1. education
2. school

Senior Newsletter
No 30 Friday 11 October 2013
Alan Parsons
DEPUTY HEADMASTER
VALE STEVEN MCALLISTER
As most of our TSS community is
aware, last week we lost one of our own,
young Steven McAllister. Following
complications during surgery last
Thursday for Steven’s ongoing battle
with cancer, Steven lapsed into a coma.
Shortly before 11am on Friday, this
courageous young man finally lost his
battle that he had fought so valiantly for
so many years and passed away.
Steven, in his short life, has impacted
on many of us in many different
ways. As Fr. Jonathan told us during
Steven’s memorial service here at school
yesterday, its not so much the quantity of
our life that is important but rather the
quality of how we chose to live. Steven
will be remembered for his optimistic
outlook, his persistent cheerfulness and
positivity in the face of extreme hardship
and his courage and determination to
lead his life to the full.
Our School Anthem, Band of Brothers,
expresses far more eloquently and
meaningfully our deep respect and
admiration for Steven, and I include an
extract below:
There are no words to do you right,
It’s in how we lead this life.
So we lead serving all,
We walk in our hero’s light.
Embrace this world with an open mind,
Let our kindness stretch far and wide.
Then united we stand,
Brother for brother, man to man.
Steven, you will be missed but never
forgotten. We will walk in your light.
From the School Captain, Sam
Rasmussen: His address to the School at
this week’s Assembly.
Good Morning everyone, welcome
back and I hope you all had a safe and
enjoyable holiday. It’s with great sadness
and disappointment that we gather
here this morning to reflect on the
loss of a much loved member of the
TSS community. As you know on the
morning of the 4th of October, Steven
McAllister passed away peacefully, losing
his brave and courageous battle with
bone cancer.
Steven was a brother in the TSS
community, a loving and caring friend
for many, and an inspiration to us all.
I was fortunate enough to be in many
of Steven’s classes at the Prep School
and right from these early days, Steven
developed his character as a kind and
gentle friend, who had nothing but the
upmost respect from all his peers. He
was both intelligent and humorous, and
for Steven you always felt that the world
1
would be his oyster. Steven had a passion
for travelling and I remember vividly
listening to the stories, where Steven
would tell all about the adventures and
experiences he’d had overseas on his
most recent holiday.
However unfortunately for Steven, as his
time neared to an end at the prep school,
life took a turn for the worse. Diagnosed
with bone cancer, Steven had to undergo
extensive treatment, an experience that
I can only imagine was confronting and
extremely frightening, and one that I
would hope one day, no one will ever
have to face.
However this did not change Steven as
a person. In spite of the uncertainty and
fear Steven must have felt, he would
always be bubbly and happy, with a big
Alan Parsons
DEPUTY HEADMASTER
smile across his face. Steven would always be up for a chat and he had a special ability to brighten up your day. Steven had an open and
warming heart and he always put the needs and problems of others before his own, and it’s for these attributes that Steven will be sorely
missed.
For us boys, it’s hard to grasp the idea of losing such a close friend at such a young age. It simply doesn’t seem fair that at a time in our
lives where we are blessed with such boundless opportunities and memorable moments, that one of our friends, who’s been there all the
way, won’t complete the journey. It seems unfair that had it not been for Steven’s terrible disease, he would have walked across this stage
with the seniors of 2013 at the end of the term. And it seems so brutally unfair that Steven won’t be able to experience all the great things
he would surely have achieved in his life.
And the truth is it’s not fair – so whether you knew Steven very well or not at all, the fact of the matter is we’ve lost a brother, and it’s in
times like these we need to band together as a school and support those who are struggling to come to terms with such a tragedy, but most
importantly we must all remember the legacy that Steven has left us, a legacy of kindness in the face anger and of courage in the face of
adversity, a legacy of being a good friend, of always remaining humble, of not taking anything for granted and remaining positive even
when the times are tough. So we must go out and do all that we can to honour a mate and to keep Steven’s legacy thriving within the
school.
