THE BLUE AND GOLD - Friday, 11 July 2025

It is wonderful to be back at TGS after my term of Long Service Leave. I am looking forward to the term and excited to be welcoming our current and new Senior School students on Tuesday, 15 July.

The purpose of this letter is to remind you and the boys of the expectations for their final semester and highlight some key dates for your diaries.

Term 3 will start with an assembly at 8:30am on Tuesday, 15 July in the Assembly Hall. It is a Blazer Dress day. All boys need to be ready for the term ahead. Boys are encouraged to check Student Café for timetable changes and prepare for their classes.

Communication Avenues for Families

A reminder of the range of avenues families can access to communicate with staff at School.

Parent Lounge

Parent Lounge is best for finding your son’s teachers contact details, event details or logging an absence.

Student Services

Email or Telephone (studentservices@twgs.qld.edu.au or 07 4687 2653)

This is best for real-time responses, passing on information/updates on arrangements, clarifying details, asking where or who is the best point of contact for a query.

Emails to Staff Directly

Emails are useful for sharing more detailed information, seeking further clarification, organising future meetings or arrangements for your son. Teachers will typically check emails daily during the week, but depending on class schedules may not check emails during the day. Staff will endeavour to provide a response or acknowledgement in a reasonable timeframe.

Who should I go to if I have a question about my Senior School son?

Please find attached a reference document to help guide parents in who to contact should they need to discuss their son.

A Reminder of Student Expectations and Procedures

Uniform

Boys are to always wear each School uniform correctly. In Blazer Dress, the shirt buttons at the collar and cuffs must be done up. Ties must be worn neatly and correctly. The Akubra is to be worn at all times with Blazer Dress and Blues. Akubras which have holes in them or are out of shape are not permitted. When dayboys visit the School out of school hours, they must wear the same uniform expected of boarders. Boys are not permitted to wear the spray jacket or hoodie under their blazer.

Blazer Dress days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Boys spectating at sport are to wear Blazer Dress with their Akubra (home games) or sport cap (away games). This means that when coming into School on Saturday during winter they must have their Blazer uniform on until they warm up and play their various matches.

Hair

The School’s regulations concerning haircuts are as follows:

• the hair must not be over the collar, and must be neatly shaped at the back of the neck
• the ears must not be obscured and sideburns must not extend past the middle of the ear
• fringe must not extend past the eyebrows
• extremes of hairstyles are not permitted and the sides must be blended with the length of the hair on top
• minimum blade length is a number 2 blade (5mm)
• hair must not be dyed or coloured.

It is expected that a student’s hair is neat and presentable at all times and that boys are cleanly shaven every day. The School recognises that some students will request exemption from these regulations based on their cultural and faith backgrounds. This can be done via parents/guardians in consultation with Heads of House.

Should a student arrive on Tuesday with an inappropriate haircut or one that does not meet the requirements above he will be sent home to have it rectified or until it is more appropriate for school.

Attendance

The School expects that students will attend school and other educational programs (e.g. TAFE courses) every day the program is offered. Acceptable absences from school are medical, family reasons and co-curricular representation.

In having your son enrolled at TGS, Parents/Guardians accept responsibility to:

• Enable their child to attend punctually every day and to comply with the education program being offered.
• Provide an explanation to the School whenever their child is absent.
• Inform the Head of Senior School whenever their child is going to be absent for a period of more than 2 days

Late to School/Class

• A Parent Notification via Parent Lounge is required for late to school arrivals.
• Students must sign in at Student Services for a late slip.

Appointments/Departing Early

• A Parent Notification via Parent Lounge is required to update the roll and allow boys to leave class
• If there is no Parent Notification, boys must visit Student Services to call their parents and request one
• Students must sign in/out at Student Services when departing/arriving during school hours
• Parents must record appointments prior to 8:00am each day.

Visiting the Health Centre and Leave Due to Illness

If your son is unwell during the day he should visit the Health Centre during one of his break times. The Health Centre nurses will assess him and contact parents when required. Boys should not be contacting their parents directly to collect them from School. Communications must go through the Health Centre staff.

Mobile Telephones

• Mobile phones are NOT to be used during School Hours (8:30am to 3:10pm), at the Tuckshop for payments, or to contact parents.
• To contact home, boys must use the Student Services Office phone during lunch, before or after school.
• Mobile phones must be locked in lockers or kept in boarding houses unless:
  • a staff member grants permission for use during a specific class/event.
  • Phones must be returned to lockers immediately afterward.

Breach of Mobile Phone Policy:

• Teachers will issue a 90-minute detention, confiscate the phone and hand it to Student Services for collection at 3:10pm that day.
• Five (consecutive) day phone submission: if a boy receives a phone detention he is also expected to hand in his phone to Student Services before school each day and collect them at the end of the school day for the five days after infringing the phone policy.
• Students caught handing in a burner/second phone will receive a Saturday detention.

Mark Oliphant
Head of Senior School

I hope the break period has been a restful and enjoyable one for your family. We’re looking forward to hearing all the holiday stories from the boys when classes recommence for Term 3 next Tuesday, 15 July.

I extend a warm welcome to our new families joining the Junior School this term. Throughout the term there will be many opportunities for you to connect with our community and our Junior School Supporters’ Group (JSSG). I have included the contact details for our JSSG President, Mrs Naomi Hardeman, at the end of this letter.

Junior School Drop-off/Pick-up Zones

Construction of the Design, Engineering and Technology Centre continues to involve large vehicles accessing the Aquatic Centre car park loop throughout each day.

In the interests of safety and smooth operation for Junior School drop-off/pick-up times (8:00am – 8:45am and 2:30pm – 5:00pm), we will continue to utilise the Herries Street loop pick up zones for our Junior School students.

A reminder of the Herries street loop operations:

• Duty teachers will congregate Junior School students further down the lawn area towards the Herries Street loop entrance, outside of the boarding houses to encourage more families to utilise the collection bays in that area.
• We ask parents stopping in bays to please remain with your car. The students will be walked out to the area for you. Please use bays on the Mills Oval side of the Herries Street loop if you wish to park and walk in, utilising the crossing for safety.
• Using family name labels will also assist with the speed of calling students to your car. If you don’t have a name label, please feel comfortable contacting our Junior School Reception and they will make one for you and send it home with your son.

If parents are required to collect or dop-off their son during the day, this can be done via the Aquatic Centre car park.

Co-curricular collection after 5:00pm can also be done via the Aquatic Centre car park.

Many thanks for your support as we continue to utilise the Herries Street loop.

Uniform and Hair

We value all boys presenting themselves well, being proud of their School and the wearing of our uniform correctly. Blues uniform in Term 3 consists of long pants with shirts tucked in and navy blue socks. Boys are permitted to wear the TGS jacket with their Blues uniform (Monday to Wednesday). Blazer uniform is worn on Thursdays (every Thursday in Term 3). When in Blazer uniform, boys are required to have their white shirt buttoned to the collar with ties secured neatly. In keeping with presenting ourselves well, school shoes are to be kept in good order and polished, hats similarly maintained and named.

Haircuts are conservative in style, neatly shaped around the back of the neck, off the collar and ears, blended and fringe above the eyebrows. The School recognises that some students may request exemption from these expectations based on their cultural and faith backgrounds.

Attendance

The School expects that students will attend school every day the program is offered. Acceptable absences from school are medical, family reasons and co-curricular representation, which need to be submitted using Parent Lounge. For early departures, late arrivals or dropping off any items, please ensure you visit Junior School Reception.

We ask that parents are aware if applying for leave from school for their son for periods longer than three days, outside of the reasons above, this requires approval from the Head of Junior School. If this process is not followed, his absence may be recorded as “unapproved” leave. Whilst we try to be understanding of any requests for leave outside of those listed, we are bound by the Education General Provisions Act and may not be able to approve a student’s leave.

Communication Avenues for Families

A reminder of the range of avenues families can access to communicate with staff at School. Depending on the scenario, the following options provide some guidance to support you.

Student Diary

All boys are provided with a student diary and the expectation is that it is brought to and from school each day. It is ideal for brief messages and reminders for each day. We encourage this for all age groups, Prep to Year 6.

