The Southport School Band of Brothers Issue 2

we few,we happy few,

we band of brothers.

OF BROTHER S

issue 02 : JULY 2011

William Shakespeare

Editors Tony Watt, Head of Community Relations Karen Martin, Marketing Coordinator ‘Band of Brothers’ Committee Alan Parsons, Jeff Symms, Andrew Stark, Ian Browne Design P’s in a Pod Content Editor Gary Edgar Photography Eric Victor, Karen Martin, Dan Sleeman, Adrian Gaglione, The Curr Family, Victor Kovalenko.

Printing Fast Proof Press Editorial queries, feedback and change of address Phone: 07 5531 9839 Email: marketing@tss.qld.edu.au Copyright: All rights reserved.

Copyright of articles and photographs of Band of Brothers remain with the individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission.

Other material may be reproduced, but only with the permission of TSS.

Cover photo: Boys in full voice at Toowoomba Grammar School.

House Spirit, Pride and Fellowship In a digital age it may seem legitimate to question whether or not the House system is still relevant to the 21st century education of a young man or whether it is merely a historical hangover from the old British public schools, even older than Hogwarts where Harry Potter was educated. Originally the idea of the House related to the boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school (as indeed was the case in TSS’s early years when the original three Houses were located in the three levels of the Clocktower building). Over time, the House concept has been extended to apply to Prep boys and day boys and has even found its way into academic institutions beyond the limited sphere of the private school.

The House system has become established in our State secondary schools, although very differently applied, and of course continues to prevail in such august institutions as Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard and Yale universities. As noted above, it has even made it into J.K. Rowling’s phenomenally popular Harry Potter books, where Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry assigns its students to Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw House through the magic of a “sorting hat”.

In the face of all this, it seems unlikely that the House system has not only survived but prospered out of blind obeisance to old English tradition; obviously it must have something else going for it.

The ongoing relevance and value of the House system lies in the very appreciable benefits it affords the boys that constitute its body. The House generates a very powerful sense of identity, worth and a sense of belonging that can’t as easily be found as effectively in the relatively large group of the whole student body. At a recent TSS Business Breakfast I was intrigued to hear guest speaker Graham Turner, legendary CEO and co-founder of Flight Centre, articulate some of his unique business practices. This included using an evolutionary psychology theory to help set the size of work groups at Flight Centre.

He said 150 is about the average limit of our cognitive capacity to feel part of a group where all members know each other well, can relate to each other, and know how each other relates to the group. So a House group of 60 to 80 caters for the emerging cognitive capacity of boys and adolescents! To maximise their sense of belonging TSS also use the House system to ensure boys mix with others from different Year Groups, which I am sure helps build our unique spirit.

Interestingly, I was able to share with Graham Turner that, having worked in different schools with different Year Group sizes, it seemed to me that our Year Group sizes at TSS of around 150 (less in Prep and a little more in Years 11 and 12) just “worked” in term of boys getting to know each other and maximising spirit and involvement.

At TSS we have four Prep Houses and 12 Senior Houses (four Boarding and eight Day), and lacking the Hogwarts magic “sorting hat” (although we do have Hogwarts dining hall!) we employ a more human method to assigning students. Where there have been family predecessors, the boy is naturally assigned to the same House, thereby strengthening the feeling of family continuity. In the case of a new student who is the “family pioneer” at TSS, he is assigned to a House with the objective being to maintain a sensible and equitable balance across the Houses.

Whichever House a boy finds himself in, he will discover the same strong spirit, pride and fellowship, and have many House-based leadership opportunities. Each boy will also discover the merits of healthy competition with other Houses, he will grow in self-esteem and experience an almost tribal connectedness to his House mates while simultaneously identifying and relating to his Year Group, and with the over-arching membership of that “Band of Brothers” that is TSS. Greg Wain – Headmaster 1

we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.

02

this issue

Getting the Jump on Year 7 Transition

As an Independent School, TSS follows State School protocol, however, we are not bound by law to adhere to the Government’s directions. With this flexibility in mind TSS has made the decision to move Year 7 to the Senior School Campus in 2013, two years earlier than Queensland Government schools.

Boy Meets Girl - The Relationship Between TSS and St. Hilda’s

05

How often do you get the chance to explore first-hand the outstanding facilities of the Preparatory School on a tour conducted personally by the Head of Prep School? Well here it is, and everyone from past, present and prospective students, their parents and friends are all welcome to join in.

Forging Enduring Bonds through the Prep House System

Run by the boys, entirely for the boys, the importance and value of the Prep School House System cannot be overstated. It enables our boys to interact and forge friendships across the year levels, provides the framework for pastoral care of students, encourages participation in sporting and cultural extra-curricular activities and promotes leadership development.

Cadets Learn the Drill on Ceremonies and Traditions

As a School-based Cadet Unit, our normal training time is on a Friday from 1145-1300, but if you were to wander the grounds of the school at 1800 on a Tuesday evening, you may come across a group of committed and mature junior and senior NCOs engaged in some very different military manoeuvres.

The Historic Battle for the House Shield

23

A Fresh Coast of Greasepaint for the House Drama Festival

30

World-Class Facilities Draw World-Class Teams

12

Social interaction between the TSS boys and the girls from our sister school St. Hilda’s is probably taken for granted as an unremarkable feature of contemporary times, but in fact the links between the two schools stretch back for decades, and the socialising aspect of the relationship broke new ground at various stages of its evolution.

Hot to Trot - Walking Tours of Prep

08

27

38

Perhaps no other “glittering prize” to be won at TSS generates so much spirited enthusiasm and fierce competition as the House Shield. Each year all 12 Houses join battle on many fronts in a supreme effort to emerge triumphant from the fray and claim ownership of the Shield for the prescribed time.

The annual House Drama Festival has been giving those students with dramatic inclinations a chance to “tramp the boards” for over half a century, and as a result it has become a great tradition at The Southport School. The festival was first staged in the 1950s when only three Houses competed for the ultimate prize, the Anning Shield.

Today, the appeal of “the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd” has proven to be contagious, and now all 12 houses are involved in a spirited bid to win the coveted Shield.

The term “world class” is bandied about with great frequency these days and is all too often applied to something having only the most tenuous claim to such lofty status.

TSS confidently applies “world class” to its sporting facilities, not just because we know that we offer some of the best sporting facilities in Australia, but because we can back that claim with hard evidence in the form of the many national and international teams that utilise them.

41

The Joy is in the Journey

55

Kaiser House - Two Incarnations, One Spirit

52

The consistently high academic achievements of TSS boys speak volumes for the quality of our educational programs and the dedication of our teachers and staff, but what is it that accounts for the other characteristics that distinguish a TSS student? The answer can be found when we step out of the classroom and into the open spaces of the natural environment, where the TSS Outdoor Education Program takes over in its role of revealing and developing the full potential of every boy.

Kaiser House can genuinely lay claim to being unique among the TSS Houses as it is the only one to have had two “incarnations” in its lifetime. Founded in 1973, Kaiser was the “new” Boarding House, but within less than a decade the booming population growth on the Gold Coast dictated that TSS needed another Day House, and as a result Kaiser underwent a quantum change to take up that role.

3

Andrew Hawkins, Dean of Students Years 7 - 9 and Year 5 boys Jordan and Lachlan who in 2013 will be amongst the first Year 7 students located on the Senior School Campus.

4

Getting the Jump on Year 7 Transition In a long-awaited announcement, the Queensland Government confirmed on June 9 that it would push ahead with Headmaster the transition to move Year 7 to High School in 2015. The main reason behind the change is to align Queensland with other Australian States and Territories educationally.

As an Independent School, we follow State School protocol, however, we are not bound by law to adhere to the Government’s directions. With this flexibility in mind TSS has made the decision to move Year 7 to the Senior School Campus in 2013, two years earlier than Queensland Government schools.

Already a large amount of work has been done to create a transition that is successful and supportive for TSS boys. We have subsequently developed the Learning and Teaching Framework to ensure quality education occurs in the new purpose-built Year 7 classrooms. This evolving framework is based on the foundation of developing Mind, Body and Spirit in order to follow the School’s vision – “To challenge each boy to achieve excellence in a Christian

Greg Wain

community where education embraces the whole of life.”

Developing emotional intelligence incorporates fostering; • The Mind – TSS incorporates Habits of Mind allowing TSS to remain a Home for the Mind, • The Body – TSS offers limitless opportunities for boys to challenge the Body via Outdoor Education, Sport, Cultural Activities and Music.

• The Spirit – House Spirit, Community Spirit and Christian Spirit.

To embrace the theme of Mind, Body and Spirit we have developed four “domains” or key curriculum framework areas – Relationships, Leadership, Knowledge, Commitment – so as to create an effective learning and teaching culture and to drive the further development of this first year of the Years 7 to 9 program. Within these four domains there is the teacher’s role, student growth and parent opportunity. The parent opportunity continuum will allow Year 7 parents to assist their boys in the transition to ensure each boy has a positive and happy experience at TSS. During the final week of Term Two we held an 5 information session for the parents of current Year 5 boys who

The Academic Centre which incorporates the Year 7 classrooms takes shape

will, in 2013, be the first inhabitants of the new Year 7 Transition Centre and the first group to experience the new Year 7 Transition Program.

In terms of the ‘teaching and learning’ aspects of this program, our Year 7 boys in transition from Primary to Secondary will be in a unique position to experience the best of both worlds. Specialist Secondary teachers with degrees in Mathematics, Science and English will challenge and prepare the boys for their senior years and university preparation, and they will be complemented by experienced primary-trained teachers who are age-group specialists, highly attuned to pastoral-care needs and individual difference, with knowledge and skills in a variety of subject areas.

Our Year 7 boys in 2013 will also be in line with the larger States and set up to experience fully the new National Curriculum, which will be Secondary for Years 7 to 12.

At the information session Mr. Andy Hawkins (who will be Dean of Students for Years 7 to 9 in 2013) and I explained to parents that there will be a Year 7 Leadership Group (some members elected by the boys, some appointed by staff) that will have a significant role to play for the year. In addition to making sure we listen carefully to the voice of the students, this will also ensure that the four to six boys who miss the opportunity to be leaders at Prep that year will have significant leadership roles in the Transition Program.

These and other leadership opportunities will be enhanced for all boys by the new Year 7 Leadership Program called “Leadership and Me” which will include induction into the Senior School, building self-awareness, persistence, resilience, anti-bullying and working with others. This program will segue into year-based leadership programs for Years 8 to 12.

In Year 7, the Leadership Program will be enabled through a new Adventure Training Program, a Peer Support program involving selected senior boys, use of the Responsible Adolescent Program developed through QUT, and the Outdoor Education Program.

Looking at the scope and depth of our preparations for transition and having the first-hand experience of teaching mathematics to Year 7 boys in New South Wales for many years, I can state with confidence that our boys will be ready and able to be on the same campus as Years 8 to 12.

6

A Haul of Precious Metal for TSS Aquatics

At the 2011 Australian Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide from April 18-23 TSS Aquatics notched up its most successful National Age Competition to date, being represented in 27 finals and bringing home a great haul of precious metal in the shape of three Gold, four Silver and five Bronze medals.

At the conclusion of the Competition, Alex Press was named in the Australian Junior All Stars Team, and three swimmers qualified for the Australian Swimming Gold Squad, with eight swimmers qualifying for the Silver Squad. Alex Press narrowly missed the Australian 15-year record in the 50m freestyle winning in 23.15 seconds. This was a staggering 1.2 seconds faster than his performance at the recent GPS Championships in March where he also achieved a new GPS record in the 50m Butterfly.

The 14 and Under Boys Medley Relay team of Dom Richardson, Sam Horton, Luke Bourne and Jake Kersten won Gold to become the first TSS Aquatics Relay team to take Gold at a National Championships. The Freestyle Relay team of Dom Richardson, Sam Horton, Luke Bourne and Sam Goodwin came very close to making it double Relay Gold, when finishing 2nd to take Silver. These were outstanding Relay performances that showed our strength and depth in this age group. Year 10 student Michael Mincham, had an outstanding Meet winning five medals, which included two Silver and three Bronze. Year 9 student Sam Horton performed exceptionally well to add to his medals in the Relays, winning silver in a very fast 1500m Freestyle and Bronze in the 400m Freestyle.

Dom Richardson, also a Year 9 student, finished the Meet as the TSS top performer, winning Gold in a very fast 200m Butterfly, Bronze in the 400m Freestyle, 4th in the 100m Butterfly and 7th in the 400m Individual Medley. Dom ended the Meet with two Gold, one Silver and one Bronze.

On the strength of these performances, TSS Aquatics looks like it can anticipate a “golden future” that will add more precious metal to the medal collection.

TSS Produces Spirited Performances on the Fairways The recent Round 2 of the Intercollegiate Golf competition at Brisbane Golf Club saw TSS golfers waste no time getting into the swing of things despite a chilly 5:30am departure from school. As the sun rose on the fairways, the day soon began to warm up and the competition right along with it. Things stayed that way all morning, and although a shower of rain fell just as the field was finishing, nothing could dampen the winning spirits of the TSS boys.

The first round of congratulations are due to our first team of Jeffrey Lin, Connor Hewitt, Rob Porter, Tristan Nicholls and Carl Bellingham who had the equal best team score of the day only to be beaten on countback. This team is in second place with two rounds still to play. Round 3 of the Intercollegiate will be played on Monday, 25 July at Royal Pines and they’ll be looking to some more spirited performances to keep the heat on the competition.

Our development team also played well and are growing in strength and confidence every round. I’m looking to a strong finish from these boys in the second half of the year.

Special congratulations to Peter Baldry (44points) and Shalun Hay (39points) who are both Year 7 boys and played in the first Primary Stableford event conducted by Intercollegiate Golf. Well done on some great golf, boys.

Lately, Tristan Nicholls and Shalun Hay played in the South Coast Regional Trials for the South Coast Team selection. Both boys produced a fine effort to emerge successful in making their respective teams – Tristan in the 13-19 years and Shalun in the Primary team. They will travel to Townsville next month to play in the State Titles.

Recently TSS Golf Captain Jeffrey Lin won the Junior Championship at Southport Golf Club. The event was held over four rounds and Jeffrey well and truly deserved his win.

