2025 Staffing Update

As we enter the second half of the term, I am pleased to announce that 2025 staffing is close to being finalised. Over the coming weeks I look forward to announcing a number of exciting staffing appointments which will complement the hardworking and professional staff that currently work at HTLC. These announcements will be made public once they are formalised, as will the Junior School class allocations.

To complement our staff, we also are looking to add a number of support staff including a Wellbeing Officer and College Sports Assistant. Details about these two positions can be found on our website: https://www.htlc.vic.edu.au/about/working-with-us. Please forward these details to anyone you feel would be interested in applying for either of these two exciting positions.

Positions of Added Responsibility (PAR) appointments will also be made by the end of next week. The following positions will be filled by staff of HTLC in 2025:

• Year Level Coordinators: 7-12
• VCE Coordinator
• Applied Learning Coordinator
• Curriculum Leader (7-10)
• Director of Arts (F-12)
• Head of Christian Studies (F-12)
• Head of Sport (F-6)
• Head of Sport (7-12)
• eLearning Coordinator
• NCCD Coordinator (7-12)
• Department Coordinator (F-3)
• Department Coordinator (4-6)

The PAR roles play a crucial role in ensuring the day-to-day operations of the college run effectively and we have an exciting collection of staff who have expressed interest in fulfilling these roles in 2025, meaning our students and families will benefit from their talents and expertise.

Acknowledgements

The last couple of weeks have been busy, and I would like to acknowledge the following events and people:

• Mrs Rokebrand, Mr Borgas, and Mrs North: for running another successful 2025 Foundation Story Time session
• Mrs Sam Engert: for leading an informative and helpful 2025 Year 7 Information Evening
• Mrs Hahn and the Arts/Technology Team: for providing a great night of entertainment at the Under the Stars event and Trailblazers Interactive Circuit
• Mrs Deleeuw: for continuing to provide a fantastic morning of entertainment at the HTLC Playgroup
• Mrs Engert and the Year 7s: for the PBL Showcase
• Mr Bandel and Miss Connelly: for coordinating the Remembrance Day Whole School service on Monday, and College Captains Rebekah W and Alannah J for representing the college at the Horsham Remembrance Day Service
• Miss Cashin: for leading the Specialist Netball Program through a fantastic year of expert training and specialist coaching
• The Year 9 Rite Journey Staff: for leading a successful Year 9 Camp
• Mrs Susie Penny: for completing her stint as Year 3 teacher whilst Mrs Driller has been on Long Service Leave
• Miss Cashin and the HPE Staff: for their efforts in organising the whole college colour run last Friday, a great afternoon of fun for everyone

A Special Tribute

On a personal note, earlier this week I received news that my mother, Denise, had passed away at the age of 71. This news was a tremendous shock to myself and the family and we have been devastated by her passing. I was able to spend some time back at my hometown of Riverton this week remembering and reflecting on mum’s life.

My mother Denise was an amazing woman who in her life demonstrated unconditional love at all times. A woman of faith who adored her family, especially her grandchildren, was passionate about sport and was somebody who was a great advocate for our college. Mum loved her visits to Horsham and especially the many special occasions she spent in the school. She spoke so positively of the school and the opportunities that it provided her family, often saying she was so grateful that my family was in such a great school.

I was lucky to be able to share many special moments and memories with my mother and although I will miss her dearly, I am grateful for the life she had, the pivotal role she played in my upbringing, and the positive impact and influence she had on me and my family. This week was a reminder to me of how unpredictable life can be, I encourage you to take the opportunity today to pick up the phone (or even better, visit) those that are closest to you and tell them exactly how much they mean to you.

Philippians 1:3

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you

Psalm 34:18

The Lord knows your heart is aching. May he hold you close to his heart and comfort you tenderly.

Important Term 4 Dates:

Friday 22 November: Year 12 Graduation Service and Valedictory Dinner
Thursday 28 November: Senior School Closing Service, 2:00pm
Friday 29 November: Report Writing Day
Monday 9 December: Year 6 Celebration Service, 9-11:30am
Tuesday 10 December: Middle School Closing Service, 11:30am
Wednesday 11 December: Junior School Closing Services: Year 3-6: 11.30am - 12.50pm, Years F-2: 1.40pm - 3.00pm
Friday 13 December: School Office Closed, 2:00pm

Mr Jason Przibilla, Acting College Principal

by Pastor Mark Gierus

But Joseph said, ‘Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace’ (Genesis 44:17).

Joseph’s brothers have now bought grain for a second time and are returning to the land of Canaan to provide for their families. They have safely taken Benjamin with them and have also been given back their other brother, Simeon, who was left with Joseph after the first visit to Egypt for grain. They were on the way home, all accounted for, but Joseph had put a plan in place.

Joseph had instructed the steward of his house: ‘Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.’

Soon after the brothers had left, Joseph sent his steward after them, accusing them of stealing, including the silver cup of Joseph. The brothers are bewildered, and the silver cup is found in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers are now to be slaves of Joseph, but he says that only the one found with the cup must stay, and the rest must return to their father in peace.

Joseph lives by faith – faith in God – and knows what he will do. He is not planning to punish his brothers for what they had done, but rather in faith to be a servant of the living God who will show his glory and purpose to them all as the story unfolds.

When you have been wrongly accused, fix your eyes on God in faith, and you will see the promises in his word that he is with you always and will never leave nor forsake you. Wait on him, trusting that he always has a plan to bless you and shape you for his purpose and, in the end, to show you and those around you that he is a loving and forgiving God who cares.

O God, when I find myself wrongly accused, help me to turn to you. Please help me to call on your name and trust you. You will always do more for me than I can imagine because you love me. You defend me because I am yours. You have called me by name, and you will keep me safe. Amen.

Foundation in 2025

This week on Wednesday we had the second of our Foundation visits to HTLC. Thank you to the parents for attending these important pre-school visits to help familiarise their children with the school environment. This week’s session was led by Mrs Christine Rokebrand, who did a fantastic job in reading to the students. We look forward to our final session on Tuesday 3rd December, which will see our 2025 Foundation students attend classes for half the day.

Staffing for 2025

Staffing for 2025 is close to being finalised with the final pieces being put together. I am pleased to announce that at this stage there will be very minimal movement in staffing from 2024 to 2025. Stay tuned to the newsletter for more information in the coming fortnight.

Diagnostic Testing Nearly Completed in Classrooms

Students will be completing ‘catch up’ diagnostic testing this coming week. The bulk of this testing was completed in Week 6. These results inform the writing of reports along with classwork that has been completed throughout the year as the final reports are constructed. Well done to all students who have tried their best in their testing, and many thanks to teaching staff for their fastidiousness as we enter a busy time when they complete this professional duty.

UR Strong School

For a number of years now, we have had a subscription to UR Strong. UR Strong is a wellbeing program that has been used on a needs basis as we find different groups of students having different issues socially and emotionally. Through the MMG survey data, staff in the Junior School have targeted rolling out the UR Strong program in a systematic way in Term 1 2025, from Foundation to Year 6 (in a whole school approach). This will allow us to work more proactively as a team at school and at home as co-educators as we speak the same language together! For more information, see https://urstrong.com/ or ask our wellbeing team; Kellie Both and Kate Polack.

Soundwaves at HTLC in 2025

For a number of years, the teaching of orthography (how to encode and decode language) has been greatly supported by research. We now have some great evidence for best practice in this area to teach students how to read and write. This approach to orthography is known as phonemic awareness and phonetic instruction.

To cut the teacher talk, the program we have been using for the old-fashioned area of ‘Spelling’ has had a revamp to reflect best teaching practices, and at HTLC we are getting on board! The best way I can describe this change is that students are taught how the English language is a code, and we give our students the skills of how to break that code.

2025 Classes

Class lists will be distributed to students in a sealed envelope on Monday, 2 December. Please remember that teachers are very careful and deliberate in their allocation of students to classes, and many factors are taken into account when preparing class lists. The whole school Transition Day will occur on Tuesday, 3 December. Class lists for Foundation 2025 will be distributed on this day, once students have moved to classrooms.

Term 4 Diary Dates

• November 27-29: Year 3 Camp (back on Friday morning)
• November 29: Student Free Day Report Writing
• December 3: HTLC Transition Day
• December 5: HTLC Foundation Celebration Night
• December 11: Last Day of Term 4
• December 13: Last Day for Staff

Newsletter and Assembly: Both will occur on even weeks this term!

Mr Adam Borgas, Head of Junior School

Celebrating Teaching & Learning

Over the last few weeks, teachers in the Junior School have been utilising a new feature of the Hub called “Learning Moments.” This application allows teachers to take a photo, video, or audio recording of a student’s work and share this directly with parents/caregivers. Parents then have the opportunity to comment on this work or use this to prompt further conversations about their learning at home. This is a wonderful initiative to engage families with their child’s learning and celebrate these moments in real time. We look forward to seeing this feature become a regular part of school communication with home.

An example of how Year 1 learning moments are posted:

Awards (Week 6)

There was no Junior School Assembly this week due to a Whole School Remembrance Day service on Monday. Student awards will be listed again in Week 8.

Mrs Jacqui North, Junior School Teaching and Learning Coordinator

It has been a very busy couple of weeks in the Secondary School. The end of Term 4 is an exciting time where our community comes together to celebrate the learning that has taken place across the year.

Colour Run

We were thrilled to hold our HPE Week x PTFA Colour Run in Week 5, creating a vibrant and memorable celebration. A highlight of the event was seeing the entire school community come together to cheer one another on. A huge thank you goes to the HPE team and PTFA for their hard work in organising this fantastic event.

