Conversations With The Head
Join Head of School, Matthew O’Brien as he speaks to visitors, staff, students and members our community.
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Episode 15: Dr Sarah Jefferson, senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University.
In this episode, Mr O’Brien speaks to Dr Sarah Jefferson, a senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University. Dr Jefferson discusses the make up of the Teenage brain, how it works and parents’ role in supporting their development.
Episode 14: Joel Whitwell, author and Mrs Meredith McCarthy, Assistant Head of Boarding.
In this episode, Mr O’Brien speaks to author, Joel Whitwell and Mrs Meredith McCarthy about conquering adversity.
Episode 13: Mrs Kathy Chiera, The Head of Secondary and Deputy Head of School
In this episode, Mr O’Brien speaks to Mrs Kathy Chiera, The Head of Secondary and Deputy Head of School and reflects on the first Term in our 50th Year, the impacts of the current COVID-19 wave and look forward to the rest of 2022.
Episode 12: Tara Anderson and Henry Openshaw, 2021 School Captains
In this episode, Mr O’Brien speaks to the 2021 School Captains Tara Anderson and Henry Openshaw. Tara and Henry speak about when they joined the School, their growth since joining and highlights over the years. They also discuss the events and sports over the last Term, the upcoming events to end the year, their achievements with the student executive this year and finally what they are looking forward to for the future.
Episode 11: Griffin Longley, CEO of Nature Play WA
In this episode, Mr Matthew O’Brien speaks with the CEO of Nature Play WA, Mr Griffin Longley about modern parenting, the importance of unstructured outdoor play to encourage a full and healthy childhood and the many benefits of spending time in nature.
To find out more about Nature play WA, who are working to ensure that Western Australian children have access to time and space to play and to connect with our state’s greatest asset, our extraordinary natural environment, go to www.natureplaywa.org.au
Episode 10: Impact Week 2021
Episode 9: Reconciliation Week with newly appointed Indigenous Students Co-ordinator, Luke Yates and a pre-service teacher from Edith Cowan University, Ms Jade Douglas
In this special Reconciliation Week episode, Mr O’Brien speaks with Mr Yates and Ms Douglas, who is doing her final practical placement with our Year 6 class. Mr Yates talks about his background, involvement with community development and his role supporting and working with our students and Ms Douglas discusses her own background and the story behind the book, ‘Finding Our Heart’, by Thomas Mayor and illustrated by Blak Douglas.
Episode 8: Senior Secondary Parent Information Evening – Part 2
This episode is part two of a live recording of the Senior Secondary Parent Information Evening held on Thursday, 6 May 2021, and includes a panel of parents discussing their individual senior secondary experience. They provide advice and personal recommendations on how to support your child as well as about what to expect from the staff at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Thank you to the panel members, Rachel Jackson, Roxanne Wilson, Jodie Spanswick, Malinda Nixon and Amanda McGregor.
Episode 7: Senior Secondary Parent Information Evening – Part 1
This episode is part one of a live recording of the Senior Secondary Parent Information Evening held on Thursday, 6 May 2021, and includes a panel of educational experts comprising Kathy Chiera, Head of Secondary, Georgina Ferreira, Future Students Engagement Co-ordinator at ECU, Naseem Mkandawire, Manager of the School Engagement Team at UWA. During the discussion definitions of educational terms are provided, details of how the ATAR is calculated and what it means is defined and pathway opportunities into tertiary institutions are outlined.
Below is the live recording of the entire evening.
Episode 6: Kathy Chiera, the new Deputy Head of School and Head of Secondary, Rob Whirledge, the Head of Primary and Justin Forbes, the Head of Boarding
In this episode, instead of the normal end of Term One letter, Mr Matthew O’Brien speaks with Mrs Chiera, Mr Whirledge, Mr Forbes. Highlights for Term 1 2021 are discussed for Primary, Secondary and Boarding, and some of the upcoming events and plans for the rest of the year are announced.
Episode 5: Justin Forbes, Head of Boarding, and students Hayley Hill and Odette Telfer, Head and Associate Head Boarder
In this episode, Mr Matthew O’Brien speaks with Mr Forbes, and students Miss Hill and Miss Telfer, and discuss all aspects of Boarding life, describing why students choose Boarding, a normal day and special events, the support and structure of Boarding, and some of the plans for the future.
Episode 4: Kathy Chiera, Deputy Head of Secondary in charge of Academics, and Belinda Walker, the VET Co-ordinator and careers teacher
In this episode, Mr Matthew O’Brien speaks with Mrs Kathy Chiera and Mrs Belinda Walker about Senior Secondary and the pathways available for the students at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Information evenings, pathway planning interviews, subject selection and the resulting timetable creation is all discussed, along with the range of subjects and vocational options and specialist pathways with mentoring available for Senior Secondary students. For more information about an information night being held this Thursday, 18 June, visit https://www.bcgs.wa.edu.au/event/senior-secondary-information-night/
Episode 3: Declan Mountford, School Psychologist
In this episode, Mr Matthew O’Brien and Mr Declan Mountford, our school psychologist, talk about looking after our wellbeing while we are remote working and learning. Practical tips for students and their parents are discussed, specifically looking at how we can more than “cope” in the current situation. Mr Mountford was a student at Grammar, graduating in 2006, after which he studied and worked in a range of roles in the area of psychology before returning to the School last year as our Psychologist.
Episode 2: Sean Cowan, Physiotherapist from Koombana Physiotherapy
In this episode, Mr Matthew O’Brien and Mr Sean Cowan discuss the things people can do at home to look after their bodies whilst they are remote learning or working during the COVID-19 crisis. Be sure to check out the bonus video content below to see the exercises and stretches demonstrated. Sean is an Old Grammarian, and was Head Boy 2000. In this episode he discusses his journey since graduation and his involvement as a mentor in the Medical and Allied Health Specialist Program.
Episode 1: Steven Payne, Learning Delivery Specialist from Microsoft
In this episode, Mr O’Brien and Mr Payne discuss the Digital Education Revolution, how schools have adopted it and how it has changed the way students learn at school, following the roll-out of the new Surface Pro stylus enabled devices to our Year 7 and 10 students.
