TAS Talks Term 2 Week 5

North West Equestrian Expo

Tomorrow the first riders in the TAS Equestrian Team will head to Coonabarabran for the annual North West Equestrian Expo, whilst others will travel from Sydney after rugby (against Shore) on Saturday. This huge schools event will again attract up to 600 riders this year and the opportunity to be a part of it is the highlight of the year for many horse sports students. This year TAS will have a team of very competitive riders competing, and this is very encouraging to see. They will compete in a huge range of events, from show jumping and dressage to the stockman’s challenge, polocrosse, one-day eventing, the working horse challenge, equestrian pentathlon which was added last year and others. I wish all our riders the very best of luck for their events.

Representative Hockey

Last week our MIC Hockey Mike Ball coached the combined NCIS Boys Open team at the Combined Independent Schools U16 and Opens trials in Moorebank, Sydney. The NCIS team included a large TAS contingent and placed very well in the overall standings. Rohan Lawrence was named in both the CIS U16 squad and the CIS Opens team. Sam Behrend was selected as shadow reserve for the CIS Open team.  The announcement follows news that Year 6 student Miller Harwood made the CIS Primary hockey team and is believed to be the first TAS student to have done so. We are fortunate to have coaching of the standard that Mike is able to provide at TAS and it is no surprise that hockey is thriving and growing rapidly here.

Eisteddfod

Yesterday in our assembly we were treated to performances from the TAS Big Band and Senior Jazz Ensemble as part of their preparations for Band Night at the Eisteddfod next Tuesday. I can only once again commend the students and Music staff for all their hard work and for the quality of performance of the tunes they presented. If it is possible for any members of the TAS community to be part of the audience next week I can highly recommend making the effort. I also wish all of the junior bands and ensembles who will be performing on the day as well, all the very best and hopefully some reward for their very hard work.

Alan Jones
Acting Headmaster

HSC and Careers Expo 2019

The annual HSC and Careers Expo have rolled around again with this year’s group departing at 1.30 Thursday the 30 May with an anticipated return at 10.00pm on the 31 May.

As per previous years the itinerary involves tours of University of Sydney Campus as well as tours of St Andrew’s, St Paul’s and Women’s colleges on Friday morning followed by two hours at the HSC & Career Expo where there will be numerous exhibitors including providers of HSC resources, universities, TAFE and training colleges PLUS seminars on HSC subjects, tertiary courses, career, gap year and study advice.

Past students have found the trip to have had a positive motivating effect on their studies and attitude to life beyond HSC.

The students playing rugby in Sydney against Shore, that weekend will stay in Sydney under the supervision of Ms Symons and join the rugby team at SHBS where we will have stayed the night before.

Early entry and UAC Applications.

I am hearing a lot of discussions about UAC and Early entry applications. The message I have given to the year 12 cohort is that it is too early to be making the applications. Most of the Universities are concentrating on their 2019 winter intake and are not offering advice nor positions for the 2020 Autumn intake.

I have sent the year 12’s a document listing the various early entry websites and more importantly their closing dates. This is an important date. Not when they open but when they close.

I will run a seminar with the year 12 group about UAC and Early entry applications later this term. Relax.

My Reports meeting

I have had several meetings with year 12 students to check their progress after the Mid-Year reports were published. I would encourage the students to arrange a meeting if they have any concerns about future directions. I will be interviewing most students on the HSC & Careers Expo bus as we have 15 hours to kill so when I have got a captive audience, might as well use it productively.

Costa Tomato Tertiary Scholarship

The Costa Tomatoes New England Tertiary Scholarship is intended to encourage and support talented and passionate local students to pursue a university education and career in Horticulture or Agriculture.

The Scholarship is valued at $10,000 and will be paid in instalments following the successful completion of each semester. Funds may be used for any educational and living expenses.

To help put academic theory into practice, the Scholarship also includes the opportunity for paid casual employment during the year and/or academic holiday periods. This hands-on experience also enables the students to see firsthand the variety of career opportunities and pathways that exist within Costa.

Selection Criteria:

• The 2019 Year 12 Student, residing in the Guyra, Armidale, Glen Innes or Inverell areas
• Commencing full-time study in 2020, in a relevant Agriculture/Horticulture degree 
at an approved Australian university
• Demonstrated passion for a career in Agriculture/Horticulture
• Good academic results and demonstrated commitment to study
• Demonstrated alignment with the Costa Core values of Respect, Sincerity, 
Determination, Passion, Accountability

How to Apply:

Please apply via our Careers Portal https://costagroup.currentjobs.co Applications close on Wednesday 1 January 2020.

Mr Mark Taylor
Careers Advisor

TAS Hockey Club players doing well in representative pathways!

The TAS Hockey Club has had a large presence at recent representative pathways. During the last holidays Lily Neilson represented NSW in Hobart at the National U18 championships, with the team winning a bronze medal. Lily Etheridge represented NCIS U16 girls at the CIS secondary trials.