It was a privilege to know you Steven - Rest in Peace mate
Calendar Dates
OCTOBER 2013
S M T
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6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
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WWW.TSS.QLD.EDU.AU/CALENDAR
NOVEMBER 2013
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4
11
18
25
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19
26
S M T W T
3
10
17
24
4
11
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7
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2013 TERM DATES
DECEMBER 2013
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22
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Term 4.............. Wed 9 October - Thur 28 November
2014 TERM DATES
Term 1..........................Wed 29 January - Thur 3 April
Term 2.............................Wed 23 April - Thur 26 June
Term 3 ...................Tues 22 July - Thur 18 September
GPS Basketball & Rugby Fixture
(Round 9) will be played on Friday 19
September
Term 4 ............. Wed 8 October - Thur 27 November
OCTOBER
11
Gold Coast Junior Council Meeting
17
5
T&F Pre-GPS Meet (A) at QSAC
12
Sailing @ TSS
15
16
Round Square Global Conference
Air Force Cadet Dining in Night
Speech Studio Concert & Awards
Night
Holy Communion
Round Square Global Conference
HJ King Music Scholars Concert
22
20
Round Square Global Conference
Yr 10,11,12 Chinese QUT Excursion
Assembly - Gymnastics & Sony
23
Business Leadership Lecture
Round Square Global Conference
Big Band Lunch
Yr 7 Social
24
TSSSC Race Series
T&F Pre-GPS Meet (A) at SAF
McKinley House Chapel & Supper
25
Sailing @ TSS
Delpratt House Supper
Biddle House Supper
26
Schools Fleet & Team Sailing
Thorold House Chapel & Supper
21
Student Free Day
GPS Golf Day
TSS Art Show
13
14 Inter Collegiate Golf Rd 4
Yr 11 Ag Science Field Excursion
Round Square Global Conference
Full Staff Meeting
Boarders’ Chapel
Speech Variety Club
18
19
2
P&F Open General Meeting
Radcliffe House Supper
Kaiser House Supper
Yr 8 Robotics Report
Holy Communion
Melbourne House Supper
Walker House Supper
Yr 12 RAP
Maughan House Supper
Turnock House Supper
Yr 12 RAP
TSSSC Race Series
T&F Pre-GPS Meet (A)
Gymnastics GPS Championships (H)
Yr 12 RAP
Sailing @ TSS
Australian Business Week
Anthea Bennett
HEAD OF BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
In the first week of this term, thirty of our Year 11 Business students took part in the Australian Business Week
(ABW) competition. ABW is an experiential learning opportunity in which boys develop crucial skills for the
21st Century workplace including teamwork, leadership, time management and initiative. The boys were
required to form a company, elect positions of responsibility including a CEO, CFO, Marketing Manager and
Operations Manager. They then developed a sporting goods product for their company. The program involved
the boys developing a marketing strategy, constructing an operations plan, managing their finances and taking
part in an online manufacturing simulation. At the completion of the competition, the students put together a
trade display to pitch their business ideas and test out their marketing plan.
Over the week, the boys were supported by a team of mentors from the Gold Coast business and financial
services industry who were on hand to help steer the teams through the many challenges that come with
starting a new business. Participating in ABW provided boys with a unique opportunity to experience real world
business situations and extend their problem solving and leadership skills.
TEACHER IN PROFILE: MARK HERRIMAN
I currently teach.............................................................................. Years 10 – 12 Accounting
My other responsibilities include......................................... Dean of Curriculum Innovation
I’ve previously taught.......................... Junior and Senior English, BOM, Cert III in Business
How do I go about engaging boys in my classroom....... I appreciate every boy and encourage
them to work with their strengths
Recent Professional Learning..... The First Australian Positive Education Conference, Sydney
I’ve been at TSS since...................................................................................................2005
I came to TSS from......................................................................Brisbane State High School
This year I’m involved in co-curricular at TSS............................................GPS Debating
I’m currently reading......................................................Personality Plus by Florence Littauer
Career aspect of which I’m proud................................... finalist in the Queensland College of
Teachers Excellence in Teaching Awards
An area of expertise/passion in education is........................... building positive and productive
teacher-student relationships
A leader I respect is........................ Bill Gates – for his balance of business and social conscience
My Myers Briggs profile is..........................................................................................ESTJ
I’m grateful for......................................................................... family, friends and good health
I go about maintaining balance and wellbeing................................by remembering to laugh
Something students might not know about me is........................ I am a qualified counsellor
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boysLearning@TSS
TEACHING STAFF OF TSS
YEAR 12 MATHEMATICS C
Teacher: Mr Kemp and Ms Jackson
Introduction to Number Theory
YEAR 11 ENGLISH
Teacher: Mr Dobrenov
Reviewing assessment
YEAR 10 GIFTED AND TALENTED
Teacher: Mrs Foulds-Cook
Implications of Artificial Intelligence
YEAR 9 MATHEMATICS
Teacher: Mr Williams
Applications of Geometry
YEAR 8 SCIENCE
Teacher: Mr Tweedie
Drugs in sport
YEAR 7 MATHEMATICS
Teacher: Mr Slattery
Solving algebraic equations
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Year 12 End of Year Program
Mike Wallace
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF TEACHING AND
LEARNING – YEAR 11 & 12 LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
The Year 12 end of year program is fast approaching and there has been a limited uptake of the activities offered at school. A letter has
been emailed previously, outlining the program for the last week of school including activities and associated costs. The time for finalising
the numbers for each activity will be Friday 18th October. If you wish to register your son for Defensive driving, the etiquette course or
the social media training in the work place course, you must do so by this date. All payments can be made through parent lounge. If you
have any queries please do not hesitate to call me at school or email me at [email protected]
Readers are Leaders
Andrew Stark
HEAD OF LIBRARIES
A hearty welcome back to all! The two week break is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in some extended activities but I’m pleased
to say that lots of boys (and staff) have returned to School filled with exciting news regarding the books they have been reading.
