Dear TGS Senior School Parents and Guardians
On behalf of the Headmaster, I would like to welcome all families to the 2026 school year. A special welcome to our new families joining us this year. I hope that all boys have enjoyed a safe and restful summer holiday and are looking forward to the 2026 school year. As we turn the page on a remarkable year of celebration for our School’s 150th anniversary, I want to thank every boy and family for embracing the spirit of this milestone. I am immensely proud of how the boys performed across the many facets of TGS life in 2025 and am excited about 2026.
I know that many families are now in back-to-school mode and are considering book packs and uniform requirements for sons who seem to just keep eating and growing! Please use this letter to assist you preparing for the new school year.
2026 Orientation Website
A reminder to all families that all orientation details can be found on the Welcome to TGS 2026 website. This orientation website includes key information, checklists, dates for your diary and the booklist and uniform information. If you do have any questions and are unable to find the information you require, then please feel free to reach out to our enrolments office or your son’s Head of House. Key contact details can be found at the end of this letter.
Corfe Boarders Arrival
Corfe boarders and parents are welcome to arrive to Corfe House from 4:00pm on Monday, 26 January. Further details can be found in Mr Byron’s letter to boarding families.
Arrangements for New Boys’ Orientation Day
The Senior School orientation for new students will be held on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, commencing in the Senior School Assembly Hall at 8:45am. This is for all boys and parents who are new to the TGS Senior School (including all Junior School dayboys and boarders from Year 6 2025). All boys must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. I will send a separate email to all families who are new to the Senior School in 2026 with the orientation details. Boys are to wear Blazer Dress on the Orientation Day and on Wednesday, 28 January. Thursday and Friday in Week 1 will be Blues Uniform.
Headmaster’s Welcome Function
Parents are reminded to RSVP for the Headmaster’s Welcome Function at 5pm on Tuesday, 27 January. This event is not to be missed. An invitation from the Headmaster will be sent to all families.
First Day of School
Classes for all boys commence on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. It is a Blazer Dress day for Senior School students.
The Senior School will start the year by welcoming our new boys. New boys are to arrive at School at 8:00am and place their bags and belongings in their lockers before heading to Old Boys’ Memorial Oval. Here they will be welcomed by the Headmaster at a special assembly prior to processing into the School for the first
time. Parents are welcome to attend this event and there is no need to RSVP. Returning students will report to the Assembly Hall in their Blazer uniform.
Uniform Matters
The G150 tie became a proud symbol of unity and tradition throughout 2025 and it was wonderful to see it worn with such pride. As we move into the 2026 school year, the G150 tie will retire from our official uniform. From the first day of Term 1, students are asked to return to wearing the standard School tie. However, the commemorative G150 pin gifted to every boy may continue to be worn on the blazer as a lasting reminder of this historic occasion.
- The Uniform Shop is open from Monday, 12 until Friday, 23 January from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Please phone 07 4687 2528 or email uniform@twgs.qld.edu.au to book an appointment for a uniform fitting. - Once term starts, the Uniform Shop will return to regular opening hours. For more information on Uniform Shop hours and uniform lists please visit their webpage.
The School’s regulations concerning haircuts are as follows: the hair must not be over the collar, and must be neatly shaped at the back of the neck; the ears must not be obscured and sideburns must not extend past the middle of the ear; fringe must not extend past the eyebrows; extremes of hairstyles are not permitted and the sides must be blended with the length of the hair on top; minimum blade length is a number 2 blade (5mm); hair must not be dyed or coloured. Students must ensure their hair is neat and styled in a way that enables their Akubra to be worn properly.
Recent trends have emerged amongst young people replicating a "mullet" style hair cut with very short hair around the ears with longer hair on top. Some students have also sought to get “fades” or “undercuts”. These styles are not permitted at TGS. Please do not allow your son to return to School with an inappropriate haircut.
Our School barbers (located next to the Uniform Shop) are open for bookings on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. Please book here: TGS Haircut Appointment Booking. They are also able to be booked most afternoons between 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
The School recognises that some students will request exemption from the hair regulations based on their cultural and faith backgrounds. This can be done via parents/guardians in consultation with your son’s Head of House.
Akubras must be in good condition. Holes, rips or hats that are out of shape will need to be replaced. The brim needs to be flat, and the top of hats must extend at least 10mm above the hat band. Boys must always have their Akubra with them, unless instructed otherwise.
Long socks (Summer Blues Uniform) are to be worn neatly, pulled up over the calf muscles so that when they are folded, they are just under the knee. Boys are welcome to wear the long navy-blue trousers during Terms 1 and 4 should they wish. Shoes must be polished and presentable for school.
