we few, we happy few, we band of brothers. OF BROTHERS ISSUE 21: April 2020
William Shakespeare
Strength, Encouragement and Adaptation Mr Greg Wain Headmaster
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elcome to our special e-edition of the Band of Brothers magazine. Generally, we release two hard copies of this publication each year, with the first coming out at the end of Term Two. However, given the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the dramatic changes implemented in society, we thought now was an important time to release our first edition to remind our community of the wonderful achievements our students, staff and Old Boys have already gained since the start of 2020. Our academic staff have been incredibly busy transferring the current curriculum to an online learning platform with much assistance from our IT wizards and while it is not perfect we unveiled our online learning in a matter of days. This process was rigorous and required a lot of time and effort by all staff. In this edition we have several articles explaining this process further. Our IT Manager Mr Richard Humphreys describes how the web collaborative platform based around the BigBlueButton web conferencing system was built. TSS Deputy Headmaster and Head of Learning and Teaching Ms Jo Inglis gives an overview of how, mostly successfully, 900 plus Secondary students are now working and learning from home in their virtual classrooms. Deputy Headmaster and Head of Prep Mr Jeff Symms also shares how the Prep School rolled out their online learning
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and congratulates all the boys, teachers and their parents on the wonderful efforts in remaining engaged in their learning.
but twice. You may have to watch to believe, so we have included two videos of Simon undertaking this Strongman Challenge.
Following on from this, our Wellbeing Team have included articles offering support and advice to keep healthy given the current climate. Our School Chaplain Father Jonathan Whereat reminds us of the importance of family, strength and encouragement, something that is even more paramount during these current times.
It has not been an easy start to the year for our Summer sports. Regardless, the challenges faced did not stop our boys and coaches from sticking with the season as long as possible and as always, striving to do their best.
Recently, the Archbishop and School Council announced our current Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School, Mr Andrew Hawkins, as the School’s ninth Headmaster. Mr Hawkins will succeed me in 2021 and I couldn’t be happier to hand over to such a fine man with so many positive attributes who is also a ‘good bloke’. Here he writes about what makes a good school and gives some background into his early days and long association with TSS. Also in this edition, we share a number of Old Boys’ achievements. We always appreciate hearing of our previous students’ success. Our Old Boys are held in high regard within the TSS community and we enjoy sharing their success with you also. Imagine pulling a 15 tonne truck 15 metres by yourself! Well that’s exactly what Year 12 student Simon Gray (MEL) did, and not once
There’s no denying that the world has certainly changed in a short time and that is stressful, but while we are all working together to adapt quickly to this temporary change, I must say that I am very proud of the entire TSS community for banding together in support of one another. I mentioned at a staff meeting recently that my grandparents lived through the Great Depression and my mother and father were children during the harrowing days of World War II. With family and community support and hope, they got through, and we will too. It is very gratifying to see the camaraderie, resilience and strength shown through this unprecedented (in our lifetimes) period and I congratulate everyone for facing this with such positive resolve. Best wishes.
The Evolution of Information Technology Mr Richard Humphreys IT Manager
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ven though our online web collaborative platform built on a solution by the name of “The Big Blue Button” was conceived, built, tested, and scaled in only two weeks this story starts many years ago. TSS’s first implementation of online learning started with Moodle. A free open-source learning management system that was implemented in 2010. The Moodle platform was not only the first attempt at providing course material online at TSS, it also was the first platform that many of our teachers had ever had exposure to. Moodle was a significant milestone of learning and upskilling not just for our students but also our teachers. The Prep School at the same time launched the EduKite online learning platform which also had a significant impact for students as well as teachers. Over time, both Prep and Senior evolved and innovated and outgrew EduKite and Moodle. After several years of evaluation, the Senior School settled on Canvas. This has been an excellent, easy to use platform, that offers integration with many other school online resources including Office 365 and Google Classroom. Prep decided to build a solution specifically for the needs
of the younger years. PrepBook is the custom made communication system used by the Prep School, offering a newsfeed for each class and extracurricular activities. As students and teachers have embraced online learning and the student BYOD program grew from Year 5 through to Year 12, the IT Department has always kept pace. Information technology hardware and software evolves constantly. IT has always planned for the future, and infrastructure is purchased on rolling lease program and is refreshed annually. This future planning has paid dividends during the COVID-19 crisis. Three years ago, the IT Department decided to increase the school’s internet capacity from 1Gbps to 2Gbps and, at the same time, 235 new access points were installed along with high-speed switch infrastructure to support the ever-growing communication needs of the School. Very recently we upgraded all the School’s server and storage equipment to the latest technology. This technology now hosts 14 Big Blue Button servers that are currently keeping our boys learning, engaged, and connected to the TSS community.
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Mr Andrew Stark Head of Libraries
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uring these times of self-isolation where we find ourselves spending more time at home than ever before, we would like to remind parents and boys about how to access the Senior Library online resources. The Senior Library has an extensive collection of e-audiobooks and e-books and every boy has direct access to these collections via the Borrow Box app or the library webpage. To access the collection, either download the green BorrowBox App from the App Store, or follow the link from the Senior Library webpage. There are some great titles available and boys may borrow up to four titles for two weeks each. To download instructions on how to use the TSS BorrowBox, click here or on the ‘Instruction Manual’ image. Happy BorrowBoxing!
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Learning to Lead Through Inspiration and lots of Coffee! Ms Jessica Prouten Head of Department Business Enterprise
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he Business Leadership activities commenced this term, with students heading to the first 2020 Foundation Business Breakfast to hear from Rob Miller, Chairman of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and company Soul Patts. In the same week, we were excited to welcome our first guest speaker to the School for the year. Former School Captain, Jim Chapman (THO ‘17) came back to share the inspirational journey of starting his company ‘Nice Coffee Co’. This was very special as Jim is the first guest speaker we’ve had who was also a participant in the Business Leadership Program while he was at TSS. Jim spoke about the factors that led him to launch his company, sharing that he wanted to work in an area that he was passionate about, and do something for other people in a sustainable way. Other take away messages that provided interesting discussion points included not being afraid to ask people for help when you aren’t sure how to do something. A lot of the students were also interested to hear about how a social enterprise
is different to the normal capitalist aims of doing business. It was great to see the Broomhead Lecture Theatre full, and plenty of students asking questions. Our follow up to this session was a ‘Watching and Listening’ morning tea, where students received four recommendations for television shows, or podcasts that they can engage in which will help broaden their understanding of business. We have now launched an online forum facility through Canvas where some of them are sharing their thoughts about various options. It is great to see how students who aren’t physically together, can still engage with one another and trade ideas and opinions. We are looking forward to further guest speaker opportunities in the upcoming terms. Jim, and his business Nice Coffee Co was recently featured on Channel 9’s Today Show. Click the picture link to view the segment which gives greater insight into Jim, his business and the fundraising efforts he and his team are pursuing. B a n d
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Ms Amy McDougall Old Southportonians’ Association
Cambridge University
A Scientific Perspective 6
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t’s not often you hear of a student being offered places at the leading American and UK universities, but this is exactly what happened to former TSS student Yinuo Han (MCK ’15). Yinuo was offered the opportunity to study at Princeton, Caltech, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge universities, he decided on Cambridge to study exoplanets. A dedicated student, Yinuo fully immersed himself into his school and university studies and gained some amazing achievements during this time, including being named Dux in his graduating year at TSS. He credits former TSS teacher
LEFT: 2014 - YINUO HAN TSS YEAR 11 STUDENT BELOW: YINUO HAN ENJOYING CALIFORNIA WHILE ATTENDING BERKELEY
government and other sponsors. TSS helped pay most of the associated expenses and I very much appreciated this support.” Following his graduation from TSS, Yinuo went on to study a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) at the University of Sydney where he majored in both physics and neuroscience. Yinuo chose this degree because of his interest in both the universe and how the human brain works – two fields he says embodied to him the most interesting science questions. Following this, an offer of exchange came from The University of California, Berkeley where he spent a semester studying physics.
Mr Oliver Alini for helping push him into his field of interest by suggesting he sit the Australian Science Olympiads Exam in Year 11. “I found the competition challenging (but fun) and it turned out I did well enough to be selected to the Australian Science Olympiads summer school at ANU and later to the national team for the International Physics Olympiad,” he said. “I got to meet so many fun and passionate friends, in addition to learning lots of cool physics beyond school, and the positive experience was a good motivation to continue studying more physics during university. For some reason, these national science teams are not fully funded by the
Although he travelled during this time and very much enjoyed exploring North America, the biggest memory Yinuo has from Berkeley itself was its cosmopolitan and socially/politically active student and academic community which further provided a wealth of opportunities.
Cambridge where he is studying a PhD in Astronomy. His ever evolving and continued interest in science has presented many different opportunities but his focus is now very much on scientific research. “I like to follow my interests and give weight to what I enjoy at present, so now I am hoping to be able to continue with a career in astronomy.” For any student who is perhaps interested in this same career path, Yinuo suggests having a strong interest in science and a curiosity in the understanding of nature will provide a great starting point. “A strong interest is a powerful motivation and is what makes the field enjoyable. Some other practical tips I found helpful are reading widely about topics you like, building a handy toolbox throughout your education (skills like maths, statistics, coding and data science-related techniques) and developing good scientific communication skills (scientific writing, giving presentations).”
“Of course, I learned a lot academically, but perhaps the most valuable things I took away from the exchange was an adventure-seeking mindset, great friends and the bombardment of new ideas from conversations which I reflect on even today. I would highly recommend going on exchange if possible.”
Yinuo’s Top Five Achievements to Date
Yinuo followed his interests in astrophysics and decided to apply for a few graduate programs at many of the leading universities in both America and the UK which would afford him the opportunity to work on exciting research with great scientists.
3. Managed to be financially independent during university
Despite being offered places at five leading universities; Princeton, Stanford, Caltech, Oxford and Cambridge no less, Yinuo chose
1. University Medal, University of Sydney 2. Have continued playing the piano for 16 years
4. Bronze Medal at the 46th International Physics Olympiad 5. Dux of The Southport School
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All American Boy Old Boy Austin Ludwick named on the United Soccer Coaches 2019 All-American Team
Ms Amy McDougall Old Southportonians’ Association
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ld Boy Austin Ludwik (TUR ‘14) was announced as part of the United Soccer Coaches 2019 All-American Team, which adds to the collection of awards and honours he has achieved since he commenced his post-school sporting career. During his time at TSS, Austin was named Player of the Year in 2013. In 2014, as the First XI Captain, he was instrumental in helping TSS qualify for three consecutive Queensland GPS Premierships (2012-14). Following graduation, he had a gap year then went on to earn a Scholarship to Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he thrived both academically and on the field. Austin made 45 starts over his career with Gannon University and currently ranks 28th all-time. He needs two more starts to break into the career top of 25. He has played in 20 games during the 2019 season as a core part
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of Gannon’s defence, where he logged over 1,500 minutes in the backline helping hold Gannon’s opponents to just 15 goals. Austin attained a 3.85 GPA for his Sports Marketing and Management major at Gannon. Earlier this season, he was named on the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. He earned PSAC West AllConference First Team and D2CCA Atlantic Region Second Team Honours in addition to his academic accolades. Austin credits TSS in helping him gain the success he has and speaks very highly of the school and teachers who he worked closely with through his academic and sporting pursuits. We wish Austin all the continued success and look forward to watching his many achievements in the years to come.
AUSTIN’S IMPRESSIVE CAREER-HONOURS 2019 PSAC West All-Conference First Team 2019 D2CCA Atlantic Region Second Team 2019 United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region First Team 2019 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team 2019 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East First Team 2019 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American
Family, Strength and Encouragement Fr Jonathan Whereat Chaplain
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he buzz of the new year filled the Chapel as we gathered for the House Welcome services in early February. Each Day House shared a halfhour service with another House, with each Housemaster delivering a message of encouragement to their boys. The message during each service was about setting out the goals and aspirations they hoped to achieve and work toward during the year.
fields. The adage “he who can does; he who cannot, teaches” is totally wrong here at TSS. Our staff have succeeded in other fields and have chosen to teach because they see it as a service to building a better society. All new students in each House are warmly welcomed along with their families as we fully appreciate that not only are the boys a member of their House, but their families are too.
While the annual House Shield is a very keenly contested focus for boys and staff, the main message was about involvement and support of each other, creating a strong and healthy community within the House.
We gave some short prayers regarding the year ahead and hope that together we grow in our care of each other. We always sing the School Hymn which spells out a life affirming message. The song has the voice of God asking who will go to heal, feed and guide the people. The chorus has us responding “Here I am Lord I will go if you lead me.” That is an invitation to each of us to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
The Year 12 leadership team from each House were identified along with the Mentor Teachers. Hearing the short introduction of the mentors is quite energising as we have such a diverse staff with significant experience over many
I know that as you read this, we are facing a massive test of our communal character. Sadly fear, anxiety and unreasonable scarcity have dominated many people’s responses. Like all major tests that we humans face, it brings out both the very best and the very worst of human behaviour. If any of the joy and positive expectations that were evident at our Welcome Services can be translated into the wider community, we will discover exceptional outcomes on the other side of this current ordeal. Please take the time to read the parable of the house built on the rock Matthew Chapter 7 verses 24-27. Regards and Easter Greetings.
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A Changing of the Guard Ninth Headmaster of The Southport School Mr Andrew Hawkins Deputy Headmaster - Head of Senior School
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y now most of our community will have received the announcement that I will succeed Mr Greg Wain as Headmaster of TSS in 2021. The process leading up to the announcement was a time of great reflection, and what has become very clear is how important TSS is to me. I am strongly motivated to continue Greg’s legacy of raising the academic performance of our school across both campuses, helping improve our student health and wellbeing, and of course, assisting families to raise good young men for society.
