Principal's Desk
Happy New Year!
The beginning of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church. This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and it’s time to start lighting the first purple candle on the Advent Wreath, the candle of hope. It is called the “Prophet’s Candle” and symbolises the prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, who waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival.
I invite all families to take some time over the weekend to celebrate this sacred time of Advent. Create your own Advent Wreath and think about all the things in your life that you hope for, and take time to share your faith together.
40th Birthday Thanks
What a fantastic day we had celebrating Holy Trinity’s 40th birthday! It was a wonderful reminder of the spirit, community and joy that make our school so special. Thank you to our students for embracing the day with such enthusiasm, your costumes, energy and participation in every activity helped make the celebration truly memorable.
A big thank you to our staff for getting into the spirit, dressing up, and coordinating all the fun and engaging activities that filled the day. Your creativity and hard work ensured a smooth and exciting celebration for everyone.
Thank you to our parents and families who joined us for the Kaboom Sports event and the community picnic. Your presence and support helped create a warm, family-friendly atmosphere.
A special thanks to our Parents’ Association for running the BBQ and keeping everyone smiling with fairy floss, popcorn and Zooper Doopers. Your generosity and organisation added so much to the day. It was a wonderful way to mark Holy Trinity’s 40th birthday and a great reminder of the strong community spirit we share.
Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a memorable occasion.
School Advisory Council & Parents’ Association Thanks
This evening I have the pleasure of welcoming our current School Advisory Council (SAC) and Parents’ Association (PA) members for a light supper. This is a small way for us to acknowledge and thank them for the time, energy and expertise they generously offer our school. Our SAC provides thoughtful advice and feedback on a range of school matters, including initiatives, policy development and ongoing improvement. Our PA works tirelessly to build community through events and fundraising that directly support our students. Both groups commit their time regularly and often take on extra tasks behind the scenes. We are truly grateful for their dedication.
I also want to acknowledge that finding time to volunteer can be incredibly challenging, particularly with busy work and family lives. Throughout the year, there are many ways parents contribute to school life, some through formal committees, others by stepping in to help whenever they can.
To every parent who has volunteered in any capacity, whether at sporting events, excursions, Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls, community gatherings, classroom activities or countless other moments, thank you. Your support strengthens our school in meaningful ways, and we are deeply appreciative.
2026 School Fees
After consultation with our School Business Manager and the School Advisory Council, I am pleased to inform families that the fees for 2026 have been finalised. Full details about these are available further in the newsletter.
We will again offer a 5% discount on the family school fee to families who pay upfront before 28/02/26. A reminder that there is a Concessional Fee Policy to provide fee remissions from school fees for families who are eligible under the policy (e.g. health care card). Please feel free to make an appointment to see Steve Evans or Rita Sikacek in the school office if you have questions or concerns about school fees. No Catholic child will miss out on a Catholic education due to fees. Thank you
School Counselling Program
There will be some changes to our school counselling program in 2026. Sadly, Shanti will be finishing with us at the end of this year as changes to school-level funding have required us to adjust the structure of our counselling program. Her final day with us will be Monday 8 December, and I take this opportunity to thank her sincerely for the care and support she has provided our community.
Over recent weeks, I have been in contact with CatholicCare, and I am pleased to share that we have secured the services of Audrey Charlton, a student placement counsellor. Audrey is currently completing her Master of Clinical Psychology at RMIT and will undertake her placement with CatholicCare Victoria throughout 2026. She will join us on Monday 8 December to meet the team and complete a handover with Shanti, ensuring a smooth transition for our counselling program moving forward.
End of Year - important dates:
- Christmas Family Night - Thursday 4th December (6pm-7pm)
Just a reminder to all families that our Christmas Carols night will be at St Jude's Church on Thursday 4th December starting promptly at 6pm.
Could all students please arrive at the church at 5.45pm and make their way to their class teachers as they will be sitting with their class for the duration of the evening. Parents and extended family/friends may sit in the pews available. The evening will conclude at approximately 7:00pm.
Please note that this is a whole school event with the expectation that all students attend.
Students may wear anything Christmas themed for the performance. No need to purchase anything new, just wear something that they may already have at home.
- SRC Initiative - Christmas Themed Dress Up - Monday 8th December
To celebrate the end of the school year, the Student Representative Council (SRC) have organised a Christmas Themed Casual Dress Day with a gold coin donation. Funds raised will go towards new sports equipment
- Gratitude Mass - Wednesday 10th December @ 1pm
The students will travel to and from St Judes Church by bus for a whole school end of year Gratitude Mass. Parents are welcome to attend.
Following Mass, remaining in the Church, the `hand over of student leadership ceremony’ will take place. We will also use this opportunity to farewell staff who will not be returning to Holy Trinity in 2025.
- Move Up Day - Monday 15th December
The class groupings for 2026 will be announced to students. Students will have the opportunity to meet in their new class groupings and meet their new classroom teacher.
- Semester Two Reports
School reports will be accessible online from Monday 15th December.
- Last day of School (Year 6 / Years Prep - 5)
Our Year 6 students will finish the school year on Friday 12th December with a Guard of Honour commencing on the basketball court at approx 3pm. We will gather in the Gathering Space at 2.45pm for a short assembly, followed by the guard of honour.
Students in Years Prep - 5 will finish school on Tuesday 16th December at 3.30pm. There will be a Prep Graduation ceremony (Prep parents only) at 9am and a whole school assembly (all parents welcome) at 2.40pm. This will include the presentation of TORCH Bearer of the Term Awards.
Joke of the Week
The new assistant priest, nervous about hearing confessions, asks an older priest to listen in. Several penitents later, his mentor offers a few suggestions.“Cross your arms over your chest and rub your chin with one hand,” he says. “Try saying things like, ‘I see, yes, go on. I understand. How did you feel about that?” The new priest tries out the words and gestures. The old priest says, “Good, now, don’t you think that's a little better than slapping your knee and saying, ‘No way! You did what?'
Final Thoughts ~ The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is a traditional centrepiece leading up to the Christmas season. A candle is lit on each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas. The first candle (violet) represents hope, the second (violet) peace, the third (rose) joy, and the fourth (violet) love. The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ. The wreath itself is also symbolic. The circle of evergreen in which the candles are placed represents everlasting life. The seed pods, nuts and cones used to decorate the wreath are symbolic of life and resurrection, the laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering, pine and holly signify immortality, and fruits (such as apples) represent the nourishing fruitfulness of the Christian life. The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’; lighting the candles on the Advent wreath symbolises the coming of Light (Jesus) into the world. The Advent Wreath teaches us about Christian preparation
for celebrating Jesus’ birth and making our hearts truly ready to receive Him. The Advent Wreath can be a way to involve even very little children in learning about Christian preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth and making our hearts truly ready to receive Him.
Make your own Advent Wreath at home.
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/
Kind regards,
Steve Evans
Principal