We have been busy learning in the new Hoskins Building. This building is a physical link between the Junior School and Senior School, symbolising the continuity of learning across our community. It is a joyful, light-filled space that celebrates learning. Already, it has been wonderful to see our students embracing this environment. I recently asked some of our Year 6 learners what it is like learning in their new space – here is what they had to say:

• “We deeply appreciate this new space and it is so ideal for our learning” – Ethan B.
• “The colours are perfect and the view from our classroom is amazing and full of beautiful landscapes and greenery” – Leena K.
• “The Junior School Library is amazing and we are so excited to learn there. We love the window seats we get to sit on to read and enjoy the view” – Zavier B.
• “The STEM Lab is incredible and has all the resources we need to learn about digital technology and more. It’s designed perfectly for our STEM learning because we do a lot of group work” – Isla Z.

In addition to moving into Hoskins, our Year 6 students took an exciting step towards their transition to Year 7 with a visit to the Senior School. They explored a range of learning spaces including the art room, multimedia room, science laboratories, gym, music rooms and the new kitchen; the tour gave students a valuable glimpse into their future learning environments. We look forward to continuing to support their transition into Year 7 throughout the year.

Students in Years 5 and 6 are already making use of Hoskins Library after school for homework and quiet study. A reminder that Year 5 and 6 students are welcome to attend at the following times:

• Monday to Thursday: 3.10pm-4.30pm
• Friday: 3.10pm-4.00pm

Please note that we have made a small adjustment to our original arrangements; at 4.30pm, students will now be accompanied to Goodhew Library, where they can continue their quiet study until 5pm Monday-Thursday instead of going to PEAK.

It was wonderful to celebrate with our Year 3 students and their parents at this week’s Celebration of Learning. We greatly value the ongoing support and involvement of our parents at these events, and we know how meaningful it is to see your children learning in action within their classroom environment. 

A reminder that our upcoming Celebrations of Learning are scheduled as follows:

• Year 6 – Monday 25 May 11.00am-11.50am 
• Year 2 – Wednesday 10 June 11.00am-11.45am
• Year 5 – Tuesday 23 June 11.50am-12.40pm.

K-2 Athletics Carnival – Tuesday 26 May 11.00am-12.40pm (Junior School Oval)

3-6 Athletics Carnival – Thursday 28 May 8.45am-2.40pm (Beaton Park Leisure Centre)

Next week are our K-2 and 3-6 Athletics Carnivals. These are wonderful opportunities for our community to come together and celebrate participation, Grit and House spirit. We look forward to cheering on our students as they demonstrate not only their athletic abilities, but also their resilience and teamwork.

To support this, students are expected to remain at the carnival for the duration of the event so that they can actively cheer on and support their peers. As the K-2 event takes place at School from 11.00am-12.40pm, students will return to class where they will continue their normal lessons for the remainder of the day. The 3-6 event concludes at 2.40pm and parents and carers are welcome to sign their child out at the end of the carnival; however, students are not to be signed out prior to this time. A bus will transport the remaining students back to school.

The P&F will run a bake sale at the K-2 carnival, with items for sale to parents from 11.00am and then to all Junior School students from 12.40pm – 1.20pm. The P&F will also run a sausage sizzle at the 3-6 carnival. Sausage sandwiches, drinks, chips and lollies will be on sale. Cash or card will be available.

One of the opportunities we offer at Illawarra Grammar is participation in ICAS testing. ICAS is an annual online academic competition which offers students the opportunity to extend their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills through engaging and challenging assessments. This year, students in Years 2-6 will have the option to complete assessments in English, Mathematics and Writing. Please note that ICAS will be held before school in the Junior School from 7.45am.

Please visit here for further information and registration details.

Amnah’s first term:

Walking into Year 7 is scary, but after moving 10,000 miles from England in January was a whole different level of nervous. Trading my winter coat for a summer dress, I joined TIGS as the “New Girl.”

Starting from scratch without a history and friends is both exciting and exhausting. There is a specific loneliness in sitting in the sun while everyone you love is asleep across the world.

However, I decided on Day One to make friends. Despite my anxiety and the heat, I approached a girl during volleyball. She ‘adopted’ me on the spot. Through her, I found a group of friends, many also new to the school, who were just as lost as me. Together, we explored together.

The biggest shock wasn’t the subjects (maths is still maths) but the difference in language. Mentioning “sweets” brought confused faces until they corrected me: “You mean lollies?” I also learned a “bubbler” is a water fountain, not someone blowing bubbles.

Now, when I sit at lunch, I feel content. My teachers have made all lessons enjoyable and have taught with passion. The campus has become more familiar each day. I still miss the smell of the rain and the English tea, but the ache is quieter now because this school has become a place where I belong. It is an amazing place and has made me feel comfortable in its environment.

Amnah Raza, Year 7

Elliya’s first term:

Although TIGS is a warm and welcoming environment, beginning a new chapter is always a different experience, and a challenge. Fortunately, coming from the Junior School, I was already slightly familiar with the campus. Even with this advantage, the beginning of Year 7 was still difficult, and took time to get used to.

After a few weeks, and many confusing moments, I had finally managed my stress, leaving me with confidence towards the Senior School. I even found myself naturally stepping into a role where I could guide others.

As more students began to settle in, I realised how crucial it was to assist even further. I often walked with new friends to their classes, helped them organise their lockers, and even showed them small shortcuts around the School, ensuring they arrived on time with the essential items for class. These simple acts of kindness allowed me to make so many more friends, some of which I have become very close with.

At the same time, I was still learning how to navigate high school myself. Balancing my own surprising challenges while supporting others taught me a lot about patience, empathy and leadership.  Looking back, those early weeks of Year 7 provided development, highlighting my growth into a more responsible person that was always willing to step up for others, with a smile.

Elliya Barrett, Year 7

Rayna’s first term:

Walking into Year 7 for the first time felt like stepping into a completely new world. At the beginning of the year, I was excited but nervous about starting high school. Everything seemed much bigger than Junior School, and I worried about finding classrooms, remembering my timetable, and meeting new teachers. The days felt longer, every class was different, and at first, it all felt overwhelming.

As the weeks passed, things slowly became easier. The once confusing timetable started to make sense, and the routines of high school became more familiar. I began enjoying the different subjects and discovering skills I had never learnt before. Learning how to organise homework, manage my time, and become more independent made me feel more confident each day.

One of the highlights of Term I was camp. From the moment we arrived, there was a sense of excitement and adventure. Whether we were competing in challenges, encouraging each other through activities, or laughing together during free time, camp helped everyone grow closer. It taught me the importance of teamwork and grit. I also enjoyed getting to know my mentor group, many of whom I had only met that year. Overall, Term I has been an exciting start to my high school journey, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Rayna Chieng, Year 7

A few weeks ago, a group of students packed their bags and embarked on a journey around 50km away. What we expected was a fantastic time, but we didn’t account for the scavenger hunt, tuna themed karaoke, and a whole lot of the game mafia. What am I talking about? – FISH Camp.

Organised by the fantastic Mrs Wong with help from all the teachers involved with the FISH lunchtime group, this camp has been in the making for over a year, until finally, the teachers unveiled the opportunity one lunchtime in Term I.

With around 25 of us going, we journeyed to Chittick Lodge, a campsite and church in Gerringong. After arriving, we quickly established that since ‘fish’, stands for ‘fellowship inside school hours’, our camp was not named appropriately and must therefore be changed to ‘FOOSH camp’ (fellowship outside of school hours).

The rest of the weekend went so quickly, but there were so many highlights.

Firstly, there were the talks. Led by Mr Evans, we delved into Colossians to discover more about Jesus. In doing so, we learnt how to put God as the main character in our lives, and to fix our eyes on him as we progress through high school.

