TAS Talks Term 1 Week 6

Absque Deo Nihil #2 - Psalm 139:13-16

The uninitiated spread it with reckless abandon  – and then gasp with horror, but to those who have grown up with it, Vegemite on toast tastes like home.

A summer staple that cuts across race, religion, sex, style and social status, the almighty thong or as some say flip flops are one of the world’s great levellers.

Today we consume almost 23 million jars of Vegemite a year and the dark spread is found in one out of every three sandwiches eaten. And thongs are found not just on the beach to save us from scorched soles, but in Olympic games opening ceremonies, on the feet of brides, on cat walks, and nestled below the hemline of TAS tracksuits everywhere.

These are our Australian icons – Vegemite, thongs, Holdens? and meat pies. We don’t like it when people attempt to claim what is ours, such as the ridiculous suggestion that the Kiwis invented the thong – outrageous. Or when multinationals buy the brand of our most beloved national symbols. It’s just not right, it upsets us, we made them, designed them, maybe pinched them, or plagiarised them – but they are our plagiarisms – not theirs. We become jealous of them, and rightly so.

As we consider our school motto, “without God nothing”, we must consider how God views this. He designed us, made us, invested in us – in creation and in salvation. As His creation he is devoted to us, He is jealous for us, for without Him we would not have existed. He does not like it when we sell our belonging elsewhere when we tie our allegiance to another.

He wants us to join with the Psalmist in praise of Him who made us, not to worship that which He has made or give credit elsewhere.

Mr Richard Newton
Chaplain

TAS Rugby Carnival

The TAS Rugby Carnival is coming up at the end of the April holidays on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 April. Although we’re not quite sure how this is going to look given COVID this is still a big event for TAS and the P&F and we will be seeking volunteer helpers closer to the date.  Alternatively, if you would like to help organise it please send us an email at [email protected]

More information will be sent out through TAS Talks, emails and Facebook in the next few weeks as it comes to hand.

P&F Meetings

Our next meeting is Wednesday 17 March in the Lower Maxwell Room at 7pm – we will also be Zooming this meeting.  Meetings are open to all and we would love to see you.  To help you get in the mood, drinks and nibbles are provided for those that attend the meeting in person… if you’re on Zoom then it’s BYO…

If you would like to know more about joining the P&F Committee or Executive (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Vice Treasurer, Secretary) please send us an email [email protected] or give me a call on 0418 980 662 prior to our AGM on 28 April.

Also, if you have any good ideas for spending some of our hard-earned funds before our funding meeting on 16 June please contact us.  We’d love to hear from you. Last year we funded new basketball backboards and a scoreboard for the gym and a new microwave for White House.  Due to Covid and a lack of fundraising events, we won’t have as much money available this year but if you have any good ideas please let us know.

Mrs Rachael Nicoll
P&F President

While COVID-19 continues to disrupt many of the key activities one normally associates with Round Square at TAS, there are many new exciting digital opportunities presenting themselves. One of the most popular are the Round Square Postcards, which involve students hosting a Zoom conference on a topic of their choosing. It is an opportunity for students to discuss important issues with their peers around the world and have proved to be immensely successful in providing student-led experiences directly connected to the IDEALS.

International Maths Day

Introduction to the Law

In our elective course – Introduction to the Law students in Years 9 and 10 have begun their TAS Mock Trial competition.

What is a Mock Trial?

A mock trial is a simulated court case in which teams contest a fictitious legal matter presented in the ‘NSW local court system’. Our Mock Trial Competition involves 4 teams of six Introduction to the Law students playing the roles of barristers, lawyers and witnesses in a mock courtroom trial.

It is run in school but with the hope that we may be able to enter the Law Society of NSW Competition in the future.

This activity is a practical means of introducing students to the law and to increase their understanding of the basis of our judicial system. A team may act as either the defence or prosecution during a trial, with each team member taking on the role of a barrister, solicitor, court officer or witness, pitting their skills against the opposing side. Each trial is presided over by a Magistrate and we have been very fortunate to secure Mr Sebastian Hempel as our Magistrate making the experience even more enjoyable for our students. The Magistrate awards marks to each team based on a range of criteria, such as opening addresses, closing submissions and cross examinations. The team with the highest mark wins the trial.

The TAS Mock Trial Competition provides an enjoyable, dynamic way of introducing students to the law. It provides students with an opportunity to learn valuable skills in research and in the development and presentation of a persuasive argument. I am very much looking forward to seeing the progression of our students over the coming months and I am very proud of them for taking on this opportunity with humour and determination.

Mrs Laura Ahern

Summer Sport

The MS/SS Athletics Championship is fast approaching, Friday 26 March. Some events will be held outside the Friday timetabled events. If you choose to compete in these events you will be exempt from sport on those afternoons.
Tuesday 16 March – Open 3000m event for Boys and Girls & Triple Jump Boys and Girls Thursday 18th March – 1500m for Boys and Girls & Javelin for 17 & 18 Boys and Girls Only.

In addition to these days Javelin for Age Groups 12-16 & Discus for Age Groups 12-14 will be run during PE classes in the weeks prior to the Championship. Only Year 12 parents are invited to attend the MS/SS Athletics Championship.

Winter Sport

Winter Sport selections will be taking place this week. During Advisor students will have the opportunity to register for their Winter Sport.

GIRLS: Hockey, Netball, Rugby (Years 7-12), Squash (Years 9-12), Volleyball (Years 9-12), Shooting (Invitation only)
Sports include:

BOYS: Football, Hockey, Rugby (Years 7-12), Squash (Years 9-12), Volleyball (Years 9-12), Shooting (Invitation only)

Mr Huon Barrett
Director of Co-curricular

Sweeney Todd rehearsals continue to step up their intensity, with performances but a few weeks away. Tickets will be on sale by the end of the week so be on the lookout for an email with the link. Thanks to some awesome parents the set is very close to complete and will definitely send chills up the most hardened spines. But we may still require one more afternoon working bee to complete some important props (all those pies) and would love some extra helpers, so check TAS Talks next week for more information.

As many of you will be aware, in Year 8 our students get to participate in the MYP Community Project. For those students who came though TAS Junior School, this is the Middle School version of the PYP exhibition! The idea of the Community Project is that students will complete a significant piece of work over an extended period of time and will present their work in late Term 3 to the wider school community.

MYP projects encourage students to reflect on their learning and the outcomes of their work – key skills that prepare them for success in further study, the workplace and the community. MYP projects are student-centred and age-appropriate, and they enable students to engage in practical explorations through a cycle of inquiry, action and reflection.

The community project focuses on community and service, encouraging students to explore their right and responsibility to implement service as action in the community. The community project gives students an opportunity to develop awareness of needs in various communities and address those needs through service learning. As a consolidation of learning, the community project engages in a sustained, in-depth inquiry leading to service as action in the community. The community project may be completed individually or by groups of a maximum of three students. The community project provides an important opportunity for students to collaborate and pursue service learning. Some of the ideas that our students have already are:

● Raising awareness of mental health

● ‘Cans’ for cancer

● Pen pals to local aged care residents

● Producing video games for younger students to raise awareness of disasters such as bushfires and the drought

● Writing a book in both Arabic and English to promote language learning for some of our overseas junior school students

Learner Profile Award Winners – Week 4 and 5

It was my pleasure to present the following awards in Middle School assembly this week

: ● Salam Alkhathami – Caring award

● Harriet Crawford – Communicator

● Thomas Crowley – Principled award

● Joe Fenwicke – Open-minded award

● Lily Grieve – Communicator award

● Trudy Johnstone – Reflective award

● Hussain Majrashi – Caring award

● Hunter Moorcroft – Reflective award

● Marcus Robb – Thinker award

● Peyton Slade – Principled award

● Siri Sparkes – Reflective award

● Emily Ussher – Principled award

Mrs Rachel Piddington
MYP Coordinator

Excursion Week and Lake Keepit

And what a week it was! You will see form the many photos and reports in this edition of TAS Talks, that last week in Junior School was simply epic. In reading the reports from the teachers and students, it is evident that there is so much to be gained from providing such varied experiences to and adventures for all our children. While Years 5 to 2 progressively went off to Lake Keepit, other classes were participating in all manner of activities throughout the week, all designed to address aspects of our curriculum with the purpose of extending and enriching our students. I have included a photo of Year 5 students whose exercise was to make cartoon posters of an activity at Keepit – they include sunning themselves on the SUP, the food, and the famous “Keepit Commando”…you be the judge?!

It goes without saying that the teachers’ input into the week in its entirety was outstanding and we thank them all for their time (and endless patience and care) during the week. I know that our students had a wonderful time and will be able to look back on their achievements and memories for some time to come.

I know they had an awesome time and I look forward to hearing more of their stories and reliving the week through the photos. Please read the reports below and take the time to have a look at the album if you have not already done so, using the following link. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ibTq5u1rf7pLkLp37

Parent/Teacher Interviews – NEW TIME of Tuesday & Wednesday – 16 & 17 March

With time away for Excursion Week and to make the most of our classroom teaching opportunities and prepare for these valuable meetings, the decision has been made to put back the Parent/Teacher Interviews by one week to the date above. This will allow greater lead in time and more opportunity for meaningful and constructive dialogue between teachers and parents in Week 8. You will have received a letter by now, with an individual webcode to register and book your interview time. Please do not hesitate to contact us should there be the need.

Year 3 Strings Program

It is so good to see the progress our Year 3 students are making with their Strings Program and I know the Music Department is so impressed, they are now making plans to reform some of our Junior School ensembles. We fully support our co-curricular programs in Junior School and Music is particularly important to us and has become very popular. I look forward to watching (and hearing) their progress.

Drama Club – Tuesday & Thursday afternoons from 3.45 pm

I congratulate all our students who are participating so enthusiastically in our Drama Club; it has become very popular and Ms Judy McBain is very impressed with both the ability of some of the regulars and the commitment they are showing to improving their skills. With Eisteddfod looming next term, I look forward do watching on to see their achievements and the progress made.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Izzie Glover, Scarlett Shortt and Casey Tighe this week.

Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School

Excursion Week Reports

Kindergarten and Year 1

The school seemed very quiet while the older years were off at Lake Keepit, but we couldn’t let them have all the fun! On Wednesday Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 took part in some activities to try out some of the fun things that are on offer at TAS Junior School. We broke into our House groups mixed with friends in different classes to our own. One activity was Drama Club. Ms McBain had some games for us to play and a drama activity to show us what junior Drama Club on Tuesday afternoons is all about. Miss Collette taught us some groovy moves and had us dancing up a storm, just like she does each Wednesday lunch with Dance Club. Lastly, we did some netball drills with Mrs Brown and Mrs O’Connor. We learnt chest and shoulder passes and practised jumping to catch the ball and pivoting. On Friday, Kindergarten and Year 1 spent the morning kicking soccer balls and wielding hockey sticks. Now that we have tried all three winter sports, we can start choosing which one we are most interested in for the winter sports offered in Terms 2 and 3.

Mrs Anna O’Connor & Mrs Christine Wright

Year 2 Year 2 – Activities Week

Year 2 had a fabulous time last week during activities week. Every child displayed many attributes of the learner profile as they tackled new environments and challenges head-on and with huge smiles on their faces. Our activities kicked off with a wonderful excursion to NERAM with Madame Perrin-Baker. Here we explored the art gallery and learnt the skill of printmaking. K-2 activity rotations followed where we rotated through netball, drama and dance activities. It was great fun!

Perhaps the real excitement began on Thursday morning when we met at the flagpoles to head off on our adventure! The much-anticipated overnight stay at Lake Keepit. We arrived, were told where our cabins were, sorted out our gear and then headed to the pool for water activities and games. Although it was a little chilly we all had a great time.  We then headed off to the giant slide! Unfortunately, due to some stubborn lightning, we had to postpone this event until Friday. So, it was back to base for some team building games and dinner followed by more activities with all of Years 2-5 together. Getting to sleep was pretty easy for most, staying asleep a little more challenging for some! (Sorry Mr Lloyd, but we were super excited about our Friday activities.)

On Friday, we were up nice and early and got ready for the morning’s activities. We began with the low ropes course which was a lot more difficult than it looked. We really had to support each other to ensure we all do it around the course safely. Finally, we got to that Giant Slide. IT WAS EPIC!!! All in all, Year 2 had a fabulous time away and learnt so many new skills, including how to take care of each other and our belongings. We would like to thank all of the staff from TAS and Lake Keepit who helped to make it such a great week. We can’t wait till next year.

Mrs Tania Hardin

Year 3 – Lake Keepit

Seventeen excited little people, bursting with energy arrived at Lake Keepit on Wednesday. Although drizzling we started with the double canoes and then set up for the evening activities. On Thursday the children went down the slip and slide in the rain, completed rogaining and archery. Our final day saw the children making damper and taking on the challenge of teamwork with the low ropes activity.  It was wonderful to witness the excitement build  on camp as new classes joined the existing classes throughout this excursion. This was particularly evident in our evening combined activities.

Over the duration of the camp, you could see the children grow in independence, confidence and organisation skills.  Most importantly you saw the children build deeper connections with each other through decision making, leadership skills and developing social skills.

A wonderful excursion that allows the teachers to spend quality time with their class.

Mrs Lana Hawksford

Year 4

Year 4 departed TAS on a foggy Tuesday morning ready for 4 days of adventure, fun and challenges at Lake Keepit Sport and Recreation Centre. We were engaged in many activities which tested our endurance and risk taking abilities. For many the thought of sharing a cabin with 10 others was a challenge whilst for others it was the thought of being covered in mud from head to toe that proved to be challenging.

As a class we decided we would run a ‘tidy cabins’ and ‘first asleep’ competition, this certainly worked a treat with cabin organisation and tiredness was not really an issue, which certainly made for four very pleasant days.

Our day activities included kayaking, canoeing, slip and slide, Keepit Commando, archery, raft building and rogaining. All of the activities engaged in relied upon the students using their communication, self-management and social skills along with building resilience and tolerance. With the overarching  essential teamwork skills, being pivotal in all activities. Night Show activities provided a wonderful opportunity to bond with fellow classmates as students participated in both a Trivia Night and Games Night where teamwork was essential to be successful.

Year 4 was very thankful to our group leader Heath who had endless patience, explained all activities thoroughly and encouraged students to give all activities a go, even if some were well out of their comfort zone. We were also thankful to Mr Pennington and Mr Polson who joined us and participated in activities as well.

As the Year 4 teacher I was immensely proud of all students who participated with an enthusiastic attitude in the heat and at other times in the rain. They were attentive, keen to participate and inclusive of each other. Upon returning back to TAS each student reflected upon their personal high, low and learn from camp, which was a rewarding and worthwhile exercise.

Mrs Veronica Waters

YEAR 5

The highlight of Term 1 is always Lake Keepit and this year proved no different. It is so wonderful to see the students in a different environment, being risk takers, principled and good communicators.  The students participated in stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, bush archery, initiatives (problem solving), setting up tents/camping, baking damper, slip ‘n’ slide, mud run and evening activities. You can imagine that they were exhausted after being away for a week and returning home with stacks of dirty laundry.

On Monday the students were still talking about stand-up paddle boarding and the mud run. Both activities provided barrels of laughter, as well as focussing on working collaboratively as a team.

It was a pleasure taking this cohort away for the week.  They have an amazing zest for life and take every challenge as an opportunity to try something new or to enhance their skills.  Thank you Year 5 for a memorable week.

Mrs G Fawcett

PYP Concepts and Conceptual Understandings

By means of introduction to the Primary Years Programme and what inquiry learning looks like in a Junior School classroom I thought it important to explain how concept-based inquiry can act as a powerful vehicle that aims to promote meaning and understanding, and challenges students to engage deeply with significant ideas.

The PYP has identified seven key concepts that helps to drive inquiry.
Concepts help to:
• Explore a subject
• Add coherence to the curriculum
• Add depth to understanding
• Engage students with complex ideas
• Build understanding between subjects

Key concepts drive learning experiences and assist in framing a unit of inquiry.

Mrs Veronica Waters
PYP Coordinator