Chris Nesbit – TSS High Performance Swimming Coach Kerry Thomas – Director of Golf

7

The Historic Battle for the House Shield Perhaps no other “glittering prize” to be won at TSS generates so much spirited enthusiasm and fierce competition as the Deputy Headmaster House Shield. Each year all 12 Houses join battle on many fronts in a supreme effort to emerge triumphant from the fray and claim ownership of the Shield for the prescribed time.

For the winners there can be no complacent basking in their precarious glory, for the boys are busily working on how to retain their prize next time, while the other 11 Houses are equally busy working towards snatching it from the victor’s grasp.

The annual vying for the House Shield may seem something of the moment for the boys of TSS, but it has in fact been going on for over a century, making it a battle of truly historic and epic status. While no blood has been shed in the struggle, plenty of sweat, energy, talent and intellect have been expended by successive generations of students.

The Shield had its origins in 1909 as an immediate consequence of the formation of the first three Houses – Delpratt, McKinley and Thorold. The driving force behind such diverse aspects of the School

Alan Parsons

as the House System, the School magazine, the School blazer and the House Shield was the dynamic Head of School, Charles Thorold.

After consultation between Thorold, the Sport Committee and Horace Dixon, the Shield was established as a trophy to be held for one year by the House that had displayed supremacy in sport. The shield was made in England and arrived at Southport in time to be presented to the inaugural winners, McKinley House. McKinley lost it to Thorold House next year, thus establishing from the very outset the tradition of vigorous competition that still prevails. Competition for the Shield now ranges across swimming, cross country, track & field, tennis, tug-o-war, basketball, volleyball, touch football and soccer, but these days winning the House Shield requires more than just pulling a hamstring for glory, as the field of inter-House battle also includes skirmishes in drama, declamations and chess.

I learnt my lesson about the level of competitive fervor early in my career at TSS when I volunteered to referee a touch football game. Through the polite but intense scrutiny by the passionate House supporters of any of my controversial decisions I encountered a seriousness that surpassed any Super 15 Championship or International Test Match.

The House Shield provides a tremendous vehicle for recognition of individual talents, creating a sense of unity, fostering pride and forging a healthy spirit of competition. It’s small wonder that it is so deeply entrenched in the TSS psyche.

Year

House

Year

House

Year

House

Year

House

Year

House

Year

House

1909

McKinley

1927

Delpratt

1945

McKinley

1963

Delpratt

1981

Delpratt

1999

McKinley

1910

Thorold

1928

McKinley

1946

Delpratt

1964

Thorold

1982

Thorold

2000

Biddle

1911

Delpratt

1929

McKinley

1947

Delpratt

1965

Thorold

1983

Thorold

2001

McKinley

1912

Thorold

1930

McKinley

1948

Delpratt

1966

Thorold

1984

Walker

2002

McKinley

1913

Thorold

1931

McKinley

1949

McKinley

1967

Thorold

1985

Walker

2003

McKinley

1914

Thorold

1932

Thorold

1950

McKinley

1968

Thorold

1986

Walker

2004

Atkinson

1915

Thorold

1933

Thorold

1951

Delpratt

1969

Thorold

1987

Walker

2005

Radcliffe

1916

Delpratt

1934

Delpratt

1952

Thorold

1970

Thorold

1988

Walker

2006

Walker

1917

McKinley

1935

Delpratt

1953

McKinley

1971

Thorold

1989

Delpratt

2007

McKinley

1918

McKinley

1936

Delpratt

1954

McKinley

1972

McKinley

1990

Thorold

2008

Walker

1919

McKinley

1937

Delpratt

1955

McKinley

1973

Thorold

1991

Thorold

2009

Walker

1920

Delpratt

1938

Thorold

1956

McKinley

1974

McKinley

1992

Thorold

2010

Thorold

1921

Thorold

1939

Thorold

1957

McKinley

1975

Thorold

1993

Melbourne

1922

Thorold

1940

McKinley

1958

McKinley

1976

Delpratt

1994

Delpratt

1923

Thorold

1941

McKinley

1959

McKinley

1977

McKinley

1995

McKinley

1924

Thorold

1942

Delpratt

1960

Thorold

1978

Walker

1996

Thorold

1925

Thorold

1943

Thorold

1961

Thorold

1979

McKinley

1997

McKinley

1926

Thorold

1944

Thorold

1962

Thorold

1980

Delpratt

1998

Biddle

8

Thorold House Captain Oliver Smith and Vice Captain Cherone Pelgen proudly display Thorolds colours on the House Shield signifying their 2010 victory.

The House Shield is resting on the statue of Perseus, whose story is featured on page 36.

9

Building Bridges Between East and West As part of the Federal Government commitment to Asian Languages, the School has received significant amounts of funding this Head of Languages, year to enhance our Languages Coordinator Chinese Program through the Asia Education Language, Living & Culture Program Foundation (AEF), National Asian Languages Studies in Schools Program (NALSSP), and with the assistance of Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ).

Our School is participating in outstanding projects that teach Year 7 students to use Web 2 technology to communicate with a partner school in Hong Kong, and make short films using handheld devices in Japanese. Plans for staff to travel to China to learn more about the history, geography, environment, business, society and arts are under way. For students here at TSS, fantastic opportunities to join our world music program and participate in Lion Dancing and Kung-fu will be offered in Term Three.

Lisa Miller

New student leadership positions have been created, as Chinese Student Ambassador and Consul, and Japanese Student Ambassador and Consul.

Students engaging with Asia through English have been awarded the Year 8 Short Story Prize and the Art Acquisition Prize has been granted, for the first time, to Year 12 student Ben Kwong (pictured left).

Asia Literacy Ambassadors from the community have been working with students and staff. Renowned author and martial artist Simon Higgins, parent and C6Energy CEO Austin Whittaker and Old Boy Cameron Anderson, host of Getaway on Shanghai International TV, are leading the way in showing boys what Asia Skills can do for your career.

Finally, the School is applying to join the Australia-China Bridge Program. This partnership aims to increase our students’ knowledge and understanding of Asia through linking TSS to a community in China.

For more information about what these prestigious programs can do to equip our students to be global citizens, please have a look at the AEF website www.asiaeducation.edu.au 10

TSS on the Same Page as Australian Curriculum TSS Academic programs are aligning well with Australian Curriculum thanks to the expertise, experience and dedication of Head of Learming and key academic staff in English, Teaching Mathematics, Science and Humanities.

Head of Department in English; Mrs Elizabeth Venz, Mathematics; Mr Rhys Kemp, Science; Mr Tim Smith, and Humanities; Mr Rob Ritchie, have worked closely with their Assistant HoDs and Coordinators to ensure that TSS boys are experiencing the Australian Curriculum as required by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). While each of the subject areas is described comprehensively and distinctly in the online curriculum available for public perusal at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au, ACARA also describes 10 General Capabilities to be embedded in schools’ academic programs. Literacy, numeracy, ICT, thinking skills, creativity, self-management, teamwork, intercultural understanding, ethical behaviour and social competence are elements of curriculum that TSS has continually emphasised, and our academic programs will continue to build these capabilities in boys.

Jo Inglis

In developing the Australian Curriculum, ACARA has also identified three Cross-Curriculum Perspectives; • Indigenous perspectives, to ensure that all young Australians have the opportunity to learn about, acknowledge and respect the history and culture of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders • a commitment to sustainable patterns of living • skills, knowledge and understanding related to Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia.

Themes of sustainability and Indigenous perspectives have for some time infused a range of TSS academic programs. The TSS Chinese Living Language and Culture program, which has evolved over the past four years under the guidance of the Head of Languages, Ms Lisa Miller, aims to highlight for boys Australia’s place in Asia, and the importance of being Asia literate. The citizen of the next few decades will need to be able to cope with diversity of culture. Furthermore, young people who are Asia literate and aware are attractive recruits for both business and government.

TSS will continue to deliver high-quality, relevant, challenging and engaging academic programs for boys, with a seamless transition to the Australian Curriculum as required by ACARA.

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Boy Meets Girl – The Relationship Between TSS and St. Hilda’s Karel Bos Assistant Housemaster, Delpratt

Social interaction between the TSS boys and the girls from our sister school St. Hilda’s is probably taken for granted as an unremarkable feature of contemporary times, but in fact the links between the two schools stretch back for decades, and the socialising aspect of the relationship broke new ground at various stages of its evolution.

Initially the association was somewhat symbolic although significant. As a contribution to the building of St. Alban’s Memorial Chapel in 1921, St. Hilda’s donated a window in the Sanctuary, and in 1924, the first wedding in the Chapel was that of Ivy Ada Lee, who had been the Science Mistress at St. Hilda’s. In 1933, at the dedication ceremony for the School’s memorial gates, a contingent from St. Hilda’s, comprising the Headmistress, staff and pupils, was present, with the girls forming a guard of honour.

In the early 1940s “TSS boy meets St. Hilda’s girl” assumed a more socially interactive dimension with the twice-yearly dances, and seemingly provided sufficient incentive for some of the boys to actually take dancing lessons. Another social milestone was reached in 1966 when a new Music Master announced the formation of the first TSS Choir. In a boys’ school where the manly pursuits of the sporting field held sway, this was greeted somewhat dubiously at first. However, the auditions attracted a sudden surge of interest when it was discovered that the new choir would be involved with the girls from St. Hilda’s as the cast of a planned joint production of The Pirates of Penzance.

As the ’70s rolled around, further joint ventures were attempted in the shape of co-ed electives for fifth and sixth formers from both schools. It was considered that this would “… give males and females the experience of mixed classes, to understand and appreciate the opposite sex and to break down the single-sex outlook”.

These historic links between the two schools have been reaffirmed over the years, and today interaction between the boys and girls on both social and formal levels has become a well-established routine.

April saw Assemblies at both schools promoting the September SONY Foundation Camp, which is a combined TSS/St. Hilda’s event that involves students volunteering their holidays so they can care for handicapped children. During May a TSS/St. Hilda’s Prefect Breakfast took place in the Memorial Room at TSS, at which discussions about gender, schooling and society in general were filmed and made into a short movie to be presented at both Schools’ Assemblies. Also in May, the Boarders at TSS invited the St. Hilda’s Boarders to dinner and a movie in the School’s Annand Theatre. The boys wanted to show the same courtesy and hospitality that the girls had shown earlier in the year when our boys travelled across the road for a similar event. The TSS Boarders looked after their guests admirably and made them feel very welcome. One girl reported: “They looked after us like gentlemen, clearing our tables and treating us like ladies.”

More joint events scheduled include trips to White Water World, Tenpin Bowling, BBQs, movies and shopping trips, and Year 10 Dances run by the Huelsmann Dance Company will take place in the open courtyard at St. Hilda’s.

Clearly the bond between TSS and St. Hilda’s is a strong one, and the ongoing interaction between the boys and girls will continue to provide a wholesome and appropriate means of creating attitudes of mutual respect and understanding between the genders.

12

St Hilda’s often competed against TSS in Tennis. Photo taken 1965, courtesy of St. Hilda’s.

Students from both schools enjoyed each others company at a recent Border’s dinner at the TSS Dining Hall

13

TSS Cattle Club Stamps its Brand on the Show Circuit Going by the show circuit results it’s fair to say that for our team, the year has kicked off with great success. Competitions at shows include not only preparation and leading of animals in individual classes, but also competing in Junior Judging and Parading, and the boys have put in many hours of hard work practising on a Thursday afternoon and Sunday morning during the semester so as to leave nothing to chance.

As a result all the boys turned in very polished performances and at the Boonah Show a special honor was conferred on Edward Walton, who was asked to be an associate judge in the British ring. The confidence in Edward’s experience shown by the Show Society can be considered quite a compliment, and Edward gained many useful tips that will be invaluable to him in the future.

The shows the team has participated in and the results thus far are shown below.

Dalby

Goondiwindi

Boonah

2nd: TSS Richie Light Weight Steers 2nd: TSS Wain Med. Weight Steers Overall Runner-up Junior Handlers: Lawrence Sehmish-Lahey Young Judges < 15years:1st Lawrence Sehmish-Lahey, 2nd Munro Underwood

Grand Champion Braford: “Little Valley Celeste”

“Milhaven Florence”: Champion Angus Female, Supreme Champion Angus, Supreme British Female, Supreme British Exhibit.

“Milhaven Fahrenheit”: Junior Champion Red Angus Bull, Supreme Champion Red Angus.

“Alfred Creek Fairlane”: Champion Shorthorn Bull.

“Little Valley Celeste”: Champion Senior Female Braford “TSS Wain”: 3rd place 400-500 kg class (strong field of 12)

Warwick 1st: TSS Greg Light Weight Steers 2nd: TSS Richie McCaw Light Weight Steers

Behind the scenes this year the boys have gained added experience through some outstanding backup by the Wieland family of Millhaven Stud, who have given the boys a chance to lead and work with their cattle.

The team is looking ahead to further stamp the TSS brand on shows at Toogoolawah, Mudgeeraba, Gatton, Brisbane RNA, Gold Coast and Beaudesert. The dates for these shows can be found on the Cattle Club page of the TSS website. We are currently looking at options (e.g. trailers) for carting cattle to each of the shows, so we would welcome any assistance from anyone in the wider TSS community.

Ross Wilson – MIC Cattle Club

Opportunities Abound for Enterprising Business Students The Business and Enterprise Education Department offers a number of co-curricular programs for students to develop and extend their entrepreneurial intelligence. Through overseas study tours, participating in the nationally recognised Australian Business Week (ABW), or engaging with the levels of the Business Leadership Passport Program (BLPP), students gain access to integral business knowledge and skills, as well as have the opportunity to engage with prominent business people from our local and wider community.

A unique opportunity for a Year 12 Business student to engage with the local business community is through the Elston Partners Awards for Business and Enterprise.

This award is a $2000 cash prize to the student who achieves the highest in two or more of their Business subjects, and an offer for this year Year 12 TSS student to be mentored by the business leaders in this top investment firm on the Gold Coast. On completion of their secondary education, the award provides the opportunity for the winning student to involve himself in work experience with the firm and gain vital insight into the world of investing and financing, as well as exposure to the local Gold Coast business community. The award is subject to the winning student being accepted into a business-related discipline of tertiary study.

