Term 4 | The Way Newsletter | Friday 25 October 2024

Latest UpdatesBack to Top

From the Principal
Principal

It is lovely to welcome you all to our last term for the year. I do find that once daylight savings starts there seems to be a downhill run towards end of year events making the final term feel like it runs at a different pace.

We have had a very positive start with the HSC beginning last week and our students all focusing hard on exams. There is also a lot of change in the College with the building works continuing. I realise that this has had an impact on Senior School, in particular, and I really appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to improve facilities for everyone. The quad area is being redeveloped to open up more space for student seating and to assist with foot traffic around the College.

We have announced and congratulated our new College Captains and leaders from the class of 2025. They are an impressive group of young people who will be excellent role models and representatives for the College. We have also sent our Year 5 and 6 students to camp programs and met the new Year 7 students for 2025.

Recently, you will have heard much in the media about the dangers of smart technology and phones on the developing brains of young children and adolescence. I know that it is difficult to monitor and manage the influx of change in this area but I really want to encourage you to be vigilant. Our children are precious. They are also vulnerable no matter how grown up they appear. The recommendations coming out of research is that children should not have access to social media before they are 16 years old. There is good information available at the eSafety Commissioner website – HERE

reading

I have also been doing some research about reading. There is so much benefit for our children if they can invest in reading regularly each day. The impact on learning and success at school is very much connected to how often and for how long our children read each day. According to research students need to read for 15+ minutes per day to see a real improvement in achievement across multiple areas.

My takeaway for this edition of The Way – please limit social media and smart phone access while increasing time spent reading. Why? Because our children deserve the best we can all provide for them and their education.

Proverbs 22:6: "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Mrs Karen Easton
Principal
From the Deputy Principal - Senior School Learning
David Butler

I want to thank the new Year 12 students and families who joined us last night for the Dedication Service, for the class of 2025. It was wonderful to partner with you and bring the cohort and their year ahead before the Lord. We were blessed to hear from Rev Oliver who unpacked 2 Timothy chapter 2, paralleling the message Paul shared with Timothy with our students, of serving as a soldier, competing as an athlete according to the rules and working hard like a farmer. It was stirring stuff and when partnered with Mr Corbett-Jones calls to be constantly persistent, it was a real call to action for our new Year 12 students.

Senior School

Mrs Easton also spoke of the combined support of the students from each other, the staff of the College and the families, leading each of these different groups in an oath. With prayers from Year Advisor Mr Roper and Deputy Principal Mr Young to bring this final year of College and the futures of the class before the Lord, it was a truly memorable evening.

Mr David Butler
Deputy Principal - Senior School Learning
From the Assistant Chaplain
Georgia

It’s easy to go fast when you’re in control, right?

But how do we do life when the hustle and bustle is overwhelming?

It is crazy to think that we have already reached Term 4, knowing there is still so much ahead of us in the school calendar—Year 7 orientation, school camps for Year 5 and 6, not to mention the festivities that come with graduation and Christmas. I am sure that you have things that keep you reasonably grounded, like sport, yoga, spending time with family, reading a book, or cooking and baking. But I wonder if you have considered what God has to offer in His Word?

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” This verse is nestled within a context where the Israelites faced great turmoil and conflict with their neighbouring nations. You can imagine the deep fear and uncertainty that God’s people experienced amid such chaos. Yet, in the midst of their trials, God calls His people to find stillness in Him, the Lord their God. God invites us to pause, amidst the chaos, and recognize His sovereignty and ultimate victory and protection—pointing us to Jesus, the promise King, who fulfills the prophecy of a Savior and brings hope and redemption.

As we continue to fly through Term 4, can I encourage you to ask yourself what keeps you grounded, what helps you breathe?
But further yet, the claims that God makes in His Word, are they worth investigating through His Son, Jesus?

If this resonates with you, as a staff, we would love to help you think through what this means for you and walk alongside you.
Miss Georgia Beikoff
Assistant Chaplain
From the Senior School Director of Teaching and Learning
Jason CB

There has been much discussion in the media regarding the increasing number of early offers universities are making to Year 12 students before they sit their HSC exams. According to an article in The Sydney Morning Herald last week, many universities are filling upwards of 90% of their places with early offers. This is done, of course, to stay ahead of the competition and ensure full enrolments.

