News

Welcome to new families

As I welcome all families back to start the second term for 2018, we especially welcome new families to our community, hoping that they will enjoy being a part of our learning family.

The term has commenced smoothly and students have once again settled into the routines that were established in Term 1. We look forward with fresh energy to the learning experiences that will be encountered during the term.

‘Leading from Within’ – Our Leaders Shine

During the recent school holidays, 28 staff leaders of Tenison Woods College, participated in the leadership program Leading from Within, facilitated by the internationally recognised Brown Collective. Stephen Brown founder and facilitator of the program indicated that the collective is anchored by agreed ideals and ways of working: an explicit commitment to excellence informed by research and evidence; shared values; ethical and sustainable practices; and a clear moral purpose.

Stephen and co-facilitator Amanda Ypinazar acknowledged the importance of identifying, supporting and developing a diverse range of leaders, and through the program providing an opportunity for individuals to self-reflect about their leadership capabilities, understand the importance of interpersonal relationships in their leadership, and make a contribution to the shared direction of their school and the broader system.

We were very fortunate that 28 of our staff participated in three days of high energy workshopping by two highly regarded facilitators with the committed support of staff from Catholic Education South Australia. I look forward to the outcomes of the leadership challenge projects which each participant will complete this year.    

Thriving Children

I was also delighted that 12 of our staff chose to spend a day of inspiration with Clare Crew at the Thriving Children workshop with twenty-two other educators from across the region.
The workshop clarified the connection between mind and body learning and how we can use this knowledge in the classroom to enhance engagement and learning, leading to improved social and emotional health. The day was built around the building blocks for learning and how the foundations need to be in place before we can access formal learning successfully.
Those building blocks are:

• Formal learning
• Visual processing
• Auditory processing
• Language
• Motor development
• Sensory integration
• Primitive reflexes

I thank our Counsellor, Josie Ashby for championing this significant learning in our school community and also our staff for utilising this learning to facilitate child development and wellbeing. I am also excited about staff action research projects which will evolve from the inspiration of this workshop, and then the commensurate benefit to the learning of each individual child in the classes of these staff.

Generations in Jazz Weekend

I remind families that this coming weekend is the Generations in Jazz Festival; an outstanding expression of jazz music, youthful energy and passionate learning. I encourage you to get along and soak up an inspiring atmosphere.  

Tickets are available online or from Chapman’s Newsagency. If you have not yet had the pleasure of attending the event I can assure you that you will be amazed at the talent, energy and sense of community which the Generations in Jazz creates.

If you would like to offer parochial support for our Tenison Woods College students then head out to the Barn Palais on Saturday 5 May at these times:

• Big Band (AA Scott Pavilion) 11:00am
• Senior Vocal Ensemble (Allert Pavilion) 2:10pm
• Concert Choir (Evans Pavilion) 4:50pm

Staff News

We wish Marie Hoare, Careers Coordinator, and Jane Van Eeten, Art Teacher, all the best as they take long service leave this term and use the time to do some travel. We thank Jody Elliot and Meghan Lynch for covering their respective roles throughout the term.
We also wish Sarah McDowell and her dog, Cali, all the best as they compete in the World Agility Championships during May this year, as Mount Gambier’s very own international representatives on the world agility stage. Sarah will also be absent in Term 2 and we thank the HPE Team for covering her load.

Mother’s Day Celebrations

Next Friday 11 May, our school community celebrates the important role offered by mothers, caregivers, grandmas, godmothers, aunts, big sisters and all those who provide motherly care to our young. A liturgy at 9:00am in the Chapel, will be followed by a morning tea. I urge you to make space in your morning to acknowledge your importance in young lives. It is certainly one of the highlights of the College calendar.

Deanery Youth Mass – 27 May

Supported by all the parishes in the South East Deanery, in this Year of Youth, there will be a Deanery Youth Mass on Sunday 27 May at 5.00pm in St Joseph’s Church, Penola. After the Mass there will be a shared meal, so we ask everyone to please bring a plate of food along. Please put this date in your diaries and refer to the poster in this weeks’ newsletter for more details.

ANZAC Day – ‘Lest we forget’

I was delighted that Tenison Woods College was formally involved in the Mount Gambier ANZAC Day commemorations. I believe ANZAC Day not only offers us an opportunity to acknowledge those Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who fought and died at Gallipoli in 1915, but is also a day of remembrance for all soldiers who have died while fighting for their country as well as their families whose lives have been significantly transformed by the supreme sacrifice. Furthermore, ANZAC Day invites us as a community to acknowledge the commitment of our contemporary armed forces and their families; a day to say thank you with deep appreciation.

I thank our College captains, Evangelia Wichmann and Daniel Ker for representing the College at the Mount Gambier service. It was also pleasing to note the number of Tenison Woods College students who, as cadets, were involved in the proceedings of the day. Likewise, it was also pleasing that many students of the College attended the ceremonies during the day with their families.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 
At the going down of the sun and in the morning 
We will remember them."

God Bless,

David Mezinec | Principal 

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