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Dear Families and Carers,
As we begin our journey through Lent, Ash Wednesday invites us to reflect on Jesus' time in the desert, preparing for His ultimate sacrifice and Resurrection. This sacred season calls us to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Easter, a time to renew our faith and deepen our relationship with God.
Lent is a time for change—turning our hearts back to God by recognising our need for His grace. The ashes we received on Ash Wednesday symbolise our mortality.
Let us walk this journey together, seeking moments of reflection, prayer, and renewal as we move closer to the joy of Easter.
At Holy Trinity, we strive to foster a community grounded in service, compassion, and connection. A key part of our Christian outreach efforts has been our ongoing partnership with Fred Ward Gardens, a local facility that provides care and comfort to many elderly residents in our community. This connection holds a special place in our hearts, and we believe it offers us a unique opportunity for our learners to share in the joy of giving, learning, and growing together.
Throughout the year, our students will have the privilege of visiting Fred Ward Gardens, where they will spend time with the residents, engaging in meaningful conversations, singing and sharing learning. These visits are an essential part of our Christian Outreach mission, helping our students understand the importance of compassion, empathy, and selflessness.
This year we are thrilled to welcome the residents of Fred Ward Gardens to our school. There will be occasions, where the residents can participate in our celebrations, share their stories, and join our students for reading sessions.
We believe that the connections we build across this year will not only impact those we serve but will also help shape the future of our students. By learning to care for others, celebrate differences, and share in one another’s joys and challenges, we are creating a stronger, more compassionate world.
Positions Vacant
PART-TIME PARISH SECRETARY, NORTH WODEN: Part-time position of 19 hours per week. Applications addressing the Selection Criteria with attached resume should be addressed to Parish Priest, Fr James Antony (james.antony@cg.org.au ) by 15th March 2025. Please email wodennorth@cg.org.au or phone (02-6281 3999) for duty statement and selection criteria.
We welcome back our Year 6 campers on Friday afternoon, they have had a wonderful few days of hiking, canoeing and team building.
Have a wonderful long weekend.
Prue
Ash Wednesday and Caritas
This week, the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
The theme of Project Compassion 2025 is ‘Unite against Poverty’ It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each family can send coins in to put in the class Project Compassion box, receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for donations at mass or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Please continue to keep our First Reconciliation Candidates in your prayers in the lead up to the Sacrament on the 8th of April. All of Year 3 will participate in a Retreat Day on Friday the 28th of March to ensure they are prepared for this occasion.
TIMETABLE FOR THE SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAM 2025
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RETREAT DAY: |
Holy Trinity School Hall 9.15am–2.30pm Friday 28th March |
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SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION: |
Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6:30pm Tuesday, 8 April 2025 |
Reconciliation Presentation Mass
Last weekend during the Masses at Holy Trinity Church, our 2025 Reconciliation candidates were presented to the Parish community. This is a special occasion where our Parish community joined together with our Reconciliation candidates and their families, in prayer and support as they engage in their final preparations for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Harmony Day
On Friday 21st March Holy Trinity will celebrate Harmony Day. Students are welcome to come dressed in their traditional dress or wear the colour orange. Year 4 will be presenting a Prayer Celebration at 2:30pm in the Holy Trinity Church. All are welcome.
Emily Capper
Religious Education Coordinator
Nurturing Relationships
The start of the preschool year is often characterised by mixed emotions, experienced both by the children and their families. Although there is often a sense of excitement, joy and sometimes relief, there can also be elements of uncertainty, sadness and overwhelm. The importance of developing a sense of belonging cannot be understated. The level of connectedness we experience is a direct reflection of the depth of relationships that we hold and we know that connectedness is more than just greeting, communicating or playing with others.
At the heart of our ELC, is our relationship with the person of Jesus Christ and our Catholic identity.
“It is essential that teachers and educators get to know the children and their families, as well as their religious traditions. It is equally important that children and their families become familiar with the Catholic identity of the centre, as well as the central place of Jesus in the setting” (Grajczonek, 2022, p24).
Our three ELC classes have prioritised building relationships with each other and establishing important classroom routines. The children have been working collaboratively to create a class prayer cloth as part of their faith learning. Each child added a personal touch by drawing themselves, making it both unique and meaningful. When we set our Sacred Space, we place the Bible, the Cross, and a candle, learning about their significance in our prayer routine.
Grajczonek, J. (2022). Exploring, Learning & Wondering: Early Years Religious Education Curriculum, Resources & Liturgy. Canberra, ACT: Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Stay and Play
Stay and Play has launched again for 2025!