Traditionally, HSC results are used by the University Admission Centre (UAC) to rank students through complex algorithms that produce an ATAR. Course ATAR cut-offs are then determined by a market-based system of supply and demand, where courses in higher demand attract higher ATAR cut-offs.

However, success in the HSC is not always an accurate predictor of success at university. Some courses require additional evidence, such as portfolios, entry examinations, and interviews.

When students apply for early entry, they may be asked to submit one or more of the following: their school reports from Years 11 and 12, samples of creative work, references from the school, written submissions, or attend an interview.

Universities have agreed to delay early entry offers until after the HSC trials, but before the HSC exams.

This has several important implications for our senior students, including:
- Year 11 work and results can matter as much, if not more, than Year 12. Students would be wise to work hard across both years.
- Students who find examinations stressful may take comfort in receiving an early offer, relieving some pressure. As a result, they may perform better in the HSC.
- Some students may ease up on their studies after receiving an offer, which can negatively impact the overall performance of the cohort.
- Students should develop interests beyond academics, including community volunteering, sport, Duke of Edinburgh, leadership roles, and other co-curricular involvement. Universities are looking for well-rounded, emotionally intelligent, and resilient students who are willing to persevere and contribute to campus life.
- Many students are unsuccessful at attaining early entry, so it should really be seen as a ‘Plan B’ rather than a ‘Plan A’. Doing well in the HSC is the ‘Plan A’!
- Students who achieve success in their HSC are more likely to have developed the necessary discipline, organisation and ability to succeed at university.
- Employers are also looking for similar attributes and qualities.

Mr Jason Corbett-Jones
Director of Teaching & Learning - Senior School

College Awards

To receive an award is a recognition to your hard work, excellence and service in the College. 

Congratulations to the following Term 3 Junior School Principal and College award recipients:

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Congratulations to the following Senior School Bronze SRS award recipients:

 

SRS
College Uniform Refresh

In response to feedback from parents, students and staff, the college has been working with our supplier, Midford, to make some changes to the college uniform for 2025.

This refresh introduces shorts for our Year 7-10 boys as an option in the summer months and the choice of pants for our K-12 girls. In bringing in these changes, a few other items have needed to be amended or made obsolete. We have kept the changes to a minimum and will have a considerable changeover period to ensure there is not a financial burden for our families. 

Please click on the link to see all the details for your child/ren’s year group.

Stock Arrival Date
The new summer items are in transit and are expected to be available in early December. We will write to all our families once the items are available both in-store and online. Midford are already anticipating a larger number of customers over the Christmas holiday period and will be adjusting their store hours accordingly.

Uniform Policy Update
Given the changes to some items of clothing, we have also taken the opportunity to update the College Uniform Policy. The 2025 Uniform Policy is available via the Parent & Student Handbook.

If you need any further information regarding the changes, please contact the Administration Office (9608 0033 or [email protected]).
Farewell Message for Mr Young

At the end of this term we will sadly be saying farewell to our Head of Senior School and Deputy Principal - Mr Roger Young. To celebrate his 17 years at the College, we’re putting together a special keepsake farewell book and we would love to add your messages and any photos you may have to add to the book.

We will be collecting messages until Friday 8 November.


 
 
2025 Student Leadership Commissioning

Last Thursday, we had the privilege of commissioning our 2025 College Captains and leadership team during a special assembly. This important occasion allowed our College community to come together, encourage, and welcome our new leaders.

2025 Student Leaders
College Captains Stella F Stratos D
Vice Captains Mia K Dean S

House Captains
Carmichael Tara A Jacinta D
Lewis Charley C Samuel J
Liddell Rhyna S Onrey R
Wilberforce  Andrea K Samuel D
Sports Captain Laura M Jy K

Leadership Portfolios
Voice Jasmine L Liam S
Meredith M Aaron C
Co-Curricular Ellaria R Stephen L
Lucia G  

Staff, students, and parents prayed for the incoming leaders, offering their support as they step into these important roles. These students have already shown strong dedication and responsibility, and we are confident they will make a great contribution to our College.

