Term 4 I Tuesday 12 November 2019

From the Principal
Principal Ross Whelan

While our College has been able to remain open for classes and programs, many schools around the State have been closed. Farmers and people in rural areas or close to the bush are naturally anxious and we do well to take every precaution today; the next week and through the summer months.  Let’s remain on watch and try to offer support for those in need. 

The 2019 HSC is officially over and students, staff and parents are relieved. It can be a stressful time, yet we know that 50% of the HSC mark is completed during the 12 months of Year 12 prior to the exams. These days many students already know their future pathway as universities have already offered early entry places to courses. Apprenticeships are often in place and the HSC exams can often be the final stage of a reasonably planned process. Let me thank on your behalf, the teachers of Year 12, the mentors on staff; the exam assistants; and Senior HSC supervisor Mrs Kathleen Jones and particularly Miss Kelie Munro who has guided the entire process for Year 12 students. Ms Munro also serves the students of NSW as the Chief Examiner for Food Technology for the next 3 years. Thanks to all.

As we celebrate 20 years in 2020 there will be additional programs and opportunities for all students next year. Academic results continue to improve and our student wellbeing programs continue to grow. Please pray for the work of the College and for our new Leadership Team.

The Administration and Health Clinic renovation is on track to completion early in the new year and we have a new project to go ahead across the vacation period under the Rawdon Middleton PEC. This work will also include additional car parking and the completion of roadworks on Flynn Avenue. 

Thank you for your continued support of the College. The dates for end of year activities are listed for your information in this edition of The Way.

''Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing'  1 Thessalonians 5:11

Mr Ross Whelan
Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Deputy Junior

It is lovely to celebrate the successes that we have had such as the Year 4 Band concert. The talents of the children and the way they have grown in their musical abilities is amazing! The performance was as good as many seasoned bands that I have seen, well done to all the teachers, tutors and students!

During our staff meeting this week, the teachers were asked to reflect on a highlight for the year. The ones that stood out for them were the learners who may not have received the top mark in the class but who worked so hard and made such great progress that cannot always be seen in their report. It was also the ones who faced challenges and participated in activities that were well out of their comfort zones such as giving a speech, tackling a difficult problem and those showing kindness and care to others. As parents sometimes we only look at the grade on the report, rather than the effort it took for the child to reach that point, or the character that your child displays which will really help them as they grow and mature. Please take the time to look at all parts of the report, look at the evidence in Seesaw and see how far your child has come this year.

I would also like to thank the many volunteers that we have helping our students across the College. The time you give to our learners is invaluable and so special. The children look forward to working with you and there is a special bond that develops along the way. Thank you also to the parents that support our community events, one of the things that I will miss next year is the community that we have built together that is welcoming and inclusive of all our families.

Planning for next year is underway and I would like to reassure you that the teachers look very carefully at the placement of every child. I sometimes get requests from parents about a particular combination of students that a parent feels will work best, or a teacher that they think may be the right one. Sometimes these combinations are not the best for learning and the teachers need to look at the big picture of the year group. We will always consider the requests that you have but cannot guarantee that they will be met as we have to do the best for all students.

Mrs Christine Bessant
Deputy Principal
Term 4 Important Dates

Term 4

Wednesday 13 November Prep Orientation Morning
Dance Academy Concert Event
Thursday 14 November Prep Orientation Morning
Year 11 Parent Teacher Night
Friday 15 November Kindergarten Orientation - All Families
Wednesday 27 November  Year 6 Dinner
Friday 29 November XThactor & Market Day (Senior School only)
Wednesday 4 December Junior School Celebration Events - 1pm & 6pm
Thursday 5 December Senior School Celebration Event - 7pm
Friday 6 December  Last Day of Term 4 and 2019 College Year
Celebration Events 2019

JUNIOR SCHOOL EVENTS

Wednesday 4 December 2019

Prep to Year 2 - 1:00 - 2:30pm 

Years 3 - 6 - 6:00 - 7:30pm

SENIOR SCHOOL EVENT

Thursday 5 December 2019

Year 7 to Year 12 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Location : John Lambert Auditorium

Please note that letters to performers and award recipients will be notified in the coming weeks.

Look forward to seeing you there!  

Year One went to Bonnie Vale National Park

When we arrived, we met three Rangers - Ranger Brad, Ranger Jackson and Ranger Rob. They taught us about native and invasive animals. Each ranger held up an animal that had been preserved through taxidermy. We learnt that echidnas, black cockatoos and goannas are native animals. This means they are only found in Australia. Ranger Jackson taught us about invasive animals like foxes and how they can impact and destroy habitats of native animals. They taught us about national parks and how it is important to remember our past and present history.

After our introductory session, we split into three groups to explore the national park. One group looked for bugs and learnt about why insects hide and how they camouflage. Here we used plastic containers to catch the insects. Another group went into the mangroves. Here they learnt about the importance of mangroves and estuary ecosystems. We used nets to fish for animals and objects. We found some really cool hermit crabs, oysters and seeds. Finally, the last group went to a different part of the mangroves to look for and catch crabs. We learnt a sneaky tip about how to catch crabs – you put your hand on their back so they stand still, then pick them up with your finger and your thumb. This is supposed to stop you from getting nipped. However, Mrs Grima and Miss Hackfath were not so lucky and received a nasty pinch.

We then had lunch and finished the day with a group photo on the beach and some time to play in the sand.

We had an excellent time thanks to Ranger Jamie Tours and we can’t wait to continue our learning journey of how people interact with the land.

