What a rewarding way to finish Term 1 today, with High School creative talents on full display in our IGS ArtsFest extravaganza!
Our traditional House competition, impossible during lockdown, requires the active participation of every High School student, and it shows.
Singing, dancing, staging, costuming, spirit and teamwork were up for judging, under the theme of Greatest of All Time (GOAT) with an explosion of colour, sound and joy.
While the official winner was Gura House, every student was a winner, rising to new challenges, discovering fresh talents, meeting new friends and accomplishing a truly complex and glittering challenge. We thank our all-star lineup of judges and congratulate all involved.
As this year began, we all adopted the whole-school goal of “We all flourish” and students and staff have embraced it.
Building on the wellbeing work of Martin Seligman, we have remained conscious of his five measurable wellbeing elements, summarised as PERMA: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment.
These elements align so well with our five key values of Authenticity, Connectedness, Vibrancy, Diversity and Personal Achievement!
At our Language Camps, once more held overnight and off campus, this time in Rathmines, Katoomba, Leura and Stanwell Tops, Primary School students lived, breathed and ate in their languages.
Together, they deepened their understanding of culture and greatly improved their fluency through games, crafts and other fun and useful activities. I’m pleased to say, they flourished.
In our Harmony Day celebrations and every day explorations, students from Early Learning to Year 12 have enjoyed diverse opportunities to flourish all term.
The School is abuzz with our Musical, The Addams Family, to be presented for the first time at the Seymour Centre, with rehearsals well under way.
And now, as Term 1 closes, I wish everyone in our community a safe and happy break.
Our Primary School students might like to sharpen their pens and imaginations and make a start on their 500-word entries for the annual Write-On competition, in response to the stimulus photograph. It’s run by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and our young writers usually do very well.
If you’re looking for other fresh ideas on how to spend the break, you might like to view this site for things to do in Sydney and beyond. As always, local libraries, museums, parks and riding the ferries are also great options.
Next term, we will begin visiting The Retreat, Kangaroo Valley, starting with the staff Professional Development Day on Monday 24 April.
Tuesday 25 April is ANZAC Day and a public holiday, with IGS Vacation Care closed.
I look forward to seeing all students return on Wednesday 25 April, when we’ll stop and commemorate ANZAC Day and teach our students more about our history through primary and high school special assemblies.
May you have a wonderful holiday as you enjoy time with family and friends, read and relax in all your favourite ways.
Thank you for your support this term.
Shauna Colnan
Principal