Edition 1, Term 2 2021
MENU: From the Principal | From the Junior School | Senior School News | Music News | Chaplain’s Chat | Community Engagement
From the Principal
Some level of normalcy has returned and it was wonderful to welcome back our students – and to welcome new students and staff – as we embarked on Term 2. In Melbourne’s inimitable style, our uniform shift from summer to winter was emphatically underpinned by a fairly brutal cold front and band of rain sweeping through the school exactly as the Senior School started its lunch break. Welcome back indeed! I hope that school families were able to enjoy the relative freedom that the holidays brought. Albeit still restricted, it has been a while since we have been able to move around and engage as much as we could during the break. Let’s remain hopeful that we get to maintain these freer and easier times and embark on a full term of activity.
The activity is already underway. Sport started in earnest for the Senior School and a couple of First teams play this weekend. The JS State Swimming Carnival is on Monday (good luck, gents!) and half of our Year 10 students will be the first participants in our exciting camps program from Friday. Friday also sees ANZAC Day ceremonies in the Junior and Senior Schools and we have representatives out in the community at events on Sunday morning, too.
The adults are busy, as well. Our reunion program for Old Trinity Grammarians continues and we look forward to welcoming a number of cohorts of former students back on site in the coming weeks. At Tuesday night’s Parents’ Association meeting, Rev Campbell and I spoke about the school’s initiatives regarding matters of the education of ‘active consent’. The PA is a keen partner of the school in tackling these matters. We talked about the online support that we are currently curating for imminent parent access, the work that is being done with students through the curriculum and the training that staff members are receiving, including through the Respectful Relationships programs. For those following closely, the recently publicised ‘Milkshake’ analogies are not part of our programming. I spoke with all staff about our work in the area on Monday, too.
Opportunities for engagement with the school are many and varied. I look forward to witnessing our students’ best efforts this term as we embrace the current normalcy and enjoy our time at school together.
Adrian Farrer
Principal
From the Junior School
Welcome back to all boys, staff and parents. I trust everyone had a lovely term break. There is a busy term ahead planned.
It is wonderful to invite parents back onsite as we resume our normal calendar of events from the beginning of Term 2. To maintain some precautionary measures, we ask that any parent on the school grounds for longer than 15 minutes goes to the Junior School Office to sign in and out accordingly. It helps the school to know who is on campus in the unlikely event we must conduct an emergency evacuation or lockdown.
Term 2 Calendar Dates
A copy of the Term 2 calendar dates for the Junior School will be sent home with the students during the first week of Term 2. Please make careful note of events which involve your son and we encourage you to attend one of our weekly assemblies now that you are permitted back on campus.
On Friday afternoon, 23 April, all students in Years 3 to 6 will attend an ANZAC Service with the Senior School which may result in a slighter later finish of 3.15pm. The Prep to Year 2 students will also have an ANZAC Service but should finish at the scheduled 3.10pm.
This week, at our Junior School assembly, we launched the Prep to Year 6 musical for 2021. This year the production team have chosen the musical, MATILDA JR (a Hal Leonard production). At assembly, ‘carefully selected staff’ slipped into character and presented a teaser from one of the scenes. The boys delighted in the portrayal of the characters and the prospect of being involved in the upcoming musical adventure.
With the genius music of Australia’s Tim Minchin, combined with the crazy characters from Roald Dahl’s novel, this is set to be a great experience for all.
This year, our Production Executive will be:
Production Manager: Sue Stradwick
Director: Laurence Page
Assistant Director: Natalie Burley
Music Director: Susan Searle
Ms Shepherd will be overseeing the production aspect for Prep to Year 2. The Junior School Musical will be held in Week 7 of Term 3, on the evenings of 24 and 25 August. All queries regarding the musical should be directed to Mr Page.
The main cast will be selected from Years 5 and 6. Audition material will be available on Wednesday 21 April and students will be able to audition through Seesaw from Wednesday up until Sunday 25 April. Auditions will be viewed in Week 2, with call-backs for lead roles on Thursday of Week 2. Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.
I would also like to remind parents that all boys should be wearing their full winter uniform to school from the beginning of Term 2. Hats may be worn in the playground but are not compulsory. For further details, please refer to page 136 of the School Diary.
