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I s sue 08, 19 September 2014

E-Newsletter

E-news is a monthly publication.For more school news please visit us at toorakcollege.vic.edu.au or find us at facebook.com/toorakcollegemtelizaParents and students can access more school news via their ive page

WARDLE HOUSE SHARING DAY FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2014

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From the PrincipalPosit ive Psychology --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the start of next term, all teachers and general staff at Toorak College will spend our staff day engaged in workshops to further our understanding and application of Positive Psychology theory. This is an area of psychology mostly

associated with Professor Martin Seligman. He is considered one of the most eminent psychologists of the 20th century.

Martin Seligman is famous for pioneering scientific research into the factors that promote positive health and wellbeing. Seligman’s early work focused on experiments resulting in his theory of ‘learned helplessness’, made famous in 1995 with the publication of The Optimistic Child. This work challenged views that children’s self esteem was dependent on adult praise. Instead Seligman found that children of all ages could, through the experience of real success, learn life skills that transform helplessness into mastery resulting in positive self-esteem. Seligman’s research concluded that learning the skills of optimism, not only reduces the risk of depression but boosts school performance, improves physical health, and provides children with the self-reliance they need as they approach the teenage years and beyond.

Seligman went on to determine that each one of us possess a set of the character strengths in varying degrees making up our own unique profiles. The practical application of Positive Psychology involves training ourselves and others to become aware of character strengths and how we use these in every day life but more importantly how we can draw on these in difficult times. Many factors of human behaviour can be counterproductive to our own wellbeing.

There are times we can be influenced by negative emotions and find ourselves under the influence of negative self-talk or an inability to see beyond current obstacles. Positive Psychology teaches us how to have more control over our own circumstances and wellbeing. Martin Seligman’s work now influences not only psychology and education but has been included in the move to use well-being as well as financial wealth in ways of assessing the prosperity of a nation.

Positive Psychology can be applied in many ways. The simplest strategy is to focus each day on ‘3 good things’. Research has shown the simple act of writing ‘3 good things’ about each day can have a positive effect on emotion. Martin Seligman’s book Flourish describes how five elements, under the acronym PERMA, can be ‘tuned’, or taught, to become a positive habit:• Positive emotion — tunable by writing down, every day at bed time, three things that went well, and why• Engagement — tunable by using one’s highest strengths to perform all tasks • Relationships — tunable by active listening i.e. being patient, open-minded and non-judgmental• Meaning — belonging to and serving something bigger than one’s self• Achievement — persisting to complete tasks; determination is known to count for more than IQ

At Toorak College we aim to embed the elements of positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and achievement in all lessons and everyday interactions and activities. Our future success as individuals, collectively and as a school will be assured through the confidence, optimism and resiliency we bring to our daily lives.I wish all families a safe and relaxing term break and I look forward to seeing you at the start of Term 4.

HELEN CARMODYPrincipal

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School CalendarLook ing For ward ------------------------

Term 3

September Friday 19 Classes Conclude, Boarding House closes

Term 4

September Tuesday 30 Boarding House opens for Year 12’s

October Saturday 4 Primrose FairMonday 6 Boarding House opens Tuesday 7 Classes Commence – Term 4 Thursday 9 VCE Arts Spectacular (9-12 October) Friday 10 Senior School House Debating Competition Sunday 12 Commemorative Book LaunchFriday 17 Speech Night Monday 20 Year 3 Camp (20-22 October) Monday 20 Year 12 Farewell Assembly Tuesday 21 Year 12 Final Day – Valedictory Service, Morning Tea & Valedictory DinnerFriday 24 Dance Production Saturday 25 Alice Sloan Trust LuncheonWednesday 29 VCE Unit 3/4 Examinations (29 October - 21 November) November Monday 3 Mid Term Break /Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (3-4 Nov) Wednesday 5 Summer Uniform Compulsory Monday 17 Year 10 & 11 Examinations (17-21 November) Monday 24 Year 7, 8 & 9 Examinations (24-26 November),Year 6 Valedictory Service Wednesday 26 2015 Year 12 Orientation Camp, Kinglake (26-28 Nov) Friday 28 Carols by Candlelight Seconhand Book Sale Year 10 & 11 Final Day

