TAS Talks Term 3 Week 8

Finals Fever and Sporting Dinners

This week sees the conclusion of the 2019 Winter sporting season as players and parents from netball, rugby, hockey, football and shooting gather to celebrate their seasons and honour the achievements of players. There has been plenty to celebrate this year and the events already held and those planned are highlighting that. I offer congratulations to all those who have contributed so well, including coaches, managers and parents, as well as players, and hope that the dinners are enjoyed by all.

The rugby season finished the weekend before last with the fixtures at Downlands College inToowoomba, and Netball for our girls concluded on Saturday as our Firsts team went down in a closely fought semi-final 25-26. Grand finals will be contested by seven TAS teams in Football and Hockey on Saturday with our Girls First XI Hockey team playing in the Second Division Women’s game against Guyra at 12:00pm and our First XI Football team playing Inverell at Armidale Sports Ground at 5:30pm and I know that they will appreciate as much support as we can offer. The TAS Mums/Ladies netball team is through to the grand final too and I wish them every success as well.

Inter-house Public Speaking

Our senior assembly this week was given over to the annual public competition as the champions for each of the six houses presented speeches of 5 to 6 minutes on their choice of one of the three topics; ‘Eureka’, ‘By Hook or by Crook’ and ‘Oh brave new world with such people in it’. Each of the speakers was thoroughly prepared and the audience was entertained by some clever, witty and deep argument. As I commented in the adjudication, public speaking is treated with great trepidation by the wider Australian public and that reflects its importance in personal development. It was an impressive show with very close scores across the speakers and I offer special congratulations to Year 11 student Lachlan Reiss-Wears who won the day for Croft House. I also offer thanks to our coordinator of debating and public speaking Tim Hughes who again brought the competition together for his leadership and inspiration.

STEM Day

It seems that word of what a good event the 2018 STEM Academy Open Day was must have spread through the community as our second STEM Day last Saturday attracted more than 300 students from Armidale and across the region, a dramatic increase from 2018 and far more than expected. The simple fact that an afternoon of academic activities can draw so many children away from their Saturday routine is inspiration enough for any teacher, but the spectacle of their engagement and the fun being had was even greater encouragement. The purpose of the day is to create a ‘sense of wonder’ in the workings of the world and the activities on the day, whether it be F1 in Schools, playing with non-Neutonian fluid, coding drones, making slime, building forensic science skills, 3D printing or any of the range of others, achieved that goal in fine fashion. Creating that sort of inspiration can impact futures and there was a real sense that that may have been happening on Saturday.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our staff who planned, prepared and delivered the day with such energy and enthusiasm. Their academic passions and interests shone through in their delivery and I know that everyone who experienced the day will join in offering our thanks and congratulations to all.

Year 5 IB PYP Exhibition

Yesterday evening our Year 5 class presented the fruits of their work this term on their transdisciplinary theme ‘where we are in place and time’, with the focus on various explorations of migration. This group work project saw teams of three or four students working with mentors from across the School that took them into sophisticated global themes in their inquiry. I am sure that all who saw the exhibition will have been impressed by the depth and breadth of research from these young enquiring minds and I congratulate all the students involved and their teacher Luke Polson on presenting such fine work.

Passing Out Parade

This Friday at 2:00pm the TAS Cadet Unit will ceremonially farewell its Year 12 leaders at the 2019 Passing Out Parade. This is an important occasion that honours those senior students who have served in the Unit for years, often in senior positions with considerable responsibility. These days our cadet unit spends very little time on parade and this is our only formal drill for the year. Its significance to our senior cadets is the same though and I know that those who will be passing out have been looking forward to this day, with all the formality and tradition that signifies the Unit’s standing as the third oldest school unit in the country. A number of the passing out group that I have spoken with at lunch over recent weeks have commented that their experience in cadets stands out in their memory of TAS life as formative and important for them personally and concluding that in style is only appropriate.
This year our special guest who will review the Unit will be Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women and we are looking forward to welcoming her. The Minister’s presence is recognition of the significance of the day and she will also join us at the Cadet Dining In Night on Friday to present awards and address our cadet leaders.