A challenge is raised to all Year 12 students completing Business subjects to strive to secure this prestigious award, as the opportunities that may follow are exciting and many.

Mark Herriman – Head of Department – Business and Enterprise Education

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Katrina Martin Admissions Registrar

The French Connection (by Phone) Out in Mt. Isa’s neck of the woods at Yelvercroft Station, 11-year-old Jake Curr is eagerly preparing for his entry to TSS next year, but his preparation isn’t just a matter of daydreaming about how much fun life on campus is going to be, or looking forward to playing cricket.

As it is for most young lads on stations, life is pretty busy for Jake, who is expected to do his fair share of work such as helping his dad with mustering, while keeping up to the mark on his schoolwork through distance education. So you can

well understand that any spare time is something that might be treasured as an opportunity to just kick back and do whatever takes your fancy. Instead Jake chooses to spend a fair amount of his downtime on the phone learning to master French. Jake knows that at TSS, French is taught as a second language, and he’s keen to get a good handle on it before he arrives at Southport.

His “French connection” had previously been through School of the Air, but in recent months it has taken the form of bi-weekly private lessons by phone to Brisbane-based tutor

Myriam Peschler. For Jake, distance learning was a familiar concept, but for internationally experienced Ms Peschler it was a new experience. After a few initial hiccups, both student and tutor have settled into a great working relationship, and having struggled with his French work prior to this one-on-one French by phone, Jake is now enthusiastic and progressing well.

This way when he sits down for his first French class at TSS and the teacher inquires “parlez vous Francaise?”

Jake can answer most 15 confidently “mais oui”.

Cameron Herbert Dean of Students, Years 10-12

Honing Professional Teaching Skills to a Fine Edge

Teaching is complex and demanding work that requires Deputy Head of Prep – highly specialised skills and Curriculum knowledge to impact significantly on student learning. Furthermore, teaching is also a dynamic profession and, as new knowledge about teaching and learning emerges, new types of expertise are required by educators. Teachers must keep abreast of this knowledge base and use it to continually refine their conceptual and pedagogical skills.

The Southport School recognises that high-quality professional learning is one of the cornerstones of an effective school. Research consistently highlights the quality of teachers as a key determinant of variation in student achievement. This research asserts that, in order to be effective, teachers need a deep understanding of their subject area,

Kathryn Barry

knowledge of how students learn specific subject matter and a range of strategies and practices that support student learning. This research also affirms that engaging teachers in high-quality professional learning is the most successful way to improve teacher effectiveness. In recognition of the correlation between effective teaching and student achievement, enhancing the skills and knowledge of the education workforce is a key TSS priority.

Professional learning programs that TSS staff has engaged in this year have included workshops that have enhanced the members’ understanding of the content they teach and equipped them with a range of strategies that enable their students to learn that content. Professional learning has provided our teachers with the skills to teach and assess for deep understanding and to develop our students’ metacognitive skills.

Bounce-Back d e d i c at e d

THRASS ICT-WORKSHOpS

Learning

web 2.0 technology edukite

history guided inquiry

seven-steps-to-writing

Professional

EDUTECT SCIENCE 21st educators

special needs training primary connections

creative-critical-thinking

CARING

enthusiatic passionate responsive

Creative

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TSS STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Education

Leadership

Emotional Intelligence

Thinking Skills Intelligent Dispositions Learning Styles

Habits of Mind

Positive Psychology

Personality Types

e-Learning

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Thrass

Portable Technologies Department Focus Area Moodle & Mahara

Senior School

Web 2.0 Australian Curriculum Gifted & Talented/ Differentiation Year 7 Transition Cadet Program Development

Creative Critical Thinking Web 2.0 Australian Curriculum Gifted & Talented/ Differentiation Guided Inquiry Bounce-Back

STAFF LEARNING PRIORITIES

Primary Connections Seven Steps to Writing Edukite

Preparatory School

Spreading the Word on TSS Asia Literacy at the AEF National Summit TSS Head of Languages Lisa Miller was invited to make a presentation at the recent Asia Education Foundation (AEF) National Summit in Sydney, and as Lisa is aiming to increase interest in the languages program by developing a future study experience in China, she used her presentation to describe the path of Asia Literacy at TSS, with particular reference to our Asia Literacy Ambassador, Simon Higgins. The China initiative forms a part of Lisa’s continuing work on whole School programs to embed Asia Literacy across various areas of the TSS curriculum.

TSS Teachers Top the Bill at Conferences Literally Speaking in Osaka Andrew Stark Head of Libraries and Information Services

Recently, I was invited to present a paper in Osaka, Japan at the inaugural Asian Conference on Literature and Librarianship, which was held in conjunction with the third Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities. My paper focused on the data collected from the 2011 Senior Library Survey for Students (which is now available on the library website via the Library Events link).

Owing to the recent devastating events that hit north-eastern Japan, conference delegate numbers were well down, but the networking and learning opportunities were of a true international standard, with many excellent papers presented. A final summary paper of all attended presentations will be available via the Library Events link.

One paper presentation in particular that caught my attention was by the Assistant Librarian at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It focused on that library’s remarkable resource collection and development policy, which has resulted in tens of thousands of e-resources being provided for students. As a result, the library is retraining many members of its staff, as well as students, to understand and utilise the ever-increasing fields of Information Literacy. By the time our Year 12 boys arrive at their chosen universities they will be expected to know the processes involved in utilising e-resources and databases, and it is our intention to train them accordingly. Future Year 12 graduates may even be among the

first students to experience a ‘virtual library’ where there are no books at all, only on-line terminals.

There was a wealth of very interesting presentations at this conference, with many holding inferences and indicators of where we are heading in respect to the future of Information Literacy and boys’ education. This was a wonderful opportunity and a worthy professional experience.

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21st Century Maths and the Mathemagic of Predicting Football Results Kerry Thomas Mathematics Teacher

Come September I’m bound for Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa to attend the very serious-sounding 11th International Conference of The Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project. If that title isn’t enough to deliver a sobering impression of what will be going on, then the sub-title, “Turning Dreams into Reality: Transformations and Paradigm Shifts in Mathematics Education”, should do the trick.

The Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project serves as an international forum for both researchers and teachers.

Innovation is the main objective and this includes special interests

such as: maths for living, humanising maths education, equity and ethno-mathematics, the effective use of new educational technology in the classroom, adopting new and more effective paradigms, etc.

The major goal of the South African Conference is to help turn these mathematical dreams into reality!

I’ll be doing my bit by presenting a paper entitled “Teaching Mathematical Modelling to Tomorrow’s Mathematicians or, You Too Can Make a Million Dollars Predicting Football Results”. The essence of it is bound up in the reality that from sport to demographics to engineering to medicine to business, we are surrounded by mathematicians who are continually modelling the world around us, and that teaching Mathematical Modelling requires insight and planning to be effective.

This paper will explore an activity that I have devised to allow novice mathematicians to take on a modelling role. They create a model from data, refine the model based on new data, and finally evaluate the strength and weaknesses of their model.

I’ll let you all know how it goes, but I suspect predicting the football scores may prove the real challenge.

It’s one thing for us to lay claim to the excellence of the TSS teaching staff, but quite another when the fact is acknowledged by others. As evidence of the esteem in which our teachers are held, they’ve been travelling far and wide as keynote speakers at an eclectic range of conferences.

TSS Composer in Residence Hits the Key Note for the Song Room

The 2011 Song Room & Allans Music + Billy Hyde Professional Development Days will present teachers from across Australia with the opportunity to develop their understanding of how music and music technology can be incorporated into the classroom and also to learn new skills and techniques.

TSS Composer in Residence Paul Jarman will be attending as keynote speaker and workshop presenter.

The Song Room is a national not-for-profit organisation driven by a vision that all Australian children should have the

opportunity to participate in music and the arts to enhance their education, personal development and community involvement. To fulfil that vision the Song Room provides free, tailored, long-term music and arts-based programs for children in disadvantaged and high-need communities.

Programs are based on research and have been demonstrated to improve educational and social outcomes and to help schools sustain their own music and arts programs. The Song Room delivers its programs to around 250 schools and communities each year and works with over 20,000 children every week. Programs are targeted to schools in the most marginalised communities from every State/ Territory of Australia, from the 700,000 children in schools without specialist teachers in the arts.

As keynote speaker Paul will be discussing the values of core music skills, creative classrooms, improvisation leading to composition, thinking outside the box and encouraging a music education based on innovation through enjoyment. His workshops are designed to assist teachers in developing the confidence to write and perform music with students and to enhance general music skills, including age appropriate songs, dance and lyrics.

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Live African Rhythms get the Energy Buzzing at Prep Trisha Matthias Prep Music Master

There is nothing like a live music performance to inspire, enthuse and energise boys, and a recent live performance by Eddie Quansah from Ghana, West Africa got the Years 5 and 6 boys really amped up.

Eddie is a master of both traditional drumming and trumpet and he delights in sharing his extraordinary talents with children all over the country, not just through demonstrations, but through participatory performances. This approach meant that Eddie invited some of our percussion students to perform with him on the wonderful djembes (traditional drums) that we have purchased for our classroom music program.

The ancient musical forms of African rhythm and drumming are foundations on which much of our music today has evolved. Eddie shared with the boys the language of the drum and explained and demonstrated the part that the many different drums play in African ceremonies and rituals. His passion for his culture and the art of African music inspired the audience and had it wanting more, while his gentle humour enabled our boys to relate and laugh with him as he performed. Live performances such as this one show how we can celebrate unique aspects of our lives through music and dance.

It has long been proven that children who learn music and participate in live performance do better in school regardless of their cultural or socio-economic background. It helps to increase their awareness of the community around them, and in a wider sense, improves their social skills, cultural perspective and their ability to perform. This is an important step in developing our children as they contribute more and more to our wider community.

At TSS we will continue to offer our boys opportunities such as Eddie Quansahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance to enhance and develop their skills, knowledge and appreciation as they travel on their musical journey.

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World Music Speaks to the Global Village The term ‘global village’ is often heard today in our world of instant 24/7 communication through the use of digital Director of Music technology. We are now more accessible and ‘in touch’ with one another than ever before; we can communicate with people from all over the world with the simple press of a key. However, the question arises, ‘How much do we really know about our fellow human beings and the cultures that they live in?’.

Music is not just taught in schools as an academic exercise in higher-order thinking skills such as hypothesising, synthesising and justifying. Music is organic and it is an intrinsic part of the need for humans to communicate with one another; making music is a part of our human psyche. Therefore, it seems we have a responsibility to understand the music that people from other cultures create and hopefully gain an insight into how they think and feel.

The Senior School is fortunate to have Mr Paul Jarman as our

Rob Cooke

composer in residence in 2011. Paul has travelled to many parts of the world and performed with musicians from many different cultures. This year he has formed a ‘World Music’ group that explores these musical genres through improvisation, which is so fundamental to many of these musical cultures. The group rehearses regularly once a week and has performed in our school concerts with great success.

It has been said that music is truly the universal language of the human race. As a musician I firmly believe this, and groups such as these can only help to expand our understanding of this wonderful abstract language and those who use it.

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22

A Fresh Coat of Greasepaint for the House Drama Festival Di Francis Head of Drama

The annual House Drama Festival has been giving those students with dramatic inclinations a chance to “tramp the boards” for over half a century, and as a result it has become a great tradition at The Southport School. The festival was first staged in the 1950s when only three Houses competed for the ultimate prize, the Anning Shield. Today, the appeal of “the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd” has proven to be contagious, and now all 12 houses are involved in a spirited bid to win the coveted Shield. In light of this widespread enthusiasm it seemed about time that the TSS House Drama competition should be given a bit of a makeover.

For 2011 a Thematic Collage was adopted, based on QCS-Style Stimulus Sheets and involving a range of performance styles, for example, acting, physical theatre/dance/movement, live music, visual art and media. In keeping with the TSS “Band of Brothers” ethos, the theme adopted for this year was “Brothers”.

A Collage Drama is a collection of material selected around a theme and shaped into a dramatic performance. The material may be selected from a diverse range of sources such as plays, poetry, prose, songs, music, dance, newspapers, film, video clips, media, TV, and original material. This selection is transformed, linked and shaped, then rehearsed and performed.

The major goal of the new format is to ensure that more students have the opportunity to participate in the creative process of producing a House performance by widening the range of performance styles that may be included in each House production, and by specifying a minimum of 15 students per House to be actively and appropriately involved in the performance on stage, although not necessarily for the whole production. In this respect alone, the new format was a great success, with over 250 students performing.

Each House is encouraged to form a Production Team, with students divided into five areas of creative development, with leadership roles in each domain: Performing Artists – director, scriptwriter, actors, physical theatre, dancers, comedians Visual Artists – projections, film, set design, costume design Musicians – instrumental, vocal Producer – manager, rehearsal co-ordinator, budget, schedules Technicians – sound effects, lighting, special effects, stage crew and projections Points towards the Anning Shield are not the only reward offered during the Drama Festival. For students who demonstrate dramatic talent, whether it be in play devising, directing, production work,

media creation or performance skills, Certificates of Merit are awarded by the adjudicator on a nightly basis. For those students who display exceptional ability, Goblets for Dramatic Excellence are awarded on the final night of the competition, and the 2011 winners included: Rhys Davies (Radcliffe), Tristan Furney (Kaiser), Bede Thompson (Maughan), Alex Arena (Melbourne), Sam Rasmussen (Kaiser) and Sebastian Sherrah (Atkinson). This year an Adjudicator’s Award was added to allow the adjudicator to congratulate any particularly creative aspect of a production.

Delpratt took out this particular award with an exciting ensemble piece that saw the whole House involved in a stylised ‘rumble’ that spread from the stage into the audience.

Deserving of a special mention are the ‘unsung heroes’ of the TSS Theatre Crew, whose dedicated efforts behind the scenes in supplying the technical support for all 12 House performances was essential to the success of the Festival.

The House Drama Festival is a significant and important part of the co-curricular program at The Southport School and is the major creative aspect of the House Shield competition. As a vehicle for further enhancing and nurturing the learning of TSS students, the new format of House Drama ticks many of the Habits of Mind boxes.

23

Be Creative

Imagine new ideas & alternative ways of doing things.

Think of Different Ways of Solving a Problem

Try new approaches as you receive additional information.

Learn from Your Experiences

Use what you know from the past & apply it in new situations.

Use all your Senses to Gather Data

Use your mind to gather information from touch, movement, taste, smell, sight & sound.

Listen to Others

Try and understand other people & empathise with them.

Cooperate with Others

Work together to be more clever & powerful.

Be compassionate & humble.

Learn to Lead

Look for ways to make things better for others.

People of good character always do this.

Stick At It

Practise commitment & persistence as they lead to success.

Be Clear When You Communicate

Use clear language. Strive to communicate accurately.

Move Out of Your Comfort Zone

Take responsible risks by trying new activities, accepting challenges & finding your limits.

At the final reckoning the 2011 Festival was a very tightly fought competition, with only half a point separating some of the Houses.

Results were (in order from 1-12): Kaiser, Radcliffe, Maughan, Walker, Delpratt, Thorold, Atkinson, Melbourne, Biddle, Surman, McKinley, Turnock But to all the performers and their supporting crew members, your enthusiastic participation in the House Drama Festival ticks every box and deserves a standing ovation. This year the new format provided a showcase for an outstanding array of talent that displayed an incredibly high standard. You not only demonstrate support for your House and The Arts, but you play a leading role in upholding one of TSS’s cherished traditions. May you all continue to

“BREAK A LEG”!

24

A Dramatic Turn of Events for Delpratt House If you’ve seen us in conversational huddles at Delpratt House it’s because we’ve been having some “deep and meaningfuls” in an effort to come up with the means to clock up some wins in House activities, inject a dose of good old-fashioned pride into everyone and at the same time bring the House together in pursuit of a common goal.

The considered opinion of all involved in these weighty deliberations is that Delpratt needs to make a dramatic impact on the TSS campus. I see my role as PE and PC Group Teacher first and First XV Coach second, and I certainly like to win Rugby games, but it was a question of looking for the right vehicle, and one area that I could see where Delpratt was less than outstanding was in House Drama, so I thought this might just be where we could lift our game.

The idea that House Drama was a way that all boys in Delpratt could come together, become involved and showcase their talents seemed ideal, and to also fit in with the “Band of Brothers” theme being sounded by TSS this year. It soon got a tick from all concerned. The boys are enthusiastic and the staff, including Phil Ward, John Shields and Assistant Housemaster Karel Bos, is driving the project forward, me to assume more of a back seat. Karel’s commitment is especially important as he is able to be with the boys at nightime to provide added incentive and encouragement.

This newfound determination to distinguish ourselves “at the footlights” has already paid off, with Delpratt taking out the inaugural Adjudicator’s Award at the 2011 House Drama Festival by presenting an exciting “stylised rumble” ensemble piece that spilled from the stage into the audience.

As one of the original boarding houses, Delpratt has a proud tradition to uphold, and we all believe strongly that by revving up our efforts in House Drama we can add some lustre to that tradition and give Delpratt a strong push up towards the top of the House Shield standings where it belongs.

Mike Wallace – Physical Education/Pastoral Care Group Teacher/First XV Coach

Duly Quoted “With the new House Drama format, it allows more people to get involved within the production.

It’s more than just acting now and includes musicians, writers, dancers, etc. We had more people involved in Drama in Atkinson than we have ever had and it’s great to get such a wide variety of talents on show. I would like to thank everyone involved in the Atkinson production and special thanks for Luke for helping us and making it all happen.”

“House Plays have reached a whole new level of competition.

With the new components of music, dancing and multimedia, the plays have not only become enriched, but are of a much higher standard than ever before. I felt honored to received one of the six Goblet awards for dramatic excellence, as I have been striving for one since my first involvement in House Drama in Year 8.”

“I have found directing the House Play for the first time extremely challenging. After being involved in the House Play last year, it is clear to see that the new format requires a lot more commitment from a greater number of boys and truly reflects that you get out what you put in. I think the members of Maughan House pulled together extremely well for the play, with over half the House performing on stage. None of our main cast is a drama student, but through practice and commitment we were able to achieve a far greater result than many would have expected. It takes a lot, but if you stick to it 100% you will be sure to reap the benefits.”

Sebastian Sherrah

Alexander Arena

Bede Thompson

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Head of the Prep School, Mr. Jeff Symms eagerly awaits the forthcoming Prep Walking Tours

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Hot to Trot – Walking Tours of TSS Prep Mark Wyer Deputy Head of Prep Pastoral Care

How often do you get the chance to explore first-hand the outstanding facilities of the TSS Preparatory School on a tour conducted personally by TSS Prep Head of School? Well here it is, and everyone from past, present and prospective students, their parents and friends are all welcome to join in.

The walking tour will take about one hour and will encompass every aspect of the Prep School and its environs, allowing you the chance to evaluate the sort of environment and quality of education that a TSS student experiences.

There’s a brief welcome and introduction as well as a Q&A session at the start of the tour, and you are invited to nominate any particular areas of interest that you would like your tour to focus on.

So what might you see?

Every tour will encounter something different, but here

are a few little cameos that you might encounter. Hardy boys who are the early morning starters jumping out of cars with their enthusiasm for the day ahead not at all contained, some carrying instruments for music ensemble rehearsals, some with tennis racquets slung carelessly across shoulders or sporting kits stuffed into bags of varying vintages, and still others holding serious-looking folders of work, heading for the computer lab to create or to print. You may hear the sound of laughter ringing through the courtyard as a group of Year 4 readers share a joke over something their helper-reader dad has said, or a steady hum of noise around the central quad denoting the sound of learning, the teachers’ voices – their varied pitch reflecting in turn praise, instruction or perhaps a firm but gentle reminder to ‘get back to work’. If it’s around morning-

break time, then the playground will resound to the sounds of just under 600 boys having fun – running, kicking, throwing, catching, climbing and chasing.

In the library it’s a vibrant place of colour and magic that it is at once both peaceful and hectic, with many boys engaged in everything from computers to Lego kits or simply reading.

If you happen upon a Chapel Service you will experience yet another aspect of TSS, where the secular life of the boys is infused with spiritual values in an atmosphere of grace and reverence.

There is much to discover as you join us on a wander of the TSS Prep campus, but Tour places may be limited, so to ensure you have a place on a date that best suits you we recommend you contact Prep School Reception on 5531 9943 to book or to obtain further information.

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TSS Gifted & Talented Class Philosophy

Angela Foulds-Cook Head of Gifted Education (P-12)

Recently G&T withdrawal classes have been criticised by researchers who claim they are not being closely linked to the school curriculum and that regular classroom teachers may tick the box of gifted provision, abrogating their responsibilities towards catering for gifted students in their classes. As a result, some schools have moved away from providing withdrawal classes for G&T students.

So why does TSS still see maintaining these classes as a vital element of our G&T program?

We believe that withdrawal classes are a dynamic element that helps

cater for our G&T students and further supports the learning process between student and teacher in the regular classroom. These classes provide an additional chance to work in like-ability groups at a greater pace and on topics related to the school curriculum.

Social skills, working as a team and developing the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EQ/ IQ are explored through the higher-order thinking challenges and activities. Students are guided to develop their own unique identity rather than define themselves by stereotypes. They are encouraged to embrace an attitude that it is O.K. to be and act smart. Students are mentored by a Gifted Education Specialist who understands their characteristics and likely sensitivities, skilfully stretching the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thinking, while also providing an additional support person from whom a boy may seek pastoral care if he is experiencing social, emotional or academic challenges.

It is in these G&T withdrawal classes that students are explicitly taught that while they are fortunate to possess intellectual gifts, it will be their hard work, persistence and focus that will ultimately determine their outcomes.

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Year 9 G&T Links up with University of Queensland

A group of Year 9 G&T students recently had a unique opportunity to visit The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) in Brisbane and speak with Centre Director Professor Murray Mitchell and his research team. The major areas at UQCCR research are; Mothers, Babies and Lifelong Health, Cancer, Brain and Mental Health and Infection and Immunity.

Our students toured the clinical rooms and the five levels of state-of-the-art research laboratories, observing many scientists and researchers at work. One researcher examining human brain cells demonstrated these to the students via her computer screen, while

another was engaged in developing tests for certain symptoms in babies’ brains that presently can’t be detected by a doctor. Finally, students were split into smaller groups to talk with representatives for senior medically qualified researchers, biomedical researchers, PhD students and early career researchers. Our students are to be congratulated on the way they demonstrated their thinking as their questions were thoughtful and engaging. Many thanks to UQCCR and we hope that we have now established additional opportunities for TSS Senior G&T and science students to visit this world-class facility. If parents would like to take a look please go to www.uqccr.uq.edu.au.

Gaining Confidence Through Conferences – The G.A.T.E.ways & TSS Partnership Eldon Pascoe Coordinator of Gifted Education P-7

TSS has been very fortunate to have developed a strong relationship with Melbourne-based G.A.T.E.ways Education, a service founded over 17 years ago by Gifted Education teachers and parents to provide Australia-wide school workshops and festivals aimed at gifted and talented students and presented by selected specialists in their particular fields. TSS is proud to be the host school for the Gold Coast region and each term invites primary school-

aged girls and boys from all over the region to our Prep Campus to join with our students in hands-on activities and thoughtprovoking and challenging tasks.

The program changes each term and may include Science, Mathematics or Literacy-based themes, and we are fortunate to have many exceptional TSS teachers who have been invited to lead programs in their areas of expertise such as the brain, robotics and science.

At TSS we view this as a significant opportunity for our G&T learners to explore their areas of strength and build connections with like-minded students from their community.

G.A.T.E.ways programs help our students to stretch well beyond the curriculum, nurturing our future scientists, linguists and mathematicians.

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World-Class Facilities Draw World-Class Teams

The term “world class” is bandied about with great frequency these days and is all too often applied to something having Sports Manager only the most tenuous claim to such lofty status.

TSS confidently applies “world class” to its sporting facilities, not just because we know that we offer some of the best sporting facilities in Australia, but because we can back that claim with hard evidence in the form of the many national and international teams that utilise them.

In the past TSS sporting facilities have drawn such noteworthy teams as the Australian Wallabies, New Zealand All Blacks, Queensland Reds, Australian 7s Team, New Zealand Rugby League side, Scotland Rugby, Japan, Samoa (Rugby), Australian Cricket Team, and many other international sides. In the near future, we will be proud to be the base for The Wallabies prior to the Rugby World Cup (RWC), The Boomers prior to the World Championships, Canada (again) prior to the RWC, British & Australian Swimming Camps and The Australian University

Ian Browne

Games (Men’s Volleyball & Rugby 7s). Still looking ahead and leading into the potential selection of the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games, many countries are eyeing TSS as a training base for their teams.

Open 360 days of the year, the range of international competition-standard facilities is impressive. The Centenary Sports Centre is the “crown jewel” providing for: swimming, basketball, tennis, cricket, rugby, soccer, gymnastics, weight training, and sporting ovals. In addition a variety of function rooms, fully AVequipped classrooms and commercial-sized kitchen facilities are available for general hire to cater for special functions, conferences, lectures, sporting events and trade shows.

In some instances a particular facility offers great flexibility. For example, the Indoor Sports Arena can be adapted to accommodate anywhere from 100 to 1000 people for seminars, conventions and small/large sporting events with a unique tiered seating system that can be configured for any style of event. The indoor surface is considered by many national teams to be one of the best in the country and suitable for sports including: basketball, badminton, volleyball, indoor soccer, table tennis, gymnastics, judo, fencing and indoor tennis.

Located outside of the Centre, the versatile undercover area can host such activities as basketball, rock-climbing, tennis, volleyball, and during the summer months, quality cricket practice nets for international, national and local sporting teams. Adjacent to this covered area is the Village Green, the School’s No. 1 Oval. During summer this international-standard field has a four turf-wicket block centre, and in the winter it transforms into a Rugby arena able to accommodate up to 8000 spectators.

Down on the river and adjacent to the ovals, the newly refurbished Rowing & Sailing Centre has one of the best views on the Gold Coast. In addition to its sporting facilities, its wifi and AV-equipped function area is unmatched in respect to location and style, and many of the visiting teams will utilise this area for team meetings and video sessions.

Social requirements are easily encompassed by the Hall of Fame functions facility. Views and versatility make this a superb venue for all types of functions including: tradeshows, weddings, cocktail parties, lectures and seminars. With parking for 150 vehicles, a fully equipped commercial kitchen and the option to use on-site caterers, the Hall of Fame can handle seated-style functions for 220 or cocktail-style parties for up to 400 plus guests.

Add it all up and it would be hard to find a more comprehensive range of sporting and ancillary facilities of international standard in one strategic location anywhere in the country. TSS proves the truth of the old saying “build it and they will come”. We have built true world class-facilities and the world’s teams continue to come.

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Old Boys

When the Spirit Moves You, Do Something With It Members who have a strong sense of belonging tend to continue to be interested and involved in their school. The need to belong OSA Coordinator is extremely important to the majority of people, and the pride in belonging to a school is the foundation of school spirit.

Walk around our campus or attend a sporting event and it’s obvious that School Spirit is alive and well among the students. School Spirit undeniably strengthens the student community, but what becomes of it once the student has passed out through the gates for the last time?

TSS Old Boys are living proof that the TSS School Spirit is not a phenomenon confined merely to a few hectares of Winchester Street or the handful of years spent there. The Old Southportonians’ Association was established almost 100 years ago, with the primary objective of promoting the welfare of the School and to support the School in the realm of sport, the arts, in public appeals and to assist in the education of students. With this in mind, the OSA is reaching out to its 15,000 members with a simple message that “when the Spirit moves you, do something with it”.

We’re asking you to assist TSS by providing work experience for students and/or to volunteer to impart your knowledge informally at the OSA Mentor Day. At TSS, like every other school, we have Year 10 boys about to make important decisions about which subjects to study in the next two years. We have Year 12 boys who are about to enter the post-secondary phase of their lives, which involves having a working knowledge of the myriad of pathways and careers surrounding them. You were there once and you too had to make these decisions. For some it wasn’t so long ago and perhaps any mistakes you made are still fresh! For others, maybe you had a dream run and ended up where you are now because of well-made decisions made at critical times. Maybe some had a helping hand along the way that made the climb a bit easier. Some may still be struggling to achieve those elusive goals. Perhaps some may feel that if they had their time over again, then they would do it all differently.

