TIGS Newsletter, Issue 4 Term I 2010

NEWSLETTER

Headmasters Message Welcoming Change Head of Senior School Chaplain Junior School Issue 4 Term I, 2010

Academic • Christian • Caring

Welcoming Change “Constant Change Is Here To Stay” This oxymoron, which I first read on a postcard given to me at the start of my teaching career, sums up my experience with curriculum development and programming over my 33 years as an educator. It seems that everyone is an expert about schools and has an opinion on how students should learn and what schools should do. Increasingly, teachers have been required to serve in the role of counsellors, health workers, DOCS reporters, careers advisers and even act on behalf of the Tax Department. This week alone there have been calls for schools to be involved in driver education and immunisation. If all these ‘good’ ideas were adopted by schools then we would have no time for teaching.

Often these ‘good’ ideas serve a social function as schools are seen as providing the certainty and stability necessary for the imparting of skills and experiences that will improve our society. What was once the responsibility of families, churches and governments is increasingly falling to schools because of the relatively stable and secure environments they provide for children.

The National Curriculum in English, Mathematics, Science and History for years K - 10 was released this week for public comment. There is no doubt that this initiative of government is serving a social function. It is absurd that a country of 22 million people has 8 separate education systems all offering similar but distinctly different curriculums.

Stephen Kinsella

Any parent that has moved interstate will know how difficult it is for children to settle into a new state system.

The globalisation of the world economy means that these challenges are increasingly applicable to the many students moving with parents to different countries. This is one reason for the growing popularity of the International Baccalaureate Organisation’s (IBO) programs, such as the Primary Years Program (PYP) being implemented in our Junior School. There are now 2,834 schools worldwide, including TIGS, which are following a similar curriculum framework with the IBO.

Headmaster

The National Curriculum is the first step to overcoming differences between states education systems. Our assessment of the documents that have been released so far is that we are well placed to adapt to the requirements of the new curriculum. Across all subject areas there will be some adjustment to the sequence in which topics are studied. There will also be some new topics and some current topics will receive greater or less emphasis than before. There is sufficient flexibility and choice in the new curriculum for TIGS teachers to ensure that the needs of our students are being met.

It is easy to give too great an emphasis to the actual content of curriculum documents. The inclusion of indigenous history, when and how grammar is taught or the timing of the study of statistics and probability in Mathematics makes for great discussion in the media. However content is only one part of the scope of a curriculum.

The development of skills, values and attitudes is no less important. The National Curriculum K - 10 will not change: the way TIGS prepares students for success in Years 11 and 12; the emphasis we give to caring for the needs of each student; the shaping of our curriculum to reflect a Christian worldview.

The National Curriculum will require a review of the teaching programs at TIGS which we welcome. It will give teachers a mechanism to review our programs, pedagogy and practice to ensure we are serving the best interests of our students and families. We welcome the opportunity to test the integrity of our educational programs with the ideas of other educators, be they from the IBO or ACARA. The Illawarra Grammar School has offered to be one of the 150 schools that will trial the National Curriculum in 2010.

Change that the National Curriculum brings will serve to strengthen the program at TIGS as well as providing for the broader social need of our society for consistency in schools across the country.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has released the National Curriculum for public comment. It can be accessed through the ACARA website.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

Chaplain’s Connection In 1762 Sir Francis Baring founded the ‘John and Francis Baring Company’. In 1806 his son Alexander joined the firm, and it became ‘Baring Brothers and Co.’ Thus was born Barings Bank, a grand British institution with a proud history. In 1802, Barings financed the United States purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon. In the early 20th Century Barings established close ties with King George V and the British monarchy. Diana, Princess of Wales, was the great granddaughter of one of the Barings family. At the time of its demise, Barings held assets of some $100 million for Queen Elizabeth.

The grand history of Barings came to a crashing halt on February 26, 1995, at the hands of one rogue trader in Singapore. To cut a long story short, the trader stopped doing what he was supposed to be doing, making lots of small but safe profits for the bank; and tried instead to make big profits by taking huge risks. If the market had gone up, it would have worked. Unfortunately, after an earthquake in Japan, the market dived.

Barings poured nearly $900 million into the market trying to save themselves, but finally went bankrupt.

