Next Week @TC

15/12/2023

• Finish time for students on Wednesday

• Edrolo Platform (Purchase) Issues

• 2024 Term Dates and Key Dates

• TC Hoodies

• Building Works Over the Holidays

• TCNEWS - What’s on in Melbourne these holidays?!

Finish time for students on Wednesday

With Wednesday being our final day, all students will be dismissed by 1pm. Our General Office will be closed to the public at 12pm as they look to complete the end of year processes. TC will be fully closed after 1pm as we will have discharged our duty of care for the end of the year in line with Department of Education policy.

Edrolo Platform (Purchase) Issues

We are aware that there are some issues with the Edrolo platform for purchasing (ie it is not possible to purchase!). We will let families know when this has been resolved.

2024 Term Dates and Key Dates

Please note that some of the student free days may move. We will of course give you prior warning. These dates are all in the Compass calendar as well.

Term 1

• 31st Jan - Entry Students Return

• 1st Feb - All students return

• 27th Feb - Pool Party

• 25th and 26th March - Student Parent Teacher Interviews

• 28th March - Last day of classes for the term

Term 2

• 15th April - All students return

• 6th May - Athletics Carnival

• 18th June - GAT exam for all unit 3/4 students. Staff Professional Practice Day (no classes running)

• 28th June - Last day of classes for the term

Term 3

• 15th July - Staff Professional Development Day. TC is closed to students

• 16th July - All students return

• 8th and 9th August - Student Parent Teacher Interviews

• 21st August - Course Counselling Day

• 20th September - Last day of classes for term

Term 4

• 7th October - All students return

• 29th November - Staff Professional Development Day. TC is closed to students.

• 2nd December - 2025 Head start week 1 starts

• 9th December - 2025 Head start week 2 starts

• 16th December - Activities week starts

• 20th December - Last day of the year

TC HOODIES

Today is the last day to order a TC sweater or hoodie before the new year. Find more information on how to order by scrolling down - direct link: https://shop.reformclothing.com/join/bx5902 

Building Works Over the Holidays

TC will be having some major building works over the holidays as we have a large amount of asbestos removal taking place along with some other works taking place. IT will be available from the 15th of January in an alternative space as Department of Education requirements are that no community members are allowed on site during the asbestos removal. We have worked with the relevant teams to ensure that our animals will be cared for along with the gardens etc.

What’s on in Melbourne these holidays?!

Looking for fun ways to make the most of your holiday season? Our team have put together a list of Christmas activities to keep you and your loved ones entertained throughout the festive season. Enjoy!

 #1 Wonka
Are you searching for a family-friendly movie that everyone can enjoy? We've got you covered! Our top pick for a family movie is Wonka, which was only released in cinemas a few days ago.
This fantasy/musical movie explores Willy's backstory and how he became Wonka, with the help of a few friends.
Featuring Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant and Rowan Atkinson, this feel-good film is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser for all ages, from kids to grandparents. 
So, get some snacks, assemble the family, and prepare for an unforgettable cinema experience!

#2 Myer Windows
The Myer Christmas Windows have been enchanting Australian families for almost 70 years with imaginary worlds of magic and movement.
This year, the windows tell the story of Bluey’s Christmas with both original and recreated scenes from the Heeler’s holidays. 
If you're out in the city, be sure to check out this cute Christmas display! 
Myer Christmas Windows 2023 | Visit The Display | MYER

#3 Signs of Life
Are you a fan of Good Omens? The Sandman? Coraline? These holidays you can watch their author, Niel Gaiman, perform in a string quartet! On the 18th January 2024 in Hamer Hall, Gaiman will be performing his ARIA-nominated debut album Signs of Life with his band, FourPlay. This is one night only, so be sure to book in quick.
Neil Gaiman and FourPlay String Quartet (sydneyoperahouse.com)

#4 Moulin Rouge
Have you heard of Moulin Rouge? It's a movie about “a poor Bohemian poet in 1890s Paris [who] falls for a beautiful courtesan and nightclub star coveted by a jealous duke” (IMDb), and you can go see it brought to life on the stage these holidays. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is currently at Regent Theatre, closing on February 4th. A winner of 10 Tony Awards and “a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love”, it's not something you want to miss out on!
Moulin Rouge! The Musical - What's On Melbourne

