Dear Friends,

Why Holy Trinity? 

As a Principal in a Catholic Primary School, I am aware that there are information sessions and Open Days coming up for Canberra schools,  including the all-boys’ Catholic schools in Canberra, which take enrolments from Year 4.  Here at Holy Trinity our school offers, for boys and girls across our  primary school an education that is personalised, comprehensive, student centred, has a high academic focus with the added benefits of a co-educational setting, in an International Baccalaureate school, offering the Primary Years Program.

Learning together in a co-ed classroom has many benefits for both genders. In co-educational primary schools, girls and boys engage collaboratively, exchange ideas and debate issues. Importantly, the presence of both genders adds to the richness and diversity of thinking and learning that fills all classrooms in our school. Respectful relationships amongst boys and girls is of high importance and nurtured from the ELC right through until Year 6. Co-educational settings also promote inclusivity and are essentially a more natural reflection of our society. Here at Holy Trinity our students are curious, collaborative and connected. Skills such as self-management, social, research, thinking and communication, as well as the IB Learner profile attributes and other affective skills, will ensure they enter high school well prepared for the challenges they will encounter.

The benefits of keeping your child in primary education here at Holy Trinity include an excellent academic education in a Catholic Primary school with a low-cost fee structure. Leadership opportunities is another consideration: it is here that girls and boys learn to be leaders, with the choice of two leadership groups throughout the year,  including Christian Outreach, ICT, Sustainability, Sports and Well- being.  We also have multiple lunch time clubs and extra curricula activities such as choir, book club, Minecraft, coding, gardening, Tournament of Minds, Maths Olympiad, Youth Ministry, Lego and sports opportunities.   Given our size, all students have the opportunity to experience leadership roles. Here at Holy Trinity our Year 6’s lead assemblies, liturgies, fundraising for differing communities in need and prayer/announcements. They also have the opportunity to lead in events such as Open Days, Year 6 Exhibition, Book Week, Sport Days and other special events e.g. Grandparents Days.  All of these experiences build confidence, friendships and skills, which prepare them well for entering high school in Year 7.

Well-being continues to be a major focus at Holy Trinity and is central to everything we do at our school.  We are fortunate to have trained leaders across our staff in Seasons for Growth and Cool Kids programs, which are normally offered in community settings.  Our relationships across the school are strong, and our students are nurtured.  We have whole school support structures in place for students with differing needs and all are cared for,  listened to and valued.  We have also spent an extensive amount of time creating learning environments, both indoor and outdoor, that are flexible, refurbished and well resourced.

My experience is that all students graduating in Year 6 from Holy Trinity have had no difficulty in securing a place in the high school of their choice, whether that be Catholic, Government or Independent (both co-educational and single-sex schools).

I would like to reiterate that I will partner with you in whatever decision you make regarding your child’s education. I will support you in your choices and offer the best information I can, which is why I considered it appropriate for you to hear from me about the value of a co-educational environment within an IB setting for your children’s primary school years. If you wish to talk to me further about this, my door is always open.

Seasons For Growth Grief and Loss Program

As discussed in last week's newsletter we are looking forward to facilitating the Seasons for Growth program in Term 2. The program is for students from Kindergarten to Year Six.  Please click here for further details. 

Holy Trinity Tuckshop 2021

A huge thank you to Alicia for her enormous and generous efforts last year. Not only did Alicia bring some wonderful fresh and healthy food to our tuckshop, all the money was donated to the P&F! Thank you very much. On that note, we wish Alicia the very best this year as the nutrition side of her business has really taken off and she is also undertaking further study. This is keeping Alicia extremely busy and sadly for us, she is unable to continue with our tuckshop. Good luck Alicia and thank you! In next week's newsletter I will have some exciting news about our tuckshop for this year. We are  just fine tuning some details for a Term 2 opening.

Awards Assembly

Next Friday we will be celebrating our second awards ceremony for 2021, with parents of students receiving awards able to be present. This will occur in the morning, and cross country carnival will begin after lunch.  Parents of these recipients will be notified via email next Monday.  Please note that now we are able to have parents back in the hall for this assembly we will no longer be sending home individual photos of children receiving awards.  We will still publish in the newsletter the group photo and names of awards winners.  As Week 9 is our Inspiring Connections publication, these photos and names will be in Week 1 Term 2 newsletter. 

