Memos

HTH Family Memo - School Tour (Grade 9 Families) - August 2023

HTH Family Memo - Welcome Back (2023/2024)

NLESD Memo - RNC Arrest 

NLESD Memo - RNC Arrest Update

March 28th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of March 28th, 2024. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

Spring Break (March 29th - April 7th)
The last day of classes before our Spring Break is today Thursday, March 29th. As a reminder, this is a full day for students with dismissal taking place at our usual time. Classes will resume for all students on Monday, April 8th and it will be Day 12 on the school day calendar.

Spring 50/50 Fundraiser
The first  round of tickets for our Spring 50/50 Fundraiser have now been distributed to interested students. Each participating student received a booklet of 15 tickets (~$25 worth) . Tickets should be returned to the school no later than  April 15th. Sold tickets can be returned each morning between April  8th - 12th and students can  pick up another booklet to sell if they are interested. As an added incentive, prizes will be awarded to the students who sell the most tickets and sell the winning ticket. Additionally,  students will receive three career hours for every $50 worth of tickets sold to a maximum of 15 hours. For additional information, please contact  Cindy Sullivan (cindysullivan@nlschools.ca)

Volunteers Needed!
To help organize the counting and recording of our 50/50 sales we are asking interested community members to donate ~20 - 30 minutes of their time  between April 8th - 12th. Volunteers would be needed beginning at 8:00AM and would work with a member of our office staff to collect, count and record  ticket  sales. If you are intersted in volunteering, please contact Cindy Sullivan (cindysullivan@nlschools.ca)

March 13th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of March 13th, 2024. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

School Development Surveys (March 15th, 2024)
Have you completed your family's school development survey yet? There's still time! Surveys can be completed online and take as little as 10 - 15 minutes of your time. CLICK HERE: https://www.research.net/r/SDFamily2324EN

Canadian Blood Services (March 21st, 2024)
On Thursday, March 21st Canadian Blood Services and Holy Trinity High School have partnered to provide an opportunity for eligible students (17+) to donate blood. With limited space available, information will be shared with students this week and selected students will be contacted by Monday, March 18th. Organized in a similar manner as a field trip, selected students, accompanied by our staff, will travel to the nearest donation center by bus and follow the typical process donating blood. To help families engage in conversations about this opportunity, information can be found here: https://www.blood.ca/en/blood/am-i-eligible-donate-blood/abcs-eligibility 

Year End Assessments and Evaluation (March 18th, 2024)
As we move further into the second semester we understand that students and families may have questions regarding year-end and second chance assessment opportunities. While assessments will continue into June, please note there will be no formal examination period, or comprehensive assessments that cover all course outcomes.  A memo containing further information on the approach Holy Trinity High School will be undertaking this school year will be released on Monday, March 18th. 

HTH Spring 50/50 Fundraiser
To support our school's breakfast program and school development initiatives HTH will be organizing a community 50/50 draw in April! Tickets will be distributed to participating students on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 and be sold up to April 15th, 2024. With our draw taking place on April 17th, 2024 for a maximum prize of $10000! While all students can participate in the sale, students who are seeking opportunities for volunteer hours are encouraged to put their names forward. Additional information will be shared before our Spring Break.

Spring Break (March 29th - April 7th)
The last day of classes before our Spring Break will be on Thursday, March 29th. As a reminder, this is a full day for students with dismissal taking place at our usual time. Classes will resume for all students on Monday, April 8th and it will be Day 12 on the school day calendar.

February 28th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of February 28th, 2024. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

Class of 2023 - Diplomas and Yearbooks
Please be advised that we are now beginning the process of distributing our High School Diplomas for the Class of 2023 and 2023 Yearbooks. Families with students who graduated last year can check in at the office anytime between 8:05 - 3:05 to arrange a time/method for pickup. While this message will also be sent out through our social and local media, we ask that families help spread the word within our school community. We do have a very limited number of Yearbooks available for purchase. Interested persons can contact Andrea White to have their name added for the opportunity to purchase one.

