The Boarding Program is off to a busy start for the 2023 academic year. The activities of the first few weeks are a glimpse of the commitment we have to providing a safe, supportive and enriching boarding program for your son. I have been impressed with the leadership shown by our seniors, particularly the House Captains and Vice Captains, they are outstanding role models for their peers.
I spent much of my idle time in the summer holidays reflecting upon the TGS Boarding experience. I was able to visit a number of boarding families with my wife Freya and daughters, Libby and Bridget during the break and I thank them for welcoming the Byron family into their homes. These visits reinforced my understanding that being away from home is challenging, and that our goal is to create a community that feels as homely as it can be, for all our boarders.
Underpinning our Boarding Program are our experienced and dedicated staff. At our Heads of House Leadership Day in January, the group examined what we do and in looking ahead to 2023, we reaffirmed our commitment to providing individualised attention and support to each of our boarders. We will be focusing on boarder wellbeing and developing the academic capacity of our boarders so that they can always strive to do their best. It is my intention that our community will see this accomplished through a range of academic, social and recreational opportunities. Importantly, there will be opportunities for boarders to collaborate in the development of the Boarding Program.
I firmly believe that this year will be an exciting and transformative one for our boarders, and boarding staff are eager to work with the boarding community to support their success. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me, or your son's Head of House.
Kind regards,
Nick Byron Director of Boarding
Corfe boarders are welcomed to the TGS community by Mrs Ruth Johnston, Mr Nick Byron and Mr Henry White
Academic Enrichment for Boarders
The library will be open on Sundays this year
There are opportunities for our boarders to enrich their learning experiences in a variety of ways and I welcome the support of parents in discussing these with your sons.
I am very happy to announce that the library will be open on Sundays for boarders to undertake studies in a dedicated learning environment. In boarding houses, our Heads and Assistant Heads of House have one-on-one conversations with the boys in the house regarding their studies and their aspirations for each term. They reference these to the assessment planners and explicitly prompt our boarders to engage with tasks according to which subjects they are studying. The assessment planners for each year level are below.
Additionally, families are able to organise for private tutors to visit their son in the boarding house. This year, there are a number of 2022 School Prefects remaining in Toowoomba and these young men have expressed an interest in spending their 'gap' year earning some money by tutoring boarders. Please get in touch with me if you want their contact details.
Within the 'normal' school day, our Heads of Department and student-led 'Senior Academic Leaders Tutoring' make sure there are plenty of lunchtimes when our boarders can seek some assistance. In particular, the Maths Department has advertised sessions throughout the week, both at lunch and after school. Our senior students are also undoubtedly aware that Ms Khyl Domrow is holding evening Chemistry tutorials every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in F1.
Boarders' Recreation Program
Music practice sessions 3:30pm to 5:30pm on Mondays
I am pleased to announce that our boarding musicians now have the opportunity to use the music rooms in the Hugh Rose Building to practice on a Monday afternoon from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. One of our new boarding supervisors, Mr Darcy Walker, will be assisting the boys during these sessions. At the end of this semester, Mr Walker will graduate as a music teacher. He has directed musicals at St Brendan's College in Yeppoon as well as being an accomplished musical artist himself.
There has already been overwhelming interest in some of the activities this term. It is pleasing to see the way in which our boarders have responded to the range of activities, and I am looking forward to our boarders' providing suggestions for what we can do in Term 2. I have received some great ideas already and I'm working on making these happen throughout the year.
In looking ahead to the end of Term 1, I am expecting the Southeast Queensland Boarders Touch competition at Marist Ashgrove will be popular. I will be asking boys to sign up in the coming week and will distribute more information at this time.
Snapshots of our recreational activities so far....
I hope your sons have settled in well and are making the most of their time at TGS. If they are new to boarding, encourage your sons to become involved in whatever activities are offered. If you have queries or suggestions regarding boarding, please contact your son’s Head of House as the first point of contact or you are most welcome to contact the Boarder Parents’ Support Group (BPSG) and we will direct you to the appropriate staff contact.
A huge welcome to our new boarders and their families! Dropping off a child to boarding for the first time is a tough gig. It will get easier and soon your sons will have settled into their busy boarding life with their calendars filling quickly, smiles will be bigger, and the phone calls home will get shorter because they are just too busy and the phrase “I gotta go – the boys and I are going to play touch on the oval” – or something similar will be heard regularly.
Please encourage your boys to sign up and take part in the boarder activities that have been arranged for the weekends. The calendar for boarder activities can be found on the Parent Lounge.
The Boarder Parents’ Support Group started off the year with a bang with a back-to-school meeting on drop off day with many parents in attendance. I thank you all for attending and it was great to see so many people at the meeting with many new faces present.
You should have received a BPSG welcome letter via email with all the contacts for 2023. The contact details are below and other information relevant to boarders can also be found on the Parent Lounge by going to http://www.twgs.qld.edu.au/, log in, go to 'School Links' and select 'Boarding'.
Each boarding house has a BPSG House Representative. Your House Rep’s role is to act as a spokesperson for the parents of their House at meetings and during discussions that the BPSG has throughout the year with the senior staff of TGS, as well as assisting with any concern you may have.
Please know that your comments, opinions and suggestions are valued and that if something is concerning you, or you are simply unsure of something, there is always a solution or answer to be found. All of your correspondence and ideas are respected and will be treated confidentially.
You will have received an email last week inviting you to join the TGS Boarding Parents' Facebook page. This page will be very useful to boarding parents for all things boarding. Please feel free to upload helpful tips, reminders or messages on this page and any photos of things happening in boarding or boarder boys (please just remember, don't post photos of other boys unless you have parental permission). A reminder to parents to answer the security question attached to the invitation and agree to the rules. No parent will be admitted to the page unless these two items are done.
Our very first Boarder Parents’ Drinks on the Lawn will be held on Sunday, 19 Feb from 3:00pm - 6:00pm. This will be a great chance for old friends to catch up and for new parents to boarding to meet many ‘old hands’ in boarding. Come along! This will be a very informal gathering to make new connections at TGS.
We will circulate a notice of meeting and encourage you to email any input to your House Representative to be included in the agenda which will then be sent out to you prior to the next meeting. Everyone is most welcome to attend as the meetings are very relaxed and offer a great chance to meet other boarding parents and hear directly from TGS executive staff. Our first meeting for 2023 is scheduled for Thursday, 30 March at 1:30pm in the Old Hall. This time works in well with end of term pickup. Come along and have a cuppa!
I am available anytime via email kymwright@aussiebb.com.au or phone 0438 489 170. I look forward to your involvement and support throughout 2023 and wish your sons a happy and successful year at TGS.
Kind regards,
Kym Wright
President, Boarder Parents’ Support Group
Dates for your diary:
19 February - Boarder Parents’ Drinks on the Lawn
30 March - BPSG Meeting 1:30pm, Old Hall
Headmaster selfie at the BPSG first meeting for the year
BPSG Contacts
2023 Boarder Parents' Support Group Contact Details
AEIOU Foundation - Run & Fundraise or Donate - Sunday, 12 March 2023
Once again Mackintosh House will be involved in the AEIOU charity fun run to be held at Toowoomba Grammar School on Sunday, 12 March. This is our major service activity and helps raise vital funds to support children living with autism. Our efforts go directly to the centre located at Harristown, supporting our local community. To be involved you can either register and run or just donate.
To learn more about the AEIOU Foundation click on the link below:
As part of the service activity, each Mackintosh boy has been asked to fundraise an amount of money that will contribute to the running of the Harristown Learning Centre. The process is online, and boys will sign up this Friday in their PCG lesson. To keep up-to-date on our fundraising efforts, Mackintosh House will have its own fundraising page, and this can be accessed via the link below.
We are encouraging all members of the TGS community from all Houses to come and take part for a great cause.
If you have not registered - fill out the details on the form and click create account. Please use Password1 for your password.
If you have participated before - On the right-hand side, click log in and use email used last year and password Password1
Once logged in, choose a distance of 10km or 5km and check personal details are correct. Students cannot register for 1km
Choose the fundraising page – click join a team – choose TGS Mackintosh House
Confirm that the fundraising page name is your name, add a reason to why you are participating, then click review and complete (pink button on right hand side)
Add Promo code TGS23 at top
Choose to make a donation with registration
If so, choose an amount and follow the payment details below
If not, choose no thanks
Scroll to the bottom, and tick box to agree to the terms and conditions
Click complete registration
We are hoping to break some records, with both the amount of runners we have on the day and the amount of money we can raise for the AEIOU Foundation.
Let have a great day,
Brad Allen and Andrew McKinnon
Heads of House – Mackintosh House
In the kitchen with...
Meet our Chartwells Hospitality Manager, Matthew Nilon
Matthew Nilon has worked in the hospitality industry for 25 years, both overseas and around Australia, managing numerous restaurants and restaurant groups.
“I love every aspect of my job, I can’t pick one favourite memory from my career, every venue I have worked at has had many different career highlights for me,” said Matthew.
“I always just enjoyed cooking and working with people, so hospitality was perfect for me.”
Matthew had never worked in boarding school hospitality and wanted a change and new challenge so the Hospitality Manager position with Chartwells was the perfect opportunity for him.
He joined the TGS Chartwells team in June, and oversees the kitchen team, works with the School on events as well as boarding meals, and ensures functions and School groups (P&F, Old Boys, etc) are well catered for.
Matthew helps develop the boarding menu alongside Nick Byron and is always open for feedback from the Food Committee, and of course, parents.
“My food philosophy is to ensure that we have good quality and to be proud of what you do. That is always what I aim to achieve,” said Matthew.
“We also have a little input with teaching the boys good manners, because a ‘please and thank you’ never hurt anyone,” added Matthew.
Matthew Nilon
What's Cooking?
The Laundry Basket
There is a a slight change to the laundry schedule for the last week of term.
Monday, 12 September
Groom and Corfe House - All clothes, uniforms, mesh bags etc., no sheets and towels
Tuesday, 13 September
Stephens and Taylor House - All clothes, uniforms, mesh bags etc., no sheets and towels
Wednesday, 14 September
Mackintosh and Boyce House – All clothes, uniforms, mesh bags etc., no sheets and towels
Thursday, 15 September
ALL BED LINEN AND TOWELS, Individual blankets to be folded and left on individual desks
CORFE HOUSE - blankets can be secured in the boys cupboards
Sony camp- linen and blankets will be supplied
Friday, 16 September
Any other linen remaining
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF THE NEW TRACK JACKETS ARE SENT OUT THIS LAST WEEK, THEY MAY NOT BE RETURNED PRIOR TO BOYS LEAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Please advise your son of this, he may want to take these items home.
DAILY WASH
Daily wash will be offered Monday, 12 and Tuesday, 13 September, unfortunately there is a need to redeploy this staff member to the laundry for the remainder of the week.
Where do I go if I have questions about my son?
TGS on Tour 2023
We can't wait to head out to some of our key areas to meet families of past, current and prospective students, and our Old Boys.
Please keep an eye out for the days we will be near you - come and say 'Hi' and bring your family and friends. We can't wait to see you!
Boarding Parents' Drinks on the Lawn
What's happening and when?
Don't forget to check The Blue and Gold for all our School notices, events and functions.
Welcome families of 2023! A note from Henry White, Head of House.
Dear Corfe families of 2023 – we’re off and running and what a whirlwind it’s been.
With almost two and a half weeks with your boys, I am thrilled to write this piece – the inaugural ‘Corfe Courier’ for 2023. Your boys have experienced a great deal in this short period and have a lot to write home about, I’m sure. There is plenty to report on – new faces and friends, new rosters and rules, outings and excursions, sport, and let’s not forget schoolwork! Our crop of Corfies have certainly kept busy and I’m excited to report on their transition and a few of their experiences so far.
I wish to preface this article by firstly acknowledging each of you, as parents, and by thanking you for your confidence in our team and your ongoing cooperation. Delivering your son to a house full of strangers is not an easy thing to do, and we understand it requires immense trust. I’ve enjoyed and appreciated getting to know each of you so far; some directly, others indirectly through stories and anecdotes from proud sons keen to spruik their home and family unit. I look forward to what the year holds and to working closely with you in supporting your son and enabling him to thrive as a boarder in Corfe House.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank and introduce our staff. We have a wonderful team here in Corfe, each with a diverse set of skills and experiences. Although you met a handful of us on Sunday, 22January, I would like to formally acknowledge and welcome each of the following staff to our team for 2023:
Ruth Johnston: Corfe Housemother and fulltime Corfe resident
Jenny Bazley: Boarding Supervisor
Eugene Seddon: Boarding Supervisor
Mac Flegler: Boarding Supervisor
Catherine Mead: Boarding Supervisor
Nicholle Biggs: Gap Student and fulltime Corfe resident
Finally, to reiterate messages I communicated last week, please see the following points to both inform future practice and to hopefully assuage any potential anxieties you may have at this stage of your son’s journey in Corfe.
A note on homesickness
Please know your boys are doing well. Boarding is a journey and boys will take this at their own pace. Many take a rockier road and take longer to find their way. This is natural. For some, the transition to life in Corfe has, so far, been a smooth one. For others, the novelty of this new experience has begun to settle and the realities of homesickness have set in. Do not be concerned by this; we see this every year and our team is doing everything we can to provide support. Please know we are a phone call away.
Corfe communication, moving forward
As you are now familiar, a formal communication, ‘Corfe Courier’, will be published fortnightly via the Toowoomba Grammar School Boarders’ Telegraph. In this piece, I will provide a recap of all preceding events and activities, updates on life in Corfe, important reminders for upcoming events, and, of course, plenty of snaps of smiling boys!
If you require immediate contact, please take note of the following numbers:
Corfe Master on Duty (MOD): 0419 145 403
Henry White, Corfe HOH: 0439 707 660
An important introduction: Ruth Johnston, Housemother
As the Housemother of Corfe, I feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to work with your boys to help introduce them into boarding life. I take my role very seriously and I aim to ensure that your sons will be well adapted to boarding life and be ready for their Senior houses by Term 4.
I always like to remind myself just how boys must be feeling when talking with the boys and dealing with each situation. The fact that I also basically live away from my home does help me share a common thread with the boys. In addition, having had three boys go through TGS as boarders also provides me with valuable insight.
I always encourage the boys to just be prepared to give it a go and try your best! At all times, the underlying messages in all that we do at Corfe is to:
Be honest,
Give everyone a fair go,
Respect others and respect difference, and
Always aim to do your best.
This year, as in previous years, I aim to provide a supportive and caring environment to assist the boys to initially settle into boarding and then foster their growth as they become more independent in the ways they get themselves organised and participate in school, sports and extracurricular activities. Initially, I am there to assist with waking boys up, planning their days, packing bags, directing boys in ways to keep a neat room, do laundry and ensure they attend school looking presentable. Then at the end of the school day, be at the entrance to welcome the boys home, have a chat and some afternoon tea before moving into the afternoon’s routine. I always like to ensure I end each evening with saying good night to each boy. This gives us an opportunity to check they are ok and know what they have on tomorrow.
Term 1 2023 - With Ms. Johnston.
Having fun, keeping busy and staying active!
Just two weeks in, your boys have navigated the settling period well and have enjoyed a jam-packed schedule. They’ve certainly kept busy! Australia Day celebrations and weekend outings have been the highlight, and our trip to "Wet n Wild" theme park on the Gold Coast certainly setting the tone for an exciting year ahead.
Aside from this, the boys have enjoyed various team-building activities, games of cricket and touch football, a few trips to the pool, and of course plenty of games of pool! In between this, they’ve found moments to socialise and ‘chill’, a Corfe House movie night, a Big Bash grand final, and some downtime when they can find it.
Looking to this coming weekend, Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 February, the boys have an opportunity to attend Toowoomba Park Run at Queen’s Park with my wife Samantha, and I. If you are in town and keen to join us for a jog – be my guest!
Playing fair – weekend sport and cocurricular opportunities!
The vast majority of Corfe boys have entered into one of the various cocurricular offerings for Term 1 and I’ve relished the opportunity to walk across campus and witness them having a go and playing fair. GPS Cricket and GPS Volleyball are the two favourites, with a few boys also having a splash in GPS Swimming, and others trying their hand at Chess and Cadets.
I’m proud that so many have chosen to enrich their time in Corfe with these commitments, regardless of their experience or expertise. We will continue to promote a consistent message of positivity around all cocurricular involvement – "Get out there and have a go! You won’t know you love it if you don’t have a crack!"
Enjoy this collection of photographs. A huge thanks to Di Skene (mother of Dougal) and Marianne Paffey (mother of Gus) for providing the shots of cricket – I wasn’t able to see the lads in action due to my own duty requirements and I look forward to calling out from the sidelines in weeks to come.
Working hard – getting stuck into academics and school life
Fundamentally, it is my belief that a flourishing boarding house, while a separate entity, should be considered an extension of the classroom. It is my goal throughout this term and across the year to provide an academic program for Corfe that enables boys to thrive academically.
So far, your boys are on track. They have responded well to the demands of the academic day, and their approach to prep and homework in Corfe, while not yet perfect, is certainly moving in the right direction.
The first major step in this direction was initiated on Sunday, 5 February, with the introduction of Senior Boarding Prefects as an active presence during Corfe prep. Where else other than a boarding house would you see a 6-foot 5-inch Year 12 student rubbing shoulders with a 5-foot Year 7 student at a work desk, both enthralled in their homework, and making the most of their time? The senior students provide a visual model for what an hour of solid work looks like to young boys who have never experienced this, allowing boarding supervisors to take a more active role in tuition and question answering.
Enjoy this collection of photographs of your boys hard at work!
Stay tuned for the next edition of 'Corfe Courier' in Week 5.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly by phone on 0439 707 660, or by email to h.white@twgs.qld.edu.au
Yours sincerely,
Mr Henry White
HoH Corfe
Boyce House
Welcome Back for 2023 - Boyce House
It was wonderful to welcome new students and returning students to Boyce House on 24 January. There are 14 new students commencing in the Boyce Senior House this year with a total of seven Boyce Corfe students and seven new students from NSW and QLD. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know some of the new students and listening to what they have enjoyed and also what they have found challenging. Some of their responses range from the challenges of living away from home to finding their classrooms and making sense of their timetable. It has also been interesting to note that they all share a similar sense of enjoyment through making new friends, having their own room, having teachers that genuinely care about their academic progress and well-being. The Year 8 students have commented on how much quieter the Senior House is and how much they enjoy having big brothers in the House to assist and guide them in the first two weeks.
2023 promises to be a big year for Boyce House under the guidance of a very large senior cohort, packed full of mentors that are eager to share their experiences with all their peers throughout the House. The Seniors have mentioned that their focus for this year is about ‘encouraging students to respect others and their differences’ to enhance a ‘sense of belonging’ amongst all the students of Boyce House.
