Newsletter Academic Christian Caring
Junior School Twilight Picnic
ISSUE 5
TERM I 2015
Headmas Why do we sing ‘Soldiers of Christ’ at important School occasions?
I was asked this question recently by a student at the induction ceremony for our Junior School Captains. Almost immediately a student, looking at the School Crest, asked me what the Latin words used as our motto meant. They reminded me that it is important that we all learn, understand and honour the traditions and foundations of our school to ensure that the vision of those that established TIGS is never to be lost. “Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armour on; Strong in the strength which God supplies through his eternal son” These are the opening words of a Charles Wesley hymn written in 1741 in a style that some might say has long become irrelevant to those living in the 21st Century. Words such as “put your armour on”, “arm you for the fight”, “walking in your captain’s sight” and “wrestle and fight and pray” are not commonly found in contemporary Christian music. Charles Wesley actually wrote twelve verses for ‘Soldiers of Christ’. The three verses that we sing as the School Hymn are actually an amalgamation of sections of a number of the original verses. In reviewing our version of the hymn, and sifting through the 18th century imagery Charles Wesley used, it is clear that those who chose our hymn believed that we should be continually reminded of the fundamental principles on which the school is built: that Christ is the source of our strength and that it is through our relationship with Him that we become complete. These are timeless principles that cut through the language of 1741. Given the wealth of instruction embedded in the three verses that we sing as the School Hymn, I can assure everyone that there are no plans to sing all twelve verses of Charles Wesley’s original hymn at future School events.
Chaplain’s Message CROSSROADS 2015
On Tuesday evening I attended a briefing for Year 10 parents on our upcoming trip to Crossroads in Hong Kong. This will be our fourth trip to Crossroads. It was clear at the briefing that momentum for this trip is building. There were around thirty Year 10 families represented on the night with more sending their apologies. What is Crossroads and why the interest? Crossroads Foundation is a Hong Kong based non-profit organisation. Its goal is to connect people in a broken world by bringing together those in need with those who can help. There are four ways this happens: 1. GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION Excellent quality goods are donated
to Crossroads by businesses and private donors. These goods are redistributed to people in need in Hong Kong and around the world. 2. GLOBAL HAND Global Hand is a matchmaking service which links for-profit and non-profit organisations who want to partner to help meet global need. 3. GLOBAL X-PERIENCE Simulation experiences are conducted on site at the Hong Kong facility in which participants step briefly into the shoes of people facing global challenges such as war, poverty, HIV vulnerability, blindness, environmental challenges, hunger etc.
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It is not surprising that our motto is found in our third verse. A motto can say so much about a school and its history and values. The TIGS motto, which translates from the Latin “De virtute in virtutem” into English as “From strength to strength”, has a fascinating history which is quite inspiring. The first meetings held to discuss the formation of an Independent Anglican School in Wollongong were held at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Wollongong in 1952. The School came into being with the passing of The Illawarra Grammar School Ordinance on 15 December 1958 by the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney. The School’s opening day was 3 February 1959 when 28 boys attended their first lessons held at St Mark’s Anglican Church, West Wollongong, with the first Headmaster, Rev R.F. Bosanquet. This was when the School Motto was chosen. Archdeacon Rev H.G.S. Begbie, who was the driving force behind the establishment of the School, chose a text from Psalm 84 that captured the mood of the founders. Their intention was that through all the challenges that the new School experienced they would persevere and that the School and its students, under God’s grace, would flourish. Since 1959, our School has evolved into the wonderful community that it is today. Our distinguishing core values Academic, Christian and Caring – that define what we know as the TIGS tradition, are the end result of the commitment of our former and present students, parents and staff to go from “strength to strength”. The Statement of Mission captures these values and points to the future:
TWO IMORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: 1. Friday 20 March Artsfest Showcase 6.00pm in the IGC
2. Week 1 Term II
Tickets go on sale for the School Production
‘Beauty and the Beast’
