TAS Talks Term 1 Week 3

Laziness - Proverbs 6:6-11

Last week I mentioned we would be discussing the idea that Christ’s death is more about saving us for something than from something.

Over the holidays we were in a surf shop and I noticed a series of surfboards called ‘Deadly Sins’ – like anger, sloth, gluttony, envy, pride, wrath and lust. They were using this idea as a marketing tool; they were selling these ideas as something we would want. But as I said last week if we are Christians or if we claim to be a Christian school then it is notions such as these that we must seek to cut out of our lives and culture.

Let’s have a think about this one by one, as we travel through this term.

So, it’s Tuesday morning, school, you’re looking down the barrel of a day of work, then on the radio comes Jack Johnson singing “maybe we can sleep in, make banana pancakes, pretend it’s the weekend.” It’s such an attractive, almost winsome tune, it’s very easy to get swept along with the relaxed melody, non-confrontational content and the smell of those pancakes – I’m there every time I hear the song.  Mind you I think he flogged the idea from TV’s Play School. There’s a little song they do: “It’s nice to get up in the morning, it’s nice to get up in the morning, it’s nice to get up in the morning, but it’s nicer to stay in bed”.

Both Jack and Play School know how to tap into what is a temptation for us all – we love to relax; we love a lazy day.

When they did a survey in the UK, why the Australian drama ‘Home and Away’ was so popular, it wasn’t because of the acting or the plot (surprise, surprise). Rather, because the sun’s always shining, the beach is always inviting, and no one ever seems to be working. It’s like visiting PE.

But why would laziness be on a list of sins?

If gluttony is chasing all the wrong things in life, laziness is about failing to chase the right things.

The sluggard (the lazy) is advised to consider the ways of the ant – this hard-working little beast. The question is asked of the sluggard ‘when will you get up?’ In contrast to the evil temptress Play School who only wants to encourage sleeping in and banana pancakes.

For the lazy, the future is bleak, it’s one of poverty and scarcity.  But still, why is this a sin?

It’s so easy to neglect the important things even when they are immediately obvious to us, like the preparation for exams, the nurture of a friendship or dental hygiene. It’s even easier for us to neglect or be complacent or even lazy in our relationship with Jesus.  We find ways to disregard him, we find ‘more’ important things to fill our time and minds with. Let’s not be complacent or lazy about the one who gave his life for our sake.

Mr Richard Newton
Chaplain

Managing Clashes

Making choices; prioritising. It is a part of life. Even if we could schedule the many activities at TAS so they did not collide, we would be doing students a disservice if we did so. Instead, we help them manage these clashes. There are a few basic guidelines which will help parents support their children through this exercise:

1. Communicate – Please speak to or email the staff members in-charge of the conflicting activities to alert them to the clash. They will understand and assist in negotiating a solution.
2. First Choice sports take priority over other sports.
3. Creative Arts take priority on Monday afternoons (although, this does not preclude students from negotiating a compromise)
4. Sports take priority on other afternoons (although, this does not preclude students from negotiating a compromise)
5. Curriculum (early/late classes, excursions) take priority over co-curricular.

Students should notify their coach if they are to be absent due to any school-based activities.

Ultimately, we are looking for the best outcomes for every student; balancing loyalty and commitment with a breadth of opportunities and growth. If you are ever unsure, please email the co-curricular office at [email protected] .

Middle/Senior School Swimming Championships – Important Information

• Wednesday 12 February 3:45-5pm, Final Warcry practice. (except students with late classes or Wizard of Oz rehearsal)
• Thursday 13 February 6:45pm – 200m freestyle events, Open Medley Relay and House War Cry Competition.
• Friday 14 February 8:45am – 4:00pm. Rollcall for Day students, 8:20am on Wakefield. Competitors for the first event of the day (Girls 50m freestyle) are to report to the marshalling area (southeast corner of the gym) by 8:40am. All remaining competitors and House members are to be seated by 8:40am.
• BBQ Lunch will be provided for all parents & students on Friday.
• The dress will be House polo shirts and blue shorts. All competitors must swim in TAS swimmers.
• All competitors will wear a House swim cap. These will be provided to all students at the pool.
• P&F will be serving a BBQ dinner for parents on Thursday night. Tea and coffee is available all day at the P&F cake stall on Friday.
• Please see schedule attached:  Event Schedule 2020

Mr Will Caldwell
Director of Co-curricular

Mountain Biking

Thursday 13 February Parent Information session in Memorial Hall prior to the Swimming Carnival

You’ll have received earlier this week an invitation to join Middle School staff and students for our annual parent information session and it’s important that we begin at 5:00pm sharp in Memorial Hall as we’ve a window of opportunity that will extend to half an hour only before we can have something to eat and drink prior to the House Warcries, marking the official opening of the 2020 Middle and Senior School swimming carnival. It would be wonderful to see as many of you as possible as often this is the first time so many boarders will have seen their families this term – and the occasion is one where all these young people, regardless of day or boarding status, can ‘treat’ you to something special. For those of you who are new to TAS, the carnival is one of our calendar highlights and we’d appreciate the effort you make to be with us. The Memorial Hall meeting will give you opportunity to put faces to names of all staff who manage the needs and interests of Middle School students, including our 2020 student leaders. Of course, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new families and ‘old’ friends prior to attending Warcries. Refreshments will be served by staff and members of our student leadership group in the Big School area so that you have a good chance to meet other members of the wider TAS community, as well.

Warcries 

As indicated, this is a very important event on our school calendar. We want to see you and your children, so many of whom are new to school, probably need to see you. They’ve achieved much that is good over the past three weeks and, I suspect, want to tell you this is person. If your respective schedules can manage it, boarders could then spend the weekend with you and wider families – as indicated, if you can, then please do it as they’re bound to want to talk to you.

Swimming Carnival – Friday 14 February. The carnival will ‘run’ for the school day.

Town and staff meeting(s): Topics discussed

• Blazers: Unless otherwise advised, Tuesdays are Assembly days and all students are required to wear the required uniform. Could families of day students please help Middle School students and us here – last week and this week students were reminded and unfortunately there was still a number who presented without blazers. We’ll speak to all boarding staff about this matter, ‘this end’. To be honest, this is an issue that can’t become a problem and together we can fix it without any grief – but we adults need to work together. This week, sadly, was disappointing.
• Students asked not to bounce down the stairs. They’re young, your children, and it’s easy not to be fully aware of the needs and interests of those of us who ‘reside’ downstairs. Our offices are downstairs and we work best when lesson changes are done with the least ‘surround sound’.
• Mobile phones: NO mobile phones during the school day. If, for whatever reason, you (parents / families) need to be contacted, then the Middle School phone in Mrs Frost’s office can be used for communication.
• Uniform: Boys: Socks, remember keep them up – garters help.
• Girls: No ankle socks when wearing uniform; please refer to student diaries, the website and Uniform Shop guidelines regarding jewellery.

We’re looking forward to seeing you this week.

Mr Mark Harrison
Head of Middle School

House Leaders in Junior School

Each year, Junior School promotes leadership and service as part of our commitment to our students’ development and our association to both the Round Square and International Baccalaureate organisations. Our approach to leadership is broad, encouraging all children to become involved in the SRC as well as bringing ideas to others where appropriate. I congratulate the following students who have gained selection as House Leaders in 2020. As before, we plan to extend this group in semester 2. This semester our leaders are Broughton House: Chloe Dennison and Harry Brownlie, Green House: Cormac Downes and Sam Ford and Ross House: Hugo Broun and Arabella Blanchard.

Excursions to Lake Keepit – Week 5

Over recent years, TAS and the staff at Lake Keepit have worked to create a program that is unique to our school. Each year, students from Years 2 to 5 are introduced to an appropriate but increasingly challenging series of activities that both stimulate and motivate students, while complementing the curriculum. The Centre’s ROAR program encourages everyone to take part in fun individual and group challenges and activities that promote broad learning. A letter informing you of the details has been emailed to you, including the information required for your consent and the provision of information to the NSW Dept of Sport and Rec. Please let me know if you have any questions about the excursions.

The Hub

Our children have ben enjoying the newly created format, in what used to be referred to as the Library. ‘The Hub’ is now a place for children to visit to participate in a number of activities which are growing by the day. The Hub coordinator, Mr Gordon Arndt, has been tasked with creating a space that invigorates the development of the whole child, assisting in classroom lessons and supporting teachers to provide resources all literacies including digital. He has broad experience and expertise and I know many of our classes have already benefitted from his input, our teachers from his collaboration and our students from the new lunchtime activities including Jnr Librarian and chess. This is a very exciting development for us and Junior School looks forward using the facility increasingly into the future.

Swimming Championships this Thursday

I take this opportunity to thank Mrs Christine Wright for her organisation of our swimming carnival tomorrow. It is always an exciting day and I would like to remind all students that any dressing up should remain tasteful and not include writing on bodies in texta or the use of zinc etc which rubs off and damages the pool environment. I warmly invite all our parents and friends along, particularly for lunch where TAS will provide sandwiches and refreshments.

Sport in Junior School

Our continuing commitment to active pursuits continues this year as our sporting program continues to evolve. It is fantastic to see many of our sports are now being offered by accredited providers, including gymnastics using the Armidale Gymnastics Club, tennis with Justin Sherriff, Swimming with James Harwood and cricket with the NSW Cricket coaches, all of these with TAS staff managing and supporting. I look forward to visiting each and every activity through the course of this term.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the following students for receiving School Spirit Awards at last week’s assembly:
Tobias Holland, Bronte Polson, Paddy Bourke, Emi Fawcett, Mehleen Sandhu, Eshaal Fatima, Baxter Carruthers, Jacqui DuBois, Harry Fawcett, Harriet Coupland, Jack Maitz, Joe Fenwicke and Salam Alkathami.

Happy Birthday

Only one Junior School person is celebrating this week so Happy Birthday to Saxon Muirhead.

Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School