Dear Parents

In the words of Bon Jovi, “Woahhh, we’re halfway there…”, last Friday marked the halfway point of Term 2, only another 5 weeks to go until school holidays!

National Reconciliation Week

This week is National Reconciliation Week. At the heart of reconciliation is the relationship between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held annually from 27 May to 3 June, National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to reflect on how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

The week commemorates two significant milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey - the 1967 Referendum and the 1992 Mabo Decision - both of which were important steps toward recognition and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In - a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day. All In reminds us that reconciliation is not a spectator sport. It requires all of us to step away from the sidelines and take meaningful action to create positive change. The theme also highlights that advancing reconciliation and supporting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is not solely the responsibility of First Nations peoples, who have carried this work for far too long. Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.

St Mary's College Building Program

We are excited to inform our community that the St Mary’s Building Program will commence on Wednesday 3 June.

To ensure the safety of all students, staff and families during the construction period, a number of temporary changes will be in place:

The top gates will be closed and reserved for contractor access only.
The top driveway through to St Mary’s will be for builders’ access only.
The building area will be securely fenced off for safety.

The project is expected to take approximately six months to complete and, once finished, will provide benefits for both school communities. Further details regarding the building program can be found below from Amanda Purcell (St Mary’s Principal).

After 40 years of serving the St Mary’s and Holy Trinity Community well, we are excited to announce the St Mary’s building is finally getting a redevelopment. An Australian Government Capital Grant will be used towards redesigning all the learning spaces, enabling invigorating and purposeful quiet learning spaces for students who are deaf and hard of hearing who require those facilities to support aspects of their academic or wellbeing development. Increased visibility, noise control and reading nooks throughout the building will support students’ visual access as well as creating a sense of safety and flexibility.

In addition, a new multi-purpose project space with a child-friendly kitchen will be built for technology, science or collaborative learning projects inspired by classes or groups from the combined school community. The MPR space will also get a makeover, with more windows overlooking the Harmony garden and new flooring, making it perfect for indoor physical activities or community events when combined with the kitchen and open space of the new project space. Finally, repair to the driveway and renewed landscaping along the northside of the grounds will be an exciting and refreshing environment we can all enjoy.

Amanda Purcell

Principal

ANZAC Garden

Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed a new garden area taking shape outside 5/6 Blue. This new garden is our entry into the 2026 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards. This national competition recognises the work of students and teachers in schools and other educational settings, encouraging students to engage actively with veterans or current-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and explore themes connected to Australia’s wartime history.

As part of the competition, schools are required to work with veterans or current ADF members and create a project that showcases their learning. The 2026 theme is Women in Service, and our 5/6 team has created a memorial garden dedicated to the significant contributions women have made to the Australian Defence Forces.

Projects like this do not come together by chance, and this one has involved an enormous team effort.

First and foremost, a huge thank you to Cassie Bellofiore, Carly Booth and Damian O’Bryan for the time, hard work and energy they have dedicated to this project. Thank you also to the students in 5/6 for contributing their ideas, artwork, and manual labour to help bring the garden to life.

We have also been incredibly fortunate to receive support from many volunteers and businesses throughout the project. We would like to sincerely thank:

Simone & Daniel Devlin
Rob Neal
Hayden Spicer
Syreeta Naidoo
Bluewave Plumbing Solutions - Alex Schafter
Bunnings – Vermont South
Stephen Smith - Mrs Bellofiore’s dad
Members from Weary Dunlop Retirement Village – Graeme, Audrey and Elaine
Jean, great-grandmother to Evie Christie
Current ADF members – Liam, Wade and Shakoda
Moorabbin Signs
Tim Marty Designs
Bob Pankhurst - Mrs Booth’s dad
Robyn Barberis (for providing morning tea for veterans)

We are incredibly proud of what our students have achieved through this project and look forward to sharing the finished garden with our school community.

Attendance

At Holy Trinity, we value regular school attendance and the positive impact it has on student learning, wellbeing and friendships. We work closely with families to support students in being at school, engaged with their peers and making the most of every opportunity.

Attending school each day means students experience what counts - learning, connection, fun and the everyday moments that help shape their future. We understand there are times when children will need to miss school due to illness or family circumstances. Where possible, we encourage families to schedule holidays, medical or dental appointments outside of school hours to minimise disruption to learning.

Sometimes students may feel worried about friendships, schoolwork or other challenges. If your child is well enough to attend school, encouraging them to come along can help build confidence and maintain positive routines and connections. If your child is experiencing difficulty attending school, please reach out to their teacher or our Wellbeing Team so we can work together to provide support.

