Week 6, Term 3 – 2018
MENU: From the Headmaster | Junior School | Senior School | Music News | Chaplain’s Chat | From the Tudor Centre | Community Relations | Notices and Announcements
FROM THE HEADMASTER
The undoubted highlight of my week was a trip with former Headmaster, Rick Tudor, to the School’s Outdoor Education Centre at Licola to visit a group of Year 9 boys. Rick is a friend from way back and the four-hour drive there and back provided a wonderful opportunity to chat about many things. Many will be aware of Rick’s family’s passion for Indigenous matters, which led to the establishment of the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) in 2016. The Tudors are to be commended on their tireless work to close the wellbeing gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Licola site, nestled between the Macalister and Wellington Rivers, is a gloriously picturesque property and is perfect for our Year 9 Outdoor Education program. Although chilly and windy on the day we visited, the boys were in fine spirit and looking forward to their ‘solo’ that night.
On our return journey, Rick and I dropped in on local farmers Terry and Mary Beth Higgins. Trinity purchased our Licola property from Terry and Mary Beth and we remain in close contact with them. Indeed, they keep an eye on our site during the year. Mary Beth supplied a good old-fashioned afternoon tea: tea from a teapot and home-made biscuits. And Terry told me tales about catching wild dogs. They make a delightful couple.
The Senior School House Athletics Carnival on Saturday was blessed with good weather (it started to rain just as the event ended) and saw Cowen emerge back-to-back winners.
Then, on Monday, I had the pleasure of sitting in on Sandra May’s Year 4 Chinese class. It was most encouraging to witness our young boys learning a foreign language and discovering the mysteries of another culture.
Stay warm and stay in touch.
Phil De Young
Headmaster
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Assessment is more than tests
On Thursday 2 August, a Discussion Forum was held for ELC and Junior School parents. The focus of the discussion was standardised testing, in particular, the NAPLAN tests of Term 2. Readings used in the Forum are available by clicking here.
The Junior School uses standardized tests – those norm-referenced to a sample cohort – as well as common tests which all boys complete as part of the assessment and reporting program of the School. The purpose of the Forum was to provide an opportunity for open discussion about the use of tests, and to inform parents of the School’s position.
A copy of the Junior School Assessment and Reporting policy is available here.
It was observed by the parents attending, that NAPLAN is not a complete test of all that is essential for children to learn. In fact it is quite limited when one contemplates what is essential for our boys to learn over time. Sure, we all want our boys to be literate and numerate, but other traits such as confidence, resilience, courage, reflection and care for others are also important. Similarly, having our students competently solving their own problems – both academic and social – is crucial and moves well beyond the basic pen and paper knowledge that NAPLAN targets.
Despite reservations about NAPLAN, there are no other measures, benchmarks or academic comparisons between schools, and the numbers provided by the tests are useful as a check and balance for the basics of literacy and numeracy. However, issues arise when pressure is placed on individuals by school or home to achieve high results, or an assumption is made about a school based on the raw numbers of a NAPLAN test. One must not lose sight of the fact that NAPLAN is a 40 to 50 minute assessment of content which may not yet have been learned by the students.
As educators, we build a complete picture of what our students can do, and what is essential for them to learn. It is ongoing and varied assessment, coupled with regular review of programs offered to the boys, which provide information about learners. We aim to teach just in time, not just in case.
Michael Pettolino
Deputy Head of Junior School (Curriculum and PYP Coordinator)
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Geography Competition
Congratulations to the Trinity boys for their performance in the Australian Geography Competition – 10th best performed School in Australia. Individual results should be known soon.
House Athletics
A very successful House Athletics Carnival was held at the Bill Sewart Athletics Track in Burwood last Saturday. The day started with the 4x400m, then the 3000m race, which took place under clear skies. We did not get any rain, but by the end of the morning the weather was closing in.
Some highlights included a thrilling race in the 3000m, where Tom Sellwood eased out Josh McLeod and Tristan Day; Will Murphy and Lucas Archer battling to the line in the Open 200m; Lucas Rindt and Milo Rindt in the high jump; and Ben Littlefield running the 800m and 1500m.
The Cowen House U17 4x100m relay team broke the House Record from 1990.
Congratulations to all competitors and thank you to all staff who gave up their Saturday morning to make the Carnival possible.
Final Points:
- Cowen – 594
- Kent Hughes – 547
- Roberts – 497.5
- Arnold – 494
- Henty – 483.5
- Sutton – 475.5
- Hindley – 445.5
- Merritt – 431
Rohan Brown
Deputy Headmaster and Head of Senior School
Chess Report
Recently, 20 students from Years 7 – 12 participated in a five-Round Swiss tournament. Competition was fierce, with a number of games finely balanced until the very end.
- 1st – Tim Le (Year 8): 4.5 / 5 points; won four games with one forfeit
- 2nd – Lachlan Chen (Year 8): 4 points; lost one game, to Tim Le
- 3rd – Ben Fox (Year 11) and Kai Chapman (Year 10): 3.5 points; both won two games
My thanks to all participants, especially the Year 11 cohort, who made up half the competitors.
