School Council Chairman
Chairman
Thank you
It has been an honour to serve on the School Council for the past twelve years, and as Chair for the past five. During that time, I’ve been privileged to see our School grow—not only in enrolments, but also spiritually, in academic excellence, and in the development of our facilities. I want to thank our dedicated staff for their hard work and unwavering commitment to our students; our students for their engagement and service; and our parents for choosing TIGS and for the many sacrifices you make to support your children’s education. I’m delighted that Rev Eastment has agreed to step into the role of Chair. He is a wise and godly man, and I’m confident he will continue to build on the strong foundation we have established. Finally, I want to thank the two Principals I’ve had the pleasure of working with as Chair—Mrs Judi Nealy and Dr Julie Greenhalgh—for their leadership, vision and support. Thank you again for the privilege of serving this wonderful school community.
Deputy Principal
Deputy Principal
The Water Gift
Over four consecutive days last week, students from Years 7-12 participated in a service event aimed at providing relief to those who had been impacted by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which decimated parts of Myanmar and the surrounding regions.
The event was organised with the School by Dr Martin Butson who is the founder and director of the not-for-profit charity The Water Gift. The Water Gift produces UV sensitive labels which when adhered to plastic water bottles and left in the sun indicate when the contaminated water contained within is free of impurities and fit to drink. Year 12 have adopted The Water Gift as their charity for 2025.
One hundred and thirty-seven students gave freely of their time to glue the UV markers to the stickers which will be attached to bottles. Over the course of the week, 66,550 stickers were produced. This will provide 834 families with 3 months of disinfected safe drinking water. Given the average family size in Myanmar is 4.6 people, our students will have directly improved the life safety and life quality of nearly 4000 people. This is a wonderful result.
Dr Butson and one of his associates will be visiting the region in three weeks to deliver the stickers to those in need. Our students were able to write their names and a short greeting on the back of the sticker sheet for those who are to receive them. This enables a personal touch to their service.
Our students really are exceptional. They gave of their time so generously, such was their concern for those impacted by the earthquake. I was moved by their care and concern. They are a credit to our School.
Junior School News
Head of Junior School
As we reflect on the season of Easter, we are reminded of hope, renewal and the joy of new beginnings. This time of year allows us to come together as a community, celebrating the blessings that surround us.
Our Junior School students had a wonderful time engaging with Quizworx as they learned more about the true meaning of Easter in our recent chapel services. Their energy and excitement were contagious during this special presentation, which brought the Easter story to life in a fun and meaningful way.
In addition to the learning, the students were also treated to some Easter fun, with plenty of Easter eggs to enjoy. It was a lovely way to celebrate this joyful season together, and we hope that the spirit of Easter fills your homes with peace, love and happiness.
We wish all of our families a blessed Easter, filled with moments of joy and time spent with loved ones. May this season bring new beginnings, renewal and a deeper connection to the values of love and kindness that Easter represents.
Senior School News
Head of Senior School
Alongside ongoing communication via the Diary, Parent Teacher Interviews are a really important way for teachers and families to gain a shared understanding of each student’s strengths and areas for development. Face-to-face Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on the following dates, with further details (and an opportunity to book your appointments) usually made available via email a couple of weeks before the event:
Year 12: Tuesday 29 April
Year 11: Tuesday 27 May
Year 10: Tuesday 3 June
Year 9: Tuesday 17 June
Year 8: Tuesday 22 July (Term III, first day of the new term)
Year 7: Tuesday 10 June
Parents/Guardians of Year 12 are invited to the Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews on Tuesday 29 April from 3.30pm – 7.00pm in the Goodhew Library.
Interviews will be 10 minutes in duration. Students are strongly encouraged to attend with their parents/guardians and are expected to wear full school uniform.
You will receive an email from School with your unique login details. Once this has been received, you will be required to follow the following steps to login to the booking system:
- Log in to the TIGS Portal https://portal.tigs.nsw.edu.au/
- Click on the Booked Icon
- Click the Senior School Booked Icon
- Enter unique login details from the email
Note: The system will be accessible from 5.00pm Wednesday 9 April until 10.00am Tuesday 29 April
You will be guided through the remaining steps after login. Please note the following points:
- Bookings are made for individual parents/guardians, not for couples. If two parents/guardians wish to attend a single timeslot, one parent/guardian should make the booking, and both parents can attend that timeslot.
- PTO prevents double-booking of teachers or parents/guardians. You will only see timeslots that are available.
- Please ensure that you confirm your bookings by clicking on the green plus sign to the right of the time selection window.