Miss Ashleigh Hackfath
Stage 1 Assistant Coordinator- Year 1A

 

A special Morning Tea before Junior School Final Assembly

This will also be an opportunity to farewell three of our longest serving teachers Mrs Bessant, Mrs Hewson and Mrs Squire. We will be holding a special Morning Tea to give parents an opportunity to wish them all the best as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

If you will be attending the morning tea, please RSVP for catering purposes thac.nsw.edu.au/rsvpNo RSVP is required for the Assembly.

The times are as follows:

  • 10.45 – 11.15am – Farewell Morning Tea in the MRK
  • 11.30am – 12.30pm – P-6 Final Assembly in the Auditorium 

Performances by:

  • Junior School Choir
  • Junior String Band

We look forward to seeing you there!

Gingerbread House Workshop

You’re invited to come along to our special Gingerbread Workshop event to celebrate Christmas. There are two sessions running:

Evening Session
6pm Wednesday 11 December 2019

Morning Session
10am Thursday 12 December 2019

The cost is $35 per gingerbread kit which includes everything you need to decorate. There are original, chocolate and gluten-free kits available. All kits are nut-free. The workshop will take place in Mrs Riitano's Kitchen.

Bookings are essential by 27 November. Please visit www.thac.nsw.edu.au/book

Download the flyer here for more information.

Mrs Sarah Wickman
Marketing & Community Relations Assistant

Gingerbread House Workshop

You’re invited to come along to our special Gingerbread Workshop event to celebrate Christmas. There are two sessions running:

Evening Session
6pm Wednesday 11 December 2019

Morning Session
10am Thursday 12 December 2019

The cost is $35 per gingerbread kit which includes everything you need to decorate. There are original, chocolate and gluten-free kits available. All kits are nut-free. The workshop will take place in Mrs Riitano's Kitchen.

Bookings are essential by 27 November. Please visit www.thac.nsw.edu.au/book

Download the flyer here for more information.

Mrs Sarah Wickman
Marketing & Community Relations Assistant

LearningBack to Top

Junior Assembly Solo Performance

One of these students is Tamara A. Having only played trumpet for 8 months, she is playing a very high standard of music, and performed a trumpet solo at the Years P-2 assembly, performing the classic tune “Somewhere over the Rainbow”.

Tamara has a bright musical future ahead of her, and is an inspiration to all our students. Keep up the great work Tamara.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles

Year 4 Band Program

It was a spectacular event, and the students sounded amazing – you wouldn’t know that they have only been learning their instruments for 9 months!

This is the fifth year of implementing our Year 4 Band Program, and it has been wonderful in providing students opportunities and experiences for them to discover hidden talents and passion for music. Our Junior Co-curricular ensembles program is flourishing, and we are excited to see how this flows into the Senior School in the near future. I would like to thank all the professional musicians who dedicate time and expertise in teaching our students and the support of all the students' parents and classroom teachers in their music development.

We look forward to seeing many of our Year 4 students involved in our music ensembles next year, and the new round of Year 4 students to come in 2020.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles

Performing ArtsBack to Top

Intermediate Concert Band Dress-Up Concert

The dress-up theme was ‘Lion King’. As usual, many of our students put amazing effort into their costumes; we had lions, zebras, birds, trees, the sun, and monkeys! The best dressed prizes went to Stella F and Aaron D, congratulations!

Well done to all the students as well, it was a great afternoon of entertaining music and costumes, and we look forward to what the theme will be for next years’ concert!

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles - Creative Arts

Junior Drum Circle

The students have a great time, and are working hard towards their assembly performance next week.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles

Intermediate Concert Band Assembly Performance

They performed their favourite tunes; ‘Lion King Medley’ and ‘Cyclone’, a piece of music that takes you through the development of a wild cyclone. This was, unfortunately, the last performance of the year for this ensemble.

The students have done very well this year playing advanced repertoire for their age – well done to all students!

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles

Summer IPSSO Draw and College Sport - Term Four 2019

The Summer IPSSO competition commenced in Term One and continues through to the end of Term Four. 

Teams train every Wednesday morning 7.30 - 8.15am, Girls Soccer - 7.10 - 8.10am.

SUMMER IPSSO - TERM FOUR DRAW

Summer Term 4

Wk

IPSSO

Game Time

Girls Soccer

Boys Cricket

Oz Tag, Tee-bal & Softball

Basketball

13-Nov

5 St Mark's 12.10 - 2.00 Hammondville Oval Hammondville Oval Hammondville Oval Australis Park

20-Nov

6 IPSSO Summer Finals all day if teams qualify venue to be advised  

27-Nov

7 IPSSO Back-up Finals if required        

5-Dec

8 Class based sport          

 

COLLEGE SPORT PROGRAM FOR TERM 4 

Students who are not involved in Summer IPSSO teams will participate in the Year 3 -6 College Sports program.

All sports are taught by qualified coaches and the sport runs for the entire term.  There is no cost associated with the program as it is covered by College fees.  

Yr 3 Boys

Basketball Clinic

 

Yr 5 Boys

AFL Clinic

Yr 3 Girls

Football (Soccer)

 

Yr 5 Girls

Swimming

Yr 4 Boys

Cricket NSW Clinic

 

Yr 6 Boys

West Tigers League Clinic

Yr 4 Girls

Dance

 

Yr 6 Girls

Tennis

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs Sharon Evans
P - 6 Sports Coordinator