From the 

Head of  Senior School

The past two weeks have been incredibly busy across the Senior School, with our students and staff involved in examinations, Open Day, creative opportunities, Wilderness Education, sport and plenty of learning in between. As we approach the halfway point of Term 3, there is certainly a great deal happening across our community.

Year 12 Trial HSC Examinations

Our Year 12 students have spent Weeks 3 and 4 completing their Trial HSC Examinations. This is an important milestone in their final year and represents the culmination of a significant amount of work.

The Trial period can be demanding, and I have been impressed by the way our students have approached their examinations. While the results are important, the real value of the Trials is the opportunity they provide students to identify where they are doing well and where further improvement can be made before the HSC examinations.

Once feedback is returned, I encourage our Year 12 students to use it constructively. There is still valuable time ahead to consolidate knowledge, refine examination technique and work closely with teachers.

Thank you also to our staff who have supported students throughout this period, whether through revision, examination supervision, marking or simply providing some much-needed encouragement.

Senior School Open Day

Last Saturday we welcomed prospective students and families to our Senior School Open Day.

Open Day is always a wonderful opportunity to showcase our school, but what I particularly enjoy is seeing our students represent BMGS. They are our greatest ambassadors. Whether they were leading visitors around the campus, helping in classrooms, speaking about their subjects or simply stopping to welcome a family, our students demonstrated the warmth and sense of community that we value so highly.

A huge thank you to our staff who prepared learning spaces, displays and activities, and gave their time on Saturday to share their passion for their subjects and our school.

Creativity Across Our School

We have also enjoyed some wonderful creative opportunities over the past few weeks, including having artist Pat Shirvington working with our community as our Artist in Residence.

Experiences such as these provide students with opportunities to engage with professional practice, explore different approaches to creativity and see where their learning can take them beyond the classroom.

A special thank you to Mrs Amal Siorokis and Ms Catriona Secker for the work involved in bringing this opportunity to BMGS and for creating such valuable experiences for both students and staff.

Learning and Writing Across the Curriculum

Our staff have also been focusing on strengthening analytical writing across the Senior School. During our Week 3 Staff Meeting, we explored practical strategies for explicitly teaching analytical paragraph writing and developing greater consistency across subject areas.

Writing is not something that belongs only in the English classroom. Being able to clearly communicate an idea, support it with evidence and explain its significance is an important skill across almost every subject.

Thank you particularly to Mrs Durand for leading this work and sharing practical strategies that our teachers can adapt within their own classrooms.

Wilderness Education

Week 4 has also seen students participating in our Year 10 Wilderness Education Snowshoe Expedition.

One of the great advantages of our location is the opportunity for students to learn beyond the traditional classroom environment. Wilderness Education asks students to problem-solve, work together, manage challenges and develop confidence and independence.

A winter expedition adds another layer to that challenge, and I am sure there will be plenty of stories to share on their return! Thank you to our Wilderness Education staff for the considerable planning and care that goes into providing these opportunities.

Student Leadership

We are also moving further into our Student Leadership process with Year 11.

Leadership at BMGS is about much more than receiving a title or wearing a badge. It is about service, character and the way we contribute to the people and community around us.

For our Year 11 students applying for leadership positions, this is an important time to reflect on the example they set every day. Leadership is demonstrated in the small things - including others, showing initiative, treating people with respect, following through on commitments and doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.

I look forward to seeing our Year 11 students continue to step forward and contribute to the next chapter of student leadership at BMGS.

Pride in Our School

As we move through the colder part of Term 3, I would also like to remind students about wearing their school uniform correctly.

Uniform is an important expression of belonging and pride in our school. We understand that winter in the Blue Mountains can be particularly cold, and students have a number of approved options available to help them stay warm, including thermals, navy jumpers, the school all-weather jacket, BMGS scarves and beanies, as well as tights for girls. Our buildings are also well heated throughout the winter months.

Non-uniform puffer jackets are not part of the current BMGS uniform and should not be worn at school. Until the School undertakes a review or makes changes to the uniform policy, our current uniform expectations remain in place.

This is particularly important for our senior students, who are role models for younger students. Wearing the uniform correctly, being punctual, treating our spaces with respect and looking after one another are all small but important ways of contributing positively to our school culture.

Looking Ahead

There is certainly no slowing down as we head into Week 5.

We have our Whole School Meeting, Year 7 Sydney Zoo excursion, House Meetings, HICES Athletics and the Whole School Music Concert ahead of us, along with ISA Finals and the many other activities that make up life at BMGS.

As we reach the middle of the term, I encourage our students to keep engaging fully in their learning and in the broader life of the School. Some of the most memorable parts of school life happen outside the lesson itself - through a House activity, expedition, performance, sporting team, leadership opportunity or simply through the friendships and connections made along the way.

Thank you to our students, staff and families for your continued contribution to our Senior School community.

Warm regards,

Alicia Michielsen

Head of Senior School