Blue Mountains Grammar School Newsletter

Vol 14, 24th May, 2019

FROM THE HEADMASTER Average AND Exceptional It was a great privilege to have the opportunity to speak to our Year 11 students at their Leadership Camp this week. This phase of young people’s lives is formative; in the years to come, as they face the rigours of the HSC and step into the role of School leaders, they make decisions about who they want to be and then become those people. However, these very same years can also be transformative; as they reflect on their lives and realise that they have not been striving to be all that they can be, some will make decisions that will set their life on a different path. Framed in this way, I highlighted the central importance of living with integrity. I spoke to them about using these years to explore their gifts and their passions, and to seek to identify a purpose for which to live; one that will provide direction and motivation for their life. Then, having found that purpose, I encouraged them to faithfully pursue it with all their heart. This is what I mean when I say integrity. Of course I agree with the common definition of behaving consistently with what we believe and what we say, but this is best achieved by living in a manner that is true to who we are. From this place of integrity, I then encouraged them to be aspirational, aspiration being the hope or ambition of achieving something; typically something difficult. To be aspirational requires that we craft our lives in such a way that every aspect moves us one step closer to our goal. We then discussed that if we are to be truly aspirational we need a sure footing for our lives and so the third important principle I encouraged them to consider was confidence. In my experience personal confidence is related to loving ourselves and knowing we are loved. So, we reflected on the foundation of love that we need in our lives to first give us the strength to live with integrity, and then to aspire to achieve great things. So it was, in considering these three principles, that we came to discuss the people with whom we spend the most time; our families, their classmates, their social networks. I shared with them Jim Rohn’s perspective that we are all average; that is, each person is “the average of the five people [they] spend the most time with.” It was on these grounds that I then encouraged them to consider whether their social network lifted their average by supporting them living with integrity, enhancing their confidence, and encouraging them to be more aspirational.

Finally, I exhorted our young people to be intentional about the choices they make in their own lives; choices that will best serve their purpose. I encouraged them to choose to love themselves; choose integrity; choose to be aspirational; and to choose those with whom they spend their time, because whilst we have no choice about being average, all of us can choose to be exceptional. Video (Wilderness Education) Release BMGS has a strong and compelling vision for the lives of its young people. This second video in our series elaborates on this vision and the role of our exceptional Wilderness Education programme in growing courageous, resilient young people committed to a healthy lifestyle and proficient at managing personal risks. Again, my hope is that the contents resonate with you and that you share it. So, please enjoy the video. 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 Faithful Hall of Fame “You should live your life in such a way that it would make no sense unless God exists.” – Cardinal Suhard I think one of the best ways to decide if Jesus is the ‘real deal’ or not is to look at the people who have had a life changing faith in Jesus and who, because of this faith, have improved the lives of others. By examining the lives of these people of faith (faith is belief put into action), we can then better understand how faith can truly be an agent of change and a bringer of sustainable meaning and joy. This Term in Senior School Chapel I will be examining the lives of some of what I’m calling the faithful hall of fame; looking at what they gave, what they gave up, and why they lived their lives in a way that would make no sense unless God exists.

The faithful hall of fame kicks off this week with the Apostle Paul. Saint Paul, or Saul of Tarsus as he was earlier known, was a persecutor of Jesus’ followers. Paul was born in Tarsus, was both a Jew and a Roman citizen and he, like many of his peers, hated the followers of Jesus; he would beat them up, bully them, persecute them and make their life a living hell (to put it politely). One day, while travelling the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Paul and told him to turn his life around, to follow Him instead. The light from the vision was so bright that Paul was blinded for three days. He regained his eyesight and decided to dedicate his life to preaching the Word of God after finally believing that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God. Paul was a hardened sceptic, not a seeker or a questioner; nevertheless, he became the world’s most famous evangelist who risked everything for Jesus. Paul wanted to get to know God personally so he could spread the word of his newfound beliefs in an informed and authentic way. In order to do this Paul fasted, prayed and dedicated his time to listening for God’s plan in his life. Paul then became a missionary and spread the teachings of Jesus to everyone he could, as he thought all people needed to hear this life changing message. Paul was beaten up, had rocks thrown at him, went to jail, was bitten by a snake and, at one point, even ended up shipwrecked. Ironically, the persecutor became the persecuted and finally was reported to be killed for following Jesus after setting up some of the first Christian churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul never gave up on spreading the word of Jesus because he experienced Christ’s love as more powerful than the pain he was put through. He must have possessed a truly transformational faith because ‘martyrs make bad liars’ as the saying goes. Paul’s ministry centred on the importance of embodying Jesus’ love and grace despite the world’s brokenness as he wrote in 1 Corinthians, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-13, NIV). At least seven of the New Testament books of the Bible were written by Paul and these are an essential starting point for anyone interested in both exploring Paul’s life and faith and gaining an understanding of the teachings of the early Church. The 2018 film Paul, Apostle of Christ (AFFIRM Films) is a high budget and engrossing portrayal of the life of Paul and his friend, the physician Luke, which largely avoids sensationalism and is well worth seeing. Paul’s faith stood in such stark contrast to his former beliefs that he must have been profoundly changed by the Damascus road experience. From examining his life and writings we can see that the Apostle Paul’s belief in Jesus was certainly put into action and his faith is a powerful example of a life that only makes sense if God exists. Mr. Luke Webb

