Term 1 I The Way Newsletter I Friday 17 February 2023

It is not easy to break through and establish new habits and new mindsets in order to get a fresh start in a new school year, but that is what we have been consistently calling students to at the start of a new year.

We have made a few changes to our processes that has demanded a more consistent and disciplined approach from students. The wearing of the school uniform, the emphasis on the College hat when they are outside and the call to complete all their schoolwork, both in class and at home, with diligence. I know there will be parents reading this thinking that we are too concerned with the small things, things that don’t really matter. If that is you, please hold your thoughts and read on for a bit….

We could drop our insistence of the hat, we could back off on our emphasis on being well dressed, we could allow boys to wear their hair long or cropped and patterned or choose to shave or not shave; we could allow girls to wear their fake nails and maintain their multiple piercings, after all this is now the norm in across our community and it looks cool, right? We could back off on the expectation that students complete their homework and allow students the freedom to engage in class as their interests or passions dictate. This is certainly more attractive and appealing to all our ‘independent hearts.’

I have been around for a while, and I have taught in more ‘democratic schools’. One might think that a more relaxed school environment would lead to happier, more satisfied and successful students, however, that was not what I experienced. As one famous person stated, “We are all creatures of habit!” If you quit when things get tough, it gets that much easier to quit the next time. On the other hand, if you force yourself to push through it, the grit begins to grow in you. (Edgar Rice Burroughs – Tarzan author)

 Rice-Burroughs understood that when we are left to our own modus operandi it doesn’t take long to get into bad habits: the long sleep in, the late to school, the lack of care in dressing or the casual attitude to class work etc. Discipline breaks bad habits and gives us the freedom to establish new routines. Good structures and high expectations will reward those who establish fresh patterns of behaviour and new mindsets.

Please support us at home in establishing the College expectations summed up by the current theme: ‘On Time, On Task, With Respect and Gratitude’. When the going gets tough – be that on the training track, in the classroom or on the playground, we want to see our young people succeed. In most cases, good, clear, and well-communicated guidelines help us all to stay focused and on task.

Let’s have a great year together!

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him - James 1:12

Join us for a movie night as we watch Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile!

Friday 31 March | 6pm

This is a free event and everyone is welcome. Gates open at 6pm with food trucks and entertainment. The movie will begin at 7pm.

Bring your picnic rug and blanket and join us on the oval. In the event of wet weather, the event will move indoors.

Please register online

View the flyer

It was a delight to welcome back the High Achievers of 2022 to a special assembly on Monday. The College was able to commend them for their achievements.

In many ways, the event encouraged us to look back, but it also gave us the opportunity to consider the future. As we considered the shape of the next twelve months, it's important to ask. Is there any point in working hard at school?

One clear answer to this most fundament of question can be summarised in one word- access. Working hard at school gives students access.

We understand that access has value. To attend a popular sporting contest or concert can be very expensive. While it is true that money may get you into a Beyonce concert, it is important to recognise that hard work also give access.

In the first place, working hard at school gives students access to opportunities after school. When young people leave school, many will go on to places of higher education. Some of the courses at universities are very popular and cannot possibly accommodate all the people who want to enrol. The most common way to choose students for high-demand courses is by looking at their results in the HSC. The better students do at school, the more options they have.

But strong academic performance is not just about getting into university. Working hard at school gives students access to the knowledge and skills they need. You may have been in a conversation where somebody mentions a sports star or video games that you’ve never heard of. Without knowledge, you are excluded from the conversation. Some of these conversations may be trivial but many are significant. The point here is that working hard to know things is preparing students to engage in our world. If their knowledge is limited, their access is limited.

Finally, working hard at school gives students access to the habits they will need to succeed. At this school, we talk about positive learning behaviours like managing distractions and persisting when faced with difficulty. If students are going to succeed, they are going to have to develop these skills in abundance. You don’t get over 90% in an HSC subject without having to work hard to manage distractions and persevere when things get tough. 

