THE BLUE AND GOLD - Friday, 12 May 2023

Welcome to Term 2 and the start of the cooler weather!!

We have run the TGS boarder and staff flu vaccine clinic this week and had strong numbers participate which is wonderful - thank you to all who raised their sleeve and had the shot!!

If your son is a dayboy, then we strongly encourage you to organise a flu vaccine with your normal GP.

You should have received communication from us regarding the increase in COVID-19 cases recently.

Please read the letters sent and follow the advice to minimize unnecessary exposure to these respiratory illnesses.

If your son is unwell then please keep him at home - warm, rested, plenty of fluids and analgesia as needed to reduce fevers and general aches and pains.

Any medically related queries or concerns please don't hesitate to contact us on 0746 872 504 or email us at: health@twgs.qld.edu.au

We are currently exploring some options for distinctive branding for TGS sports and activities. The new branding should easily be identified as Toowoomba Grammar School and should complement our existing TGS logo and our school image.

The two options currently being explored use rugby for illustrative purposes. Both options have vertical and horizontal logos, either of which can be used depending on space, where the logo is being used, etc. The final design will be used for all sports and activities across the School.

We are seeking input from students, parents, staff and Old Boys via this short survey. Responses by Friday, 19 May would be greatly appreciated.

Here’s the link to the survey - https://forms.office.com/r/UQHLJrYuqY

We are excited to announce that the Toowoomba Grammar School Aquatic Centre is offering a brand-new class on Saturdays at 8:00am with Sam!

The class is called S.A.S and will target Stroke Assistance and Starts.

Classes will run for 30 minutes and will concentrate on diving off blocks and address individual stroke issues with each member of the class.

Fees are the same as other classes and are payable in the first week. As this is a new class, the remainder of the term will be billed pro-rata.

S.A.S will be held in the 25m pool and as such, is only suitable for Piranha levels and above in the Learn to Swim Program. If you are unsure if your child would be suited to this class, we are only a phone call away.

Class size at this early stage will be limited to four children.

If you think your child would benefit from participating in S.A.S please contact the TGS Aquatic Centre team 46872631 or t.aquatic@twgs.qld.edu.au

Title and Subtitle

Probably the best place to start, as the title should give you some idea of what the book is going to be about. A subtitle may clarify the title or provide a little more information. If the title grabs you, if it is relevant or intriguing, this could be a book for you.

Blurbs

The back cover, or inside the dust jacket may contain a blurb, or short summation of what the book is about. These blurbs often contain a hint as to what the style or tone of the book will be.

Cover design

Take a look at the cover as a whole, this may hint as to the genre or audience. Bright colours, bold design, probably YA; minimalist design, probably literary fiction, spaceships, most likely Sci-fi and so on. There may also be visual clues as to the tone of the title, mysterious, humorous or serious.

Author

The author's name will be prominent somewhere on the cover; if you are already familiar with their work, you may have a good idea of what to expect (particularly if the work is part of a series). Even if you haven't previously read any of their work, you may know them by reputation, which can also be a good guide as to whether you will enjoy it.

So just this once, judge a book by its cover.

Happy reading.

Kick off your Sunday shoes with a VIP function before enjoying the sensational show, Footloose the Musical.

Conveniently hosted at the Empire Theatre’s Supper Room, you’ll be treated to some delicious canapés by Gip’s restaurant and a glass of wine or beer. Additional drinks are available at the bar.

The event starts at 5:30pm and concludes at 6:45pm leaving plenty of time to get to your seats to enjoy the musical.

Supporters of The Arts (SOTA) has put together the special function as a friend raiser to connect families and fundraiser to support the arts at TGS.

Tickets are $59 and available from https://www.trybooking.com/CIAQM

Guests need to be 18+ (no school students) to attend.

Do you hate today's popular rap music that your teenager listens to? Post Malone, Drake, Lil "this and that"...
Do they complain about the hits from the 80s and 90s that you like to crank and sing along to in the car? Bon Jovi, Madonna...
Well, when it comes to music, variety is the spice of life! We should all be making allowances for different tastes and listening to a bit of everything, according to TGS Director of Performance, Mark Chalmers. Here's why it's good for us https://bit.ly/3LOP0n7

Classroom designs have evolved from rows of desks and chalk blackboards to standing spaces, specialised chairs and interactive flat panels. Head of Mathematics, Mr Greg Bland has explored how classroom aesthetics have a significant impact upon your child's learning outcomes and you'll be surprised at the results...

https://bit.ly/41pGzU6

Vaping

I was pleased to read in the news last week that the Australian government will ban the importation of non-prescription vaping products – including those that do not contain nicotine – in the most significant tobacco and vaping control measures in the country in a decade.

To tackle youth vaping, minimum quality standards for vapes will be introduced including restricting flavours, colours and other ingredients. Vape products will require pharmaceutical-like packaging, and the allowed nicotine concentrations and volumes will be reduced. All single-use, disposable vapes will be banned. It is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under the age of 18.