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Senior School

We congratulate the 2025 leadership team and look forward to the impact they will have as they guide us through the coming year.
World Teachers' Day 2024

On Friday 25 October, we recognise the remarkable work of our teachers and all the staff at Thomas Hassall who shape the lives of our young people. While our teachers play a central role, every member of our team contributes to our students' growth and success and we are grateful for each of you.

Thank you for the dedication and commitment you bring each day.

Happy World Teachers' Day!

 

Thank you
Upcoming dates

Date Event
Monday 28 October Year 1 Space Science Center Excursion
Tuesday 29 October  Kindergarten Orientation Day 1 - Parent Information Session
Thursday 31 October  Kindergarten Orientation Day 2
Friday 1 November  Grandparents Day - Junior School
Tuesday 5 November Year 4 Band - Parent Concert 
Thursday 7 November  Year 12 Clovelly Fieldwork Excursion 
Monday 11 November  Pupil Free Day - Mid Term Break 

WellbeingBack to Top

Peer Support in Year 7

The Peer Support Program is a program that is led by selected Year 11 students to assist Year 7 in their transition to High School.  Over the last 3 terms, Year 7 students have engaged in weekly PC time with the Year 11 students, building friendships and having support as they navigate their way through their first year of high school.  There was also a program that provided opportunities to discuss challenges that they may face as they enter the high school years such as friendships, safe social media presence and resilience.  Each term the Peer Support Leaders ran a PC Challenge that provided a great injection of leadership and fun for the cohort.

At the end of Term 3, the final PC Challenge was set by the Peer Support Leaders and the stakes were high for which PC would be the winner.  Congratulations to 7 Lewis 2 on the win!!

Mrs Catherine Sutcliffe
Coordinator of Student Growth & Welfare

LearningBack to Top

Language in Senior School

2024 has been an interesting year for the Modern Languages Faculty. A change of syllabus led to a change in programs and assessments, breathing some fresh air into the way language learning happens at the College. All Language students participated in an excursion this year. In French, Year 8 students enjoyed cooking crepes as an incursion, Year 9 visited Alliance Francaise in the city and Year 10 watched a French movie as part of the French Film Festival of Sydney. In Japanese, Year 8 students enjoyed a Japanese-style Taiku no Hi or ‘Sports Festival Day’, Year 9 visited the Nihongo Tanken Centre, communicating fully in Japanese for the day, and Year 10 participated in a calligraphy workshop at the Japan Foundation.

All students completed an Interacting Assessment task in Term 3, whereby each language student participated in a conversation with their teacher, in the target language. Covering grammar learned throughout the year, students were asked several questions in the target language and students were required to answer with appropriate language, correct pronunciation and smooth fluency. The preparation for this task was excellent and the results achieved overwhelmingly demonstrated an exceptional understanding of course content.

Some French students had the opportunity to attend the Europe Tour during the April school holidays. The French skills students had been honing for the previous 2 years shone as orders were placed in restaurants, souvenirs were purchased and directions were asked for. Visiting iconic French locations, tasting French cuisine and learning more about French culture and people, were definite highlights.

Preparation is well underway for the Japan Tour 2025. Students studying Japanese were invited to participate in this wonderful experience, and 25 students have committed to the trip. This will be the 8th tour of Japan the College has run and is shaping up to be one of the best.

Mrs Fiona Byrne
Languages Coordinator & Year 8 Advisor
Term 4 in Year 8

It’s hard to believe that we are already near the year’s end. 2024 has flown by and this shorter term will indeed seem very fast. The focus for Year 8 in Wellbeing this term will be our Mini Compassion Projects. After the success of last year’s compassion unit in Term 4, the aim of our projects is to be practical in showing the love of Christ, other people-centred, and to develop empathy. PC classes will be choosing several smaller activities to show kindness and compassion for others in our community and slightly beyond. Activities they may wish to complete include: writing notes of gratitude to staff and students, create a wall of positive notes of encouragement to each other, write letters of encouragement to some Year 12 students, write thank you notes to front line workers, clean up our playground, collect empty bottles for recycling, etc.

