THE BLUE AND GOLD - Friday, 17 February 2023

Dear TGS community,

We hope you are all well and in good spirits. We are excited to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as the new TGS counsellors, replacing the admirable services of Jen Johnson Saul.

As a school community, we understand the importance of promoting positive mental health and well-being amongst our students, and we believe that having access to counselling services plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. This is why we are proud to be joining the TGS community and continuing the important work of supporting our students.

Allow us to introduce ourselves:

I am Lyle Gothmann, and I will be working full-time at TGS. I have a Master of Education (Guidance and Counselling) and a Bachelor of Education, and I have a keen interest in boys' education, having been involved in programs such as Rock and Water, Aggressive Replacement Training, Solution-Focused Counselling, Play-based social skills and Functional Behaviour and Learning Assessments. In my personal life, I am married with four children - Lucy, Gracie, Elijah, and Samuel - and I am an enthusiastic coach for my son’s Football / Futsal teams and a fisherman.

My colleague, Rina Scott-Wilson, will be working part-time, Monday to Wednesday, at TGS. Rina brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, with a Master of Social Work, a Bachelor of Psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Curriculum Studies).

At TGS, our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students, and our counsellors play an integral role in achieving this goal. We offer a range of interventions, including individual and group counselling, as well as support with social and emotional development. Our goal is to provide students with the tools and resources they need to navigate the challenges and difficulties that are an inevitable part of growing up.

We understand that every student is unique, with their own set of strengths, challenges, and experiences, and we believe that our role as counsellors is to provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment in which students can explore their feelings, thoughts, and concerns. Whether a student is facing a difficult situation at home, struggling with anxiety or depression, or simply needs someone to talk to, we are here to help.

In addition to individual counselling, we also offer group counselling sessions, which can be a valuable tool for students who are struggling with similar challenges. Group counselling can provide students with a sense of belonging, as well as the opportunity to connect with others and gain insight and support from their peers.

We believe that the School counselling program is an essential component of a well-rounded education, and we are committed to providing the highest quality services to the TGS community. Our goal is to create a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel comfortable seeking help and support.

In conclusion, we are thrilled to be joining the TGS community and we look forward to working with students, staff, and families to promote positive mental health and well-being. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like to schedule a counselling appointment, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Best regards,

Lyle Gothmann and Rina Scott-Wilson

Rina Scott-Wilson, Telephone: (07) 4687 2577, Email: R.Scott-Wilson@twgs.qld.edu.au

Lyle Gothmann, Telephone: (07) 4687 2627, Email: L.Gothmann@twgs.qld.edu.au

Long-serving Toowoomba Grammar School Woodwind Teacher and School Accompanist, Melissa Buchholz has recently received the honour of a position on the Trinity College London music examinations panel.

This exciting opportunity will see Mel travelling and examining not only throughout Australia but also in New Zealand and South East Asia.

This achievement is the result of plenty of training and hard work and Mel is a wonderful example to our music students of the sort of opportunities that arise through dedication to your craft.

Congratulations Mel, well done, and we are very excited to hear about, and learn from, your experiences.

The Health Centre has had an exceptionally busy start to 2023 with numerous boys unwell early with tonsillitis and ear infections. Typical summer illnesses whilst we enjoy water sports and socialising. We have also noted many sunburnt boys and the aloe vera has been getting a workout!!

May we direct you to the UV Index chart below:

Of note, this last week alone has seen Toowoomba register at or above 12 each day on the Index chart.

It is paramount to protect our largest organ - our skin, and we encourage daily sunscreen application.

Please remember the Health Centre is the central hub for all health/medical related issues.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via email on: health@twgs.qld.edu.au or phone 0746 872 504.

The P&F will be holding its AGM on Tuesday, 28 February. There are two members who stepping down from their roles, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

Peter Applebee has been a hardworking and reliable Committee member of the P&F for the past three years. We wish him all the best and thank him for his years of service.

Samantha Dean has been on the P&F for the past six years. She was our President for the past two years and previously served as the Treasurer. Under her guidance the P&F has been able to navigate through some major changes. Samantha's youngest son finished Year 12 last year and she is therefore finishing her time on the P&F. We thank her for her continued service and commitment during her son's final year. All the best Sam.

Bliss Bierhoff

P&F Executive

Senior School photographs were taken on Tuesday, 31 January.

To place your order, please visit www.advancedlife.com.au and enter the online order code CN5 ZBK YE5.

Individual, class and House photographs will be available. Photographic packages will be sent to the School for distribution to families.

Click here for ordering instructions

For families wishing to also order photographs from previous years, please select the previous years or group photo tabs once you have logged into the advancedlife site.

