TAS Talks Term 4 Week 4
In this issue
01. From the Head of School
MR ALAN JONES
Summer Sport underway
Summer sport is in full swing and it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm and engagement of our students. Last Friday shooters took part in an inter-school meet hosted by the Tamworth Clay Target Club and over the weekend our cricketers got their season off to a good start while a large team of mountain bikers competed in a three-hour event at Sport UNE. This Friday night our attention turns to Malpas Dam with the official launch of the rowing season. While our rowers have been in the gym and on the water for a few weeks now, the ‘soft’ launch is a good opportunity to focus on what will hopefully be a full season ahead. It will also be significant as the last season launch for our departing rowing MIC Will Caldwell who resurrected the sport at TAS 10 years ago and during that time has overseen the sport grow and flourish.
HSC wraps up
The end of school is nigh for our Year 12 2020 cohort, with the final HSC exams to be held on Wednesday of next week. After what has been a most challenging year for our students, the final putting down of pens and packing up of rooms marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives. Year 12 parents this week received a link to the ‘virtual’ Visual Arts showcase of HSC Bodies of Work, which again reflects their creativity and innovation. We continue to offer good luck to those who still have exams to complete and wish all Year 12 well as they begin to make their way out in the world.
NSW Country Rugby selection
Congratulations to Edward Bell, the 2020 vice captain of rugby, who was selected for the NSW Country under 18s rugby squad at Maitland on Sunday. This is a fitting acknowledgement for Edward and a wonderful opportunity. Our best wishes go to him for the team’s match against City under 18s this weekend, which will also be used as a selection for the NSW under 18s team.
The week ahead
As the HSC draws to a close, we move into the exam period for Years 6-10. Exams at TAS for these year groups are as much about helping students develop the good study and exam techniques they will need in their senior years, as it is about assessing what they have learnt during 2020. From the classroom, all our students will then be involved in Bivouac at the end of next week which is excellent preparation for Activities Week in the last full week of term.
Alan Jones
Head of School
02. Calendar of Events
| Week 4 | HSC Exams ( 20/10 – 11/11/20) |
| Thursday 5 November | Years 6-8 Exams |
| Friday 6 November | Years 6-8 Exams |
| Week 5 | |
| Monday 9 November | Year 9 & 10 Exams |
| Thursday 12 November | Bivouac |
| Friday 13 November | Bivouac |
| Week 7 | |
| Monday 23 November | Activities Week |
School Photos
School Group Photos have arrived and ready for collection from:Junior School - Ms Sandra Laskar
Middle School - Ms Robyn Frost
Senior School - Ms Veronica Lucas
The Armidalian 2019
In the interests of reducing our environmental footprint and in consideration of those who may prefer to only have a digital version, we are offering families the choice of receiving 'The Armidalian' online, or one print copy per family (to those families who had a child at TAS in 2019).You have been sent a survey that we ask you to submit your response no later than Friday 20 November. If we do not hear from you, we will presume you are happy to receive 'The Armidalian' in digital format only. Those who request a printed copy will have it posted to them.
Tim Hughes
Editor
03. From the P&F
MRS RACHAEL NICOLL
Christmas Pudding - Get in quick!
We’ve already sold two-thirds of our fabulous Christmas Puddings so if you wish to get one please get in quick!! They are selling really fast….
The puddings are only being sold online this year. They are still $25 each and can only be ordered and paid for on TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=655022&.
They will also only be available for collection (after ordering) from Reception between Thursday 26 November and Thursday 3 December. Any puddings ordered but not collected or not sold by end of day on Thursday 3 December will be donated.
If for some reason you are unable to collect your pudding during the dates given above (especially parents of Year 12 students) please contact the P&F 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.
Dried Fruit available
We have a couple of kilos of dried fruit left over from the pudding bake. We are selling this at cut-price – cheaper than you can get in the shops. Sourced by Monk’s in Armidale it’s beautiful for your Christmas baking so if you would like any please contact the P&F at pandf@as.edu.au
White House microwave up and running
At our funding meeting earlier this year we donated a new convection microwave to White House to enable a wider range of snacks and afternoon teas to be made for the Middle School boarders. Mrs Jones is pleased to report that this is up and operational and being enjoyed by the boys.
Mrs Rachael Nicoll
P&F President
04. From the Director of Studies
MR LUKE POLSON
Year 6-10 Exams
Director of Studies
Academic
ICAS Science
Several students elected to participate in the ICAS Science Assessment this year and the results are now at hand.
Of particular note are the results from the following students:
Distinction (Top 11% of participants)
Zana Ross (Year 4)
Peter Thompson (Year 5)
Holly Dauparas (Year 8)
Louis Ross (Year 9)
Tom Sheedy (Year 9)
Max Guppy (Year 10)
Congratulations to these students.
Mr Alasdair Hey
Head of Science
05. Leadership, Service and Adventure
Activities – Bivouac 12-13 November 2020
Due to the national nature of Australian Army Cadets (AAC), all AAC activities remain suspended due to COVID-19 situation in Victoria and other parts of Australia. Accordingly, the 2020 TAS Bivouac Activities Day 5 will be conducted as a TAS-sanctioned activity. Bivouac will be conducted on Thursday & Friday 12-13 November, Week 5. All cadets have attended an activities briefing on Tuesday 3 November and will have been informed about the required equipment. A more detailed set of instructions will be included in TAS Talks next week with information related to Annual Camp.
Students on TAS Bivouac are required to meet at the front of School at 8.40am for a roll call parade, and will be dismissed the following day by 3.30pm.
A list of the minimum required equipment is below.
- Back Pack (issued)
- Compass*
- Hootchie (issued)
- Spray jacket* / raincoat*
- 3m hootchie cord/rope*
- Kidney Cup*
- Pegs x 4*
- Ground sheet (issued)
- Toilet bag (soap, toothbrush + paste)
- Water bottles x 2 (issued)
- Sleeping bag* & Mat*
- Towel (small)
- Thermal undershirt*
- Notepad (in plastic bag)*
- Jumper
- Torch + spare batteries*
- Wet gear, swimmers, shirt & shorts. (B & C Coy only)
- Plastic bag for wet gear
- Water shoes(B & C Coy only)
- Sun screen & insect repellent (tube or roll-on only)
- Change of dry clothes, underwear & socks
- Cotton, long-sleeve collared shirt (any colour)
*Available for purchase from TAS Clothing Shop
Mr Angus Murray
Commanding Officer
Bivouac Information – Year 7 Rangers
Year 7 will be heading out to Jeogla Station for their next Activities day (12 and 13 November). We will be meeting at the front of Middle School at 8.45 am on Thursday and will return by 3.30 pm on Friday, in time for normal dismissal.
Students will require 2 x bags:
- overnight bag – that is for at camp (ie sleepwear, sleeping bag, cutlery, torch etc)
- daypack (backpack) which should be able to take to each activity (i.e. water bottles, snacks, notebook, pen, water activity clothing, sunscreen etc).
Students are asked to pack the following:
- Sleeping bag (and small/inflatable pillow if they wish)
- A set of clothes that can get wet (including a pair of shoes) – shirts must have sleeves to be sun-safe, and shorts to the knees.
- A small towel
- A plastic bag for wet items
- Casual (to wear on Thursday evening – pants are to be long to avoid insect bites, no shorts allowed)
- Jumper / hoodie to put over if cold (students can sleep in casual clothes)
- Camp cup / mug
- Torch (preferably a head torch)
- Notebook and pen or pencil
- Raincoat (if you think is necessary – check weather)
- Roll on insect repellent (no aerosol)
- Sunscreen
- 2 full water bottles
- Plastic bag for any rubbish
- Any necessary toiletries (strictly no aerosol)
- Any snacks you may wish to pack (all meals will be provided for) – No Nuts.
Students are expected to wear their usual Rangers uniform (jeans, green shirt, green hat, belt and joggers or walking boots) and will travel in them on a Thursday.
All students will get this information in activities briefing.
Mr Stephen Thompson
OIC Rangers
Surf Lifesaving Bivouac
12-13 November
Travel
Depart Thursday 12 November
- 6:30 am Brown Street. Pack trailer and bus at 6:15 am.
- Boarders early breakfast at 6.00 am.
Return Friday 13 November
- Depart Sawtell Beach 1.00 pm
- Arrive Brown Street at 3.30 pm (approx.)
Accommodation
Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club (Boys)
Sawtell Caravan Park (Girls)
Staff
Mr J Pennington 0419 250 984
Mrs G Chick
Organisation
Thursday
Arrive Sawtell approximately 9:00am.
Unpack bus.
