Newsletter Edition 4, Term 1 2023
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From the Principal
Early Learning Centre
Junior School
Senior School
Cocurricular
Chaplain’s Chat
Community
From the Principal
Adrian Farrer
Principal
Early Learning Centre
Secure, Respectful, Reciprocal Relationships
As a team of Early Childhood educators, the staff within the Early Learning Centre have professional knowledge, practices and creativity that we use to intentionally foster and nurture children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
Our ELC team is attuned to children’s thoughts and feelings. We support their learning, development and wellbeing. Research has shown the importance of relational and place-based pedagogies for children’s optimal learning, development and wellbeing.
Over this term we have developed our respectful relationships with children and their families. We are able to work together to use relational and place-based pedagogies that assist in developing curriculum relevant to our students in their local context.
As a team we prioritise nurturing relationships through culturally safe and responsive interactions, and provide children with consistent emotional support. We value the role of familiar routines and everyday rituals in children’s lives, and ensure children develop the abilities and skills, such as self-regulation, and understandings they require for interacting with others.
Our staff also help children learn about their responsibilities to others, to support their own and others’ wellbeing, to appreciate their connectedness and interdependence as learners, and to value collaboration and teamwork.
Naomi Wright
Director of the Early Learning Centre
>Junior School
Buddies in the Junior School
On Thursday 9 March, Junior School students met their Ruyton buddies in our first of several opportunities scheduled for the year. Students in Prep, Year 2, 4 and 6 welcomed Ruyton students to our campus whilst other year levels were hosted by Ruyton. The focus of these activities was to develop connections between the students and most of all to have fun!
Year 3 students Lucas and Harry working with their Ruyton buddies to solve some brain teasers.
Liam and Ethan constructing a marble run with their Ruyton counterpart.
Buddies are an important part of life in the Junior School, providing strong connections to be made between students of all ages. For many students, their first experience in their Trinity journey is a letter from a buddy as a way of making them feel welcome to the school. Cross age opportunities include buddy sessions between different year levels, the Great Mates program, as well as some outstanding Year 9 mentors helping with numerous activities, most recently the Year 4 camp. All of these provide opportunities for authentic service and foster a strong sense of belonging.
Year 4 students with their Year 9 mentor, Ben
Torben Vedelsby
Deputy Head of Junior School (Learning & Innovation)
South Yarra District Swimming Carnival 2023
Our first School Sports Victoria sporting event for the year was held on Tuesday 21 February at MSAC – South Yarra District Swimming Carnival. A small, selected team of boys from times achieved at the House Swimming sports competed at this event, achieving many personal best times and some outstanding individual and relay team results. Our district, South Yarra, is made up of boys and girls from the following schools: Westbourne Grammar, Christ Church, Ruyton, Camberwell Grammar, St Michaels, Shelford and St Leonards.
Students in all age groups who finished with the two fastest times for their event have progressed through to the Beachside Divisional Carnival to be held at Oakleigh Recreation Centre on Friday 10 March. It was wonderful again to see our boys cheer on their team members and to see parents support our boys who achieved some outstanding results!
David Ponsford
Director of Junior School Sport & Cocurricular activities
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Senior School
OzClo competition
On Wednesday afternoon, two teams of highly able students represented Trinity in the OzClo competition, a set of tasks requiring understanding and analytical skill in linguistics and the construction of language. This year’s questions were based on Umbrian, Parma, Nizaa, Tidore and Lardil – five obscure (but real) languages spoken by small groups of people in different countries. Each has its own vocabulary, script, grammar and idiosyncrasies.
Five extremely challenging problems kept the boys engaged for two hours of collaborative, creative work after which they had solutions and suggestions for many of the questions.
Michael Fan, Sam Shaw, James Tsui and Hayden Randle comprised one team while the other team was Lucas van den Berg, Owen Scott-Murphy, Anthony Papaleo and Timothy Ma. The boys were enthusiastic, determined and focused and should be congratulated for their effort and for making Trinity proud of our participation in this annual event.
