Issue 7TERM I 2014

TI G S�e Illawarra Grammar School

FRIENDSHIP DAYCelebrating at TIGS

NewsletterAcademic Christian Caring

“Don’t worry. Be happy” is a statement that was made popular through a song by Bobby Ferrin released in 1988. It seems to capture the essence of what is currently doing the rounds in the media related to ‘happiness’.

The goal of ‘happiness’ seems to be the purpose of several popular themes currently in the news, particularly ‘mindfulness’ and ‘gratitude’. The claim is that by engaging in these practices the individual will be happy. This raises the question: Is the purpose of life just to be ‘happy’ or is it much more?

The following was written by someone who had experienced the worst that life can offer. At various stages of his life he was flogged, beaten and pummelled, shipwrecked and adrift at sea, hungry, betrayed by friends and imprisoned.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Somehow, the advice to ‘not worry, be happy’ seems shallow and inadequate, almost patronising, when expressed to people in the many desperate situations in our world.

The ‘happy’ movement has its origins in the research undertaken in the area of Positive Psychology which promotes intentional behaviour designed to improve a person’s

wellbeing. Martin Seligman, for example identifies five elements of intentional human behaviour that contribute to a positive state of wellbeing (a much higher order level of human existence than transient ‘happiness’):

• Positive Emotion (a sense of joy, contentment, peace)

• Engagement (being absorbed in the moment and connected to your immediate experiences, mindfulness)

• Relationships (being connected and involved in healthy, reciprocal relationships, generosity)

• Meaning (having a clear purpose in life, being connected with something greater than yourself, faith, spirituality, gratitude)

• Accomplishments (achieving mastery in areas of challenge, learning, achieving a goal)

‘Happiness’ fundamentally is inward looking and self-serving. Although there is a degree of personal gain to be had through each of Seligman’s elements, they seem shallow when practised individually for the goal of ‘happiness’ compared to when practised collectively for the benefit of others:

• Do we live in ‘peace’ for our own benefit or for the benefit of all?;

• Do we appreciate a work of art just because it makes us feel good or are we celebrating the talent and ideas of

others?;

• Is the purpose of expressing ‘gratitude’ really just to make us feel good or are we building up the person that has done us a favour?;

• Do we play the trombone just for the benefit of ourselves or the audience?;

• Do we engage in the rituals of faith just to make us ‘happy’ or do they connect us with a higher purpose for life?

At TIGS teachers are referring to the principles of Positive Psychology to inform our student wellbeing and care programmes. Our purpose is to equip our students with the skills and understanding necessary to live a life where they are “content in any and every situation.”

The quote above is from the Apostle Paul and this text concludes with the final statement: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” He has learned to be content no matter what his circumstances are.

It is when we are outward looking and living as God intended that we are in the best position to be content and living in a state of positive wellbeing. The elements of Positive Psychology provide a useful framework to achieve this end.

Stephen KinsellaHeadmaster

Headmaster

In last week’s newsletter I commenced a consideration of two damaging persuasions we resist in our approach to Christian Education at TIGS – secularism and dualism. Last week I said something about secularism, this week I want to consider dualism.

Put simply, dualism is the practice of compartmentalizing various aspects of life into two opposing forces or domains. It could be body and spirit or land and sea or us and them – any two opposing realms or domains. With respect to the Christian life, dualism tends to see life as consisting of sacred things and profane things. The sacred things are those things which are thought to be clearly related to God such as Bible reading, prayer, church and the like. The profane things are those things related more to general life in this world such as work, trivial pursuits, even the routines of family life and so on.

The effect of dualism is a fractured life. We engage in some areas of life thinking that we are pleasing God and in other areas we are not so sure.

Let me use the domain of work as an example. In some expressions of the Christian faith “true” work is in some way directly related to the life of the Church. The highest calling in life is to be a Priest or Church Leader/Minister. Some branches

of the Christian faith even understand this vocation to be a sacrament – one of the ways God imparts his grace to us. All other work – factory workers, teachers, doctors and the like – are lesser callings. They are essential for both the individual and society but they are not really sacred employments. Instead, they are profane activities. Necessary, but profane.