Meindert Smid
Teacher-in-Charge of Chess
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MUSIC NEWS
Trinity Jazz Night 2018
Trinity Friends of Music will be hosting the annual Trinity Jazz Night on Friday 31 August at 7.00pm in the South Room, Centre for the Arts. The Junior Jazz Band, Big Band, Stage Band, Trintones, Augmented Sevenths and Belling Jazz Ensemble will all perform. As in past years, from 6.30pm the audience will enjoy a buffet dinner, which is included in their ticket price. Drinks are BYO. Funds raised on the night will go to Trinity Friends of Music for the purchase of instruments/equipment benefitting students at the school. Tickets are $50 per adult and $30 per child/student and can be booked by clicking here.
Concerto Concert
The 2018 Concerto Concert will be held on Thursday 6 September at 7.30pm in the South Room. Daniel Gu, George Mildred-Short and William Song will each perform a Concerto movement/work with the Symphony Orchestra. Alex Thompson, Evan Arnall, Zachary Sumarno and Samuel Li will present works from their forthcoming VCE Recital program. There will also be a performance from the Senior String Orchestra. No tickets are required.
CHAPLAIN’S CHAT
Men of Character
As we educate, we seek to develop each boy’s character. What kind of people will they be as young adults or one day as parents? I came across this interesting advice given to young women looking for the ‘perfect man’.
‘Six ways to learn everything you ever need to know about a man:
- watch him drive in heavy traffic
- play tennis with him
- listen to him talk to his mother when he doesn’t know you’re listening
- see how he treats those who serve him (like waiters or sales people)
- notice what he’s willing to spend his money on
- look at his friends
And if you still can’t make up your mind, look at his shoes. A man who keeps his shoes clean generally tends to the rest of his life too.’
The Bible gives wise advice about the best way to live. Philippians Chapter 2 says, ‘Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves.’
Don Stott
Junior School Chaplain
FROM THE TUDOR CENTRE
Morris Gleitzman at Trinity
Thank you to all the parents, students and staff who attended the Morris Gleitzman event on Tuesday 7 August. English teacher, Mitch Furi, did a wonderful job of interviewing Morris, asking engaging questions that gave the audience an insight into the writing process and Morris’ role as Children’s Laureate, and generally making Morris feel at ease. Morris was warm and funny, and engaged easily with the audience; it was just a pity that we did not have more time as the conversation could have happily continued past the allotted time.
Erin Wamala
Teacher Librarian
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Year 12 Valedictory Dinner
Thanks to all our Year 12 parents who have booked for the 2018 Valedictory Dinner on Tuesday 23 October. If you are yet to book, please do so no later than Friday 7 September by clicking here. Please contact Sharon Kendall should you have any questions.
2018 Oaks Day Lunch – Thursday November 8
Invitations will be sent out early in Term 4, in the meantime SAVE THE DATE for what will be a wonderful day at Leonda. Please contact Sharon Kendall should you have any questions.
Trinity Scarves
You may have seen some of the new Trinity scarves at recent sporting events. We have a small supply left and these can be purchased from Main Reception for $20.00. First in, best dressed!
Cafeteria
Parent Volunteer Café Co-ordinator – Position Vacant
Our long-serving Parent Volunteer Coordinator, Sue McNally, is looking for a parent to take on the role of coordinating the Café rosters as the youngest of her four boys is about to complete Year 12. The role does not take much time and should you want more information please contact Sue.
Parent Volunteers
There are still spots for Term 3 should any of our parent community wish to assist. Please consider signing up by clicking here. Café duty runs daily from 9.30am until approximately 1.30pm. To find out more about volunteering in the Café or if you have any feedback, please contact Sue McNally, Parent Volunteer Coordinator, or Sharon Kendall, Community Liaison. Thanks to all who have volunteered so far, it really does help the Café run more efficiently for our boys.
Trinity Shop
Thanks to all who support the Trinity Shop and to our parent volunteers who provide this service. We will next be open:
Thursday 30 August : 2.00pm – 4.00pm
- Pricing: Liz Beasley, Fiona Griffith, Janice Bland
- Sales: Robyn Walker, Deborah Hunt, Diane Di Stefano
Donations for the Trinity Shop may be dropped off at Reception during business hours. If you wish to volunteer in the Trinity Shop, please contact Susan Lane.
FOUNDERS’ DAY FAIR
Plant Stall – can you help?
The Plant Stall is holding a working bee between 2.30pm and 4.00pm on Thursday 23 August, at the rear of Hudson House (corner of Wellington and Charles Streets). We’ll be potting up cuttings for the Trinity Fair – no experience or equipment necessary. Please drop in for any length of time to help us prepare for the fair in November. If you can attend or would like to hear about future Plant Stall activities please email Vanessa Solomon. We’d also love to hear from you if you can contribute cuttings or plants to the stall.
NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friends of Rowing (Cowey Club) AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Cowey Club will be held on Monday 27 August 2018 from 7.00 – 8.00pm in the Tudor Centre.
Nominations for the positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Officer can be addressed to the Teacher-in-Charge of Rowing, Christian Neeson.
The Cowey Club is the parent support group for the boys participating in the rowing program. The club’s charter is to:
- Provide support the boys in their endeavours.
- Friend, Fun and Fund raise on and off the riverbank.
- Educate parents about the sport and program their boys are involved in.
The AGM is a general meeting of the rowing community and we invite all interested parents to come along.
Christian Neeson
Teacher-in-Charge of Rowing