Issue 5 Term II 2014

TI G S

The Illawarra Grammar School

Newsletter Academic Christian Caring

Issue 5

TERM II 2014

Headmaster I never get tired of receiving compliments from members of the public about how impressed they are by our students. Just this week I have received accolades for our students’ behaviour, manners, commitment to service and how good they look in uniform.

These compliments are well deserved for the overwhelming majority of our students.

There is genuine pride in our school held by our students and they usually make such a positive impact regardless of whether they are from The Piper Centre having a big day out or whether they are Senior Students engaged in public speaking competitions.

There are some times however when I feel I am working in a parallel universe. Not all our students make good choices all the time. In fact it would be rare for a child not to cross acceptable boundaries and expectations at some time in their school life. For example, this week during a phone conversation I received a positive comment about how well our students wear their uniform. I then went into the playground and had to reprimand some Senior School students for not wearing their uniform correctly!

There are times when I have to remind teachers, parents and even myself that our children are not perfect and that making some poor choices is part of the process of growing up. We hope that these poor choices are few and far between but they inevitably do occur. When they do occur the school has effective processes to ensure that learning

takes place and relationships are restored with those impacted by the poor choices.

This week at the Senior School assembly I spoke about a particular issue that was brought to my attention by the students in the Student Representative Council (SRC). They were concerned that comments made in the classroom and playground, using words common in teenage culture and society in general, were causing humiliation and hurt to other students. These comments are most likely to refer to a student’s race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

When speaking at the assembly, I made the following points: •

It is not normal for a student at TIGS to intentionally humiliate or denigrate another student. Nevertheless, thoughtless comments and banter do have a significant impact on some students that directly or indirectly hear the comments;

•

We have a responsibility to be aware of the sensitivities of others. No student should be subjected to hurtful comments whether intended or unintended;

•

When the line has been crossed we have a responsibility to apologise to those hurt by our comments and to take action to restore the broken relationship;

•

A proverb from the Old Testament makes the point very clearly:

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Proverbs 12:18

As the significant adults in the lives of our children, parents, extended family members and teachers have the responsibility of providing an environment for our children in which they are taught the right way to live, have the freedom to make choices, learn from their mistakes and always seek reconciliation and restoration for those hurt when mistakes are made.

Parents that may be despairing about their children should take heart: the challenges of growing up are usually sorted out by the end of Year 12. When we see our fine young women and men at Graduation Day we happily forget any mistakes made along the way.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

Chaplain’s Message PRAYER BUDDIES

know full well life can be demanding. It is too much to tackle alone. Fortunately this was never God’s intention. We were made for community and have a responsibility to invest ourselves in the lives of others such that we enable others to better manage the complexities of life.

And we hope that others are doing the same for us.

The Bible calls this “the law of Christ”. In Galatians 6.2, God says the following to his people: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” It is the law of Christ because this is what Christ has done for us. When we were without hope and without God in the world he gave his life for us to bring us to God. From his poverty we have been enriched beyond measure. This is now a “law” for us in our own relations with others.

Bookings are now open on the TIGS website for two important events: The Secret Garden - the Senior School Musical Production for 2014.

It follows recent TIGS performances of blockbuster musicals, including Les Miserables Jesus Christ Super Star, West-side Story, The Boy Friend and Cats. It is the perfect way to be introduced to the wonderful talent of our students and the brilliance of staff in The Arts Faculty.

The season runs from Wednesday 18 June through to Saturday 21 June. Book here

Barbara Arrowsmith-Young - Friday 27 June from 7.00pm to 8.30pm Over 400 people have already booked for this special event.

Barbara Arrowsmith-Young has a great personal story to tell. The Arrowsmith Program that bears her name gives hope to parents of children with learning difficulties. Using neuroscience based research she has developed targeted exercises for the brain that can correct the cognitive deficits that underpin some learning difficulties.

TIGS is pleased to feature Barbara Arrowsmith-Young at this special event which is also open to the general public. Book here

Do you realize you were prayed for on Wednesday morning? You are prayed for on many occasions throughout any given week as a valued member of the TIGS community but it was on Wednesday of this week that you were prayed for in a very special way.

What am I talking about? This Wednesday saw the first of our two Prayer Breakfasts for the year. Over 50 adults and around 20 children gathered for a delicious breakfast in the Library before turning to pray for the welfare of our TIGS community.

We had parents praying for parents, staff praying for staff, TIGS friends praying for TIGS friends as well as students praying for students. Our prayers were specific to the needs of all members of the TIGS community. We were thankful for the traditions we have inherited and we prayed for a holy determination to build on what has been given such that the good work of God in and through TIGS might continue and even grow into the future.

As a parent and staff member of TIGS I

One of the ways we can be obedient to this command of “carrying each other’s burdens” is by praying for one another.

Prayer is a practical expression of love because God really does act upon our prayers in the working out of his good purposes for the world. A Prayer Breakfast would be a huge waste of time if God hadn’t committed himself to using our prayers in the exercise of his sovereign will in the world. But he has. And the fact that he does use our prayers to complete his good work in the world makes something like a Prayer Breakfast an exciting prospect. One comes away wondering not if God will use our prayers for good but how he will use our prayers. There is a world of difference there.

I want to thank those who came to this week’s Prayer Breakfast. I especially thank the taskforce which is made of TIGS parents dedicated to the welfare of the TIGS community. I hope you might consider attending our next Prayer Breakfast when it comes around. The date is 13 November. It is a great opportunity to connect with others and invest in others as we engage with God. Rev James Rogers Chaplain

Senior School LEADERSHIP

It’s Term II and Year 11 are preparing their applications for leadership, as well as working on all of their Community Service activities working with The Disability Trust, SCARF and The Smith Family. They have really settled well into their Senior Years and are proving to be good role models and active participants in all aspects of school life.

Year 10 students are regularly running their Peer Support sessions with Year 7 and when the weather is nice, conducting the activities in the open air, on the Library Lawn allowing us to see the really effective work they are doing in supporting the development of their younger buddies.

Year 10 are also planning their Community Service project for Crossroads in Hong Kong, announcing an interesting fundraiser at Assembly this week.

In MYP Units of Work students are gaining autonomy and becoming leaders, taking control and responsibility for their own learning, critiquing themselves and their work and articulating that understanding for review and reflection.

We have just seen an excerpt from ‘The Secret Garden’ on Assembly this week and we are seeing great improvements in the short time since the Open Rehearsals were shared with us at the Fete.

wonderful things that they do in serving the School and the community. To see their peers so engaged is highly empowering for all students and to see students take ownership of Assembly speaks volumes for their maturity and leadership skills.

In all these varied activities – which are the life and heart of the School - we see leadership and strong positive role models presented to the student body each and every day not only within the classroom and around the school from 8.00am – 3.30pm but also outside the timetabled day and outside the walls of our school.

Our aim is to realize our core values and equip your children for their future lives in the best ways possible.

Specifically our core value – Academic 1.1 The core business of the School is student learning within a framework provided by Christian faith. The School Community supports students in developing their abilities, empowering them to become fulfilled individuals who can successfully participate and provide leadership in society for the good of others and to the glory of God.

Monica Watt Head of Senior School Deputy Headmaster

On a weekly basis we see students from all years standing in front of their peers on Assembly to sing, dance, perform, present, advertise, explain and share the many

TIGS P&F

HOLIDAY STUDY BLITZ

Term II P&F Meeting to be held Tuesday 10 June from 6.00pm to 7.00pm, in the Goodhew Research Centre.

Study courses are being held at the School during the school holidays for any student from Years 7 - 12.

Everyone in our TIGS community is welcome to join in.

The courses being run are: Study Skills and Strategies - Years 7 - 9 Senior Study Skills and Strategies - Years 10 - 12 Essay Skills - Years 10 - 12 Advanced Reading Skills - Years 10 - 12

UNIFORM SHOP The Uniform Shop will be open during the school holidays on the following days; Thursday 17 July 2014 9.00am - 2.00pm Friday 18 July 2014 9.00am - 2.00pm Saturday 19 July 2014 9.00am - 2.00pm

Please click here for more information and to download your enrolment form.

