A Lenten Reflection from Pope Francis: Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill our hearts with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words so you can be silent so you can listen.

The School Board met for its first meeting of the year on 21 February.  As I noted at the introductory evening on 16 February, the function of the Board is to advise and support the School Principal and her executive in the operation of the School, and to act as a forum where issues can be raised and discussed.  We also oversee and monitor budget performance, and make strategic decisions. I am pleased to report that Holy Trinity School and ELC is in a good financial position, with very good results last year.  

One of our main topics of discussion last Wednesday was the proposal for Holy Trinity to be involved in Global School Partners, through which we will be partnering with a school in Kenya called the Evaland Hekima Academy.  Through this program we will help raise funds to support this school and its mission of educating poor children in Kenya.  The Board strongly supported this proposal, seeing it very much in keeping with out mission of living out the Gospel values of Faith, Hope and Love.  There will be more to come about this exciting initiative, and we look forward to this journey throughout 2018 and beyond.

Nominations have now closed for new Board Members, and I will be in a position to announce the results of that process soon

May I wish every person in the Holy Trinity community a good 2018, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can over the next year

At last Friday’s Morning Assembly Simon Carroll from Global School Partners presented information about Kenya and the Global School Partners organisation. The students were fascinated and inquisitive about how the students at our partner school, Evaland Hekima Academy learnt, lived and played. Simon also spoke to the families that were present about sponsoring individual students from Evaland Hekima Academy. If you and your family are interested in sponsoring a child click on the GPS image 

 You will find all our upcoming Religious Education Celebrations in our School Calendar

Dear Parents, Family and Friends,

The children have been doing an excellent job displaying the learner profile “Caring” over the last few weeks. Each class has unpacked the “Caring” learning profile and have listed ways they can live this out in our school community. The direct understanding of the “Caring” learning profile states… we show empathy, compassion, and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

Here is a great article on how parents can model positive behaviour to enhance student wellbeing and behaviour.

Being a role model for your child by Raising Children Network

When your child was younger, your role was to lay the blueprints for his behaviour – for example, cooperating with others and showing how to take turns. Now your child is a teenager, he can start taking responsibility for his own behaviour.

But you’re still an important role model.

What you do shows your child how you want her to behave. For example, how you cope with feelings such as frustration and distress influences how your child regulates her emotions. What you eat, how much you exercise, and how you look after yourself will all influence your child.

What you say is also important. You can help your child to manage and control his own behaviour by talking about how behaviour affects other people. You can also use more complex reasoning and examples to talk about the differences between right and wrong. Now’s a good time for this because your child is developing his ability to understand other people’s experiences and feelings.

Tips for role-modelling

• Include your child in family discussions, and give her input into family decisions, rules and expectations. These are good ways of helping her understand how people can get along with others and work together.
• Try to practise what you preach. Teenagers can and do notice when you don’t!
• Work towards a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising regularly. Try to avoid making negative comments about your body – and other people’s too. Not only will you be healthier, but you’ll send an important message about body image and acceptance.
• Show that you enjoy education and learning. If you make it seem interesting and enjoyable rather than a chore, your child is more likely to have a positive attitude to school.
• Keep a positive attitude – think, act and talk in an optimistic way.
• Take responsibility for yourself by admitting your own mistakes and talking about how you can correct them. Try not to blame everything that goes wrong on other people or circumstances.
• Use problem-solving skills to deal with challenges or conflicts in a calm and productive way. Getting upset and angry when a problem comes up encourages your child to respond in the same way.
• Show kindness and respect to others.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR CHILD

These meetings are an opportunity for you to share your knowledge of your child and some hopes and aspirations for them in 2018. It is also an opportunity for you to meet with your child’s classroom teacher and begin a dialogue that will continue throughout the year. We believe that Parent Partnership Meetings will ensure the best possible start to the year and establish strong school/home partnerships.  The 10 minutes sessions will be available between Monday 5^th – Wednesday 7^th March 2019 (Unless otherwise specified on session keeper) and are for all children from our ELC up to Year 6.  Prior to this meeting, we ask that families complete the Parent Partnership Form that will go home tomorrow in your child’s Interim Report. We ask you to complete this form in preparation for this discussion.

Our talented photographers will be visiting your School on:

Tuesday 27^th & Thursday 29^th March 2018

 Payment must be made before photo day 

We only photograph children who have prepaid online

 To order your School Photos it is as simple as logging onto our website and selecting from the following three options

THE SCHOOL PORTRAIT  PACKAGE

Your full package will contain 2 different individual natural outdoor photos of your child professionally printed at 5x7”  and  8 wallet size prints (4 of each portrait) a beautifully produced class photo with names 7x10’ all for only $35

SIBLING PHOTOS

We will also be taking 2 different natural outdoor sibling shots on the day if you would like a portrait of the kids together (both printed at 5x7”) for only $25

 GROUP PHOTO ONLY - $25

For those families not wishing to purchase individual photos, but still wanting a memory of your child’s school days, there is the option to purchase a class photo only. This comes as a 7”x10” print.

 To order your photos click on image and follow these instructions:

• Click on [ PREPAY ]
• Select your School
• Select your child’s Class
• Select your preferred package/s – School Portrait Pack / Sibling Photos / Group Only
• Click Prepay
• Go to View Cart
• Make sure packages ordered are correct
• Proceed to Checkout
• Once you have completed your personal information please enter your payment information. (Place Order)

 Four weeks after photo day we will return with your portraits.

