News

Engaging with Laudato Si – On Care for the Common Home

I enthusiastically recommend to families the following event which the South East Deanery Forum is hosting; a Deanery Renewal Gathering on the Encyclical by Pope Francis, Laudato Si - On Care for our Common Home. Our Presenter and Facilitator will be Fr Denis Edwards, priest of the Archdiocese of Adelaide and internationally recognised Theologian. In the context of climate change, Pope Francis reminds us of the interconnectedness of all our relationships; that is, with God, with others, within ourselves and with our earth and all creation. The focus of the presentation will be on the spirituality of caring for our common home.

The event will be conducted this Sunday October 21 at the Naracoorte Catholic Centre from 10am until 3pm, followed by Mass. Please BYO your lunch, and the South East Deanery do ask you to consider offering a $10 donation to cover costs. Please contact Sr Sue Mc Guinness RSJ on 0408 312 289 or sue.mcguinness@sosj.org.au and advise her of your attendance.

During October, which is World Mission Month, we are invited to show God’s love to those in our world who are in most need.  A commitment to caring for our common home; planet earth; is our expression of our deep care for our brothers and sisters of this generation but also beyond. 

Leading from Within – Building our Leaders

I had the pleasure of spending the last Friday of the school holidays with a group of committed staff who participated in the final presentation day of their leadership program, ‘Leading from Within’.  Facilitated by the internationally recognised Brown Collective, with the support of Catholic Education South Australia Senior Leader mentors, the outstanding program assisted in the understandings, critical reflection and practical application of leadership skills for each participant.

Thirty staff have now since 2017 completed this brilliant course; a course of international credibility offered in a regional location by two experienced, highly credentialed and passionate facilitators, with mentoring commitment from CESA senior leaders. It is our commitment to actively build leaders and support leadership development in our staff. It is furthermore, a wonderful way to participate in leadership discussions, plan for and effect change in our College community.

Staffing

We welcome Liz Snell, who returns to Tenison Woods College with her family after some time in Roxby Downs. Liz commences back with us this term, taking on Sonia Braithwaite’s Year 4 class.

We welcome Jess Lucas to the Library Support role. Jess, who is a parent at the school and a member of the wonderfully responsive Uniform Shop Team. Jess will commence her role at the start of Term 4, continuing also her efforts in the Uniform Shop.

AR18 – Our Challenge and Our Celebration

This week we approach two very significant days. On Thursday afternoon and Friday (which is our student free Show Day) we will conduct our Tenison Woods College Staff Conference, AR18, (Action Research 2018). This event will be a celebration of action research conducted in 2018 by teachers and co-educators in the learning environments of Tenison Woods College.

At Tenison Woods College we believe:

Every learner has a place.

Every learner has a pathway.

Every Learner will shine.

That is our challenge and our celebration.

Thursday and Friday will be an opportunity for staff to reflect on that challenge and celebrate its reality in the lives of our young.

Inspired by understanding that teacher skill and nuanced relationships with the learner is a significant determinant of learner success. We have been engaging with the questions “Is learning a mutual endeavour? Do both teachers and students learn from each other? Do students initiate their learning challenges?” More specifically AR18 is a commitment to asking the fundamental questions:

• Do learners engage in meaningful knowledge construction?

• Do learners actively work with significant ideas, topics, questions and thinking?

• Do learners make connections and identify patterns?

• Do learners apply their knowledge to new contexts?

In addition to a wealth of staff presentations, conference plenary sessions will be offered by Kris Massie (Director ChiPT), Sandy Rosso (SPELD) and Rowena Ulbrick (Professional Learning and Innovation Specialist). 

At this time of the Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) Living, Learning, Leading Framework, AR18 is a commitment to continue reflecting on our craft as Catholic educators, who aspire to enable each and every learner at Tenison Woods College to shine. Together, the whole staff will bring deep reflection, critique, collaboration, humility, professional frailty and wonderful communal success.

Key dates for the commencement of 2019:

A full list of 2019 key dates will follow soon, but to assist with planning I inform our College community of dates to commence the academic year:

• Tuesday 22 January -  All Teaching Staff commence
• Wednesday 23 January -  CESA Live, Learn, Lead Together Celebration in Adelaide for  all Catholic Education SA Staff
• Thursday 24 January - Staff Planning Day
• Friday 25 January - Book collection day and Staff Planning Day
• Monday 28 January -  Australia Day Public Holiday
• Tuesday 29 January  - Staff Planning Day
• Wednesday 30 January - Reception, Years 6, 8, 10,11, 12 commence Term 1.
• Thursday 31 January - 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.

Attention Year 8 and Year 9 - BYOD at Tenison Woods College in 2019

I remind our community that as from 2019 students in Years 8-12 will be asked to Bring Your Own Device as part of our evolving ICT strategy at Tenison woods College. 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 www.tenison.catholic.edu.au/portaltwc  It is a wonderful resource prepared and curated by our committed ICT Support Team.

Shining Light Awards – Ticket Sales close this Friday

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 are only available until Friday. Tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketebo.com.au/tenison-woods-college/2018-shining-light-awards.html

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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