True biblical Christianity rejects dualism. True biblical Christianity affirms the goodness of God’s creation and the validity of all rightful engagement in God’s creation. True biblical Christianity sees no distinction between the service of God in the Church and in the World. The Church Worker serves God in the same way as the Council Worker. Each serves others with the gifts God has given to the ultimate glory of God.

So we read in Colossians 3.23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”; similarly in 1 Corinthians 10.31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”; and then again in 1 Timothy 4.4-5: “For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

What the Bible calls profane is a life lived without reference to God. It results in a misuse of God’s creation or a distortion of God’s creation for one’s own selfish and malicious ends. A right use of the creation – indeed, a full engagement in creation – is mandated in Scripture.

This is deeply liberating and the approach we take to Christian Education at TIGS. We want our students to be fully immersed in life as servants of God, working with the unique gifts God has given them to bring about the common good, always giving thanks to God for his good gifts towards us in Christ Jesus and always knowing in whatever they do they are at the very forefront of God’s good work in the world. This is true spirituality.

Rev James RogersChaplain

Chaplain’s MessageTHE SACRED AND THE PROFANE

Currently students in Year 11 are contemplating the areas of leadership that they might undertake in their final year at TIGS. For them, this is the culmination of a journey of training and preparation that started in Year 7.

The philosophy behind leadership at TIGS is two pronged. The first element is that all leadership should be seen as “servant leadership” based on the principles that Christ set as an example through his own leadership and evident throughout the New Testament. That is, leadership that is not primarily about self-interest but has at the heart of all decision-making, the interests of the group or the community that it serves. The other key element of leadership at TIGS is that it is inclusive and involves choice. That is, we would like to encourage all students to take on some form of leadership at a level and in an area where they feel they can make a contribution.

In Years 7 to 9 students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles in the Student Representative Council (SRC), which meets once a week with the School Captains. They are also involved in various community service activities, House events and even the Great Fete where they may take on leadership roles. During Year 9, students attend a Leadership Camp where they may start to gauge their leadership potential through a series of challenges. Some students will also be trained in delivering Peer Support to the new intake of Year 7 the following year.

During Year 10, students can choose from a range of leadership opportunities in the areas as diverse as:

• Peer Reading (with Junior School students)

• Outdoor Education (as leaders on school camps in Years 7 and 8)

• Student Hosts (providing service at various school events)

• Peer Support

• Hong Kong Crossroads project.

In Year 11, from Term II, students are invited to make application for a range of leadership opportunities. This year all applications will be made online via the student portal, OLLE. For some roles, such as School Captains and House Captains, there will a combination of voting and interview to select students to take on these important roles.

• Chapel Prefects (responsible for organising and running Chapels and other Christian groups such as FISH and XPLORE)

• House Prefects and Senior Leaders (Assist captains in managing House events)

• Various subject specific Prefects and Senior Leaders (HSIE, Science, English, Mathematics, Languages and the Arts)

• Sports Prefects and Senior Leaders

• Community Service Prefects and Senior Leaders

• Cross-cultural Prefects and Senior Leaders

In all these roles students will be encouraged to make a difference to others in the area of responsibility that they choose but at the same time maintain a balance with the academic commitments that are part of the final year of school.

Senior School STUDENT LEADERSHIP

UNIFORM SHOP Holiday Opening timesThe Uniform Shop will be open on the following days:

Wednesday 23 April 9.00am - 2.00pmThursday 24 April 9.00am - 2.00pmSaturday 26 April 9.00am - 2.00pmUniform Shop phone number 4220 0230

CANTEEN NEWSAn after school ‘snack pack’ is now avalable at the canteen for $4. 00. This pack includes small pretzels, a piece of fruit, a small water and a small yogurt. The perfect pack to for students on the run or between afterschool activities.

The canteen is also seeking new volunteers, if you would like to join the friendly team please contact the canteen on 4220 0241 between 7.00am – 2.00pm.

Greg LanyonActing Head of Senior School

Junior SchoolFriendship DayFriday 21 March is the National Day of Action against bullying in schools. In the Junior School we decided to celebrate with Friendship Day, to encourage our school environment where friendships flourish across the grades.

