boys were very slow out of the blocks, and were in shock at how fast the opposition were moving the ball and attacking throughout the first half. The half time break provided an opportunity for a re-evaluation of our expectations and efforts, which led to a strong start to the second half. The boys’ strong and physical defence was a feature of the final 20 minutes of the game, as they showed an unwillingness to be pushed around by the opposition. Moving forward, the team will look to finish the season with a positive performance against St Paul’s Grammar School. BMGS 1st V defeated St Pius X College, 53-48 This week the 1st V was in a contest that they felt confident of coming away on the winning side of the scoreboard. Although shorthanded, the boys played with their hearts on their sleeves and cannot be faulted for the efforts throughout the game. The team played well, and maintained a slim lead throughout the game. The boys continue to find a way to compete each week despite any obstacles in their way. Congratulations, boys. Mr. David Rajasekar – MIC Boys’ Basketball

THE WEEK AHEAD – FEBRUARY, 2019

Saturday, 23rd February – Senior School Open Morning Saturday, 23rd February – Japanese Extension Workshop Monday, 25th February – Junior School Prefect Induction Ceremony Monday, 25th February – Year 9 Wild Ed (Class 1) Basic Canoeing, Wentworth Falls Lake Monday, 25th February – Year 5 and 6 Victorian Trip Information Evening Tuesday, 26th February – HICES Leadership Day (Year 6) Tuesday, 26th February to Friday, 1st March – Year 7 Camp Tuesday, 26th February – Year 10 Wilderness Education, Darks Cave Thursday, 28th February – WAS Swimming Carnival Thursday, 28th February – NSW CIS Triathlon Individual Events Friday, 1st March – Clean Up Our School Day (all campuses)