Secondary News
We're Back
Welcome back to Term 2. It has been great to have our students back in the classroom. I know the students have appreciated being back after their extended break.
One of the great encouragements that has come out of Covid-19 is how our student leadership team has stepped up. Each of our School Captains have taken it in turns to record a devotion that all the students have been able to access. These messages have been encouraging to the students and in some cases have provided light entertainment while being delivered.
The Year 12 class took the opportunity this week to write / chalk messages of hope and encouragement around the school. Watching the younger year levels go around reading these messages brought joy to my heart. (Photos below)
We also have had the pleasure of welcoming 2 new students into the Secondary school. It is encouraging in these times that families see what is happening in our community and they have the confidence to believe in what we are offering. I can only thank the students who are embracing the Tyndalian culture. Thank you for your love and commitment to our community.
Nicholas Simons
Pastoral Care Leader, Secondary
Year 12s at Play
Our Year 12s spread the joy at school on Wednesday morning; leaving chalk messages all over the school. Staff and students loved walking around the school and seeing these joyful messages. A great start to the day!
Music & Drama - Professional Development
I (Leah O'Rourke) recently attended a PD with Dr. Anita Collins, an award-winning educator, researcher and writer in the field of brain development and music learning. She is internationally recognized for her unique work in translating the scientific research of neuroscientists and psychologists to the everyday parent, teacher and student.
THE KEY QUESTION….. Why do parents who invest in Private Music Instrumental Lessons have children who do better emotionally, socially and academically at school?
Research shows that children who learn how to play a musical instrument and read sheet music from an early age have;
- Higher developed language systems
- Faster and more adaptive language processing
- Better memory for language and numeracy
- Faster neural timing, processing and encoding
- Higher phonological memory and more advanced brain networks (auditory, visual, motor, cognitive, sensory, perception, cognition, emotion)
Additionally research proves that music intervention from an early age is essential for future student success and that all schools with an excellent instrumental and classroom music program from ELC right through to University level had higher academic and moral standards across the whole school than those schools which didn’t actively embrace a quality music program.
We are privileged to have an excellent Private Music Instrumental AND classroom primary and high school music programs with ensemble and performance opportunities at Tyndale.
Private lessons are held weekly in the auditorium upstairs studios in Piano, Drums, Guitar, Strings, Brass, Woodwind, Theory and Voice – there’s something for everyone!
Can I encourage families to enjoy the gift of music! Book a trial lesson, hire an instrument and allow children to explore different musical instruments. Put your radio on rotation in the car and at home and be actively listening to all different types of POSITIVE music (from Bach to Bieber!) Encourage movement, strict beat keeping, listening to the layers of sounds and instruments and of course singing the words! All musical play activities are encouraged from pots n’ pans to piano and Chopin! For fun music creation and technology experiences there’s garage band, chrome music lab, music apps and other great online resources. Get them off Xbox and on to beat box!!!
The benefits of having MUSIC experience (including praise and worship!) in the first 10mins of the day improves;
- willingness to learn
- executive function
- general behaviour
- self-discipline
- readiness for reading
- focus for instruction
- fine motor skills
- memory skills
For further reference and inspiration visit: https://www.facebook.com/BiggerBetterBrains/ and read Psalm 150 😊
Leah O’Rourke
Music & Drama Secondary Teacher