SECONDARY NEWS
From the Assistant Principal

Miss Kim Bailey
kbailey@arm.catholic.edu.au

Welcome Back to Term 2

A warm welcome back to school is extended to all staff and students. It is pleasing to note that most students are wearing the correct school uniform. It would be appreciated if these positive efforts were maintained. Students may wear summer or winter uniform during this month, depending on weather conditions. By the start of June, all students must be in winter uniform.

Students are reminded to check the lost property bin. Many jackets and other pieces of clothing have not been claimed since last term. Please clearly label all clothing with students’ names, enabling items to be returned promptly.

This term promises to be very busy with sporting events and other activities being held regularly throughout the term. Students must use their time wisely and keep good records of their work. We strongly recommend that students keep a diary, either a hard copy or a digital one, to be aware of assessment dates. This should alleviate stress for all concerned.

Please contact me at school if you wish to discuss any issues or concerns. If I am not available personally to take a phone call, the office staff will take a message or make an appointment at a mutually suitable time.

STAGE 6 UPDATE

An Introduction to the HSC Information session was presented to Year 10 today. A parent session will be held this afternoon at 5.30 pm in the STEM Room.

Year 10 will also travel to Armidale on Friday to attend some subject taster sessions at O'Connor Catholic College. Students will be able to talk to senior students and teachers, get an indication of what is involved in being a senior student, and sit in on some classes.

In Weeks 3 and 4, subject taster sessions will be held at school, and our teachers will introduce students to the variety of courses available for study in Stage 6 at Holy Trinity from 2026.

Year 10 Term 2 Calendar & Assessment Schedule

This schedule outlines some of the key events for Year 10 this term. Assessment dates may change, but students will be given appropriate notice.

Year 10 T2 Calendar & Assessment Outline 2025.pdf

PPEP Talk

Polly Levinson, a Clinical Educator from the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, will come to HTS on Thursday to deliver a PPEP Talk to male and female students in Year 9 and Year 10 and Year 7 and 8 girls. These sessions have been very valuable in the past and provided the students with expert information.

PPEP Talk® is the largest pain education program for students in Australia. It plays a critical role in informing and educating students with medically accurate and age-appropriate information. The session incorporates the modern neuroscience of pain, of benefit to all students, to recognise and identify whether their pain is normal, how all the different symptoms fit together, simple ways to reduce their pain, and how to look for further help if pain is severe.

For more information, use the following links.

Pre PPEP Talk® Video:

Please see the link to our Pre PPEP Talk® Video (https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/preppep-talk-nsw/). This is an optional 13-minute video for students, parents, or teachers who want a bit of a refresher on information about periods and pelvic anatomy before the PPEP Talk® session.

PPEP Talk® Next Steps:

As part of your booking, we also offer a FREE follow-up session called PPEP Talk® Next Steps. PPEP Talk® Next Steps is a FREE online session for any student who identifies a complex pain concern or would like their caregiver to know more. Students attend with a caregiver and have the opportunity to ask questions to our Gynecologist and Pain Specialist, Associate Professor Susan Evans. Students can register for upcoming sessions here (https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/ppep-talk-schools-program/ppep-talk-next-steps/). The PPEP Talk® Next Steps flyer has more information.

Next-Steps-Flyer.pdf

Congratulations...

NSWCCC Touch

Congratulations to our students who represented the Armidale Diocese last week at NSWCCC Touch at the Central Coast. They all acquitted themselves very well in very wet conditions. Thanks to Mr Uebergang for organising and attending the event.

Holy Trinity Show Team

Congratulations to our Show Team, who achieved excellent results at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Thanks to Mrs and Mr Townsend and the parents who also supported the team.

Kids' Lit Quiz

Congratulations to the Year 7 students who competed in the Kids' Lit Quiz last Friday.

STUDY SKILLS TIPS

RESOLVING CONFLICT AROUND HOMEWORK

Some of the most common arguments at home (related to schoolwork!) lead to statements like this:

“Stop playing computer games and do your homework.”
“I told you, get off your phone, I can see you are on Facebook.”
“Why haven’t you started your homework yet?”
“What do you mean you have no schoolwork to do?”

If these are common refrains in your household, there are some simple steps that can be taken to deal with this.

Step 1: Family meeting. Both students and parents get a chance to explain what is bugging them.

Step 2: Agree on how much time will be allocated to schoolwork per day or per week.

