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
Women of Grammar Luncheon
A Tribute to the Heart of the School Originally scheduled for International Women's Day but rescheduled (thanks, Cyclone Alfred!) to the eve of Mother's Day, the timing felt serendipitous. It was a day to honour the women—past and present—whose quiet strength, tireless support and enduring love have shaped the School's legacy and the lives of its boys for 150 years. The marquee was beautifully appointed for a day of merriment
Lachlan Stuart's Marathon Feat
Mr Stuart will return to TGS again for the event held on Wednesday, 28 May to support the Year 12's significant fundraising G150 Gift Run event. The boys are running 1500km in a relay format to honour a 1968 TGS Interact Club fundraising project that will help upgrade the original School gates on Herries Street, along with raising funds for the Nerve Connection Foundation.
Remembering Private Colin Stirling, a TGS Old Boy (1899-1900)
This was the headline that screamed out on the pages of the Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser on Thursday, 15 August 1901. With ANZAC Day just last Friday, this week we continue to honour many of our Old Boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice including Private Colin Stirling, a TGS Old Boy (1899-1900) and our first former student lost in the Boer War. The story began with: “News was received on Tuesday afternoon that in an engagement at Kopjesfontein, on the 6th instant,…
Honouring Tradition: Toowoomba Grammar School and ANZAC Day
This year marks 98 years since TGS and the 13 Army Cadet Unit (Toowoomba Collective Unit) first participated in ANZAC Services in Toowoomba. The School's commitment to these services is a testament to its deep-rooted military traditions and the enduring spirit of remembrance. Mounties out the front of School House in 1908. A Legacy of Service Toowoomba Grammar School's military traditions date back to its early days. The School's Cadet Unit, formed in 1892, has been a cornerstone of its…
Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week - Developing Good Character Beyond the Classroom
We offer a range of enrichment activities for our boys, but the last week of Term 1 is a very special opportunity for all of our Senior School students. It's Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week, which provides age-appropriate physical challenges in a safe, well-supervised environment. Activities on the various camps may include ropes courses, rock climbing, bodyboarding, surfing, mountain biking and canoeing. The aim is to foster a love of the outdoors and an appreciation of the environment.…
Stories behind key TGS staff helping shape our students
It was my great privilege to join TGS as Head of House - Boyce Boarding in 2024. The opportunity to lead these young men of character on their TGS journey carries great weight but is also enormously exciting. Embarking upon this project alongside my wife Meg as Boyce Boarding House Manager strengthens the team further. I am hopeful that we will demonstrate to the boys how positive relationships can foster a warm and supportive environment. I know that many of our boys are familiar with strong…
More Than Just an Education and That Makes All the Difference
Toowoomba Grammar School excels in its extensive co-curricular programs, particularly in performing arts and sports. Our boys learn that success comes from hard work and dedication. This ethos is inspired by quotes like “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great,” “The harder I work, the luckier I get” and the words emblazoned on our P.B. Hauser Aquatic Centre wall “Success is the celebration of preparation.” These opportunities allow students to excel in programs…
Stewardship: Leading the Way in Safety, Sustainability and Security
However, the challenges facing the Director of Facilities, Mr Bengie Dickeson and the Director of Information Technology, Mr Ron Robinson certainly are. This month's weather has been nothing if not unpredictable and it's in those conditions that both these men's skills come to the fore. With Tropical Cyclone Alfred and its threat to our School campus and community - Mr Bengie Dickeson and Mr Ron Robinson played integral roles in keeping everyone and everything on our 150-year-old campus safe.…
Pursuing New Horizons in Horticulture
Jake Moon is a sixth-generation primary producer. He is dedicated to agriculture and is currently working at his family’s St George farming enterprise, tackling some of the sector’s biggest challenges. The 28-year-old says his family moved to the St George irrigation precinct in 1978, initially growing rockmelons and watermelons, hence the business name Moonrocks. Seasonal and market changes led them to switch crops frequently, growing grapes, broccoli and even wax flowers over the years.…
