Blue Mountains Grammar School Newsletter Vol 11, 12th May, 2017

FROM THE HEADMASTER

The Threepenny Opera – our Year 10 to 12 students shine!

Last week the Senior School's production of The Threepenny Opera was performed by students from

Years 10 to 12. It was a delightful theatre experience showcasing the depth and breadth of talent

possessed by our students. The expressions on the students’ faces clearly showed how much they

enjoyed being involved. Thank you to the team of Mrs Annette Charter, Mrs Cindy Pecovnik, Miss

Anne Cranna, Ms Danie Evans, Mrs Julie Cooney, Mr Col Burke and Mr Bob Charter who gave so

much of their own time in support of the production. Thank you also to Mrs Kerrie Jackson, Mr Kent

Learned and Mr Shaun Davies and the many students whose tireless efforts helped to bring this

production to such a marvellous conclusion.

Study Leave

A reminder that at the end of this week, I will be embarking on a period of six weeks study leave in

England – a time during which I will visit ten schools, spending time with staff. It will also be a time to

reflect upon the privilege of working with our young people and staff at BMGS, a time to gain

refreshment and to reinvigorate, a time for forward thinking, planning and gathering of ideas.

Many of the schools chosen to visit during my study leave have been identified via the official English

inspection processes as being outstanding teaching and learning communities. Others have been

recommended by Professor Trevor Cooling for their special focus on Christian purpose and identity.

Professor Cooling is the Chair of the Religious Education Council of England & Wales and works at

Christ Church University in Canterbury, Kent. I will also spend time with Dr Alison Farnell in Rugby to

discuss her thesis on Heads and Leadership of Church of England Schools in the Diocese of

Coventry.

The areas identified as focus points for my study leave are as follows:

· The teaching and learning and student wellbeing structures and programs of the school and their

impact on educational outcomes;

· The use of information technology, in particular the use of student personal devices in the

curriculum;

· The promotion of teacher quality within schools (including professional development,

mentoring/coaching or professional review structures);

· The development of a distinctively Christian character in schools.

Whilst I am away, Mrs Megan Hastie (Deputy Head – Teaching & Learning) and Mr Adam Osborne

(Deputy Head – Head of Senior School) will be Acting Co-Heads and will share responsibility for my

duties and calendar events.

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you on my return.

Students’ Achievements

Congratulations to Year 11 students Georgia Clarke and

Liam Dowd who will be representing Australia in Freestyle

Kayaking at the 2017 World Championships to be held in

Argentina in November.

This will be the second time that both Georgia and Liam

have carried Australia's colours to a world championship

having finished high in the rankings in national

competitions.

Georgia and Liam will be part of a 15-member squad

representing Australia in November. Liam will be one of

three competitors in the Junior Men's Division, and

Georgia will be one of two representatives in the Junior

Women's Division.

An outstanding achievement!

Wishing you all the best for the remainder of the term.

Trevor Barman

Headmaster

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

Mother’s Day provides us with a sterling opportunity to express our thankfulness for being the

recipients of much love and care. I suppose in such a busy world, we can easily become so caught

up with the various pressures of daily life that we take for granted the support that has made it all

possible. It is no surprise that the Bible encourages us to honour our parents.

Perhaps the other reason that we are encouraged to treat our parents appropriately is that, at their

best, they provide a window into the way God feels towards us. While there are various references to

God as a loving Father (in the Lord’s Prayer for example), the Bible also uses mothering images to

describe God’s attitude towards us. In fact God is even described like a mother hen sheltering her

young “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge” (Ps 91:4).

Maybe Mother’s Day is more than just an opportunity to remember our mothers, it also gives us the

chance to reflect on an underappreciated aspect of God’s character. God offers us love and comfort

and ultimately wants the best for us. Indeed maybe the reason we value our mothers so much is that

they can reflect this aspect of the image of God. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort

you” (Isaiah 66:13).

Happy Mother’s Day.

A. Dane

FROM THE PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION

Annual Trivia Night

The Parents’ and Friends’ Annual Trivia Night will be held on Saturday, 20th May.

With a nod to BMGS’ 99th Year, the ‘theme’ of the evening will be Espionage/Spies (“Good Thinking,

99!”) – so dig out your trench coats and shoe phones and join us under the Cone of Silence as we

ask our Agents 86 questions... Keep your table’s particular theme on the ‘QT’, as there will be great

prizes for Best Dressed Table/Adult/Student… and these are in addition to the prizes for First Place

and Runners’ Up (both Adult and Student categories).

Bookings can be made online via Try Booking:

https://www.trybooking.com/275836

Payments may also be made via Senior

Reception or contacting Mrs. Sarah

Dunstan (4757 9000). Tickets are $30

for adults and $15 for students/conc.

Put together a table of 8 players, or we

can place small groups together on

tables. We look forward to your

company, for what promises to be a fun

social night for the School community.

We are seeking donations of raffle items

or prizes to support the event. If you

have any items that you would like to

donate, or you would be willing to

approach a local business, café,

restaurant, tourist destination, etc for

vouchers, please email Ms Carole Young

on cyecosteps@gmail.com.

Term 2 General Meeting

The next General Meeting of the

Parents’ and Friends’ Association will be

held next Tuesday, 16th May, in the

Junior School. All are welcome.

Mr. Duncan Barrell Chair, BMGS Parents’ and Friends’ Association

dba23266@bigpond.net.au

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

‘The Great Outdoors’

The first female to ascend and descend Annapurna the 10th highest mountain in the world was

American Arlene Blum. Her climb created history for a myriad of reasons. When talking about her

efforts and her ability, she spoke about how she was ‘educated’ by the outdoors in the mountains.

Blum had a deep connection with the relationship between success, physical pursuits and mental

capacity all being improved whilst being ‘outdoors’.

