Jigsaw Semester 1 2012 - International Grammar School

The Book of Everything
Why IGS needs you
to become part of
our history
In Term 2, a professional TV crew
could be found filming IGS students,
staff and others in the Design and
Technology studio. Meanwhile, even
the most casual passer-by would have
noticed that the hall stage had been
totally transformed into a photography
studio. There, primary and secondary
teachers were lining up, laughing
whilst waving ‘interesting’ objects from
round the world—think lederhosen, a
boxing kangaroo and a glowing Eiffel
Tower—as a photographer recorded it
all for posterity. Why were these
unusual things happening? The reason
is that they were part of an exciting
project that is well underway, a book
that involves all IGS staff, students,
parents—past and present—and
hopefully … you.
In 2014, it will be 30 years since
International Grammar School first
opened its doors. Naturally we’re
proud of our school’s strong spirit, its
community and its past. The story of
IGS, however, its people and its
influence—what it has taught us about
the world—has never yet been
comprehensively documented.
So, as part of the festivities being
planned to commemorate this
historical birthday, the School and PTF
parent volunteers are producing a
book to tell the story of how we got
here—a book that relates not just our
school’s history—but what we have
learned from being part of IGS.
Learning Journeys—celebrating 30
years of IGS 1984–2014 tells a
wonderful story about how diversity,
personal achievement,
connectedness, authenticity and
vibrancy have forged the school we’re
all so proud of. The story unfolds with
anecdotes from people who were
involved when the school came into
existence, and how, from some 40
students housed in an old convent in
Randwick it has passed through some
fairly precarious years, to blossom into
the wonderfully happy and successful
educational establishment of 1,200
students and 120 staff it is today.
“… this tells a great tale—
yet we still don't have the
whole picture”.
So far, those who have come to add
their part of the story include all of our
principals from Professor Reg St Leon
to Michael Maniska, past and present
staff, including the significant number
of teachers who have worked
overseas and the many others who
have worked at the school for most of
their working lives. Above all, we have
learning journeys, memories and
observations from students past and
present.
Together this tells a great tale—yet we
still don't have the whole picture.
The School’s story is everyone’s story
—and so Learning Journeys will only
be the best it can be if we have your
story, your observations and insights.
The editorial team needs to know your
learning journey. What you think makes
IGS ‘IGS’ and what do you think sets it
apart from other schools? How would
you describe the ‘essence’ of IGS?
How would you sum up your
experience of IGS?
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Photos from behind the scenes for the promo film, (bold)clockwise from left: the PTF's 30th
Anniversary Book committee; Founding principal Reg St Leon warms up; past students and
staff; film studies students assist with the promo film.
To encourage you to step up and join
in, the TV crew—assisted by
students—made a short film that will
be shown at school and on the
website. Its aim is to encourage
everyone to step forward and tell the
story of their learning journey at IGS.
As for the lederhosen, boxing
kangaroo and Eiffel Tower? …All will be
revealed in Learning Journeys …
watch this space!
Please contact the Editorial Team
by end of Term 3 via email at:
igslearningjourneys@gmail.com or
leave a note at Reception.