Issue 5 Term IV 2013

NEWSLETTER

Year 4 Excursion to the Old Government House

Academic • Christian • Caring

Issue 5 Term IV 2013

Great News!

Great news has been received about the performance of our 2013 HSC candidates. The number of nominations received for our students from the Board of Studies Examiners for elite exhibition has grown to seven: Dance Dance Dance Music 1 Music 1 Visual Art

Laura Stutchbury (2 nominations) Hannah Garbo Grace Crisp Robert Gyngell Hannah Garbo Jake Kuit

This is welcomed news as the formal HSC examinations are finally completed and marking is well under way.

The marking of HSC examination papers is not just of interest to our students. Currently 12 teachers from TIGS are involved in the marking of examination papers: Mr Greg Lanyon Mrs Louise Moulton Mr Todd Southcombe Mr Glen Stutchbury Mrs Glenis Murphy Mr Stephen Chamberlain Ms Joanne Graydon Mrs Kerry Goonan Mrs Renae Pinazza Mrs Makiko Naito Mrs Tomoko Shiine Mrs Sharon I’Ons

Economics English Ancient History Chemistry Economics English English Geography Music Japanese Japanese Japanese

(Supervisor of Marking) (Senior Marker)

(Senior Marker) (Senior Marker)

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

The School encourages teachers to participate in the marking of HSC papers. It is an invaluable way to keep up-to-date in the subject and to ensure that the assessment of our own students, as they prepare for the HSC, is accurate.

We look forward to the release of the HSC results in mid-December. We expect that the experience of graduates of 2013 will be no different to that of our graduates in previous years. Normally around 80% of our students that apply (which is most of them) are offered a position at university before they sit for their HSC examinations.

Why is it that TIGS students do so well and are highly sought after by universities? We are consistently told by the universities it is because of: • • •

The quality of our teaching (as is evidenced by the commitment of our teachers to the HSC marking process); The strength of our curriculum tracing right back to our Junior School; Our holistic approach to educating our students that produces well-rounded young adults – a CV presented by a TIGS student demonstrates participation in a broad range of life experiences, including the service of others.

Several adjustments have been made to our programme of teaching and learning for 2014 that will further enhance the outcomes for our students.

• • • • • • •

The allocation of an additional Performing Arts teacher to the Junior School.

Additional support in the Junior School Appointment of Mrs Karen Wallace as Coordinator of Teaching and Learning/PYP in the Junior School.

Adoption of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students in Years 7 to 10 with a focus on concept-based learning that engages and empowers students in their learning.

An additional period of each of English, Mathematics and Science in Years 7 and 8 to consolidate and deepen learning in these important foundational years in the Senior School.

The establishment of a new faculty, The Arts, to consolidate and connect the teaching and resourcing of subjects currently in the faculties of Visual and Performing Arts.

The redeployment of Mrs Dianne Bryant to the position of Coordinator of the IB Continuum (Literacy, Numeracy, LOTE, Indigenous Education) to ensure a smooth transition for our students between the Junior and Senior Schools.

Excellent academic outcomes are the norm for students at TIGS. Our aim is captured in our Statement of Mission and Values that says: “The School sets excellence as its standard when planning and evaluating its academic programs and outcomes. Excellence is viewed as neither elitist nor exclusive and is accessible to all who aspire to be the best they can be. The advantages of our culture of academic excellence are not just for the individual but are for the benefit of our whole School community and beyond.”

From Prep through to Year 12 our students are encouraged to be the best they can be. They are taught by teachers who are committed to excellence in their own practice and supported by families committed to the values of the School and giving their children the advantage that a TIGS education provides. The evidence is that this is a successful formula.

Please keep Wednesday 4 December free so that you can attend this year’s Christmas Celebration. The theme for this year’s carols, readings and performances is ‘Joy to the World’ and will feature many of the cultural groups that are part of the TIGS community. More information on page 6.

