It has been a great start to Term 4!

I want to thank our wonderful Year 12 teachers for the way they have continued to support their now graduated classes in the lead up to their HSC Examinations by running some workshops in the holidays and continuing to field any questions that are sent through as their students revise and prepare. Our Year 11 accelerants have also been involved in serious preparation for the selection of HSC examinations that they are sitting.

College life is in high gear once again and we have had a host of activities and events for students, staff and families to be involved in these first two weeks of term such as the Ensembles Evening and the Year 7 Orientation Day. It is always great to meet the new Year 7 students and families joining our community and the Orientation Day is a great way for the new students to get to know each other and our Year 6 students who will be in classes and sharing the Senior School journey together.

Earlier this week we had a special event: the class of 2024’s Dedication Service. This was a great opportunity to set the stage for the incoming year 12 students by recognising the journey that is ahead and to pray for them in their studies. Parents and students heard about the expectations and the support that is available at Thomas Hassall. We outlined the HSC process and assessment requirements as well as the importance of setting up regular routines. It was an encouraging evening. The students committed themselves to good work practices and a desire to lead the younger students with integrity. It was very special to meet with parents as well and to share in our common goals.

Students in Years 9 and 11 will have been excited to receive their subjects for next year. I want to congratulate all of the students in Year 11 who put themselves forward for Student Leadership. We have such a wonderful group of students in this cohort and the team that was chosen will lead the College admirably over the next 12 months.

It has been exciting to have our new Director of Teaching and Learning Mr Jason Corbett Jones announced and we look forward to welcoming him to our community in the new year. It is also a time where some of our staff team move on to new opportunities. I would like to take the opportunity to wish Mr Stuart McCormack every success in his new role at Shore as the Head of Students. Mr McCormack has been instrumental in many programs over his 8 years at the College and I have been lucky enough to work with him in a previous setting also. His dedication to the students and staff and his expertise in executing his role have been greatly appreciated. His passion for keeping up to date with the latest research in Student Wellbeing and his passion for creating conditions under which students and staff can flourish has been a hallmark of his career and will continue to be in his new setting I am certain.

I am excited for the opportunity to take a few weeks of long service leave over the next little while. I will return later in the term and look forward to catching up with you again as we head towards the end of the year and all the celebrations that it holds. If you have any learning enquiries in my absence, please seek out the teacher and Head of Department, and then reach out to Mr Roger Young for assistance.

If your child has represented at a state or national level for any sport please let the College know.

We would like to recognise and celebrate students achievements in sports outside of the College.  Please assist the College by filling out the form below if your child has represented at State or National level in any sport and is in Years 3 to 12. In your submission you can include any photos or videos of your child participating in the sport. 

Sports Representation 2023 Form

I am very pleased to announce that the following students have been awarded and recognised at assembly as the Term 3 MISA Player of the Term. Their commitment and dedication to our College teams is much appreciated as they have played an integral role in shaping the culture of each team and leading them to success.

Soccer - Boys 7/8 B -  Andrew S

Soccer - Boys9/10 A - Adrian T

Soccer - Boys9/10 B - Samuel D

AFL Girls 10-12 - Lillian E

AFL Boys 10-12 - Joel C

Rugby League Boys U15s - Daniel H

Netball 7/8  A Christabelle K

Netball 7/8 B -  Ruby-May L

Netball 9/11 - Alexi S

Dance - Acacia R

Indoor Cricket - Alistair N

Mrs Irene Focas
Senior School Sports Co-ordinator

Upcoming events in the library

Tuesday 31st October – Anime and Manga Club (Week 4)

Monday 6th November – Senior IRC Book Club (Week 5)

Year 12 Library Loans

Year 12 students will need to return all their Library loans before they leave the College after the HSC exams. Students who have lost books will be invoiced for a replacement copy. Any students who require a list of their loans need to speak to Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith.

Stocktake 2023

This year’s Library stocktake will be starting on Monday 13th November. During this time the Library will be closed. The last day students can borrow will be Friday 3rd November. All students will need to have returned all of their Library loans no later than Friday 10th November. Any students who require a list of their loans need to speak to Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith.

Book Bites

Take a book bite to see if it is to your taste!

‘A Forgery of Roses’ – Jessica S. Olson

“Myra has a gift many would kidnap, blackmail, and worse to control: she's a portrait artist whose paintings alter people's bodies. Guarding that secret is the only way to keep her younger sister safe now that their parents are gone. But one frigid night, the governor's wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not complete a special portrait that would resurrect the governor's dead son. Once she arrives at the legendary stone mansion, however, it becomes clear the boy's death was no accident. A killer stalks these halls – one disturbingly obsessed with portrait magic. Desperate to get out of the manor as quickly as possible, Myra turns to the governor's older son for help completing the painting before the secret she spent her life concealing makes her the killer's next victim.”

‘A Forgery of Roses’ is a wonderful gothic fantasy story filled with magic, mystery, murder, and a touch of romance. Featuring an engaging and compelling story full of twists and turns, loveable characters, and a unique magical world, this is a novel that will keep readers captivated to the very last page.  The central idea of art affecting reality is a clever concept and stands this book apart from many others in the genre. A must read for all fantasy fans, a book that is guaranteed to be a favourite. Suitable for all secondary students.

‘White Smoke’ – Tiffany D Jackson

“Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now must share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper. The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbours has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.”

An award-winning chilling psychological thriller, “White Smoke’ takes the traditional haunted house tale and makes it even more terrifying with a spooky tension filled story that is guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Dark, suspenseful, and gripping, this novel is a real page turner. Reader beware, this book is not for the faint hearted, especially those with a fear of bugs, but for those who brave it they will find a riveting and memorable horror story. Due to the books content this book is more suited for students in Years 10 to 12.

Mrs Annette Comiskey & Mr Michael Smith
Senior IRC Library Team