Whatever your situation, the OSA Mentor Network could become an invaluable way of sharing your experiences so that current

Kris Hailey

TSS boys can make informed decisions based on the sound, practical knowledge and experience of those who have gone before them.

Our immediate needs are twofold.

1. Work experience for the students studying Certificate III in Business. We need employers to accept boys into their businesses to ‘show them the ropes’ for just one day per semester.

2. The OSA Mentor Day proposed for Monday, September 5.

Volunteers prepared to share their knowledge so that small groups of boys can chat informally to a mentor to discuss options concerning various pathways to careers.

These are some of the Old Boys who have already come on board: Paul Wood – Stewart Silver King & Burns; Damien Moffrey – Baker Affleck Moffrey Chartered Accountants; Derek Cronin – Cronin Litigation Lawyers; Jason Carlson – Hynes Lawyers; Michael Gatenby – McLaughlins Solicitors; Craig Hobart – Tyndall Investments; Jon Hui – Bank of Queensland, Manly; Lt Thomas Usher – Lieutenant, Australian Army; Archie Douglas – Halycon Days: Ross Norman – RiTech Building Solutions, Nathan Quartermaine – Burling Brown Architects, Andrew Taylor – Qantas Pilot.

Thanks must also to the TSS current parents & community who are always a great support to the School: Greg Pointon – Q Property Lawyers; Christopher Walton – Bolt Masters; Ray Taylor – FCS Accounting/Finance; Ron Moore – Fort Knox Storage; Greg Kafritsas – Beachcomber Resort; M Sheehy – PKF Accounting; Joy Hughes – Zupps Auto; Tracey Windley – CEO; Karen Maguire – Robina Medical Centre; Lee Fowler – Freshness Australia; Peter Flak – Hope Island Marina; Tammy Janetzki – Russell Heale Engineering; Graham Philp – Wheels that Work; Kaila McKinnon – Lowpro Pty Ltd; Landcare Group and Arman Helmet Design; Mitzi Giddings – Air Gold Coast Professional Jet. If you are willing to exercise that School Spirit by becoming involved in one of these programs, the OSA and the boys of TSS would be most grateful. To register please contact: Mike.Halpin@tss.qld.edu.au Ph. 5531 9896 or Kris.Hailey@tss.qld.edu.au Ph. 5531 9803

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Old Boys

Old Boy Matt Belcher (pictured left) with his sailing partner, Malcolm Page.

Old Boy Sails to World Cup Glory in The Netherlands Another TSS Old Boy has made his mark on the international sporting scene with a gold medal victory in the recent Sailing World Cup in the Netherlands. Old Boy Matt Belcher and his sailing partner, Malcolm Page, are reigning World Champions in the 470 class, a scenario that will come as no surprise to Old Boys who are familiar with the promise

shown by Matt’s great sailing record when he was at TSS. It was a tight race with the pair starting strongly then slipping back before staging a fighting comeback to cross the line in second place and add sufficient points to give them the gold. Matt commented: “The medal race was always going to be difficult and it ended up being just that... the wind was fluctuating between

five and 25 knots, there was a lot of changes in position, lots of nervous moments and we just tried to keep our calm throughout the race.”

This medal win shows the pair can match it with the world’s best and is an important morale booster as they continue to campaign towards the 2012 London Olympics.

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Old Boys

Generations will Gather at The Old Boys Reunion Weekend Each year the OSA coordinates a weekend of activities for TSS Old Boys, offering a rare chance to catch up and reminisce, but these events also provide an opportunity to discuss what everyone is doing at this stage in their life.

This year, the official reunion is for the 2001 year group – all boys who left school 10 years ago. We encourage all Old Boys, particularly those in 1991, 1981, 1971, 1961, 1951, to attend as well, with a special emphasis on those who left in 1961, as this year will mark a half-century since their graduation.

The weekend kicks off with the Generations Dinner on Thursday, July 28 for current students who are second, third and fourth-generation families. The School organises this night as a gesture of thanks and appreciation to all these families who have supported the School for many years. This year, guests will be invited to a fabulous dinner, hosted by the Headmaster in the Old Gym Café, giving all Generational families a chance to talk about life at TSS and also to view a specially prepared DVD on the History of TSS. Friday is a big day, commencing at 11.30am with the Older Old Boys Assembly. All Old Boys who started School in 1951 or before are considered to be our honoured Older Old Boys. The Assembly is structured around these very special gentlemen, with the Headmaster paying special tribute to them in his speech. A photo is taken to mark this special event, followed by lunch in the Dining Hall to end the day. All 1951 Older Old Boys will be presented with a specially commissioned Older Old Boys tie to mark the occasion.

The annual TSS Foundation/OSA McWhirter Cup Golf Day is again being held at RACV Royal Pines Golf Couse. This day is open to ALL of the TSS Community; however, only teams comprised exclusively of Old Boys are eligible to win the coveted McWhirter Cup. The day commences with registration at 10.30 and tee off is at 12.00noon. This fun day concludes at 5.00pm with presentations, a light dinner, drinks and fellowship.

Please contact Gerry Northausen for details on being part of this golf day on 5531 9841.

Later that same evening, the Young Old Boys (YOBs) have organised to gather at Surfers Rowers from 7.30 for a few drinks and a catch-up. All YOBs are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is always a fun evening for our Young Old Boys.

Saturday – another big day of events for our Old Boys and families. We start at 7.45am with the Delpratt Breakfast hosted by Delpratt Housemaster Mr Phil Ward. This is followed by a morning

tea in the Old Gym Café, hosted by Headmaster Mr Greg Wain and wife Mrs Kate Wain. Most returning Old Boys enjoy a Rediscovery Tour of the school to see all the improvements taking place on campus, and this commences at 11am with our Prefects acting as tour guides.

Starting at 11.30am is a Family BBQ on the River Ovals.

This will be the event and venue for photos to be taken of the 2001 year group as well as year groups ’96, ’86, ’76, ’66 and ’56 and to make it an entertaining lunchtime Young Old Boy Jake Ogburn is treating us to a solo music performance. There will be something for everyone, including rides for the children, Mr Whippy handing out ice-creams to one and all and a cash bar for our Old Boys and partners so they can have a quiet drink, sit back and relax with their families while enjoying the stunning view of the Nerang River.

Of course we are mindful that the BBQ must finish in time for the much-watched and heavily attended final GPS Rugby home game, which kicks off at 3.05pm on the Village Green. This year TSS will play Ipswich Grammar School in the final home game for the GPS season.

But wait, there’s more! At 6.30pm Old Boys are invited to attend the Reunion Dinner, which gets under way with drinks and canapés on the Clocktower Lawn, followed by photos of the 2001, ’91, ’81, ’71 and ’61 year groups, followed by dinner in the Dining Hall at 8pm. This is always a sell-out with strictly limited seats available, so we encourage all Old Boys to register for this event as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

To end the weekend, there is a Chapel service at 8.30am in St. Alban’s Chapel for all Old Boys and their families. Fr Jonathan Whereat, the School’s newly commissioned Chaplain, will conduct the service.

Details of the Reunion Events are on the TSS Old Boys website: www.tssoldboys.com.au or available through the OSA Office, Tel: 07 5531 9803.

Details of the Golf Day are on the TSS website www.tss.qld. edu.au under the Foundation pages or contact Foundation Office on, Tel: 07 5531 9841. Be on the lookout for your invitations in the mail and on email.

The Reunion Weekends help keep alive old friendships and foster a spirit of good fellowship among the Old Boys community, so we encourage all Old Boys and their families to come along and take part.

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Old Boys

A Word or Two with Delpratt Old Boy Paul Wood Back when he was a Delpratt boarder from 1980-1984, it’s almost certain that Paul Wood could never have had the faintest idea that he would find himself where he is today. OSA President, 50% owner of Stewart Silver King and Burns Community Managers (a body corporate services and consulting company with over 120 staff in seven offices stretching from Melbourne to Cairns) and happily married to Donna with son Cody in Year 2 at TSS and daughter Caitlin in Year 1 at St. Hilda’s.

After graduating Paul was undecided about his future. He went down the path of briefly studying maths and computing at DDIAE in Toowoomba, laboring, overseas travel, and on his return from abroad, looking at the prospect of going back into the construction industry. It was at this point that his future father-in-law wisely suggested he’d be better off working with his head rather than his hands and should grab the chance to go to university. Decision made, Paul headed off to do a Bachelor of Business and this proved to be a turning point.

But university degrees aside, it appears that the strong foundation laid by his years at TSS has played a fundamental part in influencing Paul’s attitudes and success.

“The traditions and values of TSS most definitely shaped me to be who I am today... there was the study of course, but I played a lot of sport and that taught me a

tremendous amount about myself and others… lessons not just for the footy paddock or cricket pitch, but ones that definitely formed the basis for decisions later in my life… in my early years my mates in Delpratt were a strong influence and I have to say they still play a part in my life as I continue to see them regularly… in my senior years it was the guidance of my boarding Housemaster, Bruce Maughan, along with the likes of Curley Lamb and Bill Greinke.”

Paul freely admits that he struggled with applying himself to study at university and at times allowed having a good time to take precedence, thereby resulting in what should have been a three-year course stretching to four years, and after gaining a full-time job, having to complete some subjects externally. So with that priceless commodity of hindsight, what would he do differently and what advice has he got for the current Year 12 boys about choosing a future pathway?

“I guess I would have to say I would not be as afraid of failure and would take defeats more as a learning curve and the start of new opportunities, and not as a disappointment to myself and those around me... as for the present TSS boys, if you are fortunate enough to know what you want to do then don’t hold back, definitely go for it. If you are like I was and don’t really know what you want, then go and do some study and get a piece of paper behind you… you will learn lessons you can apply for the rest of your life no matter what you do. It will provide opportunities you never previously considered.”

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The Statue of Perseus and Why it’s all Greek to me There are a number of statues around the TSS campus, and if you’re in the vicinity of the Centenary Centre you’ll come across one of the legendary Greek hero Perseus with a plaque that states; “Perseus prepares for the Quest”, and just in case you wonder why he’s busy adjusting his footwear: “Perseus straps on Mercury’s winged sandals to bear him swiftly on his quest.”

“What’s it all about?” you may reasonably ask, because unless you’re familiar with the legend then it’s probably all just Greek to you. So here’s a very abridged version of the Perseus tale because the full story is more convoluted than a Russian novel and in contemporary mode would require the disclaimer; “Contains sex scenes and strong violence, viewing by mature audiences only”.

Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae and as the first twist in an unfolding Greek drama he and his mother are cast into the sea in a wooden chest. Having washed ashore on the island of Seriphos, Danae becomes the wife of the King, who decides Perseus is something of a nuisance and concocts a scheme to be rid of him.

That scheme is “the Quest” named on our statue’s plaque and it requires Perseus to go and lop the head off the Medusa (that’s the woman with the hair made up of live snakes).

Clearly the Gods were on his side as he acquired some useful stuff from them for his quest. Hesperides gave him a knapsack to safely contain Medusa’s head, Zeus contributed a sword to do the deed and Hades’ Helmet of Darkness as a sort of stealth device, Athena came up with a polished shield and Hermes (not Mercury as on our plaque – he was the Roman version) kicked in the winged sandals for rapid transit. Needless to say with all that going for him Perseus pulled off the quest, and after further bloodshed and random mayhem, some of the cast lived happily ever after.

Now what significance does all this have for TSS that it should end up with Perseus lurking about the campus? With partial funding by the then St. Albans Art Committee, former Headmaster Bruce Cook had commissioned a “sculpture of a teenage boy in classical sporting pose”. Taking some artistic licence the sculptors came up with the concept of Perseus getting ready for his great quest. His specialty of random bloodletting may not exactly have fallen into the category of a sport, but the creators felt that the ideal of Perseus with his devotion to the quest and his ability to overcome obstacles and to endure in pursuit of a worthy goal would have some contemporary relevance for our students. And it does.

So now you know and can draw some inspiration from Perseus instead of just wondering why there’s this statue of a guy having trouble with his thongs.

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TSS Junior Councillors are Learning to Lead This year, The Southport School has five representatives on the Gold Coast City Council Junior Council learning what Head of Humanities it takes to become tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaders. They are Year 11 student Harrison Cush and Year 10 students Cameron Sheldon, Lucas Jones, Michiatsu Masuda and Dragomir Petrovic-Djordjevski.

The Junior Council has been operating since 1993, and in conjunction with the Ashmore Rotary Club, the Gold Coast City Council has developed a highly successful youth program for civic-minded emerging leaders from Years 10 and 11 across 20 Gold Coast schools. The program has four stated aims: Citizenship Providing students with a better understanding of the role and functions of local government, the Gold Coast community and local issues.

Participation Real opportunities for youth to have a voice. Students raise issues, exchange ideas, discuss community issues and input into Council planning, programs and services. They grow in confidence, and develop communication, consultation, leadership and program-development skills.

Consultation Opportunities for young people to be involved in decisionmaking processes.

Community Students also develop a sense of community connectedness through active participation in Gold Coast community life and meeting like-minded people. Many of the boys and girls who participate in Junior Council are likely candidates in Year 12 for roles such as Prefects and House Captains, and it is a positive experience for our boys to meet fellow emerging leaders across the Coast.

Robert Ritchie

Junior Council is a two-year student program. Boys can join in Year 10, and then seek an Executive role in Year 11. Students attend five Junior Council meetings per year. The program is dynamic and varied, including a range of guest speakers on themes such as multiculturalism and the environment. In addition to the scheduled Junior Council meetings, students are invited to become involved in a range of community activities and events. Students may be required to attend additional meetings as part of their involvement within their particular committee or working groups, such as the Youth Achievement Awards events committee.

The Southport School extends it sincere thanks to Elizabeth Hermanoczki, Donna Matulis and Lauren Woodhouse who coordinate the program at GCCC and are constantly encouraging of our boys. Any Junior boys who are interested in becoming part of this program in future years are invited to speak to Mr Ritchie, the TSS Coordinator, or seek more information at juniorcouncil@goldcoast.qld. gov.au.

TSS looks forward to finding its next GCCC Junior Mayor!

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Mark Wyer Deputy Head of Prep Pastoral Care

Forging Enduring Bonds Through the Prep House System Run by the boys, entirely for the boys, the importance and value of the Prep School House System cannot be overstated. It enables our boys to interact and forge friendships across the year levels, provides the framework for pastoral care of students, encourages participation in sporting and cultural extra-curricular activities and promotes leadership development.

The four Houses (Dixon, Mitre, Musgrave and Shepherd) divide a total of 600 boys into smaller, more intimate communities of approximately 150, allowing the boys to become individual faces to their fellow House members from Prep to Year 7. In these small groups, the boys’ individual personality, talents and needs can be nurtured and catered for and opportunities for leadership created. Each House elects leaders, who take on positions of responsibility within both the House and the wider School. Within their House, the boys also organise Chapel Services, Assemblies, community service activities and fundraising projects and involve parents in many of their activities.

The House system promotes student achievement from the classroom to the sports field, helping out around the school and musical productions. It also develops vertical integration in the school to complement the horizontal integration that the year-level system provides. The House identity and spirit is highlighted at the weekly House meetings where the Housemasters foster the skills of communication and teamwork through active participation by the boys. At these meetings, students of all ages interact to build friendships and a sense of belonging through the strong connection to their House and TSS as a whole.

Sporting events are organised and encouraged, thus reinforcing the boys’ connection with their House as they do friendly battle with other Houses in touch football, basketball, soccer and chess. House points are announced at the weekly Assembly, culminating in the end-of-year presentation of the Howard Smith Cup for the Champion House. A highlight and often a deciding event in the Howard Smith Cup is the inter-House Music competition when – in conjunction with their Housemaster – all boys from Years 3-7 prepare and enter a choral performance.

Spiritual growth is nurtured and promoted through student-led philanthropy and service. As a Christian school in the Anglican tradition, each of the Houses seek opportunities to have our boys engage with the wider community and actively contribute to making a difference to the lives of others. This social service program not only focuses on raising funds for disadvantaged groups and worthwhile charities, but also offers a chance for boys to engage in dialogue about social justice issues, to develop projects for practical assistance and to raise awareness among other members of the school community.

House Chapel Services are conducted by the boys to add a spiritual dimension to the social justice program of the Houses. It is important for the boys to acknowledge that we are all spiritual beings, that each of the boys has particular gifts, talents, skills, abilities and personalities and that we are all loved by God. In a formal sense, our House Chapel Services at St. Albans allow the boys to come together for a time of worship and allow for a time of connection, growth and reflection with all family members of the House.

Finally, the House System works to deliver and support our pastoral-care program. The four Housemasters take an active interest in the boys, developing positive relationships that form a support structure for them during their journey through the Prep School. By the final Prep year, this special bond created between the boys and the Housemasters matures to a close working relationship as the Housemasters mentor the boys in their various leadership roles.

The House System at Prep is an integral part of the boys’ daily lives. The relationships they forge with 38 their friends, teachers and the wider School family really do epitomise the essence of a “Band of Brothers”.

House Spirit

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The Joy is in the Journey Learning From The Great Outdoors

Craig Humbley Director of Outdoor Education

The consistently high academic achievements of TSS boys speak volumes for the quality of our educational programs and the dedication of our teachers and staff, but what is it that accounts for the other characteristics that distinguish a TSS student? What is it that accounts for their “wellroundedness” and the attributes that go to “maketh the man”?

The answer can be found when we step out of the classroom and into the open spaces of the natural environment, where the TSS Outdoor Education Program takes over in its role of revealing and developing the full potential of every boy. TSS recognises the value of the Great Outdoors as a “Classroom of Life” in which the boys can explore and expand their horizons and come to an understanding that while an ultimate goal or destination is important, “the joy is in the journey”. The program is an integral component of the School’s mission to educate and foster in every boy the spiritual, academic, physical and social qualities necessary to walk through life with a sustaining self-confidence.

The precepts that provide the guiding light for the Outdoor Education Program are taken from the philosophy and life example of inspirational educator Dr. Kurt Hahn. Born into a cultured Jewish industrialist family in Germany in 1886, this eccentric, charismatic educator became the founder and contributor to many well-recognised and innovative experiential, social development and outdoor education schools and programs.

Outward Bound, Gordonstoun, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Round Square Schools and the International Baccalaureate are some of the major projects associated with Dr. Hahn.

Hahn believed that each child is born with innate spiritual powers and ability to make correct moral judgements, and that the potential loss of these powers through the impulses of adolescence and the effects of society’s less-desirable aspects could be countered in part by the pursuit of physical fitness and challenge through physical education. His philosophy was summed up when he said: “I regard it as the foremost task of education to ensure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible selfdenial, and above all, compassion.”

TSS aims to follow Hahn’s lead by exposing the boys to a wide range of outdoor skills, pursuits and experiences via a sequential program of camps that carry from Year 4 through to Year 11.

The camps (conducted at Hidden Creek OEC, Binna Burra and South Stradbroke Island) are

designed to create a natural progression in levels of knowledge, skills and attitudes, which are built upon progressively year-by-year in harmony with the boys’ growing physical and intellectual maturity.

Working under experienced instructors in smaller groups within “class-size” camps, the boys are presented with age and abilityappropriate mental, physical and social challenges.

Outdoor skill-based activities may include: camp-craft, canoeing, rock climbing, map reading, ropes courses, orienteering, mountain biking, astronomy, archery, fishing, cooking and expedition planning. These are carefully integrated with enhanced environmental and ecological awareness, together with other academic disciplines that emphasise leadership, emotional intelligence, thinking skills and cooperative effort.

The overall aim of all this is to encourage personal development and build personal selfawareness, self-esteem and confidence. The measured approach to achieving this can be seen from the fact that at Year 4 level the boys are in bunkhouses with food catered and by Year 11 their abilities have matured to the point where they are in tents and are self-directed, organising equipment, food, recipes and cooking for themselves as well as planning their own expeditions.

For all the apparent “ruggedness” of the TSS Outdoor Education Program, this is not some hard-core, US Marines-style boot camp. TSS seeks to emulate the purpose and manner of Kurt Hahn, who for all his emphasis on the value of physical methodology, was, after all, a scholarly and humane man whose influences were as disparate as Plato and Baden-Powell.

We simply encourage the boys to discover that in Dr. Hahn’s words “there is more in you than you think” and that in the discovery of that “more” within themself, the joy truly is in the journey.

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Prep Outdoor Education Camps Year 3 – Sleepover This sleepover is designed as an introduction to the camping experience that awaits the boys as they progress through the Prep School. The focus is on boys enjoying some independence and selfreliance as they spend a night away from home, and building the stepping stones for the camping program in Year 4.

Year 4 – Hidden Creek As this is their first actual camping experience, the Year 4 camp is aimed at developing boys’ social and personal skills, including: cooperation, initiative and knowledge of environmental science within a number of physical activities such as bushwalking and canoeing.

There is also an opportunity for the boys to sleep out in tents and experience a night out under the stars and develop basic outdoor skills.

Year 5 – Binna Burra, Lamington Park The Year 5 camp continues the theme of outdoor education with the boys tackling more personal challenges in the form of low ropes, team-building challenges and exploring the Lamington National Park on bushwalks. It is designed to develop initiative and team-building skills and enable the boys to make stronger connections through the team-building exercises.

Year 6 – South Stradbroke Island The Year 6 camp is designed to give the boys an opportunity to spend some time at the beach. The aim is to build on the skills learnt in Year 5 and promote a higher level of independence and resilience and to develop the notion of team and team-building skills. The boys spend a lot of their time on camp in group and team situations solving problems and enjoying activities together.

Year 7 – Hidden Creek The Year 7 camp that the boys undertake has a real leadership focus. The boys learn to enjoy, look after and use the environment safely, as well as learning many life skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication. Our Year 7 Adventure camps provide some of our boys’ most memorable experiences by offering a range of challenging activities in a spectacular setting and developing skills that can be used for lifelong enjoyment and benefit.

Year 7 – Canberra Tour The Year 7 Canberra tour is a five-day experience during which the boys get to discover the nation’s capital and explore and discover the many interesting cultural and sporting treasures that Canberra has to offer. This tour is the culminating activity for the Year 7 boys in their studies of Australian democracy and government. It allows the boys to see the inner sanctum of the democratic process of Parliament House and the two chambers of the Westminster system that operate in Australian politics. The visit to Canberra also integrates into their 42 Science, History, Art and Music studies as well.

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Lifting the Lid on the Archives Treasure Chest Karen Martin Marketing Coordinator

If your mental picture of “archives” is of desiccating documents and mouldering memorabilia slowly deteriorating in some dank cellar, then you need to update the image.

The reality is that the TSS Archives are a living, breathing collection of precious artefacts meticulously catalogued, properly preserved and eminently accessible as a multi-dimensional doorway into the history of the School. In fact the Collection has been benchmarked and is believed to be one of the largest school collections in the country.

Such is its value that a preservation plan was prepared by a professional conservation consultant and The Southport School Archive Collection is now housed in the Clocktower under environmentally controlled conditions.

Lift the lid on this archival “treasure chest” and you’ll find a wondrous, varied and exciting collection including: glass-plate negatives, photographs, slides, negatives, films, VHS, DVD, CDs, cassettes, tapes, vinyl records, programs, event information, newsletters, ephemera, memorabilia, ledgers, registers, textiles, G.P.S. programs, medals, local history and military history.

The span of years encompassed by the contents of the Archives is impressive. It stretches from ledgers and student data of 1902 when the School was known as Southport High School, through the historic transition to TSS in 1913, right up to the present time. The story of the passage of the years and the evolution of the School is told not only in words and images, but in objects, making this a dynamic history lesson to be absorbed by all the senses.

The complex task of managing and maintaining the Archives and its great diversity of material is one demanding dedication, knowledgeable attention to detail and a passion for preserving history. This vital task is in the very capable and devoted hands of TSS Archivist Lesley Walker, who spares no effort to ensure each and every piece of the Collection is methodically catalogued and receives the appropriate expert attention required for restoration and storage.

Items accepted into the Collection are done so under the guidelines of the Collection Management policy. Each item donated by an individual has a completed donation form signed by the Donor and the Archivist and this allows for any special conditions or amendments to the donation. Items are not received on a loan basis.

The effective preservation of individual items demands a range of measures that are specific to the item concerned. Whether it is a trophy or a textile, expert repair and cleaning are undertaken before proper storage. Likewise such things as documents, publications, plans, tapes, photographs, albums, slides and ephemera each receive the type of detailed treatment that is required. As an example, photographs are sorted and grouped by year or approximate year, filed in Mylar sleeves, polypropylene sleeves, archival folders and boxes. As an added precaution they are scanned to CD/DVD, downloaded to external hard drive and a copy of the disc is filed with the photograph. Early albums that are extremely fragile once scanned are put in solander boxes and interleaved with acid-free tissue to reduce any further damage.

The Archives are an invaluable resource and a reference service is provided for community members and external enquiries, providing the opportunity for research, digital copies of photographs, hard copies of material on request, DVD or ADOBE file emails of School magazines and photocopy information.

The TSS Archives are assuredly a veritable “treasure chest” of experiences in the historical life of the School. To delve into it and explore is to expand your awareness, to find that you become intimately enmeshed in it and alive to it, rather than just view it as a passive spectator.

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Archives Anecdotes The first school magazine, The Tell Tale, was produced in 1906. This was handwritten, and the first printed copy was published in 1907. The Old Southportonians’ Review was first published in 1933. The collection is current to 2011.

Ledgers and student data exist from 1902 and early enrolment records from 1910.

Included in the collection of Captain Archibald Hewland Raymond (McKinley House 1907-1910, KIA 3 March 1917) is a Memorial Plaque issued after WWI to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war. The plaques were made from bronze and popularly known as the “Dead Man’s Penny” because of the similarity in appearance to the somewhat smaller penny coin.

The 1st House Blazer was that of Thorold House in 1916.

Included in the Collection donated by the family of Mr C. G. Pearce (Headmaster 19511971) is a crocodile preserved by taxidermy. The story is told how some of the more enterprising students from North Queensland bought two of the crocodiles back and let them loose in Pong Creek; noone knows what happened to the second one!

The Ceremonial Sword in the Memorial Room belonged to Norman David Freeman, a member of Delpratt House 1909-1913 (KIA 30.7.1917). Norman was 7th into the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1914 and only one other Queensland candidate was accepted.

Rugby Teams Rise to the Challenge of Tough Draws and a Hectic Season Start TSS had a very tough draw this year, with three extremely hard-hitting games to kick off the season, but in a characteristic show of TSS Spirit our boys rose to the challenge. After six rounds the First XV has had 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 narrow losses. Despite the tough start, teams in all age groups are training very hard with their coaches performing well above last year’s high standards.

As always TSS – and in particular the Village Green –­ has been abuzz on home Rugby days, with a crowd of approximately 6000 watching the First XV game against Nudgee College. The drum line, atmosphere and passion on display from Sharky and the home crowd is nothing short of inspiring, and I encourage anyone who is a lover of sport to make sure they witness a TSS First XV match on the Village Green.

A huge amount has already happened in the first section of the 2011 season. During the pre-season a number of age groups travelled to a variety of destinations around Queensland and New South Wales. The First XV squad has toured Sydney, which included staying at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern and three very competitive fixtures against Knox Grammar, Newington College & Kings College (NZ). The First XV has also played as a curtain-raiser to the Reds at Suncorp Stadium. The 16A squad toured the Sunshine Coast and played Sunshine Coast Grammar First XV. The 15A squad toured Warwick and Toowoomba with games against Scots PGC and Toowoomba Grammar, while at home, almost 200 TSS students attended the annual TSS Rugby Camp.

