Welcome back to Term 4! We hope this newsletter finds you well and filled with positivity as we embark on another exciting chapter of our learning journey together. It has been such a pleasure to witness how quickly our students have settled into their learning routines, eagerly immersing themselves in their studies and joyfully reconnecting with their friends. Truly, this is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of our College community.

Our College is a fantastic learning environment where students have many subject choices, opportunities and extracurricular activities. We remain firmly committed to these as they are all a significant part of a holistic education that instils values, develops capabilities and prepares students for life.

Get ready to be swept away by the world of Mary Poppins! We are really looking forward to the Junior School musical, featuring talented students from Years 3 to 6. All of our community is invited along on Friday, 13 October, when we will present both a matinee at 2.00pm and an evening performance at 6.30pm in the Multi-Purpose Centre. We warmly invite all families to join us and witness this production that has been prepared for many weeks. It promises to be an unforgettable experience! I extend my thanks to the students who have dedicated themselves to this opportunity, the staff for their tireless efforts with enabling it, and to the many volunteers who are supporting in many different capacities.

In Matthew 21:33-46, we find a thought-provoking parable about a landowner and his vineyard. This parable challenges us to reflect on our own lives and the responsibilities we have in nurturing and growing the gifts and talents that God has bestowed upon us. In Lutheran schools, we support students to discover the gifts that God has given them, nurture their ongoing development and provide opportunities for them to use their gifts. As we begin Term 4, let us ponder how we encourage students and each other to use the gifts we have been given. How can we contribute positively to our community by nurturing and supporting one another's growth?

Finally, I thank you, our community, for the significant part you play in shaping our College community and contributing to its growth. As we navigate the coming weeks, let us remain steadfast in our belief that we are stronger together and that this is a student-focused College that is committed to providing a quality Christian education.

Let us embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, knowing that we are part of a community that thrives on unity, resilience, and unwavering hope. I thank God for you, this College and the wonderful community it is.

Mr James Phillips, College Principal

by Pastor Matt Bishop

Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them (Mark 6:48b).

I’m blessed by God every winter to spend a week in the beautiful Venus Bay in South Australia fishing for King George Whiting with some friends. Unfortunately, one day each year is usually too windy for us to get out in the boat.

In today’s gospel account, the wind doesn’t faze Jesus. He walks straight out over the water. The significance of Jesus walking on water is not the miracle here. Instead, it’s how he shows he is God by demonstrating mastery over the sea, a place in Hebrew thought of chaos, worry and terror that only God could control. Job 9:8 puts it: ‘He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.’

Mark, the gospel writer, makes this God connection dead obvious for us in the choice of words, ‘He was about to pass by them’ (Mark 6:48). God famously passed by both Moses (Exodus 34:6,7) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:11–18). Hence, when Jesus goes to pass by, it’s not meant to be lost on the disciples. Or us.

The disciples don’t understand, though, even to the point of having hardened hearts (verse 52). Can we really understand either? Probably not.

But what we can do is trust the revelation of God’s word. The one who feeds his people on the Galilean mountain, just as he did in the Sinai wilderness. The one who walks over the water – just as he parted the sea ahead of Pharaoh’s chase. The one who, when he passes by Moses in the cleft of the rock, proclaims, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness’ (Exodus 34:6). The one who had proved exactly those words to us as they laid him in the tomb cut out of Calvary’s rock.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that your life, death and resurrection showed me that you are God. Send me your Holy Spirit so I can keep trusting in your word. When I’m fazed by life, let your word pass closely by to comfort me and bring, by faith, your promises to life. In your name, I pray. Amen.

What a pleasure to welcome students back for Term 4, along with the incredible weather.

I hope that the holiday break was an enjoyable time spent with family and friends. Congratulations to all Magpie supporters, a fantastic end to an incredible journey this year! From all the hard work, commitment and dedication, the ultimate reward has been received.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 reminds us that, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow - perhaps they all will.” Rewards do not come easily, especially when they’re important. Hard work is challenging, we encounter obstacles both expected and unexpected. It takes perseverance, often beyond our own sense of ability. But in the end, it’s undoubtedly worth it. This is something to remember in Term 4. All the seeds of learning have been planted throughout the year and as the end approaches, so will those rewards.

New enrolments

Over the past few weeks we have welcomed several new families to the Holy Trinity community. We wish you well on your educational journey with us.

Greater Western athletics

Today we have 19 students competing in the Greater Western athletics competition in Ballarat. Thank you to Mrs Ferguson for organising this event, and we wish all students the best of luck in their respective events.

Junior School musical - Mary Poppins

The final preparations are being made for the Junior School musical and the incredible sounds of singing rehearsals are such a joy to hear! A reminder that there will be two musical performances on Friday, 13 October to allow for friends and family to attend, details of these are below. As we envisage the evening performance to be quite popular, we welcome as many visitors as possible to the matinee.

