CALROSSY ANGLICAN SCHOOL
The William TELL
SECONDARY BOYS’ NEWS
242 MOORE CREEK ROAD
TAMWORTH NSW 2340
TELEPHONE
5776 5220
FACSIMILE
5776 5279
EMAIL [email protected]
WEBSITE
www.calrossy.nsw.edu.au
FROM THE HEAD OF SECONDARY BOYS
It is 6.30am in the morning and I am about to step on the treadmill at the gym. I look up at the
wall covered in quotes similar to the following about not giving up.
• ‘Failure are finger posts to the road to achievement.’ C.S. Lewis
• ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.’
Winston Churchill
• “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay not defeat. It is a
temporary detour not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying
nothing, doing nothing and being nothing.’ Denis Waitley
It is now nearly 6.30pm at night, school has ended and I have come home and I turn on the TV
to see the end of “Bargain Hunt’ where the two teams meet to find out the results. The
compere always starts by saying “We have no losers on this show only winners and runners up.”
In my simple world I automatically detect conflict and confusion. On one side we talk about the
importance of building resilience and not being deterred by failure and then we have the other
side that says that we cannot talk in terms of failure because of the negative connotations that
impact on people’s self- esteem. This can be a big issue in schools and a source of angst
especially when it comes to the allocating of grades.
It is a complex argument and like a lot of things in life there is truth on both sides. If you read
what people like Alfie Kohn write, they argue that there are at least three consistent effects of
giving students grades. First their interest in learning itself will diminish, secondly they will, quite
naturally, look for the easier tasks (if they have a choice) and thirdly they will be more likely
think in a superficial fashion and quickly forget what they have supposedly learnt.
These issues are further compounded by the danger that the assessment task may only examine
a narrow part of the syllabus being assessed and may not reflect fairly a student’s performance,
especially if perhaps their writing skills do not allow them to express what they know.
On the other hand, how important is it to know what you really understand as it then identifies
where you can develop further and improve, and even excel.
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22 July 2016
I can coach a sporting team and we can look like champions on the training track but we do not
really know how we will perform until we are tested in a game situation. Through competition I
know what we need to work on individually and collectively. This is also true in the classroom.
What prompted this topic was an article in the Sydney Morning Herald written by Jacqueline
Maley, titled ‘We should teach our children how to fail’. In her column she writes
‘……. social media is consistently linked in study after study to poor mental health for young people. Images of
success, physical and material, these days proliferate in all public and private spaces. Nowhere are children taught
that failure or even just a pedestrian lack of success, are a normal part of life, a necessary part’
She quotes an American writer and teacher, Jessica Lahey.
“My best students - the ones who are happiest and successful in their lives are the students who were allowed to
fail, held responsible for their missteps and challenged to be the best people they could be in the face of their
mistakes”
Maley argues that failure teaches foresight, problem solving, hopefully better restraint,
compassion, empathy and resilience. She also points out that compared to the tedious
projection of perfection it is interesting and uses the example of Jane Eyre. The book would not
have been the same if Jane ‘hadn’t flunked life’s lottery and ended up in semi indentured
slavedom chez Rochester’. She ends her article quoting the writer Diana Athill who ‘knew
herself’ to be a failure from the age of 22 to 39.
“It is possible to recover from failure: to digest it, make use of it and forget it.”
For all its truth, it may not be much comfort to a 14 year old boy or girl who has just received
an ‘E’ in their report and it does not stand for ‘Excellent’. As a school what should we do?
Critical is the environment and the culture of the school. We need to assure our young men and
women that while they are accountable, they are not defined by a grade, that they are valued for
who they are. They also need to know that they are supported in having another go and help is
available in breaking down the tasks and getting the correct information or feedback needed to
improve. If that is not enough of a challenge for a school then we need to ensure that our
assessment tasks allow students to be assessed fairly, that a grade for a narrow aspect of the
syllabus being examined does not become the overall grade.
