Dear TGS Families

As we draw near the end of our sesquicentenary year, it is fitting to pause and reflect on the moments that have brought us together in celebration, gratitude and pride. From commemorative ceremonies to community gatherings, these events have not only honoured our past but also strengthened the bonds that define our School today.

The Grammar Boy Statue Ceremony | On Friday, 7 November, we gathered as a School community to unveil The Grammar Boy - a bronze statue now standing proudly on the Promenade in front of School House. This meaningful gift, jointly presented by the School, the Old Boys’ Association and the Parents and Friends’ Association, commemorates our 150th year and symbolises the enduring character of a Grammar boy.

With hand outstretched, The Grammar Boy welcomes all - a timeless symbol of the virtues of good character. His pose reflects the Grammar boy handshake, a tradition that speaks to our values of respect, pride and connection. Whether it is our Year 12 students ascending the Old Boys’ Memorial Oval for their final assembly, or new boys entering the Senior School for the first time, this statue will become a part of our rituals and a backdrop for cherished memories. This enduring gift was made possible through the generosity of the Parents and Friends’ Association, the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Association and the School community.

It is my hope that The Grammar Boy will serve as a daily reminder of the qualities we strive to instil in our young men: politeness, gratitude, loyalty and a deep sense of belonging.

The G150 Gala Dinner | The following evening, Saturday 8 November, we welcomed over 750 guests to the Grammar150 Gala Dinner, a spectacular finale to our sesquicentenary celebrations. Despite the challenges of inclement weather, the evening was a resounding success, filled with warmth, reflection and celebration.

Guests were greeted on the Promenade by The Grammar Boy before moving into the beautifully styled marquee on Old Boys’ Memorial Oval. We were honoured by the presence of Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, whose attendance added distinction to the occasion.

The evening featured outstanding performances by our student ensembles, a moving poem Days of the Blue and Gold by Old Boy Damian (Dib) Morgan (TGS 1985–89) and culinary excellence delivered by Celebrity Chef Alistair McLeod. Our students’ energy and talent were remarkable and I was deeply proud of the care and hospitality they extended to our guests.

This remarkable celebration was made possible through the tireless efforts of the Grammar150 Working Committee, led by Chair Bronte Smith (TGS 1995 - 1999) and Project Manager Jo Capp, supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. I extend my sincere thanks to each member of the Committee for their vision and commitment.

We are also grateful to our generous sponsors, whose support helped bring this event to life. Their contributions were acknowledged at the Sponsors and Working Committee Soiree held on Tuesday, 11 November and their presence throughout the year has been invaluable.

As we look ahead to the final weeks of Term 4, may these celebrations remind us of the strength of our community, the richness of our traditions and the promise of the future we continue to build together.

With just two weeks remaining in Term 4, our focus now turns to finishing the year with purpose and strength. I encourage every boy to approach these final days with determination, integrity and pride in all they have achieved. May the spirit of our celebrations continue to inspire them as they conclude their academic year and prepare for the next chapter in their TGS journey.

Dr John C Kinniburgh
Headmaster

Interact Club

Earlier this term, the TGS Interact Club celebrated its 61^st annual Change-Over Dinner in the presence of Toowoomba South Rotary visitors, staff and Interact members. The evening featured outgoing President Ben Walker presenting his 2025 report and the installation of the new President for 2026, Peter Barac. We extend our sincere thanks to Ben and the outgoing executive team, along with all Year 12 committee members, for their exceptional contributions to service throughout the year.

The following boys were introduced as the incoming Interact executive for 2026:

• President: Peter Barac
• Vice-Presidents: Daniel Wilson
• Secretary: Roan Bronkhurst
• Treasurer: Isaac Beverland
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Charlie Chen

Their leadership will ensure the Interact Club continues its proud tradition of service and community engagement.

Child Safe Standards

Progress has been made towards compliance with the new Child Safe Standards. A dedicated working committee has been established to oversee implementation and planning is underway for staff and community training sessions early in 2026. The committee has reviewed and completed the Self-Assessment Tool, identifying several action items to ensure full compliance with the new standards. This work reinforces our commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students.

Smartphone Delay Initiative

Following extensive consultation, the decision to implement the Smartphone Delay Initiative has been communicated to families. This voluntary, community-led agreement encourages families to delay personal smartphone ownership until after Year 7, with consideration for extending through Years 8 and 9. The initiative reflects strong community support and is designed to reduce peer pressure and promote student wellbeing.

Importantly, this approach was developed collaboratively with Fairholme College and The Glennie School and a joint letter from the Heads of the three schools outlined our shared commitment. Subsequent communications provided TGS-specific guidance, including arrangements for boarding families and FAQs to assist parents in planning. This partnership reinforces a united stance on digital wellbeing across our local independent schools.

Graduation Events

The coming weeks will see celebrations for our graduating cohorts. Year 6 students will enjoy their Celebration of Year 6 evening, marking their conclusion of their time in the Junior School, while our Year 12 boys prepare for their Final Assembly and Formal. These occasions are not only milestones but also opportunities to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of our students throughout their time at TGS.

Examinations

Year 12 external examinations have concluded for our boys, while exams have commenced across all other year levels. We commend our students for their dedication and resilience during this demanding period and thank our staff for their unwavering support.

Speech Day

The Senior School Speech Day and Prize Giving ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 26 November, starting at 4:30pm at the Empire Theatre. Attendance is compulsory for all boys in Years 7 to 11. Tickets for parents can be obtained from the Empire Theatre box office.

The Junior School Speech Day will be held on Thursday, 27 November, commencing at 9:00am in the Senior School Assembly Hall. Parents are welcome to attend and tickets are not required.

More details will be shared as the events approach.

2026 School Year

Preparations for the 2026 school year are well underway. Transition and orientation programs are in full swing for new students and their parents. We eagerly anticipate welcoming both new and returning boys, families and staff to Toowoomba Grammar School in 2026.

Mr John Anderson
Deputy Headmaster

The Design, Engineering and Technology (DET) Centre is nearly here, so I thought you might like to take an imaginary stroll through it with me. From the moment you step inside, you’ll feel the pulse of innovation running through every floor.

On the ground floor, the Junior Years Makerspace invites our youngest learners to explore technology through hands-on digital, manual and design projects. Just beyond, two expansive woodwork workshops hum with possibility, flanked by a shared machinery room, sanding room and a professional-grade spray painting booth. Our Technologies Staff will be based on this level as well, giving them a state-of-the-art workspace.

Climb to Level 1 and you’ll find the heart of design and engineering. The Design Workshop is alive with textiles, modelling materials and sketch plans. Across the hall, the Robotics Lab features robot building stations and a robot arena where prototypes are tested and sometimes battle it out. Two Engineering workshops, complete with a shared machinery room, sit across from a cutting-edge 3D printing lab. Study booths finish off this floor, waiting to make great breakout spaces for eager learners.

At the top, Level 2 opens into a dynamic learning and collaboration space. A 180-seat lecture theatre anchors the floor, joined by a virtual and extended reality room, podcast and breakout spaces and a 30-seat lecturette perfect for mini lectures and video meets. Two digital technologies rooms support advanced learning, while the Careers and VET team are just steps away to guide students toward future pathways.

The DET Centre isn’t just a building. It’s a launchpad for creativity, curiosity and future readiness. We can’t wait to see what our students will build, design and discover here.

Crystal Hede
Director of Learning and Innovation

With Gratitude: Celebrating Our Grammar 150 Sponsors

As we reflect on the remarkable journey of our School’s 150th year, we pause to acknowledge the generous sponsors whose support has helped bring our sesquicentenary celebrations to life.

From commemorative events to community initiatives, the Grammar 150 year has been a testament to the strength of our partnerships. On Thursday evening, we welcomed our valued sponsors to a special soiree in their honour—a heartfelt thank you for the role they’ve played in shaping this historic milestone.

Here is the brief of all the G150 events:

• Sundowners with Mort & Co
• Grammar 150 Book Launch
• TGSOBA Cricket Reunion Dinner
• Headmaster’s Welcome Drinks
• Across All Boarders Luncheon
• G150 Women of Grammar Luncheon
• Rising and Leading – Our Regional Future
• Year 12 Charity Run (G150 Gift Run)
• Building Tomorrow Together (TGX Launch)
• Rising and Leading – Medical Research
• Opening of the 1975 Time Capsule
• Foundation Day Assembly
• Rising and Leading – In Sport
• Grammar Downlands Day and Old Boy Reunion Weekend
• Junior School Colour Run
• 150 Days in our 150th Year
• Unveiling of The Grammar Boy Statue
• The Gala Dinner
• Sponsors and G150 Working Committee Soiree

Looking ahead, our final commemorative event—the Viewing and Sealing of the 2025 Time Capsule—will take place on Thursday, 27 November. This symbolic moment will preserve the memories, milestones, and spirit of Grammar 150 for future generations.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the following sponsors for their commitment to our School and community:

Charlie Mort – Mort & Co Warwick and Mel Fraser – Frasers Sean Lees – Hutchinson Builders Christian Domnick – Educlean Matt Johnson – Hosed Tom and Georgie Carroll – Range Event Hugh and Helen Bradshaw – Heron Eyecare Chris and Melissa Buckley – Buckley Plumbing and Civil John Gray – CG Law Ross and Jenelle Eckroyd – Warrego Water Joel Collins and Tegan Parker – The Iron Infusion Clinic Tracey and Shane Ford – Grand Central Craig Nall – Chartwells Brett Williams – Oakey Beef Anton and Ally Griffiths – Tuff Australia Perry Abbott – Atturra Tammy Bell – Premier Coaches Shane and Kristie Bertolotti – Snap Printing Aaron Wakeley – AACO Dale Robbins – Downs Office Equipment Dan and Elizma Jensen – Garden City HVAC & Refrigeration Barry and Emily O'Sullivan – Newlands

