TGS BOARDERS' - Toowoomba Grammar School

From the Head of House - Mr Michael Hall

Every year, the School enjoys the opportunity to host several young students from abroad on a gap year. Historically, these individuals have formed the main stay of various activities on and off campus throughout the annual calendar. The best part of this opportunity is what they bring in energy and from their life experiences. Boyce House has been fortunate to welcome our gap student this year and it is my pleasure to introduce Josh Kerr to you all:

Thoughts on first semester in Boyce House:

JK - It has been a bit full-on and I was thrown into the deep end initially, but getting to know the boys has allowed me the opportunity to fit in. After six months, I now find myself feeling very much at home. The boys and staff have been very welcoming, it really feels like I am part of the family now.

What has been the biggest difference:

JK – introduction to rural families and boys and understanding the relationship they have with where they come from. I never really had this back in the UK. Life is very different and not what I expected. In the UK news, all we hear about is farms shutting down or going bankrupt, but I never actually had any idea about what life was like for farming families. The boys have been great in giving me and the other gappies an insight into what life is like living in a rural setting.

What do you enjoy the most about Boyce House:

JK – The opportunity to interact with the boys of the House. Boyce House has become the central meeting location for the gap students and a lot of that has to do with the relationships we have formed with the boys. There are so many times when we have been either playing ping pong, having a laugh or just sitting around chilling with the boys. It is always enjoyable.

What will you remember most about this experience:

JK – the boys and the community have been always there to support us. They are great to have a laugh with and the Boyce community is there to assist us with our day-to-day sense of belonging. I will miss this the most when it is finally time to say goodbye.

Any tips for the Boyce boarders about your experience:

JK – look after the next gappies and create a similar experience for them. Keep doing what you are doing and allowing them the same opportunity that I have had. If you get the opportunity to travel to the UK, please be sure to look me up so I can return the same experience.

Sports & Activities

The smell of liniment and sound of crutches being adjusted can only mean one thing - Term 3 sports have arrived. Term 3 signals the largest term for sports on the GPS calendar. With the majority of students completing their pre-season trials and training sessions, it is pleasure to finally see them taking the pitch or to the court.

Playing rugby and basketball brings an exhilarating sense of joy and camaraderie that is evident on our boys faces after training and post their weekend fixture. The adrenaline rush of charging down the field, tackling opponents, and working together as a cohesive unit creates an electrifying experience. The physicality of the sport is matched only by the satisfaction of scoring a try, fostering a strong sense of achievement and team spirit. The staff of Boyce are aware of this and work to use analogies from this activity to help the boys relate to their own life challenges.

On the other hand, basketball offers a different yet equally enjoyable thrill. Dribbling past defenders, executing no look passes, dunking on someone and sinking shots from long-range are moments of pure bliss. The fast-paced nature of TGS basketball keeps players fully engaged, and the constant teamwork required to attain the best result, are features of the culture that fosters belonging in Boyce House. Both sports offer unique challenges and rewards, making them sources of immense pleasure for those who play them.

I congratulate the boys for their efforts two weeks into the season. Special mentions must be made to the following boys for their selection into the First squads for 2023:

Rugby - Carter Liddiard and Harry Newnham

Basketball - Rahul Captain, Sam Geu and Keahn Tuakura

The staff of Boyce wish all of our lads the very best for their season ahead.

Boyce House - Athletics Champions for 2023

Well done to all boys for their efforts and contributions to the House Track and Field carnival last term. Boyce House managed to hold off a very well represented Mackintosh House and win the day by four points. This margin, however, represents the need for boys to remain in the final week at School and commit to their House and mates on the day. There is much to be gained in personal development and the ability to dig deep for a common pursuit is a highly desirable factor in many of the boy's future opportunities.

Academics

Congratulations to all Boyce students on their academic efforts for Semester 1, 2023. It gives me great pride to acknowledge the recipients of the past semester's diligence awards.