This move has been triggered by an inquiry into vaping by the Therapeutic Goods Association and included reports from health professional bodies and university researchers. As a parent, and teacher, I am pleased that it is becoming increasingly difficult for our young people to access nicotine products like vapes.

It is important that all parents are aware that e-cigarettes come in all shapes and sizes: they can even look like a pen, highlighter or USB. Some can be disposable, and some are small enough to fit into a pocket or a pencil case. The most common brand of vapes found at school are the iGet XXL and you can see images of these vapes through a simple Google search for the brand. These vapes have the equivalent nicotine content of approximately 3-4 packets of cigarettes. Not all e-cigarettes emit visible aerosol. The easiest way to detect e-cigarette use is if there is an unexplained scent in the air from the e-cigarette flavouring. Teens tend to use fruit or confectionery flavours, so this scent is usually quite sweet.

Smoking and the use of vapes is banned at Toowoomba Grammar School. This includes parents, staff and students. The law applies at all times-during and after school hours, on weekends and during school holidays. Any student found smoking or using a vape at School or in School uniform will be subject to significant discipline measures, as per our discipline policy. This may include the cancellation of enrolment.

SPECIAL REPORT: Vaping | Toowoomba Grammar School (schooltv.me)

Bullying and Wellbeing Surveys

The boys have recently completed both the Wellbeing and Bullying Surveys. It is vital that, if we are to provide quality programs, we get good feedback from the boys on how they are progressing. The results of these surveys will be shared with staff, and, where appropriate, the boys once the results have been collated and analysed.

Bullying is always a concern in any school. To help our boys combat bullying, some of our wellbeing teachers and pastoral care staff have recently undertaken training in delivering resilience programs with the aim of reducing bullying.

GPS Cross Country Championships

One co-curricular event which occurs during school time is the GPS Cross Country Championships, which all Year 9 boys will attend as spectators on Thursday, 18 May 2023. This is a great School and GPS community event and it is expected all Year 9 boys will support our team. We will send more details to the boys via email in the lead-up to the event. I wish all the Cross Country athletes representing our School the very best at the GPS Championships.

School SunSmart Policy

Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Given students are at school during peak ultraviolet radiation (UVR) times throughout the day, between 10:00am and 3:00pm, schools play a major role both in minimising a student’s UVR exposure and in providing an environment where policies and procedures can positively influence student behaviour. As children will spend a portion of their day outdoors, we are committed to protecting them from the harmful effects of the sun. With this in mind Toowoomba Grammar School realises the need to protect children’s skin and educate the boys about SunSmart behaviour, thus reducing the risk of skin damage from exposure to the sun.

As part of our SunSmart Policy we will:

• attempt to ensure that all boys wear their Akubra hats at all times they are in uniform and outdoors;
• require that all boys wear sports hats or their Akubra hats and sunscreen at all other times when they are outside;
• provide approved sunscreen at a number of strategic locations around the School;
• encourage students without adequate sun protection to use shaded or covered areas at recess and lunch times.

Year 12 References

Year 12 boys and their parents will receive an email from me this week regarding School References. This will also include key dates for end of Year 12 activities. Should Year 12s require a School Reference for university, work or accommodation application, then they must email their Head of House requesting a reference.

The School rolled out progressive reporting through TASS in Years 7 to 11 from the start of the year. What this means for parents is the ability to see their son's results and feedback on individual tasks, which will provide more timely insight into academic progress. This caused some concern last term as some subjects had not provided any feedback by the end of term. Teachers have a two week term time period in which to mark and moderate student work before results and feedback are released. If an exam was towards the end of term, these results may not have been released until the start of this term. As we progress through the year, you should start to see results and feedback released at various times throughout the term. When results are released there will be a notification in Parent Lounge.

The below images are provided to give some guidance on viewing your son's results and feedback.

1. Go to Parent Lounge and click on your son's Student Details then Curricular Activity

This will bring up a list of your son's upcoming and completed assessment.

Click on an assessed instrument and you will see his result in that instrument and the feedback.

To view all his results and feedback go to Activities on the right hand side, select completed activities, then print.

Senioritis – The Way We Think Affects the Way We Feel and Behave

School Counsellor – Reflection

As high school students approach their final year, they may experience a phenomenon known as "Senioritis". As described by educators, Senioritis is a decrease in motivation and productivity, often accompanied by procrastination, complacency, and negative risk-taking behaviours. While not a medical term, Senioritis is a widely recognised term used to describe a common set of observed behaviours. As Jessica Lahey notes, "Senioritis is a real phenomenon. It can be defined as a decline in motivation or performance that occurs among students in their final year of school, often due to a combination of burnout, boredom, and the belief that academic achievement no longer matters." Jackie Rhodes further adds, "Senioritis is a genuine phenomenon and a concern among educators." In this article, we explore how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help students combat Senioritis and offer ten CBT strategies to stay motivated during their final year of high school.

In CBT, we focus on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that may be contributing to Senioritis. Some common negative beliefs that can affect motivation include "I've had enough," "It doesn't matter anyway," "I'm too tired to do this," "I can't handle the pressure," and "It's too late to make a difference." We can work on replacing these negative beliefs with more positive and realistic ones, such as "I need to keep up with my studies so I exit Year 12 with the best marks possible, "I can take small steps to make progress," "I can handle challenges with support," and "It's never too late to make a change."

Here are ten CBT strategies that we can use to combat Senioritis:

• Identify negative thought patterns and challenge them with evidence and alternative perspectives.
• Set realistic and achievable goals for the remaining year of high school.
• Practice self-care and stress management techniques, such as exercise, muscle relaxation, and deep breathing.
• Use positive affirmations to boost self-esteem and confidence.
• Create a schedule and prioritise tasks to increase productivity.
• Use visualization techniques to imagine future success and goals achieved.
• Seek out support from friends, family, or a counsellor.
• Use positive self-talk to encourage and motivate oneself.
• Practice gratitude by focusing on positive aspects of life and school.
• Break tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

To help reframe negative situations into positive ones, we can use the following example situations:

Situation: "I didn't do well on a test, what’s the point."

Reframe: "I can learn from my mistakes and work to improve my performance in the future."

Situation: "I don't feel like doing homework tonight."

Reframe: "Even if I don't feel motivated right now, I know that completing this assignment can help me achieve my goals."

Situation: "I don't have any options and plans yet."

Reframe: "I can make time to explore my options and make a decision that is right for me."

Situation: "I don't feel like studying for my test."

Reframe: "Even if it's hard work, studying will help me succeed and achieve my goals."

Situation: "I'm feeling overwhelmed and stressed."

Reframe: "I can use self-care techniques and reach out for support to manage my stress and overcome challenges."

Some common signs of Senioritis include a decline in academic performance, lack of interest in schoolwork, poor attendance, and decreased motivation to pursue extracurricular activities. If left unaddressed, Senioritis can impact on a student's academic and career future and prospects.

Fortunately, there are several things that students can do to combat Senioritis and stay motivated during their final year of high school. These include setting achievable goals, practicing good time management skills, seeking support from teachers or a school counselor, staying physically active, and maintaining a positive mindset. Additionally, students should focus on making the most of their final year of high school and enjoy the various opportunities that come with it, such as senior activities and events.

By being aware of the signs of Senioritis and using the right strategies, students can overcome this common phenomenon and finish their high school careers on a high note. As a school counselor, I encourage students to stay focused, set realistic goals, and seek support when needed. With hard work and dedication, students can achieve their academic goals and set themselves up for future success.

Senioritis can have a significant impact on a student's motivation and productivity during their final year of high school. However, by identifying negative thought patterns and replacing them with positive ones, setting realistic goals, practicing self-care, seeking support, and reframing negative situations into positive ones, students can stay motivated and overcome Senioritis. As a school counselor, I am here to offer support and guidance to students who may be struggling with Senioritis. Don't hesitate to reach out for help, whether it be through counselling sessions or other resources available to you. Remember, with the right mindset and strategies, you can overcome Senioritis and achieve your academic goals.

Bibliography:

Lahey, J. (2014, May 16). Senioritis: A Tough-to-Shake Affliction. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/05/senioritis-a-tough-to-shake-affliction/371552/

Rhodes, J. (2017, May 1). Senioritis: How to Spot It and What to Do About It. U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/articles/2017-05-01/senioritis-how-to-spot-it-and-what-to-do-about-it

Lyle Gothmann

School Counsellor

Telephone: (07) 46872 627

Email: L.Gothmann@twgs.qld.edu.au

Choral Showcase

Friday, 28 April saw the Junior and Senior Schools combine to deliver the 2023 Choral Showcase Concert. Often considered to be preparation for the Choral Eisteddfod, the concert itself presents such a high standard of performances that it really is a highlight on the Performing Arts event calendar. The audience was treated to an array of performances from Tribe Junior, Tribe, Senior Voices, Grammarphones, and Choir. Interspersed with solos from Jack Elmes, Elliot Murfin-Chalmers, Artharsh Gajaharan, Ruben Kruger, and Ruben Fitton, they were treated to a celebration of the voice. Well done to all the young men involved and good luck for the upcoming Part 1 of the Toowoomba Eisteddfod.