Junior School photographs were taken yesterday, Thursday, 2 February. Individual and class photographs can be ordered.

To order your school photographs, please visit www.advancedlife.com.au and enter the online order code X6X KGL QP4.

Photographic packages will be sent to the School for distribution to families.

For families wishing to also order photographs from previous years, please select the previous years or group photo tabs once you have logged into the advancedlife site.

We are proud to share articles from our dedicated educators regarding a range of teaching, learning and wellbeing matters that impact our School community and your son.

If you haven't already read our latest blogs, here they are for you to enjoy.

The Makings of a Premiership - Mr Kabe Cicolini
Head of Basketball, and 1st V Coach, Mr Kabe Cicolini has been instrumental in the growth and success of not just our leading team, but of the TGS Basketball Program as a whole - from Prep to Year 12. Kabe talks about the years of dedication, and both the physical and mental preparation that went into the 2022 historic Premiership and his plans for the future of TGS Basketball.

Ten Steps Ahead - Mrs Jackie Gallagher
Toowoomba Grammar School Athletics Coach, Jackie Gallagher was on track for the 2008 Beijing Olympics before a devastating injury cut short her promising career. After overcoming the mental and emotional impact of the trauma, Jackie unexpectedly set out on a different path that has resulted in a more fulfilling role. This determined woman was always going to make it to the top and earlier this week was named the Darling Downs Coach of the Year at the Sports DD Awards. Read about her inspirational journey and the impact she now has on TGS students and young athletes from not just Toowoomba, but across Australia.

TGS Blog - Toowoomba Grammar School (twgs.qld.edu.au)

It is energising to have all the boys back at school. Most have returned in good spirits, are well presented and ready for the year ahead. Thank you to all parents who understand the importance of setting and maintaining standards for young men. In the classroom, the boys are engaged, working hard and doing what their teachers ask.

Social Events

It has been fantastic to see so many boys already involve themselves in the social activities on offer on the weekend. The end of Week 2 saw our Year 7s spend Sunday afternoon together completing a range of activities and competitions in their House groups. The aim of this afternoon is to establish a connection between the boys and their House and also between the dayboys and boarders. Approximately 150 boys signed up for last Friday’s Valentine’s Day social with the girls at Fairholme College and I commend the boys on their good behaviour at that event. This coming Sunday we have the Year 8 Pool Party with The Glennie School and it is proving to be another popular event.

With all socials, boys are emailed the details of the event. If they do sign up and then later find out that they are unable to attend, we ask them to please let Mrs Tanya Simpson know – t.simpson@twgs.qld.edu.au.

Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week

All Senior School boys will be engaged in camps or activities in the final week of term. There is a wonderful array of destinations and activities planned across all the ages. We view this week as a very important part of the character development program at the School and, as such, expect all boys to attend. Parents will receive an email with all the relevant camp information. Please contact the Student Services Office if you have any questions regarding the Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week.

House Colours

A significant number of boys have been to Student Services since term started to apply for House Colours. To be eligible, boys need to show consistent endeavour in a range of House and School activities. Boys need to accumulate points in four categories:

Category A – House Sport/House Activity

Category B – Cultural/Academic/Cadets/Outdoor Activities/ Clubs/Societies

Category C – GPS Sport and Other Sport

Category D – Service

Boys are first eligible for House Half Colours. They then continue to earn points towards House Full Colours and House Honour Colours. Full details of the Colours process can be found in the Senior School Student Diary. Boys can collect their House Colours application forms from the Student Services Office.

GPS Championship Events

The first GPS Championship event for the year is Swimming which will be held at Chandler on Friday, 3 March. It is a great event to start the year; many boys enjoy spectating and supporting our swimmers. All Year 12 students are expected to attend as spectators. We ask all boys in Years 9 to 12 to support one GPS event per year, and as noted in the School calendar, all Year 9 boys will attend GPS Cross Country in Term 2 and all Year 10 and 11 boys will attend the GPS Track and Field Championships in Term 4.

Parent-Teacher Meetings – Term 2

Please see the details below for Term 2 Parent-Teacher meetings. Boys are encouraged to attend the meetings with their parents. The venue has changed to Purves Building. The meetings will be split over two days and meetings can be booked online through the Parent Portal. The portal will be open to commence booking meetings on Monday, 3 April.

Raising Good Men Seminar Series

We are excited to launch our 2023 series of Raising Good Men seminars.

These seminars are specially designed for our TGS community as part of our commitment to developing men of good character. We welcome experts from a range of fields to provide insights and strategies to assist families with navigating the challenges of raising boys in today’s world.

We are delighted to have Australia’s leading cyber-safety expert, Susan McLean, as our first guest speaker for the year. Susan specialises in the area of cyber safety and was a member of the Victora Police for 27 years, with her position involving cyber safety and young people.

