Week 1 Term 4, 2022

From the Principal

Welcome to Term 4.

I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for another busy and exciting term. This week we have already hit the ground running with the beginning of our intensive swim programs and Year 6 Camp. The term ahead involves many exciting incursion and excursions, swim and camp programs for other year levels, Grandparents Day, 2023 orientation, graduation and Christmas, just to name a few. Nearly every week has something extra on so I encourage you to keep an eye on the school calendar so you do not miss any events.

This term we are also going to trial holding our school assemblies on a fortnightly basis. This will allow more time for the students to focus on consolidating their learning in the classroom before the year concludes but also provide extra opportunities for incursions/excursions to take place. Assemblies will be held in the odd weeks (Week 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11). To align with the assemblies, we will be trialling the newsletter being published on a fortnightly basis in the same week. This is now done through Schoolzine which is located on our new School Website. With teachers being able to communicate with families through See-saw and PAM, we have found that we are reaching more families this way than through the newsletter. The newsletter however will still remain an important form of communication alongside our other two mediums. We welcome any feedback parents may have regarding the trial as we go along.

We look forward to an action-packed term ahead!

Staffing Updates

This week we welcomed Miss Stewart onto the Trinity staff as Mrs Wedlock’s replacement. Miss Stewart has settled in nicely and is thoroughly enjoying getting to the know the children in her class.

Congratulations to Miss Rogers who got engaged to her partner Dylan over the break. We wish them both all the very best as the begin this next exciting chapter of their lives together.

Swimming Program

Yesterday we commenced our swimming program at Paul Saddler swimming centre. Students in Years 2 and 4 are currently participating in an 8-day intensive swim program. Parents are most welcome to watch their child swim but will not be permitted in the changerooms with the students. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s class teacher. 

Year 6 Camp to Portsea

Today our Year 6 students left for their 3-day camp down at Portsea. A huge thank you to the staff who have given up their own personal time to attend the camp. The staff on camp are Mr Dannaoui, Miss Gubbins, Mrs Parker, Miss Woods, Mr Watty, Miss Lamb, Mrs Schultze, Miss Collins and Mrs Varsamis. The teacher in charge of the camp is Miss Woods. If you have any questions regarding the camp, please contact the School Office.

Grandparents Day - Save the date

After two years of Covid we would like to hold our annual Grandparents Day again on Friday 4th November. In order to keep our students, staff and grandparents safe, the morning may look slightly different but we will be able to celebrate once again with our grandparents. More information to come soon.

School Closure Days

Each Year Catholic Primary Schools in the Diocese of Sale are permitted to close the School on 8 occasions for Professional Development opportunities for the staff. When we plan our days each year we often try to select days that join either a weekend or the school holidays to enable families who might like to go away to do so. One day we have always taken is the Monday that precedes Melbourne Cup Day.  With the new EBA coming in for schools, Time in Lieu is something that will be put in place to acknowledge the extra commitments made by staff after school hours such as attending camps and special events. To assist schools in being able to cover the projected time in lieu, the Monday before Melbourne Cup has been given to all schools as an extra day that the school can close, but one that staff do not need to attend if they have accumulated the hours.  As a result, our pre-planned focus for that closure day now needs to take place on another day. Approval has been given for Monday 28^th November to be a School Closure Day for the students. Staff will complete their professional learning on this day.

In the coming weeks we will be finalising the closure days for 2023 and will communicate this to families.

Fundraising Committee

The first meeting for the Trinity Fundraising Committee was held yesterday. A group of enthusiastic parents shared their fundraising ideas and experiences and began to plan some exciting opportunities for 2023. The focus of the committee will be to raise much needed funds to further develop our school grounds and purchase the latest resources for the classrooms. This will be achieved by involving our students and families in different events in the hope to reconnect our school community once again. If you are interested in assisting the committee, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Important Term 4 Dates

Monday 31st October                                                              School Closure Day

Tuesday 1st November                                                          Melbourne Cup Holiday

Friday 4th November                                                              Grandparents Day

Monday 28^th November                                                          School Closure Day

Thursday 15th December                                                       Year 6 Graduation

Friday 16th December                                                             Last Day of Term for Students

Tuesday 20th December                                                         Last Day of Term for Staff

Kind regards,

Kathryn Pepper

Religious Education

Welcome back to Term Four.  This term our focus is on Triune God.  That is, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is a very complex concept to understand, particularly for adults, therefore for our students it can be extremely difficult. 

Our presenter for our PD last day of last term spoke to our staff about looking at Triune God in a way that I thought was extremely helpful. So I thought I will share it with our families. 

I have many roles that I play. I am Mr Sharp, the educator. I am Paul, the son. I am Dad, the father to two young children. Each role I play presents different challenges, but also great rewards. Each role is based on love, but the type of love is quite different. 

So to, Catholics believe in God the Father - the creator and protector, God the Son - Jesus who came to Earth to teach through lived experience. God the Holy Spirit- who inspires action that promotes a better world. Each expression is of the one God. Just like each role I play, I am the one person. 

What this requires is faith. Faith is the ability to believe and trust beyond proof. This is what we invite students too be a part of, but we never assess and we don't judge. 

Each person is on their own journey of faith, because it is deeply personal. It can only be developed through experience, learning and deep contemplation. 