Tribe Junior

Tribe

Jack Elmes

Ruben Kruger

Elliot Murfin-Chalmers

Senior Voices

Artharsh Gajaharan

Ruben Fitton

My name is George Griffiths, and I am a boarder in Groom House. I began my TGS journey back in Year 7, making the transition from my hometown of Goondiwindi to a completely new and exciting environment. I have participated in many sports throughout my time at TGS; however, in recent years I have focused more heavily on rugby. I enjoy my involvement with the Interact committee and participating in service wherever possible. Although, my favourite thing about being a TGS boy has been seeing my cohort's and my growth and character development over the last five and a half years. Through great mentorship, and the incredible mates I’ve made I have been able to develop my character immensely and hope that all boys embrace the culture fostered at our School and build on their own character.

My name is Will Smith and since Year 5 I have been a dayboy in Groom House. During this time, I have tried my best to immerse myself in opportunities within sports, the Arts, and other co-curricular endeavours such as debating. What I have always valued most is the connection formed between members of our School community, which is often strengthened by shared passions in any number of opportunities. Having been lucky enough to lead the Junior School as Captain in 2017 which allowed me to meet with Senior School leaders, I can personally attest to the value in forming connections with Grammarians outside of your own year level.

In our goal to “Find Strength in Unity”, the 2023 Prefects have continued to support the interconnectedness of the Junior and Senior School. Thanks to lunchtime volunteers from Year 11 who join the younger years on Mills Oval during breaks, this program has undeniably helped build connections that are extremely valuable to both younger and older boys.

Whilst the immense number of hours dedicated by 1sts Cricket and Volleyball players to prepare for their season cannot be overlooked, perhaps another contributing factor to the immense success of these teams was the support of boys spectating these matches. Having placed a focus on increasing the level of spirit shown not only at these sporting matches via the implementation of pride points, but at all undertakings where Toowoomba Grammar School is being represented. Such success is indeed being reflected across numerous facets of the School, whilst overall support for this success is a testament to the ever-growing strength of School culture and spirit upon which the Prefect group has agreed is essential to uphold.

Whilst the midway point of the academic year is fast approaching, the Prefect group is seeking to continue off of the back of the strong start to 2023 by continuing to endorse the importance of standards, and the value of connections in our School community. In doing this, we hope to continue to see the growth of many Senior boys to exercise leadership wherever possible, even if it simple means setting a good example for younger boys.

As we enter the mid-term period, where the weather changes and the busyness of a new season begins (Winter sports, Eisteddfod etc..) it’s very easy to overlook the learning progress for our boys that is taking hold right before our eyes, yet we tend to overlook it through the fog of everything else. Mid-term, particularly during Term 2 is typically when we see students taking greater independent steps in their learning or little leaps forward as I like to refer to them.

Little leaps forward are moments when a student has grasped a concept or a skill that helps them complete a task either more confidently or work at a higher level than before. Often students don’t immediately recognise the leap forward in progress themselves, but with some targeted feedback it's lovely when they do.

This is not to say these moments only occur in mid-term, they can happen at any time of year but often once a class has developed their learning routines and covered particular concepts to help ‘connect the dots’ of understanding for students we see around mid-term these little leaps forward occur more frequently.

Examples of little leaps forward could include:

• Using a variety of punctuation in writing
• Hearing a student using reading strategies to decode words
• Playing together with the same equipment and toys
• Increasing responsibility to manage their belongings
• Problem solving using multi-step algorithms
• Delivering a speech with only dot points as prompts

These are wonderful moments to celebrate for students and whilst they don’t typically attract huge attention in the form of assembly awards or prizes, they are no less significant. In fact, I would argue they could be more valuable particularly if the student is able to make the connection between their own progress and the steps it took to get there. I stress that particular point as it is an important component to learning for life; recognising where they currently are in their learning, what is their next step and how to get there.

Little leaps forward occur when many different elements line up for a student. One of those elements typically present is what I would consider an enabler element for learning, and we have mentioned this previously is the power of ‘organisation’. At every age and stage, organisation skills help prepare ourselves physically and mentally for learning.

Being organised helps students develop routines that ensure they have the necessary materials to be ready for learning, to be on time, to have things pre-prepared, to schedule practices and to break large tasks into smaller more manageable pieces. The old adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is particularly apt for the organisation attribute, as there are many facets to our lives and no one source can provide the organisational skills to cover it all. There is a partnership between families and school to help our young people develop these routines that will help them build their organisation skills over time. A quick snapshot of this helps convey the point, organisation is present in so many aspects of a student's day.

• Getting ready for school (uniform, lunch, bags etc..)
• Setting up at school (diary, water bottles, devices, music instruments etc…)
• Training/rehearsing (being on time, having equipment or instrument)
• Learning in class (sourcing equipment, saving files appropriately, uploading work on time)
• After school (co-curricular activities, home chores, practice)

We all contribute to developing organisation skills in our children’s lives, and this is a good opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate how organisation supports our little leaps forward in learning.

