Issue 5 Term II, 2010 by The Illawarra Grammar School

NEWSLETTER

Headmaster’s Message The Spirit of Ubuntu Head of Senior School Head of Junior School Chaplain Issue 5 Term II, 2010

Academic • Christian • Caring

The Spirit of Ubuntu Congratulations to everyone that made the TIGS Great Fete such a memorable day. Those who should know say that it was the biggest attendance ever and those queuing for food and rides would probably agree. Some statistics from the day may surprise you: •

There were 800 Souvlakia sold

•

125 kg of meat was cooked for the magnificent Indian curries

•

Over 1,000 cupcakes were beautifully iced

•

532 chicken skewers proved very popular

•

Containers of caramel sauce (500) outsold the sticky date puddings (360)

•

Over 500 sausage sandwiches dripped sauce all over the hands and arms of fete goers

•

100 happy smiling faces were painted to look like anything from a beautiful princess to Spider Man

Was the day a success? It is true that raising funds to improve the facilities at TIGS is a great motivator for many of our volunteers and their efforts are greatly appreciated. However, by far the most important outcome is the celebration of what it means to be a part of the TIGS community. Ex-students and their parents came from all over the country, far exceeding our most optimistic expectations.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

I have previously referred to the African concept of ubuntu. It is word from the Bantu language that does not easily translate into English but captures what I believe is the essence of the TIGS community. One description of ubuntu reads: Ubuntu is the essence of being a person. It means that we are people through other people. We cannot be fully human alone. We are made for interdependence, we are made for family. When you have ubuntu, you embrace others. You are generous, compassionate. It embraces hospitality, caring for others, being able to go the extra mile for the sake of others… A person is a person through another person, that my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanise you, I inexorably dehumanise myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms.” This year’s Great Fete was an excellent example of the spirit of ubuntu. There were over 300 volunteers working for our community. The generosity shown by the volunteers and the eagerness of so many to contribute to the School community was amazing. TIGS is a special place and its strength is the strong commitment and affection that people develop for each other and the School. Thank you to the P & F, under the leadership of the President, Barbara Mandelson, for organising such a wonderful fete. Thank you to those that selflessly cooked, knitted, cleaned out the garage, painted faces, emptied garbage, performed – whatever your role it is greatly appreciated. The spirit of ubuntu continues at TIGS. In the spirit of ubuntu, the School is again providing the venue for the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Ball which will be held on Saturday 31 July. The Daffodil Ball is an opportunity for the adults in the TIGS community to demonstrate a commitment to the needs of others in the same way that our students are encouraged to serve others. All 30 tables (10 per table) have been sold but there are places available on some tables for those still wishing to attend. Please contact the School on 4220 0234. Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

Chaplain’s Connection

“Who is this Man?”

We are now only three weeks away from this year’s Senior School production: “Jesus Christ Superstar”. As I mentioned in the newsletter a couple of weeks ago, Superstar has not been without controversy; particularly concern from Christians at the image of Jesus it portrays, and the fact that it seems to end the story of Jesus at the cross rather than with the empty tomb. However, as I said before, I know, having had the opportunity to work with them on this, that our talented production team are well aware of these issues and have been preparing a production that is not only as fabulous as always, but which deals sensitively with these concerns and reflects our School’s Christian beliefs. At the heart of the show lies the key question that the Gospel writers themselves challenge us with: Who is this man Jesus? We see, throughout the show, the key characters trying to work this out – and to work out how to respond to Jesus. Herod, for example, challenges Jesus to prove himself: “So you are the Christ, You’re the great Jesus Christ: Prove to me that you’re divine, Change my water into wine.” Simon the Zealot has expectations of a military revolutionary: “Every one of fifty thousand, would do whatever you ask him to; Keep them yelling their devotion, but add a touch of hate at Rome: You will rise to a greater power.” And, of course, Mary Magdalene, who has never met any man like this before, can’t work out how to respond to him: “I don’t know how to love him ... I never thought I’d come to this; what’s it all about?” Literally at the heart of the Gospel story, at the mid-point of Mark’s Gospel, we find Jesus asking the disciples: “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27). They replied: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

John Reed Chaplain

Immediately after that he began to teach them “that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” He then goes on to say: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:31-35). It seems that only when we come to a proper understanding of who Jesus is are we in a position to make sense of what happened to him, and to work out how we ought to respond to him.

Senior School

This Time of Year

The Fete was ‘Great’ for lots of reasons and one of those reasons is the way in which it engages families in shared endeavours. It’s so much part of the enriching experience of schooling at its very best and this year was no exception. But the extra element that we are beginning to see more of - not only at events like the Fete but also in the day to day operations of the School - is the involvement of grandparents in their grandchildren’s School life. No longer are grandparents the grey and crinkly shadow-people following in the wake of parents to attend significant events in their grandchildren’s lives. These people are young, vibrant, involved participants in the job of raising another generation of young people. What a fabulous addition this is to the life of so many of our students. It’s also an enrichment for the whole fabric of the School community.

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster

This mid-period of the year is marked by Assessments, Tests, Reports and Parent/Teacher Interviews. Year 12 and Year 11 have both been through the cycle and are now engaged in reviewing and reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses, hopefully in an unemotional and pragmatic way. Their Mentors, Deans, the Director of Studies and all their teachers assist in the process and it is always so rewarding to see hard work and application resulting in students achieving ‘personal bests’ not only in the academic domain but in Co-curricular and Community Service areas too . As I have stated before, we recognise that students each have unique gifts and capacities and not everyone will come in ‘top of the class’ but when students aspire to be the best they can be and achieve, then we all have reason to rejoice with them.

Junior School This week I would like to talk about the importance of raincoats and the importance of common endeavour. I tried very hard to find a way of linking these two themes but fell short of anything inspirational! So I will just tackle them one at a time.

Raincoats

The children need to have good quality yellow raincoats in their bags each school day. They get wet, cold and uncomfortable very quickly without them and this is easily avoided by the use of raincoats. Returning to the Junior School from Chapel this week proved difficult for many children because they were not properly dressed for the weather and car line is particularly uncomfortable for those children without wet weather gear. Can I request that this weekend all of our families take a look at the wet weather gear for their children and if necessary purchase the required raincoat so that the children can stay dry and warm. Excellent raincoats can be purchased from the uniform shop.

Common Endeavour

It has long been a characteristic of a Junior School education that there is a strong sense of partnership between home and school. This partnership is crucial in achieving good results for the children as they progress from their first years of school through to the Senior School. At the moment we are going through a period of change and development in teaching and learning as we adopt the Primary Years Program (PYP). This program offers amazing opportunities and benefits to our children. The opportunities and benefits are MAGNIFIED when our parent community has a strong understanding of the program. On Tuesday at the Karobran meeting the Junior School executive team will be unpacking elements of the PYP. You will gain a better understanding of the benefits for the children, the teaching philosophy, how we assess in the PYP, the attitudes and learner profile.

Judi Nealy

Head of Junior School

I would warmly encourage all parents to attend this important session which will be held in Begbie. As a result you will be well equipped to support your children in being 21st century, transdisciplinary learners who embrace creativity and make new connections and knowledge. It is a very exciting time in our School and I urge all parents to be involved.