December Friday 5 ELC Christmas Concert Tuesday 9 Prep-Year 6 Christmas Concert Year 7-9 Christmas Assembly Classes Conclude, Boarding House closes

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Mornington Peninsula

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Wardle House

Our Father’s Day breakfast and Footy Day assembly are always a highlight of the September calendar. Using children’s heroes can be a great way

to connect students to deeper themes such as embracing challenge and the importance of having a positive mindset in order to see challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.

We have been encouraging the students to focus on their personal progress and to identify what good learners do. This week at Student Led Conferences you will have experienced firsthand how accomplished our children are in describing their progress with a focus on the process of learning.

I have previously referenced the work of Carol Dweck who advocates, “If you have little failures along the way and have them understand that’s part of learning, and that you can actually derive useful information about what to do next, that’s really useful.” She believes families should sit around the dinner table discussing the day’s struggles and new strategies for attacking the problem. In life no one can be perfect, and learning to view little failures as learning experiences, or opportunities to grow could be the most valuable lesson we can support our children to understand.

Have you had the ‘big talk’ with your child this term? The introduction of Big Write and VCOP has ensured our students accurately assess their own writing and set specific measureable goals with a focus on ‘levelling up’ after each session. I have seen a significant improvement in the standard of writing across Wardle House and invite parents to attend writing sessions next term.

Col laborat ion and Chal lenge ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.’ Lewis Grizzard

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E-NewsletterG arden Projec t ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am in the Turtle Room and my favourite thing is the movie

Frozen and I dress up as Elsa in my blue dress and play outside. I like making bracelets out of rainbow loom bands with my cousin. I love dancing at ballet and I have to do what the teacher does. I also go to swimming lessons and got a medal for swimming under water and on top without floaties. I have four people in my family, mum, dad and my sister Giovana. My sister knows how to crawl by herself now. My dad always tickles me and my mum and I do a lot of cooking – I cook pizza, syrup muffins and cupcakes. I sometimes go to poppy and nans and they give me ice cream. I went to the snow and went up and down the hill on a sled all by myself – my cousins also went to the snow.

JULIJANA VRAPCENJAK Turtles

What makes me, me

Students have been buzzing with ‘Sciencetastic’ ideas over the past few weeks. A number of provocations have been explored as a way to prepare, enthuse,

excite and provoke thoughts in preparation for our Year 6 PYP Exhibition in Term 4, based on the transdisciplinary theme ‘How the world works’. The Year 6 cohort have regularly attended sessions in the Senior School Science Lab with Ms Julie Young and Mr Franz Mandler as a way to build knowledge in a number of scientific areas, such as Electricity and Biology. This has been a great experience that promotes our One School philosophy and assists with transition to Senior School. In addition, the students prepared and presented at our very own Wardle House Science Fair - a veritable spectacle of Science in action! Students based experiments on their areas of interest and were required to write a detailed Science Lab Report explaining their hypothesis, methods and conclusions. Students also made specific links to the PYP concepts, attitudes and Learner Profile. In light of current research that highlights the importance of peer teaching (Hattie, 2009), the Year 6 students will be mentored this year by a group of Year 10 students. We are very excited about this new approach and look forward to the on-going links between the Year 10 and the Year 6 students. Over the next six weeks, students will be honing their research, questioning and documenting skills as they continue their journey towards Exhibition. We look forward to seeing you all there on the 12th November, 2014.

Let us finish the term as we began with a Seussical the Musical quote: ‘Think and wonder and dream far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there’s another think there!’