As we prepare for the next phase of Toowoomba Grammar School’s development of a bespoke wellbeing education, particularly for boys, the landscape of mental health support has become increasingly crowded with platforms promising solutions. Since 2016, a wide range of wellbeing provisions have emerged, each offering different approaches to student support. However, not all tools provide the depth of insight required to truly understand and support the development of boys’ character and wellbeing.

In 2023, our Head of Senior School, Mr Mark Oliphant brought in the services of STEER Global Education to assist the School in developing stronger means of connecting with students to increase their sense of belonging and identity formation at Toowoomba Grammar School. Since then, STEER and other international and domestic groups have supported the school to work towards building a bespoke pastoral program for TGS students.

The STEER Matrix: Understanding the Wellbeing Landscape

The STEER Education Report (2016–2025) released in November of this year categorises wellbeing tools using a matrix that evaluates whether they are:

• Reactive or Proactive
• Universal or Targeted

This framework helps schools identify whether a tool is designed to respond to existing issues (reactive) or prevent them (proactive) and whether it applies broadly to all students (universal) or is tailored to individuals or specific cohorts (targeted).

Examples include:

• Universal Proactive: Generic programs that do not fit the needs of all schools (shotgun effect – spay some topical information around in the hope that it hits a few students on the way).
• Reactive Targeted: 1:1 counselling sessions

The Rise of Reactive Platforms

Many new wellbeing platforms focus on reactive responses, such as tracking mood changes, flagging concerning behaviours, or offering crisis support. While these tools are valuable in identifying when a student is struggling, they often lack the ability to explain why a student is struggling or how they are processing their environment.

These platforms typically do not provide insights into:

• How students think about themselves and others
• How they connect with their home and school environments
• How their internal biases and coping strategies evolve over time

Without this data, Toowoomba Grammar School would be limited to responding to surface-level symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes and would be unable to build strategies to increase sense of belonging and sense of identity.

Why STEER Global’s Approach Matters at TGS

STEER Global’s student wellbeing tracking stands apart by offering proactive, targeted insights into how individual students, especially boys, navigate their social and emotional worlds. It tracks longitudinal data on students’ self-regulation, social biases and relational strategies, providing educators with a deeper understanding of each student’s internal world.

This is particularly crucial for boys, whose wellbeing challenges often manifest differently and may be masked by external behaviours.

STEER’s data allows schools to:

• Identify early signs of relational or emotional imbalance
• Tailor interventions to individual needs for Mentor’s to use when improving student connection
• Support character development through evidence-based strategies - Individual Student Action Plans

Planning for 2026: A Call to Action

As we look ahead to 2026, we must move beyond reactive-only models. The future of boys’ wellbeing education lies in integrated, data-driven approaches that combine reactive support with proactive insight. Without tools like STEER Global, we risk missing the opportunity to shape boys’ character and mental health in meaningful, lasting ways.

Key strategies for 2026: Phase 3 of Student Wellbeing & Character Development

• Continue to develop longitudinal data that track how students think, not just what they feel
• Use targeted data to inform pastoral care, curriculum planning and alignment with professional speakers
• Build a wellbeing strategy that is both preventative and responsive
• Continue to demonstrate the School’s creed in all we do pastorally
• Develop better connection touch points that are genuine and meaningful between staff and students
• Continue to review planning and scope within the Jubilee Centre Framework for Character Education standards

Michael Hall
Head of Pastoral Care

Work Experience

Work Experience applications for the December/January school holidays have now closed. Please note that students are unable to undertake Work Experience without completing the appropriate Work Experience Agreement forms as they are not insured. If you have any questions, please email Mrs Rathie in the Careers Office m.rathie@twgs.qld.edu.au

Year 9 Parents – Work Experience 2026

In the last week of this term, you will receive a letter via email from the Careers Office regarding the upcoming Work Experience (WEX) for your son. This will provide simple guidelines to assist you and your son with the organising and confirmation of WEX placement in Term 1 2026. Please keep a look out for this email as it provides instructions about how to complete the Microsoft form after WEX has been confirmed. Please complete and submit this form no later than, Wednesday, 4 February 2026 (Week 2).

Upcoming events

As the year comes to a close, there are a few events happening over the next few weeks and into the school holidays that may be of interest to our students. I have included a brief description and registration links for interested students and parents.