Teachers check student diaries daily. Particularly for students in Prep to Year 3, it is a helpful reference point for teachers to remind boys what activities they have on at the end of the day or pick-up arrangements. Teachers can also write short responses or clarifications in diaries.

Junior School Reception – Email or Telephone

This is best for real-time responses, passing on information/updates on arrangements, clarifying details, asking where or who is the best point of contact for a query.

Junior School Reception is attended by a staff member throughout the day and can provide quick responses and/or relay information in a timely way. If arrangements for your son after school or during the day change, using the Junior School reception staff will relay the information to the relevant staff member and your son.

Junior School Reception – Mrs Deb Maddox
tgsjuniorschool@twgs.qld.edu.au or telephone: 4687 2555

Emails to Staff Directly

Emails are useful for sharing more detailed information, seeking further clarification, organising future meetings or arrangements for your son. Teachers will typically check emails daily during the week, but depending on class schedules may not check emails during the day. Teachers will endeavour to provide a response or acknowledgement within 24 hours.

In-person Quick Catch-ups or Meetings Before or After School

For sharing short explanations of details that are particularly pertinent to that day.

These are often helpful for families with children in the early years particularly. If there is helpful information for the teacher to be aware of before the start of the day or at the end of the day, this is welcomed but please be mindful that our teachers may only be available for a few minutes as they are likely to be getting ready for the day ahead or attending to after-school matters (meetings, co-curricular or other responsibilities). If a longer conversation is required, this can certainly be arranged with a scheduled meeting.

Other Key Points of Contact

• Junior School Reception – Mrs Deb Maddox
  tgsjuniorschool@twgs.qld.edu.au and telephone: 4687 2555

• Afterschool Enrichment Program – Mrs Amanda Hall, Deputy Head of Junior School (Students)
  a.hall@twgs.qld.edu.au

• Music – Mrs Kellie Dixon, Director of Performing Arts (Acting)
  k.dixon@twgs.qld.edu.au

• Sport – Mr Brendan Doherty, Junior School Sports Co-ordinator
  b.doherty@twgs.qld.edu.au

• Library – Mrs Michelle Worthington, Junior School Teacher Librarian
  m.worthington@twgs.qld.edu.au

• Diverse Learning Team, catering for support/extension and additional learning needs
  Learning Support Group email: JSLearningSupport@twgs.qld.edu.au
  Mrs Jayne Maclean – Junior School Diverse Learning Co-ordinator: j.maclean@twgs.qld.edu.au
  Mrs Lucy Macfarlane – Diverse Learning Teacher: l.macfarlane@twgs.qld.edu.au

• Junior School Supporters’ Group – President, Mrs Naomi Hardeman
  n.hardeman@twgs.qld.edu.au

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

I am looking forward to the first week of term and seeing the excitement with which our boarders celebrate being back at school with their mates. I’ve spent some quality time with my family and I hope that all our boarding families were able to spend some quality time together over the holidays. The boarding holiday pictures certainly suggest that our boarders have enjoyed their time away.

During the break, Mr Nathan Stains and his family moved into their residence in Corfe. I take this opportunity to welcome them into our TGS Boarding community. Our Corfe parents will have the opportunity to meet Mr Stains on Monday evening in Corfe House and I encourage them to RSVP for the event using this link.

Unfortunately, we have also had a staff departure over the holidays with Mrs Wormwell resigning from her role in Student Services. I know she was the point of contact for many boarding families regarding travel, airport transfers and other matters such as boarders receiving their mail and the special care packages from home. As we recruit a replacement, I ask parents to contact Student Services via studentservices@twgs.qld.edu.au.

As our boarders prepare to return to School, I strongly encourage our families to read Mr Oliphant’s section of this communication. Mr Oliphant has explicitly remined boarders of our School's expectations regarding matters such as uniform, hair and attendance. I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents that when booking medical appointments, these should be immediately shared with our Health Centre team.

The Boarders Activities Program for Term 3 is filled with exciting activities as our boarders have come to expect. A trip to watch the latest Jurassic Park movie is the first event of the term and parents are able to sign their son up for this activity on the parent lounge. An overview of the activities for the term are attached and all activities will be available for sign up by the end of Week 1.

