News

While David Mezinec is enjoying his Renewal Leave this week and in his absence, I am delighted to write the weekly Principal’s report for Week 5. As a reminder this year David will be completing Principal’s Renewal Leave and completing research in the area of Wellbeing and Resilience under the auspice of Catholic Education South Australia and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). The research, Positive Education in school communities on scale and over time. What makes it stick? will consider positive education in school communities which have successfully implemented wellbeing and resilience strategies across their whole community, to ascertain what measurable and sustained impacts the application of positive education has had on teacher, student and parent wellbeing behaviours.

To complete the research, David will be absent from school during the following periods:

• 19 February – 2 March
• 14 May – 8 June
• 13 August – 7 September
• 15 October – 26 October

I look forward to working with the Tenison Woods College Community as Acting Principal during these dates.  

Athletics Carnivals – Excellence, Fun and Community Spirit

Congratulations to the staff, students and parents on the Year 8-12 Athletics Carnival last Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February – another outstanding day of personal bests, fun and relationship building.

A very special thank you to our Sports Captains, Jordyn Adams and Sam Willis and all the House Leaders, along with staff, Ciaran Buckley, and the Health and Physical Education Team on a very well organised, engaging carnival. Furthermore, we look forward to the following carnivals:

• Reception – Year 2 Sports Day                                 Friday 9 March
• SESSSA Interschool Athletics Carnival (MGHS)      Wednesday 21 March
• Year 3-7 Sports Day                                                   Friday 6 April

Parents, carers and family members are warmly welcome to attend these carnivals to support our young athletes. All events are a great opportunity to meet other families who are part of the College community.

Lenten Season and Project Compassion

In his “Message for Lent 2018, Pope Francis highlights ‘God in his providence offers us each year the season of Lent…Lent summons us, and enables us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect of our life.’  Lent, the Pope explains is a time for giving, and ‘through me God helps someone today’.”

He invites us to express this by sharing in the Lenten Campaigns promoted by many Church organisations in different parts of the world, to assist people in need. Caritas Australia continues its long-term development of people in need, a model of development that acknowledges human dignity, works towards sustainability and self-reliance, and brings about social change. I urge parents to discuss this issue with their children and reiterate the point that individuals can create a better world through their daily decisions and the commitment they display to improving the plight of others.

Farewell to our Visitors from Turin, Italy

Last Wednesday 21 February, 33 students and three teachers from our sister school in Turin, Italy - Liceo Scientifico Statale Niccolo’ Copernico, were farewelled by their host families and the Tenison Woods College Community. The visitors spent 12 days in Australia experiencing the Australian way of life. While in the country, they visited Sydney and Melbourne before venturing to Mount Gambier along the Great Ocean Road. In Mount Gambier they visited a range of local attractions including the Glenelg River, the Pumping Station and Lady Nelson. The relationship between Tenison Woods College and Liceo Scientifico Statale Niccolo’ Copernico was established in 2004. Tenison Woods College looks forward to visiting Turin in October this year. As a College we offer Year 10 and 11 students the opportunity to participate in this cultural exchange, which includes ten days’ homestay in Turin, as well as touring the famed cities of Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and Pompeii.

Caring for One Another – Road Safety In and Around Our School

Families are reminded of the importance to monitor their speed and adjust it accordingly as they approach the school on Shepherdson Road and White Avenue in the interest of safety for all, but particularly our young. Students are also reminded to utilise the various designated crossing areas which are monitored by our staff. Crossing the roadways at other areas adds to the danger for our young but also increases the difficulty for drivers in the area. 

Parent Representatives Reception – Year 8

As indicated previously, with our commitment to fostering positive parent relationships within our school community, Tenison Woods College is introducing a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in 2018 and will also reinvigorate the Class Parent Representative Program. With the enthusiasm of parent, Aleathia Holland.

The first PTA meeting for the year will take place on Thursday 15 March from 5.00pm-6.00pm in the PRC Common Room. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Parent representatives are being finalised for each class and we look forward to gathering with them to discuss how they can support staff in building community. 

Parent Representatives assist the classroom teacher in welcoming families to the class and the school. They also liaise with families and the teacher to facilitate strong communication, providing a sounding board for parents in relation to questions or concerns they may have about their child’s learning and wellbeing.

Drop in to the Sugarloaf Café

Parents are invited to meet in the Sugarloaf Café to catch up over a coffee and the café’s culinary delights. Come and try the café once you have dropped off your children in the morning or call in before you collect children at the end of the day. With a special area dedicated to adults, it’s a great place to catch your breath, take a moment for yourself and meet other parents who enjoy great coffee! 

God Bless.

Liza Couzens | Deputy Principal

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