Issue 6 Term I, 2011

NEWSLETTER

Headmaster’s Message Emma McKeon, Emma Ramsey and Bridget Mullany - 2nd Overall and 1st in the independent schools division at the NSW All Schools Triathlon

Issue 6 Term I, 2011

Academic • Christian • Caring

Hello Head of Senior School Head of Junior School Chaplain

‘Hello’ kon’nichiwa; annyeonghaseyo; nî hâo; néih hóu; chào anh; s̄wạs̄dī Saying ‘hello’ at TIGS is not as easy as you would think. These words represent the way to say hello in the languages of the 25 students currently enrolled in the School’s program for International Students. These students come from 8 Asian countries and are enrolled in both the Junior and Senior School.

The School has many years experience in providing a program for international students, starting in 1989 under the leadership of the School’s fourth Headmaster, Rev Peter Smart.

Since then more than 250 students from across Asia have studied at TIGS and become part of our community.

International students start their enrolment by entering the TIGS Centre for English, which is managed by Ms Sally Ann Gail, and undergo intensive English training and preparation for learning at TIGS. This program is delivered by Ms Helen McCall who is well qualified, speaking many languages, has a Masters in Education in Special Education and is an IELTS examiner. Ms McCall is also the Dean of International Students.

Nothing is straightforward these days and the TIGS Centre for English is fully accredited with VETAB, NEAS and soon The NSW Board of Studies.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

The TIGS program is different to other programs in Schools in that students are integrated into mainstream, learning from the first day of attendance, in subjects like Mathematics, PD/H/PE, Music and Art. As students English language skills are sufficiently developed, they are transferred to mainstream classes in their remaining subjects.

The students live with Australian families, some of them School families. This adds to the richness of the program and the experience of living in Australia. Many life-long friendships, not to mention cheap accommodation when travelling overseas, have been forged through the homestay experience. Anyone interested in making their home available through the homestay program should contact Ms Sally Ann Gail at sgail@tigs.nsw.edu. au.

The program for international students is an important part of the TIGS experience. The School’s commitment to an internationally focused curriculum is demonstrated in the PYP in the Junior School, the study of modern languages including Mandarin, Japanese and French, and formal relationships with schools in France, Japan and Thailand, including exchange programs and study tours. Our aim is for students, through the development of real friendships with students from other countries and cultures, to go beyond ‘tolerance’ and develop a real ‘understanding’ of others. Prejudice and xenophobia, which plagues our world, is less likely to occur when students develop real relationships with people from different backgrounds.

At present there are 25 international students enrolled at TIGS and while this number varies from time to time, it will not exceed 40. If you recognised the languages represented at the start you will know that we currently have students from Japan (kon’nichiwa), South Korea (annyeonghaseyo), Mandarin speaking China and Taiwan (nî hâo), Cantonese speaking China, Hong Kong and Macau (néih hóu), Vietnam (chào anh) and Thailand ( s̄wạs̄dī). All are welcomed members of our community.

Parents seeking information about the education policy of the major parties contesting the coming State election should consult the website of the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) at www.aisnsw.edu.au and then click on the ‘Election 2011’ button.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

Chaplain’s Connection

There are an awful lot of spiders around at the moment. I don’t know if this is a general thing in the Illawarra, perhaps related to seasonal weather conditions and the life-cycles of spiders, or if it is unique to the peculiar conditions of the Reed house. Whichever it is, it seems you can’t walk through a door or turn around a corner at my house without running the risk of walking into a spider’s web.

There’s one particular series of webs that keep getting me. I don’t know if it is one enormously industrious (or hungry) spider, or a family enterprise; but the driveway down the side of the house, where I park my car and where we keep the rubbish bins, reminds me a little of Torech Ungol beneath Cirith Ungol (readers of The Lord of the Rings might recognise this as the place where the evil giant spider Shelob has her lair).

What struck me this morning (apart from the sticky strands of silk) as once more I braved this passage of doom, is how persistent the spider is (and how slow a learner I am). Did I not walk through this web yesterday? Did I not, in fact, do the same thing the day before?

And the day before that? Did I not on each of these occasions do such damage to the web that I was sure that it would not be there the next time I passed that way? How many times must Shelob and I re-play this game before she gives up?

And then I read that spiders often re-spin their entire web each day. So maybe I’m better off learning to look where I am going than hoping the spider will give up and go away.