Susan will discuss a range of topics relevant to cyber safety for both parents and children and propose strategies to give our children the skills and knowledge to navigate the rapidly changing digital world in a safe, smart and responsible way.

The seminar will be held in the Jacaranda Room on Thursday, 21 February at 6:30pm, followed by refreshments.

Whilst this event is free, bookings are essential. To see Susan McLean, please register here by 5:00pm on Monday, 20 February. https://bit.ly/3HDPjhA

SchoolTV

“The wellbeing of today’s youth has never been more challenging,” according to Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

Another comprehensive resource for parents to access is the Toowoomba Grammar School SchoolTV page. The page hosts a range of informative video series aimed at assisting parents in negotiating adolescence. There are series on cybersafety, mental health, school survival, healthy bodies and positive parenting.

Home Page SchoolTV | Toowoomba Grammar School

Attendance Policy

It is timely that I remind you of our Student Attendance Policy. The key sections of the policy that relate to parents are as follows:

In accordance with the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, children between the age of 6 and 16 must be enrolled at a state or non-government school and must attend the school at all times when the School is open for instruction, or for participation in school activities. Additionally, in keeping with the co-curricular life of Toowoomba Grammar School, students are required to attend all activities as requested; some activities may occur out of normal school hours.

Authorised absence – an absence where the reason provided by the parent/caregiver is acceptable to the School.

Unauthorised absence – an absence where the reason provided by the parent/caregiver is considered to be unacceptable to the School.

Unexplained absence – an absence for which no reason is provided by the parent/caregiver.

Reporting – the School will report all authorised, unauthorised and unexplained absences on student report cards at the end of each semester. The School is also obligated to report student absences to the Department of Education at the end of each semester.

Absences from school can be recorded via the Parent Lounge. Absences from attendance at school can, however, be authorised under the following categories:

1. Health related absences
2. Pastoral or family reasons
3. Representative sporting reasons.

Absences for family holidays are typically recorded as unauthorised.

If a request for an extended absence is required, these can be made to the respective Head of School and the following factors are considered:

• The period of absence
• The reasons for the absence
• The student’s recent history of absence
• The student’s academic progress and assessments due during or immediately following the period of absence
• The student’s capacity to complete the current curriculum studies during the absence and at the completion of the absence
• The student’s co-curricular commitments during the absence.

The decision to be absent during term time (authorised or unauthorised) carries certain expectations and understanding, namely that the student:

• Will meet with each of his teachers before his departure to ascertain the work required to keep up to date during the period of his absence
• Will identify any co-curricular commitments that he will miss during his absence and communicate this with his coaches/teachers
• Will be required to complete the work that will be missed by a time negotiated with his teachers
• May be issued with a sanction if the work is incomplete in part or whole upon his return from the absence.

Parents may be requested to provide documentary explanation for all absences. This includes the provision of documents that satisfy the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and its requirements for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA). Specifically, examinations for Year 11 and 12 students can only be rescheduled with supporting documentation from a medical professional. Medical certificates must include the reason for the absence as per the Academic and Assessment Policy.

The School is not obliged to provide alternative class, assessment or lost time for students who may be granted absence. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the work missed during his absence and the School will not discount fees for the period of absence.

Vaping

Vaping continues to be an issue at schools throughout Australia. At TGS we will continue to take a firm stance on the use and possession of vapes at school. Any student caught with a vape or vaping will be issued with a significant consequence as per our behaviour management policy and procedures. If you are worried about your son and vaping, please see this SchoolTV special report: SPECIAL REPORT: Vaping & E-Cigarettes | Toowoomba Grammar School (schooltv.me)

New Firewall

Later this term, TGS will turn on our new firewall software. Previous firewalls have protected our boys from accessing inappropriate content or warning us if a boy searched a concerning term. This was only in effect when the boys were on our school Wi-Fi. The firewall update will always monitor the students’ laptops, regardless of the Wi-Fi server they are accessing.

I am looking forward to seeing the boys working hard on their schoolwork and in their co-curricular events throughout the remainder of this term.

Mark Oliphant
Head of Senior School

I’ve always enjoyed the beginning phases of a school year, much like the start of a sporting season or the opening chapters of a novel. Each in their own way has a sense of excitement for what’s possible, an aspiration to strive for, or simply an opportunity to immerse ourselves in something we are curious about. The learning that takes place during these moments can be tremendous; all of us, at any age, enjoy learning when we harness our curiosity and allow ourselves to aspire for something we find meaningful. This is how I define engagement, which has been our value focus for the past week.

