The Way Weekly Recap I Monday 25 October 2021

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From the Principal
Principal Ross Whelan

It has been great to see students return to face-to-face learning. Welcome back to everyone.

Year 12 students returned last week to a final week of school – and had a great week engaging in learning, activities and reconnecting with their peers and teachers. On Friday, their last official day at College, they enjoyed Brunch and a final gathering together. HSC exams commence on Tuesday 9 November. Please continue to remember these young men and women in your thoughts and prayers. 

All students will have returned by Wednesday and already there is an excitement in the air. It’s such an encouragement to see the classrooms and playgrounds abuzz with activity and smiling faces. 

The NSW Health guidelines as they relate to education are continuing to change as the community opens. Please stay up to date with our processes and procedures, particularly around drop off and pick up times. There are guidelines around mask wearing, social distancing and hygiene practices.The most up to date version can be found on the College app for your convenience. 

Thanks everyone for your cooperation and support in all that we are doing. We are all looking forward to a very positive term ahead. 

'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever' - Psalm 107:1

Mr Ross Whelan
Principal
From the Junior School Director of Teaching & Learning

It was such a joy to stand in the top playground on Thursday to see our Prep, Kindergarten and Year 1 students coming back into the College.

Today we welcomed our Year 2 & 6 students which has been a delight also.

Welcome Junior School

Full of smiles and hugs and laughter as they saw their friends and teachers for the first time face-to-face since the end of Term 2.

Some of the students needed some gentle reminders where to place their bags and where to line up but all the memories came rushing back, and onsite learning began anew.

As we transition back into College, we expect that some students will take a little while to readjust back into the classroom and playground; getting used to the noises and busyness of school life, listening carefully to instructions, and remembering how to share space with others.

The teachers will be helping them every step of the way. We are ready for the return and are doing everything possible to make it as smooth as possible for your children.

Welcome back.

Ms Lisa Hansford
Junior School Director of Teaching & Learning 
From the Junior School Assistant Chaplain
bible

Just over 2 weeks ago my wife and I had a little baby girl, Bella.

One thing that always fascinates me about babies is that, even as such a young age, how much they need people. Already at 2 weeks old Bella needs people.

Needing people is not a learnt need, rather, it is a big part of who God has made us to be.

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

Being made in the image of God is not a small deal. It is huge. God did not create any other creature in His image, just humans. A big part of being made in the image of God is being relational. God is a relational God. He made us to be relational people. To be in relationship with Himself and others.

After a whole term of being out of relationship with people it shouldn’t surprise us that we are all missing people a lot. As we return to college let’s be thankful to God for who he made us to be, relational people. Let’s celebrate the people that God has put in our lives and thank God for the community here at Thomas Hassall.

Welcome back guys! I can’t wait to see you all,

God bless,

Mr Matthew Richards
Assistant Chaplain
Classification Rating Scales

Parents need to speak to their children about what they access online and on screens 

During the lockdown periods many parents reported they relaxed the rules linked to the amount of time their children spent on devices and I suspect at times it was hard to supervise what they were watching.

Now that most student are returning to face to face learning, it is an ideal time revisit these boundaries and renegotiate those boundaries. It is also an ideal time to revisit the classification rating system for films and computer games and make time to chat about your expectations for your children

Squid Games

This brings me to some concern expressed in relation to a series on Netflix, Squid Game, which has a MA 15 + rating. This rating implied that the series contains strong content and should be restricted to people over the age of 15. The series does contain elements such as sex, drug use and a strong impact on the viewers. It could be beneficial to get your children’s views on the series and how they felt when they watched it. You could remind them of the classification system for films and computer games and why those classifications are implemented.

Concern has been expressed that students may re-enact some of the games they saw in the series. I would like to encourage you to talk to your children about the expectations that they behave in a responsible and considerate manner when they return to college.

The eSafety Commissioner has resources to assist parents to conduct conversations about accessing technology with their children and how to set-up a Family Tech agreement. Click on this Link for more information on the resources for parents.

Honest Conversations are required

Children may have technical skills, but developmentally and emotionally they are in need of parental guidance. The role of parents is not to shut down the internet and their access to films, but rather to ensure that they are skilled, feel supported and have the understanding and critical skills to make the best decisions every time they are online or in front of a screen.

Mrs Jacoline Petersen
Director of Student Counselling
Upcoming Important Dates

Here are some important dates to mark in your diaries for this month

Term Dates

 
Junior School Creative Exhibition

Our Junior School Creative Arts Exhibition is live!

Thank you to all of the students who submitted their creative and performing arts pieces from Wellbeing Wednesday in Term 3.

We are excited to share with you our online exhibition for you to see the wonderful work our Junior School has been up to.

You can visit the site at http://showcase.thac.online and use the password 'thaconline'.

Creative Exhibition

Well done to all of the students who got involved. We hope you enjoy the showcase!

 

 

 
Junior Strings Orchestra

Stringing Along

The Junior String Orchestra have been rising to the occasion by attending early morning rehearsals before College each week. The students have begun learning two new songs 'Jackeroo Jive' and 'Dance of the Cossacks' in order to lighten the mood of lockdown. 

They are looking forward to rehearsing together again when restrictions allow, but are working hard on their parts individually in order to be ready when that joyous day arrives.

Well done Junior Strings for all your efforts.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles
Junior Concert Band

V1.jpg

Jnr

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Jnr

Mechanics of Music

Over the past 2 weeks, the Junior Concert Band has started to learn a new piece of music called ‘MECHANICAL MONSTERS’.

Within 2 weeks, they have finished learning the piece already!! The students are doing well in keeping up with their practice during lockdown, and they are now ready to start another new piece next week. Whilst students return to school this week, ensemble rehearsals will remain online via Zoom as current restrictions unfortunately do not allow for ensembles or singing to take place at the moment.

We look forward to the time in the very near future where we can make music all together once again! Thanks to all the parents and teachers who have been supporting the students musical development during this time.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles - Creative Arts
Return to College Guidelines

As we return to College, there are some guidelines that we need to follow in line with the Public Health Order. 

Please ensure you are up to date with the College COVID-19 Safe Guidelines.

Please contact the College at any time on 9608 0088 or [email protected].

We thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate through this time as a community. We look forward to seeing you all soon.

 
Wilberforce is still leading the way in the House Sport Challenge

WILBERFORCE and LEWIS have continued to dominate the results in the House Sport Challenge this week.

It has been great seeing families clock up the kilometres in the Accumulation Challenge, with Aleks M in Year 5 completing an amazing 89.33km in Week 3.

In the Junior School Class Challenge, 1D remains in the lead of Class Challenge, with 5W closing the gap and once again earning the most house points per class this week in the Junior School.  

 

WEEK 4 ENTRIES : Submit your entry on the House Sport Challenge home page, where you can also see results from previous weeks.

Submit your best entry for all 7 challenges for your year group and a video of you participating in the Challenge.

Online entries for Week 4 close THURSDAY 28 October at 3pm

 

Week3

1st  -   Wilberforce - 2022.24 points
2nd -   Lewis - 1846.24 points
3rd -    Liddell - 1676.88 points
4th-     Carmichael - 1209.15 points


Mr Michael Fox and Mrs Sharon Evans
Sport Coordinators