Boys should only have TGS-branded school bags for their books and HPE lessons. Non-TGS backpacks are not permitted. Boys must use their laptop bag supplied with their laptop.
Laptop Reminder
By accepting a TGS laptop you and your son agree to abide by the IT Acceptable Use Policy which can be found in the School Policies and Handbooks section of the Parent Lounge. For boys who are new to the Senior School, laptop collection and distribution details are as follows:
Dayboys
Walk into IT laptop collection – Thursday, 22 January to Friday, 23 January 2026.
Families can collect their son's laptop from our IT department between 9:00am and 4:00pm on the dates noted above. The IT Department is marked number 25 on this School map.
Boarders
Corfe laptops will be delivered to Corfe House for Corfe staff to distribute on Monday, 26 January 2026.
For new boarders in Years 8 to 12, laptops will be available from their Boarding Head of House during their Head of House meetings.
Mobile Phones
A reminder that mobile phones must be stored in lockers (dayboys) or in the boarding houses (boarders) during the school day. Year 7 parents are strongly encouraged to delay giving their son a smart phone as per the initiative supported by parents from TGS, Fairholme College and The Glennie School. Boys who are under 16 years old are should not be accessing social media.
Book List Reminder
Download your son's booklist by clicking this link. Books can be collected from Browns Office Choice. If you ordered online prior to 12 December you may have requested to have your books delivered to the TGS Uniform Shop. These delivered booklist orders are available for collection from the Uniform Shop on Monday, 19 January 2026.
School Photographs
School photographs are scheduled for Tuesday, 3 February 2026. This is a Blazer Dress day for all Senior School boys. Information on how to purchase photographs is available on the orientation website and orders should be placed prior via this link, and using the online code CN5 ZBK YE5. Orders are due Friday, 30 January.
Co-curricular Registrations
For detailed information about our co-curricular programs, please visit the orientation website Co-Curricular Information.
House Swimming Championships
The Senior School House Swimming Championships will be held on Monday, 9 February 2026. This is a compulsory event for all Senior School boys. All boys are expected to swim at least one event for their House and are required to wear TGS swimwear. We will communicate to parents with further information closer to the day.
GPS Swimming Championships
Friday, 6 March 2026 is the GPS Swimming Championships. The atmosphere at this event is always fantastic. All Year 12 boys are required to attend this event to support the swimmers. More information will be sent to parents and boys prior to the event. Boys need to place this into their calendars as they will not return until approximately 8:00pm that evening.
Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week
The Senior School Outdoor Pursuits and Activities (Camps) Week will take place in Week 10 of Term 1. These are compulsory camps and activities for all boys in the Senior School and we will write to parents of boys in each year level with further details about the Camps Week once the term is underway.
Student Services and Absentees
Boys are required to attend school every day unless they are unwell, have representative sport or a family emergency. If your son is unable to attend school, please log his absence via the Parent Lounge in the first instance or by calling Student Services on (07) 4687 2653.
TGS App
The School App can be downloaded from your App Store. Just search Toowoomba Grammar School to locate the App. It is a quick way to access lots of School information including calendared events.
Key contacts
Main Reception – (07) 4687 2500
Enrolments – (07) 4687 2517
Student Services – (07) 4687 2653
Head of Year 7 – Mrs Jodi Blades: j.blades@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Corfe House – Mr Nathan Stains: N.Stains@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Taylor Boarding House - Mr Eugene Massi: e.massi@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Taylor Day House – Mr James Perrignon: j.perrignon@twgs.qld.edui.au
Head of Boyce Boarding House – Mr John Troxler: j.troxler@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Boyce Day House – Mr Tony Wallis: t.wallis@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Mackintosh Boarding House – Mr Brad Allen: b.allen@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Mackintosh Day House – Mr Ben Schuhmacher: b.schuhmacher@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Groom Boarding House – Mr Luke Paffey: l.paffey@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Groom Day House – Mrs Therese Manassero: t.manassero@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Stephens Boarding House – Mr Chris Dodd: c.dodd@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Stephens Day House – Mr Paul Sullivan: p.sullivan@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Careers – Mrs Anthea Richters: a.richters@twgs.qld.edu.au
Counsellor – Mr Lyle Gothmann: l.gothmann@twgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Diverse Learners – Ms Ashleigh Hegvold: a.hegvold@twgs.qld.edu.au
Wishing all boys, staff and parents a good start to the 2026 school year. I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks.
Yours sincerely
Mr Mark Oliphant
Head of Senior School
m.oliphant@twgs.qld.edu.au
(07) 4687 2500
Friday, 16 January 2026
