NEWSLETTER
Headmaster’s Message “Gillian isn’t sick. She is a dancer.” Head of Senior School Issue 2 Term I, 2011
Academic • Christian • Caring
Head of Junior School Chaplain
“Gillian isn’t sick. She is a dancer.” I love this statement, given by a psychologist to the mother of Gillian Lynne, the world famous ballet dancer and choreographer of Cats and Phantom of the Opera. At age 8, Gillian was already facing a horrendous future at school because she could not fit into the traditional expectations of her teachers - she could not keep still. Fortunately, her learning needs were identified and her learning program modified to allow her to learn and provide her with the freedom of expression she needed. How poorer we would all be if she had been constrained and contained within the traditional framework of a classroom as they were organised in the 20th Century. When a child does not fit the system it is easy for schools to categorise them as ‘troublesome’ or lacking in the required academic and social skills necessary to succeed. The characteristics of students at risk can range from the intellectually gifted to those living with learning disabilities. At TIGS we have made a number of changes to our programs so that students that do not readily fit with the ‘norm’ for their age group are not inadvertently excluded from participating in productive learning.
Stephen Kinsella Headmaster
In the Junior School, Mrs Sue Worthington, our Junior School Learning Support Teacher, is working with the teachers to develop programs for students with learning needs that can be overcome with some intensive assistance. Typical of these programs is the peer reading program for children who have fallen behind their chronological age for reading. She was most excited when announcing that 62 students from across K to 6 were reading with Year 10 students each morning before formal lessons commence. The program is proving so successful that there are now students who are advanced readers wanting to join in each morning. The Year 10 students participate as part of their preparation for taking on leadership positions in Year 12. Parents of children involved in the program will tell of the bond that develops between the reader and their Year 10 buddy and the improvement in reading ability that occurs as a result. In the Senior School, students requiring learning support are assisted by their teachers, in conjunction with Mrs Lydia Olsen. Students with identifiable learning disabilities are assisted under the direction of Ms Melina Sangster our newly appointed Coordinator of Special Education. She is working with teachers from Years 5 to Year 10 to identify students with specific needs and to devise programs that will assist them to engage in and succeed in learning. It requires considerable skill to work with students living with conditions as diverse as Asperger’s Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and we are privileged to have someone of Ms Sangster’s ability working with our children. Ms Sangster is collaborating closely with Mrs Margaret Dubowski, Coordinator of Gifted Education which includes the ‘Honours’ program which caters for students wishing to develop their gifts and talents. Anyone that attended the Year 6 Exhibition or the Honours Program Exhibition at the end of 2010 will know how successful this program is and how impressive the learning of students can be when their individual needs are being catered for. Our commitment as a school is built on our understanding that “students learn in different ways and at different rates and that the gifts each child possesses are unique in their extent and combination. Student learning is organised so that each child is given the opportunity to identify and develop their gifts and talents to the fullest extent.” (Statement of Mission and Values 1.5) This occurs in the classroom, in special learning programs and in the extensive co-curricular and extracurricular programs offered at TIGS. It is our hope that each child will not only succeed in their learning but also find that special quality that is uniquely theirs and, like Gillian Lynne, use it for the benefit of all - to be appreciated for who they are, not labelled by how well they fit in. Stephen Kinsella Headmaster
Chaplain’s Connection
How many friends do you have; and what does it take to be a friend? Many people today have hundreds, or even thousands, of friends. According to an article in Digital Journal from July last year, the American music star Lady Gaga has clocked up 10 million friends, putting her ahead of Barack Obama and Britney Spears in the record books. Apparently the average person falls somewhat behind these high profile personalities, with 130 friends. I am talking, of course, about the number of ‘friends’ one has on Facebook, the internet phenomenon that has taken off since its launch in February 2004. By contrast, according to a study documented in the June 2006 issue of the journal American Sociological Review, Americans have been suffering a loss in the quality and quantity of close friendships since at least 1985. The study states 25% of Americans have no close confidants, and the average total number of confidants per citizen has dropped from four to two. So it seems that we have a growing contrast between the vast number of Facebook ‘friends’ that we have, and the shrinking number of real, close, confidants we can turn to. Interestingly, in 1974 (long before the advent of Facebook) C.S. Lewis wrote in his book The Four Loves: “To the Ancients, Friendship seemed the happiest and most fully human of all loves; the crown of life and the school of virtue. The modern world, in comparison, ignores it. We admit of course that besides a wife and family a man needs a few ‘friends’. But the very tone of the admission, and the sort of acquaintanceships which those who make it would describe as ‘friendships’, show clearly that what they are talking about has very little to do with that Philía which Aristotle classified among the virtues or that Amicitia on which Cicero wrote a book.”
John Reed Chaplain
If true, then what a sad irony it is that, in a world where we have ever-increasing numbers of ‘friends’, in reality the number and quality of our real friendships is actually dwindling. As I was thinking about this, I re-read Jesus’ words to his disciples shortly before his crucifixion, in John 15:14-15: “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jesus invites us to be his friends – not the kind of superficial friendship acquired simply at the click of a button, but a real, deep, meaningful friendship with the God who made us. In the end, I’d trade Lady Gaga’s 10 million Facebook friends for that one friendship with Jesus that really counts.
Senior School
As part of our extended induction for new Senior School students I meet with them for lunch at the end of Term I and talk with them about their adjustment to TIGS. The aim is to improve our Induction Program and over the years we have refined and developed our strategies to address most of the teething problems that students might encounter. Generally they talk about the friendliness of the staff and students, the way they have been made to feel at home, the great range of extra-curricular activities and the strong, positive and productive academic approach by all of the students, no matter at which level they are working or which class they are in. Often these are the reasons why our new students have come to the School and the fact that their expectations have been realised has made their adjustment easy. One of the questions that I ask at this meeting is “What has surprised you about our school? Is or was there something that you weren’t prepared for?” and the answer that is most often given is “House. We just didn’t understand ‘House’. We were in houses in our other school but it wasn’t anything like this.” By ‘this’ I have inferred – and some students can actually articulate the concept clearly – they were unprepared for the importance, the passion and significance of House in the life of the School. It might have been explained to them and referred to in our promotions and our literature but they have to live it and experience it to understand it fully.
Monica Watt
Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School
Individual success is important in House activities but it is secondary to the boundless enthusiasm, leadership and initiative that is student-driven and focussed on the community sense of House. This week we see it in the Swimming Carnival where everyone is expected to attend to support their House and their school. We also see it in the rehearsals and auditions that are well underway for the Music, Dance and Drama Competition. Despite many different induction strategies we have put in place over the years to help new students ‘get’ House it would appear it is highly experiential. It’ll be interesting to hear from this year’s new students when they actually ‘got House!’. Hopefully it will be before that defining moment in the Music, Dance and Drama Competition when each and every student gets up to sing to the rest of the School for and with their House. Now that’s House!
Junior School
Learner Profile Attributes and Attitudes
In 2010 we spent a great deal of time talking about and unpacking the Learner Profile. These are the attributes that underpin the Primary Years Program and you see them each morning as you walk down the driveway. The children have really embraced these attitudes, they use them in all aspects of their school day and I am told at home also. This is fabulous! In 2011 we will be developing our understanding with the children of the attitudes that go along with the attributes. When you are walking back up the driveway these are displayed on the reverse side of our colourful signs. These attitudes are the way we want our students to treat each other and approach life, they are a reflection of the Learner Profile in action.
I see these characteristics and attitudes developing in our students right through the Junior School and I am encouraged when parents retell incidents at home where they are observing them also.
Judi Nealy
Head of Junior School
Student News Read about our Year 6 Excursion to Canberra by clicking here. Notification There has been some student interest in entering the Operation Art Competition. If you are interested please follow the links for the appropriate information. Entry fee is payable by individual families. https://www.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ visual-arts/Op-Art/2011_Op_Art_Application_Pack.zip Dates for your diary • Meet the teacher nights - Stage 2 Tuesday 22 February, Stage 3 Thursday 24 February • JS swimming carnival - Wednesday 23 February Below please find amendments to the Junior School Diary and Calendar for 2011 • Mother’s Day Stall – To be held on Tuesday 3 May and Friday 6 May 2011 • Mother’s Day Garden Party – To be held on Thursday 5 May 2011 • Vacation Care will be available from the 18-22 July 2011. Please amend these dates in your diaries and calendars.
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Elizabeth Martin Oliver Birt, Angus Black, Robert Martin
Library News As we welcome the new school year we are excited about changes in our library and a new member of staff. New Library Team Member Mrs Alison Rout joins our team this year in the newly created part-time position of Senior School Teacher/Librarian. Alison brings a breadth of skills and experience to our school. She will promote reading and research resources to Senior School students and staff as well as provide instruction to equip students with valuable research and digital literacy skills necessary for 21st century learning. New Resources Over the break we moved some things around and created new spaces in our library including a magazine corner in the Senior Library area, a “Fairy” corner in our Junior area, and a “new” book display right near the entrance just to entice library users with all the great new titles appearing in the library. We’re also busy building some new collections including lots of new fun magazine titles (surfing, mountain biking, food, fashion, gaming, and sport, to name a few), graphic novels and comics, a fabulous range of biographies and an exciting new collection of resources especially for parents.
Parent Collection All members of our school community are welcome to utilise the library. We invite parents to access our resources and make use of the books we are adding to our new parent collection. Some of the recently added titles include: Hamlet’s Blackberry: a practical philosophy for building a good life in the digital age by William Powers. Me, Myspace and I: parenting the net generation by Larry Rosen
Look for the library page on the new TIGS website for information, links and resources. Volunteer to Help in the Library We are working to improve our library and we would love some help with some of our projects. If you would like to volunteer to assist please contact our Library Director, Leanne Windsor, via email lwindsor@tigs.nsw.edu.au or by phone 4220 0226. Should you have any questions about the library and/or our services please email library staff on librarystaff@tigs.nsw.edu.au or call the library direct on 4220 0275.
School Contact Details Have you changed contact details recently? Current details of all students including names, addresses, emergency contact information, medical conditions and parent contact details including mobile phone numbers and email addresses need to be kept on file and accurate at all times. Please ensure that any change of any details during the year are noted on a Notification of Change in Contact Details form and returned to the School office for recording.
Senior School Sport Student Success
NSW Junior and Youth Athletics Championships Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding results at these championships: Emily Debrot (Year 12) 2nd Javelin. Alexander Seal (Year 9) 7th in the 3000m and 3rd in the 2000m steeplechase. Both these students have qualified for the Australian Athletics Championships in March. Swimming Aaron Cannon (Year 10) competed at the State Open swim meet at SOPAC last weekend. For the first time, he has qualified to swim at the Australian Open Swim meet in the first week of April in the 50, 100 and 400m freestyle multi-class events. He swam personal best times in his 100m and 400m swims and came close to a PB time in his 200m individual medley event. Congratulations to Aaron on these great results. NASSA Basketball Congratulations to Kailee Cross (Year10) and Priscilla Bul (Year 9) on their selection to the NASSA Basketball team.
AICES Tennis The AICES Senior Tennis Championships were held at Cintra Park, Concord last Friday. There were a large number of entries with 40 boys and 24 girls playing on the day. Results: Congratulations to Stella Crick (Year 11), Hannah Muirhead (Year 11), Fred Newman (Year 10) on their selection in the AICES Team to compete at the CIS Championships on the 2 March. At this event AICES ran an Open Tennis Schools pointscore. TIGS were the winners of this pointscore with 18 points ahead of William Clarke College on a close 17 points. Thankyou to Mrs Sullivan for taking the students and congratulations to students who played including: Hannah Muirhead, Stella Crick, Lily Tuivaga, Kirsty McCrae, Fred Newman, Dominic Riordan and Adrian Haise. Snowsport The 2011 Northern Interschool Snowsports Championships are on at Perisher from July 6 to July 9. Events include Alpine, Skier Cross, Snowboarding, Snowboard Cross, Moguls and Cross Country. Please contact Jay Tregonning at TIGS for more information jtregonning@tigs.nsw.edu.au
Tara Interschool Dressage and Equestrian Carnival This event will be held on Sunday 27 March at Horsley Park. Entry forms are available from the Senior School student reception. Can we have all entries by Friday 4 March. Year 9/10 Sports These Summer Sports for Years 9/10 have began for Term I. Badminton Monday - IGC - 3.30 - 4.30pm Basketball Wednesday - IGC 3.30 - 4.30pm Boardriders Monday - North Beach - 6.30am Golf Tuesday - TIGS Oval - 3.30 - 4.30pm Rock Climbing Wednesday - 3.30 - 4.30pm Swimming Wednesday & Friday - University Pool - 7am Table Tennis Monday - IGC - 3.30 - 4.30pm Swimming training is available to all students. Please collect a permission note from Student Reception.