We look forward to a happy and productive term.
Grant Nalder
Head of the Junior School
Junior AGSV Swimming Carnival – Friday 26 March at MSAC
Some remarkable individual and team performances were achieved at this year’s Junior AGSV Swimming Carnival. The return of our Year 6 boys (thanks to some parent assistance) one day early from camp ensured our team would be near full strength to compete against the other AGSV schools. With the slight lifting of the COVID restrictions, for the first time in nearly 12 months, our parents (while slightly distanced) were able to support the team throughout the day. It was pleasing to see the sportsmanship and excitement displayed by our boys as they cheered and encouraged each other to do their best.
David Ponsford
Director of Junior School Sport and Co-Curricular Activities
Senior School News
Welcome back to all students in what is going to be a busy, but no doubt productive term.
Anzac Service
The Anzac Service will be held in the McIntyre Gym at 2.30pm on Friday 23 April. Students from Year 3 through to Year 12 will have the opportunity to reflect and remember all Australians killed in military operations.
Uniform
A reminder that we are now in winter uniform. In particular, for sport, boys should wear their Trinity slicker or rugby jumper as an outer garment to and from matches/training and green tracksuit pants should also be worn (not grey or blue ones!).
Sport
Hockey, football, soccer and rugby had practice tournaments, games or pre-season camps over the holidays in readiness for the start of the season. Thank you to all staff who gave up their holidays to supervise these sessions.
Sports training for all teams resumes this week, with AGSV Year Level matches beginning on 1 May. This Friday afternoon, 23 April, the cross country team will commence the season by competing against Marcellin. The First XVIII Football team will also play Marcellin, with their game being held under lights at Bulleen from 6.15pm. Spectators are most welcome.
Year 10 Camp/Work Experience
We wish our Year 10s all the best for their alternate program for Week 2 of this term.
Year 10 A-D: Work experience 26-30 April
Year 10 E-H: Interstate Outdoor Education experiences 23-30 April
Thank you to Mr Cleary and Mrs Ward for their endeavours to organise such interesting and worthwhile experiences.
Year 7 Luna Park Art Excursion
In Art this term, the Year 7 students are exploring a ‘Carnival’ theme and a trip to Luna Park was a must!
As part of the Year 7 course, students engage with different contemporary artforms and styles which influence and inspire the artworks they create in the art rooms. A huge part of visual art is about learning to draw from observation. This excursion provided a fantastic opportunity to do this outside.
The boys spent an afternoon sketching the historic Luna Park façade and the surrounding St Kilda scene. Senior Art teacher and artist Ms Zara McKenzie spoke to the boys about her Uoo Uoo sculpture, Joy, which is on display outside the Luna Park precinct, and was able to share with them her experience of painting the sculpture.
Parent-Teacher Interviews Term 2
Parents of students in Years 7 and 8 will have the opportunity to meet their son’s teachers in person, as these interviews will be conducted onsite in the Centre for the Arts on Monday 3 May from 3.45 pm.
Interviews for Years 9 and 10 will be held on Monday 10 May via Microsoft Teams.
Information will be available shortly for arrangements regarding bookings.
Susan Hill
Deputy Principal and Head of the Senior School
Football Camp
Forty-six boys attended the First XVIII pre-season football camp at Anglesea over the holidays. The boys had football sessions, early morning beach sessions, barefoot bowls and a laser tag activity. The camp concluded with two matches against Geelong Grammar. Trinity was successful in the main game and went down by less than a goal in the second game. It was great to play a game of footy. Thanks to Mr Knight, Mr McEwin and OTGs Austin Xenos and Jason King.
Rohan Brown
Harambee News
As school life has returned to normal following the disruptions of 2020, Harambee has stayed strong, and commenced 2021 more enthusiastically than ever!
Below is a link to the Term 1 Harambee Newsletter. Hear from Ahmaey Coehlo about volunteering with You Matter, Oscar Howard reflecting on the World’s Greatest Shave, and Ethan Orr has some exciting news for the future of Harambee.
Thank you to everyone who got involved this term and kicked off 2021 so generously, and we can’t wait to get to work with you all next term!
Read the Harambee Newsletter here
Archie Shaw
Captain of Faith and Outreach
The Trinity Inquirer – Issue 3 is out now!