Stephen Kinsella Headmaster

The Time is Right We have just had the first conversation at home about the Christmas tree for this year. That’s a sure sign that Christmas is approaching. I have also had numerous conversations over the past few weeks here at TIGS about our upcoming Christmas Celebration. That, too, is a sure sign that Christmas is approaching. If you haven’t got it yet, let me say it again: Christmas is approaching.

The celebration of Christmas takes some preparation. It doesn’t just happen. So it was with the events of the first Christmas. Galatians 4.4 says that “when the time had fully come” God sent his Son into the world. This phrase “when the time had fully come” suggests that God himself had his own preparations to make before the events of the first Christmas became a reality. Jesus’ coming was not random. It was not like anytime was the right time. No, there were preparations to be made.

Rev James Rogers Chaplain

One of the ways God prepared the world for the coming of his Son was to allow culture to flourish but not so that humankind’s achievements were able to provide satisfactory answers to life’s big questions.

For example, a few hundred years prior to Jesus’ coming the Greeks produced amazing literary and philosophical works. People like Aristotle and Plato reflected deeply upon the nature of reality. Despite this, they still had no sufficient answer to the problem of evil; they certainly couldn’t restrain evil. Similarly there were amazing political and social developments made by the Romans. People like Cicero and Augustus brought a profound order to society. Even so, they ended up presiding over empires which daily threatened to implode under them.

God allowed these peacocks to parade their feathers for a time to show their ultimate inadequacy so that when Jesus came it would be proved beyond all doubt that he alone is the only one who has a sufficient answer to the problems of the world. He is the desire of the nations. Anyone who goes looking elsewhere for answers to life’s big questions has not learned the lessons of history. The best that the world could offer was not good enough. So, ‘when the time had fully come, God sent his Son into the world…to redeem those under the law.’

I look forward to celebrating the season of Jesus’ coming with you. We have a wonderful way we can do that together at TIGS with our annual Christmas Celebration. Mark the date now. It is 4 December. We will begin with an International Food Fair on the Library lawn at 5.30pm. This will be followed by the Celebration proper at 7pm. I hope to see you there.

Rev James Rogers Chaplain

Senior School

Cyber Safety and Community Service

It has been a while since Susan Mclean visited us to give advice to staff and parents on Internet Safety. It’s probably a good idea to revisit her website and be assured that we need to be vigilant for our children’s safety and protection.

It was disconcerting to hear that in a recent survey within the Junior School a large number of children were being allowed unfettered access to the Internet, in their bedrooms and at night.

As you know these devices both physically and psychologically interfere with proper sleep patterns and adolescents need their sleep.

So check out Susan Mclean’s Cyber Safety Solution website again. http://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/fact-internet-safety-tips-parents.shtml

Community Service

Over the past few weeks at Assembly we have been hearing - and seeing great images - about the great work TIGS student, your children, have been doing in support of others less fortunate than they are: the Year 11/12 students who gave up their weekend to provide respite for families of children with disabilities; the Year 10 students who supported Legacy by assisting in fundraising in the Mall; the Senior students who came to the Disability Trust Disco at TIGS last Friday to assist in making it a Deputy Headmaster and fun night; the Year 10 Student Hosts and Peer Readers who work regularly and tirelessly to provide Head of Senior School support; the new Year 9 Peer Support leaders who helped with the Orientation of our new Year 7 2014 students. The list goes on and it is so very heartening to see the way in which service has been embedded into the minds and hearts of our students.

Monica Watt

Assemblies are very affirming and guarantee that younger students are witnessing excellent role models on a weekly basis.

Mrs Monica Watt Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School

Junior School Year 4 Excursion

On Friday 8 of November Year 4 went on an excursion to the Old Government House and Elizabeth Farm for our “Where we are in place and time” Unit of Inquiry. The excursion program is presented as a role-play. The scene is set in 1819 during the Governor Macquarie era and journalists from London Gazette are visiting to interview the Governor and the people who live and work in the colony about the state of the colony.

The students were playing the part of reporters who were eager to find out what each person they interviewed thought about Governor Macquarie and how they viewed their life in the colony.

