Junior School

This week is Harmony Week and at BMGS we are celebrating Harmony Day today. Harmony Week has been celebrated across Australia since 1999 and is widely recognised as a time to celebrate the successful integration of migrants into our community as well as raise awareness about the ongoing need to maintain Australia’s status as a successful multicultural country. 

This year, the School has initiated a partnership with the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group. The group consists entirely of volunteers united by the vision of an openhearted Australia where people seeking refuge are treated with justice and compassion. They are a registered charity with all funds raised going directly to their work, some of which involves providing assistance in finding employment, covering medical and education expenses, and facilitating participation in extra-curricular programs. 

Harmony Day today is an Orange Themed Dress Day, meaning students are encouraged to wear an orange item of clothing. Why orange? Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Alternatively, students may choose to wear an appropriate outfit which signifies their individual family ancestry and cultural connections. Students have been asked to bring a gold coin donation along which will go directly to the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group. Classes will also be engaging with learning activities across the day to focus in on the themes of inclusion and diversity and celebrating our differences that make us who we are as Australians.

Our Inter-House Cross Country Carnival was held amid threatening skies last Friday. Mercifully, the weather played its part and runners were able to compete in predominantly dry conditions across a challenging course. Again, great House spirit was in force as the different Houses cheered on their competitors as they ran past the crowd and engaged in raucous war-cry chants. There was some impressive running amongst our competitors. Congratulations to Ziele Pitt who were our eventual House Champions and to the following children who by virtue of winning their age race are declared our age champions:

12/13 Years - Keeden Harrison, Jessica Crambrook

11 Years - Hunter Costigan,  Amelia Burgess

10 Years - Lucas Rutherford, Clare Stewart

9 Years - Tasman Harrison,  Lucie Hammon

8 Years - Arahan Gill, Una Luo

A full report by our Springwood Campus Sport Leaders, together with photos, appears in the "Sport" section on this Newsletter.

Student Awards

The following presentations were made at Assembly this week:

Bronze award – Hunter Costigan (S3 Raspberries) and Sebastian Olmos (S1 Grapes)

Silver award – Xavier Stephens (S3 Raspberries)                  

Mr Nigel Cockington

Head of Junior School