The editors of The Trinity Inquirer are proud to present the third issue of this student-led publication. In this April issue, join us as we search for some meaning in recent events, reflect on the times that have been and look forward to our future.
The Trinity Inquirer can now be viewed and downloaded from here.
Hadyn Tang and James Liu
Co-Captains of Academics
Debating – Round One!
On the last Monday of Term 1, the buzz and excitement at Camberwell Boys’ Grammar School was undeniable as onsite debating resumed. Physical presence at the competition was clearly missed and welcomed by our boys. The camaraderie and friendship that is built through this competition is to be admired and respected.
Time invested and allocated to preparation and planning is a great asset for the development of research, writing and oratory skills. Topics such as ‘That Victoria should abandon the Belt and Road deal with China’ and ‘That schools should not teach texts that are deemed to contain discriminatory content’ are both thought-provoking and contentious, allowing students to develop their own ideas and beliefs on such controversial subjects. The following boys are to be congratulated for being awarded the title of Best Speaker by DAV officials: Henry Davis, Max Yakubowski, Tim Le, Will Johnson and Edward Peng.
Round Two will be held on Monday 3 May at Camberwell Boys’ Grammar School. Details can be found on myTGS
Rima Khallouf
Head of School Debating
Competitions and Announcements
Kangourou sans Frontières Competition (KSF)
For the first time, 68 high achieving Mathematics students from both the Junior School (34 students) and the Senior School (34 students) participated in the largest international mathematics competition in the world, the Kangourou sans Frontières. Over six million students from almost 90 countries take part each year.
Well done to all students for their participation and efforts in the competition and to their teacher Professor Mike Clapper for all his work.
The following students should be commended for their achievements in this competition.
High Distinction
Division | First Name | Last Name | Year level |
Middle Primary: Years 3-4 | Zhenchong | Liu | 3 |
Middle Primary: Years 3-4 | David | Ma | 4 |
Upper Primary: Years 5-6 | Philip | Liu | 6 |
Upper Primary: Years 5-6 | David | Yang | 6 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | Jack | Lauder | 7 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | Adtharsh | Nishakar | 7 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | Thomas | Chan | 8 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | Oliver | Li | 8 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | Matthew | Lo | 8 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | William | McDougall | 8 |
Junior: Years 7-8 | Yuxiang | Peng | 8 |
Intermediate: Years 9-10 | Tom | McMillan | 9 |
Intermediate: Years 9-10 | Michael | Fan | 10 |
Intermediate: Years 9-10 | Andrew | Liu | 10 |
Senior: Years 11-12 | Enda | Han | 11 |
Senior: Years 11-12 | Tim | Le | 11 |
Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition
This competition is a one-hour problem-solving competition. Although no programming experience is required, the competition helps to identify students’ computer programming potential, and encourages students to solve real-world problems.
Well done to all students who participated in the CAT competition this year and to their teacher Mr Jeremy Chan for all his support and guidance.
Congratulations to the following students for their achievements:
High Distinction
Students | Year Level |
Tom McMillan | 9 |
Joseph Timm | 9 |
Alastair Murphy | 10 |
Hadyn Tang | 12 |
Bebras – Informatics and Computational Thinking Competition
The Bebras is an international competition which aims to promote informatics and computational thinking among students.
The awards and list of students who achieved these is shown below.
Honour Roll
Students | Year Level |
Kaige Min | 7 |
Matthew Lo | 8 |
High Distinction
Students | Year Level |
Kaige Min | 08A |
Matthew Lo | 08B Team Leader |
William McDougall | 08B |
Elliott Nikitins | 08B |
Jiahao Ge | 08B |
Micro-Mathematicians
Congratulations to Matthew Lo (Year 8) for his successful admission to the Micro-Mathematicians program which is run by the University of Melbourne Outreach Team. This virtual, intensive eight-week extension program is aimed at high-achieving students who are passionate about mathematics.
You can read about Matthew’s participation in this program in his blog post My Micro-Mathematicians Experience, which he will be updating on a regular basis throughout the course.
Australian Invitational Informatics Olympiad (AIIO)
In February this year, Hadyn Tang (Year 12) was one of 40 students from across Australia who was invited to enter the 2021 Australian Invitational Informatics Olympiad (AIIO) – a challenging four-hour programming competition.
