Edition 1, Term 4 2020
MENU: From the Principal | From the ELC | Junior School | Senior School | Music News | Chaplain’s Chat | Community Relations
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to school. I have been used to writing that for many years at the start of a term, but this time it is a resoundingly more meaningful statement! Ironically, the holidays saw more students here than have been for a long time with essential assessments taking place for Unit 4 VCE last week. The GAT this week will see many more back at school, along with our ELC children, and next week sees the return of our Junior School, Year 7 and VCE students. Exciting times indeed. We look forward to eventually getting everyone onsite on October 26 and resuming a more familiar Trinity education at Trinity. We will continue to update you with information as it becomes clear in the days and weeks ahead.
At the start of every term it is usual for students and staff to feel a layer of excitement or apprehension. We are embarking on new content, new discoveries and the heady part of the journey towards the end of the year (and its associated complexities). This term will be appreciably different for many as they (students and staff) have simply not been here for a long time. Picking up the routines such as travelling to school and moving between classes may be a challenge, and re-establishing friendships and professional relationships may be too. We are alert to the quirks of 2020 and will be keen to assist wherever needed.
There has been commentary about the challenge of education in 2020. Indeed, the validity of 2020 as a whole has been questioned! I do find it disappointing when it is suggested that this year has an ‘asterisk against it’ as, broadly, so much learning has taken place. Of course, the loss of so many things that we value is regretful, but the things we value the most surely include learning itself – which has not stopped – and a strong sense of belonging, which I see and hear in my interactions with Trinity people every day. We can rightfully be disappointed at the loss of our usual way of living, but I also think we can be grateful for the ability to maintain the core, valued elements that define us in any year. So, welcome to Term 4; a term which I am sure will be defined partly by its difference from the past and partly by its ability to amplify those things which we value the most.
Adrian Farrer
Principal
From the ELC
We are so thrilled to be welcoming our youngest learners back onsite as we commence Term 4. The focus for the term will be on developing resilience, wellbeing and settling back into the ELC environment. We will be supporting the children as we help prepare them for the next phase in their learning journey. The children will have opportunities to engage with and explore the spaces they will be in next year and to start building relationships with their future teachers. Our main goal is that the children feel happy, safe and secure and have a great start to our final term of the year together.
Marty O’Brien
Director of the Early Learning Centre
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Whilst a few hurdles remain in place, not least the daylight savings time adjustment shortly before the boys get back to learning at school, there is much to be excited about. The prospect of Prep to Year 6 returning onsite from 12 October is one which fills many hearts with joy. As my message to boys in the Week 1 assembly stated, we will all need to re-learn a few of the key skills for success when back together and we will need to take our time doing so. We are very mindful that the transition will likely be a challenge for many and that a big focus on re-learning social and collaborative skills is paramount. This term will be busy and challenging; however, we know the boys will be up for it and up to it. Thank you in advance to all who support the boys as they manage another change of circumstance and environment.
We are currently working through the most recent version of government guidelines in order to help manage a safe and appropriate return to school. I will communicate the specific details later in the week once we have everything finalised. Thank you for your patience and support.
Tom Savill
Acting Head of the Junior School
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Back to School
Welcome back to Term 4, although for many boys it will still be some days before they are on campus. For this week, students in Years 11 and 12 will be able to come to school for the GAT on Wednesday 7 October and any essential assessments, otherwise all classes for Years 7 to 12 will still be taught by Distance Learning.
For next week, starting 12 October, boys in Years 7, 11 and 12 will be able to attend school in person. The main gate in Charles Street will be the only entrance open and we still plan to temperature test all boys upon arrival. Year 7 boys will be dismissed at 2:50pm each day to stagger departure times. We are hopeful that boys in Years 8 to 10 will be allowed to attend from 26 October. All students need to be mindful of maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and boys should not come to school if they are feeling unwell. Boys may wear summer uniform. Year 12 students have their final classes on Tuesday 27 October. A virtual Valedictory Dinner will be held that night with the final speeches, normally at St Paul’s, to be held on Wednesday 28 October, followed by the Year 12 Chapel, probably online. More information will follow later this week.
