Week 4, Term 2 – 2018
MENU: Editorial | Agite Awards | Junior School | Senior School | Chaplain’s Chat | Music News | Community Relations | Notices and Announcements
FROM THE HEADMASTER
I once read that a Harvard Study of Communications found that it only takes seven seconds for you to make a first impression on another human being. Yesterday morning, we had the great joy of hosting prospective parents and boys who are considering enrolment at Trinity over the next few years. We met on top of the Drum in the Tudor Centre and set off touring the Senior and Junior Schools. Acting as tour guides, I along with Mr Brown, Mr Nalder and our Admissions Team, took the groups through classrooms, the Design and Technology Centre, the science labs, the McIntyre Gym, the art and music spaces, as well as through the Junior School and the ELC. As we walked in and out of classrooms the prospective students talked to our current boys to get the good oil, while their parents seemed transfixed by the quality of these interactions.
I chatted with my tour group about the reasons for their interest in Trinity, and what they thought we could offer them. They were extremely impressed by the breadth of subjects offered, the link with Ruyton, the ability to cater for all boys whatever their ability, the quality of our teachers, the number of languages studied, and the variety of cocurricular offerings. It was very pleasing to hear that these prospective students were so enthusiastic about partaking in the Formula 1 in Schools program, or going on a camp, or seeing the Great Wall of China as part of our Year 9 China Experience. One of the young boys was particularly taken by the photography class we visited, and seemed very keen to be among those Trinity students capturing images around the campus.
On arriving back at the Tudor Centre, I asked the parents for their feedback. Again, and again, the parents told me that they thought the Trinity boys looked happy; happy to be at school, happy to be in each other’s company and happy to welcome visitors. With quite a few Old Trinity Grammarians in the groups, I was extremely pleased to hear that they were suitably impressed with the current crop of boys. One of the OTGs bumped into Miss Hall, who had taught him English in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was wonderful to see them reconnect and resume their conversation as if no time had gone by at all.
We finished our time together with a morning tea in the Tudor Centre. Between bites of party pies, I asked one young boy about his first impression of Trinity. He said ‘Great! great classrooms, good opportunities and really good pies!’ During the tour, the families coming into our school will have had a whole series of ‘seven-second’ first impressions. I was so proud to see that on a normal Monday morning, they could see our school for what it is at its core; a place where people are happy, where people interact warmly with each other, and a place where anyone and everyone can find and pursue their passions.
Michael Davies
Headmaster
AGITE AWARDS
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
On the morning of Friday May 4, many of our Junior School boys arrived early to school to enjoy a breakfast with their mothers in honour of Mother’s Day. This special time of year allows us all to remember the importance of love and to celebrate the kindness and care we receive from others. The Junior School Captain, Ewan Brown, acknowledged that the role of a mother is to bring up their child with love and affection. Our boys are very lucky as they often have not only caring mothers, but also stepmothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, and friends who support them in all their endeavours. In addition to tasty treats and conversation, our guests enjoyed Alex the Magician, who was a grand finalist in Australia’s Got Talent. We are very grateful to Jane Kupsch and all the parent volunteers, Sue Felton and the Community Relations team, Events Manager Sharlene Mik, and our maintenance and catering teams for organising an event that allows our families to come together. We wish all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day this weekend.
Emily MacLean
Deputy Head of Junior School – Innovation and School Excellence
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
House Cross Country
Senior School House Cross Country was held last Tuesday at Bulleen. The Year 7 and 8 start was near the main dam and the boys (and some staff) set off at a cracking pace. That race was won by Merritt House’s Oscar Brown. The Year 9 and 10 boys had their start near the maintenance sheds, while the Open race (two laps of the entire complex) started near Bulleen Road on the Hughes Field. It was a perfect day for racing and Tristan Day (Roberts House) held off Josh McLeod (Henty House) in an excellent race.
Year 7 Mothers’ Day Breakfast
The Year 7 Mother’s Day Breakfast was held last Thursday. Organised by Alice Chiew, the assembled boys and their mothers heard from Mrs Vasanthi Savundra (mother of School Captain Nathan Savundra-Shepherd) and from Nathan. Their talks gave a terrific (and at times amusing) look into raising a Trinity boy. Well done and thank you to the mothers who organised the event and to the Suzuki String players who performed at the breakfast.
Generations in Jazz
Well done to the 40 Trinity musicians who attended the Generations in Jazz Festival in Mt Gambier over the weekend. We look forward to hearing the final results.