Students who have finished Year 7 may never need to know where Tutankhamun was buried but working hard on their Year 7 History project means that they have developed mental strength. That ability to think and to work hard will serve them well, even if they never do another assignment on Ancient Egypt.

As we look at the year ahead, let’s encourage our students to work hard to access to what is important.

Mr Douglas Broadbent
Director of Teaching and Learning - Senior School

On Monday 6 February, Year 8 travelled to Youthworks Conference Centre – Port Hacking for the annual Year 8 Camp.

This camp provided the opportunity for students to re-connect and continue building their friendships with their peers. Students had an amazing time participating in a range of activities such as archery, indoor rock climbing, hiking and dragon boating.

Students continue to develop their teamwork skills through the Adventure Journey, Christian discovery and Expedition skill-based activities. Through the variety of activities students were provided with new experiences and opportunities to challenge themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Students were also presented to with the opportunity to develop their service and leadership skills by assisting Youthworks staff in the kitchen at meal times. Camp was a great experience for everyone and we look forward too many more camps here at Thomas Hassall.

Mrs Jody Hyam and Mr Hayden Ward
Year 8 Year Advisors

On the 8th – 10th February, Year 10 had the privilege of attending a camp in the city, called The Urban Challenge.

We arrived in Milson’s Point, North Sydney, formed our groups and spread out across Sydney. Some of the goals for our students was to encourage them to be curious and explore many new opportunities, to develop resilience in challenging circumstances, like missing a tram or bus! They also had the opportunity to develop effective collaboration skills, be receptive to instruction and peer leadership and provide opportunities for students to be effective communicators.

On day 1, some of the groups headed by Ferry to Manly, where they participated in surfing lessons and some beach volleyball. Next, they headed to Shelly Beach for a lunch BBQ and a swim. In the evening, students either had dinner in Chinatown and for some, it was the first time that they had ordered and eaten Chinese food. The other group caught the Ferry to Cockatoo island, had dinner and enjoyed a silent disco, before catching the evening ferry back to Circular Quay.

Other groups caught the train and then a bus to Bondi, where they fulfilled some challenges such as a sandcastle challenge and they met some of the crew filming Bondi Rescue. Alana, Ema, Maya and Crystal were fortunate enough to get a photo with Jack Cooper and Latisha Clarke. Some of our students also saw some members of the Penrith Panthers NRL team.

All the groups had different roles such as navigator, social media officer, caterer and accountant. They had a budget for each meal and they had to make sure that they didn’t overspend.

Some of the other activities included: swimming in the Bondi Icebergs pool, having a silent disco and dinner on Cockatoo Island, participating in a clue chase all around Sydney and singing songs to candy makers, multiple ferry, bus and train rides as well as a lot of walking.

One of the more sobering experiences that aligns with our graduate aim of Service and Compassion was when we went to Paddington RSL to prepare, cook and package food for the homeless. The staff also educated our students on who they were helping and shared statistics on homelessness and who is vulnerable. Overall, we prepared over 700 meal packages for this local community.

More than 50% of our Year 10 students reported that they worked through a challenge with a positive outcome. Other students shared funny stories and moments from their teams and gave generous ‘shout outs’ to their peers who excelled in their team leadership positions.

Some of the other comments that Year 10 said included that they were grateful for: The food that was provided for them, their group, going to the beach, the amazing places that they visited and the cool views that they were able to experience, bonding with their friends on another level and having helpful teachers, being given freedom and responsibility to manage their own money and realising how blessed we are to have a safe home and a loving family.

It was an action-packed 3 days and we are grateful that our students had beautiful warm weather, were kept safe, and had many interesting and enjoyable experiences. I would also like to thank the twelve teachers who accompanied each group and invested a lot of time and energy into our Year 10 students. 

Mrs Helen Bull and Mr Michael Roper
Year 10 Advisors