On other matters around the Junior School, our sincere thanks and appreciation is extended to all families for supporting the Eisteddfod choral program over the past three weeks. Performances over the weekend were incredible as our Head of Junior School Music, Mrs Kellie Dixon will elaborate on further in her section of the newsletter. Results aside, the value of preparation and performance is immense to the personal development of our boys. The experience of navigating through the nerves of performing on stage in front of a large audience is truly wonderful, and not easy to replicate in another context. Well done to everyone involved, boys for their efforts, families for your contributions to make it happen and Mrs Dixon together with your Music staff to offer the expertise of performing at that level. Congratulations.

Finally, in appreciation for our mothers as we approach Mother’s Day. This weekend we will all say, “Happy Mother’s Day” and “thanks for everything you do” to our Mums and significant mother figure roles in our families. For the boys in the Junior School though, recognising Mums has a special significance. With younger children, their whole world experience is between the people at home and at school, so generally their parents, teachers, siblings and classmates occupy the largest part of their day-to-day experience. Days like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day connect those two worlds together in a very special way. The Junior School represents a family stage of close connection between home and school which we hold dear and recognise with Mother’s Day stall so that boys can select a small gift for Mum themselves and the Mother’s Day breakfast on Friday morning in the Junior School Hall. This experience isn’t just special for the Junior School boys, Mums will remember these moments forever also. Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday.

With warm regards, and thanks

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

The focus topic for this week’s newsletter is on an effective and evidence-based method that can significantly improve your child's reading abilities: repeated reading. Reading proficiency is a vital skill that sets the foundation for academic success and lifelong learning. Repeated reading, a simple yet powerful technique, has been proven to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. Let's delve into why repeated reading is such a beneficial practice for your child.

Research consistently supports the benefits of repeated reading. By engaging in repeated reading sessions, students become more familiar with the text, leading to increased fluency and automaticity. Repetition allows them to internalise vocabulary, sentence structures, and grammatical patterns, thereby enhancing comprehension and meaning-making. Furthermore, the practice helps students build confidence in their reading abilities, fostering a positive attitude towards reading and a love for literature.

At Toowoomba Grammar School, we recognise the transformative impact of repeated reading on our students' reading abilities. Our dedicated teachers incorporate repeated reading sessions into their literacy blocks to provide regular opportunities for students to practice reading aloud. By re-reading texts multiple times, our students develop a deeper understanding of the material, refine their pronunciation and intonation, and gain a sense of ownership over the text. This approach not only improves their reading skills but also instils a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

To make repeated reading even more effective, it is essential to select texts that match each student’s reading level. We do this by utilising decodable readers when students are learning to read. This ensures that they can engage with the material comfortably while still being appropriately challenged. Gradually increasing the difficulty level of the texts over time allows for continuous growth and progress. Additionally, incorporating comprehension activities, such as discussing the text or answering questions, helps deepen understanding and critical thinking skills.

Our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 cohorts incorporate repeated reading as part of homework each week. During this time, encourage reading aloud, paying attention to expression, intonation, and pace. Celebrate their progress and provide positive feedback to nurture their confidence. By making repeated reading a regular practice, you are empowering your son to become a proficient, confident, and lifelong reader.

We are committed to supporting each and every student’s reading journey and are always available to provide guidance and resources. Together, let's unlock the joy of reading and cultivate a lifelong passion for learning.

Warm regards,

Chantelle Bauer
Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning)

Toowoomba Eisteddfod

Congratulations to all boys in the Junior School for their involvement in the choral section of the eisteddfod. It is a wonderful achievement that all boys from Prep to Year 6 performed on the Empire Theatre stage and represented our School. Thank you to the staff and parents for your support of our choral program and ensuring your son was in attendance for his Voiceworks performance.

In addition to the choral sections, a number of boys performed in solo sections for voice and piano. Congratulations to all boys who were involved in the recent vocal and piano sections of the eisteddfod.

Please find below results from the choral sections.

1^st Tribe (Primary School Boys Choir)

2^nd Tribe (Primary School Spiritual or Gospel Choir)

HC Tribe (Primary School A Grade Choir)

HC Tribe (Primary School Modern Choir

HC Tribe Junior (Primary School Years P-4 A Grade Junior Choir)

HC Voiceworks 2/3 (Primary School Years P-4 B Grade Junior Choir)

HC Voiceworks 6 (Primary School B Grade Choir)

Musicians’ Concert

The Term 2 Musicians’ Concert will be held on Thursday, 18 May at 2:10pm in the Junior School Assembly Hall. A letter and nomination form was emailed to all parents last week. Should your son be interested in nominating for this concert, please complete the nomination form and return by 11 May.

Singers’ Trophy

The Junior School Singers’ Trophy will be held on Thursday, 8 June at 6:00pm in Old Hall. This adjudicated competition has been held annually since 1997 and is open to all boys from Years 2 to 6, with trophies awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. A letter and nomination form has been emailed to all parents from Year 2 to Year 6. Nominations are due by 30 May.

