The week's featured photo comes from Year 3 student, Flynn Parker-Browne. Flynn made a diorama during a science investigation into endangered animals. His diorama spanned two levels - the bottom being underwater and the top displayed a fantastic Lego boat that he made.
Students across the ELC, Primary and Secondary dressed up this week. Our dress up day raised over $200 and was a lovely way to end the term. The ELC had a pyjama day, Primary had a movie character theme, and Secondary students dressed for the 1980s.
Sibling photo envelopes have been distributed. These must be returned to the office at the start of Term 3. Only the sibling envelopes are required to be returned this way.
Photo day will be held Thursday 23 July, Week 2 of Term 3 - order forms will be dispatched before the end of this term.
To comply with health authority requirements, as well as changing the product that you will receive, we also have implemented social distancing measures as follows:
This was a semester that both challenged and strengthened us as a school community. Although we are not in a post-COVID19 world just yet, the end of this semester is a good opportunity to pause and reflect on what we have overcome and what we have learned.
When initially faced with the question, ‘How can we ensure our students continue to receive educational experiences if we were forced to close the campus due to the pandemic?’, it took only 11 days for our staff to develop and implement our HBL program. This meant learning new computer programs, re-writing units of work, re-imagining practical learning experiences, and developing curriculum and pedagogy suitable for online learning. Together, TMC staff were able to develop a program of learning that has helped allow consistency of curriculum.
We have learned the value of connectedness. When we were isolated and cut off from physically interacting with our others, we had to form new habits of connecting and nurturing the relationships in our lives. Our Secondary subject of ARC, Academics, Careers, and Resilience, was a favourite of many of our students as it focused on student wellbeing, coping strategies and developing positive habits around studying from home.
We have faced change and have conquered it. Often change is feared. It usually means we are pushed out of our comfort zone. With COVID19, we were all faced with rapid change, and while it could certainly be both uncomfortable and challenging, our students have seen us adapt and adjust to the evolving situation. Our students saw their parents and their teachers model resilience and so learned to be resilient themselves.
The semester ahead will bring more changes, hopefully those that ease us back towards the world as it was pre-COVID19. We look forward to sporting events resuming, our 25th Anniversary, the Year 12 Formal, and much more.
Thank you, parents, for your work supporting your children and TMC this year.
Thank you, students, for your commitment to your studies and embracing our HBL program.
Thank you, TMC staff, for your unwavering dedication, positive support, and the commitment you have shown to providing our students with the best possible learning experiences.
Our College Community is outstanding and together we shone through these dark times.
Mrs Fiona Stevens
This week Year 12 Biology made use of the 'teaching-to-learn' strategy to demonstrate their understanding of Protein Synthesis. Students can benefit greatly from explaining new concepts to others. It is an excellent opportunity to collaborate, recognise individual strengths, and create an environment of peer support. Well done Year 12, your patience and care for each other was great to see!
Ms. Black
And so we reach the end of a semester or schooling like no other. One day we will all look back at this time and shake our heads as we remember the changes, complexities and challenges that we all faced, both at school, work and at home. The staff at Tamborine Mountain College undoubtedly shone during Home Based Learning. I am so proud of the efforts that they made to support College families and their positive 'can do' attitude has inspired us all.
The parents who stayed home and assisted in HBL did an outstanding job. Whether it be juggling your own work from home commitments, family life, younger siblings, tantrums, constant change etc. it was all really difficult at times and the staff at the College acknowledge your essential contribution to the continued learning of your children.
Parents who are 'essential workers' - those who had to drop their kids off at school in the height of the lockdown - are to be thanked for trusting us to continue to provide a safe environment during the worst of the peak. It must have been difficult for you and we thank you so much for continuing to support our community by working during this time.
As we all travel slowly back on the path of recovery, into the 'new normal' for a while yet, let's not forget those little moments of success and gratitude that we all felt along the way. Let's remember what it felt like to recognise that so many of our freedoms were taken for granted. Let's continue to practice safe hygiene when out and about in public, just like we will continue to practice these enhanced measures at school for the foreseeable future.
The greatest thing to come out of COVID-19 will be a refocusing of our attention onto what is really important - family, love and safety. I hope all College families enjoy a more relaxed holiday and I look forward to seeing the children back at school in Semester 2.
Mr Mark Stevens
At the Early Learning Centre (ELC) we have enjoyed a fabulous term and we are nearly back to full attendance as the restrictions of COVID-19 ease. This term the Pre-Prep and Kindy children have enjoyed being reunited with their friends and the families who had not returned shared their time at home with us through our ELC online platform, StoryPark. The ELC shared videos of what we were getting up to and also provided families with lots to do so they didn't miss out on the fun. Together, we supported each other and were able to get through with a little help from our friends!
We have had many highlights in our term. Our Pre-Prep had their first walk down to the College and placed a wreath at the flagpole for ANZAC day. Mr and Mrs Stevens met us there and together we remembered all of our brave soldiers. We have been engaging in our play-based curriculum which has led us on many different learning journeys. This included planning and building our own cities as well as operating our very own doughnut shop. The Kindy group enjoyed making cubby houses and developing their language skills through fun rhymes with finger puppets. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly was enjoyed over and over as the children developed their recall and sequencing skills using hands on learning and puppets. Pyjama Day was a huge hit for the last day of term and the children enjoyed a movie with yummy popcorn as a treat.
We look forward to Term 3 and can't wait for more wonderful adventures. We plan to start our transition visits to Prep and have more excursions to the College. Lots of our Pre-Prep friends have been excited to talk about their visit to meet Mr Stevens as interviews for Prep 2021 are underway.
We also have Vacation Care for Kindy - Year 6 students on the holidays - please follow the link if you would like to book in. Book Vacation Care
Have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at the Early Learning Centre.
Mrs. Nikki Ashley
Anazc Day
Pyjama Day
Inspired by Japanese culture and the Victorian era, Year 10 Art student Jamie Castley has created an amazing portfolio of work this year. Her skate deck, as shown, has been designed to evoke Japan through a blend of images whilst her other artworks provide her audience with a reflection on Anime action and characters.
- Mrs Radley
Year 6 have been exploring and creating their own songs using Soundtrap, a digital audio workstation or music studio. Students have done a fantastic job of finding and creating loops to compose their songs - I am proud of their efforts!
Mrs Addison
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