2018 Music Extravaganza Concert
On Monday 14 May at 7.30pm, 215 students will participate in the Music Extravaganza Concert in the Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre, Xavier College. Seating is free of charge, but must be booked. Please click here to reserve your seats.
Respectful Relationships
Victoria’s Respectful Relationships initiative supports school leaders, educators and our school communities to promote and model respect and equality – and to teach our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence. We know that schools play a major role in creating and maintaining a culture of respect and gender equality. The problems with family and gender violence within the wider community has made it clear that more needs to be done to educate our young people. We are working hard at Trinity to raise awareness and learning opportunities for our boys. To assist us the Department of Education and Training has released teaching modules for use within the classroom; however, the emphasis is also on the modelling of respectful relationships within school. We are also inviting Senior School students to join a working group this year so we can better promote these issues among the student body, and develop creative ways that students can be involved. If parents have any queries regarding this initiative, please contact Annabel Coburn, School Psychologist and Head of Counselling coburna@trinity.vic.edu.au
Annabel Coburn
School Psychologist and Head of Counselling
Debating
The 2018 season of Debating has begun strongly for Trinity! In the most recent round, our boys won eight debates, and Jake Helder, Cameron Thannhauser, Benjamin Fox, Mike Zhou, William Browning, Daniel Sevo, Nicholas Fallaw and Kevin Nimalraj were all awarded Best Speaker prizes. Some of the topics debated were ‘that Spain should grant independence to Catalonia’, ‘that the West should lift all sanctions on Zimbabwe’ and ‘that Australia and New Zealand should unify as a single country’. The next round will be held at Camberwell Boys’ Grammar School on Monday 14 May, and we invite all students, parents and staff to come along and support our boys.
Rima Khallouf
Head of School Debating
CHAPLAIN’S CHAT
‘Breaking’ before Burnout
Burnout is a serious and ever growing problem in our workplaces and communities. Successful people are floundering at the point when they should be flourishing – falling down and failing at life when they are still in their prime. Is it the fault of rising expectations placed on us by our increasingly competitive and complex world? Is it the fault of employers and workplaces driving us to achieve better outcomes? Is it the pressure we place upon ourselves to be perfect parents, partners and professionals when measured against our colleagues and peers? Or is it a combination of all of the above?
The Traffic Authority used to run an advertisement, ‘Crash before you Drive’, designed to encourage drivers to take rest breaks before and during a long journey. In the same way cars need fuel in the tank to reach their destination, putting ‘fuel in the tank’ is essential for our physical and emotional health. Part of knowing ourselves is knowing what it is that will top up our tank. Any psychologist or health professional would tell us that in order to remain healthy it is essential we eat well, sleep well and exercise regularly. Nevertheless, our lifestyles and the demands of modern life rarely permit this healthy balance.
Meanwhile, there is a dimension not yet spoken of which is equally significant – the need for spiritual refreshment. What wisdom does Christian Scripture have to offer us? Apparently, quite a lot. Still, I will restrict myself to the invitation of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel where he is recorded as saying, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28-30) In the end, each and every part of our lives requires rest and refreshment, fuel in the tank both now and for the road ahead. Jesus is the one who carries our burdens and unyokes us in order to set us free. He does the heavy lifting – not merely so we don’t have to – but because we can’t – we are incapable. He offers us a perfect bill of health through faith in him, so we might share in an eternity of rest with him in the New Creation.
Perhaps these words may be a timely reminder to you, to give it a rest … to take a break before you burn out – and to find your true rest in Jesus.
Every blessing,
Rev’d Geoff Everett
Assistant Chaplain and Head of Religion
MUSIC NEWS
2018 Generations in Jazz, Mt Gambier Tour
Congratulations to the 40 students representing the Trinity Grammar Big Band, Stage Band and Generations in Jazz Vocal Ensemble who competed at the 2018 Generations in Jazz competition held at Mt Gambier last weekend.
Music Scholars’ Concert
Eleven of Trinity’s finest musicians will perform at the Music Scholars’ Concert tomorrow night, Wednesday 9 May in the South Room at 7.30pm. All TGS staff, students, families and friends are warmly invited to attend. No tickets are required.
Extravaganza Concert 2018
215 students will participate in the Extravaganza Concert next Monday 14 May at 7.30pm in the Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre, Xavier College. The Symphony Orchestra, Senior Strings, Trinity Strings, Suzuki Strings, Intermediate Mitre Band, Senior Choir, Middle School Choir and Symphonic Wind will all perform.
