TAS Talks Term 1 Week 5

I am often in awe of the achievements of our students, and this week I have certainly been impressed by the vast number of swimming records that were broken during the recent Swimming Carnival. Congratulations go to all of those swimmers, several of whom broke multiple records, and also to Abbott House which was victorious for the first time since 1989. Quite an achievement!

The absolute highlights of the past week for me, however, have been the small things; individual interactions of students with each other, members of staff and me. I continue to be impressed by the resilience, confidence and care for others shown by so many TAS students. On a personal note, our students make me smile every day and this week, I have been particularly touched by the number who have asked me how I am travelling at the moment.

Our aim this term has been and continues to be, to maintain consistency of teaching and learning for all students, to provide as many of our regular co-curricular opportunities as possible, and to transition back to normal operations on campus. It has been a joy to have the students enjoying so many of the opportunities at TAS this term and the decision to send some of our year levels into online learning for four days this week was not one that was taken lightly. We do believe that this intervention, at this time, will allow us to better support our students this week and to regain a more even keel moving into the second half of the term with the remainder of the year and the opportunities it holds still ahead of us.

Given the ongoing disruptions due to students being required to isolate and additional Australia wide and global events that may be impacting some of our students, please encourage your children to speak to their Advisors for any issues, small or large. Please also feel free as parents to contact Advisors or Year Level Coordinators if you are concerned or need to pass on any relevant information. Junior School parents are also able to contact their child’s teachers if required.

Dr Rachel Horton
Principal

Stewardship

With 127 years of history, The Armidale School would not be what it is today without stewardship. Whether it is as students, staff, Old Armidalians or parents; the role we play as stewards of the School is significant and certainly worth reflecting on. 

Ultimately, stewardship is a balance of responsibility and opportunity. As stewards, we all hold responsibility; a responsibility to care, maintain, protect and advance the School whilst maintaining the important traditions that have provided us with a reputation and our identity. Understanding what the ‘opportunity’ looks like or even appreciating what the long term benefits of stewardship are can be difficult to grasp. 

Last week I had a student (respectfully but courageously) ask me why we have a hair policy at TAS. A  good question that provides a timely reminder for us all on what it means to be part of the TAS community. We unashamedly have high standards at TAS and actively provide opportunities for all of our students to express their identity in many different ways through the programs we offer. I will go further; we want our students to express themselves as individuals and our culture to be centred upon respect for difference and appreciation of diversity. While standing out with a haircut is one way to be an individual; being part of the TAS community and aligning with our values ultimately comes with far greater reward. 

The best example I can give is highlighting what previous stewards have achieved for all of our students – past, present and future. When graduates of TAS put the School on their resume or negotiate a future business deal, prospective employers/partners know that the alumni of TAS have high expectations, integrity and an overall standard that is a cut above the rest. This is not bought and it cannot be taken for granted. To be a graduate of The Armidale School has significant meaning that extends well beyond the 2350 postcode and this has been earned through 127 years of stewardship. For our current stewards, this explains the reasons why we have such high expectations on presentation. It is the one way we can collectively be identified, it allows us to demonstrate ‘respect’ for those who have come before us in a visible way. 

While we may only be stewards for a short time in the long and distinguished history of TAS, we must all aspire to contribute to the strong culture of excellence, compassion, kindness and respect to ensure that it is just as prevalent 127 years into the future.

Mr Ray Pearson
Deputy Principal

TAS Regional Tour

The TAS Regional Tour attended by Dr Horton and senior staff will be kicking off in a few weeks, meeting families across regional NSW to discuss a TAS education for their children.

During these visits, TAS will be hosting drinks for current and past parents and alumni from 5.30-7.00 pm in the following towns. Current TAS families in Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth and Gunnedah will have received an email invitation in the past week, with Scone and Inverell invitations coming soon.

• Monday 7 March – Moree
• Tuesday 8 March – Narrabri
• Monday 14 March – Tamworth
• Tuesday 15 March – Gunnedah
• Thursday 24 March – Scone
• Wednesday 30 March – Inverell
• Thursday 31 March – Glen Innes

We look forward to seeing you in your home town soon.

