Blue Mountains Grammar School Newsletter

Vol 13, 17th May, 2019

FROM THE HEADMASTER Leaders Should Lead This week I again sat down with a delegation of passionate young people who advocated for the School to do more to reduce our carbon footprint and generally be environmentally friendly. It is moments such as these that motivate me at the deepest possible level, because these young people, and others in different fields of endeavour, will be changing the world long after I have retired. Through them, my desire to make the world a better place can live on, but only if we equip them now with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to meet the challenges of the future. This group of Year 7, 8, and 10 students have now formed the nucleus of a Sustainability Committee that will soon be embraced by a new model of student leadership being rolled out. The Committee will be populated by students from every cohort and led by a Sustainability Captain. They will brainstorm solutions, make recommendations to staff, and work alongside staff to bring about lasting change to the School’s practices and the behaviour of students. Real leadership in an area that matters and about which they truly care; that is authentic education! The Sustainability Captain will stand alongside current leadership portfolios such as Performing Arts Captain, Debating Captain, House Captains, Netball Captain, and the newly created Community Engagement Captain. There will be other new portfolios added to this suite as well, ensuring that students operate not only in areas of their own interest and passion, but in areas that reflect the values of the School community. This is a model of leadership that has always inspired me and I can’t wait to see capable and passionate Grammar students from every cohort embracing the opportunities this model provides. Mr. Ian Maynard Headmaster

FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BMGS BOARD The Board at BMGS is ably supported in its work by four Committees. We currently have some vacancies arising on two of these committees and are seeking expressions of interest from people who would be interested in serving the School in this way. The Committees for which we are seeking expressions of interest are the Finance Committee and the Foundation Committee. If you are interested in learning more about what is involved in being on these Committees, please contact me. Please put your name and telephone number into an envelope with Board Chair - Committees on the outside, and return to Coorah Reception (Senior School) for my collection. I will then ring to arrange a time to meet with you so we can discuss participation in more detail. Mrs. Christine Olliffe Board Chair

FROM THE CHAPLAIN The Face of God “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God… We love because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19 (NIV) I must confess, I might be the only person to have never previously seen Les Misérables (Les Mis) in theatre or on screen. This made the past week’s stunning performances by our BMGS students and staff members all the more thrilling to watch. From the outstanding acting and vocal performances to the brilliant sets, lighting, choreography, costumes, and music, it stands out as one of the greatest school musicals I’ve ever seen. Everyone involved showed a passionate commitment to excellence doing justice to Victor Hugo’s powerful tale of redemption. The universal themes of love, forgiveness, redemption, and transformation (even transfiguration as some characters become more Christ-like), really shone through, as our students demonstrated a visceral and spiritual connection to the emotively powerful story, ultimately making it their own. Congratulations to all involved; what an accomplishment! It is no wonder that the musical adaptation of Les Mis has maintained its popularity across the world musical stage for decades, as Hugo tells a tale that cuts straight to the heart of what it means to be a human challenged by suffering and changed by grace. From the musical a stand out line for me was, “To love another person is to see the face of God.” Love is shown throughout Les Mis in many ways, yet all of them reflect a love that is much greater than themselves. The above Bible verse from 1 John 4:19 speaks to the idea that we only know how to love because God loved us first. In Les Mis, the first transformational act of love comes from a benevolent Bishop who gives the central character, Jean Valjean, a second chance at life despite his selfish act. The Bishop shows God’s grace though a profound gesture towards Valjean that gets him off the hook from the law and gives him the chance to start a new life. This act reflects God’s willingness to work with and through all people no matter what their situation may be. The story highlights the Gospel message that God’s love cannot be earned by our own good deeds but by His grace alone. On the other hand, the actions of Inspector Javert show that striving for salvation through works alone will only lead to disappointment, to say the least.

An article by Hannah Goodwyn (CBN) about Les Misérables sums up this theme rather nicely:

“With the Bishop being the one who reaches out to Valjean, thereby saving him for God’s work, the story shows the life-changing impact grace can have when extended to another. In some ways, Les Misérables encourages people of faith to hold fast to the faith while extending the love and mercy of Christ to all they meet. The Christian Church ought to be the refuge and rescue all of society can lean on, and that’s something author Victor Hugo wanted the Church at the time to understand.”

(Goodwyn, http://www1.cbn.com/movies/les-miserables-and-the-gospel-story). While watching the musical last weekend I couldn’t help but think that this isn’t just a nice story written only for a time before our own; this message is as powerful today as it was when Hugo wrote it in the 1860s. Hugo himself said about his work, “so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless.” It is a personally challenging story to all who come across it – the challenge is for all of us to strive to be living examples of Christ. Every person who attempts to love as Jesus loves us will help tilt the world away from tyranny and towards the light of God. Valjean is not content to just sit back comfortably after grace has been extended to him, rather he passes God’s grace on to others that he meets as the story progresses. In Les Misérables, the numerous examples of transformative grace through faith are timely reminders of what is needed today. I pray that our BMGS community can be a reflection of the face of God through our love and inclusion of others. Hugo was writing for the ages and all ages when he reminded us that the need for Christ-like love, grace, and forgiveness will always be of the highest importance. Mr. Luke Webb

