We have made it to the end of Term 3 in wonderful fashion. Our Year 12s have been working incredibly hard toward their end of year examinations including completing many of their last SACs and most recently the GAT. They will no doubt be looking forward to the upcoming holidays; albeit not to stop, but more so to find time to focus on the coming weeks and to hone their final approaches to the end of they year. In the second week of the holidays they will be heavily involved in trial examinations where they can put into practice the skills and knowledge they have developed over the course of the year.
The upcoming holidays are a great opportunity for all students to take a moment to rest from school and to reflect on the efforts and commitment they have put into their studies throughout Term 3. At the recent student progress meetings, feedback was given by teachers that is aimed at helping all students improve in their learning both at school and at home. The holidays are often a good opportunity for students to find some time to revisit content that was taught and look to consolidate their understanding before returning in Term 4.
Year 7 2023 Orientation Day 1
On Monday 05 September we held the first of our three orientation days for our Year 7s of 2023. These days are aimed at welcoming all the new students to Tintern as well as welcoming our own Grade 6s into the Middle School for the day. We were blessed with delightful weather on the day which ensured a fantastic experience for all students.
They were taken on a tour of the secondary school, which for many of them was the first time they had been around the campus due to restrictions over the last two years. They played many team focussed games co-ordinated by an organisation called Coach Approach (founded by a Tintern alumni) that ensured they spent a lot of time getting to know each other, especially the new students.
It was great to have a large number of our current Years 7 & 8 students assisting throughout the day with either the tours, answering questions or sharing their own experiences throughout their transition and journey through Middle School so far.
Middle School GEM Day
The three principles which are the focus of the Resilience Project, and are proven to cultivate positive emotions are Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM). These three key pillars are emphasised during pastoral sessions, and form the basis for all planning for GEM Days, which occur once per term.
Last Friday we were privileged to have our Senior Leaders spend time organising and running activities for our Middle School students for Term 3 GEM Day. This was particularly admirable as this is the pointy end of the academic year for senior students. Activities such as trivia quizzes, stack the cups, get to know you games, relaxation and mindfulness, and year-level sport challenges were planned and executed by the leaders, in what appeared to be a very enjoyable time for all involved. These activities were in mixed groups, providing an opportunity for students on both sides of the Middle School to get to know each other a little more, in preparation for Senior College.
Safe online behaviour was the general theme for the day, and therefore the presentation by Senior Constable Jay Colliver was strategically timed. Jay brought many key points to the attention of the Middle School students, at a time when this information is so relevant for this age group. She made the point that we have a school community, a wider community and an online community, emphasising that the way we behave between these three communities should not differ. She encouraged students to ensure all accounts are set to private and to check privacy settings regularly. What not to do online and where to find help were also clearly outlined, and this information is also covered during pastoral sessions currently. The day concluded with viewing most of the documentary The Social Dilemma and we encourage parents to have conversations around safe online behaviour on a regular basis at home.
RU OK Day
Thursday 8 September was RU OK Day and our Senior student leaders ensured that the message of checking on your friends as well as yourself was one that was made very clear to the students. There were daily emails sent out highlighting the importance of checking in, as well as stickers and posters around the school throughout the day on Thursday and into Friday. It is such an important message for them to be hearing, as it is for all of us.
EISM Cross Country
On Wednesday 31 August Tintern Grammar competed at the EISM Cross Country Carnival at Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster. Our students achieved some fantastic results, with Tintern finishing second on the leaders board. Read the full report on our Sports Matters page.
Year 10 Outdoor Education Alpine Camp
Our Year 10 Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies students recently undertook a camp at Mt Stirling. Hiking up to the snowline and skiing and camping in the snow, ensured their outdoor survival skills were applied in this pristine environment.
We wish all families a wonderful holiday at the end of this week. A reminder that the last day of classes for all students is Thursday 15 September with Friday being a staff only day. The first day of Term 4 for students is Monday 03 October.
Brett Trollope | Head of Secondary
Year 7 Secondary School Vaccine Program
In week two, Term 4 , 12 October, our Year 7 students will receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine 2nd dose, by our local Council immunisation team.
This will be conducted onsite at Tintern, in a similar fashion as it was earlier this year. No further consent is required as this has been completed from our first immunisation session. Below you will find useful links with information about the importance of vaccination, frequently asked questions and the many health benefits it provides to our younger population.
Please forward any further queries to firstaid@tintern.vic.edu.au .
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources-for-secondary-schools-ssip
News from the Careers Department
Year 12 students are reminded to register and apply to VTAC and submit their SEAS application for special consideration when applying to the tertiary sector.
There are a number of upcoming events where students and their families can engage with the tertiary sector or gain apprenticeships and traineeships information. Further information about the following events can be found at https://www.oellen.org.au/events
The latest editions of Career News have been uploaded to the Careers Portal page and each file can be accessed using the link at: https://portal.tintern.vic.edu.au/homepage/14962/ (Please make sure that you are logged into the Tintern Portal.)
Heather Ruckert | Careers Consultant
