Issue 2 Term IV 2012

NEWSLETTER Headmaster’s Message Chaplain’s Message Head of Senior School Head of Junior School

Junior School Production

Issue 2 Term IV, 2012

Academic • Christian • Caring

Adopting MYP “This is a critical time in education – this is the most exciting time ever to be an educator. It is only the second paradigm shift in education ever seen.”

Mark Treadwell, an internationally recognised educational thinker and writer, has recognised the dramatic change that is occurring in school education.

The first paradigm shift occurred with the invention of the printing press in the 15th Century. Knowledge became progressively more accessible and formed a foundation for the industrial revolution. By the 19th Century literacy and numeracy were required skills for the general population and by the 20th Century schooling had become the norm with very few people in the developed world not possessing the literacy and numeracy skills required to effectively live and work.

The essential elements of education under this paradigm have not changed and continue to dominate schooling into the 21st Century: • • • • •

Content is mandated by bureaucracies (The NSW Board of Studies), schools and teachers Emphasis on the rote learning facts and content Learning is essentially two dimensional: knowing and doing Skills and subjects are taught in isolation from other subjects Assessment places emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills and is intended to grade or rank student

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

The paradigm shift referred to by Mark Treadwell has been brought about by the availability and accessibility of knowledge through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Under the old paradigm, knowledge became more readily available as production methods for the written word improved and published knowledge became available through relatively cheap text and the growth of lending libraries.

Under the new paradigm knowledge is available anytime and anywhere. The idea that students rote learn prescribed content and then reproduce it in an examination sounds absurd in a world where so much information is available at the press of a search button. The availability and accessibility of knowledge and the skills required to support learning require new approaches to teaching and learning: • Content is no longer the focus of learning. Instead the focus is on how to access and make use of the knowledge that is available • Learning is student-centred and inquiry-based • Learning is essentially three dimensional: knowing, understanding (concept learning) and doing • Skills required for learning (often referred to as 21st Century Learning Skills) o Literacy and numeracy o Digital fluency o Collaboration o Communication o Creativity and innovation o Problem solving o Responsible global citizenship • Assessment informs the shape of the learning process for each child. The emphasis is on how well each child learns, not how well they have memorised content The Illawarra Grammar School is well placed to respond to the new environment in which students learn. As an independent school we are able to change our curriculum and alter our approaches to teaching and learning as the needs of students and the context in which learning takes place change.

At the risk of using too much educational jargon, the School is transforming its approach to teaching and learning from a Thematic/Content Approach (old paradigm) to a Constructivist Approach (new paradigm). This has shown itself through the: • Implementation of the PYP in the Junior School • The role out of the wireless network that supports the use of personal ICT devices by each child • The decision to adopt the Middle Years Program (MYP) of the IBO for Years 7 to 10 In changing to a constructivist approach to teaching the School has not devalued the importance of learning in the academic disciplines. TIGS is still committed to: “Individual academic disciplines provide a knowledge base and framework for understanding the world. The School is also committed to students achieving an enriched understanding that comes through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning, building on the academic disciplines.” (TIGS Statement of Mission and Values 1.4) In adopting the MYP over the course of the next few years the School will not be compromising its already effective programs.

Students will still study subjects following the curriculum of the NSW Board of Studies (and the Australian Curriculum); students will still study the same subjects and choose electives in Years 9 and 10; students will still receive a School Certificate from the BOS; and students will still be in an excellent position to commence their study for the HSC in Years 11 and 12.

It is “the most exciting time ever to be an educator”. It is also the most rewarding time as we see the emphasis change from what students know to what students understand.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

Chaplain’s Message

A Theology of Change

‘The Times they are a Changin’. So sang Bob Dylan in the sixties. He was commenting upon what he observed in America and much of the Western world. In hindsight, it was a prophetic word. We look back on the sixties now as a watershed moment. Much has changed and our culture is in many ways still coming to terms with the repercussions of those changes.

This week our Headmaster sang a similar song to our Senior School staff (well, not literally!). He communicated his decision to accept the advice of the Curriculum Review Team that we adopt changes to the Years 7-10 curriculum from 2013 (see the Headmaster’s message in this week’s newsletter).

Change is never easy; in fact it is often quite painful. Because of this, it’s tempting to leave things as they are. There is a real danger in avoiding or resisting change however, change is fundamental to the Christian life. One of the reasons God gives us the gift of his Spirit is to change us into the likeness of his Son. In 2 Corinthians 3.17 we read the following:

Rev James Rogers Chaplain

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with everincreasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Transformation is at the heart of change. And if my experience is anything to go by, that hurts.

There are times I don’t want to be transformed into the image of Jesus - I’m happy enough with the image of Adam. But God is not, so he forces a change in my life. And I am stretched. But ultimately I am better for it.

Because change is essential for vibrant Christian discipleship we can sometimes fall into another trap – not so much resistance to change but a “change for change’s sake” mentality. This can also be very unwise. Change needs always to be directed toward better practice as determined by a wisdom informed by God’s word. Fortunately, in our case, we have had an excellent Curriculum Review Team which has worked tirelessly on studying best educational practice so they might steer us toward a preferred future. We are being presented with the need for change that has grown out of solid analysis and observation. We are thankful for their efforts.

