High School students and staff gathered in the Hall early this morning for a School assembly, highlighted by a special sneak preview of this year’s musical production, Mamma Mia!.
The assembly began with an Acknowledgement of Country. The entire hall then joined voices to sing the School Song, creating a spirited start to the morning.
Thom Marchbank Deputy Principal Academic, delivered a Term 2 message centred on the role of brain chemistry in the theory of learning. Having recently completed his Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Mr Marchbank shared current and relevant insights, with a focus on the power of repeated learning. Drawing on Hebbian theory Neurons that fire together, wire together, he highlighted the cognitive benefits of consistent practice, explaining that concepts become easier the more they are revisited.
“There’s no shortcut to learning. While AI is a powerful tool that can support us, real learning happens when we do the work. When we read, write, practise and revisit ideas. That’s how our brains wire for long-term knowledge. Each person’s brain is uniquely wired through their experiences, and at IGS, we aim to cultivate every student’s unique potential,” he said.
Sports achievements were recognised with Cross Country awards, while the English Department offered a dynamic student presentation by Year 12 student Anna, who shared an excerpt from her English Extension 2 Major Work. The course, unique to NSW, allows students to develop a major piece in a form of their choice. Anna’s work was selected for its thoughtful exploration of the history of women’s expression and the search for voice.
“My English Extension 2 Major Work, currently titled Fields of Asphodel, is a creative nonfiction essay that reclaims and reframes the myth of Medusa as a feminist symbol of resistance rather than a villain,” Anna explained. “Told through Medusa’s voice as she journeys through the Asphodel underworld, the narrative intertwines her story with those of other mythological women… challenging dominant cultural myths and repositioning female characters previously seen as passive or dangerous as powerful, autonomous individuals whose voices demand to be heard.”
Originally intended for our International Women’s Day assembly, her reading offered a powerful glimpse into the creative potential nurtured in the School’s senior English program.
The excitement built as the assembly turned to the much-anticipated Mamma Mia! musical. After a brief introduction from Tomas Mimmochi and a behind-the-scenes video, the IGS Singers delivered a vibrant live medley from the show, complete with a high-energy Waterloo dance-off that had the Hall buzzing with applause.
In addition to the musical preview, students shared reflections from their recent Language Exchange trips to Madrid and Évreux, underscoring the School’s global outlook and commitment to immersive language learning.
The assembly continued with SRC badge awards, a fun promo video of the Colour Run, and concluded on a high note with the whole School singing the School Anthem together.
Thank you to everyone involved in bringing the assembly to life. With so much to celebrate across academics, arts and community, the assembly was a vibrant reflection of the spirit of IGS.