Maxima Cum Laude - Pat Savill, Will Street and Chris Piccini

Magna Cum Laude - Carter Liddiard

Cum Laude - Drummond Whitaker and Hamish Marshall

These students have demonstrated outstanding effort and achievement across their academic pursuits and we congratulate them for their achievements.

This term is the final opportunity for boys to increase their academic performance rating. We encourage all boys to give an honest effort towards their academic studies so they can unlock the potential of their future opportunities.

Service

Every time I think that the boys of Boyce cannot surprise me anymore, they manage to go one better. Last term was a great example of this with boys raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation's Shave for a Cure, St Vincent DePaul winter hamper appeal and the push up challenge.

A special mention must be given to the following seniors for their efforts in raising $12,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation in the Shave for a Cure event held on the final day of term. These young men were exceptional in volunteering to have their heads shaved, even knowing that the upcoming chill of the winter months would require them to update their beanie wardrobe.

Congratulations to Beau Campbell, Drummond Whitaker and Alec Ziesemer on their efforts!

So far, we have delivered three very large boxes and many shopping bags filled with groceries, blankets and necessities. We are still seeking more donations to help those of the community to brave the winter chill. Please give generously.

Colours

Every year, students are encouraged to give of themselves across various opportunities through School and service-related activities. These students then have the opportunity to meet with Senior School staff and collate these achievements for recognition by the issuing of 'Colours'.

Congratulations to the following boys for having their achievements recently recognised by the School: Dom Black (Full Colours), Stirling Cameron (Full Colours) and Rory Black (Full Colours).

Boyce Events - Term 3

Term 3 is a huge term as far as events go for Boyce House. On the back of a stellar first semester packed with activities and fundraising events, we now roll into Term 3. Please find below a list of events scheduled for this term relating to Boyce House students and their families:

16 August - Staff v Students basketball game and charity fundraiser.

24 August - Yr 12 Boyce House Mother and Son Dinner - Gip's Restaurant

25 August - Boyce House Day and Boarder Family Evening - Jacaranda Room, The Pavilion TGS

14 September - Boyce Boarders Formal Dinner - Alan Cunningham Room, Burke & Wills, Ruthven Street Toowoomba

Invitations and further details will be provided in the coming weeks.

The staff, our families and I look forward to sharing many of these events with you this term.

Warm regards
Michael Hall

A Word from Henry White, Head of House:

Dear Corfe Families of 2023,

We’re back and well and truly underway, with Week 3 now in full swing. I’m almost lost for words by the pace at which this year has flown by; it is hard to believe we’ve passed the halfway point already. It has been brilliant to see our boys return well-rested and ready for the academic semester ahead. As I mentioned in an earlier communication, it is pleasing to acknowledge a newfound sense of maturity in the House, and it is evident that many boys have done some growing up over the break. It has also been lovely seeing and hearing from so many of you over the past two weeks. As always, your communication and feedback are welcomed and appreciated.

As I’ve already spelled out some important dates and items in an earlier communication to families in Week 2, this edition of Corfe Courier will be brief, but it will detail valuable takeaways from Term 2 and important initiatives taken in Term 3 to boost our approach to prep in Corfe House. It is my intention, now that we have reached the halfway point and are shifting our focus toward the transition into senior boarding, that we focus more closely on building a thriving academic culture in Corfe.

Furthermore, while addressing academics, I am thrilled to congratulate two of our Corfeys on their recent awards for consistent academic achievement and impressive work ethic in Semester 1.

Luke Shepherd – Maxima Cum Laude

Jimmy Baker – Cum Laude

I wish to also note that both Luke and Jimmy were recipients of Diligentia Awards at the mid-semester point. As such, their hard work and persistence has not gone unnoticed, and their achievements are a testament to their consistency. Well done, Jimmy and Luke.

Corfe's Approach to Prep and Academics in Term 3: Fostering a Positive Academic Culture

Upon reviewing our boys’ academic reports for Semester 1, I was, on the whole, satisfied but not to the point of being impressed. While saying this, some of our boys worked incredibly hard and performed exceptionally well. Furthermore, levels of achievement are relative, and I am thrilled to have seen growth across so many of so many of our boys, regardless of their final letter grade. What’s more thrilling is when this achievement comes on the back of hard work and persistence. However, upon review, there appeared to be a concerning trend amongst Corfe boarders related to the association of work ethic and achievement, with many of our boys scoring lower in this particular criterion than I expected and would have liked to have seen.

