SECONDARY NEWS 

From the Assistant Principal 

Year 11 End-of- Course Examinations

Year 11 End-of-Course Exams will be held from Monday 14 September to Monday 21 September.

The exam timetable is visible on the Curriculum Handbook Site. 

https://sites.google.com/arm.catholic.edu.au/htsstudentcurriculumhandbook/home

Students will also receive paper copies.

The exam procedures and expectations are clearly outlined in the timetable, and students and families are asked to read them carefully and direct any questions to Miss Bailey.

Year 11 Family Conferences

Year 11 Family Conferences will be held early in Term 4.

Year 11 2027 Family Meetings

In the coming weeks, Miss Bailey and Mr Baldwin will be holding Stage 6 Family Meetings to discuss Year 10 subject selections and pattern of study for Year 11 in 2027. 

This meeting is an essential opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the pathways available for senior school. We will cover key information regarding course structures, prerequisites, and how to make informed choices that align with your child's strengths and future aspirations. Mrs Townsend will be available if students have questions about VET subjects.

Meeting times will be 15 minutes and can be booked through Compass. Please access the booking system to secure your preferred slot. If the available times do not suit your family, please contact Miss Bailey, and we will do our best to arrange an alternative. It is important to note that these meetings are in addition to the usual Family Conferences, and we strongly encourage attending the conferences to gauge current progress in all subjects.

Please note that attendance at this meeting is a required step for all students intending to continue into Year 11 in 2027. Your participation is vital in ensuring a smooth and well-informed transition into senior studies.

We look forward to meeting with you and supporting your child through this important decision-making process.

Please contact Miss Bailey if you have any questions or concerns.

A NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT VIA COMPASS WHEN THE BOOKINGS ARE OPEN.

Summer Uniform

With the arrival of Spring, students can wear their summer uniform. We remind students to wear either summer or winter uniform, not a mixture of both. It is also advisable to check the forecast, as early Spring weather often brings significant temperature fluctuations. The lost property bin in the Secondary staffroom has a number of jackets and other items of clothing. Please check in the coming days, as all items will be taken to St Vincent de Paul at the end of term.

2027 NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE FORUM

Congratulations Halina Huynh!

Congratulations to Year 11 student Halina Huynh who has been selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program in January 2027. Halina will be attending the Australian National University from January 6th to 14th. 

In Canberra, she will tour science and technology facilities, learn about cutting-edge research, engage with research providers, and participate in social and team-building activities. 

Halina was awarded a scholarship to attend the NYSF, and it covers all aspects of the program.

Halina is the first Year 12 Holy Trinity student to attend the forum, following in the footsteps of her sister, Hannah, and brother, Haydan. 

SECONDARY PUBLIC SPEAKING FINALS

Congratulations to all of our public speaking finalists for their outstanding speeches. The quality of competition was impressive. A special thank you to Mrs Watchirs for adjudicating the finals and supporting our speakers.

A special congratulations to the overall winner in each year group.

House Captain Helpers

Rotary Dream Cricket

Rotary Dream Cricket is an inclusive sporting event that provides students with additional support needs/diagnosed conditions the opportunity to participate in cricket activities, develop their skills and experience success alongside their peers. Holy Trinity hosted students from Ross Hill and Inverell Public.

A huge thanks to our Year 10 House Captains who assisted with the annual Rotary Dream Cricket event last Tuesday. 

Chess Team Victory 

Congratulations to our chess team, who proved successful once again in their latest online competition. Although they are unable to attend this year, they did qualify for the 'live' finals in Sydney.

ACS Basketball Day 

Our basketball teams represented the school very well at the ACS Basketball Day in Tamworth. All teams played with great spirit and skill. Thank you to our dedicated coaches, including Fr. Juvi, for assisting throughout the day.

SRC Movie Night Success 

Thank you to all the students who came out to support the SRC Movie Night. The funds raised will go directly to the Student Representative Council, who will decide which causes and projects to support.

Best of Luck to Year 7 & 8 Netballers 

We wish the best of luck to our Year 7 & 8 Netball team as they head to Tamworth this Friday to compete in the Netball NSW Cup Final. 

Year 10 Legacy Fundraising 

Thank you to our Year 10 volunteers who gave back to the community last Friday by raising funds for Legacy. Students manned stations across the Inverell CBD selling merchandise for this important cause. Thank you also to Mrs Hollis for supervising the students throughout the day.

Thank you to the following students.

Year 6 to 7 Transition

As part of the transition activities the current Year 6 class will participate in some Secondary classes on Thursday morning.  

During the last week of term the Year 6 students will again be visiting for ‘A Day in the Secondary’ when they will get the chance to have some of their lessons in Secondary classrooms as well as getting the experience of moving to various locations throughout the school for their classes.

Attendance Matters

Research indicates that:

• Regular attendance at school is fundamental to student learning. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve educational success and increase their career and life options.
• Student attendance has been identified as an important aspect of a student’s wellbeing, and failure to receive an education has been identified as a risk of harm factor.
• Poor attendance patterns place students at risk of not achieving their educational, social, and psychological potential and disadvantage them in the quality of choices they can make in later life.
• Communities benefit from students who regularly attend school and are achieving. These benefits include greater student safety, community wellbeing, and a sense of connectedness for all.
• Schools, families, and communities can work together to send a strong collective message about the importance of going to school. 
• Promoting the benefits of regular attendance to students, teachers, early childhood centre staff, parents, and community groups will help create a culture where regular school attendance is the norm.