Applied Science and Education degree. My first job was at Corinda High School in Brisbane, followed by Indooroopilly High School (ISHS). After three years at ISHS I was sent out to do my country service in Cunnamulla. At that same time, a job was advertised at TSS. In one of those ‘sliding doors’ moments, I applied and was offered the job at TSS. I have filled the roles of Head of Department, Boarding Housemaster, Dean of Students and most recently Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School.
going?” and “how did the First VIII go this year?” While our sporting success does wonders for school culture, it’s not the major benchmark of a good school. Thanks to Mr Bryan Hain, our Director of Sport, TSS has secured exceptional sporting results over the last decade. We have finished in the top three GPS schools across most sports, making us the top ranked GPS sporting school. Keep in mind that I was here in the ‘90s and we struggled to even win the toss in most sports! Is this a gauge that TSS is a ‘good‘ school and is in a ‘good’ place?
As I have been a staff member at TSS for the last 17 years, most people in our community have had contact with me at some stage. For those who I am yet to meet, here is a little background. I was raised in the Central Queensland town of Emerald. Dad worked at Gregory Mine and mum owned the local florist shop for as long as I can remember. My parents chose TSS as the boarding school for my brother and I because of its Anglican foundations. I loved my time at TSS and, after embarking on a GAP year in the UK, I completed a combined
Not only did TSS provide me with a solid foundation for life, it also introduced me to my wife Zoe. I first met her brother Will, while he was on an exchange at TSS from Scotland. We became good friends and always kept in touch. It was through this friendship that I was introduced to his sister Zoe, who later became my wife and mother of our four beautiful children Isla (10), Mac (9), Mia (7) and Harriet (5).
The fact is that I would give my left leg to attend TSS as a student in 2020. I really enjoyed my time here as a country boarder in the ‘90s but in 2020 this school is at a different level in every aspect, across academic performance, the standard of teaching, boarding facilities, our music and arts programs, robotics, and of course our sporting achievements. I will elaborate on some of these points.
As an Old Boy of TSS and now also a staff member, the most frequently asked questions I get are “how are the First XV
Let’s begin with boarding at TSS. Our refurbishments of all five boarding houses are now complete and we are officially
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the biggest boys’ boarding school in Australia. In total numbers, we sit close to Rockhampton Grammar School and Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange. Of course, these two schools have the advantage of being co-ed to boost their total numbers as they include female boarders. Our boarders enjoy everything the Coast has to offer from fishing, the beaches, theme parks, a Gold Coast based NRL team in the Titans and AFL team in the Suns. The boarding houses are simply world-class in the design and facilities they offer: a long way from what they were when McKinley, Delpratt and Thorold were all housed in the Clocktower Building without a plasma screen and comfortable couch in sight! Another gauge of a good school is the academic program a school offers. The 120-year challenge TSS has always faced is the diversity of its student body. Since the introduction of the Day Houses in the ‘70s, the diversification has increased exponentially. We have boys from Southport, St George to Singapore and everywhere in between. These boys and their families enter the TSS community with many different goals and aspirations. Some to become surgeons, some to manage the family property, and some even take up a vocation in teaching! We do an amazing job creating these pathways and the boys benefit from excellent and diverse programs such as robotics, engineering and agriculture.
Regrettably, I was not made to be as accountable for my academics during my time at TSS as a student, unlike our current students. Admittedly, I was never destined for an ATAR of 99.95, but I could have achieved higher grades in the classroom. Every boy, through detailed analytics and our diligence scale, (which is accessible to staff, the boys and their parents) is held accountable for his results in 2020.
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I would give my left leg to attend TSS as a student in 2020
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In the Leadership space, TSS aims to give as many boys as possible an opportunity to manage others and speak publicly. Most of you know this is an invaluable experience for life. Such opportunities can be found in the Round Square program; the Navy and Army Cadet programs which continue to go from strength to strength under the guidance of Mr Ken Connors and Mr Jason Sten; the traditional Prefect and Warden roles as well as the House system leadership positions. All these areas provide boys with opportunities to lead. Do all these factors make us a good school? I would like to think so. We certainly are not perfect, no school ever is, but we continue to do a wonderful job of developing good young men in the community. This is the legacy that I’m proud to continue to drive, which has stemmed from the eight Headmasters that served before me.
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Three things OUR PARENTS NEED TO HEAR RIGHT NOW
Dr Angela Zagoren Director of Counselling and Wellbeing Health
#1 90% of parenting is just thinking about when you can lie down – Every parent in this moment! Take Care of Yourself. So much pressure and new responsibilities have fallen to parents in this current health and economic crisis. Parents have risen superbly to the challenge of being spontaneously proficient in the Big Blue Button and adjusting their own routines to accommodate Crunch & Sip breaks and PE fitness challenges. We recognise many of you are doing this while also: working from home; figuring out how to care for elderly parents or unwell family members, reviewing finances and trying to make each dollar stretch further, dealing with a crowded, noisy and messier home environment than ever before, and ultimately trying to keep everyone under your roof healthy and safe. It’s puzzling why parental self-care tends to be the obligatory last message to parents when parenting advice is given. 1 2
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In my opinion, it should always be a top priority to all parents, and it should be non-negotiable. If parents don’t take care of themselves, then everyone else in the family will suffer. It’s not a selfish act to engage in regular self-care practices by having daily Mum or Dad downtime, in fact, it’s a necessity. When our own needs are met, we are much more capable of being calm, confident, caring and consistent when we encounter situations that require good problem-solving actions. Stress and anxiety are naturally heightened when life becomes chaotic. The best remedy for this is self-regulation, especially when it comes to your health needs. Shortterm strategies such as drinking too much coffee to overcome fatigue, over-exercising to manage anxious feelings, or drinking too much wine to de-stress from the day, all come with longer-term pain and should be avoided. Alternatively, we know that mindfulness, yoga, exercise, nutritious food, adequate sleep and deep breathing are effective forms of stress management. Allow yourself to become aware of your unique stress triggers and avoid engaging in those behaviours that tend to elevate
feelings of anxiety such as frequent checking of the latest news reports on COVID-19. Gently let go of behaviours that are not serving your desire for calm while adding those that help you feel centred and in control.
