PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome to Term 2, Week 6!

What a rewarding few weeks we've had at HTS! I always value opportunities for professional growth, and Week 4 provided just that. I had the privilege of attending the Australian Catholic School Principals NSW Conference, an insightful event. The speakers offered perspectives on the future of schooling, the vital importance of staff and student wellbeing, effective strategies for engaging students in their learning, and the enduring significance of faith in education. I am a firm believer in being a lifelong learner, and I sincerely hope the work we do here at HTS instils in your child the same lifelong joy in discovery.

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week: Pilgrims of Hope

On my return last week, we launched straight into the wonderful celebrations of Catholic Schools Week (May 25-31). This annual event is a highlight for the entire Armidale Catholic Schools system, which encompasses 24 schools across the New England and North West regions of NSW. It's a special time to acknowledge the many achievements within our school communities and to express gratitude to the dedicated individuals who foster quality learning and nurturing environments for every student and staff member across our system.

A significant moment during Catholic Schools Week was the Mass held in Armidale on Wednesday, May 28th. This year, we had even more reason to celebrate locally with the installation of the Armidale Diocese’s new Bishop, Peter Murphy. Globally, we also celebrated the recent news of the new Pope, Leo XIV! Our student leaders represented HTS beautifully at the Mass, and Sasha delivered the first reading with remarkable confidence.

This year's theme, 'Pilgrims of Hope,' truly resonated with the joy, spirit, and light we strive to cultivate. As the late Pope Francis so beautifully expressed: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”

Our Director of Schools, Regina Menz, eloquently summarised the essence of the week, stating, “Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate the strong teams we have that work together to help us realise our vision of a Christ-centred, inclusive learning community that supports young people to realise a hope-filled future. The award recipients have modelled the Catholic values and principles that underpin our communities. During this special week, I thank every member of our school and parish community, students, staff, clergy, and our families for the vital role they play in Catholic education in the Armidale Diocese.”

HTS Highlights

Within our own school, my favourite events during Catholic Schools Week were our whole-school prayer at the beginning of the week, which set a reflective tone, and our heartwarming buddy reading session on Thursday. 

It was disappointing that the weather prevented us from holding our annual picnic, but I'm hopeful we can find an opportunity to gather as a whole school community during spring.

Celebrating Our Community's Engagement

I'd also like to take a moment to acknowledge our staff, students, and families for their fantastic engagement with our Year 11 Subject Selection Evening for 2026. It was wonderful to see so many of our students and their families present in the hall last Tuesday evening. This is such an exciting time for our school, and we're really looking forward to welcoming a keen and dedicated group of students, along with their supportive families, as they embark on Stage 6 with us. My sincere thanks go to our secondary teachers, especially Miss Bailey and Mr Baldwin, for their meticulous preparation for this important evening and the entire subject selection process.

Enrolling for 2026: Kindergarten and Year 7

Looking ahead, we're also very excited to announce that enrolments are now open for Kindergarten and Year 7 for 2026! If you have a child who will be ready for Kindergarten, or if you know families who are considering HTS for their children, please encourage them to complete our enrolment forms. Enrolment from Year 6 into Year 7 is continuous, but if you know of students from other schools who may wish to join our secondary department, please let them know that we are enrolling now. Forms can be easily found on our school website or picked up from the Front Office. We're eager to welcome new families into our school community.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns.

Have a good fortnight!

Jilly