NEWSLETTER Junior School MADD rehearsals
Academic • Christian • Caring
Issue 3 Term IV 2013
The MYP at TIGS In 2012 The Illawarra Grammar School became an IB World School. This was not a matter of paying a fee and receiving a logo - it was the end result of years of hard work in the Junior School to meet the high standards of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). In doing so TIGS joined 3,669 schools from 145 countries that have achieved the status of an IB World School. TIGS is authorised to teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the curriculum framework followed by our students in the Piper Centre through to Year 6. In 2013 TIGS has made application to the IBO to deliver the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for years 7 to 10. It is intended that the MYP framework will be fully adopted over the next few years and our goal is to be an authorised MYP school by 2016. Being a school located in NSW, TIGS will still be teaching the NSW Board of Studies curriculum but will do so within the framework of the MYP. The subjects currently studied in Years 7 to 10 will continue to be on offer to our students. Central to the MYP is the IB Learner Profile, which also applies to the PYP studied in the Junior School. “The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
Stephen Kinsella Headmaster
IB learners strive to be: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced, Reflective.” (The full description of each of these can be found at http://www.ibo.org/programmes/profile/) The MYP is founded on three fundamental concepts: “holistic learning representing the notions that all knowledge is interrelated and that the curriculum should promote the development of the whole person, whose attributes are described by the IB learner profile intercultural awareness representing the notion that school communities should encourage and promote international-mindedness by engaging with and exploring other cultures, a key feature of international education as reflected in the attributes of the IB learner profile communication representing the notion that schools should encourage open and effective communication, important skills that contribute to international understanding as exemplified by the attributes of the IB learner profile.” It is not hard to see the similarities that exist with the MYP and the TIGS approach to educating students. A number of Senior School teachers have already undertaken training in the delivery of the MYP and all teachers in the Senior School will return from their holidays a day early in January to participate in training on the requirements of the MYP. To accommodate the MYP framework some adjustments to the way learning is organised in the Senior School have already been made or will be made from 2014. These include: •
Students in Year 7, from 2013, will study a second modern language through to Year 10. Current Year 8 and 9 students will only study a second language if they choose one as an elective.
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A Faculty of The Arts has been created. This includes all the subjects currently available in the Creative Arts and Performing Arts Faculties and will provide a holistic approach to learning in the subjects covered by this new faculty.
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Sport in Year 7 and 8 will be held after school hours. Students will be required to attend sport one afternoon per week with exemptions available to students that already have significant involvement in community based sport - similar to the current practice in Years 9 and 10. This creates more time for the study of English, Science and Mathematics as well as the study of a second language.
TIGS is committed to delivering the best educational outcomes possible for our students and it is expected that the excellent outcomes already seen through the PYP in the Junior School will be enhanced in the Senior School through the MYP, leading to even stronger results in the HSC.
Stephen Kinsella Headmaster
An Answer to Prayer At the end of last term I had the privilege of accompanying 11 Year 10 students on a trip to Hong Kong. The aim of the trip was to participate in the work of the Crossroads Foundation in Hong Kong as a part of our TIGS Community Service program. Crossroads is a ministry of compassion to those in need around the world. One of its primary tasks is to gather disposed goods from individuals and businesses in Hong Kong and redistribute those goods to needy people throughout the world. It is a major operation which is having a great impact for good in our world. It was a real pleasure to partner with Crossroads and to witness the devotion of our Year 10 students to the work of Crossroads. I have been a Christian for over 20 years. Along with other Christians I have shared a deep concern for the needy in our world. There have been many times I have prayed for the needy of the world. I have prayed in my own personal devotions and in partnership with other Christians as well. Most Sundays in church we remember the needy in prayer. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to know what God does with these prayers. I know that God always hears our prayers and always responds to them according to his own good purposes but still one sometimes wonders just how God acts upon our prayers.
Rev James Rogers Chaplain
It occurred to me when I was at Crossroads that this ministry was an answer to prayer. Crossroads is a ministry born from God (that’s another exciting story), in response to his people’s request for mercy to be shown to the needy of the world. I was greatly encouraged to witness this resounding “yes” by God to the prayers of his people – to my own prayers. God truly does answer prayer; he truly does use our prayers to work out his good purposes in the world.
Sometimes we will never see what God does with our prayers. At other times – like my experience at Crossroads – we do. When God gives us a glimpse into his work in the world it is breathtaking. That was my experience at Crossroads. And as a result of what God has shown me I am encouraged all the more to persist in all kinds of prayers knowing God always hears and acts, even if I do not always see how that is so. Again, I want to take this opportunity to invite you to the TIGS Prayer Breakfast. It is on Tuesday 12 November from 7.30am-8.20am in the Library. Breakfast and supervision will be provided for children. RSVPs are requested by 8 November on 42 200 200. Don’t miss this great chance to be used by God to continue his good work in and through us.
