Dear Members of the Trinity Family,

Over 2 billion Christians throughout the world will journey with Jesus this week as he enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, as he is betrayed by Judas, as he washes the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, as he is put to death by the Romans on Calvary, and as he is placed in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea. On the surface, there are few traces of holiness in “Holy Week.”

If our gaze shifts from those perpetrating Jesus’ betrayal, arrest and death to Jesus himself then our perspective will also shift: rather than seeing Judas’ betrayal we will witness Christ’s faithfulness in God-the-father; rather than seeing the powerplay of Pontius Pilate we will witness the humility of Christ; rather than seeing pain and suffering of the crucifixion we will see the path to eternal salvation; rather than seeing the stone covering the tomb’s entryway we will see the emptiness of the tomb and reality that life will always overcome death.

There is no doubt the scriptures that outline the Passion of Jesus Christ are dramatic, but the events that they recall are truly dramatic in nature. Historically, the western world has been shaped by the events of this week for over two millennia, so it is appropriate for us to pause and reflect on the meaning it provides in our lives.

The natural world repeatedly teaches us that life conquers death. Shoots of new life will eventually overcome a fire’s destructive force. A butterfly is the new life that comes from the death of the caterpillar. The resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter morning is the gateway to eternal life and the emphatic response to death on Calvary. 

The Irish poet, philosopher and priest, John O’Donohue, offered the following Dawn Mass Reflection in his book Walking in Wonder - Walking on the Pastures of Wonder.

On Easter morning, let us look again at the lives we have been so generously given and let us let fall away the useless baggage that we carry -- old pains, old habits, old ways of seeing and feeling -- and let us have the courage to begin again. Life is very short, and we are no sooner here than it is time to depart again, and we should use to the full the time that we still have.

During this time of Easter, let us reflect and give thanks for the opportunity to renew our faith, our hopes, our relationships and our lives. May the gift of life and its preciousness not be lost on any of us this Easter.

Open Night

Thank you to the over 500 guests who joined us for our 2024 Open Night. Our 200+ students were great ambassadors and worked wonderfully with our staff to make the night a significant success. Thank you to everyone involved, particularly our staff who worked hard behind the scenes to prepare the various displays and activities. Applications for 2025 are now being accepted and will be processed as per the following timeline:

It is vital that all applications for Year 7, 2025, are submitted according to the timeline as places are limited. 

All enrolment enquiries are best directed to our Enrolments Officer via email - enrolments@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au - or phone: 02) 6627 6647. Applications can be made through our College website.

Deepfakes & Artificial Intelligence

The College has engaged Kirra Pendergast, CEO/Founder of Safe on Social Media and The Online Safety Agency, to assist us with a range of e-safety resources, reviews, policies and education programs. Considering the significant challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) deepfake bullying among students and teachers, and the noticeable uptick in scams, Kirra Pendergast has developed several new resources for staff, students and parents. The links to these are here:

• Deepfake Bullying - Students
• Beware of the Pineapple and the Perils of Public WiFi
• Code Generator Scam
• What is a Pig Butchering Scam.

I strongly encourage parents/carers to discuss and use these resources. In Term 2 Kirra will be speaking to all Trinity students, staff and a parent evening is also being planned. Remaining vigilant in this area is key to everyone’s ongoing safety online.

Santa Teresa Immersion

At present, we have eight students and two staff - Ava Smith, Sienna Gorman, Isabella Rixon, Pippa Kennedy, Harvey McPhee, Keira Higham, Olivia Whalley, Zachary Rowsell, Mrs Annette White & Mr Peter Everingham - walking alongside the wonderful people of Ltyentye Apurte or Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is an Eastern Arrernte community 85 kilometres south east of Alice Springs on Arrernte country. Established by a Catholic Mission in the 1950s, Santa Teresa citizens identify as Indigenous Catholics. Our Immersion Team has the privilege of working in the community, particularly at the Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School.

Our team is hosted by the local Parish and Marist Brothers Community. The Marist Brothers first arrived in Alice Springs in 1982 and established the city’s Catholic secondary school, now known as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College. Soon after arrival, the Brothers were invited to consider establishing a community at Santa Teresa. This they did and since then have been involved in the Catholic School that educates the local children. We look forward to hearing their stories when they return in Week 10.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Save the date for the College’s annual Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 10 May.  A formal invitation will be emailed in due course for RSVPs.  

Child Safeguarding

The College, like all child-safe organisations, is investing significant time and resources into the implementation of the Child Safe Standards. Our website contains our Statement of Commitment and further policies and procedures that inform our approach to this important work.

