Week 8, Term 1 – 2018
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FROM THE HEADMASTER
These have been difficult days for the Trinity community and there will no doubt be challenging days ahead.
In the midst of this we have seen extraordinary examples of resilience and care being expressed each and every day.
We want you to know that throughout all of this the care of your boys has remained our primary focus. Staff have not lost sight for a single day that we teach the boys, before we teach content.
Teachers are not just turning up but turning up and giving 150% to their students, ensuring that boys are able to remain fully engaged in their learning, whilst also able to explore the complex feelings that they’re having at the moment.
Beyond the supportive environments provided by Classroom teachers, Form teachers and Heads of Year, the boys have been reminded that if they are concerned for themselves or their friends that there are lots of ways they can access the help they need here at school.
Our counselling team has put together a document for the Senior School boys entitled ‘Looking after yourself when unexpected things happen’. This has been made available through the Heads of Year and has been placed strategically throughout the Tudor Centre for anyone to read.
It is full of practical strategies for the boys to use, such as:
- Understand that it can be normal to have strong reactions to a difficult event. Give yourself some time to recover
- Express how you feel by talking to someone, writing about it or finding a creative outlet to share your reactions
- Look after yourself physically; maintain a healthy diet, get regular exercise and make every effort ensure you have enough sleep
- Talk to your family and friends about what help you need
Junior School staff have discussed age appropriate conversations to have with their boys and have a particularly careful eye out for any signs of distress.
The Counsellors and Chaplains have been extraordinary and have ensured extra resources have been available and they have seen a steady stream of boys and staff – before, during and after school.
An external organisational psychologist has also been available for our staff two days a weeks and this support for them will remain in place until at least the end of term.
Amongst the difficulty and distraction, our ‘F1 in Schools’ World Champions have been invited to Government House this week to showcase their project, one of our 2017 students (Charlie Dixon) has been selected for VCE Top Designs, the boys responded with extraordinary generosity to the challenge of closing the Gap for our Indigenous Brothers and sisters, our AGSV swimmer had a fantastic meet last Friday, more than 80 boys and staff ‘Ran’ for the Kids on Sunday (in memory of Linus Couper), and so much more…!
We will never forget that your boys are our number one priority.
Dr Michael Davies
Headmaster
FROM THE ELC
This week we farewell Ms Cheryl Tay, the lunch/rest time assistant in the Three Year Old room, who has been with us for the past three years. Cheryl is taking a new direction in her career within her local parish and she leaves with our sincere thanks for her contribution to the ELC.
There is an Information Evening for parents in the Four Year Old Group at 7.30pm on Thursday 22 March in the ELC. We do hope you will be able to attend. The staff are looking forward to sharing their plans for this year and already the children are very active and enthusiastic participants in the program.
Forms for the Term 1 ELC Holiday Program were distributed recently and we do request that if you wish your child to attend that the completed forms are returned by Friday 23 March.
Genevieve Read
Director of the ELC
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
Ruyton Community Partnership
The Junior School’s Ruyton-Trinity Buddy Program offers our boys the opportunity to inquire, collaborate, communicate and investigate with students from our sister school.
This week our students are joining with their peers at Ruyton to get to know each other through a range of activities. Some of the opportunities the boys will participate in include a picnic lunch, sports and games, reading aloud, maker challenges, and shared maths experiences.
These initiatives help to build relationships between the students, provide a platform to share learning, and extend current thinking, knowledge, concepts or attitudes. While our curriculum and frameworks may differ, our common values are evident as transdisciplinary skills are developed.
We thank Ruyton for hosting some of our year levels at their school and we are eager to welcome the Ruyton girls when they visit Trinity. We look forward to developing a strong and ongoing partnership as the year progresses.
Emily MacLean
Deputy Head of Junior School (Innovation and School Excellence)
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
House Performing Arts Festival (HPAF)
On Monday evening, our eight Senior School Houses performed and competed against one another in front of their peers, parents and staff at the annual House Performing Arts Festival at the Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
It was a wonderful display of talent – there were some wonderful solos, the bands/conductors all did a magnificent job, and of course everyone performing on stage is to be congratulated.
The boys spent a lot of hours working hard, collaborating not only with other members of their House, but with academic and music staff who supported them all the way. As they say, it takes a village!
