Next Week @TC

06/12/2024

• School Saving Bonus FAQs

• Project Stationery - donate your unused stationery

• Final Week Activities Week in A Nutshell

• School Finish Time (early) on Friday 20th December

• 2025 Entry Orientation on Tuesday = Traffic will be bad

• TCNEWS - New Year, New Captains & New Goals

School Saving Bonus FAQs

Can I use the bonus for Edrolo?
Not at this stage – we are in the process of trying to have this added to the school’s voucher portal. We will inform families when this becomes available.

I’ve selected a $200 voucher to use but the total cost $250, why is the voucher not working?
You need to put your credit card details in first, then apply the voucher and this will fix the problem!

What happens if I don’t use the full cost of the voucher? Is the balance lost?
Not at all! You have until the 30th June 2025 to spend the balance instore/online. After that any leftover balance will be transferred back to your TC account to use on camps/activities/excursions.

I’ve accidently selected $400 to be spent on a textbook/uniform voucher? Can I reverse it?
Don’t worry! If you don’t spend any of the voucher it will be reversed on the 30th June 2025 and the funds will be transferred onto your TC family account to use.

If I don’t use all the funds in 2025, will it roll over?
Yes, they will stay on your account to use for as long as your student/s remain at TC

Can I use the bonus for MAP/ESDP/Instrumental Music/Electives?
Yes you can! The only thing that the bonus can’t be used for is the voluntary contributions.

If you wish to use some/all of the $400.00 towards:

• MAP

• ESDP

• Instrumental music

• Extracurricular subject fees

• Camps, sporting events, or excursions

• 2025 Grad jumpers

Please logon to the School Saving Bonus portal, and using your code (which will be unique to your student/each of your students) select "School Activities" so that we can import the funds accurately. Using funds towards MAP, ESDP, instrumental music, or extracurricular subject fees will also require a request in writing sent to accounts@tc.vic.edu.au

Can I use the bonus to purchase a school hoodie?
Yes! Please select ‘school activities’ in the parent portal to have the funds sent to the school, and then send an email to connect@tc.vic.edu.au with your student/s name/size/design and we will place the order for you. More info on school hoodies - https://www.reformclothing.com/au/order/11558183011

I have multiple students at the school, can I combine the funds to help pay for a more expensive activity (i.e. camp)?
Absolutely! You can spend your bonus however you like, we just unfortunately can’t combine them across different schools.

I don’t need/want to use the $400 for my student/s, can I opt to donate the funds?
You are amazing! You absolutely can – please nominate the full amount as ‘activities’ and let us know that’s what you would like to do, and we will make sure the funds are used to assist another family to purchase essential items they need for school.

I need more help!!
If you have any other questions, please contact the office on 9850 6333 and we are more than happy to assist! If you are having issues with your portal login or haven’t received your code, please email school.savings.bonus@education.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 338 663

Project Stationery

We're excited to be part of Project Stationery this year! - (@project_stationery) • Instagram photos and videos

This project, in its second year, is encouraging schools to reduce their stationery waste by offering a collection framework for schools and a redistribution service for the collected stationery.

Such a great service to families... no more drawers of minimally used plastic folders, pencils, notebooks etc cluttering up houses and eventually ending up in the bin!

We are organising a stationery drive - please bring your unwanted stationery (new and used) to S wing and place it in the labelled boxes. Please contact Cathy Dewar (ccr@tc.vic.edu.au) if you have any questions, or if you would like assistance with your child's school stationery requirements.

Final Week Activities Week in A Nutshell

The final week activities week will see students have the opportunity to opt in to different activities running throughout the day. There will a wide range of options. When students arrive in the morning they will sign up to the activities. More to follow next week.

School Finish Time (early) on Friday 20th December

We finish earlier on Friday 20th December. TC closes at 1pm. There will not be any students on site after this time. Our General Office will close at 12pm so that they can finalise their end of year processes.