#2 Don’t let your schooling interfere with your education – Mark Twain Embrace the Social-Emotional learning opportunities of this situation. While we are so privileged to have access to an incredible online learning program, we shouldn’t underestimate the power and value of learning that takes place outside of the classroom. As parents, it is equally important to teach our children social-emotional skills such as how to sit with discomfort and fear during this uncertain time in history. Learning through feelings and empathetic understanding, rather than excessive thinking and rationalising, helps shape our character and values. Such learning is not always a positive experience, such as confronting the ethics and health implications of wet markets in China, or the devastating impact of a generation lost to COVID-19, as seen overseas in elderly populations. You don’t have to have all the answers to discuss these issues with your tween or teenager. Just be honest, avoid telling him how to feel or dismiss his emotions (e.g. “don’t worry about that, that’s silly”), and above all, reassure him that he is not alone because you are there for him. Kids can also benefit from learning what ‘enough’ looks and feels like. I don’t believe my sons have wanted for anything. They’d probably disagree and ask where their PS4 or Xbox is. That notwithstanding, they have the luxury of going to bed with full tummies, a roof over their head, clean sheets and warm
blankets, loving parents and all the safety this brings. Others in our community do not have this. There are many that do not have enough while a small group take more (toilet paper!) than they need. Help your children reflect on the positive learning experiences of gratitude for all that they may have taken for granted, and encourage them to think of acts of kindness such as checking on elderly neighbours and making food for health workers who are working 24/7 schedules. If you do take a break from online learning to discuss these concepts, or to draw the blue-tongued lizard in your garden, or observe butterflies dancing past your window, then please remember that education is everywhere and we need to value all forms of it.
#3 There is no such thing as a perfect parent, but you do need to show up Get ready for the boring but incredibly practical and important - Positive Parenting Advice. For those of you who have participated in our Promoting Positive Behaviour parenting workshops this will only serve as a reminder that you’ve got this well in hand. Keeping to my rule of three, here are the highlights to refresh your memory:
Routine, Routine, Routine: There is no greater ally in preventing the unpredictable meltdowns of children and teens than a well organised family routine. Schedules are the backbones of schools and classrooms as they work fabulously by chunking the day, reflecting on high and low energy times and the need for breaks. They also limit anxiety related thoughts like - “what comes next?” concerns, which can set off even the most resilient child under stressful times. Try to keep regular sleep and wakeup times, structure your day with the timetable provided by school, have regular outdoor play time, and try to keep dinner times the same. Give positive attention for behaviour you want to see again: Teaching your son good values, life skills such as preparing a meal for others, or caring and helpful behaviour takes time and our attention. Using our praise to describe what we like (e.g. “I really liked how you took care of your little sister when she got upset just now. That was really kind of you. Thank you”) and positive attention through smiles, kisses and pats on the back can help to reinforce behaviours we want to see in our sons. Stay connected and keep up your social supports: Keep in touch with your usual social support networks via the phone and other online communication tools. It’s easy to feel isolated and stuck in your own thoughts when confined to the house. Our friends and family are there for us when we need to vent, gain advice, or just share funny things that have happened throughout the day. Look for safe ways to enjoy social gatherings by hosting virtual family dinner parties with loved ones being present online. If you do feel you need more support or advice of a professional nature then please see the Wellbeing Health resource guides on Prepbook and Canvas or get in touch with the Counselling Team at: angela.zagoren@tss.qld.edu.au
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Mr Nicholas Stansbie Sailing Manager Dean of Students Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
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lthough our sailing came to a halt this year before the big races at the end of term could take place, much was achieved at the Sailing Shed in 2020, and the program is in a very healthy position. This year, we have seen 112 boys from Years 6 to 12 take to the water and succeed, despite some trying conditions at times. Our youngest sailors in Year 6, sailed on a Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning under the tutelage of Mr Brett Massey, ably assisted by coaches Mr John Spowett and Ms Mel Watson. Again, we were fortunate to have been loaned ‘Tackers’ boats courtesy of Australian Sailing and these have been an excellent way for our boys to learn.
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At the Senior School, we had two groups of boys take our ‘Start Sailing 1’ course, where they have been learning to sail in Pico Lasers for the first time, and have had a great deal of fun and enjoyment in doing so. Our coaches, Mr Ky Heale, Ms Grace Murphy, Ms Mel Watson, Mr Jack Wallace and Mr Leigh Lomas were very impressed with the progress they made, and in their final session of the term, they were negotiating some strong winds very successfully and demonstrated great progress. Of particular note, the number of boarders who learned to sail for the first time – over half of the Rogers House boys – took to the water in their first term at TSS. On the days when they weren’t training themselves, they watched the other groups sail, whilst fishing from the jetty!
Once boys completed the Start Sailing 1 course, they moved their way through our program, via Start Sailing 2 and Better Sailing. As they do so, they graduate to the Pacer fleet of boats, which have two sails, rather than one, and these are the boats that are used in competitive sailing by our Racing Team. This term again saw large numbers of boys in both groups, and again significant progress made. Last year’s sailing captain, Tom Wright has joined the coaching team this year and, along with the other coaches, is helping to further develop these boys’ skills. The progress made by these boys was evident in our TSS Regatta, which took place on Sunday 1 March. After some dull, wet, windless days in the week prior, we saw a great turnout of boys taking part in racing during beautiful weather, with perfect winds. As this was also Clean Up Australia Day, the first race saw the boys sailing to nearby beaches and removing the litter. As Race Officer, Tom set a great course, so that parents could view the racing from the River Centre deck. Commentary was also provided, to demystify the complexities of racing for spectators. The boys performed extremely well in their first experience of a regatta. Unfortunately, a combination of weather and virus prevented us from holding a second event this term, which would have completed the series of races. The Racing Team this year, comprised two groups, the Performance Transition group, which focused on Fleet Racing, and the HighPerformance Group, which competed in both disciplines of Fleet Racing and Teams Racing. Coach Xavier Doerr, supported by Tom Wright and manager Ms Natasha Rosky, provided a great environment in which the boys could learn and established great team ethos. The first two weekends saw TSS crews compete very successfully in the Schools Fleet Racing Regattas at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Manly. The top three TSS crews finished in first, third and fifth place overall, with Blake Wilson and Zach Miller-Wright taking first place in the competition. These regattas also enabled us to select our First and Second Teams for the GPS Regatta and congratulations are due to the following boys for their achievements: Firsts: Blake Wilson, Zach Miller-Wright, Angus Wheatley, Max Dewhurst, Lachlan Wheatley, Harry Hogan Seconds: Andrew Douyere, Tadhg Stuckey, Lachlan Free, Ben Stroebel, Blair Parker, Benedykt Dominikowski The next two Sundays saw us compete in the Teams Racing competition, and again saw TSS perform very strongly with only two defeats in 20 races across the two weeks, placing us in pole position for the State Teams Regatta later in the term. Unfortunately, that was it for the term – initially high winds in Moreton Bay prevented sailing from taking place and then COVID-19 took over to ensure that the season was brought to a premature close. As always, our sailing program is enhanced by the support of our Friends of Sailing group, led by John Douyere, with committee members Shannon Wheatley, Rene Miller-Wright and Madeleine Stroebel, and many other parents who have provided support with towing of boats and equipment to and from RQYS on a Sunday morning, and many other tasks. Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic season, where we managed to achieve significant learning progress, whilst also having a great deal of fun at the same time. B a n d
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Cherished Challenges Why the challenging game of cricket should be cherished, enjoyed and appreciated
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Mr Steven Baker Director of Cricket
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he 2020 GPS Cricket Season at TSS will be remembered for years to come as a season of challenges and a reminder that every game of cricket should be cherished, enjoyed and appreciated. Despite games being washed out and the season prematurely ending, the TSS Cricket culture stood strong throughout, continuing with exceptional training standards. In the games that were played, many boys and teams had the opportunity to show their skills, win games for their mates and the School, and prove themselves through their sportsmanship, when it was most needed. This GPS season was just the tip of the iceberg for TSS cricketers, who dedicated themselves to six months of hard work and commitment, helping them grow and develop further passion for the game of cricket. It’s important to recognise that despite an interrupted season, many boys were still involved in both club and representative cricket. They each made huge improvements in technique, game sense, and developed their execution of skill under pressure. It is a shame we could not have had more GPS games to show our growth, but nonetheless it was there.
