Newsletter (17 November, 2023)

Tonight our Year 12 students complete their final engagement as students of Holy Trinity Lutheran College, attending their Valedictory Service and Awards night. This is always a special night as the students gather together for one final time to celebrate the achievements of this year, look back on the memories of their schooling and be encouraged as they prepare for a future beyond the College. This year I had the opportunity to address the students through the Principal’s Message. My talk focused on the transition the Year 12 students are about to make in their lives as they move from the comfortable and known surrounds of being a student at HTLC to the broad expanse of the outside world. I will share with you an excerpt from my message:

“In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

Whatever you do in the next stage of your life, do it to the best of your ability with the maximum of effort. Take every opportunity that is presented to you, pursue healthy risk-taking, set goals, celebrate when you achieve them and reflect if you fall short and always live your life to its fullest whilst remembering that through the ups and downs you have a Heavenly Father who will be with you, every step of the way. Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us of his unconditional love:

“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you, He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Year 12s, you have now completed this chapter of your life. Thank you for the enormous contribution you have made to Holy Trinity Lutheran College over the past 13 years. We look forward to watching what you do next.

Congratulations to our Year 12 students on completing their schooling, God’s richest blessings for the next exciting chapter of their life.

Tonight’s Year 12 Service is the beginning of a busy month of celebrations at HTLC as the end of the year draws near. Over the next four weeks we will host the following celebrations:

Prep Celebration Night
Year 6 Celebration
Year 9 Rite Journey Homecoming Ceremony
F-2 Closing Service
3-6 Closing Service
Middle School Closing Service
Senior School Closing Service

I look forward to celebrating the end of the school year with the students and families of HTLC over the coming weeks.

Earlier this week, the College received an update regarding the status of our current principal. Mr Phillips will be on leave for a further four weeks and I wish him well for this period. This means that the leadership contingencies and structures that are currently in place will continue until the end of the school year, ensuring a settled conclusion to the school year. I again give thanks for the efforts of our staff who have bonded together through this time to ensure that the quality education of students continues amidst the leadership changes. Each week I am encouraged by the way our staff continually place the students in their care at the forefront of their thinking to ensure their learning and welfare are prioritised. May God continue to bless the students, staff and families of HTLC over the coming weeks.

Jason Przibilla, Acting Principal

by Stuart Gray

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed (Mark 15:5).

The world is very unsettled at the moment. We are faced with great uncertainty and division. The recent horrific events in the Middle East and the subsequent conflict leave us in despair and questioning whether there will ever be peace in that region.

In Australia, the divisiveness caused by the recent referendum continues to divide families, communities and the country. There are many other issues causing much concern about our future. And we are often at a loss as to what to do.

But unsettled times have always been with us, and this passage in Mark describes in part a major event that changed the world forever.

The drama of the trial of Jesus always grips me. The events unfold during the evening. Everyone is talking about what is happening; even a slave girl is engaged in the events and observes that Peter is one of the disciples. The chief priests, elders, teachers and the whole Sanhedrin are so determined to get rid of Jesus that they work right through the night to achieve their goal. They whip up the crowd, who are calling out, ‘Crucify him’. The governor, Pontius Pilate, is imposed upon in the middle of the night, and even Pilate’s wife offers advice on how Pilate should deal with Jesus.

Accusations against Jesus are coming in thick and fast; the whole scene is tense, confusing and volatile.

Yet what does Jesus do? He remains silent and makes no reply. In doing his Father’s will, he is calm and composed, even though he knows what he has to endure. This behaviour was such a contrast to the turmoil around him that Pilate was amazed.

I have never experienced a cyclone, but at the centre of the storm, there is calm – the eye of the storm.

Jesus is like the eye of the storm. In him, we can find calm when everything around us is in turmoil. In Christ, we find peace and meaning in our lives.

We so often think we have to fix the things that are broken. Maybe the best we can do is be calm, silent and alive to God in our lives.

Heavenly Father, we pray that through your word, we may bring peace and calmness to this world of turmoil. Amen.

It is that time of year when many families have commenced their harvest season.

While the farmers have been waiting, God has been working. While that seed was hidden in the ground, it was slowly germinating. And when that seed burst with God’s blessing on it, it continued growing and growing. Trust that God is working — even when you can’t see the fruit of your labour.

Plants take time to grow. No farmer goes out, plants the seed in the ground, comes back an hour later, digs it up, and expects it to have grown. Allow God to grow it in his time.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”.

This sentiment can also be applied at school. Trust at the right time, all the hard work will be rewarded.

Foundation Transition and Information Morning

Once again we welcome students in our 2024 Foundation classes and their families to our school community for their first classroom learning lessons on 21 November. Parents are invited to attend the Foundation Information Session in the library at 9.00am, followed by morning tea in Cafe 3:16.

Health and PE Week

This week, HTLC has celebrated the benefits of physical activity through a range of different events run by our teachers and Year 6 students. A big thank you to Mrs Tarn McDonald for organising these activities, which have been held during lunch times. There have been mini soccer games, AFL practice, totem tennis and even a mini cross-country running track! What a great initiative.

2024 Exercise book requirements

For those parents wishing to get a head start on book covering/planning, please see below the requirements for each year level.

