Susan Grimes
I have had three children work with Tusk on their maths. Two were of the wailing and gnashing of teeth type: they would not have stayed with maths let alone done Advanced Maths at HSC level and done well without the help of Tusk. Tusk ensured that they not only became better at maths but started to like it. The third was a maths whiz and Tusk helped him get even better. He thoroughly enjoyed being able to talk complex maths with someone who also enjoyed it, and I observed more than a few sms texts about maths problems (it always surprised me when he got answers and a chat going on the problems!)
Best of all my stress levels went from catastrophic to calm in very short order. Tusk engaged with problems and assisted each individual to improve on their own path and in line with their goals. Very impressive.
Across the three students Tusk and I were involved for four years. A great time and recommended to my friends and any other parents who need/want a supportive maths tutor to assist their child(ren).
Sasha Edwards
Mathematics tutoring with Tusk became a fundamental aspect of my HSC, providing sanctuary and unwavering support – for which I am most grateful! Paul and Susan have truly finessed the art of connecting with students and genuinely discovering the potential in everyone. Their passion and enthusiasm for both teaching and mathematics is unparalleled; truly influential mentors to all.
Tusk’s unique group environment provides an engaging, motivating and often humorous atmosphere in which all students feel safe and nurtured. I can recommend with absolute confidence, Paul and Susan’s acute ability to inspire self-belief, teach effective problem solving and encourage a positive mindset at all times. Additional workshops designed to prepare students for exams, boost confidence whilst also maintaining a sense of ‘calmness’ (a word repeated to me often by Paul), are a most valuable resource.
Paul and Susan’s philosophy towards learning transcends mathematics; teaching valuable lessons, which, I’m sure, will remain resonant throughout my life. I simply cannot recommend Tusk enough; a must have for all HSC students!
Peta Cominos
Paul and Susan are the best! They are the best because of their passion and genuine love for their students. They love what they teach, they love being teachers and they love the challenge of helping each of their students learn. Their passion is contagious and they infect their students with a love of learning and a sense of belonging. My children love Paul and Susan.
Paul and Susan genuinely care about their students as people in much the same way that a loving parent cares about their child. They are warm, respectful and empathetic. They actively learn about things going on in their students’ lives and offer support when students are in need. They believe in their students and challenge them to excel while supporting them to do so. They empower their students to believe in their own capacity to learn, to not be afraid of having a go or making mistakes and provide positive feedback to help them learn.
I thoroughly recommend Paul Walsh & Susan Harvey as mentors/tutors for students, particularly undergoing the HSC. They are so much more than maths tutors, more like life coaches for the kids. They are an invaluable support to students crossing the HS Sea.
Lyndal Moore
I have two daughters with very different personalities and abilities. I knew that during their senior years of high school that we could no longer provide the mathematical guidance and support that they required. I was recommended Tusk Productions, particularly Paul Walsh, by two close friends for maths tutoring. We as a family feel so lucky to have crossed paths with this amazing man as both girls could relate to him from their very first meeting and will remain lifelong friends.
Paul not only provided the girls with support and guidance based on their individual personality but he also has an ability to understand the adolescent brain and teach accordingly. The girls found a new appreciation for mathematics, they were challenged and they had a lot of fun in the process. My husband and I also attended a “How to survive the HSC” session offered by Tusk Productions that really opened our eyes to what the girls were going through during the HSC, and also gave us the tools to support them with new strategies so that the HSC time was less stressful for the whole family.
Tusk Productions provides a learning space that is safe, fun and adolescent friendly. The girls were always keen to attend and never complained about going. Paul and Susan both have an infectious love and joy for mathematics and a desire for their students to do the best to their own ability. Both girls worked hard and achieved outstanding maths results in their HSC.