2025 Entry Orientation on Tuesday = Traffic will be bad

As we have our 2025 Entry Orientation day taking place on Tuesday, this day is renowned as one of our worst for traffic flow each year. Please allow extra time to arrive at school, drive slowly through the grounds and obey the one way conditions. We do advise avoiding driving through the school if possible.

New Year, New Captains & New Goals

As the new year approaches, Templestowe College is set for a wave of new and exciting changes; from new students and teachers to upgraded roofs and bathroom facilities and of course our 2025 school Captains!

William Genat, Em Cormack, Tya Robinson, and Abby Dearman are ready to bring in a new era for the school with fresh perspectives and exciting plans.

So let's get to know our new captains...

William Genat, applied for school captain to "extend my leadership horizons, and give back to TC; a school community that has supported me a lot over the last five years".

His key focus for 2025 is "to set up fundraising initiatives such as a 2025 Talent quest, but overall, he wants to ensure each individual can achieve their goals and feel fulfilled within their schooling journey by getting involved with as many community events as possible".

He has been involved in many things at TC, including co-directing the school musical over the last two years and developing programs such as Connect TV.

Abby Dearman says, "I wanted to apply for school captain because I have been in leadership at TC for a while. I want to inspire other students to feel empowered and join student leadership, just as the past school captains have for me".

Abby's Goals for the school in 2025 are to make the school more eco-friendly/sustainable with more events that aren’t competitions but fun community activities.

"For my legacy project, I want a VCE Resource Hub: A digital resource hub where VCE students can access physical and digital study materials, past exams, subject guides, helpful links, reviews and tips on subjects from past students as well as students volunteering to mentor someone doing their old subject".

Tya Robinson, "I applied for the role of School Captain as I wanted to give back to the TC community and make positive changes that will improve everyone's experience at TC. I also believe that it is the next step in my leadership journey so I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that will involve". 

"My goals for 2025 are to work with the younger year levels to increase their involvement in the community and get the most out of their education. I aim to develop the student leadership program and continue to make TC a great place to learn".

Em Cormack,  

"Being a school has been a dream of mine since I was a young child, so being appointed to this role has truly been a dream come true. Other than a childhood dream another important reason for my application for school captain was that I saw an opportunity. As most people know I have recently moved to the school, so I was able to provide a perspective to the people around me of gratitude for the wonderful school experience we have here at TC. Moving from a strict private school helps me truly appreciate all the freedom and opportunities we have here at TC, and this is something I wanted the students of our school to gain. The realisation of how privileged we truly are to go to such an inclusive, progressive and accepting school. "

Em's goals for 2025 are, "preparing our cohort for life after school, which is why I’ve decided to make this one of my legacy projects. I would like to implement sessions that build towards your future, teaching TC’s students vital skills like how to write a resume, uni applications, and understanding tax. Hopefully, this will allow students to feel prepared to take on anything once they leave TC. However, I also value the importance of the time we spend here together at TC, which is why I would also like to work towards fundraising for the school's clubs and extracurriculars, providing fundraising opportunities for these organisations at school events like pool parties and athletics day".

In addition to the school captains plan, Peter Ellis and Adam Cribbes, also have clear visions and goals for TC in 2025.

They are committed to ensuring the school remains a safe space for everyone, students and staff alike. The new year will focus on the concept of unconditional positive regard, which emphasizes treating each other with kindness, respect, and support across the entire school community.

Next year, there will be a strong emphasis on goal-setting for both students and staff. For students, the focus will be on setting learning goals that help build essential skills used across all subjects. This will empower students to take charge of their learning and understand how their efforts contribute to the bigger picture. Students will also reflect on their progress in each class and identify areas for improvement, which will help keep them motivated and focused on growth.

For staff, the goal is to ensure high-quality learning through high-quality teaching. Teachers will choose an area of their teaching to improve and collaborate with other teachers to get feedback. This will take place through professional learning communities, where teachers can share ideas and discuss ways to improve their teaching practices.

The goal-setting process for staff will mirror that of the students, focusing on the growth of teachers improving their teaching and students improving their learning.

"We’re excited to start a new tradition next year: Hot Chip Friday," says Adam. "This will be a fun and meaningful way to recognise students who may not always seek attention but contribute to the school in valuable ways. Every Friday, selected students will be invited to join Peter for hot chips as a way to celebrate their hard work. Teachers will nominate students who consistently give their best, without expecting recognition.” He explains.

“I’m looking forward to eating lots of chips next year!" Says peter.

When asked about the best advice they’ve received as leaders this year, Peter shared that a coaching course he took with Adam emphasized the importance of listening. "The advice was to talk less and listen more," he said. "As a leader, it’s not just about hearing what someone is saying but understanding what they’re thinking. It’s simple, but it’s been very helpful, and I’ll carry it into next year."

Finally, we asked Peter and Adam about their magic wand wishes for the school. Peter laughed and said, "If I had a magic wand, I’d make sure the air conditioners always worked when we needed them! That would be a big improvement, especially on hot days. I’d also wish for no graffiti in the toilets. It doesn’t make sense, and it would be great if we could just use the bathrooms for their intended purpose—go in, do your business, and get out. That would help us focus on what really matters."

By Ruby Egan Douglas and Mietta Palmer
TC Jounalists

Last Weeks Announcements

• Head Start for all students starts on the 2nd of December

• End of Term Arrangements - An Overview

Head Start for All Students Starts on the 2nd December

There was a small typo in our previous announcements. On the 2nd of December our headstart program begins for all of our students apart from 2025 Entry students.

We have invited our new 2025 FLE students who have VCE subjects, but we do not have the capacity for all of our newly arriving 2025 FLE students to carry out the program.

Student timetables were released recently and rooms will be added and visible on compass over the weekend.

Classes will start as normal on Monday. Our VM students will have a meeting as per their compass.

This is only for TC students. Sometimes students from other schools want to visit as they may have finished or for other reasons. We do not support this. We will only have TC students on site.

END OF YEAR ARRANGEMENTS - AN OVERVIEW

• Monday 2nd December - 2025 classes (Headstart program).

• Friday 6th December - Last day of VCE classes as part of 2024 Headstart program

• Monday 9th December - 2024 classes continue for Headstart week 2. No VCE (inc VCE VM) classes run.

• Monday 16th December - Activity Week Commences. Alternative program running.

• Friday 20th December - Last day of year. Students dismissed before 1pm.

Previous Weeks Announcements

• School Saving Bonus - PORTAL LIVE NEXT WEEK

• 2025 Parent Payments

• 2025 School Hoodie Order

• 2025 Term Dates (Provisional)

• 2025 Book Lists

• TC Side Gate Being Locked During the Day

School Saving Bonus - PORTAL LIVE NEXT WEEK

Dear Families,

Next week between the 26th - 28th of November you will receive an email from the Department of Education containing your unique voucher code for the School Saving Bonus portal. Families will receive one email and code for each eligible student in the family.

You will need to login to the portal to determine where you would like to spend the $400 bonus.

Families will have 3 options to select:

• Voucher for in-store purchases

• Voucher for online purchases

• Allocate an amount towards school activities (camps/excursions/extracurricular activities)

Further information and support can be found in the attached SSB parent/carer guide, or by visiting vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus

For immediate support you can also email school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au / Call 1800 338 66

2025 Parent Payments

Dear Families,

The 2025 Parent contributions are now available to view and pay via the Payment Centre in Compass. This includes the:

• Student Learning Contributions

• General Contributions

• Animals Program Donation

• Building Fund donation (Tax-Deductible)

Please note that elective fees and VET voluntary contributions will be added to applicable students early in Term 1 of 2025. (For more information, please refer to our website - TC - Payments)

We appreciate your continued financial support which is essential to ensuring that TC can continue to deliver progressive education with highly individualised programs.

2025 School Hoodie Order

Orders are now open for school hoodies. Although we do not have a uniform students can opt in to purchase a TC hoodie or zip-hoodie for the colder months of the year. This order is placed in December ready for delivery for the start of the 2025. We work with the supplier REFORM who make everything to order and therefore do not provide refunds so please make sure you are choose the correct style and size.

We have a size range available for all students to try on outside the general office. If you a prefer contactless try on, all the measurements of the garments are on the Reform website. Choose a hoodie you have at home, lay it down flat and measure the body, you can then compare this size to reform sizes.

Orders will be closing towards the end of the term on Friday the 13th of December. Any queries please reach out via email to Sophie Ellis, SHOP@tc.vic.edu.au or call the general office on 03 9850 6333.

Happy ordering

2025 Term Dates

We have updated our (provisional) term dates for 2025. These can be found on our website here. Please note these could change very slightly as we finalise what day our Grad students return on (ie either on the 30th or 31st January).

2025 Book Lists

The 2025 booklist and ordering is done via Campion. To order please use this link https://order.campion.com.au/dashboard

You can find a PDF downloadable version of the book list and link to Campion on the learning tab of the website - Learning - Book List

TC Side Gate Being Locked During the Day

The side gate (behind S Wing) that leads from the school to Romily Avenue is being locked from 9:30am until 20 minutes before the end of school.

Previous TCNEWS Articles

VISIONS TC Art and Design Show

TC’s art show opened on Monday and closed today. It showcased the remarkable creativity of our students. If you didn’t get a chance to see it, here’s what you missed!

There were a large variety of artworks to see. Paintings, clay, photography, jewellery, lego models, clothing, 3D models, films, video games that were available to play, and so much more. Among the outstanding pieces was a film by Will Genat that was shortlisted for Top Designs, the annual exhibition of the best works by those who completed VCE Media, Product Design and Technologies, and some VCE VET studies.

Along with the incredible art, you could have a peak at the process through the workbooks that were beside some of the pieces. It was fascinating, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the art.

Each display was from an array of different subjects: Art Creative Practice, Practical Design, Visual Communication and Design, Media, Photography, Design Technology, Computer Game Design, Robotics, Lego, and Jewellery Making. I had no idea we have so many creative subjects!

There was even a chance to add your own splash of art to the displays by making a sketch and sticking it in a mini gallery. This was set up by one of our Art Captains this year, Escher Mclaverty. She also made a video where she interviewed each of the 3&4 folio students about their finals, which was very interesting to watch.

To set the lovely atmosphere on the opening night, the Music department had live music being played on piano, Cafe and Baking provided us with delicious snacks, and permaculture decorated the room with floral displays.

Ammia Abramoff, who graduated from TC in 2021, came back to talk about her experience with TC’s art program. “Creative art…gets me through life, it keeps me sane”, she said. “The TC art department I would say is so special because it treats everyone as an equal…and you can have creative control”, which she said allowed her to continue art through her whole life. Ammia just finished her Undergraduate in architecture, and she’s about to start her Masters.

It’s wonderful to see all of the passion that was put into making such a diverse range of artworks, and I really enjoyed seeing them all. Many departments at TC came together to make a stunning, professional gallery and opening night, which truly did the artwork justice.

By Rory Opie
TC Journalist

Adventures at the SSL: A Look into Our Student Leadership Journey

Greetings from all the students at Templestowe College (TC) participating in the School for Student Leadership (SSL) T4 program. Up here with me is, Jessica Ryles, Dara Cucos, Jake Reynolds, Flynn Aragona-Murray and Joseph Farrell.

It’s hard to believe we’re already in week 6 of our 9-week exchange program. Time has flown by, and the past few weeks have been filled with exciting hands-on learning experiences. In this article, I’ll take you through the activities and daily lives of the 41 students here.

Our group consists of Year 9 students from 10 different government high schools across the state, bringing together diverse perspectives and backgrounds. The schools represented include Mortlake College, Brauer College, Melbourne Girls’ Grammar, Templestowe College, Horsham College, Canterbury Girls, Cranbourne Secondary College, Oberon High, Wellington Secondary College, and Blackbourne High. While many schools have several representatives, some have just one or two students.

Unlike traditional school days, our schedule here is uniquely structured. We participate in three classes daily - two during the middle of the day and one after dinner at 7:30 pm. Additionally, we have a reflection class at 5 pm called Drop Everything And Read/Reflect, or DEARR as we like to call it. This time is dedicated to reflecting on our daily experiences and the nine learning concepts we focus on throughout the day, which include:

- Resilience
- Environment
- Identity
- Empathy
- Health and Wellbeing
- Learning Concepts
- Collaboration
- Emotional Management
- Respectful Relationships

We engage in various classes aimed at building these concepts, equipping us for future challenges and problems we might experience throughout our lives.

A distinct feature of the program is that we are divided into four expedition(expo) groups, named after local mountains: Loch, Tabletop, Hotham, and Feathertop. I, along with the rest of the TC crew, am in the Loch group with students from Mortlake College. Together, we participate in camps and outdoor activities, as well as most of our classes.

One highlight of our early weeks was a fun and challenging activity called Bridge Building. This task required us to construct a bridge to cross a small passage of water from the Cobungra River, encouraging collaboration and creativity.

Another exciting activity we do is Expo, where we hike out to a spot in the mountains and camp the night there. Expo 1 was an amazing experience, where our group, Loch, hiked to Spargo's hut and then Derricks Hut to spend the night. The following day we journeyed towards Mount Loch which was quite ironic. Then we hiked 3.6ks to the Carpark along the winding spine of a mountain where we got picked up and driven back to campus.
One thing I'm looking forward to in the weeks to come is white water rafting!
Stay tuned for more updates from our exciting experience!

By Mietta Palmer
TC Journalist

Spring Market Promo

Mark your calendars for Friday, November 22nd, from 3 to 7 PM – the TC Twilight Market is back, Even bigger and better than last year! Bringing an afternoon of shopping, delicious food, and local entertainment! It is an amazing way to spend the evening with friends and family while supporting locals!

The market will feature student-led stalls and music by our TC bands. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including a basketball shoot-out, best dog in show, sponge throwing at teachers, a pineapple shy, and the chance to guess how many lollies are in the jar and heaps of handmade items. Plus, there are great prizes up for grabs, including pizza vouchers, Savers vouchers, and refreshing icy poles.

"The idea behind the TC Market is to give students a chance to be entrepreneurial and gain experience making and selling their wares. It also gives the local community a chance to come in and see the amazing things our students make."  Meg Bailey said.

MAP (Montessori Adolescent Program) is also doing a small project where they get funding after writing a proposal and then getting it approved. It's all about learning how to work in real-life spaces. 

So how are all the students working together to make this happen?
"All of FLE2 elected to join a working 'crew'. These options were; Food, Communications, Arts and Crafts, Games and Activities and Sustainability. They then met in these groups and brainstormed how the market should run and what actions they needed to undertake. They also elected some leaders from each crew who attended a couple of committee meetings and continued to work together over the last few weeks. On the day all the FLE2s will be helping set up the market and doing jobs like setting up share, bunting, signage, bins and tables and chairs for stall holders." Meg told us.

Josh one of the MAP students at TC talked about his role in the Twilight market this year, "Hi, I’m Josh. My role in the market is communications. I’m helping to spread the word make signage and help anyone with information!"

"This year we decided to try to make the market bigger and better by running the organisation of the market as a PBL for FLE2 students, with the idea that students can get experience in event planning and management which are authentic skills useful in real life. In some classes such as Jewellery, Design Technology and Backyard Permaculture students have been making items to sell at the market." Meg stated.

"This is an opportunity to not only learn team skills but also business and engagement with other parts of the school. A lot of the stalls there will be handmade items, food and many more things. Helping plan this market has allowed me to explore new skills and meet new people. One of the greatest things about TC doing a market is student get to show off their work, skills and ethics with a bit of profit!" One of the students Josh says.