Adding on to this, in each of our sessions in the little chapel located on site, the Year 11 girls directed us in singing many songs, our focus song being ‘Look to the Son’, speaking true to fixing our eyes on Jesus. Hearing everyone’s voices come together was really encouraging for my faith, and was fun and interactive. Furthermore, the activities outside of talks were fabulous. On our first night, we formed teams that stayed with us for the next few days, picking names and logos related to fish. In my group, we took it to the next level, with the name of ‘Super Tuna’, and even our own theme song. One of my personal highlights was the scavenger hunt around Gerringong, it was so exciting (although with lots of walking).

On the final night, we had separate nights, for boys and girls. Our girls night was like a sleepover, fairy lights, craft activities, pavlova dessert, and ‘just dances’ and kind messages to round out the night. We also heard Babara share her testimony, a truly encouraging message we all enjoyed hearing.

These are just a few of the many highlights of FOOSH camp, and clearly reiterate why we hope to see so many more students turn up next year. Even if you’ve never come to a lunchtime group or discussed Christianity, I thoroughly encourage you to start coming along to fish, or chat to one of the chaplaincy staff to see if you can fix your eyes on Jesus.

Special thanks to Mrs Wong, Rev Binggeli, Mr Williams and Barbara Williams, Mrs Rodriguez, Rev Rodgers and Mr Trenerry for making this camp possible.

Joanna Miller, Year 8

On Thursday 14 May, the Year 11 Drama class and students from Year 9 Drama, and Year 8 Musical Theatre attended a performance of My Brilliant Career at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre as a part of the Merrigong Theatre Program for students studying Drama and Musical Theatre. The musical, based on the novel by Australian author Miles Franklin, was a compelling story of a young woman’s journey with ambition, independence and identity.

Set in Australia’s outback in the late 1800s, the play follows Sybylla Melvyn, a determined young woman who dreamt of a life outside of the social and political status quo, fighting against expectations placed upon her by society and her family. Through the characters’ keen humorous tone throughout and references to modern sociopolitical issues, the show felt highly relevant to modern audiences including TIGS students who described many of the characters both as “relatable” and “entertaining”.

The cast, including Kala Gare who played Sybylla, swept the audience off their feet with incredible musical performances, all of whom played instruments, acted and sang throughout the show. Further, one of the most impressive aspects of the production was the energy of the cast. The actors frequently shifted between characters, scenes and moods with incredible fluidity, keeping the performance fast-paced and engaging throughout.

The minimalist set design allowed the actors and storytelling to remain at the forefront, while the use of live music and movement added energy and atmosphere throughout the performance. A setting of hay on the floor of the stage invited the audience into the space and remained throughout the length of the performance. This simple staging and use of props was an encouraging and empowering experience for all TIGS students as it showcased the brilliance that can emerge from simplistic set design, even in large scale productions.

Live music from the performers added a layer of immersion beyond normal productions, allowing the audience to witness music integrated with choreography and acting and providing a uniquely Australian experience. The late 19th century costuming was layered to allow for fluid on stage changes, with Sybylla inviting us into her life through small monologues while changing outer layers of her costume. This intimacy further displayed the power of costuming and staging connection when connecting 19th century ideas and modern reinterpretations of stories.

The Q and A after the show provided a valuable insight for all TIGS students into the lifestyle of performers, lead time to the show, and how the actors connected with their characters. Experiences like these are extremely helpful in encouraging us in our studies within school, as well as discovering what the world of theatre can look like after.

Overall, attending My Brilliant Career was an incredible, memorable experience for TIGS students. The performance successfully combined humour, emotion and thought-provoking ideas, while also showcasing the power of live theatre to bring classic literature to life. Students left the theatre not only entertained, but also with a deeper appreciation for Australian storytelling and performance.

Zahra Freeman, Year 11