Next Week @TC

10/11/2023

• VISIONS - The Art Show

• Parent Payment Arrangements for 2024

• Parent Payment Arrangement for 2023

• 2024 School Captains

• We are recruiting!

• 2024 Timetable Update

• Remembrance Day at TC

• TC Community Market - on now!

• TCNEWS - Diorama Dreams: Exploring the Creative Canvas of our Community Art Competition!

VISIONS - The Art Show

Please save the date for 2024 VISIONS. The opening night is on Tuesday 21 of Nov. From 6-7.30. All welcome!

Parent Payment Arrangements 2024

Dear TC Families,

Templestowe College is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of our voluntary financial contributions for 2024.

State schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum, and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. Templestowe College does offer a standard curriculum course that can be viewed on our website (https://tc.vic.edu.au/whole-school-curriculum); however, by choosing to enroll at TC we believe that you want more than just the standard Victorian curriculum.

As a nationally recognised leader in progressive education, it is the ongoing financial support of families that enables us to offer highly individualised programs, which benefit our students’ educational outcomes through a unique structure and a wide variety of subjects.

We want to thank you for your support as it has made a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer. For example, through the contributions of families in 2023 we have been able to provide:

• A more diverse and higher quality of materials for student learning

• many new birds, reptiles, and mammals for the student-led animal programs

• employment of in-class tutors across various curriculum faculties

• greater student access to VET programs

• improved building facilities including a student library, renovations to repair school rooves, and a sensory, wheelchair-accessible community bird aviary.

• additional IT support available on all days of the week

• increased choice of subjects for students

Please click on the link below for Templestowe College’s voluntary financial contribution schedule for 2024, which includes an overview of what your contributions will help us to provide. For further information on the Department’s Parent Payments Policy, a one-page overview is also attached. Thank you for your ongoing support of TC.

2023 PARENT PAYMENTS

It is not too late to make a financial contribution for 2023.  Please go to the “Payment Centre” in Compass to see any outstanding “Extra-Curricular Items and Activities” and “Curriculum & Other Contribution” and make payment as soon as possible.  It is particularly important that “Extra-Curricular Items and Activities” are paid for as these subjects are not part of the standard Victorian Curriculum and so are provided on a user-pays basis (ie Animals Program, Personal Fitness, Dance, Backyard Permaculture, MAP, and ESDP).   These subjects/programs are costly to run; therefore, without financial support from our families, we will be unable to continue to offer them in their current format.  Be assured that all money received is used for the subject/program that it was intended.

Should you have any queries or should you be experiencing financial hardship, please do not hesitate to contact our accounts team on 03 9850 6333 (option 3) or accounts@tc.vic.edu.au.

2024 SCHOOL CAPTAINS

We have now completed our process of appointing our 2024 School Captains! This process was led by our outgoing captains supported by the Principal Team. It is amazing to be able to hear about the great work that our students do both inside and outside of school. Congratulations to Lucy, Greta and Callista!

We are recruiting

2024 Timetable Update

Our process for 2024 timetables continues. We hope timetables will be released to all students next week (week 7). This will give students the ability to look at their timetable and familiarise themselves with them before head start begins in Week 9 on Thursday the 30th of November.

Students will also have the opportunity to make changes to their timetables for the following reasons:

• Rearrange when subjects are running 

• Changing classes based on teacher style/pedagogy 

• Changes to VCE 

• Elective changes will be made in week 3 2024 (Change week)

A form will be posted on students community teams channels to access to request any changes.

Remembrance Day at TC

This term, students in Pre-VCE History participated in the Simpson Prize - an essay writing/film-making competition focusing on World War One. This year's question focused on how Australians commemorate WWI and the Anzac Spirit, and how our engagement in all things Anzac has shifted over time. Schools are only able to submit a limited number of entries, so we thought that ahead of Remembrance Day it would be a good opportunity to share this mini-documentary by Kael Crawford. Lest We Forget. 

TC Community Market

Everybody is invited to the TC Community Twilight Market Friday 10 Nov 2:30-7pm! (Its on now!) There will be activities for primary kids including basketball shoot out, sponge throw and face painting as well as early dinner options like wood fire pizza, crepes and a bbq. Students will also be selling their wares.

Diorama Dreams: Exploring the Creative Canvas of our Community Art Competition! 

Nestled within the walls of TC, a hidden world of creativity thrives, waiting to be unveiled. As you walk through the corridors, you'll find more than just classrooms and lockers: you'll encounter a living gallery of imagination and collaboration, and the Community Art Competition is only one example of that.

Over the past five years, TC has celebrated students’ unique identities and interests through art in our Annual Community Art Competition!  

The competition encouraged students to make a diorama representing their identity and who they are as individuals and to collaborate with their community. It was aimed to help bring students together with their connect class and to; “Express their unique personalities.’, Says Duncan.

Students were allowed to use any materials they wanted, including paint, clay, paper, and even natural items like leaves and flowers. Some students chose to focus on hobbies, like sport, and other chose to include their friends and family. The finished products are truly amazing! You can check them out in the Art Hub!

Unfortunately, due to the many lockdowns and hardships of the pandemic, the Community art competition couldn’t run for a few years and TC began to lack a sense of community, but now it’s back and bigger than ever! TC aspires to make the future Community Art Competition full of fun activities and to become a part of Connect in the sense that people will be able to learn about art and how it brings people together. Although the competition isn’t as popular as it was a few years ago with up 70 participants. In a hope to receive more participants like we had in previous years, we strongly encourage you to get involved and make some art! Keep on expressing your interests, feelings, and culture through art and to keep inspiring your peers with your imaginative ideas.

Like most Competitions, only one community can win the glittering golden trophy. Because the number of entries were fairly low this year, the successful community will be the one that had the most participation’. Duncan explains.                                                                                                                        

So keep an eye out on your team’s page to see if Green, Gold, Red or Blue has won!

The Competition was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. It encouraged students to think outside the box (literally), express themselves freely, and create something truly beautiful.

Another Art related event happening later on in the Term, is the TC Visions exhibition! 

If you’re an art fan, love design and architecture or creative textiles, this show is just for you! Make sure to keep Friday November 21st at  6:00PM free, if you are interested in attending. It will be am amazing event, and one worth attending! Bring your friends, family and community along, to admire some amazing paintings, drawings and interesting designs! A whole range of unique artwork will be displayed, as well as the chance to connect with the creative minds of TC. You can find out more information on TC website ad socials! Be sure to check it out!

Keep creating and stay inspired! Until next time!

By Mietta Palmer
TC Journalist

Last Weeks Announcements

• Dance Showcase

• TC Hoodies - Now Available to order for 2024

• We are recruiting

Dance Showcase

2nd Semester TC Dance Showcase Friday 17 November 6.30pm. Come along and watch our TC dancers perform hit Broadway musical number from all of your favourite musicals. You won't want to miss this night of entertainment.
Friday 17 November
Doors open 6.00pm
Show starts 6.30pm
Run time is approximately 1 hour.
Tickets must be pre-purchased at https://www.trybooking.com/CLIWQ

TC Hoodies - now available to order for 2024

TC Hoodies and Sweaters are now available to order for delivery in Term 1 2024. These designs are open for all TC students to order and are a great addition to student's wardrobes for the winter months. Graduate students have been sent a separate email regarding their graduate designs.
Follow this link: https://shop.reformclothing.com/join/bx5902 to make a log in. If you have ordered school hoodies before, your login could take you back to an old webpage and you will see something like "order closed". To fix this, check in the web address you are looking at is the order called 'bx5902' - either use an in-private web browser or a fresh email and password to avoid this problem.
We have a set of jumpers to try on to determine sizing in the General Office area of A Wing, students may visit any time to check their size. 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 15th of December. Any queries please reach out via email at SHOP@tc.vic.edu.au or call the general office on 03 9850 6333.
Happy ordering

We are Recruiting

We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

Teaching

• Business Management

• Backyard Studies/Permaculture/Sustainability/Hands on Learning

• Maths/Science

• Health Promotion (0.6 teaching load across 3 days)

• Leading Teacher - Learning Supports

  ES Roles

• Mental Health Practitioner (full time)

• Social Worker (full time)

• Psychologist (full time)

• Camps/Excursions/Interschool Sport Admin (0.6FTE (3 days per week))

• Health Promotion (0.6FTE over 3 days)

• Indigenous support (0.4FTE to 0.6FTE - 2 to 3 days worth of work per week)

If you know of someone who would be suited to these roles, please direct them to recruitment online for more information. There will be more information appearing on our website early next week.

