Junior School News
Head of Junior School
Dr Carswell and I had the pleasure of presenting at the recent AIS (Association of Independent Schools) Curriculum Conference, attended by hundreds of educators and leaders from across NSW. It was a privilege to share the journey of our Junior School over the past few years, with a particular focus on the integration of STEM to deepen student learning. Our presentation highlighted how STEM has become a powerful tool for fostering curiosity, creativity and critical thinking in our learners, preparing them for a rapidly-evolving future.
A heartfelt thank you to our P&F and the many volunteers who hosted another wonderful Father’s Day breakfast and stall. These events are cherished moments in our Junior School calendar and are always well attended. We also extend our gratitude to all staff for their support in making these celebrations so special and memorable for our students and families.
Congratulations to Mrs Bonaccorso and our dedicated team of Junior School music teachers and tutors for a fabulous first Music Showcase. The talent and enthusiasm displayed by our students were truly inspiring. We now look forward to next Wednesday’s Cocurricular Dance Showcase, where our dancers who are a part of our Dance Ensembles will have the opportunity to shine and share their passion with our community.
On Thursday 14 August, sixteen enthusiastic students from Year 5 and Year 6 represented TIGS at the GATEway 8 Competition. This annual event brings together high potential learners from across the region to engage in a series of intellectually-stimulating challenges.
The competition is uniquely designed around Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, encouraging students to apply their strengths across eight domains: Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist intelligence.
This year’s theme, ‘Artificial Intelligence’, inspired a wide range of creative and analytical tasks. From solving AI-inspired challenges to interpreting digital clues and patterns, our students delivered thoughtful and imaginative responses, demonstrating their ability to think critically and creatively in a world shaped by emerging technologies.
Throughout the day, students collaborated, problem-solved, and showcased their adaptability and curiosity, skills that are increasingly vital in the age of AI. Their enthusiasm and teamwork were evident in every challenge.
Congratulations to all students involved and thank you to the staff and families who supported this enriching experience!Â
Year 5 team:Â Eva Heritage, Oscar Ju, Alice Liang, Yi Lin Liu, Alexander Little, Hector Pan, Annabelle Roser and Mikayla Zhou.
Year 6 team:Â Elliya Barrett, Alexander Jereley, Aurora McEvedy, Marlow McQuestin, Ethan Murray, Anuj Patil, Mijia Tang and Ari Quinn.
A special thank you to Mrs Segar for ensuring the team was well prepared and supported.
Thank you for your continued vigilance in labelling jackets, blazers and other uniform items. As we transition into warmer days, please ensure all clothing is clearly labelled. Unclaimed and unlabelled items will be sent to the Second-Hand Uniform Shop to help manage the growing collection of lost property.
We look forward to welcoming families to our upcoming Celebrations of Learning. These events are a special opportunity for students to share their insights, showcase their skills, and reflect on their growth.
Please see the details below for session times and locations:
- Kindergarten Celebration of Learning – Thursday 4 September 1.30pm-2.15pm (Rees Hall)
- Year 2 Celebration of Learning – Wednesday 10 September 12.00pm-12.45pm (Year 2 Classrooms)
- Year 3 Celebration of Learning – Thursday 11 September 11.00am-12.00pm (Rees Hall)
- Year 1 Celebration of Learning – Thursday 11 September 1.30pm-2.15pm (Year 1 Classrooms)
- Year 4 Celebration of Learning – Monday 15 September 11.00am-12.00pm (Rees Hall)
- Year 6 Showcase of Learning – Thursday 18 September 4.00pm-6.00pm (Rees Hall)
- Year 5 Celebration of Learning – Tuesday 23 September 12pm-12.45pm (Year 5 Classrooms)
Please view the PEAK Vacation Care Program here for the upcoming September/October school holidays.
Senior School News
Head of Senior School
In recent weeks, the Senior School has been abuzz with conversations about student leaders. As our Year 12 students prepare to graduate in three weeks’ time, students in Year 10 and Year 11 have been submitting applications for formal leadership positions in which they will serve the School in a variety of ways. With applications for key positions displayed in the Library and online voting taking place throughout the term, the staff and students of all ages are drawn into the conversation about leadership.