Leigh Williams
From the beginning, Tusk’s positive and nurturing energy from Paul and Susan set the bar at the highest level of tutoring know-how. Their knowledge, experience, encouragement and passion for mathematics has enhanced the drive of both my daughters through years 10-12. At all times with Tusk, I have found their professionalism, flexibility with scheduling and tireless input to be the type of specialist tuition that is greatly sought after. The group sessions and the ability to access Paul by email, phone or text during those big exam times alleviated a lot of pressure in our house and allowed my daughters someone to bounce off and peace of mind when maths seemed too daunting. I love the elephant analogy and it’s proved a great ‘hook’ to engage young people and parents alike. My girls were always enthusiastic to share Paul’s quirky quotes and tips for success which while giving us all a good laugh and nods of approval at his wisdom, were not only valuable in maths but in all subject areas. Both of my children cherished their time at Tusk and have gathered an enormous wealth of strategies, tips and mentoring to boost their love for mathematics and life-long learning in the 21st century.
Jenny Hall
My daughter received maths tuition from Tusk Productions for the last 12 months of her schooling. I was delighted with the progress she made in that time. Not only did she show an improvement in her mathematics results but she also gained confidence within herself, both generally and with her mathematical abilities. She also learnt a very valuable life lesson in that you can learn from your mistakes, not to be afraid to have a go and also not to assume that everyone else around you knows more than you. I’ve been so impressed that I have now enrolled my 15 year old son. I would highly recommend this company to anyone.
Belinda Peters
Paul and Susan have been excellent tutors for my children. I have known of both Paul and Susan from my own school days but never had the pleasure to be taught by either of them. But when my daughter needed assistance during her HSC with extension Maths, I was so glad to have found them again. Paul and Susan not only provide tuition in maths, but also in exam techniques and strategies that are able to be applied to any subject area at any level of education. For my daughter who was struggling at the time, they gave her the confidence to perform and achieve with excellence again.
For my son who was not being challenged with his maths at school and losing interest, they have enabled him to enjoy maths again through developing his confidence and making maths fun. He looks forwards to going to tutoring and enjoys the good-natured banter that follows.
I believe that tutoring at Tusk Productions has brought out the best in my children, not only in maths but in other areas of study. I look forward to sending my third child along (and he looks forward to attending) when it is his time.
Rachel McGowan
I loved my time at Tusk. I couldn’t have achieved my goals whilst still having fun without Susan and Paul and their philosophy on approaching Mathematics and the HSC. The holiday workshops were at the heart of my favourite memories from Tusk as working with a group of people going through the same HSC journey was highly beneficial and eye opening to see that every HSC student encounters the same sharks and rough rapids along the way.
Taylor Hudson-Osborne
Although it’s been nearly a year since I last travelled the HS SEA with the help of the lovely Paul and Susan, still to this day, even at university, I practise their ideologies such as staying away from the shark questions and sticking to your island of safety and making sure I don’t run off the cliff with the pack of bulls before an exam. It was through their metaphors and ideologies that I was able to stay sane through the HSC and even now during university. Believe it or not, if I could I’d go back to “elephant island” I would because Susan and Paul made learning, everything from easy to hard, such a joy 🙂 Thankyou for the profound influence you have had on me and I know all your students past and present deeply value the time they have gotten to know you both. You are the greatest mentors I’ve ever come across and that I think I ever will 🙂
Alexi (Zeus) Cominos
I enjoyed going to Paul & Susan for maths tutoring each week. I looked forward to going, they made maths fun and gave me confidence in my maths ability. Paul always had an interesting fact, a funny joke or a song at the ready, especially for remembering formulas! It was great having tutoring in small groups as we could interact with others and share our experiences and knowledge. Paul and Susan are very “down to earth”; they place importance on getting to know each student and work with students at their own pace. Paul & Susan assume the role of mentors, they give their contact numbers to students so that students can contact them at any time for help e.g. whilst doing homework or studying for a test. I look forward to the release of their new HS Sea book, it will be a great resource.
