A PRAYER AT A TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHER PROWSE CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF CANBERRA GOULBURN APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DIOCESE OF WAGGA WAGGA

Heavenly Father, We praise and thank you for your loving presence, especially in the Lent/Easter season.

We offer heartfelt thanks, dear Lord, particularly for our recent rains.

Once again, we come to you in our need.

As your children we are in need of your healing and protection. Just as we have been recovering from our dangerous bush fire summer, we have now been thrown into a fearful coronavirus (COVID 19) autumn.

We are tired and frightened. We feel a sense of panic and future uncertainty on a global scale.

Be with us now, Loving Master.

 We pray for the sick and those looking after them. Help us to offer practical help to those who struggle.

Let us use these times, O Lord, for your greater glory, especially during Lent and Easter.

. Increase in us faith, hope and trust. Protect us from this coronavirus. Remove it from our common home. Heal those who are sick and dying.

We make this and all our prayers through Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, AMEN

Dear Friends,

I would like to begin this week's correspondence by thanking all those in our community who gave so generously of their time last Friday night at the working bee. Its seems now, less than a week on, we  find ourselves as a community supporting each other in a much more challenging and significant way.  It is beginning to become an extraordinary time, delving into the unknown, however I feel so grateful and proud to be part of a community that will rally together and look at each other's needs with care and love.  I know many of us are just coming to terms with the weight of the devastating summer months, and now we are confronted with an enormous health risk, that brings with it many ramifications. 

Please be assured that at Holy Trinity, we are doing our utmost to ensure that the children and families in our care, are continuing to receive a high level of education in a safe and nurturing environment.  Interesting to use the word "education" as many press conferences and media reports yesterday, looking at keeping schools open, barely featured any language around the importance of education for our children.  It has all been about the impact on the workforce, and distancing from the most vulnerable.  We are still however, focussing on the importance of education and the continuing care and development of our students, in a time of real need for them, as much as any of us in the community.

Let us try in this time of uncertainty to concentrate on an upside- a new way to look at teaching and learning creatively, finding more ways to operate with flexibility and agility and ensuring  the well-being of all our community is paramount.  To do this, there is a great amount of TRUST needed.  We are trusting that families will not send students to school with any signs of sickness, as stated in much correspondence going home.  We trust that family members returning from overseas trips will effectively self-isolate. We need you to also trust us, when we send children home sick, to please bring them back when all symptoms are gone, without calling us and becoming upset, because we have sent a student home. These students need to be isolated at pick up times etc when other siblings are with parents. This is where the car drop off area is effective. We have also put in the following measures, which we trust our community will understand and support:

• Morning assembly announcements will happen via the PA system-  all classes process in at 9am
• Utlising more areas in our outdoor space for eating time and play time to help with social distancing
• School bubblers are not in use to drink from, children may still use the bottom to fill drink bottles.  Children are encouraged to continue to bring in their own drink bottle.
• As per usual, no sharing of food or drinks
• Continual washing of hands and sanitisers are in all areas of the school
• School cleaners daily wiping all surfaces and teachers are cleaning desk etc each day
• Limiting traffic coming through the school- no longer having whole school assemblies
• All meetings postponed until further notice e.g. P and F, School Board, community meetings
• Year 5 /6 Camp postponed, as are all excursions
• School photos postponed
• All ACT and sporting meets postponed, including school cross country carnival, futsal
• Parent meetings with teachers to be via phone call only

Yesterday we were also advised that all Sacramental celebrations are postponed, thus we will not be having the Reconciliation Retreat Day, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation celebrated next week.  We are also changing the way we experience the Holy Week liturgies in Week 10. Classes will be given prayer experiences of these significant events to share together in their individual classrooms. 

Yesterday all Principals had a ZOOM meeting with the Executive team at CE to discuss possible scenarios into the future. As a system we are focussing on keeping our schools open, however they may firstly close for up to 48 hours, if there is a case of COVID-19 in our school community, for cleaning.   The second reason for closure may be if we have a limited amount of staff available in the coming weeks.  Thirdly is, of course, if we are directed by CE to close the school in a lockdown.  Please be assured that our staff are now preparing for remote learning in case of closure- another opportunity to facilitate learning creatively in a differing environment.

I will continue to keep all families updated as relevant information becomes available in regard to COVID-19.  I know there has been a stream of messages coming through SZAPP,  however it is important that we are all informed and prepared. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time, via the school phone or my email.

Thank you again for your trust and cooperation.  Please try and spend some time in the sunshine with your loved ones, and be thankful and proud of the community you are an important part of.

Warmest wishes,

Philippa 

Parish Mass

On Saturday, 14th March, the first Parish/School Mass for 2020 was celebrated at Holy Trinity. During the Mass, the candidates for Reconciliation were presented to the community. It was a beautiful Mass, where members of the community were able to acknowledge these candidates and the progression they’ve made on their faith journey. Also a big thank you to our 5/6 families who catered supper. It was lovely to see so many of you join us.

