Trinity Connect
Issue 1, 20 January 2022
Principal's News
Welcome back!
We excitedly welcome our college families and students back on site for the 2022 school year. As a bit of a sunrise and sunset fan, the last few weeks have not let me down! A new school year reminds me of a new sunrise or sunset. Each day, a little different, bright colours, energy and warmth radiating from the glow and the awe of seeing something so incredible. A new school year is a chance for us to begin again, to build on yesterday and create tomorrow. A chance for us to share the warmth of our community and watch in awe of our students as we guide them in their learning journey. All this, whilst we are surrounding in the awe and wonder on His love.
May 2022 bring your family much love and happiness. We thank God for His love and His word, guiding us as we begin each new day.
This year we share a special welcome to our new students joining us for the first time. We pray that your time in our community is filled with much learning, laughter and lots of joy.
We warmly welcome new staff to our College team for 2022:
- Taylah Stewart - Year 1/2A Class Teacher
- Sheridan Loughhead - Primary Learning Assistant
- Alexandra Pate - Secondary Teacher
- Amanda Chapple - Secondary Learning Assistant
- Andrea Soebardi - Instrumental Music Coordinator / College Reception Team
- Kelsie Smythe - College Reception Team
We are so blessed to have such professional and committed staff joining our team and can't wait to share our exciting life at Trinity with them.
On behalf of our team at Trinity, we pray that 2022 is a year filled with great opportunities and much happiness for all of our families.
Eloise Beveridge
Principal
Building Works Update
The builders are putting the final touches on the Mungo classrooms ready for our first day of school. COVID-19 has presented hold ups and delays to many areas of our society and we thank Kings Construction for working tirelessly to get our secondary classrooms ready for the start of the school year.
Works will continue with the courtyard well underway and the second stage of our campus refurbishment, while the Hattah building (Year 5/6 classrooms and Science rooms) also underway. Our Year 5/6 classes are now located in our Billabong area whilst the works are being completed.
We can not wait to share photos with you once the buildings are all set up and ready to go! Our building program is ensuring our students and staff have access to first class learning spaces, it is so exciting for our College!
Uniform Guidelines
The College has a strict uniform policy and expects all students to adhere to the guidelines.
Please pay particular attention to shoes as families make the start of year purchases. It is critical that parents and students ensure footwear is suitable to the college requirements. Black leather school shoes are compulsory - lace up or velcro school shoes with a heel.
PLEASE NOTE: Leather skate style or fabric shoes are NOT suitable.
Students are also reminded to ensure that socks worn to school also meet the college expectations. Any socks with markings and logos are NOT suitable.
If you require further information about the College uniform please see the website for the Trinity Lutheran College uniform Guide.
We thank our families for supporting us to ensure our College students wear uniform correctly and with pride.
Calendar of Events - Start of the School Year
Thursday 20 January - 9am to 1pm Uniform Shop Open
Friday 28 January - Teacher/Parent/Student Interviews
Friday 28 January - 8am to 6pm Uniform Shop Open
Monday 31 January - Prep and Year 7 first full day, Year 10 Students (half day)
Monday 31 January - 8.15am to 10.30am Uniform Shop Open
Tuesday 1 February - Whole school returns
Pastoral Care Interviews - Friday 28 January 2022.
Interviews are such a powerful way for us to connect with our families and begin to build the partnerships that will ensure your child has the best learning experience possible. At Trinity, the connection between home and school is valued by our staff and we look forward to working with you in 2022.
An email will be sent to all College families with details about our Pastoral Care Interviews scheduled for next Friday, 28 January, 2022.
Please note, at this point in time we are still waiting on the Schools Operation Guidelines from DET to start the school year. If, once we receive these we are unable to host face-to-face interviews we will revert to phone interviews. Ensure you record your best phone contact number on the interview booking so that this change can be as seamless as possible, if required. Any changes will be clearly communicated to parents via email.
Thank you for working with us as we partner together for your child's education this year.
First Day Procedures
Monday 31 January
- Prep and Year 7 students arrive at school from 8.25am for a 8:45am start. Students will remain for the full day.
- Year 10 students will arrive at school from 8.25am for a 8:45am start and finish at 1:00pm.
- Year 1 to Year 6 and Year 8 to Year 9 DO NOT attend.
Tuesday 1 February
- All students, Prep to Year 10 students, full school day.
Due to the lack of clarity from the government at this point in time, we are very sorry we cannot confirm whether parents are able to come onto the campus and drop children to classrooms on the first day of school.
It is our preference to welcome our families (in a COVID safe way) however, we thank you for understanding the need to follow directions provided to our College.
As soon as the College receives direction we will formalise first day procedures and share with all of our families.
COVID-19 Update
I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we had hoped that the pandemic would no longer impact our lives in the new school year. Sadly, this is far from the case!
With such a high number of cases in our community we need to ensure that we are doing everything that we can to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Our College has maintained a very strict COVID Safe Plan and Procedures since the pandemic began and will continue to do so. We would like to reassure families that our procedures in place to protect our children include:
- Classrooms have sanitising stations.
- Air Purifiers in multiple spaces around the campus where natural air flow is limited and large groups of staff and students can potentially congregate eg. Library.
- Staff and Students from Years 3 to Year 10 to supply and wear masks indoors.
- Prep to Year 2 students encouraged to wear masks.
- Regular cleaning throughout each day of high touch surfaces.
- Enhanced daily cleaning schedule.
- Use of natural ventilation when feasible and practical.
We ask that families support us by:
- If any children are displaying symptoms please keep them at home and get tested.
- Notify the College if your child tests positive.
- If your family is required to isolate please ensure you complete this isolation period and test before returning to school.
We expect that this term will see some disruptions to classes in relation to COVID-19 if current community transmission is an indication, both in student and staff attendance. We will do our best to ensure families are kept up to date and informed of any cases that impact their children. At all times the College is informed by the most recent Government Guidelines.
If at any point in time you and your family are unwell or in isolation and require assistance please contact College Reception. We are here to support you in anyway we can.
As further instructions are received by the College we will communicate with families.
CSEF Funding
The CSEF is an annual payment to the school that is used towards camps, sports and/or excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student.
- Primary students receive $125 per year
- Secondary students receive $225 per year
Eligibility for the funding includes families with a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card holder. Please see the attached form for the full list of eligibility. We encourage all families who are eligible to please apply.
Click here for an 2022 CSEF Application Form
Instrumental Program
Enrolments are now open for our instrumental program for 2022! We have so many amazing lessons on offer for our students. These include voice, piano, guitar, drums, violin and more. We also run an awesome dance program which includes ballet, jazz and hip hop. This year we are also offering vocal and guitar lessons in pairs as well as solo lessons.
We have a new Instrumental Program Co-ordinator and vocal teacher this year. Andrea Soebardi is joining our team and comes with many years of experience. An instrumental handbook is available from the school office or call/email Andrea at asoebardi@tlc.vic.edu.au with any questions.
School Management System (SMS) - Synergetic
Our College has previously used a SMS called TASS to which each parent had a 'Parent Lounge' account to access details specific to your individual child/ren.
This system has presented some challenges over the years and was not being utilised as we would expect. Throughout 2021, a staff team investigated a number of alternative SMS's and the College has begun the process of transitioning to a new system called Synergetic. It is expected that once complete the Synergetic program will provide our community with a much more user friendly system, with simple easy mobile access.
What does this mean for parents?
Parent Lounge is still operational in a read only context (data current up to December 2021) at this point in time. We have transferred over critical student information and data to Synergetic in order to begin the year in the new space.
Parent access will be introduced throughout Term 1 & 2. Initially each parent will have their account set up and each new module will be sent to parents with detailed explanations and how to guides. We do not expect this process to begin until mid Term 1.
We thank parents for their patience as we ensure the rollout of Synergetic is as seamless as possible and ultimately, a much more positive user experience for our community moving forward.
CHANGE TO DETAILS: While we set up and roll out parent accounts, if you need to change your child's details please contact the College Reception or email admin@tlc.vic.edu.au
'The Vine'
To further enhance the opportunities for the College to connect and partner with families in the education of their children, the Synergetic conversion is the first stage in a two step transition.
Throughout 2022 staff will also begin working in and developing 'The Vine', an online learning management space that will ultimately be the 'one stop shop' for College communications, student learning programs, assessment and reporting records, learning records, extra curricula activities etc.
The transition is a gradual process and as such this final step will not be complete until the commencement of the 2023 school year. The College is confident that this two phased transition to ultimately, a single platform will provide our community with a first class user experience enabling connection, communication and collaboration of all levels of your child's learning journey.
Contact us
Email: admin@tlc.vic.edu.au
Website: www.tlc.vic.edu.au
Location: 920 Fifteenth Street, Mildura VIC, Australia
Phone: 03 5023 7013
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlc.vic.edu.au/