By Rory Opie and Mietta Palmer
TC Journalists

Last Weeks Annoucements

• Arrangements for the rest of the year

• Locker Emptying

• Activities Week Program

• Reports Available

• Become a Homestay

• Cancelled: TC Mango Drive

Arrangements for the remainder of the year

VCE HeadStart classes finished on Wednesday and students with a full VCE/VCE VM program are no longer required to attend school. Please note that students who have a hybrid VCE/FLE schedule, will have gaps on their timetables from Thursday the 7th. If the gaps are in the middle of the day, students are expected to check in to S Wing or the Hub. If the gaps are at the start or end of the day, families should enter approval on Compass if they wish for their students to be offsite during this time.

A reminder that although Orientation Day for our 2024 Entry Students is on next Tuesday 12th December, this is a regular school day for TC students. 

Locker Emptying

Each year we require students to empty their lockers and remove their padlock. Lockers are then cleaned ready for re allocation for the next year. Students are asked to have their lockers cleared by the end of the school day Wednesday December 13th.  

On Thursday December 14th, items that remain in lockers will be removed. Unnamed and usable items will be donated to the Community Teams for use by others as need requires. Students will be messaged on teams that labelled items have been found in a locker and that they are requested to collect these from S-Wing. Non collected named items will be bagged and stored in S wing till the end of February 2024. After this date items will be donated to charities. 

Phone lockers continue to be available till December 20th for student use. 

Activities Week Program

Activities week begins on Thursday the 14th of December. Monday/Tuesday of week 12 will have a familiar assortment of activities, including the follow-up to the very popular Jeremy yells about public transport, which will be Jeremy yells about cars (held in the PAC Monday P2).

Reports Available

Our Semester 2 reports are now available to be viewed via compass. The reports can be accessed online or via the app, but are much easier to find and read on the 'web' version of Compass. We will be emailing a PDF version of the reports next week for your records.  We hope you take the time to read through the reports and reflect on all of the fantastic learning that has happened.

Become a Homestay

Cancelled: TC Mango Drive

To our valued supporters of the TC Mango Drive,

Due to the unforeseen challenges of late growth and harvest for the mango farm, they are no longer able to guarantee a delivery to Victoria before the end of our school term. It is with much sadness that we announce we need to cancel the mango fundraiser. We sincerely thank you for your support and purchases. If you have purchased a tray of mangos, please check your emails for information regarding the refund process. If you have any questions or difficulties, please get in touch at kmee@tc.vic.edu.au

Thank you for your understanding and support. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

Warm regards,
The Working with Animals Team

Previous Weeks Announcements

• End of Year Arrangements and Dates

• Logs, Rocks and Bolders Donations Wanted!

• TC Hoodies - Now Available to order for 2024 - a reminder

• 2024 Booklist

• Parent Payment Arrangements for 2024

• Parent Payment Arrangement for 2023

END OF YEAR ARRANGEMENTS and dates

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

Logs, Rocks and Bolder Donations Wanted!

Dear TC Community,

Some of you may be aware that the TC Animals program are working hard to build and prepare our new Aviary for Life, a large walk-in aviary along the driveway. We are seeking some assistance from the community to help us with decorating and filling this space. We are on the hunt for some perfect, sturdy logs and tree parts that look similar to the inspiration photos below. Branches with forks are highly desired. We are also on the look-out for rocks/boulders to fit a native Australian bushland theme. If you have something at home you are happy to share with us and you think might be suitable, please email a photo to Duncan at dsa@tc.vic.edu.au.

Given we have limited space and storage, we will need to see items prior to committing to them and their arrival. Thank you in advance for your assistance and understanding! 

TC Hoodies - now available to order for 2024 - a reminder

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

2024 BOOK LIST

The 2024 Book List is now available through our supplier Campion. Please follow this link and create a login to start ordering.
https://order.campion.com.au/?school-code=F32CDGTD

Most subjects have a resource (textbook, notebook, calculator, or software subscription) plus a voluntary Curriculum Contribution (see note below). All students should come to TC next year with a well-stocked pencil case and a range of binder books as detailed on the General Stationery list. A print version of the booklist is available here.

