The start of the year has been fast and yet, already students have achieved and progressed.  We have enjoyed lots of colourful learning events.  Thanks for your support of the College and our programs.  Have you visited the new Kindergarten Centre yet?  Have you taken the time to drop into the Coffee Bar at Mrs Riitano’s Kitchen yet?  Have you been able to engage in one or more of the events at the College?  There’s still plenty of time throughout the year.

Thank you also for your involvement in the College Review.  Every 5 years an experienced team from the education sector review the College.  Parents, staff and students undertake a survey, which we all did late last year if you remember, and then the team visits for 3 days to observe and analyse and talk with staff and students.  Last week 9 professionals visited the College from Wednesday to Friday.  They will deliver a report from the review in the next month or so, and I will bring you a summary of their observations and recommendations.  It’s been an interesting and positive experience for all involved.

We celebrate 20 years of history in 2020 and an organising group is working on the plans for this significant time. 

The Health Clinic is needing to grow given our size, and we need more interview and office spaces for the meetings that need to be held.  We will therefore undertake a renovation of the Administration Centre in the 2^nd half of the year.  A plan is being finalised. 

The Easter events at the College take place this week, with Junior School Hat Parade and Easter Assemblies on Thursday and Friday.  The Senior School Easter Assembly occurs on Wednesday.

How will Easter impact your family this year?  The key event in the Christian calendar is remembering the death and celebrating resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  ‘He is Risen’ is a special phrase from the Gospels, and if we own these words in our hearts and lives, we understand the hope and freedom that being a Christian allows.  We trust you will have time to reflect on this truth across the Easter period.  The Anglican Church Services across Easter are advertised in The Way are advertised this week for your information. 

Term 2 commences on Tuesday 30 May.

“The angel said to the women. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as he said… “ Matthew 28: 5-6

Take a book bite to see if it is to your taste

2001: A Space Odyssey – Arthur C. Clarke

‘The discovery of a black monolith on the moon leads to a manned expedition deep into the solar system, in the hope of establishing contact with an alien intelligence. Yet long before the crew can reach their destination, the voyage descends into disaster…’

Brilliant, compelling and mysterious. A novel ahead of its time and a true classic of Science Fiction.

The City and the Stars – Arthur C. Clarke

‘Men had built cities before, but never such a city as Diaspar. For millennia its protective dome shut out the creeping decay and danger of the world outside. Once, it held powers that rule the stars. But then, as legend has it, the invaders came, driving humanity into this last refuge. It takes one man, a Unique, to break through Diaspar's stifling inertia, to smash the legend and discover the true nature of the Invaders…’

Beautifully written and set in a wonderfully imaginative futuristic world. An intriguing story that readers won’t want to put down.

Rendezvous with Rama – Arthur C. Clarke

‘At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge, weighing more than ten trillion tons. And it is hurtling through the solar system at an inconceivable speed. Then a space probe confirms the unthinkable: Rama is no natural object. It is, incredibly, an interstellar spacecraft. Space explorers and planet-bound scientists alike prepare for mankind's first encounter with alien intelligence. It will kindle their wildest dreams... and fan their darkest fears. For no one knows who the Ramans are or why they have come. And now the moment of rendezvous awaits — just behind a Raman airlock door…”

A novel that carries a real sense of wonder and discovery. Filled with mystery, suspense and adventure, a wonderful book.

Book Wars Competition

Only a few weeks remain in the Book Wars Competition. Many students have already had their say, have you cast your vote yet? Great prizes to be won. Make sure you enter today to be in the running and help decide the fate of a genre!

There is a terrible disturbance in the world of literature…A great divide has been created in the genre of science fiction between readers who prefer classical Sci-fi and those who prefer modern Sci-fi…War between science fiction readers seems inevitable…Hope however still exists…

The Galactic Council of Librarians has called on the students of Thomas Hassall to decide once and for all which type of science fiction is the best…

To be in the running students need to:

1. Borrow any Classic or Modern Sci-Fi novel.

2. Collect a numbered token from Library Staff.

3. Make their choice, which is better? Classic or Modern Sci-Fi.  Place their token into that jar which can be found on the Library front desk.

4. A winning token will be randomly selected from the most popular jar during lunchtime Friday 4th May. (W1 T2)

1st Prize is a $30 gift card to Galaxy Bookshop. 

2nd and 3rd will receive a brand new book of their choice.

Students who read both a modern and classic Sci-fi novel will receive 3 bonus tokens! The more books you read the greater the chances you have of winning! 

