As a TGS Old Boy (2003-14), sport has always been an integral part of my upbringing. As a young boy I discovered the joys of cricket, track and field and touch footy. This love of being active led me to studying Exercise Science at University and I was fortunate enough to work with a range of national and international level athletes, culminating in an internship at the Brisbane Broncos. This experience launched my career in the strength and conditioning space, allowing me to work with international level athletes in five sports and being a part of multiple professional title wins in combat sport. My love of athletic development was realised within my work in previous schools where I directed academies and departments to national, international and professional success.
Although my career has taken me to major cities such as Brisbane, I always had a desire to travel back to my roots in the country. When this role became available, I realised this was my opportunity to elevate athletic development opportunities not only for TGS but for the wider rural community. As an Old Boy, I understand how important the GPS system is to the students and how to navigate the stressors that it can impose. As a track and field athlete I had to train year-round to be competitive and the support that I had as a student allowed me to stay in the sport for my entire schooling. I plan on extending from this supportive base and continuing to pursue holistic excellence for all students.
As one of my first projects here at the School, I have created the Athletic Development Academy. This is a Term 4 program aimed at building on key physical literacy that is fostered throughout the sporting year. Bridging the gap between Term 3 and Term 1 allows students to continue to build on these physical literacy skills. This continuation of physical development will allow students to utilise the entire school year to benefit their sports and personal physical capacity, improving not only their performance but their holistic development. As a holistic program, the Academy will integrate educational tools, recovery sessions and physical development sessions to ensure the boys are given the correct tools to progress.
Athletic Development is in its infancy as a field, and I have been blessed to have experienced programs in a range of settings from youth development through to the professional space. This program is unique in that it attempts to integrate all key physical qualities and literacies into a long-term athlete development model. LTAD models attempt to touch all four aspects of development: physical, mental, technical, and tactical. Students will not only be taken through training sessions but be given resources and experience workshops on resilience strategies and other mental skills. This will bridge the gap across the four-aspects, making this program an emerging leader in its class. One of the keys focuses of this program is to build physical literacy across the entire performance spectrum and each of the sessions are scaled using motor learning and skill acquisition series to allow for boys of any level to participate.
Research shows that the development of all four aspects of a LTAD model improves long term wellness through improved participation rates in physical activity, self-perception and adaptability to hardship. This links in with the vision of the School, to have “boys leave with the skills to be independent, well balanced, and successful in life, responding well to challenges and achieving lifelong wellbeing.”
by Jackson Stone, TGS Head of Athletic Development
Latest Blog
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
Kia Moemoeā – Dream Beyond Limits
A 12-year study has found that boys consistently perform better in an all boys’ school compared to boys in co-educational schools. This was one of several interesting topics presented at the recent International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Auckland, New Zealand which I attended alongside three of my Toowoomba Grammar School colleagues – Mr Luke Rawle, Mr Dave Klan and Mrs Jessica Galbraith. We joined 600 leading educators from 15 countries around the world for the four-day…
Blue and Gold in the Blood
When Chris Wicks’ (1981-85) son Lachlan was just two days old, Chris proudly strolled across the road from St Vincent’s maternity ward, over Trustees’ Oval and down to the Toowoomba Grammar School office to enrol his firstborn. “I had such fond memories from the School and enjoyed all the opportunities available, particularly participating in sport and learning at such a high level; my sons were going to have the same great education,” said Chris adamantly. Chris was a boarder from Dalby and an…
The Benefits of Repeated Reading
An effective and evidence-based method that can significantly improve your child's reading abilities is repeated reading. Reading proficiency is a vital skill that sets the foundation for academic success and lifelong learning. Repeated reading, a simple yet powerful technique, has been proven to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. Let's delve into why repeated reading is such a beneficial practice for your child. Research consistently supports the benefits of…
Print v Digital
I recently read an article by Petra Stock, entitled "Streaming Stories: Will Children’s Digital Book Platforms Upend Print", an interesting discussion comparing ebooks and print media and the ways they are being used during and post COVID. Which is better according to the article? Well, there is a clear winner; however, like many things, the answer can depend on the situation. I'd like to break elements of the article down, along with my own thoughts and compare the two. Social…
Striking a Balance
We understand that, as parents, we aspire to provide our children with the best education and opportunities for growth. Within the Junior School at Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe in fostering a love for learning while enabling your son to reach his full potential. In this article, we would like to emphasise the significance of automaticity and basic skill practice in extending your child's learning journey, while emphasising the importance of respecting their individual pace. Automaticity…
