Issue 6 Term IV, 2014

Newsletter Academic Christian Caring

ISSUE 6

TERM IV 2014

Year 6 Safe Surfing

Headmaster I love sport. I love participating in sport, talking about sport and watching sport. One of the great joys of the summer holidays for me is having the time to swim, play golf and ride a bike as well as being engrossed in the smorgasbord of top level sport provided for our entertainment. What a privilege to live in a country where this lifestyle is possible.

What I object to is the plethora of advertisements promoting the use of alcohol as the ultimate demonstration of what it means to be Australian. I shudder when I think how many advertisements I will be subjected to (while watching elite athletes) that promote a lifestyle that is dependent on the liberal consumption of alcohol.

In fact the latest research on alcohol consumption indicates that alcohol consumption in Australia is declining.

Statistics supplied by Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) provide interesting reading: •

Apparent consumption (litres per annum) of pure alcohol per capita in Australia peaked in the late 70s (13L) and has declined since (10L)

•

In that time Australian’s are drinking less beer and more wine and spirits

•

The pattern of drinking has become more dangerous with binge drinking (drinking a lot over a short period of time) becoming more common

•

A fall in the level of consumption of alcohol has stimulated more aggressive marketing campaigns from alcohol companies directed at young people

Schools are not isolated from the changes that occur in society. There is a disturbing trend evident amongst school-aged children, particularly from Year 10 age.

Self-classification by Australian students

Year 8 %

Year 9 %

Year 10 %

Year 11 %

Year 12 %

Non-drinkers

63.2

55.4

34.7

16.0

6.0

Moderate drinkers (between 1 and 4 drinks on a single occasion in the last month)

29.0

27.7

28.1

26.8

16.9

Risky drinkers (more than 4 drinks on a single occasion over the last month)

7.9

17.0

37.2

57.3

77.1

(More information about the work and advice of DARTA can be found at www. darta.net.au) These are remarkable statistics given that the legal drinking age in Australia is 18 and it is illegal to supply alcohol (or buy alcohol on their behalf) to someone under 18.

That so many of our young people are engaged in the risky consumption of alcohol

by Year 12 is alarming. The consequences of the risky consumption of alcohol include risk of injury from violent crime, injury from motor vehicle accidents, impaired brain development and other longer term risks to health.

It is clear from these statistics that the effectiveness of strategies commonly used by parents needs to be questioned. Viewed from a national perspective, being a ‘friend’ of your teenager or teaching them to ‘use alcohol responsibly’ may work in some cases but when viewed nationally would have to be described as unsuccessful (77.1% of students of Year 12 age binge drinking can only be viewed as alarming).

While we would like to think that the statistics at TIGS would be better than the national figures, it would be a mistake to think that this is not an issue for our children.

DARTA has recently reported on a strategy used in Iceland that has seen the number of 15-16 year old adolescents becoming drunk over a period of 30 days fall from 42% in 1998 to 5% in 2012. A whole community approach involving legislation reducing the accessibility of alcohol to adolescents, education through schools and churches and a call to parents to play their role in keeping their adolescent children safe has seen a remarkable decline in the unsafe use of alcohol.

Some of the parental behaviours that have contributed to the success of this programme include: •

Ensuring teenage children remain active in leisure activities such as organised sport and music

•

Spending significant time with their teenage children on weekends

•

Knowing exactly where their teenage children are in the evenings

•

Reducing the amount of time teenage children spend out after 10.00pm

The challenge in Australia is for governments to ensure access to alcohol by children is limited, for schools to educate children on safe, healthy and fulfilling living, and for

Chaplain’s Message THE MINISTRY OF GOD’S WORD

At TIGS we believe that the Bible is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3.16-17).

parents to provide the age-appropriate guidance and boundaries necessary for children to be safe.

A good starting point would be to counter the popular image promoted through advertising that the celebration of Australia Day is synonymous with the liberal consumption of alcohol. Surely our country, its great history and our values as a community should be above exploitation by alcohol companies.

