TAS Talks Term 1 Week 7

Activities Days

This Thursday and Friday will see the Activities Program for 2020 get underway for all students in Years 6 to 11. The Activities Program is a deliberately structured and sequenced course of activities that are designed to stretch our students’ abilities through challenge and enable them to build leadership skills along the way. From Bush Skills in Year 6 to Pioneers in Year 7, Cadets for Years 8 to 10 and a choice of Cadets, Surf Lifesaving or Rural Fire Service in Year 11, the level of challenge, skill development and leadership opportunities grows as our students do. The Activities Program is the cornerstone of our character development curriculum and the investment of 12 school days each year in it reflects how important it is to us. Some students will be looking forward to the program and getting into the bush, whilst others may see the prospect as daunting. I encourage all who may be looking ahead to Friday and beyond with trepidation to remember that the challenges are designed to be accessible to all and while they may be testing at times, you will look back on them with satisfaction.

Year 12 Academic Activities

While the rest of Middle and Senior School are being tested in the field, Year 12 will be preparing for the challenge of the HSC in the first of the Year 12 study days. This program is designed to complement and supplement the work done in each subject by focusing on generic skill development and habits that will assist academic work across the board. Topics will be as diverse as essay structure, memorisation techniques, how to develop study habits and keeping life balance. Some of this will come from special presenters from outside the School and some from our own senior staff. I encourage every Year 12 student to make the most of the sessions by building on the advice given into study routines for the two and a half terms remaining.

Uniform Reminder

A reminder to everybody that as the cold weather approaches our standard of uniform has to remain at the high level of expectation that we continue to maintain.

The only change to uniform permissible is the nominated winter sports jacket to be worn only on rainy days.

Coronavirus Plan

I am very pleased to say that The Armidale School has a comprehensive plan in place in the unfortunate event that the Coronavirus ends up impacting Armidale and TAS. This plan has been discussed with staff and its existence announced in Assembly yesterday to the students.

A letter has been sent to parents outlining its basis and I would just like you all to know that we are well prepared for any unfolding developments in regards to the Coronavirus and its impact.

I would like to offer my thanks to Mr Pat Bradley and Mrs Seonia Wark for all their hard work in getting us well-ahead of the game. I am waiting to hear from other GPS Schools as to their plans for the forthcoming Head of The River and other mass participation events.

Federal Drought Funding for Schools

In December last year the School applied for a share of the Drought Relief Funding which had earlier been announced by the Federal Government. This funding has been granted to assist families who live within certain drought designated areas with their schooling costs. We are delighted that TAS was granted some funding which we have started to allocate against the strict criteria set by the Federal Government. There are a number of restrictions about what this funding can and cannot be used for, and the TAS Board determined that the expenses related to our mandatory Activities Program would be the most equitable way to alleviate some of the financial burden for our families who meet the drought relief funding criteria.

Families who do meet this criteria will notice that their accounts have been credited with an amount that is equivalent to the annual costs associated with the TAS Activities Program (ie Cadets, SLS, RFS, Bush Skills, Rangers and Lake Keepit).  The Activities Program runs from Year 3 to Year 11 so only families with students in those years have received a credit at this stage, accounting for about half of the government funding. The TAS Board will be looking at other equitable ways of distributing the remainder of the funds during the coming months, including the probability of offsetting HSC tutoring in Year 12 and excursion costs for T-Year 2 for those eligible families. More information will be sent to these parents in the coming months.

Alan Jones

TAS Rugby Carnival - We need your help!

The TAS Rugby Carnival is coming up in the middle of the April holidays on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April. This is the biggest event of the year for TAS and the P&F and showcases TAS far and wide – we have well over 1000 kids, coaches and managers to feed each day – plus their families … phew!!!

If you can help or bake or both for this event it would be much appreciated. The Rugby Carnival is in the middle of the holidays so if you are going to be round we would love your help.

Helpers and Community Service volunteers can sign up using the following link https://signup.com/go/MhpvKJc

More information will be sent out through TAS Talks, emails and Facebook in the next few weeks.