The kids running the stalls will have the option of keeping their profits however, most stalls have opted to donate toward charities or special school programs such as the Animals program. Each stall will also be charged a $5 fee and this will go towards covering some costs such as prizes and making signage.

Food will be available at the market a spiral potato food truck, wood-fired pizzas from the TC Permaculture Farm and a sausage sizzle. So you can sit back and relax with friends while snacking on some amazing food and watching the entertainment!

The market is open to family, friends & the public so come along and join the fun, grab a snack from the spiral potato food truck, wood-fired pizzas from the TC Permaculture Farm or a sausage. Sit back and relax with loved ones and watch the entertainment!

By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist

Halloween and TC’s Sex Ed Program - Promoting community spirit and learning!

At TC, the spirit of community and learning truly shines, especially highlighted by our recent Halloween celebrations alongside ongoing lessons in Sexuality & Relationships.

On October 31, students showcased their creativity in a lively lunchtime costume competition, capturing a festive atmosphere that united everyone. A special shout-out goes to the Youth Workers and Duncan (the mummy) for organizing the event! This joyful celebration not only fostered camaraderie among students but also emphasized the importance of inclusivity and engagement within our school community.

In parallel, Andrea’s lessons on Sexuality & Relationships are designed to create a safe and supportive environment for students. With a focus on broadening understanding beyond traditional "sex ed," Andrea emphasizes the importance of healthy, pleasurable, and respectful relationships.

She skillfully adapts her curriculum based on students’ age and developmental stages, covering topics from anatomy and puberty for younger students to consent education and e-safety for older students.

Both Halloween and Andrea’s classes reflect TC’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment where students can express themselves, ask questions, and explore their identities. By participating in festive activities and engaging in meaningful discussions about relationships, students not only celebrate cultural traditions but also learn essential life skills. As we look forward to more opportunities for connection and learning, we encourage students to seek support from trusted adults at school or home whenever they need it, reinforcing the idea that safety and well-being are at the heart of our community.

Students this year have been taking lessons with Andrea on Sexuality & Relationships. Andrea aims to "create a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students and, of course, engaging lessons." She approaches these classes hoping to "consolidate students' previous learning and introduce new information and topics in interesting and engaging ways." Andrea employs a range of resources, activities, case studies, and discussion opportunities.

So, what do students learn in these classes? Andrea tailors her curriculum based on the age and developmental stage of the students.

Throughout these lessons, the concept of consent is woven into discussions on bodily autonomy, boundaries, and communication, ensuring that students feel empowered to navigate their personal relationships confidently.

Younger students, for example, Entry students "have a revision of anatomy, puberty and the physical, social and emotional changes of growing up, including managing periods, emerging sexuality, and changing friendships. We also explore socialising online and stereotypes in gaming and the media."

Older students like "FLE3 have been learning about ‘affirmative consent’ laws, ethics and practical strategies to communicate consent, healthy, pleasurable and respectful relationships. Discussions of harmful sexual behaviour and help-seeking such as e-safety – non-consensual sharing of intimate images (nudes). We have also revised sexual and reproductive anatomy, sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and contraception and how to access health services".

One essential topic taught throughout all classes is "Consent education." This concept is integrated into discussions about bodily autonomy, protective behaviors, and help-seeking, extending beyond sexual consent to encompass boundaries, communication, and non-sexual activities.

Andrea hopes that students find joy in these lessons and recognize their relevance as learning for life. By making space for RSE lessons, TC provides students with valuable opportunities to reflect on their personal, cultural, or family values, building confidence to discuss and ask questions about all things related to sexuality and relationships. Andrea looks forward to continuing her work at TC in 2025, eager to get to know the students better, noting that every day brings something new and often humorous.

Safety is a priority at TC, which is why Andrea begins each class with a reminder for students to check in with themselves. "I often give a ‘content warning’ for sensitive topics, such as medical procedures or discussions around non-consensual or harmful behaviors," she explains, ensuring students know how to seek help if needed.

