Issue 4 Term IV,2010

NEWSLETTER Congratulations!

TIGS Team of the Year 2010 Mountain Bike Team: Jake Latham (Year 12 2011), Samuel Jones (Year 12 2010), David Manton (Year 11 2010) and Miles Waring (Year 12 2010)

Headmaster’s Message For The Diary Head of Senior School Head of Junior School Issue 4 Term IV, 2010

Academic • Christian • Caring

Chaplain

For The Diary There is a risk that by writing about the end of year activities planned at TIGS I am signalling that the end of the academic year has arrived.

Students at TIGS work hard until the very end of term and any notion that the end of Term IV is less significant that the rest of the year is inaccurate. There are many examinations, assignments, exhibitions and assessment tasks, not to mention reports, still to be completed in just four short weeks.

There are also some significant events in the life of the School still to occur and I urge all parents and friends to mark them in their diary: 16 November Meet the Headmaster In the Goodhew Research Centre (followed by the P & F AGM) 6.00pm.

17 November Thank You Morning Tea For all our volunteers who have served our community over the year.

In Rees Hall commencing 9.45am.

25 November Year 6 Progression Dinner Of special interest to parents of Years 5 and 6 students.

26 November Year 10 Formal

Of special interest to parents of Year 10 students.

30 November Year 6 PYP Exhibition The PYP provides a great framework for excellent learning. This exhibition celebrates the achievements of Year 6 at the end of their PYP experience. In Rees Hall from 3.45pm.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

1 December Honours Presentation Evening The work of these students is astonishing and should not be missed. In the Goodhew Research Centre from 6.00pm.

4 December Infants Pageant You have not really lived until you have attended an Infants Pageant. In the IGC starting at 11.00am.

6 December Junior School Presentation Evening In the IGC starting at 6.00pm.

8 December A Christmas Celebration A wonderful way for our whole community to come together at the end of the year and celebrate the Christmas story. Family picnic starts at 5.30pm and Christmas Celebration starts at 7.00pm.

10 December 52nd Presentation Day Join the Senior School in the IGC starting at 10.30am.

Your support of these events is a great encouragement to both students and teachers.

Electronic Mobile Devices With Christmas approaching we have received many calls from parents concerning which mobile electronic device would be appropriate to purchase for their child. The School has a wireless system for connection to the internet and this system can be accessed from anywhere at school including the classroom. Within a short period of time it will be the norm for our students in Years 5 to 12 to access information from our library and the internet using their own mobile electronic device at their desk in the classroom.

Advice on which devices are compatible with the School’s network and user policies is available on the School’s website under ‘Wireless Device Advice’. Technical questions can also be directed to our IT Department by email through the same site.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

Chaplain’s Connection

Do you have Christmas traditions?

One long-standing Christmas tradition in my parents’ home is the watching of the Queen’s Christmas address. To be honest, I don’t actually remember the details of many of them. But one I do remember is the 1992 “annus horribilis” speech.

1992 had been a difficult year for Queen Elizabeth. In March 1992, it was announced that Prince Andrew would separate from his wife Sarah. Later in the year, scandalous pictures of Sarah and her boyfriend were published in the tabloids. In April, Princess Anne divorced her husband Captain Mark Phillips. In June, Diana, Princess of Wales’ tell-all book, Diana, Her True Story, was published. In November Windsor Castle was seriously damaged by fire, and several priceless artifacts were lost. Then, in December, the separation of Prince Charles and his wife Diana was announced. No wonder the Queen described it in her Christmas speech as an “annus horribilis”, a horrible year!

Another memorable Christmas speech was that delivered in 1939 by King George VI. It had truly been a horrible year, with the outbreak of World War II and the German armies conquering northern Europe. Several more years of warfare, uncertainty, and horror lay ahead. In his speech, the king quoted from a book by M. Louise Haskins: “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”

In the face of life’s uncertainties, when we face problems beyond our control, it is good to be reminded that we can step into the future trusting not in our own strength or our ability to see the way ahead, but placing our lives and our futures in the hands of the God of the universe.

Remember David, the shepherd boy who went out to fight Goliath, the Philistine giant?

Armed only with a slingshot and five small pebbles, David faced Goliath and said:

John Reed Chaplain

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down … and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47) In our horrible years, and facing life’s fearsome giants, we can put our lives into the hands of God, trusting that the future, and the battle, and the victory, is his.

