Dear Members of the Trinity Family,

It has been a fantastic start to Term 2 particularly given the College is reunited on a single campus. This is a remarkable testament to the support, goodwill and strong sense of Family Spirit that exists within our College community.

Over the past three weeks we have hosted our ANZAC Ceremony, recommenced College Sport, held our Senior Retreats, hosted the King Tut Roadshow, commenced our Parent Student Teacher Interviews, and facilitated a number of subject and sporting excursions. All of this comes on top of students engaging in a range of learning activities each day in our classrooms.

Our next major College event is Open Day on Sunday 21 May 2023 from 11.00am - 2.00pm. Please let your family and friends know. All are welcome! 

Happy Mother’s Day
I take this opportunity to wish all of our Trinity mothers, and maternal role models, all the very best for a special Mother’s Day this weekend. May you be surrounded by gratitude, love and happiness. Thank you for all that you do and the example you set the young people in your life. Happy Mother’s Day!

Student Enrolments
Trinity has some student enrolment vacancies in certain year levels. 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. 2024 enrolments are now being received in strong numbers - please enrol as soon as possible.

SCU Traffic Management Plan
I am seeking the support of students and parents/carers in observing this plan. This is designed with the safety of all in mind. I trust the improvements for Term 2 are welcomed by our community members.

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. The College’s uniform policy can be found on the College website. At the point of enrolment students and parents/carers agreed to support the College’s expectations in relation to uniform, behaviour and learning. It is vital that we maintain high standards in all areas of College life, including uniform and presentation. Winter uniform will commence in June so it is important winter uniform items are now located and used as the cooler weather sets in.

Key Dates for Term 2

• 15 May - Years 9 to 12 PSTI
• 22 May - 24 May Year 12 Formative Exams
• 21 May - Open Day from 11am - 2pm
• 31 May - Year 8 & 10 Subject Selection Night
• 6 June - Champagnat Day
• 9 June - Staff Spirituality Day (PUPIL FREE)
• 14 June - Year 8 Reflection Day
• 15 June - Year 9 Reflection Day
• 16 June - Athletics Carnival
• 21 June - Year 10 Reflection Day
• 22 June - Year 7 Reflection Day
• 27 & 28 June - Inspirations Performance
• 30 June - Last day of Term 2.

May Venerable Nano Nagle, St Marcellin Champagnat and Mary our Good Mother continue to watch over our Trinity community.

Mr Jesse Smith

Welcome back to Term 2 to all members of the Trinity Family. Firstly I just wish to mention how fantastic it is to be one school on one campus again. It is a highlight for me each day to see our senior students and I believe their daily presence has had a positive impact on all students in the College. Since returning to Term 2 we have made significant changes with some of the procedures and facilities here at SCU.

Students from Years 7 to 10 had a visit from Grace Parsons (Trinity 2021) who is making a huge name for herself in the world of cricket. Grace bowled some googlies to some of our students during the lunch hour and then spoke to students about the lessons she has learnt since leaving school, the work ethic that is required of her, the impact of surrounding yourself with other high performing people and how her Trinity education has supported her since 2021. Grace is achieving so much in her career and is a wonderful example of Trinity.

We have created device free areas in the playgrounds throughout R Block during recess and lunchtime. We respect the fact that Students still need their phones to view Lighthouse, communicate with families and to purchase items from the canteen. However, Staff are instructed that if they see a student on their phone they are warned and asked to put it away. If the student is seen by the same teacher soon after with their phone out again they will be asked to surrender their phone to the teacher on duty or taken to the front office. Failure to surrender their phone will result in contact with home and the student will remain in the College Office. The rule is very simple - phones should be away. We want to see students talking and interacting with each other.

Daily Bus drop off and pick up:
Our new bus drop off and pick up areas at SCU for Term 2 are progressing well. The bus drop off and pick up for students from Years 7 to 10 is just below Whitebrook Theatre and the location for Years 11 and 12 is above the SCU Library adjacent to their classrooms in B Block. We also have a bus out the front of K Block (Science and PDHPE Rooms) at 3pm and another sweeper bus at 3.12 that collects at K Block. This is a really positive improvement as students will be walking less to arrive at school and leave at the end of the day. Importantly our students will not be crossing roads to access buses.

Afternoon pick up of students:
Previously our students were picked up at the end of the day at SCU in the Military Road car park. We now ask that our students are collected in the afternoon from the SCU Gym/Pool car park or the car park bordering Northern Rivers Buslines. This change is simply a safer option for our students.

Senior students at Aardvark Cafe: We have partnered with Fran from Aardvark Cafe at SCU to provide a covered space for our senior students on a Monday (Year 11) and a Friday (Year 12). Our seniors can access the tables and chairs on the deck of the Cafe.

Senior study space: Thanks to the generosity of SCU  we have been allocated an area on the 2nd floor of the SCU Library for our Year 12 students to complete their study lessons. This is a fantastic outcome as the area is so quiet and perfect for concentration. Our seniors love it.

