TAS Talks Term 4 Week 7

The amended Activities Week I have written about in the last couple of editions of TAS Talks, is proceeding apace. I would like to congratulate all staff involved for their efforts and organisation to provide a range of activities for the students based on and off campus. The cadet leaders’ courses scheduled for next year will go ahead as planned. These courses will determine who will take on specific leadership roles for the year. It is a rare opportunity for students at their particular stage of their cadet journey, to learn specific and targeted leadership skills at Corporal, Sergeant and CUO level that they can then take into the field. These are skills that can be carried into the future beyond the cadet experience and I offer my strongest encouragement to all parents of cadets to speak to their children about this opportunity.

Rehearsals for the Junior School musical Madagascar Jr. have been taking place at a frantic pace as the students and staff prepare the upcoming performances starting with today’s Matinee. Colourful costumes and makeup are a feature of the production and I am sure all involved cannot wait to get on to the stage. I offer special congratulations to all who have been involved thus far.

The focus for our Middle and Senior School students next week will be the Cash Cup with its emphasis on mass participation, fun and a bit of competition to go with it. By way of background, the Cash Cup was first presented by Alan Cash at the time of his retirement as Headmaster in 1982. It was originally an Inter-House competition comprising of photography, art, craft, and creative writing. That structure has morphed into the competition we have today in which each house produces an artwork, drama piece and mass musical item that is presented on the one afternoon, with some strict guidelines to guide the houses. In recent years it has attracted great interest and the production of the event, from the art to the music, drama and film pieces, sees a great deal of effort put into it.

I look forward to welcoming parents and friends of the school, as well as our special guest Ms Tanya Ha, to both the Junior School Speech Day and Middle and Senior School Speech Day next week.  Tanya is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, broadcaster, science journalist and sustainable living advocate and is best known for her TV shows and popular environmental books. Both her presentations promise to be inspiring and I look forward to welcoming students, parents and friends on both days.

Alan Jones
Acting Headmaster

ICAS Science Assessment

The ICAS Science Assessment went to digital delivery this year with mixed reception. Students had the option to participate and we have been very pleased with the results of a number of our science students.

High Distinction (Top 1% or participants)

Maxwell Guppy (9)

Distinction (Top 2% of participants)

Thomas Slack-Smith (8)

Guy Hardin (8)

Mehdi Ahsan (10)

Alexander Hall (10)

Congratulations to these students.

Mr Alasdair Hey
Head of Science

Modern Medicine Elective

The Modern Medicines elective class were extremely fortunate to have Dr Draney, a local GP, teach us about the art of suturing – using stitches to hold body tissues together.

Dr Draney provided us with a live demonstration of the procedure which the class followed – on bananas of all things – with a few interesting results and no fingers were stitched.

The activity provided us with insight to the extremely difficult procedures that doctors have to conduct on a daily basis, and personally gave me a newfound respect for these professionals.

After the practical activity, there was a question and answer section where Dr Draney shared the personal path into becoming a successful doctor. Many of the students enquired about the process of becoming a doctor, which were answered with fascinating and captivating anecdotes. Her passion for what she does inspired everybody and certainly provided us with an insight into a future career path that many of us may not have considered before.

The experience was extremely engaging and educational and provided everyone with something they will remember for a long time. On behalf of the class, I would like to give Dr Draney a massive thank you, for taking time out of her busy schedule to help spark a fascination for medicine in TAS students.

Medhi Ahsan
Year 10 Student

Activities Week 

With the unavoidable changes to our traditional Activities Week due to bushfires, the Middle School students have been involved in a range of rich and challenging activities and events this week.

Year 7 have been making Christmas gifts for Autumn Lodge senior citizens who do not have family; have been developing their crocheting skills to make baby blankets for Nymboida families affected by the fires; have visited the elderly at BUPA which was warmly received by the community there; and have been cooking for the Blaze Aid volunteers. The Rangers staff have organised these wonderful opportunities along with making placemats for Meals on Wheels and some physical activities such as mountain biking and PCYC rotations which have been welcomed by the students.

The Year 8 cadets have worked hard on creek clean up in town, have participated in a range of sporting challenges and rotations, and different groups have taken part in various other activities. Some of these initiatives include a visit to Minimbah, a fire clean up out at Guyra, and making mitts and patches for koalas injured in the recent and ongoing fires.

Our Year 6 students have been able to continue some of their Bush Skills Program with canoeing and shelter building out at Dumaresq Dam and some cooking which will take place later in the week. Our youngest students in the Middle School have faced some physical challenges and have been developing some of their creative skills in music and art.

Overall, it has been a wonderful week with our students being called on to develop broad skills and give back to their community. I offer my thanks for the many staff who have organised and facilitated such a rich program at short notice, offering our students a really meaningful alternative program during the obvious challenges of having to change our usual Activities Week plans. Thank you so much.

Final MS Assembly

Our Middle School Final Assembly will take place next 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.

Student work – some blossoming composers

A few weeks ago, Mrs Brunsdon, as part of a poetry unit in English, worked with Year 6 to compose some acrostic poetry. While this type of composition is an expected and natural fit for the types of skills the unit aims to develop in our students, the activity was especially fitting as it took place in the week that we said goodbye to Mr Guest. The students wanted to convey their feelings about The Armidale School and what it meant to be a student here by writing some poetry; the end products were really something special (and the English teacher in me was so excited). I am pleased to share some of these wonderful texts.

The Armidale School by Bailey Miller

Technology for the distinguished learning
Heroic war cries
Ecological environments

Agriculture experiences
Respecting the traditional elders of the land, the people
Massive amounts of homework
Indigenous cultures
Drama and arts
Achieving at the highest level
Lifelong learners
Engaging young minds for over a century

Successful athletes
Co-educational throughout the school
Helping produce successful students since 1894
Open-minded learners
Opportunities flying through the window
Linguistic learners

The Armidale School – By Gus Sevil

The happy environment
Helping students to learn
Engaging young minds

Amazing rugby grounds
Risk-takers are encouraged
Minds flowing with knowledge
Intriguing opportunities
Drama, music and art
Available new experiences
Listening and respect for learning
Environmentally friendly

Socialising with students at school
Co-educational throughout the school
Humongous support for all kinds
Outstanding teaching giving students opportunities
Open-minded kids, ready to learn
Loyal people throughout the school

THE ARMIDALE SCHOOL – Matilda Morse

The happy environment
Helping students to learn
Engaging young minds  

Adventures to be found
Ready to learn new things
Making well-rounded people
Identity embraced
Day by day we learn and play
Amazing activities
Lifetime experiences
Exploring everyday 

Showing the students talents
Caring attitude
Helping students to grow
Opportunities open to everyone
Offering a variety of subjects
Lifetime goals accomplished  

Thank you

Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to the Middle School this term as Acting Head while Mr Harrison has been on leave. I have thoroughly enjoyed this time and have really loved working with our Year 6, 7 and 8 students. The staff here in Middle School are a dedicated, hardworking and intuitive group of people and I am so grateful to have had this term with them. I hope all of our community – students, staff, and their families – have a great summer back home and that the break brings the rain we all need.

My kindest wishes to you all. Please contact me through Mrs Robyn Frost on 6776 5819 or via email at [email protected] if you need anything at all.

Mrs Gill Downes
Acting Head of Middle School

Summer sport for the remainder of the term

Cricket

• Games – last game to be confirmed, most likely Saturday 30 November
• Training – there is no more cricket training

Indoor Hockey

• There are no more games or training sessions.

Basketball

• Games – last game Monday 2 December (TBC)
• Training – last session will be Wednesday 27 November

Tennis

There are no more training sessions this term.

Ball Skills

There are no more training sessions this term.

Swimming

Sessions – last session will be Thursday 28 November

Gymnastics

The final gymnastics session for 2019 commenced with the warm-up activity “Call the Action” and some guided stretching.

The rotation activities were:

• Trampoline with Mrs O’Hara
• Super wedge with Hunter
• Locomotion, including crawling, on the beams with Bianca
• Aerial tissue with Madame Perrin & Mrs Piper

The students are experts at moving around the circuit by now and were eager to try out the various activities. Tissue was a new activity for many of the students, and they were enthusiastic, and enjoyed the challenge of swinging whilst standing, as well as sitting.

For the final rotation, students reprised the super wedge, the beam, and the tumble tramp. The final fundamental skill for the Term was catching and throwing a ball in pairs.

The teachers have thoroughly enjoyed helping the students to develop their gymnastics skills this term, and we wish everyone very happy and restful holidays!

Horse Sports

Joshua Bourke in Year 2 competed for TAS at the Glen Innes High School Horse Sports last Friday.
Joshua and his horse Mortisha had a very successful day and were awarded many ribbons, including Champion 8-year-old – Highest Point Score.

Joshua Bourke and his horse, Mortisha

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. 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