TERM 3 - WEEK 1A

Friday 22 July

• Pyjama Day Fundraiser - Vinnies Winter Appeal
• Archdiocesan Basketball - Tuggeranong CANCELLED
• Social Justice Liturgy at 10.30am

TERM 3 - WEEK 2B

Monday 25 July

• Musical Full Dress Rehearsal

Tuesday 26 July

• Musical Full Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday 27 July

• School Photos
• Boys Rugby 7's CANCELLED
• Musical Full Dress Rehearsal

Thursday 28 July

• School Photos
• Musical - 6.30pm

Friday 29 July

• Musical - 6.30pm

Saturday 30 July

• Musical - 1.00pm
• Musical - 6.30pm

TERM - WEEK 3A

Monday 1 August

• PASS Excursion - Canberra CANCELLED

Tuesday 2 August

• Trial HSC commences - English Studies, Standard and Advanced (9am)

Wednesday 3 August

• Trial HSC - English Standard and Advanced (9am)
• NAIDOC Mass Venue: OLOF at 10am CANCELLED

Thursday 4 August

• Trial HSC - SORI and SORII (9am)

Friday 5 August

• Trial HSC - Business Studies (9am) and Chemistry (1.30pm)
• MacKillop House Mass 10.30am
• Southern Tablelands Science and Engineering Challenge

Dear Parents and Carers, Students and Staff,

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope you were able to enjoy the change of routine and you were able to experience the nobility of rest…at least a little!

COVID 19

As the NSW Government continues with lockdown procedures for areas of Greater Sydney and as the number of COVID-19 infections continue to rise, we will continue to ensure Trinity is a safe place for everyone. Our efforts at Trinity will be to ensure COVID-19 hygiene, recommended mask wearing, physical distancing and cleaning requirements remain in place. I have reinstated our COVID updates to provide the latest information to you. From our previous experience with COVID, we know we have to be agile and flexible as the situation changes quickly during COVID times. Please make sure the front office has your latest email and phone contact information.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

All students are required to attend school. Parents and caregivers are expected to contact the school if a student is absent from school. After three days of non-attendance, and if the school has not been notified, the school will follow up directly with the parents and carers of the student either by phone or email to check on the well-being of the student.

UNWELL STUDENTS

If any student has any kind of illness, even if it is simply light flu or cold like symptoms, they must not attend school. If a student shows any signs of illness at school, parents and carers will be asked to collect them as soon as practical. If any student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, families will be asked to seek medical advice as soon as practical.

STAFFING TERM 3

Welcome back to the following staff:

• Mrs Ingrid Parsons who returns from long service leave.
• Mrs Cody Poole who returns from maternity leave.

Welcome to Miss Sophie Broadhead who has been appointed to the full-time temporary position of Acting Sport Coordinator from the beginning of Term 3 for 12 months. Miss Broadhead will teach PDHPE as well as taking over the responsibility of Contact Teacher for Aboriginal Education. I wish Sophie every success and happiness in her association and friendship with the Trinity Catholic College community.

Ms Phillipa Andrews will be on leave for the first four weeks of Term 3. Mrs Bev McGreevy and Mrs Kathy Peterson (Partlett) will job share the position for this period of time. The 12 English Advanced class will be taught by Mrs Ally Dunwoodie, and Mrs McGreevy and Mrs Peterson will teach 12 English Studies.

Mr Tim Matthews will also be on leave this term. Mr Paul Roodenrys, who has previously taught at Trinity, will teach Mr Matthew’s classes during Term 3.

Mrs Linda Polosak will be Teacher Librarian for the remainder of this year. The Library will be open until 5.00pm from Monday to Thursday, for those students who wish to study, or complete assessments and homework tasks. 

Welcome back to Mr Roodenrys, Mrs Polosak, Mrs McGreevy and Mrs Peterson. How blessed we are to have such wonderful and dedicated staff returning to the College. 

Finally, congratulations to Mrs Megan Picker and her family on the happy and safe arrival of baby Camilla Hope Picker who was born on 3 July 2021. This is joyous news! 

UNIFORM POLICY

The Trinity Catholic College uniform promotes a sense of belonging for students and creates a positive identity for the entire school community. Our uniform also contributes to the personal safety of students by allowing easier recognition of students in the wider community. Teachers and coordinators are working hard to ensure students are wearing the uniform correctly. Every approach made to a student is done so with respect and care. There are some issues around hair length, earrings and unshaven faces. We would love parents to work with us on this never-ending challenge! 