Kids Eat Smart - Breakfast Blitz (Thursday, February 29th)
Kids Eat Smart is having its annual Breakfast Blitz this Thursday, February 29. This is one of two school province-wide fundraisers that the Breakfast Program runs throughout the year to help keep our pantries full. While the specific day for the Blitz is on Thursday, we will accept donations all this week and into next week. Please note, we have lots of cereal in stock, but all other items are greatly appreciated! Additional information can be found on the attached poster! 

School Development Family Surveys (March 15th, 2024)
We are pleased to announce that our School Development Surveys for the 2023/2024 school year are now open. This is an opportunity for our wider school community to have a voice not only in academic matters, but toward the initiatives and programs that foster a safe, inclusive and caring culture at Holy Trinity High School. 

CLICK HERE: https://www.research.net/r/SDFamily2324EN

Parents/guardians complete ONE survey for EACH SCHOOL attended by their children. Some questions are about your perception of the school in general or your involvement with the school. Other questions ask specifically about “your child”. If you have more than one child in this school, please think about your OLDEST child who attends this school when answering questions that say “your child”.

February 7th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of February 5th, 2024. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

Ministerial Day (Thursday, February  8th)
Families are reminded that Thursday, February 8th is a professional learning days for our staff. School will resume on Friday, February 9th and it will be Day 5 on the school day calendar.

Term II Reports - Family Teacher Conferences (February 15th, 2024)
Term II reports will be released on Friday, February 9th with Family Teacher Conferences taking place on Thursday, February 15th from 1:00 - 3:30 and 4:30 - 6:00. Bookings for conferences will open tomorrow at ~9:00AM and run until 5:00PM, Wednesday, February 14th . While some teachers may be unavailable at this time we ask that you add your name to their waitlist. If you are unavailable to meet on Feb 15th but need to engage in a conversation with your child's teacher, we ask that you please reach out to them directly by email to arrange an appointment. (OPTIS Login). 

Family Information Session - Addictions and Harm Reduction (February 15th, 2024) (TIME CHANGE)
HTH's  Comprehensive School Health Team has  arranged a family information session on Addictions, Harm Reduction and Prevention to take place on Thursday, February 15th, beginning at 6:00PM. The session will be facilitated by a member of our CSH team and focus on how to talk to your teen about substance use and addiction, and how to support your child in making healthy choices. Additional information will be released as we come closer to the date.

Course Selections & Three Year Planning (February 12th - February 23rd)
Course selections and three year planning for Grade 9 - Level II students will begin on Monday, February 12th with presentations by members of our guidance and administrative teams. Additional information will be sent to families by the end of the week which will help you engage in conversations with your child as they make decisions about their educational programming. In preparation, families may wish to review the On Course Handbook (14th Edition) - a Department of Education resource on the High School Credit System and graduation requirements. 

January 26th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of January 29th, 2024. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

Professional Learning Day (Monday, January 26th) and Ministerial Day (Thursday, February  8th)
Families are reminded that Monday, January 26th and Thursday, February 8th are Professional Learning Days for our staff. Next week, school will resume on Tuesday, January 27th and it will be Day 11 on the school day calendar.

End of Term II (Semester I) - PowerSchool Access and Progress Reports
Term II (Semester I) for all students will be ending on Friday, January 26th. Semesterised courses (Math 2200, Chemistry 2202, Nutrition 3102, Textiles 3101, Phys Ed 2101, and Phys Ed 3101) will begin on Tuesday, January 27th. Students should check their PowerSchool schedule to ensure they are enrolled in the correct course. If corrections need to be made, families are asked to contact a member of the administration. Access to PowerSchool will be temporarily disabled from Friday, January 26th - Friday, February 2nd

Progress reports for students are tentatively scheduled to be released on Friday, February 9th with Family-Teacher Conferences taking place on Thursday, February 15th, 2024.

Parking Permits and Concerns (Term II)
All students are reminded that permits for Term II begin on January 30th. Students who have been issued a Term I permit are asked to please return their card to the office and collect their deposit. 

We are receiving concerns of students exiting our parking lot through our one-way entrance. Families and students are reminded that students may lose their assigned space (or face other disciplinary measures within our Code of Conduct) if they are operating a vehicle unsafely in our parking lot. We ask that parents and guardians please speak with their child about this concern if they are driving to school. 

School Development Surveys
The Department of Education’s 2023-24 School Development Surveys will be available online beginning Monday, February 5th. Additional information will be sent to families when we this work will begin for our staff, students and families. Additional information on this survey can be found here: Click Here

Comfy Clothing Drive
Holy Trinity High is collecting warm, winter clothing to help struggling community members who are experiencing homeless. Previously worn but 'giftable' items will be accepted each day next week and can be dropped off in the morning (during our usual drop off). Questions can be directed to Mrs. Kearley or other members of our Social Justice Committee. Items can include but are not limited to: hats, mitts, boots, socks or jackets. 

January 15th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of January 15th, 2024. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

Grade 9 Inoculations (Friday, January 19th)
Families of grade 9 students who have submitted their consent forms are advised that inoculations will be taking place in school on Friday, January 19th. If you have any additional questions or concerns, parents and guardians are asked to contact Nicolle Garrett (nicolle.garrett@easternhealth.ca ). Staff and students can expect disruptions throughout the day.

Door Dash & Skip the Dishes - Deliveries at the School
Members of our office staff would like to advise families and students that deliveries which are made to the school by companies like Door Dash and Skip the Dishes are the responsibility of the student placing the order. We are experiencing a number of deliveries which are being made to our office that are not being collected by students in a timely fashion. While our staff will do what we can to accommodate, students should be aware that we will not be seeking out students who do not pick up their meals. Students should be monitoring deliveries and meet their drivers when they arrive at the school.

Family Information Session - Addictions and Harm Reduction (February 15th, 2024)
HTH's  Comprehensive School Health Team has tentatively arranged a family information session on Addictions, Harm Reduction and Prevention to take place on Thursday, February 15th between 4:30 - 5:30. The session will be facilitated by a member of our team and focus on how to talk to your teen about substance use and addiction, and how to support your child in making healthy choices. Additional information will be released as we come closer to the date.

January 8th, 2024

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of January 8th, 2023. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

School Wide Campaign - Arriving on Time
As part of a school-wide campaign to highlight the importance of attending classes regularly and on-time, the HTH School Development Team will be holding weekly prize draws for limited edition Holy Trinity High Merchandise. For the next six weeks (up to February 16th, 2024), four draws will be held every Friday where a random name will be selected from Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12. If the student has no unexcused lates or abscences for the week, they will be able to claim the prize. This effort is also being paired with additional measures with families for students who are chronically late or absent

We would like to encourage all families to have a conversation with their child about the importance of attending classes regularly and on-time. Some suggestions include: 

• Take the bus - Not only will you arrive to school on time, it's better for the environment! 

• Use an alarm clock that is not your phone - Creating and sticking to a sleep schedule is easier when we limit late-night distractions.

• Be mindful - Remind your child be to be conscious of the time they are out of class.  

End of Term II  (Semester I) - January 26th, 2024 
Please be advised that classes will end for Term II (Semester I) on January 28th with the last day for assessments taking place on Friday, January 26th. As our teachers prepare Term II reports, PowerSchool will be disabled for student and parent access - with notifications only continuing for attendance purposes. Family Teacher Conferences will be taking place on Thursday, February 15th with reports issued to families on Monday, February 10th. Additional information will be sent to families as we come closer to these dates. 

Professional Learning Day - January 29th, 2024
There will be no classes for students on Monday, January 29th as teachers and staff will be participating in professional learning. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 30th and it will be Day 11 on the school day calendar.

Parking - Student Permits and Neighborhood Concerns
Please be advised that parking permits for Term II will come into effect as of Tuesday, January 29th. Students who were issued permits for Term I are asked to please return them to the office and collect their deposit before Friday, January 26th. At this time we are not taking additional requests for permits, however in the event that permits have been revoked these spaces will be reassigned to eligible students who entered their names in September. 

In addition, we ask that families who are dropping off or picking up students from our school be mindful of where they park on streets in our neighborhood. We have received concerns that, at times, there is no space for traffic to pass safely or for pedestrians to walk. While we know there are challenges with pick-up and drop-off in our area, we ask that we all remain respectful and abide by traffic/parking rules for Town roads. 