“The achievement of academic excellence in a caring environment that is founded on Christian belief and behaviour, so that students are equipped to act with wisdom, compassion and justice as faithful stewards of our world.” Stephen Kinsella Headmaster
4. GLOBAL HANDICRAFTS There is a marketplace on site at Crossroads Hong Kong which sells goods from people in need within Hong Kong and around the world on a fair trade basis. The clear message from previous Crossroads participants and their parents at Tuesday night’s briefing was that a visit to Crossroads brings longlasting life transformation. Students experience the brokenness of the world in a way they have never experienced before. Along with this, they see - many for the first time - just how well off they are by world standards. For some, this leads to a profound sense of guilt – they struggle with the imbalance of life and the fact that they should be so privileged in life. For others, a deep
empathy is engendered for those who are in desperate need. For all, there is a determination to do what they can to redress this imbalance in the world. Students come home changed. Tuesday night was a deeply moving night as stories of transformation were recounted. I couldn’t help but be excited for the new group which would visit Crossroads this year. What struck me afresh, however, was how Crossroads meshes so well with our mission and values as a School. Crossroads is a Christian ministry. It seeks to apply the message of Jesus - that we should love our neighbor as ourselves and act justly with mercy in the world. This is a great fit for us as a Christian School. Secondly, Crossroads
seeks to think and act globally. International-mindedness is one of the key components of an IB education. There is a great fit for us here as well. While not everyone will have the privilege of the Crossroads experience, Crossroads is only a microcosm of a total TIGS education. It is like an intensive which captures for one week the essence of it all. For this reason, I am excited not only for those who will visit Crossroads this year but for all students who attend TIGS. If they give themselves fully to what we offer at TIGS they are surely on the path to personal life transformation which will impact our world for good. Rev James Rogers Chaplain
Senior School EXCELLENCE
delivered through the International Baccalaureate and through our own English Language School, and then to the small classes in all years but in particular in those critical first years of education.
Monica Watt Head of Senior School Deputy Headmaster
T
his week at the Professional Learning Day I was outlining for all academic staff from Pre-Prep to Senior School and all Administrative and Support Staff the ways in which TIGS was the leading school in the Illawarra in educating the whole child. It was a very long list detailing the high quality and the extent of our commitment to excellence in all areas. From our Academic results which in all domains eclipse every other nonselective school, to our range and quality of Subject Choices in Years 9-12, to our International perspective
Both in the region and outside in statewide competition we are the team to beat in Debating, Public Speaking, Swimming, Cross Country, Soccer, Futsal, FPS, CmPS. The number of students involved and successful in achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Award is unmatched in any other school and our Sports and Outdoor Education programmes are outstanding, achieving deep and lasting levels of physical activity and engagement for our students. Our students are active and engaged in so many other areas, with the range and diversity of strong and rigorous co-curricular programmes second to none. Our students want to give back to the School community and the wider community through Peer Reading, Students Hosts and their work with the Disability Trust and other organisations. We have achieved National recognition for our digital photographers, winning the Ilford Photographic Award last year and
already in 2015 we have been notified of individual students achieving success in this competition in a number of early categories. We have House Competition engagement which fosters connection, commitment and school/house spirit to a level that is not seen in other schools but it is not combative or divisive. It is supportive, respectful and loving. The way in which the whole school applauds and encourages each and every performer in the House Music, Dance and Drama Competition - now known as Artsfest - is something that many new students and teachers to our school are amazed by and in awe of. We have many other occasions when our unique respectful, encouraging and positive culture shines through. Our students can be themselves and demonstrate their unique talents, skills and personality in our pleasing environment. It is a great school with a great heart and at its centre a strong Christian soul. That is why so many ex-students go to great lengths to bring their children ‘back to TIGS.’ It’s not the same school that they left but it has, at its core the fundamental commitment to educating the whole child in an environment that sets excellence as its standard.
