What a joy it is to welcome our students back to IGS today. The first day of school is always filled with a special kind of energy – hopeful, bright, full of anticipation. Our campus came alive with the sound of reconnection and excitement for the new school year.
To all our returning students and families, welcome back. Your presence brings so much energy to our School and it has been great to see you return refreshed and ready for the year ahead. And to our many new students and families who are joining IGS, a very warm welcome to our school community.
Yesterday we held an orientation for all new students, giving them time to meet one another, connect with staff and become familiar with the routines and expectations for the year ahead. I want to thank our new students and families, as well as the staff and student leaders who helped create a calm and welcoming start.
There is so much to look forward to this term. Next week we will come together for Foundation Day, honouring the vision that brought IGS into being and celebrating the spirit that continues to guide us. Our Sports Carnivals, Excursions, Languages Camps and year group learning experiences will offer moments of challenge and teamwork. And, as always, we will bring Term 1 to a spectacular close with ArtsFest – a treasured IGS tradition that showcases creativity, courage and the extraordinary talents of our students. These events along with countless other moments of learning will shape a rich and exciting start to the year.
Our whole school goal for 2026 is GRIT – a theme I introduced to my colleagues earlier this week. Emanating from the research of Professor Angela Duckworth, grit speaks to the strength of sustained effort, the courage to stay the course and the deep connection to the goals that matter most. It is not about perfection or pressure, it is about purpose, passion and the quiet determination that grows over time. This year we will explore together what it means to cultivate grit – in learning, in character and in the daily choices that shape who our students become. It is about building passion and perseverance in our students each and every day.
As we begin the year, we also introduce an updated Senior Leadership structure. The Junior School now sits alongside a refined High School model, which includes a dedicated Middle School (Years 7–10) and Senior School (Years 11–12). This clearer division strengthens learning pathways and ensures consistent support as students move through each age and stage of their learning. You can read more about this and meet the leadership team here.
Here’s to a brilliant year ahead – I wish all our students a happy, calm and inspiring start to 2026.
Warm regards,
Shauna Colnan
Principal
