Term 1 I The Way Newsletter I Friday 23 February 2024

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From the Principal
Principal

It was a pleasure to welcome back our High Achieving students from the HSC Class of 2023. We had a fantastic assembly acknowledging their effort and dedication to learning before the returning students graciously shared their insights and tips with our year 11 and 12 cohorts. Their valuable advice will, undoubtedly, inspire and motivate the next generation of scholars.
A special congratulations to Ethan Ould for achieving the top ATAR of 97.3, earning him the title of College Dux and Holly Fisher who came 5th in the state for Entertainment Industry.Additionally, we also received 5 NESA ENCORE nominations in music, a testament to the talent and creativity of our students and teachers.

Thank you to all the families that joined us at our Year 7 Meet the Teacher event.  It was a lovely evening providing an opportunity to connect with our staff, ask questions and gain insights into Senior School.  I really enjoyed meeting more of you.

In Junior School, families may have noticed some new installations in many classrooms.  Unfortunately, the recent storms caused significant damage to our air conditioning system in a few buildings including the MRK.  Portable air conditioning units have been brought in and installed in all affected classrooms. These units will remain in place until the primary air conditioning systems are repaired.

The recent swimming carnivals for both Senior and Junior Schools were a highlight for me.  The atmosphere at both, was filled with excitement and sportsmanship as students competed in their respective races, striving for personal bests and contributing to their house teams' overall scores. Well done all!

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Mrs Karen Easton
Principal
From the Deputy Principal & Head of Junior School
Sandy Wheeler

It has been a month since students and teachers have returned to College and a regular school routine. A big part of school routine is recess and lunch breaks.  Everyone has a break to replenish their bodies with food and drink, as well as interact in the playground with their friends. This year we have a wonderful new addition in our Kindy Playground area to support and assist our youngest students during their break time. It is the ‘Buddy Bench’.

What is a Buddy Bench?

Last year Cinzia, who was a Year 6 prefect at the time wrote to me with the idea to provide a ‘Buddy Bench’ after visiting the annual Junior Leaders Social Action Expo. Cinzia was inspired to serve our community and was optimistic that this would have a positive impact amongst the students in the Junior School. As I read her letter, it brought me great joy to see young leaders who are passionate, who have a heart to serve and who take action to make their vision a reality. 

I am delighted to share that a Buddy Bench has been placed in the Kindy Playground area and is being used by our younger students. The students have been shown the Buddy Bench and can use it as a way to make a new friend or perhaps as a gathering place if you’ve lost your friends in the playground. Cinzia was keen to see it used as “a safe space seat that students can go to when they have feelings that are bigger than they can handle and others are aware of the seat’s importance, knowing that the person sitting there is feeling something,and they need some kindness.” 

We thank Cinzia’s family for generously donating the first Buddy Bench at Thomas Hassall (see photo below). This is just the beginning of the Buddy Bench initiative and I expect that with the success of this one, there will be more to come across the Junior School in the future. 

buddy bench

Mrs Sandy Wheeler
Deputy Principal & Head of Junior School
From the Junior School Director of Teaching and Learning
lisa

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” 
(Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr Seuss)

One of my great passions is reading. Since starting at THAC, one of my overarching goals is to help foster a deeper reading culture through the College. To help with this, we have put professional learning time and resources into building up support for all students that will develop their skills and understanding in early literacy in P-2.

Early Term 2, we are inviting parents from K-2 to come along to the JS Library to hear about InitiaLit, a program we started in the College in 2022. The session will run from 4-5pm. Please look out for communication coming to you for registration purposes. We would love to see you there.

Of course, until then, keep reading with your children at home. To finish with another Dr Seuss quote,

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”

Ms Lisa Hansford
Director of Teaching and Learning - Junior School
From the Assistant Chaplain
Georgia

Last weekend just over fifty students from Year 5 & 6 travelled to the beautiful Port Hacking for JAM Camp. It was a weekend full of fun, waterslides, billy karts, archery, games, but most of all, learning more about God in the book of Jonah.
The bible talks were mainly targeted for our students and I also spent some time reflecting on how I am very much like Jonah - wanting to ignore, not listen and run away from God.

For Jonah, he did this exact thing in fear of going on mission to the town of Nineveh that was very wicked – I think I’d be very hesitant and scared too!
But God makes it quite obvious that His plan is much greater than Jonah and the Ninevites. Now, I don’t want to give any spoiler alerts – Jonah is only four chapters, and you might want to read it for yourself. However, as you read, you may come to find that God’s response and what He offers through Jesus’ death and resurrection is worth exploring!


The bible verse below may seem out of context – but it might encourage you to open up the Bible and give Jonah a read!

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

1 Peter 3:9 NIV

JAM CAMP

Miss Georgia Beikoff
Assistant Chaplain

Upcoming dates

Date Event

Tuesday 27 February

Junior CASA Swimming Carnival 

Thursday 29 February

Senior CASA Swimming Carnival 

Friday 1 March

Principal's Commissioning Service 
Monday 4 March

Open Week Commences
Senior Touch Football Gala Day 
HSC Encore Music Excursion

Thursday 7 March

JS CASA Soccer Trials

Saturday 9 March

Open Day

 

 
Open Week

The College is excited holding Open Week from March 4 - 9. 

This day is a great opportunity for anyone considering enrolment to see the College in action.

There will an opportunity to visit classrooms, hear from the Principal and ask questions about the College.

Please let your family and friends know and encourage them to register for this event on the College website
Parent Meet Ups

The Parent Community Network has organised some upcoming meet ups for parents in Junior School. 

A great opportunity to reconnect or meet fellow parents. The Meet Up takes place at the Parent Cafe, after the morning muster until 9.30am.

If you would like to know more please ask in the Parent's Whatsapp Group for the revelant grade. If you are not yet part of a WhatsApp group and would like to be use this form.

YEARS 1, 2 & 3

Friday 8 March

YEARS 4, 5 & 6

Friday 15 March

 
Parking and Traffic

The beginning and end of the school day are busy times for pedestrians and vehicles outside the College.

  • Park safely and legally, even if it means walking further to the entry gate. 
  • Slow down to 40km/h in the school zone and stay aware of crossings.
  • Always park and turn legally around the College.
  • Never double park as it puts children at risk.
  • Manoeuvres such as U-turns and three-point turns are dangerous.
  • Never park in a bus zone.
  • Make sure your children use the Safety Door (rear footpath side door) to get in and out of the car.
  • At a supervised crossing, observe the directions of the school crossing supervisor.
  • Model safe and considerate behaviour for your child – they will learn from you.
  • Remember to always give way to pedestrians particularly when entering and leaving driveways.
  • Don’t park across the driveways/entrances to the car park.
  • Try to use Kiss & Ride Zones and Drop-off/Pick-Up areas. This will help keep all children as safe as possible during the busiest times of the day.
  • Do not park on or block driveways or roundabouts
  • Pedestrians should avoid crossing in the Kiss & Ride Areas and around roundabouts.

EventsBack to Top

Principal Commissioning Ceremony

Dear College Community

You are invited to the the Principal Commissioning Ceremony for Mrs Karen Easton.

Students from Kindy to Year 12 will attend the Ceremony to be held in the Rawdon Middleton VC Sports Complex on Friday 1 March at 8.45am.  We will be joined by distinguished guests including The Archbishop of Sydney, The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel.

We have a limited number of places available, registration is required
Click to RSVP  

 

LearningBack to Top

College Awards

To receive an award is a recognition to your hard work, excellence and service in the College. 

Congratulations to the following MERIT award recipients:

Awards
Year 1 Showcase

Year 1 students have been thinking about Primary Colours and drawing natural and made objects that are red, yellow and blue. They have been experimenting with different drawing materials in Art and learning about 'negative space' - the space in an artwork that is vacant. In these pictures of red, yellow and blue things, they have drawn onto coloured paper and used chalk or oil pastels to make the background white. Things are about to get messy as we experiment with white tempera watercolour next! Colour mixing next term...