FROM THE PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION Term 2 General Meeting The next General Meeting of the Parents’ & Friends’ Association will be hosted by the Junior School, next Tuesday, 21st May, in the Junior School Library, at 7:30pm. If you have an item you would like to add to the agenda, please email yolandespeter@gmail.com. Please note that you will be asked to speak on the Agenda item you have raised. Other Dates for your Diary: Term 3 General Meeting – Tuesday, 20th August, hosted by the Preparatory School Annual Trivia Night – Saturday, 24th August, TW Cuff Hall Term 4 General Meeting – Tuesday, 19th November, in Coorah Mr. Michael Magill Chair, BMGS Parents’ and Friends’ Association

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Published Writers at the Preparatory School Write4fun.net is an Australian company originally formed with the goal of enhancing the writing abilities of high school and primary school students throughout Australia and New Zealand. The organisation runs numerous short story and poetry competitions for school aged students and then creates published works using the best entries they receive.

We are very excited to announce that this year two Year 4 students from the Preparatory School, Ariel Reeves and Declan Thomas, entered the competition. Both these students have been invited to have the short stories they submitted published in the soon to be produced book ‘Just Keep Writing’.

The winners of the overall short story and poetry competition have not yet been decided and we can’t wait to see just how far Ariel and Declan can go. For now though, the Preparatory School congratulates them both on receiving an invitation to have their work in a professional publication.

Mother’s Day Stall and Breakfast Last week we had a very successful Mother’s Day stall and breakfast at the Preparatory School. The students certainly enjoyed the opportunity to come along to the stall to ‘go shopping’ and choose the gift or gifts that they thought their mums or grandmothers would like best.

It was even more delightful to hear the reasons for their selections. We seem to have a large group of mums at the Preparatory School who needed the note pad and pen because they are forgetful…

We hope that you all enjoyed your special day and the gift chosen for you. Thank you also to the Preparatory School Parents’ & Friends’ Association for their organisation and running of the BBQ and Mother’s Day breakfast.

Thank you also to the Dads who came along and cooked the BBQ, helped with serving or mastered the coffee machine. We greatly appreciate your contribution and willingness to give of your time and come along to help out.

Reminders Morning Tea Munch commences Monday, 20th May Pre K Eye Screening – Tuesday, 21st May Book-a-Tour Morning – Wednesday, 22nd May

Preparatory School Awards Stage 1 – Lucille Coombes, Thomas Hyslop, Lucas Rutherford Stage 2 – Elise Lowe, Angus Magill Miss Alicia Brace

JUNIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL NAPLAN Assessments were certainly in the news this week. In opting for the pencil and paper options, our students did not suffer the sort of online challenges faced by unfortunate students in other schools. It was good to see the children serious about but not stressed by their NAPLAN experience and the teachers and I appreciated the well-rested and prompt attendance by the full cohort each morning. Though only a snapshot of a child’s school performance, and in a format that suits some but not others’ learning styles, NAPLAN nevertheless gives us as a school, and you as parents, some informative data regarding the children’s level of mastery on the day in certain areas of schooling. This data can be helpful in planning for individual and whole school learning approaches for future years. We can expect the results sometime in September. Many of you will be familiar with the fact that Mr Dormer, our former Learning Support teacher, retired at the end of last term after almost twelve years of service to the learning of the children at our School. I am pleased to inform the community that Mrs Danielle Roberson has been appointed as his replacement. Mrs Roberson has been working in Learning Support over the past six years supporting Mr Dormer in his role, as well as having her role in the Library. Mrs Roberson continues her role in the Library, and now takes charge of Learning Support in the Junior School, assisted by two recently appointed educators who we welcome to our school this week: Ms Kristin Alexander and Mrs Joanna Neale. I know you will join me in commending Mrs Roberson on her appointment to this vital role in supporting the students in their learning, and in welcoming our two new educators to our community. Last week was a busy one for only the second week of term. A number of classes held excursions, which you can read about further on, and we also celebrated the achievements of our Basketball teams over the summer season with a well-attended Basketball Presentations afternoon on Monday. We had a welcome visit from Opera Australia for all classes who enjoyed the performance of ‘By the Light of the Moon’, but unfortunately our Cross Country team were disappointed to have their WAS Carnival cancelled on Friday. We are, however, looking forward to competing in the HICES Carnival next Thursday. Congratulations to Flynn Nicholls and James Reynolds (Y6) who have gained selection in the CIS Hockey team after trialling earlier this week. The boys are looking forward to a week of highly competitive hockey when they compete in the NSWPSSA Championships later this term. Screentime for children is a topic of much conversation these days and we have been approached as a school to take part in some research on the topic. There is the opportunity for parents of children in our Early Learning years to take part in two online surveys investigating the topic. If you are interested, please take note of the flyer following with further information. Mr. Nigel Cockington No Student Awards were presented this week

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Selection Trials - 2019 NSWPSSA Athletics Representative Team Date: Thursday, 8th August Venue: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, Homebush Applications close: 5:00pm – Wednesday, 26th June, 2019 Age Eligibility: Participants must be in at least their tenth year (turning ten during the year of

competition) in order to compete at a School Sport Australia Championship as per School Sport Australia policy.

