THE BLUE AND GOLD - Friday, 8 November 2024

Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp

Community service remains a key focus for our boys through their House affiliations and through involvement with the School's Interact Club.

During the September holidays, Toowoomba Grammar School hosted the 18th Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp. In this camp, 72 Year 11 students from TGS, Fairholme College and The Glennie School were paired to support 36 children with special needs.

This three-day, two-night camp is designed to provide fun for the young guests, offer respite to their families and facilitate personal growth for the Year 11 companions through this enriching experience. The dedication and outstanding contribution of the 48 Year 11 boys from TGS during this year's camp were highly commendable.

Interact Club

The TGS Interact Club celebrated its 60th annual Change-Over Dinner earlier this term. The event, held in the presence of Toowoomba South Rotary visitors, staff and Interact Club members, included outgoing President Harry Skobe presenting his 2024 report and the installation of the new President for 2025, Ben Walker. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of our outgoing Interact executive team and all Year 12 Interact committee members for their substantial contributions to service this year. The following boys were introduced as the incoming executive for Interact in 2025:

• President: Ben Walker
• Co Vice-Presidents: Rory Black and Hamish McCollum
• Secretary: Hedley Donges
• Treasurer: Olly Dunk
• Sargent-At-Arms: Archer Onley

Gather and Graze – Gala Event at TGS

Following the successful fundraising event held at TGS in 2023, the Gather and Graze event will return to TGS on Saturday, 9 November. This year, Gather and Graze is proud to support Protea Place, a women’s support centre dedicated to providing dignity, safety and support to vulnerable women in our community. The School is donating the use of Old Boys’ Memorial Oval on which the Gather and Graze Committee will arrange hire of marquee and associated instalments and equipment.

Term 4

The final term of the year provides a perfect time to reflect on the past months while looking forward to the future. For the boys, it's a period of excitement as they anticipate year-end events and the upcoming new year. This sentiment is particularly strong for the Year 12 and Year 6 boys who are on the verge of significant transitions. While it’s natural for them to eagerly look ahead, the end-of-school-year events offer a moment for reflection and celebration of the year’s achievements.

Our Year 12 boys have nearly completed their External Exams, with only a few remaining. Their Graduation and Final Assembly will be held on the Old Boys’ Memorial Oval on Tuesday, 12 November, followed by the Year 12 Formal on Wednesday, 13 November. These events are cherished occasions for the boys and their parents as they celebrate the culmination of their School careers.

The Year 6 boys will also enjoy a special graduation before transitioning to the Senior School. A formal assembly will precede their Year 6 Graduation Dinner with families, marking the end of their primary schooling and the beginning of their senior years.

For the upcoming year, 20 Prefects have been elected and inducted to lead the School in 2025. The Prefects will participate in a leadership retreat at the end of Term 4 to initiate their leadership training and planning for the 2025 school year. Junior School House and School leadership positions are also being determined, with boys having completed expressions of interest and prepared speeches to present. They eagerly look forward to leading the Junior School in 2025.

Speech Day

The Senior School Speech Day and Prize Giving ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 27 November, starting at 4:30 pm at the Empire Theatre. Attendance is compulsory for all boys in Years 7 to 11. Tickets for parents can be obtained from the Empire Theatre box office.

The Junior School Speech Day will be held on Thursday, 28 November, commencing at 9:00 am in the Senior School Assembly Hall. Parents are welcome to attend and tickets are not required.

More details will be shared as the events approach.

2025 School Year

Preparations for the 2025 school year are well underway. Transition and orientation programs are in full swing for new students and their parents. We eagerly anticipate welcoming both new and returning boys, families and staff to Toowoomba Grammar School in 2025, particularly as we look to celebrate the School’s 150th year.

John Anderson
Deputy Headmaster

We congratulate the Year 12 boys as their formal schooling is coming to an end. The staff here have truly enjoyed watching your boys grow into the young men that we see today as well as supporting them through their health journeys. If your son is off to Schoolies to celebrate this moment, we have added some resource links which you and your son may find helpful:

• Safer Schoolies
• Safety at Schoolies
• Staying safe on Schoolies

With Term 4 coming to an end, if you are leaving early and your son has medications or prescriptions in the Health Centre please do not forget to come and collect them.

As always, the staff are here to help support your son so please do not hesitate to reach out.