Angus Hedges
My time with Tusk Productions for maths tutorials is one of my fondest memories from my entire Year 12 experience. The opportunity to learn in such a comfortable and fun environment was undoubtedly one of the driving reasons for my success in Year 12. Your rooms were always a place I could come for help with my maths, alone or with others, even outside of my tutorial times, which made it so easy to get the help I needed. The approachable, fun and competitively friendly nature of our tutorial sessions made it a joy to learn maths, and I know I can speak for my friends when saying that we wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. I am so excited to return to Elephant Island and relive those memories through the pages of what I am certain will be an amazing book.
Sophie Payne
I went to Tusk Productions for six years and without them I would not have received the HSC results that I got. I am sure that all past students would agree with me when I say that Paul and Susan are supportive and loveable tutors who dedicate their time to helping students in achieving their best. I couldn’t thank Paul and Susan enough for their support, encouragement and belief in me throughout the HSC whether it was through text messages stressing about a maths question or allowing me to sit in the back room of their studio to complete HSC Past Papers, I couldn’t have done it without them. Even though I have finished with Tusk Productions I am still very excited for the launch of their book The HS Sea.
Thalia Rey Lescure
Lessons with Tusk were more than a simple maths tutorial session, they were life lessons. As my skills in mathematics grew, so did my confidence in my ability to grow as a person and flourish and achieve success in whatever I set out to do in life. I still carry with me the philosophies of Tusk Productions and am looking forward to the release of the new book and the benefits it will carry for students about to embark on their journey of the HSC.
Meg Lewis
Tutoring with Tusk not only opened up many ways for me to learn but also made learning fun. I would look forward to maths tutoring as it was such a positive and fun environment for me to learn in. Your tutoring methods are so unique and encouraging. I always felt that I could achieve. I felt like I was being helped as a person and not a number. I will never be able to thank you enough for not only helping me achieve but also supporting me the whole way. And I’m so excited for The HS Sea to be published so more students can be inspired by your greatness!
Isabella Martin-Plisi
Prior to beginning tutoring at Tusk, Mathematics was an extremely difficult subject for me. I was often frustrated and overwhelmed. My time at Tusk Productions with Paul and Susan has seen me improve phenomenally, through specialized coaching and tuition, to succeed in my studies and become confident in the subject of Mathematics. I am extremely excited for the release of The HS Sea as I believe it truly encapsulates the positive experience I had with Paul and Susan at Tusk Productions.
Stephanie Oldfield
Tusk Productions was one of the most amazing experiences in my high school career. Susan and Paul helped me understand my full potential in learning and made maths easy and fun. The methods they used have stuck with me throughout university and my career, and have inspired me to continue to approach exams in a manner that lets me achieve the very best that I possibly can.
Rebecca Grimes
Mathematics was always a difficult subject for me as I am simple-minded when it comes to the numbers. Despite this, my time on Elephant Island was a fun and positive experience for me as it developed my mathematical ability to the point where when Titanic High sank, I was able to swim through the shark-infested waters to Elephant Island, battle my way through the quadratic foothills and up Mount Calculus where the Schoolies of fish were within an achievable sight, and it was at that point that I had a revelation that maybe maths wasn’t so bad after all.
Estelle Hughes
I loved my time at tutoring with Paul, and actually looked forward to going, which is hard to believe because I was not a fan of maths at all! With his help I was able to achieve the results I wanted in the HSC, but I learnt so much more than just maths. He taught me how to control all the negative emotions and stress you feel in Year 12, and to let yourself shine! I can’t wait for his next book, as you know that anything he produces is going to be great, and filled with wisdom.
Paul J Wilson MPS PhC c/- Wilsons Pharmacy
Both my wife and I have known Paul Walsh and Susan Harvey since our eldest son, now a 50 year old, was 12. Paul taught both our boys at Hamilton Marist Bros High School in their early secondary years. Both those boys, in their later secondary years, went to a renowned Sydney boarding school with maths teachers of great reputation. Both those boys assured my wife and I that Paul Walsh was by far the best maths teacher they had ever encountered. We then placed the boys’ younger sister, who was badly struggling with maths, under Paul’s care. To our delight, he coached her to an ‘A’ level in her HSC maths exam.