There are no events at the SSA 12 Years and under Championships for competitors under ten years or turning thirteen years. Applications for Invitation to the NSW PSSA Selection Trials for the 2019 School Sport Australia Track & Field Championships. This trial is not for participation at the NSWPSSA State Athletics Championships held on 6th and 7th November, 2019. Students will need to qualify for these championships through the School and association representative pathway.

FROM THE JUNIOR PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION Last Thursday we held our annual Mothers’ Day Stall, and we raised $511.80. The children were very excited to choose something special for Mums and their Grandmothers. Thank you very much to Mrs. Louise Westwood, Mrs. Jodie Mackie, Mrs. Lauren Griffin, Mrs. Raelene Lord, Mrs. Justine Hampartzoumian, Ms Barbara Catchpoole and Ms Suzanne Janine for all of your help with the stall. Mrs. Bonnie Mamo

THE WAY IT WAS Stage 2 visited stepped back in time to learn about the history of our School. We were shown around by Mrs. Marlene Plummer, the School’s Archivist, who shared many interesting facts about our School. The children also enjoyed a ‘traditional’ handwriting lesson using ink and calligraphy pens. This was a little messy but a lot of fun. Mrs. Lori Gerrard

JUNIOR SCHOOL

YEAR 5 VISIT TO THE BATHURST GOLDFIELDS Last Week, Year 5B spent a fabulous (if slightly wind-blown) day exploring the recreation of life on the NSW Goldfields in the 1850s at the Bathurst Goldfields education precinct.

This links with our HSIE studies of local Australian history, the discovery of gold in NSW and the effect it had on local Aboriginal people. The students were engaged throughout the day with a multitude of tasks including baking damper, building tents, forging steel, visiting a mine shaft and of course, gold panning.

We saw what schooling was like all those years ago and the students played games that their Great Great Great Grandparents possibly played – tug-o-war, cannon ball bowls and horse shoe throw. Our thanks to Miss Christine and Mr Gary for a fantastic time. Mr. Scott Bell

POWERHOUSE MUSEUM - STAR WARS EXCURSION On 7th May, 5/6F went on an excursion to see the Star Wars Identities exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. The students have been studying James Campbell’s Heroes Journey with reference to Star Wars and Deltora Quest. Through the exhibit students not only encountered the heroes of Star Wars that they have been studying, but also created new heroes through an interactive experience offered by the exhibit. We have now used these new characters in narratives and drama play building. All the students agreed it was a fantastic excursion, with many new Star Wars fans born as a result. Mr. John Forbes

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL 2019-20 Leadership Opportunities Next week our Year 11 students will be attending the Senior Retreat. This is an important time for Year 11 students to consider how they can step up in all they do. To step up and take responsibility. To step up in learning. To step up and lead and to step up and live. While this is a particularly timely conversation for our Year 11 students, these principles are equally important for all of our students in the Senior School. In the Senior School we offer an inclusive approach to leadership. All students are encouraged to develop their own voice on matters they are passionate about. More than this, all of our students are encouraged to take action to respond to challenges and opportunities. This begins in Year 7, with the Student Representative Council, where one representative from each tutor group will be appointed to work with a team of student leaders. The voice of the SRC and their activism has and continues to be an important mechanism for positive change. However, we want to broaden the offering for all students with the intention of aligning like-minded students to work together, with more information to be provided to the school community shortly. There has been much ink spilt on the topic of leadership, and rightly so - effective leadership is vitally important for flourishing communities. But leadership is learnt through the opportunity to experiment. Leadership is a verb, not a noun. It is taking action. Bubblers I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our student leaders from 2017-18 for leading a contribution toward new school bubblers and water bottle refilling stations. Thank you for making this happen. Mobile Phones Thank you to the extremely strong engagement with a parent survey about mobile phones. At the time of writing, 149 parents have completed this survey. We will continue to gather information from students, parents and teachers to inform our future directions. If you have not yet completed the survey please use the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bmgs_parent_phone The survey will remain open until 3:00pm next Friday, 24th May. Mr. Andrew Beitsch