December 18th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of December 18th, 2023. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the office staff. 

Choices for Youth - Stocking Campaign
Students in our Career Education classes (and those who are in need of hours) are reminded of our annual Christmas Stocking Campaign to support Choices for Youth. Stockings will be accepted until December 20th, 2023 and can be passed directly to their teacher or a member of the office staff. 

Christmas Kindness Campaign - Guidance Team
Our guidance team is still collecting monetary donations for our Christmas Kindness Campaign - supporting families in our school community who are in need during the holidays. If you know a family who is in need, or would like to make a donation, please contact Amy Small (amysmall@nlesd.ca) or Catherine Stronge (catherinestronge@nlesd.ca) 

Variety Show (December 19th, 2023)
As part of our Holiday celebrations, our annual Variety Show will be taking place on Thursday, December 19th during periods 4 and 5 (12:00 - 2:00). All students in our school will attend this event hosted by our Theatre and Music Departments - showcasing the amazing talents here at HTH! 

Last Day of Classes - Pancake Breakfast & School-Wide Activities (December 20th, 2023)
Keeping with tradition, the last day of classes for our students will consist of our annual Pancake Breakfast, performances by our student body, and a collection of collaborative activities that focus on socio-emotional learning, and cultivating strong relationships in our school. This will be a condensed day for our students and staff with dismissal taking place at 12:30. Classes will resume for all students on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 and it will be Day 5 on the school day calendar.

December 6th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following reminders and updates for the week of December 4th, 2023. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our office staff.

Early Dismissal - Family Teacher Conferences (Thursday, December 7th)
Students will be dismissed early from classes on Thursday, Dec 7th to allow for family-teacher conferences to occur. Classes will dismiss at 11:10 with buses leaving our parking lot at ~11:20. Bookings for conferences will be open until 5:00PM today. While some teachers may be unavailable at this time we ask that you had your name to their wait list. If you are unavailable to meet on Dec 7th but need to engage in a conversation with your child's teacher we ask that you please reach out to them directly by email to arrange an appointment. (OPTIS Login)

Rycor Online Payment System [Action Required]
As part of our planned roll out of the Rycor Payment System we are now asking all families to setup their Rycor Accounts with HTH. Attached to this email are instructions for families on this process. Please note, this process changes if you have students in multiple schools and at K - 6 grade levels. For full information families can visit the NLESD - School Funds Online Payment system website.

Winter Break (December 21st - January 1st)
The scheduled Winter Break for all students and staff will begin on December 21st with the last day of classes for students being on Wednesday, December 20th. This will be a condensed day for students with dismissal taking place at 12:30. As in previous years, we will be engaging in whole-school activities that focus on Deep Learning and celebrating student talent. 

November 27th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following reminders and updates for the week of November 27th, 2023. As always, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Rycor - Setting Up Family Accounts [ACTION REQUIRED]
As part of our planned roll out of the Rycor Payment System we are now asking all families to setup their Rycor Accounts with HTH. Attached to this email are instructions for families on this process. Please note, this process changes if you have students in multiple schools and at K - 6 grade levels. For full information families can visit the NLESD - School Funds Online Payment system website.

Term I Reports and Family Teacher Conferences
Term I reports will be distributed to families on Monday, December 4th with Family-Teacher Conferences to take place on Thursday, December 7th from 1:00 - 4:30 and 5:30 - 7:00. Bookings for appointments will open up on Thursday, November 30th and run until Wednesday, December 6tth. Families will need to book online through the Holy Trinity High School OPTIS portal. Instructions on how to create an account are attached to this email. If you are having trouble arranging a conference, please call and our office staff will assist you. Please see the additional reminders for conferences

• Families can book up to three 10 minute sessions with their child's teachers. 

• Two options are presented for the conference: (1) In-person and (2) Phone Call. Please check to confirm you are booking your preferred conference format. 

