This week, the three principals and representatives from LEVNT met to discuss important issues regarding the amalgamation of Holy Trinity Lutheran College, Nhill Lutheran Primary School and St Peter's Lutheran School in Dimboola. Some of the topics that were discussed included:
executive leadership appointments
the formation of Campus Advisory Committees (parent and staff group to advise on decision-making)
church and pastor engagement
uniform
college logo
school fees
school camps
house structure and sports carnivals
systems integration
2025 term dates
A communication piece outlining further details regarding these topics and more will be drafted and distributed to provide an important update for families.
National Lutheran Principals Conference
Last week I attended the National Lutheran Principals Conference, held across four days in Brisbane. This conference offered an opportunity for me to hear from the following prominent keynote speakers:
Prof Sohail Inayatullah, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity
Shelley Ware, SBS commentator
Julia Baird, author, broadcaster and journalist
Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, doctor and disability advocate
These keynotes spoke about their lives, careers and, each in their own way, reminded us of our responsibility as principals to ensure we are providing inclusive opportunities for all students and families. Leaving the group to ponder how their message can be applied in our own school’s context.
As well as hearing from informative speakers, the conference also provided opportunities for networking to take place as connections were made with other principals across other Lutheran schools in Australia. I particularly benefited from the ‘early principals’ part of the conference, where experienced principals shared practical tips on how to be effective in our roles. It was a beneficial time away and allowed me to share information about the planned amalgamation, a topic of interest among the other principals.
Staff acknowledgement
Thank you to Mrs Hahn and Mr McLoughlin for their efforts this past week in coordinating opportunities for our students to participate in the secondary play A Lighter Shade of Noir and the HPV event last weekend. These programs hugely benefit our students and community and couldn’t take place without the dedication and commitment of staff such as Mrs Hahn, Mr McLoughlin and their support staff.
Mr Jason Przibillia, Acting College Principal
Faith News
Let go of control
by Stuart Gray
We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved (Acts 15:11).
It is often hard to let go of habits or beliefs we have held for a long time, even if they are no longer appropriate. For about 1500 years, circumcision had been part of the Law of Moses and a mark of belonging to God’s people; therefore, suddenly accepting this was no longer the case was difficult.
This passage relates to another great turning point in the early church. What is the relationship between the traditional Jews who now believe the promise of a saviour has been fulfilled and the Gentiles newly converted to the faith? I note that the church leaders were not afraid to tackle the significant issues impacting them as they arose and did so in a robust manner.
Peter argues the Gentiles are accepted by God because they have the same Holy Spirit as the Christian Jews, and why burden the Gentiles with burdens that they (the Jews) nor their ancestors could bear? The Christian Pharisees argued that the Law of Moses must be maintained and that circumcision was a critical part of that law.
Then Peter states one of the fundamental tenets of Christianity: it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved. There is no place for legalism, the law has been fulfilled, and salvation is not by works of the law.
In an age where we think we have control over our lives, it is difficult to accept that the most valuable aspect of our lives – being in relationship with God and being with him eternally – is only available by the grace of someone else. God’s grace is truly humbling and awesome at the same time.
Heavenly Father, we pray for faith to truly believe that we are saved by the grace of your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray that the Holy Spirit sustains us in that faith. Amen.
Sub Schools News
Junior School News (9 August, 2024)
Student-led conferences - 12 and 13 August
We have set dates for student-led conferences where students have a booklet to guide them through a conversation with you as their parents about their learning. In this timeslot, students also lead you through some learning experiences, letting you understand some day-to-day school experiences and their understanding of their job as learners here at school.
At the weekend, if you haven’t done so yet, please book a time. This is an invaluable opportunity for your son/daughter to have a conversation about learning with you as their teacher!
Jacqui North is back from a learning tour
Jacqui North is back after going on a learning tour through some Victorian schools, both in and out of Melbourne all week with colleagues from Lutheran Education Victoria, NSW and Tasmania (LEVNT) schools.