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves The Stage Band will be performing at Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves this Sunday, between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. This event is organised by Lower Blue Mountains Rotary and is held at ‘The Old Farm’, Purvines Road, Yellow Rock. Entry is via a $5 donation and all proceeds are divided between the various performing schools. It would be wonderful to have some BMGS audience members to support us on Sunday. Bring a blanket/folding chairs and a picnic and enjoy the wonderful musical offerings of our students in the beautiful gardens. Young Mannheim Symphonists Congratulations to Miriam Cooney (Year 12) and Sel Hardaker (Year 11) who have been accepted for the Young Mannheim Symphonists program, in the July School holidays. The Young Mannheim Symphonists program is designed to give school students and emerging musicians the opportunity to discover for themselves the magic of approaching music with appropriate performance style. Assembly Thank you to Alek Meade (Year 12, Music Captain) for his PowerPoint presentation on our very successful Music Camp held at Stanwell Tops at the start of the April School Holidays. The wonderful Music performed by the Chamber Ensemble during Assembly last week was some of the repertoire learnt during camp. Soiree #2 Students who are interested in performing at the upcoming Soiree are encouraged to place their name on the sign-up sheet outside the Music Office, before 27th May. Band Rehearsals A reminder that during Term 2 Concert Band rehearsals are every Tuesday, at lunchtime, in the Recital Room. Our Stage Band rehearses each Friday, after School, in the Recital Room. Diary Dates Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves Sunday, 19th May, Stage Band, Purvines Rd, Yellow Rock B.Mus at UWS, Information Session Friday, 24th May during Tutor time in the Recital Room

(Year 11 and 12 students) Soiree #2 Thursday, 30th May, Recital Room Debutante Ball Saturday, 8th June, Fairmont, Chamber and Stage Band JMC Workshop Thursday, 4th or 11th July, Harris St, Ultimo

Mrs. Debbie Smith

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT

Every year a dedicated team of teachers, former students and parents come together to give our Year 10 -12 co-curricular Drama students the opportunity to participate in something special. This year we presented the musical Les Misérables. It was a hugely ambitious undertaking made possible by over 80 people coming together with a shared vision, incredible work ethic and a passion to put on a professional show. The show goes to the heart of what it means to be a part of the BMGS family, forging strong ties by working towards a common goal.

Thank you to the production team who each brought their own considerable talents to support our students: Mrs Annette Charter, Mrs Cindy Pecovnik, Ms Danie Evans, Miss Anne Cranna, Mrs Julie Cooney, Mr John Forbes, Mr Col Burke, Mrs Kerrie Jackson, Mrs Elizabeth Harding, Mrs Neige Manwaring, Mr Dylan Logue, Mr Shaun Davies, Mr Kent Learned, Mr Matthew McKinnon, Miss Emily Goodlet, Mr Sam Wilson, Mr Bob Charter, Mr Robert Pecovnik. Thank you also to Mr Stuart Collins and Mrs Alison Collins.

A big thank you to our stage crew, led so well by Ping Williams (Stage Manager), Eli Stanek, Matthew Clyne, Kane Molla, Susan O’Hara and Molly Lewis. A special thank you to William Hedges who operated the spotlight for each show. It was a very physically demanding task and he did an outstanding job.

Something magical happened in the theatre for the performers, crew, production team and our audiences. Coming together in the theatre we were all connected to each other and our hearts.

We would like to make special mention of our Year 12 students; Annika, Brodie, Bella, Ailsa, Aisling, Miriam, Ashley, Michael, Annabelle, Leila, William, Jackson, Joshua, Elliot, Lucas, Ethan, James, Tilda, Nimmo, Dillon, Alex and Georgia. They led by example and their hard work and dedication set the tone for the entire show.

I would like to acknowledge the incredible workload of our two leads, Hayden Donnelly and Lloyd Goodlet. They performed all six shows and until the final moment were striving to find ways to improve.

Thank you also to our 2019 Drama Captains Maia Deluca and Lloyd Goodlet for all your help behind the scenes.

The individual performances were outstanding and the entire cast should be proud of what they achieved. They have all proven that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Mrs. Cindy Pecovnik, Mrs. Annette Charter, Ms Danie Evans

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Year 10 Wilderness Education Wild Dogs Expedition On Sunday, Year 10 Wilderness Education students headed off on a three day hike in the Wild Dog Mountains. The area is characterised by steep terrain, beautiful waterways and exceptional views. Each group experienced slightly different routes, but all needed to harness their inner strength and determination as they climbed and descended hills of over 600m at a time, sometimes taking more than two hours. All students demonstrated perseverance as they continued walking, even when the going got tough. They also showed personal growth as they prepared their meals, monitored their thermoregulation and comfort and developed their leadership skills when responsible for leading their group for extended periods of time. This walk is designed to prepare the students for their next expedition, which is a four day snowshoe walk in August.

This trip helps students test their equipment as the weather turns colder, as well as practise navigating and challenging themselves in more difficult environments. It was very pleasing to see the students step up to their challenges and enjoy time together in a beautiful place. Mrs. Adele Stubenrauch

SENIOR SCHOOL

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

FROM THE CAREERS ADVISER

Careers Corner Congratulations to Mirah Larkin (Year 10) who has been selected to take part in the Health Inspirations Program run by Nepean Hospital. The selection process was very competitive with only 28 students chosen from over 300 applicants.

What is Health Inspirations? Nepean Hospital hosts a five day work experience program for high school students from local government areas in the Local Health Districts.