Alexandra Peters
I could not be happier with the results I achieved in the HSC thanks to the help of Paul and Susan, and I continue to use their exam approaches and strategies at a university level. I am so excited for the new HS Sea book, as I truly believe it will be such a unique, interesting and helpful guide to everyone going through the HSC – I can’t wait to grab a copy!
Ben Kelly
Hey Paul and Susan. I got 94 for Maths. I got an Atar of 96.35! Thank you so much for all your help this year and last. I know now that Elephant Island is in fact a real place, seeing the results.
Elizabeth Collins
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the mystical elephant maths tutors known as Paul and Susan. Our forays into the magical kingdoms of maths will remain with me for eternity. I most enjoyed our trips to Elephant Island which all senior students experience. Tutorials were always fun, what with anecdotes, dancing and the constant chanting of “confusion is the prelude to understanding”. Thank you for being amazing tutors and wonderful people!
Liam Kleyn
My time with Tusk Productions was very valuable, equipping me with skills that not only aided my studies through high school but also university. I look forward to the release of this book as I anticipate its greatness!
Claire Brooks
I had such a positive experience at Tusk tutoring; many a laugh was had around the circle of truth, and I never felt bad about making mistakes or asking for help. I can’t wait for their HSC guide book to come out, it’s going to be a great resource.
Madeline Tait
Mathematics tutoring became the highlight of my week whilst completing my HSC; it was always such a warm and welcoming environment where everyone could relax and through Tusk wisdom and expertise everyone was able to reach their mathematical goals as well as their broader goals for the HSC. The journey I had with Tusk during my four years of tutoring not only prepared me for my final mathematics HSC exams, but for every exam I sat and the knowledge has continued to guide me into my further studies at University. To be able to have all of the wonderful knowledge, metaphors and comical commentary in a book as well as a journal to document the roller coaster journey of the HSC would be awesome. Whilst I have completed my HSC, I’ll be sure to get my hands on a copy of The HS Sea.
Elizabeth Seah
I was delighted to hear that Paul and Susan’s book The HS Sea is finally being released, after having heard so much about it during my time at Tusk Productions. My tutorial time with Paul and Susan certainly enriched my learning and study for HSC Maths. In an educational sense I gained an understanding of the essential mathematics concepts, useful exam strategies, and developed study skills that I could apply to all my subjects. But even more so, the sessions never failed to provide me and many of my friends with some much needed perspective, personal support, creative approaches to study, and comic relief. Tackling sharks in the HS Sea, from the safe haven of Elephant Island was always engaging and invaluable to my overall HSC experience and outcomes. I’m so excited to read Paul and Susan’s new book, with the confidence that their abundance of experience and unique character will help and encourage many more students in the same way they did for me.
Marcus Robertson
Before being tutored by Tusk Productions, I had no interest in maths. I was someone who thought that maths was just one of those subjects that I had to do and it might help me a couple of years on when trying to find a better deal on peanuts whilst grocery shopping. But this all changed dramatically. After a few weeks at tutoring, I really began to love maths. I was excited to learn new formulae and really understand what was going on in my text books. To my friends, I just seemed odd, but I could see this transformation in plenty of students around me. In the end, I really just needed someone to point out to me that maths could be fun and exciting, and this happened consistently throughout my tutoring experience. As someone who now has a love for maths, I am excited for the release of The HS Sea. I can’t wait to see how the book will encourage all people to have fun while doing maths while helping students to stay calm in their journey of learning throughout the toughest years of their school career.
Remy Rey Lescure
Their ‘Circle of Truth’ is less mathematics tutorial group, more so a religion. The Circle’s humorous character and dedicated ethic combine to form a mercurial environment for those lucky enough to study there. Paul has been a mentor throughout and post high school and his effervescent and unique personality ensure my anticipation for his and Susan’s upcoming The HS Sea.
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