Farewell to Year 12
Next week will be a week of mixed emotions for the Senior School as we will be farewelling the Class of 2026. Their final week includes a day for goodbyes and BBQ on Monday, the traditional Sydney Harbour cruise on Tuesday, and their Graduation Assembly and Valete Dinner on Wednesday.
The Special Guest at the Graduation Assembly will be Mr John Weeks OAM, former Principal of Illawarra Grammar. It will be a joy to have him back to the School and for him to present our graduates with their Year 12 Certificates and prizes.
Congratulations to three Year 12 students – Lucy, Lola and Yasmin – who have been nominated for OnStage 2027 as result of their excellent performances in their HSC Drama examinations. This year’s HSC examinations are certainly off to a good start!
The Inaugural Hoskins Lecture
At Illawarra Grammar, we attempt to encourage deep and original thought. We want to be known for purposeful and evidence-based decisions that might be, at times, somewhat courageous and even untested. We believe that this is the role of a school that values excellence and research, and that aims to be at the forefront of education.
Parents will know that education at Illawarra Grammar is well represented by our Colonnade Model which includes, at its base, “Christian Foundations”. This is not unexpected, given that we are a Christian school in the Anglican tradition.
But what does it mean to offer an education that has Christian Foundations at its base? This question will be explored in our inaugural Hoskins Lecture which will be, fittingly, held in our new Hoskins Building on 15 October.
All members of the community are invited.
New Uniform
While production of our new uniform is well underway, we have received word that the new uniform will not arrive into our Uniform Shop until December 2026/January 2027. We will keep parents informed of the exact dates once we get a little closer.
Thank you to Parents
This term has seen many wonderful and important Senior School and Junior School events, and I am very thankful to our parents for their support of these events. From Book Week to Celebrations of Learning, from the HSC Major Works Exhibition to Information Evenings, from the several Performing Arts Showcases to our normal Junior School Assemblies, it has been a joy to see so many families supporting the School in our endeavours to educate our students.
Huge thanks to Mrs Taggart, Mrs Latis and Mr Flanagan, the other members of the P and F Executive and their respective teams for the P and F events. The Father’s Day stall and breakfasts, and the well-received TIGS Talk with Professor Toby Walsh were all marvellous ways to celebrate and support our community.
I hope the upcoming holidays provide some time for rest and refreshment for all our families.
Junior School News
Head of Junior School
It has been a busy and exciting time in the Junior School, with so many opportunities for our students to share their learning This week alone, we have enjoyed the Dance Showcase, the Year 5 Celebration of Learning and our Year 6 Showcase of Learning. Last week, our Year 1 and Year 2 students also had their Celebrations of Learning.
At each of these events, I was so impressed by our students’ knowledge and the pride they had in their work. From our Year 1 students confidently sharing their understanding of the lunar cycle, to our Year 4 students explaining the science behind the force and motion used in their arcade games, to our Year 6 students designing innovative solutions to environmental challenges, the depth of learning across our Junior School was on full display.
These celebrations highlight the impact of a knowledge-rich curriculum. When students build strong foundations of knowledge and understanding, they are able to think deeply, make connections across disciplines and communicate their learning with confidence. Thank you to our excellent teachers for helping to make this happen.
As we come to the end of another busy term, I would like to thank our students, staff and families for all they have contributed to our Junior School life. I wish everyone a safe and relaxing break and look forward to seeing our students return refreshed and ready for a wonderful Term IV.
One of the joys of being part of a school founded on Christian faith is the opportunity our students have each week to gather for Chapel and participate in Biblical Studies lessons.
Our Chaplaincy team, Rev. Binggeli and Mrs Wong, lead us in understanding the Bible, prayer and singing praise, helping students grow in their understanding of faith, hope and love and their relationship with God. This term, we have been exploring the Psalms and learning how we can bring all of our emotions to God in prayer, whether they be worry, joy, gratitude, disappointment or hope.
Mrs Wong has also kindly created a Spotify playlist featuring many of the songs we sing in Chapel. These songs have quickly become favourites and I know many students enjoy singing them at school throughout the week as well. These can be found here for your enjoyment.