The TGS Health Centre

The 2025 Vision

In today's fast-paced educational landscape, fostering holistic student development has become essential. The TGS pastoral care program is designed to weave together key elements of wellbeing, character development, career readiness and effective learning strategies whilst promoting virtues-based examples of evidence to promote healthier lives. This integrated approach (currently in review) not only supports students academically but also nurtures their emotional and ethical growth, preparing them for success in all facets of life.

At the heart of our program is the focus on wellbeing and character development. We recognise that a healthy mind and strong character are fundamental to academic achievement and personal fulfilment. Through various virtues-based activities, students engage in reflective practices that promote empathy, resilience and integrity. This foundation of character education is further reinforced by regular assessments and feedback, allowing us to tailor our approach to meet the unique needs of each student.

Career information is seamlessly integrated into our pastoral care framework across Years 8 to 12. By connecting character strengths with career exploration, students are encouraged to consider how their values align with potential career paths and how best to focus on their future post schooling years. The pastoral program features interactive sessions where students can learn about different professions from guest speakers who share their experiences and insights. These real-world connections help students envision their futures and inspire them to pursue their passions with purpose.

To support academic success, the School researches and provides targeted study and learning strategies that cater to diverse learning styles.

Prior to and after each session, students are encouraged to engage in discussions that draw on data collected from assessments and feedback. This continuous loop of evaluation ensures that our strategies are effective and adaptable, allowing students to take ownership of their learning journey.

Finally, this program emphasises the importance of key speakers who bring valuable life experiences, strategies for managing and coping with personal challenges along with personal perspectives to our students. These presentations are thoughtfully aligned with our core lessons, providing context and real-life applications of the virtues we teach. By inviting industry leaders and community members to share their stories, we enrich our students' understanding of character in action. The follow-up discussions foster critical thinking and encourage students to reflect on how they can embody these virtues in their own lives.

In summary, our pastoral care program is a comprehensive initiative that harmonises wellbeing, character development, career exploration and academic strategies. By leveraging data-driven insights and community engagement, we create a nurturing environment where students can thrive both personally and academically. As we continue to evolve this program, we remain committed to equipping our students with the tools they need to succeed in life.

Michael Hall
Head of Pastoral Care

Updates to our TGS laptop monitoring, the reality of social media and AI relationships

In my role as Head of Senior School at Toowoomba Grammar School, I have the privilege of witnessing daily the wonderful opportunities that technology brings to our students' education. I take this opportunity to remind you all of an increasingly important issue: the safety of our children in the digital world.

Changes to TGS Laptop Monitoring

As many of you might be aware, Toowoomba Grammar School is constantly striving to enhance the appropriate use of technology for our students. To that end, we are writing to inform you about some important changes to the school laptops that will be implemented starting in the next few weeks.

These changes are designed to provide the School with better control over the devices during approved times, ensuring a safer and more productive environment for our students learning.

Key Changes

1. Enhanced Pastoral Care Monitoring: these upgrades on all student laptops, will allow us to provide greater tracking of student use, no matter where or what network the student is connected to.
2. Enhanced Control During Class and Study Times: to ensure students are focused on their educational priorities and to ensure adherence to the School’s acceptable use policy during prescribed class/study hours.

Please note, the proposed changes are system-to-system based changes only, therefore, we believe these above changes will greatly benefit our students by promoting responsible use of technology while at the same time, enhancing their academic potential.

However, we do recognise that during ‘non-study periods’, our students should be allowed greater flexibility and use of the internet, so the restrictions would be reduced slightly. For example, should a boarder want to watch Netflix on their family account or play an age-appropriate video game in their down time, they can do so. Whilst at the same time ensuring the students privacy, security and welfare remains omnipresent.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your son’s Head of House or the IT department ithelpdesk@twgs.qld.edu.au.

Social Media: The Digital Reality

Our children are growing up in an era where digital technology is interwoven into every aspect of their lives. While this brings tremendous opportunities, it also presents challenges that previous generations did not have to navigate. As a School community, we must work together to ensure our children's safety in this digital age.

Age-Appropriate Access

A critical concern I want to address is social media use among our younger students. Many parents may be unaware that the terms and conditions for accessing social media platforms have strict age restrictions in place. Relevantly these include:

• Facebook requires users to be at least 13 years old
• Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old
• TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old
• Snapchat requires users to be at least 13 years old

These age restrictions aren't arbitrary - they're grounded in child development research and privacy laws. The Federal Government, only last month, announced plans to introduce legislation to raise the age at which children can access social media. The age increase may change as early as next week and this will impact many students who currently use social media.

Why This Matters

Research consistently shows that premature exposure to social media can impact:

• Emotional development: children may encounter content they're not emotionally equipped to process
• Sleep patterns: screen time before bed can significantly affect sleep quality
• Academic performance: constant connectivity can impact concentration and learning
• Social development: online interactions shouldn't replace crucial face-to-face social experiences
• Mental health: early social media use has been linked to increased anxiety and decreased self-esteem

Our School's Commitment

At Toowoomba Grammar School, we are committed to:

1. protecting our students' wellbeing
2. providing age-appropriate digital education
3. supporting parents in navigating these challenges
4. maintaining clear policies around technology use
5. creating a safe learning environment, both online and offline.

Action Steps for Parents

The eSafety Commissioner shows that children benefit most from:

• supervised online activities
• age-appropriate educational content
• clear boundaries around device use
• open family discussions about online safety.

Given these factors we ask each family to adhere to the above age-appropriate recommendations and that their children will not be allowed to access social media until they are old enough to access those platforms in accordance with the terms and conditions for each platform. We also expect that each family will check that child safety settings on devices accessed by their children are in place and they will discuss the importance of compliance with this request with their children. If all parents share responsibility for managing access, we can make our community more cyber-safe.

Community Standards and Social Media Guidelines

At Toowoomba Grammar School, we have clear expectations for social media use that align with our School's official guidelines. These standards apply to all members of our School community - parents, students, staff, Old Boys, volunteers and contractors. These guidelines are in place to ensure that all online communications are appropriate and respectful. Members of the community communicating in a way that is contrary to these guidelines may face disciplinary action. You can access these guidelines here.

Similarly, if boys communicate online in a way contrary to these guidelines, it may be in breach of the Student Behaviour Management Policy and the Enrolment Agreement, which could lead to disciplinary action up to termination of enrolment.

The digital world offers tremendous opportunities for our children, but it requires careful navigation and supervision. By working together as a community, we can ensure our students develop into responsible digital citizens who can harness technology's benefits while avoiding its pitfalls.

Navigating AI Relationships

As governments around the world consider raising the minimum age for social media access due to concerns about youth mental health and wellbeing, a new challenge has emerged: the rise of romantic and companion AI bots. These virtual companions are becoming increasingly popular among young people, raising important questions about privacy, ethics and the future of relationships in the digital age.

AI-powered relationships are offering a new frontier in human interaction. Initially emerging in the gaming world, AI companionship has now entered mainstream culture. Apps provide personalised experiences that range from platonic friendships to romantic encounters. However, these interactions can blur the boundaries between real and virtual relationships, potentially causing confusion and psychological harm.

Criminologists warn that children as young as 12 are accessing dating apps, often bypassing age restrictions. This exposes them to sexual content and predatory behaviour. Researchers have also found that many adolescents turn to virtual partners for validation, risking unhealthy emotional attachments that can affect their real-life relationships.

As AI reshapes social dynamics, it is crucial for parents to stay informed and engaged. While AI can enhance education and creativity, it also presents challenges around privacy, mental health and misinformation. This Special Report aims to help you foster an open dialogue and balanced approach to help young people navigate this evolving digital landscape.

For more detailed information, please refer our SchoolTV channel for the full report.

If you have any concerns about your child's digital safety or would like additional support, please don't hesitate to contact your child's Head of House.

If you have any concerns about the above information, we welcome your feedback.

Mark Oliphant
Head of Senior School

Over the last few weeks, boys from across the Senior School will have seen our Year 12 students undertaking their External Assessment – the culmination of two years of learning in General subjects for their Queensland Certificate of Education. These examinations are a busy time for the boys, with some examinations making up 50% of the overall result for the subject. Due to this, our Year 12 students have been setting the standard for how to prepare for these examinations and can be seen as a model for our younger students. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate these Year 12 students as they end their External Assessment for 2024 and wish them well for what comes next.

As we approach the end of the year, I am sure that our Years 7 to 11 students are turning their attention to the upcoming assessment period in Weeks 7 to 9. Using the example of our Year 12 students, boys in the younger years should now be thinking about how they are going to best prepare themselves for success in these upcoming assessments. One of the most effective ways to ensure that students are well-prepared is to engage in a practice known as ‘spaced retrieval’. According to education expert, Peps Mccrea, spaced retrieval is the idea that to commit learning or knowledge to long-term memory, it should be regularly revisited and ‘pulled out’ of memory (Mccrea, 2024). Additionally, the Australian Education Research Organisation advises that this practice of spaced retrieval allows students to consolidate their knowledge in long-term memory, allowing it to be accessed to think critically and creatively (AERO, 2024). Retrieval practice includes activities such as flash cards, short quizzes and other activities where students are active in accessing information from their memory, rather than just reading and re-reading their notes. It is important for this retrieval practice to be ‘spaced’ i.e. that it does not just occur as one ‘cram-session’; rather, is regularly interwoven within student’s homework and study habits.

As boys move towards the upcoming assessment period, it will be important to plan out their time to ensure that they are able to give appropriate time for each of their subjects. Boys are encouraged to use their diaries and their assessment planners to consider when they can provide time for each subject, bearing in mind their other commitments. By giving each subject some time each week, they will be able to ensure that they are practicing spaced retrieval, and not just ‘cramming’ or preparing in a sub-optimal way. All students will have the opportunity to consider these ideas in their upcoming WCD and PCG lessons to ensure that they are preparing well for the end of the term.

I know that boys have worked hard across this year and I encourage all students to prepare well over the next few weeks. I also look forward to the end of year celebrations across the next few weeks.

Gabe Robbie
Head of Curriculum

As the year draws to a close, I can’t believe how quickly the year has flown. Over the last few weeks, the Year 12s have finalised their plans at this stage, for life beyond school and the Year 9s are preparing for Work Experience in 2025. The wheels keep turning!

ATAR and Offer rounds

ATARs will be released on Friday, 13 December and the boys will be notified via SMS. There will be an offer round for QTAC applicants on Monday, 23 December and the major offer round will be Thursday, 16 January 2025. The interstate offer rounds will also be in January. If you need any assistance during this period, please email me as I am happy to help.

Next Step Destination survey

The annual Next Step survey provides comprehensive information about the employment, study and life choices of Year 12 completers approximately six months after completing Year 12 in Queensland Government, Catholic and Independent schools.

The Next Step surveys provide valuable information to improve the services available to school leavers in the future. The surveys collect information about what school leavers are doing in the year after leaving school.

Contact details for former students are sourced from their learning account with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Contact information is provided to the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO) under the Statistical Returns Act 1896 (Qld) (the Act).

Past students will be contacted by any of these ways:

• a letter in the mail from the Minister for Education with a link to do the survey online
• an email or SMS reminder with a link to do the survey online
• a phone call and opportunity to do the survey over the phone.

The Year 12 Completers survey is conducted between March and June each year and we encourage our school leavers to participate in this survey as it assists with planning for the future.

All former students who complete the survey go into a draw for a chance to win one of several prizes. Refer to the terms and conditions for more information: Year 12 Completers survey prize terms and conditions (PDF, 161KB)

Further information can be found on the website: Information for participants.

Year 10 Work Experience 2025

In Week 5 we spoke with the Year 9 boys about the work experience program running during Activities Week in Term 1 next year. We encourage the boys to start looking for possible work experience opportunities over the holidays to have a placement sorted before school resumes. All Year 9 parents will have received an email outlining the process for applying, with the 2025 Work Experience Handbook attached. Please direct any questions regarding the work experience program to Mrs Marian Rathie.

The Careers Department staff have thoroughly enjoyed working with the boys this year and look forward to an exciting 2025. We wish you all a happy and safe festive season and would like to especially wish our Year 12 cohort the very best of luck in their many and varied future endeavours.

Anthea Richters
Head of Department - Careers

As we close out this week we enter the final phase of Term 4 with less than three weeks to go. It’s a busy period for us all with many community events to celebrate a great 2024 and recognise special achievements of individuals and cohorts.

In the coming weeks:

• Monday, 11 November - Remembrance Day: A short service held in the Sails area of the Junior School, honouring the end of First World War and all men and women who died in service of our country.

• Wednesday, 13 November – Year 2 Strings Concert: Held in the Junior School Hall commencing at 9:00am, the Strings Concert is a culmination showcase of the strings program.

• Thursday, 14 November – Year 4 Instrumental Concert: Held in the Junior School Hall commencing at 9:00am, the Instrumental Concert is a culmination showcase of the brass program.

• Friday, 15 November – Year 6 Celebration and Dinner: Held in the Junior School Hall for the celebration ceremony followed by the Pavilion for dinner, commencing at 6:00pm, concluding by approximately 8:30pm. This is a significant occasion that marks the culmination of the Junior School journey for our Year 6 boys.

• Friday, 22 November – Twilight Concert: Held on the lawns of Old Boys’ Memorial Oval from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. This community event is shared with Prep to Year 6 families. Each class will perform an item and celebrate a wonderful year together. Parents, siblings and extended family are invited to attend this occasion.

• Monday, 25 November – Transition Day Prep to Year 6 for 2025: On this morning all current and new students for 2025 experience a morning in the class they are moving into for the following year. They will be with their classmates and their teacher for 2025, learning about the cohort and experiences of that new year level. After morning tea, students return to their current classes for the remainder of the day.

• Tuesday, 26 November – Picnic Day: This is a fun filled day for all students in Prep to Year 6 where they participate in a variety of activities. Our cohort teachers are planning this year’s adventure and will provide further details once plans are confirmed.

• Thursday, 28 November – Speech Day: Our final day of the school year for students. Boys first meet at their classrooms before moving to the Senior School Assembly Hall for a 9:00am start. Speech Day celebrates the year together as a Junior School with families, recognising student achievement and honouring their commitment to learning throughout the year. The ceremony concludes by 10:30am, after which students are welcome to be collected by families or if supervision is required for the remainder of the day that will be provided in Junior School classrooms.

Year 3 Billycart Day

On Friday, 1 November, the Year 3 cohort enjoyed what must be one of their favourite days of the year, Billy Cart Day! This is an occasion that helps to recognise a phase of the Junior School that is important for the boys and their families to pause, enjoy together and look ahead into Year 4.

Year 3 in our setting marks the moving from Early Childhood to middle/upper primary school. In Year 4 our boys uniform changes to include a Blazer and Akubra and they also physically move classrooms to the top level alongside the Years 5 and 6 cohort. Their curriculum content grows in Year 4, as does their responsibility to manage increasing co-curricular commitments.

Billy Cart Day is a shared experience for the boys to build a billy cart together with their parents and ride them down some of the most beautiful pathways you could ever ask for within our School setting. These are memories that will stay with the boys and their parents forever.

Year 3 teachers, Mr Jayson Mullins and Mr Peter Nicholls made the occasion even more special by preparing Billy Cart licences for the boys to earn by demonstrating their driving proficiency through an obstacle course set up on the oval. Once this was successfully navigated with the engine power of a parent pushing the cart they were presented with their Billy Cart licence and a personalised number plate to attach to their vehicle. Then the boys took to Jacaranda Grove for some downhill runs. The afternoon was tremendous fun and memorable moment for everyone. At the conclusion of the event, we congratulated the boys on a job well done and shared their readiness for the next step in their Junior School journey, on to Year 4!

This week we celebrated student achievement at public speaking. Each cohort from Prep through to Year 6 held their own forum to deliver a speech before their peers on a topic that was connected to their learning program. The winners from each cohort were recognised at this week's Junior School Assembly. There is tremendous value in learning the skills for public speaking and the confidence to deliver a speech in front of an audience. These are skills that will apply throughout their schooling and into their adult lives also. Whether the forum is in-person or on-line, the skills of being able to articulate a message in a compelling way will always be helpful. Like in most things in life, preparation is key. Planning and practicing, over and over again until you are comfortable and confident leads to successful delivery. Our students from all cohorts did a wonderful job and delivered exceptional speeches.

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

Nurturing Leadership in Our Boys

Douglas MacArthur says that "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others."

On Monday, 28 October, our Year 5 students engaged in one such opportunity with a full day of reflection and activities aimed at improving our boys understanding and engagement with the concept of student leadership. A key message that was imparted to our boys was that leadership is not confined to those with official titles or to those that wear a badge. All were encouraged to take initiative in everyday situations, whether it’s organising a game at breaktime, helping a classmate, or suggesting new ideas for our Junior School community.