The 11A and 7B teams are the winners of the ‘Most Successful Team’ Trophy in 2020 after an undefeated season. Congratulations to all award winners. This recognition is a true reflection of the outstanding performance and teamwork each cricketer displayed, which was not an easy feat given the challenges we faced this season and year. STATE REPRESENTATIVE PLAYERS
Queensland Under 17 Representative 2019
Lachie Crump Queensland Under 17 and Australian Representative 2019
Jackson Sinfield Queensland Under 15 Schoolboys 2019
Liam O’Connor Queensland Under 15 Schoolboys 2020
Griff Williams
The morning development sessions and team training demonstrated the pure professionalism, focus and whole-hearted commitment of each player to further improve themselves. The 2020 First XI are a product of these sessions and this season they exhibited the importance of togetherness with exceptional fielding standards – surpassing expectation and arguably finishing only 20 runs away from winning the shortened GPS Season. While it is desired to have a formal presentation for award winners in the future, it is important that we recognise the award winners for this season now. Congratulations to Griff Williams who deservedly wins the ‘John Glenn Trophy’ for most outstanding Years 7–10 non-First XI Player for 2020. His performance in the 9A Team and his selection into the Queensland Under 15’s is testament to his efforts.
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First XI eSports Team
Crowned Champions at Supernova
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Mr Keshlan Chinia
he School’s First XI eSports team dubbed the TSS Cyber Sharks, attended the Supernova Expo in early March. TSS was invited to represent the School in the eSports arena where they facedoff against other local schools on the grand stage.
eSports Coordinator
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eSports is not only just gaming; it involves more than that. It helps you learn how to cooperate with others, make new friends and to compete with other schools. It gave me a great sense of pride to represent TSS
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Alongside colleague Mr Khalid Almaktoum, we took the team to QUT to compete and bring home a victory. There was a lot of excitement on the day with the boys all pumped and ready to take on the other teams in the virtual reality world. For a run-down of the day, click on the video link, created to showcase the highlights.
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Building an Arc
...and just who that God guy is Mrs Karen Humphreys
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At this early age we discuss what it means to be a good person, how to care for others and of course, our environment
Preschool Coordinator
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s an Anglican school TSS provides Religious Education for our boys. Over the years I have found this to be a challenging topic for our Preschool boys as they often take things quite literally. Some of the concepts can be hard to grasp and confronting to boys of such a young age. 2020 sees a new teacher delivering Religious Education… me! My experience in early childhood development over the years has given me the ability to deliver content in a way that is engaging, evokes enjoyment and is easily understood. At this early age we discuss what it means to be a good person, how to care for others and of course, our environment. We also ask, “who is God and Jesus” and we explain this alongside some basic bible stories. The content is repeated frequently and in different modes allowing the concepts to be consolidated.
Around the time we received a lot of rain, after the floods, I thought it would be a great idea to introduce Noah and his Ark. The boys enjoyed engaging in the story, both online and from the children’s bible. Firstly, we tackled what a flood is. It’s easy to presume that children understand the terms we are using, but that is not always the case. When we had finally determined what a flood was, we continued with the story. The pictures of all the animals climbing aboard a big wooden boat captured their attention. We discussed how Noah built the boat and what he needed to complete his mission. They offered great ideas on how they could build a boat in readiness for a flood and what they would need to take aboard I’d like to note that essentials were not on the list!
To support the School’s current move to online learning, I have produced small cards which are attached to the boys’ Record Books. These explain what has been covered that week and are a great tool to support conversations at home and help parents understand what boys may be talking about. From my experience things are often lost in translation at this age! So to help combat this, a new discussion card is added each time we cover a different topic.
While reading the story I thought this would be an opportune time to extend the boys’ learning by teaching them how to be safe around water and floods. We practised “If it’s flooded, forget it”, the government initiative to make people aware of the dangers. They really got involved and were devising “stop” hand actions to warn others not to proceed when faced with a flooded road or area. I felt very proud of the boys’ ability to understand the importance of the safety message. However, when we reflected on the messages learnt at the end of the lesson, I just couldn’t help but have a little giggle.
I have so much fun discussing these topics with the boys and wanted to share some of the joy I receive each lesson.
My parting question to the boys was, “If you are in car with your family and you see a flood up ahead what should you do?”
Some of our lessons focus on mindfulness and learning, to the importance of calming the mind and body – a skill which, in this busy age, is very important to master for our wellbeing. One of the boys’ favourite activities is ‘belly breathing’ where they use a prayer bear and place it on their tummy to gauge how deeply they are breathing.
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The boys all proudly yelled back, “Build an ark!” B a n d
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R O W I N G
Mr Daniel Trollope Director of Rowing
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owing has had a good season with a number of crews performing exceptionally well at the Head of the River. The Southport First VIII managed to come through the pack to finish in second place by one second, which was a very close race. Although there were some concerns regarding the actual running of the 2020 Head of the River due to COVID-19, the results on the day were a reflection of the boys’ dedication and resilience. Despite the odds, TSS achieved some great results and all teams made their coaches and school proud.
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Based on our improvement over the past season we are looking forward eagerly to the 2021 Head of the River
” The Rowing program had 247 rowers signed on for the 2020 season, using this large squad, the School was able to field crews in all GPS Point Scoring races on the day. TSS Rowing had a good day at Lake Wyaralong for the Head of the River, with the boys finishing third place overall in the Old Boys’ Cup (two points behind Nudgee College). There were many highlights to the 2020 Season. The Year 9 program performed well, improving on their Year 8 season, although their results don’t contribute to the Old Boys’ Cup tally, all crews finished the season with good results and should be extremely proud of their efforts during the season. Our Year 11 program also performed well throughout the season. On the day the Year 11 First VIII had an ‘edge of your seat’ battle with Churchie to take the win on the line and the Year 11 Second VIII finished in second place to Churchie in another close race. The Year 11s have shown they have the potential to be a strong group coming through in 2021. One of the major highlights of the 2020 season was the participation numbers and eagerness of our Year 8s. Unfortunately we have to cap our numbers at 50. The boys involved certainly prepared well for their regatta at Wyaralong however it was cancelled on the day due to strong winds making the course unsafe for our “novice” rowers. This was extremely disappointing however safety will always come first, and we cannot control the weather gods. We certainly hope to see all these boys (and those who missed out) back in 2021. In addition to the Head of the River, TSS attended the Queensland Rowing State Championships held at Wyaralong prior to the start of Term One. Unfortunately, some races were cancelled due to extreme heat, however TSS was
represented by 17 athletes, and a number of these came home with a State Medal which was a great achievement. This also included the First VIII taking first place in the Championship Men’s Under 19 VIII race. Unfortunately, the Year 9 First Quad had their Under 16 race cancelled, but TSS finished the regatta, achieving the following results at the State Championships; •
Men’s Under 17 4X+ – Fifth W. Mayne, K. Fisher, W. Bucknell, J. Lomax, Cox: M. Baker
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Men’s Under 17 4X+ – Seventh K. Aitchison, C. Dawson, O. Gleeson, Z. Howard, Cox: C. Stewart
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Men’s Under 19 2X – First L. Wright, M. Branch
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Men’s Under 19 2X – Third Z. Nixon, G. Callaghan
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Championship Men’s Under 19 VIII – First D. Kennedy, K. Dittmar, G. Callaghan, H. War, B. Stewart, L. Wright, M. Branch, Z. Nixon, Cox: L. Mactaggart
The 2020 rowing season for TSS saw many solid performances across the program. There is no doubt that the School can aspire to higher levels of achievement within Queensland GPS Rowing. Based on our improvement over the past season we are looking forward eagerly to the 2021 Head of the River.