Eighteen Illawarra Grammar athletes proudly represented the School at the CIS Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. Competing across a range of track and field events, many students achieved personal bests and performed strongly against some of the state’s best young athletes.
A special congratulations to our NSW PSSA qualifiers:
- Hudson Rayner – 1st in High Jump
- Cara Serfontein – 2nd in Discus
- Nissi Adu-Amponsah – 3rd in 100m and 200m
Our relay teams also excelled, with both the Junior and Senior Girls teams improving their CASA Championship times by two seconds. These outstanding performances helped Illawarra Grammar finish 10th overall, an excellent result at this level of competition.
Congratulations to all students who represented the School with pride, determination and sportsmanship throughout the athletics season.
Expressions of interest are now open for Junior School Term IV cocurricular activities. Families can find detailed information about each activity on the OLLE Cocurricular pages.
Some activities have minimum and maximum enrolment numbers. Should an activity be unable to proceed, families will be notified. Please complete one Expression of Interest (EOI) form for each student wishing to participate.
For activities held before or after school, a Consent2Go form must be completed before students can attend. Following submission of an EOI, the relevant Consent2Go form will be issued. Please note that students must also be enrolled in PEAK to participate in after-school activities.
We encourage families to explore the range of opportunities available and register their interest promptly.
On Wednesday 23 September, our Parents and Friends Association will be hosting a Donut Day in the Junior School. There is also a pastel cupcake option as a gluten free alternative.
All funds raised will go towards investing in initiatives and facilities for our School.
All treats will be distributed to students during the lunch break on Wednesday.
Orders close 12.00pm Tuesday 22 September.
Click here to place an order.
As we approach the end of term, we kindly ask families to remind their children to check lost property for any missing items. A growing number of uniform pieces are accumulating, many without labels, which makes it difficult to return them to their owners. With Term IV and the transition to summer uniform just around the corner, please ensure your child’s belongings are clearly labelled and that they take responsibility for their items each day. Please note: unlabelled and unclaimed items will be donated to the Second Hand Uniform Shop at the end of term.
Your child’s OLLE page will be updated during the holidays in readiness for Term IV. Important details and dates will be included, so please be sure to view this prior to the commencement of the term.
Monday 12 October – Term IV Commences
Tuesday 20 October – Musica Viva
Wednesday 28 October – Prep Art Exhibition
Friday 6 November – Year 3 Celebration of Learning 11.50am-12.40pm
Monday 16 November – Wednesday 18 November – Stage 3 Camp
Thursday 19 November – Friday 20 November – Stage 2 Camp
Wednesday 25 November – Sports Presentation Evening
Tuesday 1 December – Year 6 End of Year Celebration
Thursday 3 December – A Christmas Celebration
Monday 7 December – Years 3-6 Presentation Day
Wednesday 9 December – Term IV Concludes
Senior School News
Head of Senior School
As our Year 12 students approach the conclusion of their formal classes, the Senior School community has much to celebrate.
This cohort has made a significant contribution to Illawarra Grammar through impressive involvement across school life. They have consistently demonstrated the character and commitment that we seek to cultivate in our students.
Their support of this year’s Year 12 charity, Little Wings, has been a particularly impressive example of both compassion and commitment. While their desire to support others motivated the campaign, what has been remarkable was their willingness to work together, set an ambitious goal and persevere throughout the year. In this way, Year 12 2026 exemplified the school value in focus this year; Grit. The result was a fundraising effort that exceeded expectations and demonstrated the determination and collaborative spirit of this cohort.
As next week’s events approach, many members of staff are reflecting on the growth they have witnessed in these students over their years at Illawarra Grammar. It is a privilege to see young people develop into capable, thoughtful and impressive young adults ready to graduate Year 12.
At the same time, there remains important work ahead for our Year 12 Students. The HSC examinations in Term 4 are the culmination of many years of learning and preparation, and the weeks ahead will be crucial to ensure results befitting their potential.