If any student feels uncomfortable or has concerns that need addressing, there are plenty of trusted adults at TC, as well as support systems like S-Wing, Connect Mentors, Andrea, other teachers, the student well-being team, and external services like Kids Helpline or 1800Respect. The E-Safety Commissioner (https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people) is also available for additional support.

By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist

UNLEASH Concert

Even with the rain pouring down, TC’s third Unleash concert turned into a memorable night. When the weather forced a last-minute move to the PAC, everyone adapted quickly and kept the energy high.

“It was a pretty student-led night,” said Hannah Phillips, who was in charge of tech. She added, “I enjoyed being with my friends and getting closer to a lot of new people I don't have classes with.” Her favorite performance? “Probably Slug Terror.”

Isla Treweek was also involved, doing photography and performing on stage with the Gazzagoblins. She shared, “I like performing and taking photos, and I really enjoyed all of the different bands and genres of music.”

Audrey Trubiano got involved with the Unleash crew through "being a performance captain and a stage kid." As the MC, she ran most of the night and handled the tech. “It was a fun night and ran really well,” she said, noting, “Everyone had a really good time. I liked seeing people I didn't expect to be there and seeing people from other schools.”
In the end, the concert was all about great vibes, awesome performances, and building connections—even when things didn’t go exactly as planned!

See photos from UNLEASH and to stay up to date with up coming events follow - UNLEASH YOUTH GIGS (@unleash_youthgigs) on Instagram.

Youth Leadership Summit

On Thursday the 17th, the Youth Leadership Summit excursion brought an exciting day in the city. Students and Teachers boarded the bus, eager to reach the fancy stylish boardroom where the summit was held. Students from other schools like Koonung College and Boorka College were attending too. Icebreaker activities helped everyone break the ice and make new connections.

One of the highlights was meeting the CEO. He shared insights about how his company operates and took us on a tour of their office on the 42nd floor!

A standout activity was the jelly bean exercise, where we used jelly beans as currency. Students navigated saving and spending on essentials like insurance, housing, and food, all while facing unexpected curve balls like  COVID-19 or crashing a car. Those with insurance fared better, demonstrating real-life financial challenges.

After all that, we enjoyed a fantastic afternoon tea featuring sushi, pizza, pies, sausage rolls, and colourful fruit platters. We then dove into some engaging design problem-solving activities that sparked creativity and teamwork.

The day wrapped up with an inspiring speech from a man who, after overcoming serious injuries from a car accident, went on to run a marathon. He shared his mantra, “Mindset over matter,” and shared four important principles to have to achieve success: setting achievable goals, maintaining a positive mindset, building a supportive network, and believing in yourself.

As the day came to an end, students and teachers boarded the bus home, feeling inspired and ready to tackle whatever challenges life may bring.

The day ended on an inspiring note, and students and teachers boarded the bus home feeling motivated and ready to conquer whatever is thrown their way in this crazy thing we call life.

By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist

Grad Celebration Day

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2024! We made it!

We had lots of fun this year from dress up day every second Thursday, to Grad Camp, to Grad Formal, and so much more. To top it all off, we had our Grad Celebration Day yesterday.

Starting from 7am, Grads were busy decorating the school. We hope you enjoyed some of the things you saw! Vote #1 Peter Ellis?

We all had a yummy breakfast together at 8am, and then we had our costume parade and Pimp My Ride, where we decorated Grad cars. There were lots of great costumes, from Jesus to the Bald Group.

We had a big group photo with a special tradition that you'll find out about when you're a Grad!

At assembly, it was very emotional to walk in with everyone clapping for us. We heard some wonderful speeches from our school captains, Lucy and Callista, and from Peter Ellis. I almost cried! We saw instrumental Despacito performed by Otylia Jasinska Walisz and Zoe Harris, and we had Bluey Heeler (Miles Leahy Baulch), Bandit Heeler (me), Jack Black (Quinn Scotti), Kayla Quinn, Sebastian Carter, Nevin Despain, and Elise Liras perform Life Is A Highway.