MANDY WHITWORTHHead of Wardle House

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Senior SchoolBelonging ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recently Years 7 and 8 have been a part of a research project on ‘Belonging and Connectedness’.

Research has shown that the relationship a student has with their teacher is a powerful predictor of their sense of belonging to the school. We also know that feeling like they belong and have communities that they feel a connection with is significant in the positive mental health and wellbeing of young people. Additionally, the teacher-student relationship has been shown to have a formidable impact on the quality of learning outcomes.

John Hattie’s (2012) meta-analyses showed an effect size of .72 – that a positive student-teacher relationship could improve learning outcomes by the equivalent of up to two years of learning. The research project also supported our strategic direction with regard to personalised learning as it has meant that we have been able to have discussions with the girls about what belonging and connectedness means to them.

During one week in August, for every subject they studied, the girls answered a nine point matrix dealing with their perceptions in the classroom concerning their relationship with their teacher, fairness, independence, respect, expectations, likeability, care, value and academic support.

The results were overwhelmingly positive with the vast majority of girls reporting that they agree or strongly agree with many of the statements relating to the nine elements used to measure belonging and connectedness. Each teacher was able to receive the feedback from their class and reflect upon the results.

Building positive relationships between students and between the girls and their teachers will continue to be a priority at Toorak College and this research project will be valuable in informing us of future areas of focus. The survey will be repeated in Term 1 and Term 3 with the 2015 Year 7 and 8 cohorts, allowing us to track with quantifiable data the levels of belonging and connectedness in these vital middle years.

LOIS DWYERDeputy Principal, Head of Senior School

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MusicPer formance --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Downtown – a celebration of the 60’s.Girls from years 9 – 12 sang, danced and joked their way through the

swingin’ sixties at the George Jenkins Theatre on August 28 and 29.

The songs were enjoyed by those hearing them for the first time, and joyously re-lived by those who remembered that time. Mrs Dwyer was heard to remark that she knew every word! Lead roles taken by Hannah Seymour, Luci Smith, Jo Dalstead, Emma Wiggins and Julia Steel were well received. The chorus of 35 – in a sea of white boots - joined the big numbers and danced their way through such iconic numbers as “These Boots Were Made For Walkin” “I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love” and of course “Downtown”.

In the form of a Cabaret, much of the drama was in small skits, focused on particular issues of the 60’s and the new found freedoms that women began to experience. Much of what we take for granted now was novel and presented with some hilarity.

The girls actually learned a great deal about the life style of women in the 60’s.

The Magic Flute hailed as one of the best!

Students from Toorak College in years 5 – 8 were given a rare treat. 19 of our students formed the children’s chorus in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, presented by Opera Australia.

After months of preparation at school, the students found themselves on stage with a professional cast and crew, in costume, and with an orchestra. They did a brilliant job and were complimented on their singing and preparation for the night. A once in a lifetime thrill – to be a part of a professional production – was realized.

JAYNE TURNERDirector of Music

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Visual Arts and TechnologyAr ts Spec tacular ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday the 9th of October Toorak College will showcase the 2014 VCE Artworks. The students have worked hard to develop their final pieces in the areas of Art, Studio Arts, Product Design and Technology, Visual Communication Design and Media. Opening night will be accompanied by Music, Drama and food prepared by the Food and Technology students.

We are very pleased to have the Wardle House students represented this year with their creative contributions from throughout the year. Other select pieces will also be on show from the senior school and a collaborative piece that has been developed by a number of the students with the assistance of local Artist and designer Alice Keep. Please come along to opening night on the Thursday or see the works over the weekend at your leisure. Opening times are Saturday and Sunday 10.00am till 3.00pm.