• Please provide an updated contact number 

Doorways and Sexual Health Nurse - Supports for Students
Every Wednesday counselors from Doorways visit our school and are available for student meetings. In addition to this, every Wednesday, our school nurse is also available to support our Sexual Health Program - where students and arrange appointments ahead of time by contacting Nicole Garrett (nicolle.garrett@easternhealth.ca). We ask that families make an effort to inform their children of these services and if they have any additional questions can reach out to our guidance team - Amy Small (amysmall@nlesd.ca) or Catherine Stronge (catherinestronge@nlesd.ca). Further information on services provided to support students mental health can be found on our website: Click Here

November 20th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following reminders and updates for the week of November 20th, 2023. As always, if you have any questions, or require additional information, please contact a member of our office staff. 

Term I Reports (December 4th)
Term I report cards will be issued to all students on Monday, December 4th, 2023. In preparation for this, access to PowerSchool grades for students and families will be disabled from November 24th - 30th. Attendance updates will still continue during this time. 

Family Teacher Conferences (December 7th)
Family teacher conferences will be taking place on Thursday, December 7th from 1:00 - 4:30 and 5:30 - 7:00. Families can book up to three appointments either in-person or by phone. Bookings will open on Friday, November 30th and be available until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, December 6th. This will be a condensed day for students with dismissal taking place at 11:10. 

Professional Learning Day (November 27th)
There will be no school on Monday, November 27th as teachers and staff will be engaging in professional learning and report card preparation. School will resume for all students on November 28th and it will be Day 2 on the school day calendar. 

Christmas Cards for Veterans - Request for Donations of Cards (November 24th)
This is the 5th annual Christmas Cards for Soldiers and Veterans in Canada. In collaboration with our English and Social Studies departments, HTH students and staff will be sending Christmas Cards to soldiers and veterans throughout Canada. For those who are able, we are asking for donations of boxed Christmas cards. These can be dropped off directly to the office anytime before Friday, November 24th, 2023.

Course Change Requests
Students and families are reminded that the opportunity for course change requests has passed. Changes made following the mid-way point of Term I are made strictly for highschool graduation or post-secondary entrance requirements. Other changes may be made for students who are academically at-risk (<59%) or failing courses and require additional support through our PASS program. 

November 6th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following reminders and updates for the week of November 6th, 2023. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our office staff. 

Picture Retakes - November 7th, 2023
A reminder that picture retakes will be taking place tomorrow (Tuesday, November 7th). Students will be called down by Homeroom throughout the day. Only students who either missed their pictures of would like to have re-takes are required to have their picture taken. 

Grade 9 Inoculations - Reminder for Forms
A reminder for all grade 9 families that inoculation forms are past due. Families will be contacted by email in the coming days if our school nurse has not received the signed consents. Questions of a medical nature can be directed to Nicole Garret by email at nicolle.garrett@easternhealth.ca. Copies of the forms are attached below. 

School Immunization Consent Form.PDF
Protection from Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) - School Immunization Program (August 2018).pdf

Remembrance Day - Holiday (November 13th, 2023)
School will be closed for all students and staff on Monday, November 13th in recognition of Remembrance Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, November 14th and it will be Day 6 on the school day calendar. 

Service Animal - Information for Grade 9 and New Families
Please be advised that Holy Trinity High School does have a student who is supported by a service animal. While our Grade 10, 11 and 12 students would be familiar with the community expectations associated with this, we recognize our Grade 9 students and new families may have questions. Information sessions will be arranged in the coming weeks. This Service Dog is a highly trained companion for our student and is able to assist in many of the routine activities which may pose some challenges. Service dogs are comparable to a Guide Service Dog and are included in every aspect of a student’s life. The child’s right to have a Service Dog is protected under Human Rights legislation. There will be information sessions at our school for students to introduce the Service Dog and to integrate the Service Dog into our daily routines. All of our students will be instructed as to the proper procedures around the Dog and will be informed that this is a working Service Dog and not a pet while at school.

Professional Learning Day - DATE CHANGE (November 27th, 2023)
Please be advised that Holy Trinity High will be closed for students on Monday, November 27th as teachers/staff will be participating in professional learning. This is a change of date from the school calendar which was distributed in September. Classes will resume for all students on Tuesday, November 28th and it will be day 2 on the school day calendar. 

October 24th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of October 23rd, 2023. As usual, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require additional clarification. 

