“Events like these not only promote a love for mathematics, but also encourage critical thinking and problem-solving abilities among students, a skill for life.”
TGS maths students unleashing their creativity
Term 2 has been a busy one in the Mathematics department; from multiple year levels having extended assessment tasks to competitions run inside and outside the School.
Using mathematical equations to recreate artwork
The Year 11 Mathematical Methods students got a chance to be very creative with their assessment - using numbers to reproduce artwork.
The boys visited the 2024 Grammar Art Show in Term 1 and were given the task to reproduce a chosen work using their knowledge of mathematical functions and their graphs; with some artworks more complex to reproduce than others. A tricky task when each student had to select a unique piece of art.
With a significant limitation of only being allowed to use 20 lines, the boys did a fantastic job at thinking outside the box to recreate their chosen piece.
Enjoy the gallery below to see the progression of some of the boys' recreations.
Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers' Problem-Solving Competition
Last month, students nominated themselves for the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers' annual problem-solving competition. This gruelling two-hour test required the boys to solve a variety of problems individually and had the highest participation rate that TGS has seen to date, with over 80 boys taking part across Years 7 to 12. The papers were sent away, and a lot of the boys are eager to see how they went.
Darling Downs Maths Teams Challenge
On Tuesday, 7 May the Darling Downs Maths Teams Challenge was held at St Ursula’s College and saw an array of schools from around the region participate in both a team and relay event across three divisions (Junior Years 7 and 8, Intermediate Years 9 and 10, and Senior Years 11 and 12). This event proved to be a challenging yet rewarding opportunity for students to showcase their mathematical skills and creativity.
TGS entered two teams of boys in each division and were given a special TGS tunnel as they headed off to the Challenge.
The TGS A team came away as the Senior Division winners where 18 teams competed for the top spot from 11 schools. TGS B team secured an impressive 5th place in the same division. In the Intermediate Division, TGS secured notable 4th and 5th positions, showcasing their mathematical prowess. Meanwhile, in the Junior Division, the TGS A team clinched a commendable second place amidst 25 teams from 14 schools.
Year 9 classroom activity
The Year 9 cohort saw themselves venturing outside the classroom to complete their assessment tasks, where they used inclinometers and trigonometry to determine the height of the spire on top of School House – no long measuring tapes or ladders required.
Term 3 will be another busy one with big internal assessments due for our Year 12 boys, and more competitions including the Australian Mathematics Competition in August and the Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad in September.
The TGS Mathematics curriculum really does have something to appeal to all.
Latest Blog
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
Kia Moemoeā – Dream Beyond Limits
A 12-year study has found that boys consistently perform better in an all boys’ school compared to boys in co-educational schools. This was one of several interesting topics presented at the recent International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Auckland, New Zealand which I attended alongside three of my Toowoomba Grammar School colleagues – Mr Luke Rawle, Mr Dave Klan and Mrs Jessica Galbraith. We joined 600 leading educators from 15 countries around the world for the four-day…
Blue and Gold in the Blood
“I had such fond memories from the School and enjoyed all the opportunities available, particularly participating in sport and learning at such a high level; my sons were going to have the same great education,” said Chris adamantly. Chris was a boarder from Dalby and an “all-rounder” as a student. He was part of the 1st XV, a CUO in the Cadets, a member of the debating team, involved in drama (featuring in two plays during his time) and a good academic student. “I really enjoyed boarding,”…
The Benefits of Repeated Reading
An effective and evidence-based method that can significantly improve your child's reading abilities is 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…
Print v Digital
I recently read an article by Petra Stock, entitled "Streaming Stories: Will Children’s Digital Book Platforms Upend Print", an interesting discussion comparing ebooks and print media and the ways they are being used during and post COVID. Which is better according to the article? Well, there is a clear winner; however, like many things, the answer can depend on the situation. I'd like to break elements of the article down, along with my own thoughts and compare the two. Social…
Striking a Balance
We understand that, as parents, we aspire to provide our children with the best education and opportunities for growth. Within the Junior School at Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe in fostering a love for learning while enabling your son to reach his full potential. In this article, we would like to emphasise the significance of automaticity and basic skill practice in extending your child's learning journey, while emphasising the importance of respecting their individual pace. Automaticity…
Developing Sportsmanship from Prep
Overwhelming pride in wearing the Blue and Gold is a familiar emotion for Toowoomba Grammar School students, as is abundantly evident in all our boys, from Prep to Year 12. This emotion and passion for the School is the essence of our TGS culture and defines what it means to be a TGS student. The launch of the 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan creates an exciting opportunity for our co-curricular program, which links perfectly into the "character and wellbeing" pillar. The development of good…
Why Study Drama?
As an educator with over 30 years’ experience in the Arts, I specialise in the analytical, creative and practical spheres that quantify and qualify success in drama. I have been a Drama teacher and Arts Project Officer in the Independent, Catholic, state, and private sectors in primary and secondary, single sex and co-educational environments. This longevity of knowledge, gained through firsthand experience, affirms that students who study drama through until at least Year 10 acquire…
Drive and Determination
Jeremy Peacock is ranked third in the world in the PTS4 Para category and his sights are set on selection for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. During Jeremy’s time at TGS he represented the School in numerous endeavours but was particularly known for his contributions to the Arts, particularly Music. On the sports field, Jeremy represented TGS in GPS Athletics, Cross Country, Cricket and Football. After returning from a gap year in the UK teaching music at Port Regis School, Dorset, Jeremy…