Letz Live Webinar about Gap Years in the United Kingdom

Organisation: Letz Live

Location: Online

Date: November 11, 2025

Our sessions are a great way to learn more about the programmes we have on offer and the opportunities available to you.

Thinking of heading to the United Kingdom? Sign up to learn more about our School, Activity and Hospitality Assistant opportunities. These online sessions will be held for residents of Australia, New Zealand and anyone eligible for a working visa in the UK.

Find out more

Take a Tour of the CSIRO Research Vessel RV Investigator in Brisbane

Organisation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Location: Brisbane International Cruise Terminal

Date: Sunday, 16 November 2025

CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, in partnership with Port of Brisbane and World Science Festival Brisbane, invites you to step aboard Australia's advanced ocean research vessel, RV Investigator, while it's in Brisbane between research voyages.

This 94-metre super science ship is packed with state-of-the-art equipment to enable vital ocean and atmospheric research for Australia. RV Investigator is a national workhorse for science and can travel over 10,000 nautical miles on a single voyage, carrying up to 60 scientists, technicians and crew on incredible voyages of exploration and discovery. The vessel delivers geoscience, atmospheric, biological, oceanographic and underwater cultural heritage research from the equator to the Antarctic ice-edge.

RV Investigator is part of the Marine National Facility, national collaborative research infrastructure funded by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and operated by CSIRO on behalf of the nation.

Find out more

UCAT, GAMSAT and Pathways into Medicine – Webinar for Students & Parents

Organisation: National Institute of Education

Location: Online

Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025

This forum is an excellent opportunity for students and their parents to find out about the UCAT, pathways into medicine.

The session will cover:

• What is UCAT? UCAT scores? UCAT Sub-tests?

• Year 10, 11 and 12 - things to consider now

• The undergraduate selection criteria

• Application process into universities for medicine and dentistry

• When and who can sit the UCAT?

• GAMSAT

• Can you prepare for the UCAT?

• Undergraduate interview process

• What, how and why about Gap Year?

• Alternative degrees and career choices

• Work experience advice

Find out more

QUT Real Decisions: Pathways, Finances and Uni Life

Organisation: Queensland University of Technology

Location: Online

Date: Saturaday, 10 December 2025

This webinar will help prepare you for the ATAR release date and study in 2026 with tips about:

• Pathways to your preferred QUT course

• Study costs, financial support and scholarships

• Wondering how uni fits around life?

• Your next steps

Find out more

UQ ATAR Advice online event

Organisation: The University of Queensland

Location: Online

Date: Thursday, 18 December 2025

Whether you’re seeking advice, information, or simply some reassurance, we can help. We'll answer all your ATAR-related questions at our free ATAR Advice online event.

Find out more

Galactic Innovators | School Holiday Program from BOP Industries

Organisation: BOP Industries

Location: Aviation Australia, Brisbane

Date: January 14 to January 15, 2026

What would it take for humans to live in outer space?

Over the course of this action-packed school holiday program, the Galactic Innovators program will see students stepping into the role of space pioneers as they explore what it takes to help humans live beyond Earth.

As scientists and engineers around the world work to send humans to Mars and beyond, they’re facing big questions. How do we travel across space for months or even years at a time? How can we grow food, recycle water, and build sustainable habitats in places with no atmosphere? What technologies will we need to survive and thrive off world?

In this action-packed program, students will take on real-world challenges inspired by space exploration, from designing interplanetary spacecraft to building futuristic farms that could grow food on the Moon or Mars. Using big picture thinking and learning about the latest innovations from industry, they’ll work to prototype solutions and present their ideas to a panel of space innovation experts.

With industry speakers, hands-on experiences and a tour of the Aviation Australia hangar and flight training facilities, students will leave this program inspired by the opportunities available to them in the future of the aviation industry. Whether you dream of becoming an astronaut, an engineer, or a planetary farmer, Galactic Innovators will leave you inspired to imagine life beyond Earth and how you could help make it happen.

Find out more

We can’t believe how quickly the year has flown by. The Careers Team have thoroughly enjoyed working with the boys again this year and we look forward to an exciting 2026. We wish you all a happy and safe festive season and would like to especially wish our Year 12 cohort the very best of luck in their many and varied future endeavours. We look forward to working with you all again in the new year.

Anthea Richters
Head of Department - Careers

Books vs the Internet according to Lyn Truss

Having just finished reading "Eats Shoots and Leaves": a zero toloerance approach to punctuation by Lyn Truss, an entertaining book on the subject of language and punctuation; I found several parts of the book, really spoke to me, today, I'd like to just leave the following, in which Lyn describes the differences between how we read books, vs reading the internet.

