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Dear Parents/Carers,
As you would be aware the Prime Minister and the NSW Premier have both announced that from Monday 11 May schools are to begin the process of increasing the numbers of students attending. The plan is for full face to face teaching to have resumed by the end of Term 2. With the recent announcement by NESA that the HSC written exams will continue as usual there is a need to get our HSC students back into classrooms as soon as possible.
We are currently planning for what this will look like at Trinity Catholic College. We will publish a firm plan for Weeks 3 and 4 and a draft plan for Weeks 5 to 7 later this week.
Please be aware as an Independent Catholic College we are not restricted to the NSW State Government’s plan to bring students in Government Schools back, initially for one day a week. We are free to make decisions consistent with our local context. Please watch this video from Mr Dallas McInerney, the CEO of Catholic Schools NSW who provides some context to the current situation.
In the meantime, I remind parents /carers that the College is open and providing supervision for students:
- Whose parents are essential workers or are required to send their child to school so they are able to attend their place of employment;
- Who are unable to work from home (internet or device issues);
- Who require access to learning support to assist them in completing their work.
Otherwise I ask that you do not, at this time, send your child to school.
RIP – SISTER MARTHA CASSERLEY
It is my sad duty to convey the news of the death of Sr Martha Casserley pvbm. Sr Martha was the most senior sister of the Lismore Presentation Sisters; she was 97 when she passed away. The attached photo was taken four years ago at her Platinum Jubilee.
For many years of her early life, Sr Martha cooked for the Sisters. She was a very happy, down to earth, resilient and compassionate person and along with Sister Eileen Rayner, who cooked for the boarders, was among things, always ready to help the needy who came knocking at the door of St Mary’s for a meal.
May her gentle soul and big heart be with her God. Sr Martha will be very missed by us all. Martha’s burial will be in Lismore later this week. A Celebration of Sr Martha’s life will be held in Tweed Heads at a later time when a Mass can be held. RIP
Brother John Hilet, fms
Dear Members of the Trinity Community,
RETURN TO FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING FROM WEEK 3
I am sure many of you will be interested in the College’s response to the government announcement regarding the staged return to face-to-face learning. Unlike public schools, which are operated by the NSW Department of Education, Catholic and independent schools in NSW are required to formulate their own plans. The College intends to publish a firm plan for Weeks 3-4 and offer a draft plan for Weeks 5-7. It is important to note that the draft plan may need to change as the situation evolves.
Trinity Catholic College’s approach will be guided by a set of principles:
- The decision making process must remain agile in order for the College to be fully responsive to the changing nature of the COVID19 situation.
- The Department of Health’s advice must be followed to ensure the welfare of students, staff and parents.
- The individual needs of every community member cannot be practically met simultaneously; flexibility must be maintained.
- The education of every student is important. Particular attention will be paid to those who fall into one of more of the following categories:
- HSC students;
- Vulnerable students;
- Students without access to a device / the internet;
- Students who require access to College equipment in specialised areas;
- Students with specific support needs; and
- Students without parental supervision at home due to employment demands.
- Blended learning online and face-to-face delivery are distinctly different models that require different approaches by College staff.
The models we are exploring will see both supervision of students continue on site under a blended learning model and the phased return of students in year groups from Week 3. Details will be published soon. I ask for your understanding as the College makes difficult decisions that will not meet every single family's needs instantly. We are committed to returning students to face-to-face learning. We understand this is the best model of delivery for all parties. However, we must return students and staff safely and in a practical manner.
TERM 2 BLENDED LEARNING TIMETABLE AND ZOOM SCHEDULING - WEEKS 1-2
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 & 12
Year 12: the revised Year 12 HSC Assessment Calendar and HSC Assessment Handbook have been published.
Year 11: the revised Year 11 assessment schedule and Assessment Handbook will be published in the next 48 hours.
YEAR 12 MEETING VIA ZOOM THIS FRIDAY AT 12 NOON
I, alongside the Leadership Team, will conduct a Zoom meeting with all Year 12 students who are available this Friday, 1 May, from 12 noon - 1.00pm. Students have been encouraged to submit questions they would like answered in advance. We will also be discussing the latest NESA advice.
Mr Jesse Smith - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Dear Parents / Carers,
ANZAC Day
The College Captains did a fantastic job this year in facilitating ways for the College community to continue to mark ANZAC Day. I commend the captains on their leadership in this space, at short notice and without face-to-face engagement. You may have seen some of the photos and sentiments shared on our College Facebook page. Thank you to all who participated in the commemoration.
- Tuesday - Years 7 and 8
- Wednesday - Years 9 and 10
- Thursday - Years 11 and 12
This Friday would ordinarily see a Pastoral period, so students will be provided with pastoral activities from 12:30 pm, centered around the importance of communication and connectedness.
This week activities encourage good communication. One of the best and most effective things students can do to keep a healthy outlook is to talk to someone. Students will be asked to think about who the best person is for them to talk to about how they’re feeling.
Students can also share what's going on for them in the ReachOut supportive forums or they can use the ReachOut step-by-step guide to talking to someone they trust. Next week’s focus will be online safety.
Please encourage your children to participate in the pastoral activities provided for them so they stay connected and supported.
ONLINE SAFETY
Our young people are spending more time at home- and more time online. There are many ways young people can use connected devices to learn and play but there are also risks. As parents and carers you are best placed to support and guide your children to avoid online risks and to have safer experiences. Below are some parent resources that can help you in this endeavour.
- COVID- 19 Global Online Safety Advice for parents and carers.
- E Safety Parents
- E Safety Advice Booklet
- Safe on Social Parent Toolkit- [subscriber service]
Do you worry about how to keep your kids safe online — when you have no idea what they’re up to?
Parents of Trinity are invited to use their school code and for each sign-up $5 from the sale will be donated back to the school as a fundraiser. Please use the code: TRINITYCATHOLIC at checkout in the 'Coupon Code' field.
Go to https://www.safeonsocialtoolkit.com/ and use the code above.
For the time being, please be advised that there continues to be no canteen facilities available. Any students who do need to attend school will need to bring adequate lunch and snacks for the day.
Thank you for your continued support. Please be in touch if there is anything the College can do to assist at this time.
Take care,
Mr Travis Lyon - Acting Assistant Principal - Students & Staff
and
Mrs Julie Fryer - Director of Pastoral & Academic Care