Upon reflection, I felt it was necessary, therefore, to foster a more positive academic culture in Corfe House to thus build our boys’ desire to learn and work hard. From there, I am confident our lads will lift this standard of work ethic and will benefit from heightened results and achievement. While a boarding house should emulate a boarder’s second home and safe space, I fundamentally believe it must also be considered an extension of the classroom, rather than a detachment from it. As such, as we embark upon Semester 2, we have set in motion plans to ensure our boys develop a longing to learn and are equipped with the mindset and strategies to do so, and are in an environment within which to hone these strategies.

We commenced Term 3 with a strict back-to-basics regime relating to standards in prep to set a firm platform for the academic term ahead. We have adopted the mantra that the Corfe House prep room is just another classroom and prep should be treated as any other lesson during the academic day. The environment, standards of behaviour, and expectations will thus emulate the classroom. This tightening of systems relates to timings and requesting permission to use headphones, laptops and to move around the room, all of which have been adopted earnestly by the boys. At the conclusion of Week 2, I am pleased to report that prep has so far been a great success.

In providing academic enrichment and fostering a culture of learning, we intend to implement two new initiatives that dovetail with the English Department’s intentions to boost literacy across the school. Firstly, Corfe House will adopt Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet as a House novel and bedtime reading text for Term 3. During my Thursday weekly Head of House assemblies, I intend to implement comprehension quizzes with fun prizes, and opportunities to discuss messages about self-reliance and gratitude – two of the text’s main themes. Secondly, at the completion of set prep requirements, boys will be encouraged to handwrite letters home to family and friends that I will then post on the boys’ behalf. This builds on departmental research pertaining to the overuse of technology and the lost art of handwriting. In incentivising this practice, we encourage and invite families and parents to also take part, reciprocating these letters in a timely fashion.

I look forward to seeing where these new initiatives take our boys and their studies. Please see this encouraging snap of our boys hard at it in Week 2!

Kind regards

Henry White

Signing Off!

Enjoy a few shots of the boys having fun at the end of Term 2 and upon their return to Term 3.

All the food groups! A few lads enjoying our End of Term 2 KFC dinner and movie night.

Surprise! A stoked Housemaster opening a few birthday gifts from a very generous set of boys.

Noosh Noosh Returns! Thanks to Ms. Mead for bringing Ms. Nora, the Jack Russel-cross-Daschund back into our ranks.

Grandy! The boys stopping for a quick snap on our way to Grand Central at the end of Week 1, Term 3.

Saturday Nights In! A few boys gearing up for a movie in our new home cinema.

Dear Groom families,

Start of Term 3 - New Faces

As always, it is great to see Groom House back in full flow and working so efficiently. The beginning of this term sees us welcome a number of new members to the Groom community. Fraser Judd has joined us in Year 8. Fraser lives on Boyne Island, is a keen cricketer and is playing for one of the local AFL clubs on Saturdays. It has been remarkable to see just how welcoming the Groom boys have been and how quickly he has fitted in. We also welcome Bob Bennett and Harry Callow to the staffing team. Bob (yes, he is the brother of Wayne) has had a considerable rugby league playing and coaching career of his own before he joined the Queensland Police force. He has vast experience in surveillance, so might be a perfect fit for a boarding house! Harry is a TGS Old Boy, who is currently completing his university studies and was an excellent sprinter in his former years. If Bob spots the boys misbehaving, we will be sending Harry to chase after them! Bob and Harry have made a great start to their time in the House and have begun to build some great relationships with the boys.