Trailblazers and Under the Stars

The Trailblazers and Under the Stars event was held on Wednesday 13, November and was an amazing evening of community celebration, showcasing the talents of our Arts and Technology students. The event featured the "Trail Blazers" interactive trail, which displayed an array of student work. This trail was organised and coordinated by Year 11 Visual Communication student Zara N. The evening culminated in "Under the Stars," a musical showcase featuring students from Year 7 to 12. A heartfelt thank you goes to the dedicated staff who helped organise this wonderful event.

Year 7 Information Evening

This week, we welcomed our incoming Year 7 families for 2025 to the Middle School. The evening began with a welcome barbecue, followed by an informative session where families received details about upcoming events at the start of the year, along with helpful tips to ensure a smooth transition. We look forward to officially welcoming these families to the Middle School community in 2025.

PBL Showcase

Congratulations to our current Year 7 students for a wonderful Project-Based Learning showcase. Students enthusiastically shared their learning and product with our school community. Well done to all students for their commitment and hard work on their projects.

Secondary School Exams and HeadStart Program

Year 11 exams took place this week, and next week will be dedicated to Year 10 exams. Following their exams, Year 11 students will commence the HeadStart program, giving them an early introduction to their 2025 subjects. Year 10 students will join the HeadStart program once their exams conclude. Meanwhile, Middle School students will be finalising their assessments during class time over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Year Level Coordinator.

Appointment of College Captains

I am delighted to announce the appointment of our 2025 College Captains:

• Captains: Samuel H and Stephanie W
• Vice Captains: James P and Zara N

We wish these students well in their roles and are grateful for their commitment to serve the College in 2025.

Important Dates

Year 12:
22 November: Year 12 Graduation Service
Year 11:
18-28 November: Year 11 VCE HeadStart
Year 10:
18-22 November: Year 10 Exams
25-28 November: Year 10 HeadStart
Year 10 and Year 11:
28 November: Final day for Year 10 and 11 Students with closing service at 2.00pm
Year 7, 8, and 9:
10 December: Final day for Year 7, 8, and 9 Students with closing service at 11.30am

Mrs Kate Carter, Acting Head of Senior School

Greater Western Region Year 8 Tennis

In Week 4, Victoria B, Elizabeth H, Serena J and Mia L travelled to Ballarat to compete in the Greater Western Region Tennis Finals. The girls played some great tennis, defeating Ballarat High School and Trinity College six sets to love, but unfortunately couldn’t quite get past a very strong team from Emmanuel College in Warrnambool. Thanks to the parents who provided transport for the girls for this trip.

Greater Western Region Year 6 Cricket

On Wednesday, the Year 6 boys cricket team of Jack A, Nixon B, Vincent B, Angus C, Milton E, Jed F, Judd O, Bryce M, Zack P and Cooper P travelled to Ballarat with Mr van Zyl and Ms Reid to compete in the Greater Western Region Finals.

Despite the cold conditions, the boys were in high spirits and came away with wins in their first two games. Unfortunately, their remaining three matches ended in close losses, but it was a great learning experience and opportunity for the boys to experience some higher-level cricket competition.

Thanks to the staff and parent volunteers who worked with the students on the day.

State Year 8 Volleyball

Also on Wednesday, 15 Year 8 students represented HTLC at the State Volleyball Finals. It was a tough day of competition for the Year 8 boys, who were facing three incredibly strong volleyball schools in their pool. They fought hard in every match and improved throughout the day, having some long rallies and getting to 19-21 in one of their sets. Unfortunately, the boys finished with no wins, but they certainly learned a lot. Congratulations to Jesse J, Lj K, Chase K, Shaun L, Tarren M, Rhylee O, Will P and Frazer S for their efforts.

The Year 8 girls team are in the midst of an incredibly busy period of volleyball, having competed in the Bendigo Senior Tournament two weekends ago, and preparing for the Horsham tournament this weekend and the Volleyball Victoria Junior Open later in November. With many of the students returning to the state finals twelve months after their previous attempt in Year 7, they were determined to improve their performance. The girls played with heart and put everything on the line in their three pool games. They managed to secure a win against St Joseph’s College Mildura in their first game, two sets to love.

Having to back that match up with a game against Eltham High School was always going to be tough, and after losing the first set the girls fought back to win the second set 22-20 and force a deciding set. Unfortunately, the girls just missed out, losing the third set 12-15.

The result meant they still needed a win if they were to make the semi-finals, but they came up against a very consistent Keysborough Banksia team who claimed the win. Despite not qualifying for the semi-finals, the girls managed to secure the first win for an HTLC team at the State Finals since 2019. Congratulations to Victoria B, Kirrily D, Hannah G, Bonnie G, Serena J, Myah M and Amelia vB for their hard work and perseverance to get to this point.