An IB Diploma Information Evening will be held on Monday 24 November starting at 5.30pm in the Library. This is open to parents and students of all ages but is of particular interest to students in current Years 8, 7 and 6.

There are two ways we minister the word of God at TIGS: publically and privately. The public ministry of the word of God refers to occasions like Chapel and special events where the Bible is read and proclaimed to large gatherings. The private ministry of the word of God refers to those occasions when we interact with students on a more personal level and seek to provide counsel according to God’s revealed truths.

This week I have had the great pleasure of attending our Stage 3 camp. I have been thrilled to witness great care being given to both the public and private ministry of God’s word. Each day our students participated in a Christian Discovery session where the great truths of the Bible were publically proclaimed. From there they went into small discussion groups for a more private and personal ministry of that same word. As usual, our students were conscientious participants in these groups, impressing the Camp Leaders with their profound comments and questions.

What really impressed me, however, was how the Camp Leaders (all students and trainees of Youthworks) spoke to our children after each of the camp activities and sought to draw out of them truths from the Bible.

It was a wonderful expression of the private ministry of the word of God. For example, after a session of abseiling the Camp Leaders led our students in a discussion about the importance of trust and the necessity of having equipment and facilities and assistants (we had good reason to trust). From here it was a simple step to talk about

how God requires our trust in him and how he is eminently trustworthy. And then there was the discussion after a time of canoeing about the importance of teamwork and cooperation. From there it was a simple step to talk about how God has made us for community and that we are at our best when we are working together.

I was reminded of what God demands of parents in Deuteronomy 6.6-9: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Parents are not only to teach children what God requires of them but also to talk about his commandments in the ebb and flow of life. They are to chat the truths of God’s word in the messy business of living. This is the approach we take at TIGS and I was delighted to see our approach being upheld in our camps ministries.

Rev James Rogers Chaplain

Senior School

LOOKING AHEAD

In the next few weeks we are looking ahead to lots of events. The Year 9 and 10 Examinations and End of Year results are looming but Year 10 will definitely be looking ahead to Work Experience or Camp and then to their Formal. It really is a significant time for them as we mark the completion of their Middle Years of education which will be recorded on their Board of Studies Record of School Achievement. Soon, in 2016, this stage will also culminate in an MYP project and an internationally moderated IB credential.

The Formal is a wonderful opportunity for students to acknowledge and celebrate a significant stage of development in their education and in their lives. For parents too it is time to celebrate and look ahead to their child’s Senior Years when studies become more focussed on specific paths, when leadership in the School and in Community Service becomes significant and when parents’ roles change again.

With the donning of the Senior Uniform that progression to independence and maturity is graphically displayed. They do look so different but they still need the love, and support of parents and firm boundaries. Our students are so very lucky to have that love and support that I see every day of the week in our parent body.

It’s not an easy job but I need to say that TIGS parents do it so very well.

Monica Watt Head of Senior School Deputy Headmaster

We are also looking forward to other progressions: Year 8 to Year 9 and their Elective Choices and to the adoption of the IB Diploma Programme beginning in 2017. The Headmaster, who is well experienced in the Diploma, will be conducting an information session on Monday 24th. That’s another date for the Diary.

And of course there are all the other wonderful events that mark the culmination of the school year: the Honours Programme, Reports, A Christmas Celebration and Presentation Day. Please join us to celebrate as a community at this wonderful and joyous time of year.

Languages 2015 TRIPS TO NEW CALEDONIA AND JAPAN INFORMATION NIGHT The Languages Department will be running trips to New Caledonia and Japan in the July school holidays of 2015. The first information session for interested students will be: When: Tuesday 25 November, 5.00pm to 6.00pm Venue: MG2 for New Caledonia MG1 for Japan Those students who are studying Japanese or French in Year 8, 9 and 10 this year are welcome to come to this information night to find out about the trip so please join us.