Mrs Jo Neilson
Enrolments Registrar

Sub-Committee Volunteers

As with every year, through 2022 the P&F will get involved alongside many school events to support the TAS community and raise funds to benefit the students.

The TAS Rugby Carnival (TASRC) is less than six weeks away. We have run this ‘ad’ for two weeks and have had less than a handful of parent volunteers sign up. We need an army!!

Please respond back to the P&F Exec team on [email protected] if you can volunteer for any of the below events:

• TAS Rugby Carnival (APR) / SBHS Home Games (MAY)
• Golf Days (MAY, NOV)
• Family Day (NOV)
• Christmas Puddings (OCT)

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

Year 9 and 10 - remote learning Week 5

A reminder to families with students in Years 9 and 10 that teachers are Zooming part of each lesson for the remainder of this week. Work is also being posted on the course Canvas page which students all know how to access. If there are any issues regarding this please contact your child’s advisor in the first instance and then their Year Coordinator (Year 9 Mr Keenan, Year 10 Mr Lane).

Other year groups
Students away for COVID reasons, or other long term health reasons, are encouraged to contact their advisor if they are well enough to complete work. It is important to note that if students are absent because they are unwell then there is no expectation that they are completing work. The priority is their health.

Year 11/12 Assessment
It was lovely to connect with many Year 11 parents/carers in last night’s Zoom – with a similar session for Year 12 parents/carers on 16 March. It is not surprising that assessment causes the most anxiety for parents during these final years of schooling. The assessment policy, assessment calendars for each year group, and the appeals form can be found on the Parent Portal within the TAS website. Please be aware that we are currently amending the policy to include statements regarding COVID and to make it more readable – it is expected that the new version will be distributed and discussed with students early next week.

In the meantime, students have been given the following statement about the required documentation regarding appealing an assessment based on a positive COVID result or required isolation:  An appeals form must be completed within 48 hours of returning to school. No medical documentation is required as long as a parent/carer have emailed/spoken with Mr Whalley regarding their child’s circumstances.

Please be aware that if the assessment policy procedures are not followed then it is highly likely that your child will receive a mark of zero for that task. This is not what we want to decide, but we must be fair to all students and that includes those not appealing. Students always have the right to appeal the decision and this process is outlined in the Stage 6 Assessment Policy.

Finally, the most important point to take away from this is to call the school as soon as you know of an issue. We are here to assist whenever possible.

We are nearly half-way though the term, and it has been another challenging one with COVID. This week has seen a return of home learning for Years 9 and 10, with lots of other absences in other year groups as well. With the continued stressors that this presents, I thought it timely to write about the need to check in with yourself and your children, to take the time to reflect on how you, and your children are managing in this continuing pandemic.

In terms of yourself, taking time to reflect each day on how you are feeling emotionally, and physically is really important. It allows us to be more in tune with our needs and being able to meet them pro-socially, rather than reacting to a build-up of stress or tension. The Blackdog Institute has some good information about how to do this and it can be found here https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/your-weekly-personal-mental-health-check-in-during-coronavirus/

In terms of checking in with your kids, it is so important that your child feels they can have difficult conversations with you. I work with many children and young people who say they “don’t want to worry” their parents if they aren’t feeling good. This isn’t that they don’t trust you, and certainly not because they don’t love you, but I often hear that they don’t want to be a worry or a burden. This is not uncommon, but it can be a barrier to them talking with you about the things that really matter. Having close and emotionally safe relationships makes it easier to have difficult conversations.

Here are some suggestions by Lexi Walters Wright on how to connect meaningfully with your child:

1.Ask your child about the day to come

At the breakfast table — or via text message, if you’re not together in the morning — check in with your child about what’s coming up that day. Try questions like, “What are you looking forward to today?” and “What’s on your Worry List?”

Reflecting on what’s ahead helps your child anticipate the highs and lows of the day. Your child can ask you for troubleshooting advice. Plus, it gives you an idea of what you can follow up on after school instead of just relying on, “So how was your day?”