Rev James Rogers Chaplain
Senior School
This week it’s all about the safety and security of your children in the times before and after regular timetabled lessons, 8.45am – 3.15pm. The School library is open for Senior Students from 8.00am in the morning and there are some scheduled before-school classes from 8.00am. Therefore students who arrive between 8.00am and 8.20am must be located in the library or in their class. Supervision of the School grounds does not begin until 8.20am therefore students must not play on the Oval or the Basketball Courts or any other area of the School until 8.20am, when supervision begins.
Monica Watt
Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School
Students who have after School classes, extra- curricular activities, rehearsals, or any kind of school-based activity after 3.15pm must not leave school grounds in the time between the end of regular classes and the beginning of the activity. The same rules apply as would during the School day. If students require cool drinks to sustain them there is a vending machine at the back of the IGC and for Year 12 students there is one in the Common Room. If they require food, they should bring something with them. Please let me know if you think it would be viable to provide Canteen facilities at this time. We did offer the service some time ago and it wasn’t well patronized. So your input would be valued. All students who remain on school premises after normal classes have ended and school buses have left, must be located in the designated after school/co-curricular or rehearsal area or in one of the following areas:
Years 7 – 11 signed in to work in the Library Year 12 In the Common Room
Students must not play on the Oval or the Basketball Courts or any other area of the School unsupervised by a member of staff. The Library closes just before 5.00pm when the late buses leave the property. All students should have left the premises by this time. Mrs Monica Watt Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School
Junior School Stage 2 Camp Report Year 3
It was a bright, sunny morning when Stage 2 students traveled to Waterslea Conference Centre on the Shoalhaven River for a three-day camp last week. For a number of Year 3 students this was their first time away from home and many parents were just as nervous as their children. The cheer as we turned the corner into the beautiful campsite, when students spotted the waterslide, made all those fears disappear. Activities such as billy carting, hiking, pool rafting, orienteering, initiatives and much more filled the days of the Year 3 program. There was even a disco on the first evening! All teachers and Youthworks leaders were impressed with the level of involvement and enthusiasm of the first time campers many of who can’t wait until next year to share such a great experience again with their friends and teachers.
Judi Nealy
Year 4
The Year 4 children enjoyed the challenge of the Jetty Jump, especially getting out of the 17 degree water. Initiatives, low ropes and prussicking gave the children the opportunity to demonstrate cooperative group skills and challenge their fear levels. The children enjoyed the nighttime activities that included a footsteps disco, movies and games. Free time enabled the children to experience the new water slide, the pool, games room and football on the oval.
Head of Junior School
The children were a credit to TIGS and the Youthworks leaders enjoyed their time with our students.
Student After Hours Policy
This week I have been reviewing the Students After Hours policy. This is a helpful guideline in keeping our students safe before and after school. I have been noticing a growing trend for students to be meeting their parents at various places around the School in the afternoon or walking up to the Senior School and I need to request that all families abide by the procedures explained in the policy which will shortly be uploaded to the school web page for your information. In summary: Before school •
Junior School Students are not to arrive on school campus before 8.00am and until 8.20am they are to wait on the amphitheatre until the morning play supervision begins.
At the end of the School day Junior School students are permitted to leave the campus via the following methods: • • •
Car line where they are collected by a car with their name tag visible. Bus travellers (both TIGS busses and busses via Western Avenue) wait on the amphitheatre for the teacher on duty to dismiss them at 3.10pm and escort them to the appropriate bus. Bus travellers (Princes Highway pick up) proceed to car line and wait for the bus to arrive under teacher supervision.
Children involved in after School activities, wait on the amphitheatre until the organizing teacher collects the group. Year 6 and above may use the Library, they are required to sign in and out. Parents are most welcome to park off site and walk on to our campus to collect their child/ren take them to the library or other activities. Children are not to walk off campus to meet their parents at the car. I do remind parents about being sensitive to the impact we have on our neighbours when we park in the local area. These processes have been designed so that we know where the children are, how they are exiting our campus and can be confident that they are supervised and safe. Thank you for supporting us in adhering to them, your children are very precious and we aim to take great care of them, especially at dismissal and in the mornings.
