Community Events

Matilda

TC’s Matilda the Musical was a blast! Hopefully you had the chance to watch the incredible musical. All four days of the performance got lots of positive feedback from the audience, and everyone involved–including me–had a very enjoyable experience. Rehearsals started all the way back in February, and we gained lots of treasured memories in the process. I spoke to the cast to bring you some insight from behind the curtains.

Luna Evans spoke about how “everyone is so supportive and kind to each other”, and the cast and crew were “like one big family”, which lots of cast members also agreed with. Jacob Redhouse enjoyed “being able to watch everyone put in so much effort to make the show great, and enjoying themselves in the process”, as well as “getting to eat real chocolate cake” in his role as Bruce Bogtrotter. Alex Shade’s favourite memory from the performance was “when Maddie and Hayden put on school uniforms and wigs, and went on stage for the start of [the song] ‘Chokey Chant’, pretending to be school kids” on the last night of the show. Abbie Andjelic-Lane especially loved “the candy salad” we made during one of the rehearsals, and the “‘Hot To Go’ videos we filmed”. Angie Santa made the best memories during “our afterparty at the Pancake Parlour.”

There were lots of laughs backstage. Will Genat, who played Miss Trunchbull, said that before each show he would “roam around as Miss Trunchbull, horse whip and all, jokingly telling people in-character to hurry along or stop touching things they weren't meant to. This gave people a bunch of laughs and relieved stress/anxiety for other cast members before curtains opened.” Scarlett Evans added that “you would not believe the unhinged in-character conversations that happened backstage. They gradually got more chaotic each night!” Indi-Rae Laiacona spoke about how one time, during a mic check, “Emily and I were in the back, dancing and singing ‘Turn Up The Track’ by MattyB with the Escapologist’s baby, when someone came in and called me to [the] stage. Turns out, my mic was on the whole time and they heard me singing and dancing. It was so embarrassing, but so funny.”

Will mentioned that “finding the time for both schoolwork and rehearsing/finding your character” is challenging, so for future performers, he suggested his method where “each night, before getting ready for bed, I'd just speak to the mirror in [Miss Trunchbull’s] voice and run lines/sing her songs or practise her walk.” Eliza Osborn reminded future performers to “always do vocal warmups, and make sure you tie your shoes.” Scarlett's advice is to “just put yourself out there. I always say if you feel silly or stupid, you are probably doing it right! You will have so much more fun and be a better performer if you stop worrying about what others think about you, and just do what feels right.” Jasmine Fuga said to remember that “everyone responds differently to stressful situations”, so “always be kind; be kind to the cast, crew, directors, everyone.”

During the last scene of the last night, Jasmine felt “so proud of what we had accomplished, but sad that it was all coming to an end. I got quite emotional and even started tearing up on stage.” Now that the show is over, Naomi Bruinsma said that what she will miss most is “being able to perform with an amazing cast, [and] also not seeing some people in the cast every Friday/every day”, as well as “how much fun it was to be able to see the whole cast grow in confidence from the first ever rehearsal to the show.” Alex will miss “having something that consumes my life and thoughts 24/7 straight for a couple months.” Hannah Phillips will miss “the sense of community that I found at rehearsals. I formed amazing friendships, and I wish we could still meet every Friday!”

Excitement is already brewing for next year’s musical. Abbie “can’t wait” and is “excited to find out what show it will be”, and Indi-Rae is sure that “any musical will be sooo fun.” Hannah Phillips is “looking forward to potentially being a student director”, which is a great opportunity for anyone next year. Like the other Grads in the performance, I won’t be in next year’s musical, but we’re looking forward to coming back to watch it. As Will said, it’s going to be “bigger, better and bolder.”

By Rory Opie
TC Jounalist

SNOW CAMP

Snow camp 2024 was a dream! With fresh snow, sunny weather, and the incredible hospitality by the VSL, this group experienced an extremely warm welcome to Mt. Buller! Throughout the week, students participated in morning lessons with ski and snowboard instructors where they practiced new skills and gained confidence on the mountain. Afternoons were spent choosing your own adventure on the mountain with their groups. Some students even practiced jumps in the terrain park! Everyone enjoyed chats during the lift rides and cheering each other on. Evenings were spent having dinner together, followed by games, chats, and movies by the fire. On the last night, students made a luge course, and everyone took a turn going down on a sled. Snow Camp was truly a special experience. Everyone left camp feeling accomplished and proud of themselves (and just a bit tired)!