The purpose is to engage students in meaningful ways, provide them with a clearer picture of the world of work and to help them make decisions about their career paths. Students have the opportunity to:

Visit over 30 wards and departments in the hospital Speak with over 25 Healthcare professionals Participate in ward/unit activities in a hospital setting Observe a typical work day in a health service and ask questions about what skills are

required and what sort of careers are available.

Congratulations also to Maia Deluca and Molly Lewis who have been successful in receiving scholarships to ‘A Day in the Life of a Medical Student’ at Notre Dame University.

The program is aimed at inspiring rural students towards a career in medicine. The Scholarship will provide them with the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a medical student.

Notre Dame’s School of Medicine, Sydney is a young, vibrant school underpinned by a mission to train excellent, ethical and caring doctors. The School is already gaining a reputation for its innovative and distinct medical education program. About one in four of their students have a rural background, and they aim to attain a student profile that reflects the diversity of the Australian population. They have clinical schools in regional areas including Lithgow, Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.

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

SENIOR SCHOOL

RED SHIELD APPEAL

Blue Mountains Grammar School has a fine and long standing tradition of collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. Last year 168 students participated and collected $6,000. This year the Red Shield Appeal will be jointly run by MacLaurin House and Pitt House. Year 11 Pitt and Year 12 MacLaurin students will spearhead the organisation led by Ms Tanner, Head of MacLaurin House, and Mrs Coultas, Head of Mathematics. Participation is open to all students from Years 7 to 12 and is a ‘fun’ way to help our community. We are hoping to continue the tradition of supporting this worthy charity.

This year the Red Shield Appeal is on the weekend of 25th and 26th of May. BMGS is collecting in the Wentworth Falls area on Sunday, 26th May, between 8:30am and 12:30pm.

Students who would like to participate need to register through the Trybooking website. An email with a link to Trybooking has been sent to all parents, who need to complete the booking form. This will then act as a permission note for the students. On the Trybooking website, there is a link to the registration with the Salvation Army. This also needs to be completed for students to be able to volunteer on the day.

We are also looking for parents who would be able to drive their own child and a small group of their friends to their collection point on the day and back to school when they are finished. If you would be happy to do this please register yourself as an Adult Driver on Trybooking.

For more information about the great work the Salvos do thanks to the Red Shield Appeal, please go to https://salvos.org.au/get-involved/red-shield-appeal/

Ms Jacqueline Tanner, Head of MacLaurin House, and Mrs Samantha Coultas, Head of Mathematics

FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP From Monday 20th May through to Friday 21st June, I will be full time relief for Mrs Lowe in the Junior School Office, whilst she attends her son’s wedding in the U.S. Whilst I will maintain oversight of the Uniform Shop operations my daughter, Ms Erin Clare, will be managing the day-to-day sales. All procedures such as telephone ordering and payments, and Valley Heights orders and deliveries remain unchanged. I would ask that all Pre-loved items be held over until Term 3. I can still be reached via email at: uniformshop@bmgs.nsw.edu.au, and the Shop’s direct line is 4757 9004. I hope you will extend a warm welcome to Erin during the next five weeks. A reminder that All-Weather Jackets ordered in Term 1, are now available for collection from the Uniform Shop. Mrs. Kymberley Arrell

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE SENIOR SCHOOL CANTEEN We have now started an in-house barista training course in the canteen for students who are interested in the art of coffee making. The course is self-paced that can be undertaken during school hours. The flexible nature of the course enables students to tailor their learning of espresso skills around other school commitments. It is expected that the total time it would take to complete the course is around 40 hours and maximum duration to complete course is two terms. The total cost of the course is $50 which is paid directly to the canteen. This includes a bound learning workbook, all coffee making equipment and materials, personalised training tips and techniques, as well as the presentation of a BMGS espresso coffee making certificate at the end. This course is a fantastic way of learning espresso coffee making, and is designed to provide skills to students that are industry standard. Students undertake practice sessions on any day of the week that suits their availability. The suggested times for training are at either recess, lunch, or between 8:00am and 8:25am in the morning. During these times you can also practice producing different coffees in a real service environment. Any student can start the course at any time they choose, as long as they have enough time to complete. Please ask at the Canteen if you are interested and we can sign you up and get you started. Mr. Greg Broome

FROM THE HEAD OF SPORT Congratulations Henry Weaver, Year 9 This week, Henry competed at the NSW All Schools Swimming Carnival at SOPAC. Henry had a successful day coming home with a Bronze medal for the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay. It has been an outstanding swimming season for Henry and we congratulate him on his great results. ISA Cross Country Carnival The ISA Cross Country Carnival will be held at the Sydney Equestrian Centre on Wednesday, 29th May. All students have been notified via email of their selection in the team. Included in that email was the permission slip. A number of students have not as yet returned their permission slips. Please do so by Monday, 20th May. It is expected that all students who have qualified to compete in this event will be available. As host School of the 2019 ISA Cross Country Carnival, it would be great to see BMGS enter a full team for this event. It would also be terrific to take a full team of runners to the Carnival for the overall success of the BMGS team.