Congratulations to Hadyn for his exceptional programming and problem-solving skills, which earned him a Gold award in this competition.
Australian Mathematical Olympiad (AMO) and the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee (AMOC) Selection School
Congratulations to Hadyn Tang (Year 12), Enda Han (Year 11) and Eason Yang (Year 8) for participating in the Australian Mathematical Olympiad (AMO), where they sat two four-hour challenging problem-solving exams.
Having achieved exceptional results in the AMO, they were invited by the AMOC to their Selection School, and they participated virtually, during the week 28 March 28 to 2 April.
We wish these students every success on their Mathematics Olympiad pathway.
More information about upcoming competitions and programs, can be found here.
Congratulations to Larry Pang (Year 12) for all his work in creating the nationwide Opportunitree website featuring opportunities which students can also be involved in.
Angela Kotsiras
Enhanced Learning – Extension and Enrichment Coordinator
Supporting your son’s reading
There is no doubt that reading is important but encouraging teenage boys to engage with books can become increasingly difficult as they move through secondary school. Parents of students in Years 7 and 8 are invited to join Erin Wamala (Teacher Librarian) and Anna Corney (Deputy Head of English) as they outline the ways in which the English and Library departments are supporting your son’s reading at school, and present strategies for how you can support and encourage him at home.
Date: Thursday 6 May
Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Format: Online
https://www.trybooking.com/BPWRA
Erin Wamala
Teacher Librarian
Music News
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following musicians who performed at the recent Year 7 Induction Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Monday 22 March 2021. St Paul’s is a magnificent venue, both in atmosphere and acoustics; Christopher and Yida will always recall this performance as a highlight of their time at Trinity Grammar School.
Violin Solo: Christopher Kim
Romanian Dances Mov. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Bartok
Accompanied by Mr Siegfried Franke OTG
Violin Solo: Yida Fang
Romanze No.2 – Beethoven
Accompanied by Mr Siegfried Franke OTG
Strings Concert
Congratulations to all string players and staff, in particular Mrs McCoppin and Mrs Kelly-Keesing, for a wonderful night of livestreamed music from the East Room in the final week of Term 1.
Over 1,000 views were noted, including audience members from Europe!
Sincere thanks to the Junior School staff who assisted with supervision and movement of students throughout the event, and to CVP Productions for their magnificent sound, light and streaming support.
Auditions
The Music Department will be holding auditions for a new Senior School Contemporary Ensemble that will begin rehearsing in Term 2. The ensemble is seeking: 1 x vocalist, 2 x guitarists, 1 x electric bass, 1 x keyboard and 1 x drummer. To register your interest and request an audition pack, please contact Mr Chris Brown via brownc@trinity.vic.edu.au or in person at the Music Office.
Michelle Stanic
Director of Music
Chaplain’s Chat
Chaplain’s Chat – ANZAC Day 2021
ANZAC Day and Christianity have a strong and surprising connection. For a day to commemorate the Gallipoli landing where 8000 Australians and many more Turks, Brits and New Zealanders died in a horrific war, ANZAC Day services are often unexpectedly religious.
What role do followers of Jesus, a peaceful saviour, have in remembering men who went to war armed to kill? Could the God whose Son said, ‘Turn the other cheek’ to accept an enemy’s beating, or condemned his disciple for using violence to cut off a soldier’s ear, have then approved of the violence any war brings?
Anglican Chaplain to the Defence Force, Ian Lambert, said religion and the memorial of ANZAC Day have always been intertwined, ‘I think ANZAC Day provides an opportunity for one to reflect on life and its meaning and its tragedies,’ he said.
‘I’d suggest there’s a whole lot of people there who for most of the year have no religious interest at all, but on ANZAC Day their very spiritual component is resonating – be it in the sacrifice, in the lowering of the flag, the bugle call – something’s calling and I would say that’s God calling to you.’
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture executive director, Stephen Pickard, said the obvious selflessness of soldiers has often been connected to the religious tradition.
‘I think the ideal and the aspiration for the Christian tradition is a peaceable kingdom, so the question is a practical one, what is the price of peace?