“My favourite parts about snow camp were that I got to ski with my friends and try new runs together. I also really liked getting to know new people from TC and it was so nice how supportive everyone was of each other. Overall it was a highlight of year 12 and I wish I could do it again!” Zoe Harris

“My favourite memory from snow camp was watching movies together at night, after finally deciding which one to watch.” Em Cormack 

Empowering Students Through Self-Defence: a Helping Heart's event

On Tuesday, July 23, the Helping Hearts club organized a self-defence session with Carmen from ProActivity, aimed at empowering students and enhancing their awareness about personal safety. This engaging session, which took place during lunchtime and lasted an hour, was particularly valuable given the small, dedicated group of FLE2 (Year 9) students . It gave us practical skills and essential knowledge to protect ourselves in various challenging situations.

Throughout the session, Carmen led interactive demonstrations and facilitated in-depth discussions, which helped us develop a deeper understanding of the importance of being prepared and vigilant in different scenarios. The workshop underscored self-defence as an essential tool for personal safety, significantly boosting our confidence and overall sense of security.

One of the most memorable and inspiring aspects of the session was observing the student's engagement and commitment to learning new skills. As we practised various techniques, we actively encouraged one another, which fostered a strong sense of community and mutual respect throguhout the session.

In conclusion, the self-defence session proved to be an invaluable experience for our FLE2s. By the end of the session, it was clear that these newly acquired skills and heightened awareness will benefit us greatly, both in our personal lives and within the school environment. We hope to run another session with ProActivty in the future!

Debutante Ball

Throughout 2024 a group of twelve students have been hard at work preparing for the Debutante Ball. It requires many hours of dancing lessons and TC partnered with another school, together choosing all their music and writing their own presentation statements.

It was wonderful to see all the hard work and effort pay off at the end of term with the Debutante Ball on Saturday the 14th of September at Melrose Reception. The students dedication in preparation and collegiality with the other school is to be commended, they were great role models and ambassadors for TC, and everyone got to meet P Hitch! (Peter Hitchener).

Community Chess Championship

The 2024 TC Chess Championships were another wonderfully exciting event. A wide array of players of different skill levels - both staff and students – competed for honour community points, and of course a trophy! The tournament saw some notable upsets, with several players having put hard yards into improving their game and overcoming opponents who would previously have bested them. The dark horse was Mahan Gharaey, who has never previously attended Chess Club, but who professed to know a thing or two about the game and showed devastating form in his opening game, sounding a warning to those ahead of him in the bracket (including the author of this piece!). He won his way through to the final, against last year’s champion Jamie, who was also in fine form. The final itself was a highly professional affair, with both players opening well before a minor mistake by Mahan lead him to burn too much of his clock time. Unable to find a way out of his predicament, he graciously conceded the position. And so, the 2024 Champion is once again Jamie Sarisky! Congratulations to all those who played, spectated, and a big thanks to the student community leaders who helped run the event. Biggest thanks to Duncan, for championing a game which he doesn’t even play!

For those who a hankering for some more chess, you can find TC Chess Club in D02 every Tuesday lunchtime. We have snacks, boards, timers, and good games every week!

Community Spit

This term, the Community Spit competition was held for the first time. For those who are unaware, Spit is a card game that requires quick thinking and speed. Teacher Meg Bailey displayed these skills as she came to victory, beating everyone in her path. "It was a very tough competition, and it was only a lucky strike that I made it through the prelims! Many thanks to all my worthy opponents and apologies if I slapped you a bit hard!" Meg says.

Community Volleyball

Entry English and Health Project Based Learning

Reimagining Work Experience Opportunities

During term three, students from our FLE2 cohort have embraced a reimagined work experience program that offered a diverse range of opportunities across multiple industries. From caring for animals at the RSPCA to honing their customer service skills at Café Ed, students gained valuable, hands-on experience in real-world environments. Engagements with organizations like the Port of Melbourne, Victoria Police, and leading construction firms allowed them to explore dynamic career paths, while placements at Endota and Hawthorn Football Club provided insights into wellness and professional sports management. This program not only broadens their understanding of the workforce but also ignites their passions for future career pursuits.