Uniform & Presentation

I ask that all students present in accordance with the College uniform and grooming policy, with particular attention being paid to hairstyles (neat and appropriate) and jewellery (no facial piercings). The College’s uniform policy can be found on the College website. It is vital that we maintain high standards in all areas of College life, including uniform and presentation.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the College. May Venerable Nano Nagle, St Marcellin Champagnat and Mary our Good Mother continue to watch over our Trinity community.

Jesse Smith

IMMERSION TEAM  SETS OFF

2024 IMMERSION TEAM
Sienna Gorman	Keira Higham	Pippa Kennedy	Harvey McPhee	Isabella Rixon
Zac Rowswell	Ava Smith	Olivia Whalley	Mr Peter Everingham	Mrs Annette White

Ltyentye Apurte Community, Northern Territory

Last Friday 22nd March, our Immersion Team journeyed to the Indigenous community of Ltyentye Apurte also known as Santa Teresa in the Northern Territory. The team will spend 7 days walking alongside the Eastern Arrernte People and offering assistance in the community. This visit  is a part of the Australian Marist Solidarity program. The ultimate aim of an immersion experience is solidarity, that is, forming mutual relationships of love and respect with people from other cultures within their community. Through this the pilgrims will be guided by the Immersion motto ‘to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly’ with each other, God and the people of the Ltyentye Apurte. The group will also be able to visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta while they are visiting the Northern Territory.  We keep this group and the community they will visit, in our prayers.

FRANK WESTON COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
In Week 5, the Lismore Lions Club came to Trinity to present two Community Service  Awards. Lions Club President Ms Elaine Bullman and Member Ms Maureen Hamilton presented Year 9 students Ruby Nicholson and Brooke Wilson awards for their tremendous effort in giving back to the community in 2023. Trinity’s In Word and Deed Community Service Program encourages each student to complete a minimum of 10 hours in the community each year. Ruby and Brooke amassed more than 300 hours each. Congratulations to Ruby and Brooke on an outstanding effort.

PROJECT COMPASSION - LENTEN FOCUS

Thank you to the many families who have supported the College’s Annual Lenten Appeal for Caritas’ Project Compassion. Students have been learning about the three women and their communities who have been the focus of our help in 2024. If you would like to make a contribution to the Lenten Appeal you can donate directly here Project Compassion | Donate Now | Caritas Australia.

HOLY THURSDAY LITURGY

Staff and students came together on Holy Thursday for our Easter Liturgies in the Whitebrook Theatre. In this moving liturgy, we focused on Jesus’ servant leadership in the reenactment of the Washing of the Feet. Our School and Ministry Captains, along with some staff members modelled the washing of the feet of others, the need to humble ourselves in our relationships to show our commitment to and love of others, in the true spirit of Christ. 

We invite you to participate in the Easter celebrations in your local Church community. Please check your Parish website for times.

Wishing families a happy and Holy Easter.

Mrs Annette White - Director of Mission

Dear Members of the Trinity Community,

As we come to the final weeks of Term 1, we invite all of our students to think about the learning opportunities that have transpired this Term and those that await. There are many opportunities for students to learn and grow both in and out of the classroom. As we refresh for a new Term, all students are encouraged to continue to push out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Open Night Subject Displays

Naplan Wrap Up

NAPLAN Testing took place over the last 2 weeks. Congratulations to all of our Year 7 and Year 9 students who took part in this testing. We are extremely proud of your efforts and your conduct during NAPLAN. Teachers will use these results, when they are released later in the year, to determine how students can be better supported in their Literacy and Numeracy.

Reports

Classroom Teachers are currently working on Year 12 Semester 1 reports and Year 7 to 11 Term 1 Interim Reports. These reports will be published for parents at the start of Term 2. 

The Year 12 Semester 1 Reports will focus on the students Term 4 (2023) and Term 1 (2024) academic progress and assessment results.

The Year 7-11 Interim Report will provide important feedback to students and families regarding:

• Academic progress.
• Effort and participation in class.
• Completion of homework and tasks.
• Cooperation with teachers and class members.
• Organisation and preparation for class.
• Appropriate use of technology for learning activities.

A three-tier scale will be used to report on each item: commendable, satisfactory and needs improvement.

Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews

Thank you to Year 7 and 8 parents/carers who meet with teachers in Week 8.  We trust the feedback and discussions were valuable.  The opportunity for parents/carers of Years 9 - 12 will be Week 3 Term 2 on 14 May and Week 4 Term 2 20 May.  You will be advised in due course how to book appointments with teachers. 