Student engagement is a topic discussed in many educational contexts, conveying deep involvement in learning or an activity where knowledge and/or skills are acquired. It’s both cognitive and emotional; engagement draws on learning behaviours like time management, goal setting, effort, persistence and focus but also motivational factors like interest, enthusiasm and taking pride in your work. You might say a student is engaged when you see them involved in the task, asking questions or going further on their own.

So how do you foster learning engagement? Well, that is the great question isn’t it… and there’s probably many views on this, and to be fair they might all have value depending on the student and the context, their age and stage. It’s a difficult code to crack. There are some common themes though that are worth a mention, beginning with:

A supportive environment

• where students feel comfortable contributing and asking questions. Where their contributions are valued and encouraged.

The learning is relevant and interesting

• Students can see how the learning topic applies to them, and how they can make best use of it.

Clarity in their learning

• Clear goals, expectations and timely feedback on progress. So students know and understand what they are working towards, how to get there and what their next step is.

Active involvement

• The learning task has some form of active involvement either through participation, asking questions, composing or completing something.

I’m sure there are more factors involved, but if the four points above are present you’re well on your way! We have all enjoyed that sense of being immersed in something and learnt a great deal from the experience, it’s a lovely feeling. This week we are shining a spotlight on that feeling and celebrating great learning through the lens of engagement.

And a little word on routines, and how they can support engagement. I would encourage you to read this week's article from Deputy Head of Junior School Teaching and Learning, Mrs Chantelle Bauer. She shares the value of routines and how they impact on the school experience.

Also please take a moment to read about the House Swimming Carnival in the Junior School Sportsmaster, Mr Brendan Doherty’s section. The event was held on Friday, 3 February with Boyce House winning House Spirit and Groom House winning the Carnival Shield. Full details in the Junior School Sports section.

Finally, its lovely to see all the co-curricular activities commencing for the year. Whether its music, sports, or afternoon activities like digital media, art, fitness, chess, coding or Master Chef, these are all wonderful pursuits for students to access. We will provide a full profile of these co-curricular activities in our next edition of The Blue and Gold.

With warmest regards, and appreciation,

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

Routines are an important part of our daily lives, providing structure and stability. This is especially true for children in their formative years, who benefit from having consistent and predictable routines in both their school and home environments. At Toowoomba Grammar School Junior School, we believe that routines are essential for helping students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

One of the key ways in which routines help students is by providing a sense of security and comfort. Children feel more confident and secure when they know what to expect, and routines help to provide this predictability. This is especially important for students in their early years of school, who are still adjusting to the demands of the school environment. By establishing consistent routines at home, parents can help their children to feel more comfortable and confident at school.

In addition to the benefits for individual students, routines also help to create a positive and productive learning environment for the whole class. When students know what is expected of them, they are more likely to be on task and engaged in their learning. This in turn helps to create a more positive and supportive classroom atmosphere, which can benefit all students. By working together to establish consistent routines both at home and at school, parents and teachers can help to create an environment that is supportive and conducive to learning.

Whether we design them intentionally or weave them into our lives organically, we all enjoy the benefits of building purposeful routines.

We are in the prime phase of the year for building purposeful routines with our students, and for ourselves. I am consistently impressed in the ability of students, teachers and families to settle so quickly into routines at the beginning of the year. It's not always easy! So, don’t be concerned if you are still working on forming and establishing purposeful routines at home to support children getting ready for school each day, or evening routines to settle for bed at night. Routines take practice, patience and persistence, complemented by lavish amounts of encouragement and praise.

Some tips for building routines, feel free just to consider those most relevant for you and your family.

Develop a schedule

• Schedules help to map our time, and kids benefit from knowing what’s coming up (we all do probably).

Organise materials so they can be easily accessed

• Routines flow more easily when you can access what’s required quickly and easily.

Use checklists or visuals

• These little reminders reduce the cognitive load of what we need to remember, which is particularly important for children so they can focus their energy (brain power).

Be consistent, but flexible

• At first glance this sounds contradictory, but consistency is keeping the routine going, whereas flexibility is the ability to improvise or adjust to keep moving towards the goal. Children can get derailed at times when something is missing in their routine, remind them we are ‘flexible thinkers’ and we’ll find an alternative to keep going.

Celebrate the routine

• Some routines are fun, others are not as much…either way, celebrate them all. Congratulate your child on accomplishing the routine, especially when it was hard to get there!

I am happy to share with you that our students have settled into the first few weeks of the school year wonderfully. Teachers and Teacher Aides have done a tremendous job building classroom routines with their students to shape the learning environment so that our students can engage in their learning.

Most classes have started their homework tasks by now, which is another routine to layer into the mix of the week amongst music lessons, sports, chores at home etc… Our lives are full, but they are a joy, or at least more manageable, with the help of good routines.

