Issue 2 Term 1, 2015

Newsletter Academic Christian Caring

ISSUE 2

TERM I 2015

Kindergarten visiting the Headmaster

Headmas One of the distinguishing features of a TIGS education is learning under the programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). The Illawarra Grammar School became an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in 2011 when it was authorised to teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the IB.

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) was established in 1968 in consultation with UNESCO as a service for the children of diplomats. From this small beginning it has grown to become the world’s leading academic programme for schools and its pedagogy and approaches to teaching embrace the latest understanding of how students learn.

The Illawarra Grammar School currently offers two IB programmes and will offer all three IB programmes from 2017. The programmes offered at TIGS are: 1.

Primary Years Programme (PYP) covering students from Preparatory through to Year 6. TIGS is an authorised PYP school and has been using the PYP framework for learning since 2009.

There are 95 schools in Australia and 1201 schools in 104 countries teaching the PYP.

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A GROUNDING FOR COMMUNITY

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Middle Years Programme (MYP) covering students from Year 7 to Year 10. TIGS is an MYP ‘candidate’ school and has been using the MYP framework since 2014. It is working toward authorisation in early 2016 and will present its first Year 10 candidates for assessment by the IBO in November 2016.

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There are 41 schools in Australia and 1117 schools in 95 countries teaching the MYP.

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Diploma Programme (DP) covering students in Years 11 and 12. TIGS is a DP ‘candidate’ school and is working toward authorisation in 2016. The first students to study the DP at TIGS will commence study in Year 11, 2017. Students at TIGS will have the choice of studying either the DP or the already successfull HSC. There are 63 schools in Australia and 2627 schools in 140 countries teaching the DP.

Chaplain’s Message

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Last Friday night I had the pleasure of meeting many of our new parents at the TIGS New Parents’ Evening. It was a wonderful night of good food and good conversation.

While the evening is a fairly casual affair, it does include some formal speeches about what it means to be a member of the TIGS community. We heard inspiring contributions from our Headmaster Stephen Kinsella, Council Chairman Mr Roger Summerill, TIGS Foundation Board Member Joanne Danckwardt, and TIGS Parent and Great Fete Coordinator Benita Andrews. Each spoke with passion about what makes TIGS so special.

Their speeches contributed greatly to the success of the evening.

One word that was prominent in each of the addresses was the word ‘community’. It is well acknowledged that TIGS is a corporate entity. We are not a bunch of individuals doing our own thing. On the contrary, we share a profound partnership together. We are a community.

The Christian worldview has a solid grounding for community.

Community is founded in the Person of God. The one and only God has revealed himself in the Bible as a triune being: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This does not mean there are three Gods. There is only one God. But this one God has existed for all eternity in three distinct yet related Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We could say that the one God who

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tudents in Years K to 10 at The Illawarra Grammar School, like students n all NSW schools, satisfy the syllabus requirements of the NSW Board f Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES). However, earning is organised within the framework of the PYP and the MYP.

More information about the programmes of the IBO at TIGS can be found on the TIGS website or by contacting TIGS staff:

rom 2017, students in Year 11 and 12 will have the choice of studying ither the DP or the HSC at TIGS.

MYP - Sharon I’Ons, the MYP Coordinator

Why has TIGS chosen to become an IB World School?

PYP - Karen Wallace, the PYP Coordinator

DP - Melina Sangster, the Director of Teaching and Learning The IBO Website

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IB programmes represent best practice in teaching and learning. Learning is concept-based and student-focussed with an emphasis on students understanding and engaging in the learning process.

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Learning is based on the academic disciplines and the mastery of the skills of learning

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They encourage students to be internationally-minded and to think beyond their immediate environment.

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IB students “learn how to learn” and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own educational progress by: • asking challenging questions; • thinking critically; • developing research skills proven to help them in higher education.

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Students are encouraged to be active in their communities and to take their learning beyond academic study.

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The focus is on educating the whole child, equipping them for the challenges of the 21st Century.

hese qualities sit well with the Mission and Values of The Illawarra Grammar School:

TIGS Statement of Mission and Values

Congratulations Some exciting news from former TIGS students.

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Nicole Mealey (Class of 2014) writes that she has been accepted into “the course of my dreams” - WAAPA, Classical Performance, Voice.

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Nicola Xanthopoulos (Class of 2012) is one of just 33 students selected from around the world to study a course in Ancient History at Harvard.

