TAS Talks Term 2 Week 5

With Year 11 mid-year reports now almost ready to be received and Year 11 parent teacher interviews to be held next Thursday and Friday, it should be noted that it is our preference that students attend these interviews alongside parents. This fits with our belief that our educational journey through the HSC years in particular, is best travelled as a collaborative team – student, school and parent. There will almost certainly be times for every student where the knowledgeable support of parents will make a difference, whether that be in advising on strategy, pushing the motivation along, or offering empathy and helping to keep perspective. Knowing where things are up to at this halfway point in the preliminary HSC course will make a difference to the quality of that support and it is important that the feedback from teachers is shared openly with students as well as parents so that we are all on the same page.

As has been mentioned previously Music performances continue to impress in Assembly which is a credit to our Music department and their enthusiasm and passion for their subject and yesterdays’ particularly fine performances were supplemented by being able to celebrate the achievements of our students in a variety of areas – the acknowledgment of sporting prowess in athletics, the NCIS cross-country team and achievement in the recent Shakespeare Carnival were dually noted.

Speaking of sport, as well as engagement across the board in all our local sporting commitments, this Saturday is our first foray for 2021 into the world of GPS Rugby. Our teams will be travelling to Sydney to play Scots College and our First XV will be a part of the larger Scots’ vs St Joseph’s fixtures on the Scots main oval at 1pm.

Mr Alan Jones
Head of School

Liaison Parents Contacts

For those of you trying to access the liaison parent’s individual contacts in last week’s TAS Talks, huge apologies that you were led to an error page instead!  This has now been rectified and the names have been included again below.

SYDNEY BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL VISIT

Upcoming is the Sydney Boys’ High School visit in mid-June. The P&F will operate a BBQ and Canteen on Saturday 19 June to feed the players, coaches and onlookers. More details to follow as we get closer to the event.

We are looking for volunteers to help on the BBQ, at the Canteen, and with setup/pull down. If you are able to spare some hours on that day, please email us at [email protected] and let us know your availability and preferences.

ANNUAL P&F FUNDING MEETING – WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE

Please join us to determine where the money we have raised in the past year should be allocated within the school for the benefit of the student life. Meetings are open to all parents.

Alternatively, if you wish to put forward a proposal for the use of funds please send these to Mr Jones as soon as possible so all proposals can be evaluated prior to the meeting.

Funding proposals should be costed, justified and seek to help a significant proportion of school. Any proposal should also be for things that are tangible, something that school wouldn’t normally pay for and on the ‘really nice to have’ list.  If you have any queries about the funding process, please contact me on [email protected]

TERM 3 P&F MEETINGS

One for the planners amongst you! Save the dates for the Term 3 P&F meetings:

Wednesday 28 July and Wednesday 8 September.

CONTACT THE P&F EXEC

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

NAPLAN

After a year’s break due to COVID, NAPLAN was held last week. The National Assessment Program is an annual assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It tests the types of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. The tests cover skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
Reports will be available to parents in late Term 3. From 2022, TAS will move to the online completion of these assessments.

Stage 5 Elective Choices

Students in Years 9 and 10 have been emailed the details they need to complete their elective choices for Semester 2. It is important that all students have submitted their preferences by this Friday, 21 May. Students cannot repeat the same elective twice and it is important that all students consider their first three preferences carefully, as they may be allocated one of their reserve choices. Priority for these subjects is given to students in Year 10. Please see below a copy of the lines for Semester 2.
 
STAGE 5 LINES
 

Exams for Years 9 and 10

Exams for students in Years 9 and 10 will be held next Monday and Tuesday. A copy of this timetable is attached. Students may have exams for their elective subjects and these will occur during class times. Students should refer to their assessment calendars and notifications for further information.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Year 12 Meetings

This week I have invited all of Year 12 to make a time to meet with me to discuss their intentions for 2022 and beyond. This will provide us with the opportunity to discuss various university applications and Entry Schemes and offer our assistance with these. I encourage all of Year 12 to make time over the next few weeks.

Year 10 into Year 11 Subject Information

The process for Year 10 students to choose their subjects for Years 11 and 12 will begin later this term. Prior to the holidays, students will receive a subject handbook and will be asked to make the initial preferences for subjects over the winter break. To assist with this process, there will be a number of Information Sessions held.

Tuesday 22 June – 7:30pm for Prospective and new Families to TAS (via Zoom)
Wednesday 23 June – 6:30pm for parents of Year 10 students. This will be held at TAS immediately following Year 10 Parent-Teacher interviews.
Thursday 24 June – 11:40am. All of Year 10 will be attending this session and any parents are also invited to attend.

Mr Luke Polson
Director of Studies

The MS/SS Athletics Championships Results

With Winter Sport well underway it has been pleasing to see so many of our teams doing well in their respective competitions. Last weekend I was thrilled to witness the level of sportsmanship across a range of teams from netball and football to rugby. Play hard, support each other, be humble in victory and gracious in defeat, respect the opposition and at the end of the game shake hands and thank your coaches. These ideals say a lot about who we are, remember that our behaviour matters. I encourage all students to continue to work on their character, do the best they can and make the most of their opportunities.

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Age Champions in Tuesday’s Assembly.

2021 Champions & House Results

Champions, runners up and trophy winners from the Middle/Senior School Athletics Championships

Congratulations to all students who broke a record at the MS/SS Athletics Championships.

2021 New Records

Mr Huon Barrett
Director of Co-curricular

‘Time stops for’ no one

We’ve reached the half-term mark – already. We’ve only five weeks remaining and there’s another, longer break on the horizon. But there’s much to be done before we reach it. As well you know, there’s a battery of assessments, particularly in semester-specific courses. You also know that students have their assessment notifications. What you need to know is that these things are little more than unappealing adornments, in the first instance, and, ultimately, millstones unless or until they are read carefully and understood. Boarders are easy to help as boarding and teaching staff are in the habit of referring students to their use on a daily basis. Families of day students need to be aware that the assessment schedules are out and I ask that you speak to your children about them and ask also how ‘best’ they are being ‘managed’ over the next few weeks.

In this amazingly (on a good day; frighteningly, on a stressful one) competitive world, we can ill afford a situation where students ‘run blind’ into mid-year assessments. In a sense, no study renders an assessment of little use, not to mention a waste of time. Surely, some of the major functions of an assessment result are to indicate to staff and students the effectiveness of a study program as well as (being) a highlighter of areas of ‘difficulty’. Simply, we need to know how students are faring academically: they should be given the opportunity to know what they need to do in order to fare better in the future. Success does not exclusively refer to a mark or a grade, either – this is product – only. Process, I believe, is as important and, in some situations, it can be seen to be more important. As well as pinpointing areas of expertise, of weakness, of the effectiveness of a study regime, an assessment performance gives everyone a reasonably accurate measure of how someone performs under time conditions. Regardless of our line of work, we adults all have time frames to work within and deadlines to meet. A Middle School assessment experience is one that allows students to find out for themselves not only how they are managing their work, but also begins to equip them with the skills necessary to perform as well as they are able to in the future – at times when exam results can expand or limit future tertiary or job prospects.

We need your assistance here. If, in the lead up to the next assessment block, your children express concern, feel uncomfortable or make comments on issues that we should be aware of, please let us know. Similarly, as implied by my comments about process, this advice applies to the post-assessment reactions and experience(s).

Jack Coddington (Academic Rep) and Mr Mark Harrison

Our most recent Town Meeting featured the usual awards and their presentation, and you’ll be able to read more about these in the MYP section herein. I also spoke about responsible technology use, particularly in the Hub area. Specifically, if students present to this area of school at morning break or second lunch with their laptops, they must do so with teacher permission and brief details of the exercise to be undertaken, written in their diaries. Of course, they can go to the Hub to read, in fact, we encourage them to do this. A focus also was recognition of our speakers in the recent Grand Finals stage of the Federation Cup. While I travelled to Tamworth last Thursday evening with our Year 11 / 12 debaters, our Middle School students found that this last round was keenly contested by two TAS teams and you’ll be able to read more about these debates in Samuel Krishnan’s report – attached. These young people ‘do us proud’: they’re increasingly skilled; they’re happily engaged and well equipped when they’re challenged; they’re entertaining to listen to, as well and perhaps this is the greatest recommendation of their capacities as speakers. A number of staff members have pooled talents, but I want to acknowledge Mr Tim Hughes and the seeming ease with which he manages to juggle responsibilities and lead all groups to the Grand Final(s) stage. We seem to have had representation in all age group categories.