Our Community Captains, Mila Lancaster and Joseph Druett, organized an excellent programme to commemorate this inaugural celebration. At recess a “Compliment Tree” grew, as students wrote kind and caring words about others on leaves and attached these leaves to the tree. There was also a “Sorry Box” where students could anonymously write down something they were sorry for, such as saying unkind words.

At lunchtime all our Year 6 leaders became involved in arranging games. Year 6 reconnected with their buddies in Year 1 and played large group games such as “Heads and Tails”. Year 5 sought out their Kindergarten buddies and played Hopscotch, “Duck, Duck Goose” and Handball. Year 4 joined together with Year 2 and together showed some amazing skipping skills. Year 3 could find siblings or friends and join with any group.

AWARDSWeekly AwardsKD Lachlan Taylor, Palakh GargKM Isaac Turner, Nicole ChoiKP Miriam Al-Khalidy, Rhys Chieng1M Arya Kumar, Ting-Ting Cook, Zachary Hilton2C Samuel Stevenson2M Georgia Dolan, James Brewer, Ella Fennell, Jessica Llewellin, Brandon Nugara, Daniel Peden4C Hasnain Aly, Taylan Arapali4R Shahla Green4Y Mary Albert, Darcy Cross, Jade Hyde, Elizabeth Michelmore5A Bodi Hemsley-Oades, Amy Lendrum5Y Charlotte Tregonning, Soraya McCann6G Sophia Santos, Juyong Park6W Toria Tsakiridis, Kivaan Mudaly-Naidoo, Jett Norris

Merit Certificates AcademicSoraya McCannElla VartazarianOscar TildenAshley ArmstrongEuan ChristopherLachlan NealSophie McGuireTeerth KhannaLauren AyersOskay GultekinGeorgia DolanJessica LlewellinSia GandoEsther BigirindavyiMiranda Golding

Judi NealyHead of Junior School

RUGBY Image above On Thursday 20 March, 24 under 14’s students participated in a try rugby 10-a-side Gala Day at Kiama Showground. TIGS fielded two teams with both performing exceptionally well. Congratulations to Junior Amone for a fantastic defensive effort up against much bigger opposition.

The boys that represented the School admirably were:

Year 7 - Giovanni Nassau, Luca Fierravanti, James Pegler, Griffin Spicknall, Austin Pallone, Malachi Sigmund, Trent Ledwidge, Jonathan Fox, Talatau Amone,

Year 8 - Morgan Jackson, Sebastian Playford, Sam Okely, Noah Koder, Henry Jenkins, Joey Daly, Aaron Bell, Blake McDougall, Joshua Fullerton-Harvey, Josh Shalala, Ethan Jackson, Harley Martignago, Sam Shalala, Ryan Baker

Year 9 - Elliot Hutt

CIS CUP FOOTBALL KINOCKOUTImage bottom right pageTIGS recently hosted Shellharbour Anglican College in the second round of this competition. There are a number of new faces in the team from last year’s runners up so it took a while for the team to settle in to any rhythm or pattern of play. While the team had most of the control and the intent was always there, they never really looked like opening the opposition defence until a superb shot on goal really paved the way for a dominant display for most of the game. A lapse in concentration and some ill-discipline in our shape late in the second half saw Shellharbour score a consolation goal, but the final result of 5-1 to TIGS was a fitting result. Well done to Joshua Chapple, Sam Isabella, Brodie Miles, Thomas Walker, Cameron Barrett, Kyle Del, Tom Goodhew, Zac McLaren, Tomas Saponja, Lachlan Scott, Adam Galanti, Matthew Galanti, Louis Parsons-O’Malley, Ali Sawan, Nicholas Kyriakoudes, Harrison Taranto

AICES U/16 GIRLS HOCKEY CONGRATULATIONS to our TIGS girls representing NASSA at the ACIES Carnival this week. They won this competition for the first time ever. Western Associated Schools (WAS) has won this competition for the last 19 years, so this win was something special. They were Teagan Johnston, Chloe Johnston, Erin Golding, Brittony Smallhorn and Isabella Sandy. They all played amazingly well, with four of the TIGS students making the AICES team that will go away next week. (Teagan, Chloe, Brittony, and Isabella). It was a pleasure to go away with these girls as they are great sportswoman and wonderful people. I wish the girls playing next week all the best; I know they will do well. I would like to make a special note of Brittony Smallhorn. I feel if they were to have a player of the tournament that she would have won it, she played superbly showing true talent and grace.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL SPORT PROGRAMME Winter (Terms II &III)The Winter Sport Programme begins next term and a new online system has been setup to assist with the administration and implementation of the sport preferences. All students in Year 7-10, will need to re-enter their preferences and or apply for sport exemption.