In Ecclesiastes, we are reminded that there is “a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The coming days will be a time for reflection and celebration with hearts of gratitude. The ensuing weeks are a time for continued focus and purposeful preparation. We encourage our Year 12 students to enjoy these important milestones while remaining committed to finishing their schooling with diligence and determination.
We are immensely proud of this cohort and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the final stages of their HSC journey.
I wish all students and their families all the best for the upcoming Term break.
Mr Chris Breheny
Head of Academics
With this year’s HSC Examinations approaching, several departments are offering holiday revision workshops at school to support our Year 12 students as they finalise their preparation. A schedule of the HSC revision workshops can be found below.
Year 12 students are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions relevant to their subjects and make the most of these opportunities to strengthen their examination readiness. Please note that some courses are conducting revision sessions online and therefore do not appear on the schedule.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to maximise our students’ academic growth and achievement.
The Library will be open daily from 9.00am to 2.00pm throughout the holidays (excluding weekends and the Labour Day public holiday on Monday, 5 October) for Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 students, providing a quiet and productive space for both individual and collaborative study.
Miss Svetlana Onisczenko
Mathematician in Residence
Last week, fifteen budding young mathematicians across Years 7 and 8 participated in a brand-new competition from the Australian Maths Trust. The Australian Junior Mathematics Olympiad (AJMO) is designed for students who are interested in Oympiad-style problem-solving. It provides an accessible introduction to mathematical reasoning, creativity and problem-solving in a competition environment.
It was great to have students eager to challenge themselves with these demanding problems after a long school day.
Students are welcome to test their mathematical problem-solving skills and explore these sorts of ideas in Euclids held every Monday lunchtime in the Goodhew Library.
Ms Gillian Hetherington
Director of Cocurricular Programs
Congratulations to all our debaters who competed in the statewide competition against more than 70 other schools during Terms I, II and III. Two of our teams in the Middle Division (Years 7-8) progressed to the finals after remaining unbeaten throughout the preliminary and knockout rounds.
In the finals series, one team competed for third place overall, while our highest-ranked team progressed to the Grand Final. Both teams debated the challenging topic: “That Australian schools should prioritise scholarships based on financial or cultural disadvantage over academic or sporting achievement.” Debating on the affirmative side, our students presented thoughtful arguments, strong evidence and persuasive rebuttals.
Our team competing for third place narrowly missed victory in an extremely close debate, finishing fourth in the competition. Meanwhile, through well-structured arguments, logical reasoning, confident delivery and highly effective rebuttal, our Grand Final team secured victory to become the 2026 Middle Division Champions.
Two students were also recognised through individual honours; Mia Nott who was awarded Best Speaker of the Competition, and Otto Collins who received the award for Best Speaker in the Grand Final.
Congratulations to all students who participated in the debating competition this year and represented the School with such distinction.
Mr Adrian Deck
Head of Sport
AICES Athletics Championships
Last week, thirty four of our students represented CASA at the AICES Athletics Championships that were held at Sydney Olympic Park. Our Illawarra Grammar team had an outstanding day, finishing in 3rd place in the overall medal count out of sixty six schools, earning 10 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals. CASA also finished 2nd overall in the association standings.
Our relay teams were a highlight of the championships. The Junior Girls relay team delivered a superb performance, breaking the event record by almost two seconds with a time of 50.97 seconds. The Senior Boys relay team also produced an excellent result, winning their event.
Of the thirty four Illawarra Grammar students who competed, nineteen have qualified for the CIS Athletics Championships, which will be held next Tuesday.
Congratulations to all athletes on their effort, sportsmanship and achievements.