FROM THE PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION 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 IPSHA Travelling Art Show This year the Junior and Preparatory Schools are participating in the IPSHA (Independent Primary School Heads Association) ‘Travelling Art Show’. The ‘Travelling Art Show’ showcases student artwork from independent schools across NSW. Works selected from the Preparatory School and other schools from the Sydney area are currently on display in the Reception area at the Preparatory School and will remain until Wednesday, 29th May. Please come along and have a look at these spectacular pieces. National Simultaneous Storytime On Wednesday this week during Library time, students at the Preparatory School participated in National Simultaneous Storytime. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. This year the book shared across Australia was Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove. The students really enjoyed watching the digital presentation of the story and completing some alpaca-related activities! HICES Cross Country Congratulations to all of the Preparatory and Junior School students who travelled to Orange on Thursday for the HICES Cross Country Carnival. From all reports, it was a highly enjoyable outing and the students conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. Congratulations to all the students involved, and thank you to the staff and parents who accompanied and supported them. Responsible Pet Visit Next week students in Pre-K to Year 2 at the Preparatory School will be enjoying an incursion about how to be a responsible pet owner. The Responsible Pet Ownership Program educates young children on living safely with dogs and responsible pet ownership. The RPO Programs Pet Educators and their suitability tested dogs visit primary schools throughout the state promoting the vital safety messages through animated presentations, song and role play. Miss Alicia Brace

JUNIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Last week our Early Learning teachers conducted a very informative and engaging Writing Workshop, demonstrating how the writing process is undertaken and developed in the earliest years of schooling. It was pleasing to see many parents in attendance and the teachers received very positive feedback as to how helpful it was for parents wanting to support their children in the learning process.

Noah Erne, from Stage 2, has shown great initiative in his desire to assist others less fortunate in our community by coordinating donations for the oncoming winter. Cold weather is fast approaching. We are so lucky that we have coats, beanies and scarves we can put on to keep us warm. Sadly though, not all people are going to be as warm as us. Noah would like to do his best to try and help those people. He is asking for donations of something warm to be placed into a box which will be in the corridor outside the Stage 2 classroom. Together we can make sure this winter is a lot warmer for people in need. Mr. Nigel Cockington

Student Awards This week the following awards were presented at Assembly: Bronze - Hayley Lord (S1), Jack Lord (S2), Rose Perisce-Burrell (5B)

FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL PARENTS’ & FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION

Last Friday we held our first Crazy Hair & Hamburger Day. The students’ hair looked fantastic and there was a great sense of fun in the playground.

Thank you to Ms Suzanne Janine, Mr Vic Kustra, Mrs Raelene Lord, Mr Ron Mamo, Ms Melissa Perisce and Mrs Catharine Tierney for their help with preparing the hamburgers for the children for lunch.

Mrs. Bonnie Mamo

Code Camp Winter School Holidays: Early Bird Discount These winter holidays Code Camp is returning to Blue Mountains Grammar School to teach your child to code, or to help them continue on their coding adventure! Code Camp has already taught more than 50,000 students in Australia and is a great way to spend time over the holidays as children have lots of fun with friends while learning important new skills including logic, creativity, problem-solving, app development and game building. It’s fun and engaging, and prepares them to take on the digital world of the future. This season, from Monday, 15

th to Tuesday, 16

th July, Blue Mountains Grammar School will be hosting Spark and 2D Game

Makers. Book now to take advantage of the $20 Early Bird discount (automatically applied at checkout when booking before the 27

