The end of the year can often be an emotional time as we farewell staff moving on to new opportunities and give thanks for all that they have done for the Thomas Hassall community. It has been especially so with our farewell breakfast picnic and farewell assemblies for Mr Whelan. It was lovely to catch up with so many families at the breakfast last Friday and it is so clear how important Mr Whelan’s work at this College has been to all of us! It was fitting to have so many students willing and eager to say thanks and farewell to our beloved principal at the assemblies. The Walk of Honour in the style of the Graduation Walk was also very special.
Last week we have held a new initiative for Year 10 Students: The Pathway to Prelim week. This has been an opportunity to experience Year 11 electives early and get a taste for the academic rigour that is to come. Teachers have been orienting students to the complexities of these courses and helping them prepare to navigate them expertly next year. Legal studies have unpacked a fascinating and highly controversial case study together, Modern History have had a look at the influence of colonialism in a film study, Construction and Entertainment have worked through some initial safety and compliance modules so they can hit the ground running next year. One student commented to me that in Engineering they jumped straight into HSC questions and that helped to reassure her that she would be able to tackle even the most difficult parts of the course over the next two years. The PDHPE department even organised for one of their star pupils, Elianna P, from the graduating class of 2023, to come and speak with the new crop of PDHPE students. The whole cohort of Year 10 students have engaged really well with the pathway to prelim program. We are so grateful to our staff, who at a really busy time of the year with finalising reports and end of year procedures, have prepared extensively for this program.
I would like to acknowledge the service of all our staff who are moving on from Senior School in 2024, we will keep them in our prayers as they begin the next chapter of their careers. Helen Bull, Richard Newton, Elise Fowler, Rob Smith, Jody Hyam, Virginia Oakley, Nelson Ha, Mason Schrack, Simone Rapisarda (Maternity Leave), Rebecca Ellerman, Stuart McCormack, Doug Broadbent, Annika Gifford, Sarah Awad, Patrick Murray and Ken Silburn.
I look forward to seeing your families at Celebration as we cheer on our award winners for the year. It is always a lovely occasion. I pray that you get to spend some quality time as a family over the Christmas break and that you will be able to celebrate the birth of our saviour!