we few, we happy few, we band of brothers. OF BROTHERS ISSUE 22: July 2020
William Shakespeare
A Most Unusual Term Mr Greg Wain Headmaster
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HINGS Have Changed (temporarily). I have been a Bob Dylan fan since high school and still sing along in the car to one of his original songs The Times They Are A-Changing from 1964 and the other thirty-two of my favourite Dylan songs on my playlist. In thinking about this ‘most unusual Term’ just gone I remember very early in the COVID-19 experience another Dylan song… Things Have Changed. Back in March when there was a great deal of volatility and ambiguity in our lives, the opening line … A worried man with a worried mind… really summed up how I felt about our School and the staff and boys. I played the song regularly back then and each time when I said aloud the title Things Have Changed, I added an emphatic TEMPORARILY after the title to remind me that this event was currently a worry, but not permanent. We would get through it. The chorus lyrics were also relevant during March and April …People are crazy and times are strange… Any minute now I’m expecting all hell to break loose. The heightened anxiety and stress of the strange times and unknown future caused behavioural changes in most of us - tolerance levels were low and we all needed to treat each other with greater understanding and kindness, something I reminded the boys of regularly at our online assemblies.
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That stress is still very real. Infection rates have dropped, so less stress there, but the financial stress continues for many families as we wait for the economic recovery. We need to continue to be kind and understanding towards each other, including the boys being helpful and kind to their parents and family members. I’ve been trying to get as far away from myself as I can. Some things are too hot to touch. The human mind can only stand so much. You can’t win with a losing hand. It is normal in troubled times to wish we were someplace else! Bob Dylan reminds us that we all have our limits, we can only stand so much. Keep an eye on each other and seek help if you need it. The economic impact of COVID-19 has been random with some people affected only a little, but others very much being dealt a ‘losing hand’. We need to remember this losing hand is temporary, the economy will bounce back, but in the meantime there will be a need for flexibility and to adapt to temporarily changed circumstances. Starting out as a rock music poet writing about the social issues in the 1960s, Bob Dylan has truly persisted and adapted to the times, releasing over fifty albums including his most recent, a month ago, at the age of 79. Pretty impressive staying power,
including being awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature for his entire body of work. I hurt easy, I just don’t show it. You can hurt someone and not even know it. Adolescent boys are very good at putting on a mask. These continue to be stressful times and whilst I know our boys will be kind to their families, we need to keep an eye out and make sure we are listening to them. They are adapting well, but they still need our love and encouragement. Enjoy this edition of Band of Brothers, from MENS Health Week to stories of Prep resilience, pictures of Boarders who spent the whole Term online, and how TSS Online rated on Mornington Island up in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Thank you again for your support of TSS. We look forward to an even more normal Term Three with many music, extracurricular and sporting stories being created in the next few months.
Mr Andrew Hawkins Deputy Headmaster Head of Senior School
The New Normal
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HE last few months have been a steep learning curve for the world. World leaders, politicians, medical staff, the aviation industry, tourism, parents, teachers, children - the list could go on to fill the page. One observation as a school leader that has struck me is how student and teacher wellbeing are inextricably connected, as are social and emotional learning and student academic outcomes. Without the boys at TSS the School was not the same and the teachers and corporate staff really missed the daily connections with the boys. Since most boys are back at school on both campuses, it is clear the students missed the social connections with staff and other students too, along with the school routine and structure. A webinar during the COVID-19 pandemic by UQ wellbeing experts Dr Sasha Lynn, a registered psychologist, and Angela Wood, an experienced teacher with a Master’s degree in Student Wellbeing, provided tips for teachers and students post the COVID-19 lockdown. Their findings reinforced our observations here at TSS after the boys returned. After talking through the neuroscience behind it, Dr Lynn and Ms Wood provided tips for maintaining wellbeing. “Research has actually shown that poor school connectedness does result in poorer mental health and academic outcomes,” she said. “Connectedness is just as important to teachers.” Tips were also provided to help students. These included mindfulness exercises, play, connecting, sharing jokes and providing fair and respectful
boundaries. I guess in TSS terms, that means ‘mucking around with your mates’ and getting back to team/ activity training and practice once the social distancing rules are relaxed. In the Senior School, we have had an online classroom platform for all Year 7, 8 and 9 boarders that could not return to their Boarding Houses. During an online meeting with the Year 8 group, I showed them inside the new Annand Theatre construction site on my phone – the very first students to see it! As I walked down the back towards the river ovals there was a class playing touch for PE on the ovals. I have included the picture of our first PE class in action post-COVID-19 school restrictions. I explained to the boarders that we are slowly getting back to ‘the new normal’ during school hours, but outside school time there are many restrictions still in place with regards to music rehearsals, sport training, speech and variety, chess, and the many activities that happen in our busy school. Regardless of what other schools chose to do with the recommendations from the state and national bodies, TSS has always supported the expert advice from the Gold Coast Unit of Queensland Health. Their support and expert advice were always reassuring for the school during such difficult times. We will be updated while this Band of Brothers edition is being published, on advice around community sport and school sport and spectators. When we can practice, rehearse, and train for the many and varied activities we offer here at TSS, we will finally feel like we are getting back to the new normal here at school.
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Mother’s Day
Showing Gratitude and Respect
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ERE at TSS we value family and understand that being a parent is often a thankless and challenging role but above all, it is amazingly rewarding.
Mr Karel Bos Dean of Students
Each year we like to pay respect to the wonderful mothers of our boys, and we do this by creating a special event or moment to pay homage for all that they do. 2020, however, saw quite a different approach with students undertaking online study from home due to COVID-19. This certainly did not waver the boys’ spirit with many going to the effort of recording a special message for their mum, thanking them for being the amazing person they are. 4
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We complied these videos to make a special Mother’s Day tribute to all our TSS mums. The boys were proud and emotional when sharing their personal message, with many of them pledging to help mum in some manner, to show gratitude and respect for the amazing job they do in raising their sons. Here is the video showcasing these heartfelt students and their messages.
OLD BOYS’ WEEKEND 14-15 August 2020
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Mr Jason Sten Director of Cadets
Celebrating Significance
Observing ANZAC Day in 2020 6
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ITH the return of the majority of boarders and regular classes, life at TSS, along with the rest of Queensland, is gradually returning to normal. Home schooling and social distancing has had a profound effect on us, and although there is easing of restrictions, and an increased sense of calm in the community, there continues to be an impact on how we conduct our lives. It has changed the way we conduct celebrations, and we have had to adjust as a community the way we observe national days of significance, such was the case with ANZAC day this year.
“Reading your letter, I can only imagine how hard it is for you and your mates as you navigate through your final year of schooling during these uncertain times… Your hard work and dedication up until now is not simply to be on the Dean’s List (although a great achievement)… it has been to build your character, your values and to set yourself up for a successful future.”
