Torrens Valley Christian School eNewsletter

We live in a highly globalised, complex and rapidly changing world where CHANGE is the only constant in life! And things aren’t going to slow down anytime soon! In fact, “Tomorrow’s speed of change will make today look like we’re crawling.”

We are left speechless as we consider the scale and pace of change over the past 100 years. Never before have we seen such a monumental shift in the way we live our lives.

100 years ago, only eight percent of homes had phones (that is landline telephones) while today more than 70% of people own a smartphone — a supercomputer that fits in their pocket.

The way we work, the way we buy, the way we connect with one another has been totally transformed by the social web. Knowledge is being created and shared at unprecedented rates. Social is now the number 1 use of the internet, with more than 2 billion social connections and more than 5 billion expressions per day. 78% use it to share knowledge.

What do these changes mean? And how is TVCS responding?

Learning is about so much more than the transfer of information or knowledge or preparing children for a career or further study.

Education is about preparing children for LIFE. It is about forming students’ hearts and heads towards God’s story and equipping them to be culture shapers – the future leaders in our families, our state and in our national and global economy.

We want our students see beyond using their education as a “ticket” to an adult role in a cycle of producing and consuming, but to recognise their vocation as an opportunity to use their God-given gifts and talents to bring flourishing and restoration to God’s world.

Whilst academic success, skills acquisition and vocational preparation have a place, a much richer vision is essential to capture a truly transformational approach to preparing young people for the future. This is formational education… and this is how we approach education at TVCS!

I would like to personally invite you to join me at the Tea Tree Gully Prayer Breakfast where I have been given the privilege to speak on this topic: Preparing for the Future.

Bookings can be made on-line https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=484940  and I would love you to join me!

Yours in Christ’s service,
Julie Prattis, Principal

On Wednesday August 14, our school hall was teeming with students and families eagerly anticipating their next move within the Senior School. 

Our subject teachers had prepared engaging displays to present Senior School subjects and pathways, and a number of tertiary institutions were also on hand to offer advice and support. 

There was a great sense of excitement regarding the four new subjects on offer for 2020

• Year 10 Geography
• Stage 1 Business and Innovation
• Stage 1 Outdoor Education; and
• Stage 2 Psychological Studies (Integrated Learning)

These new initiatives, a number of innovations within existing subject offerings and vast opportunities in VET pathways are enabling our students to tailor their Senior School pathways to their unique God-given talents and interests.

Catherine Green, Senior School Coordinator

The school was buzzing last Thursday evening at our TVCS UP Expo. Classrooms were open, students were proudly teaching and parents were enthusiastically learning. A lovely celebration of learning and community.

Well done TVCS teachers and families!

Megan Thorpe, Year 6 Teacher

Winter sleep out 2019 was an amazing event full of fun and learning around the issue of homelessness in South Australia.

It was wet and cold as we started registering and doing our early activities which gave a real sense of how it would feel to be living outside in winter conditions. The students had all their belongings locked away and were declared homeless leaving them with nothing except opportunity to earn points through a variety of different games. We were supported by a large group of VETA students who took responsibility of the activities and did an awesome job giving our students a fun way to enjoy learning about the theme. Students did water relays, can collection, clothes mending, busking, a quiz and newspaper hockey to earn the points they needed to survive the night.

After the fun and earning some points for doing well in activities students were treated to a soup kitchen and some bread. After this they were introduced to their sleeping quarters for the night and were set the task to make their own shelters to sleep in. Many boxes and newspapers as well as repurposing existing features of the area were used to build their space. They did an incredible job with what they had.

Students were then treated to a warm milo around the fire where we heard some stories from the VETA kids about their time working on the streets and Mrs Garland who brought a devotional thought. We finished the night with some school-wide hide and seek and sardines.

Settling into a cold bed was rough but it was eye opening. Many students realising how hard the environment and the surrounds are for the homeless living rough. The lights, the cold, the noise was all very real. After a sleepless night they woke to a simple breakfast and pack up.

We’d like to thank all that helped this night be the huge success that it was. From those who made soup to those who gave up a good nights sleep.

Well done!

Stephen Crocker, Teacher

On Friday, the 16th of August, as part of National Science Week 2019, Dr Richard Harvey (MP), the State member for Newland, visited a Year 8 Science class. This year, Science Week commemorated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. As part of this, the Year 8’s were working on an “Escape Room” activity, where they had to solve various puzzles and put codes into their computers to save the future of space exploration. All while learning about the moon!

Fabian Karuga, Maths & Information Technology Teacher

As part of their mathematics programmes, students in our Middle School are engaged in various activities, including targeted individual learning, teacher-directed mini-lessons, and collaborative rich tasks. Here are some photos showing Mr. Crocker running a mini-lesson with a group of students, whilst others are engaged in individual work.

Fabian Karuga, Maths & Information Technology Teacher

The Year 2 classes walked to our local Korong Reserve in Hope Valley as part of our HASS and Science!

Mirella Grove, Year 2 Teacher

The theme for Book Week this year was “Reading is my secret power”. We started Book Week with a short Assembly introducing the shortlisted books for Book Week, and watched a short documentary that featured staff at Torrens Valley reading.

On Wednesday we had the Book Week parade with the Primary students taking part. We also announced all the winners from the Book Face competition.

During the week in the Library we had activities including a treasure hunt. 

Commencing from Term 4, we are excited to be offering the Seasons for Growth program here at Torrens Valley Christian School.

Seasons for Growth is an educational program designed to help children and young people understand and respond to life changes. Change occurs constantly in our world – loved ones and pets die, friends come and go, parents and families separate, houses and schools change, illness or job change affects the family – and the grieving process that follows can often be confusing for young people and their families. Through participation in small peer groups the program aims to impart children and young people with the confidence of knowing that while change and loss are inevitable, they are capable of thriving through seasons of transition.

Initially the program will only be offered to select year levels. If your child is in one of these year levels, you will be receiving further information and an invitation to register your child.

If you would like more information or to express interest in your child attending future rounds of the program, you are invited to contact the program facilitator, Rachel Mulligan.

Rachel Mulligan, School Counsellor - rachel.mulligan@tvcs.sa.edu.au

During the July holidays, Emma raced in the State Short Course meet, competing in 7 individual events. She finished 2nd in the U16 and Open 800m freestyle, 3rd in the 200m backstroke and placed in 5 relays.

Great job, Emma!

Andrew Loechel, Yr 6-10 PE and R-6 Sport Coordinator