Years 9, 10 and 11 CAMP GALLIPOLI COMPETITION
Years 9, 10 and 11 students are invited to enter a competition to design a poster which highlights the historical significance of the upcoming 100th commemoration of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. The winners will be awarded the prize of attending the Camp Gallipoli event in Sydney on the night of 24 April and morning of 25 April. This event will involve watching performances, sleeping out with a swag and waking up to partake in a commemorative service on ANZAC Day.
Posters will need to be handed to your history teacher OR uploaded to your history class OLLE page by Monday Week 8 for judging. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 17 March at the Senior School Assembly. See Mr Chamberlain or your History teacher for more details. The Camp Gallipoli website is www. campgallipoli.com.au
YEAR 7 Parents’ BBQ
Friday 13 March 6.00pm – 8.00pm in the IGC Year 7 Parents and their families are invited to our Parents’ BBQ. This is an opportunity for Year 7 parents to network with other parents in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Please pack a basket with everything you will need for a picnic. BBQ facilities, sports and games will be provided. Adverse weather will not cancel this event. Please be advised that this is an alcohol free event.
Academic • Christian • Caring
An International Baccalaureate World School
Junior School We are all learning at TIGS!
This week the teachers and other staff at TIGS were all students on the Pupil Free Day. Right across our School the staff were learning how to do our work well and how to get the best results for the children. These days are crucial for our School in continuous improvement and in ensuring that the staff are not only aware of best practice, but implementing it.
Judi Nealy Head of Junior School
Junior School Twilight Picnic
Last Friday the sun shone brightly on our Twilight Picnic that was held on the new Junior School oval. As always this event was happy and relaxed with parents and staff finding time to chat and the Junior School students very ably entertained by our Year 10 volunteer students. It is such a great advantage in our Prep – Year 12 School to have the older students as role models and encouragers of our younger ones. Our Year 10 volunteers exhibited enthusiasm, patience and kindness as they designed and organised games and activities for the children at the picnic and they were a key element of the event’s success.
Awards WEEKLY AWARDS
KD KP 1W 2Mc 2M 2S 5R 6C
Riley Cook, Rana Ulusu Tahlie Oxman, Darby Parrish Marcus Smith, Yananai Chibanda Samuel Robinson, Samra Tarrant Alan Huynh Scarlett Ford Taylan Arapali Alana Newhouse
On the same day our soccer teams were away representing our School. This was an outstanding day with great results. Four teams played at the South Coast Schools Futsal Competition at Berkeley. Our U10 girls and boys were both undefeated on the day. The girls scored 22 goals for and 0 against showing great composure and potential. Our U12 girls were also undefeated in their competition and have qualified to compete in the State Championships along with the U12 boys who having played great Futsal and progressed through the pools undefeated only to go down in the Final to a competitive Nareena Hills team. Well done to all our Futsal players and thank you to Mr Robinson for his ongoing and tireless commitment to TIGS football.
On Expo Day
around our campus and speaking about their TIGS experience. Please feel free to invite friends or family to visit our School if they are interested. I’m looking forward to an extravaganza of Indian Cuisine and Bollywood as we support the Taj Mahal function on Saturday night. This function generously raises funds for the Disability Trust and for TIGS Foundation. On Sunday TIGS will host an interactive Q&A for the NSW Parents Association. Guests on the panel include Bernard Salt (Writer, Speaker and Media Commentator), Rabi Zalman Kastel, Julie McCrossin (School Board Member) and Ryan Park (MP). I look forward to meeting many of our own parents as well as parents from other schools as we hear about Parent Engagement, Quality Teaching, Parent Skills and the best framework for today’s schools. This week’s attitude is Creativity •
I have different ideas. I use my imagination to help solve problems. I try to think of new ideas that have not been thought of yet.
DIARY DATES:
This weekend is a busy one with the TIGS Expo on Saturday, the Taj Mahal dinner on Saturday night and the NSW Parents Council event on Sunday.
