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AS OUR STAFF AND FACULTY wait for the arrival of the ninth graders to begin Term 3 in Beijing, it's sometimes easy to feel overwhelmed by the logistics of our endeavor. It's no simple task moving a school around the planet, and we owe a debt of gratitude to our administrative team - especially Ashley Silver and Mike Hourahine - for making our international transitions so seamless. A school built...

Proud. Positive. Special. Those are some of the words TGS students use to describe their emotional response to the THINK photographic exhibit that accompanies the school on its world travels. In Sydney, the freestanding outdoor exhibit is currently drawing attention in Martin Place in the downtown business district. It features stunning international images captured by TGS founder Joann McPike on globally relevant themes such as beauty, despair, wisdom, wealth, curiosity...

For TGS students, preparing to live in Beijing for three months means more than learning a few basic phrases in Mandarin. Under the guidance of teacher Sherry Zhang, these world travelers are learning as much vocabulary as possible, and are practicing their conversational skills and pronunciation on a regular basis. In addition to their language skills, they will travel to China armed with an understanding of the history and culture...

At TGS, education doesn’t end on Friday afternoon, take a few days off, and pick up again on Monday morning. Weekends provide even more time for learning, adventure - and fun. Of course, students spend weekends relaxing, studying, and preparing for classes, but they also spend their Saturdays and Sundays playing football (soccer), rock climbing, taking in a film, and exploring our host city. A weekend visit to the Taronga...

This term, students are learning about the history of the Australian people: the accomplishments and the challenges, the positives and the “uncomfortable truths.” To continue their studies in this area, TGS students visited the Museum of Sydney. During their visit to the museum, they were exposed to a time when not all residents of Australia had the same rights. The Museum of Sydney exhibit, "From Little Things Big Things Grow,"...

Traveling the globe and stepping into new and different the cultures is one of the ways that TGS students gain a true understanding of how people all over the world live, play, work and learn. In a way, theater arts gives people a similar opportunity to learn about someone else’s life by stepping into their shoes, even if only for an hour or two. While in Sydney, TGS students have...

“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 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...