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Confidence in the face of Adversity Ms Olivia Dean TSS Foundation
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n a turbulent and ever-changing environment, return on investment of any corporate sponsorship is reliant on the environment in which it operates. In recent times one only needs to reflect on the enormous impact Australian sport is experiencing playing to empty stadiums, disappointing thousands of fans but, most importantly, restricting the brand exposure major sponsors and key multinational backers have come to expect when garnishing public trust, acceptance and brand alignment with their chosen code. Certainly, to a lesser degree but still having an impact, the TSS Foundation breakfast events which raise funds for the Indigenous Education Program at the School, have been temporarily postponed due to the changes in mass gathering restrictions. All sponsorship funds raised for this event series support the Indigenous Program, which in 2020 will see 24 boys benefitting from the amazing financial commitment. Amidst this chaos, our dedicated sponsors have chosen to continue their support of our boys and the program regardless of what might occur in the short-term future. While the Foundation has made every effort 2 2
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to adapt and add value to the sponsorship packages, these organisations have shown extreme corporate social responsibility by continuing to provide financial assistance that offers opportunities for these students to immerse themselves in academic study, culture and sport within The Southport School’s campus. The TSS Foundation would like to thank the following organisations for their sponsorship in 2020: GOLD
Morgans Financial Chevron Island, our media sponsor 92.5 MMM, Ramsden Lawyers, Condev Constructions, The MBA Partnership and to our new Travel Partner Air New Zealand. NAVY
ABKJ Lawyers, Burling Brown Architects, helloworld Travel Southport, Frizelle Sunshine Automotive and to our new 2020 Navy Sponsors Nyst Legal, Positive Dynamics, Enhance Urban Planning
NAVY CONTINUED
Neumann Developments, Ingenious Homes, SKM International and Switch Finance. MAROON
Cross Carpets, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Zone Planning Group, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Prestige Service Training, Bond University, SV Partners, Links Hope Island Golf Resort, O’Reilly Workplace Law, Forsee, Jeff Wood Executive Recruitment, Rose Litigation, Christmas Jalili PR, Peter McManus Real Estate and to our new Maroon Sponsors Marino Law, Bendigo Bank and Crest Accountants. To keep up to date with all the latest TSS Foundation events and campaigns visit https://www.tss.qld.edu.au/ foundation or contact Olivia Dean olivia.dean@tss.qld.edu.au
Mr David Thomas Director of Swimming
RIGHT: DAVID MORGAN, LAURA TAYLOR AND AUSTIN LEES YEAR 6
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anuary 2020 was very exciting in the swimming pool as the junior swimmers got the chance to learn from our international superstars. This was a unique opportunity to work with the world-class swimmers and coaches in the TSS Swimming program.
CONNOR O’NEILL (DEL 18) TANYA STOVGAARD AND LUKE HU (YEAR 4 SHEP)
DAVID MORGAN, LAURA TAYLOR AND KENSUKE MORIMOTO (YEAR 7 TUR)
We ran a series of clinics focusing on one of the four strokes each day in addition to interactive games regarding nutrition, hydration and dryland exercises. Our team of excellent coaches were on hand to offer top technique tips and our senior superstars answered questions, signed autographs, took selfies and passed on their secret tips for their strokes, starts and turns. We had so much fun each day and it was terrific to welcome not only our local community to the clinics but friends of our country boarders from as far away as Moree and Tasmania. Mitch Beddoes travelled six hours to attend, that’s commitment! Mitch and I had a good chuckle on day one – because I was proudly wearing my Moree Swimming Club hat. A big shout out to our friends and families at the Moree Swimming Club – it’s our turn to come and see you again as soon as we can. Here are some photos of our super smiley junior swimmers meeting the senior swimmers.
ABOVE: CAMERON MCEVOY AND WILL THOMASSON (YEAR 4 MUS)
DAVID MORGAN, LAURA TAYLOR AND MAC HAWKINS (YEAR 4 MUS)
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Heartfelt Inspiration That’s Worth More Than the Paper it’s Written On
Ms Jacqueline Latimer Marketing
2019 – 2020 ROWING
SEASON INDIVIDU AL REVIEW
Will Mayne – First Qua
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his year has so far thrown TSS a curveball in relation to sport and now academics with the necessary rollout of the online learning platform.
