As we approach the final weeks of this term, thoughts naturally start to turn to the holiday and an opportunity to refresh and recharge. But before we begin to unwind, there are still a number of significant events for our students and community to look forward to in the remaining weeks of the Senior School’s Term 1 calendar and our classrooms will be remaining productive, engaged and  participative over the coming weeks. Expectations of students will remain high with regard to their learning, personal presentation, attendance and punctuality.

During Week 9, the 2024 HICES Debating competition commenced with TIGS students’ opening competitions pitting them against students from Inaburra and Scots All Saints College. Our students came out victorious and will progress to the next round. Students learning Japanese in Year 7 and Year 10 took an opportunity to develop their language skills and provided insights into Australian culture as The Illawarra Grammar School played host to the Kaichi Mirai School, a Japanese school currently visiting New South Wales. This follows on from a visit last week from our sister school Sapporo Nichidai, providing our Japanese students ample opportunity for language practice. Community Problem Solving (CmPS) team The Helping Hands sold baked goods during Wednesday recess to raise funds and awareness for Wollongong Homeless Hub, as pictured above. Badminton, cricket and rugby coaching continued after school on Monday afternoon, Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon respectively, with all three activities attracting good numbers of students and, in other sporting news, students represented TIGS in competitions during the CASA Netball Gala Day and AICES Touch Football event.

In Week 10, our annual celebration of the dramatic and performing arts will take place. Artsfest brings the entire Senior School together to support and encourage students in each House who will be taking to the stage in a range of musical, vocal and dramatic pieces. Families and members of our wider community are invited to enjoy the crème de la crème of these performances at the Artsfest Showcase.

The Showcase event will be held in the IGC on Friday 5 April, commencing at 5:30pm. Entry is by gold coin donation and all funds raised during the event will be used to support the Nganambala community in the Northern Territory. More details can be found here.

During the last week of term, The Illawarra Grammar School will be hosting several hundred students from across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands in the Da Vinci Decathlon competition, and the Senior School Cross Country Carnival will take place on the last day of term (Friday 12 April).

But, without question, the most significant and joyous event in our calendar this term is Easter. At this time of year, perhaps more than any other, Christian communities around the world come together to reflect afresh on what Jesus’ death and resurrection means in our lives, and to consider with renewed awe the promises we find in the Gospel.

In John 11 we read: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”

In this busy end to the term my prayer is that the Senior School, as well as our wider community will enjoy an Easter weekend that is peaceful and joyous, enriched by the sure knowledge that Jesus offers an eternal hope to all who turn to Him. In the words of the famous hymn written by Spafford,

“My sin – oh the bliss of this glorious thought –
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Happy Easter – He is risen indeed.