 

Year 1

Year 1

Year 1

 

 

 

 

Mrs Ann McDermott 
Junior School Specialist Teacher (Visual Arts)


 
Leaders of the Junior School

Year 6 have been working hard to understand how to be excellent leaders in the Junior School. We’ve spent time looking at the servant leadership of Jesus and then studied biographies of inspiring leaders who exemplify how to serve the needs of others. As part of our leadership focus, we learnt about our own strengths. A team from My Strengths came and taught us that strengths are like our superpowers. We took an online quiz to help us determine our top 5 character strengths. After the incursion, we’ve spent time trying to understand these strengths and considered how we might use our superpowers at Thomas Hassall. Stay tuned to watch us test out our leadership skills and continue to grow throughout the year.

Mrs Cristy Abecina
Junior School Teacher - Year 6 Team Leader
Year 4 Band Program

Our Compulsory Year 4 College Music Program was rolled out this week, and there were many happy smiles and jumps for joy this week as students received their instruments.

Year 4 students will be receiving tuition from professional musicians on their instruments, and it is always exciting to see students grow on their musical journey.

We wish the students all the best for this year as they embark on this new journey, and hope they have lots of fun practicing their new instruments.

Year 4 Music

Mr Byron Mark
Ensembles Manager
Junior School House Captains

Congratulations to the following Junior School students who have been chosen as House Captains for this year. 

Liddell 

Makayla C and Julian C

Lewis

Cierra G and Joshua T

Wilberforce

Yanoula M and Daniel M

Carmichael

Lara N and Tomas T

 

CASA Junior Basketball

On Thursday 8 February our Year 5 and 6 Boys and Girls Basketball teams travelled to Hills Basketball stadium for the CASA Junior Basketball Gala Day. 

Our teams looked fantastic in their new College Basketball singlets and played 6 games in total at the 1st event under the new Association name CASA.

Under the guidance of our Wildfire coaches, Coach Sheldon and Coach Julian the teams improved from game to game, developing their their skills and teamwork and encouraging other players as they played.

Congratulations to all players on a great effort!!

Basketball


Mrs Sharon Evans
P-6 Sports Coordinator
Junior Swimming Carnival

It was a rainy and wet day for the annual Junior School Swimming Carnival at Prairiewood, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of our students getting in the water and representing their House.  The carnival gave all students an opportunity to have a go, with children entering 50m, 25m or novelty events.

There were some very close races in the 50m events, with many students trying hard to earn a place in the swim team to represent the College at the next carnival.  The relays are always a highlight to finish the day, and the grandstand was alive with cheering and support for the swimmers in the water. 

A big thank you to all the Year 10 PASS students who assisted at the carnival, with timekeeping and assisting in the 25m races and novelty events.  They did an excellent job encouraging the Juniors and helping where needed. 

Congratulations to LIDDELL house who won the overall House Point competition at the Junior School Swimming Carnival.


1st – Liddell - 1,368 points 

2nd – Carmichael - 1,225 points

3rd –Wilberforce - 639 points

4th – Lewis - 633 points

The following students were the Age Champions

8 Years 
Scarlett B

9 Years
Ava D
Liam H

10 years
Maylin E
Coby O

11 years
Claire E
Noah Z

12 years
Ahilya C
Lucas A

swimming

Congratulations to the swimmers selected to represent the College at the CASA Junior carnival next week.

Mrs Sharon Evans
P-6 Sports Coordinator

 
Student Sport Spotlight

Abbie T (Year 7) recently attended the NSW Gymnastic Awards for 2023 which held at Doltone House.

Abbie and her team partners were finalist in the Acrobatic Junior International Group of the Year category.

Abbie's team are the current NSW State Champion and National Champion.

Congratulations Abbie, what a fantastic achievement. 

Abbie Te

Has your child recently competed in a representative level?
We would love to share these results with our community. Please let us know via email [email protected]

CommunityBack to Top

WhatsApp Groups for Grades

Many parents would like to connect with each other during this time, a great way to do that is through parent led WhatsApp groups.

Parents of the younger year groups have created WhatsApp groups that they are apart of, many have stated how useful they have been.

Parent administrators have asked to extend the opportunity to parents who may not be aware of these groups. Please note that these groups are not run or administered by the College, rather are parent run. If you would like to be added to your child's grade WhatsApp group, please fill in the form and your details will be passed on to the admins.

If you are an administrator of any other groups and are interested in reaching your year groups parents, please email [email protected]

Mrs Carmen Pasapera
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement