Week 7, Term 2 – 2018
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FROM THE HEADMASTER
I find the sound of the didgeridoo mesmerising, almost haunting. For me, it is the iconic Australian sound, a sound that has resonated around this country as a symbol of an ancient but continuing civilisation.
This week is national reconciliation week. At Trinity it started for us, as a staff, with Corey Atkinson, one of our two Dadirri Officers, playing the didgeridoo and performing an Acknowledgement of Country in our Monday staff briefing. Corey explained the significance of the week for him and for our country. Around the staff room he had placed indigenous tools, weapons and instruments, some immediately recognisable, others less so.
Corey took time to talk about a heavy club called a boondi. The boondi, Corey told us, is formed from the trunk and root ball of a tree. After being dried for up to five weeks, the wood is shaped and smoothed into an object of beauty; however, once you pick it up and feel the mass of the weapon sitting in your hand, you realise that it is also well suited to purpose. It is an ingenious and efficient use of natural resources that would have helped in the killing of large prey and in warfare.
As the name suggests, National Reconciliation Week will be celebrated across the country this week, by indigenous and non-indigenous people. This year the theme – Don’t Keep History a Mystery – invites us all to unearth the lesser known aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture, traditions and achievements. As a school we are involving all of our students – the ELC students will learn traditional dance, there will be exhibitions, guest speakers, traditional musicians and dancers; Trinity will be alive with the oldest continuous culture in the world.
A quick visit to reconciliation.org.au will give everyone in our community some great insights into the significance and meaning of the week, and some tips for things that we can do as families to think about and engage with these significant issues. Rest assured that as a school, we are committed to reconciliation, to coming together. The website states ‘Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’. At Trinity, we are fully committed and are happy to lead the way.
Michael Davies
Headmaster
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JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Last week, Trinity hosted one of the much-anticipated Victorian International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) network ‘TeachMeets’. TeachMeets are an organised opportunity for teachers from across the state to come together and share good practice. The Victorian PYP network puts like minds together to help further develop PYP-related methodology.
Teachers from Trinity attended both as members of the audience, and also as presenters. Jon Knight showcased his recent work on developmental rubrics/matrices which actively and successfully engage students in the assessment of their inquiry work. Amy Jackson discussed the world of PYP single subject lines of inquiry and ways in which such subjects can truly grab the attention of learners.
Aside from the benefits of such learning opportunities for staff, Trinity values professional development such as this because it helps staff live the values of the IB and model many aspects of the learner profile. The benefits of life-long learning are what we strive to instil in the boys and therefore must live and breathe ourselves as educators.
Tom Savill
Deputy Head of Junior School – Administration
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Year 7 Grandparents and Friends Morning
Thank you to all the Grandparents and Friends who attended school last Wednesday. There were 150 visitors to the school, who were shown around the campus, and attended Chapel, Period 3 and enjoyed a morning tea.
It was great to see the boys’ smiles and their appreciation of their grandparents’ and friends’ wisdom.
Reconciliation Week
This week is Reconciliation Week, which began with the didgeridoo, played by Corey Atkinson, Dadirri Officer, as the Official Party entered into Assembly last Thursday. Nate Muir (Year 11) spoke about reconciliation, as did the Headmaster and the School Captain.
During the week there will be visits to classrooms by Corey and Michael Naawi (Dadirri Officers), dance, Indigenous culture, Indigenous games, a breakfast on Wednesday morning, and a Harambee BBQ on Thursday.
Congratulations
- Noah Rindt (Year 8), who has been selected for the Victorian U15 Volleyball squad to compete in September; and
- Aidan Browne (Year 9), who was part of the Silver Medal winning Victorian Gymnastics team, contributing with Floor and Vault.
Premier’s VCE Awards
Congratulations to the following Year 12 2017 boys who were recently presented with Premier’s VCE Awards:
- Anand Bharadwaj – Top All-Round VCE High Achiever, Premier’s VCE Award for English
- Charlie Dixon – Premier’s VCE Award for Product Design and Technology
- Luke Hill-Smith – Premier’s VCE Award for Drama
Bringing Valuables to School
We remind boys that they need to look after any valuable possessions by either securing them in their locker or handing them to form teachers or Heads of Year. Leaving phones, computers, wallets, shoes etc. on top of lockers or in public spaces is tempting fate. Please also refrain from bringing large amounts of money to school.
Carrying Laptops to, at, and from School
We kindly ask parents to remind their sons that they must carry their laptop computers in a laptop bag. While school laptops are fully insured against accidental damage, this is only the case when being carried between classes in a suitable bag. Boys must not carry the computer loose under their arm. If boys do not like the bag provided with the computer, they are required to use an alternative sleeve or bag that offers some impact protection. (Please note that a neoprene sleeve is not considered suitable by our insurers). The Tech Centre will soon be stocking some suitable laptop sleeves that boys can purchase for $40, or we can add this charge to a fee account upon receipt of a signed parental note.
Commerce Faculty Colloquium
This year’s Commerce Faculty Colloquium will held in Arnold Hall on Wednesday 6 June from 6.30pm-8.00pm, with refreshments served from 5.30pm.
We have an exciting line-up of speakers organised, and boys and parents will have an opportunity to ask each presenter about their careers and study paths at the end of the night.
Hear from:
- Con Coustas (OTG 1978), small business owner, about the role of entrepreneurs in the age of digital disruption
- Lizzy Kuoth, refugee educator and multicultural officer, about building social cohesion, addressing negative perceptions and raising public awareness about refugees, their journey and contributions to Australia
- The Hon Mr Kevin Andrews MP, Member for Menzies, about dual citizenship, the Constitution, and the role of the High Court in the 21st Century
- Magistrate, Mr Julian Ayres, about justice, the role of a magistrate, and responding to youth crime; and
- The Hon Mr John Pesutto MP, Shadow Attorney-General for the State of Victoria and Member for Hawthorn, on how becoming a republic could solve the Australia Day dispute
All are welcome to attend and there is no need to book. Please contact Darren Sellers, Head of Commerce, for more information.
Newman College Lecture
Recently, Ryan Chao (Year 12) and Leo Contos (Year 12) attended a dinner at Newman College (University of Melbourne) for a special history event that included a lecture by Dr Catherine Kovesi of the University of Melbourne. Ryan Chao writes about his experience:
On Friday 18 May, Leo Contos and I, along with Mr Bolzonello, attended a Forum Dinner at Newman College, at the University of Melbourne. Upon arrival, we were greeted by one of their graduates and given a guided tour of the many facilities they have to offer, including their exquisite chapel. Pre-dinner drinks followed, where we mingled with some of the undergraduates and students from other schools before we were invited into the dining hall for the dinner itself. The dinner was accompanied by a fascinating lecture from Dr Catherine Kovesi, linking the Black Death and the Renaissance to our modern world. She explained how conditions that arose during this period have influenced the modern idea of luxury and lavish expenditure. This was then followed by a discussion of the topic, where our questions were answered by Dr Kovesi. The experience of learning about Newman College and a great talk made the night both entertaining and fascinating.
CHAPLAIN’S CHAT
In the 1980s, two songwriters, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, wrote an earthy ‘Aussie’ ballad titled From Little Things Big Things Grow. The song tells the inspiring story of the Gurindji people’s struggle for equality and land rights after their ‘walk off’ at the Wave Hill property in 1966. The song’s title and chorus remind us that with determination and courage little things can grow into something much larger – that change can come where hope has been stifled. The reconciliation that was achieved required persistence and a humble spirit, but trust was restored in place of enmity.
Bishop Desmond Tutu reminds us that True reconciliation is based on forgiveness. The small step of seeking God’s forgiveness is the beginning of being reconciled to others. I think our best life investment is being reconciled to God by humbly recognising our own frailties before Him. In time this reconciliation will help our friendships grow and deepen into something much bigger, truly beautiful and deeply meaningful.
Don Stott
Junior School Chaplain
MUSIC NEWS
5th Annual Victorian Flute Guild Competition success!