STRING OUT

Boys in Years 5 and 6 who are currently in String Ensemble will be involved in String Out on 7 June. String Out is an all-day string extravaganza involving over 300 students from across the Toowoomba area. String boys will be involved with sectional rehearsals during the day, as well as Ensemble rehearsals. There will be an evening concert to showcase the work done throughout the day. Parents with boys involved will be sent all relevant information.

Orchestra

In order to prepare the Orchestra for our Eisteddfod performance, five rehearsal times have been booked for this term. Rehearsal times for Term 3 will be released closer to the date.

Please note that the rehearsal times are for this term only. Boys will need to bring a TGS or dark blue display folder (this may be one that he is currently using for another ensemble) with their orchestra music in, and their instrument to each rehearsal. Boys involved should be playing through their orchestra music as part of their regular instrument practice and are encouraged to take the music to their instrumental tutor should they require any assistance.

1. Monday, 15 May (Week 5), 1:10pm – 2:10pm
2. Monday, 22 May (Week 6), 1:10pm – 2:10pm
3. Monday, 29 May (Week 7), 1:10pm – 2:10pm
4. Monday, 5 June (Week 8), 1:10pm – 2:10pm
5. Monday, 12 June (Week 9), 1:10pm – 2:10pm

It has been breakneck speed since the beginning of Term 2, with boys participating in a variety of sports.

GPS Football and Tennis

Our teams have started well. All teams are training well and are looking to execute their skills in matches against quality opposition. Every week is testing, and it is great to see boys stepping up to represent their school with pride.

Club Football and Club Rugby

Club Football and Rugby have started their seasons and teams are progressing well. It is always a highlight to host games at TGS, with the Junior School boys always eager to perform on home turf. The Saturday of Week 3 was exceptional with Club Football, Club Rugby and our guests from the Modified Rugby Program all playing on our ovals. We have home football matches roughly every second week, and our next (and final) rugby carnival will be on June 10.

Club Football information can be found on the squadi app.

Club Rugby information can be found on Parent Lounge.

Cross Country

Boys continue to work hard in preparation for Cross Country carnivals.

The Range Zone carnival showed TGS boys dominating. In Under 10, all five TGS boys finished in the top nine places; Under 11 saw all six boys finish in the top ten; and Under 12 had all boys finish in the top 11. An outstanding effort all round.

Congratulations in particular to all boys who have qualified for the next stage of trials – the Darling Downs trials to be held at Kearney’s Spring on 16 May. These boys are Connor Talbot, James Jenkins, Andrew Reeves, Henry Reeves, Tom Oliphant, Harry Dow and Darcy Haywood. Wishing these boys all the best.

Captains

Congratulations to Term 2 captains:

Football – Ben Browett

Tennis – Anantpal Josan

Cross Country – Tom Oliphant (captain) and Tom Williamson (vice-captain)

We wish these boys good luck for a successful season.

Sport Homework

Throw a tennis ball (or similar) with your son in the backyard or park. The skill of overarm throwing translates to many sports, so it is heavily encouraged. It is also a good chance to have a chat with your son.

Last Saturday night, 20 Junior School dads met at the Federal Hotel to watch the Waratahs/Reds game and socialise over drinks and dinner. It was a lovely evening, and we look forward to hosting more fathers' events this year. Thank you to our Treasurer, David Moffitt, for organising.

This week is one of my favourites in the Junior School – we had the Mother’s Day gift stall on Wednesday, breakfast with our sons on Friday, and we still have our whole-of-school P&F Ladies' Evening at Gip's Restaurant to enjoy on Saturday night.

Thank you to our fantastic volunteers who helped with the stall. They worked hard with the boys to pick out the perfect gifts for you. It’s a really fun day of volunteering and a great way to meet other parents. We look forward to doing it all again for Father’s Day in September.

I wish all mothers and carers a Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday. I hope you enjoy your gifts and spending time with your family.

Don’t forget our next committee meeting is coming up on Monday, 22 May.

Tessa Chamberlain
JSSG President

A massive congratulations to the Toowoomba Grammar School Choir. On Saturday night the boys won the Secondary School Choir section at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. The Choir, conducted by Mrs Elizabeth Egan and accompanied by Mrs Wendy Evans, sang sublime renditions of "Pure Imagination" and "Give Me the River". This is the first time that the non-auditioned full School choir has won a section at the Choral Eisteddfod. This is a magnificent achievement and a testament to the wonderful work of Mrs Egan and Mrs Evans. Well done gentlemen!!!!!

There have been many other great results in Part 1 of the Eisteddfod. Stay tuned for a completed rundown in the next instalment of the Blue & Gold.

Mark Chalmers

Director of Performing Arts

Thursday, 4 May saw our Grammarphones entertain the Past Mothers' Group at their annual luncheon. Thank you for having us, we had a great time.

TGS volleyballers make their mark!

During the Labour Day long weekend, the Dragons Volleyball Club ran their annual Flaming Chalice volleyball competition. This competition invites club and school teams from all over Queensland to compete over the three days.