However, the 2011 season is a long way from over. TSS is hosting the Gold Coast Rugby Carnival throughout the mid-year holidays, and following the break, there are three rounds of GPS fixtures left. After the conclusion of the season, Rugby will continue to grow with games against English schools Whitgift and Cranleigh Colleges and TSS families will again be asked to open their homes for billets, which has always a rewarding experience and a crucial part of tours. Later in the year TSS is heading to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, touring with 40 boys, playing three tough matches with local schools, watching the Wallabies vs. Ireland game and USA Test Matches. With five TSS Old Boys in the current Wallaby squad, this is going to be truly exciting.

Adrian Blundell – Director of Rugby

Football Fields Improved Teams for 2011 GPS Season The 2011 GPS Football season has started well for TSS. With a record number of teams playing this year, we have seen a marked improvement in the quality of games, the depth of talent and the growing football spirit. The results in our A division games have been very pleasing so far this season, with TSS winning more than half of our A matches and being placed in the top five schools in all age groups.

Our junior players have all benefited from playing Football in the core PE program, with greater skills and excellent development in evidence. Our older boys continue to play strongly. We now have C teams in the Yearr 10, Year 11 and Open age groups for the first time; our open Third XI have shown great spirit and enthusiasm, especially as many of these boys are playing football for the first time since Prep School. Our Second XI remains unbeaten in 2011, having defeated some of the bigname teams of the GPS competition.

The First XI has been plagued with injury in the 2011 season, with four players currently unavailable for selection, but despite this the team has played some great matches with strong defence and excellent game control. It has been pleasing to see the number of younger players challenging for contention in the First XI team, a clear indication of the depth of talent at the school. This bodes well for 2012 and 2013 First XI squads. The team has followed on from its success in the Uhlsport Cup Competition last year to again qualify for the finals in 2011. These games will be played in Term Three and we wish the boys well.

More and more of our boys are backing up their TSS Football training with club and representative team training outside of school, and as a result four of our young players have been selected in State or national teams this year. Mitch Cooper has been selected to play for Australia in the Under 17 “Joeys” team in the Youth World Cup in Mexico, Luke Hodgkinson was selected as Vice-Captain of the South Coast Under 19 football team and has been selected to represent Queensland at the National Titles later in the year, Nick D’Agostino (Year 8) has been selected to represent Queensland in the State Under 13 team and Roman Hofmann (Year 12) has been selected as a shadow player for the Queensland Under 19 team.

It all adds up to a promising start to the season, so from here our goal is to make good on that promise during the rest of the season.

47 Brad Carter – Director of Football

Sports Success – Test of Time Bryan Hain Director of Sport

An international sports coach dropped into my office recently, shared a few stories about competing in major sporting events around the world and said he was ‘the advance party for the Y generation, I want results and I want it now’.

Here lies one of the major problems for junior sports; an eagerness to get instant success without necessarily building the basic skills or techniques to sustain a quality performance under pressure in elite-level competition. As one Australian coach said of a certain group of “early developed” pre-puberty athletes, “early ripe, early rotten”.

There are so many reasons

why someone “wins” at school that as parents and coaches it is difficult not to get carried away with the excitement of early results, but too much early success and recognition can be a huge burden to bear when competition and training levels change in senior sport or when boys compete with adults.

As Director of Sport at TSS I like to evaluate various performances and use statistical data to explain why an athlete or team has achieved a certain result. I have watched endless GPS, State and National competitions – sometimes with a calculator – trying to predict why a certain team was successful that day. I just like to know if a team goes undefeated why it was so dominant: Were their players the oldest and therefore most developmentally advanced in the competition? Do they train more than anyone else? Do they have access to better training facilities? Do they have the best two or three players in the competition? Do they all play club as well as school sport? Do they train with older and better athletes? Do they have a great coach? Is the team full of athletes who have had previous experience at that level?

My role is very much about understanding excellence without emotion, that is, to understand from an objective, systematic, analytic perspective the reasons why teams and athletes succeed or fail.

One of the best books I’ve read on collecting and analysing sports statistic was: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

by Michael Lewis. His concept of talent identification and creating a winning average in American baseball through consistency and performing above average fired my imagination. So I now ask ‘what is average?’ in TSS, GPS, State and National schoolboy sport, look at above and below this benchmark and then calculate accurately and objectively who is the best in the sporting “marketplace”. If we clearly understand what the “target” is we can be more certain of hitting it.

At TSS, to be successful, all of us – players, coaches, support staff – must strive consistently to perform above average in everything we do and to always seek to close the gap on number one. As Kipling said: “For the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” Just as importantly, if we become a “number one”, we must remain hungry and determined to stay there, to remain “hunters” and not just “hunted”, to be as good at leading as we are at chasing.

Recently I watched one of the most amazing sports matches I have seen for a while. It was the European soccer final between Manchester United and Barcelona. It wasn’t just because Barcelona

won 3-1 in London, but it was the way they won the game. The difference in skill between the two sides was frightening!

Barcelona was quick, accurate, creative and had superb teamwork. In fact Manchester United rarely touched the ball in the second half, and when they did get it, they quickly gave it away.

Manchester United is a rich club that can afford to buy any talented player in the world, but Barcelona won with seven home-grown academy players. Now that’s what I call success!

One of the key statistics that stood out from the game was from a player called “Xavi” who ran over 12 kilometres in the final and completed all but seven of his 148 passes. Both these statistics are records for a Champions League Final, but Xavi was just so much better than any of the players in the Manchester United team. It really doesn’t matter what sport or team you follow, if you have someone in your team like Xavi who is extremely fit, who can constantly run into good supporting positions, has great touch with the ball and rarely gives it away, then the rest of the team will benefit.

I must admit that after watching the game I could not help but think about our own sports pathway from Prep to Senior School. How do we develop the basic skills, technique, fitness, 49 speed and game awareness in the 1300 boys who attend this

Sports Success – Test of Time school not just in football but in all sports? I believe the short CIC seasons are a good way to fire up a young athlete’s imagination but it’s that mix of ball sports, swimming and athletic competition, combined with the ad hoc sports played at home that helps develop the all round sporty boy at TSS. We also can’t underestimate the local surf or sports clubs who are also a great source of development and probably one of the reasons why the South East corner of Queensland is such a breeding ground for young sports talent.

The big question in junior sport – or for that matter in music tuition or school homework - is: “What is a realistic time commitment for young athletes to give to one specific pursuit and how far can or should we push the boundaries before it no longer becomes fun?” We know that the best learning comes when athletes or musicians or academics or learners in any field are “engaged” in mind and body so that they are passionate about what they are learning.

The feedback from the Spanish Soccer Academy was that the boys will invest somewhere between 6,000 to 8,000 hours of their school years working on their football skills. This is great if you make it as a soccer professional but not so good if you have to look for alternative employment at 18. In comparison to Spain the English FA only allows the professional clubs to train their youth players for 3,760 contact hours up to the age of 21. That’s a huge difference in contact time and maybe just one of the reasons why England struggle on the International stage.

A quick survey at TSS seems to suggest that enthusiastic 14 -15 year old boys (many of which are our representative sports students) are training 10-14 hours a week and a large number of boys training or competing six days a week, with two or three Championships weeks each year. This might decrease during the off season but it is clear that for boys of this age getting the right balance of training, competition, study, recovery, social and family time is critical. It is clear from my research that boys who are this busy in Year 10 really do need to develop very good time and personal management skills in late Prep or early Senior School to cope with a demanding academic and sports schedule.

Since moving to Australia it has become clear to me that this country has one of the best junior competition structures in the world and that it is rare that someone with sporting talent is missed just because of the combination of school and club competitions. In fact a colleague has recently suggested that “in Australia it is harder

to hide sporting talent than it is to find it”. Young champions may not have found their number one sport at 12, but a parallel pathway of school and club sport usually allows an eager coach to sport a future champion. At TSS we have acknowledged this combined club and school pathway and put in place our own sports club program.

I am really proud of our progress with the TSS Aquatics Swim Club and within a short period of time we are ranked as one of the top swimming clubs in the Country. Our boys’ Gymnastics Club has made its mark at State and National level competitions and more recently we have introduced a junior basketball club on to the Gold Coast called ‘The TSS Suns’ which compliments the excellent Senior School basketball program It is clear from the Spanish Soccer Academy model that superb sports technique is something which must be honed over time, with hundreds and thousands of hours of specific practice, so we need to understand that the same coaching principles should flow from the bottom up. Six year olds should be taught the same fundamentals as the First team and there needs to be consistency in skills teaching and coaching practices throughout all TSS sports development pathways.

At TSS we are gradually building a philosophy where our coaches will teach the basics and the technical abilities across all grades. The aim is to build confidence and develop a passion for sport, so that our boys can reproduce excellence in skills under competition conditions at high speed, even when fatigued and under pressure. We don’t believe in practice makes perfect but rather that performance practice (i.e. practicing to master skills under competition conditions) makes for perfect performances.

We have a remarkable challenge but we are up to it. We have talented boys, some of best sporting facilities of any school in Australia or indeed the world, a great climate, great support from our TSS families, our Academic Staff and our Sporting Support Groups and some outstanding leaders in our Coaching team. We have everything we need to grow our own Xavis, Clarkes, Thorpes, Bolts and Nadals and the evidence lies with the more than few recent TSS Old Boys who are having considerable success in professional sport.

All it takes is our belief that anything is possible and an uncompromising faith in the words...”we can do it”.

Conferences, Exchanges and Fundraisers – Round Square gets busy in Semester One The Round Square group has already been rather busy this year, beginning with a Free Dress and Fundraising Day to collect donations for the flood-affected people of Theodore that raised a magnificent $7000 from the TSS community.

Following up on this success in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake, we arranged another fundraising Free Dress Day for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand. The added attraction was a raffle with a signed All Blacks jersey kindly donated by Mr Ian Kirkpatrick and the TSS Old Boys as the prize. The result is $2000

going to the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.

On Thursday, 16 June we held our annual Leukaemia Foundation Shave for a Cure day. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the event, with many going home sporting brilliantly coloured hair and more than a few with haircuts that may well have stunned their parents. Our sincere thanks are extended to mothers Rebecca Paranthoiene, Michelle Paraka, Louise Millroy, Nicci Wilson, Helen Vasiliades and Kim King, who gave of their time and hair-colouring expertise. And special thanks to our lovely hairdressers, Jacqui and Michelle, who donated their valuable time to decimate the locks of 20 boys.

During the Easter break Ms Julie Watts from TSS Prep took a group of our boys to The Round Square Junior Australasian Regional Conference. Braedan Van der Vegt, Trent Sinclair, Caleb Pels, Charlie Martin, Justin Hunt and Darcy Leahy all thoroughly enjoyed the pre-conference tour to Uluru and King’s Canyon. Ms Watts was very impressed with the way the boys participated in the conference and the ideas that they have brought back will be of considerable value to Round Square at TSS in the years to come.

During the first week of Term Three, Conan Bland will be accompanied by Vincent Di Bella and his exchange guest Herries Anderton from Scotland, Jack Martin, Jackson Wichlinski and Kristian Buckland to the Round Square Senior Australasian Conference to be hosted by Westminster School in Adelaide.

We are now entering the busiest period of the year for international Round Square exchanges. In January this year, Ben Provest attended L’Ermitage in Paris and enjoyed a wonderful experience. While Ben’s report will be included in the 2011 Southportonian, I want to point out right now that he was such a fine ambassador that his host family asked him to stay on for an extra week so that he could be involved in an extremely significant family celebration.

Next term we will be hosting Herries Anderton from Glenalmond College in Scotland. His host will be Vincent Di Bella and Vincent will be returning to Scotland with Herries in September.

From Scotland’s Merchiston Castle School we will be welcoming Alex Webb and Michael Finlayson, and from Berkeley Prep in Florida we will host Cameron Kenny and Wes Dickerson, while later next term James Stuchfield will travel to TSS from Felsted School in Oxford.

2011 has started with a bang and looking at what lays ahead for Round Square it looks set to keep on firing for the rest of the year.

Christopher George – Round Square 51

Conan Bland Army Cadet Coordinator

Passing Out Parade 1986

Cadets Learn the Drill on Ceremony and Traditions As a School-based Cadet Unit, our normal training time is on a Friday from 1145-1300, but if you were to wander the grounds of the school at 1800 on a Tuesday evening, you may come across a group of committed and mature junior and senior NCOs engaged in some very different military manoeuvres. The Tuesday night training is a strategy designed to provide the core leadership team with the ammunition to develop its ability to assist with instruction and pass on knowledge to junior cadets.

Early in the year we were fortunate to attract Warrant Officer Class One Douglas McDonald, a highly experienced serving senior soldier who has seen duty in Vietnam and other parts of South East Asia. Mr. McDonald started the year with a highly entertaining lesson on the history, customs and traditions of the Army, an appreciation and understanding of which is vital to all cadets in order for them to maintain discipline and esprit de corps.

In preparation for ANZAC Day, Tuesday night training focused on the guard commander and cenotaph party as they sought to perfect ceremonial drill with weapons.

This produced outstanding results, as not one mistake was made during the demanding ceremonies. The boys served with pride in the School Service to remember the fallen Old Boys, Southport Dawn and Day Service, Surfers Paradise

Day Service, and St. Hilda’s Service. In Brisbane they were privileged to march under the banner of 39th Battalion, some of the original celebrated “ragged heroes’ of the Kokoda Track campaign.

Our current training focus is on the development of skills in the areas of navigation, personnel management, instructional techniques and presentation planning, living in the field and radio/ telephone procedure. Many of these skills are useful beyond the confines of the camouflaged uniform and will serve to prepare these boys for a life in leadership positions once they leave the School.

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Kaiser House – Two Incarnations, One Spirit Tony Watt Head of Community Relations

Kaiser House can genuinely lay claim to being unique among the TSS Houses as it is the only one to have had two “incarnations” in its lifetime. Founded in 1973, Kaiser was the “new” Boarding House, but within less than a decade the booming population growth on the Gold Coast dictated that TSS needed another Day House, and as a result Kaiser underwent a quantum change to take up that role. Kaiser may have been “reincarnated” but a marvellous continuity of House Spirit was maintained.

