As we approach the end of 2020, there is much for us to be thankful for. Here are three things that I have been encouraged by this week:

Year 12 Students Sitting Their Exams

When we first started to realise the impact of the global pandemic on our lives earlier this year, no-one could really tell how the year was going to go for Higher School Certificate (HSC) and Diploma Programme (DP) students. For this reason, it has been a joy to see our Year 12 students attending their exams this week. I asked one student whether having already been successful in securing a place at university made disciplined revision for these exams more challenging. With enthusiasm, he said “No way. Its been too big a year for that and I’m too grateful to all my teachers to let them down by not giving these exams my best shot”.
The character and resilience of this cohort of students continue to impress.

School events getting the green light

Earlier this week, I wrote to parents with an update on events planned for the remaining weeks of this term. I have done this at various points throughout this year and invariably these communications have identified necessary cancellations and limitations to normal school life in response to the latest advice to schools. It was therefore a joy to include positive news in my communication this week about our (COVID-safe) plans for the Year 10 Formal Dinner, Day Camps for individual Year Groups involving a range of outdoor activities, our first Livestreamed Presentation Day and our final House competition of the year – the House Quizzes. Let us pray that our state and federal governments continue to make wise decisions as they respond to the challenges of managing the pandemic.

Future Problem Solving 2020

On Friday 23 October, three Year 7 students and three Year 10 students gathered in separate rooms for the first virtual Future Problem Solving (FPS) National Competition in this year of unprecedented firsts.

All teams had already met with great success by virtue of pursuing their Community Problem Solving (CmPS) Projects in a time of lockdown and difficulty in gaining access to the community.

TIGS is very happy to report that in the Middle Individual Division Marcelle came first with her project ‘U OK Mate?’ looking after the mental health of the Rural Fire Service. In the Senior Team Division ‘The Masketeers’, comprising Kaleb, Nicholas and Harrison placed first with their project on relieving COVID-19 difficulties for the elderly and front-line workers. In the Middle Team Division, Claire and Isabelle placed a commendable fourth behind three teams which were older and numerically much larger.

Both first-place winners have been invited to compete in the International Future Problem Solving Competition in June 2021. Congratulations all!
By Mrs Jean Burton