BMGS Newsletter

From the Principal

Dear BMGS Community,

Celebrating BMGS Wilderness Education: National Recognition for Exemplary Outdoor Education Program

It is my absolute pleasure to start this newsletter with one of the best headline news pieces I have had in my time at Blue Mountains Grammar School. Our Wilderness Education program, led so well by Parrish Robbins and Adele Stubenrauch, has been honoured with the Outdoor Education Australia Exemplary Outdoor Education Program Award - the highest national recognition for excellence in outdoor education. Awarded by Outdoor Education Australia (OEA), the peak body representing outdoor education across the country, this accolade celebrates innovative programs that enrich student learning and promote social and environmental responsibility.

 

The Wilderness Education program at BMGS, spanning Pre-Kindergarten through Year 12, was chosen as the standout for its thoughtful design and progressive, immersive approach. BMGS students engage deeply with our World Heritage-listed surroundings, beginning with nature play and environmental stewardship in the Junior School. In Senior School, students expand their horizons and develop skills in various outdoor activities such as bushwalking, climbing, canoeing, abseiling, and backcountry skiing. The program offers a unique leadership path for our more advanced students, allowing them to organise and lead expeditions.

 

Receiving this award is a testament to our program’s impact, aligning closely with Outdoor Education Australia’s criteria for innovation, educational success, and social and environmental responsibility. As the only School in New South Wales to offer Outdoor Leadership as an HSC subject, our Wilderness Education graduates enter the world ready to lead and inspire others in bushwalking and canoeing, equipped with skills and confidence that transcend the classroom.

 

Congratulations to our dedicated Wilderness Education team, whose commitment to our student’s growth and the sustainable stewardship of our natural environment makes this achievement possible. This award celebrates their hard work and highlights BMGS’s continued commitment to fostering resilience, leadership, and a deep connection to the natural world.

 

It is now official - BMGS does provide The Wilderness Experience!

Building a Culture of Place, Space and Belonging

We are always grateful for the partnership we share with you in guiding and shaping the young people of our community. We are privileged to nurture their growth, wellbeing, and success as partners with you. As a school, we are continually committed to cultivating a culture where students are at the heart of all we do and the centre of our decisions. Our young people’s development and growth are paramount to their wellbeing and learning.

 

As part of our new Strategic Plan, we are excited to announce some important initiatives to enhance how we care for, shape, and extend our students’ growth. Over the past nine months, we’ve undertaken an in-depth investigation, evaluating best practices from other leading models to ensure we meet the highest student care and support standards for learning. As a result, we have decided to evolve our pastoral care structure at BMGS.

 

Recently, we advertised for two new roles dedicated to strengthening culture and care within our Senior School - Dean of Students for Years 7-9 and Dean of Students for Years 10-12. We also appointed a new Deputy Head of Junior School - Culture and Care in our Junior School. These positions will be central to advancing our Strategic Plan’s Place, Space, and Belonging priority area. This model will not replace our existing Tutor Group structure in the Senior School; students will still meet daily with their Tutor, who will remain their primary pastoral support. Likewise, the classroom teacher remains the key contact point in the Junior School. However, the Deans of Students and the Deputy Head of Junior School - Culture and Care will add a new support layer to foster a culture of wellbeing and academic growth.

 

The new model will have many benefits for our students and families and include:

  1. Honouring Our House System: Our house system has always been a defining part of BMGS and will continue to be the “family” students identify with within the school. While the Deans of Students will play a more significant role in nurturing a culture of care and belonging, our Heads of House will still be actively involved in building house pride and camaraderie. They will continue to unite our students, strengthening the bonds and traditions that make each House unique.
  2. Focus on “Academic Care”: The Deans of Students and Deputy Head of Junior School - Culture and Care will centre their work around a model known as “Academic Care.” This approach integrates wellbeing and learning, recognising that student success in one area directly influences success in the other. Academic care is essential because it allows us to support students holistically, ensuring that their personal and educational needs are met in tandem.
  3. Doubling Our Capacity for Support: This model will effectively double the amount of time available for staff to connect with students and their families, building a stronger, more focused culture of wellbeing and learning. By dedicating more time to follow-up, support, and engagement, we can respond more promptly to student needs and cultivate an environment that nurtures young people’s growth.

We are excited to take this step forward and are confident that this expanded model of care will provide even more outstanding support for your child’s wellbeing and learning journey. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and trust as we continue to make BMGS a place where every student can thrive.

Welcome to new staff in 2025

As many will know, 2025 will change our Junior School team. We will farewell some of those team members in a way that honours their time with us. As a school, we continually attract quality people, and I am pleased to announce that we have some outstanding new staff joining our team next year. Our students attend their Orientation Days on Tuesday at Springwood and Wednesday at Wentworth Falls and will have the opportunity to meet their teachers for next year. We are sad to farewell some team members this year, but we are also thankful to God for bringing us new people who will help shape the next chapter in our Junior School.

 

It is my pleasure to introduce you to our new team members for 2025:

  • Michelle O’Keefe joins us as our new Deputy Head of Junior School. She comes to us from Tyndale Christian School and is experienced in leading students and teachers to achieve the best outcomes for children regarding their learning and wellbeing. Michelle has let us know that she is excited to join our team and be a member of our outstanding staff as we continue to care for the children at BMGS.
  • Deanne Brajkovic will be joining us in Pre-Kindergarten. She has a wealth of experience in the Early Years and a passion for seeing our young learners develop and grow through play. 
  • Ty Culbert will join us with a strong background in teaching and zookeeping. 
  • Louise Hall is a highly experienced STEAM teacher who has worked across different parts of Australia and around the world. 
  • Beth Gaut is an exceptional young teacher passionate about stepping towards the exciting future at our school. 

As is always the case, we are full steam ahead as we head to the back half of Term 4. There is plenty still in store for us all, including all of our end-of-year events and celebrations. I hope we all stay on task with effort until the last minute - that is the sign and character of a BMGS member.  

 

Warm regards,

 

Steven Coote 

Principal