Year 10 Work Experience

In Week 11 Year 10 students will undertake Work Experience with employers both across our region and beyond. We wish them all the very best and encourage them to make the most of the wonderful opportunities that await them.

Year 11 Exam Block - Logistics

This examination block will be held in Week 11 from 8 April to 12 April.  The timetable is here: TIMETABLE LINK.  Please note Year 11 students are only expected to be on campus for their individual exams. 

We wish all students and families well over the Easter break, Term 1 holidays and for Term 2.

Alison Unwin - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Tracy Benfield - Director of Learning

Amy Pascoe - Director of Teacher Excellence

Students from Years 7, 8 and 10 have been enjoying exploring Identity, Cultural Perspectives and Belonging through their English classes in Term One. They have had the opportunity to explore a range of biographies and autobiographies, both in print and digital form, as they consider their own sense of self, their evolving identities and their emerging world views. These units have allowed students to reflect on and represent their own stories in imaginative and creative ways, while considering the choices authors make when telling their stories. Year 10 students progressed further into the realm of exploring how we tell our stories in the digital age - a concept that becomes more and more important each year as we are challenged to keep ourselves safe and secure in the digital world in which we live and learn - and have created range of multimodal texts to reflect their individual perspectives and personalities.

Year 9, on the other hand, has been inspired by their Poems of Protest, Resistance and Empowerment unit as they have explored historical movements in class, gender, race, ethnicity, and environmentalism throughout time and the literary texts that have emerged as a result of these movements. Fortunately as a follow up in Week 11, students will be treated to a Slam Poetry Performance and workshop with local poet, Sarah Lock, who will inspire them further in their use of emotive and persuasive language, styles and structure to continue to improve their writing.

It is with much excitement that we welcome Sarah back to work with our Years 8 and 9 students in a special presentation on Wednesday and Friday during Activities week. Sarah performed in the Whitebrook Theatre last year for our Years 10 and 11 students and we are excited that she will now be sharing her interactive workshops with our juniors this year.

The ‘real world’ experiences for students in Term One in their English classes, are invaluable for making connections between texts, historical and social contexts and students’ personal lived experience and for breathing life into the ideas and values explored through Literature.

ABC Regional Takeover (Heywire) - update

Congratulations to Nyah Roxburgh (Yr 10) who has been selected to work with the ABC Regional Takeover program in their 2024 storytelling and leadership program. The program is designed for young people who have a true story to share about their life, or something they’re passionate about, and who care about supporting change in their community. Nyah has been successful in making it through to the next round of the competition and has been invited to participate further to develop her skills in storytelling and leadership in this exciting program with a view to building community connections between young people, the ABC, schools and local community organisations in our area. Good luck Nyah. We are proud of your achievements and look forward to following your story as it progresses through the program.

Best wishes to our Year 11 students as they prepare for their first examinations in Senior study, and to our Year 12 students as they continue their HSC course whilst preparing for their upcoming Retreats in Week 11.

All students from Years 7-12 are encouraged to keep a look-out for more exciting opportunities offered through the English Department this year, including ‘Write a Book in a Day’, ‘The Australian National Virtual Debating Competition’ and ‘The Byron Writers Festival Schools Day’.

In the meantime … keep on reading … keep on writing…

Year 10 Work Experience

All Year 10 students will have the opportunity to go on a 5 day Work Placement in Week 11.  Almost all of our students have successfully returned their completed forms by the due date.  It would be appreciated if any outstanding forms could be returned to Miss Leeson at the beginning of Week 10.  Contact Miss Leeson if you are having any issues with getting this done.

White Card Training

On Monday, 25 March 19 students completed their White Card training in readiness for their Work Experience placement in Year 11.  The photo depicts the students all wearing their PPE, which will be required on the job site.

Charge Your Engines: The Future of Automotive

We are currently seeking Expressions of Interest from Year 10 students who might be interested in exploring the automotive industry as a possible career.  TAFE NSW are offering an Automotive Taster Day on Thursday, 9 May and we are able to take up to 10 students to this hands-on day.  An email will be sent to all Year 10's next week to advise them of this opportunity.  Students should contact me if they are interested in attending. 

UCAT REGISTRATION

UCAT Registration is now open.  The key dates are included in the table below.

Anyone considering applying for Medicine or Dentistry in 2025 will need to register to do UCAT in 2024.  An email with all the details and links has been forwarded to all Year 12 students.

Miss Pauline Leeson - Careers Adviser and Teacher Librarian