They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Dear Friends,

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter break and are ready for another exciting term at Holy Trinity. For many, especially those in Sri Lanka, the Easter break has been one of suffering and turmoil- let us remember  and pray for all of those who have experienced horrendous violence, sickness or sadness during this Easter and holiday time. Let us remember in this season of Easter not to focus on the “tomb” or absence of Christ, but on His resurrection and the significance of this important event to us as a Catholic community.

Speaking of remembering, we began the term with a most reverent and significant prayer service acknowledging ANZAC day.  I sincerely thank many members of our community currently in the services who attended-  Scott Winchester, Jennifer Graham, Lauretta Searle Michael Miller, Dean Ashton, Luke Hartfiel and Alfonso Santos- and also pay tribute to all service people in our community who were unable to attend.  We were privileged to listen to a speech by Scott Winchester, who outlined to the students and community about four important ANZAC values forged many years ago that are applicable to how we live our lives today.  These included mate ship, courage, perseverance and sacrifice. 

This week we also began our Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist.  Thank you to Brigitta, Emily, Fr John and all parents who attended the information session on Tuesday night and allocated themselves into home groups.  Thank you also to parents in our community who have volunteered to host these groups.  We look forward to support our First Eucharist candidates and their families throughout this term- please note all important dates associated with this are in the RE section of the newsletter and on the school calendar.

This term we welcome back Brigitta Van Deas from maternity leave, who will be working 3 days a week- Wednesday she will be sharing the REC role again, Thursday will be helping with numeracy support release in Kinder, Year 1 and 2, and Friday, Brigitta will be working in Trina Twyford's  Kinder class. Trina will now be working 4 days a week for the remainder of the year. We also welcome Cathy Sutton, who is a Classroom support assistant working with us for the next 6 weeks, mainly in the Year 2 area.  Tiffany Fletcher will also extend her music timetable to three days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday).  Congratulations to Caitlin Meany who celebrated her university graduation at the end of last term. 

Next week we begin enrolment time, and 2019 will see us using for the first time an online enrolment system for both the ELC and the school.  We encourage all prospective families and siblings to join us for one of our Open days as follows: 

Enrolment period:      6 May - 24 May, 2019.

Enrolment information can be collected from the school office during this time or you may enrol online at our website. Office hours 8.30am – 4.00pm.

Open mornings:            7 May, 2019           9.30-11.00 am

                                      13 May, 2019         9.30-11.00am

Open evening:              7 May, 2019           5.30-7.00 pm

This is an exciting period for us to be able to talk to families about our wonderful school and community at Holy Trinity- it's lived philosophy which aligns with our Catholic faith and International Baccalaureate beliefs. 

And finally, congratulations to Lach and Lauretta Searle who celebrated their wedding last weekend. 

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

Philippa

ANZAC Day Commemoration

On Monday, we gathered as a community to commemorate ANZAC Day led by our military students. A big thank you to our Militarty personal who were able to attend our ceremony. 

Dates for your Diary

Monday 6th May 2:20pm - Prayer Celebration - Youth Ministry Group

Friday 10th May 9:30am - Mother's Day Prayer Celebration - 1R

                                       Mother's Day Breakfast from 8am

Monday 13th May 2:20pm - Class Assembly - 1G

Monday 20th May 2:20pm - Class Assembly - 3/4W

Thursday 30th May 9:30am - Whole School Mass, Feast of the Ascension

First Eucharist Dates

PRESENTATION TO PARISH AT WEEKEND MASSES:

Holy Trinity Church, Curtin    6.00pm Saturday 1st June 2019

Holy Trinity Church, Curtin    5.30pm Sunday 2nd June 2019

PRACTICE/RETREAT FOR CHILDREN:

Thursday 13th June - 9.00am–2.15pm

Children to be dropped at the Parish Centre by 9.00am. Supervision available from 8:30am

SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION:

Saturday 15th June - 6pm

Enrolling for Kindergarten

Catholic Schools enrolment period is throughout May. Preschool enrolments do not continue to Primary School and a new enrolment form is required to start Kindergarten. Online enrolments are now open, visit your local Catholic School website for the link and for details of open days. 

After School Care

The ELC closes at 6pm. Families are reminded that children are to be picked up prior to this time to allow closure at 6pm. Late pickups will incur a fee to cover staff over-time.

National Quality Framework Review

The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a national approach to regulation of the quality of education and care services across Australia, and impacts the work of supporting children’s development and learning. The NQF is being reviewed and is seeking family voices.