- 9.30 am – 12.00 pm Beach Session 1
- 12.00 noon Lunch- Club
- 1.00 pm- 4.30 pm Beach Session 2
- 5:30pm Girl Fit
- 7.00 pm Dinner
- 8.00 pm – 9.00 pm Theory Session
- 9.30 pm Bed
Friday
- 5:45am Beach Session 3
- 7.30 am Breakfast-Club
- 9.00 am -12.30pm Beach Session 4
- 12.30pm Lunch- Club
- 1.30 pm Depart Sawtell
Mr Jim Pennington
Youth Homeless Sleepout
On Friday 23 October, 86 students and six staff experienced what 47,000 Australians under 25 do every night, homelessness. Not to be confused with staying in a hostel or couch surfing, but homeless, sleeping on the street, in a park, under a bridge, or wherever one can find some safety and shelter. With either blankets or a sleeping bag and a strip of cardboard (as a mattress) students endeavoured to find a space that was somewhat comfortable in the Lawrence Quadrangle. To take just one night out and try to imagine how every night is for so many their age.
There was an impressive roll-up, with students from Years 6 to 11 willing to be uncomfortable for the night, aiming to raise $2000 for homelessness in Armidale. As an added bonus, we then went for another $1000 to support the Wayside Chapel and their Youth Homelessness Program. In line with this, the Wayside Chapel were holding their ‘Long Walk Home’, to acknowledge that a homeless person walks on average 28km every week in order to find safety and shelter. In an attempt to comprehend this, the students moved twice during the evening, making it again, that little bit harder.
From 7-11pm students were in the Quadrangle, then from 11-2am around the McConville Centre and then from 2-6:30am the Sports Centre (due to the rain). I was so impressed with every student, displaying their willingness to be uncomfortable for a greater cause. My thanks to them and to all the magnificent staff who gave their time overnight in support of such a wonderful cause.
Mr James Pennington
06. From the Director of Co-curricular
MR WILL CALDWELL
Inter-House competition
The new House leaders are eager to develop house spirit as they prepare for the Cash Cup on Tuesday 1 December. This will set the tone for some healthy competition over the next year.
The Cash Cup format has been refined to allow for COVID restrictions but is sure to be as inclusive and entertaining as ever. The largely digital platform will allow parents to share the fun – more details to follow. Houses will meet during advisor time each Tuesday but the bulk of activity will occur on the day.
Volleyball
Congratulations to our inaugural volleyball team who competed in the NCIS carnival last Wednesday. They surprised themselves with how competitive they were and enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to develop their skills. I join them in thanking Mr Stephen Thompson for his initiative and enthusiasm in making this possible.
Mr Will Caldwell
Director of Co-curricular
Boarders' Music Practice
Mountain Biking
On Sunday the TAS Mountain Bike Team attended their first race for the season. We had 46 students compete in the three-hour event at SportUNE. Riders had to complete as many laps of a tough, technical, yet fun 7km track in a relay style. It was a great day for all involved with some excellent results. In the pairs race team captains, Archi Lawrence and Archie Chick led the way, followed closely by the fast teams of Thomas Dundon and Abbott White, Louis Ross and Emily Buntine, Angus Goudge and Charles Hunter, Alistair Newton and Sam Hynes, Bethan Palfreyman and Matilda Cullen. Toby Inglis was a stand-out riding solo and finishing second in the under 15 men’s division. Our Junior teams of three showed great promise, with some riders finishing laps in similar times to their older teammates. A highlight of the day was the courage of the students new to mountain biking this season. After only a couple of weeks of training, they tackled a challenging event and came out a lot stronger for it!
Bethan and Emily Palfreyman
07. From the Creative Arts Coordinator
MR ANDREW O'CONNELL
The Creative Arts is a bustling department at the moment with classes and co-curricular activities keeping all the staff on your toes. I draw your attention to the reports by Mr Andrew Wheatley about our Middle School Theatre Sports team and their recent competition, and a report from Dr Inga Brasche on classroom activities in Stage 5 Music. But there’s plenty more for me to share below as well!
Creative Arts Coordinator
Year 9/10 Revolution and Innovation in Music
Theatresports
Theatresports, like most things, looks incredibly easy but is actually an incredibly complex process of group improvisation. Teams work through a series of one, two and three minute games like Death-In-A-Minute, Emotional Replay and Genre Rollercoaster and are given marks on technique, entertainment and narrative. Needless to say, incorporating these elements with four people on stage all trying to pull a performance in different directions with absolutely no preparation time can (and often does) result in (hilarious) chaos on stage.
08. From the Head of Middle School
MR MARK HARRISON
School won’t stop this week – we’ll move to another gear
By the time this arrives in your mailbox the formal examination period will have started and finished and assessment marks that help us to determine semester grades will begin to come in so that the report writing period can commence in earnest. However, all students and families need to know that academic work will not have finished by the end of this week.
Academic and co-curricular programs run in tandem for the rest of the term and it’s very important that all students participate fully in them. They culminate in the Middle School Final Assembly and the School Speech Day early in December. Needless to say, perhaps, your attendance at TAS to celebrate your child’s end of year activities would be, normally, welcomed – but as that isn’t possible, we’ll livestream activities for all families.
All Middle School students will be involved in Bivouac activities over the next weeks. These two days constitute excellent and, I believe, necessary preparation for Annual Camp activities later in the term. Our staff spend considerable time in their preparation of relevant activities for your children. To facilitate the process of the Annual Camp I ask you to refer to information being sent so that all boys and girls are able to go away with everything that they need in terms of clothing, toiletries and so on, that they need for their absence from School. Your support of us in these matters is vital to the success of 2020’s final term.
Involvement
As you know, we’ve been busy, for well over two terms now, conducting a good number of actual or Zoom enrolment interviews for new students in 2021. As you know, we’ve even had new students begin at TAS this term. As such I’ve been thinking, especially lately, of the breadth of activity TAS offers to students and I genuinely believe your TAS investment is worth every cent. I’ve said, in response to questions generally concerning “Why TAS for my child?”, words to the effect of those that follow: This is a place where the person, a ‘concept’ if you must that includes the pupil, is given many opportunities to develop as an individual. It is only through willing involvement in a range of activities that students can find a comfortable ‘place’ in relation to others and the wider school. Of course, there will be times when they are challenged. But such personal challenge is necessary to the development of resilience, confidence and ease of interaction. Accordingly, the primary focus in the development of ‘self’ has to be on the willing nature of involvement earlier mentioned.
I think that now is an opportune time for me to have included the above in this edition of TAS Talks because we are heading towards a period of the year when students are experiencing the wider curriculum and our collective support of them in such undertakings is important to their development as individuals. It is only through involvement that students can realise that this environment is a mutually supportive one. Our staff ‘wear a few caps’ and their determination to support your children is part of their wider brief as TAS employees. I say employees advisedly because it isn’t just the teaching staff that are involved in co-curricular activities. In relation to the wider curriculum, I think one of our distinguishing characteristics is our easy capacity to get to know TAS students as people. As important, it is vital to the success of education that students have the opportunity to get to know us as people. Arguably, it is only through involvement in ‘whole school’ activities that this process is possible. As vital to the success of such education is your support of our efforts to assist all students in the School.
Until next week, then
Mr Mark Harrison
Head of Middle School
09. From the Head of Junior School
MR IAN LLOYD
Aladdin Jnr – more artworks please
Ms Fletcher and Mr O’Connell are ploughing through the filming of our End of Term musical and from all reports, it is going very well. However, we still need backdrops that can be included in the movie. What a great chance to get some of your own artwork on the big screen (and I’m talking to the students here)?!
Mr O’Connell is still looking for backdrops for Aladdin Jr. They will appear throughout the film replacing our green screen.
Please remember the following important points you need to know about your artwork:
• A4 is fine (but A3 would be better)
• Make sure they are in full colour
• They are just backgrounds (so no people or animals please)
• Do not fold them – please bring them in a cardboard tube or folder, we can’t have any creases
• You can use any materials – pencils, watercolours, paints, crayons, collage
• Have a look at the 1992 animated film for ideas, search pictures online, or use your imagination!
Some of the locations we need are:
• Streets of Agrabah
• Agrabah marketplace
• Aladdin’s home inside
• The Palace (outside)
• The Palace (inside)
• Jasmine’s bedroom
• Jafar’s secret hideout
• Desert/sand dunes
• Inside the Cave of Wonders (treasure room)
School Spirits
Congratulations to the following students for receiving School Spirit Awards last week:
Modi Alazizi, Xavier Nozad-Kahriz, Bridei Stewart, Ted Draney, Rory Secker, James Taylor, Janesh Wijewarna, Humjot Sandhu, Nancy Ma, Bonnie Blanch, Sahib Singh, Sophie Brett, Oliver Robb, Chelsea Miller, Chloe Dennison, Harry Brownlie and Ryne Wilkinson.
| Week 4 | |
| Wednesday 4 November | Yr 5 & K Assembly – Hoskins Centre 2.45 (staff & students only) Live Streamed |
| Week 5 | |
| Wednesday 11 November | Musical Assembly (TBC) – Hoskins Centre 2.45 (staff & students only) |
| Week 6 | |
| Wednesday 18 November | Dance Assembly (TBC) – Hoskins Centre 2.45 (staff & students only) |
| Week 7 | |
| Wednesday 25 November | Final Assembly – Hoskins Centre 2.45 (details TBC) |
| Friday 27 November | Year 5 Dinner |
| Week 8 | |
| Tuesday 1 December | Pool Party – Monckton Aquatic Centre 9.30am – 11.00am |
| Wednesday 2 December | Junior School Speech Day – Details to come |
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Libby Ditchfield for her special day this week.
Mr Ian Lloyd
Head of Junior School
IB PYP Programme
“Children are growing up with the power of digital media and technology to explore, connect, create, and learn in new ways. With this power, young people have great opportunities, but they also face challenges and dilemmas.” (commonsense.org.education 2020)
What does it mean to be a principled and balanced user of information technology?
This is a question that our Year 5 and Year 4 classes are exploring for the remainder of the term as part of our Personal Development lessons. The lessons are based on The Common Sense Media Programme, which is part of the Digital Citizenship Curriculum. The table below outlines the content that will be covered.
| Overview of Curriculum | Lesson Focus Year 4 | Lesson Focus Year 5 |
| Media Balance and well being | My Media Choices | Finding My Media Balance |
| Privacy and security | Private and Personal Information | You Won’t Believe This! |
| Digital footprint and identity | Our Online Tracks | Beyond Gender Stereotypes |
| Relationships and communication | Keeping Games Fun and Friendly | Digital Friendships |
| Cyberbullying | Be a Super Digital Citizen | Is It Cyberbullying? |
| News and media literacy | A Creator’s Rights and Responsibilities | Reading News Online |
(Common Sense Media is a series of digital citizenship lessons, which are all about educating and helping students take ownership of their own digital lives.)
For parents looking for additional resources the e-safety commissioners website, https://www.esafety.gov.au/ has some great tips for parents to support with some of ‘The Big Issues’ and tips on creative ways to help children have a safe and enjoyable experience online.
Mrs Veronica Waters
PYP Coordinator
Minnie Chick- being a balanced and principled user of technology
Junior School Sport
Gymnastics
Every week it is such a pleasure taking our group to Armidale City Gymnastics Club. They always demonstrate impeccable manners to all they meet and listen attentively to instructions.
Gymnastics is such a wonderful skill for children, as they develop strength, co-ordination and flexibility, their confidence improves and most importantly it is fun. This week the children worked through a series of stations, this included trampoline, bars and movement skills on the mat, focussing on balance and body strength.
It is fabulous to see the positive attitude that the children display, even when they are having difficulty mastering a skill and working so co-operatively in their groups. The children should be very proud of themselves.
Mrs Veronica Waters and Mrs Grania Fawcett
Indoor Hockey
On Friday at 4.00 in the TAS gym, TAS Navy played PLC. Despite Lachie almost scoring a goal and Humjot’s excellent defence, we never gave up and PLC played really well to win three goals to nil. We can’t wait until next week’s game to score lots of goals and have more Friday indoor hockey fun.
Cecilia Price, Year 3
TAS White
On Friday the Year 4 indoor hockey team were versing the PLC Puppies. The game started off with an amazing tackle from Zana Ross and great defence from Edwina Newton but a goal from PLC Puppies, but not all hope was lost because in the second half Harriet Coupland scored a goal to make the scores even and then another, thanks to a great pass from Minnie Chick. Then Izzie Glover scored an amazing goal at the end of the game. The end score was 1 to the PLC Puppies and 3 to TAS.
Mrs Anna O’Connor
TAS Navy
The TAS Navy team faced quite the challenge on Friday as they faced PLC 2 players short! Luckily, they were assisted by some helpers from year 4. Humjot made some excellent saves in goal and CC showed her skills as she quickly moved the ball up the court. It is hard to believe that these two are new to hockey! Lucie and Lachie put in some powerful shots and seemed to have endless energy. PLC just won but it was a fun, well-matched game of hockey!
Harriet Coupland – Year 4