SENIOR SCHOOL

Volunteers As host of the ISA Cross Country Carnival we are required to take a team of students as volunteers to help with the running of the Carnival. These students need to be in Year 10. If you are a Year 10 student and are not competing at the Carnival please come and see me to add your name to the volunteer list. All volunteers will be required to wear full School uniform on the day. Cross Country Uniforms Students are required to hire or purchase an Athletics singlet from the Uniform shop. A reminder that this is only possible on a Monday or a Tuesday. Any students who have a gold Basketball singlet are permitted to wear this. Canteen After a very busy day last Saturday for our Home Day, I would like to send out a thank you to all those who assisted on both the BBQ and in the canteen. Your assistance is invaluable.

Mrs. Megan Harris

Saturday Sports Fixtures - 18th May, 2019 - Round 3 Team Opponent Venue Time Court/

Field Bus INFO

Netball First VII Oxley Oxley 12:45pm 1 All Netball Teams BMGS 7:15am Lawson 7:30am Springwood Stn 7:45am Glenbrook 8:00am Bus return approx. 4:30pm

Second VII Oxley Oxley 11:30am 2

Intermediate A Oxley Oxley 11:30am 1

Intermediate B Chevalier Chevalier 10:15am MPH

Junior A Oxley Oxley 10:15am 1

Junior B Oxley Oxley 10:15am 2

Hockey First XI SACS HOME 9.40am HOCKEY N/A

Second XI Barker HOME 8:30am HOCKEY

Juniors SACS HOME 11:00am HOCKEY

Girls’ First XI A Redlands HOME 9:00am Football N/A

Football Intermediate Redlands HOME 10:15am Football

Junior A SACS SACS 10:00am The Domain BMGS 7:30am Lawson 7:45am Springwood Stn 8:00am Glenbrook 8:15am Bus return approx. 1:00pm

Boys’ First XI Oxley Oxley 3:00pm Governors 2 1st

XI, 2nd

XI, 15s and 14s Blackheath 8:30am BMGS 8:45am Lawson 9:00am Springwood Stn 9:15am Glenbrook 9:30am Bus return approx. 7:00pm

Football Second XI Oxley Oxley 1:45pm Governors 2

U15s Oxley Oxley 12:45pm Governors 2

U14s Oxley Oxley 11:45am Governors 2

U13s Oxley Oxley 10:45am Governors 2 SEE RUGBY BUS TIMES

Boys’ Opens Oxley Oxley 1:00pm Governors 1 All Rugby and 13s Football Blackheath 7:00am BMGS 7:15am Lawson 7:30am Springwood Stn 7:45am Glenbrook 8:00am Bus return approx. 4:30pm

Rugby U16s Oxley Oxley 12:00pm Governors 1

U15s Oxley Oxley 11:00am Governors 1

U13s Oxley Oxley 10:00am Governors 1

SENIOR SCHOOL

Match Results: Saturday, 11th May Hockey

BMGS Junior XI were defeated by Barker College, 6-0 This week in Round 2 we played against Barker College on our home ground. It was a friendly game against a Barker team from the Division above us. Their opposition was both older and more skilful. We unfortunately lost 6-0, but all the girls had a great game. Although a loss, our team showed good improvement from last week, in terms of both understanding our positions in the game and skill development. Our goalie, Gracie Saunders, had her first game in goals and had a crack at defending our total. She let in a few but she kept out more. Maeve Magner also showed good speed up the field in offence, creating many opportunities for the team. Well done to the Junior girls, in what was a very tough game. Kaitlyn Shaw, Captain BMGS 2nd XI drew with Chevalier College, 0-0 Our second Hockey game for the season saw our 2nd XI team come out fighting, with the majority of the game being played in the attacking half. The score, nil all, did not reflect the offensive players’ dominance over the opposing side, and it was a close match, with a near goal in both the first and second half. Meaghan Docherty had an outstanding game, as did Laura Tinsey, whose hits were consistently amazing. Eve Thomas did an excellent job as goalie, blocking multiple goals. All around, our second game saw confidence growing amongst players as they grew more familiar with the play and the team worked cohesively together. Aine Bailey