th

May)! Bookings can be made via this link: www.codecamp.com.au/BMGS

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL Growing in Community This week our Year 11 students had the opportunity to down pens to attend the Senior Retreat. This is a rare opportunity in a busy academic program for students to stop, reflect and explore some of the possibilities for the future. Spending time with this enthusiastic, articulate and inclusive group of students it was hard not to be impressed with this cohort. Students were committed to engaging in all we did, whether it was an Amazing Race style challenge through our Blue Mountains backyard, a 70s-themed music trivia night or sessions spent thinking about their role as emerging leaders. The Senior School has a sequence of tailor made camps and throughout this program students learn to live in community. To take responsibility for themselves. To grow in self-awareness and to grow into well-rounded young men and women with exciting futures ahead. Applications for Leadership Positions Following on from the Year 11 Senior Retreat, it is worth noting that applications have now opened for students to apply for leadership positions. Year 11 students are encouraged to apply for the roles of House Prefect, Portfolio Captain or School and Vice Captain by submitting completed application forms to Ms Martin by the end of Week 5. Please note, students can apply for more than one role. All Year 11 students have already been provided with information but the form will be emailed to all students and families. We want all students in the Senior School to consider what they might be able to do now to contribute to important causes and also consider how they can grow as leaders beginning in Year 7. Students in Years 7-10 can apply for the role of Student Representative Council representative, with one representative from each Tutor group in Years 7-10. I am excited to also ask for expressions of interest for students in Years 7-10 for a range of Leadership Portfolios. These portfolios include Student Wellbeing, Student Learning and Sustainability and provide a way for students to take action of things which matter to them and the School. All expressions of interest from students in Years 7-10 need to be submitted to Ms Martin by the end of Week 6. We look forward to seeing students grow through becoming involved in these important and exciting leadership opportunities. Mr. Andrew Beitsch

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD – HEAD OF TEACHING & LEARNING Diary Date Tuesday, 28th May - Year 8 and Year 9 Parent/Teacher evening Stepping up to learn Our Year 11 students have been away on retreat this week, focusing on the idea of “stepping up” – to lead, to learn and to live. I spent Thursday morning with them looking at some of the skills they need to “step up” and take responsibility for their learning. The most powerful thing they need to know is that they have power! They need to become more aware of themselves as learners and as young adults, to realise that the choices they make impact their learning – for good or ill. Some of the important points were:

1. Recognising that learning is hard work – and that’s ok! All good things have a price. There are going to be some hard times ahead – that’s normal!

2. The importance of having a growth mindset to continue to grow and to make sure they don’t limit themselves.

3. Reflecting on the way they prefer to learn and leveraging that, but not being limited by that!

4. Recognising that when we learn, we often have to go down into what James Nottingham calls “The learning pit”. That learning can be hard, and there’s an emotional journey we all go through when learning new, difficult things, and that to feel confused and uncertain is normal – that’s being in the pit. They then need to draw on the support at School, and the strategies they’ve been given to get themselves out of the pit.

5. Get organised!

6. Get some study strategies – test them to find what works for them. There are lots of resources on the Internet, teachers, family member and Mrs Michielsen are all excellent resources to draw on.

7. Manage stress, and learn to recognize when it’s healthy, and when it’s not – in themselves and others. Seek support when needed; we’re here to help!

8. Know their strengths and know their distractions – be deliberate

9. Team work and supporting their peers is vital

My key comment was when things seem hard, when it seems like it’s all too much, remember the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Break things down, don’t avoid things, set up good study habits that will serve them for life. In Senior years, students will have to make choices around their study and prioritise their learning. They may need to give up work or not play a sport for a season - although don’t give up exercise altogether! It’s a short season, but after nearly 12 years, we want to help them make sure they give their best, and make it all worthwhile. Mrs. Megan Hastie

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves Thank you to the following members of the Stage band who gave their time on Sunday afternoon to perform at the third Springwood Rotary’s Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves: Alek Meade (Year 12), Nicholas Mayrhofer (Year 11), Sebastian Aldred (Year 10), Tom Delaney (Year 10), Casper Larkin (Year 8), Finlay Davis (Year 8), Ben Delaney (Year 7), William Louis (Year 7) and Nathan Hilder (Year 7).

Music Amongst the Autumn Leaves had been held annually at ‘The Old Farm’, Purvines Road, Yellow Rock, since 2016 and aims to encourage music performance. Special mention must be made of William Louis (Year 7) who wowed the audience with two fabulous Banjo solos. Thank you to all the BMGS supporters who attended and the parents for transporting the musicals to and from this event. Soiree #2 A reminder that the next Soiree is rapidly approaching (30th May). Any students who are keen to perform must add their name to the ‘Sign-up’ sheet by Monday, 27th May. Diary Dates 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 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 Samantha Coultas

FROM THE VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT Year 11 Visual Arts students were fortunate enough to participate in a Sculpture workshop last week with visiting artist Nadia Odlum. Nadia was the Dux of BMGS in 2008 and is now a successful professional artist, whose art practice spans drawing, painting, sculpture and installation. Nadia completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) at the National Art School and Master of Fine Art at UNSW Art & Design. She has presented work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the New York Transit Museum, The Murray Art Museum in Albury, Artspace, Firstdraft and Penrith Regional Gallery. She has also completed residencies at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris, The Wassaic Project in New York and Parramatta Artists Studios in Sydney. This workshop was kindly supported by Scenic World as Nadia’s work below was exhibited in this year’s Sculptures at Scenic World exhibition. Pictured below left: As the world moves I move the world, 2019, Steel, adhesive vinyl. In situ at Scenic World.

During the workshop our students learnt new technical skills in forming and joining acrylic, and masking techniques using spray paint to create dynamic abstract sculptural forms. This workshop will inform their upcoming sculpture project and unit on abstraction in their theoretical studies. We look forward to exhibiting the students completed sculptures at the end of the year. Ms Julie Hiam

SENIOR SCHOOL

FROM THE HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT Year 8 Geography Exploring Local Fieldwork Opportunities On Monday, 20th May, our Year 8 Geography students embraced the opportunity to engage in fieldwork as part of their unit of study: Interconnections. The focus of the excursion was to collect primary data as part of their investigation into the inquiry question: ‘How is Katoomba connected to other people and places?’ All students were highly engaged in the data collection process which focused on both tourism and production/consumption as evidence of global interconnections.

They worked collaboratively to design their own tables and maps and were also required to take relevant photographs with specialised GPS Camera mobile apps. It was a great opportunity to learn about important concepts outside of the classroom setting and all students are to be highly commended for the way they represented the School in the local community whilst participating in the activities. Ms Laura Hall

FROM THE CAREERS ADVISER Careers Corner This week we will be launching a wonderful new Careers online program for students in Years 10, 11 and 12. Parents have also been sent a letter explaining the program and how they can also use it at home to support their children. The program covers the following:

Year 10 subject selection advice across 100 careers.

Writing letters, resumes, what to say to an employer, where to find your future employer.

SENIOR SCHOOL

A comprehensive digital ATAR and University Course sorter that works hand in hand with the UAC Handbook making life now a breeze for you to search for your chosen courses.

Job vacancies for over 100 options based on your school location.

Bonus points.

Overseas Exchange in your University degree

Accommodation across all Universities in NSW and their direct links.

Earnings across 300 careers.

Resume Builder for all 100 career options.

Find My Career quizzes.

Hobby projects across 100 careers to inspire and engage students in their career.

Interactive yearly calendar across all news items which can be personalised to your careers of interest.

Undergraduate scholarship sorter across all NSW Universities.

Universities Open Days listing and links.

Videos across 100 careers.

Gap Year and Volunteering opportunities.

Alternative entry to University sorter and links across all NSW Universities.

Interstate and overseas University admissions centres' links.

Work Experience documentation.... and much more.

If you are the parent of a Year 7, 8 or 9 student and would like access to this program, please send me an email so I may give you the information you need to access the program. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me: almichielsen@bmgs.nsw.edu.au Mrs. Alicia Michielsen

REQUEST FOR HOMESTAY FAMILIES In Term 3, we are hosting students from the Nagoya region in Japan. They will be here from 30th July to 3rd August and, due to some last minute changes, we are in desperate need of some more host families! If you would like to host a student from Japan for four nights, please contact Mr. Tristan Forsyth (tforsyth@bmgs.nsw.edu.au) at School. The students who are coming for this visit undertake a selection process to represent their region and they have basic English skills. They are keen to meet our families and talk about their lives in Japan and in Nagoya! These opportunities build life-long relationships and we have had students visit their host siblings in Japan where they have been welcomed with open arms (and accommodation!) If you can help, please contact me on the above email address. Mr. Tristan Forsyth

SENIOR SCHOOL

HICES DEBATING Breaking News! BMGS has surpassed all expectations this year and has four teams progressing through to the Final rounds. The teams will compete against schools from all regions represented in the competition. Congratulations to the following teams: 8B, 9B, 10A and 10B. It is with sadness that we must say goodbye to our wonderful Juniors. They were exemplary debaters and won three out of four of their debates, However they lost on count-back due to the fact that KWS defeated BMGS in Round 3. I should like to acknowledge the commitment of all my teams. Each member contributed to the overall success of their team and it is unfortunate that all teams cannot progress. Every good wish is extended to our finalists for their continued success. Mrs. Elaine Manners

FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP Due to unforseen circumstances, the Uniform Shop will operate on a “pick and pack” basis only for the next two weeks. As the Uniform Shop will be unattended whilst I cover Mrs. Lowe’s leave in the Junior School, please contact me for purchases via email uniformshop@bmgs.nsw.edu.au or by phone on (Dir) 4757 9026 on Mondays and Tuesdays. I will be providing a “pick and pack” service on both afternoons, and will leave the ordered items to be collected and paid for at Coorah Reception (Senior School). From 10th June, Ms Erin Clare will be back at the Uniform Shop, and I return to the Shop for the final week of the Term. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause. 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 HEAD OF SPORT Last weekend I caught up with a number of students before they boarded the bus for away games. Can I please remind everyone that students are to wear the full School tracksuit unless they are in a Firsts team, where they are required to wear full School Uniform. Rugby and Football boots are not to be worn on the bus but need to be changed into at the games’ venue. 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 to the team. Included in the email was the permission slip. As yet, a number of students have not 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 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. 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. The students attending the Carnival as helpers are those students who are not in the Cross Country or Da Vinci teams from Year 10. Students are required to wear full SCHOOL uniform on the day. Lunch will be provided, however, students are encouraged to bring a water bottle. 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 Tuesday. Any students who have a gold Basketball singlet are permitted to wear this. Mrs. Megan Harris

Saturday Sports Fixtures - 25th May, 2019 - Round 4 Team Opponent Venue Time Court/Field Bus INFO

