round square
Staff Representative
Staff Representative
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Max Frankham, student rep on RS committee
Tom Holcombe, student rep on RS committee
CONFERENCES 2011AUSTRALASIAN CONFERENCEWestminster School, Adelaide 11-15 July plus pre-conference 3 day tour of the Adelaide region.Cost: Approx: $1000
Theme: We can change the world, Re
arrange the world - Moral courage is more
difficult to display than physical courage |
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCEWellington College, UK11-23 October incl. pre-conference Western Front Experience Tour GO TO: www.rsc2011.org.uk for details. Cost: Approx: $3800 Theme: Reaching Beyond our Limits There are 6 student places available for Year 11 students only. |
Mrs Barnier at abarnier@as.edu.au or Mr Harris at gharris@as.edu.au
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This information on 2011 Round Square Conferences in pdf format
current happenings
2011 Junior Australasian Round Square ConferenceThe 2011 Junior Australasian Round Square Conference was held from April 11-16 at St Philip’s College, Alice Springs. TAS Middle School took a delegation of eight young men: Tom Cunningham (Yr 7), Nicholas Burke (Yr 7), Ross Monie (Yr 7), Thomas Mailler (Yr 8), Angus Roxborough-Batt (Yr 8), Frazer Moore (Yr 8), KB Fergusson (Yr 8) and Felix Gifford (Yr 8).  Our adventure began just after our arrival, with a trip to Alice Springs’ Desert Park where we enjoyed watching a native bird show, visited the nocturnal house (home to many Northern Territory reptiles and spiders) and explored the native gardens and desert environments.  We then returned to St Philip’s College for dinner and games before falling into bed at around 10pm. The trip continued the following morning with a three-day pre-conference tour of Uluru, Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon. We travelled with Intrepid Connections Safari and stayed in permanent camping grounds at Yulara and King’s Creek Station.    Departing Alice Springs at 6:30am, we journeyed south, stopping for a short visit at the Outback Camel Farm where we enjoyed breakfast and a quick camel ride.   We then headed straight for Yulara to our permanent campsite for lunch and spent the afternoon exploring the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the World Heritage Listed area around Uluru. We had a guided base tour of Uluru and, at sunset, appreciated the spectacular colour changes of the rock.   Another early morning had us taking in breathtaking views of sunrise at Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas). We enjoyed a walk through the Valley of the Winds, appreciating the beauty of the 36 magical rock domes on the way.   In the afternoon we travelled through red sand dune and desert oak country, stopping to view Mount Connor, a salt lake and collect firewood on the way to our permanent campsite at King’s Creek Station. Here we enjoyed a traditional “camp oven” dinner.   On our final morning of the tour we visited the breathtaking Kings Canyon. We hiked around the canyon rim, viewing the North and South Walls of the canyon, the “Lost City” and ventured into “The Garden of Eden”, a beautiful swimming hole hidden deep within the canyon.   |
That afternoon, we headed back to Alice Springs where our conference began. The theme for the 2011 conference was One road, many voices – Listen. Act. Lead. Our boys certainly did just that. The Opening Ceremony included each school submitting fact sheets on leaders from their local area. The TAS delegation researched Richard Torbay, M.P. and the late Patricia Dixon prior to the conference and was very proud to share their submission with the conference delegates. The ceremony also included short addresses from past Round Square delegates and the release of balloons, to which were attached handwritten goals from each delegate.   The Barazza Groups then took part in five workshops, each dealing with the ideal of Leadership, before enjoying a round-robin Dodgeball competition in the school’s new gymnasium.    The following day was just as exhausting, with presentations by local indigenous Guest Speaker, Marsha Riley and Cambodian students. A presentation from D’arcy Lunn, Coordinator for the Global Poverty Project had our young men thinking about the many ways TAS could help those in extreme poverty, and were also challenged by a Simulation Game.  That afternoon, the delegation split into two groups: one to be challenged by a 17km bike ride from Alice Springs to Simpsons Gap, and the other by the amazing climbing wall set up in the school gymnasium.   The next morning we spent touring the Alice Springs Telegraph Station where, during Heritage Week, we were able to send telegrams to our families back home. We were also lucky enough to visit a local indigenous art gallery in the Alice Springs city centre, where we saw some famous artworks by indigenous artists, Albert Namatjira and Emily Kame Kngwarre.   That afternoon we spent in the classrooms at Yipirinya Indigenous School, helping the indigenous students with their schoolwork and donating new sporting equipment for the children to play with.   We enjoyed a camp oven dinner at St Philip’s on our return, and finished our busy day with a reflective session led by Justin Bedard, co-founder of the leadership organization “JUMP Foundation”.   Our 10-day conference adventure came to an end with tree planting on the St Philip’s College grounds and a closing ceremony. At this ceremony, Thomas and Tom represented TAS and spoke about what we had learned from the conference and what ideas we would take back to our school.   It was an exhausting but fantastic conference, where the IDEALS of Round Square (International understanding, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership & Service) were experienced by all TAS delegates. We all cannot wait for the 2012 Junior Conference, that will be hosted by The Armidale School. |
Junior Conference Preparation
In preparation for this year's Junior Regional Conference (April 11-16), the TAS delegation of Frazer Moore, Tom Mailler, Felix Gifford, KB Fergusson, Angus Roxborough-Batt (Year 8), Ross Monie, Tom Cunningham and Nicholas Burke (Year 7) had to identify two significant leaders from their region, list their achievements and describe what makes them outstanding. The students chose Richard Torbay MP and the late Pat Dixon and had to present their information at the conference in front of hundreds of other delegates.They were thrilled that Mr Torbay found time in his busy schedule to attend their last delegation meeting before the conference, to ask him questions about leadership and his passion for representing the people of the New England region.