Although separated by distance, our boys sent pictures of themselves holding a candle and recited the names of fallen Old Boys, which was collated into a poignant and reflective video that was distributed via social media, promoting our strong sense of community. Taking this inclusiveness further, some of our Cadets took time to write to an Australian soldier currently serving on overseas operational deployments and, in doing so, identified, and connected with the wider military community. LTCOL Brett Huggins, a TSS Old Boy who is currently on his third deployment to Afghanistan, commented on the TSS ANZAC Day facebook post: “In addition to the two terrific commemorative videos the School shared on social media I was humbled to be advised that 41 young men from the TSS Cadet Unit had taken the time to write to the men and women of Task Group Afghanistan. Your support and well wishes are greatly appreciated. As an Old Boy (WAL ’97) and a former Senior Under Officer of the Unit, this was particularly appreciated.” The Cadets had been encouraged to write about themselves, their families, school activities, hobbies and interests. They did this through sharing personal stories and pictures of things that were important to them as well as demonstrating an appreciation of the
sacrifice of our serving men and women and their families. Excerpts of some of the letters are: “To a brave and selfless soldier, a friend, a parent, a son, a daughter, a niece, a nephew, an aunty or an uncle. Thank you for your commitment to our country. Thank you for representing us in ways that are impossible for many Australians. Thank you for your time, your service, your unselfish acts, your belief in our country and for your sacrifice”. “Here is a photo of my brother and I enjoying ourselves at a family outing at a golf driving range. As you can probably see they are smiling and having a great time. This is because of you. Our freedom is fought for and allows us to do this. Thank you”. “I like to think of myself as a very proud Aussie. As a family we like to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service yearly, in honour of our fellow countrymen who have served past, present and those who are still serving. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions put in place, sadly all commemoration ceremonies have been cancelled due to social distancing. This also means that I cannot march with my Platoon at school this year. I would have been proud to wear my uniform and be a part of this special event”.
“I am so pleased that you have taken the time to write to an Australian Soldier. It sounds like you have a really big and close family which is wonderful mate. Your cat and dog look beautiful and I sense you love them dearly. I have a dog and I am missing him terribly; his name is Sherlock and is a Beagle, so he never stops eating and he is a dope… I must say your thought process of thinking about working or studying overseas is excellent. I am 28 years old and I regret not following through on learning a language when I was in school… I am glad you enjoy cadets and it most definitely is true that the skills you learn within it will be extremely beneficial to you in your future life… I am pleased you are learning about the tactics and weapons within the Defence Force. I am not sure if they will teach you this but, if you learn how to plan in a military fashion, this will be something that will drastically improve your goal setting. It helps me in my day to day life and I use it for the simplest of situations such as running errands. You will learn how to develop different courses of action should an issue occur on my way to a goal, as well as increasing your understanding of the bigger picture and what you are actually trying to achieve. It is so easy to set a goal and fail. But if you break it down and structure it, your success rate will be a lot higher.” It is a credit to our boys, the Cadet program and our School that even during a global pandemic and the disruptions it is still having on our everyday lives, the values of ‘service over self ’ and ‘courage, initiative, respect and teamwork’ have prevailed, enabling Cadets who participated to feel a part of something so much greater than themselves. The boys have every right to be as proud of their efforts as we, the rest of the school community, are proud of them.
LTCOL Brett Huggins was one of the serving men and women who wrote back to the boys whose letters they had received. The appreciation and encouragement these soldiers expressed in their response included:
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TSS Wellbeing Heath Team
MEN’S Health Week
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N celebration of our MEN’S Health Week last Term, we decided to launch our MEN’S Menu, which is based around meals that tie in with the TSS MEN’S pillars and have been carefully designed to improve the functioning of our mind and body within each pillar’s domain.
This launch also tied in with exams which many of the boys were undertaking at the time. The healthy food prepared by members of staff and Chartwells, were served to boys and helped provide them with nutritious meals to assist with focus and relaxation.
Each day during this MEN’S Heath week, we are creating delicious healthy and nutritious meals in collaboration with our school caterers Chartwells.
Shown on the following page are videos about each pillar and the food served to represent it.
MEN’S Menu pairs food literacy with real life application by labelling foods under our MEN’S pillars of Mindfulness, Exercise, Nutrition and Sleep. Our students will be able to boost their knowledge and confidence around food choices that best suit their needs, whether that be to fuel their body before a training session, calm their nervous system before an exam or to boost their immune system.
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Mindfulness These are our calming foods designed to promote brain health, boost memory and concentration, and support nervous system function. These foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D for cognition and mood. A great option during busy study periods such as exam block, or to reduce stress levels and boost mood.
Exercise These are our energizing foods designed to support growth and performance. They are rich in low GI carbohydrates for long lasting energy, B vitamins for energy production and essential amino acids for brain health, muscle growth and repair. They are a great pre or post exercise option.
Nutrition These are our everyday foods that are rich in fibre to feed your gut bugs, reduce inflammation in the body and support your immune health. They are rich in wholegrains to support cardiovascular and bowel health; animal and plant-based proteins to support growth and development; and essential minerals such as iron for oxygen transport and calcium for fluid balance and bone health.
Sleep These are our anti-inflammatory foods that heal, repair your muscle tissue, and regulate your blood sugars. These foods contain sleep-inducing nutrients such as magnesium, as well as antioxidants to support gut health and reduce oxidative damage within the body. A great option to support your mind and body after exercise, or in preparation for sleep. B a n d
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A New Face of the Parents’ & Friends’ Second Woman in TSS History Named as P&F President Mrs Spring Bird P&F Liaison Officer
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N 25 May, the TSS Parents’ and Friends’ Association held their Annual General Meeting. This year it was very different to previous years as it was virtual, with participants joining us from as far away as Sydney, Darwin and Goondiwindi. And there was also something else that was different, a female P&F President was voted in, the second in TSS history and the first one for 22 years! Katherine Dewhurst joined the TSS community in 2019 when her son Max started at TSS. Previously, Katherine and her family (husband Steven, Max and daughter Hannah), lived in Singapore, where Katherine was CEO and lawyer of a corporate advisory firm. The story of how the Dewhurst family came to live on the Gold Coast was based on the values of TSS. The Dewhurst’s were holidaying in Canberra (whilst still living in Singapore) and were contemplating moving to Australia but hadn’t decided on a location. Whilst visiting the War Memorial in Canberra, Steven noticed a group of polite, well behaved and engaged students.
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Katherine engaged herself and enquired as to what school they were from and discovered they were in fact TSS students. Back at the hotel, the Dewhursts researched The Southport School and the Gold Coast extensively and felt it ticked all the boxes for a place that could become their new home. Once they had found a nearby school for Hannah (St Hilda’s), the decision was made that TSS would be Max’s new school. I first met Katherine after a Friends of Sailing AGM meeting, when we started chatting and she asked me when the next P&F meeting would be. Out of interest, Katherine came to that next meeting, where we were discussing the need for the P&F to have a new constitution. Katherine bravely mentioned that she was a lawyer and was not afraid to take on the challenge of supporting the Constitution Committee with the rewrite of the P&F Constitution. Many hours of hard work by Katherine and the Constitution Committee followed, and the new P&F Constitution was created and is currently pending approval at the next School Council meeting.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Katherine through this process and I was thrilled that she was voted in as the P&F’s next President. I know she will do an outstanding job. Whilst we welcome Katherine into the top job, we also introduce a new P&F Secretary Leonie Vincent and welcome back returning Treasurer Matthew Brown. We also welcome back returning committee members Anthony Wolfenden, Lisa Carrick and introduce new committee member, Sophie Tonkins. Along with the P&F, the TSS school community thanks our outgoing President Matthew Wright and outgoing Secretary John Bennetts for their substantial commitment to the School. Combined, they contributed to a significant amount of change within the P&F and the legacy of what they created will continue for many years to come. If you would like to become involved in the P&F, we would love to hear from you! Please email spring.bird@tss.qld.edu.au or you are most welcome to attend any P&F meetings.
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he P&F welcomed new and returning parents to the 2020 school year at the annual Welcome Cocktail Party held earlier this year in the Hall of Fame.
The Headmaster commenced the evening by thanking the current P&F Committee for their work and in particular thanked the outgoing President, Mr Matthew Wright and outgoing Secretary, Mr John Bennetts, for their outstanding commitment and the many hours of work they gave to the P&F over the past three years. Mr Symms, Deputy Headmaster - Head of Preparatory, then introduced the new Deputy Head of the Prep School, Mr Cliff Powys, who we warmly welcomed into the TSS school community. If you would like more information about being involved in the Parents’ and Friends’ Association at TSS, please contact Mrs Spring Bird, P&F Liaison Officer on 5531 9891 or email spring.bird@tss.qld.edu.au
P&F Welcome Cocktail Party
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Night Under the Stars Friday 6 November 2020 Royal Pines Resort - Main Event Lawn Event to follow immediately after the TSS Foundation Golf Day All Old Boys and Partners Welcome Further Details to come 1 2
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LifeSkills
Boarder’s Sunday Sessions Mr Karel Bos Dean of Students
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N May, we were delighted to welcome back our senior Boarders to residential living on campus. Despite it being a modified process due to COVID-19 where the boys had their temperature checked and answered health questions daily, there was a buzz in the air. Given there has been no sport and limited activities for the boys to undertake due to restrictions, we decided to run a sequence of LifeSkills sessions during the first weekend back. Boys learnt a range of important lessons including correct table etiquette, car maintenance, ironing, budgeting and undertook barista training. They also learnt about the importance of healthy relationships and how to facilitate these into everyday life.
These sessions were met with plenty of enthusiasm and appreciation in gaining more of an understanding of those things that we may use in life daily. We thank all the staff involved for volunteering their time and commitment. We especially appreciated how well our Dean of Boarding, Mr Tony Watt, could iron a business shirt that would rival any professional ironing service or dry cleaner. Please enjoy the video showcasing exactly what the boys learnt and their comments around the activities.
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Year 2 LEGO Master Challenge Meeting Mr Andrew Tuppen (Team Andrew & Damian) Runner up LEGO MASTERS AUSTRALIA 2020
Ms Sharon Joss Year 2 Teacher
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EGO has always been a firm favourite topic for ‘show and share’ sessions, and although the boys have a varied list of items to talk about, there is always a creative ‘LEGO build’ or two proudly displayed in our classrooms. During online learning, we continued to enjoy class sharing sessions and it was during this time the boys were very enthusiastic and keen to interact and show us all their “at home” LEGO creations, since additional time away from screens was spent building. Coincidently, Channel 9’s ever successful “LEGO Masters Australia” series, hosted by comedian Hamish Blake and Brickman Ryan McNaught, was airing during this period. As boys returned to campus, there was much chatter about this highly popular show, who was watching it and what they thought of the builds and the competitors. During Term Two, Mrs Tyler was working with the Academic Talent Development Team and maths boys online, where weekly debriefs took 1 4
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place based on the week’s revealed builds, challenges of epic proportions, catastrophes, and winners. Once back to face-to-face delivery from Week 6, these conversations continued about LEGO Masters and Mrs Tyler asked the boys if they were keen to send a special video message to local LEGO Master, Mr Andrew Tuppen. Students Harry and Ethan sent him one and to their surprise, received a fun response from Mr Tuppen, who subsequently offered to come and meet the TSS Prep boys. It was decided that Year 2 would hold a LEGO building competition - something exciting for them and for us to see what they were capable of building. There was a catch though... they would also need to share with their class how they created it, as well as a little bit about their design. We were extremely lucky to have Mr Tuppen join us as a guest at the end of the term to judge the finals. We asked Mr Ayres, our robotics specialist to choose a selection of finalists from each class for Mr Tuppen to judge.
During Semester One, the Year 2 boys were very fortunate to enjoy robotics classes weekly, where Mr Ayres discussed various types of robots and what makes a robot move. They explored how to create robots, and how to program them. Through these lessons, the boys learnt how to follow, describe, and represent a series of steps, as well as discover how to make decisions to solve basic problems. These were the perfect skills needed for their very own LEGO Masters build challenge!
for Mr Tuppen, and he was certainly very patient in answering these. We learnt that Mr Tuppen, a Gold Coast music teacher, began building LEGO as a seven-year-old but was encouraged to continue as an adult after his own piano teacher recommended he take up a hobby to help him focus when composing his own music. He is a father of five children, two being boys, so he certainly understands the joy that LEGO brings for every age! For Mr Tuppen, LEGO has always been a source of happiness that he can share
Sixty excited boys brought their creative pieces in to be judged, and they expressed pride and excitement in wanting to tell us about their builds. The awe and delight in their eyes were evident as they observed what others had built, learning more as they looked at each different and creative piece of work.
with his entire family. He told us that his favourite build was his final one in the series which was ‘The Stadium’.
Throughout the week, the excitement had been building about Mr Tuppen’s visit and what he may think about their build. Finally, the day arrived and our special guest joined us to judge the creations. The boys had many questions
Mr Tuppen spent time in each class looking at the boys creations, listening to them talk about them and judging as he went. He said to the boys that when he does a ‘build’ he considers the technique used, the story to go with it and the artistic aspect of it. He encouraged the boys to be observant in their surroundings for ideas and that it
is much easier to create a build when looking at something in 3D and not just a picture. He was so impressed with the level of the boys’ creations, and said it was much higher than he expected. We gathered in a socially safe space where Mr Tuppen was able to announce the final winners. A huge congratulations goes to our winner Mason Bogatie whose creation was unique and he used the blocks in a very interesting way, with a great story behind it. Second was Harry Beeton who had a very large and creative build
and he loved Harry’s use of colour. Third was Hugo Gollan who was creative in using a different technique in placing the bricks (Hugo had been unwell all week, but he still participated and sent in his build). He made special mention of Michael Aronis who had created a build that had many sections. Harry Beeton did an amazing job of thanking Andrew on behalf of the boys for inspiring them to be better builders and to have fun creating with LEGO.
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Virtual, Vicarious, Versatile, Valiant CO‘V’ID adaptations to Learning and Teaching by TSS Boarding V Classes Ms Jo Inglis Deputy Headmaster Head of Teaching and Learning
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IVID is the memory of Term Two 2020 for everyone in schools; students learning from home; teachers adapting overnight to online pedagogy; and parents juggling working from home with children learning online. TSS Years 7, 8 and 9 Boarder families will, no doubt, have the most enduring memory, as boarding house capacity restrictions prevented students’ return to school for the whole of Term Two. Mid Term Two, Queensland schools welcomed the return of all Day students and Years 10-12 Boarding students returned
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to TSS. Simultaneously TSS Virtual Years 7-9 Boarding commenced consisting of classes 7V, 8V and 9V with a tailored online timetable of core subjects; English, Mathematics, Science, Life & Faith, French or Chinese, PE, Chapel, Assembly and House Meetings complemented with additional programs including a weekly check-in with their Boarding Housemaster, weekly conferences with Mr Wain, Mr Hawkins and Ms Inglis, wellbeing sessions with Mr Bos and the Wellbeing Team including TSS psychologists and voluntary weekly academic help sessions with Year 12 Academic Firsts team members.
Additional year level programs included:
Year 7 •
Music Making - bringing together a musical composition using bespoke instruments from home
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Baking with Bree – learning the art of cooking tasty delights including rock cakes and cornflake cookies, as well as cleaning up the mess afterwards!
Year 8 •
My Story – media expert assisting students to make a short video documenting their Term Two 2020 experience with drafting feedback from School Captain Jonathon Burnett and Prefects Michael van der Schyff and Sam Morris
Year 9 •
Man Up program exploring masculinity
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Business with Mr Andrew Hawkins – looking at the four components of personal finance – investing, income, borrowing and budgeting and studying the Australian Stock Exchange and the effect COVID-19 has had on the ASX200 and the banking industry across the world
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History with Mr Denzel Wilson considering the Industrial Revolution
Whilst everyone would have preferred the normality of Boarders being on campus, 7V, 8V and 9V students and parents offered positive feedback under the unique circumstances: Free periods which allows us to get fresh air and get some exercise in – 7V student A positive is the boarders’ groups, as we realise they would be at a disadvantage if they were to be incorporated into the face to face classes – 7V parent Great that we are all in one class so that you can probably talk to any boarder and they would know what to do – 8V student We are very grateful for this form of delivery to still be available. We know that it is only for four weeks. – 8V parent Positive aspect - Everything! It has been extremely good. - 9V student I think the boarder classes have been refreshing and reconnecting, the reduced workload has also been much appreciated. Mighty effort Headmaster and all TSS staff - you have gone above and beyond and your dedication to our boys is truly remarkable, thank you! – 9V parents We look forward to the return of our vibrant and vivacious Years 7-9 Boarders for Term Three. Gratitude and kudos to the teachers involved; vanguards, who adapted creatively with pedagogy informed by best practices in boys’ education under unique circumstances and taught the virtual classes in addition to their normal classes.
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Resilience Through adversity the power of positivity shines through, even in our youngest
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Mrs Karen Humphreys Preschool Coordinator
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ESILIENCE is an important trait for all of us, and an essential one for our children to develop. We know that resilience creates happier, less stressed children wherever they are – whether it’s at home or school. Educators at TSS Preschool support our boys to develop not only their pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills but most importantly their social skills, including resilience. Through developing a secure environment and building trusting relationships, our educators provide opportunities for boys to practice their social skills in a safe space. When we talk about resilience we mean a person’s ability to cope with the ups and downs of life. For children it also encompasses how they deal with challenges they might face throughout their childhood. Resilience is important mostly for our mental health. It’s a life skill we take with us into adulthood. It is thought that the more resilient a person is, the less they experience stress as they are equipped to deal with life’s pressures. Building resilience in children helps them to overcome obstacles more easily and reduces the chances of them suffering from anxiety or other stress-related disorders. Educators at TSS Preschool help promote the building of resilience by role modelling coping skills, teaching problemsolving and assisting our boys to solve their own problems when they arise.
through manner at the end of the day. It has been a major adjustment, not only for the boys but for the parents and staff too. For some parents this was a very difficult situation to deal with. Letting go of our children is always hard, especially, I have found, between mums and their sons. Parents were left at the front door feeling quite redundant and not sure how their son could possibly manage all his belongings without their help. So with educators at the front door offering encouraging words and smiles (to boys and parents), the boys hoisted on their bags and after hugs and waves made their way down the Preschool corridor, without their parents/carers support. For some this task was daunting, their bags bigger than themselves! I’m sure the corridor seemed twice as long without someone holding their bag and their hand but with encouragement from their educators the boys made it! Educators supervised the boys unpacking their bags and with gentle reminders all their belongings were put in the correct place ready for the day ahead. This was a great achievement for the boys who were very proud of themselves. This seemingly small act increased their self-esteem no end. Day after day the boys continued to improve and
now rarely need prompting on what needs to be done after that long walk down the corridor, which no longer seems that long. Through guidance and a belief in the boys, we have raised their levels of resilience and independence. As I remember back to the first day, where the boys did very little in regards to their belongings and some were quite teary when left, I am now so proud of our youngest students who stride with confidence down the corridor each morning. Parents stand mesmerised at the front door as their boys no longer need help to unpack their bags. In fact, one boy even told his educator he prefers this sort of drop off, he finds it much easier to say goodbye at the door. Too often we presume we know what is right for our children and spend a lifetime trying to protect them from adversity. In fact, we need to listen actively to them and provide opportunities, even negative ones, in a safe and secure way, to support the development of the whole child. Our Preschool 2020 boys have shone through adversity and have levels of independence and resilience that we would not normally witness at this early stage of the year. A positive outcome to a difficult situation. True TSS grit!
Adversity, at times, can be a good thing. Children can be motivated by experiencing a manageable level of adversity or stress, and this can contribute to overall positive development. When children experience adversity, it helps them become resilient. The support children receive while experiencing adversity – and the extent to which that support meets their needs and circumstances – helps develop resilience. The recent disruption of life due to COVID-19 gave the boys a great opportunity to develop their resilience. The restrictions placed upon us in regards to social distancing have seen Preschool’s drop off and pick up procedures modified during Term Two. In the past parents came into Preschool to drop off and pick up. Now they drop their son at the front gate in the morning and pick them up in a drive
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Ms Kerrie Anderson Prep Art
The Architecture Project
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HE Prep School launched an architectural drawing project in early June. This project launched with Year 1 drawing the Prep School Clocktower. Boys can work in the field outdoors during art, as well as online from photographs as shown here. The boys have shown a lot of creativity and enthusiasm in undertaking their drawings and we very much look forward to seeing the final results. Following on from this, we have now made this an entire school project and have asked students from every year to submit a drawing of their favourite building or place at TSS. Some of the drawings we are receiving are of the Prep Clocktower, Senior Clocktower, cricket nets, Preschool and Prep rainforest areas, the Art Block, Jordan Quad, Cribb Building, River Ovals, Senior music, and the Chapel. But of course, the options are endless given the pristine beauty of TSS.
