"You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushle basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."  Matt 5 : 13- 16

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Holy Trinity Primary School and ELC 2022! It has been just wonderful to see so many of our families dropping off and picking up students. We have had a very settled and positive start to the year, welcoming many new students and families at our ELC, Kinder and across the other grades. The smiles on their faces  and the eagerness to begin school has been beautiful. Students also spoke this week of how wonderful it has been to reunite with friends and develop new relationships in different classrooms.  Perhaps remote learning in lockdown last year has shown students how much they value the friendhips and connection that school provides, as well as the rigourous learning.

We particularly welcome the following new students ( Year 1-6) and their families to Holy Trinity-  Evelyn B, Xavier C-W, Silvia C, Samuel E, Hannah G, Edward L, Hannah G, Thomas A, Omi K, Thubten N, Sofia L, Odin M, Andrew A, Sophie B, Romeo C, Hamish G, Rami M, Molly N, Olivia R, Andrew L, Sia K, Alla B, Peter L and Peyton W.

Our staff has also had a fabulous start to the year and we have welcomed Brendan Roweth (Year 5), Tayla Hart (Year 2), Jenny Groom (Music), Rachael McCann (Year 5), Rachel Gallacher (Year 1 and 3 /4 ) and Gordana Grubesic (Classroom and Office support) to our community.  Staff has spent time in the holidays setting up classrooms, participating in Professional Learning based on our strategic goals (see below) and CE system requirements.

It is with incredible sadness that we have had to make some staffing changes due to Emily Capper becoming seriously ill during the January break.  Emily has recently had brain surgery to remove a tumour and is awaiting results to detemine the next course of treatment. Please keep Emily in your prayers as she faces some challenging times ahead. I thank Tracey Hanlon, who is our acting Religious Education Coordinator and Brendon Pye who is now teaching in 6 Red Monday- Wednesday.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cheryl and the incredible band of helpers in the clothing pool.  I know much time was also spent here last Friday and Sunday to ensure new students were ready to attend school with uniforms. Thank you again so much!  A reminder that there are many uncollected orders at the front office to be picked up as soon as possible please.  Thank you again so much! 

Holy Trinity will continue throughout 2022 to ensure our students are given every opportunity in a nurturing Catholic community to be the best they can be, whilst enabling learning experiences to enhance progress and strive for excellence. 

Holy Trinity's strategic goals for 2022 are as follows: 

• Improve student outcomes through the effective evidencing for learning
• Empower students to be actively engaged in learning
• Increase student agency to foster life-long learners

Strategies to help achieve these goals include a new Social Emotional Learning Program across the school and a well being program that aligns with the SEL for staff. More about these initiatives and  goals will be further explained in our Parent Information Night that we will be presenting to our community via Ms Teams-  next Thursday 10th of February 5pm. Parents of each grade will be sent an MS Teams link invite via email.  For families with more than child, each session will be recorded.  The information night will include specific whole school goals and initiatives, a welcome from Fr John and our School Board Chair and then important information re teaching and learning for each grade level. 

Soon you will recieve a notifiation via COMPASS to book in for a Parent Partnership meetings with each of children's teachers. These meetings will be held from Monday 14-Thursday 17th February also via Ms Teams. Parents and carers will be invited to complete a form before this to help guide discussion. During this time you will be given opportunity to begin open communication with your child's teacher:  to talk about your child, their strengths and areas of growth, and to give any other information that may be pertinent.  As we are not having the Information session together, in person, parents can also use this time to ask any questions or seek further clarification about our school. I strongly encourage every family to make these meetings a priority, as they begin an open and vital relationship between family and school. 

Please keep the Woods family in your prayers (Poppy Year 6) as Felicity's mother sadly passed away during the holidays.

Thank you once again for the fabulous start to our school year and I look forward to seeing you all outside at drop off and pick up! 

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

Philippa

Welcome back!

Our school theme from this year comes from Matthew 5:16 "Let Your Light Shine".

During Professional Learning week, the staff at Holy Trinity began to break open the school theme and spent some time reflecting, pondering and exploring the concept of holiness. A part of this reflection was identifying how holiness is experienced in their lives and identifying ways that holiness can be an ongoing expression of faith.

Throughout this year, each of the classes will spend time exploring our new school theme. Many classes have begun with co-creating a special prayer cloth that will be presented at Opening School Mass next week.

Important Dates:

Monday, 7th February: Reconciliation Parent Information Night via Zoom at 6 pm. The link will be sent out to families prior to Monday. The Host Group Leaders Preparation Session will commence at 5.30 pm.

Thursday, 10th February: Opening School Mass at 12 pm. Due to COVID restrictions, Year 6 students will be in attendance with their parents and carers. The mass will be live streamed to the rest of our classes.

Sunday, 20th February: Staff Commissioning Mass at Holy Trinity Church at 9.30 am. The Holy Trinity staff will be presented to the parish community and receive a blessing. All welcome to join us at this special parish mass.

Wednesday, 2nd March: Ash Wednesday.

Welcome to 2022

"I had the best day ever" (Elki)

"I had so much fun today" (Sam)

I overheard these comments when Elki and Sam were picked up this afternoon after their first day of preschool. Our new preschoolers have had a fantastic start to their preschool year. Thanks to all our families for the efforts in making the transition a smooth one. It has been a challenge to have the opportunity to settle children in their new space, coupled with the need to respect Covid-safe plans. Thank you for making this work. I am confident that in the weeks to come this will become much easier as we all become comfortable with the routines.