Junior School Sports NASSA Junior Cross Country

56 Junior School runners participated in the NASSA Cross Country at Macarthur Anglican School last Monday. The team performed well with many strong results particularly in the 11 and 12 year olds age groups. We achieved an overall position of 2nd to Penrith Anglican School. Well done to all our competitors on a great day. 15 runners achieved a top ten result which now qualifies them to compete at the NSWCIS carnival at Eastern Creek later this term. Congratulations to: Mackenzie Roberts - 3rd 12yrs girls Chloe Kuiper - 4th 12yrs girls Jack Mackenzie-Wood - 4th 12yrs boys Louis Parsons-O’Malley - 10th 12yrs boys Sarah I’ons - 2nd 11yrs girls Hailey Van Vreumingen - 3rd 11ys girls Mili Haber - 4th 11yrs girls Lucinda Paine - 6th 11yrs girls

Julia Devitt – 7th 11yrs girls Brad Van Vreumingen – 7th 11yrs boys Ashleigh Mill – 6th 10yrs girls Zara Winter – 7th 10 yrs girls Caleb Grace – 8th 10yrs boys Austin Pallone – 6th 9yrs boys Zachary Winter – 9th 9yrs boys

JUNIOR SCHOOL AWARDS

Bowen KimberleyMastalir, Nathaniel Makotsvana

Andrew Brown

Isabella Kane, John Taiwo

Mia Stone, Harrison Kiteley

Newton Luu, Joseph Fraser

Morgan Jackson

Byron Leitch

Sufyaan Ul-Haq, Rory Hanrahan

Kassee Dennis

Daniel Laing, Logan Brailey, Patrick Li, Brent Tekkol, Vanessa Winterbottom

Lachlan Phillpott, Erynne Stone, Quincy Tut

Mile Haber, Natasha Shalala, Brandon Grainger

TIGS EXTENDED The children at TIGS Extended have so much fun. Most days they don't want to go home (Sorry mums and dads). TIGS Extended is a fun, relaxed, safe and caring environment. A place where everyone feels welcome and is valued and respected regardless of gender, ability, race, religion or cultural background. At TIGS Extended we value the importance of middle childhood. TIGS Extended after school care service is an "approved" Child Care Service. This means all families are eligible for childcare benefits and the childcare tax rebate. Childcare tax rebate - This is NOT means tested and is eligible to ALL families, this means a rebate of 50% of out of pocket childcare expenses reimbursed to you directly from the family assistance office. Childcare benefits - This is means tested, so is only eligible to some families. Vacation Care is NOW on the TIGS WEBSITE. All families of TIGS can access the information, booking forms and enrolment forms for June/July and Dec 2010 Vacation Care. Should you have any inquiries please do not hesitate to email the Director, Karen Buckley kbuckley@tigs.nsw.edu.au. Places are filling fast.....

TIGS Charity Trivia Night 2010 As part of their fundraising efforts for the TIGS 2010 Year 12 charity Triple Care Farm, the School Captains invite you to attend a Trivia Night. Triple Care Farm is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, which provides an ideal environment of peace and healing for emotionally hurt and troubled young people, aged 16 to 24. Date: Friday 4 June (Week 8 Term 2), 6.30pm – 10pm Location: The Illawarra Grammar Centre (IGC) Cost: $10pp (Tables of 8) Theme: “All good things start with T” Please bring your own food and drink, however if you wish to pre order an Antipasto Platter for the evening the cost will be $25 per platter and they will be distributed on the night. No student or persons under the age of 18 are permitted to attend this event.

Click here to download your Trivia night order form.

School Production Jesus Christ Superstar - Tickets Now On Sale Performance Times: • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday

16 June 2010 17 June 2010 18 June 2010

7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm

• •

Saturday Saturday

19 June 2010 19 June 2010

2.00pm 7.30pm

Adults $20 - Students/Concessions $10 Tickets available from TIGS reception phone 4220 0200

Careers Event The Illawarra Grammar School Tertiary Information Evening Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 and their parents/guardians are cordially invited to attend this evening, designed to provide detailed information on tertiary study. This event will be held at the School on Tuesday, 1 June from 6.00 – 8.30pm. It combines a market stall format with more specific information seminars. Students and parents will be invited to attend the market from 6.00 – 7.00pm, followed by three 25 minute seminars of their choice. Representatives from universities, TAFE and private tertiary institutions have been selected to cater to our student audience and will provide detailed information during the seminars including: • • • • •

new career options and newly introduced courses appropriate tertiary institutions for a chosen career scholarships, university schemes including Early Entry, Access, Bonus Points and accommodation cadetships, traineeships, apprenticeships appropriate subject selection for Years 10 & 11

Registration for this event is essential. An information booklet and registration form will be sent to parents shortly.

Senior School Sports The Bill Turner Cup: Round 2

keeper Aiden Breslin with little to do.

TIGS 3 - 4 Keira HS On Friday 7 May, TIGS contested the second round of the Boys U15 ‘Bill Turner Cup’ against Keira High School. This is a knockout completion which will see a team qualify from the South Coast Region if they can get past round 5. This was an excellent first half in which TIGS dominated. Having most of the possession of the ball, TIGS took an early lead by a goal from Robert Gyngell. TIGS controlled the midfield through some excellent passing between Samuel Isabella, Kalen Pupovac, Luke Bussoletti and Anthony Keating. Further goals from Samuel and Robbie saw TIGS take a commanding lead. The solid defence comprised of Brendan Nikolovski, Dominic Riordan, Damien Galanti and Benjamin Goodhew left

Click here to read the full results

Rugby

Congratulations to Stuart Mill (Year 10) for his selection in the NSW Country Junior Rugby Union U/15’s Team.

Senior School NASSA Cross Country

TIGS continues to impress as our School results show from the recent NASSA Cross Country. After a chilly start at Macarthur Anglican School over eighty of our students were prepared for another big day of competition. TIGS were once again overall champion School. We also won both the Junior and Intermediate Shield. Congratulations to all students in the School team on

these great results. Some outstanding individual results included: Click here to read the full results Year 9 & 10 Sports A reminder to all Year 9 and 10 students that sport is compulsory. If exemption is required a formal application should be made in writing to the Director of Sport. Term 2 & 3 Monday – Netball (lunchtime), Circus Monoxide, Badminton, Table Tennis (3.30 – 4.30pm) Wednesday – Rockclimbing, Basketball (3.30 – 4.30pm) Thrusday & Friday – Rugby Union (lunchtime)

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Gluten

Monday 24 May

Free Meat Pies are no longer available.

Jan Osbourne Linda Edmund

Coming Soon TO THE CANTEEN An on-line ordering system Details will be sent home within the next few weeks

Tuesday 25 May

Snezana Bujaroska Anne Jones

Wednesday 26 May Kylie Doherty

Thursday 27 May

The new menu for Terms II and III can be

Marie McCorquodale

found on the School’s web site, please check for

Friday 28 May

new specials and price changes.

Brigitta Dominis Linda Webb

Visual Arts News

The Works 2010 – Are you an Artist, Designer, Film-maker or Photographer?

Are you an artist or do you know an artist who would like to support the Works Exhibition 2010’s Acquisitive Art Award? This exciting event will be on the weekend of the 27th of August. We are very happy to announce that our generous sponsors Westpac are able to support us again with a prize of $2000 which will be awarded to the winning artist and the works will be on sale. Are you interested in helping with the organisation and hanging of the exhibition or with hospitality? Please contact Wendi Leigh by email on wleigh@tigs.nsw.edu.au to register your interest.

Year 8 Photography Workshop

Students of Year 8 are invited to attend two after school workshops that will introduce them to the foundations of Wet Photography in the darkroom and Digital Photography using Photoshop. The workshops will be running on two consecutive Wednesdays during week 6 and week 7 this term and numbers are limited so students should contact the Creative Arts staffroom for a permission note and money as soon as possible. The course will run from 3.30 – 5.00pm on Wednesday 26th May and 2nd June 2010. The cost will be $5 and the location is room F112.

Do you have an SLR camera that is no longer in use?