Previous Weeks Announcements

• 2024 Timetable Update

• Current Events in the Middle East

• Congratulations to the graduating class of 2023

• Victorian Education Excellence Awards - TC Shortlisted!

• Save the dates

• End of Year Arrangements - An Overview

2024 Timetable Update

Our process for 2024 timetables continues. Next week we will be meeting with students who have clashes or any issues with their timetables. This will be taking place on Thursday and students will be warned if this involves them.

Current Events in the Middle East

The Department of Education have asked all schools to release a statement on their behalf. This can be found below. We will continue to support all of our students as we continue to support each other as an inclusive school, in line with our safe schools statement, in that we celebrate diversity and inclusion in all forms, be that religion, race, culture, ability, sexuality and gender.

Dear parents and carers,

 The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to cause distress for staff, students, families and carers, especially those who have family and friends in the region. 

 Our school is a rich and diverse community and acknowledging that it is vital that our students, staff and families all feel safe and included in everything we do.

 I want to assure you that the department is monitoring the situation from a school security perspective.

 While we want to maintain an open and welcoming environment, we are also being vigilant in terms of safety, ensuring all our procedures, like visitors signing in and out, are being followed.

 If your child is impacted and/or distressed by the current conflict, you may find some aspects of this resource helpful:

• Helping my children after trauma: A guide for parents.

Support is also available through external services including:

• headspace: 1800 650 890

• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

• Lifeline: 13 11 14

• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636.

 Please feel free to get in contact the school if you would like to discuss this further.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2023

Congratulations to our graduating students, families and friends for joining us yesterday a great day of festivities we hope all grads enjoyed the fabulous send off they deserved. A link to all the photos, videos and presentations was emailed to families on the 26th of October - please note this email will come from Compass, please check your junk if you do not receive it.

Victorian Education Excellence Awards - TC Shortlisted!

To add to the recent award of TC as Australian Government School of the Year, TC has been shortlisted by the Department of Education in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards. The school has been shortlisted in the category of Provision for High Ability Students Secondary School. This shortlisting was based on the programs on offer at the school that allow students to accelerate, such as the Jumpstart Maths program amongst the way that all students have an individualised learning plan. There will be more information to follow on this shortlisting. The awards ceremony are being held at the end of October.

Save the dates

We have two student-free days occurring in Term 4. Please save the following dates:

• Friday 24th November - Staff professional practice day

These dates are also available on the Compass calendar.

END OF YEAR ARRANGEMENTS - AN OVERVIEW

For those looking ahead to the end of the year arrangements:

• Tuesday 28th November - whole school assembly

• Wednesday 29th November - last day of 2023 classes

• Thursday 30th November - 2024 classes (Headstart program) begin for all except those in Entry class in 2024.

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

• Thursday 7th December - 2024 classes continue for Headstart week 2. No VCE Classes run.

• Thursday 14th December - Activity Week Commences. Alternative program running.

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

Previous TCNEWS Articles

This term TC NEWS has an exciting announcement, we are pleased to expand our team of journalists as Bonnie plans to finish up soon and focus on her exams in a few weeks. Please enjoy their first collaborative article.

No Tricks, Just Treats: Our Fang-tastic Halloween Newsletter!

This week saw a lot of excitement around the celebrations of Halloween and the Day of the Dead. But amongst the buzz of the week, one might have found themself pondering the history and traditions behind these holidays.

Halloween, as we now know it today, originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts because it was believed that from the 31st of Oct to the 2nd Nov a veil between the natural and supernatural worlds dropped, allowing the spirits of the dead and denizens of the otherworld access to both worlds. There was also a day on November the 1st called All Saints Day to honor all saints of the Celtic religion. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, wearing costumes, watching spooky movies, and eating sweet treats. This is the day we have all come to love and enjoy but it's important to remember its origins and why we celebrate it. 

Likewise, The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday that many people love and cherish. Where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink, and celebration. This festival dates back over 3,000 years to pre-Columbia Mesoamerica, where the Aztecs and other Nahua people saw death as part of life and something worth celebrating. It is said that on these days the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours before having to return. 

