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Dear Parents/Carers,
ANZAC DAY 2020
On Anzac Day, we remember and commemorate the contribution of all Australian service men and women who have served our country in times of war and peace, and for the many who have given their lives.
In the words of Pope Francis, we hope for peace across the world.
"Our human community bears, in its memory and its flesh, the scars of ever more devastating wars and conflicts that affect especially the poor and the vulnerable. Entire nations find it difficult to break free of the chains of exploitation and corruption that fuel hatred and violence. Even today, dignity, physical integrity, freedom, including religious freedom, communal solidarity and hope in the future are denied to great numbers of men and women, young and old. Many are the innocent victims of painful humiliation and exclusion, sorrow and injustice, to say nothing of the trauma born of systematic attacks on their people and their loved ones.
Setting out on a journey of peace is a challenge made all the more complex because the interests at stake in relationships between people, communities and nations, are numerous and conflicting. We must first appeal to people’s moral conscience and to personal and political will. Peace emerges from the depths of the human heart and political will must always be renewed, so that new ways can be found to reconcile and unite individuals and communities.
The journey of reconciliation calls for patience and trust. Peace will not be obtained unless it is hoped for. In the first place, this means believing in the possibility of peace, believing that others need peace just as much as we do. Here we can find inspiration in the love that God has for each of us: a love that is liberating, limitless, gratuitous and tireless."
Pope Francis - Message for the 53rd World Day of Peace, 1 January 2020
I commend the work of our College Captains in providing opportunities for our students to participate in the Anzac Day from home.
Bishop Homeming will be celebrating the Anzac Day Mass at 11am on Saturday 25 April. This will be live streamed and can be accessed at this link.
TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL: ON-LINE CLASSES STARTING MONDAY 27 APRIL 2020
Our approach to Term 2 was outlined in a letter I sent on Thursday 23 April. This can be accessed at this link.
HEALTH REMINDER
If your child is sick or exhibits any symptoms of being unwell, they must not come to school. You must keep them at home and away from others.
If a student falls ill while at school or exhibits symptoms of being unwell, the current procedures apply and a parent or guardian will be contacted to attend and collect the student. If the parent or guardian is not available to collect the student, contact will be made with the student’s emergency contact who will be asked to collect the child.
Your co-operation and support in this matter is appreciated.
The student should not return to school until they are well and symptom free.
RECEPTION
The reception on the St Mary’s Site remains closed – the front door to the St Mary’s Site will be locked and all visitors are directed to go to the reception on the St Joseph’s Site. All phone calls into the College will now be re-directed to the SJS office area.
TERM 2 – ACTING POSITIONS
There is a need during Term 2 for the appointment of staff for two replacement positions. These being:
- Acting Assistant Principal Students and Staff (APSS) – Mr. Travis Lyon has been appointed to this position until Marina is able to work on site again. Please communicate directly with Travis in relation to matters relating to the role of APSS.
- Acting Director of Pedagogy (DOP) – Ms. Katie McCloskey has been appointed to this position until Travis resumes his role as Director of Pedagogy. Please communicate directly with Katie in relation to matters relating to the role of DOP.
I thank both Mr Lyon and Ms McCloskey for being willing to take on these roles at this time.
ENROLMENTS – 2020 AND BEYOND
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 who is thinking of sending their child to the College that we are always open to discussing financial circumstances and don’t let these difficult times prevent them applying.
Enrolments for 2021 and beyond are currently being accepted – application forms can be obtained by ringing 6627 6647, downloaded from the College Web Site or by emailing enrolments@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au
HELP AVAILABLE
We are conscious that a number of families are now facing difficult financial circumstances and some families have already been in contact with us. Please be assured that all enquiries are treated confidentially and we will do what we can to support 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.
Simply contact the College and ask to speak with Mrs Kay McLennan in the Finance Office or email financedebtors@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au
Brother John Hilet, fms
Dear Members of the Trinity Community,
I hope this finds you and your family members safe and well.
TERM 2 BLENDED LEARNING TIMETABLE AND ZOOM SCHEDULING - WEEKS 1-2
Following a lot of feedback and research into the impacts of home learning on students, staff and parents, the Leadership Team has worked during the holidays to provide a daily structure for students learning from home. It is aimed to help students manage their time, provide regular interaction, maintain their overall wellbeing and assist them to engage in their blended learning.
After many iterations, and in full knowledge that no single option will suit every person, this Blended Learning Timetable model has been adopted. Key features of new Blended Learning Timetable:
- Mornings are quarantined for organisation.
- Teachers can book Zoom lessons in Periods 2-5 only.
- Friday afternoons have been left free.
- Tutors are asked to Zoom with their Tutor groups once a week, and for Pastoral Time.
- Students are to attend Zooms. If they are unable to attend, they are asked to email their class teacher.
USE OF ZOOM IN TERM 2 - GUIDELINES AND INFOGRAPHICS
Please read this letter regarding the use of Zoom in Term 2. Should you have questions, or you do not wish for your child/ren to participate in any Zoom conferences, please contact principal@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au so that relevant class teachers are made aware of your intention. Parent infographic. Student infographic.
ASSESSMENT YEAR 7-10
Formal assessment tasks, as per the published assessment calendars for students in Year 7-10, will not proceed in Term 2. Students are to undertake the learning experiences provided by their teachers in the Blended Learning Model and will be reported on against descriptors of achievement for each subject area. It is very important students in these years engage with the learning experiences set and show evidence of their learning.
ASSESSMENT YEAR 11 AND 12
Formal assessment tasks will continue in Term 2 for students in Year 11 & 12. Amended Handbooks with assessment grids and revised Assessment Calendars will be released to students and parents in Week 1.
