News

Year 8 - 12 Pathways Expo and 2019 Subject Selection Information Evening

At Tenison Woods College every learner has a place, every learner has a pathway, every learner will shine. That is our challenge and our celebration.

I was delighted that many families attended last night’s Year 8-12 Pathways Expo and Subject Selection Information Evening, which marked the beginning of the subject counselling process for Middle and Senior School, in preparation for the 2019 academic year.

The purpose of the Pathways Expo was to assist students and parents to gather information regarding a large variety of subjects that are offered at Tenison Woods College and to assist students to make informed decisions regarding their subject choices and learning. Consequently, during the Expo subject area information booths provided: information to students regarding subject offerings; pathways within a subject area; skills which can be developed in the subject; pathways post schooling; tertiary and TAFE education options; and samples of student work.

We were also delighted to speak with families about the new subject offerings for 2019:

• Year 8 Electronics (integrated with year 8 Science)
• Year 9  Junior Engineering
• Year 11 Electro technology
• Year 10 Concept to Construction
• Year 11 Engineering
• Year 10/11 Dance

As well as our continually evolving and refined approach to the High Performance Sports Program

The expo was a further expression of our commitment to serve the individual needs of each student in our learning community and to support parents as prime educators in the life of our young to foster those pathways.

I thank our committed staff for preparing the Expo under the guidance of our Director of Learning, Scott Dickson, Head of Senior School, Sean Quirke, Head of Middle School, Ian Ross, Deputy Principal Liza Couzens, the Senior School Leadership Team, Learning Area Coordinators, Administration Team, IT Team, Grounds Team and our Public Relations and Events Team.  Thanks also to the Sugar Loaf Café, which offered its characteristic hospitality and hearty cuisine to staff and families. In the broader context of vocations, this expo gives our young the confidence to discover who they are and who God is inviting them to be, with the support and focus that inspires confidence, commitment and hope.  

Pathways Expo and Vocations Week

It is also fitting that our Pathways Expo takes place during Vocations Awareness Week; a special time of prayer for all vocations, but in particular for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood, Diaconate and Religious Life.

As Christians we understand that every baptised Christian has a unique and personal call or vocation from God. Each of us through marriage and family life, single life, lay ministry in the church, priests, deacons and consecrated religious are called to a unique purpose and mission in life to bring God’s love into our world. 

As such, during vocations week we celebrate the unique purpose and mission in life that God has for each of us coming from our Baptism. Each of us is called to holiness of life and to witness God's love in our world. In this context we especially pray for an increase in Vocations to the Diaconate, Religious life and the Priesthood.

ICT Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Approach 2019

This year all senior school students are bringing their own device to school as part of our learning approach at the College.  I remind families that next year we are asking each Middle School student in year 8 and 9 to commence 2019 with their own laptop device. 

This next exciting step in our College ICT approach is complemented by a range of support services through our PORTAL@TWC page, and I encourage families to avail themselves of the support offered by our ICT Team through this page. There will also be implications for the re-purposing of some of our current ICT classrooms that currently have desk top computers located in them. This strategy will gradually, deliberately and carefully evolve in unison with our master planning approach.

We urge families for whom this approach will cause significant hardship to contact Mr Neal Turley, Business Manager, to discuss your individual circumstance and how the College can support your family in this approach.

Staff Listening, Learning and Collaboration

I have often indicated that school communities are all about relationships, and good learning is nurtured by intentional, life-giving relationships. I am so delighted that all teaching staff are this year continuing to deliberately think about the ways they can refine and improve the learning in their classrooms, through reflecting on their craft.  Each teaching staff member is implementing an action research project which is assisting them to reflect on the learning environment they are creating and how learning best unfolds in their care. 

This is a wonderful commitment to professional learning because every teacher at Tenison Woods College is aspiring to be the best they can be:

• for themselves as teachers;
• for students;
• and for their colleagues - other teachers and co-educators

And in all this, I think they are also illustrating well the understanding that the two biggest determinants of success in life which are: curiosity and grit. 

So, in persisting with the action research project in the busyness of term 3 I am hopeful of continuing a whole school discourse about the elements of excellent learning environments, in such a way that we celebrate the craft of teaching and the impact of excellent teaching practice. I also look forward to staff celebrating their actions and findings during our staff conference day, October 19; our Mount Gambier Show School closure day.

“It’s hard being catholic sometimes!”

With the issues of same-sex marriage, euthanasia, child abuse and the Royal Commission, all in the public forum, parishioners and the general public are invited to a free public lecture by Monica Doumit. She is a regular columnist for the Catholic Weekly and has been involved with many of these issues. It’s on Saturday August 11 in St Paul’s Hall at 2-30pm. See the flyer in our churches here for more details of her visit to the South East and Adelaide. Come along and discuss these big issues and how we can respond as Catholics.

Reception enrolments 2019

I advise parents and carers that interviews are well under way for all 2019 Reception Enrolments.  We invite parents or carers and students to schedule an interview time with Mrs Jill Rogers, Head of Junior School, to formalise their child’s enrolment for 2019. If you have a child who is due to start school in 2019 and have not received a letter, please contact Tracey Davey on 8725 5455 who will help you organize this.

Tenison Woods College Re-union – A great deal to celebrate!

Friends of Tenison Woods College; past scholars since the inception of Marist Agricultural College or the Convent of Mercy, parents of former scholars, past staff members, past volunteers, in fact anyone who is proud to be or have been associated with Catholic education in the Mount Gambier; are invited to our reunion Awards and BBQ Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October 2018.

During the Shining Light Awards evening we will present our 2018 Shining Lights at the Commodore on the Park, and celebrate the contributions of the following Shining Light Recipients:

• Alan Balshaw
• Anthony Casadio (Dec)
• Sally Duigan
• Jeanette Elliott
• Jenna McCormick

Tickets on sale now, and can be purchased here.

Following the awards, there will be a BBQ lunch and college tour at 12:30pm on Sunday 28 October, following Mass at St. Pauls Church at 11:00am.

God Bless,

David Mezinec | Principal

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