Ipswich Girls' Grammar School

Ipswich Girls' Grammar School
Ipswich Girls' Grammar School crest. Source: www.iggs.qld.edu.au (IGGS website)
Location
Ipswich , Queensland Australia
Coordinates	27°36′51″S 152°46′11″E
Information
Type	Independent, Day & Boarding
Motto	Template:Lang-la (Diligence Overcomes All)
Denomination	Non-denominational
Established	1892
Chairman	Greg Ploetz
Principal	Peter Britton
Employees	~170
Grades	P-12
Gender	Girls
Enrolment	~860
Colour(s)	Navy Blue, Sky Blue & White
Website	www.iggs.qld.edu.au

Ipswich Girls' Grammar School (IGGS) is a heritage-listed independent, Non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls, in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

The school is one of the eight original 'Queensland Grammar Schools'. These schools are independent, non-denominational, not-for-profit statutory bodies of the Queensland Government. They are not linked to, administered, or governed by any religious organisation or specific style of education.

Both boys and girls are taught until year 6 at Ipswich Junior Grammar School situated on the Girls' School campus. Years 7 and above are girls only. The boarding school starts at year 5.

The school is a member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA).

Ipswich Junior Grammar School

The head of the Junior School is Karen McArdle, who is assisted by Lorna Liddell, who is also a Year 6 teacher. The Junior School educates 2 year olds in the Early Education Centre through to Year 6. Year 7 is part of the middle school system. The Junior School, with the assistance of the P&F, organises many co-curricular activities, such as gymnastics, tai kwon do, school dances and music and drama lessons. For most purposes, the Junior School is distinct from the Senior School, and conducts its own assemblies and organises its own activities. However, some facilities on the IGGS/IJGS campus are shared by both the Junior and Senior Schools, such as the gymnasium, swimming pool, hall and oval, and the School newsletter is published for all students from Prep to Year 12. The Junior School also provides many events both in and outside of school like interhouse swimming, cross country and athletics, cross country training, public speaking and holds evenings for parents and students to get together like music showcases and performances.

House system

The school is split into 5 houses, named after the first five school headmistresses, all women.

•   Hunt - named for Miss Fanny E. Hunt BSc. - 1892 - 1902
•   Connell - named for Miss Maud Connell MA - 1902 - 1905
•   White - named for Miss Helen White MA - 1906 - 1927
•   Armitage - named for Miss Lillian M. Armitage MA - 1928 - 1947
•   Carter - named for Miss Katherine C. Carter MBE MA - 1948 - 1964

In these houses, the students participate in athletics, drama, music, art, debating and more.

Campus

The School's campus is located in central Ipswich, and features a mixture of historic buildings dating to its inception in 1892 and more modern facilities which have been added over the years. The buildings are spread around the campus, interspersed with many green areas and gardens. Facilities include the performing arts block, state-of-the-art graphics and art studios, gymnasium, swimming pool and specialised language classrooms.

New buildings

Following a devastating fire that destroyed the science block in the Senior School on 27 August 2005, IGGS has embarked on a major building program. Two new buildings have been constructed, after several years of negotiations undertaken by the School’s Board of Trustees and Executive; these buildings cost over $20 million and were completed by the beginning of the 2009 school year.

The new five level Senior School building includes replacement of the Senior classrooms and Science laboratories destroyed by the fire plus additional facilities including administration and student services area, an auditorium and function room. The four level Junior School building has increased enrolment capacity with 12 new classrooms and provide students with state-of-the-art facilities including a new library and computer rooms.

Notable alumnae

• Vi Jordan - the second woman to be elected to the Queensland parliament
• Rachel Nolan - the youngest woman elected to the Queensland parliament.
• Zora Cross - poet, novelist and journalist.
• Sammi Hewitt - singer, model.
• Bronwyn Harch - research statistician, academic

Heritage listing

The school was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.

See also

• List of schools in Queensland

External links

• Ipswich Girls' Grammar School website