Netball 1st VII SPY HOME 10:30am 1 N/A

2nd

VII OAKHILL HOME 11:45am 1

Intermediate A CHEV HOME 9:15am 1

Intermediate B SACS HOME 11:45am 2

Junior A CHEV HOME 09:15am 2

Junior B SPY HOME 10:30am 2

Hockey First XI CCGS HOME 11:40pm HOCKEY N/A

2nd

XI Redlands 3 HOME 9:00am HOCKEY

Juniors CCGS HOME 10:20am HOCKEY

Girls’ 1st XI A BARKER BARKER 10:15am Rosewood B BMGS 7:00am

Lawson 7:15am Springwood Stn 7:30am Glenbrook 7:45am

Bus return approx. 1:00pm

Football Intermediate BARKER BARKER 9:15am Rosewood B

Junior A SPGS SPGS 10:30am Football Own Transport

Boys’ 1st XI CCGS HOME 2:00pm Football N/A

Football 2nd

XI CCGS HOME 12:45pm Football

U15s CCGS HOME 11:30pm Football

U14s CCGS HOME 10:15pm Football

U13s CCGS HOME 9:00pm Football

Boys’ Opens Redfield HOME 12:15pm Rugby N/A

Rugby U16s Redfield HOME 11:00am Rugby

U13s Redfield HOME 10:00am Rugby

Match Results: Saturday, 17th May Rugby

BMGS U13 defeated Oxley College, 50-0 Round 3 of the 2019 season was in Bowral against Oxley College. The scoreboard did not reflect the effort from Oxley, who were very strong in defence. In saying that, the BMGS U13s played an excellent game, scoring nine tries. Despite Oxley’s hard efforts, BMGS finished with a considerable win. There were outstanding performances from Tom Hitchenson (1 try), Fred Horwood (1 try), Dominic Daniels (2 tries), Oscar Costigan (2 tries) and Jayden Gibson (3 tries). Mention should also be made of the forwards, who put in a heavy effort in the breakdown to secure our team’s ball. Our goal kickers kicked well, converting five of the nine tries. It was a great performance from the U13 team and hopefully we can back it up in the weeks to come. Oscar Costigan, Captain BMGS U15 were defeated by Oxley College, 36-0 Two after-match comments summarised BMGS’ defeat (0-36) by Oxley College last Saturday. The first was by Mr. Brad Fraser (Jack’s dad and a member of the coaching team). Mr. Fraser spoke to the boys, most of whom were carrying injuries and in a state of exhaustion, about the courage that they had shown throughout the game. They continued to tackle and attack, and did so effectively, taking metres off Oxley in both defence and offence. At no stage did their heads drop. They supported each other. Three players came off with injuries. The remaining team members played on. They could have easily given in. This did not happen. The badge of courage that Brad bestowed was well deserved. The second comment came from an Oxley parent. Her son had played against our boys and she had two perspectives. The first was from her son, who told her that the BMGS players were the fairest and best sportspeople he had played against. He also commented that he could not believe their determination as, no matter what they (Oxley) did, BMGS kept coming back at them. This was emphasized when, towards the end of the game, Jared took a ball off the front of the lineout and proceeded to run 30m straight over the top of many of their players. The second perspective was hers. She was amazed at the behaviour of the BMGS boys, their support for each other, their respect for Oxley players and, yes, their courage. A compliment from the opposition is high praise indeed. (This comment goes both ways as the excellent attitude of the Oxley coaches was reflected in the behaviour and sportsmanship of their team). Brad’s and the Oxley parent’s comments highlight the adage that How you present and carry yourself lasts longer in people’s minds than the result or the score of the game. To the game itself: there weremore great tackles by Henry H, Max, Ben, Sachin, Jared, Jamie and Jack H. There was excellent support play by Flynn, Sachin, Henry (the other one!) and Jack F. There was also great attack by Jarrod, Max, Ben and Sachin, and lovely, tight play by Ethan, Jack F, Seb and Connor. Ethan pulled off a memorable pick and drive. Connor played on the ball to the extent that he managed three good driving runs. Seb’s line out work was a feature and Jack F’s work rate and fitness saw him at every breakdown. Elliot took another high ball under pressure and Spencer completed two tackles

that shut opposition attacks down late in the second half. A bye this week will allow Sachin, Ben and Henry H time to recover from the injuries they sustained on Saturday. The break will also allow Rory (out injured for Saturday’s game) time to regain his fitness. Mr. Glenn Smedley and Mr. Brad Fraser BMGS U16 were defeated by Oxley College, 24-19 What a game! Oxley is traditionally a tough team to play away and Saturday was no exception. Electing to play 9-a-side Rugby (which is the second fastest and free flowing version of the game), the BMGS boys should hold their heads up high in what was a well fought and even match. The game, being broken into quarters, saw BMGS assert their dominance from the start and go into the final quarter leading. Unfortunately, a lack of reserves meant that, again, it was fitness and not ability or determination that was the deciding factor in the score line, which saw Oxley score just before the bell. There were tries to Oscar, Jack and Lincoln with conversions to Mani. Many thanks to the coach and boys from Oxley for their sportsmanship and laughs throughout the game. Bring on Redfield! Best at Training: Mani. Best Forward (and best defensive effort): Lincoln. Best Back and Man of the Match: Mani. BMGS 1st XV were defeated by Oxley College, 88-7 Although on the back foot from the start against a larger and faster opponent, BMGS worked hard in defence to deny Oxley several tries early on in the match. Injuries to our hard tackling outside centre, our dynamic cover defending fullback and our gutsy inside centre saw holes start to appear in our line, allowing Oxley to keep the scoreboard ticking over. In reply, a patient multi-phase build up led to a well-worked team Try, which was finished powerfully by Lloyd and ably converted by Tom. This was an impressive way to open our scoring account for this season! Another tough outing with, as we have come to expect, plenty of good old fashioned ‘ticker’ on display from our proud player group. Best at Training: Pat Brischetto. Best Forward: Fin O’Connor. Best Back and Man of the Match: Christian Wright Coach Evans

Girls’ Football BMGS Intermediate A were defeated by Redlands, 2-0 It was a home game this week against Redlands who are known for being a quality opposition. Redlands were strong from the whistle, giving our backs plenty of challenges. In saying that, our defence line worked hard in shutting down numerous attempts at goal. Scarlett saved many goals from going through, only allowing two to slip past. At times in the game, both sides were playing a game of aerial pinball. Working on our short, sharp passes will help in maintaining possession, giving us more time with the ball. Unfortunately, this week we couldn’t get past their keeper, remaining scoreless. Keep your heads up, girls, and train hard. Ms Lauren Wade, Coach BMGS Junior B defeated St. Andrew’s Cathedral School, 5-0 The Junior Girls travelled to the Domain to play St. Andrew’s on Saturday and, even though there were some injury concerns and key players missing, they managed to continue their upward trajectory as a team and come out on top. They put five goals away without conceding and they have only let in one goal so far this season. They already look like a completely different team compared to just three weeks ago and I look forward to seeing how far they go this season! Mr. Nathaniel Hort, Coach BMGS First XI were defeated by Redlands, 6-0 Saturday was such a lovely day to play football. We had Redlands travelling up the mountains on a perfect autumn day at BMGS. We were expecting a strong team, like last season, but Redlands have developed into an even better team with some new players joining the school. From the very first minute we struggled to match Redlands’ intensity to win the ball. I think we learnt how integral it is for us to put high pressure on the opposition’s backline so that we can control the game more out of our half. Like Chevalier, Redlands had four or five players who are fast, skilful, play very direct and love to shoot for goal. Positives -

1. After the first five minutes we started to lift with our commitment to play high pressure defence and start creating turnovers.