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Saturday 7 March – Expo Day
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Wednesday 1 April – Junior School Cross Country
Junior School leaders will assist with leading tours and showing visitors
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Thursday 2 April – Junior School Easter Service
MERIT CERTIFICATES ACADEMIC
Thomas Partland Anika Rindani Georgia Dolan Elizabeth Michelmore Calix Langton Myer Matyana
SERVICE
Molly Buikstra
Twilight Picnic Enrolments 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.
2016 ENROLMENTS
Enrolments for 2016 are now open with limited placements for Kindergarten and Year 7. Please contact Enrolments on 4220 0216 or email: enrolments@tigs.nsw.eud.au for further information.
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
Senior School Sport Student Success: Hockey – Isabella Sandy has been selected in the U15 Girls NSW State Hockey Team that will attend the National Championships on the Gold Coast, Queensland in early April. Isabella is the only Illawarra and South Coast representative to be selected in the Team. Congratulations to Isabella. Cycling - Natasha Mullany travelled to Melbourne last week to compete in the Australian Junior Track Cycling Championships. A summary of her results are as follows: W17 Team Sprint – Gold Medal and Australian Championship Title Points Race – Silver Medal Team Pursuit – Silver Medal Sprint – 4th place
13 Year Girls 1st Cartia Taranto 2nd Kayla McNamara 3rd Charlotte Gaynor
3rd Joshua King
13 Year Boys 1st Joseph Druitt 2nd Ethan Havadjia 3rd Sebastiano Di Noro
TIGS had a team of 25 students compete in the NSW All Schools Triathlon from 26 to 27 February 2015 at Sydney International Regatta Centre Penrith. The 4am start did not stop the team from competing alongside 600 other students in the solo events and 2400 students competing in the relay events across the two days.
14 Year Girls 1st Amy Gibbons 2nd Kyra King 3rd Shelby Cresswell 14 Year Boys 1st Austin Pallone 2nd Griffin Spicknall 3rd Samuel Lendrum 15 Year Girls 1st Jana Massingham 2nd Georgia Robson 3rd Holly Kiteley 15 Year Boys 1st Timothy Gaynor 2nd Matthew Logan 3rd James Seal
Congratulations on a fantastic achievement, taking out the Australian Championships.
16 Year Girls 1st Kelsey Cresswell 2nd Laura Gibbons 3rd Sarah I’ons
Swimming Age Champions
16 Year Boys 1st Ethan Dorrian 2nd Daniel Laing 3rd George Moustoukis
I would like to congratulate all our staff, House Leaders and swimmers for their fantastic efforts in making our 2015 Swimming Carnival a great success. Furthermore I congratulate the following:
12 Year Girls 1st Maya Middleton 2nd Sophia Santos 3rd Winnie Cheng 12 Year Boys 1st Sebastian Buchanan 2nd Kivaan Mudaly-Naidoo 3rd Jett Norris
17 Year Girls 1st Kaitlin McKeon 2nd Alice Fox 3rd Holly Trenaman 17 Year Boys 1st Evan Jenkins 2nd Jeremy Harrison 3rd Mitchell Ferguson
Robson placed 9th in the Independent Girls.
The NSW All Schools Triathlon
Special mention following students:
to
the
Junior Boys Solo Austin Pallone – who placed 11th in the independent Junior Boys and 16 out of 123 finishers in his events finishing the 400m swim, 10km cycle and 3km run in a time of 40.18. Joseph Druitt – came 23rd in Independent Schools and 44th overall to finish in a time of 43.49. Junior Boys Relay Griffin Spicknall, Austin Pallone and Jonathon Michalopoulos finished 8th in the Independent Boys and placed 16th over all with a time of 37.42. Intermediate Boys Solo James Seal – placed 7th in Independent Schools and 17th from 196 finishers.
18 Year Girls 1st Olivia Poate 2nd Miriam Birt 3rd Madeline Laing
Intermediate Boys Relay Michael Lill, Lucas Heidrich and James Seal placed 8th in Independent Boys and 25th overall in 51.25
18 Year Boys 1st Joel Moore 2nd Jonathan Fowles
Intermediate Girls Relay Elizabeth Martin, Brittony Smallhorn and Georgia
It was a fantastic competition and a great opening into triathlons for many of our students.
