2023 School Magazine

Head

Our School is special; it provides us with an exemplary education and boundless opportunities. Central to this is the burning passion displayed by all members of the School— students, staff, teachers, and our Girls Grammar community— for all that we do. In creating a motto, and therefore determining our goals for 2023, the Student Council proposed to harness this energy. We wanted a motto that would manifest itself in a School community in which every student knew that her contribution was valued and respected. Our motto, Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through , dually honours 148 years of Girls Grammar tradition and fuels our passion for the future. It calls upon students to embody the culture of our iconic royal blue, and to inspire others as well. As part of our efforts to Embody the Blue this year, we began many of our assembly speeches with a ‘fun fact’ concerning the vibrant history of our School. We explored the origins and significance of Foundation Day, the School song, the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre, and the introduction of the School uniform—particularly important as we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the iconic Grammar hat! We believe a rich understanding of our history unites students and grounds us in the proud tradition of Grammar Women. As we look back in time, we hope that all students may appreciate how they are, in fact, shaping the future of BGGS. While defining our shared identity as Grammar girls, we have aimed to approach all our activities with the energy to ‘Blaze it Through’ . We came together for Blue Days to inspire each other to achieve our very best in major sporting and cultural events. The 2023 Blue Day themes—Blue Blaze, Blue Blast from the Past, and BCF—served to encourage the student body to gather

on the Pool Lawn, link arms in whole-School war cries, and partake in various fun activities … all while decked out in blue attire. A very exact embodiment of the Blue! We were also excited to have created our own special tradition this year. As Head Girls, with the cooperation of Student Council, we wanted to acknowledge the importance of conscious participation through the introduction of the ‘True Blue’ initiative. We believe that sparking School spirit is not just about cheering, but instead the significance of showing up. Although we strive for our own personal success, being a True Blue Grammar girl means you are also present to support each other. This year, girls who attended three ‘True Blue-Verified’ events each term were awarded a badge. The number of awardees increased each term and the girls reflected on how much they gained from their involvement. The success of True Blue is all thanks to the generosity of our Grammar girls and their genuine desire to support one another. We hope 2023 at BGGS will be remembered as a year when spirit was valued over self-interest, and enthusiasm was just as important as the outcome. We are wholly indebted to the great leadership and comradery of the 2023 Student Council, and the wider friendship, support and love of our wonderful Year 12 cohort—the heart of this year's legacy. Also, the year’s success was only possible with the support of our tireless staff who made such achievements, and adventures, possible. The passion and dedication exhibited by all members of our Girls Grammar community has shown us the great things that can be achieved when we Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through . Louise Campbell (12O) and Anna McAuley (12R)

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