Senior School Awards Celebration

Mount Gambier Christmas Parade Congratulations
As always, Nathan Creedy’s Thunder Drum Corps made their presence and drumming skills powerfully felt during the Christmas Parade. 

The parade was also testimony to how connected our staff and students are in the community, from Girl Guides to the variety of dance, martial arts, and calisthenics groups. Congratulations to all involved – an excellent community celebration!

White Ribbon – Changing the Story
During this period our students are devoting some time to discussing the White Ribbon Campaign that challenges domestic violence and particularly our commitment as a school in ‘Breaking the Silence’ on disrespectful behaviours. 

Giving Tree and Community Christmas Lunch
As we approach the season of Advent, we turn our focus to the ways in which we can share the love and joy of Christmas with others in our community. Many classes will be cooking and making decorations for the Community Christmas Lunch to be held at the Mount Gambier City Hall on Christmas Day. If you are able to donate cooking items such as condensed milk, coconut, icing sugar, castor sugar, dried fruit (sultanas and apricots) or cocoa, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

The Giving Tree has been placed in the front office. Gifts and money collected under the tree will be shared between 3 local agencies: A.C.Care, The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul. We strongly encourage families to have a discussion about what your family can do to share the love of Christmas with others. Students will also be discussing this in class across the entire College.

A full list of 2018 key dates will follow soon, but to assist with planning I inform our College community of dates to commence the academic year:

• Tuesday 23 January 2018 - All Teaching Staff commence
• Thursday 25 January 2018 - Book collection day
• Friday 26 January 2018 - Australia Day Public Holiday
• Monday 29 January 2018 - Reception, Years 6, 8, 10,11, 12 commence term 1.
• Tuesday 30 January 2018 - All other students commence term 1.

You will note the staggered start to the commencement of the year for students. This approach will assist students in the identified year levels to complete the best possible transition processes with the relevant teaching and support staff.  We also look forward to preparing transition programs that will accentuate our relationship with parents and carers in the support of student learning and wellbeing.

David Mezinec | Principal

For more information about the BYOD program, obtaining free Microsoft Office software and device options, please visit the Portal@TWC help site www.tenison.catholic.edu.au/portaltwc. It is a wonderful resource prepared and curated by our committed ICT Support Team.

Tenison Woods College students are encouraged to participate in ICAS competitions across a variety of subjects. Winners of this years competitions were recently announced at Whole School Assembly. Please read more for a full list of winners.

Student Exchange Australia New Zealand is looking for a volunteer host family for a 17 year old French boy who is currently attending Tenison Woods College. He has a curious and enthusiastic personality and his interests include sport, music and meeting new people. He would love to experience new activities and simply be part of a family’s daily life. We are looking for a family until May 2018.

If you can help, please phone Sara at the Student Exchange Office: 1300 135 331.

Please be advised that there will be construction works on a sewer main upgrade at the intersection of White Avenue and Tollner Road, Mount Gambier from 27 November through to 22 December 2017. As a part of these works there may be changes to traffic conditions to allow for the works to be safely undertaken. These changes include but are not limited to: Temporary closure of Tollner Road from Avey Road to White Avenue (local traffic from Avey Road direction only), and reduced traffic flow along White Avenue.

Motorist should expect delays and where possible, we would advise finding an alternate route for the period of works.

Please be patient during this time.

• Tuesday 8.00am - 12.00pm
• Thursday 1.00pm - 5.00pm

School Holiday Uniform Shop Opening Hours:

• Thursday 14 December 1:00pm - 5.00pm

Reopening

• Tuesday 23 January 9:00am - 1:00pm & 1.30pm -4:00pm 
• Wednesday 24 January 9:00 - 1:00pm & 1.30pm-4:00pm
• Thursday 25 January 8:00am - 1:00pm & 2:00pm-4:00pm
• Saturday 27 January 9:00am - 12:00pm
• Monday 28 January  8:00am - 12:00pm

Normal hours resume from Tuesday 29 January

• Tuesday 8:00am - 12:00pm
• Thursday 1:00pm - 5:00pm

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The University of South Australia's Department of Rural Health wants to hear from people over 18 years of age from Rural, Remote and Regional South Australia about their health care needs and experiences.

Your participation could help in shaping health care services in your community.  The survey will take 20 minutes to complete. It is voluntary, confidential and anonymous.

Please click here for the link to the survey.