Futsal School Championships – South Coast Region U14 Girls On Tuesday 3 March our U/14 Girls Futsal team put in, what could only be described as a dominant display against other teams in our region. And this was borne out in a 62 – 1 goal difference across the pool rounds and semi-final. The Final was a much harder fought out affair, however, with a very determined and physical opposition opening the scoring. TIGS managed to get back on level terms at the break, and it was only after the same excellent teamwork that the girls had shown all day that they managed to grind out a 3 – 1 win to take out the Championship. Congratulations to Isabel Bodey, Margaux Chauvet, Sophie Correa, Ashley Dribbus, Zoe Dribbus, Cartia Taranto and Anastasia Grozdanov. U/14 Boys On 3 March 8 Boys from years 7 – 9 competed in the U14 Regional Futsal Championships. The Boys were outstanding not only in their performance on and off the field, but also in their ability to play a wellstructured and executed match. We positioned 1st in our pool with victories in four games 8–2, 10-0, 12 -1 and 16 –1. As you can see the wins were convincing due to the level of skill and
teamwork that the boys displayed across the day. We competed against Kiera High in the semi-final and again the boys showed great skill to win 7 – 1. The Final was played against Wollongong High. It was great to watch the team rise to a new level and finish the day with a win 8 - 2 to become the U/14 Boys Futsal Regional Champions. We will now be competing in the State Championships later in the year. I would like to congratulate the following boys in an outstanding display of maturity, skill and teamwork. Harry Borbilas, Anthony Krsteski, Trent Ledwidge, Samuel Lendrum, Thomas Main, Jonathon Michalopoulos, Austin Pallone, Nick Peros (Captain)
Year 8 Camp During Week 3 of Term 1 Year 8 headed up to the Hornsby Shire to Crosslands Convention Centre for the Year 8 Outdoor Education
Programme. Across the week students were challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and socially; building on the valuable skills they were introduced to in the the Year 7 Outdoor Education Programme. The camp is divided into two halves, with the groups based at the Convention Centre for half of the week and a hike across the second half of the week. The hike introduced students to their first expedition, where they canoe for half a day and then hike over 20km along the Great North Walk across rugged bush terrain over two of the days . At the Convention Centre students learn valuable team building, leadership and communication skills as they participate in initiative activities and outdoor educational experiences such as abseiling, flying fox and the low ropes. One
of the highlight activities is the big inflatable obstacle course in the pool. Fortunately the weather held out until Wednesday morning and then the heavens decided to open up. The pouring rain added another challenge for everyone, but didn’t manage to stop the group from having an amazing and memorable outdoor educational experience. We congratulate all students for their outstanding efforts across the week. Overall, we feel confident that the programme was a huge success. Students really met the various challenges they faced at camp head on and every student should feel proud of their personal transformation and accomplishments.
Up Coming Events: Week 7 • Senior School Tennis Day 9 March •
TIGS Surfing Team selections 10 March
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AICES Swimming Carnival 12 March
Beyond…… • We are still looking for Saturday Netball Umpires and Coaches •
Nominations are due for Friday Night Schools Hoops that will start in April.
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We are looking for volunteers, swimmers and runners for the Splash n Dash Festival on the 28 and 29 March.
Below: Natasha Mullany at the Australian Junior Track Cycling Championships.
N
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SO
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ŠDisney
CO
Production of
17 - 20 June 2015
Music by
Alan Menken
Lyrics by
Book by
Linda Howard & Tim Ashman Rice Woolverton By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)
GAMEON
for parents of children who love ‘gaming’ A free presentation by TIGS
Monday 25 May 2015 6.30pm to 8.00pm The Illawarra Grammar Centre with
Collett Smart
Sydney based psychologist and educator Collett Smart is a Sydney based psychologist, qualified teacher, speaker, freelance writer and mum of 3. She has spent the last 20 years working in private and public schools, with children, teens and their parents around Australia, the UK, and in Africa. Collett regularly appears in the media, covering topics related to parenting and raising teenagers. ‘GAMEON’ tackles issues such as: • How does gaming fit into this generation of parenting? • The benefits of gaming • An analysis of violent video games
For more information or to book online visit
www.tigs.nsw.edu.