Our next planning meeting for the Rugby Carnival will be on tonight Wednesday 11 March at 5.30pm (please note the time change) in the Archdall Room.  If you think you can manage BBQs, help organise food and drink or generally would like to be involved in organising this event please come along or send us an email at [email protected]

Athletics Carnivals are only a couple of weeks away

Our sports carnival cake stalls raise a significant amount of money for the P&F and this money is used to make TAS better for our children so if you could support this worthy cause by baking or buying some yummy food and helping on the stall it would be appreciated.  The dates are:

• Junior School Cake Stall – Wednesday 25 March
• Middle School/Senior School Cake Stall – Friday 27 March

Anything will be gratefully received and can be dropped off to the blue P&F tent behind the gym on Wakefield (the field by the Junior School Turning Circle) prior to the start of your athletic carnival. Remember this cake stall is mainly for the kids to buy things to munch on (so don’t forget some pocket money) and a little bit for the adults.

Suggested baked/food items include cupcakes, biscuits, cake and slices (cut into single-serve portions), jelly cups, savoury goodies, gluten-free and dairy-free items (with labelling and a list of ingredients).  However, please remember all items should be nut-free.  If you bring in a container that you would like returned, please clearly mark it with your name and collect it after the carnival.

Stall times are:

P&F MEETING NEXT WEEK

Our second P&F meeting for Term 1 will be held next Wednesday 18 March at 7pm in Lower Maxwell Meeting Room. All are welcome and we would love to see you there.

Mrs Rachael Nicoll
P&F President

Parent Teacher Interviews

The Armidale School Cadets: Bivouac 1 (12-13 March)

Bivouac 1 conducted by The Armidale School will be held on 12-13 March, Thursday-Friday of Week 7.
Cadets have received a full briefing on their activities and required equipment on Tuesday 3 March.

All cadets will camp overnight on the night of Thursday 12 March in the vicinity of Mt Duval (B & C Company) or Copmanhurst (A Company).
A Company are required to assemble at TAS at 7.30am on 12 March for parade prior to departure.

All other cadets will assemble at TAS Adamsfield for parade on Thursday 12 March at 8.40am.

Activities will cease and cadets released on completion of the parade at 5.00pm on Friday 13 March.

The activities will be conducted as follows:

A Company

Kayak touring, mountain biking and trekking near Copmanhurst and on the Grafton River.

B Company

Night Harbour, fieldcraft, trekking, navigation and kayaking near Mt Duval and surrounding properties.

C Company

Night Harbour, fieldcraft, trekking, navigation and canoeing near Mt Duval and surrounding properties.

Cadets should note the below packing list as a minimum for overnight bivouac. There may be additional equipment required by platoon leaders for cadets. These will have been discussed at activities briefing held on Tuesday 3 March.

• Back Pack & Webbing(issued)
• Compass*
• Hootchie (issued)
• Spray jacket* / raincoat*
• 5m hutchie cord/rope*
• Kidney Cup* (issued)
• Pegs x 4* (issued)
• Ground sheet (issued)
• KFS set*
• Water bottles x 2 (issued)
• Sleeping bag & mat*
• Towel (small)
• Olive Green thermal or cotton undershirt*
• Jumper (issued)
• Notepad (in plastic bag)*
• Torch + spare batteries*
• Water gear (swimmers, shirt, shorts & shoes)
• Plastic bag for wet gear
• Bush Hat* (issued)
• Sun screen & insect repellent (tube or roll-on only)
• Change of underwear & socks
• Toilet bag  (toothbrush + paste, baby powder)

*Available for purchase from TAS Clothing Shop

All participating students will be issued with all required equipment by the TAS Q-Store. If this equipment is lost or damaged, it must be replaced at students’ own cost. Many items in the list above can be purchased from the TAS Clothing Shop and have been selected specifically for their suitability for TAS Activities use and reasonable cost. Clothing that has been outgrown can be replaced at no charge at Q-Store by arrangement with the School Quartermaster.

If cadets have questions about their activities, they should in the first instance approach their platoon leader for more information.

MAJ (AAC) Angus Murray

Coronavirus

All Co-curricular Events will continue as scheduled unless advised otherwise. We are assessing the situation daily and will notify students, parents and staff of any adjustments. Please follow the advice in the letter sent to all TAS families yesterday. If you have any questions or concerns regarding upcoming events please email [email protected]

Athletics Pre-Events

All events will be conducted on Wakefield.

The following events will be conducted during PDHPE Lessons in Weeks 8 and 9:

• Long Jump       – Year 6
• Discus                – Year 7
• Triple Jump      – Year 8
• Javelin               – Year 9
• Shot Put            – Year 10

Week 8 (16-20 March) MAKE-UP EVENTS

Note: Your ‘Age’ is the age that you turn this year.

Week 9 (23 – 26 March)

* Each House will enter a Girls team of four runners (consisting of one runner from Years 6-8, 9-10, 11-12   

   and the fourth runner from any year and a Boys team of six runners  (consisting of one runner from    

   Years 6 or 7 then one from each year).

 All other events will be conducted at the Championships on Friday 27 March. A full program will be published in next week’s TAS Talks.

TAS Football 2020

We are aware of the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season. Please be assured that we are considering all options and we will choose the option that is in the best interests of our students.

Mr Will Caldwell
Director of Co-curricular

NCIS Swimming

A massive team of 51 keen, enthusiastic, dedicated and awesome swimmers captivated the crowds on a sensational Thursday in Alstonville. This was by far the largest contingent TAS has ever taken to a representative swimming meet, highlighting the vast depth of aquatic talent currently at school. Led by Captains Lucy Ball and James O’Brien TAS finished first in the Primary and second in Secondary Schools Percentage Trophies (Point Score/Total Enrolments), again the best ever placings.

Congratulations are extended to Charlie Ward (Girls 12yrs), Miller Harwood (Boys 12yrs) and Iles Baker (Boys 13yrs) Age Champions, with Karen Baker (Girls 16yrs) and Charlie Bailey (Boys 14yrs) as Runners Up and Lucy Ball (Girls 18yrs), Hugo Broun (Boys 11y)rs, Fergus Menzies (Boys 16yrs) and James O’Brien (Boys 18yrs) third place in their respective age groups. The following students have been selected to represent NCIS at the NSW CIS Swimming Championships: Hugo Broun, Joe Fenwicke, Iles Baker, Miller Harwood, Charlie Bailey, Oliver Griffiths, Prudence Black, Karen Baker, Tom Ball, Samuel Ball, Ruby Straker, Fergus Menzies, Matilda Cullen, Abbott White and James Collum.

Thank you to Mr James Harwood, Mrs and Mr Ball and Mr Caldwell for their help on the day.

There was apparently someone famous in the stands who really wanted to get his photo with Ruby Straker. She finally relented!

Mr James Pennington

Mountain Biking

Creative Arts

Mr Andrew O’Connell
Creative Arts Coordinator

Managing time well

A lot of our Middle School students have already started to receive assessment notifications, and if they haven’t, they will do very soon. We also have some of our students involved in The Wizard of Oz and now also Jane and the Giant Peach, along with keeping up commitments to their regular co-curricular sporting activity, as their musical ensembles. School life is starting to get very busy for many of our students, and some of them may start to feel the pressure.

It is important that we teach our students how to manage their time well, and organise themselves. Homeroom teachers will work closely with students to ensure that they are being supported in their  often busy journeys through Middle School. However, it is important that you as a parent/carer are aware of the supports that we can put in place.

Our Learning Hub is open for extended hours of the day, and is a nice quiet space for students to complete any homework, revision or assessments. There is always support available to assist the students with their learning in the Hub, so it is a really valuable space for students to be visiting – be it before school from 7.30am or after school until 6pm.

Study timetables are also a very valuable tool for students, and there are many templates that can be found online to suit all students. It is crucial that students have a visual representation of everything that they need to do (inc. sport trainings, musical rehearsals, assessment deadlines). From this, students can work out a timetable to complete all of their homework, revision and assessments around a schedule that suits them – whilst understanding that all homework doesn’t just have to be completed at night.