Let’s pray for our Senior School staff and executive. As I have said, even when we are convinced change is normal and necessary it is not always easy. Pray that we might be able to embrace this change for what it represents – an opportunity to align our already good practice with even better practice.

Rev James Rogers Chaplain

Senior School

Stepping Out. Stepping Up

Community Service at TIGS is life changing and empowering. By stepping out of their comfort zones and stepping up to the challenges that then confront them we see our students develop, grow and mature in the most impressive ways. The teachers who accompanied our new Year 12 Senior students to the Sony Camp this last weekend have recounted lots of such tales of ‘ordinary’ students doing extra-ordinary acts of service and support for the friends they made while they were acting as carers for the Disability Trust. Also this week we have seen our senior students involved in supporting the Special Olympics for our friends at the Disability Trust.

The trip to Nganambala (Emu Point) was a similarly humbling and educative experience for those students who applied for and were selected to visit the remote Aboriginal Community. You can only pay lip-service to understanding others, about compassion, about service and about leadership until such times as you are challenged and you step outside your comfort zone and meet those challenges. In this way you learn the true meaning of compassion, and how to care for others in the wider community.

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

This year a number of our Year 10 students learned this valuable lesson at a new venture in our Community Service Program; a visit to Crossroads, in Hong Kong. There they worked in various service activities in plus 40 degree heat and also through simulation exercises learned about the suffering and poverty which exists beyond the safe confines of Australia. Many were deeply affected by this visit and we are looking at ways to extend their involvement in the wonderful work that Crossroads does.

In the above ways Community Service and servant leadership allow our students to receive guidance and practical experience in living a life that is faithful to the teachings of Christ. There are also benefits in terms of intellectual growth and development which occur when challenges such as this are met and worked through. Empowered by such experiences students’ intellectual development is facilitated, confidence grows and students experience success in learning in their own unique way. What more could we ask for our students?

Monica Watt Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

Junior School In Marana Prep class we have been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle throughout Term III. is a great story of the life of a caterpillar, which also develops an understanding of counting, the days of the week and food. The children have enjoyed talking about what happens at the beginning, middle and end of the story, developing their understanding of the construction of a story.

It

Judi Nealy

To enhance their enjoyment of the story, the children participated in a workshop on The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Wollongong art Gallery. They listened and responded to the story using knitted caterpillars, explored the gallery and created fantastic pictures using print and wax relief. It was an exciting and very hands on experience. In the classroom we looked carefully at the pictures in the story, and noticed that the images seem painted.

Head of Junior School

The children worked on their own versions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar over three different sessions, developing their fine motor skills through drawing, painting, cutting and gluing.

They initially mixed yellow and blue paint to create their own hungry caterpillar green, and painted another paper with red mixed with silver and black for the head. Lots of fun was had mixing their own colours.

We then looked carefully at the picture of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and counted 23 different green sections including eyes and nose – some were large and others much smaller. Once their papers were dry, the children returned and drew rounded shapes on the back, cut them out and collected them in a little bag. This was a tricky component, as they needed to carefully cut as many circles as they could in various sizes.

The final session completed their caterpillar. This was lots of fun as the children could see their caterpillar coming to life. They needed to ensure that their shapes were touching, carefully arranged and then they stuck the pieces down. Some chose a straight line, others created the hump in the caterpillars back, or a curvy long caterpillar – each one is an amazing individual representation. The children carefully stuck their eyes onto yellow paper then trimmed around the shape; they cut 6 feet from crepe paper and drew tiny spikes with red and blue crayons – using blue water paint to enhance the antennae.

The children worked on creating papier-mâché versions of the fruit from the story, working together to add layers of paper and glue, then once dry, painting with several coats of paint.

Together, the caterpillars and the fruit create a fantastic Hungry Caterpillar display in our classroom entrance and locker room.

Judi Nealy Head of Junior School

Dates for your Diary: • • • • •

Thursday 15 November – Thank You Morning Tea Thursday 22 November – Year 6 Progression Dinner Wednesday 5 December – A Christmas Celebration Saturday 8 December – Infants Pageant Monday 10 December – Years 3-6 Presentation Evening

Weekly Awards KD KM 1C 1W 2P 4W 5N 5S

Merit Certificates

Nathan Bridge – Academic Gianluca Fierravanti – Academic Ella Green – Academic Michale Kyriakoudes – Academic Tayla Pather – Academic Ella Scott – Academic James Gorham – Academic Francesca Lambert – Academic Adil Qureshi – Academic Archita Sitharthan – Academic

Lilli Fellowes, Daniel Peden Adil Qureshi James Burgess Jessica Bradley, Marley Stephenson Isaac Saffoury Josh Agarwal, Aaron Avenido, Nathan Bridge, James Gorham, Piper Kimberley-Mastalir, Rory Hanrahan Sarah Jansen, Evelyn Parrish, Ethan Brunskill, Kaitlin Garbo Austin Pallone

Thank You Morning Tea On Thursday 15 November 2012 TIGS will be hosting a ‘Thank You Morning Tea’ from 10.30am in Rees Hall for the many parents and members of our community who volunteer their time and expertise to benefit the students in our school.

