Page 2 - 2023 - The Altiora Vol 75

FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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2 | FR OM THE PRINCIP AL

In this edition of The Altiora, I am humbled and grateful
to reflect on 2023. It was a year that stood as the first
uninterrupted academic year since the disruptive impact
of the global pandemic in 2020. It felt good to step again
towards continuity, community, and possibility.

Returning to the regular day-to-day of school was
a welcome change for all of us. Beyond pursuing
knowledge alone, our community’s warmth made this
year particularly special. At BMGS, we believe in “good
learning doing good,” and our students have again
embraced this ethos wholeheartedly.

Our Altiora cover this year is of the John Cunningham
Student Centre. The opening of this facility marks an
occasion of ongoing planned improvements at Blue
Mountains Grammar School. While the pandemic
has delayed this project, the wait has been worth it.
This fresh and relaxed facility stands as a reflection Our dedication to excellence encouraged us to partner
of the generosity of John Cunningham, as well as the with The Future Schools Alliance. Becoming a member
countless contributions from our Alumni and also allows us to engage and work alongside innovative
our parents. This support, regardless of the size of educational leaders locally and overseas to collaborate,
the donations, has been a reminder that people want explore, evolve, and transform our school community to
the best for our young people. Your commitment will reimagine what learning can be for our young people.
leave a lasting legacy for students to come. The John This year, we have also seen our team’s unique ability
Cunningham Student Centre is not just a building; it to build learning with young people as our focus. One
represents a commitment to providing our students example of this is our Year 7 Odyssey program. In 2023,
with an environment for learning, personal growth and Odyssey was designed and created by the combined
wellbeing. I extend my appreciation to all those who effort of more than 30 of our educational and support
made this a reality. staff, all to make a genuine transformative educational
experience for our students. The Odyssey program
In 2023, our students again demonstrated their
exceptional commitment to projects that set us apart. reflects our commitment to offering an experiential
Their endeavours were marked by curiosity, creativity, learning opportunity beyond the traditional classroom
and resilience, from competing in F1 in Schools to setting. It empowers our students to explore new
creating frog habitats, researching the behaviours of horizons, cultivate leadership skills, and foster a deeper
magpies, and excelling in various sports and academic connection with the world around them and the
competitions. relevance of their learning. All things are now in place to
launch Odyssey in 2024.
More importantly, our young people continued to apply As an Anglican School, we are guided by passages of
their efforts and hope in service alongside organisations
dedicated to making life more accessible for those less Scripture that inform us in our pursuit of knowledge,
understanding, and personal growth. Romans 15:13
fortunate. This commitment to social responsibility
has always been embodied in the core values of our says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope
school, and we are immensely proud to see our students
translate these values into meaningful actions. This was by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
realised in the significant contribution to charity work, This passage reminds us that our learning,
a return to the 45K Walk to Bungawarra, and a focused understanding, and growth become worthwhile when
commitment to Compassion Australia. We raised money we are grounded in the hope for something new and
for Brain Cancer research, undertook local charity work transformative in the future.
and impacted communities near and far. I am so proud of The Anglican tradition emphasises the importance of
our students and our community for those moments. faith, hope, and love in our lives. Through hope, we

In 2023, we reaffirmed our dedication to excellence in aspire to make our learning meaningful and purposeful.
learning and educational innovation. We understand that education is not solely about
acquiring knowledge but also about applying it to
Our staff embarked on journeys to leading educational benefit ourselves and the wider community. In the light
institutions across the globe, including Perth, Canberra,
Adelaide, Melbourne, Barcelona, Wales, and the UK. of hope, our pursuit of academic excellence and personal
development takes on a higher significance as it
These travels were undertaken with one explicit becomes a means to contribute positively to the world.
purpose – to serve our young learners better. By
broadening our perspectives and observing some of the With that in mind, this passage serves as a theological
anchor in our school community. It encourages us to
best, we equip our students with the skills they need to
thrive in an ever-changing world. approach our educational journey purposefully, driven