It struck me how like God this is. Not that God throws sticky and unpleasant obstacles in my way each day; but that each day God patiently and faithfully re-spins his web of grace. As I blunder along through life I daily break the web, by failing to live up to the high standards of God’s expectations. But God patiently forgives me and re-makes the web. I can never make a hole so big that He will not repair it; there will never come a morning when I find He has given up and gone away. Of this, the Bible assures me, time and again: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)

John Reed Chaplain

“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” (John 1:16) “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Leadership

Senior School

This week and last, Year 11 students have taken a Leadership role on Assembly and they have done a great job. It’s not very long ago that they were in Year 10 and now we are seeing them being excellent role models for Years 7 – 10 and the message coming through so clearly is about service and involvement. It’s about community and not about self.

James Early, Isaac Kim and Hugh Allison promoted the Music, Dance and Drama Competition. They outlined the importance of House participation in each and every event throughout the year and they contextualised the significance of House because there might be some students out there who haven’t quite got it, yet!

Tiara Dobbs, Isaac Kim and David Porteous showed images of their Community Service with disadvantaged and disabled young people through Drama, Tennis and Midnight Basketball. They encouraged others to get involved and they presented such positive and rewarding views of their participation that I know others were interested in being included. We heard from our in-school Ambassadors for the Blood Bank: James Belcher, Alex Carlon, Georga Bovingdon and Emily Beck about the importance of giving blood and from the FPS Community Problem Solving Team of Rosie Davis, Alice McCosker, Emily O’Donnell and Lisa Fernandez we heard about Coeliac Disease, as it is Coeliac Awareness Week, about the options available at the Canteen and the cookbook which they have produced.

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

Lauren Nealy led us in prayer, Jarrod Poort presented the School with the Senior and whole School NASSA Championship Shields, Daniel McNamara danced as a promotion for the Music, Dance and Drama Showcase and Nathan Bow together with David Porteous showed us how to do some great things via Narradan. They all spoke well and were a credit to themselves and the School. Thank you.

There were also presentations by students NOT in Year 11: Harry Bolton and Elsie Cannon invited students to participate in the Year 10 Charity – World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine; Teagan Johnston presented images from the Year 8 Camp and Kaitlin McKeon and Richard Bujaroski presented the School with the Junior and Intermediate NASSA Championship Shields. It was another great Assembly. As a School Community we have so much to be proud of.

Junior School

What does inquiry look like?

Our Junior School Program of Inquiry is undergoing refinement and review as we plan for our classes. At our recent Professional Development days we were asked to consider what inquiry looks like. This was an interesting exercise and one which was very helpful in our planning processes. The IB literature tells us that inquiry can look like: • • • • • • • • • • •

Exploring, wondering and questioning Experimenting and playing with possibilities Making connections between previous learning and current learning Making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens Collecting data and reporting findings Clarifying existing ideas and reappraising perceptions of events Deepening understanding through the application of a concept Making and testing theories Researching and seeking information Taking and defending a position Solving problems in a variety of ways

We can identify these behaviours in the children each day at school and we are interested to determine how this method of learning is impacting on them outside of the school day.

I encourage you to observe the children’s behaviour for signs of inquiry.

Parent Input We are also very pleased to be getting increasingly frequent comments and questions about the learning happening at school. I was also very encouraged to receive an email Head of Junior School from a parent recently who had seen an interesting article that she felt was relevant to a Unit of Inquiry in our program. How wonderful that the interest and responsibility for learning extends beyond our own children and staff. This area of our school life is one which we would like to continue to develop. We are inviting expressions of interest from Junior School parents to participate in a “Coffee and Curriculum” discussion group. This group will meet once a Term to talk about learning and the PYP. Our first time together will be Wednesday 30 March at 9.30am. Please call Mrs Tregonning on 4220 0250 if you would like to be involved in this project.

Judi Nealy

For Year 3’s report on their excursion to the Royal National Park click here.

Dates for your diary • Expo Day - Saturday 19 March • CIS Swimming Carnival - Tuesday 22 March • Coffee and Curriculum Parent Discussion Group - Wednesday 30 March at 9.30am

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Junior School Sport Easter School Holidays Parker’s Tennis Clinics at Harbour Street, Wollongong & Wests Illawarra, Unanderra

Bookings are Essential For more information call: Andrew on 0407 029 731 or 4237 7496 Email: arparker@bigpond.net.au There are also Tennis Clinics held at Jamberoo during the school holidays.

