Welcome to
2015!
ISSUE 527
Thought for the week
“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or
strange that self may prove to be.”
May Sarton
From the Principal
Welcome (back) to Huntingtower 2015; another year of growth
for everyone. I look forward to sharing in that growth together
with you all.
In her book “Quiet” Susan Cane talks of the difference between
being an introvert and an extrovert and how our society has
moved towards valuing extroverts over introverts to the point
of seeing the introvert as someone with a problem that has to
be fixed. The 20th Century saw education and mainstream
society move from character development to personality
development. One had to have a positive, engaging and
outgoing personality in order to be successful. How sad that we
moved away from the earlier emphasis on character,
developing each person’s inner qualities of integrity, kindness,
love and compassion to focussing on being social, outgoing and
externally stimulated. It is in quietness that we connect with
who we really are; it is in quietness that we develop the
resilience that gives us the confidence to be authentic; it is in
quietness that we connect with our God.
That being said, being authentic is one of the greatest
challenges many of us face. It is far easier to put on a façade, a
new persona or an act that presents us in a way that will make
others like us, approve of us or love us. The trouble is, we all get
found out sometime. When the way we are acting or our façade
does not match who we really are, the tension between the two
eventually becomes unbearable and we are forced into a painful
admission that we have to be true to ourselves, we have to face
ourselves so that we can look at others with confidence and
courage in all our various roles in life. Welcome to the journey.
I encourage everyone to take the earplugs out and turn off their
technology for a period of time each day and consciously decide
to be still, to be quiet for a while; to listen and to observe their
thoughts. (Susan Cane’s book or her TED talks are worth
viewing)
It was a pleasure to see so many at our Commencement
Assembly this year and we are very grateful to Mr Grant
Freeland for his inspiring address. You will be able to read his
address in the next HT News Magazine. Congratulations to all
those students who were appointed as House Captains, Sport
Captains and House Music Captains. We also congratulate the
recipients of Academic Honours and Colours.
I would like to highlight two students who had special successes
during the holidays. One of these is Shannan Griffiths who
submitted an entry in the Nationwide “Spirit of Anzac”
Competition and of the 780 participants was one of 12 who has
won a place in the group to attend Gallipoli and France later this
year. Her essay was said to have brought the judges to tears, it
was so moving. Congratulations Shannan!
Diary Dates
February
View Online Calendar
Wed 11
Thur 12
Fri 13
Sun 15
Mon 16
Tue 17
Wed 18
Thur 19
Fri 20
4.00pm – 7.00pm Yr 11 VCD Adv Rendering
Workshop
4.00pm – 7.00pm Yr 11 VCD Adv Rendering
Workshop
6.30pm – 7.30pm Jnr School (P-6) - Meet the Teacher
3.3pm – 4.00pm Pick up unsold text books, M6
2.00pm – 5.00pm Simunye History Session
6.30pm – 7.30pm House Music Festival – Solos Yr 7
Orchestral Room
6.30pm – 7.30pm House Music Festival – Solos
Yrs 8&9, Orchestral Room
3.30pm – 4.00pm Pick up unsold text books, M6
6.30pm – 7.30pm House Music Festival – Solos
Yrs 10-12, Orchestral Room
7.30pm – 8.30pm PTA Annual General Meeting, PAC
9.30am – 11.00am Yr 7 & Yr9 Immunisations
6.00pm – 7.00pm House Music Festival – Solos
Yrs 7-9, Orchestral Room
6.30pm – 7.30pm Meet the Teacher – Pre-Prep
Senior School House Swimming
Carnival, MSAC
The second is Conor Rowley who represented Victoria in the
National Cycling Competition and took part in three events
medalling in each with one Silver and two Gold places. Conor is
competing at the highest levels in an extremely competitive
sport and we are very proud of his effort and hard work
resulting in great success. Well done Conor!
Congratulations to the 2014 VCE graduating class and their
teachers on their excellent results with over 30% of them
receiving ATAR scores over 95 and 74% ATARs over 80. We are
also thrilled with a 100% tertiary acceptance rate and 7 perfect
study scores; one each in English(EAL), Biology, Chemistry, Food
Technology, Further Maths, Maths Methods and Drama. A
further 5 results were at 49/50.
We welcome 6 new teachers to the school this year. Dr Helen
McDonald (Director of Teaching & Learning and Senior English);
Miss Sarah Bishop (Biology and Science); Mr Nicholas Hamer
(Science, Biology and Maths); Mr Adam Drennan (English); Mrs
Victoria Ferry (Business Management); Mr Ryan Thomson
(Business Management). I know you will all make them very
welcome.
I wish everyone a happy and positive year and look forward to
seeing you at all the various functions.