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Class of 2014 – we are aware of students receiving special recognition from universities: o 8 Deans Scholars o 7 Honours Degrees o 3 Advanced Degrees

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

The achievement of academic excellence in a caring environment hat is founded on Christian belief and behaviour, so that students re equipped to act with wisdom, compassion and justice as faithful ewards of our world.”

has revealed himself in the Bible is a community of Persons.

From a Christian perspective here is the solid grounding of all communities.

Community has real substance because it participates in the reality which is God. Communities are not merely a bunch of people who have got nothing better to do, or who are afraid to go it alone, or who are like leeches feeding off one another.

Instead, communities are a reflection of the greatest reality in the universe – the eternal triune God. Because the eternal God is a community of Persons we are at our very best when we are in community.

Communities are as real as it gets. The rise of individualism, which especially

gained momentum in the 17th and 18th Centuries, is an aberration.

Individualism has no basis in reality or eternity. Community has.

Well might we talk much of community at TIGS. But it is much more than talk.

What I heard on Friday night was how this pull toward community results in rich blessing. That makes sense. If community is “really real” then we should expect to experience something of the blessed life in community.

I hope you might give yourself to this ideal at TIGS. There are at least three incentives to do so: (i) It is in community that we will experience something of the fullness of life God intends for us; (ii) It is in community that we contribute most to the enrichment of others; and,

most importantly, (iii) It is in community that we present an image of what the one true God is like – a united community of Persons.

Rev James Rogers

Senior School THE BENEFITS OF GOOD SOCIAL SKILLS Australia or in other countries of the world, whether it be the world of work or of community engagement or any other of the many possible futures we envisage for them, we want them to be able to speak well and with confidence, to behave respectfully and to gain the maximum benefit from their contributions and experiences.

Monica Watt Head of Senior School Deputy Headmaster

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s you know our school promotes developing the whole child and so we offer a broad curriculum to ensure that your children experience a rich diversity of learning opportunites, in the widest sense, so that they can identify their gifts and talents and passions.

We also aim to promote in your children the skills which will enable them to negotiate the complex world of social interaction both now and in the future. Whether it be in

Within school we place importance on respectful interactions, good manners and high standards of personal presentation. Students attend and also assist at events in the school week and outside the timetable that range from the informal to the formal. We set standards for behavior and dress fitting for each and clearly explain these expectations. For example students are expected to attend Assembly each week formally dressed in their blazers.

Outside of the walls of the school we know that our students benefit from the good name and reputation of the school when they apply for part-time positions of employment or they wish to volunteer for community service. We stress that the students

themselves are the ones who promote that reputation: they are each a walking-talking advertisement for the school. Therefore they each have a responsibility to behave appropriately while they are outside school.

And at all times they should wear their uniform neatly, correctly and with dignity: when they’re travelling to and from school, when they’re shopping with you, as well as at formal events.

(See the School Diary pages 13 – 15 or the website.)

All students can apply for a Personal Presentation Award and I ask that you encourage your child to apply through their Mentor for it is a prerequisite for leadership positions within the school.

There’s so much more to being a TIGS student than working in class: there is an expectation that each student will become involved in the rich life of the school and contribute to the school’s corporate identity in their own way.

Please help us to ensure your child enjoys all those benefits that flow from the school’s good name both now and in their future lives.

2015 School Captains On behalf of the School Captains, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the entire TIGS community as we return for 2015. We hope you had a lovely holiday and have returned well rested and enthusiastic, ready to embrace the opportunities this year will bring.

We extend our congratulations to the Class of 2014 for their great success in the HSC, and wish them good luck for future endeavours.

This year we anticipate many more challenges and successes, with our goals entailing the expansion of the SRC across the Senior and Junior Schools, as well as continuing fund-raising for the Year 12 charity “Kids 2 Kids”.

Our fundraisers this term include various cake stalls, BBQ’s, and a fun bowling night. Also keep an eye out for information regarding the TIGS Trivia Night early next term. We encourage all new and returning students to take full advantage of the amazing co-curricular and community service activities that TIGS offers. In light of this we would like to leave you with this reflection from William Arthur Ward; “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them”.

2015 School Captains Tahlia Jackson and Dominic Mortimer

Junior School households - how much screen time should a Kinder, Year 3 or Year 6 child have? We all acknowledge the benefits and fun of screen time, but how much is enough and when does it become detrimental? You will all be aware that opinions on this topic vary considerably - from no access at all to unlimited access, and the challenge as parents is to find your comfortable spot on this continuum.

Judi Nealy Head of Junior School

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he highlight for us as a community this week was Meet the Teacher Night.

It was great to see the level of interest and involvement demonstrated by our School community and I want our parent community to know what a great encouragement this is to the teachers and other staff in the Junior School.

At this meeting I spoke briefly about risk fluency and the importance of play. I thought I would follow on from this with some input I have gathered about screen time, communication and creative play.

As we set up routines of practice both at home and at school, it is important that we do this thoughtfully and intentionally. Screen time is an area of much discussion in Junior School

Awards

At Meet the Teacher Night, I challenged you to consider more creative, unstructured outside play for the children and we discussed some of the benefits that this experience can bring. One school of thought about screen time “play” is that when children are playing, they are making up or creating the content that they are engaging in. When they are using screens to play, much of the creative exercise has been outsourced. One TED talk presenter (Let kids take risks: Griffin Longley at TEDxPerth) suggested that difference between the two was the “distinction between entertainment and play” and used the example that it was “like calling a colouring book – art.” At the other end of the spectrum is the thought that technology and screens can be used to be amazingly creative and to foster relationships and thinking skills.

The data that I found interesting was that in households with limited screen use the number of words spoken was approximately 6,000. However in households where screens are routinely on (meaning that when people are at

MERIT CERTIFICATES - ACADEMIC Hunter Danckwardt-Bruce Isobel Kinnear Alexandria Gunther Ruby Moore Ben Giason Jude McCann James Brewer Reid Gunther Maxwell Okely

Kasim Kermali Samra Tarrant Lachlan Kiang Joseph Druett Makayla Hutchinson Mayson Russell Toby Jinks Zoe Turner Alan Huynh

home; a screen, computer, TV, iPads etc. are on) the number of words spoken was reduced from the 6,000 previously mentioned to only 500. This speaks to me as an invitation to think before the screens are on and to only turn them on when they are being actively used. Certainly it tells me that my mother was right in making us turn the TV off at dinnertime!

Year 6 Students travelled to Canberra this week for an excursion that complements their Unit of Inquiry ‘How We Organise Ourselves’ We are looking forward to sharing the highlights with you in next week’s newsletter.

This week’s attitude is Appreciation It can be articulated as “I notice the beauty of people and the world.”

DIARY DATES: •

Thursday 19 February – Junior School Swimming Carnival (Years 3-6)

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Thursday 26 February – Junior School Captain’s Induction Assembly

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Friday 27 February – Junior School Twilight Picnic

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Thursday 5 March – Junior School First Assembly

SERVICE Taylan Arapali Jude McCann Saxon Parrish Victoria Summerill Isabella Perri Lillian Glover Connor Burrows Alexandra Birch

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Twilight Picnic FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2015 5.00PM - 8.00PM JUNIOR SCHOOL OVAL

Junior School students and their families are invited to a fun filled night to be held on our Junior School Oval.

Please pack a basket with everything you will need for a picnic.

Our Senior School Leaders will be organising lots of games and races for parents and their children to enjoy together.

RSVP Online Click here By 9.00am Friday 27 February 2015 An email/SMS will be sent if the weather does not allow this event to take place Please be advised that this is an alcohol free event

Special Event THE IB DIPLOMA AT TIGS An information evening for parents and students about the teaching of the IB Diploma at TIGS. Students entering Year 11 from 2017 at TIGS will have the choice to study for either the HSC or the IB Diploma. It is important that students understand the HSC and the DP so that they choose the course of study that is right for them and their circumstances. The meeting will be of particular interest for students currently in Years 9, 8 and 7 but the meeting is open to all.

Date: Time: Location:

Wednesday 18 February, 2015 5:30 pm The Goodhew Research Centre (Library)

Hosting

An experienced IB coordinator, Mr Antony Mayrhofer from St Paul’s Grammar School, will be a guest presenter.

One of the leadership positions offer to Year 10 students is for Student Hosting, in which they provide assistance at different school events. The Student Host’s role within the school requires commitment, leadership, willingness to assist, strong organisational skills and a cheery personality. The first for the Year was the New Parent’s Evening last Friday. We had six hosts attend and they should be congratulated on a job well done!

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Information Evening TIGS will be offering the IB Diploma from 2017 Students currently in Year 9 or younger are invited to attend this meeting with their parents to find out about the IB Diploma.

Special guest will be Mr Antony Mayrhofer, IB Co-ordinator, St Paul’s Grammar School, Penrith.