We welcome back all our staff from 2022, an achievement which is unique to all of the other Houses, and for this I am very grateful. Mr Todd Harris, Mr Brendan Doherty and Mr Tim Fels have begun the term making positive contributions spending large amounts of time engaging with the boys and sharing some of their stories from the holidays recently completed. This is Todd’s twelfth year in Boyce House and his experience and skills in understanding boys whilst building genuine relationships has been immeasurably beneficial in creating a zone where boys feel comfortable in navigating their way through their boarding journey. The boys know that they have someone in Todd who they can turn to when they need assistance in so many aspects of boarding life and beyond.
I look forward to seeing all Boyce families throughout the year and hope that we may have opportunities to visit more families over the coming holidays.
Wishing you all the best for 2023!
January Trip to Goondiwindi and Moonie
Boyce Academics
Boyce House came home in 2022 with a wet sail when it came to diligence and application in the academic realm. The boys were set the challenge of accumulating a 0.2% increase in effort rating across all subjects for every boy, both day and boarding. All but one year level achieved this, only missing out by 0.02 of a percent to better their previous semester’s achievement. This however showed how the dedication of many was able to produce better results which not only transfers to an academic outcome but also has been shown to improve a student’s sense of wellbeing and achievement.
The School is currently researching Cognitive Load Theory which is designed to create better opportunities for memory retrieval. The principle focuses on techniques that stimulate the students’ ability to retrieve previously learned material and bring it to the foreground of their cognitive output. Current studies underway at the University of Queensland have proven that students studying material will lose up to 75% of that information within 72 hours of digesting if they do not reintroduce that material within that timeframe. Mr Brendan Doherty is leading a revised study and prep time to assist students in revisiting material through multiple techniques to improve their cognitive sustainability. This in turn can assist in the reduction of anxiety related to academic performance and high assessment periods throughout the year.
Thank you also to the Year 12 Boyce boarders for their assistance on Sunday evenings in Corfe House with the Year 7 boarders. This initiative, set up by Mr White - Head of Corfe House, encourages the juniors to work alongside their senior peers and develop good study habits to assist with their academic progression.
Sport and Activities
The year has started well with the majority of students in the House registering and participating in the Term 1 sports and activities on offer. These range from volleyball, cricket, debating, cadets, musical rehearsals and recreation programs on offer.
Congratulations to Rahul Captain (Year 12) and Samuel Geu (Year 11) on being presented with the rare and extremely valuable GPS Premiership Cap for their successful 2022 GPS Basketball premiership.
Service
Toowoomba Grammar School has a proud history of service, from Clean-up Australia Day, Christmas hampers, to Bupa aged care visits, just to list a few. Grammar students frequently donate time, money, and care to the Toowoomba community, and in doing so, the boys gain a greater understanding of those less fortunate than themselves, as well as the importance of giving back to the community. Even though the boys do an extraordinary job of service, the School holds many charity drives that could be enriched with support from individual family members. Events such as Cardio for Care, raising money for St Vincent de Paul, is a wonderful opportunity for parents, siblings, and friends to give back to the community. The greater number of participants means more donations which has a larger impact on families in the Toowoomba region who need it most.
To all TGS families, please consider joining your son and helping with TGS's next service event.
Kind Regards,
Will Street, Senior Boarder Prefect
Student Bio – 5 Minutes with Pat Savill (Head Boarder and Boyce House Boarding Captain)
Tell us a bit about yourself Pat: I was born in the Mater Hospital in Brisbane in 2005. I live in Moonie where my father was raised. Mum was born and raised in Tamworth. I have two older brothers who are Old Boys of Toowoomba Grammar School, graduating in 2022.
What about interests: I enjoy playing cricket, tennis and rugby union. I am passionate about farming and enjoy my time at home on the holidays.
Tell us about your time in Boyce: I enrolled in Year 7, 2018 starting in Corfe House and moved to Boyce House the following year in Mr Wallis’s final year. I enjoy spending time with my House cohort and interacting with other students in all years.
Favourite memory of your time in Boyce: I have too many to recall in one newsletter article but the particular one that I enjoy the most is when my fellow cohort member Drummond Whitaker delivers one of his absolute pearler quotes. He manages to make everyone laugh with his outlook on life and is a good mate to us all.
Any advice you can give to future Boyce Buffalos: Make the most of your time. Most students get five years in Boyce and think that is a long time, but trust me, time goes a lot faster than you think and you need to make the most of every opportunity as it presents itself to you. Look after your school mates, life throws many challenges your way and it is always great to know you have good mates around you to assist you to navigate your way through.
What do you want to do when you graduate: I hope to go to university in Brisbane and study engineering.
Thanks Pat, on behalf of the House, we wish you well for this year and beyond!
Groom House
Welcome Back to Groom House 2023
Welcome to Groom House in 2023
I hope you have all had a great break. I know that the boys were ready for this after a very strange 2022, and it has been great to hear many tales of holiday adventures. Catherine, Teddy, Hugo and I managed to return to the UK for the first time in 3 years having been unable to travel due to border restrictions. Despite the wonders of Zoom and Facetime returning home does make you realise the joys of having your family close to hand. Nevertheless, it also makes you reflect on the benefits of living in regional Queensland... especially when we experienced a week in which the maximum temperature rarely got above freezing. This said, Hugo did manage to build his first ever snowman, and I don't think there are too many snowmen built wearing Geelong Cats attire!
Now that we are all safely back to the warmth of Toowoomba term has started with its normal rapid pace.
Seven new boys (Lawson, Charlie, Will, Henry, Broddick, Jonah and Alex) arrived nearly 3 weeks ago now and have so quickly assimilated into the Groom community that it is difficult to remember back to a time before they were here. This is not to say that we have not had some minor settling issues which are not uncommon with such a big change. What has been wonderful to see has been the way that all the boys have helped each other resolve issues and to settle into the house routines. There have been numerous trips to buy or replace cricket kit, bedside tables and fans, as well as basic supplies such as toothpaste and deodorant (and lets not forget that Everest Spice is back in business now that there are 46 hungry boys back in the house). Which leads me onto one of my main goals for the year... to persuade a few boys that there are more options to try at a curry house than just Butter Chicken!
As part of our integration process we started the term with our first year group social in Week 2. The Year 8 boys were given their choice of eateries up at Eastville, and chose KFC! (You might cringe, but they turned down McDonald's when offered - I think this is a step in the right direction). This was a lovely escape from the boarding house as we walked with a few of the Senior Leaders in the House (George, PJ and Brady). It won't be a surprise that these leadership spots were hotly contested as these Year 12 boys clearly understand their roles in aiding the new boys to settle. I don't think a free KFC will have factored into their decision making at all.
The general House culture has been impressive so far this term, which has been noted by our (new) temporary boarding house supervisor; Mr Lance Treloar. Many of you will know that Mr Treloar has spent a significant number of years immersed in the boarding community at TGS, and it is wonderful to have such an experienced head helping us out until we fill the spot permanently. I know that the boys have appreciated his presence and given that he has seen a thing or two in boarding, it is testament to the boys' approach and attitude that he has been so complimentary after just a few short shifts. We thank him for all of his efforts in the house.
The common room is already a thriving place. The pool table, which has been re-covered, and the table tennis table are rarely unused and it has been a pleasure to see the chess board regularly in use. This is something which is teaching me about Australian culture; I know about Steve Waugh's coining of the phrase "mental disintegration", but to listen to Campbell Gourley's sledging at the chess board is something entirely new! In all seriousness, it has been a great start across the board. Prep time is being used effectively, boys are participating in a wide variety of co-curricular activities, both inside and outside of TGS, and the community spirit is flourishing. Boys have clearly returned to school reinvigorated and as always, a little more mature than when they left us a few months ago. Long may this continue.
I sincerely hope that you can all make the Groom Family Evening in a few weeks' time. It will be fantastic to see you all at such an event after its COVID-cancellation last year.
As always, please don't ever hesitate to make contact if there is anything we can do to help.
Chris Stearn
Year 12 Leadership of House Culture and Values
Groom House is indebted to the way in which Jono Farrell and Allan Westman have been driving concepts of leadership with the current crop of Year 12 in their mentoring throughout the last 4 years. They have already shown great maturity in the way in which they are leading the House, both in action and in their words. They are keen to remain sociable with all boys in the House yet aware that there are difficult conversations which are better heard coming from them, rather than House staff.
Consequently I asked a few of the leaders their thoughts on how they aim to lead the House this year and continue to drive positive cultural behaviours. With such mature responses I expect that you will not be surprised to hear how excited the Groom House staff are for the rest of the 2023 year.
George Griffiths - House Captain
The clear-cut boundaries and high standards set by the staff and boys creates an environment where boys can operate more freely and are able to pursue their own interest and hobbies. Although this sounds like an oxymoron (high standards and clear boundaries creating freedom) it has proven to be very effective. When the boys know the limits of their activities they can, to an extent, do whatever they like operating withing them. Boys are not worried about any grey area or doing the wrong thing by accident. The key to this system working within Groom House is the incredibly strong relationships boys have with each other across all ages as well as with the staff. This allows for a trusting and connected environment and is part of the culture we will be continuing to promote this year.
PJ Ostwald - Deputy House Captain
For a boarding environment to foster a positive culture there needs to be a connection between the boys in the House and staff. As senior leaders we are that connection. It allows us to be able to create meaningful relationships with the younger boys and create an almost brotherhood dynamic, whilst also being able to release pressure from staff as they trust us to lead. As the boys similarly respect us and we are able to positively guide them to make the right decisions.
Lewie Elder
A positive culture in the boarding house promotes a sense of community and fosters positive relationships among residents. This can lead to a happier and more harmonious living experience, which can contribute to the overall well-being of all residents.
Alex Chardon
We are not just boys in a boarding house, we're brothers. We've got a responsibility to lead and guide to make sure the younger boys become men of the future.
From Susan Cameron - The Groom Parent Representative
A warm welcome to the year to everyone and particularly our new families!! We hope that you and your sons thoroughly enjoy the year in Groom. I have taken on the role of parent representative from Ruth Johnston who held the position for many years and did a magnificent job. Big shoes to fill!!
We have two boys in Groom, Jonty who is in Year 11 and Declan who has started Year 9. Our eldest son Hamish, finished Year 12 last year after spending five years as a Groom boy. We feel privileged to have our sons in such a great House!
Your first point of contact for any questions or concerns is Chris and I know that he will be more than happy to assist you in any way. I am available for any assistance you may need as well. Please feel free to call or email me. It doesn’t matter how insignificant you think your question may be, rest assured we have probably asked someone the same one. Whether it be ‘does anyone have a spare Groom shirt?’ to ‘it’s ______ birthday on Thursday, can I organise a cake?’, etc. We are in the process of trying to work out what might be the best way to set up a very casual platform for parents where questions can be asked in regards to what is going on in the House. Communication is the key so please don’t hesitate in reaching out to us.
I encourage you to attend the Groom Family Evening on Friday, 24 February. This is always a lovely evening where Groom day and boarder families come together for a drink and a chat. You should have received an invite a couple of days ago. We are hoping to have more functions during the year so that our boarder families get to see more of each other.
I look forward to meeting new families and catching up with old!
Warm regards
Susan Cameron (0417717770, brad.suz5@bigpond.com)
From the Groom Parent Representative
A warm welcome to the year to everyone and particularly our new families!! We hope that you and your sons thoroughly enjoy the year in Groom. I have taken on the role of parent representative from Ruth Johnston who held the position for many years and did a magnificent job. Big shoes to fill!!
We have two boys in Groom, Jonty who is in Year 11 and Declan who has started Year 9. Our eldest son Hamish, finished Year 12 last year after spending five years as a Groom boy. We feel privileged to have our sons in such a great House!
Your first point of contact for any questions or concerns is Chris and I know that he will be more than happy to assist you in any way. I am available for any assistance you may need as well. Please feel free to call or email me. It doesn’t matter how insignificant you think your question may be, rest assured we have probably asked someone the same one. Whether it be ‘does anyone have a spare Groom shirt?’ to ‘it’s ______ birthday on Thursday, can I organise a cake?’, etc. We are in the process of trying to work out what might be the best way to set up a very casual platform for parents where questions can be asked in regards to what is going on in the House. Communication is the key so please don’t hesitate in reaching out to us.
I encourage you to attend the Groom Family Evening on Friday, 24 February. This is always a lovely evening where Groom day and boarder families come together for a drink and a chat. You should have received an invite a couple of days ago. We are hoping to have more functions during the year so that our boarder families get to see more of each other.
I look forward to meeting new families and catching up with old!
Warm regards
Susan Cameron (0417717770, brad.suz5@bigpond.com)
Mackintosh House
Welcome to Mackintosh House 2023
As staff in Mackintosh House, we are always looking to provide opportunities for our boys that complement their educational journey at Toowoomba Grammar School. In Mackintosh House and at TGS, we focus on developing a boy's character, care, and support for each other, and we expect the boys to actively engage in developing their own positive character traits. We are looking to help boys in numerous focus areas this year.