Groom Facebook Group

Recently the TGS Marketing Department, at the request of Groom parent, Susan Cameron, has set up a Groom Facebook group called “Groom House". This is a private group which Susan or I should be able to accept you to if you search this name. This is not an official form of school communication, but one for you to ask those important yet maybe seemingly "silly" questions, like “When does the drinks event start tomorrow?” or “Could anyone give Johnny a lift back to Roma this coming weekend?” (I’m not sure who Johnny is, but this would be useful if he did need a lift!)

Sport

It has been lovely to see so many boys in sporting action already this term. There have been a few bumps and bruises on the rugby fields ad basketball courts, and Charlie Chen has been representing TGS in the GPS chess competition – I think this may be why the House chess boards have seen something of a revival. I even enjoyed watching a few of the senior boys down at Nudgee last weekend when I made a guest appearance, coaching TGS’ first ever 7^th XV opens team. This is an amazing feat made possible only by a number of boys (some in Groom) who played two fixtures back-to-back.

Academia

Academically, things are also moving fast. The Year 12 boys are beginning to increase their focus as their final exams loom, but it is not only these senior boys who are working hard, the Years 8 and 10 boys are thinking about their future subject choices. The Academic Enrichment Program began on Monday of week 3 for the Years 8, 9 and 10 boys. Furthermore, the Years 8 and 9 boys have begun trials of some new literacy and numeracy initiatives that Jono Farrell and I have put in place. The boys now have their Lights Out time some 15 minutes later, giving them 15 minutes extra to read. This allows them a little more time between using their phones and trying to sleep, as well as creating a far calmer set of boys by 9:15pm. Currently the boys have books which we have provided; Red Dog for Year 8s and Ender’s Game for Year 9s. We will soon have some quizzes and discussion events relating to these, and we will play the film version of each when they are finished. We are not yet certain whether they will then be provided a new text, or whether they may be allowed to choose their own. We are also trialling a couple of numeracy applications. I have just released Times Table Rock Stars to a few boys so that they can practice their Maths and hopefully solidify some of these concepts to their long-term memory, while having some fun during those times when they claim to have no homework! Over the next couple of weeks I am also going to get them to start using Maths Online more effectively. None of this will impact upon their normal homework but should help set some great foundations for future learning. Parents: please let me know how you think this is working.

TGS Indigenous Boys’ Dinner

TGS celebrated NAIDOC week this week, as NAIDOC week actually falls within the holidays. It filled me with great pride to see a once nervous Brady Forde speaking so confidently in the Whole School Assembly, supported very ably by Tallen Robinson. I also had wonderful reports from Catherine, Teddy and Hugo as Tallen and Lorenzo demonstrated their totem dance in Junior School assembly. Hugo was very excited that Tallen and Lorenzo had “wriggled around on the floor” to represent their goanna totem. I think this is high praise from a 6-year-old boy. It is wonderful to have boys like this who are so proud of their cultural heritage.

Special Report: Cam Gourley's UK Trip

During the Term 2 holidays, my family and I travelled to Europe to visit my brother Alistair. Alistair is currently on a Gap Year and is working in a boarding school called Christ Church Cathedral school in Oxford as a sport and teachers' assistant. He lives in a house with four other boys from South Africa, England and Australia and he seems to be loving it. The school is a very big choir school and Alistair says that they train for an hour in the morning and then another two hours after school every day plus each of them know how to play at least three instruments - and all of these boys are under 12 years old.

Whist in England we also travelled down to Ampleforth and York to see Mr Dan McDonald (former Groom Boarding Head of House). Mr McDonald now works in a beautiful school called Ampleforth with his family and is the Housemaster of one of the five houses in the school. The boarding house is about the same size as Groom with about 50 boys; however, he says that the boys are somewhat different to us back here as they are often royal or very important people. Ampleforth is an incredible school with a large monastery connected to the school with 58 monks residing with in it. It was unreal to see Mr McDonald again and talk about the difference between his new school and TGS and the things that are happening back here at Grammar.