• Online addictions – fact or fiction? • Guidelines for parents on creating gaming boundaries “As parents it is our responsibility to guide our children toward healthy life choices. It is often easier to make tough decisions with and for our children when we think about the type of adult they will become.” Collett An International Baccalaureate World School
Academic • Christian • Caring
NSW Parents’ Council TIGS is pleased to host the NSW Parents’ Council Congress webcast here in our library. Please join us for a coffee and an interactive session. Parents’ Congress - keynote speaker Bernard Salt Sunday 8 March 2015 1.30pm - 3.30pm TIGS Goodhew Research Centre Library Enter via Powell St West Wollongong. All parents are welcome Questions can be sent to community@parentscouncil.nsw.edu.au
Extend @TIGS Extend@TIGS is fully operating from Rees Hall this year onwards. We have a lot of exciting outdoor activities lined up since The Oval is open for play. Please do not forget to check the Newsletter for our weekly programme. ONLINE BOOKINGS: extend.com. au CALL OUR OFFICE: 1300 366 437 AUTUMN HOLIDAY PROGRAM COMING SOON Our team have been working hard on the Autumn Holiday Programme and bookings will soon be open. We have heaps of fun activities planned that you won’t want to miss out on! Be sure to check our website for updates and watch this space…
TIGS Foundation TIGS FOUNDATION AGM 2015 All members are cordially invited to attend the TIGS Foundation Annual General Meeting. If you know others who are interested in the work of TIGS Foundation or have been part of the Foundation’s history, we would welcome their attendance as a guest. When: Where: Time: Dress: RSVP: Phone: Email:
Wednesday 18 March 2015 Goodhew Research Centre (Library - Entrance via Powell Street) 6.00pm - 7.00pm Welcome drinks and canapés, 7.00pm - 8.00pm AGM Smart casual 12 March 2015 Lisa Wilson (Foundation Coordinator) 4220 0264 foundation@tigs.nsw.edu.au
THANK YOU Thank you to those families who generously donated to TIGS Foundation through the recent 2015 Fee Commitment Form. Your kind donation contributes to the achievement of our goals and objectives for funding of the Reverend Richard Bosanquet Scholarship, provided for students whose circumstances would otherwise not allow them to access a TIGS education, and to capital works programmes and assets which support teaching and learning at the School. This assists to drive forward the fantastic educational opportunities your children will receive here at TIGS. To learn more about TIGS Foundation, please contact Lisa Wilson in the Foundation Office on 4220 0264 or email foundation@tigs.nsw.edu.au
The Arts Congratulations must go to ten year old violinist, Lina Lee, who has successfully auditioned for an opportunity to perform as a soloist for 102.5 FM Fine Music Radio. The ‘Young and Even Younger Performers Broadcast 2015’ was open to musicians 21 years and under. On 8 March, Lina will perform the 1st Movement of Sonata No. 6 by Mozart. The performance will be broadcast at a later date, yet to be advised. Elizabeth Stevens TIGS Instrumental Tutor
UPCOMING
EVENTS
WEEK 6
TIGS Expo Day
10.00am to 2.00pm Saturday 7 March
WEEK 7
Scholarship Applications Close Wednesday 11 March
Year 7 Parents’ BBQ Friday 13 March
WEEK 8
TIGS Foundation AGM
6.00pm Wednesday 18 March in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library)
Year 5 Bathurst Camp
Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March
Artsfest SHowcase
6.30pm to 10.00pm Friday 20 March in the IGC
WEEK 9
Year 7 Meet the Teacher
5.30pm to 7.00pm Tuesday 24 March in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library)