"Having grown up as readers of the printed word (and possibly scribblers in the margins), we may take for granted the processes involved the traditionl activity of reading - so let us remind ourselves. The printed word is presented to us in a linear way, with syntax supreme in conveying the sense of the words in their order. We read privtley, mentally listening to the writer's voice and translating the writer's thoughts. The book remains static and fixed; the reader journeys through it.

Picking the book in the first place entails an active pursuit of understanding. Holding the books, we are aware of posterity and continuity. Knowing that the printed word is always edited, typeset and proof-read before it reaches us, we appreciate its literary authority. Having paid money for it (often), we have a sense of investment and a pride of ownership, not to mention a feeling of general virtue.

All these conditions are overturned by the new technologies. Information is presented to us in a non-linear way, through an exponential series of lateral associations. The internet is a public "space" which you visit and even inhabit; its product is inherantly impersonal and disembodied.

Scrolling documents is the opposite of reading: your eyes remain static, while the material flows past. Despite oppotunities to "interact", we read material from the internet (or CD-roms, or whatever) entirely passively because all the interesting associative thinking has been done on our behalf.

Electronic media are intrinsically ephemeral, and open to perpetual revision and work quite strenuously against any sort of historical perception. The opposite of edited, the material on the internet is unmediated, except by the technology itself. And, having no price, it has questionable value. Finally, you can't write comments in the margin of your screen to be discovered by a read fifty years down the line."

Something to think about.

Daniel Crook
Head of Library and Information Services

The final two weeks are a busy phase of the Term 4 as we culminate learning for the calendar year, prepare end-of-year reports and hold numerous events and occasions to celebrate achievement or recognise transitional moments for cohorts. There’s much to be proud of and enjoy.

Our Year 5 cohort are currently working through their leadership development and selection process for 2026 roles. Mrs Hall's article of the Blue and Gold shares their journey and I encourage you to read through what this process has involved for our Year 5s. We value the development of leadership skills for all of our students Prep to Year 6 with the culmination of this process in the Junior School as Year 6 representatives in House and School Captaincy roles.

This week we held our final Junior School Assembly before Speech Day where we recognised academic competitions such as ICAS, Maths (Maths Olympiad, QMAT and AMC), Musicians Cup, Writing and Public Speaking competitions. The ICAS and Maths competitions are all rigorous external competitions designed to stretch students thinking and challenge themselves against their peers statewide or nationally. Writing and Public Speaking competitions are held as a Junior School competition from Prep to Year 6 within classes. These competitions are designed to celebrate and value the skills of writing and presenting a public speech.

In the modern day of Artificial Intelligence offering prompt starters for writing and even whole documents to be created we still feel at a Junior School level understanding how to compose written pieces and refine them to a level where they accurately convey the meaning you intended is a tremendously important skill for everyone to develop and hone. The act of writing is a complex task and worth understanding its many technical components, but also the process of refining a thought and how this is conveyed into meaning for the reader.

The writing competition celebrates these qualities from our young writers. We enjoyed hearing excerpts of narrative, persuasive and recount pieces from winners in Years 1, 3 and 6 at the assembly. The Public Speaking competition, similarly, is another skill we value our students developing throughout Junior School from Prep to Year 6. Presenting a speech before their peers develops their oral language skills and technical performance aspects like body language and audience connection through eye contact. With practice and time these become tremendous assets for students to feel confident in delivering speeches that they will likely use throughout their schooling for oral presentations with their studies, speeches for leadership roles or ceremonial occasions. Congratulations to all students for engaging with the writing and public speaking competitions, your efforts are truly valued.

Also this week we celebrated two milestone moments for cohorts in Year 3 and Year 6. The Year 3 students held their Billycart building day where parents join their sons to build a billy cart together and race them through the jacaranda grove. It’s a lovely moment to share as a family and signifies a transitional period as Year 3s move from the Early Childhood phase of their schooling into the Upper Junior School grade of Year 4 where they take on more responsibilities in the school and notably move into the upper level of classrooms, and also ‘don’ a blazer and Akubra as part of their uniform. It’s a lovely moment to share as a family and a milestone that the Year 3 boys treasure. The Year 6 cohort hold their Celebration Evening which is a graduation ceremony held in the Junior School Hall with family and friends. Each Year 6 crosses the stage to receive their graduation certificate from the Headmaster, Dr Kinniburgh and Head of Senior School, Mr Oliphant who welcomes them into Year 7. This is a special occasion for Year 6 families, celebrating their culmination of their Junior School journey.

In the weeks ahead, we have a number of events to enjoy together. Some details for each are provided below:

Twilight Concert – Friday 21 November

The Twilight Concert is a treasured annual event for the Junior School community held on the terranes and lawns of Old Boys’ Memorial Oval, 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Each class from Prep to Year 6 will present a dance item as a fun finale to the year. This year there is a ‘Blue and Gold’ theme thread through the performances honouring the Grammar 150 year we have celebrated. Families may wish to bring a picnic blanket to sit on or utilise the terrace and available seating.