- Once you have made your bookings, you can print the details.
- You can log in and change bookings any time up to 10.00am on the day of the interviews.
- If you see a yellow circle with an exclamation mark symbol displayed alongside the class name, it means this teacher recommends that you book an interview.
- Other parents may be making bookings while you are using the system. It is possible, though unlikely, that a timeslot is displayed to you as available but is then booked by another parent. If you attempt to book this time slot, it will not be available and a message will be displayed to indicate this.
If you are unable to attend the evening or find a suitable time, please contact the School to arrange an alternative time to speak with your child’s teacher/s.
If you have any problems or questions, please contact Mrs Kerrie Sheldon via email at ksheldon@tigs.nsw.edu.au
Over the coming two terms, students currently in Years 7, 8 and 10 have important decisions to make about their program of study for next year. Choosing elective subjects allows students the opportunity to personalise their learning, to explore and develop an area of interest and to increasingly demonstrate independence in their approaches to learning.
Students currently in Year 10 will have a ‘Subject Selection Evening’ on Wednesday 11 June in which they will be provided with a wealth of information about the courses on offer in Stage 6 and the requirements, procedures and relevant policies that apply to students studying a preliminary and HSC pathway.
Similarly, current Year 8 students will have their own ‘Subject Selection Evening’ on Thursday 24 July in which the process for selecting two elective subjects for Stage 5 will be discussed and information about Year 9 elective subjects such as Dance, French and Food Technology will be made available.
And finally, our Year 7 students will have an opportunity to choose two engaging elective subjects during Term IV this year. Year 8 elective subjects on offer include Grand Designs, Visual Culture and Heroines and Heroes.
A reminder that tickets for the 2025 Year 12 Trivia Night are now available and are selling fast. The event will be held on Friday 30 May and the theme this year is ‘The Wild West’. Fancy dress in keeping with the theme of the evening is optional, but highly encouraged, and prizes will be available for the best dressed attendee!
All proceeds from the event will go to the Year 12 charity which, this year, is The Water Gift. Tickets can be purchased here.
As in previous years, an opportunity to pre-order a grazing platter for your table is available. You will find an option to purchase a platter when you login to purchase your ticket. Alternatively, guests are welcome to bring your own food for consumption at your table.
Please note that this year’s event will be alcohol-free and, as such, we would ask you not to bring any drinks. A mocktail will be available on arrival and included in the ticket price and a range of soft drinks, including mocktails, will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
We are looking forward to a successful and memorable evening hosted by our Year 12 students; may the best team win!
As students continue to refine and hone their plans for what they will do after graduating, The Illawarra Careers Expo presents a local opportunity for students to put their questions directly to representatives from the world of employment and higher education. This year, the event is taking place on the afternoon of Tuesday 6 May at the Illawarra Sports Stadium and will run until 4.30pm, meaning that students can attend at the end of the school day.
In line with last year’s updates to our Stage 4 and Stage 5 reports, Stage 6 reports will also transition to the new reporting structure this year. This format is designed to outline each student’s academic performance relative to their cohort and to identify specific areas for improvement as they continue their studies.
The new structure aims to foster a deeper understanding of each student’s academic journey and to support the setting of meaningful, personalised learning goals. By focusing on both achievement and areas for growth, these reports will serve as a valuable tool in guiding students towards steady, purposeful progress across all subject areas.
The last day of Term III for Year 10 will be Thursday 25 September. Year 10 students will be expected to attend School during the morning but will be free to leave the School site at the end of Period 3 (12.40pm) to allow them time to prepare for their Formal Dinner which will take place that evening. If you would prefer your son/daughter to stay at School, they should sign into the Library at Lunch and undertake work until the end of the day when the normal School transport will be in operation.
The 2025 Year 10 Formal Dinner will be held at The Grange and commence at 5.00pm. For all other students, Term III will finish at the end of the day on Friday 26 September.
General School News
Mother’s Day
This year there will be two opportunities to celebrate Mother’s Day with our school community, as well as the annual Mother’s Day Stall.
Inaugural Mother’s Day Lunch – Friday 2 May 2025
Senior School parents are invited to join us for a memorable lunch at the Novotel Wollongong as we come together to celebrate the wonderful mothers and mother figures in our community. Tickets have sold out now but Senior School mums may join the waitlist here and will be notified if additional tables become available.
Junior School Mother’s Day Stall – Thursday 8 May 2025
Students will have the opportunity to shop at the TIGS P&F Mother’s Day Stall, where a portion of each gift will go towards P&F school fundraising.
