From the 

Head of  

Senior School

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

Welcome to another exciting week at our school! As we end Week 9, there have been several significant events and opportunities taking place that I wanted to share and highlight.

BMGS celebrated Harmony Week. This is a time when we come together as a school community to celebrate our diverse cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. Harmony Day is more than just a day on the calendar - it is a reminder of the strength we find in our differences and the beauty of coming together in unity. It is a day to celebrate inclusivity, respect, and belonging for all. 

We celebrated Harmony Week by holding a special assembly and wearing orange. We also had House picnics where we shared lunch in house groups.

The Year 12 students were fortunate to have the UNSW come and speak to them about studying at their university. This visit from UNSW presented a unique opportunity for our Year 12 students to explore the diverse range of academic pathways, programs, and opportunities awaiting them. Whether students are interested in engineering, arts, sciences, or any other field, UNSW has something to offer. This session provided invaluable insights into university life, admission processes, scholarships, and more. Let's embrace this chance to shape our futures together!

A group of twenty-one Year Ten students travelled to the Olympic Park on Friday, 22nd March to compete in the Science and Engineering Challenge. This annual event is a national STEM outreach program provided by the University of Newcastle that allows students to complete a range of exciting hands-on challenges over the day. 

We had teams that built Helter Skelter Shelters, which needed to withstand strong loads and earthquake conditions. Another challenge involved designing a power infrastructure network to ensure that electricity supply was maintained in a city experiencing several challenges. Teams developed their coding and communication skills by creating a decipherable code involving only light flashes.  The wind turbine challenge was a favourite and involved constructing the blades and tail fin of a turbine to produce the most revolutions, without spinning out of control. Other events included a Fish Trap Challenge, a Job Juggle and a Flight Challenge which involved designing, building and flying a timber plane. These events allowed students to further develop their critical thinking, problem solving, planning and teamwork skills. 

The event culminated with the bridge test. Our team of Lachlan, Jack and Cody had spent all day building an intricate truss bridge from only paddlepop sticks, masking tape, paper clips and paper. Every gram of bridge weight was important, and the bridge was able to successfully make it through 5 load tests before finally being defeated by a bridge-busting load of 8.5kg. 

Well done to everyone involved! Thank you to Mrs Tierney and Mr Harrison for taking our students on this fantastic opportunity

We stepped into a world of elegance and excitement as rehearsals for the much-anticipated Winter Ball officially began last week! This timeless tradition offered a unique opportunity to showcase grace, poise, and unity, marking a significant milestone in our lives. Whether you were a pro on the dance floor or had two left feet, fear was not in the air! Our experienced instructors were there to guide every step of the way, ensuring that each student and their partner shone on the big night. Rehearsals were not just about perfecting those dance moves; they were a chance to forge lasting friendships, create unforgettable memories, and build confidence. We laced up our dancing shoes, embraced the journey, and made this Winter Ball one for the history books. Here's to the beginning of this exciting journey together—we'll cherish the memories from rehearsal!

Looking ahead we will be celebrating Easter with our Easter long weekend. Year 12 students will come back from the long weekend to start their Year 12 Assessment Block. Week 11 will start with the Cross Country on the Tuesday, followed by the Year 11 Parent Teacher Night. The NZ Rugby Tour will set off on the Thursday of the last week of term.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Mrs Alicia Michielsen

Head of Senior School