Senior School

Over the past two years the School Captains have made it one of their goals to give the Student Body an authentic voice within the School. They re-viewed the form and structure of the Student Representative Council, assessing its strengths and weaknesses and then put in place policies and procedures which would foster involvement, allow debate and then facilitate the formal presentation of their suggestions and concerns to the School Executive.

This change was formally begun in 2009 and in a way its success has presented each following group of Captains with new challenges. The 2011 Captains - who have just taken office - are finding their meetings so well attended and the involvement so great, particularly in the Junior Secondary years and amongst their own year group that they are learning valuable lessons in structural reform, equity, change management and representation.

Students are encouraged to attend without any formal mandate from others in their year group. They attend if they are interested in having a voice and in taking responsibility for effecting change within the School. In the past it was found that Mentor and Year Group voting did not result in the most socially aware or responsible students contributing to the SRC and attendance was often poor after the initial glow of ‘winning the vote’ had abated.

Monica Watt

Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

At their regular Tuesday lunchtime meetings throughout Term students debate issues and at the end of each Term prepare a document of Proposals which they present to me at a Board Meeting in the Boardroom. Each proposal has a nominator who must speak to the issue. At this meeting I give feedback on the progress of previous matters which they have raised. I think they are learning a lot about the time, expense and complexity which some matters can take to be resolved.

It is such a worthwhile group to be involved in but I don’t know if I should encourage greater involvement – the current Captains might not thank me for such a call to arms!

Junior School A Settled Finish

Finishing the race well is crucial. As we race towards the end of the academic year it is really important that we all assist the children to finish well. Today during assembly it was a great pleasure to hand out many awards to children who are working hard and on task.

Our award system is one of the ways that we acknowledge effort and reward desired behaviours. This year many children will be receiving their Commitment to Learning badges at the Presentation Evening and this is a great achievement. I encourage our boys and girls and their families to really finish the 2010 academic year well. Keep focussed on your learning, keep working collaboratively, keep wearing your uniforms well and keep enjoying learning; right up until the end of term.

At our Christmas celebration evening our community will be given the opportunity to respond to the Anglicare Christmas appeal. Many of our families take this opportunity to really reflect on our level of privilege and to give to others. I particularly love the practice of several of our families where the children spend their own pocket money to purchase a gift for someone less fortunate. This is wonderful service learning. I encourage all of our community to look for opportunities to participate by giving. I will be looking for them with my family also.

Congratulations Year 5!

We are finalising appointments to student leadership positions for 2011. Year 5 really lifted the bar this year in terms of their thoughtful applications and the standard of the candidature. Certainly the final decisions have been very difficult to make. Student leadership is a tricky issue in Junior School as it is unavoidable that some children are Head of Junior School disappointed by not being appointed to a badged leadership position. I want to remind all of our Year 5 students that we are committed in our stance that all senior students are given opportunities to lead and to serve regardless of whether they wear a badge or not.

To not do so would be a waste of the enthusiasm and talent that was so clearly displayed in your nominations and speeches as you worked through the selection process. I am looking forward to working with Year 6 2011 in their leadership roles and I expect great things from them.

Judi Nealy

Emails sent home: • P & F AGM Meeting – 16 November

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‘Meet the Headmaster’ is on again. New parents to the School, existing parents, prospective parents and all members of the community are welcome to join our special gathering in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library) at 6.00pm Tuesday 16 November 2011.

The purpose of this event is to provide you with an opportunity to meet with the Headmaster and members of the TIGS staff informally. The TIGS P & F AGM will follow at 7.30pm.

As canapés and refreshments will be provided an RSVP is essential.

RSVP: Friday 12 November, 2010 Phone: 4220 0233 or Email: ldimoski@tigs.nsw.edu.au Please Note: This is an event where students are free to stay at home and study

Week 5, Term IV Monday 8 November

Canteen News

Rose Dragutinovich Help Needed!

Tuesday 26 November Barbara Mandelson Janice Ethridge-Brown

Wednesday 27 November 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.

Volunteer Thank You Morning Tea will be held at 9.45am Wednesday 17 November in Rees Hall.

Students please remember that you can place lunch orders online at www.flexischools.com.au OR alternatively you are still able to leave your order at the far Canteen window before School starts.

The canteen is seeking NEW Volunteers 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

Anne Kelly Alison Mc Kenzie Thank You Morning Tea for all Volunteers

Thursday 28 November Alice Martin Help Needed!

Friday 29 November Joanne Elliott Bronwyn Marvell

TIGS Extended Vacation Care

Enrolments are now being taken for vacation care.

The children will have so much fun!

When: 13 -17 December 2010 Time: 8.00am - 5.00pm Documentation: Enrolment forms, booking sheet, permission form and information can be found on the TIGS Website Contact: For further information, please feel free to email the Director on kbuckley@tigs.nsw.edu.au

Weekly Timetable Monday 13 December

Morning Picnic in the park Afternoon Zoom your way around the basketball courts

Tuesday 14 December

Wednesday 15 December

Thursday 16 December

Christmas Craft and Cooking Karaoke

Wet and wild

Christmas party and Christmas movie madness

Friday 17 December

Wheels - Outdoor sports

A Message from P & F TIGS P & F Recycled Uniform Service

Another year is coming to an end and possibly families will need to purchase a different School Uniform. Jacey Dema is our Recycled Uniform Shop Coordinator and is available by calling 0417467035. On behalf of the TIGS P & F I would like to thank Jacey who works on a voluntary basis.

Attention parents of students finishing Year 6, 10 or 12

If you have uniforms you no longer require please send them into student reception to be included in the recycled uniform stock. This can be done on any School day. There are many parents who could use the assistance in reducing costs by purchasing a good quality used uniform. All proceeds from the Uniform Shop go into the takings from the Great Fete in May. This money helped to fund the installation of the new Public Address system throughout the whole School.

Please note that in order to maintain our high standard of dress, only the current uniforms will be accepted.

TIGS P & F AGM

Tuesday 16 November from 7.30pm in the Goodhew Research Centre (Library), following Meet the Headmaster.

All parents are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the TIGS Parents and Friends Association. Leanne Windsor, Director of the Goodhew Research Centre, will speak about how the library is evolving to support 21st century learning and introduce some of the new initiatives that the library is currently undertaking.

All positions will be declared vacant and elections held on the night. Many existing Executive and Committee members will not be renominating. We would like to invite anyone interested in finding out more about what is involved to contact Barb Mandelson 0409 969044 for Orana (Senior School) positions or Tracey Jansen 0402 007446 for Karobran (Junior School) positions. If you would like to nominate for a committee position or to be a Class or Year representative please download a nomination form by clicking here, fill it in and return to the School by Monday November 15.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Class and Year representatives for their time and energy in 2010.

TIGS P & F Projects Update

The School is proposing to provide shelters for students near the Princess Highway car park. The P & F had decided to support this project which is scheduled to start in 2011. The funds raised at the September Auction and Dinner will be allocated to this project.

The new Public Address System, funded by the 2009 and 2010 Great Fetes, is well on the way to being fully functional.

A Christmas Celebration – 8 December 2010

The P & F will again organise some catering for families attending. We need some volunteers to organise hampers and supplies before the event and some ‘sausage chefs’ and sales staff on the evening. If you are available to be involved please contact Barb on 0409 969044 or via email pandf@tigs.com.au .

TIGS P&F Preloved Textbook Sale

Who: All Students and Parents in Years 7-11 2011 Date: Thursday 25 November 2010 Time: 3.15pm to 4.30pm Place: Goodhew Research Centre (Library) P&F Contact: Kim Hapgood email: kandsm12@bigpond.com Please click here to view the information flyer.

Senior School Sports Triathlon

Triathlon is an event which involves swimming, cycling and running. These events can be done as a team or an individual.

To prepare for the NSW All School Triathlon in February next year students need to practice and participate in events prior to these championships. If you are interested in Triathlon there is an upcoming “Trithegong multisport triathlon festival” in Wollongong Harbour on the 4 and 5 December. Information is available at www.eliteenergy.com.au all interested students are encouraged to participate.

Thank You Morning Tea

On Wednesday 17 November 2010 TIGS will be hosting a ‘Thank You Morning Tea’ from 9.45am 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 and Orana, In the canteen and in other ways.

We look forward to thanking you in person on the Wednesday 17 November.

For catering purposes, please RSVP to Kerrie Tregonning in the Junior School Office on 42200250 or via email ktregonning@tigs.nsw.edu.au

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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