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Dear Parents/Carers,
Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the 2017 flood. At the time I thought nothing could ever happen that would be more difficult to manage than that. I was wrong. While the damage wreaked by the flood was extensive (and still being repaired), there was a sense of us knowing what we had to do and we simply got to it and did it. This is not the case at the moment.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the current crisis from the perspective of being the Principal of a school is simply the fact that I am not able to answer a large number of the questions I am asked. The answers will eventually be provided and it is important that we are gentle and patient with ourselves at this time.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
I repeat what I have said in past editions of the e-News that I am serious when I say we will do what we can to assist our families. This will be done on a case by case basis at this time as not all families are impacted to the same extent. It is vital that our assistance is targeted to meet the specific needs of individual families. A few families have already contacted us and we have been able to work with these families to ensure that their child is able to continue their education at the College.
Please contact the Finance Department of the College as your first step before you make any decisions for financial reasons relating to your child's ongoing enrolment.
ICT SUPPORT
Should a student require ICT assistance they are to email ictsupport@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au This address is monitored and help will be provided where it can. It may not be possible for the ICT Department to ‘fix’ every problem as they are not physically present to diagnose the specific problem. They will do the best that they can, under the circumstances. If the issue is a hardware issue, I would encourage you to contact your place of purchase for assistance.
ENROLMENTS - 2021 and BEYOND
Enrolments for 2021 are currently being accepted – application forms can be downloaded from the College Web Site at:-
or by emailing: enrolments@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au
I would ask that you encourage anyone you are aware of who is looking to apply to enrol their child in 2021 to do so now. Again, I ask you tell anyone you know is thinking of sending their child to the College that we are open to discussing their financial position.
Take care and may God bless us all in this very difficult time for our country and the world.
Brother John Hilet, fms
Dear Members of the Trinity Community,
I am sure the current situation is leaving many in our community feeling deeply concerned. We are all striving to find certainty in the uncertainty, light in the darkness and hope in the midst of much despair.
Today I asked teachers to share with me ‘success stories’ or things that are ‘having a positive impact’ in their virtual classrooms. My inbox has been flooded, which is heartening. Below is an example from our resident biologists, who are sharing images from their households and applying their knowledge of structural adaptations.
Had I not asked that question, however, I have no doubt that my inbox would have been flooded by the mountain of negatives and challenges this pandemic continues to inflict on us.
I challenge students to pause for a moment today and think of three positives in their lives right now. This is not to dismiss the seriousness of our present reality, but to remind us that our mindset is perhaps the most powerful thing we have at our disposal right now.
We need to, individually and collectively, challenge our innate negativity-bias and look for the positives. Perhaps parents/carers could encourage their young person to write a list of positive things COVID19 has inspired in the human family, such as caring for strangers/neighbours and the crystallisation of what is truly important.
Questions & Answers for Students:
Q: What do I do if I cannot access Lighthouse?
A: Be patient. Our ICT Team is working around the clock to ensure our systems and services are functioning at optimal capacity. Disruptions may occur due to high demands.
Q: If I am in Year 11 or Year 12 and have a task to submit online but it will not work, what do I do?
A: Remain calm. Call the Office of Student Learning on 66276603. Try emailing the task to oosl@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au. We will support you.
Q: Is my work being set for the lesson or the week?
A: Teachers are striving to set work for the week. This will allow you to work at your own pace and not feel like you need to do everything in one day. We, teachers, need some more time to work this through so it is consistent across subjects and year levels.
Q: Where do I find the work I need to complete and where do I submit it?
A: Teachers have been asked to place the work at the very top of your class page on Lighthouse, preferably in Due Work so that it appears on your calendar. Teachers have also been asked to provide clear instructions to you regarding how the work is to be submitted. We, teachers, need some more time to work this through so it is consistent across subjects and year levels.
Q: I feel like I am getting more work than I usually would at school. Will this change?
A: Yes, this feeling is clear across all of the student survey results. We, your teachers, will do our best to modify the volume of learning material whilst maintaining high expectations about the quality of your work.
From Monday 30 March 2020, English and Mathematics take home packs for Year 7-10 students, without internet and/or device access, can be collected from SJS Office (Leycester Street). These have been prepared and printed for collection. I thank those staff who prepared these packages.
I wish you and yours peace and good health.
Mr Jesse Smith - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Dear members of the Trinity Community,
As we push on into an ever evolving situation, it is very difficult to believe what has happened in a week! Some key themes are emerging as we engage with this ‘new’ way of operating.
Communication
The College’s main structures and channels remain in place. I reiterate the following from the Expectations for Students document in the hope that it assists:
For queries about |
Contact |
How |
A subject, activity or resource |
The relevant classroom teacher |
Lighthouse Social Stream or email. |
A technology-related problem or issue |
ICT Helpdesk |
|
Pastoral concerns/enquiries |
Your Head of House of Tutor |
Email - Head of House List |
Assessment schedules or HSC Questions |
Office of Student Learning |
Email - oosl@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au or 0266276603 |
Personal health updates / status |
Principal’s Office |
Workload
Feedback from students, staff and parents would suggest that managing workload in a blended environment presents challenges. We are very aware of this. Teachers will be typically putting up “chunks” of work that are more than just one lesson’s worth. We are continuing to strive to scaffold and pace the set activities appropriately. I would encourage students to set a schedule, bite off what is manageable and do what they can, in communication with their teachers. We are constantly monitoring this situation and we thank you for your support.
Wellbeing
We very much recognise that we are dealing with human beings; we are human beings. We as a College recognise and promote education and wellbeing for the whole person - this includes ensuring self-care, taking time to have a break, screen free time, remaining connected, eating well, sleeping well, drinking plenty of water, doing some moderate exercise and so on. We are seeking balance.
Thank you again for everything you are doing in these uncertain and unprecedented times. We understand there are many challenges that our families are facing. I encourage you again to contact the College if you are concerned about hardship - including financial. We will work with you.
Take care and God bless,
Mr Travis Lyon - Acting Assistant Principal - Students & Staff