Please feel comfortable speaking with your child's classroom teacher if the workloads of homework and family routines outside of school are not finding a comfortable balance. These are matters we feel are very important and can be resolved together.

Whether the routines are at school or home, routines can have tremendous value for our students and ourselves. Purposeful routines help students to access and harness learning engagement each day.

Chantelle Bauer
Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning

Absentees
If ever your son is absent from school you are encouraged to lodge this via the Parent Lounge which can be accessed via the Toowoomba Grammar School website or the TGS App. This method is much more convenient for both parents and school administration staff.

Schools' Clean Up Australia Day
Your son will be involved in the 2023 Schools’ Clean Up Australia Day on Friday, 3 March. The areas allocated to the Junior School will be the streets surrounding the school site and the school grounds. The boys will be fully supervised during the experience. The boys will need to bring along a pair of rubber gloves (disposable ones are fine) and a bag for the collection of litter.

Co-curricular Clubs
The boys experienced the 2023 start of the Junior School Clubs last week. It was great to see so many boys take advantage of the variety on offer. Just a reminder that the clubs start at 3:15pm and end at 4:15pm. I urge that you please collect your sons immediately after.

Year 5 Camp
The Year 5 boys and staff are looking forward to their annual school camp at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast in Week 6. They will be staying at Tallebudgera Active Recreation Centre on the Gold Coast. Tallebudgera is an adventure camp and over the three days, the boys will be involved in body boarding, ropes courses, beach games and various other team building and initiative activities. I’m sure that the boys will enjoy the camp immensely. Additional staff members, including Mrs Bauer and two GAP Students, will accompany the teachers and boys for the three days of camp to assist with supervision.

Mike Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School

Swimming
Congratulations to all boys involved in the Under 9-12 Inter-House Swimming Championships. It was a fantastic day and showcased the many talented boys we have at TGS.

Congratulations to Boyce House for winning the Spirit Award and Groom for being House Champion.

Thirty-one boys qualified to compete in the Range Zone trials on February 13. All boys performed well with the following boys selected to compete at the Darling Downs trials on 28 February. Well done and good luck.

Riley Frappell
Charlie Beverland
Eddy Beverland
Thomas Oliphant
Hugo Seaby
Fred Hudson
Connor Talbot

Cross Country
A reminder for boys to keep their cross country training going. Not too long until the carnival now!

Congratulations
Toowoomba Grammar School has a range of boys participating in a myriad of sporting competitions. We are fortunate to have a lot of successful athletes in our midst. If your son has been successful at a particular sport, please let me know so that he can be recognised.

Please congratulate the following boys:

Tom Oliphant – competed at the State Aquathlon Championships at Hervey Bay recently. Tom has been training hard for this and competed at a very high level.

Orion Khatri – has been selected in the Under 8 Champions League to compete at the 2023 Junior Regional Futsal Titles.

Charlie Barwick – selected in the Darling Downs cricket team.

Charlie Zillman – selected in the Under 14 South West Softball team. 

The following boys have been announced as captains of their respective sports for 2023. We wish these boys well for a successful season.

Cricket – Darcy Dunk
Volleyball – Charlie Zillman
Swimming – Tom Oliphant

Congratulations boys.

Club Football and Club Rugby
Information regarding the sign-up for our Prep to Year 4 rugby and football teams has been recently disseminated. Make sure you have signed your son/s up to guarantee him a place in one of our teams.

Pre-season training for both rugby and football will occur towards the end of Term 1. More details will be sent home shortly.

Yours in sport,

Brendan Doherty
Sportsmaster

Our Arts Leaders for 2023 were acknowledged on Assembly yesterday. A big congratulations to the following men of TGS:

Leader of the Arts - Samuel Freer

Leader of the Big Band - Will Anderson

Leaders of the Wind Orchestra - Gabriel Schubert and Nicholas Clulow

Leader of TiGAA - Noah Taylor

Leader of RnB - Hamish Walker

Leader of Grammarphones - Ruben Fitton

Leader of Choir - Thomas Dixon

Leader of Strings - Henry McMaster

Leader of Concert Band - Clancy Wright

Leader of Guitar Ensemble - Kurtis Goodger

We are looking forward to seeing our ensembles flourish under your leadership this year.