Each student will receive an email (TIGS email account) by the end of this week with the required access code for the online system and information regarding how to submit their preferences and/or apply for exemption. Once preferences are submitted, a time and date is shown and that is what we will work with when allocating the sports. The earlier that students submit their sport preferences the more likely they will be able to receive their first preference. Limited positions apply to each sport session.

The online sport programme system will become active next Thursday 3 April at 4.30pm. If you or your daughter/son have any questions please direct them to Mr Toussis or Mrs Hinch.

Sport JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT

SENIOR SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY The Senior School Cross Country will be held on Wednesday 9 April at Kembla Joggers purpose built cross country facility, Darkes Road West, Dapto.

All students are expected to attend this compulsory whole school event to support their Houses.

Students are to wear full sports uniform and House shirt all day.

Students will attend their first two lessons of the day and buses will leave at recess to shuttle all students to the venue. No students are to drive to or be picked up from the venue. The carnival events will run in age divisions. At the completion of the carnival buses will bring students back to school for their normal leaving procedures.

Students are advised to wear a hat, sunscreen and bring plenty of fluid and food for the day. There will be a BBQ and drinks for sale at the carnival with all monies raised going to support the TIGS Future and Community Problem Solving Team going to the USA.

If the weather looks inclement please listen to 96.5 Wave FM for cancellation details. We look forward to another exciting House competition day.

PARKER’S TENNIS CLINIC Date: Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 24 AprilTime: 9.00am – 12.00pmCost: $60.00 (Ages 4-14 years)Bookings are Essential Email: arparker@bigpond.net.au

For more information call: Andrew on 0407 029 731

www.facebook.com/parkerstennis

SPLASH AND DASHFundraiser for Cancer Council WHEN: 29 – 30 March at Wollongong Harbour

EVENTS: Saturday 29 March Wollongong Ocean & Basin Swim

Kids Harbour Splash 350m, 800m Harbour Splash, 2km

Sunday 30 March City Beach Fun Run all agesCity Beach 5k Scenic coastal course, Kidz Family Run 2.5k ideal for younger kids

Sunday 30 March Aquathon’s swim and run Big Aqua: 605m swim, 5k runMini Aqua: 250m swim, 2.5k runKidz ‘Try A Aqua: 150m swim, 2k run

For event details and online entry: www.aquathon.com.au

NASSA NETBALLOn Thursday 20 March, the following nine girls were selected to represent TIGS at NASSA Netball held at Penrith Sports Stadium.

Cartia TarantoMargaux ChauvetRuby TildenAanya RakhejaAnnabel MaloufZoe DribbusMaya SoligoSelene ChadrawyMila Lancaster

The girls played exceptionally well winning all games played except one against St Luke’s Grammar where they positioned 2nd. From this Ruby, Cartia and Selene were chosen for the possibles/probable trail game where Cartia and Selene were then selected to play in the NASSA Team Gala Day.

CIS GIRLS FOOTBALLA big congratulations goes to Zoe Dribbus and Margaux Chauvet for being selected into the CIS Primary girls football team. The girls will now go on to compete at the NSW Carnival that will be held in June.

JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT

WEEK 9Music, Dance and Drama Showcase

7.00pm Friday 4 April

WEEK 10Elective Dance Evening

6.30pm Tuesday 8 April

TIGS Cross CountryWednesday 9 April

Last Day of Term I + Easter ServiceFriday 11 April

WEEK 1 TERM IITerm II Commences (Winter Uniform)

Monday 28 April

UPCOMING EVENTS

*** A reminder that the Whole School Cross Country will be on 9 April and NOT 3 April as printed in the School calendar. ***