Seating is free of charge, but must be booked. Please click here to reserve your seats.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Trinity Ball
Don’t miss out on the 2018 Trinity Ball – tickets are selling fast and bookings will close on Wednesday 9 May 2018.
Click here and follow the prompts to book your tickets!
Date: Saturday 19 May 2018
Time: 7.00pm arrival, drinks and canapés served, 7.30pm doors open to the reception
Venue: The Glasshouse, Olympic Boulevard
Dress Code: Formal
Price: $195.00
Guests will enjoy a delicious three-course meal from The Big Group’s autumn menu, as well as wine, beer, Champagne and non-alcoholic beverages. An open bar will also be operating for those wishing to purchase spirits.
- Master of Ceremonies – Peter Rowsthorn (OTG 1980) from Kath and Kim, and more recently I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here, will be our MC for the night. Get ready for lots of laughs and light-hearted fun.
- Angela Librandi and Band – Angela has sung with many well-known international stars such as Renee Geyer, Jessica Mauboy, Jimmy Barnes, and, most recently, Hugh Jackman. Angela and her band are sure to keep us dancing all night with her unique blend of RnB and Jazz. ‘DJ Wills on the Sax’ (OTG 2015) will get the party started.
- Raffle and Live Auction – Do you fancy international return airfares, lunch with AFL legends, a 2017 Richmond Premiership Guernsey or a mega pre-paid Visa card? We have plenty of raffle and live auction prizes available – something for everyone! You might prefer a weekend away at the fabulous eco-luxe resort or Quest; basketball, netball, league and AFL memorabilia; a fully catered dinner in the West Room for you and 16 of your friends; babysitting by Mr Nalder; dinner or lunch at some of Melbourne’s finest establishments; a notebook computer or a stocked wine fridge are just some of our great items. Thanks to all our supporters for their generous donations.
Parking is available at Melbourne Park and you can pre-book at a discounted rate by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please contact our Ball convenors:
- Sarah Makris – sarahmakris@gmail.com and Anna Wells-Jansz – awellsjansz@icloud.com (Green & Gold Committee Parent Volunteers)
- Sharon Kendall – kendalls@trinity.vic.edu.au (Trinity Representative)
Trinity Cafeteria – Volunteers Needed!
Please consider volunteering for the café. 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.
Click here to view the volunteer roster for Term 2.
Trinity Shop
Thanks to all who support the Trinity Shop and to our parent volunteers who provide this service. We will be open:
Thursday 10 May: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
- Pricing: Carolyn Crouch, Lisa Torrance, Janice Bland
- Sales: Fiona Griffiths, Meileen Tan, Julie Limmer
Thursday 24 May: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
- Pricing: Liz Beasley, Sushil Bedi, Christina Branagan
- Sales: Kathy Pang, Robyn Walker, Jenny Bennett, Jane King
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Year 12 Parent Lunch
Please save Friday 29 June in your diary for a Year 12 Parent Lunch at Centonove. Further details and a formal invitation will be sent out soon.
Year 9 – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Date: Thursday 24 May
Time: 8.30am
Where: Hotel 115 Grill and Brewhouse for breakfast or just coffee.
Cost of Entry: Gold coin donation in support of the Cancer Council Victoria
Year 9 Family Trivia Night
Following on from the great success of last year, we have again booked the Junktion Hotel in Kew. Please save Saturday 23 June in your diary! Further details will be provided soon.
NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Arabunna Tour Information Evening
An information evening in preparation for the annual Arabunna Tour will be held tonight, Tuesday 8 May, from 7.30pm in the West Room of the Centre for the Arts.
The Tour will take place from Friday 14 – Sunday 23 September, and is open to students, families, and all other members of the Trinity community.
If you are interested in going on the tour, or simply want to find out more, please come along. A light supper will be served.
Parents’ Book and Poetry Groups
Looking ahead for this term
Book Group:
- Tuesday 15 May: Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
- Tuesday 12 June: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- Tuesday 26 June: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Poetry Group:
- Tuesday 22 May: Andrew Motion
- Tuesday 5 June: Robinson Jeffers
- Tuesday 19 June: Hugh MacDiarmid
All Poetry and Book Groups take place on Tuesday evenings between 7.00pm and 8.00pm in the Tudor Centre, unless there is a publicised location change.
For information regarding these events and other details, please contact me at bantickc@trinity.vic.edu.au.
Christopher Bantick
Senior School English Teacher