Creative Arts News Ilford Schools Photographic Prize In 2010, 90 of our Photography and Visual Arts students were involved in the “Ilford Schools Photographic Competition” and we have been successful again, achieving 2nd place overall in Australia. Students from years 8 - 12 got involved and their points accumulated over the year. Romily O’Brien achieved first place in the senior section in Term II and the following students received Merit Certificates: Georga Bovington, Henry Hulme, Elizabeth Dominis, Sam Elliot and Renee Simmons.
Student Workshops The Hazelhurst Regional Gallery in Sutherland is offering some exciting drawing, painting, Video/Film and Photography workshops which will be run in conjunction with their Exhibition of Artexpress 2010. Students in years 10 – 12 who would like to improve their practical skills should consider attending these all day workshops. There are costs involved. Further information is available at www. hazelhurst.nsw.gov.au
Romily O’Brien Georga Winner
Wollongong City Library, in partnership with Wollongong Youth Centre, is hosting four short film workshops aimed towards students aged between 12 and 24 years old. The workshops will provide students with an opportunity to develop film making skills with help from local skilled film professional Tim Dennis. The four two hour workshops will be held at Wollongong Central library. More information is available by Emailing pmoss@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
TIGS EXTENDED The Illawarra Grammar School provides a safe, inclusive, well supervised after School and vacation care for primary school aged children’s physical, social, cultural and emotional needs. Our philosophy centres on the belief that middle childhood is a special time; a time in which play contributes significantly to development and where the opportunity to form friendships, learn social skills, create, discover and experience fun and enjoyment in their time out of school is the right of every child; and throughout this special time each child should be valued and acknowledged for those aspects of character that make them unique - their virtues. After school care is now an APPROVED childcare service. TIGS Extended provides after school care for our Kindergarten to Year 6 students and is an approved child care service. What does this mean? It means all parents may be eligible for Childcare Benefits Part A. All families will be eligible for part B which is 50% of out of pocket childcare fees. This makes TIGS Extended After School Care more affordable. This way your child is safe, in a caring environment having fun, doing homework, playing, socialising until 6pm. Limited places are still available, please contact the director on kbuckley@tigs.nsw.edu.au
Canteen News
Week 4, Term I Monday 21 Feb HELP NEEDED
Tuesday 22 Feb
Rose Dragutinovich Lauren Cunio A big thank you to Byron Leitch and Zane Dema from 5R. The boys presented the Canteen with a basket of fresh vegetables they grew in the Junior School Garden, including Radish, Cucumber and Corn.
Wednesday 23 Feb
If you could spare a few hours of your time we would love to have you as part of our team of dedicated Volunteers. Mums, Dads, Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and friends are all invited.
Thursday 24 Feb
To join our friendly team please phone Meagan in the Canteen on 4220 0241 or email canteen@tigs.nsw.edu.au Don’t forget our online ordering system, please go to www.flexischools.com.au OR alternatively you are still able to leave your order at the far Canteen window before School starts. This is an easy to use, time saving way to order healthy food for your children.
Pat Calchi HELP NEEDED
Susan Cooper Jennifer Cowie
Friday 25 Feb Ros Birt HELP NEEDED
To keep up-to-date with the latest news and events that are happening in and around our School, we encourage you to subscribe to the email Newsletter. Simply visit our website: www.tigs.nsw.edu.au and sign up on the home page.
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