I also had a chance to catch up with Henry Piggot for the day during the Ashes at Lords Cricket Ground. It was so good to talk to him about what all the boys were doing back in Groom House and what he was doing now that he was home. We both agreed, and I think all the boys will, that it feels like he was here for much longer than just one term because of the great friendships that we all made during this time. It made it even sweeter that I saw him on the day that we won the 2^nd Ashes Test at Lord’s to hopefully send the poms into a losing streak and overall lose the Ashes. Unlucky Mr Stearn, always next Ashes. [Mr Stearn is currently deciding on whether Campbell deserves a 45 minute or a 90-minute detention for such insolence! Let’s see what he writes after the Ashes are levelled at 2-2 next week]

Return to Term 3 - Busy on Field and the Court

Before the first day of school, there were many boys involved in TGS activities, including rugby and basketball camps as well as an international football tour. Boys from Mackintosh House are competing at all levels. Almost every boy is involved in a co-curricular activity this term. It has been a pleasure to see many boys out playing and also coaching,

Matty Wise, Sam Shannon and Campbell Winter are all part of the Rugby Apprentice program where they are learning the job as assistant coaches for GPS Rugby Teams. During the school holidays, Riley Schutz, Year 12, traveled to Germany to play in an Invitational Australian side and, shortly after returning to School, he then headed to Brisbane for the Queensland Schools State Football Championships representing Darling Downs. Other notable sporting mentions include Clancy McCosker, Tom Bailey, Samson Chow and Cale Maurice who were all presented on the Whole School Assembly as members of the TGS 1st XV.

Our first away fixture of this term saw more that 900 boys travel to Brisbane for Chess, Basketball and Rugby. We have all enjoyed the first two rounds of matches, one away against St Joseph's Gregory Terrace and the home matches for many teams against Brisbane State High School. This weekend we look forward to hosting Brisbane Grammar School here at TGS.

Headmaster visits Mackintosh House

Kokoda Challenge Complete - An Outstanding Effort

Dougal McInnerney, Harry McMillan and Matthew Wise, along with Mackintosh day boy, Ed Layton, completed the final and most demanding leg of the Kokoda Challenge. The boys hiked and ran 96km in less than 24 hours, on a course that included over 4000m of elevation, in the dark and cold. This was an outstanding effort from not only the boys but from families and communities that supported them. They boys raised over $10,000.00 for Breast Cancer and the Kokoda Foundation. They were understandably excited and relieved that they had been able to achieve so much after setting such lofty goals. They were all a little stiff and sore for the next few days but were back at training on Tuesday.

Mr Savovski returns from his Greek Wedding

Over the holidays my now wife, Kirra and I were fortunate enough to tie the knot in Greece and have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Logistically there were some challenges involved as there were 12 of us who had to get to and from Europe including my 2 nephews Vlad (4) and Vance (2). Getting to and from Greece was the first leg. The second leg proved a little difficult getting to one of the small Islands of Naxos on a much smaller aircraft that landed at an even smaller Airport. This would have all been great, until I realised I had left my suit at the previous accommodation in Athens. After some scrambling to book return tickets for the next day to retrieve the suit, we arrived. However, the address didn't look anything like the photos online. After some frantic checking and broken English, we established that this was defiantly not the villa we had booked and was just an old farmhouse with an angry old dog and rooster. To our relief, the villa was on the other side of the overgrown sugar cane just across from the farmhouse. The day went off without a hitch, Kirra looked amazing and we all had a great time afterwards. We enjoyed the warm weather and made good use of the pool and beach. The food was amazing on all the islands, all putting their spin on the staples gyros. The remainder of the holiday was spent on the Islands of Milos and Santorini. The last 10 days were spent on the Italian island Sardinia, exploring its coastline and swimming.

Mackintosh House, Academic Enrichment and Reading Focus

I have been very impressed with how quickly our Mackintosh House boys have settled into their schoolwork this term. The boys themselves create a supportive and structured environment to focus and complete their set homework, assessment, study and any other tasks.

The Year 8 and 9 boys use the Level 1 classroom space when having prep in House. They are all reading Red Dog which we have borrowed from the library as our focus novel for the term. These boys then usually complete 45 minutes of individual work before utilising some of the other Mackintosh House space to collaborate or work on group tasks.

