SECONDARY NEWS
From the Assistant Principal

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

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.

Good luck…

Holy Trinity Show Team

Good luck to the HTS Show Team representing the school at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

U15s & U18s Diocesan Netball Trials

Good luck to all students who are trialling in Armidale tomorrow.

Congratulations...

Bill Turner Trophy

This week, our Holy Trinity Bill Turner Trophy team competed against Glen Innes High on the HTS oval. Our girls showed fantastic enthusiasm and played with determination. Ultimately, Glen Innes High took the win, and we wish them all the best as they progress in the competition.

Mrs Angela East

U15s & U18s Diocesan Touch Trials

Congratulations to all students who participated on the day and to those who were selected in the Armidale Catholic Schools teams to compete at the NSWCCC Touch Competition in Week 1 of next term.

Thanks also to the Year 10 students who helped run the canteen on the day.

Rugby League Players

Congratulations to the rugby league teams who represented Holy Trinity at the Allan Tongue 10s competition. They were excellent ambassadors for the school.

da Vinci Decathlon

Congratulations to our Secondary teams who participated in the da Vinci Decathlon lastweek at TAS. All teams acquitted themselves admirably and achieved excellent results. Thanks to Mrs Hiscock and Miss Green, who accompanied the students to Armidale.

Years 7 & 8

On Wednesday of last week, I had the privilege of taking a team of both Year 7 and Year 8 students to the da Vinci Decathlon at TAS, Armidale. The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic gala day that challenges the best students to use their skills from various subject areas. Our students performed to a very high standard, with the Year 8 team scoring first place in Science and first place in Engineering.

The Year 7 team also successfully took first place in the Art and Poetry section. I want to congratulate the students for their outstanding teamwork and thank the parents for their support in transporting them to the event.

Year 8	Year 7
Ryan Hill	Roxy Pettiford
Ruby Parella	George Xavier
Oliver Sinclair	Korrine Cleary
Savannah Golding	Sophie Foley
Emina O'Neill-Yee	Violet McBean
Dominic Kenny	Albert Taylor
Julian Collins	Pippa Butcher
Kirby Kasper	Jack Sweeney

Mrs Malynda Hiscock

Years 9 & 10

The Year 9 and 10 teams for the da Vinci Decathlon travelled to chilly Armidale on Friday to battle it out against schools from across the region. Equipped with only their wits, these 16 HTS students showed amazing skill and teamwork across 10 academic disciplines.

The Year 10 team of Sasha, Hannah, Aksel, Halina, Alex S, Alex C, Charlotte and Lilly put in an incredible effort and were awarded first place in engineering, art and poetry, ideation and creative producers. An outstanding effort from our Year 10s in a very tough field.

The Year 9 team of Bethany, Kaden, Max, Joe, Kate, Savannah, Seth and Tamsin pulled ahead of their year group and were awarded Northern NSW Year 9 Champions for the 2025 competition. With a slew of victories across ideation, engineering, science, maths, code-breaking, cartography and creative producers, the Year 9 team left with huge smiles and the trophy.

All of these students put in an incredible effort, showed impeccable sportsmanship and were a credit to the school and community. Well done to all!

The results are as follows:

Year 9

1st place Ideation (Tamsin and Max)

1st place Engineering (Kaden and Seth)

1st place Science (Kaden and Seth)

2nd place Mathematics (Bethany and Max)

2nd place Code-breaking (Seth, Joe, Kaden, Bethany)

3rd place Cartography (Kate and Savannah)

3rd place Creative Producers (Joe and Savannah)

Year 10

1st place Engineering (Aksel and Alex S)

1st place Art and Poetry (Sasha and Lilly)

1st place Ideation (Alex S and Charlotte)

1st place Creative Producers (Lilly and Sasha)

2nd place Code-breaking (Hannah, Aksel, Halina and Alex C).

Miss Lauren Green

Street Flag Competition

This year, Ladybug Projects hosted a ‘Youth Week Street Flag’ competition where our local youth from 4 different age categories could design an artwork that would be displayed on a street flag throughout Inverell CBD Otho Street and Byron Street.

This initiative encouraged young people to get creative and close to 100 artists between the ages of 12- 19 submitted their artwork designs.

After many impressive entry submissions, we are pleased to announce that one of our students, Pippa Butcher, won the competition for the 12-14 years category. Her artwork will be on a street flag during Youth Week from the 4th to the 17th of April.

Congratulations, Pippa, and all of our other entries in the competition. Well done to all our students whose designs showed creativeness, diversity, originality and flair.

Pippa's design can be seen below.

