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Dear Families
Recently I re-convened one of our leadership teams for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19. It was the first time we had met since Term 1 Week 7. In reviewing the business arising from previous agenda items, it was a unique view into a not-to-distant past (only 7 weeks ago!). On the agenda were items such as our planned opening for the Faulkner Building (which has been postponed, not cancelled), and awareness for the emerging issue of COVID-19. Both items gave me a sense of how much has gone past so quickly, and also affirmation of the staff and students’ work during this time to remain connected.
Connection has been at the forefront of our work during this time. Through our TMC Student Values (see right), we ask our students to Connect as one of 6 common traits that we expect of all students. Over the last few weeks I have conducted almost 20 enrolment interviews by phone or video to finalise 2021 numbers. As part of these discussions with students we work through the Student Values and ask them to talk about their experiences with them. It has been interesting to both hear how they have tried to remain connected with what is important to them, as well as detail how TMC has maintained a focus on connection with our students during the rapid changes in schools. At the heart of this has been our Connected Learning Model, and when I look at communications and media that we have produced, and that have been written about us during this time (more below), I am proud to see the idea of connection as central to all of it. I am hoping you would have seen this depending on where or how you have engaged with our communications over the last few months: via the letters I have been emailing through; social media posts on Facebook and Instagram; or the videos we have produced to unpack what connection at TMC looks like (you may have also seen the anti-connection message so well exemplified by our celebrated Year 12 student Nigel, who bears a striking resemblance to Mr Damien Kelly).
Being connected is also detailed through our Learner Behaviours (see right), and is further defined through the actions of being:
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globally minded;
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culturally aware;
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empathetic;
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big-picture minded; and
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ecologically aware.
I can provide many examples of where I have seen these in our students; however, in looking at all 6 Learner Behaviours, I see evidence of all of these traits having been further developed by our students during this time, partly because they have had to. They encompass a mix of what you may know as Capabilities: those from the Australian Curriculum, the SACE and CESA’s Live, Lead and Learn Framework, and essentially are skills, dispositions and approaches that we know will lead our students to becoming contemporary and future-focused learners. As we continue to do, in taking a growth-mindset approach this can be a key time where we can help students to further develop and reflect on their learner behaviours. Later this term the students will formalise this through their Junior Education Transition (JET) and Senior Education Transition (SET) Interviews, where students have a chance to explicitly name learnings and growth in these areas with a view to achieving the best they can.
We had our first virtual Principal's Tour on the weekend. We had prospective Year 8 families connect with us via Zoom while we were in the Faulkner Centre. We met them online, worked them through the virtual Tour (available here) and fielded questions from the families. It was a different way to introduce students to the College but a very effective one. There is another planned for Thursday June 11 (4pm), please spread the word if there are families or friends you know have enrolled or are looking to do so.
Thomas More College was in the media twice late last week. We were featured in the Southern Cross with some detail about our Connected Learning Model and a feature on Mitchell and Charlotte Kell from Year 12 (with a special guest appearance by Ms Dianne Dearden). Our Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, Rebecca Baker, was also acknowledged in CESA News for winning the ACEL Emerging Leaders Award; congratulations again goes to Rebecca, one of only two CESA Leaders to win the 2020 award, who was nominated by our Deputy Principal Mandy Loveder.
In the midst of COVID-related issues, we are still mindful of our calling to be stewards of the earth as part of our Catholic Theology. Last year as a staff we focused our staff reflection day on Laudato Si, Pope Francis' Encyclical which discusses a call for Ecological Conversion. This week is the 5th anniversary of the publication, and the week is decreed as Laudato Si Week. Pope Francis has released a video to commentate the occasion.
Take Care
Corey Tavella
Principal
The Food Technology Department is excited to at last introduce their new baby… an Edible Garden! It has been a while in the making and setting the foundation to a successful harvest, but thanks to our Maintenance Team, we now have irrigation and students have begun planting crops.
Food Technology students have been exploring food sustainability as part of the curriculum and are excited to showcase our harvest, and look forward to cooking with, and eating our locally grown produce. We are doing our part to reduce food miles, packaging, food waste and enjoy fresher, more nutritious and more delicious food.
A special thanks to Bunnings Parafield for their support and donation.
Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Mondays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursdays: 8:00am - 10:00am
Fridays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
First Saturday of Every Month: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Welcome
Welcome to the Thomas More College #Librarylife Newsletter.
A reminder to keep putting a sticker on your House Team Board in the Library for each book you finish reading to add points to your House Team Thomas More Day Award.
Handy Tip: the class novels you have been reading or are currently reading, can be counted towards Books Read for this challenge.
The Library staff will be counting the team stickers at the end of May to collate the winner for this year’s Premier’s Reading House Team Challenge and will be announcing the winner at our Thomas More Day celebrations later in the year.
Good luck and keep on reading!
It is fantastic to see so many students returning to school this term. The Library certainly missed you all, while you were away.
Please remember to maintain correct social distancing when you visit the Library, either during class time or at recess and lunch, by keeping 1.5m apart from each other.
My Favourite Book Review
Here is Mr Angelo Anastasiadis enjoying his favourite book: ‘Leviathan Wakes’ by James S.A. Corey.
Describe this book in 6 words: Game of Thrones but in Space.
Display Cabinet
The Library’s first display cabinet for Term 2 is all about Fairy Tales. Please visit the Library to have a look at the books on display. If there are any books within the cabinet that you would like to borrow, please ask Library staff for assistance.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Library staff have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of completed registration forms being returned to the Library for this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge. It is fantastic to see so many students enjoying reading and participating in the Challenge.
For those of you who are also participating, keep up the excellent work. This year’s Challenge is continuing until the last week of August so there is plenty of time to participate if you have not already done so. Please visit the Library staff to collect a participation form and remember that due to restrictions caused by COVID-19, the Premier’s office has announced that the rules for this years Challenge have changed slightly to allow participants to read any book they please to count towards the Challenge.
Participants will be presented with their certificates/awards in November 2020 – details to be provided later in Term 3.
Virtual Books (provided by SA Public Libraries):
HOME LEARNING: https://sapln.overdrive.com/collection/1058433
MAKERSPACE RESOURCES: https://sapln.overdrive.com/collection/185110
Inspirational Quote of the Week | #Learn to Dance in the Rain
Healthy Eating… Healthy Lifestyles
Thomas More College supports the Rite Bite Strategies introduced for South Australian Schools as well as an overall healthy approach to living and lifestyle. This is an initiative we encourage all of our community to take up, not just our students. The College would like to invite staff, students and parents to contribute recipes which meet these guidelines, as displayed on our website, for our newsletter so that we can all benefit from our collective knowledge and resources. Please enjoy the following recipe.
Glazed Lamb with Apricot and Rosemary Sauce and Crushed Potatoes
Preparation Time: 35 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Serving: 8
Ingredients
405ml can apricot nectar
2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped
2 teaspoons mustard powder
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2.6kg whole lamb leg
1kg baby potatoes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons cornflour
Steamed green beans, to serve
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a large roasting pan or baking dish with baking paper.
Combine apricot nectar, rosemary, mustard powder and garlic in a jug. Season. Pour ⅔ cup (160ml) apricot mixture and ⅓ cup (80ml) water in prepared dish. Place lamb in dish. Score top of lamb diagonally at 2cm intervals. Brush lamb with one-third of the remaining apricot mixture. Bake for 2 hours, brushing with apricot mixture every 30 minutes, for medium or until cooked to your liking. Rest, covered with foil, for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, boil potatoes in a pan of salted water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain. Place on a tray. Gently crush each potato. Season. Cool for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook potatoes for 2 minutes each side or until golden and crisp.
Place any remaining apricot mixture and cornflour in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until mixture bubbles and thickens.
Serve lamb with potatoes, beans and apricot sauce.