If students are starting to feel overwhelmed, it is important that they have a conversation with their homeroom teacher, who can help support them through these busy times. Homeroom teachers can help make other staff aware of their workload, and can put strategies in place to manage it.

Mrs Rachel Piddington
MYP Coordinator

Coronavirus and Junior School

I am sure you will have noted the information that has come to you from TAS relating to COVID – 19. This is important reading and in Junior School we have been carefully gauging the level of awareness that our students are displaying. We have been able to discuss the developing situation as teachers and have had appropriate discussions with students about measures promoting good health, including sound hygiene at school and at home. If you have any questions or concerns that arise from the current circumstances, please let us know.

Parent/Teacher Interviews 

Thank you for your support for the Parent/Teacher interviews just held by Junior School over the last couple of days. These interviews provide a fantastic opportunity to discuss your child’s progress so far this year, to gauge how they are settling in and to focus on setting some goals for the year. I hope you found it a meaningful experience and would be happy to discuss any aspect of this process with you should there be a need.

Anzac Day – 25 April 2020

This year, as in some previous years, Anzac Day falls during the Term 1 holidays. Junior School has been invited to attend this important community event and closer to the time, we will advertise the details of the arrangements. This is not a compulsory event for our students, but in years past, it has been very well attended and I hope this will be the case again this year. Please make a note in your calendars and feel free to join us as we come together as a School to commemorate Anzac Day.

New England Sings 17 & 18 October 2020 

This year, The New England Conservatorium of Music is again presenting New England Sings, providing another opportunity for our children to join together with hundreds of others in song. It is a fantastic opportunity and one, which we believe, will have lasting memories and very positive benefits.  In 2018, over 900 students from 22 regional schools were involved and performed in mass choirs. As a School, we commit our support to this event and we are advertising the details now so that families can plan ahead. While I understand that there will be some that are unable to commit at this early stage, the expectation is that that all of our 3 – 5 choir will attend both the rehearsals and the performance. We feel that this will create the best opportunity to gain the most from the experience. More details will be available closer to the event but we ask that your reserve the date now and work with us to support this outstanding event.

Out of School Hours Care

Junior School is offering both after school care and vacation care to our parent and we would like some feedback about this service. We would like to provide the best possible service and so we welcome your thoughts. In the meantime, we ask that you give the Centre as much notice as possible with your bookings (and last-minute changes) as it is important for us to be prepared and have correct staffing ratios. Your assistance here is much appreciated.

Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School

School Spirit

Congratulations to the following students for receiving School Spirit Awards at last week’s assembly:

Xavier Nozad Kahriz, Umraj Nirmaan, Hugh Blackwell, Hunter Crane, Liam Hoad, Lachlan Wood, Rudra Tandon, Mila Nexo, Edward Gillman, Bonnie Blanch, Jack Wood, Jack Shenko, Arthur White, Saleh Alrdadi and Saxon Muirhead.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Scarlett Shortt, Xavier Nozad Kahriz, Rafferty Tonkin and Alexa Wood.

Junior School Upcoming Events

Goal Setting and Parent Teacher Interviews

Junior School parent teacher interviews this week will provide a timely opportunity for all teachers to meet with parents in order to reflect on student learning to date.

Over the past week teachers and students have collaborated on goal setting, which has enabled students to actively engage in reflecting on their learning and set goals in order to feed forward to their next steps in learning. These goals will be communicated with parents during the interview process.

Goal setting is an authentic process that enables students to make connections with their learning and aims to promote student engagement. The goals focus on individual student progress rather than their performance in relation to others.

In PYP schools, such as TAS Junior School, personal learning goals support high expectations by:

• making learning transparent to the teacher, the student and their families
• building a shared understanding of what learning is to be achieved
• encouraging reflection and focussed feedback
• inviting students to take ownership of their own learning (IBO 2018)

You are encouraged to take the time to reflect upon the goals set by your child and to review the strategies that they have put in place to achieve their set goals.

“By taking an active role in goal setting students will develop skills and learn from being self-assessors to self-motivators, with the aim of becoming self-adjustors.” (IBO 2018)

Mrs Veronica Waters
IB PYP Coordinator