Congratulations to the following flautists who represented Trinity Grammar School and performed to an exceedingly high level on Sunday 27 May 2018 at the 25th Annual Victorian Flute Guild Competition.
- Duet Section: First place awarded to Zac Dubow and Jeremy Fox
- Flute Ensemble: Second place awarded to Thomas Arbon, Callan Baker, Zac Dubow, Jeremy Fox and Jayden Spring
Year 4 and 5 Ensemble Concert
On Tuesday 5 June at 7.00pm, 170 students from Junior School will perform at the Year 4 and 5 Ensemble Concert. Performers will include all Year 4 and 5 students and the Junior Concert Band (including Year 6 Concert Band members). The concert will be held in the South Room of the Centre for the Arts. All staff, TGS students and parents are welcome to attend. No tickets are required.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Oaks Day Lunch Committee
We will be meeting next Wednesday 30 May at 2.00pm in Hudson House. It is not too late to be involved in organising this great day. If you are interested in joining this friendly group, please contact Sharon Kendall, Community Liaison.
Trinity Cafeteria – Volunteers Needed
Please come and meet the new Café Manager, Ida, who comes to Trinity from MLC. Please consider volunteering for the 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
Thank you to all who support the Trinity Shop and to our parent volunteers who provide this service. We will be open:
Thursday 7 June: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
- Pricing: Carolyn Crouch, Leanne Larkin, Deborah Hunt
- Sales: Libby Stobie, Elizabeth Trott, Catriona Wells
Thursday 21 June: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
- Pricing: Liz Beasley, Diane DiStefano, Kate Jennings
- Sales: Monica Zhou, Yanxia Gu, Juli Moran
Donations for the Trinity Shop may be dropped off at Reception during business hours.
Founders’ Day Fair – Sunday 18 November
Fine Foods Stall
With tomatoes at the market and beautiful autumn fruit in season, it is the ideal time for plum, blackberry, pear, and tomato preserves.
The Fine Foods group, a fabulously welcoming and successful group of jam, chutney, marmalade and sauce producers for the Trinity Fair, would like to welcome any inquiries from new and familiar faces.
For more information, please contact Emma Drake or Sally James.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
PREP PARENTS
Date: Saturday 16 June 2018
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Osteria 20, 818 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn
RSVP: Please click here to book by Tuesday 12 June 2018
Cost: $50.00 per person includes entree, main course and dessert. Drinks available via cash bar on the night.
YEAR 5 PARENTS
Year 5 Reps will be hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday 31 May after drop-off, from 8.30am
Date: Thursday 31 May
Time: 8.30am
Venue: Information in the Connect email
RSVP: to Narmi via email to narmada29@yahoo.com for catering purposes
YEAR 7 PARENTS
Mingle and meet Year 7 parents at a new local wine bar for mid-year drinks!
Date: Thursday 21 June
Time: from 7.00pm
Venue: Flatiron Sidedoor, 72 Willsmere Road, Kew
Cost: $40.00 per person includes drink on arrival, pizza and platters
RSVP: Thursday 14 May by clicking here
YEAR 10 PARENTS
Please join Trinity Year 10 Mums on Opening Night in a private cinema to see Ocean’s 8
Date: Thursday 7 June
Time: from 6.45pm
Venue: Lido Cinema, 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
Cost: $25.00 per person includes movie in a private cinema, glass of wine, champagne or soft drink and nibbles
RSVP: Wednesday 30 May by clicking here
Fundraising for the Cancer Council
NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tonight, The Parents’ Poetry Group meets at 6.30pm in the Tudor Centre. The poet under discussion is Robinson Jeffers. Please note this change from the advertised poet, Andrew Motion, as well as the time change.
Book and Poetry Groups will now meet at 6.30pm in the Tudor Centre for the remainder of this term. The discussion on Hugh MacDiarmid scheduled for Tuesday 29 May will now move to Tuesday 19 June. There will be no meetings on Tuesday 5 June or Tuesday 19 June.
Book Group:
- Tuesday 12 June: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- Tuesday 26 June: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
For information regarding these events and other details, please contact Christopher Bantick
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