I shared a true story with the Years 7 - 12 students in the last week about a young man (20 years old) named Walter Carr from the USA. He had lost his job and had been applying for other jobs but no one would give him a chance except for a removalist company. The day before he was due to start work, Walter’s car broke down so he could not drive to work which was 40km away. He thought to himself, “I have 2 feet so I can still walk there”. Walter had to be at the client’s house at 7.45 am in the morning, so he left home and started walking at 11.40 pm the night before. At 4.00 am in the morning, he took a 2 minute rest on the highway. A police officer pulled over and asked him if he was ok. Walter explained his backstory and that he was walking to work on his first day. The police officer called a friend and the friend drove him the rest of the way. He arrived at 6.30 am in the morning. The driver explained Walter’s story to the homeowner and why he was early. The homeowner felt sorry for Walter and offered for him to go upstairs and take a rest before work started. Walter refused and started working straight away. The CEO of the removalist company was so impressed by Walter’s determination that he gave him his SUV car to keep. The homeowner also started a Go fund me page to raise $2000 but it ended up raising $90 000. Walter gave $25 000 to Birmingham Education Foundation. The foundation assists disadvantaged students financially in high school and transition into College. Walter was part of the program in high school himself and wanted to give back. The principal of the foundation decided to use the money he donated to create the Walter Carr Award/Scholarship. It is for a student who demonstrates grit, hard work, and character during their time in high school. He ended up on National TV in USA sharing his story.
I challenged students asking them, what type of grit and hard work have they demonstrated this year? It is always easy to give up when life is difficult and stressful. I encouraged them with the idea that they always have more in them than they think they do. Walter Carr proved how one person can inspire others with grit and determination to overcome obstacles and challenges. We want students at Thomas Hassall to work on growing their resilience and not give up when learning is hard, when relationships are hard, when life is hard.
Change of role
My role will be changing next year as I take on the role of Director of Staff Services in 2020. It has been a privilege to serve the College community as the Head of Senior School over the last two years. Mr Whelan announced that the new Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School Learning will be Mr David Butler who is our current Deputy Head of Senior School – Operations. I commend him to you and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job in the role. It has been a very busy year with so many events on with many wonderful student achievements across all areas of the Senior School. I pray that your families will get some rest over the Christmas holiday season and be refreshed for 2020 with everyone returning safely for another year.
Years 7-10 Final Reports 2019
It is the time of the year where the teachers are working hard marking examinations and then working towards the completion of the Final Reports for 2019. We are taking this opportunity to trial emailing the Years 7-10 Final Reports to all parents rather than sending home a printed copy of the report. This gives parents the opportunity to save the reports digitally as well as helping the environment. In addition, parents and students will still be able to access a digital copy of their report via the Parent Portal. The reports are not scheduled to be completed until the final week of Term 4. Please contact the administration office if you are unable to receive the report electronically and a paper copy of the report will be mailed to you at the end of the year.
Market Day Fundraiser
Congratulations to Senior School students on their organisation of stalls and participation in the Market Day Fundraiser. We raised in excess of $6000 for the Miracle Schools Program in Pakistan. A big thank you to Mrs Byrne who oversaw the organisation of the day and Pastoral Care teachers who helped students run stalls and supervise on the day. The throw a wet sponge at a teacher Stall was popular. Mr Kaye alone would have raised a large amount!! Another successful fundraising event!!
St Mark’ Anglican Church Hampers
Congratulations to all the staff and students who donated goods to put together hampers within their Pastoral Care classes. The Senior School put together 50 hampers that were donated to St Mark’s Anglian Church, Sadlier. These hampers will be given to families in need within their local community over the holiday break. Thank you to Mr Schrack for driving and overseeing the program.
Uniform Reminder - Hats
We have recently noticed that students have not been wearing their College hats consistently at College. Our College Uniform code states on pg 54 of the Parent and Student Handbook: When wearing Summer Uniform, “All students must wear their College approved hat to and from College, at recess and lunch for outdoor activities”. Our expectations are that students comply with this policy as it protects them from the harsh sun and potential skin issues later on in life. We thank you for your support in this matter.
Parent Portal changes
Within the Parent Portal, there is a number of new functions available for parents to improve the flow of communication between the College and Parents. Some of the new functions include:
- Viewing College notices each week about upcoming events
- Parents being able to grant permission for events (eg excursions) online. Please familiarise yourself with this function as we transition to parent online permission this term.
In addition, there are a number of instructions including screenshots of how to use the various Parent Portal functions. Please click on the link below that will take you to the instructions on how to access and use the Parent Portal.
https://www.thac.nsw.edu.au/content/how-use-parent-portal
Forms available on College website
There are a number of forms that you can access on the College website. Please click on the link below to access the following forms:
- Extended leave form
- Exemption application form
- Assessment Extension Application – Years 7-10
- Assessment Extension Application – Years 11-12
- Assessment Task – Misadventure/Illness Form – Years 11-12
https://www.thac.nsw.edu.au/content/forms
Carpark - drop off and pick up reminders
There is a lot of congestion in the Flynn Avenue Carpark of a morning from 7.40 am onwards as well as during the afternoons during pick up time. Please read below the drop off and pick up arrangements to assist in the improvement of the flow of traffic. More detailed information about transport related information can be found on our website by clicking on the link below.
https://www.thac.nsw.edu.au/content/current-student-transport
Morning Drop off
- All cars using Flynn Avenue will access the College via Gate 3 only
- Cars may then turn left or right to either of the two 'set down and pick up zones'. You may be directed by a staff member to go left or right to help with the flow of traffic. Please fill up all the spaces in the drop off/pick up zones to maximise the number of students being dropped off.
- Cars will then exit through Gates 2 or 4
Afternoon Pick up Arrangements – Years 10-12 – Turn left only
- All cars using Flynn Avenue will access the College via Gate 3 only
- For students in Years 10-12, cars must turn left to the 'set down and pick up zone' in front of N Block.
- Cars will then exit through Gate 2 only
- Please note the carpark opens from 2:30 pm only
Afternoon Pick Up Arrangements – Years 7-9 – Turn right only
- All cars using Flynn Avenue will access the College via Gate 3 only
- For students in Years 7-9, cars must turn right to the 'set down and pick up zone' in front of J Block.
- Cars will then exit through Gate 4 only
- Please note the carpark opens from 2:30 pm only
Where your family spans multiple year groups, you should use the 'pick up zone' of the eldest child.
Staff will be available to assist with traffic flow and we ask that you follow their directions.
No Senior School students are to be picked up in the front of the Administration Building.
Lines of Communication
If you need to contact the College, we would encourage you to use the following lines of communication that will assist you in speaking with the right person to resolve any enquiry/concern you may have as quickly as possible.
I encourage parents to keep the College informed of anything that you feel may impact your child’s performance or behaviour at the College so that we can support and assist them.
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13-14
Mr Hugh Renshaw
Acting Head of Senior School