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AWARDS Are your friends considering a TIGS education for their child? If so The Illawarra Grammar School invites members of the community to visit the School and explore the Preparatory, Junior and Senior Schools at the annual TIGS Expo Day this Saturday.

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.

KA

Alexander Bock, Jessy Harman

KH

Kaeden Hamdan

1B

Alexia Loeser, Taylan Arapali

1D

Mathilda Hoy

2A

Alexis Belsito

2D

Shemun Simon

2P

Victoria Summerill

3Y

Joseph Fraser, Selma Celik, Maximilian Sanzone

Bayerboost Environmental Scholarships

4M

Kayla Tillotson, Zacariah Ellevsen

The scholarship aims to foster in young Australians an understanding and awareness of Australia’s unique environments and the issues surrounding the environment.

4R

Corey Read,

The scholarship will give students the opportunity to take on a research project in a university or industry setting during their summer holidays.

Sophie Correa

More information about the scholarship can be found at www.bayerboost.com.au

5N

Caitlin Koloski, Jonty Swainson

Martin Sormus Head of Science

5S

Hannah Scott, Miles Denison-Pender

6C

David Perri, Chiara Kovac

Light refreshments will also be available on the day.

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

Science News Bayer Australia and the Australian Geographic Society are encouraging Year 11 and 12 students to apply for the 2011BAYERboost environmental scholarship.

Uniform Shop

6Y

Nicholas Kyriakoudes, Marie Russo, Elizabeth Martin

Year 7 2011 Information

6W

James Cooper, Himali Wijesinghe

Uniform Shop School Holiday Opening Hours

Please note that Year 7 students who require a winter uniform should visit the Uniform Shop for fittings from Week 8 until the end of Term.

9.00am to 2.00pm Friday 15 April and Saturday 16 April. Appointments necessary, please phone 4220 0230

Reminder

All welcome to the 1st 2011 TIGS Great Fete meeting Monday 21 March 2011 at 7.00pm in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library) Please come along and share your ideas and suggestions.

Canteen News

New Menu coming for TERM II

Online Ordering

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.

We would welcome any new helpers for 2011 at the canteen. If you could spare a few hours once a month, we would love to have you on board our team of dedicated Volunteers.

New Product

Week 8, Term I Monday 21

Yolanda Grain Waves Donna Gibbons (Sweet chilli or sour cream & chives) $1.20

Tuesday 22

Wednesday 23

Thursday 24

Friday 25

Rose Dragutinovich Lauren Cunio

Pat Calchi Danielle Burton

Susan Cooper Jennifer Cowie

Ros Birt Help Needed

Deleted Product Rice Biscuits 40c

VaccinationS Just a reminder that Vaccinations for Years 7 and 10 are Friday 25 March. Could all forms be returned to the School by Thursday 24 March.

If you have any enquiries please contact Lisa Dent on 4220 0227

P & F Fete News The First Great Fete meeting is on Monday 21 March at 7.00pm in the Library - Everyone is welcome.

New to the fete in 2011 Men’s Shed In order for this new stall to be successful we are looking for a Stall Coordinator, displays and demonstrations. Do you have a practical skill/passion you could show other blokes? Suggestions include butchery, bbq tips, woodwork, carpentry, etc.

Please contact the P & F if you would like to be involved in anyway.

African Stall Unonzwa and Yolanda Makotsvana (African Stall Coordinators) are looking for families to join them in running a food and craft stall to embrace their culture and heritage. They can be contacted at unonzwa@bigpond.com or 0409 641532.

Mechanical Bull, Mini Jeeps and Carnival Rides all with one ticketing system.

Please watch the newsletter for ride band pre sales closer to the Fete.

For more information and a reply slip click here.

Careers News RCNA Nursing and Health Expo - NSW

Sunday 27 March 2011 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre expos@rcna.org.au | www.rcna.org.au | 1800 061 660 Explore future career possibilities!

Exhibitors range from universities and TAFE, hospitals, health and related services and specialty nursing groups.