You can find out more and download the Issues Paper at www.nqfreview.com.au. You can also complete an online survey and book in for one of the 3 NQF Review consultation sessions happening in Canberra in May. 

Stay and Play

Playgroup for pre-preschoolers and their families. Wednesday mornings from 9am-10.30am in the ELC Playground (weather permitting). Parents, grandparents, carers and children are all very welcome.

Woolworths Earn to Learn

The ELC is collecting stickers for the Earn to Learn program. Collection boxes are in the foyer.

Helping kids feel good by doing good

by Dr. Justin Coulson

We all want our kids to feel good. Ice cream, days at the beach and play dates may bring kids joy, but once they’re finished the good feeling often disappear.

These feel-good activities give kids a rush of euphoria, but leave them craving for more. This can lead to an addictive cycle known as ‘the hedonic treadmill’ where one cookie isn’t enough. They’ll need two. Maybe the next week, they’ll need three.

Good deeds

Doing good, however, is the key to living a more meaningful and happier existence. The ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle knew it was true, and modern research bears out the fact altruistic behaviours are associated with better wellbeing, health and longevity. In short, we feel good when we do good.

Kind Kids

Every parent wants happy kids. The easiest way to help kids attain happiness is to encourage them to be kind.

Many studies show that our kids want to be kind. They know it makes them happy! Research shows that children from as young as fourteen months want to help others achieve individual goals and cooperate with others to achieve shared goals. This desire to help is something they’re born with – even that child of yours who doesn’t seem to want to help anyone!

A recent landmark study showed even very young kids find helpful and kind acts to be intrinsically rewarding. Two year olds showed greater happiness when they gave treats to others, compared to when they received treats themselves.

Teaching Our Kids to Do Good

If kids want to help because it helps them feel great, it’s our job to help fulfill this natural inclination by guiding them to age-appropriate opportunities to do so.

Here are 5 ways to do just that:

1. Role model helpfulness and kindness. Children and teenagers learn to be helpful and kind by copying the significant adults in their lives.
2. Encourage them to perform small acts of kindness. Being kind, giving a compliment, helping to tidy up- these small acts are just as powerful and effective as larger tasks such as mowing the lawn for a neighbour.
3. Make helping a family project. Get your kids involved when you take a meal to a family who have just had a new baby, or visit a sick friend in the hospital.
4. Be a good neighbour. Help your kids learn to keep an eye on others, whether it is a neighbour, or a boy on their sports team. Teaching your kids to notice what’s going on in the lives of people in their community promotes awareness and empathy.
5. Be grateful. Expressing gratitude is one of the best ways to do good. In fact, nothing can improve your life (and the life of others) like gratitude.

Doing good deeds is what makes us human. It lifts burdens from others, and lifts us by activating the joyful part of our brains. Teaching your kids to do good is the best way to help them have lasting ‘feel good’ feelings. Of course, they should eat cake too. Even better, share it with a friend for a lasting feel-good effect.

(Source: Parentingideas.com.au)

Congratulations to the four winners of our Term One Social Skills Raffle. The girls will each receive a $20 book club voucher. 

K-2 Winners:Penelope Howard & Elsa Kane          

  

3-6 Winners:Ella Swales & Tess Norton 

MOTHERS’ DAY STALL

Friday, 10 May

The Mothers’ Day stall will be held on Friday, 10 May.  For those not familiar with the stall the idea is that each child brings to school a small item (worth around $4 to $8) wrapped in clear plastic or cellophane.  These gifts can be picked up from the supermarket as part of regular shopping. It is the spirit that is important and not the actual gift.  

Children are then able to purchase a present, other than the one they have brought in, for a nominal cost of $1 or $2.  

Please bring in your gifts to your classroom as soon as possible!!

We recommend a gift worth about $4 - $8  Some ideas.... chocolates, mugs, books toiletries, key rings, magazines, gardening stuff, DVD's.... The list goes on!               It doesn't have to be expensive, just thoughtful.

Please wrap your gift in cellophane or clear plastic

** Father Helpers are also needed on the day (between 8.30am – 10.30am).

Please call or text Mark Bauer on 0413 759 692 if you can assist.

Visiting Author

In Week 10 of Term 1 Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 had a visit from the author Skye Davidson. Skye chatted to the group and then read to them her new book ‘Archibald the Naughtiest Elf in the world cause trouble with the Easter Bunny’.

The children were beautifully behaved and asked Skye lots of great questions. Skye is a young author based in Noosa and her publisher is a local Canberra company – Elephant Tree Publishing.