Help and Support for ordering can be found here: https://www.campion.com.au/support-help/support-for-parents/

Curriculum Contributions on the Booklist

The curriculum contributions on the Booklist are voluntary financial contributions for items and activities specific to each subject which the school deems necessary for students to learn the curriculum.

Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. Nevertheless, the ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students.

More information can be found on our website TC - Payments or the Department of Education’s Parent Payment Policy Parent Payments: Policy | education.vic.gov.au

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.

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.

Final Assembly and reflection on 2023

As we start head start we thought it was a good opportunity to reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024!

Final Assembly

For our final assembly of the year, we all got to see some amazing musical performances, reminisce about the past year, and be inspired by others.

First, we heard from the Melbourne Indigenous Transitional School Didjeridoo group, who showed us their great musical skills on the didjeridu.

Then we got another great performance by the Stage and Beyond Band, who played Animal Spirits by Vulfpeck for us. 

We got to watch a slideshow with so many photos that you guys submitted, showing all the joy we’ve had at school this year, to make us all extra nostalgic.

Miss Trunchbull and Matilda, I mean, Will Genat and Jasmine Fuga got up on stage to give us a skit telling us that the school musical next year will be Matilda! 

Five awards were handed to some very worthy students. Darcy Reynolds and Chloe Mayson received the Long Tan Youth Leadership award, Zahra Phan and Igby Mclaverty received the ADF Future Innovators award, and Chloe Mayson again received the Menzies Shield award. 

Up on the stage with their Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses, Gazza Goblins, the National Rockfest Junior Band winners, blew us away with their original song called Palm Trees.

Wil Massara, the CEO and founder of Youth Leadership Academy Australia, came by to encourage us all to understand our true potential. He told us we shouldn’t underestimate our abilities as young people, and that leadership can be in even our simplest of actions such as opening the door for someone. Truly inspiring!

We were introduced to our 2024 school captains: Gigi Gorjux, Callista Addamo, and Lucy Marley. They’re all dedicated to making sure we all have an enjoyable year next year!

Peter Ellis videoed in from Queensland to give us a closing message about the year, how we have such a big community that we’re all working together with, and of course to remind us that we were crowned Australian Secondary School of the Year!

To close, our Stage and Beyond band came back to perform an epic 80s Medley with a few rock songs!

Reflections on 2023

Rory
This year was my first year at TC, and being such a fantastic school there's many good memories I could talk about. I've made wonderful friends, I've learnt things I've really been wanting to learn, I got to help the wider community with excursions like FareShare, and I did multiple performances including our school musical, The Addams Family.

Being in The Addams Family was fun, even as an ensemble member. Nothing beats the curtain opening and being able to show off something you've worked hard on. I also loved that about the group performance I made with two classmates in my 1&2 Drama class. Making something from scratch and performing it to an audience is very gratifying. And beyond that, for the musical, I loved being immersed in one of my favourite fictional worlds, getting to know my fellow theatre kids, and designing my own character. As an Ancestor, I may have just been in the background, but my character had a backstory and their own thoughts and opinions, which was fun to come up with and act out.

Overall, it's been a great year. I'm looking forward to being in Matilda the Musical for my final year, making up new performances for my 3&4 Drama class, and all the other fun opportunities I'm sure 2024 will provide!

Mietta
Looking back at the events that took place at TC in the past year, I can say that it has been quite a rollercoaster ride. From sports events to markets, numerous occasions brought us together as a school community. However, what stood out for me the most was the Fish Count excursion in term one, which was such an honour and joy to be a part of.

As a fish student, I had the opportunity to go on the Fish Count excursion with my classmates, and we were all buzzing with excitement for the event. We spent the morning driving out to Rye Pier in one of TC's minibuses, where we met our instructors from Diveline and learned a little bit about the pier. Soon after that, we geared up, (snorkels and wetsuits) and dove off the pier and into the ocean. It was amazing to see all the different species of fish and marine life, and my group were lucky to swim beside a stingray and a seal!

I feel lucky to have been a part of it and it was a huge highlight of the year for me.

Head Start

Rory
Even though I'm going to be a Grad next year, I'm taking the Feathers and Fur elective, which is something I've always wanted to do for as long as I've known about TC.