How could one twenty-eight-year-old trader ruin a 233-year-old British bank? Apparently, the problem was lack of accountability. The trader had been allowed to run both the trading desk and the settlement operations unit responsible for overseeing the trading desk’s accounts. He was, effectively, his own supervisor. It was a little like asking a student to mark their own tests. Clearly, the temptation to cheat became overwhelming.

Of course, it’s not that he wasn’t accountable at all, as he has since found out: he was accountable to his bosses, to the shareholders, to the police and the courts, and so on.

It’s just that for a little too long he was allowed to get away with thinking that he was unaccountable.

In the end, despite what we may fool ourselves into thinking, we are all accountable.

Accountable to our parents, our employers, the tax man, the police, the courts… And above all, accountable to God. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us:

John Reed Chaplain

“Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).

The first part we probably need no encouraging on: make the most of life, and follow your heart. It’s the second part we mustn’t forget: we are all accountable to God. That’s the bit we too easily overlook, but which governs our eternal future.

Senior School

Leadership

Another great snapshot of our school community is weekly Assembly which is run by the School Captains. On so many levels this week’s Assembly was a tribute to the leadership model which we foster within the school. That model is Servant Leadership. In the words of our Mission and Values Statement, Servant Leadership is ‘for the good of others and to the glory of God.’ This week the Captains had arranged to have a representative from Year 12’s selected Charity, Triple Care Farm, speak about their Programs and to enlist the whole school’s support for both fundraising and resource provision. Unbeknown to the Captains the Director of the Program who came to address Assembly had been a student of TIGS from Kindergarten to Year 12 (The Class of 2002.) So not only did he speak about the great work that is being done at Triple Care Farm but he also spoke about his education here at TIGS, including the fact that he hadn’t actually read “Emma” for my Year 12 Advanced English Class, supplementing class notes and discussions by purchasing the ‘talking book’ version!

Thank you, Michael!

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster

What he did speak about most clearly was the Christian guidance he had received at TIGS and in the wonderful way that he reflected on his holistic education his ex-teachers could reflect too on the fact that Michael did exemplify our aim, again found in the Mission and Values Statement:

“3.6 As the School Community cares for each of its members, so it seeks for its students to be caring of others in the wider community. Through the knowledge and understanding of Christian love, compassion and justice, students will be supported to become active participants in society and wise architects of the future”.

Lots of other items were presented at Assembly by the students including: Martin Gallagher (Year 12) singing one of his HSC pieces, the announcement of the Year Champions from the Swimming Carnival, Outstanding Science Achievements both State and National, A Languages Competition, more info on the Literary Club, the Environment Club and HSIE. And that too was a fitting reflection on the roundedness and richness of life at TIGS.

Junior School

World Read Aloud Day

I received an email this week about this event with plenty of hype about the benefits of reading aloud and promoting this activity. The document states: “Reading aloud brings us together – brings meaning, enhanced understanding and shared experience to our words and our stories” and promotes the view that: “Words Change Worlds” My initial response in many of these instances is to consider whether these types of initiatives enrich the learning of our children here at school and to canvass our teaching staff as to the necessity of our involvement. How thrilling to see over and over in our school that “World Read Aloud Day” is EVERY day in the Junior school. Starting with our Prep children who listen to their teachers and parents reading aloud to them, exploring the wonder of story and making connections between the printed and spoken word.

Our Infant children listen to literature becoming more and more literate as they learn the mechanics of reading. Our Primary students participating in novel and author studies. The Peer Reading Programme has been operating in the Junior School with the assistance of Year 10 students for 4 years. In 2010 this group has had to change from an intervention for struggling readers to a “reading club” due to the demand of our children to read to their senior schoolmates.

Can I encourage you all to continue to make each day “World Read Aloud Day”. What a privilege we enjoy to have access to books, to enjoy them together and to learn from them. Let’s see how we can allow words to change our world.

Judi Nealy

Head of Junior School

TIGS Welcome Lunch Alexia Loeser

KM

Eloise Malouf

KP

Liam Harvey, Jack Worthington

1D

Julian Lopac

1S

Dylan Barneaude

2A

Jermaine Issa

2Y

Mila Lancaster

3A

Belle Kolodziej

3Y

Alysha De Ruyter, Riley Hanlon, Nhi Trinh

4M

Lucas Heidrich

4R

Dylan Sormus

5R

Jai Tuckwood

JUNIOR SCHOOL AWARDS

KH

5/6W Matthew O’Hanlon, Heather Varcoe 6C

Joshua Kinnear

6M

Jeremy Harrison

TIGS parents join together in the Junior School P&F Association ‘Karobran’. As a welcome to all parents and friends within the TIGS community ‘Karobran’ have an annual tradition of hosting a welcome lunch at the start of each school year.

Please join the extended TIGS community for lunch on Friday 19 March at 11am at the Villa D’Oro, Wollongong.

Cost $50pp inclusive - RSVP essential.

Please click here to download more information.

RSVP slips are to be returned to Junior School reception.

The Illawarra Grammar School invites and welcomes all members of the community to visit the School and explore the Preparatory, Junior and Senior Schools at the annual TIGS Expo Day. This will be a great time to talk to your family and friends about our School and what we have to offer. With Tours, Open Classrooms, Scholarship Information, Performance, Art Displays and the opportunity to meet with teachers and students, discover the advantages of a TIGS education.

Light refreshments will also be available on the day.

The School community of The Illawarra Grammar School looks forward to welcoming you.

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Junior School Spor ts news

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NASSA Junior Swimming

travelled to Pymble Ladies Colle ge last Mon day as member s of the NA SSA team to com pete at the NSWCIS Tennis Day. Well done to Mackenzie Roberts, Ge orgia Wallace , Emilia Bujar oska, Jacob Ha ll and Jack M ackenzie-W ood.

For the eighth successive year TIGS has won the title as NASSA Junior Swimming Champions.

A team of 31 students competed at Homebush last Tuesday and achieved some very strong results including all of our relay teams placing in the top three which now allows them to progress through to NSW CIS. The team had great support from family and friends who helped build such a positive team atmosphere.

Well done to all our team members.

Team Members

Rebecca Adams Justus Bacic Johnston Joshua Buchanan Annalise Chadrawy Ashleigh Doherty Megan Farrell Rory Hanrahan Connnor Harvey Grace Hennessy Sarah I’ons Ethan Jackson John Kilby Holly Kiteley Michael Kyriakoudes Daniel Laing

Hugo Mackenzie-Wood Angus Malouf Oscar Malouf Simon Mill Zoe Morrell Perri Moustoukis Stephanie Moustoukis Austin Pallone Natasha Pather Taylah Pather Mackenzie Roberts Ruby Tilden Hailey Van Vreumingen Georgia Wallace Anastassia Zafiriou

TIGS EXTENDED What Is Tigs Extended?

The schools very own, unique, exclusive ‘after School care program’ a safe, fun, relaxed, and caring environment for the TIGS children after School 3.00pm - 6.00pm and Vacation care 28/6/10 - 2/7/10 and 13/12/10 - 17/12/10 for children in K - 6.

Did You Know?

‘TIGS Extended is now an approved accredited childcare service’.

What does this mean?

All families are eligible for the ‘Childcare Tax rebate’ of 50% of out of pocket childcare expenses. This is not means or asset tested. “Some families” MAY also be entitled to additional ‘Childcare benefits’ although this is means tested.

We have limited places still available for 2010 for Full Time, Part Time or Casual.

Enrolment forms can be downloaded from the TIGS website. If you would like to speak to the Director you can call the service between 4.00pm - 5.30pm on 4220 0251.

Yr 7 Winter Uniforms Please note that Year 7 students who require a winter uniform should visit the uniform shop for fittings from Week 7 until the end of term.

Immunisations If you intend on having your child immunised, (Hepatitis D – Dose 1, HPV – Dose 1 and DTP – Booster, Single dose), please return your forms to Senior School reception by 8:45am Tuesday 9 March, 2010.

Monday 8 March Pupil free day Please note the School Office will be closed Monday 8 March in conjunction with the Pupil Free/ Professional Development Day.

Curry Drive ing Easter Faith enjoy ing Colour

The Senior School Captains are running a Curry Drive to raise funds for Triple Care Farm. Please click here to down load the orderform.