Creative Arts News TIGS Art After Hours Program at The Art Gallery of NSW will be running again this year for students in Years 7 -12. There are still places on the bus available for students to experience the amazing artworks from the 2010 HSC art students, entitled Artexpress. The event is on Wednesday 23 March and students should visit the Creative Arts Office for more information and permission forms.

Did you miss the opening of Beyond Bundanon 2011 on Friday night? It will continue in the IGC during the TIGS Expo Day this Saturday 19 March and visitors are welcome.

Want to share your child’s art with a wider audience and give them the chance to win certificates and prizes? There are a wide range of competitions and exhibitions available through a number of different organisations for students in years 5 - 12 in both traditional and digital media. Please see below time table.

Shipment to Tanzania This year we are again supporting the Katoke Trust by providing them with discontinued uniform items.

In order for this to be as successful as last year and to show your support for this very important project, please bring in any discontinued uniform items to either Senior School or Junior School reception in clear marked bags labelled ‘Tanzania Project’.

Alternatively you can drop them off directly to the Uniform Shop during hours of operation.

If you would like further information about the work of the Katoke Trust, you can access their website at www.katoketrust.com.

Thank you again for your support of this project. Any questions, please feel free to contact Megan Kovac on 0438683968 or mdkovac@bigpond.net.au

Senior School Sport NSW All Schools Triathlon Last week a number of students represented TIGS in the NSW All Schools Triathlon at Penrith Regatta Centre with overall credible results.

Two students entered in the Intermediate Individuals event: Jaiden Fullerton-Harvey (Yr 9) 28th overall and 7th in Independent Schools, Alexander Seal (Yr 9) 69th overall and 14th in the Independent schools. These are pleasing results as both boys have another year in the Intermediate section.

The second day was the Teams event.

It was a 5.00am start from Figtree Oval and they were all on time. Bikes loaded and we set out on an adventurous day.

Results from this day included: Junior Boys – Alexander Marzano/ Isaac Brown/Karl Brisbane 21st in independent schools Intermediate Girls – Jessica Kuit/ Bridget Mullany/ Kristen Chadrawy 28th in independent schools Intermediate Boys – Harry Steele/Jaiden Fullerton-Harvey/Alexander Seal 9th Overall and 2nd in independent schools Intermediate Boys – Richard Bujaroski/ Lachlan Gray/ Damian Galanti 11th in independent schools Intermediate Boys – James Crowther/ Tom Oyston/Darshan Sitharthan 24th in independent schools Senior Girls – Emma McKeon/Bridget Mullany/Emma Ramsey 2nd Overall 1st in independent schools These were outstanding results with particular recognition to the senior girls team who came 2nd in the State and 1st in the Independent Schools and to the intermediate boys team coming 2nd in the independent schools section.

All students participated with boundless TIGS enthusiasm and we had a fantastic time.

Year 7/8 Rugby On Thursday March 10, TIGS organised a small 10 – a – side Rugby Gala Day with Nowra Anglican, Southern Highlands Christian School, Corpus Christi College and Illawarra Christian School. TIGS entered two teams into the competition, both performing admirably. The Year 7 team of Noah Gibbs, George Miller, Cameron McMillan, Mitchell Ferguson, Evan Jenkins, Adam Galanti, Mathew Galanti, Simon Mill, Luke Wroblewski, Kai Middleton, Aaron Porteous, and Brandon Grainger tackled all before them and won all games in their pool against much larger opposition. The Year 8 team of Beppe Fierravanti, Liam Bridges, Bryce Prior, Jacob Shalala, Callum Waldock, Dominic Mortimer, Lachlan Scott, Kyle Del and Isaac Osborne also played extremely well.

The teams were mixed up for the final games with one team finishing 3rd and the other winning the day. Overall, everyone’s performance improved throughout the day, and all players were excellent ambassadors of the School.

NASSA Football Trials Congratulations to the following students for their selection in the NASSA Football Team for 2011.

Boys: Nathan Belsito (Yr 12), Alexander Morlando(Yr 11), Dylan Mena Naydovski (Yr 12), Blaise Gassin (Yr 12), Samuel Chapple (Yr 12).

Girls: Hannah Muirhead (Yr 11), Katrina Christian (Yr 12), Timia Osman (Yr 11), Phoebe Fraser (Yr 11).

Equestrian Congratulations to Charli Morelli (Year 6) on qualifying for the National Team to compete at the Interschool EFT Championships in Melbourne later this year.

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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