Under the exceptional guidance of our Wild Ed coordinator Mr Parrish Robins our school is uniquely

positioned in a World Heritage area to give students educational and leadership opportunities in

encouraging and challenging environments. I have been deeply encouraged in how the programs

and camps for our students promote a sense of adventure and lifelong learning in the outdoors. I

believe Mr Robbins is directly helping improve student wellbeing

The benefits of having experts in the field as our staff members increases the capacity for all

students to be enriched in this unique learning environment.

Whether it is for sports classes, climbing a rock face or lunchtime free play, being outdoors has a

positive effect on young people’s mental health. Our PDHPE department is exceptional in its ability to

encourage and grow positive patterns of participation. The benefits of quality practise for students

gives them the ability to create healthy habits that can transition into adulthood.

A recent study led by the University of Queensland (UQ) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for

Environmental Decisions (CEED) concluded that people who visit parks for 30 minutes or more each

week are much less likely to have poor mental health than those who don’t. With the growing issues

around screen time and exercise patterns, it is important for students to connect to the outdoors.

Two of our current students have turned this passion into greater success: Year 11 students

Georgia Clarke and Liam Dowd have both made the Australian Freestyle White-water Kayak teams to

compete at the World Championships in Argentina later this year. They are both Australian National

Champions (2016) and both qualified for the World Championships in 2015. Their dedication and

excellence is a fine example of using passion for the outdoors to live out your dreams.

A UK study tracked changes in mental health over several years as people moved within urban

settings. They found that when people moved to areas with more green space, including tree-lined

streets, private gardens and public parks, they were happier for at least three years after their move,

and that this feeling of contentment grew over time.

“There is something about natural environments that improves people’s wellbeing,” says Richard

Mitchell, an epidemiologist at Glasgow University, UK. “You perceive nature with your senses. Your

brain processes those sensory experiences and triggers physiological responses.”

Here are some ways in which we are encouraging students to spend time outdoors:

1. Encourage participation in school and extracurricular sports held outdoors.

2. Consider outdoor locations for school excursions such as national parks, botanic gardens,

forests and wildlife sanctuaries. Activities may include bushwalking, wildlife watching and

adventure courses.

3. Discuss the environment, recycling, conservation and wildlife to foster a curiosity and respect

for nature.

4. Embed a quality Wild Ed program into the curriculum framework.

5. Encourage students to go for a walk outdoors during times of pressure such as exam time.

Both exercise and nature have been shown to reduce stress and enhance cognitive abilities.

6. Providing space for natural biological changes to take place which work to reduce the stress

hormone cortisol and lower blood pressure.

7. Understand and appreciate the world in which God has given us to display his beauty and for

us to steward well.

Spending time outside is hugely beneficial for young people. Nature can promote positive mental

health and wellbeing and can be easily increased in the incredible surrounding of the Greater Blue

Mountains National Park, for the benefit of students, teachers and the whole school community.

A. Osborne

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

Important dates for the Term

Year 10 Examinations – Tuesday 16th May to Friday 19th May (including Allwell Testing)

Year 11 Parent/Teacher interviews – Thursday 25th May

Year 8 Parent/Teacher interviews – Tuesday 30th May

Year 9 Parent/Teacher interviews – Tuesday 13th June

Elevate study skills sessions

Year 7: Thursday 18th May

Year 8: Monday 29th May

Year 9: Monday 29th May

Year 11: Thursday 11th May

Year 12: Thursday 11th May

Student learning and student wellbeing go hand-in-hand

Traditionally schools have often made a distinction between the

“Pastoral’ and the “Academic”. At BMGS we want to reinforce that

the two are inextricably linked – that the skills, dispositions and

attitudes we foster in our students around wellbeing and health

have an intrinsic impact on their capacity to learn. This is the

graphic that Mr. Andrew Beitsch, Head of Student Wellbeing,

designed to represent this connection.

As part of this continued development of a broad range of skills

and dispositions, this term we are excited to welcome back Elevate

Education to help students with their motivation to study and

developing their study techniques. We want to empower our

students, and help them take greater responsibility for their own

learning, including examination preparation. Elevate will present a range of tailored programs for

Years 7, 8 , 9, 11 and 12 (Year 10 will spend time with Elevate in Term 4) – see the dates listed

above. Programs are delivered in small groups by highly engaging presenters, with students receiving

a booklet to help them recall the main messages.

Andrew Beitsch, Head of Student Wellbeing and Student Leadership, sent out an email to parents in

the Senior School to introduce the Elevate program. He also sent out a poll for you to see what you

think are the hardest things for students in studying. As he said, we would love to know from your

experience what you think high school students find the hardest about studying. If you are

interested, just go to www.menti.com and use the code 49 22 66 to answer a one question survey.

Results from this survey will be published in the school newsletter.

One resource that would be worth looking at with your children is the following website:

https://austudent.elevateeducation.com/

Here is a quick snapshot

to give some indication

of what students can

access through this site.

Whilst the focus of the Elevate program is Senior School (Years 7-12), there are also plenty of

broader tips and articles on skills that all students need, such as managing stress, , time

management, oral presentation skills that are applicable at all ages. We hope you and your children

in the Senior School find this program to be helpful and stimulating.

M. Hastie

FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC

2017 HICES Music Camp for Years 5 to 8

The 2017 HICES Music Festival for Years 5-8 will be held from Sunday, 13th August to Wednesday,

16th August, 2017. Students will work with conductors from HICES Schools at Stanwell Tops for three

days in preparation for the Concert held at the Sydney Town Hall on the final evening. Application

forms for interested students are still available so please come to the Music Office ASAP for further

details.

Penrith Eisteddfod

Applications are now open for the Penrith Eisteddfod. Details can be found at

www.penritheisteddfod.com.au. The Eisteddfod provides an excellent opportunity for students to

perform in front of an audience as well as receiving constructive feedback from adjudicators.