‘How do we find peace in a world that is brutal and wanton? One option is we refuse to take up arms, one is we take up arms in certain circumstances.’
There is still a lot of conflict going on in other parts of the world, we only need to read the world section of the news. If the ideal is to be peaceable kingdom as Pickard puts it, then how do we go about this. How do we end conflict in the world?
Jesus teaches us to pray, to pray for those who still grieve of the loss in all the wars in which Australia has taken part. Pray for peace around the world and to look forward to a time when Jesus returns, ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.’ (Revelation 21:4)
James Hale
Assistant Chaplain
Community Engagement
Wishing you a warm welcome to typically the busiest term of the year, Term 2. At the end of last term, the Parents’ Association held their 2021 AGM and we congratulate Heidi Pfeffer for her renomination as President. We look forward to working with Heidi and her team again this year. We know it will be another great year for the PA and their activities.
This term we also welcome Elizabeth (Liz) Acabado to the Community Engagement Team. Liz joins us in the role of PA to the Director of Community Engagement and CE Coordinator, a similar role to that held by Bonnie Brown in 2020. Liz has most recently worked at Box Hill Institute and has held EA roles for many years. Her position at Trinity is one familiar to the parent community and we hope you will join us in welcoming Liz to the TGS community.
The Founders’ Day Fair Committee reconvenes this term. It is chaired by Sean Rooney and all involved are excited about creating a hugely successful event this year after its postponement in 2020. If you would like to join this, or any other committee, please contact the Community Engagement Office at community@trinity.vic.edu.au or the Parents’ Association at pa@trinity.vic.edu.au
Lucy Cohen
Director of Community Engagement
Trinity TLC Community Support Group
Welcome to Term 2! Thank you to everyone for your interest and support so far this year, it has been fantastic.
If you’re in a position to do so, please keep cooking! We aim to have a constant supply of meals and lunchbox items available to the school for distribution to members of our community whenever some TLC is in order.
It’s never too late to join the roster! Please click here to join the roster to prepare a meal/lunchbox item on a date which suits you.
Do I need to drop off my cooking on a Monday?
Please sign up on the roster for a particular week, then feel free to drop off your meal/lunchbox item on the day which suits you. Senior School Reception is open from Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.30pm.
To join the list of Urgent Meal Volunteers who we can contact on an ad hoc basis to provide meals and lunchbox items at 24/48 hours’ notice please click here.
To make a Donation which will be used to purchase items such as supermarket vouchers or a meal delivery service please click here.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Alice Noonan and Angela Gill (Co-Convenors) via email pa@trinity.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.
We are so grateful for all contributions.
Thank You.
Alice Noonan and Angela Gill
Co-Convenors
Important Dates
Friday 23 April
AGSV Boys First Football Competition commences
AGSV Cross Country commences
Year 10 E-H Interstate Expeditions commence
JS Prep-Year 2 ANZAC Service, 2.30pm
ANZAC Service for Years 3-12, Mclntyre Sports Centre, 2.30pm
2010 OTG Reunion, 6.00pm
Saturday 24 April
Trinity Shop, 10.30pm-12.30pm
Sunday 25 April
ANZAC Day
Monday 26 April
Year 10 A-D Work Experience commences
JS SSV State Swimming Carnival, MSAC – moved from Thursday 22
AGSV 2021 Golf Championship, Spring Valley Golf Course, 12.00pm
Wednesday 28 April
Year 12 Colloquium, Centre for the Arts, 6.00pm
Thursday 29 April
VCE Students GAT Presentation, Centre for the Arts, 8.15am
Roberts House Dinner and Chapel, 6.30pm
Friday 30 April
Year 3-6 Sport, Bulleen
Year 10 A-D Work Experience concludes
Year 10 E-H Interstate Expeditions concludes 4.00pm
2011 OTG Reunion, 6.00pm
Saturday 1 May
Year 11 Unit 1 classes conclude
AGSV Year Level Winter Sport commences
Sunday 2 May
Victorian All-State Jazz Championships, St Leonard’s College
Monday 3 May
Year 7 and 8 Parent-Teacher Interviews, 3.45pm
Tuesday 4 May
No Ruyton classes
Cowen House Dinner and Chapel, 6.30pm