Thanks to Mrs North and Breanna who assisted with the transportation of students and coaching throughout the event.

State Year 6 Volleyball

Next Friday, the Year 6 girls will have their chance to compete at a state level as they make the trip to the State Volleyball Centre for the Primary State Finals. Good luck to Luella B, Everleigh C, Penny E, Mahli H, Sasha H, Charlotte K, Aizla S, Ane vZ and Becky W.

Coming Events

November 22: State Volleyball (Primary)

Mr Matthew McLoughlin, F-12 Sport Coordinator

No Fluff, Just Grit

Two propositions that matter when it comes to understanding resilience and knowing how to raise resilient kids:

1. Life is hard. Full stop. End of story.

Despite what Instagram might suggest, life is not always sunshine and rainbows. When you need sunshine, it rains. When you’re running late, the kids are “too tired.” That potty-training toddler? The one who’s been dry all week? They’ll save the epic nappy blowout for the minute you strap them into the car seat for a four-hour drive.

And don’t forget the chorus of “I’m hungry!” that erupts three minutes after you’ve finally cleaned up the meal they didn’t like.

2. People are resilient. It’s in our nature. We are designed that way.

Unfortunately, we are fed a lie that challenges break us. So, we try to make life comfortable. We avoid hardship and shield our kids from it too, scooping them up out of harm’s way to “protect” them. But here’s the thing: Resilience is a muscle built through experiences and relationships. It can’t grow without some challenges.

To keep reading, please follow this link: https://happyfamilies.com.au/articles/resilient-kids-who-bounce-back

For more resources, visit: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/htlc

Unplug Childhood

A presentation for parents of primary school-aged children.

In today’s digital age, our children face unprecedented challenges from social media and digital devices. Join us as we explore the urgent need to address these issues head-on. Social media companies have come under scrutiny for their failure to protect children, despite knowing the harm their platforms can cause. Dangerous algorithms push harmful content to vulnerable youth, impacting mental health and well-being. Screens not only disrupt academic performance but also displace crucial real-world experiences essential for healthy development.

While some advocate for legislative measures to restrict social media access for under-16s—a crucial step we fully support—implementing such laws takes time and faces significant technological and legislative hurdles. Parents cannot afford to wait. The majority of primary school-aged children already have social media accounts and smartphones, often violating existing age restrictions.

In this presentation, we discuss actionable strategies for parents and caregivers to navigate the digital landscape safely and effectively. From setting healthy screen-time limits to fostering open communication about online risks, empowering our children to navigate the digital world responsibly is more critical than ever. Together, we can take proactive steps to safeguard our children’s well-being in an increasingly digital world.

Learn more: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/the-screen-smart-series-answers-with-justin

Tweens, Teens & Screens

No conversation about ‘kids these days’ has created more confusion and contention than the ‘screen-time’ discussion. How much is ok? How old should they be before they have a phone? Are games making our kids violent? Is social media destroying wellbeing?

Until now, our challenge has been that so much research is contradictory, there’s so little good-quality research, and there has been so much we simply don’t know. But all that is changing.

Join Dr. Justin Coulson, one of the nation’s leading parenting experts, as he unpacks – step by step – the specific conclusions we can draw about our digital kids.

In this presentation you’ll discover:

• Why screen time is an unhelpful way to talk about kids and screens
• How boys and girls are affected differently by their screen use
• The true story about screens and social media
• The uncomfortable truth about boys and violent video games
• Why ‘the displacement hypothesis’ is the critical lever to pull in balancing screen use for our kids’ wellbeing

Tweens, Teens & Screens is the conversation the nation needs to have about our kids and their screens.

Learn more: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/the-screen-smart-series-answers-with-justin

For additional resources, visit: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/htlc

“Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.”

The season of giving is just around the corner! This year, HTLC will be contributing to the Reverse Advent Calendar community project. The community is aiming to arrange hundreds of food hampers for the Christian Emergency Food Centre to share with disadvantaged families.

Junior School classes have been asked to contribute 1 or 2 boxes per class. Each box is to contain a specific list of items. We hope that families can contribute to the project by donating supplies from the list that has been sent out by classroom teachers. If families would like to contribute a box, lists of donation items can be found at the office. We ask that no glass is to be used in packaging. Please have donations at school before Friday 6th December.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

VCE STUDENT GRANTS | We are excited to announce that Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for VCE students who plan to study in the field of science, engineering, innovation or environment, to apply for a grant of $1,000 towards their university books.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get a positive head start in your academic journey.

Please fill out the EOI form, available here bit.ly/VCEStudentGrants to register your interest in this grant.

Applications open Monday 23 December 2024. GWMWater will notify students who submitted an EOI and schools when this application period begins.

Best of luck!