Our Year 10 boys are beginning to use the Level 2 Common Room for prep as opposed to being in their cube. The boys are more productive in this space, accessing assistance from the staff more regularly and helping each other. From Week 3 onwards, all of the Years 8 to 10 boarders are coming together in the Purves and Barbour Classroom for Academic Enrichment which gives the boys greater access to a wider range of staff two nights a week, Monday and Tuesday.

We have been encouraging our boys to use the Schools academic assistant program through their Academic Leaders and mentors, and also to sign up for Maths help and Science sessions that are available to different groups.

Congratulation the Matty Wise and Will Flegler who received Cum Laude Awards at the Academic Honors Assembly on Thursday 27 July 2023.

TGS APP

I want to draw your attention to the TGS APP if you are not already using it. The APP has a number of excellent features that are very helpful when you are looking for information, game time and notice or publications. Almost everything in the APP is clickable and takes you to more detail for all events. From the home screen, using Notices or Sports & Activities, you can access games and practices and schedules. While from Parent Lounge and Boarding tabs you can log absentees, approved events and access REACH. It is a very helpful 'one stop shop.'

I hope you have an enjoyable term.

Regards

Brad Allen

Reflections on Football Tournaments from Riley Schutz, Year 12 Mackintosh House.

Germany

Over the holidays, I travelled to Germany to participate in the Under 20’s Joey’s All-Star team from the 16th of June to the 12th of July. Our first game was against Sielow FC and we came away victorious with a dominant 11-2 win, where I scored two goals. Our second game was against a Bundesliga 2 team Frankfurt Oder. They were a very well-drilled team full of quality, and they emerged winners with a 5-2 scoreline. Our third game against Luckau FC was personally the most important game of the tour because we played for a memorial trophy for Marko Jank, an ex-coach for the club, and Rale Rasic, who was a mentor for me and my coaching and an Australian football icon. We came away with an 8-0 win, and I scored the first goal of the game. Our fourth game of the tour had us play against VFL Rheinhausen, and this was a very intense game with our team 2-0 at half time and coming away with a 3-2 win at full time. I scored the winner in the dying stages. In our fifth game, we played against Scheiden/Mittellosheim and emerged winners with an 8-0 scoreline (and two goals for me). Our 6th game saw us play a very competitive Sanct Wendel FC, with the hosts winning the game 3-2 in the last minute, a very close game. In our sixth game, we played FC Schmelz on a very hot day; in the opening minutes, we went down 2-0 but ended up winning the game 7-4. Overall, this Germany Football Tour is certainly one to remember and one to want to participate in because the experience is, hands down, the best for footballers.

Darling Downs

From the 20th to the 23rd of July, I participated in the annual State Championships representing Darling Downs. We finished 7th overall with 3 wins and 4 losses. In the group stage, our first game was against Northen, and we suffered a 2-0 loss; our second game was against Sunshine Coast, and again we lost 2-0. It was a very hard day as we weren’t playing at our best which was frustrating. The next day, our first game was played against Metropolitan East, who have been the best team for many years, and we came out victorious with a dominant 3-0 win. I scored and got an assist in this game. Our next game to make the semifinals was against Wide Bay; this game was a very unlucky for us as we lost 3-1, which stopped our chances of potentially winning overall. It was hard to accept because we played extremely well in the game before and then not so good in the game that mattered. We regrouped and came back the next day to play against Peninsula in a very dominant game, winning 2-0. Our next game was against Sunshine Coast, and we were determined to get back at them. However, we got hit for six in a very one-sided game ending in 6-1, which then meant we played for 7th or 8th the next day. On the final day of the tournament, we played against Metropolitan East. Again it was a very dominant display of football from us, emerging 3-1 winners and placing 7th overall. Representing Darling Downs was a great experience and one that I’ll remember.