 
Open Day
Students have been invited to volunteer for Open Day and we encourage as many students as possible to be involved.

Ryka Performance
On June 6th 2023 students from Years 7, 8 and 9 will attend a performance in Whitebrook Theatre from Ryka. Ryka is a performer from the group Troubie – the Theatre for Young People. His heritage stems from the Yidinji clans of Cairns, the Kuku Yalinji clans of Mossman & the Torres Strait Islands. Ryka will present to our students the legends of his family clans through song, dance, didgeridoo and a smoking ceremony. Our students will have the opportunity to participate in the dances of the evil spirits and devils, the story of the great cassowary Gindaja; how his feathers turn black; the cleansing of the evil spirits and devils and the joy and happiness of the Naroo (shake a leg dance). We also hope to have a boomerang throwing practice at the end of the performance.

Mr Sean Baldwin 

Dear Members of the Trinity Community,

Welcome to Term 2. It has been a wonderful start to the Term with all students on our SCU campus. We have a busy Term ahead. Please find below some key information.

Term 2 Timetable
All students were issued a new timetable from the start of Term 2, Wednesday 26 April. This timetable is  accessible on Lighthouse. The minor changes in staffing were made to accommodate staff and students returning to one campus.

BYOD
Many learning tools and organisation at the College require students to have a charged device in order to have a successful day. It is timely to remind parents and carers that students need to be prepared for all lessons with a charged device. Any issues concerning access to a BYOD device should be directed to your child's Leader of Year.

Year 7-10 Term 2 Learning Tasks
Throughout Term 2 Year 7 to 10 students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in a structured way through the following tests and assignments.  These selected learning tasks will assist students in developing the essential skills of a lifelong learner and will form just one part of the Semester 1 formative assessment process.

Year 7

Week 1-5        Maths Test - Integers, Perimeter and Area, Time

Week 6-10      Music/ Visual Arts Assignment

Year 8

Week 1-5        LOTE Test - In class reading/writing task based on Family

Week 6-10      English Assignment - Visual Representation - Picture Books

Year 9

Week 2-3        Religion Test - Biblical Writing

Week 4-5        Science Test - Energy on the Move, Body Systems & Responses

Week 6-10      PE Assignment - Simply the Best - critical thinking & health literacy

Year 10

Week 2-3        English Skills Test - Language, Reading, Creative Writing

Week 4-5        Science Test - Chemical Reactions

Week 6-7        HSIE Assignment - History: Changing Rights & Freedoms

                        Geography: Human Wellbeing

Week 8-9        Maths Assignment  - Algebra and Linear Functions Learning Logs

Year 12 HSC Written Exam Timetable
HSC written exams will start on Wednesday 11 October 2023 with English Paper 1 and finish on Friday 3 November 2023. Please find here the link to the complete HSC written Timetable with additional information including the Exam Equipment List. Each Year 12 student will have access to their personal exam timetable through studentsonline.nesa.nsw.edu.au. This timetable lists the students' written exams. It also lists any other exams they are entered for, including oral exams for languages, performance exams and submitted works.

Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection
Over the next few months, Year 10 students are faced with the task of deciding their immediate future in relation to the path they will choose to take with their secondary education. Below is the timeline of events that will help our students with the decision making process.

Stage 6 Assessment
2023 updated Stage 6 Assessment Calendars have now been Published and emailed to all students and their Parents to reflect the Term 2 Timetable.

Year 9-12 Parent Student Teacher Interviews
Parent, Student, Teacher interviews are an important opportunity for families to meet their child's teacher and gain valuable feedback on their learning. Year 9-12 interviews will be held on Monday 15th May between 3.45pm and 8.00pm at SCU in R Block on Level 3. 

Year 12 Semester 1 Reports
Year 12 Semester 1 Reports were published to the Parent Portal at the end of Term 1. This report  focuses on the students Term 4 (2022) and Term 1 (2023) academic progress and assessment results. If you have issues logging in to Lighthouse that persist after resetting your password, please email parentportal@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au so we can arrange access for you.

Year 7-11 Interim Reports
At the end of the Term 1 all students in Years 7-11 received their Interim Report via the Parent Portal. This Report provides important feedback to students and families regarding:

• Academic progress.
• Effort and participation in class.
• Completion of homework and tasks.
• Cooperation with teacher 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.

Ms Alison Unwin - Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Mrs Tracy Benfield - Director of Learning

Mrs Amy Pascoe - Director of Teacher Excellence

Immersion to Santa Teresa, Northern Territory
2023 marked the first time in 3 years we have been able to begin our immersion program once again after the years of COVID19. Trinity was invited to be the first school back to start the immersion program at the indigenous community of Ltyentye Apurte, also known as Santa Teresa.