TIGS 2014 SCHOOL PRODUCTION

Tickets now on sale! Visit TIGS website

2014 SCHOOL PRODUCTION

18 JUNE - 21 JUNE 2014 TICKETS

$15 Concession $25 Adult

Music by Lucy Simon Book & Lyrics by Marsha Norman Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiN™ THEATRICAL ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH INC.

Tickets available for purchase online visit TIGS

www.tigs.nsw.edu.au

Junior School REMINDERS

1.

Coloured sports shoes are not to be worn for PE and sport. The School Diary clearly states ‘sport shoes should be mainly white’. Coloured shoes such as those used for indoor soccer may be brought to school to change into.

2.

Blazers must be worn to and from school and to Assembly/Chapel by students in Years 3 – 6 during Term II and Term III. Please encourage your child to wear their uniform correctly.

3.

Morning Bus Pick-up: Please ensure that your child/children are ready and waiting for their TIGS bus pick-up each day. If your child/children won’t be on the bus on any day please phone the driver to let him/her know. The drivers will stop outside your house and if your child isn’t there waiting they will phone you. If there is no answer the bus will leave. Some of the buses have been arriving late to school and this can lead to a stressful start to the students day.

4.

Long Leave of Absence – more than 2 days Parents must apply in writing to the Headmaster for a long leave of absence from the School if the student is going to be absent for more than two days. Please note that requests for long periods of absence are required two weeks in advance of the absence. Students may be disadvantaged by prolonged absence from school. When sufficient notice is given, it is possible to arrange for work to be given when students have extended absence. This should be arranged well in advance through the Mentor Teacher (Senior School) and the Class Teacher (Junior School).

Narelle McRae Acting Head of Junior School

Thank you in advance for supporting the School in these matters.

DA VINCI DECATHLON Leonardo da Vinci once wrote:

apply them

were proud of their efforts in many areas.

“Having wandered some distance among gloomy rocks, I came to the entrance of a great cavern ... Two contrary emotions arose in me: fear and desire--fear of the threatening dark cavern, desire to see whether there were any marvellous things in it.”

Code Breaking – students decipher complex and mysterious codes

Out of approximately 800 students, our Year 5 team was successful in obtaining second place in the philosophy challenge.

An outstanding achievement, considering the level of competition. Congratulations to the students who were selected for the day.

They displayed commitment, enthusiasm and were a fine example of PYP learners.

On Thursday 29 May 2014, 16 students from Years 5 and 6 travelled to Knox Grammar School for the NSW Da Vinci Decathlon.

The topic focus for the day was, Mystery & Mayhem. The competition had begun as soon as we entered the grand school gates with an interschool impromptu handball game to get the competition juices flowing.

The Decathlon is an academic interschool gala day run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon with events of an academic nature. Students compete in the following disciplines: Mathematics and Chess – emphasis on problem solving, number patterns and logic puzzles English – spelling, word origins, definitions, textual analysis and writing tasks Science – students engage with higher-level scientific concepts to test their ability to

Engineering Challenge – a design task that tests problem solving skills, creativity and ingenuity Philosophy – dealing with logic, observations and evidence Creative Producers – emphasis on creating under pressure a 60 second dramatic performance Art and Poetry – the team develops a poem interconnected with a work of art based on the theme of mystery and mayhem Cartography – students decipher maps and apply the principles of map-making to represent spatial information in an imaginative way General Knowledge – current affairs, entertainment, the Renaissance, sport and trivia.

The day was very exciting yet tiresome with challenges being not only academic but the difficulty in working together under strict time restraints. Students from Stage 3 represented their School with pride and

Year 5 Daniel Michelmore Alexander Stevenson Elliot Winn Tanay Shrestha Aria Bacic-Johnston Isobel Kinnear Megan Ashford Xia Lian Wilson Year 6 Connor Harvey Micah Sullivan Josh Agarwal Aaron Avenido Thomas Main Niamh Christopher Zaynab Panju Annabel Malouf

Extend at TIGS Week 7’s Activities:

Monday 30 June to Friday 18 July 2014

Tuesday 10 June Organised Sports-Playlawn Soccer on the Oval Crazy Craft

We have heaps of jam-packed activities and incursions ranging from Arts and Crafts, Cooking, plenty of games and sports and lots of winter activities! We are also now offering excursions! Visit the Extend website at extend.com.au for your programme timetables, booking forms, and activity descriptions.

