Issue 2 Term IV, 2010

NEWSLETTER

Headmaster’s Message The Experience of Service Head of Senior School Head of Junior School Issue 2 Term IV, 2010

Academic • Christian • Caring

Chaplain

The Experience of Service Last week our new Year 12 students were involved in two events that are at the end point of our program of service learning. Students from the youngest ages through to Year 12 are given age appropriate experiences that teach them of the importance of serving others.

We believe that a TIGS education is empowering and enables our students to take places in our society where they will make decisions that impact positively on individuals, society and our environment. It is our intention that when these decisions are made our students will call on their understanding of the Christian faith and their experience of service at TIGS. The School works in partnership with the Disability Trust NSW and the Sony Foundation to provide our senior students with opportunities to meet and understand the needs of students with disabilities.

On Thursday of last week, all of Year 12 participated in the ‘Disabled Olympics’ held at Beaton Park. TIGS students assisted students with disabilities to participate in a day of ‘Olympic Sports’. Our students provided the eyes, horsepower, stable shoulder and encouragement for the disabled athletes, some of whom had never participated in an athletics carnival before. It was a great day and we are proud of our students and the willing way in which they entered into the spirit of the event.

On the weekend, 23 TIGS students teamed up with 10 young people with disabilities and spent the weekend at Berry Recreation Park.

The event was held in conjunction with the Children’s Holiday Camp Program sponsored by the Sony Foundation. There are now 19 Camps held each year involving students in Years 11 and 12 from over 40 schools across the country.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

The purpose of the camp was to provide students with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy and excitement of a weekend camp. It also gave the carers of these young people the opportunity for a break from providing the constant care that a disabled child requires.

This was the first camp held by a school that does not have access to boarding facilities. The Sony Foundation is very pleased with the model developed at TIGS which is in partnership with the Disability Trust NSW. It is likely to be a model for other non-boarding schools that wish to be involved in the program.

The weekend was an outstanding success. The young people with disabilities had many new experiences and made many new friends. The carers had a welcomed weekend off from their responsibilities, some having their first break in 10 years. Our students had the opportunity to understand people in need of their friendship and support in a way that has a profound impact on their world view and understanding of people who live a life dependent on others. It was a great weekend and congratulations are due to all concerned.

We are very proud of the commitment shown by our students to the service of others.

With the approach of the State election in March next year we seem to be entering another round of politically motivated advertisements questioning the level of Australian government funding for Independent School like TIGS. No parent should feel embarrassed or marginalised because they choose a TIGS education for their children, nor should they feel that their children are receiving a disproportionate level of government funding. These statistics are very revealing: Average government (Australian and State) recurrent funding per student in 2007 – 08 Government Schools Independent Schools Saving

$12,639 $ 6,076 $ 6,563 (the benefit to tax payers when a child attends an independent school)

These figures do not include the cost of building all the additional schools and infrastructure for students that currently attend non-government schools.

The current media campaign has as its focus the funding provided by the Australian Government. It does not acknowledge that state governments are responsible for, and provide the bulk of, funding for state government schools.

Chaplain’s Connection “We will see that every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coke for five cents, wherever he is in the world and no matter how much it costs us.” This was the mission statement given

by Robert Woodruff, then president of Coca-Cola, prior to World War II. Woodruff’s post-war cola vision was even more ambitious. ‘In my generation,’ he is reported to have declared, ‘it is my desire that everyone in the world have a taste of Coca-Cola.’ Although some reports suggest that what he actually envisioned was slightly different: that everyone in the world might have the chance to taste Coke.

Whether or not he wanted everyone to have actually tasted his product, or simply to have had the opportunity to do, there is no doubting he had a great ambition, a global vision.

Are there such visions and ambitions in your life?

How would you finish this statement: “In my lifetime I long to see everyone in the world ...”?

Drink Coke? Eat a Big Mac? Meet Justin Bieber? Get a quality education (or just an education)? Have access to fresh drinking water? Live in safe and secure shelter?

What other great goals and ambitions ought we to have for the whole human race?

God has a great ambition that he calls us to share. It is that all people everywhere should know of his wonders and sing his praises.

In the Old Testament, for example, when he sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him to let his people go, when Pharaoh refused, God said to him: “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:17). God plans to work even through those who oppose him to bring about his plan, which is that his name might be known and glorified everywhere.

John Reed Chaplain

A few chapters later, with Israel now free and gathered around Mt Sinai, God tells them that he has called them to be a ‘kingdom of priests’ (Exodus 19:6), whose job it is to proclaim his glory to the world.

And then, in the New Testament, Jesus’ followers are told the same thing: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

God’s global vision is that all people everywhere might know of his wondrous deeds, and sing his praises. I, for one, think this a far grander goal to work towards than that spelled out by Robert Woodruff.

Senior School

I’ve talked before about Weekly Assembly and how it is such a wonderful snapshot of the corporate life of the Senior School. The message that was conveyed this week was of excellence in Sport, Community Service and Creative endeavours.