Getting rid of grades in itself or not addressing their shortcomings and just arguing that dealing
with failure is life and students need to become more resilient, will not solve the issue. We need
to confront, discuss and learn from our own failures so that our students can be equipped to
thrive in our changing world. Like learning, educating others is on a continuum, always
changing, never ceasing. I am not certain if it is useful or even particularly true but I am
encouraged by Winston Churchill’s quote
‘Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm’
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Schools can be like that. Relationships are the key at school and at home.
Hopefully everyone has had a good break from School during the holidays and our Year 12
students have not only had a rest but have been able to do some effective study for their trials
which begin in Week 3.
It was hoped that the pathway to the hall would have been completed during the holidays but
the rain has delayed the finishing date which I am now told will be 3 August. We apologise for
any inconvenience but we are very grateful for this capital improvement.
Even during the holidays the boys have been achieving amazing things. If I have failed to
acknowledge anyone’s success then please let me know.
Zac Clarke in Year 7 was picked in the Australian indoor cricket team for his age group after
playing extremely well for NSW.
Jeremy Blakely had a very successful tour of South Africa with Australian schools’ hockey team,
being awarded man of the match in one of the games. They lost the internationals but won the
‘state’ games against the provincial sides. Hopefully a more detailed report of his experience will
be available in the coming months.
James Newberry represented NSW and competed in New Zealand at the Pan Pacific Games
against 25 other representative teams. James’s team won the Bowl Competition.
In rugby Nathan Watts and Sam Gray have been selected for the NSW Country U/15 Years
and 16 Years teams respectively. I had the privilege to watch our five U/16 Years ACIES
representatives (Sam Gray, Ben Grant, Riley Catt, A. J Pretorius and Sam Buster) play in the
NSW Championships in Sydney at the beginning of the holidays. They were a credit to the
school with their commitment and in the way they conducted themselves. It was great to watch
Riley score a try against one of the GPS teams. It is worth mentioning that Bill Buster captained
the Open IACES team and Sam Gray was given the honour of captaining the 16 Years team on
the Saturday. The grand finals for the Friday night competition will be held on Friday 29 July.
Unfortunately I will be attending the boarding expo in Narrabri but I am sure there will be
massive support for the teams from our school community and I will have the mobile phone
switched on for scores and around the grounds updates.
This week we have had the opportunity to host a group of musicians and staff from Avondale
School which is based at Cooranbong. They are a fellow HRIS School who have been very
supportive and helpful to Calrossy Anglican School in the past. They are on a music tour and
hopefully by the time you have read this newsletter, many of you would have enjoyed the
musical evening involving students from Calrossy Anglican School and Avondale. A special
thank you must go to Mrs Turner and the music department for all their help. I realise that it
may be too difficult for most to attend but the HRIS Cultural Festival will be held this coming
Wednesday (27 July). It will involve some of our students and it is definitely worth attending if
the opportunity presents itself.
This coming week is busy. We also have:
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• HRIS Athletics on the Monday (25 July) and we wish our team the very best
• P&F are meeting at the Tamworth Hotel on Thursday 28 July starting at 6:00pm
• On Friday 29 July the school is having drinks and nibbles for our school community at
the Crossroads Hotel in Narrabri from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. It would be great if you could
come but we ask that you let Reception know to assist with catering.
You also need to be aware that we have the Trial Higher School Certificate starting on Monday
1 August. Many of the boys are working well and hopefully they will be rewarded for their
efforts.
Finally, Year 8 parents are invited to discuss subject choices for their sons in 2017 on
Wednesday 10 August in the Bishop Peter Chiswell Hall, commencing at 7:00pm.
Joseph Goldsworthy
Head of Secondary Boys
CURRICULUM MATTERS
Several weeks ago Mr Goldsworthy asked me if the boys’ school had become what I first
envisioned when I commenced working here in 2002. It was a question that provoked reflection
and thought over the next few weeks. Eventually I remembered a story that I have retold to the
boys over the last 15 years about a famous headmaster who when delivering his farewell speech
recalled fondly the things that mattered most in his school.