NSW All Schools Triathlon
The NSW All Schools Triathlon will be held next term. The event consists of triathlon and aquathon races with entries being open to both individuals and teams. Please email Mr Deck by Thursday 24 September if you are interested in competing adeck@tigs.nsw.edu.au
The OLLE Calendar serves as the best source of current information regarding events. We hope this list provides a useful snapshot of key dates in the Senior School for the upcoming fortnight. We recommend regularly checking the OLLE Calendar for the most up to date listings:
- Friday 18 September – Year 11 Play
- Wednesday 23 September – Year 12 Graduation Assembly
- Wednesday 23 September – Year 12 Valete Dinner
- Friday 25 September – Year 10 Formal
- Monday 12 October – First Day of Term IV
- Tuesday 13 October – 2027 Leadership Induction Ceremony (2027 leaders will be announced on Tuesday 22 September)
- Monday 19 October – HSC Information Night – Year 12 2027
General School News
September/October Holiday Trading
Saturday 26 September: 9.00am – 11.00am
New Trading Hours
From Term IV, the SHUS will be open on Thursdays from 8.30am – 9.30am and on the first Saturday of each month from 9.00am – 11.00am.
Please remember that the P&F welcomes donations of uniforms for resale through the Second-Hand Uniform Shop. Donations can be placed in the yellow collection bins located outside the shop, near the Western Avenue car park.
Parent and grandparent volunteers are welcome in our Canteen. If you are interested in volunteering, either on a regular or occasional basis, please contact the Canteen team for further information. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
The Junior School is also looking for parents and carers who may be able to volunteer to assist with handing out lunch orders to students, particularly on Fridays. If this is something you may be interested in, please contact Mrs Rebecca Grneski, Director of Campus, via email at rgrneski@tigs.nsw.edu.au.
As we approach the conclusion of this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge, we would like to thank all students who have already completed the challenge and submitted their reading records. Your commitment to reading is to be congratulated!
For students who are still finalising their participation, please ensure that all student reading records are uploaded by Friday 18 September.
If you require any assistance with submitting your reading record or have any questions about the challenge, please contact Karen Bowmaker at kbowmaker@tigs.nsw.edu.au.
Thank you for your support in making reading a priority and celebrating a love of books.
We invite students from Kindergarten to Year 12 who learn an instrument, either externally or at School, to participate in our Music Academy Concerts.
The concerts provide an opportunity for our students to hone their performance skills and share their talents with the School community. Parents and carers are welcome to attend these concerts to support our students.
To register your child for a concert, please follow the relevant link below. A Consent2Go will be generated once the registration closing date has passed.
For students who play more than one instrument, please complete a new form for each concert.
The registration closing dates will be strictly adhered to, and late applications cannot be accepted.
Please note that once a concert reaches capacity, it will be removed from the registration form.
Term IV Concert Dates
Strings – Thursday 5 November (Week 4 Term IV)
Closing date for registration: Friday 16 October
Concert A: 3.30pm – 4.15pm | Register Here
Concert B: 4.30pm – 5.15pm | Register Here
Concert C: 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Guitar, Drums, Bass Guitar – Thursday 5 November (Week 4 Term IV)
Closing date for registration: Friday 16 October
Concert A: 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Brass and Woodwind – Thursday 12 November (Week 5 Term IV)
Closing date for registration: Friday 23 October
Concert A: 4.30pm – 5.15pm | Register Here
Concert B: 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Piano – Thursday 26 November (Week 7 Term IV)
Closing date for registration: Friday 29 May
Concert A: 3.30pm – 4.15pm | Register Here
Concert B: 4.30pm – 5.15pm | Register Here
Concert C: 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Vocal – Thursday 26 November (Week 7 Term IV)
Closing date for registration: Friday 29 May
Concert A: 4.30pm – 5.15pm | Register Here
Concert B: 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Join Music Academy – Enrol in Private Music Lessons
At Illawarra Grammar, we have a team of experienced instrumental tutors who can enhance and strengthen your child’s proficiency and love of music.
We offer private lessons across a wide variety of instruments; a full list is detailed in the application form linked below. Lessons are conducted on campus throughout the school day, with some tutors also offering before and after school options.
Please ensure that you read the Music Academy Handbook and the Terms and Conditions before enrolling in lessons.
The Uniform Shop will be closed during the first week of holidays, but will be open as usual on Tuesday and Thursday in the second week of school holidays. It will also be open on the first day of term Monday 12 October 2026.