The ELC opens from 7.45am-5.45pm and for those children enrolled in the Preschool Plus program, you are able to drop off and pick up anytime in this period. Those children in the Preschool program (9am-3pm) are able to drop-off from 8.45am to enable a staggered arrival. Please leave promptly when your child is unpacked and ready to avoid overcrowding.

If your child is experiencing difficulty separating from you, please do a handover directly with a staff member. In this instance, give a kiss and cuddle goodbye, remind them you will see them in the afternoon at pick-up and leave quickly. Prolonged farewells can be difficult and emotional for both children and parents. If you are concerned about leaving your child upset please phone the ELC to check in - we are very happy to take these calls.

You may notice some different behaviours and/or regression in your little one in the next few weeks. It is not unusual for children's appetites to decrease or increase while at school, experience toileting accidents, require earlier bedtimes or an afternoon nap. They are working hard at school to remember face and names, new routines and environments. They may have tantrums once they are at home (or even on the way to the carpark!), as they save their best behaviour for school and tend to fall apart once they are in their familiar environment with the ones who love them most. 

We love to connect with you and share what's happening, please check in via phone, email or at drop-off/pick-up's.

Below are some snaps of our first few days at school.

Our COVID reporting for yesterday is that there are still no exposures at Holy Trinity for any student or staff member.

We will again on Monday be sending home 2 RATs per child for Week 2 testing.  Please note that you are not mandated to test on a particular day; you may choose to do this across the week, or wait until you observe symptoms or if there has been a risk of exposure. 

COVID FAQ

This has been a frequent question in the past few days:

If a student is a close contact of a COVID case who lives in their residence, then another family member is diagnosed with COVID a few days later, do the seven days reset?

• No, but the child must have a negative test on Day 6 before returning to school.
• However it is likely the child will contract COVID. As such, parents must:

• Watch very closely for symptoms
• Continue undertaking the two weekly RAT tests

Unwell at school

Any student or staff member who is unwell and/or displays symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to go home and stay until they can complete a RAT or PCR test.

• If a student or staff member displays even mild COVID-19 symptoms, they must take a RAT or get a PCR test and isolate until they receive a negative test result.
• Students must not come to school until they are symptom free, even if they get a negative RAT result. Please ensure that children do not come to school with any COVID symptoms unless you have evidence of clearance from a GP.  e.g hay fever.

Dear school community, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Kate Worthington; I am the Student and Family Counsellor.

I have a background in Psychology and Social Work and have been working with children, young people and their parent/carers for over 20 years. I have predominantly worked in the field of child protection, early intervention as well as the homelessness sectors.

I am passionate about working with children and young people and feel privileged to assist them and their family in experiencing positive life outcomes.

Please contact the school if you would like to access counselling for your child or complete the online referral link https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form

I look forward to working with the students, families and staff at Holy Trinity in 2022.

2022 Family School fee accounts for Term 1 will be emailed home in Week 2.

Families are welcome to make payments of school fees in a number of ways, via:

• Internet banking (BPay)
• Qkr!
• EFTPOS
• Cash

*Please note that we do not offer Direct Transfer as a payment method or over the phone credit card payments (as you are able to use QKR).

Families can also choose to make payments in one whole payment for the month by the due date for each Term or via ongoing progressive payments in their choice of weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments.

If you wish to make progressive payments, simply set up an ongoing BPay payment in your internet banking. Family's unique BPay details can be found in the bottom right hand corner of your family fee statement. Each family is asked to calculate how much their family needs these amount to be, as each family's circumstances are different depending on number of students, sibling discounts etc... To make these calculations please refer to the 2022 School Fee Schedule.

Click here to see the 2022 School Fee Schedule.

Welcome to 2022. I hope you had a lovely break and are ready for a big and busy year full of lots of good books and exciting adventures.

Just a few things to get the year started…

Library lessons are once a week. Please take note of your child or children’s library day and send them in with a library bag and books to return.

• Simon Bugden will be again joining us in the library this year. He is going to be working with the 5/6 classes on a Monday.
• The Library is open every day during the 2^nd half of lunch. Please remind your children to come as it is a great place to read, sit, draw, talk quietly or play a game.

• Each year, I look for parent volunteers to act as “Book Coverers”. If you have a spare hour, I will send home a bag of 10 books, per volunteer, per term. It’s not a hard job and I try to match the books to your family. If you feel up to the challenge, please email me at kate.mertz@cg.catholic.edu.au or send a note via your child.

 Happy Reading. 

Holy Trinity is very excited to again be working with the Merchant's Feast in our school tuckshop.

'The tuckshop will operate every Wed, Thurs and Fri between 9.00-11.15am. Whilst The Merchant's Feast will prepare the food offsite, we still need volunteers to heat some of the food and organise delivery to classrooms. There will be an experienced volunteer on each shift, but we still need two extra volunteers each Fri. If you are able to assist or have afamily member who would like to help out, please sign-up at https://signup.com/go/iUPsezE

If you have any questions, please contact the Tuckshop coordinators, Cath and Kirsty, on holytrinitytuckshop@gmail.com

We look forward to serving The Merchant's Feast's delicious menu to the children and we appreciate your ongoing support to ensure this service is viable at our school.

The Smith Family Assistance

Rugby League

Hockey