Monday 9 June: PUPIL FREE DAY

Winter School Holiday Programme bookings NOW OPEN at your School!

NEW – Don’t pay Full Fees!

Bookings close Friday 13 June – book now to avoid disappointment.

Wednesday 11 June: Organised Sports-Playlawn Futsal in Rees Hall “Our Kitchen Rules!”

Thursday 12 June: “So, You Think You Can Dance!”

Friday 13 June: Mini Golf Movie (G) and Popcorn ONLINE BOOKINGS: extend.com.au CALL OUR OFFICE: 1300 366 437

JUNIOR SCHOOL AWARDS Weekly Awards KD KM KP 1T 1M 1WJ 2C 2H 2M 3R 4C 4R 4Y 5A 5S 6G

Subodh Parab, Summer Thomas Ashwin Gogulan, Maddison Tonkin Jawad Aly, Yasmin Matar Ting-Ting Cook, Ava Santos Spencer Newhouse, Eleanor Middleton Lexi Mitchell, Lloyd Oliver Diya Mehan Adil Qureshi, Bhaavya Gupta Brandon Nugara, Jessica Llewellin Pia D’Rozario, Jack Parker Benjamin Lu, Nathan Molnar Charlie Taylor, Zane Taylor Kiarna McIlwraith Amy Lendrum, Daniel Michelmore Dean Borbilas, Harrison Webb Sarah Tubman, Rory Hanrahan

Merit Certificates Academic Krishnendu Gupta Nathan Molnar Isabella Perri Lachlan Boardman Daniel Peden Thomas Saffoury Scarlett Ford Sadurshi Prabaharan Keya Murty

Personal Presentation Molly Buikstra William MacKay

Dates for your diary:

Wednesday 18 June- Saturday 21 June Production Performances – IGC

Sport SENIOR SCHOOL SPORT

AICES Cross Country

Last Thursday the AICES Cross Country was held at Macarthur Anglican School. Over 30 students represented the School in the NASSA Team. The TIGS Students were outstanding winning the overall medal count and four students gaining podium finishes.

Claire Smallhorn (Year 7) 12 Girls 2nd Elizabeth Martin (Year 9) 15 Girls 3rd Angus Pryde (Year 10) 16 Boys 2nd Maudie Skyring (Year 11)17 Girls 1st 20 students have run their way to represent AICES at the CIS Cross Country Championships next week: Cameron Barrett, Lilli Bennett, Roisin Concannon, Logan Davis, Timothy Gibson, Caleb Grace, Rebekah Hutton, Teagan Johnston, Elizabeth Martin, Finley McLaren, Natasha Mullany, Hamish Paine, Jesse Price, Angus Pryde, Alexander Seal, James Seal, Maudie Skyring, Claire Smallhorn, Anthony Krsteski.

We wish them all the best for this event at Eastern Creek raceway.

Sport JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT TIGS Cross Country

TIGS Cross Country Team is the winning NASSA Championship School.

We took 56 runners last Friday 30 May to Macarthur Anglican School to compete in the NASSA Cross Country. The students were committed to training over the few weeks leading up to the event, where the commitment and determination definitely showed throughout the various aged races. All of the students competed to their full potential and achieved such momentous results, winning the overall point score by 54 points!

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top 15 and will now go on to compete at the NSW CIS Carnival: 1st Place 3rd Place 5th Place 8th Place 10th Place 15th Place Cooper Kerridge Victoria Summerill

2nd Place

Zoe Dribbus Amelia Druett Ben Giason

Margaux Chauvet Pia D’Rozario James Healey

4th Place

Rory Hanrahan Olivia Varmedja Dean Borbilas

Charlotte Atkinson Aria Bacic-Johnston

Cartia Taranto Ella Vartazarian

6th Place

9th Place

Ruby D’Rozario

7th Place

Ashley Armstrong Joseph Druett Daniel Grieve

James Gorham

Sarah Partland

Joshua Franco Tamara Matar

12th Place

Katie Gorham Hugo Parrish

13th Place

Zachary Birch Jayden Grieve

Good luck to all of the children who are now going on to CIS next Thursday 12 June!

