Term 2 I The Way Newsletter I Friday 2 June 2023

Each of YOU reading this article is part of a team. The team might be a sporting team or a local church or our own Bible Study group or at least your own “Family” team. At school students are part of TEAM, at multiple levels. They each have a Pastoral Care Team, each are part of the larger House Team and all of them are part of multiple classes that form teams around Academic Subjects. One of the strengths of Thomas Hassall is the large choice of TEAMs outside of the compulsory teams, which include things like: Sport Teams, Chess Club, Anime Groups, Dukes, Sparkle, Music Groups, Knitting Groups, Leadership Teams etc…

Being part of any team requires a commitment – this could be either positive or negative, but it works best when people make a positive commitment in all that they do. This might look like: being on time, on task and doing each of these things with respect. No one would argue with these basic tenets. However, when TEAM operates the best, it is so much more than just a commitment to compliance. When TEAM operates well, we build strong friendships and an authentic commitment to every member of the TEAM. It can impact us so powerfully that we have a ‘heart change’. This is where we find our purpose and may even contribute to a ‘whole life change’. I am sure this is the critical part of TEAMs that discover that winning formula to success.

In Assembly this week we had the privilege of hearing from some members of Para Matildas. These guests have represented Australia at recent Para Soccer World Cup event (winning a Silver Medal). The guests included our own Assistant Chaplain, Georgia Beikoff. Georgia was supported by Tahlia Blanshard and Ben Sutton. During the conversation, on stage, we discovered that each of these high achieving sportspersons, have had to overcome significant obstacles throughout their life. These challenges have not just been physical, but have also included their own personal doubts (I can’t do it) and the ongoing discrimination that comes from the community when one has a physical or intellectual disability. During the interview each of them spoke of some of the obstacles that they have had to overcome on the way to represent Australia. It was inspiring to hear that despite obstacles, and inevitable challenges that come with life, there is a way through. That is, there is a way of overcoming the obstacles to keep moving forward on the ‘journey’.

The bigger message to each of us is ‘You do not have to give up!’ when you fail in overcoming an obstacle. In fact, DON’T GIVE UP! At the critical point when a person decides to try again and ‘have another go’… there is a deeper thing going on; character is being developed and perseverance becomes a normal response. If a TEAM make the decision to do this together then something significant is built. Strong bonds and a collective decision to overcome every obstacle to achieve a positive outcome. It is an easy message to understand, but it requires real courage to stick at it.

Let’s continue to build TEAM across every aspect of the Thomas Hassall Community. YOU, the parent, play a very important role in this. We thank you for your contribution as we attempt to build a community that understands the complexities and importance of TEAM!

We are excitedly anticipating a visit from Takayama Junior High School, our sister school, who will be visiting the College after a 4 year hiatus. Hosting students will provide your family with an amazing intercultural experience. We have always had such positive feedback from families who have hosted and it is a vital part of our Japanese language program within the College community. The Japanese students are here to experience Australian Culture and our style of family life to improve their spoken English.

We are urgently seeking College families to host the students. There are 45 students visiting and will be here from Friday 4 August to Tuesday 8 August. We are asking host families to host two students.

Families will receive $45 per student per night to cover the costs for the duration of the students’ visit and in return, you are required to provide:

• Transport to and from College as required.
• Instruct the student in how to keep their money and valuables safe while in host homes
• Provide them with a clean, comfortable bed of their own.
• Provide three meals and morning tea per day, including school lunches as required. Should no packed lunch be provided, you will provide money for the student to purchase lunch from the College canteen.

If you are interested in hosting students, please click on this link and fill out the online form.

Thank you for considering this wonderful opportunity.

Mr. Byron Mark, Mrs. Fiona Byrne and Ms. Michelle Raft

Lewis Carroll begins Alice’s journey into Wonderland with her following a curious looking rabbit into its burrow and falling for an unexpected period of time. Alice falls until she lands in a very different world to where she is from. To Alice, she was present for the whole journey, she experienced curiosity, the fall and the experience of the new world. For everyone else, they witnessed Alice fall asleep, wake up and struggled to understand how Alice could have experienced what she did.

Motivation in learning starts with curiosity – a desire to understand some hidden truth that is on offer. I’m sure you have been amazed when your child has proudly named 30 different shades of ‘green’, even though no one was asking.

In Year 7 Mathematics, Mr Andrew Lim has been engaging our high potential learners with a problem designed to spark curiosity. The answer to this math problem may be unclear, only applicable in certain situations, or requiring different content knowledge to come to a solution; but what Mr Lim is really teaching is that Maths in the real world isn’t just numbers, but it has to include unknowns, variables, and even human motivation.

Here are some of the problems our high potential learners have been working on:

Mr Andrew Lim
Senior School Teacher - Maths

At Thomas Hassall, one of the ways we prepare students for their Senior School journey is by increasing a student’s familiarity with both processes and learning spaces in Senior School. Students have the opportunity to meet several staff over the passage of Year 6, including members from the PDHPE, Mathematics, English, Languages, HSIE, CAPA, Visual Arts and Science faculties. By having a familiar face in the playground, students can begin Year 7 feeling like they know the teachers and the teachers know them.

Our Transition Program runs for three terms and involves students studying History, Science, Japanese and Visual Arts with Senior School teachers. This week marked the midpoint of our Transition program with Year 6, with each class having completed two different subjects. Our Year 6 students have been learning greetings and introductions in Japanese, creating artworks, learning about the Aztecs and source analysis in History and how different types of energy function in Science. It has been a pleasure to welcome Year 6 into our learning spaces in Senior School and see them experience new things.

Mrs Millie Pettett 
Coordinator of Learning Innovation – Middle Years and G & T

The weather was crisp and sunny, the mood excitable, as Year 7 departed College for 3 days of fun and fellowship at The Tops Conference Centre in the stunning Stanwell Tops. The theme of ‘One body, many parts’ was explored, in Bible discussions, in activities participated in and in PC and House groups. Students learned about living in God’s community as a valued member, playing the part He specifically designed us to do, as well as the call to love one another ‘as God loves us’.

Students participated in cart racing, archery, abseiling, the giant swing, the leap of faith, survivor challenges and high ropes. Students challenged themselves to push through self-doubt, apprehension or fear to succeed at these activities. It was a wonderful thing to witness groups chanting the names and encouraging each other to complete activities, often this being the very thing a student needed to continue on. Students worked as a team to ensure activities ran smoothly, with every student doing their part, whether it was checking helmets, checking harnesses, supervising ropes or simply pointing out ways to overcome obstacles. This reinforced the ‘One body many parts’ theme perfectly.

A silent disco was held on the first night of camp. The teachers watched on as students donned headphones allowing them to listen to whatever music they wanted to dance to. It took no time at all, however, for everyone to sync into what each other was listening to and suddenly, the ‘silent’ disco was instead 156 young voices singing songs from different generations together, really loudly!

A trivia night rounded out the final evening at camp and what a fun way to discover the culture knowledge of our Year 7 cohort. Topics included geography, name that song, name that place, among many others. Needless to say, students headed to their cabins fairly tired and managed to sleep soundly despite the loud storm raging around them, as rain, wind, thunder and lightning punctuated the peace of Stanwell Tops. A great time was had by all. The Year 7 team of teachers all commented on what a privilege it was to take this cohort on a camp and a delight to see them growing in themselves, encouraging one another and responding to the word of God.

Mrs Fiona Byrne
Languages Coordinator & Year 7 Advisor

We are thrilled to announce that our school's cross country team has achieved an outstanding result in the recent NASSA Cross Country Championship. From our team, ten of our students have clinched top 10 positions, paving their way to the prestigious AICES Cross Country Championship!  The top 10 Finishers are:

Anastasia B 

Diego B

Liliana C

Samuel D

Sara E

Zac F

Charlie K

Christian M

Onrey R

Adrian T

Ryder W

Mrs Irene Focas
Sports Coordinator - Senior School

Our U15s Bill Turner Cup team played a sensational match against Freeman Catholic College on Monday 29th May. Although they were down 1-0 at half time they came back fighting in true Thomas Hassall Spirit and managed to score taking the game to extra time. In extra time, they displayed nothing but determination and grit, scoring a golden goal in extra time making it one for the memory books.

A big congratulations to the team and to Coach Sonny and Coach Goran who have worked tirelessly to get the team to where they are. This achievement not only showcases their individual talent  of our players but also reflects the dedication and support of our fantastic coaching staff. We wish them all the best for their round four game in a few weeks time.

Mrs Irene Focas
Sports Coordinator - Senior School

On Tuesday 30 May we had 2 teams of students in Year 5 and 6 play in the Paul Kelly Cup AFL Gala Day at Greenway Park.

With many of the students playing AFL for the first time, it was great to see them improve and learn new skills throughout the day. Both the boys and girls teams finished 3rd. The teams played with enthusiasm and showed great teamwork and sportsmanship. 

Congratulations on a fine effort!

Mr David Stroud
AFL coach