It is important for us as a school to visit other sites to see other schools in action, see some quality teaching and learning, and how this fits with other sites and who they are and what they aspire to be. This is of the utmost importance as we prepare for strategic planning in the near future.
The Games - some great learning
If you haven’t already, let your child loose on watching some of the Olympics for the last few days! Thank you to teachers who have taken up the opportunity to integrate this event into their classrooms in many varied and different ways! It is essential from my point of view that we let our educators add their own twist in integrating these events into their classrooms.
Something I loved to see this week was drawn to my attention by one of our parents, Mr Matthew Polack. Matt didn’t have to read too deeply into the character of Olympic high jumper Nicola Olyslagers to see she was a ‘loud and proud’ Christian lady (see the associated picture and quote).
What an inspiration to us all to have a joy in our day-to-day lives like Nicola jumping a high jump bar.
Building community - Foundation Fun Day
Foundation Fun Day was a great success, with about 40 parents and kids in attendance. It achieved its purpose of connecting our families to our community, and we now have an early date when we can begin to build relationships with these families and their children! Thanks to Mrs North and her team who have planned for this day. We now look forward to some storytime visits as we did last year to further that connection.
Building community - HTLC Playgroup
Everyone is invited on Thursdays from 9am to 10am to the Holy Trinity Lutheran College Playgroup. This one-hour session is in the transportable alongside the Foundation rooms - all welcome. Maria (Miss D) and Jessie (Mrs Ferguson) would love to see you there!
Book Week and Grandparents Day
We had a fantastic day on Monday dressing up around the theme Reading is Magic. I loved the spirit in which the students enjoyed the day and celebrated literacy and reading!
Student respect
This week we are focusing on two areas in the Junior School:
Keeping our grounds neat and tidy
End of day not being play time, but pick-up time!
If you have any questions, please ask the teaching staff, or look on the Junior School Hub for more information!
Diary dates
Week 5 - Celebrating Science Week: A reminder that Science Week will be celebrated in some unique ways in individual classrooms next week, as teachers integrate this celebration into classrooms. Please see the Middle School flyer for details also, as it would be great to support the night on Wednesday night!
Thursday, 12 September: F-2 Performing Arts Showcase
Saturday, 14 September: RoboCup Vic State
20-22 September: Human powered vehicle competition in Murray Bridge
Newsletter and assembly are both even weeks this term!
Mr Adam Borgas, Head of Junior School
Celebrating Teaching and Learning
Having just returned from a lovely break on long service leave, it was wonderful to see the excitement and joy on our new Foundation 2025 students’ faces as they arrived for our Foundation Fun Day on 30 July! Children participated in a variety of activities such as face painting, singing and dancing, an obstacle course, and arts and crafts. Thank you to our specialist teachers, teacher aides and Year 5 student helpers for their assistance in ensuring this day was a great success. Thank you also to Miss Lienert and Miss Janetski who spoke to parents about school readiness. We look forward to continuing this day in the future to welcome our new families into our Holy Trinity community.
Awards
Week 2
FJ: Kira T and Ace E, FL: Elizabeth K and Rory B, 1H: Linc D, Priya S and Tessa W, 1P: Anna L and Sarb K, 2H: Oliver S, 2S: Sanuj R, 3B: Ava W and Ava B, 3D: Lilah M, Tenuka D and Leyton H, 4F: Blake O and Jacob C, 4M: Boh A and Luella R, 4R: Sage C and Havish G, 5D: Casen P and Peter S, 5A: Dusty P, Jonty P and Zara B-McC, 6H: Hugo P and Myra S, 6N: Angus C and Penny E, 6V: Kelsey S and Lola K. Specialist awards: Chinese: Hayley W, PE: All of 1H.
Our Trinity Tiger (5-6) Award recipient was Alexa W, Trinity Cub (3-4) Herbie H and Trinity Cub (F-2) Timothy S.
Week 4
Our Trinity Tiger (5-6) Award recipient was Claire R, Trinity Cub (3-4) Chelsea S and Trinity Cub (F-2) Alfie J.
Student work
This week, to recognise and celebrate reading during Book Week, we have asked students to come up with a creative entry for the Book Face competition. Students have been working so hard to come up with inspiring ideas to bring their faces and/or bodies into the existing designs of book covers. We think they’ve done a fantastic job! Here are some of the entries:
Mrs Jacqui North, Junior School Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Congratulations to everyone involved in the production of A Lighter Shade of Noir. It’s fantastic to see our students embracing such wonderful opportunities and showcasing their talents. The show was not only a great success but also filled with humour that had the audience laughing throughout. Students took on various roles, both on stage and behind the scenes. A special thanks to Mrs Michelle Hahn and her team for dedicating countless hours to our students and delivering such a professional production.
Year 12 VTAC applications now open
Year 12 students can now begin their VTAC applications, which is the process for applying to university courses for 2025. Onsite sessions will be available to assist with this, but students are encouraged to show independence and start their applications as soon as possible.
Year 10 excursion: The Alfred hospital PARTY session
On Thursday, 1 August, the Year 10 students attended an Alfred hospital Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth or PARTY information session at the Horsham Town Hall. This program is an engaging and interactive injury awareness and prevention initiative that uses real-life stories and experiences to highlight the impact of trauma.
The students gained valuable insights into the complex processes that take place in hospital trauma and emergency rooms immediately following an incident. They also explored preventive measures to ensure safe celebrations and learned how to respond if they ever encounter an alcohol or risk-related trauma situation.
Science Week
Science Week is coming to our Middle School next week, and we invite all families to join us in celebrating at our Science Showcase on Wednesday, 14 August from 5pm to 6pm. The Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9 classes have been hard at work preparing for this event, where they will present their learning through various demonstrations and interactive activities. It promises to be a wonderful evening.
Important Secondary School dates
Year 12
Tuesday, 29 October-Wednesday, 20 November – VCE written examinations
Tuesday, 22 October – Last day Year 12
Friday, 22 November – Year 12 graduation service and graduation dinner
Sports News
Sports News (9 August, 2024)
Senior Years 5-6 Hoop Time
On Wednesday last week, HTLC sent 27 students in Year 5 and Year 6 to the Little Desert Hoop Time finals at the Horsham Basketball Stadium. The students were excited to be representing the college and participated with great spirit and enthusiasm throughout the day.
It was a tough competition, and each of our teams came away with varied results on the scoreboard; however, all students kept up a positive mindset, tried their best and continued to support their teammates through all of their games.
The boys A team went undefeated in its pool and made it to the semi-finals, where it came up against a much taller side from Horsham Primary School. Unfortunately, a slow start in that match gave the boys very little opportunity to catch up, and they missed out on a grand final berth.
The girls A team defeated all other girls teams in the group stage to qualify for the grand final as the number one seed. Despite fighting hard throughout the entire match, the fatigue build-up over the day and some tough zone-based defence from the opposing side meant the girls experienced a 6-11 loss in their last match.
Thank you to Mrs Both, Breanna and Year 10 student Jarhyn M for assisting with the coaching and scoring responsibilities on the day. Congratulations to all the students for their efforts throughout the competition and in the training sessions leading up to the event.
Early on Saturday morning, 26 current HTLC students, two staff members, two parents and one former HTLC student arrived at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia to compete in round four of the Australian HPV Super Series. While the morning was fresh, the racing heated up quickly, as the long 3.41-kilometre circuit got all participants’ blood pumping. For the Junior School students, this was their last opportunity to race in 2024, with the overall championship on the line, while the Middle and Senior School students viewed this event as the final tune-up prior to the 24-hour season finale in Murray Bridge in September.
It was a great day for all five of the HTLC teams competing. Our Middle School girls team finished in fifth position in their all-female category, and 38th out of the 49 teams in the Middle School division. The Middle School boys performed even better, claiming seventh place out of 49 teams, and achieving HTR’s best overall finish at this event, finishing 72nd out of 194 teams.
