Creating an environment for students to access and engage in learning is the educational philosophy of the new Toowoomba Grammar School Head of Junior School, Mr Ken Raven.
“This requires a supportive an inclusive learning environment across the school where everyone feels they can make a positive contribution,” Mr Raven stated.
“I encourage evidence-informed, explicit teaching of curriculum that sparks curiosity and interest for students to engage and explore.”
Parental interaction and community involvement are other key areas of focus for Mr Raven. He believes that in a Junior School, parents are closely connected to the daily lives of their children, in-part because children require this from us developmentally, but this is also the phase of a child where their parents and the community they belong to are their world.
“Celebrating these connections and valuing each other's contributions will only enhance the experience for everyone,” stated Mr Raven.
Mr Raven is originally from Southwest Queensland, but his family moved around a lot as he was growing up, mostly in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
“That diversity of experience throughout my own schooling years helped to develop a flexible and adaptable approach which I’ve found to be an asset in my career and life more broadly,” he said.
Mr Raven started teaching at a small primary school in Perth, really enjoying the community approach to education this instilled in him. He then taught in Queensland, Canberra and Western Australia before returning to Queensland again.
“I’ve held roles as a specialist teacher, classroom teacher, Director of Junior School and Head of Junior School over the past 22 years, all tremendously valuable experiences,” Mr Raven elaborated.
Despite being at TGS for only a few weeks, Mr Raven has already found it to be an inspiring place. He looks forward to supporting students, colleagues and families to develop an experience with bold goals they feel inspired to work towards.
“For boys, attending an all –boys' school offers an immediate value through the people working with them every day; our staff have chosen to work in an all –boys' school,” said Mr Raven.
“They value education for boys and will prepare and deliver experiences they feel will resonate with their interests and learning needs to form a connection that will help them grow their understanding and skills.”
Mr Raven said accessing this commitment and dedication early in a boy’s schooling is tremendous for a child.
“From their earliest learning boys will feel valued, confident and capable of growing their knowledge and skills because the people working with them believe in them and provide learning experiences that will connect for them,” he stated.
Latest Blog
The Importance of Routines
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…
Ten Steps Ahead - Jackie Gallagher
As a high school athlete, Jackie Gallagher had the world at her feet. She was in a unique position where she was excellent at any distance from 100m to 800m. She broke Queensland and National records and was regularly selected for State and National teams. Jackie was selected for the Australian Youth team to compete at the World Youth Championships in Canada as an U18 along with the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics, before making the U20 Australian team to compete at…
The Makings of a Premiership
The 2022 1st V Basketball squad will be forever etched in the pages of Toowoomba Grammar School history as the first TGS team to win a GPS Basketball Premiership since the competition commenced in 1984. 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. Kabe has come from a background of playing GPS sport – cricket, rugby and basketball as a student at Ipswich Grammar…
Creating a Learning Environment that Boys Enjoy
Creating an environment for students to access and engage in learning is the educational philosophy of the new Toowoomba Grammar School Head of Junior School, Mr Ken Raven. “This requires a supportive an inclusive learning environment across the school where everyone feels they can make a positive contribution,” Mr Raven stated. “I encourage evidence-informed, explicit teaching of curriculum that sparks curiosity and interest for students to engage and explore.” Parental interaction and…
Introducing our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer
Toowoomba Grammar School is excited to welcome our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer. Mrs Bauer brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role, having lived and worked in the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland region her entire life. She was born and bred in St George, attended university in Toowoomba and took her first teaching role in Roma. She has worked in various roles across the region, including Year Level Coordinator, Head of…
You can't know a student without knowing where they come from
Boarding at Toowoomba Grammar School can be described as many things such as evolving identity, growing personally and developing character in your second home, but it is also about growing your family. Head of Boyce House boarding, Mr Michael Hall and his family, certainly enjoyed that opportunity over January. Catching up with a beautiful collection of current families from Boyce House was a privilege and has helped to build the relationships of trust and care that are essential in a…
DNF (Did Not Finish)
- Dan CrookHead of Library and Information Services I was talking books with a friend the other day; an avid reader, she had been looking for some light reads in new genre for the holidays, and so had sought out the wisdom of the internet. After watching a few BookToks (Tiktok book recommendations) she’d settled on some titles and begun to read. However after investing a good amount of her time and getting half way through the first and most highly recommended book, she asked herself, and then…
TGS Boarding - A Safe, Welcoming and Joyous Community
“From a boarding perspective, enabling young boys to flourish is only achieved within a community that is safe, welcoming, and joyous. These three aspects are at the core of my boarding philosophy and are closely aligned with my fundamental values as a boarding Head of House – acceptance, resilience, and fun,” explains Mr Henry White, Head of Corfe House. Corfe House serves as the entry point for Toowoomba Grammar School’s youngest boarders (Years 5 to 7) and the skills, relationships, and…
Transitioning to Year 7 at TGS
Can you remember your first day in secondary school? It can be a time of mixed feelings - very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Irrespective of whether your son is joining us from the TGS Junior School, or if they are just starting at Toowoomba Grammar School, it can appear to be the start of a long journey. It is a rite of passage in many respects but with this comes increased emotions in response to transition. The boys have a lot to digest with a new, possibly larger campus…