While in Alice Springs, the delegation will enjoy a three-day Pre-Conference Tour of Alice Springs, Uluru, Yulara, the Olgas and Kings Canyon.
Whilst at the conference itself, they will be broken into small groups (called Barazzas) and participate in a variety of activities including attending workshops, listening to inspiring Keynote Speakers, participating in Chapel meditation, cleaning up the local riverbed, discussing global issues, participating in Simulation Games, attending a Dance-a-thon to raise money for flood victims, tree-planting. We will also be working with an Indigenous community for dance and sporting workshops, where they will donate a number of sporting goods to the children of the community.
Thailand Exchange - The Regents School During Term 2 of 2010 I was fortunate to be able to go on a three week Round Square Exchange to Thailand. I was hosted by The Regents School, Pattaya, Thailand.
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During my time there I had a wonderful opportunity to learn about Thailand and also meet new friends. Life in Thailand is very different to what I am use to in Australia. For example you would see elephants working in the streets, and you would have to be very careful about what you ate and drank. I loved my time at The Regents School as there was always something to do. You could either have a game of football, hang out at the coffee shop or just meet up with some mates. I would like to thank Mr Harris, Mrs Barnier and Mr Buntine for helping me with my Round Square Exchange and I would encourage any student who is thinking about Round Square Exchange to go for it and have a lifetime experience. Jack Simmons |
Stanford Lake ExchangeHarry Guest – Year 10, 2010Deciding to go to South Africa on exchange was easy. I knew that South Africa is an amazing place and so different to here.
Stanford Lake is 400kms North East of Johannesburg, up near the borders of Botswana and Zimbabwe, in an area called the mist belt. The school is as diverse as the country and very different to here. It is co-ed, has students from every ethnic background, and even once had a hippo in the school lake.
Part of my exchange was the exchange trip, which went for two weeks involving–community service, visiting game parks, white water rafting and bungee jumping.
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We went to Kruger National Park, the biggest game park in South Africa, as part of the exchange trip. Kruger is about 8 times as big as the ACT and we managed to see all the ‘Big 5’ animals up close from the back of a ute.
My host family there was great and really went out of their way to make sure I saw all around the region that even included seeing a World Cup soccer game between Argentina and Greece.
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Round Square Regional Conference - The Southport School21-26 June 2010On the Monday morning of the last week of Term Two, an eager group of 5 year 10 and 11 boys loaded the bus to attend the National Senior Round Square Conference, a little nervous, as none of us knew the extent of Mr Buntine’s bus driving capabilities. After a few pies, breaks and missed turns we all finally got to The Southport School on the gold coast. Keen to get an extra week of holidays, we got a bit of a shock as, straight after our quick tour of TSS, we were asked to get into our uniform ready for a photo. We then had the opening of the conference and a quick get-to-know-you session to rid us of any awkwardness. Afterwards, a well earnt rest was taken. The few days were great fun and incorporated the Round Square IDEALS as follows: Internationalism: Was having schools from Thailand, Singapore and Tasmania at the conference and a night at the outback spectacular. Democracy: In our groups TSS boys acted as group leaders but we all had equal say in key decisions and in debating ideas. Environment: A day at Stradbroke Island, planting trees followed by a huge game of beach touch with GIlBO. Adventure: we went to hidden creek where TSS holds their cadets and outdoor education camps. We abseiled, did a high ropes course and climbed a 40m tree in groups of 5 being just hooked on to one another. We also sailed and rowed out from the TSS boatshed. Leadership: we did an amazing race throughout surfers paradise and all group members displayed leadership at one point, as there were no teachers. We also alternated in leading discussions and through the outdoor activities. Each night we also listened to different motivational speakers. One TSS Old Boy Perry Cross, a quadraplegic following a rugby accident, spoke of his story and ambitions one of which is, can everybody please stand up?...... Now you have just completed his life long ambition in under 5 seconds. We also had a Gold Coast celebrity spoke of issues surrounding popular culture, sexuality and the influence of the media. These presentations really inspired the conference members and, among other things, taught us important lessons in perspective, empathy and media power. I know the cliché of everyone saying Round Square experiences are really worth it and I was sceptical at first too, but honestly it wasn’t expensive, it was a “different and challenging” week of school and Tom Holcombe, Mitch Miller Williams, Lorne Gurney, Lachlan Stertzle and I all recommend the experience. Oh, and there were girls. Thanks must go to Mr Harris and Mrs Barnier for all their organization efforts and also Mr Buntine for leaving his family and joining us on the trip. Toby Crothers
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Exchange to Stanstead College, Canada – Arthur Lloyd – Term 1, 2010
| On 7 January I left for a term long exchange to Stanstead College in Canada. The college is only quite small with a total of 200 hundred co-ed students. It is situated in the french speaking province of Quebec which shares its boarders with the USA.
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Also while I was there I met new people from many different walks of life and formed friendships that I hope will carry on into the future.
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School life there is fairly similar to that of TAS however the weekly skiing trips to the nearby mountains were a huge highlight and a welcome change. 
Over the time I was there I was fortunate enough to spend a week long break in Quebec City and also to play a couple of Ice Hockey games at the rink owned by the school. 
Overall I had a awesome time while I was away and strongly recommend undertaking an exchange for anyone who thinks they are up for the challenge. 
Looking back, what I take away from my exchange is the fact that I was thrown into a completely new environment not knowing what to expect and managed enjoy myself.
I would like to thank Mrs Barnier and Mr Harris for helping me to organise my trip and giving me the opportunity to go on an exchange.