Next Week @ TC
30/01/2026
Principal's message
Start of the year
What a great start to the year. The new Entry students have started to settle and find their way around the school. They are fully engaged with their classes and are managing lockers, timetables, and having multiple teachers extremely well.
The rest of the school returned on Thursday and it was lovely to greet many of them at the front of the school as they arrived. It is heartwarming to see friends reconnecting after the break and so many smiling faces as they come back to school for 2026.
Teachers have worked hard and are ready to go with another exciting year of learning at TC. The term is going to be a busy one, starting with the Grad camp on Monday, the Entry camp in a few weeks, the pool party, photos, community events kicking off, clubs getting up and running, and the list goes on and on as it always does at TC. Amongst all this there is also a full learning program happening.
Coffee with the principal
I would love the opportunity to meet parents and talk about the school and its students. ☕️
Next week I will include a link to a Trybooking event that can be used to book a spot. Most of these sessions will be face to face, but we will plan a couple of online sessions for those who find it difficult to get to the school during the day. I would like to keep these sessions small so that everyone has the opportunity to talk with me, and each other, and will therefore limit each session to 10 people.
I will continue these sessions throughout the year for as long as parents keep booking places.
school review
🔍Term 1 is also when we are having the School Review. This is the four-yearly review and strategic planning process. We will be asking interested parents to be involved in parent feedback sessions during the review process. I will provide more details about when and how parents can be involved once dates are finalised with our reviewer.
property damage and expense claims
Each year we are required to share the Department of Education’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy. You will find the Department’s policy here.
It is important to understand that the school is not responsible for any personal property that is brought to school. This includes mobile phones.
new mobile phone usage policy
The students have taken well to the changes to the mobile phone policy at TC (as communicated on Compass). We are in the soft launch phase where students will be reminded to store phones securely, if they are seen by staff.
The new mobile phone policy will be circulated next week with full implementation commencing on Monday 16 February. The school will continue to communicate this policy to students and families over the next few weeks to support the full implementation from the 16th.
Daryl Bennett
Principal
Attendance reminders
As another school year begins, I wanted to take a moment to emphasise the importance of regular school attendance for our students. 🎒
Consistent attendance is one of the most significant factors in ensuring student success. When students attend school regularly, they are more likely to engage with the material, participate in classroom activities, and develop the skills and habits necessary for their academic and personal growth. 📚Missing school—even occasionally—can result in missed lessons and challenges in keeping up with work, school activities and friendships.
Lateness⏰
Just as being at school is important, we know that being on time to every class ensures that students have greater access to learning opportunities, support from staff and connections with classmates. 🤝
A reminder of the following:
Late is late – if a student arrives after the beginning of the period, the classroom teacher will mark the student as ‘late’ on the roll.
If a student is given permission to leave the classroom, they must return before the 10-minute mark or their teacher will log a chronicle on Compass.
Only one student will be allowed out of class at a time.
With 5 minutes to go at the end of recesses and lunchtimes, yard duty teachers will ask students to go to class.
We understand that life can be unpredictable and sometimes students may need to miss school for various reasons. However, we encourage you to make every effort to ensure your child is present as much as possible.
Additionally, if your student must miss school, we ask that you report the absence on Compass and encourage them to stay in contact with their teacher via Microsoft Teams to ensure they stay up-to-date with any work missed. If you require assistance with logging into/using Compass please call the school on 9850-6333 and press 4 for our IT Department. Alternatively, please log a request for IT support using the following website: TC - I.T Support.
If there are any barriers or concerns that may affect your child's attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s relevant Community Executive Team.
Many thanks,
Katrina Katz
Assistant Principal – Community and Wellbeing
Parents/carers and visitors on site
📝You must sign in every time you visit.
Parents and carers are not permitted to enter the Hub, S-Wing, or any other area of the school without first visiting the general office to sign in.
Driving through the school grounds - important information about traffic flow
🚗🚗During drop off and pick up times traffic flow is strictly one way & drop and go only – no parking:
⏰Mon, Tue, Thurs (8.30-9.15am & 3.15-3.45pm)
⏰Wed & Fri (8.30-9.15am & 1.45pm- 2.15pm).
🚦🚦During school hours all traffic must exit through the front gates.
♿Please do not use the Disabled Parking spaces to drop off your children or as a turning circle.
🚶♂️Additionally, traffic MUST give way to pedestrians at the marked pedestrian crossing just inside the school gates.
❌There is NO ENTRY for vehicles into the school via the back gate on Ridgeway Street. It is pedestrian access only.
🤝We appreciate your support in making our school grounds a safe place for everyone.
Hyrdation on warm days at school
With the recent hot weather, staying cool and hydrated is front of mind for us all. ☀️💧 Below is some important information to support healthy hydration for children and young people during warmer conditions.
A 14 to 18-year-old needs 6–8 cups (1.5–2 litres) of water per day to stay hydrated.
🚰 If they’re not refilling their water bottle throughout the day, they may not be drinking enough water.
Read more helpful hydration facts below. Information is sourced from Health Direct at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hydration-tips-for-children
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Most of our body is made up of water. Water helps maintain body temperature, make bodily fluids and function day-to-day.
Dehydration is when your body doesn't have enough fluids to be able to function at its best.
Dehydration can lead to serious medical problems. It can also affect your child's performance in physical activity, and in school.
Dehydration can happen at any time of the year, including winter. Children and babies are at higher risk of dehydration than adults. By the time your child feels thirsty, they are probably already dehydrated. So, it's up to you to make sure they are drinking enough water.
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Children are more likely to become dehydrated:
during and after lots of physical activity
with severe vomiting or diarrhoea
if they have a fever
if they take certain medicines, such as diuretics
if they don't drink enough, especially while they are unwell
if they are younger than 6 months of age
Description text goes here
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Water is the best drink for children.
You should avoid giving your child:
sports drinks
fruit juices
soft drinks
flavoured mineral waters
These drinks contain sugar and are acidic, which can lead to tooth decay.
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Babies under a year old get all the fluid they need through breastmilk or formula. If your baby is aged 6 months or older, you can give them small amounts of boiled, cooled water.
The recommended daily intake of water for children is:
1 to 3 years old: 4 cups
4 to 8 years old: 5 cups
9 to 13 years old: 5 to 6 cups
14 to 18 years old: 6 to 8 cups
Your child will need extra water when they are exercising or in hot climates.
Remember that children need to drink whatever the weather, even in the winter.
Even if they aren't thirsty, encourage your child to drink before, during and after physical activity. This can help prevent dehydration.
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To help your child stay hydrated, you can:
make sure they always have a water bottle, including at school
remind them to drink before physical activity, and during any breaks in their activity
make sure they have a big drink after any physical activity to make up for any sweat they have lost
keep a jug of fresh tap water in the fridge where they can reach it, on warm days
make sure that you role-model drinking plenty of water
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund
Students on Zoo Camp at Halls Gap
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps eligible families with the costs of camps, sporting activities and excursions/incursions.
From 1 January 2026, families eligible for CSEF will receive $400 for primary and secondary school children. 📅 Applications for 2026 CSEF support will open from 27 January 2026.
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:
🏕️ school camps/trips
🏊 swimming extension activities and other school-organised sport programs
🌿 outdoor education programs
🚌 excursions/incursions that are extracurricular as defined in the Parent Payments policy
🎓 graduations/valedictories.
Schools can receive applications from families for 2026 until 26 June 2026. ⏳
Families can list more than one student in the one application form if they are attending the same school.
2026 Clubs
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2026 Clubs 〰️
TC Clubs 2026
Continuing a club from last year? Or want to start your own club?
Our TC Clubs roster will be open next week – this is a reminder to keep an eye on your Community Teams on Monday to:
make changes to existing club rooms;
or for new clubs, to put in your preferences for rooms and times
All new clubs must be approved by Katrina Katz and must have a staff member allocated to attend and facilitate.
The Term 1 Clubs roster will come out at the start of Week 3 but changes can be made throughout the year.
Student achievements
🎉 Congratulations Mia! 🎉
In December, Mia Chen, FLE4 participated in the 79th Australian Dancesport Championship 💃✨ and achieved the C Grade Under 21 Champion title 🏆🌟
Congratulations Mia! 🎊👏