The intention of Stay and Play is to provide a place for connection for families within our Woden-area community and an opportunity for them to connect with Catholic education. It offers young children the opportunity to play, explore and learn, and for parents, it is an opportunity to connect with other parents and ELC staff. Feel free to share the details of Stay and Play with your friends and family, as it is an open opportunity for all.
We look forward to welcoming pre-preschoolers, toddlers and babies with their parent or carers for this community playgroup.
ELC Facebook
Holy Trinity ELC has a Facebook page, which we encourage you to follow. It is a space where we share important news about our ELC and some of the wonderful learning experiences that our children get up to.
Click here to follow us.
Damien Montesin
Email: damien.montesin@cg.catholic.edu.au
In only two weeks we have our Holy Trinity Fete! Each week we will be sharing important fete updates with our school community.
- We currently have a BBQ stall and a Greek food stall as our two major food stands. If anyone would like to coordinate another food stall of a particular culture or knows of a business that may like to do this at our fete, please let us know via the fete gmail address.
- We are requesting donations for the Chocolate Wheel. Chocolate Wheel donations can include gift vouchers (suggested value of $100, however we would happily accept vouchers of other values that can be put in a hamper with other donated items), other items that would usually be given as a gift, or donations of products from businesses – these will be made into hampers. Chocolate Wheel donations can be nominated using the above gmail address, thank you.
- We will have other stalls that we will be looking for donations for in the coming weeks, and that families can commence preparations for donations – details for when/how these can be donated will be included in future newsletters.
- Donations we will be seeking are:
- Marquees (to be used on Fete day only and returned)
Meat, bread, onions
Plants – any variety
Tombola (jars with goodies such as treats, little toys, fidgets and other miniature stuff that kids generally like.
Books
- Marquees (to be used on Fete day only and returned)
- Please note that you may start bringing in books to the front office, tombola stand jar and plants. Plants can be stored in the Year 1 and Kinder courtyard near the shed outside the staffroom door, thank you.
Raffle
A reminder to all families that the HT Raffle is live and tickets are available to purchase online. There are fabulous prizes on offer and the funds will support the refurbishment and renovation of two play spaces used by the school and community. The class that sells the most tickets will win a special lunch treat!
Indian Food Stall Help Wanted
We are looking to have an Indian food stall at the Fete and have a very kind volunteer to run it for us! We would love to have volunteers who can assist with this stall. Please send your interest to:
Stall Coordinators
The Fete Committee has assigned stalls to grades this year as follows:
ELC – BBQ
Kindergarten – Snow Cones and Fairy Floss Stall & Book Stall
Year 1 – Garden stall
Year 2 – Cake and Icecream
Year 3 – Tombola Stall
Year 4 – Showbags Stall
Year 5 – Mad Hair/Nails/Tattoo/Face Painting & Obstacle Course
Year 6 – Haunted House & Chocolate Wheel
We are asking for volunteers to coordinate each stall on behalf of the grade.We are needing stall coordinators for some of these, including the BBQ stall and the Obstacle Course - people who wish to nominate can contact the Fete committee on holytrinityccfete@gmail.com
Given the short time we have before the fete, it would be really great if we could please have nominations for this quickly. Parents can absolutely be a stall coordinator with another parent – it’s a great way to meet people in our school community and socialise. Please send your nominations to:
A reminder that we are having a FETE Stallholders meeting on Tuesday 11th March 6:30pm in the Library. This is when stakeholder coordinators can discuss their needs for the fete and list all requirements.
Fete Rides
Pre-purchase wristbands for unlimited Fete rides – now available on QKR!
Save $5 by pre-purchasing your wristband for $25 via the QKR! app.
Unlimited Fete rides from 10am to 2pm include:
Supa Cha
Giant Slide
Cup and Saucer
Each child will receive a hard copy receipt for their wristband on Friday 21 March. This receipt must be brought to the Fete on Saturday 22 March and exchanged for a wristband at the Durkin Amusements Ticket Box. Please note, if your child is unable to collect the receipt on Friday 21 March, they can pick this up from the Information Stall on the day of the fete.
Wristbands will be available to buy on the day from the Durkin Amusements Ticket Box for $30
Individual tickets can also be purchased for the rides and Laughing Clowns game:
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Supa Cha |
$10 |
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Giant Slide |
$8 for 3 slides |
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Cup and Saucer |
$8 |
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Laughing Clowns |
$8 |
Showbags
Be the first to get your fete showbags!
We will have showbags for sale at the fete again this year, but if you get in quick on QKR you can be guaranteed to get the bag you want, for less!