4S and 4R worked diligently in class to inquire into life in the colony during Governor Macquarie’s time and the impact on the Indigenous community. The central idea “Colonisation brings about changes in people and places” has provoked many questions that children inquired into and developed an understanding of different perspectives. The students then used their newly acquired knowledge to develop clever questions for the characters at Old Government House.

Judi Nealy

Head of Junior School

The experience has been enlightening for our students because they experienced the way life was in the 1800’s and through their questioning the students examined the rights and freedoms of the various individuals in the colony.

At Elizabeth Farm the children were also exposed to the chores and life of convicts during that time. They were given the experience of baking, fetching water, gathering food from the garden and washing garments like the convicts used to do it. That experience became a memorable one as the students continued that conversation in class.

We all enjoyed the experience of dressing up appropriately for the era and gaining an insight into the life in the colony. Due to this experience children have become more knowledgeable and open-minded, understanding that colonisation causes profound changes.

Year 4 Teachers

Junior School Leaders

Year 5 are currently involved in the process of choosing new leaders for 2014. This is an important task. It must be considered carefully by those willing to lead and also by those choosing the leader. At TIGS we are looking for leaders who represent the values and beliefs of our School. We are seeking servant leadership. The concept of servant leadership begins by being a servant first. A servant leader must first learn to serve before taking on a leadership position. Servant leaders serve because they are motivated by love and humility. Jesus is the perfect example of servant leadership. Jesus humbled himself and became a servant of all. “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant...just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Leadership is observed throughout Year 5 in decisions and choices made by each student, reflected in their conversation and their action. In Term 4 Nigel Vaux from Crusaders lead a workshop on servant leadership. Students then nominated themselves for actual positions. These students filled in a nomination form and had it signed by parents, (who are agreeing to support their child in this role) their teacher and a specialist teacher. These students prepare a speech reflecting what they believe it means to be a leader in the Junior School. Years 4-6 then vote for who they believe would make a suitable leader.

Teachers also vote. Considering each of these aspects of nomination, a number of students are invited to an interview with myself, Rev. Rogers and Mrs Nealy. School Captains are announced at the Years 3-6 Presentation Evening. The rest of the leadership positions are announced in 2014.

All of Year 6 is expected to act as servant leaders within our School community, modeling kindness and thoughtfulness to the younger years. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8.

Nicki Stanis

Dates for your diary: •

Thursday 21 November – Year 6 Progression Dinner

•

Thursday 28 November – Prize Giving Assembly

•

Saturday 30 November – Infants Pageant

•

Wednesday 4 December – A Christmas Celebration

•

Thursday 5 December – Year 6 Exhibition and Honours Program

•

Monday 9 December – Years 3 – 6 Presentation Evening

Junior School Awards Weekly Awards KB KD KM KP 1C 1T 2M 2H 3W 4R 4S 5Y 6Y

Joshua Burden, Victoria Di Martino, Eleanor Middleton, Astrid Sperring Scarlett Ford, John Perri Thomas Partland, Tom Armstrong Hugh D’Rozario, Lloyd Oliver Austin Keefe Ella Fennell, Diya Mehan, Victoria Steward Euan Christopher, Vanssh Bhardwaj, Lauren Ayers Mayson Russell, India Strangman, Cody Maynes-Rutty, Sarah Partland Holly Jenner, Jade Hyde Bodhi Hemsley-Oades Thomas Peden, Declan Saad, James Kirby Ruby Tilden, Nicholas Makdessi, Josh Agarwal Kaitlin Garbo, Lileah Vroharis, Jack Scott, Corey Read, Nicole Russo, Nickita Peros, Lana Atkinson

Merit Certificates

Service

Academic

Thomas Peden Euan Christopher Hugh D’Rozario Cody Maynes-Rutty

Ethan Brunskill Lloyd Oliver Declan Saad Aiden Da Deppo

John Perri Bodhi Hemsley-Oades Vanssh Bhardwaj Diya Mehan

Alexia Zafiriou Emma Black

Junior School Sports Gymnastics

On Wednesday 6 November Alexia Zafiriou and Payton Leitch competed at a Level 4 in the NSW CIS Gymnastics held at Tara Anglican School for Girls. Both girls competed on four apparatus: Beam, Uneven Bars, Floor and Vault where Alexia finished equal 1st on the Beam and Payton 6th on Vault. The girls then went on to compete at Nationals in Melbourne the following two days where their team positioned 15th overall. A huge congratulations to both girls on your performance. What a great achievement to be proud of representing TIGS at CIS and also competing at a National level. Well done!

