From the Principal

Dear BMGS Families,

A Month That Shows Me What a Grammar Experience Really Is

Now and then, a week at Blue Mountains Grammar School unfolds in a way that quietly reminds me why I love this work, not because of one headline event, but because of many small moments that, together, reveal the heart of our community.

This past week, I’ve watched the life of our School spill into every corner, into the wilderness on the edge of Lithgow and Newnes, into the bush beside the Junior School, into classrooms where students lean forward with interest, and into science labs where ideas are challenged and explored. It has been present in jokes between friends, in students’ preparedness to try something new, and in the steady, faithful work of teachers guiding, encouraging, and believing in our students.

This week, we have welcomed new and returning students through our Orientation programs across both the Junior and Senior Schools. Meeting these students, some excited, some a little unsure, reminds me of the responsibility we carry as educators. Their trust, their energy and their openness centre me each time. They remind me why we show up.

Throughout the week, I’ve noticed again the remarkable things happening across our community. Zara and Rose Perisce-Burrell attended the Australian Olympic Changemaker Forum, stepping into a space created for young leaders who want to use their gifts for good. Their willingness to step into that space is something I admire and encourage.

We also celebrated the news that Emma Glenfield, known to many for her award-winning “Magpie Project,” which garnered international interest, has won the National Prize for Year 5 Individuals for another project. Her curiosity continues to grow, and seeing her recognised nationally is also encouraging.

At Springwood, our Stage 2 Wirrawirra class earned a national award in the National Mathematics Talent Quest. This is a significant achievement that reflects their teamwork, creativity and capacity for deep thinking. We are so proud of them and of their Teacher, Mrs Amy Spohr, who is reimagining what learning can be for our students and seeing the benefits in her work. 

We have also applauded the achievements of past and present students. Alumnus Matt Dodds received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching. This is an extraordinary recognition of his dedication and impact, and it was encouraging to hear him recognise Mrs Tanner in his acceptance speech. And our current students, Oliver McMahon and Alex Stewart, have been invited to the Australian Science Olympiad Summer Schools. This is impressive as it is a distinction offered to only 24 students in each discipline nationwide.

And then there are the moments that speak to our character as a community. Our annual 45 km walk to Bungawarra brought students and staff together again. This walk is a long, meaningful journey through Darug and Gundungurra Country into Wiradjuri Country. The resilience and camaraderie on display remind me what it means to belong to BMGS.

One of the most symbolic moments of all was watching our departing Year 12 students take their rite-of-passage slip-and-slide down Coorah Hill. Seeing these young adults, at the threshold of their next chapter, laughing and sliding down a hill surrounded by their peers, teachers, and families, captured something special as well.

All of this sits alongside what global research continues to show us. The OECD notes Australian students spend more than 11,000 hours in face-to-face instruction between the ages of 6 and 14. That is almost 50% more than many countries that outperform Australia internationally. It’s a reminder that what matters is not the number of hours, but how those hours are engaged. At BMGS, we continue to work to get the balance right. 

When I look around BMGS, I see hours filled with purpose, kindness, community and courage.

I see it in students who welcome others, who take risks, who show genuine warmth.

I see our staff provide their time, creativity and energy to help students flourish.

I see it in our volunteers, parents, grandparents, alumni and community members, who give so generously of themselves.

I am grateful for every person who uses their gifts, whether teaching, coaching, organising, helping, encouraging, baking, driving, cheering, or simply being present. These things all contribute to making BMGS the place we all value and love. These contributions aren’t small. They are the reason this community feels the way it does.

This, to me, is the Grammar experience.

It lives in the bush, in the classrooms, on long tracks across Country, on a hill covered in soapy water, in national awards and in moments of quiet generosity.

It lives in the partnership between families, staff, students and volunteers.

It lives in the choice each of us makes to build, encourage and strengthen our community.

And it remains one of the great privileges that I have to witness it each day.

Warm regards 

Steven Coote 

Principal 

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