A number of Colours were awarded to those students whose achievements have been of the highest order over a number of years. They have been excellent ambassadors for their sport and for their School and they accepted their awards with pride. Those students were: Kyle Grubnic, Mark Mura, Emily Debrot, Tegan Richards, Phoebe Fraser and James Belcher. Congratulations.

Kailee Cross was awarded a Head of Senior School badge and Certificate for her aggregated achievements in both sport and academic endeavours and the Order of Australia Awards which I mentioned in last week’s Newsletter were brought to the attention of the School.

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

The School Captains together with the students who visited Emu Point told the School about their experiences and service in the Aboriginal Community during the school holidays. For all of them it was a life changing experience. There was also a presentation

by Year 12 of their involvement in the Special Olympics Day at Beaton Park last Thursday.

Our students were outstanding in their support, encouragement and hard work on the day. We have received lots of positive feedback from the community for the manner in which they served and supported throughout the day. There was also a report from the special group of Year 12 students who spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday providing respite care, under the auspices of the Sony Foundation, for young people with disabilities.

They were exhausted but invigorated by the joy that they brought to those young people and also to their families.

Year 8 announced their arrangements for Bandana Day on Friday to support Canteen. And the Textile Prefect, Claire Moore, promoted ‘A Creative Show’ on Friday Night when students from Textiles, Music and Art will display their work. Year 10 Drama are presenting a Drama Evening on Wednesday and the 2011 School Production was announced: West Side Story.

Every week is a busy week at TIGS!

Junior School A role reversal was observed this week with all staff in our School returning to work in the role of students! Teachers in the Junior School worked hard to learn about Transdisciplinary learning and collaborative planning using the PYP planner. Teachers worked together in groups to develop our understanding, to critique each others Units of Inquiry and to learn.

Professional development days are very important in sustaining teachers as learners.

Many of our staff in the Junior School are continuing their studies through Masters and other courses and this is very important in maintaining the high quality of educators we have in our School. Professional Development Days allow us to corporately learn together, to learn from each other and from other expert presenters. This PD day our presenters were Mrs Herraman, Mrs Duley-Smith, Mrs Ash, Mrs McRae, Miss Smith and Miss Aroutsidis.

These teachers had all recently been involved in further training for the PYP and were very enthusiastic in sharing their expertise. Be assured children that we worked very hard!

Judi Nealy

Head of Junior School

This week we also saw Stage 2 go off to camp. For some of our Year 3 children this is their very first camp experience. There were a few tears as we waved the buses off Wednesday morning, but these were mainly from the mums! The benefits of our progressive camping program from Year 3 right through to Year 10 are incredible. The children get to interact with their classmates and teachers in a completely different environment. For some it is their moment to shine and for others more of a struggle. For all it is a time of great growth and accomplishment. I am looking forward to hearing the camp stories on Monday when the children return to School.

On Tuesday we welcomed new students for 2011 to our School for orientation. I must say that I am always very proud of how our current students reach out to those who are new. Again, the boys and girls here at TIGS were welcoming and friendly, enjoying welcoming the new children to their School.

Events coming up: • Surfing Program begins for Year 6 next week • K – 12 Sports Presentation Evening 10/11 • Year 3 Bike Education excursion 12/11 • Thank You to Parent Helpers 17/11 Emails sent home: • Whooping Cough

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Weekly Award

Science News Science and Engineering Challenge

Last week, Ms Fisher led a band of enthusiastic Year 10 students into the national Finals of the 2010 Science and Engineering Challenge; a competition that placed high demands on the science skills, creativity and initiative of our students. The Challenge involved over 800 schools from across Australia competing in a variety of activities, such as constructing a hovercraft and model bridge building.

TIGS students won the Illawarra and South East Challenge and went on to compete at Macquarie University in the Southern NSW Super Challenge where their efforts were rewarded with a place in the National Finals at Gosford.

While the team was not ranked amongst the top three at the Nationals, all the students had a wonderful time and enjoyed working collaboratively with one another on the projects. Ms Fisher, and Mr McIlwraith, who accompanied the team to Gosford, spoke highly of our students’ accomplishments as well as the manner in which the students conducted themselves throughout the competition.

Mr Bob Nelson, the Director of the National Challenge had this to say about our students in response to an e-mail from Ms Fisher…

“You have a great bunch of students who performed very well indeed ending up in the top 2.5% in the country. Your students were a complete delight to work with and your personal rapport with students is more than evident and clearly a valuable factor in helping to make the students what they are. A credit to themselves, their community and above all their school. I hope the hierarchy of the school can appreciate just what an outstanding performance on a national stage these young people have achieved.

TIGS Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp

es Year 11 and ’s Holiday Camp Program givneeds over a ren ild Ch on ati nd Fou y Son l The to care for a child with specia 12 students the opportunity unique and life-changing experience for all four day period in what is a S Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp involved. The inaugural TIG d Recreation Centre’ from Friday 22 October took place at ‘Berry Sport an er 2010, a continuation on from the ‘Sky’s the through to Sunday 24 Octob aton Park on Thursday 21 October 2010.

Limit’ Special Olympics at Be unteers a team of dedicated staff volcare of these by d rte po sup ts, den stu S the 23 TIG y Trust, were responsible for from TIGS and the Disabilitthe Camp and they quickly learned about the children over the course of olved in caring for a child with special needs. challenges and demands inv but the children ve an enriching experience, they would not ha ts den stu the did ly on t ns No l of activities and interactio are treated to a weekend ful y to experience. The Camp also provided ers in what normally have the opportunit ts, siblings and primary car ren pa for e pit res ded nee much year. may be their only break of the The Illawarra rtunity to officially welcome I would like to take this oppogram and congratulate Margaret, Brian, Grammar School to the prosuccess of their inaugural Sony Foundation Phil and their team on the association with the Disability Trust.

Children’s Holiday Camp in Regards

Monique Fermin

National Events Manager -

Sony Foundation

Congratulations on an outstanding Challenge year in 2010 and best of luck for 2011.”

The students who participated in one or more rounds of the challenge were; Hugh Allison, Aaron Avramopoulos, James Belcher, Nathan Bow, Adrian Bujaroski, Siobhan Butler, Rhys Campbell, Aiden Chilcott, Maigan Clark, Shona Conacher, Rosemary Davis, Tiara Dobbs, Katie Dominis, Thomas Dragutinovich, James Early, Lisa Fernandez, James Fraser, Phoebe Fraser, Stevee-Leigh Freeman, Elise Gooda, Lauren Hatton, Isaac Kim, Briana Lees, Alistair Martin, Katherine Marvell, Nicholas Marzano, Alice McCosker, Daniel McNamara, Callum McNeilly, Hannah Muirhead, Emily O’Donnell, Timia Osman, Perri Rugg, Rahil Verma, Matthew Wale, and Kishan Wijesinghe.

Congratulations!

Martin Sormus Head of Science

Senior School Sports

Year 9/10 Sports - Reminder

These Summer Sports for Years 9/10 for Term 4 are as follows: Badminton – Monday - IGC - 3.30 -4.30pm - CLASS FULL Basketball – Wednesday – IGC 3.30 – 4.30pm Boardriders – Monday- North Beach - 6.30am – CLASS FULL Golf – Tuesday – TIGS Oval – 3.30pm – 4.30pm Rock Climbing – Wednesday – 3.30 – 4.30pm Swimming – Wednesday & Friday – University Pool - 7am Table Tennis – Monday – IGC – 3.30 – 4.30pm – CLASS FULL Swimming training is available to all students please collect a permission note from Student Reception.

Cricket

Congratulations to Nikhil Verma (Year 8) who has been selected in the 15yrs NSWCIS Cricket team. A fantastic result.

An exhibition, performances and fashion parade showcasing the work of Years 8 -12 students studying Visual Arts, Photography, Textiles, Music and Drama.

TIGS IGC Friday 29 October 2010

5.00 - 6.00pm Exhibition viewing and pre-performance entertainment 6.00 - 8.00pm Fashion parade and performance

Tennis

Congratulations to Kirsty McRae (Year 9), Lily Tuivaga (Year7), Fred Newman (Year 9), Dominic Riordan (Year 8), and Adrian Haise (Year 8) for their selection in the AICES 15 Tennis Team.

The boys will play in the CIS trials next Sunday 31 October at St Ignatius College. We wish them the best at these selections.

TIGS Sports Presentation Evening

Invitations have now gone out to all Award recipients from K – 12 for the TIGS Sports Presentation Evening on Wednesday 6.30pm for 7pm 10 November in the IGC. All parents and staff are welcome to attend. This is an important occasion in the school calendar as we recognise sporting achievements from TIGS students in 2010. For enquiries please contact Mrs Sharpe at School on 42 200200.

TIGS Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp

Week 4, Term IV Monday 25 October Help Needed!

Tuesday 26 October Snezana Bujaroska Anne Jones

Wednesday 27 October Kylie Doherty Lana Tut

Thursday 28 October Marie McCorquodale Help Needed!

Friday 29 October Help Needed!

Canteen News

The new Term IV menu can be found through the School website under the School community tab on the canteen page. Please check this out for updates and new daily specials.

The canteen is seeking NEW Volunteers to come onboard for 2011. If you would like to join our friendly team please phone Meagan in the Canteen on 4220 0241 or email canteen@tigs.nsw.edu.au Don’t forget to go ON-LINE www.flexischools.com.au to order School lunches Register with Flexi Schools and go in the running to win some great prizes.

To keep up-to-date with the latest news and events that are happening in and around our School, we encourage you to subscribe to the email Newsletter.

Simply visit our website: www.tigs.nsw.edu.au and sign up on the home page.

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