For Glen Innes siblings Emily, Tom, Josh and Matthew Pietsch, boarding at TAS has opened the door to huge range of opportunities, yet stay together as they develop into capable, kind and confident young people.
Emily, in Year 11, has rowed, played rugby and completed the school’s coveted Triple Crown challenge award, for students who complete the 2km Coffs Ocean Swim, 14km City to Surf run and the 19 for Nineteen charity walk during the time at school. This month she was presented with her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and is currently gaining her Rural Fire Service qualifications after three years of cadets.
Younger brother Tom added the grueling 260km Tour de Rocks cycle classic from Armidale to South West Rocks to his Triple Crown, and is also passionate about rowing and rugby. “Rowing isn’t a sport many people get the opportunity to do. It really pushes you, but you develop so much as a person and form really strong connections with others in your crew and the whole team. It’s also helping me get fit for rugby and I’m looking forward to playing the Sydney GPS
schools again this year.”
Twins Joshua and Matthew only started at TAS this year but Matthew said it was “even better than expected”. “The teachers and staff are really nice and always ready to help. You get to know everyone really well because you are living with them,” he said.
For Emily, boarding has “given me a house of ‘sisters’ to live with, having three brothers. TAS is big enough that we don’t fall over each other, but can keep an eye out for each other.” Adds Tom: “It also helps you build independence and maturity – you learn to accept and get on with people who may like different things to you.”
It’s not just the school’s outdoor character curriculum or in boarding where TAS challenges students to be their best. In last year’s Higher School Certificate, TAS was the highest performing co-educational school in northern NSW and the only one to make the Sydney Morning Herald’s top 200 schools list.
TAS has a long association with the Glen Innes district and on 25 March the school’s Principal Ray Pearson, Head of Junior Boarding Jordan Lane and Enrolments Coordinator Jo Crowley will be visiting Glen Innes to meet with current and prospective families. To book your chat just go to https://as.edu.au/tas-regional-tour/