Award Winning Staff!
The staff and administration of Holy Trinity High School would like to extend congratulations to two educators who have recently received national and provincial awards for teaching and learning.

Heidi Kavanagh, recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence and Teaching Excellent in STEM (Certificate of Achievement), was recognized for her outstanding commitment in creating learning opportunities that develop Deep Learning. Applauded for her work within Let's Talk Science, the Newfoundland and Labrador Science Fair's Council, and Conversation Corps of NL, Heidi is a role model for any student who wishes to pursue a career in Science.

"Ms. Kavanagh is a dedicated and generous educator who came to HTH as a young science teacher and confidently took on the role as Department Head of Science. Her dedication and enthusiasm have brought new life to the science department and motivated students to become excited about STEM." -Colleague

Tonya Kearley, recipient of the Minister's Award for Compassion in Teaching, is being honored this week as an inspirational and compassionate teacher at the secondary level who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to supporting the social, emotional and mental health of her students, colleagues and school community as a whole. Whether it's playing music and greeting every student as they walk through our doors or hosting Karaoke every Friday, every student in our school is made to feel welcome in Tonya's spaces. 

"Relationships are at the heart of Tonya’s teaching practice. I have seen time and time again her ability to reach and build relationships with the hardest to reach students. You will regularly see students who struggle to attend school seek comfort and acceptance in Tonya’s classroom." - Colleague

Halloween Dance -  (Thursday, October 26th)
The HTH Student Council, in partnership with our Drama and AV Clubs, will be hosting a student dance on Thursday, October 26th. Doors will open at 6:45 and students are encouraged to dress up to celebrate Halloween. This year's theme is "Creepy Carnival and Haunted House" - with games and activities planned throughout the night. Additional information will be sent to students from the Student Council in the coming weeks. 

October 16th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of October 16th, 2023. As usual, if you have any questions or require additional clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Walk for Wenjack - School Fundraiser for the Downie Wenjack Foundation
Our annual Walk for Wenjack lap-a-thon will be taking place for all students and staff this week. Each day the gymnasium will be open to facilitate this event. This year our goal as a school is to walk over 600 km (12 laps = 1km) while raising funds for the Downie Wenjack Foundation. Students, staff and families can join the HTH Team by following this link: https://walk-for-wenjack-2023.raisely.com/en/t/holytrinityhightigers To help showcase this event, students in our Drama, AV and Social Justice clubs have created this video to help spread the word! 

Walk to Breakfast (October 19th, 2023)
Our Walk to Breakfast march to support our Kids Eat Smart Breakfast Program will now be taking place on Thursday, October 19th. Families who are able are asked to please donate a breakfast item to our school as part of this campaign. Suitable items can be found on the poster attached to this email. 

School Pictures and Retakes (November 7th, 2023)
Picture packages have now been distributed based on Homerooms for all students and staff who had their pictures taken.  Students who are no longer in their originally assigned Homeroom may check at the office for their packages. Retakes have been scheduled for November 7th, 2023.

Doorways Programming at HTH - Mental Health and Addictions Services
Members of our guidance team will be visiting classes on Wednesday, October 18th to discuss the Doorways Program at HTH and introduce our counselors. Families are asked to please review the linked letter from Eastern Health (NL Health Services) and inform the administration if they are not providing consent for their child to avail of these services.
Doorways - Eastern Health - Letter to Families
Doorways - Confidentiality - Informed Consent Information

Upcoming Important Dates

• Professional Development Day - Monday, October 23rd

• Picture Retakes - Tuesday, November 7th

• Remembrance Day Holiday - Monday, November 13th

• Term I Reports Issued - Friday, December 1st

• Family Teacher Conferences - Thursday, December 7th
  
  

October 11th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following reminders for the week of October 11th - October 13th. As usual, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our administration if you have any questions or require clarification. 

Walk for Breakfast (Friday, Oct 13th)
Staff and students will be participating in our annual Walk for Breakfast to support our Kids Eat Smart School Breakfast Program. If your family is able, we are requesting donations of food items this year to help increase the stock of items we have available for our students. Attached to this email is a poster from our Breakfast Program Committee with suggested donation items. For additional information, families can contact Melissa Barbeau (melissabarbeau@nlesd.ca) directly. 