Do you have any SLR Film Cameras in working condition that you no longer use? An integral part of the Senior School Photography/Digital Media course is developing film and paper in our wet photography darkroom and we use these cameras to teach students the basics of photography. Digital technology has meant that these cameras are getting harder to source. Please email us if you can help sesposito@tigs.nsw.edu.au

17th Biennale of Sydney 2010

Sydney is fortunate to host one of the oldest most celebrated and respected festivals of Contemporary art. THE BEAUTY OF DISTANCE: Songs in a precarious age presents more than 440 works by 166 artists and collaborators from 36 countries – including new works created especially for Sydney. 12 May - 1August 2010 The Biennale of Sydney is a free exhibition located across 7 venues: Cockatoo Island, Pier 2/3, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery of NSW and Artspace. Year 11 Visual Arts and Photography students will have the opportunity to visit some of these venues during this term. Form more information http://www.bos17.com/page/exhibition.html

Winter Holiday Study Blitz Uniform Notice The Uniform Shop will be open 10am – 2.00pm on: •

Thursday 15 July

•

Friday 16 July

•

Saturday 17 of July No appointments necessary

Study courses are being held at the School during the winter school holidays for any student from Years 7 to 12. The courses being run are: Study Skills & Strategies - Years 7 - 9 Senior Study Skills & Strategies - Years 10 - 12 Essay Skills - Years 10 - 12 Advanced Reading Skills - Years 10 - 12 Please click here for more information and to download your enrolment form.

TIGS Foundation

Annual General Meeting

The TIGS Foundation will hold its Annual General Meeting Date: Tuesday June 15, 2010 Venue: School Board Room Time: 6pm Parents & interested members of the school community are invited to attend.

Fete Wrap

The weather was kind and the sun shone upon the TIGS campus. The smell of many different cuisines wafted across the grounds enticing the crowd, as they exited the shuttle buses, to succumb to the temptation. All of our various food stalls sold out as people who came to watch relatives perform, grab a bargain, thrill on the rides or chance their luck at winning a raffle indulged their senses. The TIGS Community came out in force to welcome a multitude of visitors. We cooked, baked, sewed, knitted, sorted, kept the grounds cleaned, organised rosters, collected and counted money, arranged flowers and gift baskets, supervised games, sold raffle tickets, gained retail sales experience and joined the construction and deconstruction crews as the grounds changed from their normal School day set-up to a Fete extraordinaire and back in the space of 9 hours. As the saying goes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a difference a day makesâ&#x20AC;?. There was a wonderful atmosphere that lasted the length of the Fete and beyond. The feedback from stall coordinators has been positive with suggestions for some tweaking here and there to capitalize on the fabulous goodwill received. Amazingly, while not being able to give a final figure yet for the financial aspect of the Fete proceeds, we can conservatively say we expect the surplus to be in the vicinity of $63,000.00. We should have a more definite figure by early June. TIGS P&F wishes to extend their thanks to everyone who contributed to the 2010 TIGS Great Fete. We look forward to seeing our volunteers at the Thank You Supper on June 9th in the Goodhew Centre (Library). Barb Mandelson & Tracey Jansen TIGS P and F

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.

eting e M n a r • Karob Begbie

2010 - 1 June

0pm From 7.0

Day o t o h P l o Scho ary Lawn • Senioar y on Libr

2010 - 2 June

All d

val i n r a C s hletichletics track. t A l o o h c S at on Park t a • Junioar e B t y a

e 2010 - 10 Jun

All d

e Day e r F l i p u • P

e 2010 - 11 Jun

views r e t n I /Teacher

ent r a P 9 • Year 2010.

Researc w e h d o Go ly in the n o 15 June t n e tm By appoinLibrary) ( Centre

ceS n a m r o f GC n Pe0r o i t c u in the I d m o p r :3 P 7 • 10 GC June 20 in the I

16 7:30pm IGC 2010 e n u J m in the 17 p GC 0 :3 7 0 in the I 1 m 0 p 2 0 e n :3 & 7 18 Ju - 2:00pm 0 1 0 2 19 June