My good friend sent me this image at the beginning of last week, and at the time I  loved it, the image was almost in your face, prying. Although thankful my friend was checking in, I was not overly taken by the message. Now some ten days later, I have revisited that image many times. You see this week is Sabbath Week and essentially God is inviting us to rest, take heed, stop. What that means for each of us is different, but what is essential is the order in which the message was given, be well, be safe, be kind to yourself, be kind to yourself first, for it is when we are kind to ourselves that we are able to be kind to others. Look after your body, treat it like a temple, its the only one you (and I) have got. 

We have a 25 year old son, his name is Jordan and I'm sure I have spoken of him in the past. Like every parent, we wanted Jordan to be protected and loved, we didn't and don't want him to feel hurt, pain, suffering, anger, frustration or disappointment.  Life is not only joy, gladness, happiness and love, for a very good reason, we learn from all situations and emotions. So what can children learn from this? Importantly children learn the skills of communicating, processing and managing their emotions from a variety of situations. Children begin to phrase their needs rather than their frustrations, they begin to empathise rather than dismiss other children's feelings, they begin to negotiate and collaborate. For these reasons at Trinity, we don't solve disputes on the playground, we do our best not to ban and we do our best to enable natural play. 

The approach we take is an explicit  teaching approach. It is on the playground that social skills are taught explicitly. When students approach teachers, the response is not, do this, do that. It is, what may have ...... been feeling, why would they react like that, how could you solve that, what do you think is the best solution here? Your support in developing resilient members of the future is essential. When your child comes home and says .................. the first question to consider asking is a wondering question, not necessarily an accusation question. I wonder what is behind this, I wonder what my child thinks and feels, I wonder about perception, I wonder what happened before and after the event. Some guiding questions- I wonder why that happened, I wonder where that information came from, I wonder if that information has been changed, I wonder why the two stories are so different?

It's great restrictions have eased, I can't tell you how happy I am. I would like to put a plea out to parents and parishioners to support our learners in reading by being part of the Reinforced Reading Program. If you have not received training or would like a refresher we are very happy to facilitate individual or group training. Please contact Caz Perryman on caz.perryman@cg.catholic.edu.au

Our first of four Open Days is this Monday afternoon at 4pm at the Terracotta. We hope to see members of the Community Council, staff and prospective parents at this gathering. 

Caz Perryman

Leader Team Trinity

St. Patricks Day Mufti Day

Next Wednesday our Year 6 Mini Vinnies team will lead a St. Patrick’s Day mini fete and activities afternoon. This initiative is to raise funds for Project Compassion. Students are encouraged to come along in mufti on this day, so start looking for your green and gold colours in your wardrobe. Mufti will be a gold coin donation and each stall activity will be between 10c and 20c. Start saving your coins everybody. Remember, our proceeds go towards Project Compassion. Well done to our Mini Vinnies for this wonderful initiative!!

Take some time out to reflect and pray.

Click on the link below for ideas for a Family Prayer Reflection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4E0XG3DDU

Prayers Needed

This week Year 5/6 led our school in a Rainbow Prayer dedicated to the communities affected by the recent floods. This news has devastated the nation. Please keep all communities in your prayers as we offer support to those in need.

The Rainbow Prayer

There are so many things to pray for today.

The needs of the world, our communities, ourselves, and those we know and love.

The enormity of the situation we are currently in can fill our hearts with a heaviness like never before. We may be feeling exhausted, worried, and unable to concentrate on anything.

We bring our thoughts and feelings before God, as we especially pray for communities affected by the recent floods.

The rainbow is a symbol of hope for the world, and a message for you and your community; a reminder that God’s power can overcome the desolate places and bring light to the world.

As we reflect on the hope the rainbow brings, we offer this blessing.

May the Lord look upon you with kindness.

May the Lord fill your heart with holy peace.

May God’s love be forever within you.

Shining a light for all your days.

May the Lord always bless you and keep you safe.

Amen.

Project Compassion

Second Sunday of Lent -  12th & 13th March

Biru 30, lives in a rural village in Jharkhand State in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child, which makes it difficult for him to walk. With the generous  support of Project Compassion, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods development program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the skills, support, and encouragement he needed to establish his own bicycle repair business.

Please donate to Project Compassion 2022 and help people living with disabilities in India gain access to education and clean water, empowering them with skills to build a better future for all.

Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations. You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes and envelopes available from your Parish, by visiting lent.caritas.org.au or by calling 1800 024 413.

Harmony Day

Harmony day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. In schools we celebrate inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional owners of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world. Harmony Day is celebrated on 21^st March each year.

The ongoing theme for Harmony Day is ‘Everyone Belongs’. People usually wear the colour orange on Harmony Day. The colour Orange signifies determination and meaningful communication and represents mutual respect and freedom of thoughts and ideas.