Thursday, 9 February saw the return of the GPS Music Showcase following the 2022 cancellation due to COVID. The day features the best musicians from across the GPS schools placed in four ensembles. These ensembles spend a whole day rehearsing three pieces of music to perform at the Showcase Concert in the evening. The Old Museum Building in Brisbane was a lovely backdrop for the event and the day was a massive success with the following 23 students taking part:

Big Band

Will Anderson (alto sax)

Lachlan Brownlie (tenor sax)

Symphony Orchestra

Nicholas Clulow (clarinet)

Nethul Manamperi (bass clarinet)

Henry Paton (trumpet)

Concert Band

Bertie Mansfield (trumpet)

Gabe Schubert (clarinet)

Jackson Smiddy (baritone sax)

Finlay Waring (clarinet)

Alby Galbraith (clarinet)

Choir

Ruben Fitton

Sam Freer

Hamish Walker

Max Durkin

Thomas Dixon

George Bain

Harry Bland

Elliot Murfin-Chalmers

Hamish McCollum

Ruben Kruger

James Dixon

Connor Brownlie

Artharsh Gajaharan

A big congratulations to all the TGS men involved who gave excellent performances. A particular mention goes to both Will Anderson and Lachlan Brownlie who had featured solos with the Big Band. This is quite an honour.

If you'd like to watch a replay of the livestream of the concert, it will be available for a short time here.

On Sunday, 5 February the TGS Army Cadet Unit held our annual Recruit Open Day, and we wish to say thank you to all the boys, girls, parents and cadets who came along to see what we do or to help out on the day. It was fabulous to see so many young boys and girls interested in challenging themselves and having a go with the catapults, cam and concealment, radios, movements, and all the other Army equipment on display. TGS Army Cadets is a full year co-curricular activity which provides leadership, character development and life skills that can be carried through into later life. Cadets participate in activities involving radios, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, STEM, planning and organisation, discipline, and friendship building. TGS Army Cadets currently has 15 new recruits and we look forward to welcoming many more over the next couple of weeks.

On Saturday, 18 February, a group of TGS Army Cadets will once again mount the vigil for the National Servicemen’s Association Australia. This is an important event that is exclusive to the TGS Cadets and maintains a decade-old tradition of service and supporting the local community through commemoration.

The 2023 Senior Cadet team is close to being finalised and I look forward to sharing the names of the cadets who will hold the prestigious positions in 2023.

The GPS Cricket season is in full swing with three rounds being played with good success. Approximately 430 boys make up 32 teams from Years 5 to 12 playing in both home and away matches against fellow GPS schools.

Congratulations to all players on the way they have conducted themselves with a high level of sportsmanship and participation being shown.

The season continues against Brisbane Boys’ College this Saturday. Good luck to all teams, especially the 1^st XI who make the trip to Brisbane to put their unbeaten start to the season on the line.

The GPS Volleyball season is well underway with Round 2 and Round 3 taking place since the last edition of The Blue and Gold.

Round 2 saw us host Brisbane State High School (BSHS) Years 9 to 11, Opens and 1st VI teams, whilst our Years 5 to 8 teams travelled to Brisbane to play BSHS and Gregory Terrace.

Congratulations to the following teams on their Round 2 wins:

• 2nd VI, 3rd VI, 4th VI (win by forfeit), 9A, 9C, 9D, 8C, 8D

Round 3 against Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) was another home round for our Years 9 to 12 teams, with our Years 5 to 8 teams playing away.

Congratulations to the following teams on their Round 3 wins:

• 1st VI, 3rd VI, 11B, 9A

On Saturday, our 1st VI team had a milestone victory in three sets against BGS. The boys broke a 22-year losing streak, beating BGS for the first time since 1999. Well done boys!!

A special mention also goes out to our 9A team who head into Round 4 undefeated!

We look forward to this Saturday's games against Brisbane Boys' College. Good luck to all our teams!

Key Dates

Term 1

Week 4 training starts

Wednesday, 22 March - House Cross Country Carnival

Friday, 24 March - GPS Pre-Meet 1 @ Highfields. This meet is run and hosted by TGS

Term 2

Friday, 28 April - GPS Pre-Meet 2 @ Northgate hosted by GT/BGS

Friday, 5 May - GPS Pre-Meet 3 @ Ipswich (Limestone Park) compulsory pre-meet for all runners

Tuesday, 16 May - DD Cross Country Trials

Thursday, 18 May - GPS Cross Country Championships

2023 Peak2Park

In 2023 Toowoomba Grammar School will once again participate in the Peak2Park fun run. Registration is via Events in Parent Lounge and we welcome all parents and students to participate. Parent supervision is required for all students and for Years 4 and below a parent should be registered also. A bus will be provided for boarders.

Toowoomba Grammar School Tennis 2023

I would like to welcome all our new boys and their families to the “Tennis Family” here at TGS. All parents are invited to assist with the tennis program through their involvement with the Tennis Supporters' Group which provides fundraising support to the boys in the program.