Walking to and from school through the Parish Priest's home

Just another reminder please that if you are walking your children through from the back of the church, please use the large stairs between the Parish office and the Parish Centre.  Some families are still walking further around in between the ELC and Church.  This means you pass through Fr John's backyard, which is private property.  Thank you for your consideration with this. 

Please keep the Fogarty family in your prayers (Grace 3 /4 W) as her grandfather recently passed away. 

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

Philippa

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations to all students who attended the Reconciliation Presentation Mass on the weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!

A link was sent out yesterday for families to select a time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you missed the Szapp please click here for the link. 

Reconciliation Retreat Day

Tomorrow, all Year 3 students will partake in our Reconciliation Retreat Day. Students are invited to wear free clothes and will need to bring their lunch and recess. 

Holy Week Prayer Celebrations

Due to COVID Restrictions - we are only able to invite the parents of the class presenting to attend our Holy Week Prayer Celebrations. Please sign in at the Front Office or Church via the Canberra Check In App. 

Harmony Day

Next Tuesday, Holy Trinity will be celebrating Harmony Day. Students are invited to come dressed in their traditional dress or wear the colour orange. 

Easter Raffle

Tickets are now on sale for out Easter Raffle! Thank you to our Year 3/4 families for donating Easter Eggs! 

Global School Partners Update

Dear Holy Trinity

Thanks to the generous donation from your school in November, we will soon have 3 semi-permanent classrooms under construction at Evaland Hekima Academy, to help them cope with increased enrolments in 2021.

I look forward to sharing pictures and a report of the project with you upon completion.

Kind regards,

Simon

Youth Ministry - This Sunday

Come along to our first Parish Youth Ministry this Sunday!

ANZAC Day

Our military families and students will lead the school in our ANZAC Day Service on Friday 23rd April at 10:40am. I am asking that any Australian Services persons that would like to be part of the service to please contact me by sending an email to emily.capper@cg.catholic.edu.au

Emily Capper

Religious Education Coordinator

School Holiday Program

The ELC will run a School Holiday Program (SHP) from 6-16 April for preschool, Kinder and Year 1 children. The program will run daily from 8am-5.45pm. The cost of the program is $85 a day (less any CCS) bookings can be made on our link here.

Term Two - Pupil Free Day

Catholic Education has set aside two dates for systemic staff professional learning; the first day of Term 2 & 3.

The ELC will extend the School Holiday Program to include this date, MONDAY 19 April. If you would like to book your child into the ELC for the holiday care program, please email the ELC directly elc.holytrinity@cg.catholic.edu.au with your request.

The ELC will open from 8am-5.45pm, the day will cost $85 (less any CCS).

Stay and Play

Playgroup for pre-preschoolers and their families. Wednesday mornings from 9am-10.00am in the ELC Playground (weather permitting). Parents, grandparents, carers and children are all very welcome. Please sign in using the Check in CBR app.

Establishing digital boundaries for the screen generation

by Dr Kristy Goodwin

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy – important skills that each child needs to succeed in school and life. The NAPLAN tests are designed to help us make sure students are on track with their literacy and numeracy development. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in NAPLAN tests for reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

On Thursday 25th March our school will participate in NAPLAN Practice Tests, which are designed to give students, teachers and systems an opportunity to practice administering and participating in the online testing environment. The practice tests consist of a Writing Test and an Omnibus Test (a combination of reading, conventions of language and numeracy) for Years 3 and 5. As this is intended to practice participation, the questions are not equivalent to NAPLAN testing in May, and no results are available from the Practice Tests.

Due to new precautions around coronavirus, please ensure that each student has their own headphones to undertake the test. 

To see the types of interactive features of NAPLAN Online, visit the public demonstration site.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact your child’s teacher.

For more info:

• How to support your child during NAPLAN
• Subscribe to ACARA’s monthly parent newsletter, Parent Update

Hot Cross Buns

To order your Hot Cross Buns please scan the QR code below or go The Knox website. 

Bookfair

Hellenic Festival

Merici College Open Day

Canberra Girls Get Active Day

Holiday Happenings

ACT Women in Sport Leadership Brunch Invitation

eSafety's Parent Guide to Cyberbullying & Online Drama