In early May Lily Neilson, Lily Etheridge and Tarnie Hillard represented Hockey New England (HNE) at the U18 State Championships at Taree, with Lily Neilson being selected for the Hockey NSW Athlete Acceleration Program (AAP) girls squad.

In mid-May Josiah Alcorn, Sam Behrend, Rohan Lawrence, Liam Smith, Toby Smith and  Kieran Wicks represented HNE at the U18 State Championships at Lismore. The team finished fifth overall in First Division. Rohan Lawrence selected for the NSW AAP boys squad.

At the recent Combined Independent Schools Primary hockey trials, Miller Harwood became the first TAS player selected to represent CIS primary boys at the upcoming state all schools carnival in June.

U15 HNE TAS Hockey Players

On Thursday last week, Mr Mike Ball coached the NCIS boys open team at the CIS U16/Opens trials in Moorebank. The NCIS team included a large TAS contingent of Josiah Alcorn, Sam Behrend, Sebastian Etheridge, Rohan Lawrence, Lochlan Nicoll, Toby Smith and  Stewart Williams. The team played very well with no reserves recording two wins, two losses and placing 3^rd overall. Rohan Lawrence was named in both the CIS U16 squad & the CIS open team. Sam Behrend was selected as shadow reserve for the CIS open team. Rohan will attend a week-long training camp/ all schools selection trials at Narrabeen later in June and then compete in the opens all schools carnival at the end of the term.

Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Mr Dave Lawrence managed the HNE U15 boys at the NSW state championship in Narellan. The team included Sam Ball, Tom Ball, Callan Lawrence, Conal Nicoll and Jock Smith. After placing first in their pool the boys finished third overall in 2^nd division. Lochlan Nicoll was also the HNE umpire and was awarded a 3^rd division semi-final.

There are also a number of upcoming NSW state carnivals which will include the following TAS players representing HNE-

U15 girls- Emily Buntine, Alex Donoghue

U13 boys- Tom Ball, Thomas Dundon, Miller Harwood, Conal Nicoll, Thomas Tizzard, Ryan Hewitt

U13 girls- Ali Nivison, Isabella Crawford, Mosie Wright

The current strength and future of TAS hockey are looking very bright with our players doing very well locally and at higher representative honours.

Mrs Tania and Mr Mike Ball
Co-MIC TAS Hockey

It’s almost June

Fiji applications have concluded and now begins that tricky time of cross-checking documents and reasons for applications, doing a run tally of community service hours, where applicable, and then consulting with Homeroom Advisors and academic staff. We have about 25 people but the number needs to be smaller and the ultimate, simple (though hardly simplistic) and fair thing we do is pull names from a hat. Welcome to the world of absolute difficulty when all these children have real qualities and whose applications are in earnest: there are times when the paradox  (oxymoron) of ‘bitter sweet’ applies to real life situations: I applaud these young people, but the reality is that some will miss out  – much as we, adults, do in our working lives from time to time. 

Well, we’ve just completed the half way mark for second term and very soon, we’ll have completed the half year. It’s a frightening thought, isn’t it – in no time at all we’ll be thinking about gifts – again. Perhaps you’ll even be wondering about something for me. I’m easily pleased – I love Cadbury’s chocolate and things that are red.

Well, the exam period has begun and, fingers crossed, thus far it has done so without a hitch really. The Green Room is an excellent venue for so many our people – largely because they’ve all completed some form of testing, like NAPLAN papers, there before. The Special Provisions papers have been much easier to manage as well – so, full credit to Ms Catherine Boydell, Mr Luke Polson and Mrs Regina Pollard for their quiet, methodical and competent management of mid-course exams in the Middle School. Next week of course, so many students will come home to you for an extended weekend break. All will be tired; many may be emotional as a result; a few won’t want to return to school. If your child is one such person, be thankful that he / she is constructed in such a way that can be characterised as normal. It’s not so strange to think that day students, especially after an exam period will feel so tired that they would prefer to stay at home, too.

Despite the conventional wisdom associated with keeping all Middle School students gainfully employed it would be supremely naïve to think that none is missing home – regardless of the time of the year. As indicated, sometimes this feeling will come when routines change: the exam period is a break from normal routine as is, in fact, a long weekend after the Farrer fixtures. While their reactions are as various as their individuality, missing home, or simply wanting to stay at home is natural and considering this feeling is an affirmation of ‘things familiar’ and people they know well and trust, it’s actually a very normal reaction and something we should, from time to time, expect. Despite tiredness, in fact because if it, you can be assured that your children are displaying the signs of having completed a very healthy time at TAS as we all approach the half year mark.

Again, it’s Exam week: Good Luck, Do your Level Best and Don’t Panic.

Mr Mark Harrison
Head of Middle School