Senior School Sport STUDENT SUCCESS Angus Pryde (Year 10) will represent the local region and Shoalhaven Heads Surf Lifesaving Club in the NSW Country Team for the Trans-Tasman Tri Series in January next year. His results from the 2013/14 season include: selected SLSNSW beach high performance training squad, selected Surf Lifesaving NSW Interbranch Championships - South Coast Team - beach flags third and beach sprint sixth, Strammit SLSNSW Country Championships – under 17 2km beach run second, beach flags third, beach sprint third, opens beach flags fourth and clubs NSW SLSNSW State Championships under 2 km beach run fourth.

TIGS NETBALL CLUB The Netball Club is currently planning for the 2015 netball season. Our club had a successful 2014 season and congratulate the10 years TIGS Crystals for being runners up in B-division. We encourage all TIGS families who have daughters aged 8 years and older as at 1 January 2015 to play netball for our school next year.

Please ask your daughters to talk their friends at school about playing netball for TIGS next year - they will have lots of fun!

The TIGS Netball club is also open to TIGS Alumni and girls who will be joining our school in 2015.

Early registrations are now being accepted, with no payment required until the official registration days early in first term 2015 (dates to be advised). Training is after school once a week (usually Fridays) at TIGS, commencing in March 2015. The netball season runs from early May to late September. Games are played each Saturday (with breaks for school holidays and the long weekend) at either Fred Finch Park, Berkeley, or Guest Park, Fairy Meadow.

For further information and Registration Forms please contact the TIGS Netball Club Secretary/Registrar Virginia Kelman at virginia@kelman.com.au

TIGS P&F

RECYCLED UNIFORM SERVICE

The TIGS P&F Recycled Uniform Shop will be closing its doors at the end of Term IV but don’t worry there will still be opportunities to purchase recycled uniforms. We will be holding two events per year to give everyone an opportunity to purchase good condition recycled uniforms and help our environment.

As always we will be holding our very popular stall at the 2015 TIGS Great Fete and another event late in Term IV so you can restock for the following year. We would like to thank our very hardworking Recycled Uniform Shop Coordinator, Adele Hamilton, and all the lovely ladies in the Uniform Shop for supporting us.

HELP NEEDED Volunteers are needed to help out in our canteen in 2015.

Please contact Debbie on 4220 0241

Junior School This Monday I sat on South Beach, watching Year 6 surfing and thought, “What a great job I have!”

The reason I was thinking this was not because I was sitting on the beach during the workday (although that was pretty lovely!) It was because our school cares for and wants to develop the whole child. The physical child, through programmes like surfing and other sporting programmes and opportunities, the creative child through the amazing Arts Programme and opportunities, the spiritual child through our Christian groups, the social justice child, through the options to take appropriate action to change their world and beyond, and of course, the academic child where each student is supported to be the very best they can be academically.

For this reason, I often reflect on how fortunate I am to work in a school such as ours, and also what a wonderful learning environment we have for our students. Please read below the Year 4 excursion report and also enjoy the photos of this event as well as some “gnarly” surfing photos. The surfing was pleasing on many levels, some of our students are quite expert at this sport and this was their opportunity to really shine with their peers. Others were experiencing the thrill of standing up for the very first time. Among all of them, I was pleased to observe a spirit

WEEKLY AWARDS KD KM KP 1M 1T 2C 2H 2M 3B 3R 4C 4R 4Y 5S

of risk taking, encouragement of one another and most important a sense of fun and community as they just enjoyed this great area that we live in and the options available to us.

YEAR 4 EXCURSION The Year 4 excursion to Parramatta was an educational experience for children, parents and teachers. The excursion took us to Old Government House and Elizabeth Farm as part of our inquiry into ‘Where we are in place and time’ which explored colonisation.

In preparation student’s researched clothing typical of colonial times in Australia and their learning was evident in the fabulous costumes they created.