So what did TC do to celebrate these fun-filled historic events?

On the 31st of October, people dressed up in costumes to show their love for the Halloween holiday and get interested and involved with the school community! "It does good for the students to see the staff joining in, see them as more than just their subject teacher. We had zombies, clowns, ghosts, vampires, the undead, Eric Cartman (Southpark), pixies, cats, musicians, and much more." Said Duncan in an interview.

A Halloween party was held in S-Wing where lollies were given out and individual, as well as group photos, were taken. " I dressed up as a zombie nurse," Duncan explained. The TC Halloween activities forms part of the community activities students are encouraged to take part in throughout the year.  Duncan highlights "We celebrate dress-up days to have fun and help students feel like they are part of a supportive and interested Community." The photos have been put up in B-Wing to check out. TC has still got the Art, Dodgeball, Gaming, and Badminton Community Competitions coming up this term to get involved with! 

Stay Spooky 🦇

By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist

TC and CareNet

TC is working with CareNet to give back to our community by providing food for the vulnerable members of Manningham.

“80 thousand homeless people [in Australia] are on the waiting list to find permanent housing for them and their families,” says Ryley Norris, “Food is obviously a thing that they need, and access to housing and food for these people is almost non-existent…In a position of privilege, it is our duty and responsibility to ensure that every member of society has equal access to housing, food, water, [and] sanitation, that each and every one of us get, and don’t even realise how fortunate we are in having it.”

During the month of October, we’re doing a food drive where you can donate non-perishable foods to the community by dropping them in the boxes in S Wing. This includes things like canned food, long-life milk, cereal, and more. 

Our very own students may benefit from this partnership too. You could benefit from it. If TC’s relationship with CareNet reaches another level through this Food Drive, Ryley is hoping to “have a collaborative relationship with them whereby we can have students go and pick up food, [and] bring it back to school, so we can make meals as a big student educational program, and then drive around to the food pantries and to Kellie at CareNet, so that she can give this food to the vulnerable members of our community.” This program would be called “Driving with Purpose” because students will be able to gain skills in driving and bring their driving hours up, all while “develop[ing] the skills of cooking in an altruistic endeavour.”

Kellie Wishart from CareNet said, "we are so grateful for our partnership with the Templestowe College community. TC have assisted CareNet with composting throughout the year, and the food drive that is happening right now is of great assistance to us. Currently CareNet is experiencing a rapid increase in families seeking food relief and are expecting a record number to visit us over term 4 and the Christmas period. Community support like this is vital for us being able to meet the need this year. Thank you, Templestowe College."

CareNet focuses on Community Food Relief, which is increasing food accessibility for all, and Food Rescue, which is stopping food from going to landfill and instead using it to feed people. According to Ryley, “every year in Australia, there is 7 million tonnes of food waste, 5 million of which is redeemable…70% of that comes from household waste.” And there’s things you can do about this. 

“We, the consumer, have the power,” says Ryley. Farmers often throw out a lot of their produce because they know consumers won’t buy blemished food, but by choosing blemished food, such as Coles’ I’mPerfect fruits and vegetables, you can make the difference and prevent that food waste. “On the inside, it’s still going to taste the same, it’s still going to have the same nutritional profile; it’s going to benefit us.” 

Another way you can prevent food waste is to plan out meals with your household members and take stock of what you already have so you don’t over-purchase, and buy all your meals just a week in advance. Remember to research how to properly store your food so your fresh foods don’t go off before you can use them. You can also freeze your leftovers if you don’t think you’ll be able to eat them before their expiry (generally three days). According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, there are many ways you can reuse scraps instead of throwing them out, e.g. “vegetable scraps and peels can be made into soup stock. Apples or blueberries that are soft work perfectly cooked in oatmeal. You can even use stale bread to make croutons or an egg strata. Slightly wilted vegetables are great for soups or stir-fries.”