Welcome to Term 3

Welcome to Term 3 and I hope that you all had a good break, whether it was spent at home or you managed a short holiday. The new term has commenced with the usual pace and I am sure it will not let up until we close down in Week 10. My surgery went well and recovery seems to be going to plan, I will soon be forced to use my age instead as an excuse for my lack of speed and general levels of immobility!

Kate and I enjoyed a trip to Goondi in the holiday where we spent some time with Glenn and Julieanne Rogan. A massive thank you to them for their hospitality and this is something that we hope to be able to do on a regular basis going forward. Obviously, I don’t mean that we will always be looking to stay with the Rogans - that would be a bit much! Having travelled with the TGS on Tour roadshow, and now in this last holiday, it is a great way for us to catch up with country families in beautiful areas. So, advance noticed served, you have been warned!

Week 1 featured a 'Lachy Birthday' as both Mr Muggleton (Year 10) and Mr Finlay (Year 11) were celebrated with Tranberg Slice and Ice Cream, not to mention a wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday by the ever-popular Year 8 Stephens Singers. This choral ensemble tradition is proving a big hit with the boys, particularly those not in Year 8!

A pleasing, and rare, sight this week - and certainly worthy of inclusion - is a photo that I managed to quietly take in the Senior Common Room. Using stealth-like skills and channelling the inner-Attenborough, I managed to snap Will Forrest (Year 12) completing some homework, on this occasion with Jim Mann!

Farewell (for now), Mrs Hogan

As you will be aware from a previous BT, Mrs Hogan, our Boarding Supervisor in Stephens since the beginning of the school year, is expecting her first child.

Sian was a tremendous addition to the House and many of the boys really enjoyed having a woman around on a regular basis. Over the course of the holidays, and as she enters her final trimester, following medical advice, Sian decided to finish up in the House and focus on enjoying the final weeks of her pregnancy without the distractions of work. Last week we invited Sian back into the House to farewell her and thank her for her greatly valued efforts. Mrs Tranberg baked slice and Mr Tranberg purchased ice cream, thus heaping more pressure on Mrs Kefford to also bake slice – pressure that has since intensified still further following a second Mrs T slice-bake as we celebrated birthdays as well recently!

Mrs Hogan takes with her our sincere thanks and a gift card for Baby Bunting and I will be sure to share photos with the community when Baby Hogan is born, towards the end of September or the start of October.

The boys are going to open a book on likely names, it would appear that ‘Hulk’ is paying $75 if anyone is interested!

Stephens of the Week

The prestigious ‘Stephens of the Week’ award is handed out in House Assembly by Mr Sullivan, Head of Stephens Day House and, for the first time in a long time, the recipient of the award was a boarder. Congratulations to Campbell Newell (Year 9) – a worthy winner. Mr Sullivan cited his all-round efforts in class, in sports and the manner in which he contributes positively to any environment that he finds himself in. Campbell has a great sense of humour and is academically driven to make best use of his time in prep, often requesting to stay up for late night.

Service Opportunity - The Toowoomba Hospice

I am aware that, over a year into my role at Stephens House, I have not really looked into the ‘service’ area of School life as much as I may have wanted; however, I accept that these things take time.

This week, you as parents, and the boys, have received an email detailing my wish to pursue a link with The Toowoomba Hospice, a local organisation that is entirely reliant upon donations for its funding, and ultimately, survival. I met with the boys and explained the concept around the Hospice and a number of Year 11 boys have said they are keen to become involved. If I could ask that when you are having a chat with your boys on the phone, you could encourage them to be active in the idea of service. Coming from a Catholic school previously, this was an important part of school life, more important than the faith aspect of the school it would be fair to say. As a House, my aim is that we pursue options around raising funds, and for those who feel able, visiting patients or helping, on occasions, at the facility.

I will keep you informed as this moves forward but I do feel it is something of substance and value as we seek to keep the boys experiences authentic, challenging and enriching. A number of boys will be meeting with Hospice representatives in Week 4.

I look forward to a busy and enjoyable few weeks ahead with our boys and families.

Regards

Phil Kefford

Welcome back to Term 3!