Our Junior School teams were also incredibly competitive, with our boys showing their strength to finish in fourth position out of 29 in their category. The boys missed out on the podium by one lap, and were only four laps behind first and second place. It has been an exceptional season for the boys, who have achieved one of the best-ever finishes for our boys teams, finishing fourth in the national championship.
Our Junior School girls found this year to be a battle of endurance, being short on numbers the entire season. For the third race in a row, the team found themselves with just four members, which meant they would be looking at an average of two hours of riding time each. The girls pedalled hard and kept the trike moving around the track, claiming 17th out of 29 trikes in the whole Junior School division. However, they were able to win the Junior School all-female division by a commanding seven laps over their nearest rival, claiming their fourth consecutive national championship in the process. Congratulations to Maddie H, Charlotte K, Aizla S, Maya S and Victoria W who formed the team this season.
Thanks to our new Silver Sponsor, Crop Smart, for helping get our Junior School girls team on the grid for this race so they could claim the national championship. Crop Smart’s sponsorship contributed to the purchase of fresh race tyres for the team, as well as the cost of servicing the vehicle before this event to ensure that everything was in peak condition to allow the girls to perform at their best.
Our teachers, parents and old scholars team performed well over the day, securing an overall finish of 74th out of 194 trikes, and placing 34th in the open category out of 41 teams.
All eyes now turn to Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge, for the most gruelling race of the season, the 24-hour finale, which will be held from 21-22 September this year.
Greater Western Region Year 8 Soccer
Wednesday saw 14 Years 7 and 8 boys venture to Ballarat to compete in the Greater Western regional finals for soccer. The boys were excited and played with a lot of energy throughout the day, but faced some older and more well-drilled opposition in Trinity College, Colac and Ballarat High School throughout the day. The highlight of the event was the team securing a 1-1 draw against Bainbridge College in their third match of the day.
Congratulations to Will P, Jesse J and Cody S for getting on the scoresheet, but also to all the boys for their efforts over some very challenging games. Thank you to Breanna and Ms Reid for coaching and transporting the team to and from the event.
7 - Victorian Schools Mountain Bike Series round four
8 - Victorian Schools Mountain Bike Series round five
10 - Greater Western Region Year 7 and Year 8 volleyball
12 - Little Desert primary athletics
20 - AHPVSS round six: Murray Bridge 24-hour
Mr Matthew McLoughlin, F-12 Sport Coordinator
Community News
Cornerstone Cafe vouchers and loyalty cards
The HTLC Cornerstone Cafe now offers vouchers and loyalty cards!
Buy four hot drinks and get the fifth for free! Or consider buying a voucher for a coffee and a muffin for a friend.
Both can be collected from the cafe, open school mornings until 9am in the Senior School.
Lost and found
Missing
Have you found a necklace with a silver cross on it? If so, please hand it into the HTLC front office.
Found
If you are missing any items, please check out the lost property at the front office.
Growing Resilient Kids workshop
Horsham Lawn Tennis Club
Central Park Tennis Club
Haven Tennis Club
Bumper bowling and junior league
From Diagnosis to OAM plus a sibling's perspective: a personal autism journey
Give Healthcare Harrie some colour
Horsham has always been proud of its hospital and how it looks after everyone when they are not well.
Now Wimmera Base Hospital is having a very special birthday. It is 150 years old in August.
As part of the celebrations, Grampians Health is inviting kindergarten and primary school children across Horsham to colour in Healthcare Harrie any way they want. Ask your teachers how you can enter.
We also want as many people to write about their experience with Wimmera Base Hospital in a special Memory Book that will be available in the Opportunity Shop in Darlot Street, from 9-15 September.
It will also be available at a table in the entrance to Horsham Plaza on 4 October. People are also welcome to email any stories or pictures to Horsham150@gh.org.au.
Enrolled nurse traineeship
West Wimmera Health Service is currently taking applications for the 2025 EN traineeship program.
All applications must be submitted online. The closing date is 30 August.
The service will also offer gap years again in multiple areas - more information to follow.
