TAS Talks Term 2 Week 2

Last weekend brought the long-awaited start of the Winter Sports season with TAS teams in all sports competing in fixtures across the region on multiple days. Of particular note, the boy’s Rugby First XV beat Kinross in a fixture played in Coolah this year, for the first time since 2012. Our netball teams were incredibly successful with record numbers of teams for TAS and a large number of wins across the board. Also, for the first time, TAS has fielded a girls’ soccer team in the local Armidale competition. While winning matches is wonderful, the true value of sport is in the skills developed through training sessions and playing together as a team. It is really important to have some fun while playing and I witnessed this from every student I watched over the course of the weekend. It is also the mark of a good person to show respect for the opposition and the officials both in victory and in defeat and I am proud to say that this is something that, in my experience, TAS students do very well.

This week is another busy one, finishing with the Junior School Athletics on Friday and Middle/Senior School Athletics next Monday. In addition to the spirited competition that we will no doubt witness between individuals and Houses, there will be a couple of special Mother’s events at the Junior School carnival. Subsequently, on Monday, a number of senior students and staff will be cutting hair or shaving their heads to raise money for ovarian cancer research. This is a student-driven initiative to raise money for a worthy cause that they feel strongly about so if you are able to, please show your support by donating or purchasing merchandise on the day or by clicking on this link to show your support now: LINK TO DONATE

Finally, I would like to wish all Mothers and those who fulfil the roles of Mothers in any capacity a particularly beautiful day this Sunday. Happy Mothers Day!

Dr Rachel Horton
Principal

In my first article for Term 2, I encouraged students to engage with our ‘Rules & Regulations’ document to familiarise themselves with the expectations of all TAS students. This was one of the first documents I read before I started at TAS to gain an understanding of what to expect from the students and staff. From this, it was clear that there are high expectations on all members of our community and clear guidelines on how we should behave, dress and interact with each other. 

The liberal education provided by TAS demands all students question and challenge what they are told and what they read. After all, truth trumps dogma. While the list of guidelines found in the Rules and Regulations Document clarifies the ‘how’ it doesn’t provide context as to the ‘why?’. An explanation is warranted and achieved through the development of a bespoke Behaviour Management Policy which has been developed by a working group over the past 12 weeks. The policy seeks to establish a common language and clear processes in the pursuit of fairness and transparency. To this end, the policy revolves around three key principles when considering our expectations of self and others:

Thoughtful – in the pride we demonstrate for the uniform, the history and the traditions of the School.

Accountable – for how we act, the effort we put in and the interactions we have with those around us. And, 

Safe – in the decisions we make that impact on the safety of ourselves and others.

It also provides a framework for dealing with conflict and the communication channels for managing behaviour. This aims to drive a consistent approach from all of our staff and pastoral leaders and to ensure procedural fairness in all situations.

The Behaviour Management Policy is available in full on the website and can be found under the Parents and Students portals with the Rules and Regulations Document.

Mr Ray Pearson
Deputy Principal

Middle School / Senior School Athletics Carnival

The MS/SS Athletics carnival is next Monday. The P&F will operate a small kiosk with snacks and drinks for the students.

Requesting volunteers to serve at the kiosk between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Monday 9 May 2022. Please contact the P&F Exec at [email protected] if you are able to help.

Next Meeting – P&F AGM

Wednesday 18 May 2022 at 7:00 pm is the next meeting of the P&F as well as our AGM. Please note the date and keep an eye out for details to attend over the coming weeks.

If you would like to get more involved with the P&F and become a voting member, please find the P&F Membership Application Form on the Parent Portal. If you would like to become a member of the P&F Executive team, then please complete the P&F AGM Executive Nomination Form also. Both of these can be emailed to the P&F Exec team at the address below.

Contact the P&F Executive

If you have anything you would like to raise with the P&F Executive, please send us an email at [email protected]

Mr Paul Gaddes
P&F President

On Tuesday morning 10 May, the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia (PFPFA) will be presenting a one-hour option information session in the Memorial Hall from 8.45 am. PPEP Talk® brings a new approach to schools’ education. It provides the latest in modern knowledge, incorporating new neuroscience of pain. For students with pain, PPEP introduces helpful self-management strategies which they can try themselves immediately and provides guidance on where to find further good quality information and when to seek professional health advice. For those without pain, it introduces concepts that will allow them to make good health decisions if pain affects their lives in the future.

Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 May sees the return of our face-to-face sessions with Batyr for Years 9-12 in the Hoskins Centre. TAS has a long-standing relationship with Batyr, who have been providing a stepped wellbeing program for several years. The session times are as follows:

Wednesday 11 May

• Year 9 – ‘Batyr Standard’ 2pm
• Year 10 – ‘Look Out for Your Mates’ 11.30am

Thursday 12 May

• Year 11 – ‘Stressed Out’ 9.45am
• Year 12 – ‘Future Proof’ 11.30am

Mr AJ Whalley
Director of Pastoral Care

It is Grand Final week for our drama students. This week marks five performances for the cast and crew of Rhinoceros. The tireless work from Mr O’Connell and his team of students and staff will be on show this week. Tickets are still available and I encourage everyone to come and see the performance.

It has been particularly pleasing to see such a positive start to the winter sports season. Our netballers, hockey players, footballers and rugby teams have all posted wins in the last week and I commend players and coaches for their commitment and positive attitude.

A special mention to the First XV who won the Coonabarabran Cup (in Coolah) against Kinross Wolaroi School. In only the second time since 2012, when the teams first met in Coonabarabran, have the TAS First XV triumphed over their country counterparts.

