Welcome to the first INFOCUS of Term 2. It has been a purposeful start, one where our community has sought to honour the past, treasure the present and shape the future. It has also been a time of reflection.
In what was undoubtedly the highlight of our recent staff development day, our Sustainable Futures students facilitated Australia’s largest ever Climate Fresk workshop, demonstrating skilled social leadership while enhancing the climate literacy of participants. The work of our Sustainable Futures Group led by Head of Sustainability Mr Carmelo Fedele continues to be both important and inspiring. I want to pay a particular debt of gratitude to our Sustainability Portfolio Leader Madeleine Hayen. She’s a young leader with extraordinary talent and potential. You can read more about Maddy’s work in this edition of INFOCUS.
In a busy fortnight, our school’s inaugural Literary Festival was a resounding success – an engaging celebration of stories and ideas. Thanks to Director of the Bibliothèque Patrice Marchbank for staging this event and to all staff who helped make this happen for our students.
In more good news, IGS placed an impressive fifth overall in the St Andrews Cup football tournament making their mark in the Plate Semi-Finals, Year 8 had a great time on Camp, Year 9 students visited the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship, and so much more!
In assemblies, we came together to commemorate ANZAC Day where I shared the story of 22 year old Jack Simpson, the brave Australian stretcher bearer who would dash forward into the firing line at Gallipoli to save the wounded, using a donkey to carry them from the frontlines. His story is one that has captured the collective imagination and survived down the years.
ANZAC Day is a day filled with such stories of loss and bravery. The story of Simpson and his donkey is a tale of courage, dignity and grace. It inspires us as a symbol of goodness, of peace and of lending a helping hand. Our Head Girl and Head Boy Tiggy and Karam also told the moving story of Dr Phoebe Chapple which captivated our students. A special thanks to Head of Humanities David Miller for organising this respectful and meaningful commemorative service, as he does so well each year.
Early Learning children began a collaborative project reimagining their outdoor play space. The children were also enchanted by the action and drama of well known and loved children’s literature when Year 10 students performed stories for them during the Literary Festival.
On the Arts front, we kept up the pace preparing for our eagerly awaited productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and our Vive la Révolution! anniversary concert. As part of the 40 Years Young Production’s focus on connection to Country, the IGS Koori Club Kids and their families, along with Director of Music Darren Kuilenburg, teacher and mentor Megan Sampson, members of the 40 Years Young Creative Team, and Head of High School Anthony Dennehy immersed themselves in a cultural experience in Kangaroo Valley, hosted by the First Nations group, the Gadhungal Marring team. Thanks to Mr Kuilenburg for making this special experience happen.
And finally, we have experienced the sadness of farewelling our much-loved teacher, colleague and friend Dr Bruce Dennett. Dr D, as he was affectionately known, uplifted us and changed so many of our lives for the better. I have been encouraging our students as far as they can to carry on his positive spirit as they go through their lives.
Dr Dennett will be dearly missed, and our thoughts and condolences remain with his wife Jane and his family at this time. I look forward to giving Jane the condolences book on Tuesday. It is filled with heartfelt messages from our students, staff, parents and the broader IGS community.
Thank you all for your support over the last two weeks and as we continue to bring our students a wonderful action-packed term.
Shauna Colnan
Principal