2022 ENROLMENTS

Our enrolment drive for 2022 continues. The official enrolment period for Catholic Schools in this Archdiocese has concluded however, in regional areas we continue to take enrolments, so if you have a child entering Year 7 next year, please contact Reception for an enrolment form. An interview will be organised once the enrolment application is received. If your friends have a child commencing in Year 7 next year, please encourage them to consider Trinity as an option for their child’s education. There is provision for an online enrolment which can be accessed through our College website using the following address: https://www.trinitycollege.nsw.edu.au/enrol-online/

Happy weekend and best wishes to our sporting teams!

Yours in faith, strength and unity

Gaye McManus

Principal

**PLEASE NOTE** Due to COVID restrictions, the Grandparents Day Mass will now be held on Microsoft Teams. Grandparents who have already registered for the event will be sent the link Information in the lead up to the event.

If students are displaying flu-like symptoms at school, parents will be required to collect their child from school and have a COVID test. If students are unwell, they must remain at home. Please continue to inform the school via phone if your child tests positive for COVID.

The shade sail is complete! 

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID Fatigue & Youth Mental Health

The physical impact of the pandemic has mostly spared our young people, however as the nation remains to be on alert and in various stages of lockdown, restrictions continue to be mandated. The pandemic has had a great affect on our young people with many paying a heavy emotional and developmental price. Psychological disorders are on the rise and emergency interventions have skyrocketed.

As hard as it is being a young person today, it's also draining being the parent of one. It has been reported that many parents are struggling to keep their child's mental health afloat, often proving it is difficult to juggle parenting responsibilities whilst at the same time providing much needed emotional support for their children.

Unlike the coronavirus itself, the emotional blowback of the pandemic cannot be vaccinated away. Psychologists are seeing more depression and anxiety across all age groups, but in adolescents it seems to be on steroids, with some choosing to self-medicate using alcohol or other drugs. When they look into the future now, they're looking at one that wasn't what they envisioned before.

This report explains the current state of youth mental health in a post-COVID era and offers guidance on how best to support young people today. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If this Special Report raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://trinitycollege.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-covid-fatigue-youth-mental-health

Year 11 Student Erin G is raising money for the Fred Hollows Foundation by completing Fred’s Big Run. During the month of August, Erin will run 50kms. Currently, 4 out of 5 people who are blind don’t need to be. Fred Hollow’s dream was to live in a world where no one was needlessly blind. Funds raised will help restore sight to those who are blind and will also honour Fred Hollow’s memory. To support Erin, please visit https://www.fredsbigrun.org/fundraisers/eringamble/freds-big-run-2021

The Illawarra Apprenticeship and Traineeship Expo is happening in August and September: 

Expo Dates & Times:

Northern Sydney – Tuesday 10 August 2021 – 3pm to 8pm – The Concourse

Illawarra – Tuesday 17 August 2021 – 3pm to 8pm – Illawarra Hockey Centre

South Western Sydney/Macarthur – Tuesday 24 August 2021 – 3pm to 8pm – Liverpool Catholic Club

Central Coast – Tuesday 31 August 2021 – 3pm to 8pm – Mingara Recreation Club

Western Sydney – Tuesday 7 September 2021 – 3pm to 8pm – Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre

https://apprenticeshipandtraineeshipexpos.com.au/

The College should be notified of any foreseen student leave. An Application for Exemption Form is available from the College Office and is required to be completed by parents/carers and returned to the College at least 10 school days prior to any leave. Leave or travel over 10 days requires a different form; please contact Reception. If, during the period of leave, your child has assessments due they should also complete the Notification of Planned Absence form which is in the appendix of their student assessment handbook.

When your child needs to leave School early, please make sure they complete the following steps:

1. A written note signed from their parent/carer. This note can be made in the Student diary on the day of the planned absence, or on a separate piece of paper.

2. The student then takes the note to Homeroom and asks their Homeroom teachers to sign it.

3. The note must also be signed by a House Coordinator. 

4. The student comes to the front office with their signed note.

5. Front office staff assist student to sign out.

6. Students wait for parent/carer to collect them.

Please note, parent or carer MUST present to the Office to collect student.

Maths Help Sessions will run on the following days at the listed times from the Library:

Wednesday Morning 8am-8.55am (for Year 11 and 12 students only)

Wednesday Recess 11.10am - 11.40am

Thursday Recess 11.10am - 11.40am

Friday Morning 8.00am - 8.55am

Qkr! is a handy app that allows you order and pay for uniforms, canteen orders and some excursions. A guide on how to install the app is below. You will need your family code to set your profile up. Please contact the office if you require any assistance.

We love to hear about our students' achievements, so please feel free to send through any information about your child's achievements to info.tccg@cg.catholic.edu.au by Tuesday of each week. We look forward to hearing from you! Also, be sure to visit our facebook site!

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTrinityCatholicCollege