TAS Talks Term 4 Week 6
In this issue
01. From the Acting Headmaster
MR ALAN JONES
Even though staff and students have been looking forward to a week of outdoor activities off campus, as has been traditional during the second last week of term, circumstances beyond anyone’s control have come into play. The decision – as you would be well aware by now – has been made not to conduct Annual Camp for the cadets in the field. The inherent risks are far too great to even contemplate so staff and students will be based at the school next week. We are proceeding with a plan for a variety of activities targeted at each year group that will engage and challenge the students. At present, Year 11 RFS will continue with their program, Year 11 SLS will continue with their program and will be accompanied by other Year 11 students who have volunteered to complete a number of service projects in and around Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club. More information will be made available to you, and needless to say, all student attendance is an expectation. Hopefully it will be business as usual next year.
I was very pleased to have been invited to attend the Year 10 Formal Dinner last Friday evening. I offer my thanks to the organising committee of parents for all of their efforts and the result was a most successful night for all who were able to attend. In the same manner that the Year 12 Formal points to a transition in the lives of that particular cohort of students the Year 10 Dinner is an integral step in the school life of our Year 10 group as they contemplate the move into the senior years of their schooling at TAS. It was a fantastic opportunity for parents and their children to gather together and enjoy the moment. For many of our students it was their first chance to participate in such a formal occasion and they presented as as a very impressive group of young people indeed. Marking that moment was a real and significant sense of growing up on the night.
Alan Jones
Acting Headmaster
Notice Board
Daily Absence
If your child is to be absent from school for any reason outside application for exemption requirements, including arriving late or leaving early, please advise the appropriate Administration Assistant (see below), explaining the reason for absence by phone, email, or write a note before 10.00 am that day. In addition, a written note confirming the circumstances of the absence is required within seven days.Sickness in excess of four school days requires a doctor’s certificate detailing the nature of sickness and duration of sickness.
Junior School: Phone 6776 5817 or by email
Middle School: Phone 6776 5819 or by email
Senior School: Phone 6776 5800 or by email
More information about absentees and extended leave can be found using the link provided.
FIND OUT MORE
After School Care Program
TAS Junior School Out Of School Hours Care (OSHC) offers After School and Vacation Care for TAS students from Transition to Year 6 with a focus of bringing out the very best in girls and boys.After School Care operates five days a week from 3:30pm - 6pm.
The costing is as follows:
$5 per half hour, ( capped at $75 per week, per student)
Afternoon tea, supervised time for homework and play are provided.
To find out more and view the Term 4 program click on the link below.
TERM 4 PROGRAM
Exemption from Attendance
A reminder that a parent or guardian must apply for an exemption from school attendance if they wish to take their child out of school temporarily by completing an Application for Exemption from Attendance form (see link below).Students must attend school regularly until an exemption has been approved.
Exemption from attendance at school is often sought because of:
- Elite Arts or Elite Sporting Events (CIS, NCIS etc.)
- Family travel or holidays
- Medical or health appointments
- Employment
- Disability or behaviour problems requiring part time exemption from school
- Other circumstances that warrant an exemption eg. Work Experience, Political Rally, etc.
Casual Boarding
Casual boarding can be for a single night or several weeks. It is proving to be increasingly popular. The cost of casual boarding is $75 per night inclusive of linen, dinner and breakfast.Space is limited and may not always be available at the times required. Please assist us by providing as much notice period as you can and complete an online casual boarding application by using the link below or if any queries, please contact TAS Reception on (02) 6776 5800.
02. Calendar of Events
| Week 6 | |
| Wednesday 20 November | Year 6, 2020 Orientation
Transition to Year 5, 2020 Orientation P&F Meeting (7 pm)
|
| Thursday 21 November | First Aid Course – Year 10
Twilight Concert ( Memorial Hall) 6pm |
| Friday 22 November | Year 5 Valedictory Dinner ( Hoskins Centre) |
| Week 7 | |
| Wednesday 27 November | Madagascar Matinee (1. 30pm) Hoskins Centre |
| Thursday 28 November | Madagascar Matinee (1. 30pm) Hoskins Centre |
| Friday 29 November | Madagascar Performance (6.00 pm) Hoskins Centre |
| Saturday 30 November | Madagascar Performance (6. 00 pm) Hoskins Centre |
03. From the P&F
MRS RACHAEL NICOLL
Christmas Puddings
Our famous P&F Christmas Puddings are now available for sale. Puddings are $25 each and can be paid for on TryBooking.com https://www.trybooking.com/BGIVL
Puddings can be collected from TAS Main Reception once they have been ordered. Depending on sales we may also have a few available at Speech Day.
P&F Christmas Meeting – Tonight Wednesday 20 November
Our final P&F meeting for the year will be on tonight Wednesday 20 November at 7 pm in the Lower Maxwell Room. All are welcome and we would love for you to come along for a drink so that we can wish you an early Merry Christmas and thank you in person for all the amazing help you have provided throughout this difficult year.
Liasion Parents Wanted – We Need You!
Liaison Parents have a vitally important role in being the ‘first port of call’ for people wanting to know what is going on in their year and at school. The P&F could not operate without them. So that we can hit the ground running next year and make sure all new families in 2020 feel the love and support right from day one, we would love to have all our Year Group LPs for 2020 sorted before the end of this term.
Being an LP is not an arduous job – primarily it is to be a conduit for P&F matters to parents and also to create a sense of community within your year, particularly when new families start at TAS. Arranging the odd Year Group get together, managing your Year Group Facebook page, organising year group helpers for sports day cake stalls and finding someone (not necessarily yourself) to organise your year group stall at TAS@Dusk or any other large P&F event is basically what’s required. Essentially, think of yourself as a year facilitator… you don’t need to be an ‘old hand’ to take it on – you just need to be able to befriend your year group.
If you are interested in becoming a Year Group Liaison Parent for 2020 or would like to know more about the role please contact us on [email protected]
Baking Containers for Collection
Thank you for your baking for Mr Guest’s Memorial Service, however please, please, please collect your containers from Main School Reception (Big School) as soon as possible. If we knew you were a Junior School family your container may be in Junior School Reception. If you can’t find it there, please check Big School. If containers are not collected by the end of Speech Day (Thursday 5 December) unfortunately they will be disposed of.
Mrs Rachael Nicoll
04. Round Square
MR ANDREW O'CONNELL
International Conferences and Exchanges
Round Square Conference Korea 2020 (13-15 year old)
Mrs Regina Pollard and I are pleased to announce that we will be taking five students to represent TAS at the upcoming Round Square Conference in South Korea in 2020. We are looking for expressions of interest from students and families in Middle School this week! Application forms for this trip are available at the Middle School Reception and https://www.as.edu.au/about/round-square-membership/south-korea/. The application forms will need to be filled out and returned to Middle School Reception by Monday the 25 November 2019.
| Theme of Conference | ‘Reverence for the Past and Aspirations for the Future’ |
| Host School | Cheong Shim International Academy, South Korea |
| Age Group | 13 to 15 year old students in 2020 |
| Highlights | Experience old and new Korea (ancient palaces, K-Pop, sampling and making Korean food)
Visit the Demilitarised zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea Take part in the Model UN with other students in Asia Pacific and discuss the possibility of the reunification of the two Koreas |
| Round Square IDEALS | Democracy and Internationalism will be the focus |
| Who should apply | Someone who:
Shows a genuine interest in the Round Square IDEALS Willing and able to venture out of their comfort zone (try new food, make new friends, contribute in group discussions) Organised enough to talk to their family about this trip, fill in the application form, and attend any student interviews when called upon |
| Dates | Friday 6 March 2020 to Sunday 15 March 2020 |
| Price | Approximately $3750 (includes airfare, accommodation, travel insurance, transport, most meals) |
| Deposit | $1600 by Thursday 5 December 2020 to cover the airfare booking |
| Weblink for more info | https://www.rskorea2020.com/ |
If you have any questions regarding this upcoming Round Square opportunity, please don’t hesitate to send through an email to: [email protected]. We are super excited about this conference and are looking forward to hearing from many of you soon!