2. We never gave up throughout the whole game. We kept trying to win the ball and the break in attack, which are the fundamental parts of our team game.

3. Our throw-ins were working well and we executed these better than Redlands. Fantastic work, girls, to remember our set plays for throw-ins and to make them happen.

Areas of improvement - 1. We have to be smarter with our field position. Any time that we are in the opposition’s defensive half

we all need to push forward to close the space and win the ball. Against strong teams we need to create the contest in their half and keep it there for as long as possible. This gives us a chance at getting a goal but also allows us to control the game in their half as long as possible.

2. Our focus for this week against Barker College is high pressure defence, starting with our forwards. Our forwards have been challenged to put a lot more pressure on the opposition, making sure that the opposition does not have an easy pass out of their backline, turning the opposition backline onto their wrong foot, making the opposition pass backwards and winning the 50/50 balls. Mr. Steve Walpole, Coach

Boys’ Football

BMGS U13 defeated Oxley College, 3-0 The boys played well as a team and came out winners by three goals. All the players coordinated and played as a team. Our backs were solid and really guided the team from the back. Our new addition to the team, Luke Ferguson, fitted well in a few positions. This team now has two wins from two games, which is an excellent start to the season. BMGS U14 defeated Oxley College, 7-0 The U14s played with intensity from the beginning and were clearly a better team against the opposition, displaying excellent skills in all the areas of the field and scoring some descent goals. In the end they won the game with seven goals. This was a very good start to the season with two wins from two games. BMGS U15 defeated Oxley College, 12-0 We finally had our first game of the season after two rounds of waiting. The boys were hungry for some game time and this came through from the start. Even though we were short on players and only had one sub on a warm day, the boys tried all game and their efforts were rewarded. Great connection across the field and working the ball out of the backs into attacking raids paid dividends. Goals were shared with Andrew (5), Archer (2), Callum (2), Vaughan (2) and Jesse (1) – this is great start to the season, boys. BMGS 2nd XI defeated Oxley College, 2-0 It was good to see that the boys have started to gel as a very good coordinated and supportive team. They played strongly and their defence was excellent; they pushed the team up front for two well-deserved goals. The team continued to play well in the second half and stopped Oxley from scoring any goals. The result remained two goals to nil. BMGS First XI defeated Oxley College, 1-0 This was a very close game against Oxley and the team played with consistent and determined fashion for a win. All the players played well, covering, supporting and coordinating with each other on the field. Jackson saved well in the goals and Charlie, Ethan, Joshua and Sebastian defended well. The team eventually gained a penalty, which Charlie converted into a goal and in the end the team won by 1-nil. This was their first win of the season but the team is looking promising. Mr. Praveen Singh (MIC Football)

Hockey BMGS 1st XI were defeated by St. Andrew’s Cathedral School, 4-1 In Round 3 of the winter season, the Hockey First XI played their second game against SACS. Following a strong performance last week, expectations were high for this week's match. In the first few minutes, I was lucky enough to break through the opposition's defence, with the support of my inside left Katerina Reynolds, to secure a goal for BMGS. Unfortunately, several players including our goalie were absent, which ultimately weakened our side, and gave SACS the advantage, which allowed them to defeat us 4-1. However, our team did not go down without a fight. With some firm passes from Eloise Williams in the backline to our half centre half Hayley Morgan, we broke through the opposition's defence several times, but were unable to score any further goals. Despite this, I believe the team played well and I would like to commend everyone on their efforts, as it is never a straightforward game playing with team members missing. In addition, I would like to recognise the valiant efforts of Ava Adams and Laura Tinsey , as well as thank Luca Saunders who played in goals for us - these three players - who are in the 2nd XI - stepped up to the challenge of playing two Division's higher than they are accustomed to, with little notice, and played extremely well despite the circumstances. I look forward to playing with the three of you again in the future and further developing your skills at training over the coming season. Bronte Pickering