Ownership is a very valuable concept and every member of TSS community ought to feel that they are ‘part owner’ of the Senior
Library’s collection. Placing boys in the position of selecting and developing the collection has been a very interesting experience. One
thing is assured; if one boy wants to recommend a title, there will be at least three other boys keen to read it too. So, please, keep those
recommendations coming in!
With the final examinations for senior students just around the corner, now is a good time for them to re-familiarise themselves with
the valuable online resources at their disposal through the Senior Library. We provide a host of quality, academic and most importantly
authoritative online resources for the boys to access and I would encourage all boys, should they feel they need some help accessing these
resources, to seek assistance from library staff if necessary.
Our final TSS and St Hilda’s Book Club meeting for 2013 will be held at TSS Senior Library on Wednesday 30th October from 3.45pm
to 5.30pm. The theme for our discussion is ‘the warrior’. So … what stories and films have a warrior as protagonist and why might there
have been an increase in female warriors in recent years? All boys are welcome to join in the discussion and join us for afternoon tea!
Happy Reading!
Habits of Mind
Mark Herriman
DEAN OF CURRICULUM INNOVATION
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” (Aristotle)
MOVE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Teach your children how to learn to take intellectual, as well as
physical, risks. Children who are capable of being different, going
against the grain of the common, thinking of new ideas and testing
them, are more likely to be successful in this age of innovation an
uncertainty.
Strategies to Develop Habits of Mind in Young People Adapted from Moulds, P and Ragen, M (2007) in “Educating Young Children”.
Speech and Variety
John Wallace
MASTER IN CHARGE - SPEECH & VARIETY
Competition Evening for Intermediate and Senior Boys & presentation of ALL Awards Years 7-12 TSS Annand Theatre 7-9pm
Wednesday, 16th October. Chapel Dress. Supper to conclude the evening.
Music News
Rob Cooke
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
A fantastic long weekend was had by seven TSS drum students who participated in a two day Drum
Camp in Brisbane. The boys spent two days refining their technique, working with Matt Cocking and
visiting clinician Scott Johnson (Blue Devils Drum Corp-USA), and playing drums with thirty other
students from South East Queensland schools. The camp finished with a massed performance for
family and friends. Here are a few words from Geoff Lyhne who attended the two day workshop.
“I really enjoyed the drum camp with all of the other boys. It was a great experience to meet teachers,
students from other schools and meet Scott Johnson. He showed all of us many different techniques
and rudiments that furthered our skills in either snare, bass or tenor drums. These skills will help us in
the future whether we are just playing on the regular kit or playing in drumline. All up the camp was
very enjoyable and helped us all build our drumming ability.” (Geoff Lyhne, Year 10).
Music Photo Schedule
Tuesday, 15th October
Time
Wednesday 16 October
Thursday 17 October
Rock Band
7.25am
Grainger Concert Band
7.25am
Senior Choir
7.25am
Drumline
7.40am
Senior Concert Band
7.40am
Crescendudes
7.40am
Senior Strings
7.50am
Big Band
7.55am
Percussion Ensemble
7.50am
Chamber Orchestra
8.05am
Big Band 2
8.10am
Speech
8.00am
Music Captains
8.15am
Cadet Band
8.15am
Speech Students involved
in AB Paterson &
Declamations
8.15am
Brass Ensemble
8.15am
PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO ALLOCATED TIME
We are trying to avoid you missing class time and the only way that this can happen is if you arrive promptly.
6
Basketball
Dave Claxton
director of basketball
During the holiday break our Open 1st team competed in the Queensland Champion Schools tournament held at Logan.
Our opening game was a surprise loss to Runcorn High 68-61 but we recovered to defeat Mountain Creek from Sunshine Coast 92-43
and then having to defeat Churchie by more than 11points to finish on top of our pool we played our best game of the tournament to win
96-79.
Having secured top spot in our pool we faced Nudgee but went down 63-68 and then put in a disappointing game to go down to BBC
35-67.
Our final game for 7-8th position was against John Paul College and after a good start to the game we allowed JPC to many easy baskets
and their lead was too much to make up, although we came back strong we lost 67-76 and finished 8th.
Thanks to everybody who assisted us at the tournament we really appreciated your help.
Congratulations to Hudson Kaddatz and Jack Hutchison who represented Gold Coast at the Australian U14 Championships in Darwin
over the holidays and assisted the team in to finishing in 5th spot, a wonderful achievement for the team.
Swimming
TSS Aquatic has been extremely busy over the holiday period. As well as running
two meets at the school we have had swimmers on Australian camps in Canberra and
Queensland camps in Brisbane and five swimmers representing Queensland at the
annual State Teams Championship at the AIS.
Well done to the TSS Aquatic swimmers that raced at the AIS - Dom Richardson,
Grayson Bell, Cameron Usher, Mitchell Simmons and Elly Wikaire all represented
Queensland with David Proud on the coaching staff. All the swimmers swam
exceptionally well with a number of best times and lots of ‘stepping-up’, swimming
multiple races back-to-back and some swimmers swimming events they had never
done before!
Dom Richardson stood out with two meet records in the 100m Butterfly and the 200m Butterfly. The meet records are very quick, so it
was a big achievement for Dom to come away with two!
Queensland came away with the overall team points victory for the 5th year in a row.
Next up is the Queensland State Open Water Championships in three weeks where TSS will be sending a very strong team up to Kawana.
Homework Help
Assistance with homework is available in the Senior School
Library for a trial period until the end of Term Four.
What: Assistance with homework for Year 7-12 students
Who: TSS Teachers
Where: Senior Library
When: Tue/Wed/Thu 3:30pm - 5:00pm
8
Rugby
Adrian Blundell
DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
In the second week of the holidays TSS were represented at the Australian Schoolboy level with tests played in Sydney against Fiji and
New Zealand. Our First XV coach Mr Mike Wallace again coached the Australian A team which included Sam Clifton, who was vice
captain and Joel Brown. Unfortunately Sam was injured early in the first game and that ended his tour.
The Australian team was coached by Mr Stephen Phillpotts for the third time. Stephen was school captain and a member of our First
XV in 1980 and 1981 and has been at BBC for 23 years as the Head of Physical Education. We were represented in this team by Mitch
Third and Evander Guttenbeil. The Australian Schoolboys squad to travel to the British Isles leaving on the 16th of November will be
announced on Thursday October 10. They will be travelling for the next month playing many games in Wales, Scotland, England and
Ireland. Hopefully we will have some representatives.
Results were; Fiji 22 defeated NZ 20. NZ 36 defeated Aust A 0, Aust 31 defeated Fiji 7. Aust A 32 defeated Fiji 17 and NZ 17 defeated
Aust 16.
Playing in Sunday’s Rugby League Grand Finals, Nathan Stapleton a former member of our First XV, was a member of the Cronulla team
that won the NSW State Cup.
Sailing
Holidays were a busy time for TSS Sailing, with boys travelling far and wide to contest various competitions.
The star performers were George Morton, who medalled at the QLD Youth Titles in the O’Pen Bic class, and Jackson Rees who has
gained selection into the Queensland Sailing Development Squad. Jackson has just returned from the NSW Youth States where he lined
up against some of the country’s top Under 19 sailors. He is looking ahead to the National Open and Under 19’s to be held in Melbourne
over the Christmas break, but before then he will Captain the TSS Team for the Term 4 Inter-Schools competition where TSS Hopes to
bring home the Individual and Team Gold for Back to Back wins.
Sailing kicks off this week with training for the racing squads, learners groups commence next week.
For more information on the Foundation Business Breakfast visit: http://www.tss.qld.edu.au/Community/Foundation/businessbreakfast.aspx
Cricket
Steven Baker
DIRECTOR OF CRICKET
TSS CRICKET
TSS Cricket is buzzing after the October Holiday camp featuring expert coaching and eight games vs Gisborne Boys School (NZ), South
Coast Teams, JPC and Beaudesert Teams during the week. There is something for everyone at TSS Cricket …from the elite performers
through to having a game with your mates. If you are thinking of being part of TSS Cricket make sure to note that club and school sign
on & training is on now.
GPS CRICKET 2013 SIGN ON NOW
In our efforts to cater for the 200 boys + who sign on each year…we ask that you sign on ASAP.
Sport sign on is now open for Term Four and Term One – online sign on on
•
•
The Boys MUST SIGN ON asap or you will not receive any messages regarding training/ camps etc.
Your choice is Cricket or Rowing and the possibility of sailing as an extra activity if you wish.