We got to see some reflections from our Grads and some teachers, and our teachers had to solve a murder mystery. Julian sure had dedication, going all the way to Japan for the video.

We had a roll call and got to see lots of cute baby photos of the Grads, and each of us got a silly award that we'd voted on for each other. Like “most likely to become a CIA agent” and “most likely to lose their VCE certificate.”

By night, it was time to party, with our families and other guests. With lots of good food and even alcohol for the adults, we heard more wonderful speeches, and had another roll call where we got our graduation certificates. After the formalities, we danced into the night with a live DJ, and musical classics we hadn't heard in years.

It was a lot of fun, and a perfect way to finish off our high school life. Congratulations again. TC will be missed, and my fellow Grads will be missed. I hope to see you all again one day.

By Rory Opie
TC Journalist

Venturing Beyond the Classroom: The School for Student Leadership Experience

Have you ever heard of the School for Student Leadership? Well, SSL is a Victorian Department of Education and Training initiative offering a unique residential education experience for year nine students. The experience helps them adjust to life away from home and learn new skills and techniques. Each term, school teams of year 9 students selected from government schools, both metropolitan and country regions, attend SSL.

The School for Student leadership curriculum focuses on personal development and team learning projects sourced from students' home regions. There are four campuses in iconic locations across Victoria, which take around 720 students annually.

The Alpine School Campus, located at Dinner Plain in the Victorian Alps, is the oldest campus of the four, established in 2000. 

Snowy River Campus is near the mouth of the Snowy River at Marlo in east Gippsland.

The third site is called the Gnurad-Gundidj Campus. After consultation with the local aboriginal community, this name represents both the indigenous name of the local area and an interpretation of the statement "belonging to this place".

The fourth and newest campus is the Don Valley Campus. It is located at Don Valley in the Yarra Ranges.

TC has taken part in applying for SSL for countless years, and we've sent many young leaders over the years to the different campuses, each of them returning with new life skills and a deeper sense of self.

This year, TC was chosen to select 6 FLE2s to participate in this program for term 4, and I am very lucky to be one of the chosen applicants.

We will be staying at the Alpine Campus with people from nine other schools, and around 45 students in total.

The School for Student Leadership program is based on experiential learning which, in a nutshell, means they try to learn from all experiences rather than just those that take place in a classroom.

The SSL program has a unique rule which prohibits students from bringing their mobile phones. This rule is intended to create an environment beneficial to experiential learning and fostering deeper connections among the participants. By disconnecting from the digital world, "students are encouraged to engage in meaningful conversations, develop stronger interpersonal skills, and fully immerse themselves in the program's activities without the distractions of the digital world".

During our stay, we will have the opportunity to email and even mail letters to stay in touch with our families and friends. At the start of the program, we will be paired with another student from a different school to live in a dorm-like room, fostering friendships and a sense of community. Additionally, we will be responsible for washing our own clothes and helping around the living spaces, encouraging independence and self-reliance while living away from home.

We will sleep, eat, shower and work all under one roof and share the same experiences of the neighbouring environment, as well as take part in frequent outdoor activities like white water rafting, mountain biking, and camping.

"It is more than a school; it is a home, a place of play, relaxation, relationships, friendships, emotions, health, sickness, eating, sleeping and waking, learning and adventure…" https://tas.schoolforstudentleadership.vic.edu.au/

I am incredibly thrilled and deeply honoured to have been selected to participate in this unique experience. I'm filled with gratitude for this opportunity and almost disbelief that from the 14th of October to the 14th of December, I'll be up in the Alps for the nine-week program. I am eager to engage in this experience and fully embrace the chance to learn and grow. I'm confident that I will acquire a wealth of valuable knowledge and insights while developing meaningful and lasting relationships along the way.

Thanks for reading about my upcoming adventure at the SSL. I can't wait to share my experiences and the valuable lessons I'll learn during this nine-week program! 

By Mietta Palmer
TC Journalist