Rites of Passage

November 20, 2020  

Last week, the Class of 2020 attended their Formal Dinner held at the Novotel Hotel in Wollongong. It was a wonderful evening filled with reflective, humourous and joy-filled speeches as Mentors and students shared memories and experiences enjoyed together over the last six years. For the students, it was an important rite of passage and an appropriate celebration of their time together in formal education. For myself, and many of the teachers present, it was a welcome tonic to the numerous constraints and limitations that have foiled so many of our plans throughout 2020. I’m happy to report that coming hot on the heels of this event, and also subject to the latest guidelines provided by the NSW Premier, the Year 10 Formal Dinner is scheduled for Thursday 3 December. 

It is a source of great encouragement that the sustained low COVID-19 numbers here in NSW are now allowing us to enjoy these types of gathering. Moreover, as I write, teachers are putting forward dates and events for next year. Let us continue to pray that we will be able to enjoy this increasing sense of normal school life as we look ahead to next term and the year ahead.      

Sports Assembly

This week, students watched a pre-recorded Sports Assembly recognising sporting success in the limited competitive events that have taken place in 2020. World-renowned local surfer, Sally Fitzgibbons was a special guest and did a fantastic job of presenting the names of the students being recognised. Our Sports Prefects put a number of questions to her that allowed us an insight into the path she has taken to international recognition. On behalf of TIGS, I would like to wish her all success in the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics hopefully taking place next year. 

Artexpress

The Arts faculty is proud to announce that Ella (HSC 2020) has made the final selection for Artexpress 2021 with her work entitled ‘Year Million’

Artexpress is an annual series of exhibitions of exemplary artworks created by New South Wales visual arts students for the Higher School Certificate examination. Her work will be on display at Hazelhurst Gallery in February next year. This is a wonderful achievement for Ella who has created an outstanding series of artworks using both Textiles and Graphic design media. The work allowed Ella to explore her concerns about the impact of technology on society using her skills in a range of media.

‘Year Million’ demonstrates the possibilities of humanity fuelled by science and technology. The themes of CRISPR, Gene Editing, the Hive Mind and Metaverse 0.1 are explored in an attempt to enlighten what it means to be human, both ethically and biologically at the turn of the new age.

Ella de Graff Clark, ‘Year Million’ 2020