Ms Hannah Lo
Academic
'Chopstick Demon’ bowls over judges
Exploring the cultural sensitivity of leaving chopsticks in a bowl of rice was the inspiration behind a short film made by Year 9/10 Japanese language students that has won the senior secondary category of a national film competition.
The Video Matsuri film contest, an initiative of the Japan Foundation, attracted entries from across Australia and New Zealand that this year each had to include the featured item, being chopsticks. Lachlan Hey, Luke Pasfield and Rowan Hey chose to concentrate on the taboo of leaving chopsticks in a bowl of rice, a socially unacceptable practice in Japan that is only permissible at funerals.
In their film ‘Chopstick Demon’ the first character does this and releases a demon which kills him. The investigating police officer then goes to a Holy man and learns that they only way the demon can be destroyed is by squirting Holy Water over it – only to discover that the liquid is lemonade.
The judges described the winning video as having “an interesting twist of humour in the story, excellent acting, and interesting use of editing skills to add a red tinge to the film to create a mysterious and moody feel. The script was also well written and well delivered, and some interesting camera angles were used”.
To view a version of the film with subtitles, click on the link below.
Mr Allan Moore
Languages Coordinator
Australian Geography and History Competitions 2019
TAS students have achieved some very pleasing results in two competitions that were held earlier in the year.
792 schools participated in this year’s national Geography competition, with 73,500 students completing the test. One notable result from this 2019’s Year 10 cohort was achieved by Alex Hall, who was one of Australia’s highest placed students.
Congratulations to the following students for their results in this competition:
- Alex Hall – High Distinction (top 0.25% of Australia)
- Hudson McAllister – High Distinction (top 2% of Australia)
- Jack Van Roy – High Distinction (top 3% of Australia)
- Lily Etheridge – High Distinction (top 3% of Australia)
- Georgia Donoghue – High Distinction
- Jaden Carroll – High Distinction
- Will Forsyth – High Distinction
- Hannah Neilson – Distinction
- Henry Moore – Distinction
- Tom Forsythe – Distinction
- Archie Chick – Distinction
- Angela Blackie – Distinction
- Mehdi Ahsan – Distinction
- James O’Brien – Distinction
- Jack Nivison – Distinction
- Colby Hanes – Distinction
- Jai Farrell – Distinction
While the Australian Geography Competition is open to students from Years 10-12, the Australian History Competition’s participants are limited to Year 10 students, which explains why there are fewer numbers of students achieving Distinction grades or higher.
Congratulations to the following students for their results:
- Alex Hall – High Distinction
- Hudson McAllister – High Distinction
- Ed Boydell – Distinction
- Georgia Donoghue – Distinction
Mr David Toakley
HSIE Coordinator
Hudson McAllister, Lily Etheridge, Georgia Donoghue, Jaden Carroll, Angus Wilson-Spillane, Jack van Roy and Alex Hall who achieved High Distinctions in this year’s Australian Geography Competition, in which 73,500 students from 792 schools took part. Alex was in the top 0.25% of the candidature and came within a whisker of representing Australia in the International Geography Olympiad in Instanbul in 2020! Hudson was in the top 2 percent and Lily and Jack in the top 3%. Alex and Hudson also received High Distinctions in The Australian History Competition.
International Student Dinner
On Thursday 14 November, the International Students gathered with some of their closest friends for the Term 4 International Students’ Dinner. Mr Moore drove us to the White Bull Hotel where we all sat and spoke to one another over a warm and inviting meal. We were accompanied by Miss Lo, Dr Pastor, Mrs Baumgartner and Mr Moore. After dinner, on the bus ride back to TAS, we all wistfully farewelled Eric, Adam and Wad. We would like to thank everyone who made this experience possible for us. We truly appreciate the opportunities that TAS provides the students with to make lifelong friends and connections with students from around the globe!
Toby Clegg and Todd McDouall
05. From the Director of Co-curricular
MR WILL CALDWELL
Working Together
“Now this is the law of the jungle, as old and as true as the sky, And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” Rudyard Kipling
This is true in every team environment. One of the many reasons that we promote co-curricular activities at TAS is their capacity to develop teamwork, empathy and perseverance. There are occasions when for the good of the team we will focus on the individual. Other times we put our personal needs aside for the greater good.
There is much to be proud of when we reflect on the way the TAS community have supported each other, adapted to the situation and worked together throughout this term. It is important amongst all of this, that individuals also take care of themselves.
Next week is an opportunity for students to take a bit of a breath and have some Me-time. All sports training will be incorporated into the school day allowing students to go home at 3:30pm each day. Week 8 will also be limited trainings with the focus on preparing for Cash Cup and other end of year celebrations.
So, hold on. You have coped this far. You will prevail. (trust me, the more you say this, the more real it becomes.)
Mr Will Caldwell
Director of Co-curricular
Mountain Biking
The UNE ’12 Hours in the Piney’ is one of the biggest events in the season for the TAS mountain bike squad. The race was hosted by New England Mountain Bikers, this year at the SportUNE mountain bike track, and was held in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific and National 24-Hour Solo Championships. The 12-hour event, aimed more at regional competitors, was split into two races. The juniors raced in a 4-hour long, team event on a 5km track. Out of the eight junior teams, we had our first all-girls team participate and a mixed team of boys and girls. TAS was very successful in the juniors race, with three of our eight teams making the podium. The places of these teams were:
- 1st TAS Yr 8’s (Angus Goudge, Hugh Taylor, Louis Ross, Charlie McDouall)
- 2nd TAS Machines (Banjo Lawrence, Thomas Dundon, Max Rogers, Will Ledingham)
- 3rd TAS W.A.Te.R (Will Brett, Abbott White, Ted Chick, Rourke Sharpe)
The senior category was a 12-hour race split over two days, six hours on Saturday afternoon and six hours on Sunday morning, ridden over a technical and hilly 11km track. There were two TAS teams in the senior category, one of four Year 11 students and one of four Year 10’s. Both teams raced hard throughout the entire event, with the Year 11s fighting for the win and coming out on top, however they were relegated to third place due to a technicality. The year 10 team took out forth. The race was ridden well by all who entered with some exceptional results all round. The juniors have showed a great amount of improvement in their riding and show a promising future for the mountain biking team at TAS.
Riley Simmons
Mountain Biking Captain
Thank you Riley for your report, and for your leadership and encouragement of the TAS MTB team. Thank you also to the coaches for all your help at the 12 Hour and to those parents who were able to attend and support our team.
I would like to offer my congratulations to all riders for your participation and superb riding at the 12-Hour, followed up by participation in the 125km Trek! This was a huge effort!
In more recent news, congratulations to Ted Chick and Toby Inglis who competed at the NSW state championships in Orange over the weekend. Ted finished an impressive 3rd place in the under 13’s men division while Toby, who has just come off crutches from a previous injury, finished 10th in the popular under 15s men race.
It has been a big week for the mountain biking team, and I know that throughout these epic days of riding many of our students have been thinking of Mr Guest (who was himself a keen cyclist). I’m sure he would have been very proud of you all, as am I.
Mrs Jo Benham
MIC Mountain Biking
TAS 125
I am indebted to every student, parent and staff member who participated in Trek 125. Your support of this event and the memory of our Headmaster Mr Guest will be forever acknowledged. An event initially conceived to celebrate 125 years of The Armidale School turned into something so much more, not just a part of the Triple Crown, but the recognition of a great man for whom no challenge was insurmountable, for whom being uncomfortable made you stronger and that education could never be limited to the classroom. Over the course of three demanding days as we cycled, climbed Mt Duval, observed Remembrance Day and cycled again, I never heard a single word of complaint, from anyone.
Day 1 was compared by many an experienced adult cyclist as just as tough, if not tougher than the Tour de Rocks, yet not a murmur from a soul, despite horrendous headwinds, heat and a somewhat inaccurate description of a hill from some crazy bloke! Students, parents and staff all worked in unison, as one driven body, regardless of their role, wanting only to engage in something beyond themselves. From the delicate driving skills of Mr Moore, Mr Currell and Mr Sadler, holding steady at 15km/hr for three days straight, to the supreme logistical talents of Mr Simon Ball and Mrs Gail Rogers, the security of Mr RFS Bevan Michel, the support of parents Mrs Kirsty and Mr Sam White, Mrs Teesh and Mr Marty Inglis and Mrs Sarah and Mr Andrew Carruthers, this event would never have existed without you and I sincerely thank you all. To our students, from the incredible Ted Chick in Year 5, the weapons of Year 6, Year 7 with the largest numbers, Year 8 never giving in, Year 9 awesome girls and legend boys, Year 10 setting a sensational standard, Year 11 and their outstanding role modelling and the Duke of Edinburgh candidates for whom nothing was a challenge, thank you! The ‘big man’ would be proud!
Mr James Pennington
06. From the Creative Arts Coordinator
MR ANDREW O'CONNELL
Our focus in the Creative Arts is solely on Junior School’s Madagascar the Musical, which opens next week. Thanks to some wonderfully-supported working bees the set and costumes look amazing and the cast has been working doubly-hard in rehearsals to ensure they can put the best show on for audiences. We wish the cast and crew the very best of luck with their final week of preparations and I encourage all of you to get in and grab a ticket soon as most of the best seats have already – you can find the ticket link on the TAS website or Facebook page.
Mr Andrew O’Connell
Creative Arts Coordinator
From the Director of Music
Gumbayngirr Prayer for Rain
07. From the Acting Head of Middle School
MRS GILL DOWNES
Middle School fundraiser for Nymboida continues
I wrote last week about a student-initiated fundraiser for the Nymboida community; I am pleased to confirm that the jerry cans have now been delivered and are benefiting those who lost property in the bushfires. Ty Schalk-O’Brien will continue to collect money for this important and practical cause; thank you to those who have donated a gold coin, I encourage those of you who have not contributed yet to do so over the next few days.
Preparations for 2020 – Moving Up
Wednesday sees the annual ‘Moving Up to Middle School Day’ taking place with the existing Year 5 students along with students new to TAS in 2020 spending the best part of the day in the Middle School. I extend my warmest welcome to these students and their families; we are all looking forward to working with you over the next three years.
On Thursday, our Year 8 students will take part in a session called ‘Transition into Year 9’ and will receive information about the move into the Senior School in 2020. This will take place during Advisor and Period 4 in Big School and will involve the group hearing from Mrs Wark, our Director of Studies; Mr Whalley, our Director of Pastoral Care; Mr Caldwell, our Director of Co-curricular; as well as several Heads of Department and other teaching staff in the Senior School. This will be a wonderful introduction to life in the Senior School and the session will involve Senior Students speaking to the group about what to expect in the big move next year. Exciting times.
2020 Middle School Leadership
This week has seen the Middle School vote for their 2020 Leadership Team as part of the re-working of our existing MS Leadership structure. Nominations and/or voting has now occurred for the MS Head Boy and MS Head Girl; Academic, Creative Arts, Service and Sport Leaders; as well as the incoming Year 9 SRC position; this process will continue to unfold in the coming week. Thank you to all students and staff in the Middle School for their contribution to this important democratic process; the announcement of the 2020 Leaders will take place very soon.
Save the Date - Final MS Assembly
Our final Middle School Final Assembly will take place on Wednesday 4 December. This will involve a light lunch in the Middle School at 1.10pm followed by the formal assembly in the Memorial Hall at 2.15pm. All families are invited to attend this special occasion where we mark the important achievements of our young people; induct our 2020 Leaders; and farewell our fabulous Year 8 students. You are warmly invited to join our community for what will be a really lovely celebration.
Enjoy the rest of your week and take care. You can contact me through Mrs Robyn Frost on 6776 5819 or via email at [email protected].
‘Congratulations to our young writers’
Mrs Gill Downes
Acting Head of Middle School
08. From the Acting Head of Junior School
MR LUKE POLSON
Speech Day
Junior School Speech Day will be held in Memorial Hall at 9.00am on Wednesday 4 December and is expected to finish at 10.00am. Please join us for Morning Tea in the Under Cover Area afterwards from 10:15am. All students are to be at school by 8.30am. Junior School is closed following Speech Day and The After School Care service will be available from 10.30am until 5.00pm and will be charged at the usual hourly rate. Please email [email protected] if you wish to book your child/ren in. Dress for speech day is formal school uniform for boys and the summer dress for girls, with short white socks. Please be aware that Junior School concludes for the term following the Junior School Speech day, there is no classes on Wednesday 4 December or Thursday 5 December.
Madagascar
My thanks again to all who have assisted with the recent Madagascar working bees. I was at the full rehearsal yesterday and it is promising to be a fabulous production and I hope you have all managed to get seats to see it.
Final Assembly
We will hold our Final Assembly today, Wednesday 20 November in Memorial Hall not Hoskins as first planned. Proceedings will start with Years 3, 4 and 5 at 2.00pm followed by Transition, K, 1 & 2 at 2.45pm. All children will be presented with a certificate from their class teachers and families are more than welcome to attend.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to William Minter and Chloe Dennison this week.
After School Care Program
TAS Junior School Out Of School Hours Care (OSHC) offers After School and Vacation Care for TAS students from Transition to Year 6 with a focus of bringing out the very best in girls and boys.
To find out more and view the Term 4 program click on the link below.
Term 4 Program
Mr Luke Polson
Acting Head of Junior School
Junior School Upcoming Events
| Week 6 | |
| Wednesday 20 November | Final Assembly – Year 3, 4 & 5 from 2.00pm. Transition, K, 1 & 2 from 2.45pm |
| Orientation Day | |
| Friday 22 November | Year 5 Dinner – Hoskins Centre |
| Week 7 | |
| Wednesday 27 November | No Assembly
Madagascar Jnr Matinee (1.30pm) |
| Thursday 28 November | Madagascar Jnr Matinee (1.30pm) |
| Friday 29 November | Madagascar Jnr (6.00pm) |
| Saturday 30 November | Madagascar Jnr (6.00pm) |
| Week 8 | |
| Wednesday 4 December | Junior School Carol Service – TAS Chapel
Junior School Speech Day (9am-10.15am) Morning Tea ( Junior School undercover area |
IB Primary Years Programme
TAS Junior School classes are a buzz of excitement at the moment as they are all in the thick of their units of inquiry.
-
- Kindergarten explored perspective by role playing Fairy Tales. Here is Hansel and Gretel’s parents worrying because they are too poor to feed their children.
-
- Year One have been waiting anxiously for the butterfly to emerge from the cocoon and had a quick exit from musical rehearsal on Tuesday morning…so exciting to have viewed the lifecycle in ‘real life’.
-
- Year 4 have been reading a range of mentor text about peace and resilience. Their reflections were creatively represented as an artwork.
-
- Year one estimated the capacity of their self made pinch pots (that are all ready for our Rocket crop). Then they tested their estimations as part of their Maths/UOI inquiry.
-
- Year 2- Casper and Mila work through the Maths game Layla made as part of our inquiry into games, using current maths skills and concepts treated this term.
-
- Year 3 individually wrote their thoughts on what a community is. They then broke into groups to inquire into present day dwellings, primary industry, architecture and commercial outlets. This will be followed by reflecting on the wonderful impact of multiculturalism in Armidale.
-
- Year 5 spent time inquiring into seedball revegetation
Mrs Veronica Waters
Primary Years Coordinator
Junior School Sports
Summer sport for the remainder of the term
Cricket
- Games – last game to be confirmed, most likely Saturday, 30 November
- Training – last session will be Monday, 25 November
Indoor Hockey
- Games – last game this Friday, 22 November (Due to Madagascar on Friday 29)
- Training – last session will be Monday, 25 November
Basketball
- Games – last game Monday, 2 December (TBC)
- Training – last session will be Wednesday, 27 November
Gymnastics
Sessions – last session will be Monday, 25 November
Tennis
Sessions – last session will be Monday, 25 November
Ball Skills
Sessions – last session will be Monday, 25 November
Swimming
Sessions – last session will be Thursday, 28 November
Gymnastics
This week’s warm-up activity at Junior School Gymnastics was ‘Frogs and Lilly pads’. The rotation activities were:
- Springboard with Bianca
- Animal walks with Mrs Piper & Mrs Perrin-Baker
- Pummel with Hunter
- Backward rolls with Mrs O’Hara
The final circuit saw the children reprise the most popular animal walk – the scorpion – along with backward rolls, more springboard, and the tumble tramp and foam pit. The fundamental movement skill we focused on at the concluding activity was leaping. This skill is not as easy as it looks, and Mrs O’Hara encouraged the students to keep practising, making sure that the leg they lead with is kept straight.
A friendly reminder to parents to check with one of the teachers when collecting their child, so that his/her name can be checked off the roll.
Next week will be the final gymnastics session for Term 4. How the time has flown!
Mrs Victoria Perrin-Baker
Year 3 and 4 basketball
Our 12 players went down to 11 players on Monday with Ruby leaving for the coast. The remaining players took to the court with gusto and focused on some of the drills we have been practicing on Wednesdays in training. They started to focus on marking their opposition player and passing to each other as they moved up the court. Monday’s game also had a focus on good sportsmanship and being nice to each other, which they did beautifully. It’s pleasing to see the improvements in the players as each week goes by. Andi has improved his passing and shooting, having a lot more confidence to take the shot instead of passing to another player; Marcus was so excited at getting several baskets and improving his moving up and down the court and Jack showed more physical activity and ran up and down the court more willingly. He is learning how to start dribbling around the court more easily and is listening to instructions given to him which is fabulous. There will be two more weeks of games this term as our last game is in Week 8. Please remember to give your child a water bottle for basketball as it gets quite hot in The Den. if you have not claimed your Sports Voucher you can use it for basketball and can claim a rebate from Judy Monahan if you have paid your registration already.
Mrs Kirsty Brunsdon and Miss Alice Woodhill
Indoor Hockey
The Hurricanes and Tornadoes
Last Friday, the TAS gym was once again a hive of indoor hockey activity as the TAS teams faced two PLC teams. The Tornadoes took to the court first and continued their calm and relaxed approach to the game. I was very impressed to see how they talked to each other and, most importantly, tried to learn from the advice the referee was giving them. It was nice for these young players to have a 3-0 victory. As for the Hurricanes, their team name described them well! It was a fast and furious game and an impressive level of skill from both teams was displayed. PLC put up some very strong defence, but our players kept their heads and played skilfully to take a 2-1 victory. All agreed that using the side boards to take the ball up the court was a skill that need some fine tuning and Lachie and Katie are drilling both teams on this skill as I type. Keep up the great work guys.
Mrs Tania Hardin
Community Notices
