Term 4 | The Way Newsletter | Friday 21 October 2022

With Year 12 2022 getting through their HSC Examinations there is a new group of Year 12s (2023) assuming the role of College Leaders.

While we have announced and celebrated the new Senior Leadership Group this week, along with College Captains and Vice Captains, in effect every new Year 12 student now steps up into a leadership role.

The main role of the Senior Student (Year 12), apart from focusing on their academic progress through the HSC, is to set the tone for the College moving forward. Let me commend the 2023 Year 12 students to you. They are a very fine group of students who have many good things going for them. Setting a positive tone for younger students takes work. Every aspect of their time in the next twelve months has an impact on the overall tone across the College.

What we are wanting to build is a positive tone where all Year 12 encourage their younger peers to:
- Look out for one another: where everyone is part of the team and everyone has a place
- Punctuality: All students to be ‘on time’, be that to College, in the morning, in getting to class, or turning up for their various commitments (training, rehearsals, events)
- Uniform: Sharpening up the dress code: getting the hair right, the extra piercings and nail polish removed, the facial hair shaved (for boys), the dress length right (for girls)…
- Disciplined Use of Devices & Technology: Inappropriate use of technology undermines student outcomes and creates unnecessary angst and division in staff/ student relationships. The College, with the assistance of the Senior Students, wants to set a new standard that everyone commits to so that anxiety and mental health issues are minimised and positive relationships can flourish.
- Celebrate Victories: We need to create a culture where students can perform and be celebrated for their achievements across all their endeavours.
 

- Actions not Words: We want to see students actively contributing to the life of the College in areas that they love and enjoy e.g. sport, music, chess, gardening, Dukes, and many other areas of College life.
- Questions & Criticism: The College needs to be a place where the students can challenge the processes (in a respectful and appropriate way).
- FUN, FUN, FUN: At the end of the day we are a community and there needs to be an opportunity to have fun and let off a bit of steam, but in a way that builds community and is not at the expense of individuals or the community as a whole.
- God is honoured: Jesus is Lifted Up: This is important to many people at Thomas Hassall; we believe Jesus sustains us and keeps us healthy. We understand that we are diverse in our backgrounds and belief systems, but we want to uphold the respect for our Christian foundation. (I see a real respect from almost all of our students and I really appreciate this and think this is one of the highlights for me)
- Hard work and Dedication are Valued: Our best results have come when our senior students (from Year 12) have committed to put their differences and distractions aside to work together to encourage, to build up, to support and to arrive at the final destination together.

If the Senior School Students lead in the ways outlined above, the tone across the campus will be one where Respectful Relationships can grow, where challenges are taken up in a Calm and Collective Response and where life is shared with a general positivity and gratitude. Class of 2023, as a community we are with YOU, ready to support and encourage you all as you lead our College and set the tone for our younger students to aspire to.

Year 12, 2023 Waterslea Campsite

2023 Term Dates.pdf

You’re invited to come along to our special Gingerbread Workshop event to celebrate Christmas.

We will be running two sessions on Tuesday 13 December: 10am or 5pm
The sessions will take place in Mrs Riitano's Kitchen. 

The cost is $35 per gingerbread kit which includes everything you need to decorate. There are original, chocolate and gluten free kits available. All are nut free.

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

Please note students must be supervised by parents or guardians at these events.

We look forward to seeing you there!

On Friday 14 October, we welcomed new students for Year 7 2023 and our current Year 6 students transitioning to Senior School.

Students had a great day participating in a range of activities to get to know one another and encourage team building.

They also participated in activities that familiarised themselves with the Senior School buildings and teachings. 

Here is what some of our students had to say about the day:

"I enjoyed the orientation day because of how we met new students" – Ryaan K.

"Year 7 orientation was a very fun and enjoyable experience! We went on a tour of the school and met lots of new teachers. The Senior School leaders were very supportive and made the day even better.' – Merona A. and Sophie I.

"Learning the high school timetable was helpful because it looked so confusing but when the high school leaders taught us it was easier to read and understand. It makes me feel a bit more prepared for next year" – Isaiah D.

"Year 7 Orientation was a pleasure. We got to know new students from other schools, went on a tour to see the Highschool area, ate sausage sizzles and played mini games. This was a fun experience and I can’t wait to start a new year!" - Lauren T 6B

"Year 7 Orientation was an amazing experience getting to see the different activities and subjects that they do in high school. Some of my favourite tasks were when we went on a tour around the college meeting some of the teachers and getting to learn how to read a timetable. - Mia S 6B

"Year 7 Orientation day was an amazing opportunity to make new friends, embrace the high school environment and prepare us for high school. The teachers were amazing and I can't wait for next year." - Anastasia B, 6B

"The experience was really interesting as it got us familiar with the new things that we’re going to do in Year 7, like reading a timetable. It was nice to walk around the Senior School and to meet our teachers for Year 7" - Rishab 6B

"Year 7, here we come! Highschool orientation taught us all about the fundamentals of senior school and how a typical day in classes will work. We welcomed new students into our school and met new teachers… and had heaps of fun popping balloons!" - Hannah G 6B

In the morning, the parents of this cohort were also at the College involved in an information session. This was a good opportunity for them to hear from our Senior Leadership team and also ask any questions that they had.

We look forward to their Senior School journey in 2023!

During the recent October school holidays, our Senior Stage Band performed at the inaugural Manly Jazz Festival.

Even though the festival had been downsized this year, we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform and participate in the festival.

The students performed a wide variety of repertoire, from big band classics, jazz standards, funk hits and even some original music with special guest singers Holly F, Nicola M. and Keona H. It was great to see all the families come along to support the students, and then explore Manly after their performance and enjoy many of the other jazz artists performing around Manly.

Well done to all of our student musicians, and we are looking forward to the next performance at the upcoming Senior Ensembles Evening on Thursday 10 November.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles