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
Correcting our School's official record commemorating World War I and World War II
On the eve of our 150th year, we're calling on the School's alumni, parents, past parents and greater community to aid us in correcting the record of our involvement in two watershed geopolitical events of the 20th century. For the last four years Toowoomba Grammar School Museum Volunteers, Mrs Ann Hallam and Mrs Sue Palmer, have been updating the School records on Old Boys, staff and Trustees for the World War I and World War II theatres of war. Over the years several staff and volunteers have…
A Pioneering Woman of TGS
My late husband was a teacher, and our four children are all teachers, which we encouraged them to do because it is the best job in the world. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 36 years, working under four Headmasters: Mr Bill Dent, Mr Hugh Rose, Mr Peter Hauser and now Dr John Kinniburgh. I still drive into the School each day and smile, looking at the beautiful place it is — magnificent ovals, gracious trees and historically significant buildings. It is difficult to express the…
NZ Rugby Tour success, more than winning matches across the Ditch
The teams were undefeated and it was a trip the players will never forget. This tour was years in the making and heralds a new era of touring and hosting different rugby schools to give our players opportunities for growth as athletes and as people. Head of Sport - Rugby, Mr Lincoln Clapham, explained they selected 46 students to take part in the ten-day tour and began training last year. From Term 1 onwards, the squad trained twice weekly on the oval plus two and sometimes three gym sessions…
Aussie Teen Reading Habits Revealed
I was recently sent an article, summarising some research from Deakin University around the reading habits of teens in 2024. Some of it was, as the title suggests, surprising. Some was not. However, all of it was built around the importance of reading, and supporting our teens to read, which is something that every one of us should do. While we tend to see our teens as digital natives, recent research from Deakin University suggests that the average Aussie teen reader would rather flick through…
Now More Than Ever
The one-of-a-kind Indigenous artwork is emblazoned across the shirts for the First IV Tennis team, jerseys for the First XI Football team and First XV Rugby team and First V Basketball team's singlets. National Reconciliation Week is a significant date on the calendar for all Australians, running from Monday, 27 May to Monday, 3 June. The incorporation of this Indigenous design in our uniforms is a significant milestone for our School, especially for our 47 Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
It's a numbers game, making mathematics mainstream
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…
Bucolic beginnings, boarding and becoming a bowel surgeon
Coming from a cattle property near Injune I was in awe of the School’s ovals with lush, green grass and immaculate facilities. I found being able to throw yourself around and not risk skin cuts and grazes quite novel. Sharing the same field where many Old Boys and past heroes trotted was inspirational. I found the comradery among the boarders my most overwhelming memory. It was like having 60 brothers with similar interests all living under the same roof. There was always someone around to kick…
Our Other Mother
Meet Ms Janelle Fletcher, the House Mum of Corfe, whose journey at TGS began back in 1992 as an instrumental music teacher. Her story is one of deep connections, love for the arts and an unshakeable bond with the students of TGS. From the time that Janelle first stepped onto campus and shared her musical talents with young minds to now creating her own “mum moments” in Corfe — she has nurtured a profound sense of community and established connections that have lasted through generations. Her…
Fostering a creative generation and getting exhibited at GoMA
2023 Visual Arts student Ben Rosenberg (TGS 2019-2023) had his film “Mitchell” selected and it's now on display as part of the 2024 Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art at GoMA. For 30 years the Awards have recognised and promoted excellence in senior visual art education throughout Queensland schools. Secondary schools typically enter the work of up to four Senior students. Previous winners from TGS include Sam McCosker (2013) and Austin Reed (2017). Ben is a filmmaker and…