Lego Robotics

On Saturday 2 November, 2013, ‘The Flaming Firebolts’ Lego Robotics team of John Taiwo (Year 4), Elliot Wynn (Year 4), Alexia Zafiriou (Year 5), Kanishk Murty (Year 6) and Zoe Kelman (Year 6) competed at the First Lego League regional championships held at Macquarie University. It was a long, but very exciting day that began with an opening ceremony at 9.00am and concluded at 5.00pm with awards presentations. In between times involved, after a lot of competition, fun and friendship between all 39 teams who participated.

Competition covered four areas - Robotics, Presentation, FLL Core Values and Teamwork - and this year’s theme was ‘Nature’s Fury’ (very apt considering the recent bushfires in NSW and this week’s Typhoon in the Philippines). For the robotics component, teams had to program their robot and devise attachments to perform various tasks on the competition table.

These included collecting pets, people and supplies and bringing them back to the ‘safe zone’, as well as move vehicles and land an aeroplane on the runway safely, all whilst negotiating around obstacles. Teams also had to select a natural disaster and the community it affected, and develop a device or method which would assist in times of emergency. ‘The Flaming Firebolts’ chose the flash floods which struck the Wollongong community in 1998 and 2012. They devised an early warning system based on traffic lights where green is ‘safe’, amber is ‘be alert’ and red is ‘evacuate immediately’, as well as information pamphlets and fridge magnets explaining the system and what to take in case you need to evacuate. This was presented to an FLL Presentation Panel who then interviewed the team about the project and their investigations into the topic. The team was also interviewed about Robot Programming and construction by a FLL Robotic Panel. They were observed throughout the day for teamwork and the FLL core values, of which the most important is ‘Gracious Professionalism’.

We are very pleased to advise that the TIGS ‘The Flaming Firebolts’ came 4th out of 39 teams in the Robotics component.

Unfortunately, the team missed out on a place in the National Competition when the overall scores were announced.

John, Elliiot, Alexia, Kanishk and Zoe worked very hard in the three months leading up to the competition and they are to be congratulated for their commitment to the project. With the assistance of Andrew and Lyndell Clark (Robotics head coaches) we are very proud to have coached these amazing TIGS students to get to the competition. They represented our School with pride and their teamwork, friendship and respect for each other were noted by FLL officials, judges and competitors throughout the day. Well done ‘The Flaming Firebolts’!

Robert and Virginia Kelman

Senior School Sport Alumni Sporting Success

Allana Ferguson (Alumni 2010) was selected for the Australian Rugby Women’s 7 team and competed in early November at the Shanghai 7’s as part of the World Series. Allana has also represented Australia in Oztag, making her a dual international.

Emma McKeon (Alumni 2012) and Robert Hurley (alumni 2006) competed in the 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup. It is a series of eight, two-day, short course meets in eight different cities between August and November.

Robert won medals in Dubai, Berlin, Moscow, Singapore, Tokyo, Eindhoven and Doha. In the overall male final rankings he was fourth. Emma broke the Australian record in the 200m freestyle in Singapore and won medals in Tokyo.

Both Robert and Emma swam in the mixed 4 x 50m freestyle relay together in Berlin winning gold in the event.

Congratulations to these TIGS alumni Australian sport representatives on these outstanding achievements.

Student success

Cycling: Congratulations to Bridget Mullany (Year 12) who recently claimed three NSW Championship cycling titles.