THE LINK HAS BEEN EMAILED TO THE BOY’S EMAIL ADDRESS… AND PLEASE SIGN ON !
CRICKET TRAINING TERM 4
Training is open to ALL Interested current Year 7-11 Cricketers…a great opportunity to access free specialist coaching…not just for “A”
Team players!!
If you want to ‘jump on board’...you are very welcome. The upcoming cricket sessions offered are:
•
•
Thursdays 6:40-7:45am (started this week) OPEN INVITE for Interested Year 7-11 Cricketers Specialist Skills Training/ Game Sense
Training. (or indoors if raining)
Additionally, PE lessons have cricket offered in Year 7 -10 from Week 2/3 onwards.
GPS TEAM TRIALS TERM 4
The Trials for all TSS GPS Teams 2014 (except 1st XI) will subsequently be held on the afternoons Wednesday 6, 13, 20 and 27
November 3:45-5:30pm.
Please bring your cricket gear on these dates. Tony Binns (Head Skills Coach), Steven Baker (Director of Cricket) and Specialist Skills
Coaches will be conducting the sessions.
SECOND HAND
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Fridays betwee
on Mondays and
8-10am.
9
Year 7 Social
sports and activities afternoon
Friday 18 October
3pm - 5.30pm
Sports Clothing
River Ovals and
Rowing Shed precinct
FOUNDATION
TSS Foundation Business Breakfast
Come along to the November TSS Foundation Business Breakfast to hear
Grant Simmer
Navigator, Australia II - 1983
general manager - oracle team usa
When
Friday 8 November 2013
Registration 6.30am for 7am start
Speaker
Grant Simmer
Grant Simmer brings to ORACLE TEAM USA the pedigree
of four America’s Cup victories in a career that spans four
decades.
Simmer was a 26-year-old navigator for the historic challenger
Australia II, which wrested the America’s Cup away from the
New York Yacht Club in 1983 and ended the longest winning
streak in the history of sport (132 years).
Simmer has been part of eight America’s Cup campaigns
through the years in a variety of roles. In 2000, after 17 years
as co-owner of North Sails Australia, Grant took up a new
position as Design Coordinator for the Swiss America’s Cup
Challenger, Alinghi. Following a win against Team New
Zealand in 2003, Grant assumed the position of Co-Managing
Director and Coordinator of the Alinghi Design Team working
towards a second win in 2007.
Simmer’s role as General Manager of ORACLE TEAM USA
gives him day-to-day operational responsibility for the
American team which won the 2013 America’s Cup in San
Francisco last week, coming from 8-1 down to win against
Emirates team New Zealand.
Where
Medusa Ballroom, Palazzo Versace. Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Cost
$55 per person per breakfast (inc GST)
$525 per corporate table of 10 per breakfast (inc GST)
(payment required prior to breakfast. Refunds will only be given with 48 hours notice prior
to booked breakfast.)
For Enquiries Contact
Foundation Co-ordinator Gerry Northausen on 07 5531 9841.
Please see the following page for your booking form.
FOUNDATION
TSS Foundation Business Breakfast
Cost:
$55 per person including GST
$525 for a corporate table including GST
(Payment required prior to breakfast. Refunds will only be given with 48 hours notice prior to booked breakfast.)
Bookings must be faxed, emailed or phoned to the number below even if paying by cheque.
Post cheques to: The Southport School Foundation Limited, C/- The Southport School, Winchester Street, Southport 4215
For enquiries contact Foundation Coordinator Gerry Northausen on 07 5531 9841
Booking fax number 07 5591 2124
November TAX INVOICE
The Southport School Foundation Limited ABN 99 010 704 748
Contact Name
Please fax a typed list of attendees names to
5591 2124 or email to
[email protected] no later than
Wednesday 30 October 2013.
Number attending
Company
Names:
Address
Postcode
Tel
A/Hrs
Fax
Email
Amount Enclosed
$ Payment details
Cheque
Credit Card*
Visa
Master Card
*Merchant fees apply
American Express
Card Number
Name of Card Holder
Expiry Date
Signature
November Business Breakfast
Friday 8 November 2013
MELBOURNE CUP
at
PALAZZO VERSACE
PALAZZO VERSACE GRAND BALLROOM
TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2013
11:30am - 4:00pm
HOSTED BY STEVE HADDAN
ENTERTAINMENT BY JADE LOUISE
FASHION SHOW
FIVE STAR LUNCHEON
WITH WINE, BEER & BUBBLES
$150 PER PERSON
FOLLOWED BY AFTER PARTY AT LE JARDIN BAR
FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT:
LUELLA SMITH 0488 172 036