Greetings to all.

This evening we will be celebrating with our graduating class of 2022 with their graduation service and valedictory dinner. Each year I look forward to this event, where we can recognise the achievements of our Year 12 cohort and honour their time with us. As our senior class prepares for a new chapter in their lives, I ask that you pray for them and ask for God’s richest blessing as they prepare for the future ahead.

Just a reminder to families about the upcoming student free day scheduled for Monday 28 November. This day is a planned report writing day for staff and provides a valuable opportunity for teachers to collate feedback on student outcomes, along with additional planning time that aims to strengthen our learning programs at the college. Families can still contact the school via the Main Reception during the normal opening hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm. We will welcome students back to classes on Tuesday 29 November.

The PTFA AGM will be held this coming Monday evening in Café 3:16 (Middle School) from 7:30pm. Members of the college community are invited to attend with drinks and nibbles being provided from 7pm. I look forward to seeing you there.

It is with pleasure that I announce that we will be welcoming several new staff members to the College in 2023. We are currently finalising several positions and will make an announcement on who those new staff will be shortly. As a school community we are continually blessed with such supportive families, students and staff, and I look forward to the new staff joining our community and value adding to what is already a wonderful community.

Enjoy your week.

Mr Daniel Weller, College Principal

by Joanne Corney

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault … Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:14,15).

Do you like to gaze at the sky or stars? I’m often amazed by the light in the night sky. The moon grows from new to full and back again. Alongside this are the stars. They appear varied in size, in the intensity of light and in the speed of their twinkle. They pop against the black backdrop of night – the more you look, the more you see. Stars appear as little individual lights, but together they provide light in the night sky – starlight is consistent and persistent in its offering to the earth and universe.

The text says to do everything without grumbling or arguing. ‘Everything’ could be considered service – not only ‘big’ or ‘extra’ service but everyday giving in care and doing. Service to myself, my family, work and community (whatever shape that takes). From time to time, one can see grumbling and arguing arise alongside the doing – indeed, I’ve experienced it. I’ve grumbled when I’ve felt burdened; I’ve had too many serving demands, and the ‘light’ from my service has faded in me and from me.

To be ‘blameless and pure’ and allow my ‘starlight’ to shine, I’ve learnt to do what I can, where I am, when and how I can. In serving this way, my grumbling is calmed, and my joy and satisfaction in serving are real. I keep an eye out for my grumbling or arguing as a method of knowing that I’m under load and need to take stock.

There’s an old saying, ‘Flowers leave their fragrance on the hand that bestowed them’ (author unknown). Service can be like that. There can be a blessing to all involved – the server and recipient. I sense that ‘doing everything’ is not meant to be so hard that we react by arguing or grumbling internally or externally, nor should it be that we just absorb it and internalise these responses or reactions. The stars shine in the night sky, each doing what they can in their piece of space. Then collectively, their lights combine, sharing starlight, giving form to the night sky and providing navigational reference – stars bless. May we be able to shine like them and know blessings from both sides of service.

Merciful God, thank you for the blessings of service – both being served and the opportunity to serve. Help us to know balance and joy in serving and accept the blessing of being served. In the name of Christ, Amen.

Year 3 Camp

Today we welcomed home our tired and happy campers after their three-day camp in Halls Gap. Thank you to staff and parents who helped to make this a wonderful first camp experience for our students.

Foundation 2023 Transition

Next Tuesday, Foundation students of 2023 will have their first visit to a classroom in small groups. They have already attended Story Time sessions to help them become familiar with the school environment. We are looking forward to having our newest students in the classroom, getting to know teachers and each other, and enjoying doing their ‘school work’!

Junior School Captains 2023

Speeches of Year 5 of students nominating to be Junior School Captains will take place in the MPC next Friday after lunch. All students in Years 3 to 6 will attend and have the opportunity to vote. Our 2023 Junior School Captains will be announced at the Closing Service on Wednesday 14 December. 

Report Writing

Monday 28 November will be a student free day, as teachers will be preparing students’ reports. 

End of Year Service

The last school day for 2022 will be Wednesday 14 December. Students in Years 3-6 will attend the Closing Service at 11:30am in the MPC, and a shorter service will be attended by Foundation to Year 2 at 1:45pm. The Year 3-6 service will include announcements of students receiving Academic, Service, Endeavour and Year 6 awards. Parents and visitors are welcome to attend.

Student Books for 2023

Each year we have some very organised parents who are keen to know how many exercise books and the sizes for the coming year, to purchase book covers. Teachers have indicated what the requirements will be for each year level to use as a guide for the super-organised amongst us.

Chapel

This week Year 6N led our Junior School in worship with a recorded Chapel based on 1 Corinthians 15:10. Next week 6N will visit Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village on Wednesday, and FJ will be leading our Chapel on Friday morning. Students are encouraged to bring a small offering each Friday morning, which will be donated to the Christian Emergency Food Centre. We hope you can join us for worship.

Junior School Key Dates

Blessings,

Mrs Fiona Friberg, Head of Junior School

Semester 2 Examinations

Next week all Middle School students will be sitting end of semester examinations. The schedule for these exams will be as follows:

Good luck to all students as they sit their final examinations for the year.

2023 Central Australia Learning Tour

A reminder to all parents/carers that all families interested in attending the 2023 Central Australia Learning Tour will need to book their place by Friday 25 November. A $100 deposit is to be paid to the school by this due date.

