The first students to walk through the gilded doors of the State Theatre were the IGS outgoing Year 12s, the Class of 2022, many of whom had just arrived back in Sydney after school leaver celebrations.
They greeted their teachers warmly with hugs, handshakes and even fist bumps as they prepared to take their seats at their last-ever school engagement. View their farewell video.
Teachers welcomed students, parents, grandparents and carers as they arrived in the ornate foyer, taking a moment to exchange heartfelt greetings before entering the auditorium and taking their seats.
Formal proceedings began with a wonderful performance of Danse Macabre by the IGS Senior Orchestra followed by an extraordinary Welcome to Country from Uncle Brendan Kerin, a cultural representative of the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council.
The night continued to be a celebration of everything IGS, from fantastic musical and drama performances to language presentations in Japanese and Spanish.
On the seats of each chair, together with the night’s program, was a copy of the IGS 2022 Global Scholar’s Prize Winning Essay on the war in Ukraine by Year 11 student Ruari Foster.
IGS Principal Shauna Colnan presented a number of highlights from 2022, including the IGS team’s success in the the Ethics Olympiad and the recommencement of a host of student programs following COVID restrictions, including camps, excursions, the unique IGS SAGE program and international student exchanges.
She spoke of the successful launch of the School’s Creative Internships in the Pyrmont Peninsula and Beyond, in which Year 10 students shadowed hosts in 42 workplaces including law, engineering, medicine, the arts, finance and hospitality, an initiative announced a year ago in the IGS Strategic Plan Into the World 2022-2026.
Other progress envisaged in the plan includes work on the IGS Renaissance Centre, due to open early next year.
Ms Colnan also announced the exchange of contracts on a property in Kangaroo Valley, making the “IGS in nature” initiative from the plan a reality. The IGS Kangaroo Valley Campus will host language immersion camps, geography, science and sustainability field studies, outdoor education, Shakespeare in the Glade, music camps, writers’ retreats, art en plein air, leadership programs, HSC study camps and so much more.
Another exciting announcement was that IGS will stage The Adams Family for the 2023 musical.
Kindness, gratitude and friendship were also celebrated.
Students from Year 3 to Year 12 were applauded as they took the stage to accept awards in the form of books supplied by the generous IGS PTF.
Outgoing Head Boy and Girl Madiba Doyle-Lambert and Zahra Moloobhoy eloquently addressed the packed State Theatre, looking back fondly at their time at IGS and explaining how their unique schooling experience has helped prepare them to enter a world facing unprecedented challenges.
Director of Advancement Paul Galea announced the IGS inaugural Alum Of The Year, Nicholas Jordan (2006), and shared his views on the evening with our community.
“Absolutely incredible speeches by Madiba and Zahra,” Paul said. “I wish you could have heard them. You’d be proud to have gone to our School.”
Ms Colnan announced our 2023 Head Students Sami Lightfoot and Charlotte Waley, who received loud cheers from families, friends, teachers and peers as they took the stage.
The announcement was followed by a funky Performance of Spain by the Senior Jazz Band that had the audience clapping along in their seats. They then accompanied a rousing rendition of our wonderful school song.
A big congratulations to all award winners and performers, and thanks to staff, students and members of the community who made this final celebration of the year such a joyous occasion.
