Newsletter Term Two

Over the Easter break, my family and I found ourselves in a conversation that will be familiar to many; the enthusiastic, persistent, and highly persuasive case for getting a puppy.

Like most families, we started with the highlights: the excitement, the companionship, the joy it would bring. But very quickly, the conversation shifted. A puppy is not just about those moments. It’s about consistency, patience, routines, and a shared commitment over time. It requires early mornings, clear expectations, gentle correction, encouragement, and plenty of care. In short, it is the steady, day-by-day investment that ultimately shapes what that puppy becomes.

In many ways, Term 2 in a school feels much the same.

Term 1 is often filled with the anticipation of a new beginning where we set intentions, establish routines, and build relationships. By the time we reach Term 2, the real work begins.

This is where consistency matters most. It is where expectations are reinforced, good habits are strengthened, and growth becomes visible. This is achieved not through grand moments, but through steady effort over time.

The term ahead is rich with opportunity. Learning will deepen, challenges will be embraced, and students will continue to develop both confidence and independence.

Alongside this, our co-curricular programs and community events will offer further chances for connection, participation, and joy.

So while we are still deciding on the puppy, we are very clear on the path ahead for Term 2: consistency, care, and a collective commitment to growth.

Welcome back… we look forward to all that the term will bring.

Nicholas Brice
Deputy Principal

The term began with a meaningful focus on ANZAC Day. A number of our student leaders attended services at various locations, taking part in wreath laying and readings of The Ode. At the Mount Eliza service, one of our music students performed the role of Bugler, sounding the Last Post. Our Cadet Unit also participated in the Commemorative March in Mornington, honouring the first major military action of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli and reflecting on the importance of remembrance.

In Week 3, Year 10 students will enjoy their much anticipated Social, followed by the Year 11 Social the following evening. These events provide valuable opportunities for students to connect within their year level, strengthen friendships, and share important moments together.

We are proud of the way our senior students approach the examination period with growing confidence and independence. Midway through the term, our students will complete examinations, embracing the challenge and demonstrating the skills they have developed through consistent preparation and self-management. These experiences help students refine examination techniques, build resilience, and take ownership of their learning as they move further into the Senior years.

In the final week of Term 2, all Year 11 and 12 students undertaking Unit 3 and Unit 4 subjects will sit the General Achievement Test (GAT). This important milestone supports students in developing familiarity with formal assessment conditions and strengthens their readiness for external examinations.

The term will conclude with the Hammond Cup, held in memory of former staff member Jason Hammond. This traditional AFL match between Peninsula Grammar and Ivanhoe Grammar brings students, staff, families, and the wider community together and is a fitting way to close the term with shared spirit and connection.

Anne-Lise Haugen
Head of  Senior School

This year’s Senior School Production of Beauty and the Beast has been something truly special. From our first rehearsal through to the final curtain, the process has been filled with energy, laughter, and a shared commitment to telling this story with care and intention.

Onstage, the magic was undeniable. Audiences were drawn into a world rich with character, colour, and detail, brought to life by a cast who embraced every moment. Our leads stepped into their roles with confidence and individuality, from Aiden Floris’ (Year 12) charming Lumiere, complete with a beautifully crafted French accent, to the thoughtful musicianship of Scarlett May (Year 11) as Belle and Noah Muir (Year 11) as Beast, and Georgia Wilson (Year 12) and Raphael Balint-Smith’s (Year 12) perfectly timed humour as Mrs Potts and Cogsworth.

Equally impressive was the strength of the ensemble. There was a genuine sense of unity and joy in their work, particularly through our specialist dancers who vividly brought to life napkins, wolves, villagers, and royalty. Moments of humour, tension, and transformation reflected the hours of rehearsal, persistence, and commitment behind the scenes. Behind the curtain, our technical and backstage team, led by April Collins (Year 11), worked with focus and professionalism to bring every element together seamlessly. Their contribution was integral in shaping a production of this scale.

What has felt most meaningful, however, is what cannot be captured in a single performance. Throughout this journey, students have grown in confidence, built resilience, and learned how to support one another as a team. New friendships have formed, challenges have been met with determination, and there has been a constant sense of care within the room.

As the curtain falls, we celebrate not just what was seen onstage, but everything that led us there. The memories, connections, and quiet growth along the way are what will stay with us, a reminder of the role the Arts play in bringing a community together.

Hayley Moseley
Head of Theatrical Productions

Peninsula Jazz Week is a joyful celebration of music, creativity, and teamwork, showcasing the outstanding talent of our jazz students and the vibrant culture of music at Peninsula Grammar.