CIS Touch Football

A huge congratulations to Zoe Dribbus for being selected into the CIS Primary Touch Football Team. Such an outstanding achievement. Well done Zoe!

Career Infomation Tertiary Information Evening Monday 28 July 2014 This evening is designed for students of Years 10, 11 and 12 and their parents/guardians.

The evening format comprises: • 5.30pm – 6.30pm an Expo in the IGC • 6.30pm – 7.00pm an ex-student panel session in the IGC • 7.10pm – 8.35pm 3 information seminars that students and parents register to attend. The information sessions will be in allocated rooms and provide an opportunity to gain more detailed information on specific tertiary institutions.

Representatives from universities, TAFE and private tertiary institutions will provide information in the seminars including: • new career options and newly introduced courses • appropriate tertiary institutions for a chosen career • scholarships, accommodation and university schemes including Early Entry, Access and Bonus Points • cadetships, traineeships, apprenticeships • gap year options • appropriate subject selection for Years 11 & 12.

Registration for this event is essential. An information booklet and registration details will be available in the coming weeks.

Mrs Murphy Careers Adviser 42200259

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Apprenticeships & Traineeships Information Sessions Improve your chances of getting an Apprenticeship Find out: What employers want?

Where do I find the jobs?

Strategies and Resources Hear from and talk to: Employers

Current Apprentices

Group Training Companies

TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute

Australian Apprenticeship Centres

NSW Dept of Education & Communities

When and Where Tuesday 17th June 2014

Wednesday 18th June 2014

The Builders Club

The Shellharbour Club

6.00pm – 7.30 pm

Bookings

Workplace Learning Illawarra Phone: email:

(02) 4225 2526 tracey@iswlp.org.au

Presented by The Apprenticeship Partners:

6.00pm – 7.30 pm

T F E L S R E B M U N

An International Baccalaureate (IB) World School

D E T I M LIBARBARA Hosting

ARROWSMITH YOUNG The Woman Who Changed Her Brain As the creator of one of the first practical treatment applications in using the principles of neuroplasticity, Barbara Arrowsmith-Young is recognised as a pioneer. Her experiences not only led to the groundbreaking Arrowsmith Program, but the genesis of her international bestseller, The Woman Who Changed Her Brain.

Arrowsmith-Young holds a B.A.Sc in Child Studies from the University of Guelph and a Master’s degree in School Psychology from the University of Toronto.

In her presentation entitled “The Arrowsmith Program: Addressing Learning Difficulties—A Cognitive Approach,” Barbara Arrowsmith-Young will talk about her journey of discovery, the lines of research she combined, and the outcomes achieved over her 35 years as an educator and researcher.

She will describe a number of learning difficulties, from those that impact the learner in school to those that affect us in life. The focus will be on learning difficulties that impact academic performance such as reading and writing, and some of the outcome studies demonstrating cognitive and academic performance change in these areas as a result of students engaging in the Arrowsmith Program’s cognitive exercises.

There will be a book signing after the event and the opportunity to register your interest in the establishment of the Arrowsmith Program at TIGS.

Friday 27 June 7.00pm to 8.30pm

FREE Presentation The Arrowsmith Program

Venue: TIGS The Illawarra Grammar Centre (IGC)

For more information or to book your ticket please visit

www.tigs.nsw.edu.au

UPCOMING

EVENTS

WEEK 7

Queens Birthday Holiday Monday 9 June

Guitar Concert

6.30pm Thursday 12 June in Recital Room

WEEK 8

School Production ‘The Secret Garden’ 18 - 21 June 2014 in the IGC

WEEK 9

Last day of Term II Friday 27 June 2014

Barbara Arrowsmith-Young 7.00pm Friday 27 June 2014 in the IGC

WEEK 1 TERM II

Term III Commences Monday 21 July 2014