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Dear Parents/Carers,
From Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi excerpts from his address on coronavirus and Jesus calming the storm:-
“We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “We are perishing” (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.”
“That they may all be one” (Jn 17:21). How many people every day are exercising patience and offering hope, taking care to sow not panic but a shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday gestures, how to face up to and navigate a crisis by adjusting their routines, lifting their gaze and fostering prayer. How many are praying, offering and interceding for the good of all. Prayer and quiet service: these are our victorious weapons.
SOCIAL DISTANCING LAWS
It was announced earlier today that if the rate of COVID-19 infection remains the same in NSW the stricter social distancing laws announced on Tuesday would last until June 29 - the Monday of the last week of Term 2. What happens after this date is still to be decided.
ENROLMENTS / FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
I am conscious of the difficult circumstances many of you may now be facing as a result of the growing list of COVID-19 restrictions. Some of your employers may have had to shut or you are in small businesses. I have heard first hand from a number of our current parents of the difficulties they are facing.
If your intention has always been for your child to continue their education at a Catholic School in their secondary years, do not let the current circumstances stop you. Please be assured that Trinity Catholic College will do what we can to support all our local families at this time. No child should ever miss out on a Catholic Education because of financial stress. Trinity Catholic College has a long tradition of assisting families in need and I am serious when I say we will do all we can to assist families seeking to enrol their child at the College.
Enrolments for 2021 are currently being accepted – application forms can be obtained by ringing 6627 6647, downloaded from the College Web Site or by emailing enrolments@trinitylismore.edu.nsw.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. I ask that you tell anyone you know is thinking of sending their child to the College that we are always open to discussing financial circumstances and don’t let these prevent them applying.
COUNSELLING SUPPORT AVAILABLE
There are three Counsellors available at the College:
- Kylie Crittenden:is at the College 5 days per week) phone number -
6627 6640: kcrittenden@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au. - Tim O’Reilly:is at the College 9 days per fortnight away only on Mondays Day 1.
6627 6632: toreilly@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au. - Jasmine Scheidler: is at the College 6 days per fortnight: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 6627 6652: jscheidler@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au.
There are also many community telephone and e-services that you and your family can access including:
- Lifeline 131114
- Kids helpline 1800551800
- beyond blue 1300224636
- NSW mental health line 1800011511
- Domestic violence line 1800 737 732
- eheadspace 1800650890 eheadspace.org.au
- SANE Australia helpline 1800187263
- Parentline: 1300130052
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,
Today marks the conclusion of “week one” of this new world of blended learning at the College. Yesterday I wrote about the month of April taking its name from the Latin aperire, which means “to open.”
At the end of another full day of Zoom meetings, emails, planning and the many other “realities” this new paradigm presents, I pause to ponder the question: what has truly “opened” for those of us called to the teaching vocation?
My answer to that very penetrating question is found in a quote from Mother Stanislaus D’Arcy, the Foundress of Lismore’s Presentation Community, who said these words in 1928:
“Teach the children that nothing worth having can be attained without personal sacrifice. The aim of education in our schools should be to send into the world young people who are so good and pure and true that the country in which they live will be the better for their influence. Ever advance, ever push on. The teacher who adheres rigidly to a set programme is not a good teacher - go further than a programme. It is so in everything - do more than you are obliged to do. Be ambitious for the children. Give them aspirations and desires for better things. Hitch your wagon to the stars!”
The COVID19 situation has opened up our understanding of personal sacrifice, of moving beyond the rigid school timetable, and of being ambitious in our desire to respond with conviction to the challenges we face. It has also opened up our individual and collective creativity. We will not get everything right straight away - I am acutely aware of this - but we are certainly trying our best to hitch our “wagons to the stars” in order to make good of this complex and dynamic situation.
The wisdom of Mother Stanislaus still speaks to us and encourages us: “Ever advance, ever push on.” And so we must.
IMPORTANT HSC ADVICE FROM NESA
QUESTIONS AND 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.
TAKE HOME PACKS
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 draw nearer to the end of the second last official week, we are no clearer as to what Term 2 will look like. We are expecting a model similar to the present, but we are unsure of what might happen in the time between now and then. The end of Term is always tiring anyway, and that’s without a global pandemic! I encourage ongoing support and balance.
We continue to promote the wellbeing of all, as well as learning and engagement. Heads of House meet tomorrow and remain a pivotal point-of-contact between now and the end of term, as well as into the future. We are continually examining our communication mechanisms and community engagement and I would encourage you to keep in touch. Staff are doing their very best to provide rich learning experiences and feedback to students.
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 |
If you and your family are experiencing particular hardship, please be in touch with the College. We will continue to do whatever we can to support our families.
Take care and God bless,
Mr Travis Lyon - Acting Assistant Principal - Students & Staff