Multi-Purpose Centre

• Matinee performance, 2.00pm-3.00pm
• Evening performance, 6.30pm-7.30pm (with light refreshments following)

As this is a free and non-ticketed event, we request that a gold coin donation be made upon arrival.

Bus notification and absences

A reminder to please advise the Office of any changes when travelling on the bus for accurate and efficient processing of students after school. Likewise, all student absences should be advised via the Hub as soon as possible.

Chapel

Next week our Junior School captains will lead us in worship. Due to the musical requirements, the stage and screens will not be accessible, and a modified format will still be accessible for our community to attend.

Blessings on the term ahead,

Mrs Jacqui North, Acting Head of Junior School

Welcome to Term 4

A warm welcome back to all Middle School families. I pray that the holiday period provided an opportunity for rest, relaxation and family time. Term 4 will be an 11-week term with a lot to look forward to.

Term 4 key dates

• 30 October-3 November: Year 9 Rite Journey camp
• Monday, 20 November: Exam week
• Monday, 27 November: Report writing day (student-free day)
• Week 9 - 28 November to 1 December: Headstart Week
• Week 10 - 6-8 December: Year 7 camp
• Week 10 - 7-8 December: Year 8 hike
• Tuesday, 12 December: Last day for Middle School students and Closing Service

Other key points to consider

• Students are able to wear winter or summer uniforms for the first two weeks of Term 4, before transitioning to summer uniforms for the remainder of the term
• All students will be expected to wear a hat during recess and lunch times in line with HTLC’s sun-safe policy

Pedal Prix

Recently, the Holy Trinity Lutheran College Pedal Prix season came to an end with five teams competing in a 24-hour race at Murray Bridge. All teams equipped themselves well, avoided any major crashes and achieved some encouraging results which Mr McLoughlin has outlined in his Sports Report. The students did a fantastic job at Murray Bridge and throughout the Super Series but the opportunity would not be available without the dedication and commitment of the HTLC staff, led by Mr McLoughlin, Mrs Hahn and Mrs Both. These teachers have displayed incredible commitment throughout the season and should be proud of the team’s achievements.

Mr Jason Przibilla, Head of Middle School

Interviews

This week, parents have had the opportunity to meet with staff following interim reports issued at the mid-point of Semester 2 coursework. This is a valuable time in the year for reflection on priorities and commitment to study for our senior students, particularly those completing accelerated studies. As always, we strongly encourage and it is pleasing to see, students engaging in this process with their parents.

Summer uniform

Students are permitted to wear their uniform from the beginning of Term 4 with the first two weeks a transitionary period to allow for seasonal change and the renewal of uniform items.

Sports uniform should be worn on designated days with white College socks. The College uniform shop is open at the following times during the term:

• Tuesday 9.00am-4.00pm
• Friday 9.00am-2.00pm

Hats are required to be worn by all students when outdoors during Term 4.

VET course completion

All students who are also undertaking a VET course are required to commence attendance at school classes from the completion of their VET assessments for the year. These times may vary depending on the course.

VET Induction Day

Induction Day for students commencing VET courses in 2024 will be held on 1 November. Further information will be provided closer to this time.

VM attendance

VM students have staggered completion dates for the school year, according to their cohort and their demonstration of required units of competency. Year 12 students attend their final day of school on Monday, 16 October (if all work has been submitted).

Year 10 and Year 11 students continue classes on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays until Friday, 1 December.

No classes will run for these students on Wednesdays when VET finishes. Structured Work Placements may continue on Thursdays at the discretion of the employer and as arranged with parents. The school should be notified of these arrangements.

Any alterations to these arrangements should be discussed with the Head of School and-or the Principal.

VTAC CourseSearch

Course Search is a comprehensive online search tool for Year 12 students to access when reviewing their preferences.

VTAC CourseSearch:

• provides extensive information about universities, TAFEs, and independent tertiary colleges
• lists all essential requirements and admission criteria including prerequisites
• contains advanced search options include filtering by institution, area of interest, and qualification level

CourseSearch is available at vtac.edu.au and in the free VTAC app

Important end-of-year Senior School dates

SEAS applications and supporting documentation: Submit by Friday, 6 October at 5.00pm

Last day for Year 12s: Breakfast and final chapel: Monday, 16 October

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

Year 11 exams: Monday, 13 November to Thursday, 16 November

Year 11 Head Start: Monday, 20 November to Friday, 1 December

Year 10 exams: Monday, 20 November to Friday, 24 November

Year 10 Head Start: Tuesday, 28 November to Friday, 1 December

Report writing day: Monday, 27 November

Final day for Year 10 and 11s: Friday, 1 December

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

Mrs Sally Kuchel, Head of Senior School

Greater Western athletics - Ballarat

On Friday, 6 October, 19 students along with a huge parent support group, travelled to Ballarat to compete in a variety of track and field events. Well done to all students, the efforts to get students to their events on time and the sportsmanship you all displayed on the day. You are to all be commended.