Well, in typical Armidale fashion, winter has arrived: an encouraging sign that life is normal here, I concede. But it seems to have arrived quickly and some Middle School students haven’t apprehended its pace: please could you ensure that our shared charges bring jumpers to school.

Mr Mark Harrison
Head of Middle School

Middle School Debating Report

Thursday concluded the end of the Federation Cup debating competition.  In the Middle School debates in the TAS White team, we had Sam Krishnan, Sophie Rogers, Camilla Coupland and Robin Henry.  The Affirmative team had Robin Henry as  first speaker,  Sam Krishnan as second speaker,  Camilla Coupland as third speaker and Sophie Rogers as the fourth speaker or team advisor. On the negative side of the debate on the TAS blue team we had first speaker, Sophie Harden,  second speaker, Charlotte Craig  and finally third speaker Stella Marlouis. We were debating the topic ‘That all students should have equal say in school’. The Affirmative team’s ideas included: how having equal say in the schools choices would help with behaviour, how if we don’t stand up for ourselves now we never will, how we all have a right to have a voice. The negative team argues back that there would be an age issue within the various years and that there are already senior positions put in place to represent the student body. But at the end of the day the adjudicator believed that the affirmative team had won the debate. It was a really close debate and one of the best. At the end of the Federation Cup competition all four teams in the competition ended out tying in points for 1st place. What a coincidence!

Samuel Krishnan

School Uniform

As winter sets in, it is timely to remind all students about the uniform requirements in Junior School.  Links below have been provided and we are preparing photos of all uniforms to allow for even greater clarity but in the meantime, if you do have doubts, please ring either Mrs Lasker or myself. The winter uniform for girls in particular has been confusing. The neck ribbon is now available in the Clothing Shop as is to be worn in all Years groups. All clothing and belongings should be clearly marked with the student’s name and please, if you have purchased pre-owned items, please ensure they are renamed so they can be returned to you if lost. Clothing can be labelled by the Uniform Shop for 50c per label.

It is expected that all students wear clean and tidy TAS school uniform with no variations or additions and we thank you for your assistance with this.

Boys Uniform

https://www.as.edu.au/content/uploads/2020/12/Junior-School-Boys-Uniform-List-2021.pdf

Girls Uniform

https://www.as.edu.au/content/uploads/2020/12/Junior-School-Girls-Uniform-List-2021.pdf

Transition Uniform

https://www.as.edu.au/content/uploads/2020/12/Transition-Uniform-List-2021.pdf

Dolly’s Dream Fundraiser

“It doesn’t cost anything to be kind”

Last Friday, we were thankful to be able to join with the rest of the school, focussing on Dolly’s Dream – completing a simple act of Act of Kindness for someone else at School. While everyone experiences the ups and downs of life, taking a moment each day to show some kindness to another can be enormous.

Students in Junior School were very generous in both thought and deed, collecting a total of $342.25 which has been forwarded to this very worthy organisation.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Josh Bourke, for receiving the FM 100.3 Junior Sports Star of the Week for his achievements recently in the State Equestrian Titles in Walcha. In addition to this, we congratulate Ellen Adams (pictured below) on her fine achievements recently at the State Titles in Equitation – Classes 1, 2 & 3.  In achieving a second, third and fourth  place in the various classes (as one of the youngest competitors), Ellen has shown real promise and is now setting her sights on upcoming State Show Jumping Championships in Bowral and we wish her well.

Ellen Adams showing her style in the show jumping recently.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday this week to Tom Loxley, Lucy Taylor, Tobias Holland and Sophie Banister.

Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School