Jesus Christ Superstar

The Blue Mountains Musical Society ‘s production of Jesus Christ Superstar runs from 20th May to

4th June, 2017 at the Hub in Springwood. Thomas Weaver (Year 12) and Joshua Williams (Year 11)

are members of the featured ensemble, whilst Annika Bertinat (Year 10) is part of the ensemble

cast.

Australian Youth Orchestra Applications

The Australian Youth Orchestra will soon be looking for musicians to enrol in the 2018 programs,

which encompass a broad range of tailored training opportunities for aspiring musicians, composers,

arts administrators and music journalists aged 12 to 30. The AYO is one of the world’s most

prestigious and innovative training organisations for young pre-professional musicians. Application

details are available from the Music Office.

Debutante Ball

A reminder that commencing next week Concert Band and Stage Band rehearsals times will swap.

Concert Band will rehearse Tuesday lunch time and Stage Band will rehearse Friday after school until

4:45pm.

Diary Dates

Thursday, 1st June: Soiree No. 2, PAC, 7:00pm

Friday, 2nd June: Music and Machines, Year 10

Saturday, 10th June: Debutante Ball

Thursday, 27th July: Whole School Concert

D. Smith

FROM THE HEAD OF HUMANITIES

Humanities Weekly Quiz

The new Humanities Weekly Quiz was extremely well received! The answer to the International

Relations question from last week was the politician and philanthropist William Wilberforce.

Congratulations to the randomly selected correct entry from Simon Dowd in Year 9. He will receive a

$5 canteen voucher. Please watch your emails for the Geography question which will be sent out on

Thursday.

J. Madgwick

DA VINCI DECATHLON

As part of the Gifted and Talented

Students Enrichment Program, on

Thursday 4th and Friday 5th of May,

Years 7 to 10 each sent a team of

eight students to the da Vinci

Decathlon, held at The Illawarra

Grammar School (TIGS). The day was

well attended, with teams from 18

schools participating and vying for

the chance to go to the state finals

held at Knox Grammar School. Each

team was accompanied by a teacher

mentor and marking was shared

amongst visiting teachers on the

day.

The Decathlon is named in honour of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most renowned polymaths of all

time. To mirror his multifaceted talents, students were set ten challenges, testing a wide range of

skills. This year the challenges included Art & Poetry, Cartography, Creative Producers (a dramatic

task), Engineering, English, Science, Mathematics, Ideation, General Knowledge, and Code Breaking.

The standard of each task is very high and all of our students relished the challenge and the

opportunity to work on cerebral activities as part of a team. Here is an example of one of last year’s

code breaking questions. Can you crack the code and decipher the message?

The BMGS teams enjoyed great success in several of the challenges with notable results included

with the team lists below:

Year 7 (1st place Code Breaking; 2nd place General Knowledge; 3rd place Creative Producers)

Mentor: Mrs Coultas

Team: Evelyn Archer, Aimee Clifton, Vaughan Dugdale, Oliver Freeman, Max Lucas, Annabelle

Swan, Henry Weaver, Erica Zhu

Year 8 (1st place Engineering ; 3rd place Science)

Mentor: Mr Watts

Team: Cale Adamov, Gabriella Antarakis, Tom Delaney, Indigo Franklin, Nicholas Hayes, Mirah

Larkin, Chloe Neale, Sebastian Woodrow

Year 9 (1st place Code Breaking; 2nd place Cartography; 3rd place Engineering)

Mentor: Ms Haines

Team: Simon Dowd, April Foster-Powell, Sebastian Mannes, Nicholas Mayrhofer, Hayley Morgan,

Chloe Owen, Eli Stanek, Giselle Vasquez-Seers

Year 10 (2nd place General Knowledge ; 3rd place English ; 3rd place Code Breaking)

Mentor: Mr Horne and Ms Peters

Team Aiden Dugdale, Ben Filla, Alek Meade, Alexandra Michielsen, Victoria Stenner, Lasse

Sweetland, Isabella Wellstead, Tilda Wilkinson.

J. Watts

FROM THE LEARNING ENRICHMENT DEPARTMENT

This Term I am in the Library Resource Centre (LRC) after school on Tuesdays

from 3:15pm to 4:45pm. This after school assistance can also include help in

organising a study plan or just general assistance in organising your workload.

If you are interested in attending, it is a great idea to contact me on email

almichielsen@bmgs.nsw.edu.au so that I can best prepare for the time spent

together.

A. Michielsen

CAREERS NEWS

Website

Careers information for students is available on the BMGS Careers FROG Learning Management

website. This website is accessible by all students and staff in the Senior School. Here you will find

the link to the MHSCareers website, which provides an extensive careers information service.

Library Resource Centre

In the LRC there is a self-serve Careers corner for your use. Here you can find the Handbooks from

the various universities. You are welcome to take these books home! On the notice board you will

find a copy of the weekly MHSCareers newsletter.

In the Mail

This week we have information regarding activities at WSU and UTS and an acting course with early

entry offers. We also have information about courses which might help you find part time work as a

swim teacher or in the hospitality field. Of particular interest, we have three new publications well

worth a browse:

Year 10 Guide to HSC Subject Selection for 2020 University Entry

University Courses and ATARS by Subject Area 2018

Bonus Points Reference Guide for Year 12 Subjects

If you are in Year 12, please consider attending the HSC and Careers Expos running in June. We still

have some free tickets for entry (see Dr Madgwick in Humanities). It is a brilliant way to decide which

university and which course to put down on your UAC form later in the year.

Investigate the FROG Careers webpage under “Week 3 Materials” for more information on these and

other current opportunities.

Discussing your Options

Careers discussions are available in the LRC every Tuesday afternoon between 3:15pm and 4:45pm

during Term time.