Year 9 Rite Journey

As the end of the year draws near, so too does the Rite Journey Program for our Year 9 students. Over the coming weeks, the students will complete the following Rites of Passage Ceremonies and events:

Week 7/8:

• Challenge Rite of Passage, presentation of Challenges assignments

Week 9:

• Following Rite of Passage, presentation of iDesign assignments
• Activity Day in Halls Gap
• Peer Support Training

Week 10:

• Homecoming Ceremony, Wednesday 7 December at 7pm

Week 11:

• iDesign Project Showcase
• Celebration morning tea

Week 7 Spirit Of Luther (SOL) Award Winners

• Blessing DiBiase - for being inclusive and supportive of other students.
• Cassara Rowan - for her extra effort in her skull drawing. Excellent detail.
• Noah Eilola - for his hard work in Science this last few weeks. Great at keeping up with tasks in his books
• Orlando Heal - for his welcoming and friendly greetings. Always welcomes others into the group
• Manashij Syed - for challenging himself to learn the bass guitar for the small band task in Music
• Harrison Daniell - for working hard to learn his guitar part for the small band task in Music
• Evan Hahn - for working hard to learn the drum part for the small band task in Music
• Matthew Steadman - for accepting the role as frontman for the small band task in Music and doing a great job as vocalist

Mr Jason Przibilla, 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.

Cambodia Learning Tour

Information has been shared with parents regarding a Learning Tour of Cambodia that is planned for June 2023. A reminder that deposits are required no later than Friday 25 November to confirm a position on the trip.

Senior School exams

Exam Week runs from Monday 21 November to Friday 25 November.
All Year 10 and 11 students will be sitting exams in the Senior Centre Stadium during this time. The usual class timetable will continue to run around the exams.

Head Start Program

Head Start for Senior School students commences on Tuesday 29 November and runs through until Thursday 8 December. During Head Start, students will be provided with an outline of the content, assessment and expectations of the studies they have selected to undertake in 2023. All students are required to be in attendance throughout these two weeks as programs will be running for all students.

Year 10 and 11 Closing Service

Our Closing Service for 2022 will held on Thursday 8 December commencing at 1:30pm. Student academic, leadership and service awards will be presented to students following the service. The service will be live-streamed for those wishing to tune in from home or to watch at a later date. 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.

Big Day Out

On Friday 9 December, Year 10 and 11 students will be participating in offsite activities. As the last of school for the year, this is a day of relaxation with peers following the conclusion of classes and examinations.

Important VCE Dates

Important Senior School Dates

Mrs Sally Kuchel, Head of Senior School

Please find upcoming sporting dates below for your calendar:

• Greater Western Cricket Blast, Ballarat - Tuesday 22 November

Cricket Blast

Both our girls and boys teams were successful in progressing to the Greater Western Cricket Blast Championship in Ballarat on 22 November, after securing 4 of 5 wins each at the Little Desert event held at Coughlin Park last week. Our mixed team also won 4 of its 5 games on the day in the B section of the draw. Wonderful results from the day in very hot conditions. Thank you to all who were involved in a fantastic event, with umpiring support from students from both St Brigid’s and St Michael's on the day made for a real team effort.

Students will make their way to Russell Square in Brown Hill to compete against schools including Skipton, Sacred Heart Colac, Stawell and Buninyong to name a few. We wish both teams a brilliant carnival and send great vibes for a fantastic day for all involved.

Year 3/4 Sport

Our Year 3 and 4 classes have been active in the summer sports program although at times the wet weather has put a slight damper on plans. Our focus has been on weekly group rotations for the following activities; Ultimate Frisbee/Frisbee Golf, Fitness, Tabloid Sports, Basketball & Zumba. Students thoroughly enjoy any opportunity to be outdoors enjoying their Friday sport allocation.

Year 5/6 Sport

Our Year 5 and 6 Friday sport focus has been summer sports for this term with students having an opportunity to try their hand at Tennis, Lawn bowling at Sunnyside, Cricket, Dace/Fitness and Novelty Summer games including Totem Tennis, Finska, and Bocce to name a few. Fingers crossed our ovals get some summer weather so we can make full use of our lovey grassed facilities soon.

Events Selections - Swimming Carnival Year 4-6 2023

Preparations are underway for next year’s swimming carnival as it is scheduled early in Term 1. Google event forms will be distributed to parents of students who will be in Years 4-6 next year in the coming weeks. Please discuss event preferences directly with your child to ensure they are comfortable and capable of event selections. It is a huge day, and we encourage students to participate whether that be in the 25m events initially to again confidence or the partake in the fun novelty events that will be provided throughout the days events also!

Yours in Sport!

Hayley Thomas, Junior Sports Coordinator

Parents and carers of students in leadership positions (e.g. captains, ambassadors, SRC members) are able to purchase group photos of these leadership groups, taken on the School Photo Day earlier this year. If you are interested in purchasing a group photo, please email Maddie Ruwoldt at maddie.ruwoldt@htlc.vic.edu.au to receive your unique order code.

Bookclub brochures (Issue #8) have been distributed.  All orders should be placed by Tuesday, 29 November.  Cheques should be made payable to ‘Scholastic Australia’. Credit card payments may also be made using the online system, the LOOP (if you are having trouble finding our school when registering, please use the postcode 3402). By indicating ‘gift’ on your online order, the books will be kept at school for you to pick up if you do not want your child to see your purchase. For more information, please contact Jaci Gabbé.