Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Here are some tips from some Year 7 Grammar boys who started Senior School in 2023.
Get involved in different sports and activities
Toowoomba Grammar School provides many sports and activities that any student can participate in. As a current Year 7 student, I highly recommend trying out as many different sports and activities as you can. Throughout my first year in high school, I have learnt that participating in sports and activities is a great opportunity to socialise with mates and make new friends. The coaching and facilities provided is a great way to either extend your knowledge of the sport, learn new things, and improve your existing skills.
Toowoomba Grammar School is part of the Great Public Schools’ Association of Queensland (GPS), which consists of nine schools from Southeast Queensland competing in a wide array of sports and activities. Participating in the GPS competition is a memorable experience. From representing your School with pride, to the atmosphere of watching the Open and 1st teams compete against the opposing schools.
Don’t be afraid to have go and try new sports and activities as TGS has a wonderful, welcoming team environment and I am sure that you will enjoy every moment. - Eddy Beverland
Just be yourself
Know that you can always ask teachers for academic help or social support. Don’t feel like you must try and be someone you are not to fit in because there all sorts of people that will have the same or similar interests as you.
Set goals that you want to achieve before the end of the term or the end of the year.
Try and be the best person you can, always be kind and don’t be someone who makes others feel left out or someone who hurts other people’s feelings. There are always going to be people who are new to the School, so don’t think that you are the only one. - Tom Rawlings
Try new things
When you first come to Grammar get involved in as many sports and activities as you can. Getting involved is a good way to have some fun and a chance to try sports you have never tried before. Give new sports a go as you could end up really enjoying it.
Playing sport is a great way to keep yourself busy and meet new friends. GPS sports are a great way to spend your Saturday because you can head down to Brisbane with your mates, play a game against a Brisbane school and have some fun. Give everything a go and don’t hesitate to try new things! - Charlie Beckwith
Tips for making new friends
Making new friends at a new school can be a daunting task but here are my top tips:
Sitting next to people and just talking and working together can be a strong friendship starter which is easy to do. Sit next to someone new in the classroom or if you are a boarder you may want to sit with new people at dinner. The reality is that in Year 7 everyone is new in the Senior School and every boy is in the same position so just start up a conversation. Also take advantage of the activities at lunch. Although the library is a good option if you need some quiet time or to get some homework done. I love getting out and heading for a quick basketball game during lunch. I’m not great at basketball, but it doesn’t matter, it is a chance to run off some energy and meet heaps of other kids not in your class.
Another simple way to make new friends is to get involved in as many activities as you can. The more the better! For example, join a musical band. If this is not your style than join any of the clubs - photography or chess might be your thing. There are also so many different sports – even if you don’t love sport, I am sure you will find one that you might enjoy. You don’t need to be a rugby or cricket fanatic, maybe volleyball or basketball might suit you better. In my personal experience when I play sports, I make new friendships and strengthen those that I already have.
Making new friends at a new school can be a scary task but you just need to put yourself out there and be confident. - Benjamin Gentry, Year 7
Tips for managing homework
It’s important to stay organised so that you can complete your priorities, such as your schoolwork and assignments, and you won’t forget them once they are written down in your diary. Set aside specific times to complete your assignments and homework. It will be much easier if you divide larger assignments and homework into smaller, more manageable portions and set aside specific times for each.
Once you’re done, you can spend some time doing what you like. It’s important to take breaks when you’re studying which might be as simple as walking outside, talking to your friends or just doing what you like to do. Working in a quiet, nice environment where you won’t be distracted is important so you can give your schoolwork your whole attention.
Don’t hesitant to ask questions. If there is anything you don’t understand, just ask the teachers, they are nice, helpful and will explain everything to you. The boys at Toowoomba Grammar School are also incredibly kind and considerate so don’t hesitate to reach out to them as well! - Iskcon Gyawali, Year 7
Latest Blog
I Have Returned to Where it Began and I Feel Right at Home
I have returned to where it all began, and I feel right at home. My parents decided when I was very young that I would attend Toowoomba Grammar School as a boarder. Coming from a property surrounded by a small community, my parents believed that sending me to TGS would provide me with many fundamental skills needed for a young man, as well as an education that I could not get in my hometown.. Starting my journey at TGS in Year 8 as a boarder in Mackintosh, adjusting from a small country high…
Tuning in to TGS Old Boy (1995-99) - Stuart St Vincent Welch
Our Old Boys have such diverse career paths; we are so proud of the good young men they become and how they make meaningful contributions to their communities. Stuart St Vincent Welch describes himself as an average student who had no idea what he wanted to do after school. But drawing on the TGS values of hard work, respect and resilience he is now working as a Sound Engineer for Barking Owl in New York City, rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s most renowned musicians and actors. He…
The TGS Show Cattle Team - On the moooove
The TGS Show Cattle Team commenced in Term 1 2021 under the guidance of Mr Jack Murphy and Mrs Julie Brophy. The concept of the team was to give boys a hands-on, extracurricular opportunity in the agricultural industry. The boys have been competing in the Young Judges’ competitions at a range of shows across Queensland. The Young Judges’ competition is based on the goal of expanding the boys' knowledge of the skills that are a foundation of the animal production industry, helping them as…
The Importance of Routines
Routines are an important part of our daily lives, providing structure and stability. This is especially true for children in their formative years, who benefit from having consistent and predictable routines in both their school and home environments. At Toowoomba Grammar School Junior School, we believe that routines are essential for helping students thrive both inside and outside the classroom. One of the key ways in which routines help students is by providing a sense of security and…
Ten Steps Ahead - Jackie Gallagher
As a high school athlete, Jackie Gallagher had the world at her feet. She was in a unique position where she was excellent at any distance from 100m to 800m. She broke Queensland and National records and was regularly selected for State and National teams. Jackie was selected for the Australian Youth team to compete at the World Youth Championships in Canada as an U18 along with the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics, before making the U20 Australian team to compete at…
The Makings of a Premiership
The 2022 1st V Basketball squad will be forever etched in the pages of Toowoomba Grammar School history as the first TGS team to win a GPS Basketball Premiership since the competition commenced in 1984. Head of Basketball, and 1st V Coach, Mr Kabe Cicolini has been instrumental in the growth and success of not just our leading team, but of the TGS Basketball Program as a whole. Kabe has come from a background of playing GPS sport – cricket, rugby and basketball as a student at Ipswich Grammar…
Creating a Learning Environment that Boys Enjoy
Creating an environment for students to access and engage in learning is the educational philosophy of the new Toowoomba Grammar School Head of Junior School, Mr Ken Raven. “This requires a supportive an inclusive learning environment across the school where everyone feels they can make a positive contribution,” Mr Raven stated. “I encourage evidence-informed, explicit teaching of curriculum that sparks curiosity and interest for students to engage and explore.” Parental interaction and…
Introducing our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer
Toowoomba Grammar School is excited to welcome our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer. Mrs Bauer brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role, having lived and worked in the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland region her entire life. She was born and bred in St George, attended university in Toowoomba and took her first teaching role in Roma. She has worked in various roles across the region, including Year Level Coordinator, Head of…
You can't know a student without knowing where they come from
Boarding at Toowoomba Grammar School can be described as many things such as evolving identity, growing personally and developing character in your second home, but it is also about growing your family. Head of Boyce House boarding, Mr Michael Hall and his family, certainly enjoyed that opportunity over January. Catching up with a beautiful collection of current families from Boyce House was a privilege and has helped to build the relationships of trust and care that are essential in a…