J Madgwick

FROM THE FOUNDATION

Centenary Quilt

The Centenary Committee is planning a Centenary Quilt and are looking for quilters from current

parents, grandparents, students, staff and alumni. If you are interested, please email Mrs. Marlene

Plummer (Archivist) on mplummer@bmgs.nsw.edu.au

FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP

Important Notice: Changes to Uniform Shop Trading Hours 15th May to 16th June (Weeks 4 to 8,

Term 2)

Mrs. Kymberley Arrell will be covering Mrs. Carol Lowe’s position in the Junior School, full time from

15th May to 16th June, 2017, whilst Mrs. Lowe is away on Long Service Leave.

The Uniform Shop will therefore not be operating on its usual days.

Parents and students who require uniform items during this period and who know the sizes they

require, are asked to email Mrs. Arrell – uniformshop@bmgs.nsw.edu.au - who will be providing a

‘Pick and Pack’ service.

Items may be ordered via email and collected from and paid for at Coorah Reception through Mrs.

Sarah Dunstan, 4757 9000.

The ordering system currently used by parents at our Valley Heights campus will continue

unchanged.

For parents who are unsure of sizing, Mrs. Arrell will be arranging appointments, via email, for

Monday and Tuesday after school. Alternatively, Mrs. Arrell may be contacted at Junior School

Reception via 4757 9026.

The Uniform Shop will return to normal operating hours on Monday, 19th June. Please hold any

items for our Pre-loved clothing pool until Term 3.

All-Weather Jackets

The All-Weather jackets have now arrived, and can be collected from the Uniform Shop.

K. Arrell

2017 FIJI TOUR

Due to a withdrawal, a place on this tour for a girl is now available. If anyone is interested in having

their daughter join this tour, could they please contact Ms Haines at School. The total tour cost is

$2,600 – this includes airfares, land transport, accommodation, three meals/day, travel insurance,

water and laundry for the 14-day tour.

The final payment for the tour was due in April. Thank you to all those people who have made this

payment. I would ask that all others please bring their payments up to date as soon as possible. The

final payments are now due and need to be paid to confirm bookings.

REMINDER: The group would love to have a few more donations for this tour. If any families have

football boots that need a new home, could you please clean them and send them into School. Any

donations of stationery (exercise books, pencils, reams of paper) would also be appreciated.

J. Haines

MASSIVE MURRAY PADDLE

Register Now!

BMGS has led the schools’ contingent in recent years as

part of the Massive Murray Paddle, and this year we’re

going to do it again. With a fleet of double ocean kayaks

and a refurbished School trailer, BMGS is better set up

than ever for the charity event which is now in its 49th

year.

Don’t be deterred by what seems like a daunting task –

paddling 404km in five days! Remember, it’s a team

event; we’ll be paddling in relay legs, so the most paddling

you will do in a day is around 2-3 hours.

It is also a chance for parents to spend fantastic time on the river with their sons and daughters.

Safety is a priority and all gear is provided – all you need to bring is enthusiasm and a spirit of

adventure.

We had plenty of novice paddlers last year, and we all made it. We focused on students in Years 7 to

9, but registrations are open to all Senior students. Last year we had a group of Senior students who

played valuable mentor roles for the younger students.

Early Bird Registration cost is $175 per student and $335 per adult. Contact Coorah Reception

(4757 9000) for BMGS direct deposit details or to pay by Credit Card.

ACT NOW… BMGS has registered a team of 40 paddlers (20 adults, 20 students), so numbers are

limited, and there is already strong interest from last year’s paddlers.

See you on the Mighty Murray!

Gregg Borschmann (BMGS Paddlers Group)

FROM THE HEAD OF SPORT

Last week saw three sports at home and we were lucky enough to have some exceptional weather. It

was good to see a number of parents and friends attending the games to support our teams and you

can read of the successes in the individual sport reports.

Thank you to all those parents who helped out in the canteen and on the BBQ. Half hour time slots

are what we need to fill each week so if you are available could you please let your MIC know when

they contact you to fill the roster.

Congratulations

Emma Jackson (Year 12) was last week chosen in the ISA Girls’ Football team to compete at the

NSWCIS Championships. This is the 5th year that Emma has been chosen in this team.

Henry Weaver (Year 7) has been selected to swim in the CIS relay team at the NSW All Schools

Championships to be held on the 12th May at SOPAC.

We wish both Emma and Henry all the best in their respective sports.

Touch Football

ISA Touch Football trials are coming up. If you play Touch Football at a representative level outside

school could you please see me ASAP if you are interested in trialling for this team. This applies to

both boys and girls.

Senior School Athletics Carnival

The Senior School Athletics Carnival will be held on Tuesday 23rd May (from 12:15pm) and

Wednesday 24th May 2017(full day) at Pitt Park.

Information for this Carnival will be distributed over the next two weeks. It will also be available on

the School Portal and Team App.

Senior School Cross Country Carnival

The Senior School Cross Country Carnival was held on the 5th May at School. The day was a

successful one with the majority of students getting involved. It was pleasing to see all the Houses

putting extra effort into the House cheers. This year we welcomed the Junior School students to be

part of the cheers and overall the atmosphere was great.

ISA Cross Country

Those students who have qualified to compete for the School at the ISA Cross Country Carnival will

be receiving information over the next week. This year the Carnival will be held at the International

Equestrian Centre on 31st May.

Team App

The School is currently trialling an application called Team App to notify all those who

have downloaded the app of updates to sport. This is to reduce the need for constant

emails when changes are made to game times or games are cancelled. Once you have

downloaded Team App you will be able to choose the teams that you wish to receive

notifications about. For example, if your child plays in the 13 Years’ Football team you

would choose 2017 13 Boys’ Football for team specific notifications as well as Boys’ Football for sport

notifications such as Football Presentation Night information, etc.

This is a more effective way to communicate with our sporting community and we hope that this will

make life easier for everybody. If you have not already downloaded the app you are encouraged to do so.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any sporting questions.