The order of events for the evening is as follows:

Twilight Concert

5:15pm onwards Pizza collection

6:00pm Twilight Concert commences

7:30pm Concert concludes

Monday, 24 November – Orientation Day and preparations for 2026

All the classes will move up a year level on this morning until 10:30am, seeing their classroom and meeting their teacher for 2026. This is a nice opportunity to become a little familiar with the new classroom surrounds before we move into the break period.

Our Diverse Learning team have also been making contact with families of boys with learning plans to provide further assistance in supporting a confident start to the new year. If you feel your son would benefit from an early connection point with their class teacher before the start of term please feel comfortable making contact with Mrs Chantelle Bauer, Deputy Head of Junior School Teaching and Learning, c.bauer@twgs.qld.edu.au Sometimes a short visit to the classroom and a quick chat before school starts is a helpful way to begin the year for some students.

Tuesday, 25 November – Picnic Day

All classes begin the day at their classroom to mark the roll. Then all the cohorts will enjoy a day with their friends at various locations around Toowoomba celebrating the year together with fun activities. Students return to school in the afternoon for regular dismissal time at 3:10pm. Please see Parent Lounge for cohort letters detailing the schedule and particulars required for the day.

Wednesday, 26 November

Our last regular timetabled day at school for the year. Students will have a Speech Day rehearsal in the afternoon from 1:35pm – 3:10pm.

Thursday, 27 November – Speech Day

Blazer uniform day. All classes begin the day at their classroom to mark the roll then move to the Senior School Assembly Hall for the Speech Day ceremony to commence at 9am and conclude by 10:20am. There will be a morning tea for families at 10:20am outside the Assembly Hall.

Typically, students are dismissed after the Speech Day ceremony and collected by parents. We ask that families please sign-out with your son’s class teacher please before leaving. We are able to provide general supervision of students if families require this for the reminder of the day with normal dismissal at 3:10pm. If you are able to share this with your son’s class teacher prior to Thursday that would be helpful for our staffing arrangements.

The final weeks of school have an exciting range of events and activities to celebrate the year and prepare for the year ahead. We look forward to sharing these occasions with you in the coming weeks.

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

Celebrating Academic Excellence at Toowoomba Grammar School

Our recent Academic Assembly was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the talent, curiosity and perseverance of our boys. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe academic excellence is not just about achievement. It is about engagement, relevance and challenge. Our curriculum, aligned with the Australian Curriculum Version 9, is designed to stretch thinking, deepen understanding, and connect learning to the world beyond the classroom.

This semester, our Year 3 students exemplified this through their Design Technology assessment. After exploring Viking history and culture, they were challenged to improve the design of Viking longboats. Their innovative designs reflected creativity and a deep understanding of historical context and engineering principles - learning that truly lasts. We are excited about the opening of our new Design, Engineering, and Technology Centre, which will empower students from Prep to Year 12 to explore robotics, coding, engineering and design in hands-on, interdisciplinary ways.

Alongside this, our strong commitment to literacy continues, fostering a love of reading and writing across all learning areas. Through evidence-based teaching practices, including explicit instruction and daily reviews in Literacy and Numeracy, we ensure learning is clear, structured and memorable. Every boy learns differently and we remain committed to nurturing their unique strengths and passions.

Congratulations to the boys recognised at the assembly for their hard work and commitment. To all our students - your efforts matter and we are proud of your progress and persistence. Thank you to our parents and staff for walking alongside our boys and helping us build a culture where learning is meaningful, excellence is expected and every boy is empowered to thrive.

Chantelle Bauer
Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning

Growing Through Leadership: The Year 5 Journey to 2026

Over the past fortnight, our Year 5 boys have stepped into the spotlight, bravely delivering their School and House Captain speeches as part of the 2026 Student Leadership selection process. Last week saw the School Captain hopefuls speak with passion and purpose, while this week, our House Captain candidates proudly represented their Houses with heart and humility.

This process is far more than a badge or a title. It’s a journey of character development, courage and community. Putting yourself forward - standing tall in front of peers and staff - is no small feat. It takes vulnerability, self-belief and a willingness to grow. Every boy who nominated has shown these qualities in abundance.

Leadership, as we know, is not always about being chosen. Sometimes, the most profound growth comes in the moments of disappointment - when things don’t go your way and you still choose to support your mates. We’ve seen boys lift each other up, offer quiet congratulations and show genuine happiness for their peers. That’s leadership. That’s integrity.

It’s uncomfortable to miss out. It’s challenging to smile when your name isn’t called. But these moments build resilience and empathy - two cornerstones of true leadership. We are incredibly proud of how our boys have navigated these ups and downs with grace and maturity.