Congratulations to Cowen for taking out the trophy! Well done to all Houses for another successful HPAF event.
Ben Hinves
Director of Studies
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Run for the Kids
Congratulations and thank you to all of the boys, OTGs, staff and parents who participated in the Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids on Sunday. Each year our Trinity team runs in memory of Linus Couper and all children battling sickness at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
A special thank you to Faith and Outreach Co-Captain, Jake Helder (Year 12) for organising, and also to the teachers (Peter Lewis, Chris Weinberg, Nadia Baker, Mitch Furi, Josh Fisher, Ben Ryder), parents and OTGs who also participated.
Trinity is a special community. All together we make a difference.
Tom Purcell
Director of Outreach
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Team Hyperdrive
Current World Champion F1 in Schools team Hyperdrive (Hugh Bowman, Kyle Winkler, David Greig and Alec Alder) have been invited by Her Excellency, The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, to attend the Official Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Welcome event at Government House on Thursday evening. Here they will showcase their project in the Government House dining room. Hyperdrive will also present on stage at the Innovation and Industry Precinct at the Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, on Friday at 3.00pm. Trinity’s F1 in Schools champions have the privilege of Paddock and Pit access.
Peter Clinton
Teacher in Charge of F1 in Schools
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Formula 1 in Schools – National Finals 2018
Recently, Team Laminar Performance (Thomas Arbon, Owen Grayson, Charles Palfreeman, Euan McKenzie and Ethan Orr, all Year 9) placed sixth in the professional class at the F1 in Schools National Finals in Launceston.
F1 in Schools is the world’s leading Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) competition, with nine million students engaged globally. Students are welcome to form a team of between three to five members to compete in the State Finals in September/October and should register their interest with Mr Clinton in Design and Technology. For more information please click here.
Peter Clinton
Teacher in Charge of F1 in Schools
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Park Street Orienteering
Throughout the first part of Term 1, a small group of keen Trinity orienteers competed in the Park-Street Orienteering Schools Challenge. Through weight of numbers, Scotch College was able to dominate this competition. Our Trinity boys, however, volunteer to do this sport in addition to their other commitments. Nevertheless, excellent running from Henri du Toit (7D) and Mason Arthur (10B) yielded wins in their divisions. The team took second place in two of the weeks, despite having half the runners that Camberwell Grammar supplied. Bush orienteering championships take place in mid-May. More information is available from Mr Daley in Merritt House.
Alan Daley
Teacher-in-Charge of Orienteering
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Year 11 and 12 Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher Interviews will be conducted for Year 11 and 12 on Monday 26 March between 3.00pm and 9.00pm.
Parents should now have received details about how to book via Trinity Connect. The link for booking can be found on Trinity Connect > My Sons > Relevant Links > Parent Teacher Booking or by clicking here.
Ben Hinves
Director of Studies
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2018 Senior School Play
Trinity Grammar School and Ruyton Girls’ School present Candide by Scott Hunter
Venue: Parents & Friends (P&F) Hall, Trinity Grammar School
Performances:
- Thursday 22 March – 7.30pm
- Saturday 24 March – 2.30pm (Matinée)
- Saturday 24 March – 7.30pm
- Sunday 25 March – 2.30pm (Matinée)
Tickets:
- $18 – Adult
- $12 – Student/Child
- $50 – Family (2 Adults & 2 Students/Children)
To book, please click here
Should you have any questions, please contact Mollie Farrell, Performing Arts Production Manager.
CHAPLAIN’S CHAT
The Power of Love
No emotion has been written about more widely, nor portrayed more frequently in film or television or in song. Poems, plays, novels and many of the great stories of history have been borne from it – conquests and achievements have been inspired by it. Love is so integral to life and relationships, it is like the blood that flows through our veins or the cool fresh air that fills our nostrils. Love is a force to be reckoned with, be it on the sports field or in the grand stands, or in our most precious relationships. It arouses our passion and stirs the soul. It is a force that volunteers our whole self to a cause in spite of the consequences. Mostly, it produces great beauty, yet, sometimes it may also inspire a far uglier side to our humanity if left unrestrained. Too often the deepest wounds are inflicted by those most dear to us resulting in all that is opposite to love. So, what is love?
With such a vast array of material it’s hard to know where to begin. Yet, so often I discover the most profound wisdom lies in the ancient pages of Scripture. The passage most frequently read at weddings may in fact be the best place to begin:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails
(1 Cor. 13:4-8)
Yet, who among us has ever embodied such selfless, sacrificial love, better than the Lord Jesus himself? The apostle John said it well when he wrote of Jesus, saying,
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God…This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins”
(1 John 4:7-10)
This is of course the heart of the message of Easter: God’s sacrificial, selfless love for all humanity, revealed through Jesus. That God so loved us that he came and dwelt among us, living the perfect life we fail to live and taking our place on the cross, thus, mercifully sparing us from all we truly deserve, in order that we might receive the blessing of the hope of eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus, celebrated on Easter Sunday.
Praying all those in the Trinity community may know the Power of God’s redeeming love this Easter alongside the peace he offers all those in distress from the suffering and anguish caused by a lack of love in this broken world.
Rev’d Geoff Everett
Assistant Senior Chaplain and Head of Religious Education
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Trinity Cafeteria
Click here to view the volunteer roster for Term 2.
Thank you to everyone who has already generously given up their time to assist. 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. To volunteer in the last few weeks of Term 1, please click here.
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Uniform Shop
Thanks to all those who supported the pop up sale on Thursday, it was a great success. Our appreciation goes to our coordinators, organisers and all those who volunteered on the day.
We open again on Saturday 24 March then in Term 2 on Thursday 19 April.
Saturday 24 March: 10.30am – 12.30pm
- Pricing: Juli Moran, Kylie Oliver
- Sales: Amanda Stock, Claire Harpin
If you would like to find out more about helping in the Trinity Shop, please contact Susan Lane (parent volunteer) for details.
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PARENT EVENTS
Year 12 Drinks
Join Year 12 parents for a drink to celebrate the start of the home straight! Compare notes on how the year has started, how much homework is being done, and everything else!
Date: Thursday 22 March 2018
Time: 6.30pm- 9.00pm
Venue: Flatiron Side Door, 72 Willsmere Rd, Kew
Year 6 Parents Drinks
Date: Wednesday 28 March
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Finch & Jane, 431 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn
RSVP: by Friday 23 March via trybooking.com/362348
Enquiries: to Sarah Berti via email to jandsberti@bigpond.com or on 0418 300 136
Click here to view a flyer for this event
Junior School Mother’s Day Breakfast
This year’s Junior School Mother’s Day Breakfast will be held on Friday 4 May 2018. The event is a wonderful opportunity for our Junior School parents and special friends to celebrate Mother’s Day with their sons as part of the school community. The event is a non-profit event organised by parent volunteers. If you are keen to be part of organising the event, please contact Jane Kupsch on kupschjane@gmail.com.
Trinity Rowing – End of Season Celebration and Presentation Dinner
Please join us to celebrate the wonderful achievements of the boys throughout the 2017/2018 Rowing Season.
Date: Saturday 24 March 2018
Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Venue: Studley Park Boathouse, 1 Boathouse Road, Kew
RSVP: by Friday 16 March via trybooking.com/362931
Click here to view a flyer for this event
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Reminder: Women’s Pamper Day, Good Grub Community, Friday 20 April
We continue to seek your generous donations of goods for our Good Grub Women’s Pamper Day. A donation box has been placed at Senior School Reception, and we are accepting toiletries including cosmetics, creams, lotions, hair products, costume jewellery, gift sets, as well as any vouchers suitable for gift bags. We also require volunteers for the day, in particular massage therapists, hair dressers, manicurists, make-up artists, photographers and caterers. If you can help please contact Joan Healy on 0449 874 851 or joanmarrenhealy@gmail.com.
Parents’ Book and Poetry Group
Tonight, the Parents’ Poetry Group will meet in the Tudor Centre between 7.00pm and 8.00pm. The poet under review will be Carol Ann Duffy.
Tomorrow – Wednesday 21 March – the Parents’ Book Group will meet to discuss Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders. This meeting was held over from last Tuesday, and will also take place between 7.00pm and 8.00pm in the Tudor Centre.
For information regarding these events and other details, please contact me at bantickc@trinity.vic.edu.au.
Christopher Bantick
Senior School English Teacher