Academic achievement
Personal wellbeing through pastoral care of all boarders
Quality character education for boarders from high-quality experience
In Mackintosh House, we also look at and refer to our values and character traits when having conversations, and in our actions. We follow three closely linked charters to achieve this. The School Creed is:
On every occasion, boys strive to:
Be honest
Give everyone a fair go
Respect others and respect difference
Do your best
In Boarding at TGS, a boarder of character:
Is a man of integrity
Embraces the boarding journey
Respects the differences of other boarders
Honours the privacy and personal space of peers
Gives his best effort in everything he does
In Mackintosh the theme is:
We are kind
We are honest
We are hard working
At weekly House meetings in Mackintosh with our dayboy peers, we recite the 'Mackintosh Pledge', which guides us daily as a House.
Mackintosh – Pledge
If you're thankful, show it.
If you appreciate someone, tell them.
If you're wrong, learnfrom it.
If you learn something, teach others.
If you're confused, ask questions.
If you're stuck, ask for help.
If you make a mistake, own it.
If you trip, get up.
If someone needs help, help them.
If you see wrong, take a stance.
We are Mackintosh! Ubuntu!
What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a concept that we have discussed as a whole House with Mr McKinnon (Head of Mackintosh Day). It is an ancient African word meaning 'humanity to others'. It is often described as reminding us that 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. Nelson Mandela reignited this concept in modern times when he decided to use the message "I am because you are". African philosophy says, 'a person is a person through other people.' Ubuntu has its roots in African humanist philosophy, where the idea is that community is one of the building blocks of society. We interpret this to mean that Mackintosh House, through humanity, support and contribution to others, ensures we are supported and benefit from our own community. Mackintosh House, through Ubuntu, is one of the building blocks or foundation stones for our broader TGS community.
During this year in Mackintosh Boarding, the boys will have fortnightly mentor meetings and pastoral catch-ups with Mackintosh staff. This is an opportunity for our staff to hear from each year group about their experiences and needs in boarding and build relationships. We will also be running a series of one-on-one conversations with all boys over each term.
During each fortnight, the boys will meet with the following staff, Year 8 – Mr Hutchinson, Year 9 – Mr Lachmund, Year 10 – Mr Walker, Year 11 – Mr Savovski and Year 12 – Mr Allen. We are very fortunate to have high-quality staff with a wide range of skills and expertise in education and life experiences. I have no doubt that this will assist the boys with their learning, well-being, and character development.
Mackintosh boys are welcome to come and talk with staff at any time, and we are constantly engaging with the boys informally. We have several formal pathways for 'student voice' in the House and boarding. Mr Byron chairs a boys' food committee and regular meetings in the dining hall, and boys from each boarding house are invited to be part of this group. I hold regular House Representative Council meetings in Mackintosh House with each boy. This committee comprises House leaders and representatives from each year group. The boys' committee comes together to bring ideas and requests formally about all matters in the House or in boarding. Ideas and matters from these meetings are then communicated to the School through our House Leaders meeting with Mr Byron and Heads of House meetings. These meetings are important and productive and create a better level of understanding for the boys while providing them with opportunities to influence areas that are important and matter to them.
We have been talking with the boys about their experience, activities, leave and the things that they may want to do. We are here to facilitate and pave the way for boys in Mackintosh House. We are the boys’ advocates and supporters while they are at TGS. We want to help the boys get to where they want to go, whether it be on leave this weekend or by the end of Year 12. I don't want boys to ever think that we are the ones stopping them, but instead, we are the ones who can help them.
I have been impressed by the level of commitment the boys have shown to each other and in their academic, cocurricular and miscellaneous endeavours so far this term. They have been hard working and are giving their best effort.
Brad Allen
Head of Mackintosh House – Boarding
Mackintosh House Captain 2023 - Clancy McCosker
Mackintosh House has had a very smooth transition into 2023. The first day saw many new and excited faces. These boys and three new staff members have fit well into our community and are beginning to make their mark on the House. The majority of boys have been making the most of their opportunities and are participating in cocurricular activities such as cricket and volleyball, and many boys have already begun preparing for their respective seasons through pre-season soccer, rugby and basketball training. It's been great to see everyone back and enjoying the year that lies ahead. A big thanks to everyone who came and had a crack at the Swimming Carnival. We're not usually known for our swimming ability, but we do our best to fill every race.
On Sunday, 12 March 2023, Mackintosh and Toowoomba Grammar School are hosting the annual AEIOU fun run. This is the largest fundraising event for the AEIOU Foundation, which supports children living with autism. All proceeds raised go directly to the learning unit located in Harristown. It would be great to see every Mackintosh boy in red shirts supporting this great cause.
The coming year, 2023, brings many new and exciting opportunities for myself and the other Year 12 boys of Macintosh house. This year I'm looking to do more for others in Mackintosh House, leaving behind a good legacy. I wish to get around and support the younger boys as much as possible and perform to the best of my ability in everything I do. One of my goals for this year is to play for the 1st XV; this will be very difficult and require a lot of hard work; this started last year and is ongoing. I also wish to achieve a high ATAR to give me great options for my life after school. I hope that everyone, all Mackintosh boys, work hard when looking to reach and achieve their goals this year.
It's been a great start to the term, so let's continue in the way, being honest, kind and hardworking.
Regards,
Clancy McCosker, House Captain
Stephens House
Welcome to 2023 from Stephens House
Welcome Back and Happy New Year from all at Team Stephens!
Stephens Year 12 leaders, Clancy, Will, Stevo, Richard and Ed
We are well and truly in the swing of the new school year and the boys’ weekends are already fully consumed with cricket and volleyball, and now club rugby training has been added to an already bulging calendar.
I have made a mental note to myself that, as I get older and time flies by ever faster, I need to umpire more. It is a magical way of making three hours feel like three days!
The House has had a net gain of two students this year; we have welcomed Archie (Orion Qld 4722) and Brigs (Inverell NSW 2360) into Year 8, and Trace (Andergrove QLD 4740 ) into Year 11.
We have lost Aidan Witenden to Prince Alfred College, Adelaide as his parents are in the process of relocating to SA from Newcastle. Aidan takes our best wishes; however, I sense an opportunity to jump up the table tennis rankings ladder in his absence.
Gilbert Tighe is spending Term 1 on an exchange program at The Rugby School in the UK. We look forward to seeing Gilbert in Term 2 and hearing about all of his exploits in the Midlands of England. In the meantime, we are making do with an occasional Facetime during prep via George, Darcy, or Will. All good fun.