M. Harris

Saturday Sport Fixtures 13th May, 2017 - Round 3

Boys’

Football

Team Opponent Venue Time Field Bus Times

1st XI

OXLEY

Chevalier

3:30pm

Meadow 1

1st XI, 2nd XI, 15s Blackheath: 11:00am

BMGS: 11:15am

Lawson: 11:25am

Buttenshaw Park: 11:35am

Glenbrook: 11:50am

Bus will return by 7:30pm

2nd

XI

OXLEY

Chevalier

2:30pm

Meadow 1

15s

OXLEY

Chevalier

3:30pm

Far Ave 1

13s and 14s Blackheath: 9:00am

BMGS: 9:15am

Lawson: 9:25am

Buttenshaw Park: 9:35am

Glenbrook: 9:50am

Bus will return at approx.

5:00 pm

14s

OXLEY

Chevalier

1:30pm

Meadow 1

13s

OXLEY

Chevalier

12:30pm

Meadow 1

Rugby Team Opponent Venue Time Field Bus Information

13s St Gregory's BMGS 9:00 Rugby N/A

14s St Pius X BMGS 10:00 Rugby

16s Redlands BMGS 11:00 Rugby

1st XV Redlands BMGS 12:00 Rugby

Girls’ Football Team Opponent Venue Time Field Bus Information

1st XI OAKHILL BMGS 9:00 Football

N/A Junior A ST. SPYRIDONS BMGS 10:10 Football

Junior B SACS BMGS 11:15 Football

Hockey Team Opponent Venue Time Field Bus Information

Open A

Redlands

Macquarie

University

9:15am

Macquarie

University

North 1

Open A

BMGS: 7:00am

Lawson: 7:10am

Buttenshaw Park: 7:20am

Glenbrook: 7:35am Bus will return by 12:30 pm

Open C

SACS

Moorebank

9.45am

Water based

field

Open C

BMGS: 7:00am

Lawson: 7:10am

Buttenshaw Park: 7:20am

Glenbrook: 7:35am

Bus will return by 12:30pm

Netball Team Opponent Venue Time Court Bus Information

1st VII OXLEY BMGS 9.00am 1

N/A

Open B OXLEY BMGS 9.00am 2

Inter A OXLEY BMGS 10.15am 1

Inter B CCGS BMGS 11.30am 1

Junior A OXLEY BMGS 10.15am 2

Junior B CCGS BMGS 11.30am 2

Match Reports: Saturday, 6th May, 2017

Girls’ Football

BMGS First XI were defeated by CCGS, 6-1

After two rounds, the girls are now aware it is a challenge to step up from Division 2 to Division 1 and be

competitive. Our girls are also aware that some seasons, like last year, are easy and then some seasons,

like this year, become an opportunity to evolve as a team and as individuals. Each player has an

opportunity to review the way they play and adjust their style to a team style that will be competitive in a

division such as Division 1. There is a lot less time on the ball and we now require all players on the field

to be vocal and concise in supporting their players in attack and defence. You can’t afford to turn the ball

over after only a few passes because the opposition counters so quickly and directly. This means a re-think

from both a coaching and a playing perspective. So, our team evolves, our team is competitive and our

team enjoys their time on the field. When in attack in an older age group and a better Division, you need to

find the balance between all-out attack trying to score a goal and secondly being composed and use the

time and possession to starve the opposition of the ball. We have met Chevalier and CCGS and both

teams played well against us, with CCGS starting the game hard and fast and jumping out to a 5-nil lead.

The positive was that we kept CCGS to only one goal in the second half and that is genuinely a positive

because we rallied against all odds. I was very proud of our girls on Saturday as they finished the game off

strongly and never gave up. Our girls were tired from Cross Country the day before, plus a 5:00am start

and 2-hour journey to the Central Coast for an 8.30am kick off. In addition to this, half the team have

been in Musical rehearsals all week so they were exhausted. This week is a new week and I am excited for

the girls! In general, our passing game is not too far off what we need it to be. Our reaction time putting

pressure on the opposition definitely needs to lift and this will be a key focus in Division 1. Our patience to

build our attack is also a focus for us to evolve. We need to be able to control larger parts of the game by

maintaining possession longer which will frustrate the opposition and secondly will allow us to play with

confidence throughout the season. In Division 2 it was easier to move the ball into space behind the

opposition backs and run into scoring positions, but the defenders this year are of a much higher standard

and can cut off our channel passes. I am really looking forward to our game this weekend and evolving our

understanding as a team to play in a higher intensity division. We have only had a few training sessions

due to wet weather so I am confident we will continually rise up in fitness levels and intensity to compete

week after week.

Steve Walpole, Coach

BMGS Junior A defeated Redlands, 4-0

The Junior A Girls’ Football team went up against a strong opposition at Redlands home ground in Sydney.

The girls came away with four solid goals, all well-executed finishes by Indigo Franklin - and a clean sheet

in defence - thanks to the good goalkeeping skills of Eloise Williams and enforced by a strong backline of

Ruby, Michayla, Ella-Rose and Maddie. All the girls played well, and the win will hopefully predict the

commencement of a promising season.

Patrick Trihey, Coach

BMGS Junior B were defeated by CCGS,

It was an early start for a Saturday morning drive to our Round 2 game at Central Coast Grammar School.

Having had the Wanderers' Cup on the Tuesday, the girls had got in some match play and were feeling

ready to go. They are starting to gel together as a team and improving with each game. They have a very

positive attitude and will keep on defending and attacking until the very end. Whilst having a loss, they

concentrated on the teamwork and were unfortunate with shots at goal just missing. Well done, once

again, to our goalkeepers Taylor McLeod and Neave McHugh. Also Alina Hoang, Amy Ling, Grace Dillon and

Ella McDowell performed well in their centre and forward positions with Rhianna Say doing a fantastic job

at fullback.