• • •

JW19 250 m Time Trial JW19 Scratch Race JW19 Sprint

Baseball: (Image right) Congratulations to Angus Black (Year 8) who was selected in the NSW Country U16 Baseball team. This team will compete against teams representing the other states and territories in the National Youth Championship tournament at the Blacktown International Sport Park between 7 and 15 January 2014.

K-12 Sports Presentation Night

The K-12 Sports Presentation night held last Wednesday was a fantastic evening acknowledging the outstanding sporting achievements of our students. The guest speakers were Kieran Govers (Australian Hockey player) and Allana Ferguson (Australian Oztag and Rugby 7’s team, alumni 2010) who spoke about their experiences as an elite athlete.

Congratulations to all students who received awards on the night. The major award recipients for 2013 were: Junior School Sportsperson of the Year 2013: Austin Pallone Illawarra Mercury Team of the Year 2013: U/12 Girls Futsal Team Keith McPherson Pratt Junior Sportsperson of the Year 2013: Ashley Dribbus and James Seal Hurley Trophy Intermediate Sportsperson of the Year 2013: Maudie Skyring Sportswoman of the Year 2013 (Year 11 – 12): Lilli Bennett Sportsman of the Year 2013 (Year 11 -12): Alexander Seal

Northern District Australian Football Club Medal

Kristen Chadrawy (Year 11) and Brenda Tekkol (Year 10) received the NDAFC Medal for 2013 as a result of their outstanding commitment, leadership and passion over the past two years playing Australian Rules Football for TIGS. Not only has their participation seen a stark improvement in their own skills and communication but they also have displayed great leadership in assisting the development of their peers.

Kristen and Brenda do not play Australian Rules regularly outside of school however the Northern Districts Football Club recognises their efforts to promote the code and encourage fellow students to experience AFL. Congratulations to Kristen and Brenda, worthy recipients of the 2013 NDAFC Medal.

A Christmas Celebration 2013 Save the Date - Wednesday 4 December for this year’s Christmas Celebration.

5.30pm International Food Fair on the Library Lawn and 7.00pm Carol Service in The Illawarra Grammar Centre (IGC)

A Message from P&F Lets Decorate the IGC!

Christmas is nearly upon us and what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than decorating the IGC for our annual School Christmas Celebration. We will be turning the IGC into a Christmas wonderland on Tuesday 3 December from 1pm to 3pm and we need your help.

Please join us if you are available.

Kind regards Tanya Edgerton Karobran Chair

Year 12 (2014) Parents

An informal get together for Year 12 Parents (2014) at Swell Coffee, (Shop 3, Rear 135 Crown St, Wollongong) at 10.30am on Wednesday 27 November 2013.

Further Information contact Zina Ainsworth. Phone 0438 284 106 or zina.ainsworth@gmail.com

Second Hand Book Sale

TIGS Market Place for Second Hand Book Sale for Years 7 to Year 11 4.00pm to 5:00pm Thursday, 28 November Please contact Courtney Brooks, PA to the Director of Teaching and Learning cbrooks@tigs.nsw.edu.au

Recyled Uniforms Co-Ordinator Needed

Mrs Tania McGuire who is currently our Recycled Uniforms Co-ordinator is seeking a replacement, after volunteering her time and services to our school for the past two years. Any parent who is interested in taking up this wonderful role, and continuing this much needed service can contact Tania directly on: Mobile Phone 0418 448 814 or email tmc9uire@gmail.com

A Swell Affair Town Hall Organ Recital Featuring Titus Grenyer ( Year 10)

Presented by Genelle Thomson and Pamela Mildenhall Thursday 21 November 2013, 5:30 pm Adult $16, Student $8

All tickets include a complimentary glass of wine or juice.

The second of two Wollongong Town Hall Organ Recitals, A Swell Affair, features local organist Peter Nickolas along with an item by TIGS student Titus Grenyer.

Titus is the current holder of the organ scholarship at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Book by visiting www.wollongongtownhall.com.au

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

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

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