As we look ahead to Junior School Speech Day on Thursday, 27 November, where we will announce our 2026 School Captain, Vice Captain and House Captains, we do so with immense pride. Not just in those who will receive a badge, but in every boy who dared to try, who grew through the process, and who showed us what leadership looks like in everyday choices.

To our Year 5 cohort: thank you for your courage, your kindness and your commitment to each other. You’ve reminded us all that leadership is not just about standing out - it’s about lifting others up, even when it’s hard.

Amanda Hall
Deputy Head of Junior School - Students

Final Cadence Concert

Congratulations to all boys who were involved in the Final Cadence Concert on Wednesday, 5 November. Our choral and instrumental ensembles performed to showcase their talent and it was a wonderful evening of entertainment.

Year 2 Strings Concert and Year 4 Instrumental Concert

On Wednesday, 12 November our Year 2 students performed in the Year 2 Strings concert. This was a wonderful opportunity for parents to hear the progress their son has made on his string instrument this year. Furthermore, all Year 4s performed in the Year 4 Instrumental Concert on Thursday, 13 November. Our Introductory Band also performed at this concert to showcase what they’ve learnt in recent rehearsals.

Both concerts provided our boys with the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they’ve developed in the instrumental immersion programs this year. I hope to see a large number of boys continue on their instrument next year.

Benefits of learning an instrument

Learning a musical instrument offers numerous benefits, including improved cognitive functions like memory and coordination, enhanced stress relief and emotional well-being, and development of valuable life skills like discipline, patience, and time management. It also boosts social skills, creativity, and academic performance. How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collins | TED-Ed

Music Tuition 2026

Should you wish to enrol your son in private music tuition next year, please ensure you complete the enrolment form - Junior School Music Tuition 2026

Returning school hire instruments

If your son is hiring a school instrument, it should be returned after his final ensemble rehearsal, or his final instrumental lesson. Instruments should be returned to your son’s tutor, or Mrs Carrigan or Mrs Dixon in the Junior School Music Room. Instruments must be marked off by a staff member please. Please contact Mrs Dixon should you have any questions.

Kellie Dixon
Head of Junior School Music

Congratulations to all boys who have participated in sport this year. While things are starting to wind down as Christmas holidays near, there are still many boys training and playing in sports such as cricket, touch, swimming, athletics, volleyball along with many others. Congratulations and good luck in your endeavours.

Thanks as always, for your support of the TGS sports program. The positive attitude and energy that boys, parents and coaches all bring to the sporting field goes a long way to helping our boys grow into confident and competent young men.

Please keep training.

Brendan Doherty
Junior School Sports Coodinator

AFA National Futsal Championships 6-8 November – Brisbane

The school FUTSAL program reached its climax this weekend with the Australian Futsal Associations, National Championships which was held at Cornubia Sports Park in Brisbane.

TGS qualified for the National Championships after entering in the SWQ District Championships in March, followed by the State FUTSAL Championships in July. Teams have been training at lunchtime throughout Terms 2 and 3 and attended the championships full of confidence.

The 13 Boys Team and 14 Boys both qualified for the quarter finals and left the tournament with their head held high.

Liam Galappaththi was a standout performer and was selected into the “All Stars Team” of the tournament for his age group.

The 15 Boys Team and 16 Boys both qualified for the Semi-Finals and they too left the competition just short of making the Final.

Ellord Panta, Marley Liadler and Jonah Moore were all selected into the “All Stars Team” of the tournament for their respective age groups.

The 16 Boys team were beaten semi-finalists at the AFA National Championships.

Will Browett, Harrison Mullins, Rhys Bailey, Roan Bronkhurst, Lachlan McErvale and Eamon Pickering.

(Jacob Carney absent form picture).

Maebashi Japan Football Tournament 2026 (Years 6/7)

Boys from year 6 & 7 conducted trials for selection into the 2026 Maebashi Football Tourn occurring next July. Following selection, boys will work with coaches in Terms 1 & 2 of 2026 as we build for this important international Junior Academy tournament.

The Tour will also include a 4-day Tokyo cultural immersion which will include a full day at Disneyland. The selected squad for Japan 2026 is as follows:

Don Algie, Rhys Beasley, Maneet Brar, Henry Carige, Marcus Dean, Jerome Daley, Ari Hall, Cameron Mander, John Miller, Henry Roberts, Cooper Romero, Flynn Ryan, Jack Sweeney, Isaac Tebbutt and Ethan Wilson.

Mini-World Cup dates 2026 (Reminder)

Football Families are invited to make some firm plans for their attendance at the 2026 Mini-World Cup in Inverell next year. Accommodation options remain at a premium meaning parents need to be organised to secure their first preferences. Changes to the competition structure next year will see the competition occurring over the period Monday, 28 of September to Sunday, 4 October 2026.