I've now met all of the animals, and I have to say I'm already attached. Our pig is adorable and wants tummy rubs just like a dog, there are so many different types of birds that all look very pretty, and many other animals I'm hoping to work with. I didn't know we had sugar gliders until headstart, and now I've held one! So tiny, so fluffy! I'm looking forward to getting to know all of these wonderful animals throughout the year, learning about them, and coming up with enrichment programs for them. And I'm especially looking forward to getting new rats!

Mietta
The past few weeks have been filled with all sorts of activities and games as headstart began last Wednesday. We're all getting ready for the new year spending time in our new classes with our teachers and peers, and getting used to our 2024 timetable. I'm most excited for my Fears and Ideas class, an English elective where you explore the ideas around fear and monsters. In Headstart, we've been doing lots of group discussions about society and it's really interesting and engaging. I hope to gain many skills next year with all my classes.

This year has been great and I look forward to 2024. : )

By Rory Opie and Mietta Palmer
TC Journalists

FareShare Kitchen

Last week, groups of students from each community here at TC went out into the world to help those experiencing food insecurity.

I went with the Gold Community group, and we all had a fun time. Oliver Conzato said “I enjoyed learning about how the kitchen operates including where they supply their produce from, the preparation for the recipes before cooking, and the packaging process.” FareShare is an organisation that uses volunteers to cook delicious, free meals for the community, all using donated ingredients, such as leftovers from Woolworths. We students got to help chop ingredients, sort the mouldy from the fresh, and pack hundreds of meals for people.

My group chopped 45kg of carrots, 20kg of broccoli, 15kg of sweet potatoes, pulled apart 40kg of mushrooms, and sorted 30kg of tomatoes to weed out the rotten ones. This led to us packing 264 Tandoori and rice meals for our community. No one could have done that on their own.

Aside from the joy of helping others, we also found it fun to socialise with the other volunteers, such as those who were retired and regularly volunteered. We learnt a lot, including those who most often need help from FareShare are university students, as those under 25 aren’t paid adult wages but still have the same living costs, which leaves little room for food expenses. There are so many people like that and in many other living conditions who can’t afford food, which is why it is so important to have volunteers making or donating food for the community. 

You can donate to FareShare or sign up to volunteer through their website. I’m not yet old enough to volunteer outside of a school excursion, but I know that I’m definitely going to sign up right away when I turn 18. It may have been exhausting working for hours, but it sure does feel wonderful knowing how many people you and I can help.

By Rory Opie
TC Journalist

PBL SHARK TANK 🌊🦈

The FLE1's students were tasked with coming up with a solution for one of the United Nations' global sustainability goals in a pressurized environment. Teaching the student that with hard work, a good idea and dedication you can change the world. With $1,000 on the line, the students had to come up with a design brief while learning about the Global Goals for Sustainable Development and doing research associated with their chosen classroom goals. Meg one of the teachers who runs the personal-based learning says " It was really hard choosing the finalists. Michelle Parker and I went through all the videos equally,  we shortlisted them and then we shortlisted again and then we did a final shortlist" The criteria they looked for were, creativity and depth of the idea as well as how unique the concept was and if it was already being executed. Once the finalists have been chosen they will have the opportunity to meet with the teacher to discuss and refine their ideas and work on how to pitch their ideas in a more professional manner. Before the final winner is chosen and given the $1,000 to create their product and potentially start a business.

Cassidy explained to me about why the theme Shark Tank was chosen "I think that part of the reason Shark Tank was chosen is that it's a concept, familiar to students. Something where students can go 'Ah I have seen that show that's a really fun activity' so you get more student engagement, especially with the idea of there being a $1,000 grant at the end. I think that's a really cool opportunity that a lot of schools don't offer"

The students that I interviewed showed a positive attitude towards the PBL task this semester. One of the finalists Max Hester said that he "enjoyed working on a project with my friends and just getting a chance to do the finals". Another contestant Zara Mulik explained that she thought the PBL project was "beneficial on many levels as we worked within a group to learn about a topic we feel passionate about concerning the nature of the society and world we live in."