Dates for your diary: •
Wednesday 6 November – K-12 Sports Presentation Evening
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Thursday 14 November – Volunteers Thank You Breakfast
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Thursday 21 November – Year 6 Progression Dinner
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Thursday 28 November – Prize Giving Assembly
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Saturday 30 November – Infants Pageant
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Wednesday 4 December – A Christmas Celebration
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Thursday 5 December – Year 6 Exhibition and Honours Program
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Monday 9 December – Years 3 – 6 Presentation Evening
Junior School Awards Weekly Awards KD KM KP 1C IM 1T 3R 3W 4R 5A 5Y 6S
Arya Kumar, Natasha Karakousis,, Estella Loeser Cate Giason, Kasim Kermali Campbell Boardman, Jocelyn Ayers Georgie Lancaster Allegra Fock Anika Rindani, Mayank Aurangabadkar, Alby Ferguson Zoe Turner, Taylan Arapali, Isabella Mitic Alison Guo, Daniel Grieve Keya Murty Rory Hanrahan, Zaynab Panju, Sophia Santos, Francis Mau, Aiden McGoldrick, Margaux Chauvet, Annable Malouf, Mila Lancaster, James Gorham Selma Celik, Kano Hiramatsu, Sufyaan Ul-Haq Kassee Dennis, Taj Quaken
Merit Certificates Academic Niamh Christopher Liam Harvey Annabel Malouf Kya Dema Ben Giason Taylan Arapali Massimo Forte Francis Mau Josh Agarwal Alby Ferguson Campbell Boardman Tom Armstrong Arya Kumar Jocelyn Ayers Natasha Karakousis Jacob Murrie Georgie Lancaster Margaux Chauvet Miranda Golding
Service
Nicole Russo Mathilda Hoy Farrah Al-Salih
UNSW English Results High Distinction Aria Bacic-Johnston Lauren O’Hanlon Ella Green
Distinction Hasnain Aly Lachlan Boardman Elizabeth Michelmore Nadia Nagaratnam Nicholas Chiaverini Gabriella Valenzuela Ajay Rindani Daniel Michelmore Rory Swainson Elliot Winn Megan Ashford Emma Black James Kirby Hugo Parrish Kivaan Mudaly-Naidoo Aaron Ylias Niamh Christopher Connor Harvey Maya Soligo Micah Sullivan
UNSW English Results Credit
Kyah Dema Ben Giason Bowen Kimberley-Mastalir Sophie McGuire Alison Guo Clara Swainson Isabella Atkinson Bodhi Hemsley-Oades Paige Jenkins Keya Murty Xia Lian Wilson Jessica Hall Sally Gyngell Ella Vartazarian Olivia Barber Jayson Cooper Isobel Kinnear James Gorham Annabel Malouf Francis Mau Aanya Rakheja Sophia Santos Josh Agarwal Aaron Avenido Joseph Druett Sufyaan Ul-Haq William Brown Minseo Kang Andrea Avenido Alysha De Ruyter Kanishk Murty Hallam Roberts Nicholas Sutherland Lana Atkinson Claire Nguyen Corey Read Archita Sitharthan
Uniform Shop Year 7 2014
Would all existing Year 6 students who are entering Year 7 in 2014 please visit the Uniform Shop and have their uniforms fitted and purchased by the 15th of November 2013.
Year 10 2014
Would all existing Year 10 students who are entering Year 11 in 2014 visit the Uniform Shop and have their uniforms fitted and Senior Blazers ordered by the 30th of November 2013.
Prep 2013
Would all existing Prep students entering Kindergarten in 2013 please visit the Uniform Shop and have their uniforms fitted and purchased by the 21st of November 2013.
Recyled Uniforms Co-Ordinator Needed
Mrs Tania McGuire who is currently our Recycled Uniforms Co-ordinator is seeking a replacement, after volunteering her time and services to our school for the past two years. Any parent who is interested in taking up this wonderful role, and continuing this much needed service can contact Tania directly on: Mobile Phone 0418 448 814 Or email tmc9uire@gmail.com
Special Notes Marie Russo Year 8
Marie Russo, Year 8, has been selected as a semi-finalist in the UN Youth Voice event following her impassioned speech about protecting our environment at the recent Wollongong round of the competition. The semi-finals will be held on Friday 8 November at 12.00pm at Women’s College in The University of Sydney. The Grand Final will be held on the 15 November at NSW Parliament House at 3.00pm. Congratulations Marie!
TIGS
Prayer Breakfast Parents, staff and friends are invited to gather to pray for our School community
Tuesday 12 November 2013 7.30am - 8.20am TIGS Library
Breakfast and supervision is available for children RSVP: 8 November 2013 Please phone 4220 0200
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