Super 8s cricket - Horsham

Notes have gone home over Consent2Go regarding this event. Mr Van Zyl and Mrs Ferguson will be coaching and assisting the boy and girl teams respectively. Parent helpers are welcome.

Foundation to Year 3 swimming

Can all families please ensure they complete the YMCA swimming or equivalent swimming levels sheet and return to school. This will aid in the swimming groupings for Term 4. Please feel free to email any information regarding your child to sport@htlc.vic.edu.au to follow up any concerns in regard to this program.

Coming events

Thursday, 19 October: Super 8s cricket at Dudley Cornell Park in Horsham

Wednesday, 1 November: State athletics in Melbourne

Wednesday, 15 November: Greater Western cricket in Ballarat

Friday, 1 December: State cricket in Melbourne

Weeks 6 and 7: Swimming program - Year 3 and Year 1 at the Horsham Aquatic Centre

Weeks 8 and 9: Swimming program - Foundation and Year 2 at the Horsham Aquatic Centre

Many thanks and any questions can be directed to sport@htlc.vic.edu.au.

Mrs Jessie Ferguson, Junior Sport Coordinator

HTLC Physical Education

This week we concluded the Holy Trinity Netball Championship and the Holy Trinity Volleyball League; units of work in Physical Education classes for Year 9 and Year 7 students that involve participating in and organising a sporting tournament. Congratulations to the winning teams and award winners as follows:

HTNC

Female best and fairest: Claudia B
Male best and fairest: Manashij S
Overall Winners: Marmalade (Jed P, Nate P, Abbey O, Makaidee K, Eliza S)

HTVL

Female MVP: Hannah H
Male MVP: Frazer S
Overall winners: The Falcons (Maya P, Eva M, Lizzie H, Isaac H, Ryan S)

Thank you to all the staff and students who worked hard to make these fantastic programs a success.

Greater Western athletics

On Thursday the largest Greater Western Region athletics team in the history of HTLC’s secondary school travelled to Llanberris Reserve in Ballarat to compete in the final step of the pathway before the state finals. Twenty-one students braved the freezing conditions and took on schools from across the region in a variety of different events.

Congratulations to the following students who won their events and will be progressing to the state finals on Monday, 16 October: Georgia F - 100 metres, 200 metres, triple jump; Brodie F - shot put; Rhianna W - javelin; and Phoebe W - javelin.

Congratulations also to these students who earned a medal for finishing second or third in their events: Jude B - 800 metres, 400 metres; Jiedan Y - javelin; LJ K - long jump; Johanna G - 1500 metres; Seb LR - shot put; Aiden N - discus; and Milla G, Hope F, Evie S and Kyah L - 4x100-metre relay.

Black Ranges Years 7 and 8 cricket

Due to inclement weather, the Black Ranges Years 7 and 8 cricket competition has been postponed until Tuesday, 10 October. Good luck to all the students representing HTLC at this event.

Black Ranges Years 7 and Year 8 tennis

Good luck to the three teams of HTLC students travelling to Horsham Lawn Tennis Club courts on Monday, 9 October to represent the College at the Black Ranges Years 7 and Year 8 tennis competition.

Pedal Prix

All eyes in the HPV world were on Murray Bridge, South Australia, as 152 teams from around the country descended on Sturt Reserve for the 24-hour series finale of the Australian HPV Super Series.

Holy Trinity Racing had five trikes competing in that mammoth field, with about 35 riders looking to take on the tight, technical street circuit along the Murray River waterfront.

There was plenty to play for, with a number of teams in contention for the national championship in their respective categories. In challenging situations, the students rode incredibly well, limiting the number of incidents despite the congested circuit and laying down some consistent lap times. Unfortunately, a handful of mechanical issues hampered the team’s progress in the early stages of the race, which limited their ability to be competitive at the top end of the categories.

As the event stretched on into the night, it was clear that the riders were finding it increasingly challenging to back up their efforts stint after stint, with the younger students still putting in their best efforts, but not being able to keep up with older students from the other teams. A credit to all HTLC students, the trikes kept racing throughout the early hours of the morning and into the finish at noon on Sunday.

In the overall series, Avalanche (Middle School girls) and Hurricane (Junior School girls) claimed the national champion titles in their respective categories, while Vortex (Senior School mixed) was runner-up. Congratulations!