Doorways - Mental Health & Addictions Support
The Doorways program is returning to Holy Trinity High School for the 2023/2024 school year as part of our Comprehensive School Health Project. Counsellors will be available (virtually or in-person) each Wednesday of the month and students can book appointments through our Guidance Team. For additional information on Doorways, please follow this link: (https://mha.easternhealth.ca/doorways/) Additional information will be sent to students on how to book appointments in the coming days and weeks. If you would like to refer your child to the Doorways program, please reach out to Catherine Strong (catherinstrong@nlesd.ca) or Amy Small (amysmall@nlesd.ca).

PD Day (Monday, October 23rd)
Classes will be suspended for staff on Monday, October 23rd to allow our staff to participate in required professional learning. When classes resume on Tuesday, October 24th it will be Day 6 on the school day calendar.

School Council - Call for Members
Holy Trinity High School is seeking additional members to join our School Council. Community members have the choice of requesting a nomination for a Parent or Community Member. Interested persons can contact Trevor Taylor (trevortaylor@nlesd.ca). Additional information on the operation of school councils can be found here: https://www.gov.nl.ca/education/k12/councils/ 

Rycor - Roll Out for HTH
In the coming weeks information will be sent to families detailing how to create a Rycor account. Moving into the 2024/2025 school year, all school-based permission slips, forms, etc. as well as fees will be processed online through this system. All families with students attending Holy Trinity High will need an account set-up to access this online service. If your family (or a family you know) has unreliable access to the internet, we are asking that you please reach out to a member of our Administrative Team by phone (7094375563)

October 3rd, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please be review the following reminders and updates for the week of October 2nd - 6th. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Thanksgiving Day Holiday (October 9th)
Please be advised that there will be no classes for students and staff on Monday, October 9th in recognition of the Thanksgiving Day holiday. When school resumes on Tuesday, October 10th it will be Day 10 on the school day calendar

Grade 9 Inoculations
Grade 9 Families are reminded to please ensure consents are signed and returned to the school as soon as possible. If your family did not receive the necessary documents, please contact us and we will put you in contact with our school nurse. 

Grade 10 Programming - Math and Sciences
With the first 3 weeks of classes completed our Teaching and Learning Teams are now in a position to make additional recommendations on students who are currently in the Advanced Mathematics (Math 1201/Math 2200) and Semesterized Science groupings. At this time we ask that you please have a discussion with your child on their progress so far, the challenges they may be facing, and the supports they need to be successful. In the coming weeks, a member of our staff may reach out to you with a recommendation to change programming. This is typically done when a student is experiencing significant difficulty and would benefit from a slower pace with increased time to complete assigned work during the school day. Implications for post-secondary programming will be considered as we engage in conversations with families. 

September 25th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see this week's reminders and updates. As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

HTH School Showcase - Feedback Opportunity

Thank you to the over 150 families and community members who attended our HTH School Showcase! In an effort to collect feedback on this experience we are asking families, students and community members who attended to complete a brief feedback survey. (Click Here)

Safely Navigating Online Spaces - Family Resource

As part of a continued effort to broaden our knowledge on how we can keep our kids safe online, the NLESD Programs Team have created a resource for parents and caregivers. This document is best viewed on a computer but will open on most mobile devices. (Click Here)

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Holiday (Oct 2nd, 2023) 

This week in National Truth and Reconciliation Week in Canada. Each day students will have the opportunity to engage in activities that deepen their understanding of Indigenous cultures while recognizing the impact of the Residential School System in Canada. As part of this work, we are encouraging all staff and students to wear orange on Friday, September 29th.

There will be no classes for staff and students on Monday, October 2nd. When school resumes on Tuesday, October 3rd it will be Day 6 on the school day calendar. 

Thanksgiving Day Holiday (Oct 9th, 2023)

There will be no classes for staff and students on Monday, October 9th. When school resumes on Tuesday, October 10th it will be Day 10 on the school day calendar. 