But what’s the problem with food waste? Aside from wasting food that could be used to feed our vulnerable community members, not composting food scraps is also “one of the leading contributors to climate change.” Food waste produces methane when left in landfill or when tossed to the ground, and methane is “30x more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.” By composting correctly with a proper compost bin, you’re helping to promote vital plant growth and fight climate change. If you don’t have a compost bin at home, “there are generally bins in our local shires now that will take those compostable food scraps, and then they’ll make it into a commercial composting resource whereby farmers can use that resource. If you don’t have that, there are community gardens right by you, and if you don’t have that, bring it to school. We have so many compost bins at school that…will be beneficial matter to replenish our soils, to feed our planet, and to heal our planet.”

Remember to give back to your community this term.

By Rory Opie
TC Journalist

Department of Education Visibility Project

Last week our TC Journalist’s had the opportunity to shadow Principal Peter Ellis while a film crew from the department of education’s leadership academy were visiting to interview and film him. They were able to interview the interviewees of the project, watch the production process and be involved in filming. Read on to find out more.

Pre Interview

On Thursday, 12 October, a small team arrived at TC to film, and interview Peter Ellis and capture the leadership that the TC community demonstrates. Before the filming started, we had the privilege of interviewing Melanie Edgar and Simone Eirth from the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, and we asked them what they were hoping to capture in their short film of TC. 

Out of twelve schools to interview, TC was the first. Melanie and Simone said that they wanted to capture the 'exceptional leadership', that Peter Ellis and TC display.

We also asked them what the aim of the filming was, and they replied, 'We want to tell the story of Victoria's highest-quality educators,' They explained that they hoped to use the completed product to 'inform' and 'connect' parents with the understanding of who's in charge of developing the students as they 'progress through their education years'.

Overall, it was a pleasure to speak with such dedicated and passionate educational leaders and I can't wait to see the release of the final product!

By Mietta Palmer

Peter’s Interview

For the visibility project, Peter took the Academy down to the brand-new library to film the A-Roll.  This project is a video series profiling a range of leaders in education, including principals, assistant principals and middle leaders which aims to raise the standing of the education profession with the public and to improve the general public’s perception of the high quality of Victoria’s educators as well as, raise awareness of the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.

While the crew set up all the lighting and sound, Melanie prepped Peter for the questions and once the crew was all set up, the interview began. Melanie began to ask Peter questions about public education and what sets TC apart. In response to "What excites you most about your role as a leader in education?", Peter replied that "we're pushing on the boundaries of what education looks like." Our global recognition for progressive education is exciting and "making a difference".

Peter also mentioned the unique relationship fostered between students and staff here at TC. "We're focusing on students and we see is our students. They're learning more. They're getting excited about learning," he exclaimed. "They're leaving the school with smiles on their faces and so happy with what they achieved that we see the excitement building in our staff." 

Overall the interview was a compelling conversation between the Academy and Peter. Despite the terrible downpour, laughs were shared and relationships formed. It was great to share all the great things TC are achieving and we can't wait to see the video come out later in the year.

By Bonnie-Mai Smith

Filming with the Academy

After the interview with Peter, the film crew from The Academy decided that they needed some footage from around the school. Some students including me were chosen to be part of the B-roll. We had the opportunity to engage in various activities, such as pretending to do artwork whilst chatting with Peter Ellis in the art hub. We talked about what we had for dinner and what our favorite desserts were for me it is the caramel pudding my mum makes, which my family calls a sandy. The reason we talked even though the footage wouldn't have sound was so that the final cut of us all talking, looks more natural.

Next up was, walking in the foyer of the Performing Arts Center, Mietta and I were chosen for this task pretending to have an in-depth conversation with Peter while walking. It took a few goes to get our walk perfected but we got it in the end.

The last shot of the B-roll was taken in the drama teacher's office at the Performing Arts Center. The cameraman wanted to capture Peter conversing with some of the teachers that attend TC. All of this footage is then cut and placed as background footage interlocking with the main footage of Peter Ellis in his interview to create an understanding of the school and how it operates.  

By Ruby Egan-Douglas

This was a great experience for us all, and if you ever get a chance to ask Peter what his favourite dessert is, you should, the answer might surprise you!

Bonnie-voyage!

Oh, what a ride it has been!

This term marks my last as Journalist of Next Week @ TC. After three years and a whopping 99 stories, I am stepping down as Journalist of Next Week @ TC. Now, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life, as my final days at TC are fast approaching. 

When dipping my toes into the waters of journalism, I could have never predicted that it would change the trajectory of my life.

