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FAREWELL CLASS OF 2026

Year 12 Farewell Week at IGS is one of the most meaningful weeks in the School calendar and this year it once again brought the whole community together to celebrate the Class of 2026. Across the week, students, families and staff paused to recognise what this cohort has achieved, the contribution they have made to School life and the people they have become along the way.

It was a week designed to look both ways – back across years of learning, friendship and growth and forward to everything still ahead. For our graduating students, it was a reminder that their time at IGS has never been measured only in results but in the way they have shaped the community around them.

A large group of people, mostly teenagers, pose together outdoors in front of a modern building, many wearing colourful shirts and sashes, smiling at the camera.

 

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
The week opened with the much-loved Taronga Zoo visit, where Year 12 students spent the day alongside our Kindergarten students. Hands were held, animals were pointed out with great enthusiasm and the bird show drew delighted gasps from both age groups.

For many in Year 12, the day carried a quiet significance. They could remember being the small ones once, looking up at the seniors who walked beside them. Stepping into that role themselves marked the completion of a circle and showed how naturally this cohort has taken on the responsibility of guiding and encouraging our youngest learners.

 

MARKING THE MILESTONE
The Graduation Dinner brought students together with their families and teachers for a formal evening of celebration and reflection. It was an occasion to acknowledge not only academic achievement but the character, resilience and generosity this year group has shown. Head of Year 12 Simone McKay captured this spirit in her reflection on “the art of subtraction”. She observed that once the structures of timetables, assessments and rankings are removed, what endures is the character of each student, and that the kindness and compassion shown by this cohort will serve them well beyond the measure of any ATAR.

Speeches throughout the evening honoured the journeys that brought each student to this point – the setbacks as well as the successes – and recognised the families who supported them at every stage. Head Girl Mollie Webb and Head Boy Oscar Falvey described graduation not as a single moment of arrival but as part of a continuing process of growth, and encouraged their classmates to prioritise their wellbeing in the weeks ahead. On behalf of Year 12 families, parent Stephen Lightfoot traced the cohort’s secondary years, from the transition to Year 7 during the challenges of COVID-19 through to SAGE Week, international exchanges and the demands of the HSC. He affirmed that they leave IGS well prepared to meet a complex and changing world. Teachers were thanked warmly, with particular gratitude extended to Principal Shauna Colnan being her final Year 12 Graduation as she concludes her time at IGS at the end of the year. 

Grace Truman, IGS Head Girl in 2021, reflected on the years since leaving the School, sharing that her most rewarding experiences had come not from following a set plan but from remaining open to opportunity. As they were formally welcomed into the IGS alumni community, the graduating students were encouraged to step into the next chapter with courage, curiosity and kindness.

The evening closed with the cutting of the globe graduation cake and a celebration on the dancefloor.