Rowing was one sport that thankfully was able to end the season at the coveted Head of the River. However, the season was a struggle and rowers, while remaining focussed and dedicated, were perhaps still a little deflated. TSS Rowing Coach, Mr Nick Graham, decided to help inspire his crew by sending out personalised letters in the lead up to their final regatta. Two of these letters went to Will Mayne (YEAR 10, MCK) and his brother Lachie Mayne (YEAR 8, MCK) congratulating them on a successful season and their commitment to training and supporting their crew members. The boys’ mother Wendy Mayne contacted the School to personally thank Mr Graham for the kind-hearted gesture of writing a personalised letter and offering the inspiration and push they needed before competing. Mr and Mrs Mayne have two boys at TSS and a daughter at St Hilda’s who are all rowers. She said they have been involved in rowing at both schools for five years and has never “come across such an inspirational gesture or perhaps a life changing event for our son Will.” 2 4
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“Mayney” congratulations on a great year rowing for TSS this season. Right from sessions I thought “this kid just gets it, he knows the first few how to move a boat. But my word he’s small!” You were always going to be disadvantaged when it came to raw numbers but I could never fault you on the ergo sessions, r work ethic and your figh t. If we could just share determination with ever a little bit of your y boy in the shed, I don ’t think we would ever lose a race. Will, you are a man of few words, letting your actio ns do the talking. You are first quad, your age grou such a great asset to the p, and overall rowing club . As a coach and/or equally importantly, as a crew mat e, to know 100% (not 1% individual will never ever of doubt) that an pull a light stroke, nor will they ever give up, is som and ever so rare. This, for ething very special you, I know to be true and you should be very prou rare quality. d of yourself for this Mayney I’d like to than k you for being a great you ng athlete to coach this always wanting to get faste past season. You are r both individually and as a crew, you are always technically and always liste striving to better yourself ning and take on feedback of any kind constructively implement that feedback and do your best to straight away. Key development area s for 2020-2021 season: • Really focus on buil ding a strong core to prot ect your back in the row • A sold strength focu ing stroke. sed off season (General strength and muscle deve lopment) I genuinely look forward to seeing what you are capa ble of in your senior year s rowing at TSS. Thanks again for all you r hard work, commitment and fun times this year. Regards,
Nick Graham Crew Coach and Age Gro
up Coordiantor
Winchester Street, Sout hport 4215 Queensland, Australia Telephone: +61 7 5531 9911 Facsimile: +61 7 5531 9977 Website: www.tss.qld.ed u.au The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as The Southpor t School. CRICOS: 00523F ABN : 67 004 140 025
...Learning to Lead
“In all the years of schooling and sporting activities, never before have any of our children received such an inspiring and encouraging letter! To understand this, Will snapped both his tibia and fibula bones in his right leg while playing at a TSS soccer training session a year ago almost to the day, and had to have surgery with a 36cm tibia nail being inserted,” Mrs Mayne said. “Thankfully his healing was so quick the nail was removed eight months early which gave Will hope his leg could be ready for the
Year 10 rowing season. After the operation Will choose to spend his healing time at the gym, working on his upper body strength (against his mother’s advice) and was resolved to the fact he may be chosen for the lower crews in the Year 10 rowing season. “Nick not only recognised Will’s ability, but particularly his determination and decided to take the time to put pen to paper and described Will’s strengths and weaknesses from this rowing season. I honestly believe this letter will change Will’s life as it has
cemented in him that pure determination, discipline and hard work will achieve great things, and to be recognised by his coach is unforgettable,” she said. TSS is very proud of the teachers and staff who come to school each and everyday to inspire and support boys in their capacity of sporting and academic pursuits. Well done to Mr Graham on offering timely inspiration to his crews.
Head of the River 50 Years On
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he 1970 First VIII gathered for lunch on Friday 13 March down at the Boat Shed to celebrate 50 years since winning the Head of the River. The crew (missing two) and their coach were also delighted to be reacquainted with the boat that secured their victory all those years ago. Photo Left: 1970 First VIII Head of the River Champions Photo Below Left: (L-R) Peter Lever, Steve Wardrope, Bruce Westcott, Mark Brookes, Barry Robinson (Coach), Greg Shambrook, Patrick Barrett, Jon Warby . Missing John McCubbery, Bill Wilson
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Stymie Launch Dr Angela Zagoren Director of Counselling and Wellbeing Health
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his term the Senior School became a registered Stymie School. Stymie is an online external agency designed to promote anonymous reporting of issues to preserve student wellbeing and student protection. You may be aware that Ms Rachel Downie, a previous guest speaker at our school and the founder of Stymie, is the current Queensland Australian of the Year as a result of the excellent work she has done and the positive impact that her work has had within the community. Stymie encourages students to support their peers by making anonymous notifications about a student who might be at risk of harm either through bullying, abuse, violence, exploitation, self-harm or suicidality. Students are encouraged to make positive choices as bystanders around how they respond to bullying and harm in their community, and to use this reporting service responsibly and thoughtfully to make a positive difference. 2 6
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As a school we continue to find ways to ensure our students can come forward in support of a peer without fear of being labelled a ‘snitch’ or facing negative backlash from speaking up. We hope that Stymie will provide yet another option to our already strong pastoral reporting pathways in the school through Mentors, Housemasters, Deans, SPOs and School Psychologists. Each year level participated in an outstanding presentation from Mr Michael Jeh, a representative from Stymie, and the notification pathway was explained and activated. Since then we have been receiving and responding to notifications which allow for pastoral check-ins with students. We look forward to continuing to refine this system throughout the year and maintaining our commitment in prioritising the wellbeing and safety of our boys.
When Strength is Put to the Test Ms Jacqueline Latimer Marketing
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ear 12 student Simon Gray (MEL) is arguably one of the toughest and strongest boys at TSS, something that was realised in late 2019.
“I did it twice because I knew I could do it faster after knowing what it felt like and getting advice from my coach and tips from other people who had done this before.”
To those that know him, it’s no secret that Simon enjoys the gym and physical challenges. His dedication to sport and strength training is unfaltering. He is involved in swim clubs, surf lifesaving, AFL, Rugby League and Rugby Union – which he credits as his favourite sport – and is part of the TSS First XV squad this year.
Simon’s drive and dedication is evident and he is also very goal-oriented which helps keep him focussed.
Late last year he made the decision to focus on strength and conditioning to help him achieve his rugby goals. Following this, Simon was encouraged by his strength coach Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf (Coco), who is also currently Australia’s Strongest Man, to pull a 15 tonne truck for 15 metres as part of a strongman challenge. “It was a personal physical challenge and an opportunity to pull a truck amongst other strongmen and complete my first ever strongman challenge” Simon said. “I was only offered the challenge two days prior to the event and so had no specific training in pulling trucks. It was a shock to feel the load of the truck and initially get the wheels moving. Body height and leg drive became crucial to maintain movement. Towards the end my legs and arms started to fill up with lactic acid, which made completing the task very difficult.”
“I do enjoy a challenge because it’s satisfying knowing that I did my best. When I was playing in the Under 13 C’s rugby team my goal then was to make the A team, and in future years to make the First XV. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and a huge challenge. I made the Under 14 A’s rugby team the following year, and have continued to take on challenges, setting new goals and regularly attaining PB’s” he said. Simon credits his coach, Coraboeuf, as one of the main people who inspires him along with David Pocock (one of Australia’s best rugby players), and his father, who set him on this pathway. Now in his last year of school, Simon has future aspirations of playing professional rugby union, which he said has been a goal of his since the age of 10. He would also like to have the opportunity to compete professionally in Strongman. “But as a Plan B, I want to study Nutrition and Dietetics at university, and perhaps one day own a strength and conditioning gym.”
But Simon didn’t finish there, he backed up the challenge by doing it for a second time.
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Ms Jo Inglis Deputy Headmaster - Head of Learning and Teaching
Exploring the Online-verse 2 8
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SS Senior and Prep Schools have introduced an online curriculum delivery following significant planning, resourcing and consultation with online learning experts. Given the current environment during these unprecedented times, we as a nation are being urged to work and learn from home and online. This ever-evolving situation called for the School to act swiftly and inturn deliver a curriculum via a digital avenue. Although our school remains open, this mode of delivery also readies us in the event of any closure. The dedicated TSS teachers have immersed themselves into this
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TSS has introduced an online curriculum delivery following significant planning, resourcing and consultation with online learning experts.