BMGS 2nd XI defeated Barker College, 2-0 On Saturday the 2nd XI Hockey team played their highly anticipated third game, against Barker College. After a tie last week, the team where hoping to top it off with a victory this week. In the first ten minutes of the game, we managed to break through the defence, with Meg Docherty scoring the first goal of the match from her position on the post, knocking it into the left corner. The team was in good touch as they skilfully passed and dribbled the ball, many times getting through the opposition’s defence. In the second quarter, Right Inner Ava Adams moved the ball down into the goal circle and, off a fast and powerful hit, scored the second goal for the 2nd XI. Through the remainder of the game, our defence managed to keep the ball out of our goal circle, preventing the other team from scoring. The whole team played better than ever, with Ava Adams’ skill in the goal circle culminating with Belle and Laura, as Midfielder and Sweeper respectively, and Eve Thomas's injections in the short corners, making us a force to be reckoned with. I think that the team played incredibly well and would like to commend everybody on their efforts! Luca Saunders BMGS Juniors were defeated by St. Andrew’s Cathedral School, 2-0 Our team played SACs on Saturday and unfortunately lost 2-0. The girls had an amazing game of good defence and strong attacks. Our goalie, Maeve, had a terrific game, saving many goals and only letting two in that where very hard to keep out. Josie Howarth had a good attacking game and had a few opportunities to have a good go at the ball and took it up the field a few times. Ivy had her first game in defence alongside me (although not my first time in defence) and had a crack at the ball which helped get the ball out of the D. This SACS team was a good team; they were nice and friendly and they played fairly. Good job, girls. Kaitlyn Shaw

Netball BMGS Junior As were defeated by Oxley College, 35-30 The girls tried their best against a confident Oxley team and, although they had opportunities to take control of the game, the girls got a little flustered by the determination of the Oxley team. Whilst it was unfortunate to come away with a loss, it was a valuable learning experience for the girls and gave them the realisation that there is plenty we can work on at training including short, sharp drives on to the ball and composed passes. I was proud that the girls came off the court with a determined and not defeated attitude! A special thank you to Tarana Stubenrauch who played up from the Junior Bs and did a fantastic job! Ms Laura Hall, Coach BMGS Junior B were defeated by Chevalier College, 15-9 Molly Gale and Scarlett Weston-Cole, Coaches BMGS Intermediate A were defeated by Barker College, 50-25 Mrs. Michelle Airth, Coach BMGS Intermediate B were defeated by St Spyridon College, 39-7 The Intermediate B team played a hard game against the Chevalier team that intensified as the game went on. What let them down were the simple skills; they were playing with nerves, which was evident through their passing. Chevalier had great defence, which the girls struggled to play past, however, with only six players, they tired towards the end which is when Chevalier scored majority of their goals. Georgia displayed some good shooting and braking for the ball along with Grace, who was open for every second pass. Albi warmed up in the defensive end and, from the second quarter to the end of the game, fought hard for turnovers. Marni Brown, Coach BMGS 2nd VII defeated Oxley College, 48-25 Beautiful play all over the court as our girls treasured the ball and made every pass count. Fine shooting from Bella, Phoebe and Ashley topped off smart court play from the whole team. A wonderful team effort and a well-deserved win! Mrs Vikki Stanton, Coach BMGS 1st VII were defeated by St. Paul’s Grammar School, 53-30 Molly was outstanding in attacking play and shooting. Emma and Maia played a smart defensive game against tall and physical opponents. In an aggressive and physical game, we were pushed off the ball, but still managed some beautiful flowing passages of play. Mrs. Vikki Stanton, Coach

THE WEEK AHEAD –MAY, 2019

Friday, 24th May – NSW State CHS/NSWIS State Championships Friday, 24th May – Year 9 Incursion, Fighting For It – WW2 Performance Sunday, 26th May – Red Shield Appeal Tuesday, 28th May – Year 7 and Year 8, da Vinci Decathlon, Knox Grammar Tuesday, 28th May – Junior School Football Gala Day, Jamison Park Tuesday, 28th May – Year 8 and Year 9 Parent Teacher Evening Wednesday, 29th May – Year 9 and Year 10, da Vinci Decathlon, Knox Grammar Wednesday, 29th May – ISA Cross Country Carnival, Sydney Equestrian Centre Thursday, 30th May – Stage 2, C.A.R.E.S. Bike Safety Course Thursday, 30th May – Year 10 Science, Fossil and Mineral Museum Excursion Thursday, 30th May – Rugby Tour (Singapore/Hong Kong) Information Evening, BMGS Chapel Thursday, 30th May – Music Soiree #2, Recital Room, PAC