THE GRAMMAR WORD 23 October 2014 - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community - From The Headmaster/CEO CELEBRATION OF MUSIC “You’ve got everything except one thing: madness! A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free.” The 1964 movie ‘Zorba the Greek’ received seven Academy Award nominations, winning three. A famous scene in the movie shows a young man learning to dance. As a boy growing up in Perth I had the pleasure of a GPS education and was well skilled in a traditional academic program and in various sporting endeavours. However, my education in the Arts was somewhat lacking and I am thrilled that our programs are much stronger than in the Dark Ages of my school days. ‘Zorba the Greek’ may call it a “little madness” but there is so much to be gained through an education that provides a strong emphasis on the arts. Our young men gain so much through the development of their creative talents in music, art and drama at Ipswich Grammar School. Last week I had the pleasure of attending our jazz evening and being thoroughly entertained by our talented musicians and staff. Many favourable comments were made by the audience concerning the growth and evolution of our music program. Congratulations to our young musicians and to the many talented staff guiding them; Mr Gary Neaves, Mr Ian Feltham, Mr Adam French, Mr Leon Wensley , Mrs Lissa Sullivan Ward, Mrs Bronwyn French, Mr Adrian Roll and Miss Flora Wong. At the time of writing preparations were underway for our Ensembles Evening and I am sure it will be another impressive night of musical entertainment. This week we have a similar opportunity to celebrate the giftedness of our talented art students. I look forward to this week’s Art Exhibition and seeing the quality of the work on display. Congratulations to all involved. Yours sincerely Mr Robert Henderson Headmaster/CEO Academics IPSWICH CITY COUNCIL AWARDS Ipswich Grammar School’s Agriculture and Horticulture Department was awarded first place in the annual Ipswich City Council Excellence Awards in the Environment category and second place in the Student Outcomes category. The students won the award for their work in revegetating Wallaby Ware Park, Brassall and Smith Park, Woodend. Congratulations to Mr Brown and his students! TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH On 24 October a number of students and Dr Browne will be in the audience of a forum focussing on what it is like to be an early career medical researcher. The forum will be moderated by Professor Ian Fraser, developer of the cervical cancer vaccine and will be held at the Translation Research Institute, Dutton Park. STEMCELLS@UQ There are still a few places left for Year 9 and 10 students that wish to participate in the StemCells@UQ programme at St Lucia on 27 November. The day will feature the new documentary ‘Stem Cells Revolutions’, the opportunity to ask Stem Cell researchers to answer any questions they might have and also an interactive tour of the stem cell laboratories at the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Interested students should see - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community - Mr Martin in room S1. CHAINSAWS & QUADBIKES Congratulations to Mr Brown and the Year 11 and 12 Agriculture and Horticulture students who gained training competencies in the last week of Term 3. Seventeen students now have a nationally accredited Statement of Attainment in Operating and Maintaining Chainsaws and Quad Bike Maintenance and Operation. Mr Brown has done a lot of work in setting up these opportunities, delivered through Rural Training Queensland. They will be provided every two years for Agriculture and Horticulture students. SCIENCE CAMP REPORT The InspireU Indigenous Science Camp, run by The University of Queensland is a brilliant opportunity to ‘step into’ the shoes of UNI students and experience the types of activities, research and studies they do. At first I thought it was specifically for perspective UNI students, but as I soon found out it was more about encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to think more about their future and how UNI can open doors. As one of the first guest speakers alluded to on the first day, it is all about taking opportunities and that is exactly what the science camp provides for you. “Opportunity”, this was the key word that UQ and their ambassadors expressed. In the week that I spent at Stradbroke Island for the science camp, I meet 16 other students from all over QLD who all showed an interest in science. We were given the opportunity to study phytoplankton and zooplankton though hightech microscopes, as well as studying flora and fauna biodiversity in different environments. While at Stradbroke, we stayed at the UQ Research Centre in Dunwich, where we met UNI students who have travelled all the way from America just to study here. We were also met by one of the traditional owners of Stradbroke, he introduced us to his land before participated in cultural actives such as spear and boomerang throwing and showing us traditional medicines. As the week of activities concluded, we made our way back to the mainland to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research at Royal Brisbane Hospital, where we were given the opportunity to meet and observe scientists studying mosquitoes. We finished up the day with our last activity which was finding the antimicrobial effects of the traditional medicines found on Stradbroke Island. The camp proved to be as the name suggested ‘InspireU’, after the week on camp, the other students and myself realised that university isn’t as daunting as everyone thinks but for me to say that is biased, so I recommend this camp to any