In Assembly this week I spoke about the importance of representing TAS well. Whilst it is gratifying to win, the way we conduct ourselves and present ourselves when we represent the school is far more important. I have asked the students to ensure they are wearing their correct sporting uniform and only wear a TAS tracksuit to and from the venue. Students who do not have the correct uniform will be directed to the Uniform Shop.

Athletics Carnivals

• JS Athletics Carnival will take place on Friday 6 May – details provided by the JS Sports Co-ordinator.
• MS/SS Athletics Carnival will take place on Monday 9 May.
• Roll Call at 8.30 am with events starting at 8.40 am, The day will finish at 4.15 pm

Please ensure you wear your House Polo Shirt, sports shorts, white socks and bring a TAS hat. PLEASE ensure you have a water bottle.

All students will compete in their age group and rotate between Field events and Track events.

The following events will fall outside of the carnival and contribute towards house points and age champion points – 3000m took place on Monday and the 1500m which will be run on Wednesday at 5.00 pm.

Parents are welcome at the Carnival and a BBQ lunch will be provided for all students and parents.

All students should aim to compete in a minimum of four events.

Click HERE to download the MS/SS Athletics Program

Toby Inglis continues to impress with his cycling endeavours. Last weekend Toby competed in Goulburn as a part of the NSW Junior Road Cycling Team. Following two days of riding, Toby came 1st overall (placing first in distance and prologue, 2nd in the time trial). This event is a ‘feeder’ or points scorer for selection into the NSW Junior Road Team.

Meanwhile in Sydney, Hugo Catterall represented TAS in the Lawrence Campbell Oratory competition at Sydney Grammar School in Friday evening. This is the premier public speaking fixture for GPS and CAS schools and by all accounts Hugo represented TAS magnificently.

Click HERE for the Winter Sports Schedule.

Mr Huon Barrett
Director of Co-curricular

Mr Andrew O’Connell
Head of Creative Arts

TAS Community Choir

Year 6 in Canberra

I write this week’s TAS Talks from Canberra as we explore the Nation’s Capital. It is an action packed week and at the time of writing, Year 6 have been exploring democracy, science and innovation through visits to the CSIRO, National Archives, National Gallery, Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, Mt Ainslie Lookout and Mount Stromlo Observatory. There is still plenty more planned for the remainder of the week.

Photos from Year 7 Camp – Coffs Harbour

I am in the process of collating photos from the recent Year 6 camp to the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre. These will be uploaded this week to a Google Photos album located here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/gR6PHUqH9ftL1uxC7

Athletics Carnival

Saturday Sport – what a wonderful way to contribute….

A really wonderful morning was experienced by all those playing sport last weekend, out and about with all sorts of athletic pursuits. I was able to see many games and the overall impression I got was one of real enjoyment and community spirit. I would like to thank all the parents who were out there and willing to get involved with their children. Yes, it was a magic day…and they won’t all be like this! As we move further away from the restrictions through which we have recently lived, opportunities like returning to the sideline, attending an assembly, assisting in our classrooms and on excursions will reappear once again….please let us know if you are in a position to help out in any way. Your teachers are currently planning a day of Activities for 23 May (Spirit of Internationalism) and we will be in touch about this as well as many other events. Please stay in touch and we will have some fantastic events coming your way.

Athletics Carnival – Friday 6 May – All parents are welcome to attend!

All parents are warmly invited to our Athletics Carnival this Friday on Wakefield Oval beginning at 9.00 am. For those that can stay for some lunch, a BBQ will be provided (please let us know that you are coming for catering purposes…we have run out of lunch before and we do try to avoid this!).

Mothers Day Celebrations – please RSVP

On Friday, we will be celebrating all those wonderful women involved in the lives of our students and all families will have received an invitation to some rather special activities for Mothers Day in our Junior School this Friday. It will be a busy day with the athletics but we will break from 12.15 pm for lunch and as weather permits, some special activities for our students and their families. We hope you can come along and share with us but please let us know you are coming ….and it might be a good idea to bring your running shoes….

Congratulations

On the sideline, I believe for their first game with a whistle in hand, was Sophie Banister (Year 5) and Izzie Glover (Year 6) taking on their first games as netball umpires. What a challenge and I take my hat off to these two for contributing in such a positive and meaningful way.

Happy Birthday

Many happy returns to Skye Knox and Alanoud Alrdadi for their special days this week.

Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School

Upcoming Events

PYP Provocations

At the commencement of a new Unit of Inquiry (UOI) the students are immersed in a provocation, which is pivotal when introducing a new unit. Teachers want to provoke and ignite students’ curiosity. The provocation provides an opportunity to trigger background knowledge and provoke wonderings. Provocations aim to foster student led inquiries and give students an opportunity to have agency.

This term both our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students have commenced their new units with some thought-provoking provocations.

Provocations

Pre-Kindergarten went on an incursion to the Hoskins Centre where they sat on the steps and used their scientific eye to observe changes in the Junior School playground. There was much discussion about the colour of the leaves. This then opened a conversation about the seasons and how we can use our senses as a way of observation. The children in Pre-Kindergarten discussed how important our senses are as a tool for making scientific observations. This incursion was also used to collect autumn leaves and create an autumn artwork.

Kindergarten discovered that TAS Bear had not had a very restful holiday and had returned to school feeling very tired! They decided to make him a bed so he would have somewhere comfortable to rest.

Kindergarten discussed what would be needed to make sure TAS Bear’s bed was just right. They developed a success criteria for their task outlining that the bed needed to be soft, comfortable, warm, safe and the right size.

The students had a wonderful time whilst using their thinking skills to design and make a bed for TAS Bear who was very pleased with his many resting options!

This activity led to a great exploration of the concepts of Form and Function and encouraged students to select materials by posing the questions, “What is it like?” and “What can it be used for?”

Mrs Veronica Waters
PYP Coordinator