TAS Talks Term 4 Week 7

Activities Week

Due to Activities Week, this truncated version of TAS Talks will be restricted to relevant information for the coming week.  A full version of TAS Talks will be published next Wednesday 2 December.

Speech Day - Thursday 3 December - Morning Tea and Live Stream

Due to COVID this year, parents and families are not able to attend Speech Day with their student/s, however some amazing P&F members have organised a Morning Tea and Live Streaming of the event at the Armidale Bowling Club.

Morning tea including tea, coffee, fruit and cakes, will be served from 9.00am in the function rooms at the Armidale Bowling Club, 92-96 Dumaresq Street, Armidale. Speech Day starts at 9.30am and finishes at approximately 11.00am. Depending on numbers, we may be upstairs or downstairs in the auditorium or both.

The cost of Morning Tea will be $12.50/person (plus Try Booking fee of $0.50).

Due to COVID restrictions and managing numbers, everyone will be required to purchase a ticket through the Try Booking Link https://www.trybooking.com/BNANF  All are welcome, including children and grandparents but, COVID social distancing rules do apply, so everyone will have to be seated at all times. Numbers are limited and bookings are essential so please book early. 

Bookings close strictly by 12.00pm Monday 30 November 2020.

We really hope that many families can join us for a last catch up before the end of the year and to share a very different Speech Day gathering which we hope we will not have to do again, ever.

If you have any queries, please contact Sophie Wright on 0404 863 843 or email us on [email protected]

Additional End of Year Functions

I am aware that some other year groups in Junior, Middle and Senior school have arranged end of year get-togethers.  To find out if your year group has something on, please either check your Facebook Page, contact your Liaison Parents or check back through your emails.

Christmas Puddings – Sold Out!

If you haven’t already bought a fabulous P&F Christmas pudding, then I’m sorry to say you have missed out.  Please accept our apologies, however we have had a wonderful response and they are all sold.

If you did manage to buy a pudding, please do not forget to collect it from Reception between tomorrow Thursday 26 November and Thursday 3 December.  Any puddings not collected by end of day on Thursday 3 December will be donated.

If for some reason you are unable to collect your pudding during these dates, please contact the P&F as soon as possible and I’m sure we can sort out a way to get your pudding to you so that you can enjoy it during the Christmas season.

Liaison Parents for 2021

Liaison Parents have a vital 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 2021 feel the love and support right from day one, we would love to have all our Year Group LPs for 2021 sorted before the end of this term.

We are always seeking more Liaison Parents.  Even if your Year Group already has amazing LPs there is always room for more.  Being an ‘LP’ is not an arduous job –primarily it is to be a conduit for P&F matters to parents, a great way to make new friends and a wonderful way to foster a sense of community within your year, particularly when new families start at TAS.  Arranging the odd Year Group get together in a Covid-19 world, possibly managing your Year Group FaceBook page, organising year group helpers for sports day cake stalls and finding someone (not necessarily yourself) to potentially organise a 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 2021 or would like to know more about the role, please contact us on [email protected]

Mrs Rachael Nicoll
P&F President

With the school year drawing to a close, I am pleased to announce a number of new boarding staff appointments for 2021.

Ms Emma Channon will be the Acting Head of the Girls Boarding House in 2021 while Ms Catey Curtin takes twelve months maternity leave from boarding from the end of Term 4 2020. Ms Channon is already familiar to the senior boarders through her work in Girls Boarding this year and across the TAS Technology Department and Cadet Unit since 2017.

Mr Johnathon Woodbridge will move into the Tyrrell House Deputy Head of House role in 2021. Mr Woodbridge has worked in a casual capacity in Tyrrell House throughout 2020 and currently teaches in the TAS HSIE Department.

Ms Nele Van Hove will move into the vacant Tyrrell House Housemother Role in 2021. Ms Van Hove, originally from Belgium, is a trained physical education teacher, enjoyed a successful rugby career in Belgium, and has extensive experience working with teenage boys.

With the Middle and Senior School Speech Day concluding at approximately 11.30 am on Thursday 3 December, can I ask that all boarders vacate their respective boarding houses shortly after. Heads of House have already advised their boarders that all personal belongings must be removed from dormitories and rooms at the end of term, so each House can be thoroughly cleaned over the Christmas break. Boarders should discuss directly with their respective Heads of House if in-house storage is required. The exception is the Year 12 boarders who may leave personal belongings, fully secured, in their individual rooms.

Heads of House will be in contact with their respective house families in the New Year regarding information pertinent to the start of Term 1 2021, including the Coast Weekend from Friday 29 – Sunday 31 January 2021.

Wishing you all a festive and safe Christmas break.

Mr David Drain
Director of Boarding

With the close of the year approaching, students have been busy preparing for Cash Cup that will be held on Tuesday 1 December. Each house has been asked to prepare a Lip Sync, Movie Trailer, music ensemble performance and artwork.  Many students will be finding themselves outside their comfort zone, yet some will shine to find self-confidence on the stage or in front of the camera. I have had a glimpse at the Lip Syncs submitted and I am very impressed with the work put into these projects.

Due to COVID restrictions, there are no parents permitted at Cash Cup this year.

Sports training and games will cease next week for most sports, however students are advised to check directly with the MIC of their chosen sport to ensure they will not miss any activities that may be occurring in Week 8.

Finally, I would also like to say my farewell to Will Caldwell as he finishes at TAS next week. I have worked with Will for the past 3.5 years and have learnt so much from him in that short time: humility, honesty and navigating the chaotic world of Co-Curricular. I am so grateful to have been placed in a role working alongside him and he will be greatly missed in our office. Thank you, Will. May all our glasses be forever half full.

Mrs Rachael Edmonds
Assistant to the Director of Co-Curricular