Category: Faculty

“Xin Nian Kuai Le!” Happy New Year! Sydney boasts a vibrant and active Chinese-Australian community, and every year the city hosts a days-long celebration of the Lunar New Year. Having spent the last several months studying Mandarin language and Chinese culture with teacher Sherry Zhang, TGS students were excited to be a part of the celebration. They were also fortunate enough to take part in one of Sydney’s biggest Lunar...

TGS Teacher Marta Guevara recounts the climbing and rappelling trip to the Blue Mountains with Nick Sagar. JUMP, JUMP, COME ON you can do it! My body is frozen. My legs are feeling weak. I am paralyzed with fear. I need to jump on my back into a pool inside the canyon. I'm standing on a rock only 2 meters up, but it might as well be 50. I look...

TGS students recently left Sydney for an outdoor adventure: visiting the Blue Mountains. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Blue Mountains are renowned for their breathtaking views, fascinating geology and majestic scenery. The mountains are in close proximity to Sydney, and are often a popular destination for weekend getaways for locals interested in an outdoor retreat. The tour guide, Craig, provided great information to the students about the ecology and...

Nick Sagar, rock climbing expert, recently visited TGS to work with students and train them in climbing. As Nick describes below, he was teaching the students, but the students were also teaching him. Halfway around the world to visit 15 kids and show them climbing? Why? Not just any kids. These are TGS kids. All have stepped up to the challenge of another road, a different path. One less taken,...

TGS students recently had the opportunity to work with Nick Sagar, a well known rock climbing expert and independent rock wall design consultant. Marta Guevara talks about meeting Nick, and learning how to follow your passion. NICK SAGAR STEPS INTO the indoor climbing facility. "Look at him," whispers Brad. "I love to see an expert walk into their element. They see things we can't see." Brad is right. Nick walks...

For a recent Global Studies lesson, TGS students visited the World Heritage Listed Hyde Park Barracks Museum. The Barracks building was constructed in 1819 to serve as a home for convicts. In its nearly 200 year history, the building has served several purposes, including housing for orphans and a governmental office building. Today, the Barracks is home to a museum about its very own history. Learning History at a World...

This post is part of a blog series on the TGS trip to Kangaroo Island. While visiting Kangaroo Island, TGS students had several opportunities to study the unique landscape, plants, and wildlife that call the island home. But in addition to the fantastic sights and experiences on the surface of the island, they had the opportunity to descend into its depths and visit the Kelly Hill Caves. It was there...

TGS students recently had the opportunity to visit one of the most unique, stunningly beautiful places in Australia: Kangaroo Island. "KI," as it is often called, is home to a remarkably diverse set of wildlife. In addition, the geography of the island itself ranges from stunning white sand beaches to sloping cliffs to dense forests. A quarter of Kangaroo Island is conserved in National Parks, Conservation Parks, and five Wilderness...

This term, TGS students are not only learning about the people, culture, and history of Australia, they are exploring the diversity of Australia's landscape. From the Blue Mountains to the Great Barrier Reef, students have the opportunity to experience the climate, geology, flora and fauna native to each location first hand. Learning Ecology in Minnamurra Rainforest One recent stop on their geographical tour down under was the world-famous Minnamurra Rainforest....

WE'RE SLOWLY DRIVING up a dirt road with eucalyptus trees lined up at each side. A total of 19 pairs of eyes are looking up. “There” shouts Liam, “up on that tree.” For a second I’m reminded of the shout of “Tierra!” given by Rodrigo the Triana from the Pinta. In a moment, we’ve all jumped out of the van. There, up on the eucalyptus tree, looking down at us...