Rugby BMGS U13 were defeated by Chevalier Round 2 of the 2019 season was a hard game with a disappointing outcome, considering we had home ground advantage. Chevalier proved to be too tough on the day with a well-drilled forward pack and an organized backline. Overall, the BMGS team played well, but not to their potential. It wasn’t all bad, however, with standout performances from Jayden Gibson who made some excellent line breaks, Fred Horwood with his outstanding cover defence, and determination from Jasper Frosh in the breakdown. Jasper scored a well-deserved try for his efforts. Another positive was the good performances from the boys who have played minimal rugby. It’s only early on in the season and the U13s are determined to bounce back from this loss. Oscar Costigan, Captain BMGS U15 were defeated by Chevalier College, 41-7 Outside observers of the after-match huddle would have been forgiven for thinking that BMGS had defeated Chevalier. There was an excitement about the team’s performance for large passages of the second half, as well as for many individual moments of excellence. Jarrod commented that it was the best performance by the team since starting Rugby. Pre-game discussions included the comment that each tackle made in the backs would save a try. We were found wanting in this area in Round 1 and worked intensively on tackling during training on Tuesday. The result? Spectacular! Jamie, at outside centre, put on two low crunching tackles that were try-savers. Max, at inside centre, had eight great tackles to his name. Henry, at number eight, continued his good form from the previous week. Henry, at five eight, Jarrod, at tight head, Ben and Sachin at flankers, together with Rory, also made many memorable tackles. Ben, Jack at half and Sachin always looked to take advantage of the quick ball, often picking up the strong running Max. Our forwards continued to improve, with Jarrod leading from the front. He runs straight with no deviation and is a joy to watch. Working with increased confidence and a low body height was Jack Harriott. He was always in support and took many balls into contact. Luka was there to add assistance and is progressing well in each game. Ethan stayed tight and worked hard in rucks, lineouts and general play. Mention needs to again be made of Ben. He was at the end of the defensive lineouts, and cleaned up and attacked with a number of Chevalier’s loose throws. These were the result of the excellent pressure placed on Chevalier by our strong lineout performance. The improved second half performance was, to a large extent, the result of our backs aligning together in defence and moving up and taking Chevalier’s space. Max directed this and Spencer, Flynn and Jamie responded. Spencer managed to contain a number of attacking movements on his wing. Flynn (frustrated at missing most of the first half due to a cancelled train) threw himself into an attack late in the second half.

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He was tackled short of the line, however, managed to lay the ball back for BMGS to maintain possession. Well done. Now, Elliot will be the first to say that he is still a work in progress at fullback, however, there were three examples, in the second half, of great progress. As our backs started to tackle and align better in defence, Chevalier, in frustration, started to kick over. Elliot attacked a ball in the air, caught it and ran it forward. A second ball bounced a number of times. Elliot ran at it, caught it and ran well up the sideline. A third kick was a high ball that Elliot ran quickly to. Elliot dropped this ball, however, he immediately dropped on this ball causing the referee to put down a scrum. Well done, Elliot. Mr Webb commented that he could now leave BMGS a happy man! Nic Webb, Brad Fraser and Glenn Smedley BMGS U/16 were defeated by Chevalier College, 58-17 Needless to say, this was another big game for the U16s going up against competition heavyweights Chevalier College. We went into the game with only eight players and with one U/15 player backing up (Thanks Rory- you had an amazing game!) due to two injures and two no shows. Playing 9-a-side is frustrating but the boys persevered and the third quarter was an impressive piece of running Rugby. Unfortunately, no reserves meant the boys were run off their feet and a rotating bench from Chevalier saw them run ten reserves onto the field through the game. Impressive play through Mani saw Jack, Oscar and Lincoln crash over for our points. Best Forward- Matt S. Best Back- Oscar JR. Coach’s pick- Rory G and Matt S. BMGS 1st XV were defeated by Chevalier College, 61-0 Although the final score may not be flattering, our players should be pleased with their efforts at the breakdown to secure and maintain possession. Improvements in our ruck defence also limited Chev’s attacking options around the breakdown fringes. In open play our defensive pressure frequently forced Chevalier into error but quality rush defence from Chevalier had us struggling to get across the gain line and kept us pinned in our own territory. Ultimately, this cost us dearly on the scoreboard. Overall a tough outing, but, to a man, the team played with pride and determination throughout. Best at Training: Alek Meade. Best Forward: Lakith Thomas. Best Back: Patrick Brischetto. Man of the Match: Ben Filla Coach Evans

Netball BMGS Junior A defeated Chevalier A, 56-31 This was another outstanding game played by the girls. Watching from the sideline, you would think the girls have been playing together for years! It was a fantastic game from Nicoletta Zito and Ellen Glasson who were strong in the midcourt, making good drives to the ball and sticking close to their players in defence. Zoe Long and Olivia Harris formed an unstoppable shooting duo whilst Skye Haddock and Sophia Meehan in the circle defence made goals hard to come by for the opposition. It was fantastic to see the team working so well together so early on in the season. BMGS Junior B defeated Chevalier College, 21-6 The Junior Bs played a fantastic game of Netball last Saturday, defeating Chevalier College 21-6. During the game the girls showcased their ability to work fluidly as a team, as well as take on board the advice given to them during the quarters to improve their game. We are extremely proud of how the girls played on Saturday and we are keen to develop their skills during training. Molly Gale and Scarlett Weston-Cole, Coaches BMGS Intermediate A were defeated by Barker College, 48-25 The Intermediate A girls met a very strong Barker team in a tough match. Although some were tired from their theatrical pursuits, most were quite rattled by the quick start made by a very determined and well-drilled Barker team. Before we knew it, we were well behind on the scoreboard and our confidence had taken a battering. Under these circumstances, it was virtually impossible to recover and we needed to settle down to play our best netball. Although the task was daunting, the girls did a great job of calming down to create greater fluidity on the court, and then goals started coming. As the second and third quarters passed, our routines started to kick in and we managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over. In the end, we were beaten by a very good side, but the most important thing of all was that none of the girls gave up and played their best for the entire game - making all of their supporters (including their coach) very proud. Mrs. Michelle Airth, Coach