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process by up-skilling and preparing lessons and units of work for delivery in a mode that is quite different to face-to-face teaching. The Southport School’s model for online delivery of curriculum is informed by a rationale that is governed by curriculum delivery through familiarity and consistency across all subjects for students. It also recognises and enables the importance of maintaining teacher-student relationships based around the education of boys. Features of TSS online curriculum include: •
Normal Senior School timetable will be maintained Periods 1 to 6 – Teachers and students will ‘attend together’ online with class rolls taken
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Senior School Learning Management System Canvas will be used exclusively for curriculum and resource delivery
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TSS Wellbeing Health programs will assist students in developing positive mental health practices and habits
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Student requirements are normal school equipment and texts, their device and internet connection
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Teachers will facilitate each timetabled lesson via Canvas with a Lesson Plan for students including Lesson Objective and Learning Tasks/Activities
A review of the model will occur over the holiday break with refinements/ improvements to occur should school closures continue into Term Two.
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Canvas ‘Conferencing’ – online group/class session at which Teaching and Learning will be facilitated by Introduction, Check-in and Conclusion
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Resources as appropriate
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Each lesson will be saved and available on Canvas for students who are unable to access the lesson at the normal timetabled time
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Lessons will commence at normal timetabled time and will conclude after 40 minutes, with the remaining 10 minutes for student feedback via email which will be addressed in the following lesson
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Outside of lesson time, students and/ or parents may (only) communicate inwardly to classroom teachers via email. Teachers may telephone students/ parents only if urgent/appropriate
TSS values and responds to student and parent feedback. Please understand that should there be any delay in classroom teachers responding to student or parent feedback, it will only be because they may teach up to 125 students and it would therefore take time to respond. We are grateful for the ongoing support and understanding of TSS students and parents as we all navigate these extraordinary circumstances. Do contact me should you have any concerns at jo.inglis@tss.qld.edu.au
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Breakfast The Real Power Hour
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Ms Olivia Dean TSS Foundation
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f you need to persuade someone in business, you might be missing out on the best time of day if you’re only scheduling a dinner or a long lunch. For the TSS Foundation, breakfast isn’t just the most important meal of the day - it’s also the time for our most productive meetings and the first of our breakfast events in March lived up to all expectations. A large crowd gathered at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 5, eager to hear the valuable insights of renown businessman Rob Millner, Chairman of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company. Rob was appointed Chairman of Soul Patts in 1999, recently celebrating his 20-year anniversary. As one of Australia’s most experienced and respected business leaders, Rob delivered sage advice focusing on the current unpredictable and turbulent marketplace. Rob shared his experiences within various sectors of the Australian economy and the investment process at Soul Patts that has delivered 16% compound annual growth over the last 40 years.
Soul Patts has been listed on the ASX since 1903. From its humble beginnings with a chemist shop in Sydney’s Pitt St Mall, it has grown into a $5 billion conglomerate with investments across a range of industries including building materials, telecommunications, natural resources, retail, agriculture, property, investments and corporate advisory. Soul Patts enjoys an enviable track record of never failing to pay a dividend to shareholders in its 117-year history, and one of only two ASX companies to have increased dividends every year since 2002. To keep up to date with all the latest TSS Foundation events and campaigns visit https://www.tss.qld.edu.au/foundation or contact Olivia Dean, olivia.dean@tss.qld.edu.au
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We are incredibly grateful to you and the teachers at the Prep School who have made such a seamless transition to online learning. The behavioural flexibility and hours it must have taken for everyone to adapt so quickly is very much appreciated by us all in this household.
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The T ‘Virtual Classrooms’ of our Preparatory School Mr Jeff Symms
Deputy Headmaster Head of Preparatory
eachers, students and parents all over Australia are currently coming to terms with a new reality – online learning! COVID-19 has presented many challenges, and none more so with regard to how our nation’s children will continue to engage in their education and ensure that when life returns to normal, they are well placed to return to School successfully. For the teachers at the Preparatory School our new ‘virtual classrooms’ serve two very important purposes. The first is to provide an authentic learning environment for the boys, with lessons occurring across all subject areas and delivered in line with their regular school timetable as much as possible. Secondly, but no less importantly,
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I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you are doing to manage my son’s learning and development during this ever evolving time. Over the last couple of weeks I have spoken to many of my friends and my kids’ former classmates and after a particular conversation this morning I wanted to tell you that I think the framework you have put in place and your commitment to the boys is unsurpassed globally. I have no doubt that there has been an enormous amount of work at your end but from my perspective, it is working like a dream! My friends were absolutely shocked when I told them that school in my house is operating perfectly and our son is working as though he is in his regular Year 5 classroom. Their kids have no contact on line with their teachers and are only able to send an email if they have a question. They are told to expect answers to such questions the next day. I couldn’t speak more highly, nor be more proud, of TSS.
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We respect it’s a mammoth task you all have undertaken, and the school has exceeded all our expectations.
is the desire to keep the boys connected, socially and emotionally, to their teachers and classmates. For this reason, the virtual classroom has had plenty of opportunity for boys to interact with others as they go about their learning. While some families have experienced a few technical hiccups, the careful planning and implementation of our infrastructure undertaken by the School’s outstanding IT Department has ensured that these are resolved as quickly as possible. Our school days have continued to operate incredibly smoothly.
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Someone wandering around the Preparatory School this past two weeks, would have seen teams of teachers collaborating to provide a quality learning program. At times, all teachers are live streaming their lessons and you can hear from each room, the sounds of a busy class – teachers teaching, boys asking questions, the occasional reminder for someone to pay closer attention and that special ‘hum’ schools have when busy children are going about their business. If you closed your eyes you wouldn’t know that the boys were scattered across the suburbs of the Gold Coast. The Year Level teaching teams have been organised around their individual boys’ needs, with some teachers being assigned to teaching the face to face program to those boys still attending school, while others are teaching online, and still others have been working on the further development of resources.
Teachers in our Preschool have been engaging with their boys in songs and stories, while in other classrooms, the morning ‘catch up’ or afternoon ‘summary sessions’ have been live streamed, helping boys and their carers set up, or review, the day’s routines. THRASS classes are continuing and boys are sending through all manner of completed work to the teachers for feedback. There is lots of sharing, communicating and caring. Lessons in PE, Art, Music, Learning Support, Talent Development and Chinese have continued, and chapel and assembly times maintained. There is inclusion and involvement all round. Importantly, relationships are being continued – mate to mate, student to teacher and parent to school. We very much appreciate the ways in which parents have embraced the reality of online learning and supported their sons and their sons’ teachers throughout these two weeks.
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Founded in 1901, TSS is an Anglican day and boarding school for boys from Preschool to Year 12, with boarding available from Year 7. Winchester St Southport Queensland Australia 4215 Telephone: Facsimile: Email: Visit:
+617 5531 9911 +617 5531 9977 reception@tss.qld.edu.au www.tss.qld.edu.au
The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as The Southport School CRICOS Provider No. 00523F
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