As we journey through this Advent season,

let us pray to the Lord for hope, holiness and peace.

Dear Friends,

We began this week with a farewell Assembly presented by our Year 6 students- it was wonderful to watch their journey from ELC until now.  As well as these students, we farewell next week the following families who will finish their time here with us at Holy Trinity School:

Scully, Campbell (Eamon), Graham, Hickman, Mossop, Modugu, Apps, Bozic, Caceres, Campbell (Evelyn), Higgins, Jexin, Kimball, Long, Major, McKellar, McLaughlin, Papoutsis, Patterson, Prail, Robinson, Royal, Sekendy, Smyth, Thevaranjan, White, Williams, Wimhurst, Chandupatla, Hamilton, Templeton, Van Ballegooyen.

and also from our ELC:

Frost, Honan, Jones , McCormack, O’Callaghan, Spry, Bradford, Konig , McDougall.

Words cannot express my gratitude (and from all the staff ) to these families for everything they have given to our community over the years.  We wish you much joy, continued success and happiness as you venture into the next exciting step in your lives at other schools!  Of course, we will still formally farewell our Year 6 families at Graduation Mass next Wednesday. With this in mind I will now highlight the events of next week as follows:

Week 10 Events

• Monday 14th- Year 5 Leadership Ceremony 2pm in the Church, Reports to go home
• Tuesday 15th- Year 6 Fun Day, Transition into 2021 classes for Year 1-5, 2-3pm
• Wednesday 16th- Year 6 Graduation Mass 12pm in the church and Lunch in the hall
• Thursday 17th- Week 10 Awards Ceremony 
• Friday 18th- Last day of school for 2020

Staffing update

Congratulations to Brigitta Van Deas who has been awarded the Religious Education coordinator position at St Jude's beginning next year. We also welcome in 2021 our new Music Teacher, Kylie Baines, who has much experience as a Music Teacher in another PYP school. 

Christmas Concert

Last Friday our very excited students for ELC to Year 6 performed differing parts to our 2020 Christmas nativity story and concert.  We had previously hoped this would be available for families to watch together tonight, however editing is still continuing!  So I hope to be able to share with you all the link to this special concert early next week- watch this space!!!

Other reminders

Please ensure if your child is riding their bike to and from school, that they are walking their bike into the school grounds-  we have had increasing incidents, particularly around the bike shed area, where parents picking up are almost being knocked over by children riding their bikes around the corner, still on school grounds. Some are also riding through the ring road and on the pick up area after school when it is congested with students. It has been fabulous to see so many of our children riding this year; we just need to make sure they are entering and leaving the school with their bikes safely.

Words cannot express my thanks to Jenn Van De Meeberg and the fete committee who have spent months planning a fabulous fete fun day tomorrow for all our students!  I know there has been much extra time involved in this and I know that our students will be finishing the year with a fabulous fun day !  

Finally, thank you to all families who have given generously to the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal- Our Parish St V de P representative will be visiting the school on Monday during the Leadership ceremony to collect these items and make up hampers for families in need in our local area. 

"When we give cheerfully, and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed"  (Maya Angelou) 

With every best wish for a holy and peace-filled week ahead with your beautiful families,

Philippa

First Eucharist

Congratulations to the children who received their First Eucharist over the weekend. Both Fr John and Fr James commented that the Masses were very special occasions for our parish and the families of these children. Congratulations on this every special occasion, we are so proud of you!!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

We are in need of more donations for many year groups!! If you are able to bring anything in, we have extend collection until Monday Week 10! We appreciate your generosity. 

As a community we will be celebrating Graduation Mass for our Year 6 students on Wednesday 16^th December 2020 at 12pm. As we need to remain with current restrictions in the Church, each student may have only 4 guests present at the Graduation Mass. We understand that this is challenging for families, however, we will record the handing over of leadership and the presentation of the Graduation Certificates for families.

Please click here to complete the guest registration form. If you do not require all 4 seats please it blank

* Year 3/4 and 5/6 will attend the Graduation Mass 

Year 5 - Leadership Ceremony - REMINDER TO BOOK

As a community we will be celebrating a Handing Over of Leadership Ceremony on Monday 14^th December at 2pm. Due to current COVID restrictions, things will be celebrated a little differently this year. As we need to remain within the current restrictions in the Church, unfortunately we are not able to have Year 5 parents to attend the Graduation Mass. Instead, we will be holding a separate event just for our Year 5 families, as we understand this is an important milestone for our Year 5 students!

Each student may have only 4 guests present at the the ceremony. We understand that this is challenging for families, however, we will record the handing over of leadership at the Graduation Mass for all families.

Please click here to complete the guest registration form. If you do not require all 4 seats please it blank

* K-2 and 5/6 will attend the Leadership Ceremony

School Fete in the ELC

All ELC families have paid for Fete tickets, through their fees. For the Black Cockatoo class who have RSVP'ed to attend the Fete, children can be dropped to the ELC at 9.45am and picked up at 2pm. Thank you to the families who have volunteered to help, at this point all the volunteer places have been filled.

School Holiday Program

Due to very few expressions of interest the ELC will not be enrolling children over the school holidays. 

Before and After School Bookings for the ELC 2021

The ELC has very limited places in Before and After School Care for students attending Kindergarten and Year One in 2021. Children currently enrolled in BSC/ASC will be required to submit a new enrolment form. The ELC provides a warm, relaxing and fun environment for 4-7 year olds from 7.30am-9am and 3.10pm to 5.45pm, as well as a school holiday program during the school term breaks. 

The After School Hours Care enrolment form can be found here. Please return to the ELC office.

Thank you to everyone who has returned their library books this week. I still have 194 books missing, so please send back any books with the HT barcode ASAP.

When looking for a lost book it might be good idea to:

1. Do an online search of the actual book to see what you are looking for.
2. Come in to the library (or send an older child) and look on the shelves for the missing books.
3. Send in a note and explain what you think might have happened. 

If you are sending in money to replace a book (or books) the prices are usually written on the overdue notice.

If not, we have decided a flat rate of $10 for smaller books and $15 for the big picture books. Once books have been returned or paid for names are cleared.

Next week the library is closed as I will be doing a stocktake and cull of the Early Fiction books in our library.

Have a very Merry and Happy Christmas with lots of love and plenty of books.

God Bless, Kate M 

The Reconciliation Action Plan team (comprised of parents, community members and teachers) met this week for a plan to foster a higher level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.

Some of the initiatives Holy Trinity has embraced this year is the erection of the three flag poles, enabling the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian flags to fly side by side, the physical acknowledgement of country in both the Primary school and ELC, and conducting of audits to ensure our school and ELC are culturally safe.

The Reconciliation Action Plan for the Holy Trinity Primary School and Early Learning Centre for 2021 can be seen here.

Our school prayer, which is prayed at the beginning of each day incorporates an acknowledgement of country..

The RAP team welcomes new members and family contributions for enhancing and promoting reconciliation in our community.

cushla.sheehan@cg.catholic.edu.au