In particular, he recalled two boys: one had been a champion at all that he had done, he won the
prizes and went on to become a successful businessman achieving great fame and fortune. The
other was a boy who’d won nothing in his life, who had been plain and ordinary in everything
that he did. But when travelling in a train with the boys to some event the headmaster recalled
how they were stuck in a carriage with a mother who had a squalling, howling infant. Eventually
the baby vomited all over itself and its mother. The successful boy looked the other way as did
the headmaster and everyone else in the carriage being unsure or uncomfortable as to what to
do. Everyone, that is, except the ordinary boy, Chuff Rogers. Chuff took out his handkerchief
and helped to wipe the baby and mother clean. In the end, after decades teaching, Chuff Rogers
was the boy who the headmaster remembered most proudly and who he felt was one of the
school’s outstanding successes.
I have told this story over the years to highlight the importance of selflessness in a world and
culture that constantly bombards us with calls to be selfish - often hidden in the guise of
marketing lingo about ‘finding your true self’ or ‘being a better you’. The ubiquitous ‘I’ being
placed at the front of new products is the most telling indicator of a society obsessed in self. To
me this story epitomised the sort of young man we wanted to help form and nurture at the
school.
At the end of last term I heard about an incident that confirmed my feeling that we were on the
right track of achieving such an environment.
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On that final weekend before holidays one of our boarders had a personal crisis, one that all of
us find ourselves experiencing at some stage of our life. He had commenced walking home after
becoming upset. Several hours later one of our Year 11 boys was driving home, about 10:00pm
and noticed someone walking along the side of the road outside of town. He drove past,
stopped, and then returned to see if the person required help. What must it have taken for a 17
year old to stop at night, on a country road and ask a stranger if they were alright? He soon
discovered that it was one of our students, urged him to get in the car and then returned him to
the boarding house.
As someone mentioned to me, the whole world had gone past that boy in need over a number
of hours but it was one of our students who stopped to see if he needed help, not even realising
it was one of his peers. I must admit to being amazed and in awe of this young man who
stopped to help another in the dead of night. How many of us would have driven past not
giving the person in crisis a second thought?
Of course who can really say whether it was the school environment that helped this young man
make such a decision to stop, turn and ask if help was needed? But his story does exemplify
what we want our young men to aspire to be - the Good Samaritan, the Christ-like figure
prepared to give to others above and beyond self. The true test comes in our everyday
relationships at school - do we accept each and every person for who they are, value them for
their talents and abilities they have, accept their quirks, idiosyncrasies, annoyances? If anything
the story about the young man in Year 11 is an exemplar that we all should strive to be.
I can’t help but think that when my teaching career ends that it will be this story that I will be
most proud of when I think back on the many young men I had the great fortune to teach and
learn from.
Subject Choices 2017
We commence the process for students in Years 10, 9 and 8 making subject selections for next
year. The school has put on the moodle site for Year 10 a series of videos that explain each
subject that can be studied at Stage 6. Both students and parents should commence looking at
these as they contemplate the direction they want to take next year.
Year 8 Boys and parents will have a meeting in Week 4, Wednesday 10 August to discuss
elective choices and the process used to determine what subjects we offer. Next week Mrs
Chaffey will email a booklet for parents and boys to read regarding each of the subjects that will
be offered by the school.
House Public Speaking Finals
Term 2 ended on a high with the House Public Speaking Finals providing an opportunity for
the students to sit back and listen to the ‘best of the best’ wow us with their words and ideas.
Once again it was wonderful to see all of the boys support each other as they embarked on the
daunting but exhilarating experience of speaking before a large audience and guest adjudicators
from the Old Boys - John Moy (2012), Mitch Harris, Dave Stanley and Liam Stewart (2013) and
Ron Littlewood (2015).
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In what was an incredibly tense and hotly contested competition, Dunlop managed to carry the
day just pipping a confident Simpson House who had already won the Swimming, Cross
Country and Athletics carnivals.