You can choose from a range of novelty and confectionery bags including our favourite dog Bluey, our favourite cat Pusheen, or our other favourite cat Hello Kitty. Ultimate fidgets, or some Squishy things, for those that like to - well fidget! There is BBZ body for those who want all the skin care goods, or an NRL bag for some footy action. Otherwise, you can find something sweet with a range of confectionery bags too, like Jelly Belly beans and Chuppa Chups!
Get in quick and order yours before they sell out, as there is only a limited number of each bag. They are available for pre-sale before the fete, with novelty bags for $25 (RRP $35) and confectionery bags for just $10. Order yours now via QKR!
Volunteers
We are also seeking volunteers to assist with the set up and pack down of the Fete. The more volunteers we have for this – the easier it is on everyone. This will include setting up of marquees, tables and chairs at different points around the school, and then the return of the same items to school hall. Please sign up here
One of the major focuses of our Fete is the raffle, which will be drawn on the day at the Fete. There are truly outstanding prizes on offer and we hope you have all begun selling!!
Thank you in advance for your help and please remember that any queries etc can be emailed to the following address:
A Cake stall favourite!
Toffee-on-a-stick!!
Ingredients:6 wooden ice-block sticks
1 1/2 cup (330g) caster sugar
1/2 cup (125ml) water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
hundreds and thousands
Method:
1.Grease 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) mini muffin pan. Cut ice-block sticks in half
crossways.
2.Combine sugar, the water and vinegar in medium heavy-based saucepan. Stir over heat,
without boiling, until sugar is dissolved.
3.Bring mixture to the boil; boil, uncovered, without stirring, about 15 minutes or until a small amount of sugar syrup “cracks” when dropped into a cup of cold water.
4.Remove from heat; allow bubbles to subside. Pour toffee mixture into prepared pan holes; sprinkle with hundred and thousands.
5.Stand toffees about 10 minutes; place sticks, cut-side down, into centre of toffees. Stand toffees at room temperature until set.
Philippa Brearley - Holy Trinity School
Email: philippa.brearley@cg.catholic.edu.au
| Week 9 | |
| Tuesday 1st April |
PYP Parent/Carer Information Night (for ELC-Year 6) 6pm Drinks and nibbles Community Council Meeting 6:45pm |
| Friday 4th April | South Weston Swimming Carnival |
| Friday 4th April | Year 1 Awards at Morning Assembly |
| Friday 4th April | Palm Sunday Prayer Celebration - 230pm Church 4W |
| Week 10 | |
| Tuesday 8th April | Sacrament of Reconciliation |
| Wednesday 9th April | Kinder Awards at Morning Assembly |
| Thursday 10th April | Holy Thursday and Good Friday Prayer Assembly - 2pm Hall and Church - Year 5 |
| Thursday 10th April | Cross Country Carnival 12pm |
| Friday 11th April |
Pupil Free Day (Kindergarten to Year 6) ELC open as normal. |
| Term 2 | |
| Week 1 | |
| Monday 28th April |
Pupil Free Day (Kindergarten to Year 6) ELC open as normal. |
| Tuesday 29th April |
First Day of Term 2 School Photo Day |
| Wednesday 30 April |
School Open Day- 9:30am and 5pm |
Hi All,
Don’t forget that the SORA online and audio book app is available to all children.
Below are the steps to install on your device.
Select the ACEN member collection from the drop down menu and students will need to log into their school account using their school username and password.
SORA has over 30 000 age-appropriate books and approx. 3000 plus age-appropriate audio books available to download and read.
SORA is designed for children and has easy-to-use vertical screen options, attractive on-screen promotions, easily accessible statistics on reading completed, and rewards for reading.
SORA has been operational and widely used at Holy Trinity since 2019. SORA is easy for you and your children to access and is set up in age group stages - your children can only borrow books that are within certain age groups. SORA is a resource that is funded by Catholic Education.
You can login to Sora with your child’s normal CENet login – used at school to login to our CE network.
Please note that on SORA some books are available to borrow all the time, some books may require a waiting time as limited numbers have been purchased, and most books have a timeframe in which they are on loan to a borrower. HT borrowing statistics are also sent to me regularly
Finally, a second call out for 5 more parent volunteers to act as “Library Book Coverers” for 2025 - If you have a spare hour or two, I will send home a bag of 10 books, per volunteer, per term. It’s not a hard job and I try to match the books with your family. If you feel up to the challenge, please email me at Kate.mertz@cg.catholic.edu.au or send a note via your child.
Happy Reading,
Kate J
Congratulations to students celebrating their birthdays this week: Christopher G, Sierra P, Tennzin L, Theo Y, Edward C and Jayden V. Wishing you all a wonderful birthday
NOTICEBOARD