Kaiser Housemaster Eleanor Mackie recalls:

The heart of that spirit was exemplified by the man who lent his name to the House – August Henry Kaiser, popularly known as “Harry” Kaiser. Harry was a student at TSS in the 1930s and Dux of the School in 1940. In adulthood he served TSS in many different roles from 1944 to 1988. Teacher, Thorold Housemaster (twice), Under 15 Rugby Coach; a great Referee; Commander of the Cadet Unit; Assistant to the Headmaster; Deputy Headmaster, and in retirement an active member of the OSA. At all times Harry Kaiser displayed true dedication, real commitment, loyalty, humility, integrity and sincerity, as well as a genuine care and concern for his colleagues and his students.

Clearly, Harry Kaiser made an impression and left a huge mark as a role model that is as relevant for today’s boys as it was then.

The change of status to Day House in 1981 would mean that the ethos and spirit of the original Kaiser House would be put to the test. It was a test that newly appointed Housemaster Mr Bill Greinke would relish and work tirelessly to ensure that the “new” Kaiser would pass with flying colours. Bill fulfilled his role

Harry Kaiser was a quietly spoken man who despite his calm, controlled approach to his responsibilities was very well organised… he took a personal interest in his colleagues and always showed empathy and understanding… he was firm but fair in his dealings with the students… a boy wasn’t reminded of the mistakes he made, but was given a chance to prove himself and to make a new start… when I was appointed Housemaster of Kaiser in 2002, Harry was very supportive even though female Housemasters were the exception not the rule…

Harry definitely fell into the category of being one of Nature’s Gentlemen… it was a privilege and pleasure working alongside him.

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brilliantly until his retirement in 2001, devoting 21 years to the young men of Kaiser. The spirit of Kaiser was not only upheld but enhanced by his positive, caring approach, which allowed him to establish a strong family atmosphere that flourishes to this day.

Kaiser House Motto:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let Him Serve Who Seeks Honourâ&#x20AC;? reminds us of the example set by Harry Kaiser. Put simply, he lived a life that reflected SERVICE IN ACTION.

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Kaiser House Captain Tom Snow:

I have always noticed that the spirit of the House radiates brotherhood and forms bonds between friends.

The camaraderie between the boys in the House is prodigious. So far this year, Kaiser has blitzed the inter-House competitions and this is solely due to a whole team commitment by the entire range of boys in every year level. In the process the boys within Kaiser have formed friendships that will last them throughout their time in Kaiser and further. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m certain that the youngest members of the house will go through the hierarchy and at the end of it have the same outlook as I do. Kaiser, to me, is an enjoyable, engaging, compassionate House that defines mateship in every aspect.

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Oscar Millroy School Captain

The Many and Varied Guises of Support The simple phrase “show your support” belies the many guises that support can assume. It can be in the most elementary form of money or it can be in the shape of providing equipment of one sort or another. It may be a scholarship, a stack of books for the library, a donation of some priceless ephemera to the archives, sponsorship of a team, funding an excursion, assisting with transport, lending a helping hand on projects, giving of time or expertise, or just turning up at events to applaud, cheer and encourage.

And it can be directed to any area of TSS endeavour.

Next time you are encouraged to “show your support” give some thought as to how that might look and just what you have to offer. TSS warmly welcomes support in whatever form it comes.

A Distinctly Fishy Tale of Support 4. Fitness must be important in your line of work, so do you work out in the TSS gym after hours or do you just swim laps in the pool?

My fitness is always of a high standard and with swimming over now I have turned my focus to the gym for the likes of rugby and athletics. I do occasionally work on my dorsal fin with a few other creatures in the gym and, well, I can’t help but gain the attention of onlookers as I’m not sure if they have seen a shark in a gym or a superior squat technique like mine.

Support for TSS comes in all forms and perhaps none quite as unusual as that from the School’s favourite predator. The other day, I bumped into the School Mascot – Sharky. I asked him to join me for some sneaky salmon sandwiches and we discussed what it means to be Sharky and how the year has been.

1. Was it a hard decision to take up the responsibility of being the mascot for TSS? It was a hard decision at first because I wasn’t sure if I could handle the transition from ocean to dry land. But my mates persuaded me to take up the challenge and lead the charge for the navy, white and maroon.

It’s been easy ever since with growing numbers of support at my back.

Numbers that can out-cheer any school in the GPS. 2. As the TSS mascot do you spread your presence around all the events or do you just restrict yourself to the aquatic events such as swimming, rowing, and sailing?

In the past I have been more known to attend these events, but I have grown to like the land and rugby is a huge event for me now.

However, with my love for the land I also intend to lurk around other events such as cross country and athletics where we can really show it off in front of other schools.

5. Second round GPS against Nudgee, you really took it to the polar bear. Did you find this difficult, considering the polar bear was in its natural environment on the land?

Yes, it was a bit daunting at first as I knew I had big shoes to fill, but with the School behind me I think the polar bear was a bit scared, so thanks must go to them. It can be hard to get everyone to cheer as loud as they can, especially the younger kids as I am loud and scary to look at.

And naturally some of them don’t respond well to this so a big emphasis has been placed on me to make sure kids feel like they can contribute positively while feeling like they’re not in shark-infested waters.

6. You play a big part in raising TSS morale at events and

you’ve set a precedent for any young sharks aspiring to be head shark… is there one you’re grooming for the day you decide to slip off the TSS jersey and retire to a quiet reef and do you have any words of advice for him?

No, I haven’t picked anyone in particular as of yet, but really it’s all about standing up and showing you care about the school in as many ways as you can. It was great for me coming here to see the bonds and camaraderie that everyone shared, and this is fuelled by the rich history and positive environment. It is easy to get caught up in the “spirit” of things, and sometimes the hardest thing to do is not go over the top.

3. It’s generally known that sharks never stop moving and just sort of sleep on the move, so with such a busy schedule is this how you recharge your batteries?

Like most sharks I come alive at night, but when I know there is a big event on I force myself to sleep to be a prime performer on the day. It can be stressful sometimes with schoolwork, but I make sure I do it because sleeping in class is a big no-no. The role has placed some responsibility on my shoulders so I am noticed more then I used to be. It can also be hard juggling the expectations of the School with the expectations of the boys.

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Damien Holley from Frizelle’s Automotive Group

Frizelle’s Automotive Group Sponsorship - a Driving Force Behind TSS Rugby James Frizelle believes that for a team to perform at its best it must be relieved of any extraneous burdens that don’t relate directly to what happens on the field, so with this as an underlying philosophy the Frizelle Automotive Group has been a loyal supporter and sponsor of TSS Rugby since 1999.

The aim of TSS Rugby is not merely to win matches, but to provide the boys with a program through which a love of the game and attainment of excellence in skills is inevitable. The program also seeks to encourage every boy to extend his skill level, to perform as part of a team, to show commitment on and off the field and to always display the true TSS spirit.

The consistent, enthusiastic backing by James Frizelle’s Automotive Group has been instrumental in creating and maintaining this program and allowing our teams to focus on the job at hand. Apart from expressing our gratitude for this generous level of support, we strive to underline that with results on the scoreboard. As a measure of success TSS Rugby has gone from strength to strength, celebrating five GPS Premierships in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2010, and we hope that in seeing the wins come our way, that Frizelle’s truly appreciate that the role they continue to play makes it all possible.

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35 Years of

Green Thumb

Magic As you roll into the top end of TSS and through the roundabout, you can’t help but be impressed by the serene beauty created by the immaculate gardens and lawns that so obviously reflect the labors of a devoted someone with a very green thumb.

That someone is TSS Groundsman David Goll, and since 1976 his green thumb (actually two green thumbs and eight green fingers) has been working a special brand of magic that stems from a love of the fresh air, of the outdoors, and a passionate desire to do his bit to contribute to what he regards as the friendly and warm environment of the School.

David sees himself as very much a team player in the Grounds and Maintenance Department, yet his personal focus on his patch of turf springs from within and very likely draws its inspiration from the sights and experiences absorbed on his extensive travels through Europe and America.

So next time you’re in the vicinity, take time to linger and stroll through the green oasis created by 35 years of David Goll’s greenthumb magic.

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House Spirit Shines Forth in Chapel Services

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House Spirit is something that permeates every aspect of TSS life and while it may find its most exuberant and colorful expression on the sports field or in drama competition, it’s in Chapel that it shines forth in a deep and most Senior School Chaplain profound way during the individual House Services.

The form of these services has a common structure, but within that structure each of the 12 Houses has its own individual service nuanced to embrace particular aspects of the House, and as every service is individual, the outpouring of spirit is likewise spontaneous and individual, making it fresh and dynamic every time.

Acknowledgement and thanksgiving are essential parts of a service. In this we are according prayerful respect and gratitude to the patron of the House who has served the School in some unique way, to the staff and Housemaster, to the families for their support and involvement and to the Year 12 boys of the House, many of whom will play an active role in conducting the service. We touch upon the history of the House and celebrate its life in sport, music and other activities, thereby creating a strong sense of spiritual continuity and deepening the feeling of connectedness and affection between the boys and their families.

As this is a Holy Communion service, prayers, readings and hymns add a further sacred dimension, and this becomes the vehicle through which the Holy Spirit merges with House Spirit to become something boundless and allencompassing, enriching and ennobling all it touches.

Fr. Jonathan Whereat

Precious Times for Preppies in St. Albans The Prep House Chapels are the highlights of Second Term when kookaburras, dragons, shepherds and pointy hats (Mitre) Prep School Chaplain come together, but it is coming together with a difference.

They meet not on a footy field, basketball court, swimming pool, oval, concert hall, etc. in spirited combat, but in the tranquillity of St. Albans Chapel in spirited worship.

It is during these precious times in St. Alban’s Chapel, as opposed to the Pearce Theatre, where we usually worship, that students and parents can gain insight into Anglican worship.

Boys and parents seem to absorb and appreciate the peace and holiness of our School’s focus point. It’s here that the past and present meet seamlessly. It’s here that our young boys talk proudly of their House history and the foundations laid by former students and inspirational men from times past.

Fr. Phil Crook

It’s here that our young boys share their House experiences together with past and present triumphs, with the words spirit, family and community being used over time, but still with great effect. It is here that the listener discovers that these words are actually lived out and are alive and well in our four Houses. Within this framework, priceless wisdom and values are gained first-hand, which will stand the boys in good stead for the future. It’s here that our young boys can, through their speeches, prayers and singing, celebrate and give thanks to God for these precious things, as He continues to bless us in abundance.

The services, while relaxed, maintain a fresh and honest reverence that I am sure God appreciates along with our singing, because the Preppies love to sing.

I don’t know about others, but I always walk out of these services with a spring in my step, and as my head hits the pillow I am reassured that our School and our Community are in safe hands. Thank God!

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May Foundation Business Breakfast Snapshots

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01. Dianna Frost and Debbie Goudy 02. Ashley Kersey and Sarah Louise Scales 03. Vice Caption of the School Tim Wilson and Guest Speaker Chris Nyst 04. Doug Murphy S.C. and Darina Laing 05. Moira and Peter Lockhart 06. Michael Kyle, June Moro and Andrew Kyle

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A Strong Foundation Underpins TSS Projects Gerry Northausen Foundation Coordinator

What an exciting year thus far! Thanks to the generous support of TSS Parents and Old Boys, The Southport School Foundation is pleased to report that we were genuinely able to â&#x20AC;&#x153;make a differenceâ&#x20AC;? in 2010/2011 by assisting the Headmaster and School Council, with Stage 1 of the new Academic and Leadership Centre nearing completion.

The Foundation was established in 1986 to provide leadership and a financial foundation for the future, with the Board working in close partnership with the Headmaster and School Council to ensure that donations go to areas in the School where they are most needed.

The Building Fund is the cornerstone of the Foundation and we encourage all families to support the Voluntary Building Fund when paying your quarterly fees. Over the past few years this philanthropic support has allowed the Foundation to contribute significantly to projects such as airconditioning of various buildings and classrooms within both the Senior and Preparatory Schools.

The Foundation also offers annual Scholarships and Country Boarder Bursaries, which are funded through the popular Business Breakfasts held monthly at the Palazzo Versace, as well as the annual Foundation/OSA Golf Day. The boys who ultimately receive the Foundation Scholarships are chosen by the Head of Prep in consultation with the Headmaster.

In 2007 the Foundation established a Library Fund, which continues to open up some exciting opportunities for tax-deductible giving. One example concerns the wealth of TSS resources that merit storage and preservation in the School Archives. Donations to the Library Fund can be used to achieve this, and a donation for this purpose would be especially welcomed by Old Southportonians as they strive to keep our wonderful heritage well preserved for future generations of boys.

Whatever aspect of TSS you may wish to support you can make a donation in the knowledge that the Foundation will direct it to the specific area of your choice. All donations to the Building, Scholarship and Library funds are tax-deductible and benefit both the School and future students, as well as providing a practical vehicle for past parents, past students and members of the TSS community to contribute in some way to the School.

The Old Gym Café Serves up Taste Sensations The Old Gym Café is now in full swing, marking a tasty milestone in the refurbishment of the Day House Precinct. The Café provides the boys and wider TSS community with yet another unique facility, complete with wireless access, a barista and a good selection of meals and snacks. Day boys are now able to sit down to a platedup meal for lunch just like their boarder cousins. For those boys who prefer the DIY lunch, the Café provides four commercial-quality sandwich toasters, two microwaves and an instant hot and chilled water facility perfect for toasting up mum’s sandwiches or mixing up a hot cup of soup to take the edge off the chill of a winter’s day.

The availability of wireless access means that during the day,

Senior boys on study periods are able to utilise the facility to catch up on academic work by logging-in to the School network to access Moodle and the School’s Online Learning Management System.

It is really pleasing to see the School community making such good use of this latest addition to the Day House precinct, and especially so to see the increased interaction of the boarding and day students. The new Old Gym Café precinct is rapidly becoming a central hub.

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Founded in 1901, TSS is an Anglican Day and Boarding School for Boys from Prep Year to Year 12, with boarding available from Year 5 Winchester St Southport Queensland Australia 4215 Telephone: +617 5531 9911 Facsimile: +617 5531 9977 Email: reception@tss.qld.edu.au Visit: www.tss.qld.edu.au The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as The Southport School CRICOS Provider No. 00523F