Please note there has been a change in photo day for 1 Red and 2 Red classes ONLY. 

Literacy Workshops for parents will be held on Tuesday, 13 March at 9.30am and 6:30pm in the library.

The sessions will cover:

Helping your child develop literacy skills

Practical tips to encourage reading

How to listen to reading

Helping in the classroom

K-2 parents are encouraged to attend the literacy workshops. The workshop will provide practical strategies to help your child come a confident reader and also to equip you to help more effectively in the classrooms.

Both sessions will be hosted by Philippa Brearley and Katie Smith

Click here to RSVP by 9^th March 2018 to

Happy Birthday to our children who have celebrated birthdays this week  Lexie W and Jason

Parent Partnership Meetings if you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to book in for the Parent Partnership Meetings that will run each day next week.

Parent Library The ELC parent library has books on parenting and childhood development as well as range of children’s books dealing with issues such as separation anxiety, grief, emotions, coping with change. You are very welcome to borrow these books at any time.

Stay and Play every Wednesday morning from 9-10am at the ELC playground. All families from the ELC, Primary School and broader community are very welcome.

Coles Sport for Schools Program the ELC is collecting vouchers for this program, vouchers can be left in the ELC office.

ELC WEEK 4

VIEW GALLERY

ELC WEEK 4

Click images to enlarge

Swimming Carnival

The Swimming Carnival had to be postponed due to flooding at Dickson Pool. The Swimming Carnival will now be held on Thursday March 22, week 7. We have also booked a new venue, CISAC Belconnen.  New permission notes will be sent home next week. I will also asking for parent volunteers, if you are able to help during the day please indicate on the permission note. The race timetable will remain the same,so there will be no need to nominate for events. K-1 will attend the carnival from 11am till 1:30 and Grades 2-6 will be at the pool from 9:45 till 1:45.

Jump Rope for Heart

Holy Trinity is proud to support the Heart Foundation and this worthy initiative. Students will receive a pledge booklet and these booklets are due back to school on the Wednesday 14^th March, week 4. On Wednesday 14^th March all students will participate in a school jump off. Students are encouraged to showcase routines or try beat their teachers in a jump off.  Thank you for your support.

Winter Sports

A number of families are interested in getting involved or recruiting new team members for the upcoming soccer season. Below is some information from the teams.

There are a number of girls from Holy Trinity that are playing for WVSC in the U9 girl’s competition this year - the team is called the Lemurs. Most of the girls have played for a couple of years now and I have been the coach since U7’s. If you are interested in joining please contact Attilio Martiniello andatt@iinet.net.au

We are hoping to get up another girls soccer team in the U8 Woden competition. Let me know if you would like to join as well. We need another 5 players to make up a team. athena.cains@gmail.com

If you coach or manage a team and would like to recruit extra members from Holy Trinity please send Michael.feerick@cg.catholic.edu.au an email so I can communicate this to the community.

Rugby Trials

School Sport ACT are running trials for their Rugby League team. This is open for boys and girls turning 12 this year.  If you are interested please contact Michael Feerick for additional information. 

Registrations will be open soon for the 2018 Rugby Season!!

Easts Juniors will be registering players for the following age groups, based on the age each player turns during 2018 (eg if the player turns 10 at any time at all between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018, they are in the Under 10's age group).

 Under 7's through to Under 17's. Boys and girls all welcome!

 To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to register early to secure a place in a team.

Registration cost is $185. This includes a quality Easts jersey/shorts and socks, and also entitles each player to a free pass to all Brumbies home games at GIO stadium. A family discount of $30 applies to all subsequent children registered.

 To register, please contact   eastsjrufc.registrar@gmail.com

Don't forget- our Meet The Beasts Development program, starts at 5:30pm on Fri 23 Feb, at Griffith Oval. More details on the website.

Easts Juniors pride ourselves on providing a friendly and positive rugby environment for all our players and  parents.  We actively promote the opportunity for as many kids as possible to play and enjoy the rugby experience. If registration costs are an issue, Easts Juniors offer a range of community scholarships to assist. 

Training is on Wednesdays at Curtin North Oval from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm and will start in late April. 

School Contact: Alex Daffy 

ACT Championship 2018 Flyer1262.pdf

2018_ACT_Junior_Autumn Allegro.pdf

We are supporting the inaugural ACT Regional Scooter Titles at the Woden Skate park on 3 March 2018. Flyer below.

The event is being organised by the Australasian Scooter Association (ASA), a not for profit entity, and we are hoping to make this an annual event in Woden.

The event will run from 10am to 4 pm with the younger riders finishing by 1ish.

Tim Gavel will present the trophies if he is there in time from his radio show Grandstand.

All riders must register with the ASA, the $50 membership includes a canvas bag, printed t-shirt, grip tape and pro coaching (4.30pm to 5.30pm) Friday 2 March.

Pros: Dylan Morrison, Angus Varney, Jai Thomas, Tom Green

Register at www.ausscooter.com.au by Friday 2 March.

We hope you can share this information in your newsletter or on social media to support activity in Woden.

Regards

Fiona Carrick President

Woden Valley Community Council

Ph:  0420 533 809