Tennis Supporters' Group Annual General Meeting – Thursday, 23 February 6:30pm

The Tennis Supporters' Group Annual General Meeting will be conducted in the Bunya Room in the Pavilion at 6:30pm on Thursday, 23 February. Parents and friends of the tennis group are now looking for volunteers for the 2023 season. A link will be available to join this meeting online and will be provided via email prior to the meeting. If you wish to be a part of the group, but are unable to attend the AGM, please contact the Director of Tennis, g.wright@twgs.qld.edu.au, who will put you in touch with the Tennis Supporters' Group.

The Tennis Program 2023

The School has a strong and proud history of delivering a broad and accessible tennis program which aims to cater for boys in the skill acquisition and performance phases of their junior development. Boys are encouraged to participate in both School and community tennis to fulfil their tennis dreams and goals. To succeed in tennis, boys will need to maintain significant court time throughout the year and boys should be exposed to both skill acquisition and match play. Please stay in touch with the tennis program by downloading the TGS App to your smart phone. The School utilises the App to send urgent messages and provide guidance on all tennis related activities.

TGS A Squads

Term 1 will see the A squad - who are previously identified players, continue with their pre-season training under the direction of our coaching team. New boys to the School may be invited to attend the emerging squad program once they have settled and we have had time to assess their capacity to be a part of the group.

TGS Tennis Age Championships

The TGS Age Championships are conducted over three Sundays (February 19 / 26 / March 5). These provide boys with the opportunity to gain valuable match practice prior to the season. We encourage all boys to participate in this event as the results can be used as a guide for GPS team selections. Nomination can be made via the following link, TGS Age Championships Nominations, and entries will close on Wednesday, 15 February.

TGS Pre-Season Training

Pre-season training will be held from February 13-24. All boys are encouraged to attend the allocated training sessions for their year level; however, Term 1 sport maintains priority should any clashes occur. Boys should communicate with their team coaches if they are unable to attend these sessions. Details of the training schedule will be provided as soon as coach availability is confirmed.

TSSS Tennis Trials

The TSSS trials were held last Tuesday at Toowoomba Tennis Association. Congratulations to Tom Dwyer, Dallas Baker, Henry Maunder and Ryan Sullivan on making the team to go to the Darling Downs trials. Special mention to Archer Black who is reserve for the team. Good luck boys.

Term 2 Football has commenced with grading trials taking place in Weeks 3 and 4. This will be followed immediately with two trial games being held at Harristown State High and St Mary’s College.

Extended A/B Squads will play in some pre-season games over the next couple of weeks. Other games are being investigated.

Tuesday, 21 February

4pm - Field 1 (middle field) - TGS 1^st XI v HSHS Senior Boys

4pm - Field 2 (field closest to Concordia) - TGS 11As v St Mary's Open Boys

4pm - Field 3 (rugby league field) - TGS 10As v HSHS 2^nd XI

5pm - Field 1 - TGS 1^st XI v HSHS 2^nd XI

5pm - Field 2 - TGS 11As v HSHS Senior Boys

5pm - Field 3 - TGS 10As v St Mary's Open Boys

Thursday, 2 March

4pm - Field 1 - TGS 9As v HSHS Junior Boys 1

4pm - Field 2 - TGS 8As v St. Mary's Junior Boys

4pm - Field 2 - TGS 7As v HSHS Junior Boys 2

5pm - Field 1 - TGS 9As v HSHS Junior Boys 2

5pm - Field 2 - TGS 8As v HSHS Junior Boys 1

5pm - Field 3 - TGS 7As v St Mary's Junior Boys

Pre-season Football training for all year groups will commence on Tuesday, 28 February commencing at 6:15am-7:30am and will occur every Tuesday and Thursday until Week 9.

Week 8 & 9 Futsal

TGS will be entering teams into regional futsal competitions during Term 1. Teams will be selected by the Head of Football and boys and parents will be required to approve their attendance via Parent Lounge.

Easter Skills Development Camp 3/4 April 2023

This year, TGS will this year run a school holiday football clinic as part of the Blazers holiday series of events. Boys from Years 5 to 9 seeking to develop their football skills for the coming season should register for this exciting two (half days) event.

The TSS Cup 11-14 April 2023

Expressions of interest are now being sought from boys to participate in the TSS Cup which is to be held in the Gold Coast. The 1st XI extended squad will board at TSS whilst all other age groups will need to be hosted by parents and delivered to The Southport School for their games. There will be a fee for attendance at the competition to cover coaching and registration costs.

Super Monday, 17 April 2023

Week 1 in Term 2 is always difficult with lots of activity around the School disrupting training. All football players are invited to attend a "Super Monday" training day as we prepare for the coming season. The day is likely to run from 9:00am – 3:00pm.