Old Government House At Old Government House children were given the opportunity to act as reporters from the London Gazette to investigate claims that Governor Macquarie was spending too much money on the Colony.

Children interviewed a number of people from Lachlan Macquarie’s household such as Elizabeth Macquarie, Mary Jelly, Sergeant James, and Reverend Samuel Marsden. Different perspectives of the time were a highlight, with many students unhappy with Samuel

Judi Nealy Head of Junior School Marsden’s views. Unfortunately, Governor Macquarie was unavailable.

Elizabeth Farm The role-play at Elizabeth Farm involved the children going back in time to 1822. They took on the roles of newly arrived convicts and were promptly sorted into ‘lasses’ and ‘lads’ and set to work on John Macarthur’s estate. They wore aprons and hats as they washed clothes, cooked scones, set the table, and were eventually given a ticket of leave.

It was an enjoyable day and a very worthwhile excursion.

MERIT CERTIFICATES

Palakh Garg, Lola Stephenson, Service Max Clark, Maddison Tonkin, Charlotte Palmisano Calix Langton, Samuel Williams Spencer Newhouse, Arya Kumar, Eleanor Middleton Samuel Robinson Ali Matar, Laila Kumar Adil Qureshi, Bhaavya Gupta Mayank Aurangabadkar, Jude De Araujo, Tyler Sullivan, Ella McIlwraith, Ella Fennell Chloe Shadler, Ava Baxa, Ashley Armstrong, Jessy Harman. Artan Karwarz Mackayla Hutchinson, Jack Parker, Taylor Merritt Jasper Bambrick, Nathan Molnar, Taylan Arapali Clara Swainson Nadia Nagaratnam, Alec Varmedja, Charlotte Atkinson Dean Borbilas, Harrison Webb

Academic

Taylan Arapali Alexander Vartazarian Bhaavya Gupta Saxon Parrish Taylor Merritt Jasper Bambrick Chloe Shadler Laila Kumar Thomas Devlin Ting Ting Cook Max Clark Samuel Williams

YEAR

4

SAVE THE DATE Diploma Programme Information Evening Monday 24 November, 5.30pm in the Goodhew Research Centre All parents and students interested in finding out more about the DP are welcome to attend, this will be of particular interest to students in Years 6, 7 and 8

SUMMER

!

S Y A D I L O H rams Fun-filled holiday prog

for primary kids

C WEDNESDAY 24 DE TO C E D 15 AY D N O M N WEDNESDAY 28 JA TO N JA 12 AY D N MO EXTEND @ TIGS LOCATION:

Junior School Powell Street, MANGERTON NSW (Entry via Senior School carpark) HOURS: 8.00am - 6.00pm Pay between $9.55 - $26.50 per session!

BOOKING DEADLINES: December bookings: Book by Friday 28 November January bookings: Book by Monday 15 December Excursions are limited and fill fast! Book now to avoid disappointment.

Receive at least 50% off regardless of income!

FOR FURTHER INFO & BOOKINGS VISIT:

.com.au

Extend at TIGS SUMMER HOLIDAY PROGRAM BOOKINGS ARE OPEN

Booking deadlines apply and excursions fill fast. Book now to avoid disappointment at extend.com.au. All holiday programs are open to primary school aged children from the wider community

UPCOMING

EVENTS

WEEK 8

House Quizzes

Monday 24 November 2014

Diploma Programme Information Evening 5.30pm Monday 24 November 2014 in the Goodhew Research Centre

P-12 Piano Concert 6.30pm Wednesday 26 November 2014 in the IGC

Junior School Prize Giving Assembly 10.50am Thursday 27 November 2014 in Rees Hall

Year 6 Progression Dinner

5.30pm Thursday 27 November 2014 in the IGC

Year 10 Formal

Friday 28 November 2014

Infants Pageant

10.00am Saturday 29 November 2014 in the IGC

WEEK 9

Honours Presentation Evening Thursday 4 December 2014