As always, if you have any questions or queries about anything happening in the boarding program, your first point of contact is always your son's Head of House; they will be happy to assist you. I hope to see many of you on the sidelines over the course of the term.

Nick Byron
Director of Boarding

I write to update you regarding head injury and concussion management at TGS. As a school, we have invested time liaising with medical professionals with recommendations to apply to our School policy and procedures in managing student concussion. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have updated their guidelines for youth and community sport which the School has adopted and consequently updated the TGS Head Injury and Concussion Management Policy.

The key points for parents to be aware:

• Rugby Australia has changed its minimum 19-day stand down to now a minimum 21-day stand down return to play procedure following a concussion. TGS applies the Rugby Australia concussion procedures.
• TGS adopts a 21-day standdown before return to sport procedure for all sport and physical activities following a concussion as per the AIS guidelines.
• All students must be symptom free before the 21-day period commences.
• TGS has appointed a School Concussion Officer, a Return to Sport Coordinator and Return to Learning Coordinator who will manage each student concussion case post injury.
• All head injuries, from school-related activities or otherwise, should be reported to the Health Centre. As such, we require parents to report to the School head injuries that have occurred at home or through club sport so that boys can be safely supported in their learning and sporting pursuits.

The following excerpts are from the TGS Head Injury and Concussion Management Policy and provide relevant information for parents.

Toowoomba Grammar School (TGS) is committed to providing effective management of all head injuries and concussion to ensure TGS is upholding its duty of care to all members of the community.

Head injuries and concussion are a complex and significant health issue. Such injuries can progress to short or long-term health outcomes that can negatively impact an individual’s learning ability, occupational capacity and opportunity to participate in the School environment.

TGS aims to reduce the negative impact of head injuries and concussion, best achieved by responding with a coordinated response that reflects best practice principles as defined by medical professionals. The TGS Head Injury and Concussion Management policy is informed by Concussion in Sport Australia, an Australian Government body comprised of the Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Medical Association, the Australian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians Sports Medicine Australia.

Education will be provided to stakeholders to ensure continuity of knowledge in recognising, removing and eventually returning students post a head injury and concussion. These stakeholders include:

• Seasonal coaches
• Staff
• Parents
• Students
• Medical staff and on field staff at trainings and match days

Concussion can only be diagnosed by a medical doctor. Recognising a suspected concussion at the time of injury is vitally important to ensure appropriate management and to prevent any further injury.

It is also important to note that there is an increased risk of complications with subsequent concussions. Greater attention to onset of concussion symptoms or complications should be made if a prior head injury or concussion has been sustained.

Recovery varies from person to person and injury to injury. If recognised and appropriately managed most people will recover from their symptoms. Students who have had a concussion have a higher chance of having another one. Repeat concussions can lead to more severe symptoms and a longer recovery.

Immediate symptoms which may present:

• Loss of consciousness
• Lying motionless, slow to rise
• Seizure
• Confusion, disorientation
• Memory impairment
• Balance disturbance
• Nausea and or vomiting
• Headache or ‘pressure’ to the head
• Visual and or hearing disturbance
• Dazed, blank/vacant stare
• Behaviour or emotional changes (not themselves)

TGS is committed to best practice management of concussion for all students. To ensure this, a concussion management team, consisting of representatives from the Health Centre, Co-Curricular Activities and Teaching and Learning teams, are responsible for the management of student concussion incidents. The following staff are responsible for post-concussion management:

• School Concussion Officer – Health Centre Coordinator
• Return to Sport Coordinator – Head of Athletic Development
• Return to Learning Coordinator – Head of Curriculum (Senior School), Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning)

Parents must notify the School Concussion Officer if their son has received a head injury at school sport or activities outside of normal school hours. Communication about head injuries is crucial whether related to school events or occurring outside of school. The Concussion Officer will record this information and inform the Return to Sport and Return to Learning Coordinators to support and monitor the student and disseminate this information to all relevant parties. Concussion events can be significant as they affect a student’s health status, academic function and physical participation in class and activities.