After some sight seeing at Uluru and Kata Tjuta, our Yr 11 Immersion Team helped in the many ministries that support the community for the next 7 days. They worked in the local Marist school, the Meals Centre, the Spirituality Centre, the Arts Centre and the Parish each day. During Holy Week, our students played important parts at the Stations of the Cross, the Good Friday Services, the Saturday Vigil and community celebration which followed. We made strong connections with the locals who welcomed our important contribution to their community.  Year 11 students Hollie Matthews, Laura Parsons, Sharleze Rebbeck, Jesse Alexander-Gordon, Travis Ball, Xavier Eades, Jorgi Krieg, Abi Smith were wonderful ambassadors of the College, as each day they were able to ‘act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God’. I would also like to thank Mr Sean Baldwin who accompanied myself and the students on Immersion. His enthusiasm, help and sense of humour were invaluable.

Jorgi Krieg penned a few thoughts on her return:

‘My 2023 Immersion experience is something I will forever cherish. Before I left everyone told me that I’d come back as a different person and was terrified they were wrong. I was going into a new, unfamiliar place and I was going with a group of people, some of whom I was unfamiliar with. I was 100% out of my comfort zone.

The Arrente people are connected to everything and everyone. They were so willing to teach us about their culture. We met and worked with many different people in so many places during the week. I learned many things about myself along the way. The immersion experience and the Arrernte people taught me the meaning of deep silence. They taught me that I don't need to talk as sometimes silence says it all. They taught me that I don't need to be everywhere to be noticed and that saying ‘God bless’ can mean so much. The immersion experience taught me that I can thrive outside my comfort zone.’

Year 12 Retreats - Week 2 Term 2
Our senior retreat program is one of the highlights for our Year 12 students in their senior year. For four days, our students were able to pull back from their regular routines and reflect on themselves and their relationships with others. A variety of activities led them on a journey of self reflection and discovery, while our reconciliation and student liturgies each night provided our reflection of God in our lives. Friendships new and old were nurtured and much fun was had during our days away together. I am sure that our students found this to be a positive and memorable experience, and one that will help support them as they complete their final months at school. A big thank you to the 16 staff who volunteered to lead and facilitate this most important event in the lives of our senior students.

Mrs Annette White - Director of Mission

Maths is everywhere.

It is the secret behind how your phone functions, it is used to design and plan buildings, you use it every time you go to the shops and we see it everywhere in nature.

Week 10 of Term 1, Year 7 experienced firsthand the World of Maths.

Clare from “World of Maths” brought a hands-on learning workshop for our Year 7 students.

Through a variety of activities our students got to develop their problem solving and reasoning. Not only did they develop their ability to solve problems but they experienced the fun that exists when playing with numbers.

See below photos from the day and the various activities including: King of the Road, Pattern Play, Pizza Pie, Let Me Pass, String along, Mouse in the house and Escape.

Ms Kathryn Smith - Leader of Learning - Mathematics

Term 2 Extension opportunities in HSIE

The Australian History Competition is being offered as an extension opportunity for students in Years 7-10. The competition is a 45 minute test. Each student will receive a question paper, a source booklet and an answer sheet. There will be 50 multiple choice questions graded from easy to challenging and catering to a range of abilities. There will be a variety of questions, with the primary focus on skills and understandings. There is a  Year 7 and 8 paper, broadly based on the Years 7-8 Australian Curriculum: History, and a Year 9 and 10 paper, broadly based on the Years 9-10 Australian Curriculum: History.  More information is available on the website at: www.AustralianHistoryCompetition.org.au. The competition will be held during period 1 on 1st June 2023 at school and the cost is $7 per student. If this would be of interest to your child please email Mrs Serena Rose (organiser)- srose@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au for a permission slip.

History Teachers Association of NSW - Debating.

Are you interested in debating?

Love history?

Trinity has signed up for history debating during Term 2 in Years 9 and 10. There will be 3 rounds of competition and there are 3 different topics for each year group. We need 4 students from each year who are interested in preparing and competing in this competition. 

Please email Mrs Serena Rose (organiser) if you are interested to find out more.

Mrs Serena Rose - Leader of Learning HSIE

On Thursday 4th May a select group of Senior Geography students were invited to attend a presentation on how to successfully advertise and increase awareness about protecting the safety of koalas. This was run by Griffith University and the local Friends of the Koala group. The students that attended were Travis Ball, Stella Nyguen, Abigail Smith, Izabella O’Reilly, and Thomas Pardavi. Thank you to Mrs Schober for supporting the students. During the presentation, we participated in focus groups where we were shown different advertisements and we were instructed to write down what we liked, and disliked and ways they could improve. In the end, we brainstormed as a group and created a poster showing all the important features that the advertisements needed to raise awareness for koalas and how we can all come together to protect this endangered animal. The presentation was very informative and helped us gather a better understanding of how we can protect this animal so that it will be around for future generations to see. For me in particular the presentation was very educational because my Senior Geography Project is on the issues with koalas and how we need to protect them. As a school, we are looking forward to doing more work with Friends of the Koala in the future as we are so grateful to share this campus with them and the Koalas.

The article is written by Thomas Pardarvi - Year 11 

Link to Friends of Koala website - https://friendsofthekoala.org/