As members of the Toowoomba Volleyball Association Titans program, TGS had six of our own involved across two teams. Both teams won the gold medal match in their respective divisions with Year 9 student, Rory Webster named as the Most Valuable Player in the Intermediate Boys division.

Our congratulations to all players on a very successful weekend!

The Rugby Supporters' Group’s role is to provide support to the Rugby Program at TGS. This support is provided through contributions to various parts of the program – tours, coaching programs and development, balls for our junior players, kit, BBQs, support for game day operation, and many other roles. We work closely with David Enfantie as Head of Rugby to help support him and the coaching staff to provide the best possible program for our players.

With the GPS Rugby season still yet to commence, the Rugby Supporters' Group has already kicked into action, cooking BBQs for our juniors and our preseason A/B squad and Barbarians training. These BBQs will continue for breakfast during Term 2, then will move to sausage sizzles in the afternoon after training in Term 3.

Save the date! Plans are well underway for our major fundraiser – our Rugby Long Lunch, to be held on Friday, 14 July at Toowoomba Golf Club. Tickets will go on sale shortly. Be sure to get in quickly as these tickets are snapped up quickly! The Long Lunch sold out quickly last year. Our home game post-match functions will continue in 2023, and we will be hosting a post-match function for Grammar/Downlands weekend as well.

The RSG executive for 2023 is:

President – Trent Raymond

Vice-President – Ben McNamee

Secretary – Melissa Buckley

Treasurer – Margaret Lindemann

Please contact any of the executive for further information, and make sure you follow our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram – Toowoomba Grammar Rugby Official. All are welcome at our regular meetings. Our next meeting is Monday, 5 June, 6:00pm, in the classrooms upstairs in the gym.

Further information regarding sponsorship of our rugby program, and membership to our Supporters' Group will be coming shortly.

The boys have been involved in some tough matches to open the GPS season with games against GT, BSHS and BGS.

Congratulations to our 10C team on the perfect start winning all of their matches. Special mention to the Open 2nds and 8B teams on winning two of their three matches.

The 1st IV has played some competitive tennis but have gone down in each of their matches against quality opposition.

Coinciding with this year’s Grammar Downlands Weekend, 18-20 August, the OBA hosts reunions for Old Boys, most specifically from cohorts in multiples of ten years. This year, we feature reunion events for boys who were in Year 12 or would have finished in Year 12 in 2013, 2003, 1993, 1983, 1973,1963, 1953 and 1943.

We are always on the lookout for coordinators for these year-level groups so if you are interested, please let me know. We are beginning the planning process for this year’s events. If you have ideas on what might work for your cohort, please let me know.

Mark Creedon (1973-77)

TGSOBA President

The Headmaster is very keen to continue his interactions with Old Boys, specifically through regional Old Boys’ events. We have been hosting such events for some time with this year’s calendar already published. We are unable to be everywhere every year but trying to visit as many places as possible.

These events are most successful when we have a local Old Boy or Old Boys who can act as a contact and conduit for sharing information. The TGSOBA and School staff will undertake the administration and communication associated with the event, the local contact providing input such as suitable venue, suitable date, time and the like.

If you would like to see your local area host such an Old Boys’ reunion and would like to be our local contact can you please let Jennifer Bazley or me know. We would love to talk with you about what is possible in your community.

In the meantime, if anyone has any matters they would like to share or discuss please contact me on tgsoldboys@twgs.qld.edu.au I am keen to talk to you about our Association, what we do and how you can become involved.

On behalf of the TGSOBA, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all in the Grammar community the continual best for a most successful year.

Tickets for the Toowoomba Grammar School - Fairholme College production of Footloose the Musical are now on sale via the Empire Theatre box office and Empire Theatre online.

Footloose The Musical - Empire Theatre

These talented performers have been rehearsing since the start of the year for this biennial production. Don't miss out on your seat - book now!

We warmly invite all of the ladies in our TGS community to attend the P&F Ladies' Evening. This event is open to both Junior School and Senior School ladies.

You can book online here, select 'Events and Activities', in the group menu select 'Parents and Friends', in the event menu select 'P&F Ladies Evening 2023'.

We hope you can join us.

Over the school holidays, two new solar powered radar speed alert signs have been installed at the School, one in the Herries Street loop area across from the Pavilion, and one next to the bus shelter in the Margaret Street loop.

These locations were chosen to suit the visibility of the signage from cars, the longest runs that allow cars to increase speed, and the areas where traffic needs to be reminded to slow down before getting to a shared vehicle/pedestrian area.

The 10km/h limit has been chosen with advice regarding Queensland speed limits for shared zones. School roadways are classed as public access roadways and the school shared zones fall under the Queensland Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 2009.

We appreciate all drivers helping to keep pedestrians safe.

If you have any questions about the speed alert signs, please contact the School at communications@twgs.qld.edu.au.