God is asking all of us to have faith, has provided some evidence along the way, but it can only be through personal reflection that Faith is developed. We will continue to teach knowledge of what the Church teaches, however, it is each person's choice to respond in a way that is meaningful for them. 

Student Support

In this edition of SchoolTV - MANAGING SCREEN TIME

As a result of the global pandemic, there has been a noticeable shift in the amount of time people spend on screen-based devices. Families are transitioning back to pre-COVID routines but many are still struggling to re-establish the boundaries and rules around screen use. Some continue to deal with digital conflict and tech-tantrums on a daily basis. The latest research found that 77% of teenagers spend more than five hours on screens per day, but it is important to note that not all screen time is considered equal.

Parents play a crucial role in modelling a positive and healthy approach to using screens and assisting children to navigate the content they watch. It is better to model and mentor screen use, rather than monitor it. Children tend to do more of what they see us do, and less of what we tell them to do. However, it is still important to outline the risks and highlight the benefits of screen use to ensure you keep a balanced attitude. Encourage discussions around the issues that people experience in monitoring their screen time and be honest about your own difficulties.

Parents need to remain firm in their approach to managing screen time. Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child’s overall wellbeing. Ensuring the correct privacy settings are in place is vital to prevent children from being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content or online predators. Parents need to also be mindful of the potential impact screen time can have on a child’s social, emotional, educational, behavioural, and even physical domains.

In this edition of SchoolTV, care-givers will be provided with a range of guidelines and strategies to help manage screen time at home.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Managing Screen Time edition of SchoolTV
https://trinitynarre.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/managing-screen-time

Digital technologies and mental health

Learn how games, apps and social media can influence young people’s mental wellbeing. 
This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 10 to 18.

It will cover:

• current research on young people, time online and mental health
• what to do about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders 
• using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing 
• the pros and cons of digital mental health platforms
• strategies for young people to support friends online.

Term 4 dates (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

Wednesday 12 October 7.30 to 8.30 pm 

Monday 17 October 12.30 to 1.30 pm

Thursday 27 October 12.30 to 1.30 pm

Physical Education / Sport

DIVISION ATHLETICS

On Wednesday 14th September, 25 students from years 4-6 represented Trinity and the Cranbourne North Division in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Division Athletics. The students participated and competed against students from over 20 schools in the Casey/Cardinia area. All the students trained hard in the weeks leading up to this event and showed resilience by trying their best, with many students achieving a personal best. Well done to all the students for representing Trinity with pride and for showing outstanding sportsmanship. A special thank you to our wonderful parent helpers, Kate and Dave for supporting the students throughout the day.

Congratulations to the following students for progressing though to the next stage - Region Athletics:

 Illara (6D) - 1st hurdles and 1st long jump

Gabriel (6D) - 1st 1500m

Tiffany (6D) - 2nd 200m

Asmara (5W) - 2nd long jump

Harry (4) - 2nd long jump

We wish you all the very best. Good luck, be resilient and be proud of your achievements!

Mrs Dianna Woolf and Mrs Nicole Cahill

(P.E. Teachers)

Visual Art

Grade Three students have completed these great Artworks inspired by the book-Flashlight

Celebration of Learning

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING CERTIFICATES

    WHOLE SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS

RESPONSIBLE    RESPECTFUL   RESILIENT   SAFE

Congratulations to the following students who will be awarded a certificate displaying one of our four School Wide Expectations.

Birthdays

School Policy

All school policies related to parents are available on our school website.  If you would like a paper copy please contact the school office.  

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

In the case of illness/absence please call the school office by 8.30am or login to PAM to send a notification no later than 9.00am  on the day of absence.

An SMS will be sent (daily) to Parents after 9.30am for any unexplained student absences.

If no contact can be made or no absence is reported the school may phone emergency contacts to ensure student safety.  

If you are going away on holidays you must advise in writing to the Principal BEFORE you leave.  

Thank you.

TRINITY CAR PARK ETIQUETTE

• For greater safety and visibility, we are requesting that all drivers reverse park into the marked bays.
• Thank you all who use the pedestrian crossing area.  You are demonstrating to your children correct road safety practices.  Once children cross the pedestrian crossing into the parking area, they, for their safety, need to be placed into vehicles promptly.  The car park is NOT a meeting area.
• The lane around the edge of the car park (closest to the oval) are for vehicles waiting to pick children up from the Pick-up Zone ONLY.
• The two parking bays closest to the office path are the PICK-UP ZONES.  These are NO STANDING zones.  If your children are not ready to get into your car as you pull up to the pick-up zone, you must continue on and rejoin the end of the pick-up queue.
• There is NO RIGHT TURN when exiting the car park.  All vehicles must turn left for the safety of others and to maintain traffic flow.
• THE GATES CLOSE AT 8.50am. They will RE-OPEN AT 3.00pm. The gates close for the day at 3:30pm. Occasionally they might reopen slightly later due to school activities.
• The Staff Car Park is for STAFF PARKING ONLY.  Please do not use it as a drop off/pick up for students.

Thank you for your patience and consideration of others

Trinity Advisory School Board

Chair  - Kathryn Pepper

Members - Sandy Clua, Kerryn Kelly, Tarika Mahto, Ebony Marcolongo, Gail Rodrigues, Paul Sharp and Brooke Farrelly.