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We ask boys to draw whatever inspires them and ask them to refer to a photograph as inspiration. We really wanted to create a sense of togetherness in launching this project. Togetherness through connectedness with other boys and through instilling a reminder of the beauty of our school and the comradery that TSS provides whether near or far. Boys can choose what materials they would like to use, and the size can be in either A4 or A5. Boys wanting to participate can send their drawing to the Prep School Art Department. Your work will be returned after the exhibition, which will be held online and during the School Art Show. The project will run into Term Three and we will share some of the amazing creations with you all in the next edition of the Band of Brothers magazine.
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I V Y L E A G U E ASPIR ATIONS
Mrs Helen McCleary Senior Studies
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Vishaak logged into the AP Exam portal at 3:30am to complete his AP Chemistry exam
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ACH year, TSS has a small number of students who take Advanced Placement (AP) examinations which are the culmination of year-long AP courses as offered in the United States by the College Board. AP courses are aligned to college-level curriculum; they are fast-paced, cover more material than regular high school classes, and require independent research and analysis. There are hundreds of universities in dozens of countries around the world that recognise AP exam scores in their admission process, with some colleges and universities in the U.S. granting credits or advanced placement based on AP test scores. These test scores are highly regarded as one of the optimum indicators of college success. This year due to COVID-19, rather than the examination schedule being cancelled, the College Board elected to offer AP students the opportunity to take their AP tests online at home. To enable security protocols needed for at-home testing, students worldwide were required to take their tests at exactly the same time, regardless of local time in their respective countries. Which brings us to Year 12 student Vishaak Gangasandra… Vishaak logged into the AP Exam portal at 3:30am to complete his AP Chemistry exam. In the lead up, Vishaak spent several months learning the course work; he then spent several days rehearsing for this early morning start in order to give himself the best possible chance to demonstrate his abilities. Vishaak was creative in his approach and committed in his resolve to do his best, showing excellent character which of course reaffirms the integrity he brings to his position as TSS Vice-Captain. We congratulate Vishaak on his unwavering commitment to his Ivy League aspirations.
A Year of Music Discovery Ms Trisha Matthias Prep Music Master
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EAR 4 is a wonderful year of new music activities for our boys. All boys are presented the opportunity to learn a music instrument that forms part of the band program. They are firstly able to trial instruments from the woodwind, brass and percussion families, and then put forward their preferences on which instrument they would like to learn. Some consideration must be given to the boy’s height, arm length, and mouth shape, and staff take all of this into consideration before allocating an instrument. Once the boys have been allocated an instrument, they are involved in a music rotation which includes; a 45 minute group instrument lesson, 45 minute band learning/ rehearsing and 45 minute classroom music lesson. The Year 4 classroom focus is learning about the instruments of the band and orchestra. This is achieved through hands on learning, with boys bringing in their instruments and then exploring how the sound is produced and what makes an instrument belong to a family. Following on from this, the boys are then given the task of making their own musical instrument from materials found in the home.
a family and explaining why they made this decision. They then demonstrated how to produce a sound on their instrument. The video presentation was uploaded to Seesaw, the app used to create a visual portfolio of student work and where the teacher can provide feedback. The boys really love sharing their instrument making with each other. The unit gives the boys great insight into learning about sound and how to produce it, as well as understanding what classifies an instrument into a music family. We know that boys learn best when learning is active, and they engage in units such as this one which offers practice in problem solving and critical thinking, and results in a physical instrument creation. The links with science, maths, design technology and music ultimately make this STEM learning experience popular in class music.
This year with COVID-19, the boys made these instruments at home and then presented their project in the form of a written report which included their instrument design, working out the materials they needed to collect, making the instrument and then preparing a visual presentation outlining their project. This extended to classifying their instrument into
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Confidence in the Face of Adversity Mr Karel Bos Dean of Students
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VER the last four years we have been developing a healthy masculinity program that encourages and guides our young men to be comfortable in expressing how they feel. This involves exploring the concept of masculinity and how at times we are pressured to hide behind the unofficial ‘man’s law’ which can stunt emotional growth during this critical stage. This year we have expanded the program and adapted to the recent COVID-19 restrictions by facilitating both online and live workshops across multiple year levels. Tommy Herschell from Find Your Feet has presented these online workshops to our Years 9-11 Boarders who were still at home. He also visited TSS and delivered smaller workshops with our Year 10s. The workshops explore the detrimental, ‘man’s law’, vulnerability, being authentic and honesty among peers. These workshops challenge the perception of what the boys feel a young man should be – ‘challenging the title of man’. These workshops have proven to be powerful and raw as trust among the cohorts and groups start to build strong bonds and relationships. Personally, I have been so impressed by the support our boys give each other when a fellow student shares some adversity and complication in their life with the group. We need to learn to share more and understand that we are not all flawless and perfect; we share the same problems and issues with each other. The following comments from our boys in an anonymous survey gives an insight into how effective these workshops can be: “I liked how no one laughed at the boy who was speaking and showing emotion” “The exposure and insight into the problems everyone faces helped me realise I’m not alone”
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“It helps you break out of your shell and speak up” “It’s ok to ask for help” “Allows for reflection” “I never knew blokes around me were struggling” While he was with us, Ms Jacqui Latimer from our marketing department, took the opportunity to interview Mr Herschell in relation to his life, his company Find Your Feet and working with students at TSS. Mr Herschell reflected on his past experiences including how he got to where he is today, and he was very humble and honest in sharing the aspects of his life. He is inspiring and relishes giving back to others and helping young men through their hardships involving mental health and uncertainty. We hope you enjoy this interview and find it useful in gaining some insight into both Mr Herschell and what Find Your Feet does to support our boys.
Mr Russell Ayres Robotics Teacher
3d printing T
HIS semester was an exciting new adventure for the Preparatory School’s 3D printing program.
Moving beyond designs that are simply ‘cool’ or ‘fun’ without purpose, Year 6 boys had the opportunity to work on designs that made games more accessible. Through the program, students were able to discover facts about blindness and low vision in Australia. Facts such as, there are more than 380,000 people living with blindness or low vision in Australia, whose sight cannot be improved by glasses or surgical treatment. The boys developed empathy for these individuals, making connections with the idea that empathy can be a strong driver in creating effective designed 3D solutions.
Often, little thought is given to those that cannot see clearly, or perhaps cannot see at all. Board games are generally colourful with similar playing tokens or pieces, but have the same tactile feel all over. Armed with the skills of 3D design, the challenge for students was set to create a tactile board game that people with blindness or low vision could play. The boys designed their board games involving a tile board and matching tiles that could be paired together based on their tactile properties. Tiles were made up of eight matching pairs, with the aim of lining the tiles up on the tile board with their matching pair. Year 6 boys excelled at the challenge, coming up with a wide variety of tile designs, easily playable by those with blindness or low vision.
As a warm-up into the process of 3D design, students learned about the Braille system and how it came to be.
This is just the first step in challenging the boys to create solutions for those who may not be able to do it themselves.
They then designed and printed their own 3D printed cubes, with the letters of their name and corresponding Braille on top.
The strong success of the 3D printing unit has opened the possibility of more accessible 3D printing challenges in the years ahead. Something students in the younger years are guaranteed to enjoy in the future, just as much as the Year 6 boys did in 2020.
It was then their chance to create their own 3D printed solution to an accessibility issue. Many board games are created every single day that can only be played by those with adequate levels of eyesight.
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THE 2020 ISOLATION GAMES
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SS Swimming designed a ‘COVID-19 competition’ that took place over seven weeks, from March to May. The idea was to create a way to keep the swimming community connected while also giving additional motivation for daily exercise. As we all know, exercise is a critical component for our mental health. The Games inspired friendly competition as well as an opportunity to see what other participants were doing, especially our international athletes who maintained their ‘normal’ weekly routines, albeit in a different environment.
Mr Liam du Feu TSS Swimming
Mr Chris Nesbit, our High Performance coach, worked tirelessly to keep our professional athletes on track, cycling from Burleigh to Main Beach every-day to touch base (at a distance) with the swimmers who completed their prescribed workouts in pairs all over the Coast. Through the Isolation Games, the rest of the community could see what the ‘stars’ were doing as well as their friends, this kept the team spirit alive and pumping! Each day participants sent through their workouts along with videos and photos of their efforts. One hundred and eighteen people signed up to the Games. This included over 60 TSS students, family members and staff. We also had athletes take part from three different counties and eight different sports clubs!
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Exercise ranged from ocean swimming to roller-blading, skim boarding to hiking and even deep-sea diving! Additional challenges took place every week. Battles were a big hit - these involved athletes calling out other athletes, both then competing on an assigned day to see who could accumulate the most minutes/hours of exercise. Junior swimmers competed against Olympians and mothers competed against daughters. TSS students Brayden Mercer, Kai Gilbert and Oscar Eddy all received Isolation Games certificates in the April awards. Brayden won the 15-19 overall age category with 5,300 minutes of exercise! Mr Nesbit completed the most minutes of exercise overall in April with 5,610 minutes. “When I started this, I could not have imagined how important this daily workout would become, and how much a vital part of my daily routine it now is!” Gill Thomas (Director of Swimming’s mum). “I participated in the Isolation Games during the height of the shut-down and it was a great interactive way to stay connected and motivated. Such a great initiative for all ages and abilities.” - Jody Redler. “The Isolation Games motivated me to be consistent with a regime and the daily connection with everyone else who was striving for the same goal was such fun!” Siobhan Maguire.
Music Momentum Mr Rob Cooke Director of Music
Chandler Campbell – (KAI) Year 12 Chandler Campbell commenced at TSS in Year 5. Now in his last year, he has developed into a fine musician who composes interesting music of all styles. He is also becoming quite an accomplished performer and has set up his own social media channels to promote his music. Move over Michael Bublé!
Hudson Faulkner – (MEL) Year 12 Hudson Faulkner’s music is gaining some serious momentum with the Year 12 student being featured on Channel 9 News in May. He also had an article written about him in the Gold Coast Bulletin. Hudson’s creativity has afforded him the ability to sing, play guitar and write his own lyrics. The song that featured on Channel 9 was something he wrote with the idea of bringing people together through COVID-19. Titled Gotta Hold On, the song is about isolation and being separated from loved ones. Hudson only started singing two years ago and began writing his own lyrics earlier this year. Despite some reservation and nerves, the 17-year-old wrote and recorded the song with White Horse Studios in Burleigh Heads. Hudson, who takes his inspiration from Ed Sheeran, has a bright musical future, and hopes to make a career out of his talent.
James Vincent (WAL 13’) James Vincent, (Walker Vice-Captain, Prefect and Music Captain in 2013), has been travelling the world after finishing his music degrees at Victoria College of Arts and Berklee Music School (USA) mastering his craft in music production. James has received some great success of late, working under the production name JIM ALXNDR. A song that he collaborated with Angie McMahon called Slave, got serious airplay and rave reviews on Triple J at the end of last year. Recently, James entered a competition on Triple J Unearthed called DIY SUPERGROUP. Triple J released some samples of a variety of artists and tasked people with creating their own track. Out of over 900 entries, James was shortlisted as a finalist with his track called u + her 4eva. His track uses some vocals from fellow Gold Coaster Amy Shark who has given it her stamp of approval.
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...it was an awesome skill development session….but it’s just not quite the same without my mates.
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Mr Bryan Hain Director of Sport
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AST week I shared a story with our sports coaches at TSS and I told them about a barbecue I had with our Open First VIII rowers and the Year 11 First VIII crew. The GPS swimming championships had just finished and after the last swimming race I drove from the swimming complex at Chandler to a small motel in Boonah. The two senior crews had just completed a twilight row on the Friday night and were looking forward to the Head of the River in eight days time. As we sat around the barbecue little did we know what was coming next, we certainly didn’t know the Year 11 First VIII would win in such style and the TSS First VIII would nearly pull off the upset of the 2020 rowing season. We also didn’t know that some kind of virus called
Here we were thinking that the student would say, he achieved a lot in a small 10m square, he was also fatigued from the workout, or that he had an awesome skill development session… but no, “it’s just not quite the same without my mates.”
is to make the days as enjoyable as possible for both the boys and the parents. We expect to have to play without changing rooms, canteens, more time between matches e.g. play and go, and we are not sure about the size of crowds for the First team matches.
That reminds me of an article I saw from an international coach who was promoting the value of team sport at school in these tough times. “To be part of a sports team requires high levels of co-operation, emotional intelligence, empathy, tolerance, resilience, leadership by example and strong communication skills. Team sports is the only place in society where these qualities are essential in every second of the group’s existence. Qualities desperately needed in today’s politically polarised society.
The good news for all the activities previously cancelled in Term Two is that they have been rescheduled into a very compact Term Three. We have over 1,000 students signed up for the nine sports and activities on offer: Cross country, chess, gymnastics, track and field, tennis, football, rugby, basketball and golf.
In searching to find better ways to bridge social, racial, political and economic divides in society, we should remember that team sports were designed as powerful educational tools for building more tolerant, cohesive and understanding (school) communities.” We all get that message here at TSS, we certainly want to recreate the excitement, the buzz and the vibe we had in training before Corona hit our community. We are also looking forward to having all the boarders back at TSS, building up that mateship across the whole school.
‘Corona’ would sweep through Australia and New Zealand closing down all sport. No one really knows what tomorrow has in store but when it’s your last year at a GPS School, we are all the same …“please just give me an opportunity to compete with my team mates”. In the lock-down period the sports department created a number of online drills and live fitness sessions. I will never forget when one TSS First team member (a Queensland representative footballer) summed up an intensive ‘one on one’ coach and player session by saying “no disrespect to the coach, it was a great skill development session but I only really play sport to be with my mates”.