Please do not park in pick-up zones, across pedestrian crossings or in areas that have been marked to be kept clear e.g., for emergency vehicle access to fire hydrants.

As part of an awareness campaign which commenced on Monday, 6 March we are leaving a small notice (for information purposes only) on any vehicles parked contrary to traffic / road markings. This is to inform the vehicle owner of the reason that particular area is unsafe or unsuitable for parking.

As always – please drive slowly and carefully around our roadways being alert for students and other pedestrians.

We appreciate your continued support to ensure our campus is safe for our staff, students and visitors.

Please tell your family and friends about our Term 2 Grammar Boy for a Day on Friday, 26 May for Year 7 students and Tuesday, 30 May for Prep to Year 6 students.

Come and meet key staff, tour our beautiful campus and your son can join his relevant year level and be a Grammar Boy for a Day experiencing the wonderful academic, sporting and cultural opportunities available.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Limited places available - register now http://bit.ly/3wPPDFy

We are excited to open our beautiful campus to you family, friends and the wider community on Saturday, 20 May.

Enjoy various activities, take a tour of our outstanding facilities, see the workings of some of our classes and cheer on our football and tennis teams in action.

We look forward to seeing you.

Is your son currently in Prep or due to start in 2024 or 2025? We are excited to invite him to Toowoomba Grammar School's Prep Come and Play days on Saturday, 13 May and Saturday, 5 August.

Come and meet our warm and nurturing Prep teachers, along with key staff from TGS, explore our beautiful facilities and enjoy a sneak peek at how the years ahead could look for your little boy as we help to ignite his love of learning.

Register here https://bit.ly/40iZgZ9

TGS is on Tour again in Term 2 and we're coming to a town near you!

We'd love to catch up with your family, and please invite friends or anyone who may be considering sending their son to TGS, we'd love to meet them too!

If you can make it to any of our coming events, please register here https://bit.ly/3KWDFkU

Term 2 uniform is navy trousers and for Years 7 to 12 it is Blazer dress every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Uniform Shop will open:

Monday, 17 April 8:00am to 5:00pm

Tuesday, 18 April 8:00am to 5:00pm

Wednesday, 19 April back to normal opening hours - 1:00pm to 5:00pm

A reminder to all our families about our excellent resource for parents: SchoolTV

This resource covers a range of topics presented by experts in their field including Cybersafety, Mental Health, Wellbeing, School Survival and Positive Parenting.

SchoolTV is regularly updated with new articles and videos and provides insightful information and handy tips for parents.

Click here to check it out

You can also access SchoolTV via 'Links' at the very bottom of our TGS app.

Thank you to all our wonderful parents who volunteer at the School, or are considering volunteering. It is a requirement for all volunteers who attend the School more than seven times a year to have a Blue Card as part of child safety requirements.

If you would like to volunteer, or currently volunteer, we ask that you please get your Blue Card as soon as possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and your understanding that the safety and wellbeing of our boys is our priority.

Toowoomba Grammar School is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people at the School and is dedicated to protecting them from harm. At TGS, we have zero tolerance for child abuse. Our child protection responsibilities are of the utmost importance to the School and, as such, the School is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and to maintain a safe and supportive School environment for all children and young people.

As part of our commitment to child protection, safety and wellbeing, Toowoomba Grammar School has appointed a number of Child Protection Contact Officers as honest, mature, ethical and experienced members of the School community who can handle sensitive issues relating to child protection and safety. Our Child Protection Contact Officers are available to report any concerns or answer any questions that you may have with respect to the School's Child Protection Program.

The Child Protection Contact Officers are:

John Kinniburgh – Headmaster
John Anderson – Deputy Headmaster
Mark Oliphant – Head of Senior School
Ken Raven – Head of Junior School
Nick Byron - Director of Boarding
Lyle Gothmann - School Counsellor

Read more about the School's Child Protection Policy and Child and Risk Management Strategy on the TGS website: Policies & Procedures - Toowoomba Grammar School (twgs.qld.edu.au)

We understand that from time to time and for a wide variety of reasons, families will make the decision to leave TGS. As a School, we will always strive to work with families to ensure an outcome that is in the best interests of each boy.

It is also important to note and as a reminder to all families enrolled at Toowoomba Grammar School, our conditions of enrolment clearly stipulate that at least 10 weeks’ written notice of the withdrawal must be provided to the School.

As per the School’s Conditions of Enrolment, all tuition and fees must be paid for the Term in which the notice of withdrawal expires. For situations where 10 weeks’ notice is not provided, the following Term’s fees are payable.

This 10 weeks’ written notice period also applies to boys changing their enrolment status from boarder to dayboy.

If you are considering withdrawing your son, we would strongly encourage you to contact his Head of House, the Head of Junior School, the Head of Senior School or the Deputy Headmaster.

We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss all considerations in this regard with you.