Year 7
Dunlop Hunter Dalzell
Flynn
Ben Carriage
Simpson Myles Davis (First)
Year 8
Dunlop Callum Cutler (First)
Flynn
Harry Snook
Simpson Gus Cameron
Year 9
Dunlop Jim Burke
Flynn
Olly Keft-Gill
Simpson Riley Bomford (First)
Year 10
Dunlop Tom Burke (First)
Flynn
Jack Miller
Simpson Tom Chaffey
Year 11
Dunlop Luke Dignam
Flynn
Tom Hinchcliffe (First)
Simpson Phil Lord
Year 12
Dunlop Ketan Panat (First)
Flynn
Seb Wall
Simpson Ed Cameron
It is now time for Dads (and Mums) and sons to begin construction of the billy-cart for the
annual derby at the end of this term!!
Mick Larkin
Curriculum Coordinator
ROSE COTTAGE WAREHOUSE
Hours:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
Call into:
The William Tell
8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
[email protected]
5776 5194
5776 5199
9 Raglan Street, Tamworth
17 June 2016
Page 6
CONCERT BAND REPORT
The Calrossy Anglican School Boys’ Concert Band performed at the Tamworth Eisteddfod on
21 June 2016 and were victorious in their efforts! 32 boys from Years 7-9 competed in the
Novice Ensemble 15 Years and Under and performed two pieces, “Happy” and “The Year of
the Dragon”. The adjudicator commented on the boys’ excellent portrayal of style and
articulation, whilst performing as an ensemble convincingly. The Percussion section were to be
commended on their range of dynamics.
Thank you to the parents who came to support these fabulous groups of young musicians.
Thanks must also go to Mr Hardes who assisted on the day. I congratulate the boys on their
commitment and dedication to this group and look forward to rehearsing with them next term.
Mrs Krug
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The department will not otherwise disclose any personal information to third parties,
including overseas recipients, without consent or unless authorised or required by law.
Contact
For further information about the collection, use or disclosure of information for the NCCD
please contact: [email protected]
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SUPPORTING APPROPRIATE IPAD USAGE
As parents, guardians and teachers, we all want the best learning environment for our students.
One that makes learning relevant for each student and allows for creativity, collaboration and
critical thinking. With a device like an iPad or iPhone, students always have access to the
content they need - no matter where they are.
There may be times, however, when you, as a parent, want to limit access to certain content or
features on your student’s device. Apple has developed a guide which will help you set
restrictions on individual features like preventing in-app purchases or setting age-appropriate
restrictions for apps, books, music, TV shows, movies and websites. You can also use
restrictions to further limit access to personal information, such as your student’s location, that
some apps or services may request.
If you would like to access Apple’s Parent Restrictions Guides please follow this link:
https://www.apple.com/education/docs/Apple_ID_for_Students_Parent_Guide_US_0514.pdf.
This type of information is also being updated on our school intranet with more being added in
the coming weeks. This can be accessed through http://intranet.calrossy.nsw.edu.au
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact ICT Integrator, Mrs Amber Chase at
[email protected]
Mrs Amber Chase
ICT Integrator
SPORT
Under 16 AICES Rugby representatives
Pictured from left: Mr Bruce Veitch, AJ Pretorius, Ben Grant,
Mr Joe Goldsworthy, Sam Gray, Riley Catts and Sam Buster
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Anglicare Northern Inland (ANI) is a ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale. Among other services,
it provides an amazing set of well-being courses. We would like our school community to be aware of this
education program as part of our welfare program.
ANGLICAN CHURCH SERVICE TIMES
Oxley Vale Anglican Community Church
Sundays 8:00am, 10:00am
Oxley Vale Public School
Manilla Rd
TAMWORTH
6761 2042 [email protected]
St John’s East Tamworth
Saturday 6:00pm, Sunday 8:30am, 10:30am
102 Carthage Street
TAMWORTH
6766 2170 [email protected]
St Paul’s West Tamworth
Sundays 8:00am, 10:00am, 6:00pm
18 Church Street WEST TAMWORTH
6765 8227 [email protected]
www.stpaulstamworth.org.au
St Peter’s South Tamworth
Saturday 5:00pm, Sunday 8:00am, 10:00am, 6:00pm
Cnr Kathleen & Vera Streets
TAMWORTH
6765 9304 [email protected], www.stpeterstamworth.org.au
St Luke’s Loomberah
Sundays 9:00am
Duri-Dungowan Road, Loomberah
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