The boarding journey offers students a plethora of opportunities to step outside of their comfort zone and take advantage of new environments, relationships, and opportunities during their time at Toowoomba Grammar School.
We often talk about “character education” – a theory that originated in the US and has been increasingly embraced by leading schools globally. It is encouraging all students to develop new approaches to their learning, including aspects of morals and ethics, thinking, behaviour and risk taking.
Risk taking is not something we do naturally; and the older we become, the more risk-averse we become. Adolescence tends to be the time in the lives of boys when they are most likely to be ready to take risks, with the exception of in the classroom (unfortunately). Boys are particularly mindful of asking questions of their teachers or even putting their hand up in class. Why? The fear of getting it wrong.
Boarding at TGS opens a world of new opportunities and challenges all boarders, all students in fact, to step outside of the familiar and try something new. Since its introduction just over a year ago, the TGS Boarders’ Activity Program has offered a smorgasbord of opportunity. Furthermore, the appointment of new boarding supervisors in each of the residential houses has given the boys a greater level of exposure to members of staff with new and often diverse interests. Over the next year or so, the challenge for us is to ensure that the new staff are best utilised to support our boarders to explore new avenues and opportunities, and whilst they may not be ‘out of the comfort zone’ in the traditional sense (…think bungy jumping or free fall parachuting…!) they are simply different from what has been provided before.
Students are now able to play golf, get involved in music production or sampling, go indoor rock climbing or go-kart racing. These Sunday offerings get the boys out and about and we will be adding more, and richer, opportunities to the menu on offer.
In our post-COVID world, there were three year groups that had never experienced a social event with a girls’ school and whilst, at first, this does not seem to be an ‘edgy’ or ‘out of the comfort zone’ event, it truly turned out to be! Ranging from somewhat nervous to downright terrified – and that was just the staff – the trepidation of a ‘social’ was interesting to behold; however, upon their return from Somerville House in Brisbane, the excitement and enjoyment was real for these boys who had all just stepped out of their comfort zone, taken a risk and simply enjoyed themselves in the company of girls from another school in another city.
Activities take place because of the hard work of staff behind-the-scenes, from Helen Hemmings (Deputy Headmaster’s Secretary) co-ordinating the paperwork, Nick Byron (Director of Boarding) looking after the calendar and individual members of staff giving up their time to support the boys. The entire TGS community is supportive of trying to give every boy every opportunity to flourish and make the most of his time here – step outside their comfort zone, try new things and develop into men of good character, who are resilient and ready to face the challenges of life in the real world.
- by Phil Kefford, Head of Boarding, Stephens House
Latest Blog
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…
That Life-Changing Moment
His teacher, Mrs Rosemary Bishop saw his potential. She believed this young indigenous boy from Murgon had something special to offer the world and she fought to put him on the path to greatness. Mrs Bishop contacted the then Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr William Dent and asked if Waverley could be accepted into Toowoomba Grammar School on a scholarship. Mr Dent agreed and so changed the course of Waverley’s life. “I don’t like to think about where I would be now if that hadn’t…
Senioritis - The way we think affects the way we feel and behave
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 recognized 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…