Farewell to Viv Tearle

Today is the last day in the Clothing Shop for Viv Tearle as she departs Armidale on a sea change to the coast. Viv has been managing our clothing shop, with all the associated support for parents and students and sourcing of supplies that involves, for the past 11 years and I know that she will be missed by all of us. I take this opportunity to wish her every happiness for the years ahead and offer her our heartfelt thanks for all she has done.

Beginning tomorrow the Clothing Shop will be managed by Armidale local and current TAS parent Fiona Van De Poel and I welcome her to the team.

Murray Guest

On This Day, Revelation 21:1-4

So it’s Spring. The fruit trees are blossoming, the daffodils are bursting through the brown of winter to provide colour in what has been an extraordinarily barren wasteland for months. The weather was getting warmer; hands will soon reach for shorts rather than long-johns. This is a great time of year, a time of new beginnings and hopefulness.

Yet, the start of Spring has not always been a bright day. In fact, the 1^st of September has stained history with one of the darkest days the world has ever known. It was on 1 September 1939 that German forces attacked Poland across all frontiers. It’s planes swooped and bombed Polish cities, including the capital Warsaw. This was the decisive moment that acted as the catalyst for Britain and France to prepare for the declaration of war. WWII was effectively under way.

As we know, as we are reminded every week, when we read from the Book Of Memory in assembly, this war left no community unchanged, lives were lost as the world was left a deep scar.

This day should not be forgotten, and so we declare each week “lest we forget”. What do we say on Remembrance Day and Anzac Day? What do we hope for? On sentence from the prayer on these occasions reads like this:

“Make us a people zealous for peace,

And hasten the day

When nation shall not lift up sword against nation

Neither learn war anymore.”

We hope for renewal, we hope for new beginnings, I know it might sound corny, but the arrival of Spring reminds us that new beginnings happen.

Ultimately, God promises that He will make all things new, and he will establish a new era, when pain and suffering, war and tears will not dominate, in fact they will be a thing of the past. God himself will wipe away our tears and bring to reality the hope that stirs in us all – a time without darkness.

Mr Richard Newton

Hockey

Grand Final Games – Friday 13 September

• U11- 4pm  TAS vs City (T1.1)

*Bus leaves Junior School at 3.35pm.

•  U13 – 5pm  TAS vs City (T1)

*Bus leaves Q stores at 4.15pm.

Saturday 14 September- Game

•  U13 Girls- 11.15am  TAS vs Harlies Blue (T1)

*Bus leaves Q stores at 10.30am

 Sunday 15 September- Game

•  2nd Div Woman-12pm  TAS vs Guyra (T2)

*Bus leaves Q stores at 11.15am.

Mike Ball
MIC Hockey

Netball

Our netball season has come to a close and what a successful season it has been, four out of our five teams made it to the semi-finals that were played last week.

Most notable of these achievements was our TAS 1 team which were playing in the highest division of the Armidale District Netball Association competition for the first time ever. They placed fourth overall in Division 1 and played a hard and extremely close game against VIP Pulse in the semifinals, they fought right up until the last second and ended up only down by one goal.

TAS 2 placed fourth in Division 2 and they also played a very tight game against ACSC Pegasus, but once again, they unfortunately lost by only one goal.  TAS 3 placed sixth in Division 3, TAS 4 placed fourth in Division 4 and went down against ASC Blaze in the semifinal and TAS 5 placed fourth in Division 5 and lost against PLC 6 in their semifinal.

We have been blessed with our group of very positive and enthusiastic girls, led by our amazing captain Kim Bange, who are always looking to improve their netball skills whilst showing great sportsmanship and we are proud of each and every one of them.

As always, the success of this season would not have been possible without the tireless hours of our fantastic coaches, Mr Mark Taylor (TAS 1), Ms Emma Channon (TAS 2), Ms Rachel Piddington and Ms Molly McLachlan (TAS 3), Ms Rachel Holford (TAS 4) and Ms Hannah Lo (TAS 5). Many thanks to all of you and the passion you inject into our sport.

We are also ever appreciative of the parents who brave the weather each weekend on the sidelines to cheer and support  our girls.

Congratulations to our TAS Tabbies, the mum’s and friends team playing in the social ladies competition who placed 4th in their division and won their semifinal to play this Saturday in the preliminary final, good luck ladies!

Well done to everyone and thanks for another great netball season.

Ms Rachel Piddington 
Ms Alice Hudson

Holidays: they are only a few weeks away

Well, if you’ve been assiduously following the weekly news reports, this term is proving as characteristically ‘full’ as any of its predecessors. And we’re only in the middle of this week, so what the next days have in store is anyone’s guess. I know I’ve said this before but its importance warrants mention again: you do get your money’s worth here. You certainly get your money’s worth from our school environment: the trees everywhere are green-dressed – translating to the fact that spring is uncertainly arriving – the emphasis here being on the fact of the continuous present… And this term’s impending end has been no less full than its beginning – eight long weeks ago. Only this last week, for example, we’ve had sporting finals (girls’ and boys’); an unseasonably cool (at this stage) Passing Out Parade pending; football and hockey Grand Finals, week-merging cadet and sports dinners, and we’re ‘gearing up’ for assembly awards across the curriculum. Yesterday marked the beginning of assembly certificates for the Middle School, so we proceeded to the Hoskins Centre for ease of presentation of said awards.

Now we’re just about to embark on another debating venture. It comes immediately following our Middle School House Public Speaking event which was also held in the Hoskins Centre last week and, in my adjudication, I commented on your children’s behaviour. They can be challenging at times, these young people – especially when their term begins to wind down – but they can easily (did easily and with good grace, actually) put their best foot forward when they need to. The speakers were astute, acute and, without exception, engaging and it’s clear the audience appreciated this fact. Pleasingly, some parents formed part of the audience and I want you to know that you’re welcome to attend some of these events when you are able to do so.

Early Leave Requests

Early leave requests begin to come to us about this time of term. Unless they attach to very unusual conditions, strictly, these are not granted. Activities at school are all inclusive as a general rule. For example, in two weeks all student from Years 4 – 11 will farewell the Year 12 leavers, by lining the School’s main drive. This kind of farewell is a tradition at TAS and it’s important that our Middle School students feel a sense of connection to the wider school. I hasten to add here, contrary to my comments last week, that caps can be worn by our people. All Homeroom staff and I will speak to the students about the significance of such farewells and the necessity that they ‘look their best’. They know the importance of these final farewells to our Year 12 cohort. As such, I believe it is important that our boys and girls are here to participate in such an activity and ask for parent support in regard to the matter of early leave requests.

Mr Mark Harrison
Head of Middle School

Congratulations to those teams who have made it through to finals this week. We would love as many supporters as possible to cheer on our teams this weekend. Good luck to the following teams:

Football

TAS Blue U12’s who play Armidale City Blue at Rologas 12 at 11:30am

U12TAS Blues through to the Grand final

Hockey

TAS White U11’s who play at the UNE Hockey turf on Friday at 4pm

Summer sports choices

All children should have now selected their summer sport by returning their sports choice form to their class teacher. If you have not done so could you please email Mrs Christine Wright on cwright@as.edu.au  as a matter of urgency, as teams are being finalised this week.

General Information about Summer Sports for Transition to Year 4 children

(Please note that Year 5 children will be selecting from Middle School choices this year)

Junior School students (T-4) will be choosing their summer sport this week. With this in mind, a description of the various options appears below.

Junior School Policy re Participation in Sport

All students in Year 3 and above will participate in one summer sport in Terms 4 and Term 1, 2020. Students in Year 2 and below do not have to participate but are encouraged to do so. If students in Year 2 or below do participate they will commit to the sport (including training sessions) for the duration of that season. Training times and sessions vary depending on the chosen sport.

Description of Sports available:

Cricket:

To make cricket enjoyable and fun, different age groups play according to different rules. All games are played on Saturday mornings. Registration and insurance fees apply. See separate cricket groups for costings. Active kids vouchers can be used for all cricket registrations, and all registrations are done online in order to allow for Active Kids vouchers to be used. Forward your Active Kids voucher receipt to Mrs Christine Wright.

The different competitions are:

Master Blaster Cricket (Typically Year K-2)

Training: Monday afternoons

Games: Saturday mornings

More information on Saturday morning sessions will be available once the association have finalized this Summer program. Stay tuned!

Cricket U10s (typically Year 3 and Year 4)

Training: Monday afternoons

Games: Saturday mornings

Players must be under 10 on 1 September 2019. This format is designed for those kids who are ready for their first taste of junior club competition. Designed to stimulate action and test game sense and skills whether batting, bowling or fielding. Teams consist of eight players per side. Games start at 9:00am and finish by 11:10am (two hour games). Each team faces 16 overs. The team’s score is determined by dividing the number of runs scored by the number of wickets lost, plus one. The higher average score wins the match. Each player must bowl two overs. Cost will be approx. $100 for the season.

Cricket for U12s (typically Year 5 and Year 6)

Training: Monday and Wednesday afternoons

Games: Saturday mornings

(Players must be under 12 on 1 September 2019) A format that looks to further develop the cricket skills of kids that are playing their 2nd or 3rd year of junior cricket. The emphasis here is on continuous and active participation, where all players get to bat, bowl and field in a 3-hour window. The team consists of nine players. Games start at 9am and finish by 12.10pm. A team’s innings consists of 25 overs per side. A batsman must retire after facing 20 balls, unless already dismissed, and may come back into bat later in the innings. All players will get the opportunity to bowl. Cost will be approx. $100 for the season.

Swimming: This is not for beginners.

In choosing this sport, children should be able to competently swim at least two laps of the TAS pool. Parents wanting ‘Learn to Swim’ lessons for their children are encouraged to contact the TAS Sports Centre on 6776 5866, to arrange lessons. All swimmers will train in the TAS pool on Thursdays from 3:45pm to 4:45pm. The instructor concentrates on stroke correction and improving fitness. Additionally, students are expected to join the TAS based Alligators Swim Club (approx. $75 for the season) which holds Club nights every Wednesday night at the TAS pool from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. These are not only good opportunities to improve fitness and speed but are good social occasions as well. Costs will be $10 per week and the Alligators membership.

Gymnastics: K-2

Held at the Armidale Gymnasium. There will sessions on Mondays from 3:50 – 4:50pm run by qualified Level 1 coaches provided by Armidale Gymnastics Club. The cost is approximately $190 for the season (Term 4 and Term 1, 2020). Children will travel by bus to and from the gym with staff members supervising all sessions and travel.

Tennis:  Years K- 4

Hot Shots Tennis program 

Students will participate in the MLC Tennis Hot Shots, led by Justin Sheriff. There will be 2 levels of the program offered. ‘Hot Shots Red Ball’ will be for beginners and suited to students aged 5-8. (T-Yr 2) This will be held on Monday afternoons from 4pm – 4.45pm. Students in the Red stage play on a smaller court, use a larger ball, which doesn’t bounce as high.

Students in Years 3 and above will participate in ‘3-5 Red and Orange Ball’. Training will also be held on Monday afternoons from 4pm – 4.45pm. The Orange stage of the program is also on a reduced court size and the ball has less compression.

These small group lessons will cost $99 for each summer term (Term 4 and Term 1, 2020)

More information on the MLC Tennis Hot Shots program, is available at: http://hotshots.tennis.com.au/

Ball Skills: Transition – Year 2

This training session is for T-2 only and will be based around the ball skills required for games such as tennis, cricket, basketball and netball. Children will participate in the Monday afternoon training session at TAS. There is no cost for Ball Skills.

Basketball:  Years 3-4

Games will be held at the Armidale High School Den on Monday afternoons from 4:00pm. Trainings will be on Wednesdays at TAS. Registration fees are approximately $110 per season.

Indoor Hockey: Years 2-4

Indoor Hockey games will occur on Friday afternoons between the hours of 4-7pm in the TAS Gym. Students should have either an Indoor hockey stick or have their stick taped for training and games during the season. Training will occur on Monday afternoons. Costs are $5 per game.

Mrs Christine Wright