This week, a panel met to review the votes and applications to determine the Captains and Prefects who will commence their roles at the start of Term IV. These outcomes will be announced to students in an Assembly in Week 9.Â
It is fitting to acknowledge the hard work and numerous contributions of our outgoing Captains and Prefects, many of whom will be graduating from the School shortly. These students have done so much to personify the character and commitment at the heart of an Illawarra Grammar education and worked tirelessly over the last twelve months to enrich our culture, inspire other students and leave a legacy they can be proud of. On behalf of our School community, thank you.
A reminder to our Year 12 families that the Graduation event for the Class of 2025 will take place in the IGC on Wednesday 24 September, commencing at 9.00am. The ceremony is an opportunity to recognise hard work and academic achievement as our Year 12s conclude their formal education and begin their final preparations for the approaching HSC examinations.Â
In the evening, the formal Valete dinner will take place from 6.30pm – 10.00pm, also on Wednesday 24 September. There is no cost for students, but parents/carers are warmly invited to attend and are encouraged to purchase their ticket using the link below.Â
We look forward to sharing this memorable evening with you.
We are excited to announce our first ever Ensembles Night, taking place on Thursday 18 September at 5.30pm in the IGC.
This special evening will showcase the talent and dedication of our student musicians, with performances from the:
- Jazz Ensemble
- Chamber Group
- Senior Strings
- Senior Choir
- Senior Orchestra
The event is free to attend, and we warmly invite our community to come along and enjoy an inspiring night of music.
Congratulations to thirty-two Year 9 and 10 students who travelled to Newcastle recently as part of the Science and Engineering Challenge.
The team, having been successful at the regional event in July, competed in the state finals across a number of categories including bridge building, devising and transmitting secret messages via pulses of light along fibre optic rods, determining the best way to power a city efficiently at a low cost, building a model glider, constructing an efficient wind turbine from supplied materials, building an ecologically friendly house and creating an effective fish trap from 3D printed rocks. Teams must be successful across all ten categories and the Illawarra Grammar team won the second day of competition and placed second in the state. Well done indeed.
Year 9 will be heading off to camp in the second week of Term IV. Parents and students are invited to attend a camp briefing this term on Monday 22 September from 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the Library. Information on the camp program including equipment and clothing requirements, safety and location will be covered. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss specific aspects of the camp with staff in attendance.
This week we are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of our Year 10 HICES debating team – Georgia Agnew, Ashlee Parker, Sienna Bohm and Hunter Bright – who have advanced to the Grand Final in Week 9 after an undefeated run through seven rounds. Their success reflects not only their teamwork, but also their ability to think critically and respond under pressure, having just one hour to prepare for each debate. Topics they’ve tackled range from whether the UN should mandate national history curriculums to the ethics of automatically registering all adults as organ donors. Their consistent performance and thoughtful arguments have impressed adjudicators, and we wish them every success in the final.
We would also like to congratulate one of our Year 8 teams – Elise Cordaro, Madison Bright, Linnie Tran and Isabella Xu – who were narrowly defeated in the semi finals.Â
The 2025 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey will follow the Australian Alps Walking Trail from 11-18 December. If your child has completed the Silver award and would like to progress to the Gold level Adventurous Journey, please register your interest and financial commitment here. Families signing up for the Gold Adventurous Journey will be invited to a parent information night in Term IV.
General School News
Student Voice
Saxon Parrish and Marci Davis-Cook – Head Prefects
For many students, one of the hardest tests in their Year 12 journey is their second Trial examination, English Paper Two – the culmination of an entire year’s work and our first two-hour examination in this year’s Trials. This examination can naturally induce nerves and trepidation, not knowing what lies ahead. Despite this, having just begun our journey and still possessing some energy, Year 12 gathered around Library tables and benches in earnest preparation.
We supported each other, polishing our work, perfecting anything from thesis statements to essays in their entirety. Many students also united outside of school during the HSC trials, diligently completing their work in Wollongong University’s library to collaborate with each other, often leading to numerous study rooms at capacity with Illawarra Grammar students.
In these few weeks, we witnessed a collective push from all students as they came to recognise their capabilities and take responsibility for them. Even when faced with the temptation of joining those who had finished early, the year dug deep and embraced the challenge ahead. Ultimately, this experience fulfilled its purpose, imperative HSC practice and new understanding of where we are in our learning journey, even if the results we received weren’t what we desired.
This week, Year 11 too will begin their own exam period with the Preliminary HSC Yearly Examinations. With a team of invigilators and the use of the McCredie building, the Prelims closely resemble the Year 12 experience, providing an invaluable opportunity to practise test performance. The Head Prefects and any Year 12 student will be eager to answer any questions regarding the Prelims to assist Year 11 over the coming weeks. We encourage you to make the most of this opportunity and use it as a stepping stone towards the year ahead.
Zaria Nguyen (Year 9)
On the first day of the Term II holidays, I, along with 23 students in Year 9 and Year 10, was given the opportunity to join a 10-day language study tour in Japan. Accompanied by three staff members, Mr Mackey, Mrs Sullivan and Mr Johannson, we left for Japan.
On 28 June at 4.00 pm, we arrived at School, ready to leave for Sydney Airport. After passing through security, we boarded our night flight to Tokyo, before catching our connecting flight to Sapporo.Â
Arriving in the morning, we left for sightseeing around Sapporo, stopping at the Mt. Okurayama Ski Jump, the 133 metre ski jump tower that held the 1972 Olympics, and Shiroi Koibito Park chocolate factory for a chance to decorate our own cookies.Â
Later in the afternoon, we arrived at our sister school, Sapporo Nichidai High School, where we met our homestay families and said farewell to each other for the night, preparing for the days ahead.
Over the next three days, we experienced Japanese school life as students prepared for their annual cultural festival. We joined our buddies in class, helped with preparations, and explored Sapporo together, including visiting the Sapporo TV Tower and wandering the streets with our new friends.
On the fourth day of being in Sapporo, it was time to say goodbye. We packed our things and were driven to Shinchitose Airport by our host families, and after many tearful goodbyes, we flew back to Tokyo.
Arriving in the afternoon, we settled into the busy and lively atmosphere of Tokyo by experiencing some delicious ramen and cooling down at the Sunshine City Prince hotel.Â
Our time in Tokyo moved swiftly. From visiting Tokyo Disneyland, a certainly magical place, to Harajuku, where fashion meets self-expression. From TeamLABS, where art found the balance of science and nature, to the Meiji Shrine, a beautifully historical place that represents the dedication to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who led Japan’s rapid modernisation during the Meiji Restoration, to Tokyo Skytree, 634 metres high, with an amazing view of Japan’s capital city.Â
Discovering the hidden kanji in our names for our hanko stamps, learning the rich history of Japan’s Edo period at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, and squeezing onto the eventful and crowded trains, we spent our last few days in Japan making the most of our time in the energetic world of Tokyo.Â
On 7 July, it was time to return home. At Tokyo Airport, we celebrated our last moments together, reflecting on the friendships, experiences, and knowledge gained during our journey.
This enchanting study tour was truly unforgettable, and we are deeply grateful to all our teachers, guides and host families for making this holiday possible.
Isabella Xu (Year 8)
Recently, the Year 7 and Year 8 Mandarin classes had the exciting opportunity to visit Chinatown for a day. Our first stop was at the Chinese Garden of Friendship, where we learnt to play the Chinese waist drums, gaining insight into ancient Chinese music and performance. We also walked around the garden in traditional Chinese costumes, admiring the beautiful scenery. Next, we enjoyed a delicious Yum Cha lunch at the Royal Palace Restaurant, where dishes like fried rice, spring rolls, and mango pancakes were served. To finish off the day, we explored the Market City Shopping Centre. Overall, the excursion was a memorable experience, full of cultural learning and fun and, on behalf of the students involved, I would like to thank our teachers, Ms Yeh and Ms Zhu, for their careful organisation of the event.