For competition updates, please visit the tournament website at The Inverell Joeys Mini World Cup.

MWC dates for each age groups

Please note: 8s,10s and 12s age groups will start on Monday, 28 September. 8s will finish Tuesday, 29 September and 10s and 12s will finish Wednesday, 30 September. Boys 14s + 16/17s will commence Thursday, 1 October until Sunday, 4 October.

Nigel Fanning
Head of Sport - Football

Corner of Herries and Mary Street flood recovery works

Please be advised of upcoming stormwater works at the intersection of Herries and Mary streets in East Toowoomba.

Date: Construction will be completed from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.

Location: The north-eastern corner of the Herries and Mary streets intersection in East Toowoomba.

Construction works: Repairing a stormwater pipe within the exclusion zone of a power pole.

Temporary road and footpath closures

• The eastbound lane of Herries Street between the roundabout and the entrance to The Toowoomba Grammar School will be closed. The entrance to the school will remain open at all times.
• Detours will be in place for general traffic.
• Traffic control and signage will be in place to assist pedestrians and road users.
• The footpath between the north-eastern corner of the roundabout and the entrance to The Toowoomba Grammar School will be closed.

While advice has been sought from Ergon and all safety protocols will be strictly followed, there remains a slight possibility of power interruption during the course of these works.

Council acknowledges the critical nature of your operations and is taking steps to minimise any risk.

Should an interruption occur, we will coordinate closely with your team and Ergon to ensure a swift resolution.

Council apologises for the inconvenience and thanks everyone for their patience and co-operation during these works.

Further information

Please contact Dani Avery, Toowoomba Regional Council on 4688 8350 or dani.avery@tr.qld.gov.au

As the year races toward its close, many families are beginning to think about meaningful gifts for Christmas and for our graduating students. Why not mark these milestones with something truly special?

The Grammar 150 Committee has curated a stunning selection of gift hampers to celebrate the School’s 150th anniversary. Each hamper is offered at a discounted price and includes a raffle ticket to win one of the exquisite Grammar 150 Art Prize prints, a keepsake that captures the spirit of our community.

For those purchasing a men’s or ladies’ hamper, there’s also an exclusive opportunity to buy G150 vodka or gin at a reduced price. Simply speak with our friendly Uniform Shop staff for details.

Whether you're shopping for a proud graduate, a festive surprise, or a token of appreciation, the Grammar 150 online store has something for everyone. Explore the full range of hampers and merchandise today and give a gift that celebrates tradition, achievement and the joy of giving.

🛍️ Visit the Grammar 150 Online Store

Shop Hours

Opening Hours to the end of 2025

Monday, 17 November until Friday 5 December, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Opening Hours New Year 2026 - Appointments required.

• Monday 12 January until Friday 23 January 10:00am - 4:00pm
• Monday 26 January Public Holiday CLOSED
• Tuesday 27 January Boarders Return 9:00am - 5:00pm
• Wednesday, 28 January Start of School, 9:00am - 5:00pm
• Thursday, 29 January, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
• Friday 30 January, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Book Collection

Booklist orders are available for collection from the school, Monday, 19 January 2026.

Please check with the Uniform Shop for collection point.

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.

Start of Term 4 opening hours

• Tuesday, 7 October: 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Wednesday, 8 October: 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Thursday, 9 October - normal hours resume (1:00pm to 5:00pm)

Booklist Requirements

The School’s preferred supplier for the booklist is Browns Office Choice. Booklists become available towards the end of the school year. Orders can be placed online and then either collected from Browns Office Choice or the Uniform Shop.

Uniform Price Lists

• Prep Price List
• Years 1 to 3 Price List
• Years 4 to 12 Price List
• Sports and Activities Price List

Merchandise

A range of Toowoomba Grammar School merchandise is available from the Uniform Shop. Proceeds benefit the School.

We understand that from time to time and for a wide variety of reasons, families will make the decision to leave TGS. As a School, we will always strive to work with families to ensure an outcome that is in the best interests of each boy.

It is also important to note and as a reminder to all families enrolled at Toowoomba Grammar School, our conditions of enrolment clearly stipulate that at least 10 weeks’ written notice of the withdrawal must be provided to the School.

As per the School’s Conditions of Enrolment, all tuition and fees must be paid for the Term in which the notice of withdrawal expires. For situations where 10 weeks’ notice is not provided, the following Term’s fees are payable.

This 10 weeks’ written notice period also applies to boys changing their enrolment status from boarder to dayboy.

If you are considering withdrawing your son, we would strongly encourage you to contact his Head of House, the Head of Junior School, the Head of Senior School or the Deputy Headmaster.

We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss all considerations in this regard with you.