HSC ADVICE AND UPDATES
The latest NESA advice is here. The NESA COVID19 Response Committee met again today.
I take this opportunity to respectfully acknowledge our military service personnel - past, present and emerging - and their families, as we approach ANZAC Day. I encourage all members of our Trinity community to show their respects on 25 April in whatever meaningful way is possible. I commend the College Captains for their leadership of the College’s ANZAC initiatives and encourage broad participation.
Lest we Forget.
Mr Jesse Smith - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Our College along with school communities around Australia is currently facing unprecedented changes due to coronavirus (COVID-19). We appreciate that for parents and carers the changes are no less significant and that you too may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, scared, uncertain or stressed, wondering what life will look like in the next few weeks and months.
What is certain is that we are all dealing with a new learning landscape, reduced physical and social interaction and intense media coverage. We understand the importance of supporting the students and members of our school community to feel a sense of control, and to develop strategies for maintaining their own wellbeing.
For students ReachOut has created a series of articles targeted specifically for young adults ‘Coping during coronavirus’ and they can also join other young people in the Reach Out Organisation’s peer support forums. Links for these supports are available on the Student Wellbeing Page via Lighthouse.
ReachOut Parents articles are available on topics including how to talk to your teenager about coronavirus, which will help them to support their teens during this uncertain time.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CARERS FROM THE BLACKDOG INSTITUTE
Managing Your Mental Health at Home
A Weekly Mental Health Check-in
As you head into the second week of the term break we encourage you to take some time for yourself where possible. Try some mindfulness:
- Mindfulness in Everyday Life
- Do nothing for 2 minutes
- Join The BlackDog Institutes BiteBack Mental Health Fitness Challenge
The NSW Government Education Website also provides some helpful links to apps and sites to support family wellbeing while learning remotely. This site includes helpful phone contacts, agencies, websites and apps that support mental health and wellbeing in these changing times.
ANZAC DAY 2020
Though the RSL has regretfully had to cancel ANZAC Day ceremonies broadly, Australians everywhere are still interested in paying their respects in whatever imaginative ways possible.
Our College Captains, in collaboration with other members of the Trinity Community have been working hard to ensure that the College is one such body that is able to recognise the sacrifice and commitment of the ANZACS.
Some ways in which the Captains are planning to facilitate commemoration include:
- Messages to Veterans - students and families are encouraged to either write messages of thanks and support to any veterans they might know personally, and / or write to an RSL Sub-Branch.
- Community Padlet - messages of support will be pinned to a ‘Padlet’ page and captured for distribution with a wider audience at a later date. The Padlet can be found on the Student Wellbeing Page on Lighthouse.
- Dawn Photos - students are encouraged to support the initiative of taking a photo of themselves in their College uniform at dawn on ANZAC Day, the 25th of April. These photos displaying students paying their respects can then be securely submitted via a Google form for possible posting to the College’s Facebook page. Students will be provided with this form via the Principal’s Office.
- Prayer - the College Captains, in concert with the College’s Ministry Team will be communicating a prayer message on ANZAC Day in line with the themes of the day.
The captains have done a fantastic job in organising, during their holidays, some ways to ensure that the ANZAC tribute lives on and they are to be commended.
RETURN TO SCHOOL - TERM 2
- The details for returning to school are in the Principal’s section of this communique.
- The first two weeks will mirror that of the end of Term 1 - the College is open for any student who needs to attend in order to allow their parent / carer to work.
- Further details pertaining to Weeks 3 and 4 will be forthcoming.
- Safety, wellbeing and health for all remains paramount.
Mrs Julie Fryer - Director of Pastoral Academic Care
and
Mr Travis Lyon - Acting Assistant Principal - Students & Staff
Religious Education and Mission Update
Easter Message of Hope
The early Christians who faced many challenges, fears and uncertainties prayed in their homes. Once more, in this troubling time of COVID-19, we are called on to pray in the “domestic church,” the family home. Even in the midst of isolation and being apart, we like them can be uplifted by always remembering the words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel
“Where two or three are gathered in my name,
there I am among them.” (Matt 18:20)
The Easter message of hope that we have just celebrated does not guarantee immunity from hardships and difficulties but it does give us a unique way of viewing our experiences.
Mark Elliot of Marist Schools Australia expressed this in his letter to Schools as we commence Term Two;
“It’s also a time to remind our colleagues and students that the Christian conception of hope is not that things will necessarily turn out as well as we would like every time but rather, the certainty that what we experience will make sense regardless of how it turns out.”
He goes on to point out the positives of this experience;
“These times have presented us with some remarkable opportunities; to slow the pace, reconnect with our friends and family, re-discover our local area and community; offer and receive support to and from our neighbours. In short, to slow down and simplify our lives.”
We are living a painful paradox that we would not have imagined; to survive we are required to isolate ourselves from one another, but we are also quickly realizing how essential for our lives is life with others.
I encourage all as members of the Trinity community to look after one another and those who need our support and prayers at this time.
PRAYER TO OUR LORD FOR THE GRACE OF HEALING AND PROTECTION
Jesus Christ, you travelled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness”. At your command, the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbours from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.
Stay with us Lord, and grant us your peace.
Amen.
Venerable Nano Nagle and
Saint Marcellin Champagnat Pray for Us
And let us always remember To Pray for One Another
I have included a copy of a prayer sheet based around the Gospel reading for this Sunday 26th April. It tells the story of the encounter by disheartened disciples with Jesus after the Resurrection. It contains a powerful message to be open to recognising the face of God even in times of difficulty.
Mr Tom Gahan - Assistant Principal - Religious Education & Mission