Mark Oliphant has been the TGS Head of Senior School for the past six years, and also has three sons in the TGS Junior School, with his eldest making the transition to Year 7 next year. He has valuable insight into both roles – that of a nervous new parent, and that of a welcoming, key member of Senior School staff. This is his key message to new parents of TGS for 2024:
Regardless of your history with the school, you are all equally welcome here and should feel comfortable in knowing that we value every family and their son’s contribution to our School.
Toowoomba Grammar School was built by the community, for the community and it is a School that I am immensely proud of. In 2025 we will celebrate our sesquicentenary or Grammar 150 and your sons will play a vital role in those celebrations. Our pedagogy is modelled on explicit instruction which has its roots in the learning sciences. Pastorally your sons will be supported by his Mentor and Head of House through the House system. It is also important to note that Year 7 is treated as a transition year and the boys in Year 7 are supported by Mrs Jodi Blades, Head of Year 7, Mr Henry White, Head of Corfe boarding house and Mr Evan Rees, Assistant Head of Year 7.
As a father of three boys, I am confident that TGS is preparing my sons for their futures beyond these gates. First and foremost, I want my boys to be of good character, to have a sense of self-worth and be assured that they are comfortable in who they are. I want them to learn how to be compassionate, show empathy and understand the fundamentals of respect and to be especially respectful of women. These sentiments are covered in our Strategic Plan and taught explicitly to the boys in the Senior School. Moreover, our diverse range of co-curricular programs also helps to give the boys the opportunity to learn what it means to be of character outside of the classroom.
We want our boys to be busy and engaged and want them to become connected to the School through their friends and the student leaders; many of whom will write to your sons prior to the beginning of next year. For some of our current Year 6s these interactions have already started, with older boys spending time in the Junior School at break times and helping with our reading program. Some interactions will occur through the co-curricular program and some will occur organically through the community. For example, my son Tom is a keen swimmer and through this activity has become friendly with one of our Year 12 Prefects. Ed, or Eddie as Tom affectionally calls him. Ed is a Stephens House boarder from St George. Now, not only is Ed a Prefect and a swimmer, but has been a wonderful contributor to our community. Some of the other “stuff” that Ed has done this year includes:
- House Captain
- Track and Field Captain
- Swim team
- Interact Club for service
- White ribbon committee
- Tennis team
- Volleyball team
- The Push Up Challenge charity
Knowing Ed and seeing the type of young man that he is, I am more thank ok with Tom looking to him as a role model and consider all of the other positive role models that our younger boys are exposed to. Growing into fine young men is not always straightforward, there will be bumps along the way, but we will all (parents and staff) stay true to our core purpose “Educating boys and developing their good character for life.”
- Mark Oliphant, Head of Senior School and father of Year 6 student, Tom
Latest Blog
It's a numbers game, making mathematics mainstream
Term 2 has been a busy one in the Mathematics department; from multiple year levels having extended assessment tasks to competitions run inside and outside the School. Using mathematical equations to recreate artwork The Year 11 Mathematical Methods students got a chance to be very creative with their assessment - using numbers to reproduce artwork. The boys visited the 2024 Grammar Art Show in Term 1 and were given the task to reproduce a chosen work using their knowledge of mathematical…
Bucolic beginnings, boarding and becoming a bowel surgeon
Coming from a cattle property near Injune I was in awe of the School’s ovals with lush, green grass and immaculate facilities. I found being able to throw yourself around and not risk skin cuts and grazes quite novel. Sharing the same field where many Old Boys and past heroes trotted was inspirational. I found the comradery among the boarders my most overwhelming memory. It was like having 60 brothers with similar interests all living under the same roof. There was always someone around to kick…
Our Other Mother
Meet Ms Janelle Fletcher, the House Mum of Corfe, whose journey at TGS began back in 1992 as an instrumental music teacher. Her story is one of deep connections, love for the arts and an unshakeable bond with the students of TGS. From the time that Janelle first stepped onto campus and shared her musical talents with young minds to now creating her own “mum moments” in Corfe — she has nurtured a profound sense of community and established connections that have lasted through generations. Her…
Fostering a creative generation and getting exhibited at GoMA
2023 Visual Arts student Ben Rosenberg (TGS 2019-2023) had his film “Mitchell” selected and it's now on display as part of the 2024 Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art at GoMA. For 30 years the Awards have recognised and promoted excellence in senior visual art education throughout Queensland schools. Secondary schools typically enter the work of up to four Senior students. Previous winners from TGS include Sam McCosker (2013) and Austin Reed (2017). Ben is a filmmaker and…
In memory of Light Horse Field Ambulances
Toowoomba Grammar School would like to acknowledge our admiration for the loyalty, service and bravery exhibited by TGS Old Boys who so valiantly served. We are all the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, and their selfless actions continue to inspire a spirit of service amongst our current students. Today we focus on the contribution of one TGS Old Boy who made a significant contribution to World War I. Here is some of the incredible story of Major Avery, DSO and if you visit the School Museum…
New Caledonia, new horizons and travel through an educational lens
The opportunity to travel not only opens doors to new experiences but also fosters an increased intercultural understanding and empathy, both essential qualities for navigating and existing within our diverse world. For a group of language students travelling to New Caledonia, our recent French Language and Cultural Tour was a unique opportunity for such experiential learning, where language acquisition went beyond just learning vocabulary and grammar - and instead became a gateway to connect…
Erik Sheppard - making TGS Army Cadet Unit history
The 2024 Dining in Night was made even more special with the appointment of the first Toowoomba Grammar School Army Cadet Unit (TGS ACU) Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Erik Sheppard who was awarded his rank and pace stick by the 16th Battalion Commanding officer MAJ (AAC) Gary MacLachlan. WO1 Sheppard enlisted in the TGS ACU just before the COVID shutdown in 2020. Although this was not the ideal way to begin a cadet career, he was able to adapt and overcome the virtual…
The Big Six Reading Tips
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are…
Boarding - Building Men of Good Character
Over the past five years, we have found one of the most valuable lessons that boarding can teach teenage boys is the ability to self-navigate and overcome challenges. Entering a boarding house is the first time many boarders have stepped away from the comfort and security of their parents and guardians. Although this can be a daunting experience, one of the things that this unfamiliarity creates is the ability to organise yourself. With a larger workload than previous years, a greater number…
