In this issue

Our students in Years 3 to 6 students participated in the ‘Sticks and Stones’ live theatre presentation by Brainstorm Productions, which promoted resilience, cyber safety and anti-bullying. The performance engaged students in discussions and encouraged positive connections, cooperation, impulse control and respect.

Students connected with the story of Toby and Joe, who learn healthy ways to be assertive, respect boundaries and speak with an adult, when it comes to dealing with big emotions.

For the third year, Year 12 students have educated the whole College community about the impact of homelessness, organising a free-dress day where, in lieu of a gold coin donation, students were asked to donate individual serves of Cup-a-Noodles. TSAC on both the Primary and Secondary campuses rose to the challenge to donate hundreds of meals.

This initiative sprung out of the Year 12 Health students class, where senior students developed an action strategy to empower students to be advocates for those experiencing homelessness. The highlight of this strategy is the dedicated “Homelessness Day of Action”.

As in previous years, this food staple was selected as it can be stored for lengthy periods of time, can easily be distributed, and only requires hot water to turn them into heart meals for homeless people and struggling families in the local community. They will now be donated to Rosies Outreach which will distribute the meals to people in need throughout our community.

Next week, the College will observe two wonderful Christian traditions, the first of which is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday or Mardi Gras. This festival dates to pagan times when people would indulge in feasting and revelry before the onset of a period of abstinence.

When the Roman Empire became Christian, these pagan celebrations were incorporated into the Christian calendar, and Mardi Gras evolved into a festival where people could enjoy food, drinks, and merriment before the sombre season of Lent; so on Secondary, we’ll be cooking pancakes galore!

On Ash Wednesday, students and staff will optionally receive an ash cross on their forehead or hands (we’ll use stickers) to mark the start of the season of Lent, the period of fasting and reflection that lasts for forty days leading up to Easter. Australians often choose to abandon things like alcohol, sugar or social media during Lent, though some also choose to treat Sundays as ‘feast days’ or ‘breaks’ along the way.

In recent years, there has been a trend towards avoiding the risk of boasting about everything we’re giving up during Lent and instead using Lent as a time of commitment towards good things instead: e.g. more reading, more giving to charity, or more volunteering. This sounds like a great approach, but I encourage you to ‘do Lent’ in a way that works for you.

I look forward to answering your questions or needs at any time.

Peace in Christ,
Rev Jonathan

YEAR 6 LEADERS

Our Year 6 leaders were inducted during a special chapel service. Student leaders received their leadership badges, and the whole cohort proudly said the Leadership Pledge in front of the Primary Campus community.

YEAR 9 LEADERS AND YEAR 12 LEADERS

During the Secondary Leadership Induction, Mr Steven Morris encouraged College Prefects and Year 9 College Captains to be servant leaders and practice integrity, humility, flexibility, resilience, stewardship and empathy.

We wish all of our College leaders all the best for the year ahead.

The Primary Inter-Clan Swimming Carnival was held for students in Years 3 to 6 under clear skies at Waterworx Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre. It was a fantastic day of competition and fun that was enjoyed by all students in attendance. Swimmers competed across 25m and 50m races in all 4 strokes, while the 100m freestyle, relays, and novelty events allowed students of all swimming abilities the opportunity to earn valuable points for their Clan.  It was a close competition and the winning Clan will be announced very soon! Congratulations to the respective age champions.

Participating in College sports is a wonderful way to play sports, build friendships, and have fun. This Term, secondary students are competing in GBC girls’ Basketball, girls’ and boys’ AFL, and boys’ Volleyball, while primary students are competing in Netball and AFL.

Primary Sports Results

The first round of the GBC Primary fixtures was held on Saturday, 11 February. We are proud that our primary athletes represented the TSAC Terriers with respect and pride. Our Year 5/6 teams were strong across the board, with three of the four teams achieving a win. Our two Year 3/4 teams showed great courage, with many students playing their first-ever netball game and huge improvements evident between the first and fourth quarters.

Our AFL teams showed great heart as they played in very hot temperatures. Like our Netball teams, many of our students played their first-ever AFL games and did extremely well – we can’t wait to see their development throughout the season. Thank you to all the TSAC Terriers for playing with respect, courage and integrity.

(Photos taken at a recent training session)

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Secondary Sports Results

The first round of fixtures was held on 4 February against Staines Memorial College. There was a vibrant atmosphere on the Secondary Campus as our athletes took to the courts. Our supporters witnessed an abundance of goals and behinds during the AFL games, as all our teams won their games. The junior Volleyball and Basketball teams did themselves and their coaches proud, demonstrating confident performances in their first GBC Sport games.

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The Year 7 Camp is held early in Term 1 and is an important part of the curriculum. Over the three days, students work together in teams to complete fun and challenging activities that are designed to help them overcome shyness, get one another, build relationships with their teachers, and build their confidence. This year, more than 100 excited Year 7 students descended on Camp Cooby, just north of Toowoomba, and enjoyed a rich program of orienteering, archery, high-rope, a giant water slide, a rock climbing wall, and raft-building challenges.

Students said, “It was so much fun. I was encouraged to try new things with my new friends,” “It was so amazing, I went to the top of the high-ropes course!” and “It was great going out of the city and into the country.”

By Brooke Winterflood, Year 11

After hearing many exciting stories about the Year 11 camp, I can honestly say it lived up to the hype. I’m very grateful I had this experience, and I know my friends can say the same.

The activities were incredible – we did surfing, high ropes, canoeing and team building. Even though I enjoyed all of these, the highlight for me had to be surfing. It was amazing to get the chance to learn something new, while also being able to watch everyone either succeed or get wiped off their board.

Going on this camp brought our year group even closer together, whether we were working together to untangle an almost impossible knot or helping someone face their fears on the high ropes course. The camp helped to expand our leadership skills, but it also helped us build trust between teachers and students in those moments when we could simply hang out with friends, by the pool, in our cabins, or outside while playing games.

I created so many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. What an experience – if I got the chance, I would do it all over again not change a thing.

Here are a few photos of the camp, taken by my fellow Year 11 students.

To all our new families, I say welcome to TSAC and welcome back to everyone re-joining us for 2023. There is a buzz of excitement at every school in January as students return from holidays, but at TSAC, you can genuinely feel the positivity as students reconnect and the sense of optimism as they begin a new chapter in their schooling lives.

We have started the year with a record number of new students on the Senior Campus, and it has been heart-warming to see how welcoming and generous our returning students have been in helping our new students settle in. I am proud to work in a College that nurtures a positive and safe community environment for our young people. I am equally proud of the staff here, who each understand the responsibility and privilege that being a teacher allows and have prepared diligently to ensure we provide quality learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.

It’s been a whirlwind start to the year, we have certainly hit the road running, and in the first three weeks, we have inducted our 2023 Leaders and celebrated their new roles in front of their peers and families. The Year 11 and 7 students have completed very successful camps, and the GBC sports program has started with some great results for our teams so far.

Our Year 8 and 9 students have completed workshops by Unleashing Your Personal Potential (UPP) on Growth Mindsets, while our Senior Students have worked with Elevate Education to develop effective time management and study skills. Finally, we have restarted our community and service work in partnership with Rosie’s Outreach.

None of this is possible without a lot of preparation from staff and willingness from our student body, and I congratulate you all on starting the year in such a dynamic fashion. I can’t wait to see how the year develops.

The events of the first few weeks of the school year help us set the scene for the year to come.  The 2023 Year 6 Student Leadership team were presented to the Primary Campus students during the first Chapel of Term 1. To kick start the leadership year, the Year 6 students participated in the Unleash Your Personal Potential,’ Aspire Higher Leadership’ incursion. The key focus of learning for the students was leading with or without a badge through example, influence and kindness. The students were also engaged in the concept of ‘Knowing Me, Growing Me,’ developing an understanding of their own personal strengths and those of others. Although we are only four weeks into the term, the staff and I are already impressed with how the Year 6 cohort has taken on their responsibility as Primary Campus Leaders.

The Year 6 Leaders introduced the four new Chapel awards to the students.  Based on our College values – Respect, Courage, and Integrity – and Academic Achievement (personal success), classroom teachers are watching for students who display our College values throughout the week.

We are excited to invite the presenters from Unleash Your Personal Potential back next week to work with the Year 5 students. The Positive Peer Relationship incursion will focus on building personal and social skills to enhance the quantity and quality of our interpersonal interactions. This incursion aligns with the social and emotional curriculum learning that the students in Year 5 are currently undertaking. The skills and concepts include the power of empathy, the science of kindness, active listening, conflict resolution, forgiveness, and teamwork.

Internet safety for our students is a priority for all members of the community.  Over the past weeks, Mr Daly has been working with all students on understanding safe online habits. Students in Years 3 to 6 have also attended an incursion from Brainstorm Productions Theatre Company focusing on cyber safety knowledge and skills.

Prep to Year 6 parents have been able to attend the Meet ‘n Greet afternoon and Information Sessions.  We appreciate the opportunity of being able to meet with families to enhance and strengthen our community bond.  Mr Daly, Head of Digital Innovation and STEM, has also offered parents the opportunity to meet with him and learn a little more about how to get the most out of Nexus.  I would encourage parents to access the Parent Nexus Support Page to learn how to personalise Nexus and receive information the way they’d like to.

Traffic during drop-off and pick-up times are constant challenges for schools everywhere. If you drop off or pick up your child during peak time, please follow the signage and road markings, do not block through traffic, and do not park in the College Bus Zones.

PRIMARY CAMPUS

Students on our Primary Campus are supervised until 3.30pm in the afternoon, and it is possible to avoid the congestion at peak pick-up time by delaying your pick-up until after 3.15pm.

SECONDARY CAMPUS

Our Secondary Campus has limited parking. Parents who do not wish to enter the “line-up” can pick-up and drop-off students at the adjacent large carpark area, opposite the College entrance. Alternatively, you can collect students after the 3.30pm peak time.