Also this term, Year 8 have been busy readying themselves for their Final Examinations and the culmination of their practical assessments in Visual Arts, Food & Digital Technology, Music and Engineering & Materials Technology. This is the culmination of a lot of work on their part and it has been encouraging to see so many of them taking a serious approach to these tasks. The organisation and motivation they have shown in creating study timetables and study notes has been excellent. As the building works in the Senior School are being finalised, with J block and the refurbishment of K block and the quad area, Year 8 have adapted well to changes in procedures. Students are coping well with carrying their bags with them as locker access became unavailable, longer commute times between classes and limited playground access at break times. 

Year 8 students are also excitedly looking forward to 2025, particularly being able to finally take some classes of their own choosing in electives. We are also busily preparing for the 2025 camp at Wedderburn. Students will be completing a soft start to the Duke of Edinburgh program, camping in tents, cooking outdoors and completing some small hikes.

Mrs Fiona Byrne
Languages Coordinator & Year 8 Advisor
Introducing Morrisby Software

Introducing Morrisby Software: A Pathway to Informed Career Choices for Students and Parents

Understanding the Career Landscape

As students approach crucial stages in their education, they often face the challenging task of choosing a career path that aligns with their interests, strengths, and future aspirations. This decision can feel overwhelming, not only for the students but also for parents who want to provide the best guidance possible. To assist with this Thomas Hassall Anglican College is introducing Morrisby Software—a powerful career assessment and guidance tool designed to simplify this journey for students and their families.

What is Morrisby Software?

Morrisby Software is an innovative career guidance platform that helps students explore their career options through a structured assessment process. It combines personality and aptitude tests with a comprehensive database of career information, providing insights that are crucial for making informed decisions about future education and career paths.

Morrisby offers key features for students like Comprehensive Assessments, Personalized Career Reports, Career Exploration Resources, Skill Development Guidance and personalised Action Planning.

The benefits of completing a Morrisby Profile are making informed choices about subject selection and career options. This eases anxiety that comes with choosing a career which can be stressful for both students and parents. Morrisby provides clarity through assessments and reports, alleviating some of this pressure. With Morrisby, parents can be more engaged in their child’s career exploration journey. The platform serves as a shared resource, fostering open conversations about goals and aspirations. By understanding the skills and qualifications required for various careers strategic decisions about education and extracurricular activities can be easily made.

By combining assessments with a wealth of career information, Morrisby not only enhances self-awareness but also fosters collaboration between students and parents. As students embark on their journey toward adulthood, tools like Morrisby can be instrumental in guiding them toward fulfilling and successful careers. Embrace the opportunity to explore, learn, and plan with Morrisby—the first step toward a brighter future!

Mrs Maha Ghabrial
Secondary Teacher - HSIE & Careers Advisor
EVET and TVET Co-ordinator
Class of 2025 Dedication Service

Last night, students and families gathered for the Year 12 Dedication Evening. It was a wonderful time to gather together, to pray and commit this group to God as they embark on their final year at College. Mr Butler addressed those in attendance about what learning will look like over the next 12 months and Mr Corbett-Jones provided a timely reminder about the power of persistence. Mrs Easton also led students, families and staff in an oath of commitment, acknowledging that Year 12 are not alone in this journey, that they have an abundance of people ready to support them every step of the way. 

DEDICATION
dEDI

All the best for the year ahead Class of 2025!

Mr Luke Robinson
Productions & Creative and Performing Arts Coordinator
Student Spotlight

Naomi C in the graduating class of 2024 has been nominated for potential inclusion in Young Writers Showcase 24 with her Major Work for Year 12 English Extension 2, with the final selection process yet to be completed. Just being nominated is a great and rare accolade, placing her among the finest young writers of this HSC year.