SACs in Week 3 of holidays
Students in Years 11 and 12 completed essential SAC assessments in Week 3 of the holidays. Thank you to all the teachers who supervised these assessments, which were held in the McIntyre Sports Centre.
International Mathematical Olympiad
Congratulations to Hadyn Tang in Year 11, who represented Australia in the International Mathematical Olympiad (held online this year). Australia finished eighth overall, with Hadyn being awarded a Silver Medal.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
Last weekend, almost 40 students (including three TGS boys) undertook the SAT test for possible entry into American universities. This is the first year that Trinity has taken on the role of being an SAT centre. Thank you to Mrs Ward for organising the event.
Leaders’ Courses
The Year 10 Leaders’ Courses will still be conducted, but they have been postponed until 29 and 30 October. More details will be provided by Ms Renden and Ms Clark and/or HOYs.
Rohan Brown
Deputy Principal, Head of the Senior School
VCE Product Design and Technology
COVID-19 has not stopped VCE Product Design and Technology students working hard to complete their portfolios and products over the Term 3 break. The results speak for themselves! Thank you to Product Design parents for turning over their dining tables, garages and studies to act as temporary workshops during the Distance Learning program.
Click here to view the photos of the products.
Michael Pye
Design and Technology teacher
MUSIC NEWS
Suzuki Graduations
Congratulations to the following 17 Trinity musicians who have completed Suzuki Graduations this year – they are all students of Mrs Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing.
To achieve this prestigious award, students are required to record their entire program from memory with a pre-recorded accompaniment. Concerti are performed in entirety, including the selected cadenzas. The recording is to be completed in one sitting, therefore recreating the atmosphere and conditions of a live concert.
Five students in particular are to be congratulated for completing two levels in 2020.
Level 1 Gossec Gavotte
Neil (Yuan) Luo – Year 5
Joshua Wang – Year 5
Level 2 Beethoven Minuet in G
Heli Cheung – Year 3
Neil (Yuan) Luo – Year 5
Joshua Wang – Year 5
Level 3 Bach Bourrée
Heli Cheung – Year 3
Hugo Lie – Year 9
Level 4 Vivaldi Concerto in A minor, first movement
Horus Cheung – Year 5
Edwin Hui – Year 5
Level 5 Vivaldi Concerto in G minor, first movement
Antuan Arnott-Tan – Year 8
Anshan Arnott-Tan – Year 11
Horus Cheung – Year 5
Edwin Hui – Year 5
Level 6 La Folia Variations by Corelli/Suzuki
Kevin Dong – Year 10
Ben Noonan – Year 9 (Ms Michelle Lewit – teacher)
Level 7 Bach Concerto For Violin in A minor, complete
Angus Wong – Year 9
Level 9 Mozart Concerto For Violin in D Major, complete
Alexander Chieng – Year 8
Student Teachers
The Music School welcomed two student teachers from Melbourne University during 2020.
Maxim Sheko and Tiffany Cheok are both students from the Master of Music (Performance Teaching) course.
Maxim (Violin) worked with Mrs Therese McCoppin, Head of Strings, commencing in Term 1 with face-to-face teaching, and concluding with online teaching at the end of Term 3. Maxim was involved in rehearsals with the Senior Strings and Stringers Ensembles, and with individual students from Year 4 to VCE.
Tiffany (Piano) was placed with Mrs Chiah Quah. She observed lessons and taught piano students (both Suzuki and traditional methods) at the Junior and Senior levels.
Both Maxim and Tiffany were most fortunate to be placed at Trinity with such knowledgeable and dedicated music staff, and they, along with our TGS musicians, enjoyed and gained a great deal from the experience.
Michelle Stanic
Director of Music
Chaplain’s Chat
Go Gently
There was great excitement in our house yesterday with the news the Year 7s would be back to ‘actual school’ next week, and I can assure you that as a staff team, we are very much looking forward to the physical return of all our boys to Trinity in the coming weeks. With easing restrictions on the horizon (and some fantastic spring weather), it does finally feel like there is some more light at the end of a pretty long dark tunnel.
