I hope that this edition of our newsletter finds you well. As I move around our College, it is pleasing to see our students engaged in their learning, and for many, the perseverance and dedication they are giving their assessment tasks. I am proud of the attitude and effort every student gives shows.

It was wonderful to welcome so many existing and new families to our Open Day on Wednesday! God has truly blessed our College and it is so evident in the strength of our community, the engagement of our students, the commitment to quality education, the genuine relationships between staff, students and parents, and our state-of-the-art learning facilities. I am very grateful for the staff who shared the many opportunities they are passionate about, and for the many students who helped. I really enjoyed leading tours and meeting many families. Open Day is not the only opportunity to see our wonderful College in action; you can book a personalised tour at any stage through the year.

As a College, our commitment to child safety is unwavering. One such way we show this, often unseen but very important, is the provision of first aid during the day. Our Front Office provides first aid to all students and contacts parents if it is appropriate to refer the student to a medical practitioner. I am pleased to advise that we are continuing to significantly increase the number of staff trained in first aid, to ensure we can provide the best possible care.

As we approach Mother’s Day, I pray that all the mothers in our community have a wonderful day, where you feel honoured and celebrated for the incredible contribution you make in the lives of your child/ren. You may not always see the rewards of your outpouring of love, encouragement, generosity, hope and care, but the seeds are still planted. I am incredibly grateful for my Mum who instilled strong Christian values in me and has continued to play a significant part right through my life. I trust this weekend will be an opportunity to reflect on the important role you play.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our College community.

Mr James Phillips, Principal

by Libby Krahling

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:12,13).

I remember watching the London marathon a while ago. A runner was within sight of the finish line but completely exhausted. His legs were giving out on him, his hands were dangling and it seemed like he would collapse at any moment. He was the definition of ‘drooping hands’ and ‘weak knees’. Another athlete saw his distress, and stopped and helped the exhausted man to the finish line. It was a truly inspiring moment of compassion.

We have been encouraged to ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us’ (Hebrews 12:1b), despite the trials we will face along the way.

The encouragement to ‘therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame may not be put out of joint’ adds to the imagery of the athlete in an endurance race. On our run to the finish, we want to avoid obstacles in our path, prevent injury to others or ourselves, and not get lost along the way.

Lane ropes help swimmers stay in their lanes, and roads are cleared for marathon runners so that they don’t stumble or go off course. God’s law is there to guide us and protect us from what is dangerous. It helps us to stay on track, and to honour God by following his commands. We do this not in fear and trembling, afraid of the certain death we deserve as sinners entering the presence of God, but with joy and thanksgiving because we know we will be welcomed home, thanks to Jesus’ work on the cross.

The way we run our race affects the people we encounter, so we are encouraged in this passage to live lives that draw people to God rather than letting bitterness and division create stumbling blocks. Sometimes we are the ones with drooping hands and weak knees, needing encouragement and support to complete the race. Sometimes we are called to be the supporter.

Compassionate Christ, you have had mercy on us. Help us to stay true to your path, and to support others when they stumble on the way. Amen.

Open Day

Being a new parent to the school with children in Years 2, 8, and 10, I was privileged to get to: 

• reflect on the high quality of education we offer in the Junior School
• see the Middle School on show and its excellent facilities
• chat to my colleagues in the Senior School and see their passion and enthusiasm

Altogether, I saw a great College that loves and cares for our children, a bonus of being in community at HTLC!

Enrolment tours

A continual source of inspiration for me is working through the enrolment process with existing and new families, because you are all new to me!  I have appreciated getting to know families from first contact until acceptance of enrolment and we see a new student on their first day of school! We look forward to having a new Zimbabwean-New Zealand family, the Dembetembe family, joining us for the second half of the year from New Zealand.  It is amazing how the last few years have inspired families to seize the moment and make some courageous life-changing moves.

Chapel

Thank you to the 4B class who led our first chapel on the Beatitudes series of chapels (Matthew 5: 1-12). It is always a great pleasure to see the presenting class put time and effort into worshipping God. Please remember if you can, to send along some offering money to give. As some churches say: "We offer with joy and thanks what You (God) have first given us, ourselves, our time and our possessions. As a sign of your goodness and a symbol of our love, accept this as a token of our love for you".

Bible presentations

Looking forward, the Bible presentations to Year 3s and new students will be occurring. This is a special day where students get their own copy of this book of wisdom, the Christian God’s story.

Building community

In the coming weeks there will be a playgroup that will meet weekly in the library.

The HTLC Preschool Playgroup will run during term time, from 9.15am until 10.15am on Thursdays in Semester 2, starting Thursday, 13 July, 2023.

It is for children from birth to five years old. Children and caregivers are welcome to arrive any time from 9am. Caregivers are required to stay during each session.

We aim to:

• help children thrive in their early years
• help caregivers connect with one another, and
• strengthen our HTLC community

We look forward to seeing you there!

We will also begin in the second half of the year to have some opportunities for our 2024 Foundation families to get together so that we don’t have any first-day nerves for new students - or new mums and dads! We will also provide a buddy family to new families like the Dembetembe family, so that their transition may be smooth, not only into our school but our wider Horsham community.  

At HTLC, we build authentic community because of a foundational Christian belief that we are all equal as a creator God made us all. If this is the case, we need to treat each other as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12), as if we were God’s family. Simple, but not easy! We will always be working on this aspect of our school, as we do with every other aspect of our school. If you have any ideas about how to grow community, I would love to hear them and enact them with you!

Mr Adam Borgas, Head of Junior School

HTLC Open Day and Year 7 Information Evening

The HTLC Open Day and Year 7 Information Evening was held on Wednesday, 10 May from 1.45pm to 7pm. The day was structured into three sessions:

Session 1: Classroom Tours

Families had the opportunity to walk through the Middle School and observe classes in action with teachers instructing students in a range of lessons. The learning environment and culture at HTLC is one of the most appealing aspects to families and this was on display with classes from Years 6 to 9 timetabled. It was interesting to discuss with families the similarities and differences they observed in the variety of classes we observed. Our Year 9 Middle School Captains did a fantastic job of accompanying the families on the tours and acted as great ambassadors for the college.

Session 2: Middle School Self-Guided Tours (information booths and interactive activities)

Families followed the self-guided tour through the various rooms in the Middle School, starting at the STEM room; passing through the Café; watching musical rehearsals; experiencing woodwork, art, science, English, humanities, science and psychology spaces; enjoying sporting activities and more. The Middle School was a hive of activity as visitors participated in the many interactive activities on offer. More than 40 students (not including the musical cast) volunteered to help with these activities. The students of HTLC make the College what it is and it was fantastic to have such a great representation on-site, helping to showcase the school. The tour concluded at the MPC where families had the opportunity to learn about the many special programs on offer at HTLC, including sport, HPV, Genesis, VCE/Voc Major, Pastoral Care and more.

Session 3: 2024 Year 7 Information Evening

The night concluded with an information session in the MPC. This night was well supported by families and was led by Mr Phillips, Mrs Engert and me. This was an opportunity to go into detail about the Middle School, covering key areas including the learning culture, philosophy of instruction, subject range, academic results, differentiation, transition program, support programs, sport, extra-curricular options, camps and much more. The Middle School Ambassadors participated on the night and did a great job of answering four key questions, giving important insight from the students. The night was informative and provided a detailed insight into the what, how and why of the Middle School.

Personally, I am extremely proud of HTLC, the staff and students did an amazing job of showcasing the many positives that make the college the school that it is. If families missed the Open Day, they are welcome to book a tour through admin. If they would like to view the information session, this was recorded and a link can be provided upon request.

Year 6 interviews

As a follow-up to the Information Evening on Wednesday, from 22 May I will meet with current and new Year 6 families. The purpose of these meetings is to introduce myself to the students and their families, start to put together an Individualised Learning Profile and answer specific questions families may have about the Middle School.

I look forward to getting to know the students and discussing their educational passions and interests and am excited by the prospect of welcoming these students into the Middle School in 2024.

These interviews will continue for the following three weeks. Families can book an interview by contacting reception (admin@htlc.vic.edu.au) or accessing the online link that will be emailed to families.

Morrisby interviews

This week, our Morrisby profile interviews have continued with Year 9 students. Our Careers Analyst is meeting with parents and students to outline potential pathways into Senior School. This a valuable opportunity to begin or continue conversations about options beyond school as students begin to assume increasing responsibility for the choices they make. Our final day of interviews will be Thursday next week.

Details will be provided to parents in the near future about the forthcoming Information Evening for students commencing Senior School in 2024. 

Senior School uniform

A reminder that all students should now be wearing winter uniform.

Holy Trinity Uniform Policy states:

All students attending Holy Trinity Lutheran College from Junior School to Senior School are expected to wear the College uniform as stipulated by the school. All garments listed below are available for purchase from the college’s uniform shop.

Senior School 

Boys winter uniform - mandatory

• White shirt (short or long sleeve) 
• College woollen jumper 
• Grey trousers 
• Grey socks 
• Black leather lace-up shoes 
• Blazer - these are now available for purchase from the Uniform Shop
• Tie (Year 10 to Year 12 formal occasions) 

Optional:

• Navy scarf
• Navy winter coat

Girls winter uniform — mandatory

• College skirt with navy tights 
• White shirt (short or long sleeve) 
• College woollen jumper 
• Black leather shoes 
• Hair ties or ribbons in school colours
• Blazer - these are now available for purchase from the Uniform Shop
• Tie (Year 10 to Year 12 formal occasions) 

Optional: 

• Navy scarf
• Navy winter coat
• Navy trousers to be worn with navy socks

Attendance

VCE students are reminded of the importance of the procedure for approved absences. As classroom work increasingly focuses on preparation for assessment and SACs, students should also contact relevant class teachers to notify them of a planned absence. Guidelines for attendance are outlined in the VCE Policies and Procedures document as forwarded to parents earlier in the year.

Important Senior School Dates

Cambodia trip (Years 10-12): Friday, 30 June to Saturday, 8 July

General Achievement Test (VCE Unit 3 & 4 students): Thursday, 15 June

Secondary exam revision week: Monday, 29 May to Friday, 2 June

Secondary exam week: Monday, 5 June to Friday, 9 June

VCE written examinations: Tuesday, 24 October to Wednesday, 15 November

VTAC applications open: Monday, 31 July

Unit 3&4 trial exams: Monday, 25 September to Friday, 29 September (second week of holidays)

Last Day Year 12: Breakfast and final chapel: Monday, 16 October

Year 12 Valedictory dinner and worship service: Friday, 17 November

Mrs Sally Kuchel, Head of Senior School

Athletics and Cross Country

Well done to those students who represented us in their age group at Cross Country. Congratulations to the finishers who will progress to represent the Greater Western Region at Warrnambool on 29 May:

Greta S (6th), Luella B (1st), Ava S (5th), Elsa D (6th), Judd O (1st), Malaya W (3rd), Charlize VZ (2nd), Matilda S (6th)

Congratulations to those athletes who qualified to represent Horsham in the next level of Athletics. They qualified by finishing either 1st of 2nd in their respective HCPSSA events.

Adam C: High Jump (2nd); Long jump (1st)

Malaya W: High jump (1st) 

Elsa D: High Jump (1st)

Camille A: High Jump (2nd)

Indi F: Long Jump (2nd); 200m (1st)

Greta S: Triple Jump (1st)

Ava S: Triple Jump (1st); 200m (2nd)

Poppy W: Triple Jump (2nd)

Eleanor B: Shot put (2nd)

Hugo P: Shot Put (2nd)

Aizla S: Discus (1st)

Milton E: Discus (2nd)

Emily L: Discus (1st)

Peter S: 800m (1st)

Jemma H: 100m (2nd)

A special well done to these students who will have to choose between their favourite two events in which they would like to compete:

Luella B: Long Jump (1st); 800m (1st); Hurdles (2nd)

Judd O: High Jump (1st); Long Jump (2nd); 800m (1st); 200m (1st)

It was great to attend both the Athletics and Cross Country and witness our students respectfully representing their school. Thanks must go also to the Middle School students who helped out with the various events. You were a great advertisement, not only for our school, but you represented your families and yourselves so well!