Stephens now has an Assistant Head of House and it is wonderful that I am able to introduce Mr Peter Wilson and welcome him into the House and to the TGS community. A Toowoomba local, Peter joins the teaching staff in the area of IDT and will be teaching the traditional ‘manual arts’ (I am probably not allowed to use that term any longer...!) and industrial design, along with a little bit of Physical Education. A keen rugby player – league and union - Peter will be a great asset to the House and it is evident already that the boys have taken to him, and that he has taken to the House. Peter brings a wealth of experience to the School and looks way younger than he should ….
We have had some staff changes and the first issue of the Boarders' Telegraph seems to be the ideal place to provide you with something of an update in this area. After four years of loyal service, Ferg Hilder has moved on to his first teaching post at Miles State School and a restructuring of the staff roster has seen us welcome two new Boarding Supervisors to Stephens.
Ms Sian Hilliard and Mr Aaron Libeiron have relocated to Toowoomba to take up positions that fit alongside their other study and work commitments and the boys, as you would expect, have made them both feel welcome. In the opening couple of weeks, both Sian and Aaron have settled into the House, and it must be said that the boys – old and new – have reacted positively and embraced the change. At an early House meeting, I spoke about the culture that we have in-House, and it is the work that we all undertake, led by Mr Tranberg now for over ten years, that makes our House something special.
There will be more on Peter, Sian and Aaron in future issues of the Boarders' Telegraph, and I would like to be able to call on some of the boys in the House to interview the new members of staff and write a brief report detailing what they offer and hope to contribute to our community.
New Student Barbecue for Stephens Boarders
In a new initiative, and one that we feel to be important, Kate and I invited all the new Stephens boys, including the 2022 Corfe-Stephens cohort, to our residence last Tuesday evening for a barbecue, ice cream and fire-pit (I think that they are still allowed...!) evening.
Whilst it is a bit cliché to say ‘home away from home’ in the context of boarding school, I think it is important that the boys in the House are comfortable in their environment, enjoy the ambience of the House and get to see Kate and I in a variety of ways. At home being one of the ways.
The ‘Residence Barbecue’ seemed like a good way to invite the fellas into our house and just have a bit of a chill evening, and there were not too many complaints that they missed most of prep; however, there were a few complaints that I did not buy enough Cookies n Cream ice cream, instead opting for Choc Chip – but what would I know! The evening was lovely, Coco – who survived the Christmas holiday, but gave us a few scary moments – is back in his element and was on great form, surrounded by the boys and food.
It was nice to chat casually about how they are settling into House and School life, including the boarders' activity program. The feedback on Wet n Wild was overwhelmingly positive and Kate and I were reminded of the days when we took our kids to the theme parks. It feels like yesterday, but it was, in fact, ages ago!
I have been delighted with the way that the new chaps have settled in and embraced the opportunities and supported each other. That is not to say there hasn’t been a bit of homesickness, but by working together and supporting each other as mates, as an extended family, life gets better quickly. It is also nice that the boys see us in a more relaxed environment and whilst they do not see Kate professionally in school, her presence in and around the House provides a balance.
It is my belief (with no pedagogy or evidence to support the theory.... welcome to my classes...!) that if the boys are content and feeling valued, they will be better people in the House, in the classroom and in their extra-curricular activities. And, to flip that concept, I will also be doing my job better as well, and I think that this is one of the reasons why, for the most part, Stephens House is a great, motivated and supportive community.
I hope that the boys enjoyed their evening. They were keen to head to the exit when they realised prep time was over and their phones were back online!
House Culture
Academic support for all students in prep is crucial in ensuring boarders have every opportunity to fulfil their potential
Mr Tranberg and I have spent a lot of time over the past eight months or so talking about, and reflecting upon, Stephens House culture and what we feel sets the house apart. Unquestionably, over more than eleven years, he has witnessed a lot of changes in the House and across the School and his suggestions and oversights, for me, have proven to be invaluable when we talk about the values in the House – underpinned by respect, integrity and trust
Over the course of the last couple of weeks, as the term has got underway, we have seen episodes of leadership from boys in the House and it is worth documenting a few in this article. As the Corfe House boys transition to life in Senior School boarding for the first time, Mr White reached out to the Prefects and Seniors for help and support. Clancy Wright is a student that he has been able to rely upon – appearing in Corfe House regularly in the mornings to assist the new boarding boys in whatever was required.
Clancy seeks no thanks and wants no attention; however, we are grateful and his work is noticed. Similarly, when we hosted the new Stephens boys at our residence last week, Lachie Finlay was quick to offer his help and stood up to barbecue – again, a gesture that just made a difference for an hour or so, and one that he was not seeking anything in return for.
Year 12s are set to be offering leadership suggestions this week. The aim is to build on the rhetoric and the promises that were made as they interviewed for House responsibility towards the end of 2022. Turning these ideas into reality is always the hardest bit of the journey, largely because it involves both time and effort at a time when academic focus, IA tasks and the distractions of the final year of sports, arts, etc beckon.
We shall see what they come up with; however, I am hoping that an in-House prep support can be rolled out whereby the older students offer to help the younger boys with numeracy or literacy on one or two evenings per week, for a half hour or so. Academic outcomes are our core business and with extra staff in the House, and some buy-in from our Seniors, the junior boys have an opportunity to grow.
Meet the Boarders
Jack, Archer, Hamish, Henry, Campbell, Xavier and Brigs
I am hoping, over the next three issues or so, to present each of the boys and their dorms, and, by the time that the last of the dorms has been featured in the Telegraph, we will be able to retake the photographs with new furniture and décor in the House – that is the plan.
I am also looking to ‘name’ the dorms. As I have been walking around the House over the last couple of weeks, I have become increasingly irritated by Dorm A, B, C, etc, etc and it just feels like the dorms – in lacking names – lack an element of ownership or identity. So, my plan is that the dorms get a name, and the cubes get a sense of identity. I have said previously how I have enjoyed making enlarged photo prints to create a gallery in the House and my idea in this space is that each boy identifies an image that will be fixed to the entrance wall of his cube – family/home/a motorbike/landscape - anything that makes him own his space a little bit more and build connection between School and home.
A lot of research has been undertaken that seeks to make neurological connections between boys and their environments, both human and physical. Being in a boarding school environment is not always easy and not always what they want. It is though, the reality and I feel that Stephens House at TGS has to be the best house it can be and provide for every one of the boys to make their life better. Of course, it is a two-way street and there is an element of ‘quid pro quo,’ a payback, that comes in the form of good behaviour, hard work and community mindedness within the House.
