News

Joy is Constantly Born Anew

As Father Dean Marin indicated in the Parish Bulletin, the significance of this Easter season is really beyond words. “The rising of Christ from the dead gives us a share in his new risen life here and now and the hope of everlasting life. This is a day (Easter Sunday) of great joy and hope for all peoples of the world.”

Father Dean goes on to write:

There is disunity, division and disharmony all around us; in our world, within the environment, in our society, in our own relationships and within us. Pope Francis in his encyclical letter, “Laudato Si” when reflecting on the book of Genesis puts it like this: “human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself. According to the Bible, these three vital relationships have been broken, both outwardly and within us. This rupture is sin. The harmony between the creator, humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations.”

The reality is that all our relationships are deeply connected to our relationship with God. Leave God out of the picture and all is disrupted. It’s Jesus Christ, by his death on the cross and resurrection to new life that restores our relationship with God and all other relationships. He alone is our saviour.

And so at Easter the primary call is to acknowledge our own share in sin and seek the forgiveness and healing of Jesus. In the words of Pope Francis we are called to “a renewed personal encounter with Christ…. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.”

In all our Easter Masses we are invited to renew our Baptismal Promises. Here we symbolically die with Christ so as to rise with him to new life. Let us wholeheartedly and consciously renew our commitment to Christ and his way of life as we renew our Baptisms.”

Board Annual General Meeting

Thank you to staff and parents who attended the College Annual General Meeting, Wednesday evening, 28 March at 7:30pm.

Special thanks to Ben Langford for his wonderful saxophone playing to welcome guests.  I also thank Year 10 student Dylan Leadbetter and parent, Jean-Claude Cesario, who spoke about the Zayed Future Energy Prize, trip to Abu Dhabi and our ecology plans for the future.

The Tenison Woods College Board is comprised of members from the school community, parish community and staff. It is an advisory group to the Principal that oversees the strategic planning, financial management and policy ratification for the College Community.

2018 Board is comprised of:

• Father Dean Marin (President)
• The elected members are:
• Emma-Kate Griffiths (Chair)
• Kevin Johnson (Deputy Chair)
• Peter Collins
• Simone Van Rijn
• Bert Prosperi-Porta
• Kate Facy
• Amy Smith
• Brooke Rzepiela
• Sian Earle
• Jean-Claude Cesario
• Chris Ind
• Brian O’Connor (Parish Representative)
• Francesca Dickson (Staff Representative)

Ex-Officio Board Members are:

• David Mezinec – Principal
• Liza Couzens – Deputy Principal
• Neal Turley – Business Manager
• Trudi Dempsey – WHS Officer
• Mary de Nys – Minute Secretary

 look with anticipation to the efforts of the Board and associated Board Sub-Committees:

• Faith, Wellbeing & Health Committee – Chair, Michelle Coote
• Finance Committee – Chair, Chris Ind
• Building, Grounds and Asset Management Committee – Chair, Neal Turley
• Uniform Committee – Chair, Jennie Sanderson
• ELCC & OSHC Advisory Committee - Chair, Domenica Dunn
• Friends of Tenison Committee – Chair, David Mezinec

Sports Carnivals – Successes, Fun and Community Building

It has been a pleasure to see students involved in a variety of swimming and athletics carnivals this term, representing house teams and the school, pursuing personal best efforts or just having some fun with other students, staff and parents.  I anticipate that this Friday’s Year 3-7 Athletics Carnival will be an outstanding expression of such very successful sporting, and a community building event. 

Such experiences offer our students opportunities to shine beyond the classroom and teach them a great deal about life. I therefore thank our Sports Coordinators, Ciaran Buckley and Grant Lean with the support of our Sports Administration Trainee, Jordan Gould, and the Health and Physical Education Teaching Team and staff across the school, for their efforts in developing such positive experiences for our students. 

Furthermore, I thank our committed parents for their support of these carnivals – I know students appreciate your presence and support even though some of our older students might not publicly acknowledge that to their peers. Finally, I acknowledge the way our student community has embraced these experiences and ensured that they have become excellent community building events. 

Meeting the Penola Community

As a College we greatly appreciate the support offered to us by our regional communities and we look forward to visiting them each year and connecting with current and prospective families. This week on Wednesday 4 April, a Families Gathering will be held in Penola. We will be enjoying the hospitality of Mary MacKillop Memorial School and appreciating the wonderful relationships we have with the school, families and general community. Following our parent gathering we welcome new and prospective parents to our Penola information evening beginning at 7.30pm in the Mary MacKillop Memorial hall.

BYOD at Tenison Woods College

Thank you to the Senior School families who have supported the Bring Your Own Device approach this year with all the challenges and successes that it has brought for the family. I remind families, for more information about the BYOD program, obtaining free Microsoft Office software and device options, please visit the Portal@TWC help site. It is a wonderful resource prepared and curated by our committed ICT Support Team.

Parish Planned Giving Rebate

I remind families that parents contributing to the St Paul’s Planned Giving may claim a rebate from Tuition Fees of 50% of their contribution up to a maximum claim of $750. Official Parish receipts are to be presented to the Business Manager after the 30 June 2018 for a deduction to be made.

End of Term

I remind families that there will be an early school closure to conclude the term on Friday 13 April.  As with past practices Junior School will conclude at 2:15pm and Middle and Senior School at 2:20pm. 

God Bless,

David Mezinec | Principal

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