Week 11 Term 4, 2022

From the Principal - Week 11, Term 4

Dear Parents,

What an amazing, action packed year we have had being back at school. It certainly has been a year to remember with lots of memorable moments and despite the new challenges faced, the students have once again shown us to how learn, live and achieve success. On behalf of the staff I would like to take this opportunity to thank the school community for their continued assistance and support throughout the year. I hope all families have a very happy, safe and holy Christmas and we look forward to working in partnership with you next year. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their tireless efforts throughout the year. We are very blessed to have such a highly professional, committed staff who always go over and above what is expected to provide the best possible opportunities they can to the students. 

To our staff, students and families leaving our school community, our prayers and support go with you. Thank you for travelling with us.  We pray that God will continue to bless your path and bring you much happiness.  You have given much to our school. May you keep God in your lives, be wonderful to others, work hard, have fun, aim high and as you continue on your journey with family and friends, we wish you the very best.  Your time spent at Trinity has been valuable to us and we are a richer place because of you.  Good bye and Good luck. 

Year 6 Reflection

This week we asked the Year 6s to share some memories they take with them as they leave Trinity.  Please enjoy reading their class responses.

6PG: There are so many fun memories that we have had a Trinity. Some favourite ones are when we were lucky enough to go to URBNSURF this term to celebrate the end of primary school. Other excursions such as Task Works in grade 1, Science Works in grade 3 and IMAX this year in grade 6. One of our very favourite memories was when a bird flew into 3VD and caused havoc. Camp Rumbug was also a stand out camp from all the activities to the amazing campgrounds. Trinity has been a special place for learning and fun and we will forever cherish these memories.

6W: During 2022, 6W participated in many different activities.  Some of the more memorable ones were: Portsea Camp, Urban Surf, IMax/Melbourne Museum Excursion, Inter-School Sports, Lightning Premiership, Athletics Day, Hoop Time Basketball, Casey Netball Tournament, Grandparents Day, Cross Country, Walk for Cancer, Book Week Dress Up Day and when we first meet our Foundation Buddies. We have many cherished memories of our time at Trinity which we will take away with us.

6D: Having the chance to have a leadership role and making lots of friends. Having amazing teachers. Being able to engage in school camp, interschool sports, athletics days, cross country and excursions We also remember making a marshmallow tower, getting our buddies and making lasting memories every day with the people in our class and our school. 

Over the past seven years lots of fond memories have been made that will stay with our Year 6 students for many years.  On behalf of all of the staff at Trinity I would like to thank the Year Six students and their families for being such wonderful members of the Trinity community and we wish them success and happiness in the future. 

Important Changes in 2023

Earlier this term a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement was passed for all staff in school settings. One of the major changes in the agreement was the working hours of school staff to try and align it with the normal working week of most industries. Whist the majority of the changes to be implemented will not impact on families, the following two components will play a small role.

Teaching staff will only be responsible for the supervision of children for a maximum of ten minutes prior to the school starting day. This means that staff will not be permitted to open the classroom doors until 8.35am each morning (currently 8.30am). The school gates therefore will only open at 8.30am and there will be NO supervision before this time. Students arriving before 8.30am will need to go to Before School Care.

Meetings after school with families (not including Family Learning Conversations) must be adjacent to the school day.

We will also be changing our lunchtime break to 1.15pm - 2.15pm (15 minutes of eating inside first). This change will see the school day change to a 2-hour block of learning in the morning and the middle of the day and 1 hour in the afternoon. Currently we have a 2 hour block in the morning, 1.5 hours in the middle and afternoon. We believe this change will promote a more productive morning and middle learning session as the students are often tired and more distracted after the lunch break. It will also provide more consistency for specialist subjects as they won’t be split over the lunchtime break. This change will not impact starting and finishing times, just the times the children eat and go out to play.  If staff notice that the children are hungry earlier, the daily fruit time will be adjusted.  

End of Year Reports

The Semester Two Report were made available to families yesterday from 3.30pm in PAM. Please read your child’s report in conjunction with Seesaw.        

2024 Foundation (Prep) Enrolments 

We have now begun the process of enrolling 2024 Foundation students. If you have a child coming in 2024, or know of someone else who does, please contact the office for further details. School families will be required to enrol their child by the end of this current school year so we can open up placements to other families living in our zone at the beginning of 2023. Enrolment forms can be downloaded from the Trinity School Website. 

End of Year Mass

Our End of Year Mass will be held on Friday at 9am in the School Hall. Parents are warmly invited to join in the celebration. 

Christmas Carols

On Friday we will be celebrating Christmas will carols on the soccer pitch from 2pm. Families are most welcome to attend. The children will be allowed to wear Christmas clothes and accessories on the day.  

Staffing Updates

Congratulations to Mrs Georgegina Nettleingham on her appointment this week to a classroom teaching role at St Agatha’s in Cranbourne. We thank Georgegina for her valuable contributions to the Trinity community throughout her time here and wish her all the very best as she embarks on this new journey.

School Resumes for all students on Monday 30^th January at 8.45am

Important Term Dates for Trinity in 2023

School Pupil Free and  School Closure Days for Trinity in 2023

Kind regards

Kathryn Pepper - Principal

Religious Education- Week 11, Term 4

My favourite Christmas Song is not really a religious one at all. It is Happy XMas, War Is Over, by John Lennon. (Though I am not a fan of the XMas!)

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

It is powerful. It calls us to be reflective, but look forward with hopeful optimism. 

For Catholics, that is what the birth of Jesus Christ is. It invites us to look forward with a hopeful optimism about what lies ahead. It is an acceptance, that like Jesus faced, there will be challenges, there will be sadness, but ultimately we can look to joy. 

For so many, this time is extremely challenging. The first Christmas without a loved one. The inability to buy the present the child wanted, the crowded shopping centre and of course, the cooking! 

However, each of these can be turned into positive experiences. It is all about perspective. 

This year marks the first with two children, but it really is the first Christmas my son has taken too. His new favourite song is Mariah Carey's song All I Want For Christmas Is You, and if he even thinks about playing it after Christmas, I may go into the foetal position. But the song rings true! All I Want For Christmas....is my family around me.....just as Jesus had all those years ago. 

I hope this is your Christmas too! 

OLHC Christmas Mass Times