Dear Parents

It’s wonderful to be back after travelling along the West Coast of California for 4 weeks. We travelled over 1500 miles (2400km) in 28 days, with beautiful weather and many highlights along the way. Apart from four days at Disneyland, one of the best stops along the way was Hearst Castle in San Simeon, a hilltop complex which includes a twin-towered main building, three luxurious guesthouses, and 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, and pools. The Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs is also amazing, taking us to the top of Mount San Jacinto with its beautiful views and snow (we went from 25 degrees at the base to 6.5 degrees at the top!). San Francisco is incredible with so much to see and do, with a visit to Alcatraz & Oracle Stadium (home of the San Francisco Giants) two of the highlights from our time there, certainly a place I would like to visit again.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Andrea for her outstanding leadership in my absence. Throughout this time, she led the school with professionalism, calmness and care, ensuring everything continued to run smoothly. I also extend my sincere thanks to all staff who supported Andrea in various ways; their collaboration, flexibility and ongoing commitment are greatly appreciated. It is incredibly reassuring to be able to step away with full confidence that the school community continues to thrive through such strong teamwork and dedication.

Happy Mother's Day

On behalf of all the staff, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all mums, grandmothers, and those who are like mothers to so many in our community, a very special and happy Mother’s Day for last Sunday. The love and appreciation held for mothers in our lives can be expressed in the simplest ways: an extra long hug, a kind word or gesture, a simple message of appreciation, a drawing of times together with mum. I hope that all the mothers received some extra special treatment last Sunday from their families.

It was so wonderful to see so many mum’s, grandmother’s, and other special women attend our Mother’s Day celebration last Thursday afternoon. We hope you all enjoyed the opportunity to come in and share in the festivities as well as experiencing a little of what happens in the classrooms each day.

A very special thank you must go to the Parents Association, especially Gauri & Simone, for the coordination and running of the Mother's Day stall.

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Over the past term, a number of Holy Trinity students have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. This Saturday we will celebrate the Sacrament of First Eucharist at 2pm at St Jude’s Church. We wish to congratulate the following Holy Trinity students who will be receiving the Eucharist for the very first time: Ashton, Emilia, Isabella S, Isabella D, Jasmyn, Jax, Lana Leah, Lillian, Maximus, Nathan, Oliver D, Oliver T, Paige, Parker, and Zoe.

Showcase of Learning

We are planning an open classroom visit for students to showcase their learning on Thursday 28th May from 3.30pm to 5pm. Please save the date - all welcome. The students are very excited to be able to share what they have been learning. You don’t have to stay for the duration of the afternoon so feel free to take your child home for a snack and return before 5pm.

School Closure Day

Our school closure day this term will be held on Friday 5 June. There will be no classes for students on this day.

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.

School Photos

Just a reminder that our school photos will take place tomorrow - Wed 13th May.

We often receive calls from parents in regards to the timing of a particular class photo. The coordination of the day can be difficult as we facilitate staff photos, class photos and sibling photos. We are therefore unable to provide exact times throughout the day. Thank you for your understanding.

See further on for more information.

Please ensure sibling photo orders are placed by 8.00am on Wed 13th May.

Year 5/6 Camp

It was wonderful to see all the Year 5/6 students having such a wonderful time last week at their camp at Alexandra Adventure Resort in Alexandra. The children were beautifully behaved and respectful at all times. A special thanks must go to the staff who took the time out to go with the children and for the hours of preparation that each of them put into organising an event such as this. We have such amazing staff here at Holy Trinity, who give so generously of themselves. A big heartfelt thank you to each of you!

National Walk to School Day

We are excited for Holy Trinity to once again take part in National Walk Safely to School

Day on Friday 22 May 2026. Walk Safely to School Day encourages positive environmental action, better use of public transport with reduced car-dependency and encourages parents and carers to walk more, reducing dangerous traffic congestion around schools. Please read further on in the newsletter for information about how your family can participate in this activity.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout

At Holy Trinity, we often talk with our students about the importance of making a difference in the lives of others. One of the ways we try to live this out as a community is by supporting those who are most vulnerable in our society.

On Thursday 18th June, I will once again be taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout (my eighth!) to raise funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society. For one night, I will sleep outside alongside other community leaders to gain a small insight into the challenges faced by thousands of Australians experiencing homelessness each night.

While one night outdoors cannot truly replicate the hardship many people face every day, it is a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, dignity and action. As a school community grounded in faith and service, this is one small way I hope to model for our students what it means to care for others and to truly make a difference. The funds raised through the Vinnies CEO Sleepout help provide essential support including emergency accommodation, food and long-term assistance for people experiencing homelessness.

If you are in a position to support this cause, any donation – big or small – will make a real difference. Thank you for helping us continue to build a community that looks beyond itself and supports those most in need. 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.

Prep 2027

The Prep 2027 enrolment interviews started this week and it’s a process I look forward to each year. It helps to build a relationship with our incoming Prep students that we will continue to develop and share over the next seven years.

Enrolments Open for 2027

Enrolments for 2027 are currently open! If you have a younger child who turns 5 before 30 April 2027, please come and see Tania, Robyn or Rita in the office for an enrolment form. Also, if you know of anyone else in the community with a child the same age, pass on our contact details– we would love to give them a tour of our fabulous school!

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/

Jokes of the Week

After nearly 50 years, my grandmother has finally gotten my grandpa to stop biting his nails.

She hid his teeth.

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When I was a kid, I had a disease that required me to eat dirt three times a day.

Luckily, my older sister discovered it and helped me stay on track with the cure.

Final Thoughts - International Day of Families

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, proclaimed that 15 May of every year shall be observed as the International Day of Families. National Families Week is held between 15 and 21 May to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Families. National Families Week is a time to celebrate with family, make contact with extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family life.

REFLECTION ON FAMILIES

Families… like diamonds – have endured many different shapes.

Over the centuries the treasure, the gift that is family, is precious, irreplaceable, unique.

Creating strong family bonds is a slow process – there needs to be much giving and accepting, forgiving and healing, illuminated with love…

Families… enable the individual to grow, to move and form other families.

Forming families takes courage, skill, and commitment…

Imagining beauty… and mystery.

Families… have the power…to reflect…’rainbow’ qualities of each person and to be shining light for others.

A family may be lost but not destroyed

It can be discovered and reformed all over again…the search for the perfect family could mean…A person may miss seeing the beauty in the family they already have.

MARGARET MCCARTHY 1994

Kind regards,

Steve Evans

Principal

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