For those who may not know, the opportunity to become a TC Journalist came in 2021 when I applied for the Facebook Admin job through the Student Employability Skills Program. Though I did not get that position, a new one fell onto my lap as Sophie Ellis asked me if I would be interested in a brand new job, writing for the school publication. Thus, a journalist was born!

For my first story, I was assigned to a piece about Connect TV. While the show now seems like a staple of TC's culture, in 2021 it was a new feature of Connect. I could not have been more terrified, but something pushed me to take a chance, even though I had never written anything besides English essays. While I look back on the article and slightly cringe, speaking with someone like Ryan Griffith was the best way to kick-start my journey as a journalist. With every passing article, I fell more in love with writing and the passionate humans I was lucky enough to work with. 

It turned out to be the best adventure I have ever taken. And ever since then, writing stories that the TC community could rely on, became a part of who I was, during times of both good and bad. Almost every venture I would later take - Taylor Swift Fan Club, Consultancy, College Council and of course, College Captain would not have been possible without TC News.

For three years, writing a weekly story was my routine. Every Friday submitting it was no small feat. The late nights, the interviews, the countless messages daily, and the stress of continuous weekly deadlines while keeping up with the demands of my schoolwork.

But the satisfaction overtook much of the stress. I am so tremendously proud of all we’ve achieved, and the stories we’ve delivered. The connections and engagement we’ve acquired from the community and beyond, truly mean the world. 

It’s impossible to sum up three years in one article. I am so grateful for the many opportunities I've had. Following Peter Ellis around the school for a day has to be one of the highlights, as well as the Student Showcase, the Hedwig the Chicken story featuring leaders at Templestowe Heights Primary and the many drama and dance performances. But the student success stories I focused on last term, is a project that I have great pride in! Coming up with puns each week began to consume me. Sharing the stories of the extraordinary students at TC, made me grow as a writer and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. 

To Sophie, I am so grateful to have had the chance to learn and flourish with your guidance. Without your enthusiasm, unfailing support and endless stream of pitches for the next story, these stories and well, I, would have been lost. Thank you, Sophie, for taking a chance on me three years ago and giving me the space to use my voice in a meaningful, impactful way. I am beyond proud of the work we have done together.

Thank you to the people of TC – both staff and students – for sharing your talents, time and curiosity with me. Writing about your performances, and interviewing you about your student businesses, clubs, markets, achievements and so much more has been a gift. It truly takes a village to write stories and we've accomplished great things. 

To my friends and family, thank you for letting me pester you for feedback on my articles!

And to the reader, when I first began writing, I truly had no clue that people would be reading TC News. But having people come and tell me they enjoyed my stories has meant the world to me. I  appreciate you taking the time out of your crowded schedules to engage with the stories. 

In this period of transition over the next term, students Mietta Palmer, Ruby Eagan-Douglas and Rory Opie will continue to share stories each week, with the guidance of Sophie. Next week will be my final article and while I am teary-eyed writing this now, I am confident that I am leaving TC News in the most capable of hands, and I cannot wait to scour over the weekly publication and watch the growth that continues to happen.

In the meantime, you haven’t seen the last of me – I plan on undertaking a Bachelor of Professional Communications/Digital Communications at RMIT next year (If I get in), to hopefully end up somewhere in the Public Relations world and continue to pursue as many different opportunities as I can!

Next Week @ TC truly holds all of the best memories from my high school experience.

Thank you all for your many years of encouragement and support.

It’s a bittersweet goodbye and the hardest I have yet to make.

As always, 

By Bonnie-Mai Smith
TC Journalist

Term 4 - Help Out, Give Back, CIL on Track

Clean up, catch a busking act, and give back – it’s Community Integrated Learning time!

Welcome back to Term 4! This term's Community Integrated Learning (CIL) theme is set to be bigger and better than ever, running across the whole term, 'Give Back' brings fantastic activities that you will love, plus some killer community projects.

“The focus of this theme is to encourage students to contribute to both the school community and the broader community through active citizenship and involvement in projects that improve the lives of members of our community," says Director of Community Integrated Learning, Ryan Griffith. "Students have the opportunity to sign up for one-off events, as well as participating in events during Connect, and during their classes."