Mrs Butler

Living Well, Learning Well Award Recipients

Congratulations to the following students who received Living Well, Learning Well Awards last week at assembly. Students who have received these awards were recognised by their teachers over the term for upholding our LWLW framework.

Easter Fair

Our annual Easter Fair was held last Friday night. Secondary students and staff assisted in many ways, including the following:

The SRC sold drinks and Glo Stix.
Entertainment on the evening with musicians and singers busking throughout the night.
The Vinnies students organised the Easter Egg Hunt and helped with face painting.
The selling of raffle tickets.

Thank you to our volunteers who gave up their time supporting this important school event.

Year 10C Geography Field Trip

As part of their studies of Environmental Change and Management Year 10B Geography undertook fieldwork last Thursday. The students, accompanied by Mrs East, visited Lake Inverell to investigate the health of the Macintyre River system. Mr Andrew Walsh from Local Land Services joined us and shared his knowledge and expertise with us in this area.

The students gained valuable insight into the ways in which the health of a river system is determined and participated in some water quality testing and a water bug survey. Management strategies to maintain healthy waterways were also discussed.

We would like to thank Mr Walsh for giving up his time and providing this valuable learning opportunity for the students.

Christian Living Days

Year 7 and Year 10 each had their Christian Living Days in Week 8. Thanks to the La Sallian Youth Team and Mrs Guest for facilitating and organising the days.

Year 7

Year 10

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.

As parents, we recognise how important it is for you to keep up-to-date on your students' progress in their classes. Google Classroom provides a powerful feedback channel for parents called Guardian Email Summaries.

You should have received an email inviting you to see summaries of your child's Google Classroom activity.

If you accept the invitation, you can choose from daily (Monday - Friday) or weekly summaries. You do not have to accept the invitation; you can opt-out anytime.

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

Stage 4 & 5 Assessment Guidelines

Students in Years 7 - 10 will receive their assessment booklets, which outline the assessment guidelines for the year.

For Stage 5 students, this important document contains vital information regarding the RoSA, Record of School Achievement.

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

STUDY SKILLS TIPS

Creating a Study Playlist

How Music Can Transform Your Study Sessions

For many students, studying feels like a solo journey through a mountain of books and notes. But what if the right background music could make the process more enjoyable, focused, and productive? Creating a study playlist tailored to your needs can enhance concentration, reduce stress, and even help you retain information better. Let’s explore how to use music strategically to boost your study game.

1. Choose the Right Genre for the Task

Different types of music work better for different study activities. For tasks requiring deep concentration, classical or instrumental music is ideal. The absence of lyrics ensures you won’t get distracted while reading or writing. Lo-fi beats are another excellent option, providing a steady rhythm that helps maintain focus without overwhelming your senses.

For brainstorming sessions or creative work, try upbeat instrumental tracks or even light jazz. These genres can spark ideas and keep you energised.

Tip: Experiment with nature sounds like rain or waves if you prefer a completely distraction-free environment.

2. Keep the Volume Low

While music can be motivating, it’s important to remember that too much stimulation can have the opposite effect. A loud, fast-paced song might be great for a workout but can be distracting when studying. Keep your playlist at a low volume, allowing it to serve as background noise that enhances focus rather than competing for your attention.

Tip: Use noise-cancelling headphones to block out other distractions and immerse yourself in your study zone.

3. Avoid Lyrics When Reading or Writing

Songs with lyrics are notorious for disrupting focus during tasks that involve reading or writing. It’s hard to analyse Shakespeare or draft an essay when your brain is processing the words in a pop song. Instead, save lyrical tracks for tasks like organising your desk, planning your week, or taking breaks.

Tip: If you’re drawn to lyrical music, consider songs in a language you don’t speak fluently, so the words become more like sounds than distractions.

4. Build a Custom Playlist

Creating a dedicated study playlist is key to avoiding distractions. Instead of spending time skipping tracks, curate a list of songs that fit your study style. Apps like Spotify offer pre-made playlists for studying, such as ‘Focus’, ‘Deep Focus’, and ‘Lo-Fi Beats’, which can serve as inspiration.

Tip: Arrange your playlist to start with calming tracks for focus, add more energetic songs for motivation, and end with slower tracks for winding down.

A Soundtrack for Success

Music is more than just entertainment—it can be a powerful ally in your study routine. By selecting the right genres, controlling the volume, and tailoring your playlist to your tasks, you can create an environment that keeps you motivated and focused. Experiment with your playlist, refine it over time, and discover the tunes that turn studying into a more enjoyable and effective experience. So, grab your headphones, press play, and let the music work its magic.

Living Well, Learning Well

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.

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.