We know that family life can be busy and challenging at times, and we appreciate the effort families make each day to ensure children arrive at school ready to learn. If your child is absent, please notify the school as soon as possible via SIMON/PAM.

Remember - Every Day Counts.

Showcase of Learning

A reminder to families that our Open Classroom afternoon is taking place this Thursday afternoon commencing at 3.30pm. We warmly invite all families to come along and visit classrooms as students proudly showcase their learning.

Our students are very excited to share the work they have been doing throughout the term. Families are welcome to attend for all or part of the afternoon. You may wish to take your child home for a snack break before returning prior to 5:00pm. We look forward to welcoming you into our learning spaces.

School Closure Day

A reminder to families that Friday 5 June is a School Closure Day. There will be no classes for students on this day. We hope all families enjoy the extra long weekend.

Principal Cuppa & Chat

One of the ways we will try to engage with parents more in 2026 is by holding a series of forums titled “Principal Cuppa & Chat”. These will be held termly and will be an informal way for parents to catch up with school leadership over a cup of tea and coffee to discuss Holy Trinity. There will be no agendas or minutes, and (almost!) any topic is open for discussion. The only protocol of the meetings is that you cannot denigrate any child, any family or member of staff. The hope is that these forums will be a great way for parents to understand the thinking behind school decisions, programs and protocols. The next of these Principal Cuppa & Chats will be on Monday 1st June @ 2:30pm, please put this date in your diary.

Knox Division Cross Country

Congratulations and good luck to the following students who will represent Holy Trinity at the Knox Division Cross Country on Wednesday this week. We know you will all put in a wonderful effort and are very proud of the achievement you have already made. Good luck Indie D, Isabella D, Inara F, Ruby G, Kyle K, Billee M, Frankie P, Meika P, Anna R, Patrick S, Yianni V, Kaya W, Caitlin W, and Xavier Y.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout

At Holy Trinity, we encourage our students to make a difference in the lives of others and to show compassion to those most in need. As part of this commitment, I will once again be taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to support people experiencing homelessness.

On Thursday 18 June 2026, I will join community leaders sleeping outdoors at the Skyline Car Park, Federation Square, Melbourne, to raise funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society. This will be my eighth CEO Sleepout, helping raise awareness and vital funds for emergency accommodation, food and long-term support services.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this important cause. If you would like to contribute, donations can be made here: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/steve-evans/victoria

Mini Vinnies - Food If You Need It!

Our Mini Vinnies students have been working hard on a wonderful new initiative. As a part of our mission to ‘love one another’ Mini Vinnies are asking families to double a recipe to help others. Families who might be in need, will be able to take a meal from the freezer. At various times we may all need a hand, and with the cost of living impacting everyone, this is an easy way to help others in our immediate community.

A big thank you to the Parents Association for their fundraising, which has paid for a freezer to store the food.

What to do if you would like to offer your cooking services (you don’t have to be a fantastic cook). The Mini Vinnies students wish to freeze pre-cooked meals such as pasta, stews, casseroles or anything you love to cook that can be frozen.

Email Andrea Dowling to express your interest in helping: adowling@htws.catholic.edu.au
Your name will be added to a spreadsheet and you will be contacted when it is your turn to cook. Please use a container that you don’t need back and place a list of all the ingredients to the lid as well as the date the meal was prepared.
Donations will be delivered to the office and taken to the freezer.
As soon as we have a few meals stored we will inform you how to collect a meal if needed.

Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF)

Applications for the CSEF fund are still open. If you hold a valid, means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. If you are the holder of a concession card and would like to apply please click below to obtain a CSEF application form and hand it in to the school office for processing.

Applications must be submitted by Friday 19th June, 2026

HT Facebook Page & Instagram

Remember to follow HT on Facebook & Instagram so that you can see our students learning and be kept up to date with community announcements as they are shared.

https://www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityPS/

https://www.instagram.com/holytrinityprimaryschool/

Joke of the Week

A Sunday school teacher asked her second graders if anyone knew another name for God. She was picturing answers like 'Lord' or 'Almighty'. After a long moment of silence a little boy raised his hand and said, "Howard." "Howard?" replied the confused teacher. "You know," continued the boy, "Howard be thy name."

Final Thoughts ~ Filling the Cup

There’s a saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup. As parents, educators and caregivers, we spend so much of our time giving - energy, patience, encouragement, attention. But if we never take time to refill our own cup, exhaustion and overwhelm are never far behind.

Filling your cup doesn’t have to be elaborate. It might be a quiet coffee, a walk, a good book, a laugh with a friend, or simply a few moments of stillness. Looking after ourselves isn’t selfish - it’s essential. When we are rested and well, we are better equipped to support the children in our care.

Kind regards,

Steve Evans

Principal

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