Toowoomba Grammar School is fortunate to have a strong partnership with Microsoft / School Locker. We are a Microsoft Lighthouse School, leading the way in technological advancement and deployment in Australian schools. This recognition would not be possible without two key factors:
- our “whole school” approach to IT, whereby the School supplies every student with the same devices, ensuring equality for all boys from Prep to Year 12.
- our dedicated IT team, who are based on-site to immediately assist with any IT issues our staff and students encounter.
Microsoft is so impressed with Toowoomba Grammar School’s roll out and support program that they invited our AV, Data Assurance and ICT Engineer, Mr Matthew Dalamaras to be a guest speaker at the recent Association of Independent Schools NSW Information and Communication Technology Management and Leadership Conference.
Matthew was asked to present during the workshop “Finding the limits of deployment solutions”. He addressed over 350 IT professionals from independent schools across Australia about “The View from the Other Side”.
Matthew provided an insight into the challenges and successes of the TGS journey into modern device deployment using Microsoft Intune. He described how the School’s device rollout has changed over the years, culminating in our ability to provide services like our “drive-through” laptop collection, and an average of a five-minute turnaround for issues with student devices.
“Over the last 15 years, computer deployment has evolved from what was a copy/paste of a whole computer to devices that now connect to the internet and self-build, based on instructions provided by IT,” Matthew told the conference.
“The amount of time required to write these instructions is dramatically lower than creating the “Gold Image” which you would copy onto every device.”
Matthew said another significant change is the ability for IT departments to manage devices when students and staff are working or learning offsite, due to its connectivity to the internet. This was not possible using older methods.
This is an emerging technology, with massive benefits in resourcing and time recovery. Toowoomba Grammar School is fortunate to have expertise in this field as it ensures that our staff and students will always have up-to-date, secure and reliable devices. TGS is leading the way with IT in education.
“Other schools are at varied levels of implementing this technology and experts in this field are far and few between, especially in education,” said Matthew.
As a result, he was highly sought after for consultation during the conference and Microsoft has engaged Matthew to discuss how we manage devices at TGS and our Surface Program, giving further national recognition to the School’s IT program.
Latest Blog
What Old Boys Have Contributed to TGS Over Time
The Old Boys’ Association has played an integral role in the history and tradition of Toowoomba Grammar School. It was formed on December 29, 1888, when 25 Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys met at Long’s Imperial Hotel to create a new society. The Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Association rules were drawn up, and office-bearers elected. The inaugural president was Mr Joesph Vincent Herbert Esq. (TGS 1877-80) From there, the TGSOBA has grown significantly, ensuring that the Blue and Gold…
TGS Strength and Conditioning Program
Toowoomba Grammar School has a unique approach to athlete development that focuses on providing students with the skills, tools and mindset required to succeed in sports and life. At TGS, the long-term athlete development (LTAD) philosophy is ingrained in every aspect of the School's approach to sport and fitness. The LTAD philosophy emphasises the importance of age-appropriate training and skill development over a long period of time. This approach recognises that athlete development is a…
We Knew Them Before They Were Stars
Our boys at Toowoomba Grammar School are fortunate that Performing Arts is as popular as sport and academics, thanks to our culture of respect and inclusivity. Boys are supported and encouraged to immerse themselves in music, drama and art and are not afraid to chase their dreams in these fields. The success of our performing arts students dates back decades, with our Old Boys performing all around the world in theatre, music, film and photography and are accomplished and well recognised in…
Country Roads Take Me Home
Toowoomba Grammar School boarding provides the ideal living environment for our boys while they develop the values that will define their character. Throughout the course of this year, I have been privileged to visit many of the towns and properties that our TGS boarders call home. When walking around those towns wearing a shirt with a TGS crest, it doesn’t take long to meet an Old Boy or to be asked about one of the boarders currently at the School. Our boarding staff pride themselves on…
TGS Corfe House - A Home for Young Boarders
In Toowoomba Grammar School’s Boarding Program, Years 5 to 7 students reside at Corfe House – a nurturing environment providing close pastoral support and guidance to the School’s youngest boarders. The skills, relationships and perspectives that boys develop here set them up for the rest of their boarding and school journey. Toowoomba Grammar School understands the challenges for young students transitioning into boarding. Leading the way in creating a ‘home away from home’ is the Corfe House…
TGS Mates Program - Character Building Education
Current research into character education has shown that educators should not be focusing solely on preparing students for their Year 12 final exams but should be supporting them to become humans who exhibit good character and virtues to contribute to creating a healthier society (The Jubilee Centre, 2022). The Jubilee Centre, which is attached to the University of Birmingham in the UK, maintains that good character is the foundation for improved attainment, better behaviour, increased…
Our TGS Old Boys' Wall of Achievement
The next time you visit the School grounds, pause for a moment at the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Wall of Achievement. This concept was the initiative of the then Deputy Headmaster, Mr Roger Buttenshaw, and was supported by the Board of Trustees, Headmasters Mr Hugh Rose and Mr Peter Hauser, and the TGSOBA - Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Association. The opening of the Wall of Achievement took place in 2003. Thousands of TGS Old Boys have gone on to lead productive and valuable…
A Musical Reflection
As Director of Performing Arts, there is perhaps no bigger undertaking than a School musical. It requires an enormous effort from a huge team of teachers and students, and to get all these moving parts heading in the same direction is certainly no mean feat. The 2023 co-production of Footloose was my first time involved in a Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College musical, and I found it to be a very rewarding, though exhausting, experience. The process began in Term 3, 2022, as my…
TGS Success in GPS Sport
In 2023, Toowoomba Grammar School witnessed a remarkable resurgence in several of our sports programs, marking a year of triumph and growth. Although an elusive GPS premiership did not fall our way, a number of our 1st teams competed to the final whistle in Round 9 of their respective competitions, vying for their premierships. The achievements of our boys on the field and court were nothing short of exceptional, reflecting the commitment, dedication and character development that participation…