2.Use the commute for a serious conversation

When you’re in the car with your child, you have a captive audience. And tweens and teens may find it easier to talk about tough topics when they don’t have to look you in the eye.

Take advantage of your time together to calmly raise the serious issues — an illness in the family, how a tough class is going, difficult friendships — in a non-confrontational way. The intimacy inside your car and the time limit of your trip can help you both pack a lot of meaningful communication into just a few minutes.

3. Sneak in a loving squeeze when you can

Kids often protest signs of affection in front of their friends. But science shows us that touch can go a long way toward showing kids they are cared for and supported.

4. Head outside for a few active minutes together

Even if you have only 20 minutes of face time with your child after school, get out. Throw a football around, swing in the park, or race each other up the street. Do you only see your child at night? Bundle up together for a starry stroll before bed or take the dog for a walk when you can.

Being active outdoors together packs a lot of bonding into a short amount of time. It sets a great example for your child, too, about the importance of exercise and getting a few minutes of fresh air can make you both feel great.

5. Start a fun, silly ritual

Playful rituals like sharing funny video reels, or telling a new joke every week, reassure your child that you care — and create lifelong memories. If you and your child enjoy your ritual, it doesn’t matter what you choose or how it evolves — just that you do it together. Meaningful connection doesn’t always have to be serious all the time, there is room for being silly and fun.

Full article can be found here https://www.understood.org/articles/en/8-quick-ways-time-strapped-parents-can-connect-meaningfully-with-their-kids

Mrs Alix Goudge
School Counsellor

TAS Triple Crown

MS/SS Swimming Championships

This week we were able to recognise the age and division swimming champions and award the House Trophies and point scores at Assembly. I congratulate these students for their hard work and dedication to swimming. Their success has not happened by chance and reminds us of the need to practice and commit to the task at hand. Mr Pennington has named the NCIS Swimming Team to compete in Alstonville on Thursday 17 March (TBC) and I look forward to seeing how they perform at the next level.

Last Saturday our rowers competed at the King’s/PLC/Rowing NSW Regatta at SIRC. This was our first regatta of the season and an opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best schoolgirl and schoolboy crews in NSW. Whilst all our rowers benefited from having had an opportunity to compete, there were some notable finishes on the day.

Congratulations to Jeanie Inglis and Scarlett Buntine who came third in their Year 9 Double Scull and Anouska Byrne, Bella Crawford, Sofia Paris, Zara Sherwood and Emma Benham (cox), who finished third in their First Coxed Quad event. A special mention to Bella Crawford who was able to fill in for this crew at the last minute.

Our rowers will continue to train hard for the next two weeks as they prepare for the NSW Head of The River on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March.

Mr Huon Barrett
Director of Co-curricular

NCIS Swimming Primary

This year’s NCIS Primary Swimming saw a small, but vibrant, enthusiastic, dedicated and loud team descend upon Alstonville last week. With the Junior School Excursion Week keeping many occupied, it was left to Ellie Cullen, Mila Wright, Zana Ross, Lucy Taylor, Minnie Chick and Oliver Ritchie to bathe themselves in chlorine and represent TAS in such a wonderful manner. The Alstonville pool has recently enjoyed a thorough refurbishment, now boasting a flat deck, electronic timing and the latest in starting blocks.

Fast times were achieved by all, with both Zana (winner of the 12 years 50 Breaststroke) and Ellie (3rd in the 11 years 50 Breaststroke) being selected to represent NCIS at the NSW CIS Swimming Championships to be held later this month at SOPAC. The constant rain didn’t damper any of the energy from this remarkable group of students and for this, they are to be commended. I must thank Mrs Chick for her outstanding support and care of the students and the assistance on the day of Mr Taylor. Just quietly, I think these students are far better swimmers than artists!

Mr James Pennington

Mountain Biking

Congratulations to Toby Inglis who competed in the National Mountain Bike Championships in Maydena, Tasmania on 16 – 20 February. In the XCC event, Toby had an excellent race to place an impressive third in the under 17’s men’s division. A couple of days later Toby placed a respectable 12th in the same division in the XCO race. Congratulations must also go to TAS Mountain Bike coach Katherine Hosking who defended her under 23 Women’s National Championship jersey, as well as being part of the championship relay team.

On Saturday we had a number of volunteers come to the Hoskins Centre to assist with the construction of the set and the making of the rhinoceros heads. We managed to get panels painted, platforms in place, and all the cardboard cut to get the heads started (with a few hot glue incidents that were lessons learnt). The number of families isolating definitely impacted – my thanks for all the emails of support – and I expect we’ll have another working bee later in the term to get us over the line.

This week we’re obviously going to have to limit co-curricular Creative Arts activities, including Rhinoceros rehearsals, but I have my fingers crossed that this will be a little blip and we’ll be back in action in Week 6. I encourage the cast of the TAS Production to be making the most of this time learning their lines – the off-script deadlines are in and a week and a half break away from the rehearsal space means high expectations when we’re back together.

Mr Andrew O’Connell
Head of Creative Arts

The Round Square

The Armidale School is a member of Round Square. Kurt Hahn’s vision in the 1920’s was to educate for character and compassion and his work was the foundation for the formation of the Round Square Organisation, a group of schools who have as their foundation, six pillars or IDEALS of Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service. ‘Soft skills’, as they have become known, such as those found in the PYP Learner Profile are highly sought after by those wanting to become well rounded, active global citizens. We encourage our children to aspire to them and as adults, we work towards them ourselves.

The Junior School excursion to Lake Keepit, has evolved into an experience for our students from Year 2 to 5 which provides a broad spectrum of activities that fosters these skills. At Lake Keepit, in a beautiful setting (with the lake at 99.9% capacity), students experienced a wide array of activities that challenged them to various degrees. For the teachers, it was pleasing to see our students extend themselves outside the classroom while getting to know each other in the process. What a great way to start the year.

I know that our younger year groups also benefited from having some wonderful activities here in Armidale, especially out at UNE. Such excursions create great responsibilities on not only those staff who travel away but also those who remain behind at school (covering playground duties and the like) so I take this opportunity to thank them all as well. The Junior School teaching team is all the stronger for having them.

We will publish an album of Junior School photos and access to this will be forwarded to you soon.

School Spirits

Congratulations to the following students that received School Spirit Awards last week:

Scout Bush, Darby Klabe, Fletcher Wright, Olivia Whysall, Umrah Nirmaan, Uday Grewal, George Quast, Kieran Ahern, Carla Price, Tobias Holland, Ivy Rice, Sienna Nelson Straub, Lexie Kay, Emi Fawcett, Alexander DuBois, Freddie Post, Neave Drain, Georgia Flynn, Maya Slade, Baxter Carruthers, Mila Nexo, Leo Thavapalasundaram, Flynn Ritchie and Pippi Goudge.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Casey Tighe who is the only Junior School student celebrating a birthday this week.

Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School

Attributes of the Learner Profile

The International Baccalaureate learner profile is based on attributes, which connect with intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth. The attributes are key in providing a firm foundation for developing international-mindedness amongst all TAS JS students.

The learner profile also aims to support students in engaging in action for positive change and is closely aligned with student agency. There are 10 attributes of the learner profile, which the students are exposed to, taught the meaning of and given opportunities to reflect upon on a regular basis. Each week, in our Junior School Assembly, students from each class are awarded for clearly demonstrating any of the learner profile attributes.

(www.ibo.org)

Mrs Veroncia Waters
PYP Coordinator

Basketball

A depleted Junior School basketball outfit returned to The Den on Monday night.

Again, comments from the management and referees were welcomed about the big improvement in our players’ understanding and skills.

Special mentions to Lachie Wood, who was really impressive in the second half with a few buckets in traffic and the new South Australian recruit, Myles Wright, got the crowd going with an impressive 3 pointer.

We will be without Year 5 students for another week, as March Madness sets in. (If you would like a glossary of terms to make sense of these reports, please contact me at school).

Mr Ken Secker
JS Basketball Coach