I for one am excited about seeing the tail end of 2020, but it has also got me thinking about how we might ‘re-emerge’ from this season. I’m all for moving forward and through, and yet… despite my desire to leave much of ‘all this’ behind and jump back into things, I can’t help but think we need to ‘go gently’ as we do.
There is no doubt there have been many opportunities and good things that have emerged from this year. There has been much talk about how we might do things differently, both in our own lives/families, friendships, work, but also in the context of how we might do and be as a society. If we’re too speedy and don’t take the time to reflect on the lessons learned, we might just miss these opportunities for change, and the old/ familiar ways of doing and being will become our default.
Most of us have suffered loss this year, big or small, whether we’re conscious of it or not… loss of freedom, choice, opportunity, and for some livelihood, health, and loved ones… grief has been complicated and the uncertainty it brings leave us emotionally fatigued and more fragile than we otherwise might be. If we’re too speedy, we risk leaving people behind and may well do ourselves and others a real injustice.
I’m not suggesting we need to move forward and through with a spirit of fear or anxiety, far from it – we have much to look forward to, but I reckon how we do it is worth some thought.
‘Going gently’ has the potential to give us and others the benefit of the doubt; time and space to consider what things could look like; room to try things differently; and time to heal.
I look forward to seeing you all face to face in the coming weeks.
God bless and go gently!
Rev’d Matt Campbell
Senior Chaplain
‘Seek the peace and prosperity of the community, for in its prosperity is your prosperity; in its peace, your peace.’ – Jeremiah 29:7
‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.’ – Galatians 5:22-23
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Dear Trinity Parents
I hope that you have had a relaxing holiday break and are now looking forward to the final term of 2020. I always get excited when we turn our clocks forward and the warmer weather of spring is upon us. Over the next few weeks, we will be thrilled to see the boys return to school (Take 2!) and our staff in the Community Relations team will be available to continue supporting you and keeping you connected during Term 4.
Please note that our Uniform Shop will remain closed until further notice; however, if you have any uniform requirements, please contact me directly either by email or phone and I will do my best to assist with your query or arrange a personal appointment for you: hinesk@trinity.vic.edu.au or 9851 9498.
I hope you have a fabulous first week back, take care and we can’t wait to see you all again soon!
Kindest regards
Kathy Hines
Director of Development & Community Relations
Trinity Community Support Group
Huge thanks to all the volunteers who have continued to prepare meals and/or lunchbox items throughout Terms 2 and 3. We are so appreciative of your generosity and kindness, and we have received some lovely (anonymous) feedback from recipients.
Would you like to be involved?
Here’s some information about the group:
What is it?
The TLC Community Support Group organises a roster of volunteers to provide meals and lunchbox items for students, teachers and staff in our community who are faced with challenging times.
How does it work?
The role of the group and our volunteers is simply to fill the school freezer with delicious food. When a little TLC is needed, the TGS School Leadership Team coordinates the distribution of meals and lunchbox items, ensuring discretion and confidentiality.
How can I help?
- To join the Roster to prepare a meal/lunchbox item on a date which suits you please click here.
- 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.
Any Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact Alice Noonan and Angela Gill (Co-Convenors) via email pa@trinity.vic.edu.au
There’s never been a more appropriate time for this service to be available in our community and we are so grateful to you for helping us to make it happen.
Important Dates
Wednesday 7 October
GAT Examination
Junior School Art Exhibition Opening, 7.00pm, Livestreamed
Monday 12 October
Prep to Year 7, VCE/VCAL students return to onsite learning
Tuesday 13 October
OTGA Committee Meeting, 7.00pm Online
Thursday 15 October
Senior School Assembly 8.15am
Class Representatives Meeting, 7.00pm Online
Wednesday 21 October
ELC 2021 Information Evening, 7.30pm Online