As we come to the end of Term 3, I am so proud of everything our students have achieved and the strong sense of community that has carried us through such a full and rewarding term. Today we said goodbye to our much-loved Year 12s, with their final formal assembly this morning marking an emotional end to a week of farewells.
We honoured the Graduating Class of 2026 with a series of treasured traditions, beginning with Year 12 and our Kindergarten students at Taronga Zoo, Kindy and Year 12 sharing a special day together. At our Graduation Dinner at Le Montage, families, staff and students came together to celebrate a special milestone and the next chapter – a night for Year 12 to take in all they have achieved, whether they first joined us as preschoolers in 2012 or as the Year 7 class of 2021 or in any other year. It was also a delight to welcome back Grace Truman, our Head Girl in 2021, who led with a capacity beyond her years, inspiring and uniting the student body through the pandemic. The week continued with the BBQ lunch and House farewells, a fun-filled day at Luna Park and today’s final farewells.
This farewell has been a particularly special one for me. In my very first week at IGS, I invited our Kindergarten children to my office for lunch and asked them to imagine a school. They dreamed of a giant tree with bananas growing on it, a ladder to climb so high and, for one little girl, the chance to be a unicorn. Many of those children graduated today. They dreamed big then, and they still do. Twelve years on, we have come full circle. Today was a day filled with lasts, each one carrying the weight of memory and time. I felt the poignancy of that particularly keenly because Year 12 and I are both preparing to say goodbye to a place that has meant the world to us.
Year 12, it has been our privilege to teach you, challenge you and watch you grow. As you continue your studies over the holidays and head into your HSC examinations next term, know that the effort and dedication you have shown this year and throughout your schooling will serve you well. Trust in your preparation, back yourselves and know that we are cheering you on every step of the way.. You go with our confidence, our hopes and our love. We will miss you Year 12!
These final weeks have also brought outstanding news from this year’s HSC Showcase nominations. I am thrilled that every student in our HSC Drama cohort has been nominated for OnSTAGE for their Group Performances, while Gretel Deutsch, Oscar Falvey, Anna Morrow, Orla O’Reilly and Connor Robertson have also been nominated for their Individual Performances. Congratulations too to Isabelle Parrab and Phaedra Hamer nominated for SHAPE for their outstanding Textiles and Design Major Projects. My sincere thanks to our Drama and Art and Design departments for the dedication and care with which they have supported these students.
While Year 12 has been at the centre of our celebrations, the spirit of IGS has been alive across the School. On Wednesday evening I was delighted to attend the IGS Vocal Competition, where singers from Years 5 to 12 left me in awe of the exceptional talent in our Music program and among our students. Congratulations to everyone who performed. For me, it reinforced the importance of being courageous, trying very hard and focusing on mastery over time.
Last week the whole School came together at Wentworth Park for the Colour Run, a bright and joyful afternoon of House spirit. Thank you to Paul Galea and our staff for making it such a success.
Term 3 began with International Day and from there our calendar was full – excursions, HSC Trials and exams, special assemblies and performances, Book Week, our very first Grand-friends Day in the Junior School, Family Day at The Retreat, The Ultimo Series, R U OK? Day, the HICES Music Festival and HICES Gifted and Talented camps. We also welcomed Lei Feng as our inaugural Artist in Residence and launched our Passport to High School program for Year 6, among so much more.
A huge thank you to my colleagues who made all of this happen through their vision, dedication and sheer hard work.
Finishing the term reminds me just how special our School is. This week has shown the heart of IGS and a community that comes together to celebrate and showcase all that our students are learning. Thank you to our students, colleagues, families and the P&C for all you have contributed this term.
I wish you all a restful and wonderful holiday break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 4.
Warm regards
Shauna Colnan
Principal