Principal
The PTA Page
PTA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The PTA AGM will be held on Wednesday 18 February at
7:30pm in the PAC. The Committee for 2015 will be elected
at this meeting. Please consider joining the PTA, as being a
member is a rewarding and fun experience and you will
make some great friends along the way. Please contact
Catherine Jenkins on 0417 399 594 or email
[email protected] for further information.
UNIFORM SHOP
Thank You
Many thanks to all the wonderful parent volunteers and HT
students who helped out in the HT Uniform Shop during an
extremely busy period leading up to the start of Term 1.
NOTE: The Uniform Shop will NOT be open at lunch time on
Friday 20 February. Will be open from 3.30-4.30pm that
afternoon.
Winter Skirts - Year 7
We would like to ask all Year 7 girls who have not tried on
the Winter Skirt for Term 2 to call into the Uniform Shop on
or before Wednesday 25 February to have their skirts
fitted. Skirts are available for purchase from mid- March.
Music Notes
HUNTINGTOWER ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM
Many students from Prep - 12 learn orchestral instruments
and participate in various ensembles throughout the school.
Little Symphony
Years Pre-Prep – 2
Junior Orchestra
Years 3 – 6
Senior Orchestra
Years 7 – 12
Middle School Orchestra Years 7 – 9
Concert Band
Years 7 – 12
String Orchestra
Senior, Middle, Junior Schools
Various year level Orchestras
Small Ensembles (Brass Ensemble, New Wind Ensemble,
Stage Band, String Quartets etc.)
….Read more online.
SENIOR HOUSE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015 – YEARS 7 – 12
This year our House Music Festival will be held over 6 nights.
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Mon 16 February – 6.30pm – Solo Concert (Year 7)
Tues 17 February – 6.30pm – Solo Concert (Years 8-9)
Wed 18 February – 6.30pm – Solo Concert (Yrs 10-12)
Thurs 19 February – 6.00pm – Junior Solo Concert (Yrs 7-9)
Thurs 5 March – 6.30pm – Solos (Years 10-12) and
Instrumental Ensembles
 Thurs 12 March – 7.30pm - House Orchestras, Choirs,
Chamber Choirs and Light Entertainment. NB. Robert
Blackwood Hall, Monash University
(COMPULSORY attendance for all students in Years 7 – 12
on Thurs 12 March)
….Read more online.
HOUSE MUSIC SOLO AUDITIONS
There has been a buzz of excitement in the Music Centre
every afternoon this week as over 80 talented musicians
have auditioned for the Solo Concerts. All the auditionees
will perform at one of the concerts and will receive marks for
their House. The adjudicator was extremely impressed with
the presentation and standard of all the performances.
“MSO CONNECT” 2015
The OPENING NIGHT CONCERT for EDUCATION WEEK 2015
features the MSO performing the magnificent “Young
Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” by Benjamin Britten
illustrated with visuals on the big screen.
Date: Monday 1 June, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Venue: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre
….Read more online.
READ MORE
Read online about 2015 Music Captains, important upcoming
music dates for your diary and much more! ….Read more online.
Sport Notices
The New Year has brought a variety of sporting activities.
Yrs 7&8 students are involved in swimming and athletics
programs, the Year 9’s can be seen riding their bikes as part
of their Challenge Program, and the Yrs 10, 11 & 12 students
are preparing for the EISM Summer Weekly Sport
Competition which commences next week. In addition, early
morning House swimming training has begun at HSAC so
students can prepare for the forthcoming House Swimming
Carnival at MSAC on Friday 20 February. ….Read more online.
PE/SPORT UNIFORM
A reminder to all students and parents that the new PE polo
shirt is now required as part of the PE/Sport uniform at all
Year Levels. The transition year is now over, thus all students
playing softball, tennis, and volleyball are required to wear
the new PE top now for sport. These shirts along with the
Hockey and Soccer Shirts are available at the HT Uniform
shop for purchase and will be required for Round 1 matches
on Wednesday 11 February.
CONOR ROWLEY
Last week, as a member of the Victorian Track Cycling Team,
Conor Rowley attended the Australian National Track Cycling
Championships at the Darebin International Sports Centre.
He contested three events and came away with three medals
- the U19 Sprint –Silver (and was the best placed Victorian in
the event), U19 Kierin – Gold, and U19 Team Sprint – Gold.
Congratulations Conor on your amazing performances; your
focus and dedication is an inspiration to all! ….Read more online.
HT Swim Club
This weekend Huntingtower Swim Club will be represented
by 25 swimmers all of whom have qualified for the Victorian
State Sprints at MSAC. We wish them well.
Huntingtower Swimming Club in conjunction with Swimming
Victoria are one of only 20 clubs offering swimmers 7 and
under FREE Club membership. Email [email protected] for
more information.
Education Maintenance Allowance
The Victorian Government has ended direct payments of the
Education Maintenance Allowance to parents in 2015. As a
result of these changes, parents will not be able to apply for
the Education Maintenance Allowance in 2015.