It was also highlighted that it isn’t the loudest voice or the most confident individual that always makes the best leader and that there are many styles of leadership to recognise and nurture in our boys so we can help them develop into confident, capable leaders who are ready to make a positive impact in their daily interactions, throughout their Junior School journey as well as on the world beyond the school gates. To help our boys develop their natural leadership abilities, they are provided with opportunities from Prep through to Year 6 to take on responsibilities, make decisions and reflect on their experiences.

This is particularly relevant as our Year 5 boys work through the formal application process for School Captain, Vice Captain and House Captain positions in the coming weeks, as well as Music Captain in the beginning of 2025. I had the pleasure of personally engaging with our current Year 5 students this week as they look towards their Year 6 student leadership journey, to reinforce that leadership really is about the ability to inspire, guide and make a positive impact on others.

As parents and guardians, we can also encourage the development of leadership skills through various avenues including but not limited to:

• modelling positive leadership behaviours in our interactions with others

• participation in sports, clubs and community service can provide practical leadership experiences

• encouraging boys to find solutions to problems they encounter, fostering critical thinking

• recognising and acknowledging when our boys show respect and empathy towards others

MacArthur, D (2024) https://quotesanity.com/leader-in-me-quotes-for-students/

Nurturing leadership in our boys is a collective effort that extends beyond the classroom. By fostering these skills at home and in the community, we can help our boys grow into leaders who are not only confident and capable but also compassionate and thoughtful. Together, we can inspire the next generation to lead with integrity and make a positive impact on the world.

Amanda Hall
Deputy Head of Junior School (Students)

Embracing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at the TGS Junior School

We are so excited to see (and hear) the construction of our new Design, Engineering and Technology (DET) Centre progressing as part of the Masterplan. This state-of-the-art facility is set to become a cornerstone of our educational approach, fostering curiosity, creativity and critical thinking among our young learners.

STEM education is more than just a buzzword. It is a dynamic and integrated approach to learning that prepares students for the challenges of the future. By engaging in STEM activities, students develop essential skills such as problem-solving, collaboration and analytical thinking. These skills are not only vital for academic success but also for navigating the complexities of the modern world.

Our new STEM building is designed to support explicit teaching methods, where concepts are taught clearly and directly. This approach ensures that students grasp fundamental principles before applying them in hands-on projects. We look forward to seeing our boys building their own robots, conducting exciting science experiments, or designing innovative solutions to real-world problems—all within a space that encourages exploration and discovery.

The importance of STEM education extends beyond the classroom. Many of the fastest-growing and highest-paying careers are in STEM fields. By nurturing an early interest in these areas, we are opening doors to future opportunities for our boys. Whether they dream of becoming engineers, scientists, software developers, astronauts, innovators or entrepreneurs, the foundation they build at TGS Junior will be instrumental in achieving their goals.

The new STEM building is not just a physical space, it is a symbol of our commitment to providing a forward-thinking education that equips our students with the tools they need to succeed. Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to open the doors to this exciting new facility. Together, let’s inspire a love for learning and a passion for discovery in every student at TGS Junior.

Chantelle Bauer
Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning)

Brodribb Home visit

On Thursday, 31 October members of Tribe and Tribe Junior travelled to Brodribb Home to perform for the residents. Both choirs and selected soloists performed a variety of repertoire which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were delighted to be offered morning tea following their performance.

Sincere thanks to Brodribb Home for hosting our visit, to Mrs Miller for accompanying all of our performances and to Ms Hall for supporting our musicians’ on this worthwhile excursion.

Final Cadence Concert

Congratulations to all boys involved in our Final Cadence Concert, which was held on Wednesday, 6 November. Boys have been working hard in ensemble rehearsals this year and this concert provided a fabulous opportunity for them to showcase their talent and skills developed across the year. Photos from the evening will be included in the next newsletter. Thank you to parents for supporting this event and to our Ensemble Directors for your contribution.

Year 2 and Year 4 Concerts

• Year 2 parents are invited to the Year 2 Strings Concert on Wednesday, 13 November.
• Year 4 parents are invited to the Year 4 Concert on Thursday, 14 November.

Year 6 Musicians’ Lunch

On Friday, 22 November all Year 6 boys currently involved in an ensemble are invited to a Year 6 Musicians’ Lunch. This lunch will be held in the Hall and details have been emailed to relevant parents.

Music Tuition 2025

Boys who are currently enrolled in private music tuition will have their enrolment automatically rolled over to 2025. If your son is not currently enrolled in lessons and you would like to sign up for singing or instrumental lessons next year, please complete the enrolment form.

Please contact the Performing Arts Department on performingarts@twgs.qld.edu.au for any questions regarding music tuition.

School Hire Instruments

School hire instruments must be returned before the end of the term to allow all instruments to be serviced over the Christmas holiday break. Chamber Strings and Concert Band are performing at Speech Day, so boys involved in these ensembles can return hire instruments immediately after Speech Day on Thursday, 28 November. All other instruments should be returned following your son’s last ensemble rehearsal, or his last instrumental lesson.

Kellie Dixon
Head of Junior School Music

Aquathlon

Congratulations to the Junior School boys who recently completed in the Darling Downs Aquathlon trials: Harry Allen, Sam Oliphant, Liam Fels and Charlie Beverland.

This event consisted of a 1km run, 200m swim and another 1km swim - a gruelling event. Our boys did magnificently with everyone finishing in the top half of the field. A special congratulations must go to Charlie Beverland who finished in 1st place. Well done Charlie!

Boys who placed in the top 10 have been selected in the Darling Downs team for the State Championships in 2025. We wish Charlie all the best at this event.

Queensland School Tennis Championships

Congratulations to all boys who represented TGS at the recent Red, Orange and Green Ball tennis championships held at the Toowoomba Tennis Centre. Despite battling through difficult conditions, with the heat sapping energy, the boys played extremely well to finish in 2nd place in all 3 divisions. Well done boys. There are some amazing TGS tennis boys coming through the ranks.

Brendan Doherty
Junior School Sport Coordinator

Although the GPS season has wrapped up, TGS Rugby remains in full swing.

Recently, our U13s, U15s and U17s sides have been competing in the Downs Rugby Southwest 7s, who have all been enjoying their time playing plenty of different oppositions in the social competition.

Last weekend, we also had an U15s and Opens side travel to Brisbane for the All Schools Q7s Tournament, where they faced top schools from across Queensland. Our players put in a strong performance and a special mention goes to the U15 team, with Seth earning a place in the tournament's Merit Team—recognition of the team's hard work. Both the U15 and U18 teams topped their pools in an exciting weekend of running rugby.

Congratulations to all involved!

The following sports and co-curricular photos are now available from Advanced Life. Orders placed before Friday, 15 November will receive a 20% discount.

Go to the Advanced Life website and enter the code: CN5 ZBK YE5 and select “Group Photos”.

Join us at the TGS Cricket Test Luncheon on Friday, 22 November.

Everyone is invited to help us launch the 2024/25 cricket season in style.

Enjoy coverage of the First Test Match between Australia and India live, with a buffet lunch direct from the smoker grill (vegetarian option included).

Plus, an auction and great raffle prizes on offer with proceeds going a long way towards supporting the Toowoomba Grammar School Cricket Program.

Places are limited, so get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/ypkuj76s

Celebrate Grammar 150 with us and join us for the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Association Cricket Reunion match and dinner.

Old Boys' Association Cricket Reunion Dinner

You are invited to reconnect and reminisce over dinner and drinks with fellow Old Boys. Places will need to be limited for this event, so early booking is advised.

• 6:00pm - 10:00pm
• Toowoomba Grammar School, Assembly Hall
• Cost $160 per person
• RSVP via TryBooking by Friday, 10 January 2025

End of 2024 hours

• Monday, 18 November until Friday, 6 December: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Early 2025 hours (appointments required)

• Monday, 13 January until Friday 24 January: 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Monday, 27 January CLOSED
• Tuesday, 28 January: 9:00am – 5:00pm (Boarders Return)
• Wednesday, 29 January: 9:00am – 5:00pm (Start of School)
• Thursday, 30 January: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
• Friday, 31 January: 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Book Collection

Booklist orders are available for collection from the School from Monday, 20 January 2025.

Please check with the Uniform Shop for the collection point.

Opening in Early 2025

Our much loved P.B. Hauser Aquatic Centre will undergo a makeover during the next few months.

The pool deck and the 25 metre pool will both be refurbished, the filtration system will be upgraded along with the entry to improve energy efficiency.

The Aquatic Centre will also see the addition of a cafe, creating a wonderful space for our TGS and Learn to Swim families to come together. Preliminary works will commence on Monday, 11 November and the cafe is expected to open in early 2025. Stay tuned for further details.