Spain and England Football Tour - update

A Parents' Information Evening was held on 8 February in the Jacaranda Room where Red Lion Agencies gave an overview of the prospective Spain and England Tour. It looked amazing with stadium tours, live games and training sessions with professional clubs. The tour is open to boys playing GPS Football from Years 9 to 11.

At this stage the Tour is estimated to cost $10,000 per person on the expectation that 45 boys attend. Should we fall below the 45, then we may need to readjust the price to cover the staff cost ratio. The final tour cost could in fact be higher than the estimated cost. As with any international tour, the School will be adding the costs of teaching staff who are required to chaperone the boys throughout the tour which is a part of our ongoing risk management approach to touring.

The School continues to support the prospect of conducting this tour; however, will need to ascertain the level of interest before a final decision is made.

Parents are now requested to complete stage 2 of the EOI and submit a payment of $250 which can be used to secure and hold an airline ticket. Should the School determine not to proceed beyond stage 2, then your payment will be refunded in full.

Cost not included in the estimated costs are all lunches, travel insurance and additional excursions not listed in the tour presentation.

Registrations remain open for those interested in participating in the tour.

Nigel Fanning – 0432 179 930 – n.fanning@twgs.qld.edu.au

TGSOBA Annual General Meeting and Dinner with the Boarders

Our AGM will be held in Old Hall on Wednesday, 1 March 2023.

Our traditional “Dinner with the Boarders” will happen prior to the AGM at 6:00pm. All Old Boys are invited to join us for this dinner. Fellowship and refreshments will continue at the close of the AGM.

OBA Information Evening

Old Boys will be extended an invitation to join with us for an informal occasion where they can meet current members of our Management Committee and Headmaster, Dr John Kinniburgh, and hear about what we do and the strong working relationship we have with the School. Refreshments and finger food will be provided. Invitations including the date and venue will be forwarded and all Old Boys are invited and welcome.

Generations Gathering

This event has been scheduled for Friday, 10 March commencing at 6:00pm in Old Hall. This gathering provides a wonderful opportunity for current boys who have an Old Boy father, grandfather or great grandfather, and their families, to gather and share the stories from the past while connecting with the present. Invitations will soon be sent out.

Year of the 3s Reunions

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

Come along and learn about the TGS Old Boys' Association and how you can possibly get involved.

Hear about what we do, how we connect with current students and families, and our network of Old Boys.

Register your interest here https://bit.ly/3DGzgOP

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.

We are excited to launch our 2023 series of Raising Good Men seminars.

These seminars are specially designed for our TGS community as part of our commitment to developing men of good character. We welcome experts from a range of fields to provide insights and strategies to assist families with navigating the challenges of raising boys in today’s world.

We are delighted to have Australia’s leading cyber-safety expert, Susan McLean as our first guest speaker for the year. Susan specialises in the area of cyber safety and was a member of the Victora Police for 27 years, with her position involving cyber safety and young people.

Susan will discuss a range of topics relevant to cyber safety for both parents and children and propose strategies to give our children the skills and knowledge to navigate the rapidly changing digital world in a safe, smart and responsible way.

The seminar will be held in the Jacaranda Room on Tuesday, 21 February at 6:30pm, followed by refreshments.

Whilst this event is free, bookings are essential. To see Susan McLean, please register by 5:00pm on Monday, 20 February. https://bit.ly/3HDPjhA

Please access this link for details about the TGS "Incognito" Show 2023:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFaDjHa3Sw/BMRwQx1sTJfV-a1XEbl3Cw/view?utm_content=DAFaDjHa3Sw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Organised by the TGS Art Show committee, the 'show' is a way to raise money for various charities and is open to all TGS students and staff to enter.

You create! - TGS exhibits! - Work is sold! - Money is raised!

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!

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:

AEIOU Toowoomba - autism early intervention & therapy specialists | AEIOU Foundation

Or read more here

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.

You can choose to Register to Run and Fundraise or Donate: AEIOU Foundation - TGS Mackintosh House

Here are the instructions if you would like to register.

Instructions to register for Take A Hike Toowoomba are as follows:

Go to event link here

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

1. Once logged in, choose a distance of 10km or 5km and check personal details are correct. Students cannot register for 1km
2. Choose the fundraising page – click join a team – choose TGS Mackintosh House
3. 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)
4. Add Promo code TGS23 at top
5. Choose to make a donation with registration
6. If so, choose an amount and follow the payment details below
7. If not, choose no thanks
8. Scroll to the bottom, and tick box to agree to the terms and conditions
9. 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's have a great day,

Brad Allen and Andrew McKinnon

Heads of House – Mackintosh House

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.

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)