SECONDARY NEWS 

From the Assistant Principal 

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter to all students and families. It has been a busy and action-packed term, so enjoy the break and stay safe.

Congratulations...

🌟 Student Achievement & Community Spirit

It has been an incredibly busy and successful period for our students across a wide range of academic, sporting, and community events. We would like to extend a huge congratulations to everyone involved in the following:

Community & Service

A sincere thank you to the students who volunteered their time to help make the Easter Fair a success. Your service to the school community does not go unnoticed!

Agriculture & ACS Touch Trials

• HTS Show Team: Congratulations on a fantastic showing at the Bingara Show. Your hard work and dedication to the team were clearly on display.
• ACS  Touch Football: Well done to all the students who trialled for the Diocesan teams. Thanks to students who also helped out in the canteen. Congratualtions to all students who were selected for the ACS team.
• Bill Turner Cup: Our Boys' Soccer team put in a stellar performance against Macintyre High yesterday. Though the match was tough, the teamwork and sportsmanship shown were top-tier. The team defeated MHS 6-0. Congratulations!

Academic & Personal Development

• da Vinci Decathlon: Our brilliant thinkers shone at the recent da Vinci Decathlon! Special congratulations to the Year 7 & 8 teams for placing 3rd overall, and to our Year 9 & 10 teams for placing in several individual categories.

• Elevate Study Skills & Christian Living Days: All students participated in the Elevate Study Skills Sessions and  Year 7, and 10 students recently participated in Christian Living Days, receiving excellent feedback from the presenters. We were proud to hear comments regarding their positive participation, insightful questions, and respectful engagement.

Well done to all students for your "all in" attitude and for representing our school so capably in the wider community!

Good luck...

Good luck to our Chess team who will compete in the first round against Inverell High tomorrow.

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

Student Wellbeing: Addressing the Vaping Trend

At our whole-school assembly last Friday, Miss Bailey presented some information regarding the health, social, and legal realities of vaping. As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, we wanted to share some key insights with our families to facilitate open conversations at home.

The Current Australian Landscape.

While social media often makes it seem like "everyone is doing it," the latest 2025 Generation Vape data shows a significant shift:

• 85% of Australian teens (aged 14–17) have never vaped.
• The "cool factor" is fading, with more students reporting that they find vaping "cringe" or a sign of being manipulated by big companies.
• New laws mean that any vape sold outside of a pharmacy is unregulated and often contains toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and heavy metals.

Start the Conversation 

We encourage parents and carers to use the assembly presentation as a "way in" to talk with your child. Rather than a lecture, you might try asking:

• "What was the most surprising thing you heard in the assembly on Friday?"
• "Do you think the statistics they showed about most Aussie teens not vaping match what you see?"
• "How are people at school handling the pressure to fit in when it comes to vapes?"

Support Resources 

If you are concerned about your child or would like more information, the following Australian resources are excellent:

• The Royal Children’s Hospital - Vaping Fact Sheet
• Quitline (13 7848) - Offering non-judgemental support for young people.
• The "MyQuitJourney" App - Specifically designed for Australian youth.

A PDF of the slideshow presented to students is attached below, along with links to some short clips.

Respect Your Brain

https://player.vimeo.com/video/888901017?h=f7d7e696eb

What's Really in a Vape?

https://www.health.gov.au/vaping/resources/videos/whats-really-in-a-vape

RATE A MATE IN WEEK 8 

This week, students will get a chance to Rate a Mate. Sometimes good deeds do go unnoticed, and at Holy Trinity, we would like to change this.

Students are offered the opportunity to say thanks and recognise peers for the good things that happen all the time.

Students were encouraged to let us know about someone who has followed our 'Rules for Living'. 

This could have included many things - they may have made someone feel safe, valued, respected and cared for, helped someone in their learning, or always show commitment to their learning.

The acknowledgement is anonymous and collected via Google Forms. 

 Congratulations to the following students.

LIVING WELL, LEARNING WELL AWARDS

Congratulations to the students who received Living Well, Learning Well Awards. They are acknowledged via Compass as well as with a certificate at the end of the term.

STUDY SKILLS TIP

Becoming a better independent learner

Did you make the most of Term 1? Time to take ownership of your learning and build confidence!

As you move through high school, becoming an independent learner is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Independent learners don’t wait for teachers to tell them exactly what to do — they take initiative, ask questions, use resources, and monitor their own progress. This mindset not only improves academic results but also builds confidence and prepares you for future study and work. With a few simple habits, you can start becoming a more self-directed learner next term. Parents you may like to discuss each of these with your child in the holidays.  

1. Ask questions that deepen your understanding

Strong independent learners are curious and proactive.

• Ask clarifying questions in class when something is unclear.• Write down questions that come up during homework or revision.• Look for patterns, connections, or reasons behind concepts.

Questioning helps you understand topics more deeply and strengthens critical thinking.

Tip: Keep a “question column” on your notes page so you can follow up with your teacher or research later.

2. Use available resources before seeking help

Independent learning means trying to solve problems before relying on others.

• Re-read your notes or textbook explanations.• Use online videos or tutorials to reinforce tricky concepts.• Attempt a problem again before asking for help.

Trying independently first trains your brain to think more critically.

Tip: After trying three strategies and still feeling stuck, then ask for guidance — this is the “Try 3 Before Me” rule.

3. Set your own mini-learning targets

Small personal goals help guide your study and keep you focused.

• Aim to understand one concept more clearly each afternoon.• Choose one skill to improve each week, like summarising or diagramming.• Track progress by ticking off completed goals in your diary.

Setting targets helps you take control of your learning rather than waiting for instructions.

Tip: Make targets specific, such as “learn three biology definitions” or “improve paragraph structure.”

4. Monitor your progress regularly

Independent learners reflect on how well they’re learning.

• Review your test results to identify strengths and weaknesses.• Check whether your study techniques are working effectively.• Use quick self-assessments to see which topics need more practice.

Regular reflection helps you adapt quickly and improve over time.

Tip: After each assessment, write down one thing you did well and one thing you want to improve next time.

5. Practise active learning, not passive learning

Independent learning relies on active engagement, not just reading or watching.

• Summarise ideas in your own words.• Teach the concept to someone else or to an imaginary audience.• Create your own practice questions or flashcards.

Active learning strengthens memory and makes study sessions more meaningful.

Tip: If you can explain a topic clearly without notes, you’re learning it independently and effectively.

Take charge of your learning journey

Becoming a better independent learner isn’t about doing everything alone — it’s about taking responsibility, using resources wisely, and reflecting on your progress. With curiosity, initiative, and active engagement, you can build confidence, understand content more deeply, and perform better across all your subjects. Independent learning is a skill that grows over time, and each small step makes a big difference.

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.