Have any questions? Free Call 1800 905 825

Thursday 23 November

• Walk for Respect for White Ribbon
• Year 12 Graduation, 6.00pm (6.30pm start) The Barn Palais
• SSSSA Year 8/9 Boys T20 Blast cricket

Friday 24 November

• SSSSA Year 8/9 Tennis
• White Ribbon Day
• Junior School Assembly, 2.15pm, Barrie Holmes Stadium

Monday 27 November

• 2018 Term 1 Reception Orientation Visit (Group 1), 9.00am - 12.30pm
• 2018 Year 8 Orientation (until Tuesday)
• Titans Basketball Academy USA Trip departs
• 2018 Year 12 Orientation Week (until Friday)

Tuesday 28 November 

• 2018 Term 1 Reception Orientation Visit (Group 2) 9.00am - 12.30pm

Wednesday 29 November

• 2018 Year 6 Treasure Hunt & Information Evening
• College Board Meeting, 7.30pm, Board Room

Thursday 30 November

• End of Year Mass, 11.00am, Barrie Holmes Stadium
• Junior School Disco, 1.20pm, Barrie Holmes Stadium
• SSSSA Year 8/9 Individual Golf Championships (until Friday)

Friday 1 December

• Junior School Assembly - 'Blessing of the Cribs', 2.15pm, Barrie Holmes Stadium
• Last day for Year 11 students

I am very pleased to see that the College is experiencing unprecedented demand in relation to enrolments. To assist with our medium and long term planning, I encourage parents to lodge an enrolment form with the school as soon as they have made a decision to enrol their child at the school. For some families this decision is made very early in the newborn’s life and contacting the school at this time, no matter how early it may seem, will assist us to plan in the best possible way for your child’s experience of education in our College community. 

Conversely, should you know that your family will be leaving the district or have other priorities for the education of your child(ren), it would be appreciated if you could notify the College as soon as possible. Such early notification would assist us in planning a very smooth transition for your child(ren) to their next learning community, while also assisting prospective families who have expressed interest in our College but are on one of our waitlists.

Should you wish to discuss this further please contact our College Registrar, Tracey Davey (tel. 8725 5455, or davet@tenison.catholic.edu.au). 

David Mezinec | Principal

The Premier Jay Weatherill and Minister Susan Close have announced a major funding boost for Catholic and Independent schools.

Catholic schools in South Australia will receive an additional $14.3 million in recurrent funding in 2018.

Click here to read the full article from CESA.

Congratulations to Year 10 High Performance Students Tyler Michielan, Harry Wilson, Nadia Metzger and Fergus Shoemark, who have all been selected in the 2017 SA Regional Soccer team to compete in Fiji from December 2-10. Tyler is excited for the trip, saying “This is an awesome opportunity. I feel accomplished making the team. I am happy my hard work over the last few years has paid off.” Experienced campaigner Fergus Shoemark said: “I am excited about the trip. This is a good opportunity to play against other Australian teams and also Fiji. This is my third year representing the SA Regional Soccer team.”

All the best to these four students in the weeks ahead.

McDonalds Mount Gambier is currently needing to fill casual positions to help with the rapid growth of the business. Offering flexibility with hours working around school and other commitments. McDonalds is recognised for its nationally renowned training, including certificates benefiting your future studies. For more information on careers at McDonalds, please click here. 

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Cracking the ABC Code is a privately run tutoring business, which is conducted on site at Tenison Woods College during school hours. It is an evidence-based program, designed to rapidly improve reading and spelling for those struggling with literacy. Programs run for varying times but generally no less than 20 weeks. Programs are generally delivered to children in Years 1-5. The program does require a substantial parent commitment and is $50 per session. If you would like to know more or have inquiries, please email Trish Bruhn (bruhp@tenison.catholic.edu.au) or visit the cracking the code website here. Limited spaces are available in 2018.

Right now at EFM Health Clubs - Join now and enjoy the benefits of becoming a healthier you. Join now and pay nothing until January 1 2018, which means you get the rest of November and December for free! 

For more information, visit: www.efm.net.au or call in to discuss your membership. 

Jenny McPhail  |  EFM Health Club Mount Gambier

Monday – Cassie Edwards
Tuesday – TBA
Wednesday – Lyn Wilson
Thursday – Cassie Edwards
Friday – Bernie Passauer

Tenison Woods College
Shepherdson Road (PO Box 965)
Mount Gambier South Australia 5290

t: (08) 8725 5455 (Main Office)
f: (08) 8724 9303
t: (08) 8724 4650 (Senior School)
Absentee Line: (08) 8724 4659
OSHC Line: (08) 8724 4633

e: news@tenison.catholic.edu.au
w: www.tenison.catholic.edu.au