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
Tik Tok - From Fun to Fear
Social media platforms have ingrained themselves into our daily lives in a time when technology is constantly evolving and drawing millions of users with seductive features and never-ending streams of captivating content. Among these, TikTok has become a worldwide phenomenon, captivating users with its viral challenges and short-form films. Underneath the fun and inventiveness however, there is growing concern about the risks connected to TikTok and other social media platforms. TikTok's…
Active Procrastination – Unlocking the Gates of Time
“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” - Christopher Parker – professional actor. Unfortunately, procrastination is a term that we are all familiar with as students; the vast majority of us have experienced it firsthand. It saps our time and results like a parasite, a burden on its host. However, despite it’s reputation, recent studies have shown that when harnessed correctly, procrastination can be a powerful tool to improve both academic efficiency…
It Takes a Village...
The Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding community plays a pivotal role in shaping the young minds of our boarders and instilling values whilst creating a sense of mateship that can last a lifetime. The nurturing and supportive network of staff not only ensure a safe and structured environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the boys. ‘The staff supply the fuel to the ship but ultimately it is the boys who steer it and decide upon its final destination’. Our TGS…
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success
Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are the bedrock of reading. Encourage rich conversations with your child.…
The Journey of a Boarding Mother
When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child. When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home. So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple. My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A…
The Importance of Differentiation
As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible education, and one of the most effective ways for teachers to provide this is through differentiation. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs and interests of each student, and it can take many forms. First, let's define differentiation. Differentiation is a teaching approach that recognises that students have different strengths, interests, and learning styles. By adjusting instruction to meet these…
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