DAILAN HATHERLEYHead of Visual Arts and Technology

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E-NewsletterExhibit ion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toorak College Arts Spectacular 2014

Be our guest at an exhibition celebrating the Arts at Toorak College, showcasing 2014 VCE Art, Design and Media and

artwork by Wardle House students

Exhibition to be opened by Tracee Hutchison (Class of 1980)

writer, TV and radio broadcast journalist

Catering by Food and Technology students

Music and Drama performances

Date: Thursday 9 October Time: 5.00 -7.30pm

Venue: Music Centre

Exhibition open Friday 10 October - Sunday 12 October,

11am-4pm

For more information please contact Toorak College Reception on

(03) 9788 7300

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SportTerm 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the end of Term 3 GSV Program Toorak College had two teams progress to the GSV Finals. Senior A Badminton and Junior B Soccer all recorded strong wins throughout the weekly sport series and qualified for the Finals Competition.

Senior A Badminton played out their Semi Final games against Camberwell Girl’s Grammar School. The Toorak College team won three sets to one set and progressed to the Grand Final round. In the Grand Final, both teams won against the Firbank Grammar School team. It is always a great competition against Firbank and the girls played some excellent Badminton.

Congratulations to – Yee En Gan (Captain), Jan Chairattanamanokorn Vicky Zang, Lydia Watt, Jordan Lee, Alix Westley, Chloe Kerlidis and Adelaide Harvey. Thank you to the coaches Greg and Ru-Wen Clarnette. This is now the fifth year in a row that Toorak College Senior Badminton has won the Grand Final. It is the nineth year that a Toorak College team has won at this level.

Good Luck to the team as they compete in the Badminton Victoria All Schools Competition.

Toorak College entered teams in the Gymnastics Victoria Secondary Schools Competition. Elise Unmack (Year 8) Elise is currently training at National Level of competition. Elise performed at a high level on all apparatus. Her strength is in her floor routines and it always a pleasure to watch her perform.

Holly Williams, Chloe Williams, Olivia Oswald- Jacobs and Kimberley

Junior B Soccer – played Star of the Sea in the semi-final and Lauriston in the runner-up Final. The semi-final finished with Star of the Sea two goals and Toorak zero goals. The team finished the day in fourth place. Well done to the team on their season – Tara Moynihan, Sophie Kerkhoff, Cate Quinterelli, Charlotte Swift, Molly Stocker, Poppy Dixon, Nicola Bradbury, Olivia Oswald-Jacobs, Hannah Morgan, Isabella Papadopolis, Bridget Lee, Maddy La Casa, Maddy Parton, Emerson Smith, and Steph Ivanovic. Coaches – Jess and Sarah Hosking. Thank you to the Year 12s who have just played their last games for Toorak College. I hope that being involved has presented some wonderful times that you will remember far into the future.

We wish Matilda Alexander and Jasmine Dennison lots of luck and great riding at both the Austalian Showjumping Championships this week end and the National interschool Championships over the holidays. They have had a fantastic year culminating In these two competitions.

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E-NewsletterCommunit y Spor t

TERM FOUR SPORTSIn Term Four we have the GSV Junior Basketball season commencing in week two. The Junior Basketball girls will train on Thursday the 9th of October prior to Round 1. Intermediate Basketball will train on Wednesday the 8th of October (3.30pm – 5.00pm) and Tuesday the Tuesday the 14th of October (7.15am) prior to their first game on Wednesday the 16h of October. Fixtures and Information letters are available in the Physical Education office

Junior Water Polo will have their first game on Tuesday the 14th of October. Junior Water Polo aims to introduce the girls to the game and is open to girls in Year 7 & 8. Games will be played on Tuesday after school. Training in the school diving pool on Friday mornings (7.15am)

The Sailing Team will be involved in the Yachting Victoria John Middelton Trophy Wednesday Series (Black Rock YC)as well as the Yachting Victoria Girls Series (Sandringham YC) on Wednesday afternoons in Term 4.

Anyone interested in being involved in Term 4 sport please see Ms Thomson in the Phys Ed Office.