National Champion Team Lists

• Avalanche: Ellua B, Abbey O, Grace P, Rachel R
• Hurricane: Lydika B, Penny E, Charlotte K, Amber K, Savannah K, Aizla S, Ava S, Zoe W, Victoria W

It has been a big season for HTR, with the trikes covering a combined distance of 7183.5 kilometres; the equivalent of a road trip from HTLC to Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Alice Springs and Adelaide (plus a little bit more)! Congratulations and thank you to all staff, students and parents involved in the 2023 season. See you in 2024!

Coming events

October

9 - Black Ranges Division Years 7 and 8 tennis

10 - Black Ranges Division Years 7 and 8 cricket

16 - State finals athletics

November

8 - State finals Year 8 volleyball

10 - State finals Year 7 volleyball

Mr Matthew McLoughlin, Secondary Sport Coordinator

How we can help our boys be good mates

In my life from my own childhood, through to my teaching career, my counselling experiences and to my parenting journey raising four sons to adulthood I have learnt a thing or two about boy friendships.

Thankfully there are many men who have strong friendships with other men – some from childhood – and some from more recent times. Some of the research into the high suicide rates of men between 40 and 44 years of age is suggesting that isolation from friends and profound loneliness is a contributing factor. This suggests that some men have struggled making, maintaining and nurturing friendships and in particular with other men.

Many boys have told me how they struggle to understand the nuances of being a good friend: indeed many find it confusing and often their attempts to show their affection or desire for connection end up in moments of public embarrassment.

As a parent you can do many things to support your older boy to develop friendships.

1. Prioritise having his friends who are boys spend significant amounts of time in your home especially in the early years 2-8.
2. Do everything you can to support their common interest – whether that be building go-karts, racing motorbikes, dance, having a band, playing a sport or surfing.
3. Know that food can be a bonding experience for boys – ensure many loaves of bread are always available.
4. Have gentle conversations at times with your son about how to be a ‘good’ friend.
5. Teach your son to say ‘I’m sorry I hurt you’ – even when he never meant to.
6. Help him to remember his friend’s birthday and help him to know how to support his friend if an adverse event occurs in his friend’s life.
7. Ask warmly about his friends from time to time – don’t interrogate, just ask.
8. Express your affection for his friends.
9. Always tell his friends they are welcome at your home and your door will always be open to them.
10. Reassure your son that you will always love him no matter what happens in life.

For this and more on supporting your child in developing friendships please visit maggiedent.com/blog/fragile-boys-friendships-and-why-they-matter-so-much/

The PTFA Annual General Meeting will be held on 1 November 2023 at 7.00pm. All parents, teachers and friends of HTLC are welcome to attend.

The AGM is a great way to find out more about the PTFA and what it does to help improve the school community through financial assistance and volunteer support. Volunteer support in the PTFA is a great way to help HTLC uplift the community spirit. Your level of commitment can be flexible, working around your kids, work and other commitments.

If you are interested in finding out more or wish to become involved please email ptfa@htlc.vic.edu.au.

The AGM is also the platform in which executive positions for the coming year are assigned. Nominations are now being taken for the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.

For more information on nominating yourself or someone you know, please contact us via the PTFA email above. The AGM will be followed by a general meeting and light refreshments.

Bookclub brochures (Issue #7) have been distributed. All orders should be placed by Tuesday, 17 October.

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 at the library.

All Country Bus travellers

The new online bus system can be found by googling School Bus
Program or in your emails from the service.

You will have received an email about your service and everyone needs to log in and accept the Term 4 offer on the new system.

If you don't accept the offer your student will not be on the bus roll or eligible to travel.

2024

Any Year 7s or Foundation students can apply for Term 1 now.

Caroline Cameron, Horsham College Bus Coordinator

buses@horsham-college.vic.edu.au

any year 7s or preps can apply for Term 1 now.

If you’re looking for a fun and active way to keep fit across the warmer months the Horsham Falcons Soccer Club is running a summer program for the very first time!

We are kicking off with a 5-a-side competition on Friday, 13 October from 6pm and running each Friday up to 15 December at the Haven Recreation Reserve.

A great opportunity to learn the game, meet new people, get some exercise, and have some fun.

Also from 19 January next year, the club will running a five-week competition with an exciting new sport from the USA based loosely around soccer called "Omegaball".

Horsham Falcons will be one of the first clubs in Australia to be trailing this exciting new sport.

Summer program timetable:

• Friday, 13 October: Come and try night
• Fridays, 20 October-15 December: 5-a-side competition held each Friday from 6pm
• Fridays, 19 January-16 February, 2024: Omegaball competition each Friday from 6pm

For registration information email the club at hdscsec@gmail.com

Keep Following Christ has youth group in Warracknabeal on every second Wednesday nights this term.

We are non-denominational, we just want to follow Christ and learn more about him. Our youth group generally involves tea, a 20-30 minute Bible Study and about an hour and a half of games. The themes for the term are in the poster above.