Term 1 : Thursday 29 March 2018

We have participated in a number of amazing community events over the past week.  We have joined together for breakfast with the parents from Prep to Year 3 which enabled us to talk through issues and things happening that are important to all parents. It was a great time of sharing ideas, posing problems and looking for solutions. Traffic was certainly high on everyone’s agenda and Mr Whelan shared with the parents about a study that Year 11 students are undertaking as well as a traffic engineer to see if there are steps we may take to improve the flow of traffic around the College. You can help with this by making sure you are using the drop offs and pickup areas correctly and delaying arriving at College in the afternoon until 2.30pm. I also ask that we show patience and consideration to each other and to our neighbours.

Our first community event for the year was also a great success. Unfortunately the inclement weather meant that the 'Movie Under The Stars' became the 'Movie in the Auditorium' but that did not stop the many families who attended having a great time. The movie was a good one for all ages and it was lovely to see teachers, parents and students gathering together for a relaxed social event.

This week our focus has been on Easter. Prep to Year 4 had a great time at the annual Easter hat parade, a great tradition that saw so many amazing creations! Years 5 and 6 also amazed us with their creativity and humour as they presented their annual Eggshibition where we had a range of diaramas showing eggs in a very different light. Well done to everyone.

Easter is a very special time on the Christian calendar. In our Easter assemblies we all learnt the true meaning of Easter, that God sent his Son to die on the cross so that we might be saved from our sins. The children heard from the Bible, listened to the story being explained and were presented with a great verse from the Bible.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’
John 3:16

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Follow the link  https://www.poetry-festival.co.uk/ledbury-poetry-competition/

In 2003, I entered my Year 3 class (from Thomas Hassall Anglican College) and we won FIRST and THIRD place which was a very special achievement in an international competition.

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/5672316.Winners_picked_from_a_record_entry/

I recently sent an email to all College families explaining the rules (if you did not receive this email then please check your email details with the office).

There is no set theme.  Here is a link to the rules:  https://www.poetry-festival.co.uk/ledbury-poetry-competition/ledbury-poetry-competition-rules-2017/

Children’s (up to 12 years old) entries can be handwritten.

Young persons’ entries (12 – 17 years old) must be typed.

How to return entries:

Junior School – please complete an entry form and hand in to me (my room is R2 – the old MultiLit room).

Senior School - please complete an entry form and hand into the Office (they will put them in my pigeon hole).

All entries must be in by Term 2, Week 3, Friday 18^th May.  I will post them to the UK in one envelope.

Young Persons’ prizes (12-17 years old)

First Prize: £100 cash
Second Prize: £50
Third Prize: £25

Children’s Prizes (under 12 years old)

First Prize: £25 book token
Second Prize: £15 book token
Third Prize: £10 book token

Suggested literacy techniques:

Suggested language features:  Alliteration; assonance (the same vowel sound is repeated but the consonants are different; he passed her a sharp, dark glance, shot a cool, foolish look across the room); hyperbole; similes; metaphors; personification; onomatopoeia; oxymoron (bitter sweet); pathos (language which evokes pity) and rhythm - Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shallot uses a strong internal rhythm to build up the sense of unrelenting monotony in the poem.

Students are able to write any style of poem.  However, I would suggest it is better to write poems which do not rhyme (unless you are as talented as Roald Dahl).

Mrs Emma Harris
Junior School Stage 1 Coordinator 

The sun was shining and the turn out from parents and friends was fantastic - a great morning was had by all! We have captured in these photos just a few of the fabulous Easter Hat creations.   Well done to everyone (including the mums and dads) for your efforts.  

Well done to all of the recipients.

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An event for all stages of parenting.

Due to an overwhelming response we have moved the event to the Auditorium so there is plenty of room.

Secure your tickets now! 

trybooking.com/UQNL

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This Challenge is run by the CSIRO and it is a fun way to develop computational thinking and problem solving skills. Students chose to work either individually, in pairs or small groups and they completed a series of challenging and engaging problems, some requiring students to use a great deal of perseverance and persistence.

All students performed well and achieved some great results. Special congratulations go to Annabel who achieved a Distinction, and Alex L and Adrian who achieved a High Distinction. Well done!

4D will participate in Round 2 of the Challenge in September.

Miss Claire Donaldson
Junior School Teacher - 4D

Many thanks to all the student musicians who performed and contributed to an important part of the day. 

Live music during events like this creates a great positive and encouraging atmosphere and showcases the depth and variety of music studied at Thomas Hassall.

Congratulations to all those students involved.

Mr Byron Mark
Ensembles Manager

Important Junior School Sport Dates

Term One

Week 10 -           Thursday 5 April - Paul Kelly Cup - Year 5 and 6 IPSSO AFL team - Greenway Park

Week 11 -           Monday 9 April - NASSA Junior Netball Gala Day - Genea Centre Homebush - Year 5 and 6 IPSSO Netball team

Week 11 -           Monday 9 April - NSW CIS Primary Boys Football trials (team selected at the NASSA Junior Soccer Gala Day)

Week 11 -           Thursday 12 April - Cops and Kids League Shield Day - Year 5 and 6 IPSSO Oz Tag team - Brown's Farm Reserve

Term Two

Week 1 -           Wednesday 2 May – Year 3 - 6 Cross Country - Greenway Park

Week 2 -           Friday 11 May – NASSA Cross Country - Horsely Park Equestrian Centre

Week 4 -           Tuesday 22 May – NASSA Touch Football Gala Day - Marco Reserve

Week 5 -           Thursday 31 May – TIGS Trophy Soccer Gala Day - Year 5 and 6 Boys and Girls Soccer teams - Wollongong

Week 7 -           Thursday 14 June – NSW CIS Cross Country - Eastern Creek

Week 8 -           Monday 18 June – Year 3 - 6 Athletics Carnival - Blacktown International Sports Park

Throughout the year, there are also NSW CIS trials for some sports which do not have a Gala Day as an entry path.  If your child plays representative sport in Softball, AFL, Golf, Hockey or Rugby Union please see Mrs Evans to indicate your expression of interest to be nominated for these sports.  Students need to be in Years 5 or 6 and have represented their Association in their sport.  Information regarding CIS trials and sports available is found at; https://cis.aisnsw.edu.au/Pages/default.aspx

PE & Sport

It is advisable that your child has a refillable drink bottle on Sport and PE days to ensure that they are able to re-hydrate after exercise.  A frozen drink is also a great idea.  All children are required to wear the PE cap or College hat for sporting activities.  

The NSW CIS Primary Swimming Carnival was held on Thursday 22 March at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. 

Cooper Smith competed in 5 events;  12 years 50m Freestyle, 12 years 50m Backstroke, 12 years 50m Breaststroke, 12 years 50m Butterfly and Open 100m Freestyle.  He qualified for the final of the 50m freestyle, finishing 7th in the State.

Mia Tran competed in the 11 years 50m Freestyle and 11 years 50m Breaststroke.

Congratulations to both swimmers on your excellent results!

Mrs Sharon Evans
P-6 Coordinator