The key concussion management procedures are as follows:

• All students that play rugby MUST follow the guidelines for concussion management as per Rugby Australia.
• Students are to be assessed by a medical doctor within 48 hours for a mild concussion or immediately for red-flag concussion symptoms.
• No student that participates in sport can be cleared with just a medical certificate.
• Boarders will be managed through the TGS Health Centre and the School doctor.
• Dayboys must ensure to see their family GP – the TGS Health Centre can advise local GPs who are proficient with head injury/concussion guidelines.
• If concussion has been diagnosed, the School will follow the guidelines which stipulates a 21-day recovery period.
• Students are responsible for reporting any head knock or injury to a staff member, their parent/carer and/or the Health Centre. Students are responsible for following the Gradual Return To Play (GRTP) plans which includes directions from the Return to Learning and Return to Sport Coordinators.
• The concussion management team will communicate the requirements and support provided with the student, parents and relevant staff as part of the concussion management process.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. If you require any further information you are welcome to contact Stacey Smith, the Health Centre Coordinator and School Concussion Officer, at Stacey.smith@twgs.qld.edu.au.

John Anderson
Deputy Headmaster

TGS Events Calendar

Stay up-to-date with all upcoming TGS events via the Events Calendar.

Staffing update from the Senior School

This term we welcome the following teaching staff to the Toowoomba Grammar School:

• Mr John Hodder – Head of Arts
• Ms Keely McCullough – Teacher of English
• Mr Gareth Williams – Teacher of Commerce
• Mr Jin Kim - Teacher of Commerce
  

Staffing update from the Junior School

We congratulate Mr Nathan Stains to his new role of Head of Corfe Boarding (Years 5 to 7) commencing Term 3. Mr Stains will be working with Senior School classes in his new role so we warmly welcome Ms Jaye Hensley to teach 4S for Semester 2. Ms Hensley is an experienced educator who most recently comes from Ipswich Grammar School with a broad range of teaching expertise across Early Years and Middle Primary age groups.

Ms Tiffany Holzheimer will enjoy long service leave this term, with Mrs Brigid Allan teaching 6H for Term 3. Mrs Allan is an experienced educator across both Primary and Secondary School settings in Western Queensland with expertise in English and curriculum design. Mrs Allan is also a parent of TGS with sons in both Junior and Senior Schools, we warmly welcome her to the Year 6 cohort this term.

At the end of Term 2 we farewelled Junior School Administrator, Mrs Karen Miller after nine years of service to the Junior School. Mrs Miller has worked closely with everyone in our School community and will be dearly missed but we do wish her well in her new role as Event Co-Ordinator at The Glennie School commencing in Term 3. Mrs Deb Maddox, Junior School Reception and Mrs Amanda Hall, Deputy Head of Junior School (Students) will be the key points of contact for administrative matters families may have for the term ahead.

Toowoomba Grammar School Recognised as 2025 5-Star Employer of Choice

Toowoomba Grammar School has been recognised with a 2025 Employer of Choice Award from The Educator marking our second consecutive year of recognition. This award celebrates schools that demonstrate excellence in attractive salaries, comprehensive employee benefits, strong professional development programs and fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace.

Director of People and Culture, Ms Louise Strachan, added: "This award highlights our continuous efforts to enhance our workplace and offer a wide range of initiatives that focus on providing our staff with industry leading rewards and initiatives that support staff at every stage of life."

During Term 3, we will host five rugby and four basketball home rounds (including the spectacular Grammar Downlands Day).

Our wonderful new Pavilion BBQ will be in action, and we are looking for volunteers to help cook and serve steak burgers and sausages.

All parents and guardians are welcome to sign up, your support is hugely appreciated. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents and be part of the action during a home round.

Sign up link for all slots in Term 3: https://signup.com/go/GOknoVQ

All instructions, equipment and aprons will be provided on the day. Please bring a hat.

We look forward to welcoming you to the TGS BBQ Crew!

If volunteers have questions, they can email communications@twgs.qld.edu.au.

Start of Term 3 opening hours

• Monday, 14 July to Wednesday, 16 July: 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Normal term time opening hours resume from Thursday, 17 July

Normal opening hours during term time

• Monday 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Tuesday to Friday 1:00pm to 5:00pm
• The shop is closed on Saturday and Sunday.