Anyway, suggestions of dorm names, themes and ideas are welcomed from boys and parents alike, and I hope that they, along with the pictures, are ready to roll out by the time that our refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and fittings is completed later this year.
Year 12 Mother and Son Dinner/Stephens House Family Evening
You will have received information and details about these upcoming events in February. Last year, the Family Evening and the Mother and Son Dinner were held back until Term 2 for a combination of reasons including COVID and the departure of Mr Hill, and my eventual arrival in his place.
Both evenings were enormously enjoyable and well-attended events. As an introduction to the 'Grammar Way,' and specifically to the warmth of the Stephens community, both Kate and I enjoyed them very much and we were made to feel most welcome by everyone on what was, effectively, our first weekend as members of the Stephens/TGS community.
It was the incredibly well-crafted speeches of the Year 12 boys, delivered in the splendour of Gips dining room, that, for me, was the clincher. It was apparent that the old phrase ‘You bleed for your School, but you die for your House’ had some merit and the bond between the boys, and their gratitude towards their mothers was something to behold.
To this end, the Year 12 boys are already drafting their speeches and will be practicing them next week with me and Mr Tranberg playing the role of stand-in mothers in the Year 12 Common Room. The effort that the boys put into their speeches is important and it will go some way to setting a standard for what is to come in the remainder of their graduating year. I have used some photographs from last year to give you an idea of what lies in store for this year and beyond.
Likewise, the following evening (and hopefully we will enjoy a warmer evening than last year) we will gather, day and boarding, to celebrate a Family Evening and all, once again, are welcome and encouraged to attend; however, as boarding families, we recognise that this may be both impractical and challenging.
Introducing the new Assistant Head of House: Stephens Boarding, Mr Peter Wilson
Dear Stephens Boarding community,
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Assistant Head of House for Stephens. I have had the privilege of being a teacher for the past 16 years and I am excited to start this new chapter at Toowoomba Grammar.
I am a proud husband to Alana and a father to my three sons Noah (10), Oliver (7), and Jack (3). In my free time, I enjoy participating in sports and working with my hands. I am also learning to play the guitar and I am eager to learn more about the traditions and culture of TGS.
As the Assistant Head of House for Stephens, I am dedicated to moulding the boarders in our House into young men who will be responsible, respectful, and confident in their future endeavours. I am eager to work with the students and staff at Stephens House and to contribute to the growth and success of the School.
Please join me in making this school year an exciting and productive one. I look forward to meeting you in the months ahead, quite possibly starting with the upcoming Stephens House Family Evening.
Best wishes,
Peter
Taylor House
Welcome Back for 2023 - Taylor House
Describing the first two weeks of term as a blur might seem like an exaggeration, but they have been exactly that. The start to the new school year has included the welcoming of new boys and their families, as well as new staff, welcoming back our stalwarts, a trip to Wet n Wild, an intra-House volleyball competition followed by a KFC dinner, which if my sources are correct, included a “how quickly can you eat a two-piece pack” competition. And if that wasn’t enough, our boys getting used to a new timetable, new classes, “amazing and incredible” new teachers, a new daily bell system, and… don’t forget to throw in afternoon and weekend sporting commitments. Might I just say, all the boys in Taylor House have done an amazing job settling in to School and boarding life. As for me, I’m just sad I’ve had to give up my afternoon siesta!
The term ahead is full of activity with highlights including weekend sport, community service trips with Rosies, end of term exams and rounding it all out with Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week where all boys are off to varying venues for a week of engaging experiences. I have listed a few exciting opportunities the boys might like to add to their planners and get in early for…
Sunday, 12 February: Golf Lessons @ Carbalah Golf Club
Sunday, 19 February: Year 8 Pool Party with The Glennie School
Friday, 24 February: Years 11 & 12 Social with The Glennie School
Sunday, 26 February: Golf Lessons @ Carbalah Golf Club
Movie Trip Social with Fairholme
Friday, 3 March: GPS Swimming Championship
Sunday, 5 March: Clean Up Australia Day
Mystery Tour
Friday, 10 March: Year 8 Social with Fairholme
Years 9-12 Social: Broncos vs Cowboys @ Suncorp with Fairholme
Sunday, 12 March: The Glennie School Fair
Boarders Touch Rugby Festival @ Marist College Ashgrove
Friday, 17 March: Read My Lips Concert
Reds vs Fiji Drua @ Suncorp
Sunday, 26 March: Driving Range & Mini Golf
Some of these activities listed do fill up quickly, so keep an eye out on your emails and don’t hesitate. We would hate for you to miss out.
Taylor House is currently going through a visual transformation. Late last year we removed all the photos from the walls as it had been quite a significant period of time since they were last updated. We are currently on the hunt for some significant photos from boarders that represent them and where they are from. Our House leaders have been talking with the boys about this initiative. We want to update some of our imagery around Taylor House and would like to do this with meaningful pictures from our Taylor community. Examples of the type of picture could be, waterfalls, rivers or great views on properties, machinery or vehicles, pet and stock, though clearly seeing the boys in the photos would be best or anything else that may contribute to the House aesthetics. Some of the photos sent to me have been fantastic but we are well short of the required, so please send them in quick via email directly to me.
Stay well and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Warm Regards
Eugene Massi
Head of House – Taylor Boarding
From the Assistant Head of House - Taylor Boarding
Welcome back to Taylor House in 2023. The year has started with a very positive tone, and it has been fantastic to see all boys settling into the frantic pace of School and boarding life.
This year sees a new dimension in my role as Assistant Head of House. In addition to delivering quality pastoral care, it is my role to oversee the development and monitoring of your son’s academic progress. While we know your sons give their all and bleed blue and gold for Toowoomba Grammar School, the challenge for most boys lies in the academic realm.
Beginning with Years 8 and 9 the program will focus on…
Interim interview “where are you and where do you need to be”
Overcoming fear “I am better than I thought”
Goal setting “the SMART approach”
Study vs homework, “what is this and why is it different”
Preparing for exams “it’s not just reading notes”
Organisation “creating a plan and working it”
Review “did I achieve my goals... if not, why?”
The implementation of this program will give each boy the opportunity to understand how they can best navigate each challenge and how to overcome it. Initial interviews have proved to be very positive, giving each boy a clear understanding of their academic status. I look forward to giving a progress update later this term. Please continue to encourage your son in this space and reassure him, his efforts will be rewarded.