Catherine van Gelderen, Coach

Boys’ Football

BMGS First XI were defeated by Redlands, 8-0

The BMGS First XI came back to earth with a bump today, beaten comprehensively by a strong Redlands

team. With several senior players absent, we were forced to field a makeshift side that tried hard but

struggled from the start. 2-0 down within a couple of minutes, BMGS had no answer to the relentless

attacks and it turned into a cruel lesson in Football at this level for our youngsters. The second half was

better and we had some encouraging possession and half chances. But mostly we were camped in our

own half trying in vain to stem the onslaught. Credit to Angus Darragh and Paddy Trihey for battling hard

against the odds and to young Lucas Girardi, who showed the grit and effort that perhaps was lacking

amongst some of his peers. Lots of work to be done, boys!

BMGS 2nd XI defeated Redlands, 3-0

This was a competitive match, however, BMGS maintained possession for the majority of the game. Their

pressure in defence was exceptional, allowing the midfields and strikers to take on Redlands, scoring three

selfless goals. The boys worked together, communicated effectively and came away with a fantastic win.

Full credit to all those involved: the season is off to a promising start.

BMGS 15s were defeated by Redlands, 2-0

Although we didn’t come away with the win, the game was a significant improvement from last week. The

boys played with greater intensity and this was rewarded with some much smoother plays down the field.

Unfortunately, we conceded two unlucky goals early in the first half, however, we held out for the

remainder of the game to remain level with our opponents. In the first half the ball moved well through the

midfield and this resulted in numerous chances to score. Unfortunately, we tired in the second half and the

ball spent most of the time in Redland’s possession, however, relentless defensive pressure from Rory,

Will, Rhys, Aaron and Isaac meant that they were unable to score.

BMGS 14s were defeated by Redlands, 4-0

We played well and the match remained a score-less draw in the first half, but came down to a 4-nil deficit

in the second. We tried hard on numerous occasions to score but were unsuccessful. A lot of work needs

to be done before our next game against Oxley College.

BMGS 13s defeated Redlands, 1-0

It was a great day for Football on Saturday and the boys continued their form from the previous week

playing good football right from the start. The Redlands team was a much harder opposition to face this

week, however, the boys put them under pressure from the start and we played most of the first half in

their half. We were unlucky not to score on a few occasions but kept pushing and putting Redlands under

pressure. Late in the first half the Redlands team pressured our goal and were awarded a penalty which hit

the post. The half time score was 0-0 but our boys deserved to have a lead at this stage. The second half

went the same way, with great attacking raids and solid defence right across the field. It was a foul in the

box and an awarded penalty to BMGS that created the opportunity to break the deadlock. Archer stepped

up and converted a well-taken penalty into the bottom right corner. The boys held the game right through

to full time and never gave up chasing everything to the last whistle. Well done, boys; a well-deserved win.

P. Singh (MIC Boys’ Football)

Netball

BMGS First VII drew with Oakhill College, 21-21

More precise passes and a renewed focus on teamwork should see the girls improve in the coming weeks.

The last quarter saw the girls play with more freedom with strong showings from Sophie Barrah at Goal

Keeper, Miranda at Centre and Meg at Goal Shooter. As always, one of our Captains of Netball – and

birthday girl - Claire Bourguignon, played a controlled and intelligent game.

Viki Stanton, Coach

BMGS Open B were defeated by Oakhill College, 45-25

The girls put together some excellent plays in the first half of the game, however, fatigue set in during the

second half making it difficult to lift the energy levels mid court. Some enthusiasm for working in defence

at training is needed. We just need to take the positives from the first half and extend on them. See you all

at practice this week.

Jacqueline Haines, Coach

BMGS Intermediate B defeated SACS, 50-8

Brilliant timing, perfect passes, great arms-over defence, awesome teamwork, fabulous court sense – what

more can I say about this wonderful team. A flawless game of netball saw the girls come out comfortable

winners in a well contested game of netball. Keep up the hard training and good play.

Viki Stanton, Coach

BMGS Intermediate C defeated SACS, 36-15

This was an impressive performance by a group of girls who are growing in skill and confidence. From the

very start they played with vigour and enthusiasm, and combinations started to develop as they started to

understand how their teammates play. Passing into the circle has improved since last week, and our

reliable shooters - Abbie Clyne, Molly Gale and Grace Elder - didn’t let us down. Defenders Lily Thomas and

Tahlia Craig were amazingly effective, limiting SAC’s opportunities to score. Mid-court players Jasmine

Snow and Aisling Tufrey were constantly on the move, jumping on any loose balls. A special thanks to

Lorena, who filled in for Georgia Dillon, who was unwell.

Michelle Airth, Coach

BMGS Junior B were defeated by SACS, 36-12

Unfortunately, the girls came away with a loss. The SACS girls played a very tough and physical game,

however, our girls kept their cool the whole way through and should be proud of their efforts. Lorena Brown

did a magnificent job keeping the ball moving down the court.

Isabel Stortenbeker and Brodie Wylde, Coaches

BMGS Junior C were defeated by SACS, 28-12

The Junior Cs played a hard fought game against SACS this week. Both teams played with strength and

intensity with scores remaining very close for the first half. Unfortunately, the onset of fatigue in the second

half let the game slip away from us. Even so – the girls’ efforts were commendable and they are improving

every week.

Miranda Pecovnik, Coach

Hockey

BMGS 1st XI were defeated by Chevalier College, 5-0

The girls played another tough game on Saturday against a strong Chevalier team. Everyone was excited

for our first home game of the season. With the support of the home crowd, and much appreciated loud

sideline cheering from Laura Williamson (who is regrettably still injured), the 1sts started off strongly and

looked to be a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, Chev managed to score an impressive early goal

that would have eluded even the best of goalies. With their first goal came a confidence boost and Chev

settled into their rhythm, scoring another goal, taking the halftime score to 2-nil. After half time oranges,

the girls headed back onto the field with new found energy. Tess Bourguignon showed dogged

determination in the halves, which set us up with some strong forward plays, followed by Bronte Pickering

and her quick feet. Despite the strong forward momentum, Chev was still the better team and we were

defeated 5-nil. The girls played much better than the previous week; I have no doubt that we will only

improve as the season progresses.

