Looking Ahead – Year 7 2027 Information Evening
It was a wonderful evening on Wednesday 31 March as we welcomed more than 400 families to our Looking Ahead – Year 7 2027 Information Evening. The event provided parents with valuable insight into the Middle Years journey at Ivanhoe Grammar School, as they look ahead to their young person commencing Year 7 as part of the graduating Class of 2032.
We were delighted to welcome so many families and appreciate the strong sense of community already forming among our future Year 7 cohort. Even at this early stage, the evening reflected the partnership between school and families that is so central to the Ivanhoe experience.
We began with a warm welcome from our Deputy Principal/ Head of Ridgeway Campus, Amber Sowden, whose message set the tone for a night focused on connection, clarity and confidence for the years ahead. Principal Gerard Foley shared key updates and invited families to imagine what their child’s Ivanhoe journey would look like—from those first steps into Year 7 through to graduation. He also spoke about our commitment to developing young people of character, and what that means in practice:
• Performance character—the habit of striving to be your very best, whether in the classroom, on the sporting field, or on the stage.
• Moral character—being a good person. Acting with integrity, showing respect, and making good decisions.
• Civic character—understanding our responsibility to others and contributing meaningfully to the world around us.
Our Middle Years team then provided practical updates on the transition process, and we also heard from our current Year 7 students as they shared their experiences of life at Ivanhoe Grammar School so far. Music added a special touch to the evening—from the pianist welcoming guests on arrival to the Ridgeway String Orchestra, who truly lit up the stage.
We also heard from our Deputy Principal/ Head of Plenty Campus Fiona Devlin, who spoke about what Character and Global Education mean for Ivanhoe students—helping them grow with purpose, perspective and a sense of responsibility to others.
Thank you to our Year 7 team for helping to make the evening such a success – Voula Arnas, Shae Warren, Amelia Chiodo, Carolyn Mansour and Kathryn Horsford.
A special thank you to our Ivanhoe Parents & Friends committee members who joined us on the evening and spent time engaging with families. Their presence and conversations helped bring to life the many ways parents can connect, contribute and feel part of our school community.