Whole-day attendance is very important, as is punctuality for school and classes.

GOOGLE CLASSROOM GUARDIAN SUMMARIES

STUDY SKILLS TIP: 

Streamlining your digital study life - stay organised and productive across all your devices

As schoolwork becomes increasingly digital, many students find their laptops, tablets and online accounts overflowing with files, tabs, downloads and notifications. A cluttered digital space makes it harder to focus, slows you down, and increases stress. Streamlining your digital study life helps you stay organised, find information quickly, and create a calmer environment for learning. With a few practical strategies, you can turn your devices into powerful tools instead of sources of overwhelm.

1. Clean up your desktop and folders

A tidy digital workspace makes it easier to start homework and stay focused.

• Delete old screenshots, duplicate files and unused documents.• Create subject-specific folders with clear names like “Science – Notes” or “English – Assessments.”• Move everything on your desktop into its correct folder so nothing sits loose.

A simple folder structure reduces decision fatigue and saves time when studying.

Tip: Do a quick “folder reset” every Friday so digital clutter never builds up.

2. Organise your Google Drive, OneDrive or cloud storage

Cloud spaces fill up fast, and messy file systems quickly become overwhelming.

• Create a main folder for the year and subfolders for each subject.• Rename files clearly with dates or topics so they’re easy to find later.• Star or highlight your most-used documents for quick access.

Good digital organisation supports better revision and assessment planning.

Tip: Use the search bar effectively — type keywords like “essay,” “photosynthesis,” or “practice questions.”

3. Keep your downloads folder under control

Downloads are often the most chaotic space on a device.

• Clear out your downloads folder weekly and sort important items into subject folders.• Delete files you no longer need, like old PDFs, worksheets or images.• Avoid working directly from the downloads folder — move files to the correct place first.

A tidy downloads folder reduces stress and prevents lost files.

Tip: Change your settings so your browser asks where to save each file — this stops clutter from piling up.

4. Manage tabs and notifications effectively

Too many tabs and constant notifications drain focus and slow your brain down.

• Keep only the tabs you need open during a study session.• Turn off unnecessary notifications, especially social media or game alerts.• Use tab groups if your browser has them to keep subjects separate.

Reducing distractions helps your mind stay clear and improves concentration.

Tip: Try a browser extension that limits tab numbers or blocks distracting sites during homework.

5. Use digital tools intentionally

Technology works best when it supports your learning, not when it overwhelms it.

• Use note-taking apps, task managers or calendar tools to stay organised.• Try digital flashcards, video tutorials or practice quiz platforms for revision.• Keep your most important apps easily accessible and remove any you don’t need.

Intentional use of technology boosts productivity and helps you focus on what matters.

Tip: Review your apps each term — uninstall any that are distracting or unused.

A calmer, clearer digital space

Streamlining your digital study life reduces stress, improves efficiency and helps you stay in control of your schoolwork. By organising your files, cleaning your downloads, managing tabs and notifications, and using digital tools wisely, you turn your devices into supportive study companions. A clear digital space leads to a clearer mind — and better learning.

Years 7 - 9 Assessment Handbook

Years 10 - 11 Curriculum Handbook (including Assessment Policy)

Please note this also applies to Year 9 Elective Subjects.

https://sites.google.com/arm.catholic.edu.au/htsstudentcurriculumhandbook/home

Ready2Learn

Pastoral Care teachers will be checking in with the students in their class each morning to ensure that they are Ready2Learn. All students have received the information below and were encouraged to show their families and discuss how to be Ready2Learn each day. Pastoral Care teachers will be able to help students start the day in a positive way. Please ask your child about this and support them to be Ready2Learn.

Students are being asked to ensure that they understand these elements and have all their equipment and uniforms by the start of Week 6. The infographic also outlines what to do if there is a problem with doing this and who you can go to for assistance.

Pastoral Care Teachers

 Year 7:    

7J – Mr Jack Jeffery

7M – Mrs Veronica McCormick

7R – Mrs Katrina Richardson

7W – Miss Lisa Wilson

Year 8:  

8K - Miss Kristina Majetic

8M – Mr Ricky Muggleton 

8T- Mrs Jane Taylor

8W – Mr Sam White 

Year 9:    

9C – Mrs Claudia Marshall

9E – Mr Jeremy East

9G – Miss Lauren Green

9M – Mrs Christine McLachlan

Year 10:  

10E – Mr Peter Ehsman

10G – Mrs Hannah Graham/Mrs Nicole Simpson

10S – Mrs Kristen Smith

10U – Mr Blake Uebergang.

Students and parents are encouraged to approach the relevant Pastoral Care teacher for assistance.

Contacting Staff

We ask that all correspondence with staff is via the Compass portal.

Living Well, Learning Well 

Student Wellbeing

Check In Tuesday with the Pulse Wellbeing App

Pulse is a tool for measuring the week-to-week wellbeing and engagement of all our students. It tracks the wellbeing of an individual so that the school can respond if needed. It also tracks engagement with the school so we can make intervene if necessary.