Term 2 Library Times

Redgum Bookclub Update

Dear Parents,

We are participating in Redgum Book Club this term and the catalogue has been sent home with your child. Every order will earn resources and books for our school.

To view the catalogue, go to www.redgumbookclub.com.au. View in a PDF file on the homepage, or go to the left-hand column and click on Current Catalogue.

Prices start from $2, with hundreds more books to order on their website.

The catalogue is now open and closes on Monday 20^th May. Orders will be delivered to the school, week commencing 10^th June.

New Release titles in the current catalogue include:

• Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal - Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journaloffers readers a new way to look at the Wimpy world—one fans won’t want to miss! Click to view Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid
• Fing – An explosively funny story from the phenomenal bestselling author, David Walliams. Click to view Fing
• The Tale of Peter Rabbit – This commemorative edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon. Click to view Peter Rabbit
• Thai-riffic – Is a book for anyone trying to make sense of their own family heritage. Anyone caught between two cultures. Anyone wanting to fit in and being treated for who you really are, by Australian author, Oliver Phommavanah. Click to view Thai-riffic
• The Magic Faraway Tree: Adventure of the Goblin Dog - This is an irresistible story for all who've ever stepped into the Enchanted Wood and a fantastic introduction to the Magic Faraway Tree stories. Click to view The Magic Faraway Tree
• Mr Walker and the Dessert Delight – A charming story about a hotel dog with a nose for adventure, by Australian author, Jess Black. Click to view Mr Walker and the Dessert Delight
• Flamingo Boy – A new novel from master storyteller, Michael Morpurgo, set in the unique landscape of the Camargue in the South of France during WW2.  Click to view Flamingo Boy

Catholic Schools Soccer Carnival

Our four teams had a fun filled day at Calwell Playing Fields. It was great to see all the students and families come together for this event. Thank you to all the parents who supported the teams with coaching and managing throughout the day. Our teams were  full of enthusiasm during the day and they had positive experiences to share on Monday morning. If any parents did take any photos of the teams could they please be emailed to me for the Year Book?

Touch Football Gala Day

Late last term, three teams from Years 5/6 represented our school at the ACT Touch Football Gala Day. Thank you to Carla McKellar for her organisation for the day. The teams would like to also thank Anthony Hofmeier and Simon Bugden for their coaching skills. Well done to all the players.

ACT Swimming Championship

Well done to Mary B, Erin R, Georgia R, Jessica G and Eliza R who have qualified for the ACT Swimming Championships. They will be representing the South Weston Region on Monday the 6^th May at the AIS. We wish these athletes the best of luck.

Athletics Carnival

Our annual Athletics Carnival is planned for Wednesday 29^th May, Week 5. This year the carnival will take on a new format and we require parent support throughout the day. If you are able to help on this date, it would be much appreciated if you could please email me your available times.

       TERM 2, WEEK 2 - WED 8 MAY

Team Leader:  Lana Eldridge, Dean Prail, Jason Woods, David/Athena Cains, Paul Cains, Dan Mossop

Tuckshop Update - great news, we'll be open from next week, Week 2 (Monday, Thursday and Friday)! We have a slightly reduced menu for this Term, but there's still plenty on offer. Orders can be placed on Qkr from now!

WEEKS 2 & 3 TERM 2

MON 6 MAY	THU 9 MAY	FRI 10 MAY
Kirsty Brogan	Kirsty Brogan Cath Day	Carmel Brennan  Sally Shepherd

Congratulations to the lucky winners of our pre-Easter competition:

1^st prize: Anh Lutant ($100 voucher for use at the George Harcourt Inn, Gold Creek)

2^nd prize: Harriet Sexton-More ($30 Hoyts movie gift card and mini golf free second round offers)

2019/2020 Entertainment membership is available in hard copy or digital format - perfect time to order with Mother’s Day just around the corner!

To whet your appetite, here are some discounts HT families enjoyed during the school hols getting out and about with family and friends using their Entertainment membership…

• $10 - 3 scoop Gelato at Gelatissimo, Manuka
• $10 – Glow in the Dark Jungle Golf, Powerkart Raceway, Griffith
• $30 – Wildlife Sydney Zoo, Darling Harbour
• $17 – Mogo Zoo, Mogo (Child Admission)
• $12 – Batemans Bay Mini Golf (Child Admission)

Secure your membership now via Qkr or access our online payment page: www.entbook.com.au/232w05

Select the ‘membership type’ you would like and ‘pick up’ for free delivery (it will be sent home via your child’s classroom).

Don’t forget the added bonus - $12 from every membership goes directly towards Holy Trinity Fundraising efforts - yippee!

Thank you for your support.