Sue Doig
Henty Institute
Indigenous Student Program
Trinity’s Indigenous Student Program (ISP) includes recipients of the General Excellence Indigenous Education Scholarship, as well as a select intake of graduates from the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS). MITS was established by former Trinity Principal Mr Richard Tudor and wife Dr Elizabeth Tudor, and exists to create pathways to greater opportunity for Indigenous students from remote and regional communities, so that they may lead lives full of choice and opportunity. Following a discreet two-year program students then have the opportunity, should they wish, to transition to a partner school such as Trinity to continue their learning experience in Melbourne.
Transition activities are underway, initially with the full MITS male cohort, to identify the most suitable students to join Trinity in 2024. Last week’s tour of the Kew campus included key conversations with former MITS students Zayne Weis (Yr9) and Antwan Huddleston (Yr11) as well as Head of Year 9 Mrs Cassie Cooper. We look forward to continuing to work closely with MITS and the students who are successful in gaining enrolment at Trinity in 2024.
General Excellence Scholarships (Indigenous Education) are also open to Indigenous students who live in the Melbourne Metropolitan region and are entering Year 7 in 2024.
Please contact admissions@trinity.vic.edu.au or +61 3 9854 3600 for more information.
Nathan Perrin
Indigenous Student Program Manager
Susan Hill
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School
Cocurricular
Jazz Workshop
On Sunday 26 February, members of Big Band and Stage Band attended our Annual Jazz Workshop. This year the Chief Clinician was renowned Australian trumpeter Mat Jodrell, who offered great insight into the charts the groups are preparing for their performance at Generations in Jazz in May, in Mt Gambier, South Australia. Mat has performed with greats such as Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, and the Mingus Big Band, to name a few, and the Trinity students are extremely lucky to have access to such a world class musician to develop their jazz playing and understanding of this style. In addition, leading jazz musicians Lachlan Davidson, Christopher Hale, and Andrew Hammond were guest tutors and joined with our Trinity music staff to work with the students on their sectional craft. It was a great day for all involved and a ‘springboard’ for our preparation over the coming weeks. Looking forward to Generations in Jazz!
Christopher Hale working with Big Band students
Mat Jodrell working with Stage Band students
Jamie Ransome
Head of Brass, Woodwind & Bands
Music Helps Harambee
For the second consecutive year the Suzuki Violins participated in Harambee Sundee by performing all the pieces in the first four books of repertoire, outdoors under the shade of the trees in the courtyard. Boys from the Junior and Senior Schools joined forces, led by their Senior School and Junior School Music Captains, Angus Wong and Heli Cheung, both Suzuki violinists. At one point a crowd gathered watching the students display their joy of playing – along with a few sausages!
Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing
Coordinator, Suzuki Strings
Seeking hamper donations for HPAF raffle
After last year’s amazing response, we are again asking for hamper donations to help prepare for our upcoming HPAF raffle. We are seeking non-perishable items such as wine, chocolate, specialty jams/condiments/teas, gift vouchers etc., which can be used to make up our specialty hampers. Hamper donations can be dropped off in the Music Administration Office, at the Centre for the Arts (CFA), on either Thursday 16 March or Friday 17 March, between 8am and 4pm. Please note, all the funds raised at the upcoming HPAF raffle will go towards the Music program, benefiting the students by providing additional music initiatives that sit outside the regular school budget.
Bigger Better Brains
Bigger Better Brains recently started a campaign called “This is not a…”. At the essence of the campaign is the idea that music learning is not just learning music but learning how to learn.
You can read more here: https://biggerbetterbrains.com/news-post/this-is-not-a-violin/
Jan Blazejczak
Director of Music
The Book of Will, Senior School play 2023
“Those words are our life’s work, Will’s life. If we don’t find them, they die with us.”
We are excited to welcome the wider Trinity/Ruyton community to join us at this year’s Senior Play, The Book of Will, by Lauren Gunderson.
Three years after the death of their friend, William Shakespeare, The Kings Men reminisce on the golden days of poetry, and realise that unless they act, the words of their friend will be lost forever.
Their quest to immortalise the plays of Shakespeare leads them through the turmoil of grief and copyright infringement and onto the paths of a defiant poet, a passionate scrivener, a greedy publisher and a vengeful poet laureate. Hinged on the success of this band of actors, storytellers, and alewives, is the legacy of one of the most influential writers in the history of the world.
Tickets are now available to attend The Book of Will, our 2023 Senior Play, with the performance season running from 30 March – 1 April. With limited tickets available, secure yours now!
https://events.humanitix.com/trinity-ruyton-senior-school-play-the-book-of-will
Rebecca Cecil
Productions Manager, Drama Department
Chaplain’s Chat
Ever wondered what it would be like to have a saint in your family? (No, not the footy variety). This week in Chapel the Junior School learned about Mary MacKillop and it was exciting to hear from one of our Year 6 boys, Henry Macmorran, about his family’s connection to our only Australian saint.
Mary MacKillop was the eldest of eight children, born in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1842 to Scottish parents. She was working to help support the family by the age of fourteen and at eighteen moved to Penola, South Australia, to be governess to her niece and nephew. This first taste of teaching led to teaching the children of surrounding farms, to eventually opening a school for fifty children in a renovated stable! (Amazing things can happen in stables…) By 1871, her dream of providing an education for all poor children was being realised, with 130 sisters working in over 40 schools and charitable institutions.
With a work ethic honed from the time she was 14, a deep faith in God’s provision and undoubted vision and courage, Mary MacKillop worked tirelessly to bring opportunities for education to the poorest and most vulnerable in Australian society. In a world constantly offering us ways in which we might satisfy our own wants and desires and to make our own lives as comfortable as possible, Mary MacKillop offers us a different example: “Find happiness in making others happy.” The Trinity community’s coming together for Harambee Sundee was a perfect Lenten opportunity for us to look outside ourselves and our school to those who face barriers to wellbeing and the educational opportunities we enjoy here at Trinity. May we continue to walk in the footsteps of Mary MacKillop, seeking to do God’s work and trusting in Him to provide all that is needful for the journey.
Cecilia Fairlie
Junior School Chaplain
Director of Outreach
Community
Thank you for your outstanding generosity in raising funds to the total of $59,829.40 for Harambee Sundee. Most of the funds will provide six months’ education for 38 Primary students, 51 Secondary students and 15 Tertiary/Vocational students in Uganda through Hope Builders International. This will also cover the uniform costs and stationery. Raised funds from Harambee Sundee will also support the Vocation Centre in Kenya and our other local Harambee ministries.
It was a magnificent day and statement of who Trinity are as a community. Great schools do not just teach you; they change you. The best schools give hope to communities and students we walk with that never thought they could rise. Education breaks the cycle of poverty. Thanks for reaching out and giving so many people hope. It was just wonderful to see ECL, Junior School and Senior School come together as one and step up for such an important cause. Over the year we will be having Skype classes in the Junior School with students we are supporting at Hope Community High and Jinja Primary School and exchanging in our cultures and sharing experiences.
Tommy Purcell
Director of Outreach
Upcoming Parent and Guardian events
Year 10 Parent and Guardian Drinks
Date: Thursday 23 March
To purchase a ticket, click here: FLATIRON Side Door Wine Bar
RSVP: 15 March
Prep Parent and Guardian Gathering
Date: Saturday 25 March
To purchase a ticket, click here: FLATIRON Side Door Wine bar
RSVP: 18 March
Trinity Rugby Welcome Drinks
Date: Wednesday 29 March
To purchase a ticket, click here: Luton Lane Wine Bar, Hawthorn
RSVP: 22 March
Year 11 Parent and Guardian Drinks
Date: Thursday 30 March
Click here: Nini’s Hawthorn
RSVP: 29 March
Bob Stewart Easter holiday embroidery 2023
To ensure the best opportunity for blazers to be back as close as possible for Term 2 commencement, we kindly ask that all dry-cleaned blazers be submitted by Tuesday 11 April 2023.
All Blazers and worn garments requiring alterations (including embroidery) must be clearly labelled with students’ names, must have a dry-cleaning tag attached and be in the original dry-cleaning bag. This is an essential measure to protect the wellbeing of our staff and contractors for now and the foreseeable future. Noncompliance with dry-cleaning, and blazers submitted after the cut off may result in delays. We thank you for your co-operation. Please note public holidays over Easter and Anzac Day will have an impact on the delivery of this service.