Easter Egg Raffle - Bushfire Appeal

This year all money raised through our Easter Egg Raffle will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal. We currently are asking for donations of easter eggs from our year 3 and 4 students. Thank you to those who have already donated. Starting next week our Christian Outreach Leadership team will be selling raffle tickets to enter. The raffle Tickets are $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 tickets and will be sold before school and during lunch time. 

Harmony Day 2020 

Holy Trinity will be celebrating Harmony Day TOMORROW.

Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

To recognise and celebrate the many cultures that we have at Holy Trinity, students are invited to come to school dressed in traditional dress or to wear a piece of orange clothing (for example: orange t-shirt, orange hair ribbon etc.).

Sacrament of Reconciliation 2020

Due to the recent announcements regarding COVID-19, we will be postponing the Reconciliation Retreat Day until a more appropriate time. I will endeavour to keep you updated as soon as I receive any information about the Sacrament itself.

Covid-19 

During this unprecedented time of concern we want to assure our families that we are doing all we can to protect your children. Aside from increased cleaning and handwashing, we continue to ask families to keep sick children at home and avoid the ELC if you are sick. We have cancelled all incursions and excursions to limit outside traffic in the ELC. We are very mindful of our children and staff who have, or who are in direct contact with family members who have compromised immune systems. 

We also are conscious of protecting your children's emotional wellbeing during this time. We will to do all we can to continue to ensure school is a happy, social and safe place for all to be, maintaining our robust educational program and modified routines. 

School Holiday Program

The preschool program will cease for school holidays, 14-24 April 2020. During this time the ELC will run a School Holiday Program each day from 8am-5.45pm. If you require care for your child in this period, please click here to make a booking for your required days. 

After School Care Menu

Due to the current limits on food and sourcing items, the menu at After School Care will be adjusted to reflect what is available. The daily menu will be displayed on the sign out table for your information.

Tissues

The ELC is low on tissues, and current limits and availability are making it difficult to meet demand. If you have a spare box at home, we'd gratefully accept any donations.

Stay and Play

Stay and Play has been cancelled for the rest of Term 1.

Leading the way for children during the Coronavirus pandemic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok

(Modified from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-tiktok)

We have become aware that some of our students have the app TikTok on their BYO devices. It has raised some concerns about whether or not parents are aware if their child is using TikTok and any other social media apps. Here's some information to guide your discussion with your child:  

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social network app for sharing user-generated videos, mostly of people lip-synching to popular songs. It was originally called musical.ly (pronounced MU-zik-lee). Users can create and upload their own videos where they lip-synch, sing, dance, or just talk. They can also browse and interact with other users' content, which covers a wide range of topics, songs, and styles. These videos can be grouped by hashtags, which often correspond to challenges or memes.

As with any social network, it is important to use privacy settings to limit how much information your children are sharing. Chldren can post stuff without reviewing or editing it first. There have even been reports of online predators using the app to target younger users. In 2019, TikTok paid millions to settle with federal regulators who charged it violated children's privacy law.

Read Common Sense Media's answers to parents' most frequently asked questions below:

How safe is TikTok?

When signing up for TikTok, your account is public by default, meaning anyone can see your videos, send you direct messages, and use your location information. If you decide your children can use TikTok, parents should make sure to turn on all privacy settings for accounts, so only people they know can interact with their videos or message them on the app. That means either opting for a private account or changing the settings for comments, duets, reactions, and messages to "Friends" instead of "Everyone." You can also turn those features off completely.

How does TikTok work?

Tik Tok users sign up with a phone number, an email address, Facebook, or Instagram. Once logged in, you can search popular creators, categories (comedy, animals, sports), and hashtags to find videos. Many kids on Tik Tok like to create videos, but plenty of people don't post themselves -- they just use the app to find and follow content creators.

Is TikTok appropriate for kids?

Because of TikTok's emphasis on popular music, many videos include swearing and sexual lyrics, so it may not be age-appropriate for kids to use on their own. It's also easy to find people wearing revealing clothing and dancing suggestively, although TikTok won't let you search for objectionable content such as "sex" or "porn." In 2019,  after settling with the Federal Trade Commission for child privacy violations due to all the children under 13 on the site, the developers created a separate section of the app for kids that only allows them to access curated, clean videos. They can't comment, search, or post their own videos. However, bypassing that section only requires entering a false birthdate. 

What age is TikTok recommended for?

Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content. TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the app. Anyone under the age of 18 must have approval of a parent or guardian -- but there are plenty of young tween users. There's also the section of the app mentioned above that's meant for kids under 13 that restricts access to mature content and comments, but since entering a false birthdate is easy, it's still best for 15+.

How can you make your TikTok account private?