Did you know?

• Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.
• We identify with over 300 ancestries.
• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia.
• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia.
• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.
• More than 250 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.

 At Trinity we will be celebrating Harmony Day Mass on Thursday 24^th March at 12.50pm.

Thought of the Week

Year 3/4 Open House

Congratulations Year 3/4 on a thoroughly entertaining Open House today, so much happening in the classroom already this year! Please click on the link below to view:

https://youtu.be/yrh6eJg1x94 

Year 6 Performance

Our Year 6 students are now part of the "Hilltops, Off the Beaten Track, Art and Cultural Trail" and will be performing on Friday 18 March at 5pm at the Sculpture Park, Murrumburrah. The students are privileged to be working with Deborah de Graaff, who is currently teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Tertiary, High School and Open Academy. 

Students will participate in a two day workshop at MPS (17 & 18 March). The workshops will culminate with the performance on the Friday night.

Trinity’s library underwent another major transformation in the holidays! Our library has gone TROPPO!!!! Students are soaking up the reading waves at their new location in Tropical Paradise. Each week the students are invited to say “Aloha” to great books when invited to borrow, Years 3-6 on Tuesdays and K-2 on Thursdays.  “Skoob”, the library shelf elf, dressed in tropical attire, continues to search for the best borrowing class each fortnight.

Year 5/6 have adopted a shelf in the library to care for this year. The students have been responsibly making sure books are in alphabetical order, the shelf is neat and tidy and books for display are changed weekly. Melanie, our enthusiastic Library Minister, judges the best organised shelf each week.  

All students are encouraged to participate in “Milk and Bookies” each fortnight during their recess break. While enjoying a cup of flavoured milk and choc chip cookies, students in pairs discuss various features of their independent readers.

Ashton Scholastic continues to make available their monthly Book Club catalogue which is sent home with students. It is a great opportunity to purchase new books for home reading at a very reasonable price.

Two Book Fairs have been booked in for 2022. The first fair will be conducted in August during Book Week and Literacy Week which we will make a Community Book Fair. Our annual Buy One and Get One Free Fair will be held late November, a chance to purchase some great books for Christmas.

Students have been engaged in various literacy and library lessons during their library learning time with Mrs Doolan each week. Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 have been learning about how to care for books, the parts of a book, selecting appropriate books to read and the difference between fiction and non-fiction. Years 3 and 4 have been studying various Genres including Fantasy, Folktale, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction and Biographies.  While Year 5 and 6 have been practicing reading strategies to improve their comprehension of texts including Summarising, Skimming and Scanning, Inferring and Synthesising.

So, parents if you get a chance, pop on your sunnies and Hawaiian shirt and flip flop into reading at our tropical location in the former Trinity library!

Mrs Doolan

Week 6

Class Awards

Kinder/1/2: Keeva Mottley, Henry Johnson, Monty Lucas, Keira Johnson

Year 3/4: Marlie Oakley, Claire Corkhill, Toby Stevenson

Year 5/6: Thomas Edwards, Raph Summerfield

MJR Awards

Year 3/4: Georgia Jackson, Dakota Medley, Toby Stevenson, Harry Edwards, Jack Gadd, Fletcher Betts, Timmy Olotu

Year 5/6: Thomas Edwards, Bea Lucas, Zoe Lenehan, Aidan Summerfield

Week 7

Class Awards

Kinder/1/2: Ivy Corkhill, Archer Clark

Year 3/4: Fletcher Betts, Ben Pollard, Digby Clark

Year 5/6: Hamish Clark, Ryan Sumich

MJR Awards

Year 3/4: Marlie Oakley, Fletcher Betts

This year all students from K-6 have been given a Home Reading Log where they are to record their reading each night.

It has been great to see the number of ‘Reading Nights’ children have recorded in their home reading log.

Once children reach a reading goal of nights they are rewarded with a sticker for their book from Mrs Perryman.

Keep up the great reading!!

Trinity school community staff and friends would like to wish the following people a wonderful birthday.

Calling all BushHawks, Hawks and Hawkettes!

Are you getting excited about footy season?

Early mornings, grass stains, muddy kids and BIG smiles!!! We can't wait!

Jump on and REGISTER NOW by following the link below!

Don't forget you can use your Active Kids voucher! 

https://profile.mysideline.com.au/register/clubsearch/?criteria=Harden-Murrumburrah%20Junior%20Rugby%20League&type=player&activity=&gender=&agemin=&agemax=&comptype=&source=rugby-league&fbclid=IwAR3C_kM20qc3hi7Zlw6VkzNSNjS9fYrpcnlb2bi1hFWdXeDTRDrZ2hacHSs