Edition 4, Term 2 2022
MENU: From the Principal | From the ELC | From the Junior School | From the Senior School | Music | Chaplain’s Chat | Community Engagement
From the Principal
Each week our Senior School students receive a newsletter written by students for students. It is called Roxeth, and is a contemporary version of a bulletin that was once authored by staff. Roxeth is the name of the old house which is now called Henty House, and which now includes my office amongst other facilities of the school. Much like the house, the newsletter this week reflected an historic element of our school. Author Alvin Doan of Year 12 wrote the following:
It’s the month of June, which marks the beginning of Pride month, where we celebrate those who are a part of the community and the importance of visibility. On Friday night we held our inaugural Pride Round, a footy game between Trinity and Mentone that represents the start of this new commitment to celebrating the diversity of our school community. Although the game was pretty much decided by the second quarter, we’re looking forward to seeing how this event can continue to grow next year and in the years following, involving more sports and hopefully more schools!
For this educator, after a generation of being in schools, I cannot remember too many days as powerful as the Assembly on Thursday and the event referred to on Friday, both of which cried out for increased inclusion in our school and society at large. And both did so via student voice – student agency – and it was a privilege to witness.
More mundanely, it is worth mentioning that at least every five years schools such as ours are subject to a review by the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). The VRQA is the regulator of schools and is charged with ensuring that they are meeting the minimum standards and other requirements for registration. The areas tested for compliance with minimum standards include:
- good governance
- strong financial management
- effective curriculum
- sound teaching practices; and
- safe environments for children.
This is a general review year for Trinity and we are currently in our review period. Obviously, we welcome the review and the chance to demonstrate our progressive school’s ongoing commitment to all areas of compliance.
One such area is boarding. At the end of this year we will end the traditional ‘Main’ Boarding House operation that Trinity has offered at various times in our history. It has been an important provision in the past, but with the stability of ‘homestay’ provision, the rise of credible low fee independent schools in regional areas and significant flattening of the international student market, and any future boarding needing a significant capital investment to promote and sustain it, the decision has been made to discontinue the service.
We have six students in our Main Boarding facility in 2022, due to a tailing off of the program in recent years in anticipation of it ceasing. They are fine young people who clearly enjoy the setting, and they are very well looked after by Mr Ian Lundie and his team. When the time comes, we will all be saddened by the ending of the main boarding, though we can be confident that we are preparing well for a future that will behave differently from the past.
Dadirri House, our Indigenous Boarding House, will continue to operate beyond this year. Our partnership with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School is strong and, while both organisations are evolving in the way that we operate and facilitate our programs, there is a commitment between us to ensure that we aim to provide a great education for the young people in our care.
As we get closer to settling on the form and content of our strategic plan, further initiatives in this and many other areas will become increasingly developed and visible.
Adrian Farrer
Principal
From the ELC
Reconciliation week in the ELC
‘Be Brave. Make Change’ asks us to look to our everyday lives; to where we work, play and socialise, to further reconciliation. In its broadest sense ‘reconciliation’ means coming together. In Australia it is the term used to refer to the bringing together of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – or Indigenous – and nonindigenous Australians.
In the early childhood context, it is a time to celebrate and highlight the achievements of Australians in coming together and contributing towards the reconciliation journey. In our ELC it’s a time to foster in children a respect for diversity, empathy for others and celebration of culture early on. This week is a special time to actively involve our students in showing our commitment to building relationships and communities which value and celebrate our First Nations peoples.
Over the week the ELC engaged in many opportunities with the Indigenous community of Trinity Grammar School. We visited the Daley Gallery, where we spent time viewing many Indigenous art works. We were inspired through this and coming back into our space have continued discussions and started to create our own group work of Bunjil as well as representing other ideas and thoughts about Country. Mr Chris Johnson came and spoke to us about his Indigenous football jumper that he created for the Brisbane Lions to wear. Listening to his story as he explained the symbols provoked us to create our own stories and symbols in our space.
During the week our students wore the colours of the Aboriginal flag and raised money for Yappera Child Care Agency, which provides high quality, culturally grounded and holistic health and education programs. Yappera, meaning ‘belonging place’, is a gathering, learning and wellbeing space for Aboriginal children and their parents, carers, families and communities in Melbourne.
Supporting diversity and embedding reconciliation in meaningful ways occurs not only this week but all year in our space.
Naomi Wright
Director of the Early Learning Centre
From the Junior School
As part of the National Reconciliation Week many students across Trinity were able to experience a ‘hands on’ Indigenous incursion.
Year 5 and Year 6 were with an educator by the name of Ganga Giri who is a descendent of Tasmania’s Palwa people and the co-founder of Didgeridoo Australia. It was wonderful to have our Senior School Indigenous Scholarship Students (Hurrikane, Antwan, Phillip and Zayne) and the Head of the Indigenous Boarding Program and Head of Dadirri Boarding House, Chris Johnson, join the students from Year 6 (see here). The students were introduced to Aboriginal symbols, different art styles and the meaning of different types of paintings. They were then able to make their own traditional paint (with ochre, clay and charcoal) and decorate their own boomerangs to take home at the end of the day. They also listened to how incredible the digeridoo sounds live in their classroom and listened to some indigenous music whilst painting their boomerangs.
The Year 3 and Year 4 students were able to participate in an indigenous culture experience. Here they were able to view an interactive presentation with Aboriginal people, bush food, hunting tools, crafts, art and musical instruments. They were also able to play an Aboriginal instrument: didgeridoo and clap sticks. Our aim is to continue to keep conversations open at home and here at Trinity about the importance of Australia’s history and this incursion continued to heighten the students’ understandings of our past.
Please click here to see Ganga Giri playing the didgeridoo and here to see Fred doing an Indigenous dance after he demonstrated to the Year 3’s some of the survival strategies used by our Indigenous Australians.
Jon Knight
Primary Years Programme Coordinator
AGSV Junior Cross Country
In typical cross-country conditions – where the day began with clear skies and finished with fine misty rain – the Trinity team comprising of boys from Year 3 to 6 ran against students from all other AGSV schools on Thursday 26 May at Chelsworth Park in Ivanhoe. The boys showed tremendous team spirit as they chanted, cheered and encouraged the Trinity boys along with their opponents across the finishing line. The timing bibs (supplied by Tomato Timing) fastened to our boys’ singlets added to the event, making this annual outing a most memorable experience for the spectators, boys and girls who competed on the day.
Well done boys, on your resilience and determination, as you ran the 2 km and 3 km courses in challenging conditions.
David Ponsford
Director of Junior Sport & Co-Curricular Activities
From the Senior School
Senior School News Week 7
It has been a very hectic, yet productive term so far and I wish students every success as they complete their academic commitments for Semester 1.
Examinations
Examinations for Year 11 students are progressing well, with Year 9 and Year 10 examinations beginning this Friday. A reminder that students have the option to attend supervised study sessions between examinations or attend for examination periods only.
A reminder that no Year 7 and 8 classes will occur this Friday. Year 12 classes will continue as normal.
Professional Practice Day: Friday 10 June
Year 8 Learning Journeys
Commence for Year 8A-8D on 14 June and Year 8E-8H on 21 June
Year 7 Grandparents’ and Friends’ Morning
We look forward to welcoming our guests for this special occasion on 21 June
Year 10 Camps/Work Experience
We wish our Year 10 cohort all the best as Year 10A-10D depart for camp on 17 June, and 10E-10H begin their work experience on 20 June
Susan Hill
Deputy Principal, Head of Senior School
National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week is a time for us to learn about sharing history, culture, feats and to explore how each of us can contribute towards achieving reconciliation within Australia. The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week was ‘Be Brave. Make Change’ – a challenge for us to be spirited and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation, which in turn creates positive change for all! Trinity Grammar School continues to strengthen its commitment to reconciliation and building on relationships, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to non-Indigenous peoples. With our hard work, honesty, mutual trust, respect and understanding, together we can achieve pathways and opportunities for Indigenous people through education and life skills.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their involvement in Reconciliation Week, and most importantly in celebrating the Reconciliation Breakfast held on Friday 27 May. Together, let’s strive to ‘Be Brave. Make Change’.
Phillip, MC – Reconciliation Breakfast
Guest speaker Troy MacDonald
Head of Indigenous Program, Chris Johnson, thanks speaker Troy MacDonald
Parents, siblings, and supporters gather for a 2022 group photo
Chris Johnson
Head of Indigenous Program
Music
Jazz at the Hawthorn Arts Centre
On Monday 23 May the annual Small Jazz Combos concert was held, this year in a new venue: the beautiful Chandelier Room at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. Students from Junior Jazz, Jazz Apprentices, Trintones, Augmented 7ths and Belling Jazz presented a wide variety of pieces from jazz greats such as Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Josef Zawinal, Herbie Hancock and Count Basie, as well as an original composition by Year 10 student Alex Chieng, entitled Sandbanks. The Small Jazz Combo program involves students in both the Junior and Senior School and allows students to develop their ensemble and sectional skills in a setting that is more exposed and further highlights the need for accuracy, teamwork, musicianship and depth of knowledge in their role and individual parts. Students also commence and further develop their skills in the truly creative art form of improvisation. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved.
Jamie Ransome
Head of Brass, Wind & Bands
Cello Recital
Last week Ms Jasmine Alexandra held a wonderful cello recital where her 20-plus students performed cello solos in the East Room, accompanied by Mrs Chiah Quah. We were pleased to welcome many parents, friends and family members as well as our Head of Strings, Mrs Therese McCoppin, and our Director of Music, Mr Jan Blazejczak. The students sat attentively watching the wide range of cello-playing abilities, from the youngest Grade 2 students performing Twinkle, to Year 11 student Oliver Wilkie performing Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto. After the boys performed, Ms Alexandra dazzled the audience by playing a short virtuoso piece, Serenade, by Popper.
Congratulations to the following performers for a highly successful and enjoyable concert:
Anderson Northwood, Aarush Vaddadi, Benjamin Yang-Gaillard, Dylan Sugumar, Edison Zhang, Felix Huang, Jerry Qin, Jonathan Markopoulos, Joshua Michael, Kosta Dokolas, Miles Cerny, Nikhil Hendehewa, Oliver Wilkie, Patrick Chan, Rian Raiden, Rubin Huang, Ryan Sim, Timothy Ma, Wilson Liu, Zac Hincksman and Joshua Loftes.
Thérèse McCoppin
Head of Strings
2022 Melbourne Bach Competition
Congratulations to Trinity students, violinist Heli Cheung (Year 5), violinist Horus Cheung (Year 7), violinist Alexander Chieng (Year 10) and vocalist Jimmy Hilton (Year 10) who entered the 2022 Melbourne Bach Competition. Students from Junior and Senior schools from around the country submitted recorded performances of significant works by Johann Sebastian Bach for this major national competition with only eight going into the finals. Click on the links below for our Trinity outstanding performances. Special kudos goes to vocalist Jimmy Hilton who was just one place away from being selected for the finals. The organisers were so impressed that they contacted him directly to encourage him to enter again. Well done to Jimmy, Alex, Horus and Heli and we hope the Trinity community enjoys these expressive performances. Nothing beats the winter blues like some Bach!
Jimmy, Voice
https://vimeo.com/703079028/2c061a4bc9
Alexander, Violin
https://youtu.be/SaMiThVtvX4
Heli and Horus, Violin
https://youtu.be/sNEIoq8xBeg
Moirsheen
Coordinator, Suzuki Strings
VCE Music 2023 and Beyond
In 2023 Trinity Grammar School, Kew will be implementing the new VCE Music Study design. This exciting new sequence contains four restructured subjects, designed to cover a wide range of music styles and instruments, and caters to musicians of all levels and abilities. Please follow the link below for a summary of the subjects on offer:
Chris Brown
Head of Music – Academic Programs
VCE Music Performance and Music Investigation – Unit 3 Recitals
On Monday 30 May, students from the VCE Music Performance and Music Investigation Unit 3 class performed their repertoire as part of an informal assessment. Students in this class will perform at a recital at the end of the year as part of their external assessment.
Congratulations to Roy McNab (Percussion) and Greg Whittenbury (Electric Guitar) who performed part of their program. The following students will perform at a later date and we congratulate them all for their wonderful work in this subject: George Koutrouzas (Viola), Lewis Finney (Alto Saxophone) and Max Zhang (Oboe).
Bigger Better Brains – Can singing in a choir benefit you or your community?
In this edition, you can read about the science of how group singing scientifically strengthens a community.
https://biggerbetterbrains.com/news-post/can-singing-in-a-choir-benefit-you-or-your-community/
Jan Blazejczak
Director of Music
Drama
Trinity Grammar School, Kew and Ruyton Girls’ School are excited to invite you to this year’s Senior School musical, CHICAGO: High School Edition.
CHICAGO: High School Edition is an adaptation of Kander & Ebb’s award-winning musical about fame, fortune and acquittal, with iconic choreography from Bob Fosse. This production features the work of Trinity and Ruyton musicians, performers, theatre technicians and crew members from Years 9 – 12. We are excited to welcome you all to join us at this celebration of music, theatre and performance!
Tickets:
Adult $35
Student/Concession $25
https://events.humanitix.com/2022-senior-school-musical-chicago-high-school-edition
Performance Season:
Thursday 14 July: 7:00PM
Friday 15July: 7:00PM
Saturday 16 July (Matinee): 2:00PM
Saturday 16 July: 7:00PM
Any queries (including the booking of wheelchair accessible seating) should be directed to the Production Manager, Rebecca Cecil (cecilr@trinity.vic.edu.au).
Rebecca Cecil
Productions Manager, Drama Department
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Chaplain’s Chat
One Spirit
Reconciliation Week spans two important dates in the post-invasion history of Indigenous Australia:
- 27 May 1967 and the 90% referendum vote to include Indigenous Australians on the Census; and
- 3 June 1992 when the High Court delivered the Mabo decision, overturning the legal fiction of Terra Nullius.
Reconciliation Week was originally an initiative of all the major Australian faith communities and in 1993 was called the ‘Week of Prayer for Reconciliation’. In the Church calendar, Reconciliation Week falls in the lead up to the feast of Pentecost, which is apt, as in many faith traditions the Divine/Sacred/Holy Spirit is the one who ultimately binds us together. Perhaps, more accurately, the Spirit reminds us that we are already bound together; that we are far more connected than separate, far more a community than individuals. At the first Pentecost this good news of connectedness was boldly proclaimed by the followers of Jesus in the languages of all the nations, and people of faith are no less called to embody the same Good News of peace and reconciliation today.
Reverend Bryn Jones
Senior Chaplain
Community Engagement
I hope you and your families have had a good term to date.
In a first for Trinity, next week we are holding an exciting new philanthropic initiative. Our first ever Giving Day on Thursday 16 June will be in support of an inaugural means-tested scholarship, providing a Trinity education to a family who otherwise could not afford to attend. The Giving Day is supported by generous donors in our community who will match all donations on the day. So every dollar given on the 16th will be doubled in value.
We will be promoting the initiative through social media and email up to and on the day and I look forward to sharing our progress with you.
This is a great cause and I hope you will consider giving your support on Thursday 16 June!
