Dear Families

We hope you’ve all enjoyed the sunshine and warmer weather this week, there’s certainly a real hint of Spring in the air. Let’s just hope it hangs around and isn’t simply a teaser before the cold and wet weather returns!

It has been another busy and positive week at Holy Trinity, with plenty happening across the school and lots more to look forward to over the coming weeks. As we move through the second half of Term 3, the calendar certainly starts to fill quickly, with many opportunities for our students and families to learn, celebrate and come together as a community.

Next week will be no exception, with Book Week and our annual Book Week Parade among the highlights. It is always a wonderful week for celebrating the joy of books, stories and reading, and we’re looking forward to seeing the creativity of our students (and families!) on display once again.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our students, staff and school. I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter and the many updates from around Holy Trinity.

Sacrament of Confirmation

This Friday, some of our Grade 6 children will formally receive the power of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Jude’s Church. The word “Confirmation” means strengthening or deepening one's relationship with God. It enables a baptised person to confirm the promises made on their behalf at baptism. It is also a sign of full membership to the Catholic community, an opportunity for the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit to shine through in each and every person, to be Christ for others. St Teresa of Avila adequately sums up for us what it means to be 'Christ for others...' in her well known poem, Christ Has No Body. As Christ offered himself to God his father, so we too are called to follow his example of self-offering to give life to others.

Christ Has No Body

By St Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Congratulations to the following children who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday night.

Avery, Ruby, Lucas, Claudia, Anna, Bastian, Caitlin, Charlie, Dion, Emmett, Hayden, Imogen, Indie, Madelyn, Moses, Oliver C, Oliver T, Patrick, and Peyton.

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

Our Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal has been extended until the end of this week, and we are asking our Holy Trinity community to please consider supporting the appeal if you are able.

At this time of year, Vinnies food supplies are often stretched, with winter placing additional pressure on families already experiencing hardship. While we have received some generous donations so far, our collection is a little lower than we had hoped, and we would love to see one final push from our community this week.

Every contribution makes a difference, even one packet, box or tin added to the collection helps. There is certainly no expectation for families to make a large donation; if every family who is able contributed just one item, together we could make a significant difference to local families in need.

Donations can be sent to school throughout the week, with our Mini Vinnies students collecting everything on Friday afternoon. Thank you to those families who have already contributed, and thank you in advance to everyone who can help us finish our Winter Appeal strongly. Together, even the smallest acts of kindness can Make a Difference.

Staff Faith Formation & Professional Learning

Yesterday, our staff came together for an important day of faith formation, reflection and professional learning. As a Catholic school, continuing to grow in our understanding of our faith, Catholic identity and mission is an important part of who we are and the work we do.

Throughout the day, we explored the lives, faith and charisms of St Patrick and St Francis, reflecting on themes of courage, grace, humility, simplicity, service and accompaniment. We considered how their example calls us to encounter Christ, care for others and creation, and live out our own vocation as Catholic educators.

Drawing on Scripture, Church teachings and the MACS Forming Hearts: Faith Formation Framework, staff also reflected on what it means to move from Encounter → Engage → Embark, encountering Christ, engaging more deeply with our faith, and then putting that faith into action through mission and service.

Importantly, we considered how we can continue creating meaningful opportunities for our students to encounter Christ, deepen their faith and put that faith into action through the way they live, learn and serve others.

It was a valuable opportunity to pause from the busyness of school life, reflect together and renew our commitment to the Catholic identity and mission at the heart of Holy Trinity.

Art Show - three weeks to go!

There is a sense of anticipation and excitement from both our staff and students with our Art Show just three weeks away. The student masterpieces are almost complete! The display boards have been booked in readiness to transform our Great Space and our Meeting Space into an Art Gallery. The viewing sessions as follows:

Tuesday 8th September

Session 1 (Official Opening) - 5.30pm - 6.15pm

Session 2 (Official Opening) - 6.15pm - 7.00pm

Wednesday 9th September

Morning session: 8.15am - 8.45am

Afternoon session: 3.30pm - 4.00pm

Thursday 10th September

Morning session: 8.15am - 8.45am

Please RSVP to indicate which of the above sessions you plan to attend:

Art Show RSVP

PA Trivia Night

Our Holy Trinity & St Mary’s Trivia Night is fast approaching, it’s just over 12 days away, so be sure to organise your table of 10 quickly. If you don’t have a group of 10, no worries at all, you can buy individual tickets. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and enjoy the event. See further in the newsletter for more details and booking information.

Supporting the Combined Catholic Parishes Raffle

St Jude’s Parish is once again participating in the Combined Catholic Parish Raffle, with funds raised this year supporting refurbishment work at our Parish Church. Families who would like to support the raffle can opt in to receive a book of 10 tickets to sell. Tickets are $2 each ($20 per book), with $1.50 from every ticket sold going directly to St Jude’s Parish.

If you would like a raffle book, please complete the Google Form below. Books are ready to be sent home this week.

All raffle books, whether sold or unsold, must be returned to the School by Monday 31 August 2026. Thank you for supporting St Jude’s Parish and this long-standing Parish tradition.

Parish Raffle - Opt in

Save the Date - Dad’s afternoon

We will be celebrating Father’s Day as a school community with a prayer service and afternoon tea on Friday 4th September @ 2.00pm.

Term 3 Parent/Teacher Conferences

As part of our updated Parent/Teacher Interview and Reporting schedule for 2026, our Term 3 Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held on:

Tuesday 15 September | 3.40pm–7.00pm
Thursday 17 September | 3.40pm–6.00pm

These interviews provide an important opportunity for families and teachers to connect, discuss each child’s progress and wellbeing, celebrate their growth, and identify next steps in learning. Bookings will open through PAM next week, with further information shared with families when bookings become available.

We encourage all families to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to connect with their child’s teacher as we continue to work in partnership to support every student’s learning and growth.

Book Week Parade & Term 3 Principal Cuppa & Chat

Join us on Tuesday 25 August at 9.05am on the Basketball Court as we celebrate Book Week with our annual parade!

This year’s theme is Symphony of Stories, and students are invited to dress as a favourite book character. Costumes are available to borrow from the Mini Space to help keep things simple and affordable. Please ensure children have suitable shoes and, if needed, a change of clothes for learning and play afterwards.

Coffee will be available from a coffee van onsite that morning, and families are warmly invited to stay after the parade for our Term 3 Principal Cuppa & Chat. We look forward to a wonderful morning celebrating books, stories and reading!

Planning for 2027

Although we're only halfway through the year, planning for the 2027 school year is already well underway. This includes finalising our Prep 2027 enrolments, conducting staff annual review meetings, and beginning the process of planning class structures and staffing for next year.

To assist us with this planning, we kindly ask families to let us know as soon as possible if your child will not be returning to Holy Trinity in 2027 (excluding our Year 6 students). Having this information early is invaluable in helping us make informed decisions about class groupings and staffing allocations.

If your child will not be returning next year, please email principal@htws.catholic.edu.au at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your support and assistance with our planning for 2027.

Joke of the Week

A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertilizer. A little boy, playing in front of his house, saw him and called, "What've you got in your truck?"

"Fertilizer," the farmer replied.

"What are you going to do with it?" asked the little boy.

"Put it on strawberries," answered the farmer.

"You ought to live here," the little boy advised him. "We put sugar and cream on ours."

Final Thoughts ~ Five Things Your Tween Wants You to Know

The following is adapted from an article by Michelle Mitchell, an award-winning speaker and bestselling parenting author. While the article is now a few years old, I came across it again recently and was struck by how relevant its messages remain for parents, educators and anyone supporting young people.

In 2020, Michelle surveyed 567 “tweens”, asking them a range of questions about their experiences. One question in particular invited them to share: “What is one thing you wished all adults knew about life as a tween?”

Below are five of the most common responses. They offer a valuable glimpse into the inner world of our tweens and perhaps a timely reminder of what they need most from the adults around them.

The full article can be found here.

Message 1: Life is Harder than You Realise – Tweens believed life was harder for them than their parents acknowledged and sometimes felt their challenges were minimised. What might seem small to us can feel very big to them. Make time for regular one-on-one conversations and, importantly, validate their feelings.
Message 2: I am No Longer a Kid – Tweens expressed a strong desire to be taken more seriously and not overlooked or dismissed because of their age. Teach your child practical skills, give them meaningful responsibilities at home and involve them in appropriate family decisions.
Message 3: You are Missing Stuff – Tweens felt that adults don’t always realise what is happening in their world or understand some of the pressures they face. Keep the lines of communication open and, when difficult questions arise, be prepared to give thoughtful and honest responses rather than sidestepping the conversation.
Message 4: We Might Always Disagree about Screens – Technology was a central theme of tweens’ frustration, particularly their belief that adults don’t fully understand how important it can be to their social world. While adults and tweens may not always agree about technology, clear boundaries, expectations and accountability are essential.
Message 5: It’s Time to Start Knocking – As tweens grow, they naturally seek greater privacy, independence and responsibility. This can require some adjustment for parents, but age-appropriate freedoms and responsibilities can provide safe opportunities for children to “spread their wings” while still having appropriate adult support and boundaries.

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

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