5.30pm to 6.30pm Wednesday 18 February In the Goodhew Research Centre (Library)

Academic • Christian • Caring

An International Baccalaureate World School

Sport JUNIOR SCHOOL

University of Wollongong Junior Rugby Union Club is seeking players for the 2015 Season. We plan to field teams in all age groups from under 7s to under 17s.

We want to provide a fun, sociable junior Rugby sporting atmosphere for club members and raise the profile of Rugby as safe and enjoyable junior sport.

NASSA Junior Tennis Gala Day Five TIGS students competed in the annual NASSA Team on Monday time trialling to represent NASSA at the CIS Tournament in two weeks time.

The Junior Rugby season runs from April to August on Sunday mornings, with training usually 1 or 2 days per week.

We are still taking registrations. It’s not too late to join!

Congratulations to the following students who played exceptionally well: Harrison Kiteley – 1st Emma Black – 1st Charlotte Tregonning – 2nd Rory Swainson – 4th Harrison Webb – 5th We wish you all the best of luck at the CIS Tournament in the next coming weeks.

$130 for 1st child, $120 for 2nd sibling, $110 for 3rd sibling, and $100 for 4th sibling (in the same family) Come along with your Mum, Dad or carer. New players need to bring a copy of birth certificate or proof of age. Payment of Registration by cash, cheque (payable to University of Wollongong Rugby Union Club) or via direct deposit

Junior Rugby is a growing youth sports in Australia. Depending on your age group, it’s a physical demanding and spectacular sport with a two-century old tradition of character building and sportsmanship.

Rugby is the contact team sport of choice in many countries around the world - www.irb.com. The Rugby World Cup is the third most watched televised sports event in the World after the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup! So why not come along and participate in a FUN, skills based sport, which is strongly supported by Rugby Union NSW, local Rugby players and the local community of Rugby supporters.

“Can I choose any club to play for?“ Yes. But you must be

registered with them before you can play.

“Should I play for a club or my school?” Primary or

intermediate school age children can play for either or both. All school rugby is typically mid-week and club rugby is Sunday morning.

“How does the grading system work?” Club rugby is age

restricted. During the 2015 season we plan to field teams for all age groups from under 7s-15s and under 17s (players turning either 16 or 17 years of age during 2015 are eligible)

“Who do I play against and for how long?” Games are played

against local teams throughout the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands on Sunday mornings. Games times can vary depending on your age. U7 games are played over two 15 minute halves, and older teams up to 30 minute halves.

“Can girls play?” Yes, girls can play in U7 to U12 grade For further information contact: Canio Fierravanti - m 0411 244 491

e caniof@uow.edu.au

2016 Scholarships TIGS will be offering Scholarships to students entering Years 7 and 11 in 2016. For further information please refer to the School’s website.

Closing Date is Wednesday 11 March 2015.

Sport SENIOR SCHOOL The TIGS Netball Club

The TIGS Swimming Carnival

Co-Curricular

The TIGS Netball Club had a great 2014 netball season and we invite any girls 8 - 17 years to join the club in 2015. Get your friends together and create a team or come to the registration day and we can help you get into a team.

The TIGS Senior School Swimming Carnival will be held Tuesday 17 February 2015 at Western Suburbs Pool, Unanderra. All students are encouraged to enter any events.

Events where possible will run per programme, however competitors should listen during the carnival in case of any changes or if the events are running early. Students will sign up to events and heats in their house meeting prior to the carnival or they can also enter on the day. There is a limit to the number of events per competitor, however swimmers must compete in the age group division they are turning in 2015 and we only allow two houses per division.

We are now into Week Two of the Co-Curricular Sporting Program.

Can you please ensure that your child attends their chosen sport as indicated on their timetable. Students are expected to attend all sessions and any unexplained absences will be recorded and dealt with accordingly.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter

Registration: Where: Senior School – Classroom near the IGC entrance When: Netta (8-10 Years) - Friday 13 February - 3:30pm to 5pm Netta (8-10 Years) - Saturday 14 February - 9:30am to 11:00am Juniors (11-17 Years) - Friday 20 February – 3:30pm to 5pm New Members: A copy of your child’s Birth Certificate is required to be sighted at registration.

Registration Fees: * Netta (8-10 years) - $190 * Junior (11-17 years) - $200 Uniform: Our netball dress will cost approximately $90 to $100. Size samples of the new dress, plus the cost, will be available at registration.

Attendance for fittings is compulsory, as the club does not purchase spare uniforms.

