PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Welcome to Term 1 First Official Newsletter

Week 2 is underway and it was lovely to have our Kindergarten students arrive yesterday. It is a wonderful day for families and our school when students have their first day on their school journey. We pray that the students' time at our school instils a love of learning and develops friendships that may last a lifetime.

Ways of keeping in touch

Please remember our newsletter is published each week on Tuesday. You can find it on our:

Face book page - www.facebook.com/holytrinityinverell

Skoolbag app - download the app and search for Holy Trinity Inverell

If you would like a paper copy please contact the Front Office.

Staff for 2018

In the primary and secondary sections of the newsletter our new staff are welcomed. Please keep in your prayers Miss Toni Palmer who is on leave for cancer treatment this term. Also our thoughts go out to Mrs Tracie Higgins and Mrs Cathy Dyer and their families who have had recent deaths of loved ones.

Student Absences

It is the responsibility of the parent to inform the school explaining student absence. This can be done in a number ways:

Written note

Skoolbag app

Email to absences@holytrinity.nsw.edu.au

Phone call

If the absence is known in advance please let us know prior or within 5 school days after if the absence is unexpected. If students are to be absent for more than 10 school days a special leave form needs to be filled in and can be collected from the Front Office.

Parking around the school

The Police Highway Patrol car has been around during drop off and pick up time. Please be mindful of the traffic signs around our school. A few years ago we received this information from the Police to share with parents about No Stopping and No Parking. Please be aware that the Kiss and Drop Zone is a No Parking Zone between 8am to 9:30 and 2:30 to 4:00pm.

No Stopping – A driver must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a No Stopping sign applies.

This definition is clear. Between the times mentioned, motorist who park between the no stopping signs will be issued with a traffic infringement notice totalling $311.00 and two demerit points. This includes stopping and dropping off/picking up your children in these zones. You cannot stop in these zones for any reason (except for a medical emergency)

No Parking – A driver of a vehicle must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a No Parking sign applies unless the driver is;

dropping off, or picking up passengers or goods
does not leave the vehicle unattended (vehicle unattended means that the driver can leave the vehicle however the driver cannot be any more than 3 metres from the closest point of the vehicle)
completes the dropping off or picking up of passengers or goods, and drives on as soon as possible (generally in a 2 minute time frame)

The No Parking rule is simple. Between the time mentioned, drivers cannot leave their vehicles in these zones and walk into the school to collect their children. If you park in these zones between the times listed, you must remain in or near your vehicle (within 3 metres). Motorists detected breaching these road rule signs will be issued with a traffic infringement notice totalling $311.00 and two demerit points.

Uniform

Thank you to our families who continue to make an enormous effort to make sure our students are in correct school uniform. Last year I put in the newsletter information about school socks. This information is also in the uniform shop:

"The school socks are compulsory uniform items. It is expected that students have a number of pairs to wear when "full school uniform" is required. When accepting a place at Holy Trinity parents agree to: 4.1 “All students are expected to wear the uniform as designated and keep to the presentation and grooming standards. Parents and Carers are expected to support the School by re-enforcing the uniform, presentation and grooming standards with the students.” Plain grey or plain white socks are permitted but do not constitute compulsory full school uniform."

Also a reminder that our school shoes should be black leather for WHS purposes. Please contact me if you wish to discuss.

School Fees

School Fee accounts will be going out next week.

The fees can be paid:

In full by cash, cheque, credit card, EFTPOS at the Front Office by the due date.
By Direct Debit through the school’s banker ADIG – forms available and a calculation of the amount due to cover the annual fees available from the Front Office.
By setting up your own electronically funds transfer to the School Bank account: BSB 082-105 Account 001000467

Please call the front office if you would like to make sure your Direct Debit payments will cover the total of the years account. Please include your family name/invoice number as reference.

It is the Parents/Carers responsibility to:

Adjust Direct Debit payments so the amount covers the annual fees
Pay the fees by the due date.
Advise the school of address changes
Make an appointment with me to discuss any outstanding arrears or difficulties with payment of fees so alternative payment options can be implemented. Special arrangements are only made for one school year.

Parental Involvement

There are a number of upcoming events where it would be lovely to see our families involved. Our Swimming Carnival is always a great night for our families to watch their children and catch up with other families. Please come along.

P and F Meeting

Our first P and F meeting will be held tomorrow in the Meeting Room at 12:30pm (Please note change of venue for this year). The topic will be our Easter Fair. If you have an idea for a stall or you would like to co-ordinate a stall please let the school know or come along to the meeting.

Parent Information Evening

On Monday evening our K-6 teachers will be holding a Parent Information evening. More details are in the Primary section. Please come along and learn about the upcoming year in your child's classroom.

Looking forward to seeing you at some of these events. Have a good week, Jilly.