Order forms and money can be returned to either Senior School Student Reception or Junior School Reception by the closing date of Monday March 15 2010.

letics We love math homework

Senior School Sports Mountain Bike Training Camp

A unique MBT Skills based training experience April 12 & 13 2010 at Biloela Outdoor Education Centre, Southern Highlands. Three programs:

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free

It was a hot a so we got a fternoon treat from the canteen

Level One: those with minimal MBT experience who are keen to learn specialist skills.

Level Two: those with some experience, very fit but have not yet had a lot of off road experience.

Level Three: those with technically sound hard skills, off road experience and a high level of fitness.

Cost: $175 per rider inclusive of meals and accommodation.

How to register: oeg.net.au or phone 02 4869 6700 For further information: www. benmikicfoundation.org.au

y app h ays alw ework s i hom han Playing at the Playlawn Nat doing

and Jade, Andrew playing g in y Cooper enjo Y GYM A PL e th on

Pizza Dates on the menu should read 4/MArch, 18/march and 1/april 2010

Monday 8 March PUPIL FREE DAY

We are in need of

Tuesday 9 March

new Volunteers this year.

If you would like to join our friendly team please download a canteen

Need HELP

Wednesday 10 March Heather Rugg Pam Parkinson

volunteer request form from our school web site, complete and return to the school attention the canteen.

Alternatively you can ring the canteen directly on 4220 0241 7am – 2pm or email canteen@tigs.Nsw.Edu.Au

Thursday 11 March Vanessa Cross Brigita Dominis Assunta Disibio

Friday 12 March Karelle Hall Anna Ziegelaar

Child Safety and Parking Around Schools Please be warned Wollongong City Council together with New South Wales Police and the RTA are working together and responding to complaints of irresponsible or dangerous parking by drivers around schools.

To avoid confrontations at schools, Rangers will situate themselves very obviously to photograph offending vehicles and post fines rather than confronting drivers at the time of the offence in front of their children.

Please click here to view ‘A practical guide from the RTA for road safety around schools’

NSW All Schools Triathlon

Last week TIGS participated in both the Individual and Teams events. A late twist to the event at Penrith Regatta Centre was the unacceptable conditions of the water and the swim part of the triathlon being changed. At the individual races students ran and cycled. From here the top thirty athletes from each age group were taken to Hawkesbury University pool for a time trial.

Please click here for the full results of TIGS NSW All Schools Triathlon.

Individual Results:

Harrison Steele (Junior Division) 18th Overall out of 109 competitors, 6th in the Independent schools section.

Jaiden Fullerton-Harvey (Junior Division) 7th Overall out of 109 competitors, 2nd in the Independent schools section.

Damian Galanti (Intermediate Division) 89th Overall out of 114 competitors, 25th in the Independent schools section.

Congratulations to Jaiden FullertonHarvey for his outstanding results in this event. He has been selected as the reserve for the State Schools Team to compete at the Nationals.

Teams Results:

After a 5.10am start the TIGS triathlon team of 45 students travelled to Penrith for the teams event. The students were nervous seeing close to 800 teams heading to registration, bikes roll out and bike pole position. Numerous questions were asked and knowledge absorbed as they prepared themselves for the upcoming event.

The water issue made major changes for the teams. The race became a run, swim, run as all swimmers had to do a run instead of a swim due to the poor water conditions.

All 15 teams did extremely well. Special mention in our teams to the Junior Boys team of Harrison Steele, Jaiden FullertonHarvey and Hamish Paine WINNING the state all schools event. Also to the Intermediate Girls team who were SECOND OVERALL. Their team included Emma McKeon, Bridget Mullany and Phoebe Fraser.

Thank you to Mrs Newell, Mrs Sullivan, Steve Van Gils and Katrina Van Gils for their tremendous support during this extensive event. We are looking forward to greater team entries and participation for 2010.

Cycling Success

After Bridget Mullany’s (Year 8) outstanding results at the recent NSW Cycling Championships she has been successful in gaining a place on the NSW Track Cycling Team and will be competing at the Nationals during week seven this Term. We wish Bridget all the best for these championships.

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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