Training: Friday afternoons 3.30pm – 5.00pm at TIGS. Contact: For any questions or further information please contact: Virginia Kelman (Secretary and Registrar, TIGS Netball Club) • Phone: 0419 601185 • Email: virginia@kelman.com. au Kylee Lane • Phone: 0424441873 • Email: klane@tigs.nsw.edu.au

Students are required to wear their House shirt with school sport shorts to and from the pool. Please also ensure that your child has a hat, sunscreen and towel and all students must be in correct swimming costumes. This includes TIGS swimmers or navy/ black speedos for both boys and girls (girls must wear full piece swimmers) and TIGS board shorts optional. Girls may wear their two piece swimmers underneath.

We will travel to and from the pool from school via shuttle bus with your year group at 8.40am. Years 7 to 10 will leave from Western Avenue, Years 11/12 will leave from Princes Highway at the Junior School entrance.

Students may bring their own lunch or there is a canteen available on the day.

In case of inclement weather please listen to 96.5 Wave FM. I personally cannot wait to be part of my first TIGS Swimming Carnival and I would like to extend a warm welcome to any parents who would like to join us on the day as spectators. I look forward to seeing you at the Carnival for what will be a fantastic, fun filled day of swimming.

Friday Night Hoops at the Snake Pit Friday night basketball will commence in April at the Snake Pit Beaton Park.

Students are encouraged to get their friends together to form TIGS teams.

Nominations are due now. Please go to the Office or check OLLE for a nomination form.

Up and coming Sport and Outdoor Educational Events Week 4 • TIGS Swimming Carnival Tuesday 17 February • Netta Netball Registration (8-10 years) Friday 13 February 3.30pm – 5.00pm and Saturday 14 February 9.30am – 11.00am • Junior Netball Registration on Friday 20 February 3.30pm – 5.00pm Week 5 • Year 8 Camp 23 - 27 February • NSW Country City Schools Cricket Monday February 23 • CIS Open Girls Tennis Wednesday 23 February • AICES Girls Basketball Thursday 26 February • Individual All Schools Triathlon Friday 27 February • AICES Boys Basketball Friday 27 February • Teams All Schools Triathlon Friday 27 February Mrs Kylee Lane Head of Sport and Outdoor Education

Community TA J MAHAL DINNER WOLLONGONG We want to tell you about our continued initiative as a small committee of parents, who are joining with The Illawarra Grammar School in offering a Taj Mahal Dinner on Saturday 7 March 2015. We are inviting all adults who enjoy Indian food and culture to participate in a local community fundraiser. The chosen charities will be the Disability Trust Children’s Holiday Camp and TIGS Foundation Scholarship Appeal. The dinner will raise funds for the Disability Trust in the Illawarra enabling local disabled children to enjoy a children’s camp in October 2015 and October 2016. This camp not only provides a wonderful camp opportunity for the children, which would not otherwise happen, but also affords much needed respite for local families. The other half of the funds raised will provide a full scholarship for a local child/children whose circumstances would otherwise not allow them to access the opportunities afforded by an education at TIGS. Craig Peden, Usha and Cedric Fernandez, Sharad and Lata Tamhane

Extend@TIGS Welcome back to Extend@TIGS. We have a lot of exciting activities lined up for this term. Please do not forget to check the Newsletter for our weekly program

Week 4’s Activities:

Monday 16 February: Organised Sports Futsal/Handball Crazy Craft with Prep and Kinder Tuesday 17 February: Extend@Library (3:30pm-4:15pm) Free Play in The Oval

Wednesday 18 February: Handball/Soccer/Futsal in Rees Hall Prep & Kinder Sports Crazy Craft Year 1-Years 4 Thursday 19 February: Mad Scientist - Bugs!Bugs!Bugs!

Friday 20 February: Crazy Craft - Chinese New Year Dragon Movie (G) and Popcorn ONLINE BOOKINGS: extend.com.au CALL OUR OFFICE: 1300 366 437

UPCOMING

EVENTS

WEEK 4 2015

Year 6 Leadership Training Day Monday 16 February 2015

Senior School Swimming Carnival Tuesday 17 February 2015

IB Diploma Programme Information Evening 5.30pm to 6.30pm Wednesday 18 February 2015 In the Goodhew Research Centre (Library)

Junior School Swimming Carnival Thursday 19 February 2015

Public Notice Academic • Christian • Caring

An International Baccalaureate World School

TIGS EXPO DAY

10.00am to 2.00pm SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2015 TIGS – AN IB WORLD SCHOOL Visit Expo Day and experience the difference that TIGS can make for your child To book a guided tour click here. Additional tours available on the day