To make a TikTok account private, go to the profile page and select the three-dot icon in the top-right corner. Select Privacy and Safety. There, toggle the switch for "Private Account." You can also select who can send comments and direct messages. Using the "Friends" setting or turning those features off completely limits contact with strangers.

Is there any way to limit or restrict my kid's activity on TikTok?

In addition to blocked search terms, TikTok also offers Digital Wellbeing features to help limit time spent on the app and limit the appearance of inappropriate videos. To turn these features on, tap the three dots at the top right of your user profile. Then select "Digital Wellbeing" next to the icon of an umbrella. The features are automatically protected by a four-digit pass code so kids can't turn them off on their own. From there, parents can opt to turn on Screen Time Management, which limits users to two hours on the app per day, and Restricted Mode, which blocks some content. Keep in mind, Restricted Mode isn't foolproof, and even with the filter on, kids using the app on their own might come across age-inappropriate videos. As of 2020, there's a Family Safety Mode feature that lets parents link their own accounts to their kids to control time limits and Restricted Mode, and it adds direct messages as well. 

How can I monitor activity on TikTok?

Other than Restricted Mode, there's no way to filter out content on TikTok , so if parents are allowing their children to use this app, they are encouraged to share an account with kids under the age of 13. This will let you keep an eye on what your kid is viewing and posting. Parents of older kids who are more resistant to monitoring can ask about their favorite video creators and get to know their videos (with or without your kid). Also, take the time to regularly look at the most popular songs, videos, memes, and challenges.

For any more information, please email me at rebecca.casey@cg.catholic.edu.au

On Tuesday 17^th March Grades 3 /4 then Grades 5/6 were lucky enough to spend a 45 minute session with author and adventurer Tim Cope. Tim’s presentation was all about his three-and-a-half-year, 10,000 kilometre odyssey from Mongolia to Hungary. Tim shared his epic story filled with courage, stamina and heart and, above all, the extraordinary friendship between Tim and his best friend, a dog named Tigon.

I made some notes as I listened to Tim’s incredible adventures and couldn’t actually believe he chose to embark on this journey. Tim was almost a superhero and highly respected by so many people all around the world upon completing his quest. The children at Holy Trinity listened in awe.

The children purchased books (I have forms on my desk if you would still like one), asked questions, wrote reflections and discussed Tim’s nomadic lifestyle. Tim thought the children were really well mannered and he can’t wait to read some of their reflections. I do hope that your child was able to tell you a little of Tim’s adventures.

Tim had a camera with him on his journey and has since made a much-loved ABC TV series, a best-selling book (On the Trail of Genghis Khan), and has just released ‘Tim and Tigon’ for younger readers.  - His TV Series is on ABC iView and might make good family viewing.

PRESENTATION THEMES

*The importance of taking responsible risks

*Courage

*Resilience and patience

*Friendship

*Grief

*Isolation and Survival

*Curiosity as a means to overcome difference and difficulties

*The balance between planning and openness to the unexpected

*The value of human relationships

Below are some photos and student reflections from Tim’s visit.

Dear Tim, Thank you for visiting Holy Trinity Primary School on the 17th of March 2020. We particularly enjoyed learning about the Mongolian and Russian people. We found how the people overseas lived interesting. We were wondering how long it took you to write your book, does your SD card still work and what was your favourite part of your journey?

From Edward H 3/4 G

Dear Tim Cope,
Thank you for visiting Holy Trinity on the 17th of March 2020. We particularly enjoyed when you were showing us all Tigon puppies. We found interesting was when Tigon was followed the camera not you. What age did Tigon die at?.❤

The above pic collages are by Gabriella N, Georgia R, Finn A and Tess N

Happy Days,

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

Sustainability Leadership Team joins forces with the Gardening Club

Today during gardening club, students got ready for the cooler weather by planting some cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, parsley, cabbage, dill and spring onions.

We learnt that companion planting is important, especially in the plants we planted today. All the crops we planted were purposely put together because as that is how those particular vegetables and herbs grow best.
We also learnt that parsley and dill also ward off pests that bother cabbage and marigolds are also found in the gardening beds, as they self-seed, which helps with the growing of cauliflower.

We ask some of the students what they did today:

“We had to dig trenches and fill them with our brand new soil.” (Will)
The kids learnt that “plants need water to grow along with sunshine.” (Ethan).
Children join the garden club “because it is calm.” (Harris)
“Most children agreed that the best thing about gardening club is the planting part.” (Alice, Abbie)
Someone even found a potato – Well done Adona.

Gardening club is every Thursday at lunchtime after eating time, we welcome everyone.

Sustainability Leadership Team and Gardening Club

Notice from CommBank School Banking

The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly developing situation with coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused from 20 March 2020 until the start of Term 2. Please don’t bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school and we will notify you when banking will recommence.

The Movie Night scheduled for Friday 3 April has been cancelled. We are hoping to reschedule later in the year. Anyone who purchased tickets will be refunded.