Ticket/gift sales close Friday 2 May. Please see below flyer for more information and click here to make purchase.
Junior School Mother’s Day Breakfast – Friday 9 May 2025
Junior School families are invited to the annual Mother’s Day Breakfast in Rees Hall, where students can enjoy a special morning with their mums and caregivers. More details in the flyer below. Make a booking here.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
We invite students from Kindergarten to Year 12 who learn an instrument, either externally or at School, to participate in our Music Academy Concerts (formerly called Instrumental 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 complete the correct form linked below for the relevant concert. For the String and Piano concerts, there are three time slots to choose from, so families can nominate their preferred time. The closing dates for registration will be strictly followed. A Consent2Go will then be sent out once each concert is finalised.
Term II
Guitar/Drums/Bass – Monday 19 May (Week 4)
Closing date for registration: Friday 2 May
5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Piano – Monday 26 May (Week 5)
Closing date for registration: Friday 9 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
Brass/Woodwind – Monday 2 June (Week 6)
Closing date for registration: Friday 16 May
5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Vocal – Thursday 12 June (Week 7)
Closing date for registration: Friday 23 May
Concert A: 4.30pm – 5.15pm | Register Here
Concert B: 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Register Here
Strings – Monday 23 June (Week 9)
Closing date for registration: Friday 6 June
Concert A: 3.30pm – 4.15pm | Register Here
Concert B: 4.30pm – 5.15pm | Register Here
Concert C: 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.
Next Meeting
The next P&F meeting will take place from 6.00pm – 7.30pm on Wednesday 21 May.
The meeting will take place in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library). Please send agenda items to pandf@tigs.com.au.
For those unable to attend in person, there is also a Teams video call option below.
Meeting ID: 463 059 662 863
Passcode: aB37uR6u
Future 2025 P&F Meetings:
- Meeting – Wednesday 20 August
- Meeting – Wednesday 5 November
During the upcoming school holidays, the Uniform Shop will be open only on:
- Tuesday 22 April: 8.30am to 4.00pm
- Wednesday 23 April: 8.30am to 4.00pm
- Thursday 24 April: 8.30am to 4.00pm
More information about our Uniform Shop, online ordering and our Uniform Guide can be found here.
The Second-Hand Uniform shop will be open on:
- Thursday 10 April: 8.30am to 10.00am
- Saturday 12 April: 12.00pm to 1.00pm
Student Voice
As we conclude Term I, it is a fitting time to reflect on the many achievements and events that have shaped the past few months. This term started with a warm welcome to our new Year 7 students, who began their Senior School journey with great enthusiasm, including attending their camp in Week 3. A big thank you to the Year 10 Peer Support Leaders who helped make their transition smooth by offering guidance and support to the cohort.
It has also been a busy term for our 2025 House Captains, with the Swimming Carnival, ArtsFest last week, and Cross Country in the final week of term. Each of these events has strengthened our House spirit and tested the leadership skills of our new Captains. Whether through cheering on your House or participating in events, everyone has played a role in shaping the vibrant spirit of our School.
To all students: congratulations on your achievements whether academic, creative or personal. There is always something to look back on and be proud of. Keep pushing forward with the same dedication and passion.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce that next term will see the official launch of the Student Voice Team. As the Editorial Team, we’re eager to see the group grow and strengthen, giving students a greater voice and allowing us to share a wider range of stories from our school community.
Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday!
Rayna Chieng, Junior School Vice Captain – Year 6
I walked into the classroom at the start of 2024 alongside 20 other students, all of us wondering the same thing: “What are we going to learn from this teacher?”.
What we didn’t expect was that the lessons Mrs Wallace would teach us would go far beyond the usual. Her teaching was filled with fascinating and challenging concepts, explained with a clarity that few teachers could match.
But it wasn’t just what she taught us – it was how she taught it. She has a way of making even the most complex ideas feel simple, relatable and meaningful. Her ability to connect with us made learning feel effortless, leaving a lasting impact, not just on our grades, but on our lives.
Having spent 37 years at our School, Mrs Wallace’s impact has been meaningful to so many. Her dedication has shaped the lives of countless students, some of whom have graduated and gone on to achieve great things. Her influence has helped to mold a lasting legacy that will be felt for years to come.
The journey Mrs Wallace took us on was unforgettable; full of energy, curiosity, laughter and growth and we’re so grateful to have been part of it.
As she steps into this next chapter, we hope it brings her the same joy, purpose and inspiration that she has given to so many students over the years. We hope her journey ahead is filled with well-earned rest and many new opportunities; we know that her advice will continue to encourage many more people, even after she moves onto new adventures.