As a Sports Director I have found it interesting that some of our main national sports associations have sent us so much information during the lock-down period basically highlighting what ‘we can’t do’ in Corona period. It’s all been very helpful, but honestly, prior to COVID-19, we have barely heard from some national or state bodies on potential ideas or development material to support big school sports programs like ours. Closing us down is fine, but how about circulating some new exciting ideas to encourage this generation of young athletes to get back into sport and be active! As I wrote this article towards the end of Term Two, the challenge for us trying to plan ahead and predict what COVID-19 restrictions might still be in place in Term Three. I can’t see GPS Saturdays being exactly the same as 2019, but the overall aim
Rugby unfortunately had to shorten its competitive season because of the lack of time set by the COVID-19 Stage 3 deadline. That meant ‘no contact in sport before July 11, and this reduced our window to complete the required pre-season schedule stipulated by Rugby Australia. The initial disappointment was eventually overcome by the fact we now have more time to safely prepare ‘all’ our players before the first competitive game on Saturday 8 August. We are fortunate this year that the first Saturday back ‘18 July’ is a BYE for TSS and this gives everyone an opportunity to settle in before the first round of matches on the 25 July. Each sport will also be sending out their own specific updates and as I mentioned, we can’t wait to see everyone back in action. Some of you reading this article will be interested in how we might go in one TSS sport, team or activity. I won’t try and predict wins or losses, undefeated seasons or even a trophy in Term Three. What I do know is that we have some great athletes here at TSS who found the lock-down period really frustrating. So as the young footballer said back in Term Two ‘I only really play sport to be with my mates’, and we will field over 1,000 TSS mates each week, from Year 5 to Year 12, all dressed in their red, white and blue, enthusiastic and eager to create a good news story or two for the next edition of Band of Brothers.
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My Story
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NE of the tasks set for Year 8V was to tell their story - virtual classes at home and not being able to return to TSS Boarding. Here was the criteria:
Ms Jo Inglis Deputy Headmaster Head of Learning and Teaching
Your Task Produce a short video of your story during 2020 Term Two online learning. Audience: TSS Senior School Assembly / TSS Boarding Community / Your Boarding House. You may like to include: • • • •
Excerpts from a typical day Your home and family Where you do your online classes What you do when you are not ‘in class’
We thought we would share Sean’s - My Story.
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COVID-19 Student Perspectives With the current COVID-19 situation sweeping across the globe, many of our boarders were unable to return to TSS due to travel restrictions. With the TSS Virtual classes continuing for our boarders, the boys have been able to keep up with their studies and in touch with TSS mates. We asked a few of our boarders, both residing internationally and here in Australia, how they have felt during this last term and what their ‘normal’ school day looks like now.
Kimberleys - Western Australia Jack Towne, Year 10 - McKinley Hi, my name is Jack Towne and my family and I live on a remote cattle station in the Kimberleys, Western Australia, which we manage. The station is about 1.4 million acres and can run up to 70,000 head of cattle. Recently the school has opened back up to senior boarders, but I won’t be going back until Term Four due to the strict WA border restrictions, particularly in the Kimberleys.
Gympie - Queensland Kiirra Bligh, Year 12 - Delpratt Well hasn’t this been an interesting time in everyone’s lives? My name is Kiirra Bligh I am currently the Vice-Captain of Delpratt House. TSS has allowed all students to be able to learn from home with the new online learning. This, with all that is going on, is exceptional as people like myself in Year 12 are still able to learn in their final year. It is a bit of a struggle being at home and doing school work as most boarders like myself work with their family during the holidays and have found it hard to balance both, but overall have managed to do so with great attendance from most boarders especially in Delpratt. Boys have been socialising over social media and the House meetings Mr Bland provides with breakout rooms. This has allowed the boys to not lose contact with their mates. I can guarantee all the boys are keen to get back to school but as a whole, everyone has taken the misguiding virus and made it into a positive with all boys, teachers and parents doing the best they can in this abnormal time. B a n d
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Hong Kong Jack Ware, Year 10 Delpratt From a city of skyscrapers to a country flooded with wildlife and wonders, Hong Kong is completely different to Australia. Eight million people thriving in a landmass 0.01% the size of Australia makes for an experience like no other. Hong Kong is made up of numerous islands and is a one-hour drive from China. It has a large British heritage and brings people of all nationalities together. Thousands of boarding students located around the world fly home to HK every term break. After the emergence of the Coronavirus outbreak, life in Hong Kong has drastically changed. Gone, are the bustling streets and flooded train stations. Gone, are the hundreds of markets and stalls that line the roads of the city. Gone is all signs of life. This has resulted in quite a different experience for the thousands of students returning from abroad. Despite this, I have still managed to keep life somewhat normal from the confines of my neighbourhood. I exercise daily, whether it is playing soccer, basketball, tennis or hiking I try to get out of the house. I focus on my school work while still helping my siblings with theirs and staying in contact with my mates. While life in Hong Kong has changed, I am slowly getting used to it and keeping a positive outlook on things. I still manage to do everything that I would beforehand, and I’ve been trying many new things. While life at home is great, I can’t wait to return to Australia and to TSS.
Papua New Guinea Finnegan Beirne, Year 10 Delpratt I live and have grown up in Lae, on the east coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG). In Lae there are many different things you can do during your day; game fishing is what I mostly spend my time doing on holidays or weekends. Game fishing in Papua New Guinea has so many different aspects and species you can target - it is a place that is very uncharted. Our target game fish is mostly a blue marlin, within the waters of PNG we are a ‘breeding ground’ for blue marlin where the average size is from 40 – 200kg then commonly they move down towards Australia. While we enjoy catching blue marlin PNG has some of the best reef systems in the world, so we enjoy targeting reef species as well. Once a year there is a 10-day fishing competition in the four main towns and cities being Pom, Lae, Rabaul, and Madang. This is a great chance for all the anglers and different people from towns or cities to see what another spot has to offer.
Croppa Creek - New South Wales Angus Coleman, Year 9 Delpratt Although the look of the holidays for the boys on the Gold Coast and other cities around the world may have looked very boring, the holidays at “Yamboon” were as busy as ever. For the first two weeks I had online school but during the holidays it was straight into work with lots of metal work and rebuilds - the main job being fixing the scraper bucket. In the time I spent working, I learned the new skill of hardfacing. Over the school holidays I was planning on using my new water ski that I brought with money I earned over the Christmas holidays but that was unable to happen. So, we had to fill the time up with something else like motor bike riding and bonfires. When the school holidays ended my brother and I went back to school, and we had an Austrian backpacker join us for planting. One of his first experiences on our farm was waking up at 5am for the ANZAC day dawn service over the radio. When my school days are finished my job is to go light fires in the paddocks to burn off all the dead weeds and at the moment with planting in full swing it looks as though there is no slowing down while at home. 3 2
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Hervey Bay, Queensland Mac Chandler, Year 9 Delpratt My experience being home over the time we have been quarantined has been an experience I will never forget. It has been a much different holiday than I normally have when going back home. Although it has been different not being allowed to go to the corner store to get milk, I believe this pandemic is an experience that we can all take something out of. Whether it be not going to school, being at home, spending time with your family or making an effort to get more fit, there is something we all can enjoy within this experience. Over the last month and my experience has been an enjoyable one as I have been able to do things I would not be able to do every weekend or throughout the day if I were at school. For example, I have spent a lot of time fishing down on my beach and in the boat on the water. But isolation has also left me with the painful task of gardening and chores around the house. Although I am missing my friends at TSS and can’t be playing footy in the arvos, I am still thankful of being home.