Toorak College had six teams playing in the Frankston Netball Association Friday night schools competition. The teams have played throughout

Terms 2 and 3 against strong opposition from Mt Eliza Netball, The Pines Netball, Woodleigh, Padua, Bruce Park and Flinders Christian College teams. The Toorak Ice (Year 7 & 8), Toorak Xpress (Year 7 & 8), and Toorak Tigers (Year 9 & 10) all finished top four and qualified for finals. Toorak Raiders (Year 7 & 8) finished fifth and Toorak Panthers finished in seventh place. Toorak Lightening (Year 7 & 8) finished seventh.

Toorak Ice and Xpress Teams both played at 4.15pm. Toorak Ice played the Flinders Crystals and finished runner up to the team 33-22. Gemma Grant was named Best on Court. Xpress played a tough game against many of their friends in the Mt Eliza Stars Team. Mt Eliza won 19-11.

Toorak Tigers were playing the Woodleigh Unicorns in the Grand Final. The Tigers team combined Year 9 & 10 players and recorded a 25-4 win. Bella Heath was named Best on Court for the competition.

It has been another outstanding year of netball at Frankston Stadium and I would like to say thank you to all the players, as well as the parents who have been part of the competition. Thank you to team managers – Julie Idzes and Sonia Dawson for their work through the year.

Toorak College will have a break in Term 4 and will enter teams in the Term 1 competition in 2015.

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General NewsUpdates ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second Hand Book SaleWhere: Bardon House

Breakout room 2&3

Selling Books: Friday 28 November 3.30pm – 5.30pmSaturday 29 November 8.30am – 12.00pm

Buying Books: Monday 1 December 3.45pm – 6.00pm

Visit iVE under the TC events page for more information, the Second Hand Booklist and Book Sale Form.

The Second Hand Book Sale is proudly organized by Toorak College Rowing.

Gone are the days of stern and fearsome School Nurses and Matrons.

Toorak College Health Services are about delivering individualised, holistic care to enhance students wellbeing and health as they travel along their education journey.

The health of students is a vital component of a positive school experience. Research shows direct correlations between successful outcomes at school and good health.

We take the privilege of caring for our students seriously and aim to encompass physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in our approach.

Toorak College Health Centre aims to provide an environment that is nurturing whilst assisting students to achieve their potential and educational goals by supporting them through navigating any health challenges.

In-house training and education for staff and students alike is also part of our diverse function within the school community. We impart knowledge and experience, whilst offering an evidence-based practice approach to all things "health".

We aim to work in partnership with families to keep the children in our community safe and happy. Please call us any time if we can be of any assistance.

KAY DOUGHERTY KYLIE DEWSNAPHealth Services Manager School Nurse

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E-Newsletter

As part of the 140 Year Anniversary of Toorak College, Tradition, Belonging, Spirit – Inspiring Stories from Toorak Collegians celebrates the lives of Toorak Collegians since 1874.

You are warmly invited to a special afternoon on Sunday 12 October to launch Toorak College’s Commemorative Book, ‘Tradition, Belonging, Spirit: Inspiring Stories from Toorak Collegians’.

This book is celebrating the lives of Toorak Collegians since 1874, and its launch is a special event in the School’s 140 Year Anniversary.

These varied and inspiring stories, are presented with pictures from family albums and the Toorak College archives. Past students, now women in their own right, are bound by the spirit of Toorak College.

RSVP to the Book Launch on Sunday 12 October by visiting visit www.trybooking.com/FJDV.

If you would like to pre-order the Commemorate Book please contact the Community Office for more information on 03 9788 8100.

Commemorat ive Book Launch ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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E-NewsletterUpdates ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Register now at www.registernow.com.au and join the Toorak College team. Adult $50 Student $30 (applies to students who are 21 years or under)Family (2ad + 2ch) $130

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Old Mornington Rd, Mt Eliza, Victoria, Australia 3930PO Box 150 Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia 3930

Phone: +613 9788 7200 www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au

CRICOS Provider Code: 00349D CRICOS Course Code: 005454G Published August 2014