Karolyne Paron
Bob Stewart, Kew
2023 Green and Gold Ball – save the date
Trinity Grammar School woollen blankets
If you would like to purchase the super durable woollen blankets, they are available to purchase online – please click on the link: https://www.trybooking.com/CFWMS
Fine Foods Group
The Trinity Fine Foods team have jams, cordials and sauces available to purchase. 5 for $15 or $5 each – or a Mystery Five (where we pick for you) for $10. Collection from Community Engagement office – 55 Wellington St.
Items can also be purchased online: https://www.trybooking.com/CFSSB
Parent name badges
If you have not received a parent name badge, please complete the form below and we will arrange a replacement for you. Please double check with students/in school bags before completing the form and complete a separate form for each parent.
https://forms.office.com/r/BimyBQ5SW6
Important Dates
Thursday 16 March
Years 7 & 9 Reading NAPLAN, 8:50AM
Year 12 Scone Morning Tea, 10:35AM
Close the Gap Day, Birrell Oval 11:50AM
HPAF After School Long Rehearsal, 3:30PM
VCE Study Night, 6:30PM
Friday 17 March
Years 7 & 9 Convention of Language NAPLAN, 8:15AM
Year 10 Outdoor Education program briefings, Arnold Hall 10:55AM
Year 3-6 House Sport Bulleen, 1:00PM
Senior School Play Rehearsal, P&F Hall 3:30PM
Africa Homework Club, 3:30PM
AGSV Final Swimming Trials conclude, 4:30PM
1993 OTG Reunion, Exhibition Space on top of The Drum 6:30PM
Saturday 18 March
AGSV First Teams Finals – Basketball, Cricket, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball
Scotch Mercantile Regatta, Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre
HPAF Weekend Rehearsal, Centre for the Arts 1:30PM
Senior School Play Rehearsal, P&F Hall 2:00PM
Sunday 19 March
HPAF Weekend Rehearsal, Centre for the Arts 9:00AM
Monday 20 March
HPAF Rehearsals, Arts Centre Hamer Hall All Day – No Senior School classes
Year 5 Camp commences, Arrabri Lodge 8:00AM
ELC Photos Day 1, 9:00AM
HPAF Performance, Arts Centre Hamer Hall 7:00PM
Tuesday 21 March
ELC Photos Day 2, 9:00AM
Trinity Ruyton Year 9 Play Rehearsal, Ruyton 3:30PM
VCE Study Night, 6:30PM
Wednesday 22 March
Years 7 & 9 Numeracy NAPLAN, 8:20AM
Year 5 Camp concludes, Arrabri Lodge 3:15PM
PYP Information Session, Arnold Hall 3:30PM
Rugby Information Night, Arnold Hall 7:00PM
Thursday 23 March
Junior School (ELC – Year 6) Information Morning, Arnold Hall 8:45AM
Trinity Shop, 2:00PM
VCE Study Night, 6:30PM
Friday 24 March
Junior School AGSV Swimming, MSAC 10:45AM
Year 3-6 House Sport, 1:00PM
Senior School Play Rehearsal, P&F Hall 3:30PM
Africa Homework Club, 3:30PM
AGSV Swimming Championships, MSAC 6:30PM
Saturday 25 March
National Rowing Championships
AGSV Final Round Firsts Teams Summer Sport
Senior School Play Rehearsal, P&F Hall 10:00AM
Sunday 26 March
F1 in Schools National Finals, Penrith Panther Event Centre commences 7:30AM
Monday 27 March
Early Finish – Senior School – no sport, music or co-curricular activities, 2:45PM
Year 11 -12 Parent Teacher Interviews, 3:00PM
Trinity Ruyton Year 9 Play Rehearsal, Ruyton 3:30PM
Year 6 Camp Information Evening, 6:30PM
A Night with the Folks – hosted by Tomorrowman, Centre for the Arts 6:30PM
Tuesday 28 March
Junior School SSV Regional Swimming Carnival, MSAC 9:00AM
Senior School Play Dress Rehearsal, P&F Hall 3:30PM
VCE Study Night, 6:30PM