Jazz Week begins on Tuesday 28 April with Stage Band and Jazz Choir performances during assemblies, giving students the chance to share their music with the wider school community.

In the evening, families and friends are invited to our spectacular Jazz Night, a highlight of the week. The concert will feature our Generations in Jazz ensembles including Stage Band, The Strayhorns, The Ellingtons, Trebled Youth, The Blue Notes and our Jazz Vocal Groups. We are also thrilled to welcome an outstanding line-up of guest artists: Tamara Murphy on double bass, Kyrie Anderson on drums, Ben Grayson on keys, James Le Fevre on saxophone and Kathy Hinch on vocals.

When: Tuesday 28 April, 6.00pm
Where: Ansett Hall
Tickets are free and bookings are essential

On Thursday 30 April, our jazz students will continue to learn and refine their skills through a Michelle Nicolle Jazz Workshop, designed specifically for choirs competing at Generations in Jazz.

Also on Thursday 30 April, PG Presents Paul Grabowsky and Michelle Nicolle promises to be a very special evening. These two celebrated artists will share the stage in the Performing Arts Centre, offering an unforgettable live performance.

When: Thursday 30 April, 7.00pm
Tickets: Adults $35, Under 18 $20.
Book here

PGS students are free (please email vmaclachlan@pgs.vic.edu.au  to reserve tickets)

The week concludes on Friday 1 May as our Stage Band, small jazz combos and jazz choirs head to Mount Gambier to take part in the Generations in Jazz competition, one of Australia’s most inspiring youth music events.

Jazz Week truly reflects the passion, dedication, and joy of music-making at Peninsula Grammar, and we look forward to celebrating it together.

Richard Vaudrey
Head of Ensemble and Studio Music

Our wellbeing programs continue to feature strongly across the School, underpinned by unsurpassed pastoral care in every classroom, a well-defined code of behaviour, and a deeply held sense of community. It has truly been an exciting and positive way to begin the year.

Throughout Term 1, our Year 7 Mentors and wellbeing staff ran a Tree of Life workshop with all Year 7 students. This program was designed to help students build a strong “root system” to support them through what can be a big and sometimes challenging year, while also anticipating some of the speed humps they may encounter and exploring ways to manage them effectively.

Each student created a beautiful tree that reflected their family history, hopes and dreams, and the people who support them. It was a wonderful experience and created many meaningful opportunities for staff to connect with students and get to know them more deeply.

We also explored the idea that, together, each tree in the Mentor group forms a forest — a shared support system that can help steady us through the storms of Year 7.

During Term 1, our focus was on building relationships and establishing a strong foundation for wellbeing in the early years. This included visiting every Prep and Year 1 classroom to introduce students to the role of Wellbeing at Peninsula Grammar, and to help them understand that feeling safe, supported and cared for is an important part of learning and school life. These visits were followed by workshops focused on body bubbles and caring for our own bodies and personal space, both in the classroom and in the playground.

As we move into Term 2, this work will continue, building on the connections already formed and reinforcing shared language and understanding around personal space, respect and care for self and others. These early conversations and experiences are an important part of nurturing safe, supportive learning environments and strengthening wellbeing across the School.

It was such a delight to spend time with these wonderful children and their teachers, and to see firsthand the care, curiosity, and joy that fill our early learning spaces. Together, these experiences remind us that wellbeing and belonging are built through connection, care, and shared understanding — and that when every child feels supported and valued, they are best placed to grow, learn, and thrive.

Anne Stringer
Head of Wellbeing

Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend the Stand Up Project (SUP) Parent Evening on Tuesday 12 May from 5.00pm to 6.00pm in Lowell Hall at Peninsula Grammar.

This engaging session offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from our Year 10 and 11 Stand Up Project student leaders as they speak openly and thoughtfully about bullying, wellbeing, and the realities young people experience today. Through their own perspectives, students will share what they want parents to understand and offer practical, down-to-earth advice on how to support children to become confident and effective Upstanders.

The Stand Up Project is guided by Dr Zach Greig, who provides expert training and support, while the initiative itself is student-led and student owned. This gives students a genuine voice and responsibility in addressing bullying and harmful behaviours, and plays an important role in building a positive, respectful school culture.

This is a session not to be missed. Parents will gain meaningful insight into student experiences, along with practical strategies to support conversations and actions at home. Hearing directly from students makes this a powerful and highly relevant evening for families.

We strongly encourage parents to attend and show their support for the student leaders who are making a real and lasting difference within our school community.

Suzanne Penhall
Head of Respectful Relationships

It gives us great pleasure to invite our parent community to join us on Saturday 18 July as we celebrate an important milestone, 65 years of Peninsula Grammar, at our Blue Sapphire Gala Ball.

Held at the beautiful RACV Cape Schanck Resort, the evening will be a chance for us to come together, reflect on our shared story, and enjoy one another’s company. This celebration is about connection as much as it is about marking the anniversary of a school that has shaped generations of young people and families.

Choosing to host our Gala Ball on the Mornington Peninsula was a natural decision. This is where Peninsula Grammar was founded and where our sense of community has grown over 65 years. Celebrating here allows us to honour the place, the people, and the values that continue to define our School.

We hope you will join us for an evening of celebration, conversation, and dancing as we recognise the legacy of our past and look ahead with pride and optimism.

The story of the Peninsula Grammar Ladies’ Auxiliary begins in 1959, two years before the School officially opened. Mrs Hazel Burge, the School’s first Ladies Group President, was approached by Mr John Newton, Mr John Ross, and Mr Brin Boothby and asked to bring together a small group of women to support the School’s Foundation Fund Appeal.

With plenty of enthusiasm, Hazel gathered a small committee of six women. This inaugural group quickly became a driving force behind the young School, raising funds and building a sense of community from the ground up.

Hazel served as President of what was then simply called the Ladies Group from 1960 to October 1961. In just two years, the group raised more than £2000, an impressive effort for a brand-new school. The group supported the School wherever help was needed, lending time and energy to classrooms, the tuck shop, and the library.

Hazel’s passion grew from her deep ties to Mount Eliza. Having moved from Sydney in 1948, she became closely involved in local early education, helping establish the Mount Eliza Pre School Centre. Many of the friendships formed there naturally became the foundation of Peninsula’s early parent community.

As Hazel later recalled, the Auxiliary “grew and grew.” New sub-groups formed and took on lives of their own, and events became bigger and more adventurous. The Country Fair quickly became a highlight, drawing people from across the region and firmly placing the Auxiliary at the heart of school life.

In 1962, the Ladies’ Auxiliary was formally established, with Geraldine Vigors as its first official President. Branches soon formed in Frankston, Mount Eliza and country areas, and traditions began that are still remembered fondly today, including creating early moments of connection for new families at our welcome events.

The Auxiliary’s influence remained strong into the 1970s. In 1974, they hosted the first School Ball, and in 1977 collaborated with the Peninsula School Association for the first combined Christmas Fair — raising enough funds to purchase crockery for the school kitchen.

A significant milestone came on 14 June 1982, when the Ladies’ Auxiliary and the Peninsula School Association formally merged to form the Peninsula School Parents’ Association. This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter, reflecting the evolving role of parents in the life of the School.

As we mark 65 years of Peninsula Grammar, we celebrate the enduring spirit of parent involvement that has shaped the School across generations. This history is an integral part of our story, reminding us that community has always been central to Peninsula Grammar and remains so as we look to the future.

Becca Smith
Archivist

At its heart, OPGA is about belonging. We keep the Peninsula Grammar community connected long after school ends, because Peninsula Grammar creates something that lasts — a sense of belonging shaped by shared experiences, traditions and values, and by the people who walked beside us.

Belonging can be hard to define because it looks different for everyone, and it isn’t always loud or obvious. For me, it’s a quiet thread: the instant familiarity when you run into an old classmate; a funny memory from English class or Cadet camp; or the ease of conversation when you see your Year 7 Mentor years later. It can be shared gratitude for teachers who recognised potential early, or confidence built through a netball team, a Senior School production, or discovering a new culture on French exchange alongside close friends. However it’s felt, belonging is powerful — and it continues long after the uniform is packed away.

We see that power when alumni return for OPGA Careers Day, when graduates are mentored or employed through alumni networks, and when former students return as staff, inspiring the next generation. OPGA is proud to support these connections and offer diverse ways for alumni to engage, whether they left last year or 65 years ago.

Stay connected by following OPGA on social media, reading alumni updates, sharing your story with us, or joining us at an event. Upcoming opportunities include:

• Past Staff Reunion — Saturday 3 May, Kirks on the Esplanade, Mornington (from 3.00pm)
• Peninsula Milestone Reunion — Classes of 2006, 1996 & 1986, Saturday 22 August, Harry Macdonald Pavilion (optional school tour 5.00pm, reunion from 6.00pm)
• 1, 5 and 10 Year Reunions — October 2026

Bookings: www.opga.com.au/events

Please update your details with OPGA so we can keep you informed about reunions, events, and community news — because we believe the sense of belonging formed at Peninsula Grammar endures long after graduation.

www.opga.com.au/update-details

Laura Vatousios
OPGA Alumni Liaison Officer