Gulf of Carpentaria - Queensland Legion Walker, Year 7 Rogers Year 7 student Legion Walker is from Mornington Island up in the Gulf of Carpentaria. After arriving home and spending some days continuing his schooling through our online learning program, our Indigenous Coordinator Cameron Lesto rang Legion’s dad to see how he was going. The feedback his Dad gave was that all the boarding students had returned to the Island from various schools but Legion was the only student on the Island who had been able to continue his school work because TSS had set up online classrooms and resources. This was a huge relief for Legion and his father as they feared he would fall behind because of the unique situation the world was facing. Legion’s father wanted to pass on his thanks to all the TSS community for their hard work in these trying times.
Singapore Cyruss Khern, Year 10 Biddle Overseas travelling in these times is certainly different, the planes and airports were pretty much empty which isn’t usually the case. Once arriving in Singapore, I had to stay at home for 14 days, where all I did was sleep, watch movies and go to online school. Singapore has been in partial lock-down since April, and it has been recently extended. Masks must be worn outside, and gatherings and dining in is not allowed. Also, each family can only have one member of the house leaving at once. Security check your temperature and scan your identity card everywhere. I have only left the house to work and buy groceries, but other than that, I am getting used to quarantine life. Spending more time with family and being able to stay connected with friends through social media makes this situation a lot better. I have been trying to at least somewhat stay in shape by going for a short run every afternoon, as that is the only exercise allowed anymore. B a n d
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Fierce House Spirit
at the Prep House Cross Country
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Mr Robert Egan
HILST we have spent the last few months keeping our distance, the importance of exercise for both physical and mental wellbeing has never been more abundantly clear to the HPE team.
Prep Sportsmaster
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The plan was simple, teach in accordance to the timetable, in real time and add more… now to create and innovate.
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As we press the restart button on national, community and school sport competitions, it is a time to reflect on the journey we have all undertaken during the past few months. With COVID-19 influencing so much of our lives, during this time it has to draw us together and closer to our core values. The sense of community has never been stronger, the shared experience between boys, parents and colleagues has seen the bond between us all flourish into something to really appreciate. Similar to a sports tour, or a team’s season together, there was a sense of ‘Team TSS’ that brought the School together; which was no more evident than the boys’ return to school with their beaming smiles. These were reflected in the teachers faces looking back at them.
A few months ago the challenge was set, as news of distance learning was released. There was a huddle in the HPE office, socially distanced I might add, discussing the collective journey ahead. As our IT department took a deserved centre stage, initial plans were set for the way HPE and sport would meet this challenge head-on. Then came the investment of extra evenings, weekends and holiday time to share advice and experience through phone calls and webinars in order to bring this exciting distance learning module to life. The plan was simple, teach in accordance to the timetable, in real time and add more… Now to create and innovate. When thinking of our boys physical activity, COVID-19 has handed us some hurdles to overcome, including the reduction of a wide range of sports on offer externally, limiting the environment activities can take place in, removing the context for activities like
community sport, play time and face-to-face lessons etc. This all leant towards a more sedentary lifestyle and increased screen time. During this time the HPE team assumed added responsibility for helping boys overcome these hurdles. We collaborated and created over 130 sessions suitable for distance learning, across a variety of topics encapsulating everything from health, fitness to skill progression. These included HIT workouts, running, football, rugby, yoga, dance, theoretical areas and more. The scope of the department changed with new additions to the program offering plenty for the boys to get their teeth into while away from the school campus. The 11am Daily Movement Sessions were split into three streams, catering separately for the lower, middle and upper years at Prep. These sessions allowed for age and ability appropriate workouts to really extend our boys and their fitness. Although this added an additional daily lesson for each of our HPE staff, this was willingly undertaken during their lunch periods to facilitate a daily 30 minutes of movement for all of our boys. Traditional core skills and HPE lessons did not miss a beat, continuing throughout this period, covering the key areas of curriculum focus for the term. Our GPS Sports offered sport specific sessions via the live stream link or Big Blue Button, providing continuity in training during this period. These live sessions were complemented with numerous skill development videos for ‘at home’ practice across a variety of sporting areas. Coaches Corner kicked off, providing training advice and support to boys away from school. This program covered a wide variety of topics from goal setting to skill acquisition support. Talk SportS, a new offering, launched as a webinar series aimed at our older Prep years. These webinars, delivered by a number of experts and guest speakers, gave an insight into the elite athlete world in relation to a number of our MENS REMAP topics, in particular sleep, nutrition, training and mindfulness. Talk SportS provided the boys with useful tips of how to improve their health and also their performance.
One of the real positives of our online BBB platform was its interactive nature, allowed us to maintain the connectivity and social bond between and with our boys. There has been plenty of time for learning, moving and perhaps most importantly enjoyment. Welcoming anything from 20 to 60 boys per session in to a virtual classroom to train, maintain and improve was certainly something gratifying and motivating as an educator. Engagement in competition against our previous best continued, as well as the challenge the boys have against one another. There is nothing like a bit of healthy competition to motivate you and that was no more apparent then in our fitness, skill and fun challenges which kept us all busy. That being said, the HPE team were determined Term Two wasn’t going to finish without something a bit special, which came in the form of our cross-country carnival. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, planning and implementation of this event was a larger task then usual. There were adjustments aplenty to the timing, running order, recording, viewing and a lot more to consider, but nothing was going to stand in the way of our annual inter-house carnival. The HPE team undertook extra evening and weekend COVID-19 planning and training, the culmination of which saw two superb days of running on the oval with every boy at the Prep School scoring points for their House. Congratulations to all the boys for their efforts, it’s amazing to see the depth of our running talent. From the first few to cross the line to the last, there were battles for placing, with healthy fierce House spirit. We certainly made headlines with an article published in the Gold Coast Bulletin. There is nothing like tradition and a good comeback. I would like to finish by thanking the whole of the HPE team for the professionalism and efforts over this period, TSS are stronger together. The past few months have been a chance to approach sport from a different angle, provide additional opportunities in other sporting areas, challenge ourselves in the online flexible learning space, whilst still providing high-quality education. This journey has broadened our horizons and will certainly enrich our boys learning going forward. B a n d
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Founded in 1901, TSS is an Anglican day and boarding school for boys from Preschool to Year 12, with boarding available from Year 7. Winchester St Southport Queensland Australia 4215 Telephone: Facsimile: Email: Visit:
+617 5531 9911 +617 5531 9977 reception@tss.qld.edu.au www.tss.qld.edu.au
The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as The Southport School CRICOS Provider No. 00523F
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