Next year, we are excited to introduce dedicated Ensemble Performance Nights for our dance and music tutor groups, providing more opportunities for students to showcase their talents. We’ve also confirmed a number of family fundraising events, including a walkathon and movie night, to be held early next year.

Additionally, we are reviewing our cocurricular program to expand the variety of activities available. We’re grateful for the feedback from students, whose ideas will help shape future opportunities.

As we conclude another fabulous year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to our amazing staff. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to our students and their families are truly inspiring.

Thank you to our community for an incredible year. May the joy of Christ’s birth fill your hearts and homes this season, and may His light guide us into the new year with hope and purpose.

We wish you a joyful and restful holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2025!

Marci Davis-Cook, Head Prefect

Illawarra Grammar is blessed with a strong and diverse community of talented and inspiring individuals, and the events of last weekend certainly showcased this. 

I was grateful to witness Sammy Lowe (Year 12) achieve his dream of being crowned the Australian Junior Men’s Surfing Champion in front of a home crowd on Woonona Beach last Sunday afternoon. Sammy, along with Joe Sommerville (Year 9), also took out third place in the school teams’ event for TIGS. It has been a long journey for Sammy with setbacks, but in front of the cheering crowd on Sunday it was time to celebrate his success.

During this Australian summer, I will be returning overseas to compete on the Snowboard Cross Europa Cup circuit. When you’re on the other side of the world to your family and friends, the journey towards your dreams can seem very lonely. A word of encouragement from a friend or competitor can mean so much. So if you have an opportunity to support a classmate, take it. Whether that be at a dance recital, sports tournament or debating competition, let’s be involved. The strength of our community lies not only in our individual achievements but our support of each other’s journeys. 

Reflecting on this year’s theme of gratitude, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to represent the school community as your Head Prefect for 2024/25. And thank you to my fellow head prefects, Saxon Parrish, Alyssa Jeffries and Campbell Boardman, for a great first term. We wish everyone a safe and joyous festive season and a new year full of happiness and success.

Grace Russo (Year 10), The Editorial Team

At the close of each year, reflection becomes a powerful tool for understanding our growth and challenges. In the context of school, this process holds particular significance, as each year presents its own unique experiences. This is a year in review from the perspective of our student body.

Amelia Jefford (Year 7)

Year 7 has had an amazing year full of memorable experiences. These include our engaging language excursions, where we explored the cultures of the languages we’re studying and the Maths Incursion Day with its interactive challenges. Among our year group activities, whole school events like ArtsFest were a highlight, bringing everyone together for a fun, inclusive celebration of talent. It’s been a fantastic year, and we’re excited for 2025!

Poppy Fulton (Year 8)

Year 8 enjoyed unique opportunities in 2024, including a camp in March with a 20-km hike, rope courses and kayaking. August featured a WIRED performance on mental health and a Medieval Costume Day exploring medieval warfare and customs. In September, we visited the Archibald exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery, making the year both educational and memorable.

Edie Taggart (Year 9)

This year has been incredibly memorable for Year 9. Our camp at Bungonia was the most challenging we’ve experienced, but it was also very rewarding. We’ve had many highlights, including excursions, gala days, the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh hikes, and most recently, our induction into Year 10 leadership positions. As a year group, we’ve grown stronger and are ready for another successful year.

Lola Stephenson (Year 10)

This year has brought many new opportunities for Year 10, including the Year 10 Formal, our induction into Senior Leadership, HSC subject selection, Snow Camp, our new Senior Uniform, career days, and bridging courses. These events have marked our transition from junior to senior years of High School. We are so grateful for the support from our teachers who have made 2024 a success for all.

Alyssa Jefferies (Year 12)

2024 has been a transformative year for Year 12. It began with the transition into the Senior Uniform in Term I, marking the start of our Preliminary HSC courses. In Term IV, many of us were honoured to be inducted as Senior Leaders. A particular highlight has been the growing sense of unity within our year group, especially as we gather in the common room together. We now look forward to 2025, where we will begin the HSC and the final chapter of our Senior School journey.

Brooke Baird, Kogara House Captain

It has been a privilege to lead Kogara to victory in our first house challenge and I am so grateful to everyone who supported the triumph. The Great Race was a thrill to work towards with our House and I want to thank my fellow House Captains (Zoe McClatchie, Kayden Merritt, Alexander Mumford, Matthew Murray and Jazmine Taylor) for all their work leading up to the event. Also, a well deserved thank you goes out to the whole of Kogara, for your support, initiative and participation, which did not go unnoticed and ultimately led us to victory. 

Leading up to the performance at the Great Race, all of Kogara stayed motivated in learning our chant, and I know all the House Captains and I are so excited to work with each and every one of you to keep up our winning streak in future sports carnivals and ArtsFest.

Looking ahead, I’m honoured to step into this role as we transition into the upcoming year of victory. It’s a privilege to lead such a talented and dedicated group of individuals, and I and all the other Kogara Captains are excited to build on the foundation of success we’ve established and keep Kogara at the top. 

I hope everyone enjoyed the Great Race and congratulations to all the Houses and House Captains for their hard work and effort in making the Great Race such a fantastic event.

Rena Hamut (Year 10)

The Illawarra Grammar School’s alumni and 2021 Vice Captain, Xavier Do, has spent the past few years exploring the path that many of our students will take, university. His change in degree from engineering to the creative arts served as testament to the sometimes capricious nature of starting university.

After graduating, Xavier received a scholarship for engineering at the University of Wollongong thanks to his proficiency in subjects like Mathematics and Physics. However, after one semester he realised he didn’t want to pursue engineering anymore. So, Xavier decided to make the call and switch his degree. Now, he is studying a double degree in music and communications media whilst also minoring in marketing, realising his penchant to create by releasing music. As an artist, he has already successfully released a song, ‘Westerly’, and has another upcoming release on 6 December on Spotify under the name Xavier Do. 

During his final year at Illawarra Grammar, Xavier served as a Vice Captain, gaining valuable experience and securing early entry into his degree.

“Being Vice Captain looked good on my resume and helped me apply for my early entry” he said, “Really any type of leadership position is really valuable”. 

For students interested in pursuing the creative arts or any other industry students might be hesitant to, Xavier offers invaluable advice: “Do what you love, and have a crack at it, and see where it takes you. You do not want to be stuck in a career that you don’t love”. However, he acknowledges that not only is it necessary to take a leap but that often in the creative industry there exists a need for talent, connections and an outgoing personality with a love for interacting with other people.

Xavier highlights how important Illawarra Grammar was in his application for early entry and in creating a resume. Activities like community service, Duke of Edinburgh and other extracurriculars allow for students to become well-rounded students that universities are looking for. 

So, whether it’s engineering or music, Xavier’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to change, the importance of courage in taking the first step and exploring our opportunities to find what best fulfills us. 

Zahra Freeman (Year 9)

This year, our school Christian group FISH has explored a variety of relevant topics and have welcomed many people into our fellowship. With the support of new teachers, chaplains and students, FISH has experienced remarkable growth this year. 

We commenced 2024 under the guidance of our Chapel Prefects – Joel Turner and Saskia Belanszky; their commitment to the role and Christian vision for Illawarra Grammar was evident with the way the community has grown in their tenure. We are all so grateful for their leadership, and the way they have encouraged us to foster our relationship with Jesus. In Term IV, our new Chapel Prefects, Harrison Deck, Jack Carroll and Claire Spicknall, were inducted. Their dynamic energy and enthusiasm have infused both Chapel and FISH with a renewed sense of vibrancy.

In FISH this year, we have looked at multiple topics, including love, how to pray and what fostering a relationship with God looks like. FISH has been essential for our Christian growth and the strengthening of our community, and we are immensely grateful to the staff who dedicate their time each week to nurture this community.

In Chapel this year, we have covered a variety of different ‘series’, most notably the ‘Jesus is…’ series, which examined various characteristics of Jesus each week.

This year also saw the introduction of two new segments: ‘Chapel Spice’, an engaging and interactive portion of the service, and the ‘Chaplains’ Noticeboard Challenge’, where a thought-provoking challenge from the talk is posted weekly for students to reflect upon and engage with.

As we approach the Christmas season, we pause to reflect on the birth of Jesus and the extraordinary sacrifice He made for humanity. Through His death, He granted us the opportunity to be reconciled with God and the Holy Spirit. We would like to encourage everyone to partake in a Christmas service at their local church to celebrate His miraculous birth.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited for the new FISH initiatives and Chapel topics that will continue to deepen and enrich our journey in Christ.

Charlee Ducat (Year 10)

Throughout the year a few of my peers have embarked on journeys outside our School campus and have gone across the world, taking advantage of the many international initiatives offered globally to students. As the year concludes and we reflect on the theme of 2024; gratitude, we can take the opportunity to reflect and elucidate on some of the international programs our students have been grateful to have been involved with.

Click HERE to read about the experience of three students whose travels have undoubtedly broadened their perspectives, while enhancing their skills, appreciation and connections within the industries of their passions.

Saskia Esslinger (Year 9)

Last Wednesday, the Year 9 and 10 Commerce classes ran a variety of stalls for the annual market day. There was a lot of effort put into the preparation of the stalls, as we had to plan and organise in our groups how we would make the products and the cost needed to supply ingredients and other products. We also used some of the marketing techniques we learnt in class to advertise our products to the School, creating excitement leading up to the day through our posters in classrooms, surveys and announcements at Assembly.

On the day, we set up our stalls and decorated them in the morning, and prepared for the rush of customers at the start of recess. The rest of the School was able to come buy products from a large variety of stalls ranging from dumplings and burgers to bubble tea and spiders. My team ran a crepe stall and we all had a lot of fun, taking orders, making crepes and putting toppings on.The atmosphere was lively, with many students around and we even had some live music performances from the Year 9 Music class, which showcased some great musical talent that everyone enjoyed.

Over $2000 profit was made in total from all the stalls, and the money is going towards the Year 12 charity. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to work as a team and put together what we had learnt in class to run a fun and memorable day.