We would like to extend a warm invitation to all parents in the Junior and Senior School who assist in the classrooms, on excursions, through Karobran, Orana, the Canteen and in other ways.

We look forward to thanking you in person on the Thursday 15 November.

For catering purposes, please RSVP on 4220 0200

Uniform Shop Year 7 2012

Would all existing Year 6 students who are entering Year 7 in 2013 please visit the Uniform Shop and have their uniforms fitted and purchased by 15 November 2012.

Year 10 2012

Would all existing Year 10 students who are entering Year 11 in 2013 visit the Uniform Shop and have their uniforms fitted and Senior Blazers ordered by the 24 November 2012.

Prep 2012

Would all existing Prep students entering Kindergarten in 2013 please visit the Uniform Shop and have their uniforms fitted and purchased by the 15 November 2012.

To make an appointment please call the Uniform Shop on 4220 0230

P & F News P&F Annual General Meeting 21 November 2012 7.00pm Goodhew Research Centre - Library All committee positions are open and nominations for the Committee are welcomed for the following positions: • • • • • •

President Treasurer Secretary Committee members x 3 Karobran President Karobran Committee members x 3

To download the P&F nomination form please click here

Senior School Sport Berry Public School Interschool Equestrian Championships

3rd in best educated Mount 3rd in Year 7/8 Girls Rider 3rd in Large Pony Hack class Thank you for representing the School and congratulations on these wonderful results.

NASSA Basketball

At the Berry Public School Interschool Equestrian Championships at the end of last term Sarah Van Vreumingen (Year 5) and Georgia Wallace (Year 8) competed for the School.

Sarah competed on Kurly with these results: Kurly won 1st place in Best Beginner Mount.

Kurly and Sarah won 3rd place in Best Beginner Rider and mount (Years 4 - 8) Sarah came 3rd in Best hands and seat 3rd in the Pairs Rider event 1st place in the sporting event “Treasure Chest” 1st place in sporting event “Magic Wands” Georgia competed on Stuart with these results: 2nd in best presented

Last week TIGS Junior and Intermediate boys and girls teams competed in the NASSA Basketball Gala Day at Cambridge Park. All players made valuable contributions and developed in confidence throughout the day. The TIGS teams should be commended in the way they represented the School.

Results included third position for Junior Boys. Junior Girls finished second in the final to Georges River Grammar.

Thank you to Mrs Sullivan, Mr Stutchbury, Rick Martin (alumni 2008) and David McKeon (alumni 2010) for helping out with coaching on the day.

NASSA Cricket

Round 1 vs Georges River Grammar Last Monday the senior and junior cricket sides travelled to Villawood to contest Round 1 of the NASSA cricket competition. The seniors scored a comprehensive victory after winning the toss and batting first and compiling 222.

Georges River Grammar were never a threat to the total and it was pleasing to see new captain Robert Gyngell give most players the opportunity to have a bowl. Jonathon Fowles was a standout with an impressive 70 with the bat.

The juniors also won the toss and sent their opponents into bat. They would go on to rue many missed chances in the field which allowed Georges River to compile a competitive total of 171.

The run chase never looked likely and TIGS fell short only managing 103. Noah Butler was a standout for the junior team both with the keeping gloves and the bat as he made an impressive debut for the School and new captain Cameron McMillan toiled hard with both bat and ball.

Next week sees the start of the Douglas Shield state wide knockout with a match against Shellharbour Anglican on Wednesday. Good luck to the senior side in this match.

Seniors 9/222 defeated GRGS 73 J Fowles 70, N Verma 33, X Whiiton 2-8, T Walker 2-7 Juniors GRGS 171 defeated TIGS 103 N Butler 16, M Gallanti 13, C McMillan 4-28, J Hall 2-10

Co Curricular Success Tournament of the Minds - Australasian Pacific Finals

Late last week the Junior School Language Literature team was awarded Honours at the Australasian Pacific Finals for Tournament of Minds in Perth.

With three students from Year 6 - Samuel Goodhew, Zara Winter, Lucy Chester-Crowe, two from Year 5 - Evelyn Parrish, Francesca Lambert and one from Year 3 - Aria Bacic-Johnston, this young team represented TIGS and NSW with integrity, passion and pride. Congratulations!

Future Problem Solving - National Finals

TIGS has again met with success at the FPS National Finals. The Senior CmPS team ‘LIFE’ consisting of Stephanie Varcoe, Georgia Roberts, Kate Martin and Emma Hatton won their division. They also won the on-site competition, a new division this year.

Piper Stewart and Sarah Long also did tremendously and came third in the Senior division.

The Year 9 team of Hannah Kim, Maria Kyriakoudes, Namika Parajuli and Quynh-Nhu Nguyen came 4th in the Middle Division and just behind them in 5th came the Year 7 team of Rebecca Adams, Himali Wijesinghe, Marie Russo and Florencia Di Martino.

All the girls were a credit to TIGS. Well done.

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