Step 3: Agree that during this time homework will be the first priority, then assessments and any remaining time should be spent on independent learning (e.g. reviewing difficult work, making summaries).

Step 4: Allocate set times for schoolwork and write these out and put them on the fridge e.g. Monday 4-5pm, 6-6.30pm.

Step 5: Agree that in these blocks of time, there will be no personal technology use (preferably phones switched off and put out of sight).

Step 6: Decide on rewards and consequences if the agreement is not honoured.

Gamifying Your Study Routine

Turn Your Study Sessions into an Exciting Challenge

Studying doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By gamifying your routine, you can make learning more engaging, motivating, and even fun. Gamification involves turning your study tasks into a game, complete with goals, challenges, and rewards. It’s a great way to stay motivated and tackle your workload with enthusiasm.

1. Create a Reward System

Rewards are a simple yet powerful motivator. Set up a system where you earn points for completing tasks, and exchange those points for rewards. For example:

5 points for finishing a Maths worksheet.
10 points for revising a chapter.
20 points for acing a practice test.

Once you accumulate enough points, ‘unlock’ a reward, such as:

Watching an episode of your favourite show.
Enjoying a treat like your favourite snack.
Taking a guilt-free break to play a game or chat with friends.

Tip: Keep track of your points in a notebook or app. Seeing your progress is motivating in itself!

2. Make It Competitive

If you thrive on competition, gamify your studies with a friend or sibling. Set shared goals, such as completing a certain number of practice questions or memorising key terms, and see who finishes first. You could even create mini prizes for the winner.

Ideas for Competitions:

Who can complete the most flashcards in 10 minutes?
Who gets the highest score on a quiz or mock test?
Who memorises a list of vocabulary words the fastest?

Tip: If you’re studying solo, compete against yourself by trying to beat your previous ‘high score’. For example, aim to complete more practice problems in a shorter time.

3. Use Digital Study Games and Apps

Technology makes gamifying your study routine easier than ever. Many apps are designed with game-like features to make learning more enjoyable. Here are some popular options:

Kahoot: Create interactive quizzes and play against friends.
Quizlet: Use flashcards and test yourself with timed challenges.
Habitica: Turn your to-do list into a role-playing game where you earn rewards for completing tasks.

Tip: Explore subject-specific apps like Duolingo for language learning or Prodigy for Mathematics.

4. Design Your Own Challenges

Get creative and build your own study challenges. For example:

Create a ‘study streak’ by committing to 20 minutes of focused study each day for a week. Reward yourself if you succeed.
Set time-based challenges, like completing an assignment in 45 minutes or reviewing an entire topic in one session.
‘Level up’ by gradually increasing the difficulty of your tasks, such as moving from easy practice questions to exam-level problems.

Tip: Name your challenges and track your progress to make the experience more engaging.

Study Like a Pro Gamer

Gamifying your study routine transforms studying into an interactive and rewarding experience. By creating a reward system, introducing friendly competition, and using study apps, you can stay motivated and even have fun while working toward your academic goals. Give it a try—you might just find yourself looking forward to your next study session!

GOOGLE CLASSROOM GUARDIAN SUMMARIES

Google Classroom allows teachers to create classes, distribute paperless assignments, post announcements and class questions, and provide feedback, all through an intuitive, student-friendly interface.

The flyer and link below provide you with more information about Guardian Summaries. Please contact Miss Bailey if you have any further questions or issues.

ASSESSMENT POLICIES

It would be appreciated if parents could read the information in the booklet and discuss the issues raised with their children. The assessment process is similar to that which the students will encounter in Stage 6 as they prepare for their Higher School Certificate.

Stage 4 Assessment Policy 2025.pdf

Stage 5 Assessment Policy 2025.pdf

Living Well, Learning Well

Ready2Learn

Device Policy

Students are not permitted to use their devices unless instructed by a teacher. This includes both the classroom and the playground. The students are aware of this policy and receive constant reminders in Pastoral Care, their teaching classes, and there are also many posters displayed all around the school.

If a student needs to use their device, they must first seek permission from a teacher and use it in an area designated by the teacher. This is usually under their direct supervision or outside the Secondary staffroom.

If students are unable to follow this policy, then their phone is confiscated and placed securely in Miss Bailey's office, where it is collected by the student at the end of the school day.

Teachers record each time a device has been confiscated. After the device has been confiscated for a second time, it remains at school until it can be collected by a parent/carer.