Year Level	A4	Scrapbook	A5	Specialists	Memo
Foundation	1	4	0	0	0
Year 1	1	4	0	0	0
Year 2	2	5	0	0	0
Year 3	7 (or 8)	0	0	1	1
Year 4	7	0	1	0	1
Year 5	9	0	1	1 (Chinese)	1
Year 6	6	0	1	0	0

Swimming program

Our Year 1 and Year 3 students have thoroughly enjoyed their swimming lessons at the YMCA over the past two weeks and we thank Mrs Jessie Ferguson for organising this. From next week, our Foundation and Year 2 students will commence their swimming lessons.

Reverse Advent Calendar donations

Each year we aim to help students develop a heart of service by providing an opportunity to support a local charity. This year we will again be participating in the Reverse Advent Calendar community project, to help provide essentials to local families in need. Teachers have provided information to families from each class.

Chapel

This morning Mr Mark Busbridge and Performing Arts students from Foundation to Year 2 led our Junior School worship, with a message from 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Next week 1P will lead our chapel. Students are encouraged to bring a small offering each Friday morning. We hope you can join us for worship.

Blessings,

Mrs Jacqui North, Acting Head of Junior School

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them.”
Maya Angelou

This week I had the privilege of meeting with our Year 8 students to talk about the opportunity to take on a formal leadership role and represent our community in 2024 as Middle School Captains. It was wonderful to hear the students reflect on positive leaders in their life; however, more importantly, were the discussions about the capabilities of each one of us to be leaders. That each one of them can be leaders by making a difference in others' lives, making others feel comfortable and allowing them to be the best version of themselves. Also recognising that we show leadership in the way we interact with one another and make each other feel. We are truly blessed to have so many wonderful leaders in our student community and it is a privilege to watch them develop as positive mentors to others.

I wish all students who are choosing to apply for this position the very best as they prepare their speeches and look forward to hearing these in Week 9.

Health and Physical Education Week

Our Middle School was kept busy with a vast range of lunchtime activities as part of our Health and PE Week. Students were able to compete in 50-metre sprint challenges, vegie eating competitions, physical fitness challenges and skill competitions. It was wonderful to see so many students getting active and having fun in all these different activities. The week wrapped up with the highlight event today - the colour run. Students ran laps for their house while being covered in a rainbow of colours. I am sure you will see the evidence of the great time you had when your child arrives home! A huge thank you to our wonderful team of Health and Physical Education teachers for putting on this wonderful week of activities.

Exam and testing preparation

This week, students have spent time in their Math, English, Humanities and Science classes working on revision skills, practice exams and summarising their learning notes in preparation for their exams in Week 8. Exams provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their learning over the semester and develop good revision and study skills as they approach their learning.

Your child’s exam timetable has been sent home in hard copy and can also be found on the HUB. We encourage you to please contact your child’s teacher or year level coordinator if you need any further information or support with the exams.

Camps

As the end of the year quickly approaches, the Years 7 and 8 staff are preparing for their camps. Please ensure that your child has returned all notes and permission slips via the online Consent2Go or if you do not have access to this, the hardcopies available from your child’s year level coordinator.

Coming events

Monday, 20 November-Friday, 24 November: Exam week

Monday, 27 November: Report writing day (student-free day)

Monday, 28 November-Friday, 1 December: Alternative Program and Head Start

Thursday, 30 November: Notes and Nibbles - Instrumental Music Program performance

Tuesday, 5 December: Year 7 2024 Transition Day

Tuesday, 5 December: iDesign Showcase for Year 9 students and Homecoming Ceremony - MPC

Wednesday, 6 December-Friday, 8 December: Year 7 camp

Thursday, 7 December- Friday, 8 December: Year 8 hike

Friday, 8 December: Whole school Family Christmas Night

Tuesday, 12 December: Middle School closing service and award presentation at 11.30am; last day for Middle School students

Mrs Samantha Engert, Acting Head of Middle School

Year 12 graduation service and celebratory dinner

This evening we farewell our Year 12 students in a formal graduation service and dinner. Following our graduation service where academic awards will be presented, students will enjoy a dinner with their parents. Students and staff have worked hard to prepare for the evening and we look forward to a special evening of reflection and celebration with the group.

Senior School exams

Today we conclude our Year 11 exams. All Year 11 students will commence their Head Start program on Monday where they will commence Unit 1 and 2 coursework in preparation for 2024. This program will run for two weeks until Friday 1 December.

Next Monday, 20 November, Year 10 students will commence their exam week. Usual classes will continue to run around exams.

WestVic 2024

Our partnership with FedUni WestVic Academy for athletes will continue into 2024. Applications are now open and forms have been circulated to students. Completed applications are due no later than Monday, 20 November. An interview process will follow to determine students who are successful in gaining entry to the program. A maximum of 10 positions will be available.

Year 10 and 11 closing service

Our closing service for 2023 will held on Friday, 1 December commencing at 1.30pm. Student academic, leadership and service awards will be presented to students following the service. All senior students are required to be in attendance for the service. Students who have concluded their programs prior to this time are asked to arrange to be in attendance for the service.