Fleur Young, Captain of Hockey

Rugby

BMGS U13s were defeated by St. Augustine’s, 38-10

Despite one of the wettest pre-seasons in recent history,

the BMGS under 13s rugby team showed that they had

turned up to play against a well drilled St. Augustine’s

team. All of the boys showed determination and courage

and it was great to be able to welcome many new players

to BMGS rugby. Henry showed that his father’s pre-game

visualisation activity was well and truly worthwhile, with

Henry (pictured right, making a break) getting through the

St. Augustine’s defensive line with a strong 60 metre run

that led to the first points of the game going to the BMGS

boys. This was backed up by Russell showing his agility

and tenacity to get through to boost the score to 10-nil,

BMGS ahead. As the game progressed, St. Augustines

bounced back and made use of an extensive bench to

good effect, coming out the final victors. However, the

BMGS boys showed they were in the contest until the

end. Congratulations to all of the boys for a great start to the season.

A. Beitsch

BMGS U14s were defeated by St Augustine’s, 37-10

After a pre-season heavily interrupted by a lot of rain, the first game of the season provided a great chance

to welcome some exciting new players to the Under 14s and try some new combinations. The boys showed

that the recent time spent working on their tackling technique was worth it, with some spirited defence

able to keep a strong opposition scoreless despite St Augustine having the weight of possession. In fact,

once the BMGS boys got the ball they were able to bend the St Augustine defence and march down the

field. However, St. Augustine was able to counter this attack and highlighted some opportunities to

improve ball retention through some further work around the ruck. A special mention needs to be made of

debutantes of Ziele Oval: Jack, who looked like an old hand when he pilfered the ball from the St

Augustine’s lineout, Lincoln who is already impressing with his strong running, Oscar M, who is not afraid to

get amongst the thick of it in the ruck, Nelson who took some good options at Number 10 and Aiden, who

made some barnstorming runs and strong tackles. We welcome all of you into the 99 year old tradition of

BMGS rugby. See you at training this week.

A. Beitsch

BMGS Opens were defeated by St Stanislaus College, Bathurst, 43-17

In our first hit out for the season, the Opens were somewhat nervous going into the game. A lack of training

due to the wet weather had put a dent in our preparation for what we knew would be a physical encounter.

St Stanislaus opened up the scoring early and it took a while for the Opens to get into any form and put

into practice what we had trained. Our backline movements looked sharp but it was our defence and

commitment to the breakdown which cost us valuable procession and in turn, points. This week’s game

needs to see a sense of urgency come back into our forward pack to allow our backs to do their jobs.

T. Forsyth

BMGS U16s defeated St Stanislaus, 24-20

The team got off to a flying start from the kick off turning the St Stanislaus ball over at the breakdown then

controlling the ball through a number of phases. The ball spun wide for Rama to score, all within the first 3

mins. The first half continued with a powerful performance from the forwards who dominated the territory

with good hands, tough breakdown play and straight running. The backs also displayed safe hands and

new recruit winger, Patrick, scored his first try with his first touch of the ball. Second row forward Joel also

went over for his first try after a determined run from six metres out. The St Stanislaus’ forwards looked

like they were out of puff and disorganised but they were leaving their best for later in the game. Ben, at

flanker, went on to score a runaway try against the run of play. Being chased by three St Stanislaus

players, Ben showed good acceleration and speed to outrun all challenges and score under the posts. St

Stanislaus deserved to cross the line and got over before half time with the score at 24–5. The second

half saw St Stanislaus step up and dominate territory. Their forwards straightened up and the passing in

the backs improved over their first half efforts. St Stanislaus came back with two tries scored out wide.

Poor positional play out wide allowed St Stanislaus to create overlaps. Rama created a solo effort and

scored his second. St Stanislaus came back on full time with another good try out wide. There were a

number of lessons to be learned from this game. The first half reinforced just how disciplined we can be.

Getting distracted by the ‘niggle’ weakens our defences. The backs have to ensure they slide and position

themselves to create a wide barrier. The final score was set at 24-20 after one of our tries was scored with

16 players on the field. Thanks to the strong showing from the team. The first half was a good start to the

season.

A. Foot

FROM THE HEAD OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Last Friday was a very special day in Junior School. Whilst our Years 3 to 6 children were competing

in the annual Cross Country Carnival, our Early Learning classes enjoyed hosting a visit from their

fellow classes from the Preparatory School. It was a great day for all concerned. The effort given by

all our runners, regardless of where they finished in the field, was great to see and all enjoyed

raucous support from their fellow House members. Thanks to the many Senior School SRC members

who helped officiate at the carnival and a special thank you to Mrs Harris for convening such a

successful event. Look out for a full report on the Carnival in an upcoming newsletter.

This week the boys and girls in Years 3 and 5 have been very studious and committed as they

worked through the annual NAPLAN assessments. Thank you to families for ensuring that the

children were well rested and prompt to School in the morning.

Recently you will have received some communication regarding After School Care. Please ensure

that if you utilise the After School Care service at all that you fill out an ‘Authorisation for Collection of

Child from After School Care’ form and return to the After School Care staff. These can be found on

the portal or collected from the Office or After School Care.

A reminder that tickets have now gone on sale for ‘The Lion King, Jr’. Visit

http://www.trybooking.com/270631 to secure your tickets to one of four performances coming up

later this term.

N. Cockington

Student Awards

Presented at Assembly this week were the following awards:

Bronze – Amelie Emerson (2K)

Silver – Luke Westwood (2K)

Citizens of the Week – James Rickard (6G) for always giving his best and Izabella Craig (6G) for being

a supportive friend during the Cross Country race

SPORTS NEWS

Junior Football

U12s defeated St Marys FC, 1-6

U11s defeated Penrith RSL FC, 3-0

U9s - An exciting match played against an evenly-matched Springwood team, brought our first goals

of the season. A great team effort!

S. Bell

FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP

Important Notice: Changes to Uniform Shop Trading Hours 15th May to 16th June (Weeks 4 to 8,

Term 2)

Mrs. Kymberley Arrell will be covering Mrs. Carol Lowe’s position in the Junior School, full time from

15th May to 16th June, 2017, whilst Mrs. Lowe is away on Long Service Leave.

The Uniform Shop will therefore not be operating on its usual days.

Parents and students who require uniform items during this period and who know the sizes they

require, are asked to email Mrs. Arrell – uniformshop@bmgs.nsw.edu.au - who will be providing a

‘Pick and Pack’ service.

Items may be ordered via email and collected from and paid for at Coorah Reception through Mrs.

Sarah Dunstan, 4757 9000.

The ordering system currently used by parents at our Valley Heights campus will continue

unchanged.

For parents who are unsure of sizing, Mrs. Arrell will be arranging appointments, via email, for

Monday and Tuesday after school. Alternatively, Mrs. Arrell may be contacted at Junior School

Reception via 4757 9026.

The Uniform Shop will return to normal operating hours on Monday, 19th June. Please hold any

items for our Pre-loved clothing pool until Term 3.

All-Weather Jackets

The All-Weather jackets have now arrived, and can be collected from the Uniform Shop.

K. Arrell

FROM THE PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION

Annual Trivia Night

The Parents’ and Friends’ Annual Trivia Night will be

held on Saturday, 20th May.

With a nod to BMGS’ 99th Year, the ‘theme’ of the

evening will be Espionage/Spies (“Good Thinking, 99!”)

– so dig out your trench coats and shoe phones and

join us under the Cone of Silence as we ask our Agents

86 questions... Keep your table’s particular theme on

the ‘QT’, as there will be great prizes for Best Dressed

Table/Adult/Student… and these are in addition to the

prizes for First Place and Runners’ Up (both Adult and

Student categories).

Payments may also be made via Senior Reception or

contacting Mrs. Sarah Dunstan (4757 9000). Tickets

are $30 for adults and $15 for students/Conc.

Put together a table of 8 players, or we can place small

groups together on tables.

Bookings can be made online via Try Booking:

https://www.trybooking.com/275836

We look forward to your company, for what promises to be a fun social night for the School

community.

With the Trivia Night in mind, we are seeking donations of raffle items or prizes to support the event.

If you have any items that you would like to donate, or you would be willing to approach a local

business, café, restaurant, tourist destination, etc for vouchers, please email Ms Carole Young on

cyecosteps@gmail.com.

Term 2 General Meeting

The next General Meeting of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association will be held next Tuesday, 16th

May, in the Junior School. All are welcome.

Mr. Duncan Barrell Chair, BMGS Parents’ and Friends’ Association

dba23266@bigpond.net.au

FROM THE FOUNDATION

Centenary Quilt

The Centenary Committee is planning a Centenary Quilt and are looking for quilters from current

parents, grandparents, students, staff and alumni. If you are interested, please email Mrs. Marlene

Plummer (Archivist) on mplummer@bmgs.nsw.edu.au

FROM THE HEAD OF THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Thank you to the Preparatory Parents’ and Friends’ Association for all their efforts in organising the

Mothers’ Day Breakfast Barbecue and Craft Stall. Jo, Jacqui, Neil, Matt, Kate, Mick and Kerin

generously gave their time to this event. There was a lovely community atmosphere sharing

breakfast together and the children got to take home a delightful handcrafted gift for mum.

Congratulations to Monty Darwin, Neil Geikie, Luke Johnson-

Leibbrand, Flynn Nicholls and Chiara Reeves on their selection

to the WAS and HICES Regional Cross Country Carnivals. These

students have the opportunity to represent Blue Mountains

Grammar School alongside their Junior School peers.

E. Flett

The Preparatory School will support Walk Safely to School Day

by running two walking groups on Friday, 19th May. Simply leave

your child with BMGPS Staff stationed at the bus stop at the

corner of Greens Parade and Russell Avenue, Valley Heights, OR

Springwood Town Square between 7:50am and 8:00am, and

continue your journey.

You are welcome to park your car and walk with us. Pre-Kindergarten students would need to be

accompanied by a parent.

Please note we will leave promptly at 8:00am. We will not be walking to school in the event of rain

and will post accordingly on our ‘What’s On’ page.

Preparatory Staff

Student Awards:

No Awards due to Cross Country and Early Years Buddy Day

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – MAY 2017

Friday, 12th May – Year 11 Drama Excursion, Flannofest, Q Theatre, Penrith

Friday, 12th May – WAS Cross Country Carnival

Friday 12th May – Year 10 Wilderness Education Prac

Saturday, 13th May – Junior School Open Morning

Monday, 15th May – Preparatory School Book-a-Tour Day

Tuesday, 16th May – HSC Shakespeare Symposium, The Tempest, Seymour Centre, Sydney

Tuesday, 16th May – Parents’ and Friends’ Association Term 2 General Meeting

Tuesday, 16th May to Thursday, 18th May – Year 10 Examinations

Thursday, 18th May – Junior School Book-a-Tour Day

Thursday, 18th May – Big Science Competition, Year 10

Friday, 19th May – Year 10 All Academic Services Testing

Friday, 19th May – Futsal Gala Day, Years 7 and 8, Katoomba Aquatic Centre

Friday, 19th May – Preparatory School Walk Safely to School excursion