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BMGS Intermediate B were defeated by St. Spyridon, 42-6 With only seven players, this was an extremely challenging game for the BMGS team. Their passing, spacing on the court and general play was not played to their potential which was the source of this defeat. However, it was in the second half that the girls started to lift their game, showing some improved defence. Emma fought hard to keep the ball out of the opposing team’s goal third, with Susan displaying great ‘hands over ball’ action. On the attacking end, Georgia worked extremely hard to try and get the ball in the circle, while communicating well with her team and listening the Coach’s feedback. Marni Brown, Coach BMGS 2nd VII defeated St Spyridon, 40-38 This was a magnificent game from a courageous team. Battling sickness, soreness and fatigue, every girl dug deep and played themselves to exhaustion. The sheer grit and determination of the BMGS girls got them over the line. Relentless defence from Mia and Scarlett, coupled with exceptional shooting from Ashley, Phoebe and Bella, meant that turnovers were turned into goals. The midcourt players - Jasmine, Ashling and Brodie - were calm and smart in attack, and gave their all in defence. What a truly wonderful game. Ms Vikki Stanton, Coach BMGS 1st VII were defeated by St. Paul’s Grammar School, 49-28 A very tired and fatigued First VII succumbed to mental fatigue in the first half, before rallying to play a very good second half. Maia was the surprise shooter in the second half and lit up the scoreboard. Her athleticism could not be managed by the St Paul’s defence. Marni produced her usual resolute and skilful effort in defence, ensuring her opponent had no easy plays. Emma played a steady game at GK, after being thrown into that position without warning. Emma was calm and tactical in her approach to a much, much taller opponent. Ellie gave her all in both attack and defence, her approach was positive, and her court presence was (as always) dynamic. Ms Vikki Stanton, Coach

Football BMGS First XI were defeated by Chevalier College, 4-0 We had a seriously tough game on Saturday. We had girls with glandular fever, colds, no sleep for four nights due to performing in the School musical and, to top it off, a Friday night Post Malone concert in Sydney. This all made for the perfect storm prior to our game at Chevalier College on Saturday. Then we had an early jump on the bus at 6:00am and I have never seen the girls so completely exhausted. It was a good learning experience but a very tough day at the office for BMGS, going down 4-0. The first ‘positive’ was that we did genuinely lift in the second half. This was despite players literally on the sideline sleeping on the grass when waiting to substitute onto the field. The second ‘positive’ was every player turning up to the game despite sleep deprivation and being so sick. This demonstrated incredible dedication girls, well done. We are looking forward to the game against Redlands on Saturday at home. Mr. Steve Walpole, Coach BMGS Intermediate A drew with Chevalier College, 0-0 The girls faced Chevalier College on a cold and windy day in Bowral on Saturday. It was the first time the full squad had played together, so it was a good opportunity to see how our different combinations worked. We had numerous opportunities at goals, however, none of them stuck. Chevalier's defence was extremely strong and presented the girls with several challenges at breaking through. In saying that, our backs held strong and kept Chevalier scoreless as well. It was wonderful to see the girls try what we had worked on at training, passing back to maintain possession and seeing where the next opening was. A nil-all draw was a very different result from Round 1, however, an improvement since the last time we played Chevalier College. Well done, girls! Ms Lauren Wade, Coach BMGS Junior B defeated Chevalier College, 3-0 The Junior girls travelled to Chevalier College last Saturday and their improvement from the previous week was immediately evident. Against a strong Chevalier team, our team's structure kept them out of our half for the majority of the match and provided us with plenty of opportunities, which the girls capitalised on, scoring three goals and keeping the opposition scoreless. More importantly, they did this while having fun and I am really enjoying watching them come together as a team. Mr. Nathaniel Hort, Coach

THE WEEK AHEAD –MAY, 2019 Sunday, 19th May – Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves, Yellow Rock Monday, 20th May – Book-a-Tour/Open Morning at the Junior School Monday, 20th May – Year 8 Geography Fieldwork, Katoomba Tuesday, 21st May – Pre-K sTeps Eye Screening, Preparatory School Tuesday, 21st May – Senior School Big Science Competition, Years 7 to 10 Tuesday, 21st May – Stage 2 (Junior School) BMCC BioBlitz, Wentworth Falls Lake Tuesday, 21st May – Term 2 Parents’ & Friends’ Association General Meeting, Junior School Wednesday, 22nd May – Year 7 Taronga Zoo Science & Mathematics Excursion Wednesday, 22nd May – Book-a-Tour/Open Morning at the Preparatory School Wednesday, 22nd May to Friday, 24th May – Year 11, Senior Leadership Retreat Thursday, 23rd May – HICES Cross Country Carnival Friday, 24th May – NSW State CHS/NSWIS State Championships Friday, 24th May – Year 9 Incursion, Fighting For It – WW2 Performance