Lunchtime changes

The IRC will now be closed to all students during recess and lunchtime on Tuesdays. Open times before and after College will still stay the same.

IRC book requests

Want to read a book that IRC doesn’t have? Know of a book that your friends would love? Put in a book request today! Speak to Library staff who will be happy to order in the title you are after. For more information please speak to Mr Smith.

Overdue notices
Overdue notices have been sent out.  If any students require a printed list of their loans please speak to Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith.
Students who do not return their books after receiving their third notice as well as an email will be invoiced for a replacement copy.
All invoices will still stand if books are returned after this final date.
If you have any problems or questions regarding overdue books please speak to Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith who will be happy to help.

Mrs Annette Comiskey & Mr Michael Smith
Senior IRC Library Team

The new College Dance Academy has commenced this year, and is an exciting extension to the opportunities we provide for our students. Our College Misa Dance Group, which is made up of selected dancers from Years 7-11, performed a contemporary dance piece to a piece of music by Sia called ‘Bird Set Free’. Based on the idea of ‘broken birds’, the dance followed the journey of individuals rising to confidence through resilience and perseverance. 

Marco Kalik is one of our HSC music students, and has been studying classical guitar for 7 years. Whilst he also enjoys playing contemporary rock and pop guitar, Marco performed one of his HSC assessment pieces called ‘Romance d’Amour’, well known today as ‘Spanish Romance’.

Mr Byron Mark
Manager of Ensembles - Creative Arts

Date:   Monday 15 - Thursday 18 April 2019

Time:  8.30am - 2.30pm

The College is excited to announce that we are opening the 4 day – School Holiday Football Camp to students at Thomas Hassall Anglican College, their friends and family.

The camp will run in the first week of the holidays, from 15 – 18 April and students from Thomas Hassall can invite their friends along to join in the fun!

Students will be involved in activities that develop skills and promote understanding of the game.  The daily training will be designed to improve the skill level of each individual. 

Our Football Director, Mr Sonny Makko will be leading the program and it is offered to boys and girls in Kindergarten to Year 9.

Details and enrollment information are on the flyer    

THAC_FootballCamp April19.pdf

THAC_FootballCamp April19.pdf

Places are limited, so get in quick!!

For more details please contact Mrs Evans             sevans@thac.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Sharon Evans
P-6 Sports Coordinator 

This year, Careers Advisor Jim Ward was invited to an orientation at the impressive new Liverpool campus of Western Sydney University.

Western Sydney University is a very important choice for many of our graduates.   With the new Liverpool campus now open right next to Westfield Shopping Centre, the convenience and vision of this important and forward thinking university is becoming more apparent.  The philosophy of placing campuses near public transport and shopping hubs and facilitating movement between these is a sound one and should benefit many of our students.  Added to this is an extremely flexible and encouraging entry policy that allows multiple pathways.  The True Rewards system which allows students into first year on the basis of solid performance in only a few HSC subjects endeavours to gear success towards a student's strengths, knowing that a more comprehensive achievement will almost certainly manifest itself as a student progresses.  This is based on impressive research and is surely an excellent way forward for some disciplines.  Over 7000 of these True Reward entries were offered this year and they include some of our students. 

Another feature of WSU are the fantastic facilities, perhaps best exemplified by the superbly well fitted out Nurse Training suites with numerous Hi-Tech training mannequins that give students vital practice before doing hospital work.  With the proximity of the huge Liverpool Hospital to WSU campus, this city is well placed to become a very important area to study and acquire experience for nursing. 

Lucrative scholarships, on line learning arrangements and close links with the community and overseas study destinations are also important features of WSU.  The university plans to fit its graduates for the fast changing and developing world of future work where group interaction skills are crucial.  Thus it focuses on: Internship, Global Experience, Community engagement and service, Professional Development workshops, Student led projects, Networking events and carefully designed study and social spaces on campus.  Students learn vital teamwork and practise planning and communicating in small groups.

WSU presenters talk about five important types of capital investments that they aim to inculcate in students for the complex needs of future work situations.  These are: Cultural, Human, Psychological, Social and Identity.  Whatever these come to mean as education progresses in this University, it is clear that WSU is thinking deeply about what students are going to need and is rapidly becoming a leading player in providing a high quality, well rounded tertiary training for our students.  The amazing artistic vision for another new WSU campus, this time at Bankstown, is symbolic of the dynamic, creative energy powering insightful progress at WSU.  It is an exciting place to study.

WSU graduates should consequently become highly employable and also make many good friends as they develop crucial skills.

Mr Jim Ward
Careers Advisor