For the month of October, TC will be running a food donation drive for local charity Carenet. This organisation works against food insecurity by providing meals and supplies to people in need. We will be collecting donations of non-perishable foods for the whole month in the front of S Wing where there are boxes for each TC Colour Community.

"Carenet's values of respect, dignity, generosity, and collaboration resonate with TC's values of empowerment and active citizenship," Ryan Griffith exclaimed. "We encourage TC students and families to get on board and donate what they can."

The Fare Share Kitchen is one of the must-do opportunities this term. Students will work in a commercial-style kitchen, taking action and preparing over 2,000 meals in a commercial-style kitchen. The meals will then be delivered to a range of people from all over the community. There are only 16 places per community, so jump on board and sign up now!

A staple of CIL are the subject-based activities which will be running this term too, in week five and six, the Sports-Skill class are going to 'give back' to Templestowe Heights and make a difference in the lives of younger students by teaching them different sport skills. The student's exceptional knowledge will help the primary school students learn the fundamentals of various sports. The excursion not only benefits the younger students who are learning new sports and having fun, but it also helps the TC students develop leadership and communication skills. They have the opportunity to be role models and make a positive impact on their community. This initiative is a great way for students to get involved in the community and give back while doing something they love. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved, and it's a great way to promote sports and physical activity among young people!

In addition, our TC Musos will be busking to raise money for local charities and Animals students volunteering at Halls Gap Zoo, plus more. Speak with your teachers about what your class is doing in Term 4 to give back!

Students are giving back to the elderly as well. Ryan is working with the VM students, in collaboration with Swinburne University, the Manningham Council, and the Chinese Senior Citizens Club of Manningham, to go out every Tuesday to the library and get to know our local senior citizens. Their first session was on Tuesday, and Ryan thought it was "really lovely." The senior citizens didn't know much English, so students and the seniors were using Google Translate to tell each other stories, which, according to Ryan, was "really gorgeous." Together through digital storytelling, the partnership will end with a "mini film festival" of digital stories told by our VM students and senior citizens. That's certainly something to look forward to!

A new CIL theme means a new Connect focus! As you may already know, "the sessions are about each group creating their own identity forging their own relationship with their mentor and creating rituals and routines that suit the group," Ryan explained.

In line with 'Give Back', twice throughout the term, each community will take turns to step out as the "Ruffey Lake Clean Up Crew" and help tidy up our local park. These clean-up campaigns will aim to raise awareness about the scale of the litter problem and get our community thinking about simple, yet effective ways of how we can give back. Other Connect groups are hosting morning teas where everyone brings some food to share, but in addition, will bring an extra something to donate to Care Net.

Some sessions during the Wednesday and Friday sessions will include a focus on anti-racism. With the rise of disinformation, and misinformation that can spread negative stereotypes about various people and their race, the Connect team want to be on the "front foot" and encourage our community to "step up and be an upstander... when we see something that we don't like the feeling of or the sound of".

Towards the end of the year, groups will focus on planning a celebration to commemorate a wonderful year!

Make sure to check out the attached calendar to see when things are happening. The calendar will evolve as the term unfolds so be sure to follow Compass posts and Community pages.

So what are you waiting for? Be a part of something bigger than yourself. After all, Connect is called 'Connect' for a reason!

By Bonnie-Mai Smith, Rory Opie, Ruby Egan-Douglas & Mietta Palmer
TC Journalists

Fareshare Kitchen excursions: https://www.fareshare.net.au/melbourne/
To secure your spot use the link in your Community Team or DM Meg Bailey on Teams.
Dates: 16/11 Blue, 20/11 Green, 21/11 Gold, 23/11 Red

Ruffy Creek Clean-Up Crew: sign up via Community Pages and Compass Date: 26/10

Busking for Charity: see Brayden or Madi if you are interested in joining the TC Musos as they busk at Macedon to raise funds for local charities.

Or perhaps you have your own idea for an event or activity? See Ryan if you'd like to bring your idea to life for the benefit of our community.

Our survey for 2024 Community Integrated Learning themes is still open! Have your say here:

Families and parents - https://forms.office.com/r/pPGhMHuFYQ
Students - https://forms.office.com/r/WL7JQZi98R

Any questions or ideas, please contact RGR@tc.vic.edu.au.