We are now well into the term and it is wonderful to see so much activity in the House with Rugby, Basketball and Chess taking centre stage this term. Our boys have returned with vigour and wasted no time involving themselves in all aspects of boarding and School life.

Throughout last semester our boys have been working diligently in the academic space and standout performances have been noted and awarded. Special mention must go to the following boys, receiving Cum Laude Awards for academic excellence.

Maxima Cum Laude: Steven Osborne, Charles Rogers, Alistair McKay

Magna Cum Laude: Mitchell Hay, Harry Rogers

Cum Laude: Iliesa Baravilala, Fletcher Warland, William McKay

The House Track and Field Carnival held at the conclusion of last term was a highlight for Taylor House. Each boy was involved in numerous events and performed very well. Taylor House dominated the blue-ribbon events of age group 4x100m relays, winning four of the six races. Furthermore, we are very proud of our Age Champions

U14 Innes Nowlan

U15 William McKay

U16 Nick Denny

A wonderful effort and special mention to Nick Denny as this is his second year as Age Champion.

Year 12 celebrated their mothers on Friday night at Gip's restaurant at the annual Mother and Son dinner. A special moment for all, not only were our mums treated to a wonderful meal, but our boys took the time to write to their mums a very personal and heartfelt note, highlighting their love and deep admiration for all that has been, and will be, done. Thank you boys for a wonderful evening and thank you to our amazing mums.

Our wonderful Mathematics department has posted their lunch time support schedule to assist boys requiring that little extra help when dealing with the complexity of the 'language of math'. Boys are strongly encouraged to seek support, not only when they are struggling with a concept, but to also use these sessions to confirm their understanding and develop their confidence. Additionally, 'Tutor Tuesday' is a new initiative run by our Year 12s. Students of all ages can book time to get assistance with any subject area. Please encourage your son to access this wonderful service.

Pastoral care and academic enrichment interviews are an important process in boarding. It gives our staff and boys an opportunity to connect and delve into the minutia of daily life and delivers the chance for our boys to open-up to how they are really feeling and coping with the pressures of living away from home, academic pathways and as is always the case, the chance to just talk. Having completed the first round with Year 8, it is great to hear they are settled and enjoying their journey through the early stages of their boarding life in Taylor House. Both Ms Holzheimer and I are looking forward to completing our chats and supporting our boys towards their Semester 2 goals.

Year 11 is at the beginning stages of their leadership journey. Applications for School Prefect have been submitted and I am eagerly anticipating reading them. House leadership process also begins very soon, and I anticipate a large number of our boys vying for the wide range of positions in House.

Parents, please keep a keen eye on upcoming events via Parent Portal, House mini-meeting emails and the College calendar. I look forward to seeing you all at the Grammar-Downlands weekend, 19 August, and again at the Taylor House Family Evening, 1 September.

Until then, I wish you all well.

Regards

Eugene Massi

Ph: 07 4687 2500
International: +617 4687 2500
24 Margaret Street, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350 Australia

TGS BOARDERS' TELEGRAPH - Friday, 28 July 2023

TGS BOARDERS' TELEGRAPH - Friday, 28 July 2023

In This Newsletter

Boarding News

From the Director of Boarding

From the Boarders' Support Group President

Boarders' Activities Term 3

What's Cooking...

TGS on Tour Term 3

Headmaster's Invitational Morning

Prep Come and Play

Grammar Boy for a Day

Raising Good Men - Dr Kaylene Henderson

TGS OBA Alumni Platform - Toowoomba Grammar Connect

Boarding Back Then...

Boyce House

From the Head of Boyce House

Corfe House

Corfe Courier - Term 3, Week 3

Groom House

From the Head of Groom House

Mackintosh House

From the Head of Mackintosh House

Stephens House

From the Head of Stephens House

Taylor House

From the Head of Taylor House

Taylor House - Mother and Son Dinner

Boarding News

Boyce House

Corfe House

Groom House

Mackintosh House

Stephens House

Taylor House

Boarding News

Boyce House

Corfe House

Groom House

Mackintosh House

Stephens House

Taylor House