Some of the ideas students came up with were "Educating children about abortions, as well as designing a service that allowed women to receive affordable and accessible procedures" said Zara.  Another was ''Making ‘new’ clothes out of old, seemingly unwearable clothes'' Nicole Smit explained. One of the finalist groups did "an app design called ‘Devil Watch’, it was made to help people keep an eye on Tasmanian devils in the wild (citizen science)". This was Max's group. Enjoying learning new skills and gaining more knowledge about the world, was a common factor when asking about what students enjoyed about this task. "Over the course of the shark tank project, I enjoyed collaborating with friends and sharing ideas. Teachers were helpful and helped us keep on track of our work" said Zara. 

At this point you may be wondering what PBL classes are and what they are for well, Meg told me TC had "made it a priority to do project-based learning empowering students to learn really important skills that are practical in real life. Things like time management, collaborating with others, thinking about a solution to a problem in a creative manner". Some schools do their own version of PBL, For a whole semester or one lesson a week for a  semester or even a year however, TC has decided that they prefer to do the PBL lessons more intensively over a short period of time for example 2 weeks a semester to keep the momentum going and experience continuing because that way it don't impact other classes as regularly but still allowed you to remember what you have learned in class so that you can build on the new skill it in your next set of Personal-based learning classes.

It has been great to be a part of the Shark Tank PBL and we are looking forward to hearing the finalists pitches on Monday and finding out who wins the exciting $1000 prize to put towards their goal. Stay tuned to TC's social media for the results!

By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist

Sponge throw showdown! TC’s 2023 Community market

On Friday the 10th of November, TC held a community twilight Market on the astroturf. It was such a fantastic event, filled with lots of activities, games, and live music! Some of the activities included face painting, a chocolate toss and basketball shootouts.

One of the best things about the school market was that it was not just limited to students -parents, teachers, and members of the wider community were also invited to attend and hold stalls. It was a lovely afternoon to connect with peers and to have some fun. It brought people together and provided a fun and engaging space for everyone to have a good time. It was also a great reminder of the importance of community and to celebrate one another.

One of the most exciting parts of the market was the sponge-throwing. Students had the opportunity to throw wet sponges (For free!) at their favourite (or not-so-favourite) teachers.

'It was the best purely because it was such a hot day, and it was good to see everyone having fun!' Kate Dickenson says, and I agree. It was hilarious to watch everyone take their turn and see the teachers get drenched. Sometimes the teachers fought back, targeting individuals which made it even more interesting! It was a great way to cool down in the 30-degree heat.

The plant sale was one of the highlights for me. There were so many varieties to choose from, including native grasses, herbs, and succulents. In the Nursery, many things were on sale too, like clothes, bags and reusable beeswax wraps. TC Animals even had their 2024 calendars on sale! Shoe balm made by the TC Bee Club and made from TC's very own bee wax could be purchased there as well.

Another exciting event was the live music. TC's very own Bands such as the Hashbrowns (Listen to their new single 'That Lynwood Parade' now on Spotify) were playing outside the canteen. It was a great way to listen to some cool tunes and unwind in the hot spring heat.

In addition to the games and activities, there were also plenty of food stalls offering a wide range of tasty treats. La Louche Crepes had a stall where they were selling crepes of all sorts. There were savoury, sweet and a lot of other crepes on sale. The Boba tea was a hit, and so was the baked goods. There truly was something for everyone to enjoy!

But you may be wondering; What was the idea behind it?

For Kate Dickenson's Personal learning project this semester, she decided that she wanted to help organize a twilight market in which the community could gather and connect. 'I've run a few markets during school times before, but they've only been small.' She explains. 'So, I asked Meg if it was a possibility to run a bigger one after school and that was how it started! We also asked MAP if they wanted to help out and run some stalls.' This then led to advertising the market, and then when Friday rolled around, everyone pitched in to help get ready for the event.

'And it wasn't about raising money,' Kate says, 'It was about bringing the TC community together, and celebrating the creativity of our school.'

It was heartwarming to see everyone come out and support each other, and I can't wait for the next one! The community market was a vibrant and lively event that brought everyone together and it truly was a great opportunity for local businesses and vendors to showcase their products. Thanks for reading!

By Mietta Palmer
TC Journalist

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

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.