Friday winter sport

Today, our Year 5-6 sports teams venture to their first competition week against other schools. It is a great opportunity (and tradition I hear) that we get out into the community with these events. A big thank you to the Year 5-6 teachers for taking on a large part of the co-ordination of this effort. It is a joy to have staff support me in the coordination of sports at HTLC.

Hooptime - coaches and helpers needed

HTLC are looking for a Thursday and Friday coach/helper (1pm-1.35pm) to help lead Year 5-6 Hooptime team training. The trainings then culminate with gamedays on 1 June (Year 3-4 competition) and 8 June (Year 5-6). If you would like to have fun and learn with the students, HTLC staff will mentor you into your role, no prior experience necessary, and we can help you to get a Working with Children Check if you haven’t already!

Mr Adam Borgas, Head of Junior School

Black Ranges Cross Country

Yesterday we were fortunate enough to have 37 students from the Secondary School travel to Murtoa to compete in the Black Ranges Division Cross Country.

With the weather looking incredible, and almost every age group represented, the HTLC students participated in great spirit and achieved some wonderful results. Unfortunately, the official results have not yet been released, but place-getters were awarded during the event.

Congratulations to the following students for their efforts on the day:

Ellua B - 2nd place, 12-13-year-old girls

Adelyn P - 2nd place, 14-year-old girls

Ilze vZ - 3rd place, 14-year-old girls

Lexie H - 2nd place, 15-year-old girls

Tadhg M - 1st place, 16-year-old boys

Zac vB - 3rd place, 16-year-old boys

Henry K - 2nd place, 17-20-year-old boys

Once we have been made aware of the students progressing to the Greater Western Regional Finals, we will celebrate the efforts of the entire student team.

Week 4

Next week will be a very busy week in the world of sport, with HTLC students participating in four major sporting events, including two State Volleyball Championships, the Black Ranges Senior AFL and Netball competitions and the second round of the Australian HPV Super Series, held at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia. Good luck to all the students involved in these events.

COMING EVENTS

May

17 - State intermediate boys volleyball

18 - Black Ranges Division senior AFL and netball

19 - State senior girls volleyball

20 - AHPVSS round two: Mount Gambier

22 - Black Ranges Division track and field

24 - Greater Western Region intermediate boys netball

25 - Black Ranges Division intermediate AFL and netball

29 - Greater Western Region cross country

30 - Black Ranges Division Years 7 and 8 AFL and netball

Mr Matthew McLoughlin, Secondary Sports Coordinator

The Australian Childhood Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation that provides therapeutic services, educational programs and creative resources aimed at ensuring that all children are raised in relationships that are safe, caring and respectful. 

Parenting is not an easy job. Some days, it is really rewarding. There are also those days where it can be extremely disheartening. Regardless of the kind of day parents have, it is the most important job that anyone can ever do. 

For this reason the Australian Childhood Foundation has designed the Thoughtful Parenting Kit to help all of us who care for children. The Kit gives all parents a chance to think about what is important to them about their parenting. It aims to generate discussion between parents. Each chapter explores a specific theme that is relevant to parenting – the issues, the joys and the challenges. As parents, one of the most crucial aspects of the role is the way we are reflective and thoughtful about our children, ourselves and our parenting. When we take the time to stop, pause and think about what is going on for ourselves and our children, we are more able to stay at tuned to what our children need and to respond in a way that meets both our child’s needs and our own. 

To access the Thoughtful Parenting Kit, please click on this link: https://professionals.childhood.org.au/bringing-up-great-kids-resources/

via the Australian Children's Foundation

This is a fundraiser for Ukraine 

Purchase tickets from the Lutheran Church, Harvest Church and Church of Christ offices. Contact Kerri Nichols for further details on 0429 810 774.

There are a number of items building up in lost property. If your child is missing anything, please check in the lost property at Reception.

Please also ensure your child's items are labelled appropriately so anything found can be returned quickly.