THE ODYSSEY FORTNIGHT

COUNTDOWN TO YEAR 7 2025 ORIENTATION DAY 1

TIMETABLING

Odyssey steps towards an alternate model that tailors the timetable to maximise flexibility, rather than matching subjects to particular times of the week. This is part of a bigger change in the Senior School, moving to 6 x 50 minute periods in a day which allows for more versatility 7 - 12. With this new model students will be free to work on particular projects for extended periods rather than needing to pack up 6 times a day and move to a new room.

The team at Blue Mountains Grammar School is already deeply engaged in preparations for 2025. Over recent weeks, we have received enquiries about the structure of our Year 8 program. We are exploring several possibilities that provide students and parents with worthwhile options. These adjustments will further optimise educational outcomes and allow our students to use the inquiry skills developed during Semester One more effectively in all key learning areas. These changes provide a balanced and enriching academic experience, preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities ahead in Senior School and beyond.

ADJUSTMENTS IN SUBJECT OFFERING

We are committed to continually refining our educational approach to ensure our students continue to meet the needs of our students and serve the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements. We are pleased to announce a significant adjustment in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSIE) curriculum this term. We will increase HSIE to 7 periods per fortnight and have reduced PBL as a standalone subject from 21 periods per cycle to 8.

This change will enable us to exceed the NESA requirement of 100 hours of instruction. By the end of the year our Year 7 students will have completed 111 hours in Maths, English Science and HSIE which is more than 10% than required for the year, ensuring an ongoing in-depth exploration of the subject matter.

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING (PBL)

With the increase in HSIE periods, we will adjust our Project-Based Learning (PBL) sessions, which will be brought back to 8 lessons (from 21) per fortnightly cycle. This adjustment ensures that while we enhance focus on specific subjects, our commitment to innovative and research-based pedagogies remains strong.

Enabling an understanding of learning strategies is a cornerstone of the Odyssey Program, allowing students to apply their inquiry skills across various key learning areas.

RAVE

Religious and Values Education is taught in years 7-11 and reflects the school’s Christian commitment in helping students to explore faith in a safe, personal and meaningful manner. In Semester 1 this has been linked to PBL, but for the remainder of the year will be taught in dedicated classes.

FOCUS ON PROGRAMMING & CODING

As we continue into Semester 2, we are now incorporating 50 hours dedicated to programming and coding, as mandatory hours required by NESA. This initiative aligns with the need to equip students with essential skills for this time in history.

DETAILED PERIOD ALLOCATION FROM TERM 3 2024

To ensure clarity and transparency, here is the breakdown of teaching periods per subject for every student from Term 3 2024

HSIE: 7 periods
Mathematics: 7 periods
English: 7 periods
Science: 7 periods
Technological and Applied Studies (TAS): 5 periods
Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PDHPE): 4 periods
Music: 4 periods
Visual Arts: 4 periods
Drama: 3 periods
Religious and Values Education (RAVE): 2 periods
Cultural Studies: 2 periods
Project-Based Learning (PBL): 8 periods

MAGIC DAY

Wednesday in Odyssey will be Magic Day. These are the days that students will have 6 periods of Quest lessons timetabled so they can fully dive into their projects without the need to keep packing up, moving to a different space, and start again.

Magic Days will be taught by the Year 7 Teaching Team and will have lessons and activities that are loud, messy and require students to think and problem-solve deeply. The opportunity to sink deeply into projects means engagement and efficiency will improve, and students are given opportunities to self-regulate and lead their learning.

Magic Day will be the time when students hear from guest speakers and go on excursions. By having a full day clear in the timetable there is flexibility to meet with industry experts, local people of influence, and other schools.

BMGS HOUSES

Symbol: Bull
Colour: Red
Named in honour of: Dr Stewart Ziele
In honour of Dr Stewart Ziele's commitment to sport and education. Dr Ziele was an eminent dental surgeon who attended St Alban's Anglican Church in Leura. Upon his death in 1955, Dr Ziele's estate purchased a parcel of land which was donated to the School.
Dr Ziele's generosity enabled the expansion of educational facilities at BMGS and as well as the development of the ovals and Sports Centre, sustaining the sporting life of the School.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:57

Symbol: Serpent
Colour: Green
Named in honour of: The Pitt Family
In honour of Mr Robert Matcham Pitt’s commitment to Community and Service. In 1889, Mr Pitt built Coorah as a holiday house and cultivated acres of daffodils. He and his wife became very involved in the local community and served in many ways. In 1935 he donated the homestead and its five acres of land to the advancement of children’s education.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

Symbol: Phoenix
Colour: Royal Blue
Named in honour of: The Deane Family
In honour of E. K. Deane’s commitment to leadership. In 1918, Mr Deane was the founder and first Headmaster of Blue Mountains Grammar School for Boys at Springwood. Consistent with the times, he was strict but fair and a passionate sportsman.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Cor 5:18

Symbol: Lion
Colour: Black
Named in honour of:
The MacLaurin Family
In honour of Mrs Emily MacLaurin’s commitment to Christian Faith and Values, Mrs MacLaurin was a committed Christian and promoted Christian values within the Leura School for Boys. She continued with this priority once it amalgamated with Blue Mountains Grammar School or Boys in 1951 and moved to the present site in Wentworth Falls.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:14-15

Symbol: Ram
Colour: White
Named in honour of: Mr William Kelley
In honour of Mr William Kelley’s commitment to The Visual and Performing Arts. Mr Kelley provided distinguished service to Blue Mountains Grammar School in the 1980s and 1990s as honorary Treasurer on the School Council. As a great lover of Music, he encouraged and supported Music programmes within the School and his wife Kathleen, a talented painter, similarly encouraged the Visual Arts.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Symbol: Griffin
(head + wings of an eagle, body of a lion)
Colour: Maroon
Named in honour of: Mr William Hughes
In honour of Mr W.W. (Bill) Hughes’ commitment to Academia and Scholarship, Mr Hughes, a former student of Blue Mountains Grammar School for Boys, was Dux in 1937. After his retirement in the 1980s, he was present at most school community events, generously supported many of the School’s major development projects and remained passionate about the School’s pursuit of academic excellence.
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31