Three people pose and smile for a photo at an indoor event with purple lighting, celebrating a special graduation milestone. The group includes a woman in a white dress, a man in a white shirt, and a woman in black. Other guests are visible in the background, marking this memorable farewell for the class of 2026.
Six young adults stand together, smiling at a formal graduation event in a brightly lit hall with purple lights and chandeliers. Five wear elegant dresses, one wears a jumper and jeans. Tables and guests are visible in the background, as the class of 2026 celebrates their farewell evening.
A large group of teenagers dressed in formal attire pose together indoors, smiling at the camera on a wooden floor, with bright lighting and screens in the background, celebrating their graduation as the class of 2026.
Three young women dressed formally sit at a round table set for dinner, smiling at the camera at a lively indoor graduation event with other guests in the background.
Five people stand together at an indoor graduation event, smiling at the camera. They are dressed in semi-formal attire, with colourful dresses and a white blazer. The background features vertical panels and other guests, creating a lively celebration for the class of 2026.
A person in a blue floral dress and glasses speaks at a lectern labelled IGS in a well-lit room with white window blinds behind them, delivering a heartfelt farewell to the graduating class of 2026.
Two women smiling and hugging at a formal event, perhaps celebrating a graduation. One wears a dark jacket, the other a sparkly light green dress—both look happy, radiating joy as part of the class of 2026. Other people are blurred in the background, suggesting this might be a heartfelt farewell moment.
A rectangular cake shaped like an open book with a gold ribbon, graduation cap, and aeroplane decorations. The cake reads International Grammar School Class of 2026 and The Next Chapter, making it the perfect centrepiece for a memorable graduation farewell celebration.
A group of people in formal attire lift a smiling young man above their heads at a lively graduation event, with purple lighting and a crowd watching in the background.
A woman with long brown hair in a black dress stands at a lectern, smiling while holding a microphone, in a well-lit indoor setting with white walls and purple lighting in the background, as she delivers a heartfelt farewell to the graduating class of 2026.
A large group of people dance under purple lights at a formal event, many dressed in suits and dresses, with hands raised and smiling faces, creating a lively party atmosphere that celebrates the graduation of the class of 2026.
Five people smile and pose together at a formal event, standing close inside a brightly lit room with purple ceiling lights and chandeliers, celebrating their graduation as proud members of the class of 2026.
Two women, one in a black dress and one in a teal dress, smile and pose together at a formal class of 2026 graduation event, with other guests and tables in the background—capturing a joyful farewell moment.
A young couple in formal attire smiles while cutting a large rectangular cake together at a graduation celebration for the class of 2026, with an audience seated around them in a spacious, elegant event hall.
A woman in a teal dress speaks at a lectern to a seated audience in a formal event room with purple lighting and crystal chandeliers, delivering a heartfelt farewell to the class of 2026.
A man in a suit and floral shirt speaks at a lectern with a microphone, addressing the class of 2026. The lectern displays the letters IGS. He stands in a well-lit room with large windows and white panelling behind him, delivering his remarks for the graduation farewell.
Three young men wearing white dress shirts stand close together indoors, smiling at the camera. The background features vertical white panels and purple lighting accents, creating a festive atmosphere for their leaving do as members of the class of 2026.
Three people pose together at a formal indoor event, celebrating the Class of 2026 Farewell. The room is filled with seated guests and decorated with purple lighting and chandeliers. The group smiles at the camera in the foreground.
Three people standing together at a formal indoor event; the man on the left wears glasses, the person in the middle wears a tie, and the woman on the right has blonde hair. The background features purple lighting, capturing a special moment from the farewell for the class of 2026.
Three people stand together smiling at a formal indoor farewell event with purple lighting. The woman on the left wears glasses and a blazer, the young woman in the middle—celebrating her graduation as part of the class of 2026—wears a strapless dress, and the man on the right wears a patterned shirt.
Three people pose and smile at a formal indoor event with purple lighting, celebrating what appears to be a memorable graduation. The group stands on a patterned floor, with other guests and tables visible in the background—capturing the joy of this special farewell for the class of 2026.
Three people posing and smiling at an indoor graduation event with purple lighting; the woman on the left wears a floral dress, the young woman in the centre—part of the class of 2026—wears a blue satin dress, and the man on the right wears a suit, celebrating this special farewell occasion.
A smiling young man in a white shirt stands with his arm round a smiling woman in a black dress at a formal graduation event with purple lighting, celebrating the class of 2026.
Three young men in white shirts stand close together, smiling at the camera, with the two on the sides putting their arms round the one in the centre. The background features purple lighting and a festive indoor setting, capturing a memorable farewell moment for the class of 2026.
Five young adults dressed in semi-formal attire stand together and pose for a photo at an indoor event with purple lighting and chandeliers, capturing a special farewell moment as part of the class of 2026.
Seven young men stand side by side with arms around each other, smiling for a group photo in a formal indoor setting with purple lighting, capturing the spirit of graduation as proud members of the class of 2026.
Six young women in evening dresses pose and smile together at a formal farewell event, standing in a decorated room with purple lighting and other people from the class of 2026 socialising in the background.
A man speaks into a microphone on stage at a formal event, with seated guests listening. A large cake and a lectern labelled IGS are in the foreground, setting the scene for an unforgettable farewell to the graduating class of 2026.

 

A MIDWEEK PAUSE
Midway through the week, teachers hosted a barbeque in honour of Year 12. It offered a welcome pause from HSC preparation and a chance for students to relax, share food and enjoy unhurried time with the teachers who have supported them for years. Conversations were easy and the mood was one of genuine warmth.