and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to experience it for yourself. Take your Opportunities and open as many doors as you can. Mitchell Michael Year 12 student Sports & Activities TRIATHLON CLUB The Ipswich Triathlon Club is hosting training sessions in preparation for the upcoming Triathlon Queensland All Schools Race at Kawana Waters Sunday, 9 November. Training will focus on building strength and speed for distances specific for Met West qualification. • Saturday, 25 November: Race distance practice • Saturday, 1 November: Race distance timed • Saturday, 8 November: Transition practice and race simulation • Sunday, 9 November: Race day - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community - All sessions are conducted at Silkstone State School, Molloy Street, from 8am-9am. Sessions are $10 each and TQ membership is not required for the first three sessions. - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community - The Chairman of the Board of Trustees together with the Headmaster cordially invite you to our annual Ipswich Grammar School SPEECH NIGHT to be held at Ipswich Grammar School Auditorium Darling Street, Ipswich on Tuesday, 18 November 2014 6.45pm for 7pm After formalities, a light supper will be served in the courtyard Please RSVP to email info@ipswichgrammar.com or by telephone 07 3813 9600 - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community - STUDENT TRAVEL REBATES Semester 1, 2013 Semester 2, 2014 2014 Bus Fare Assistance • Does your child attend a school outside the Brisbane City Council boundary? • Does your family spend more than $22/week* on fares to and from school (* $17/week if you hold a concession card) • Does your child travel on a publically available bus not owned or associated with the school? Students with Disabilities • Does your child have a verified disability that requires transport assistance to and from school? • Has your school’s learning support teacher assessed your child’s travel capability rating as ‘semi-independent’ or more dependent? Visit our website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of transport and 2014 apply at www.schooltransport.com.au by 31 May 2013. 31 October, 2014 Late applications cannot be accepted. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TRAVEL REBATE Semester 2013 Semester1, 2,2014 2014 • • Does your child have a verified disability that requires transport assistance to and from school? Has your school’s learning support teacher assessed your child’s travel capability rating as ‘semi-independent’ or more dependent? Visit our website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of transport and 31 October, 2014 apply at www.schooltransport.com.au by 31 May 2014 2013. Late applications cannot be accepted. PLEASE NOTE: This rebate does not apply to students using the Doyles and Stonestreets charter buses. - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community - IGS P&F AGM 26th Nov 6:30pm - Mark your calendars Parents Supporting Sons, Parents Leading By Example, Parents Engaged with School Plato once said “Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable”. An interesting observation which feeds into the roles we have as parents, teachers and mentors to the men of grammar. Whilst taming boys would be a mistake providing encouragement, guidance and support as they grow into manhood is the domain of parents, carers and educators. A great opportunity to share in your son’s journey is by being part of one of the support groups within the school. Support groups are associated with many of the GPS sports and have more intensive periods of involvement for 8 to 10 weeks or can cover activities which are spread across the school year. The umbrella to all these groups is the P&F .The P&F provides a different avenue for parents to be involved in their son’s education and school life. The P&F forms a vital part of the IGS Community with major aims and objectives:     To provide guidelines, support and promote support groups which come under the umbrella of the P&F; To promote the interests and spread knowledge of the aims of Ipswich Grammar School; To foster and promote the interests of students at the school. To represent the viewpoint of Parents’ and Friends’ with respect to the School’s aims and activities. Education does not stop and start at the school gates and the P&F is a vital bridge which links the school community providing the relationship between school and home, parents and sons and parents and staff. The P&F is keen to expand upon its educational, consultative and fundraising objectives. As well as supporting your sons schooling, it is also an excellent mechanism for meeting and engaging with our families at IGS. Parents and friends are invited to come along and see what the P&F if about at the AGM being held on Wednesday the 26th Nov commencing at 0630pm in the Staff Room. Not sure about filling a role and the prerequisites, details are can be found on the web at http://www.ipswichgrammar.com/web/community/pandf/ or speak with a current office bearer. Positions which are elected each year are President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. If you wish to nominate for a position please fill in details below and email to the current Secretary , Lesley Barthelme at sbarthel@bigpond.net.au _________________________________________________________________________________ I ____________________________ wish to nominate for the position of: (Insert Name) President / Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer (Please Circle positions you wish to stand for) Nomination accepted by: ____________________ (Name) Signature ______________________ Date: ______________ - Excellence - Leadership - Integrity - Community -