The Way Newsletter I Friday 19 November 2021

As we come to the last few weeks of Term 4 we are busily planning for 2022.

There is a sense that 2022 will afford us a fresh start in terms of a whole group of activities.

These include:

⇒ Our biannual musical. Planning and rehearsals for Shrek the Musical are well underway. Whilst the main parts have been cast there is plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in areas of dance, chorus or general production.

⇒ A revamped Sport Plan which includes: MISA, NASSA and CIS representative opportunities across a wide range of sports.

⇒ Establishment of the Athletics Precinct which will allow us to focus on developing skills and training in specialist areas such as high jump/long jump, sprinting and general middle and long distance running.

⇒ Targeting additional areas of Sporting Excellence: e.g. Athletics, Tennis and review of the former Swimming Program

⇒ A relaunch of the Duke of Edinburgh Leadership Scheme.

⇒ A revamped Ensemble and Band program/ Camp/ Performance Events

⇒ Planning for overseas trips in 2023-25: Japan, Europe and Kokoda

⇒ Establishing the Student Representative Council giving greater voice to students

⇒ A relaunch of the College Club Program that included anything from craft, chess and robotics to calligraphy, and gardening.

There is a sense that the year to come will be no less challenging as ‘living with COVID-19' is still a work in progress, but there is the promise of new opportunities and a sense of adventure as we head into a new year.

I thank God for our College community and look forward to the celebrations of Christmas and meeting together with family.

This weekend I went scuba diving at La Perouse and saw not one but two pot belly seahorses! Below is a photo I took.

I felt so privileged to be allowed to see such beautiful animals that I rang my wife when I got to the car and told her about how God blessed me that day.  As I drove home I had to verbally thank God to release the pressure in my heart.

As a Christian I do not believe in coincidences, but rather that all of life is orchestrated by God. Sometimes God is so generous that we develop an entitled attitude – you know what I mean if you have teenage children!!

'For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.' Romans 1:21

Like teenagers, we too forget to say thank you. Losing the habit of saying ‘thank you’ we effect our hearts and minds in very bad ways – we dehumanise ourselves.

As we pull out of lockdown and head to a new year, can I encourage everyone to start new habits of being thankful.

Start saying ‘thank you’ to people who give you good things. May the Lord give you eyes to see good, the lips to declare good, and the hands to do good things. In Jesus name.

Thanks for your time.

Thomas Hassall Anglican College is pleased to offer a limited number of Academic Scholarships for students entering Year 7 and Year 11 in 2023.

Register online to sit the ACER Scholarship examination. The cost is $100 (inc GST). Registration is now open and closes at midnight AEDST Monday 7 February 2022. This registration fee is not refundable should you cancel.

The ACER Scholarship Examination will be held at Thomas Hassall Anglican College on Saturday 26 February 2022. An invitation to sit the examination will be sent prior to the examination date, including location at the College and requirements for the exam.  In the meantime, please advise the College if there are any changes to your contact details.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their scholarship applications in early April 2022.

If you have any questions regarding the scholarship program please do not hesitate to speak  to our Enrolments team

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, we remembered and honoured the service men and women who have served our nation.

Our students all had a time of reflection and did various activities to learn about Remembrance Day.

5G spoke about what the Poppy represents. The artwork we completed incorporated the Poppy and the Ode. It was a time of thoughtful discussions questions.

Students in Junior School have a chance to be on the cover of our College Christmas Card for 2021!

We are having a Christmas artwork competition. The artwork needs to be landscape and A4 size. This can be any media – pencils, paint, charcoal, collage etc. The winner will have their design turned into a Christmas card, which will be used by the College this year.

Open to all students in Prep to Year 6.

All entries are to be taken to Mrs Harris’s room (next to After College Care) or the front office with your name on the back and class.

Hint – please do not put your name too darkly on the back in case it shows through and spoils your artwork.

Last day for entries is Wednesday 24th November.

On Monday 8 November we had the privilege of commissioning our Year 12 Class of 2022 students and our College Leadership Team.

It was a great opportunity to encourage the cohort, welcome in the leaders, and pray for them all.

If you would like to watch the assembly online, visit http://www.tv.thac.online using the password 'hassalltv'.

Congratulations to the Student Leadership team for 2021/2022 

8C English have been learning about Innovation in Film. 

They have watched the Martin Scorsese film Hugo depicting Georges Méliès. Georges Méliès is famous for his many innovations in motion pictures. He was one of the first to film fictional narratives, and he is regarded as the inventor of special effects in movies. His films were among the first to use such techniques as double exposure, stop-motion, and slow motion. 

As a class, students put into practice the film technique of stop-motion by creating their own stop motion masterpieces using Lego and/or Playdough. Students planned out their story using a storyboard. They had to use critical and creative thinking skills to decide how many individual shots it would take to give the impression that the Lego people and vehicles were moving. Following this they filmed their Stop Motion. The final stage was to add music, sound effects and animation features.

Here are a couple of examples:

Mrs Catherine Sutcliffe
Senior School Teacher - English

Tutor Spotlight

Francesca Olson is a highly experienced and skilled vocal coach. With fifteen years of experience her students excel in HSC exams, AMEB Singing Grades, finalists in Eisteddfods and granted scholarships.

The method she teaches is founded on the latest research in vocal science and she is certified with the International Voice Teachers of Mix. Private singing tuition is an unregulated industry so it can be difficult to know what to look for in a teacher. With Francesca you can be assured that you will be receiving a world-class standard in vocal education in a warm-hearted manner. 

Mrs Olson has been tutoring at Thomas Hassall for approximately 8 years and has been instrumental in helping Year 12 music students prepare for their final examinations.

If you would like to enrol your child in vocal lessons an application form can be completed through the website using this link or alternatively email the musicadmin@thac.nsw.edu.au to request an application form.

Mr Luke Robinson
Productions & Creative and Performing Arts Coordinator