Explore Prep at TGS
Every day is different for Prep students at Toowoomba Grammar School.
They don't just learn core subjects such as Maths and English, they enjoy specialty teachers for languages, music, art and PE. Our warm and nurturing staff understand boys and know how to inspire and engage them, igniting the love of learning from this early age.
What makes TGS different?
Why should I enrol my son at TGS from Prep?
Here at TGS, our little boys are allowed to be just that…little boys. We understand how they develop and what they need to grow academically, physically, emotionally and socially. We provide them with learning opportunities that interest and challenge them. We make learning exciting and instil in them a love of learning and a desire to do their best in all that they do. It is crucial to build strong academic foundations. We provide our youngest boys with the opportunity to develop the fundamental skills that are required to develop their learning throughout the Junior and Senior School. We are one school and work towards a prep to Year 12 academic journey.
How are Prep classes structured?
We begin each day with literacy rotations. Our boys participate in phonics, reading and writing activities each morning. We break these activities up with brain breaks which include gross motor activities and ‘munch and crunch’ snack time. We also complete hands on mathematics activities daily and we also complete weekly History/Geography, Science and Technology lessons. We are fortunate to have specialist teachers for Library, Music, Art, PE, Health and Swimming.
Don’t they need more interactions with girls from this age?
Our boys have opportunities throughout the year to engage with girls. They are taught to respect girls and women. However, they are not at a disadvantage because they do not have girls in their classrooms and on the playground. Our TGS boys have the benefit of having their learning and co-curricular opportunities tailored to their interests. We understand boys and know what they need to become confident, brave, kind and respectful young men.
Do Preps have access to all facilities at TGS?
We recognise the importance of sport and performing arts for many of our boys. We have weekly swimming lessons in our Aquatic Centre, and PE lessons. Our Prep boys participate in the local Club Football (soccer) and Club Rugby competitions as part of a TGS team, with training taking place at TGS, making things just that little bit easier for busy parents. The School also offers individual singing and piano lessons for the Prep boys on a user pays basis. These lessons happen during the school day, before and after school.
Prep and Year 1 boys have their own playground area. They also interact with older boys at House activities and have a Year 6 Mate that they engage with on a regular basis.
The boys are encouraged to engage in school life as much as possible and to explore new activities when the opportunity presents. Not only are the boys allowed to visit the library at lunchtimes, but the librarian opens the library up once a week during the holidays. They also have the opportunity to participate in co-curricular activities after school.
How do I prepare my son for Prep?
Attending our Grammar Boy for a Day as a pre-prep is a wonderful opportunity to prepare your son for their first year of formal schooling. They have the opportunity to meet new friends, engage with us as their teachers and to begin to feel comfortable and settled in our environment. Another great way to prepare your son for starting Prep is to talk positively and confidently about the opportunities they will have at big school and involve them with purchasing their uniform and books. It is also important to continue to develop independence by having them dress themselves, open and close their lunchbox and food containers or packages. Finally, please read to them every day.
What is involved in the Pastoral Care program?
Our staff of Toowoomba Grammar School have designed a pastoral care program specifically for our Junior School boys. Our REACH program (Respect, Engagement, Awareness, Communication, Humility) is a character development program that flows from Prep to Year 6. Boys are engaged in age-appropriate lessons designed to develop their sense of self and their respect for, and acceptance of, others.
We are a family at TGS. Our boys are not just classmates, they are brothers and will be brothers for the rest of their lives. They are encouraged to support and look after one another. Our boys interact across grades through House activities and meetings, on the playground, at assemblies and through our MATES program, where older boys are buddied up with younger boys on a regular basis to engage with and learn from each other. We also have Year 12 boys visit our Junior School boys to help with reading and to teach the traditions of our School such as the war cries.