To donate, click HERE
Lucy Cohen
Director of Community Engagement
Upcoming Parent Event Dates
Saturday 4 June
Year 2 Parent Evening
7:00PM
Crudo Warehouse: 132A Cotham Rd, Kew
Sunday 5 June
Trinity 2022 Year 9 Dads/Carers & Sons Day
11:30AM
Treetops Adventure Belgrave, Old Monbulk Rd, Belgrave
Thursday 9 June
Year 8 Mums Night Out
7:00PM – 11:00PM
Thursday 16 June
Uniform Shop Open
2:00PM – 4:00PM
62 Charles Street
Friday 17 June
Year 5 Parents Evening
Nini’s Hawthorn
7:00PM – 10:00PM
Please RSVP by Monday 13 June
https://events.humanitix.com/grade-5-casual-parents-evening
Tuesday 21 June
Year 7 Grandparents and Special Friends’ Morning
9.30am for Morning Tea, followed by a Chapel Service and Classroom Experience
Guests are welcome to enjoy lunch with their grandson in the school Cafeteria (at own expense)
Concludes at 12 noon
Please RSVP by Wednesday 15 June
https://www.trybooking.com/BZVTN
Tuesday 21 June
Hydron Launch Night – F1 in Schools World Finals
5:45PM – 7:30PM
Tuesday 21 June
Parents Association Meeting
7:00PM – 9:00PM
Board Room 55 Wellington Street
Click here to join the meeting online
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday 7 June
VCE Study Night, 6:00PM
Wednesday 8 June
Jewish Holocaust Incursion, 10:30AM
Year 10 Drama – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Princess Theatre 6:30PM
Thursday 9 June
Geography Excursion, Studley Park and Dight’s Falls 10:55AM
VCE Study Night, 6:00PM
Friday 10 June
Professional Practice Day (no Year 7 – 10 classes)
Year 11 Examinations conclude
Years 9 & 10 Examinations commence
Year 6 Round Robin, Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School 12:00PM
Year 3, 4 & 5 Sport, Bulleen 1:30PM
Trinity/Ruyton Musical Rehearsal, 3:30PM
Theatre Studies SAC performance, Gasworks Arts Park 7:00PM
Saturday 11 June
Trinity/Ruyton Musical Rehearsal, 2:00PM
Monday 13 June
Queen’s Birthday
Tuesday 14 June
Year 8A – 8D Learning Journeys, Camp Toolangi & Bulleen
VCE Study Night, 6:00PM
Wednesday 15 June
Year 10 A – D Outdoor Education Briefing, 8:00AM
Junior School SSV Regional Cross Country, Hastings Foreshore Reserve 8:30AM
Thursday 16 June
Giving Day
Year 7 Planetarium Excursion (7SCIC, 7SCID, 7SCIE, 7SCIF), Scienceworks 9:00AM
Trinity Shop, 2:00PM – 4:00PM
VCE Study Night, 6:00PM
Friday 17 June
Year 10A – D Outdoor Education, Gippsland Lakes & Barmah National Park
Years 9 & 10 Examinations conclude
Year 7 Planetarium Excursion (7SCIA, 7SCIB, 7SCIG, 7SCIH), Scienceworks 9:00AM
Year 5 Round Robin, Trinity Grammar School 12:00PM
AGSV Firsts Football, 12:00PM
Year 3, 4 & 6 Sport, Bulleen 1:30PM
Trinity/Ruyton Musical Rehearsal, 3:30PM
Saturday 18 June
Term 2 AGSV Winter Sport concludes
Saturday Morning Winter Sport, 8:30AM
Trinity/Ruyton Musical Rehearsal, 2:00PM
Year 12 Formal, San Remo Ballroom 7:00PM
Monday 20 June
Year 10E – H Work Experience commences
VET Structured Workplace Learning commences
Early Finish – Senior School, 2:45PM