To further enhance learning for all students, your sons and daughters will have already experienced greater clarity around classroom expectations. These feature a renewed focus on punctuality, and the consistent expectation that devices remain away until requested by a teacher. These expectations are enhanced by further improvements to classroom environments over the summer, and reduced visual distractions in classrooms to support student engagement and focus.

A further strategy for reducing students’ cognitive load and enhancing student wellbeing is the use of teacher-organised seating rotations for all classes. Intentionality in the planning of student seating in classrooms allows more equitable access to learning across all students. Teachers will continue to organise the seating for students in their classes in line with evidence for improved student learning outcomes.

Please note the following important changes to our Pastoral Care system, particularly in relation to Merits and Demerits:

• Parents will now receive an alert via the OLLE app to inform them if a Merit or Demerit has been issued for their child through the Pastoral Care system (download OLLE app here)
• Parents will be able to view Merits and Demerits immediately once this information has been entered by a staff member
• Demerits will now replace Infringements, with the new demerit process outlined on page 9 of the Senior School Diary
• Parents will not receive an email notification when a Pastoral Care entry has been issued as they will be able to access this information directly through the OLLE app.

The Cocurricular Overview for Term I and associated expression of interest forms are available on the OLLE page Senior School Cocurricular Activities. I encourage students to involve themselves broadly in the life of the School. All activities begin in Week 3, allowing students time in Week 2 to hear more about the opportunities available.

Mr Adrian Deck, Head of Sport

Representative Sport

Illawarra Grammar students from Years 7-12 have numerous opportunities throughout the year to represent the School in their chosen sport. Students are encouraged to go to the Sports OLLE page and keep an eye on Daily Notices.

Cocurricular Sport (Before and After School)

Please view the full cocurricular timetable here and sign up here. These are open for all students to register, with each activity incurring a cost of $80 per term.

Registration for these activities will close on Friday 6 February. Sessions will commence in Week 3.

Football Development Program (New)

Expressions of interest are being taken for all students who are seeking to develop their football (soccer) skills under the expert guidance of coach Steve Krishna from Krishna’s Koaching. Learn more and apply here by Friday 6 February.

Community Sport – Join a TIGS team

Netball: Each year, we enter a team in the Illawarra District Netball Association (IDNA) competition in partnership with Corrimal Netball Club. Female students from K-12 and male students from K-6 can join. Learn more and register here.

Further opportunities: We are looking at entering TIGS teams into other community sport competitions, such as Oz Tag, Touch Football, Summer 6’s Soccer, Basketball or Volleyball. If your child is interested in joining a TIGS team, please complete this expression of interest form so we can discover the level of interest.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information, or any other sport related matters, please do not hesitate to me at adeck@tigs.nsw.edu.au

High personal standards are required of all students. Students should always wear their school uniforms neatly and correctly.

More information including our Uniform Guide, and details of our Uniform Shop and Second-Hand Uniform Shop can be found on OLLE.

We will be continuing to open Goodhew Library to senior students on Saturdays during term time, offering a place for students in Years 10 – 12 to study.

Saturday Library will commence at the end of Week 2, Saturday 7 February. The Library will be open from 9.00am until 2.00pm and students are free to arrive and leave at a time that best suits them.

The availability of tutors is currently being confirmed and will be advertised to students in Years 10 – 12 over the coming weeks.

As we commence the 2026 academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to remind students, parents and guardians to familiarise themselves with our School’s Assessment, Academic Integrity, and Homework policies. These policies are designed to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty, to ensure fairness and transparency in our assessment provisions, and to support students in developing study habits that promote successful learning.

The policies are available on OLLE.

Year 7 parents and students should note that, to support a smooth academic transition into the Senior School, mandatory homework for the first six weeks of Term I will be limited to English, Mathematics and Languages, with a duration of approximately 10–12 minutes per subject per evening. In addition, regular typing practice through TypingClub is recommended as a daily five minute habit throughout this time. From Week 7, expectations as per the Homework Policy will commence.

Students in Years 7-12 can order their lunch online via Flexischools OR purchase it over the counter. Please note preference will be given to online orders if stock levels are low. Payment cannot be made with a phone, only cash, card, and Student ID Card will be accepted. More information can be found on OLLE.

5.30pm, Wednesday 4 February

For our Year 7 families, this event provides an opportunity to learn more about Year 7’s start to the year and our upcoming camp taking place in Week 3. We are confident the camp will serve to assist Year 7 in better knowing their peers, and in creating a strong sense of belonging in the cohort and we look forward to sharing more information.

The event will take place in the IGC, commencing at 5.30pm and finishing by 6.45pm. Please park in the school car park accessed from the top of Powell Street or in surrounding streets.

Monday 9 February

A highlight of the Sporting Calendar, our Swimming Carnival, is a great chance for students to participate, and to show House pride. Students arrive at School as normal, where a bus will transport students to and from the pool. Students are to wear sports uniform with their house shirt and bring sunscreen and all food and drink. See the Consent2Go form for more details.

Mr Chris Breheny, Head of Academics

It’s a privilege to celebrate the academic achievements of our Class of 2025 in the Higher School Certificate. Their results demonstrate not only academic excellence, but also sustained effort, grit, and a deep commitment to learning.

In 2025, our School was ranked 55th in New South Wales for overall HSC achievement, an outstanding result that also places us as the top‑performing school in the Illawarra and South Coast region. These outcomes affirm our place among the leading schools in the state and underscore the aspiration and rigour that characterise our teaching and learning culture.

This 2025 HSC cohort achieved exceptional individual and collective outcomes. Most notably, Isabella Denley achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.85, placing her among the highest‑achieving students in NSW. Isabella was also ranked 8th in New South Wales for Legal Studies, an exceptional accomplishment that speaks to her industrious work ethic and astute intellect.

Academic breadth and consistency were also defining features of this cohort’s results. One in three students achieved an ATAR above 90, with 10 students securing ATARs above 95. Of these, four students achieved ATARs above 98: Isabella Denley, Saxon Parish, Bora Kim and Alexis Evans. Three students were named on the NSW All‑Round Achievers List, while an outstanding 52% of students were placed on the NSW Distinguished Achievers List for achieving Band 6 or E4 results in one or more courses. Together, these results highlight the depth of academic success across the cohort and across a broad range of disciplines.

Our School’s continued strength in English is particularly noteworthy. We were ranked 7th in New South Wales for English Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2, making us the 2nd‑ranked independent school in the state across these courses. Additionally, we were ranked 9th in New South Wales for English Standard and EAL/D, demonstrating excellence across the full spectrum of English courses.

Adding to these successes, we were proud to see three HSC Showcase selections – Charlotte Wall, Victoria Di Martino and Alexis Evans – recognised for the exceptional quality of their major works.

These results are testament to the determination, discipline, aspiration, and hard work of our students, supported by the expertise and passion of our teachers and the strong partnership we share with our broader school community. They give clear expression to a culture of high expectations and the collective pursuit of learning.

While these results imbue us with a strong sense of pride and satisfaction, they also carry a deeper responsibility. Our task now is to build upon this success – to learn from it, refine our practices further, and continue raising expectations for ourselves and our students. In doing so, we ensure that each cohort is not merely measured against past success, but empowered to surpass it.