Welcome Message from the Principal

God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Dear Friends,

This week we welcome Seremaia (1 R) and Isikel (3 /4 B) Bale and their family to our school community.

Todays' prayer above was shared at last night's School Board meeting by Lucy Vincent, one of our parent board representatives. It is relevant as we continue in uncertain times with the threat of COVID, knowing that those in Sydney and surrounding regions are facing many challenges. Please be assured I will continually keep you updated if circumstances in Canberra were to change and we went into lock down. I have been involved in regular meetings with Catholic Education who have been monitoring the situation in both NSW and the ACT. As a result, school staff have been preparing for the possibility of remote learning. We have used the experience of 2020 to guide us as well as information received from education systems across Australia who have most recently been involved in remote learning. The main concern is the Delta strain of COVID and the high level of contagion that goes with it. Our priority is to best support the well being and safety of students, staff and our wider school community. We are planning for the following measures for lock down as follows:

We would continue to remain open for children of emergency workers and families needing support
We would move to a remote learning model for all students
Leadership and skeleton teaching staff would be on site on a rotational basis (excluding medically vulnerable staff)

Let us pray for those currently in lock down and also that we continue to remain COVID free in our area.

We continue to use both the Check in CBR App (now mandated) and Compass when signing students in or out of the school. All staff and any visitors entering the school must also use the Check in CBR App. Please note on wet weather days when carers are picking up students from classrooms early or in the hall, please use the mandated Check in CBR App- these are now around the hall and outside every classroom.

Unfortunately picking up arrangements are causing some safety concerns for our students, especially when arrangements are being made outside of supervised areas. The ring road out the front of the school is for families needing to access the disabled car park. The rest of the ring road space needs to be left for deliveries and if we were needing ambulance access. Students cannot independently go to a car on the ring road or Theodore st, especially as cars are moving in and out and teachers are not there supervising. All children must be escorted to parked cars by their carer, or they are safely placed in a car in the supervised drive through zone.

We have recently received the results from the school annual survey conducted last term. The School Board have looked at some data last night and will continue to delve into analysis of this for future planning at our next meting in Week 7. We will then share this relevant data with you in the Week 8 newsletter.

2021 Commonwealth Student Data Collection Notice

CENSUS will be taking place on Friday 6th August 2021. Please click here to read the Commonwealth Student Data Collection Notice.

2022 Students not returning.

With the ACT schools enrolment period closed, and acceptances completed, can we please ask that if your child is not returning to Holy Trinity for the 2022 school year that you complete the notification by clicking here.

Many of us at school and home are currently enjoying the successes and challenges presented at the Olympics in Tokyo. In an extremely challenged global environment, it is wonderful to have something to celebrate. It is also important to acknowledge the competitors persistence, resilience, commitment, team work and dedication. Two of our Year 6 students (Declan and Lucy) yesterday discovered that Patty Mills went to primary school here at Holy Trinity!

With the announcement of the 2032 Brisbane Games, perhaps we again now have some budding future Olympians in our playground who we will proudly watch competing there!

Have a wonderful weekend and a peace-filled week ahead with your beautiful families.

Philippa

Philippa Brearley -
Email: philippa.brearley@cg.catholic.edu.au

2021 Term 3 Week 3