Naomi

Submitting with four other students who completed the course in 2024, Naomi’s piece is a feminist take on the controversial notion that William Shakespeare’s drama was actually penned by another, anonymously, portraying this in creative writing that features time jumps between our era and the Bard’s. Naomi has diligently approached the sustained writing process with a continuous crafting and polishing that developed her piece from a simple idea to a mature creative output. She is commended for her efforts and integrity, as well as her achievement.

Dr David Gawthorne
Faculty Coordinator - English

Senior School Sports Update

At the end of last term, we had an elite group of students attend the CIS Athletics Carnival. 

It was a day to remember where our students put their best foot forward and made us incredibly proud in their individual and relay events. 

sport

I am thrilled to announce that our Junior Boys Relay Team finished 3rd meaning that out of all of the independent/private schools across NSW, Thomas Hassall have the 3rd fastest relay team! To add to this, although we had some upset with injury, Luke M in Year 10 stepped up to sprint in the relay team and as a result they finished 5th! 

A big congratulations to Luke M who medalled in both Long Jump and High Jump, he then went on to represent the College (for the last time) at the All Schools Athletics Championships and placed 4th in Long Jump. This is an outstanding achievement. I want to take the opportunity to wish Luke all the best as he graduates from the College and thank him for representing Thomas Hassall year in and year out.

Mrs Irene Focas
Sports Coordinator - Senior School
Upcoming Senior Sport Dates

Coming up this term, we have the following sports events so if there is something that interests you, please come and see a PDHPE staff member to learn more about how you can get involved.

 
Upcoming Sporting Events Term 4
Week 3

Monday 28 October

Year 7 Basketball Gala Day Try Outs in PECs

Thursday 31 October

 Year 7 CASA Netball Gala Day
Week 4 Friday 8 November Year 7 and U15s Boys and Girls Basketball Gala Day
15s AICES Tennis Gala Day – Nominate to Mrs Focas ASAP!
Week 6 Monday 18 November Formal Sports Awards Assembly - Parents Invited

Mrs Irene Focas
Senior School Sports Co-ordinator
Sporting Achievement Nominations 2024

We would like to recognise the sporting achievements of students at our upcoming Sports Assembly. If your child, in Years 3 to 12, has been selected to play at a state or national level in 2024, please let the College know by 7 November by submitting the nomination form in the link below. You can also include photos or videos of your child participating.

We are incredibly proud of all students who compete in various sports. However, this nomination form is specifically for students who have been selected to represent NSW and/or Australia in a sport or event recognised by the Australian Sports Commission or a National Sporting Body.

Please use this form to submit the details https://forms.gle/tJAzcyWgfr6maZfg8

CommunityBack to Top

Toys 'n' Tucker for Year 7 & 8

This term, our Year 7 and 8 students have the opportunity to make a difference in the local community through Anglicare's Toys 'n' Tucker project. The focus for the term is Compassion, and we're encouraging students to bring non-perishable food and gift items to school, which will be collected in their Pastoral Care groups. On Wednesday we had a guest speaker from Anglicare come visit and talk to Year 7 and 8 about the project and encourage them to get involved. 

anglicare

This is a chance for students to share the joy of Christmas by helping those who are less fortunate. Donations will be used to create hampers, spreading joy to families in need during the festive season.

Here’s a list of suggested items:
Food: Christmas pudding, tinned ham or chunky soup, tinned salmon or tuna, tea, coffee, biscuits (no chocolate), dried pasta, pasta sauce, long-life milk, long-life custard, tinned fruit and vegetables, jam, rice, instant noodles, and baked beans.
Gifts for children: Age-appropriate games, educational toys, picture books, good-quality toys, outdoor games, and sporting equipment.
Gifts for teenagers: Gift cards/vouchers, toiletry packs, sporting equipment, board games, and books.

Please note, we cannot include chocolate due to the likelihood of it melting.

Donations can be dropped off in PC rooms or at H26, and they are due by Thursday, 14th November. Let’s come together and make a difference this season!

Mr Samuel Mills
Year 7 Advisor,History and Christian Studies Teacher