May she find as much peace and fulfilment in her future as she has given to us. Whether it’s time for herself, discovering new passions or simply enjoying the freedom to explore, we hope that this new chapter brings everything she has worked so hard for.
Mrs Wallace, you’ve been an incredible teacher, a source of inspiration and an amazing person to look up to. You are leaving behind a legacy that will be carried with us in every step we take.
Thank you for everything: for the lessons, for the kindness and for being someone who truly made a difference at our School.
We wish you a peaceful, joyful and inspiring journey in your retirement ahead.
Joanna Miller – Year 7
Go, go, go! There’s no better way to describe this term, which has been a whirlwind of action, fun and, most importantly, new experiences and valuable bonding time.
Starting Senior School has been a wonderful way to kick off this new chapter in our lives, and in just one term, we’ve already learned so much. Through a variety of activities that keep us grounded, our teachers (especially our Dean, Mrs Panozzo, our Mentors and many others) along with our amazing Peer Support Leaders, have been some of our greatest supporters during this busy time.
To begin the term, the Senior School Swimming Carnival took place on a bright and beautiful day at the Western Suburbs Pool. After all our Houses were swimming their hearts out, Kogara was named victorious!
Straight after that, Year 7 travelled to the Cataract Activity Centre to embark on an epic camp journey where we learnt to survive in the wilderness! Well, not really. But we did learn how to pitch our own tents, persevere as heavy rainfall poured onto our tents and cook our own dinner on trangias. One of my lasting memories of camp was the bonding of our whole cohort.
After camp, we really settled into Illawarra Grammar and found our place, with an assessment or two, getting used to the homework and having lots of fun.
Many of us were also fortunate to take part in the various cocurricular opportunities our School offers. For me, I was given the amazing opportunity to participate in Rostrum Voice of Youth and debating, both of which have been fantastic experiences to enhance my public speaking skills.
Most recently, ArtsFest! Arguably, the most amazing inter-house competition we have ever experienced, with a fun 80s flair and so much to cheer for. I really loved the coming together of the Senior School as I participated in the cover song and the house song. I can not wait to do even more next year – ArtsFest is truly something special!
It’s been a big term, full of ups and downs, but we’ve loved every moment and are now ready for a well-earned break. Through it all, our Year 7 group has bonded strongly, and I know this connection will continue to grow as we make many more lasting memories throughout high school.
Rena Hamut – Year 11
Dr Estelle Lazer, one of Australia’s most highly respected archaeologists, recently visited our School to talk to the Year 11 and 12 Ancient History students on the ethics around human remains in Pompeii. During her visit, I was fortunate enough to interview her on her career and the extensive work she has done, which has provided valuable insight into the human victims of the volcanic eruption in 79 AD.
Dr Lazer’s interest began in primary school, where she recalls her imagination being captured by a book on Pompeii. The more she studied it, the more interested she got, so she went on to study Forensic Applications in Archaeology at university. For decades, Dr Lazer has worked on studying the bones of victims and, more recently, the plaster casts of the forms of victims, including the skeletons and the bodies preserved in them.
Discoveries and Challenges
When she began her work, research about the victims had mostly been theoretical, with few scientists physically testing the bones, instead making suggestions and assumptions. Through looking at bones, Dr Lazer has discovered an age-related disorder mostly found in older women, which has provided insight that not all women were dying in childbirth. Another unexpected discovery was on the casts; despite what they initially believed, the casts were complex and made by restorers. Through this, she has learned not only about the people who died but also how archaeology and restoration were practised in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Dr Lazer notes that while it is a privilege to work there, there are hurdles around dealing with the bureaucracy, getting to secure the permission to complete the work is harder than the work itself. However, she stresses that it is a UNESCO world site, meaning all the difficulty in working on Pompeii is to ensure that it is preserved and safe.
Impact of Technology Advancement on Archaeology
Dr Lazer expects that with new technology, research methods will require less intervention. For example, while techniques such as ancient DNA and isotope analysis give huge amounts of information, they come at a cost, requiring a significant amount of bone and teeth. She hopes that in the future, smaller samples will be needed, and new scanning technology can ensure people will not have to disturb the remains or dig in order to help preservation efforts.
Key Takeaway
A key takeaway from the interview was how she reshaped my perspective on archaeology. For her, rather than learning how different we are from our ancestors, she is understanding how similar we are because, in the end, biologically, we are the same despite changes in culture and society.
If you are interested in her work, we encourage you to look out for her exhibition on the casts of Pompeii in 2027 at the University of Sydney’s museum.