Dear Parents,

I firstly would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to wish me well in my new role as Acting Principal. I feel very blessed to be able to lead this amazing community. It was a wonderful celebration last Thursday afternoon when we gathered as a school to farewell Adrian. The children sang beautifully and had some lovely words to say and wish Adrian well.

Last Friday, Holy Trinity staff gathered at Sacred Heart Primary School in Croydon with ten other schools who are part of the Reading and Learning Collective, with over 300 staff, to learn and share together. We learnt from a leading academic and teacher practitioner, Dr Nathaniel Swain, on the importance of a Knowledge Based Curriculum and learning to read.

Knowledge plays a crucial role in learning to read because it helps learners understand and make sense of what they read. Readers with prior knowledge about a topic can understand texts more easily because they can connect new information to what they already know. It is also important in vocabulary development. The more knowledge a person has, the more words they are exposed to. Knowledge also supports decoding and fluency. Recognizing words quickly and understanding their meaning helps improve reading fluency, making reading smoother and more efficient.

Buddy Breakfast

This morning saw our Grade 6 and Prep students gather for a light breakfast of pancakes and fruit. The children enjoyed meeting each other’s families and the preps loved their new bears. Buddy programs in primary schools pair older students with younger students to provide mentorship, support, and social connection. These programs offer a wide range of benefits for both younger and older students, as well as for the school community as a whole.

Younger students feel more secure knowing they have an older buddy to guide and support them. It also helps new or younger students adjust to school life, reducing anxiety and loneliness, encouraging positive relationships and a sense of belonging. The year 6 students act as positive role models to the younger students. Older students demonstrate kindness, responsibility, and leadership, which younger students can learn from. For our older students it is an opportunity to develop leadership skills and encourage responsibility, patience, and problem-solving skills. It provides students with a sense of purpose and achievement, helping younger peers foster a sense of pride and accomplishment.

SRC Badges and Certificates

Students who have been nominated for the Student Representative Council (SRC) for 2025 will receive their badges at this week’s Friday assembly. Being a part of the SRC helps to develop lifelong leadership skills. It allows students to represent their peers, contribute their ideas and voice concerns to school leaders. A key role is also in helping to organise events, projects, and initiatives for student wellbeing.

Years 3-6 Athletics Day - Parent Volunteers Needed

We are seeking parent volunteers to assist with our upcoming Years 3-6 Athletics Day on Thursday, 13th March. To ensure the day runs smoothly and efficiently, we need as much parent support as possible to help with timing races, measuring field events, and general assistance. No prior experience is required—just enthusiasm and a willingness to help! Your support will make a huge difference in providing a great experience for our students.

Volunteer Requirements: All volunteers must hold a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). These are FREE for volunteers and can be easily obtained online via the Service Victoria website: https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au or in person at a post office.

If you are available to help, please email Liz Humphris at lhumphris@htws.catholic.edu.au or call 9801 8296.

We truly appreciate your support and look forward to working together to make this event a success!

School Traffic

We continue to remind families about the traffic rules and council regulations. While we are not authorised to manage or control traffic, we want to remind all parents to adhere to parking and traffic rules for the safety of all motorists and pedestrians. A reminder of the importance of the need to `keep clear’ of the supervised school crossing at all times. Motorists also need to `keep clear’ of residential driveways and entry to footpaths.

We have received communication from parents upset at fines that have been issued. We do have conversations with the council to ensure the best outcomes for our community but please be mindful of observing traffic rules. The traffic is regularly monitored by the local council and fines will be issued.

Dental Van

A reminder that all Dental Van forms must be returned. They will be forwarded to the Dental Van organisation this Thursday.

HT Facebook Page

We will be sharing our students learning and community announcements on our new Facebook page, please make sure you give it a like, follow and a share.

Here is the link for the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/share/15xZtYHPA2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Warm Regards,

Natalie Ballinger

Acting Principal

Time to eXcel

Harmony Day