THE SMALL MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Tutor group farewells created space for more personal goodbyes. These mixed year groups have been part of daily life at IGS, offering steady friendship, mentoring and belonging across year levels. Younger students spoke about what the Year 12 members of their tutor groups had meant to them and the departing students reflected on the quiet importance of these small communities in their School experience.

 

FUN-FILLED FINISH
Thursday brought a day at Luna Park, filled with rides, music and the kind of shared silliness that makes for lasting memories. It was a celebration purely for the joy of it – a gift of time together before the demands of the HSC resumed.

FAREWELL TO THE CLASS OF 2026
The week concluded with the Farewell Assembly and Guard of Honour. Students and staff from across the School lined the path to applaud the graduating class, offering a powerful expression of gratitude and respect as Year 12 made their way through.

It is a moment that says something essential about IGS: that no student walks their journey alone and that each cohort leaves the School a little richer than they found it. The Class of 2026 has contributed generously – through leadership, service, performance, sport, mentoring and everyday kindness – and that contribution will outlast their final day.

Throughout Farewell Week, our Year 12 students stepped briefly away from the pressures of the HSC to focus on something more enduring: the relationships they have built, the values they carry and the futures they are ready to shape.

The School community stands proud, confident that the Class of 2026 will continue to reflect the very best of IGS wherever they go next.

 

Four people pose smiling in front of a pink wall, one wearing a graduation sash reading Class of 2026. The group includes two men, a graduate in a suit, and a woman wearing glasses.
A smiling young graduate wearing a Class of 2026 sash stands next to an older woman with glasses and grey hair, both posing for a photo outdoors.
Eight students in school uniforms pose together, wearing blue sashes that read Class of 2026. They are smiling and standing outdoors near a building.
A woman in white stands at a lectern with IGS International Grammar School on the front, speaking to an audience; a colourful floral arrangement is on her left.
A group of students in blue and white attire stand on stage facing an audience, with adults and flowers behind them. The event appears to be a school ceremony or graduation.
A group of students in uniforms and blue Class of 2023 sashes stand and clap at a ceremony. One student in the centre smiles, while others look ahead or applaud.
Three people stand smiling in front of a pink wall. The person in the centre wears a graduation stole and holds a teddy bear. The people on either side appear happy and supportive. A school sign is visible in the background.
Four people stand in front of a pink wall with text, smiling at the camera. The young woman holds a bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear.
Five people stand smiling in front of a pink wall at International Grammar School. One holds flowers and a teddy bear, possibly celebrating a graduation or special event.
Five people stand smiling together in front of a pink wall; one holds a bouquet and a teddy bear. The group appears happy and dressed for a special occasion or celebration.
A young graduate stands smiling between two adults, likely parents, at a graduation ceremony. The graduate wears a sash and has an arm round each adult. A crowd is visible in the background.
Four people smile outdoors; one holds a bouquet of flowers, another holds a teddy bear. Other people are visible in the background. The setting appears to be a celebratory event.
A young woman in graduation attire holding a teddy bear stands smiling between two adults, all posing for a photo. A crowd of people gathers behind them near a building with colourful signs.
Three people smile and stand together in front of a colourful mosaic. The person in the middle wears a Class of 2026 sash and holds a teddy bear, flanked by two adults.
A group of ten people, including children and adults, stand smiling in front of a colourful mosaic wall. One girl holds flowers and a teddy bear, whilst others stand close together, posing for the photo.
Two people pose in front of a brick wall. One, wearing leis made of sweets and money, stands next to another person in a grey shirt. A blurred person holds a teddy bear in the foreground.
A smiling teenager in a blue uniform stands between two adults, holding a teddy bear and a certificate with his photo. They're outdoors at an event, surrounded by other people and a pink IGS backdrop.
Four people stand together smiling in a sunlit alleyway. Two adults are on the left, and two teenagers, one wearing a sash with Class of 2026, are on the right. They appear happy and dressed casually.
A large group of students in colourful shirts and school uniforms pose and smile together in a gymnasium, with rows of chairs and a basketball hoop visible in the background.
A young woman with pink hair and glasses smiles as she crouches and walks through a tunnel of raised arms made by a cheering group of people.

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