As a TGS Old Boy (2003-14), sport has always been an integral part of my upbringing. As a young boy I discovered the joys of cricket, track and field and touch footy. This love of being active led me to studying Exercise Science at University and I was fortunate enough to work with a range of national and international level athletes, culminating in an internship at the Brisbane Broncos. This experience launched my career in the strength and conditioning space, allowing me to work with international level athletes in five sports and being a part of multiple professional title wins in combat sport. My love of athletic development was realised within my work in previous schools where I directed academies and departments to national, international and professional success.
Although my career has taken me to major cities such as Brisbane, I always had a desire to travel back to my roots in the country. When this role became available, I realised this was my opportunity to elevate athletic development opportunities not only for TGS but for the wider rural community. As an Old Boy, I understand how important the GPS system is to the students and how to navigate the stressors that it can impose. As a track and field athlete I had to train year-round to be competitive and the support that I had as a student allowed me to stay in the sport for my entire schooling. I plan on extending from this supportive base and continuing to pursue holistic excellence for all students.
As one of my first projects here at the School, I have created the Athletic Development Academy. This is a Term 4 program aimed at building on key physical literacy that is fostered throughout the sporting year. Bridging the gap between Term 3 and Term 1 allows students to continue to build on these physical literacy skills. This continuation of physical development will allow students to utilise the entire school year to benefit their sports and personal physical capacity, improving not only their performance but their holistic development. As a holistic program, the Academy will integrate educational tools, recovery sessions and physical development sessions to ensure the boys are given the correct tools to progress.
Athletic Development is in its infancy as a field, and I have been blessed to have experienced programs in a range of settings from youth development through to the professional space. This program is unique in that it attempts to integrate all key physical qualities and literacies into a long-term athlete development model. LTAD models attempt to touch all four aspects of development: physical, mental, technical, and tactical. Students will not only be taken through training sessions but be given resources and experience workshops on resilience strategies and other mental skills. This will bridge the gap across the four-aspects, making this program an emerging leader in its class. One of the keys focuses of this program is to build physical literacy across the entire performance spectrum and each of the sessions are scaled using motor learning and skill acquisition series to allow for boys of any level to participate.
Research shows that the development of all four aspects of a LTAD model improves long term wellness through improved participation rates in physical activity, self-perception and adaptability to hardship. This links in with the vision of the School, to have “boys leave with the skills to be independent, well balanced, and successful in life, responding well to challenges and achieving lifelong wellbeing.”
by Jackson Stone, TGS Head of Athletic Development
Latest Blog
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…
A Space for Learning
A core pillar of the Toowoomba Grammar School Strategic Plan is to provide an inspiring and broad curriculum for all boys, adopting technology and innovative pedagogy to transform learning outcomes. Over the last couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted teachers to explore new frontiers of pedagogy, adapting to the difficult circumstances by launching interactive software, digitising trusty, tried and true resources, recording our lessons, flipping our classrooms, and cultivating an…
When it comes to Music, Variety is the Spice of Life
In the Queensland Curriculum, the content of the music syllabus includes the study of the people, places and cultures involved in musical creation and performance. As our country becomes increasingly diverse, it is important for students in every school setting to study a wide variety of musical styles, cultures and genres. The Toowoomba Grammar School Music program of 2022 embraces this holistic approach to the study of music, encouraging teachers and students to explore a variety of musical…
A Trailblazer for Multicultural Australia
Wellington Lee has been described as a trailblazer for multicultural Australia. He was born in 1925 and attended TGS from 1940-42 before serving with the RAAF during WWII from 1943-46 and the Active Reserve of Officers from 1953-83. Mr Lee was a remarkable man of good character who lived in an exciting time of growth and change during Australia’s, and particularly Victoria’s history; the early days in Melbourne when 10% of their population was a thriving Asian community. It was also a…
REACH - Character Development in the Junior School
Being a kind person is fundamental to the growth of a successful person. Adults in our young men’s lives have a responsibility to model and teach the importance of respect, accepting and acknowledging our need to contribute to society in a positive and meaningful way. In 2016, the Junior School staff felt there was a need to create a program that allowed us to develop the character of the boys in the Junior School. Tailoring a program to meet our boys’ needs rather than a generic one allows…
The Grass is Always Greener
It’s time we put this age-old rumour to rest once and for all… The Toowoomba Grammar School ovals are not painted, dyed or manufactured grass; rather, the glorious green that greets passers-by as they drive into the Garden City comes from the sheer hard work and dedication of our TGS grounds team, led by Danny Beresford. Danny has exceptional pride for his grounds and a strong family connection to TGS. He is an Old Boy (2002-04) who played for the 1st XV in 2004 and was in the Track and Field…
A life in Words - Reading Biographies
Biography; from the Greek Bios - Life & Graphia - Writing; are books that chronicle the lives of real people. The subject of a Biography can be a celebrity, athlete, politician, athlete, historical figure or ordinary person that has achieved something of note. Reading Biographies is a valuable and oftentimes rewarding experience, with many potential benefits to the reader. Inspirational Biographies often recount successes and struggles of those people who have, over the course of their…
Spielberg in the Making...
I first became aware of film making when my brother showed me the behind-the-scenes featurette on our Lord of the Rings DVD. From then on, the process intrigued me, and I eventually got my hands on my dad’s camera and simple editing software. I made a bunch of little movies with my friends which were all pretty bad but I loved doing them anyway. What I liked most was that it was an easy way to share stories and even when the movies were not good, it was still a way of telling stories in a…