Department of Education - News Release (RE: Assessment and Evaluation)

Information on High School assessments and evaluation was released by the EDU on Friday, September 22nd. This news release can be found here: https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2023/education/0922n03/  

September 21st, 2023

Dear Families, 

This is a friendly reminder that the HTH School Showcase (formally 'Curriculum Night') will be taking place tonight from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Doors will open at 6:50 and families will be asked to make their way to our Gymnasium. Following a brief presentation by the administration, families will have an opportunity to chat with teachers, visit some specialty areas in our school, or get a bite to eat at our BBQ. Monetary donations will be accepted throughout the night in support of our School Breakfast Program.

In addition to our teaching staff we will also be joined by some members of our support staff, as well as the community partners who will be working with our school teams. These include Thrive, Planned Parenthood, Key Assets, Quadrangle,  and other members of our Comprehensive School Health Team. Attached to this reminder is a video from our Health Promotion Consultant- Sexual Health, Jennifer Slade, regarding our High School Sexual Health program. In addition to this, we've also attached information on safe Social Media use, provided by the NLESD. 

Video - High School Sexual Health Program

Social Media Tips for Families 

September 18th, 2023

Dear Families, 

Please see the following reminders and announcements. If necessary, please engage in a discussion with your child regarding the items noted here. 

HTH School Showcase and BBQ (Thursday, September 21st @ 7PM)  - Formally known as 'Curriculum Night', families of students are invited to Holy Trinity High on Thursday, September 21st for a school showcase and community BBQ. This night will focus on meeting your child's teachers, making connections with community groups supporting our school, and experiencing learning activities happening at HTH! A BBQ will be ongoing throughout the night with donations collected to support our Breakfast program.

HTH Picture Day (Friday, September 22nd) - School pictures for all students will take place on Friday. Please note, this is separate from our grade 12 graduation pictures which will take place at a later date.  

School Council Meeting (Thursday, September 28th) - Our first school council meeting of the 2023/2024 school year will take place on Thursday, September 28th. Additional information will be sent to interested family and community members by Tuesday, September 19th. Seats are open for both community and parent representatives. 

Return Student Forms Families are reminded to please ensure student demographic, media consent and Acceptable Use of Technology forms are returned to the school. If families have questions, they can reach out to their child's homeroom teacher.

Attendance, Timely Arrival for Class and Extended Absences from Class - With the first full week of our school year over and most schedules finalized, members of the administration will be following up with students who are  absent/late unexcused for their classes, or absent from class for extended periods of time. Attendance data will be reviewed on a weekly basis and students may be assigned detention if they are late for five (5) or more classes. Additionally, students may be assigned detention if they are spending an unnecessary amount of time in our hallways during classes.  

We ask that families please have a conversation with their child regarding the importance of arriving and attending their classes. Parents and guardians can review their child's attendance using the PowerSchool App.   

September 11th, 2023

Dear Families, 

In an effort to keep you informed about what is happening at Holy Trinity High School the administrative team will occasionally send out reminders. Typically these will be through email and delivered on Monday morning. When you receive these messages, we ask that you review the information carefully and discuss necessary information with your child. 

Media Consent, Demographic Information and Acceptable Technology Use
Homeroom teachers have now distributed media consent, demographic information and Acceptable Technology Use forms. We ask that you please review the demographic information and note any changes, and read/sign our media consent and acceptable technology use forms. These items should be returned to your child's homeroom teacher no later than Friday, September 15th.

Important Dates

• School pictures will be taken on Friday, September 22nd, 2023. Additional information will be sent to families as we come closer to the date.

• Curriculum Night (Meet the Teacher) will be taking place on Thursday, September 21st. This year we are reimagining our day to focus on building community and strengthening our school-family relationships. Be on the look out for how you can participate in this new opportunity!  

Course Change Requests (Grade 10, 11 and 12)
Members of the administration and guidance teams are processing course change requests this week. To date we have received ~150 requests and we ask that students and their families are patient as we work through the process. Priority for requests is given to our grade 12 students for graduation and post-secondary program requirements. All other requests will be processed once we have ensured all students are enrolled in courses required for graduation. Due to the volume of submissions, requests which have been sent by email will not be addressed at this time. 

Grade 9 Class Requests
This year, as we are no longer required to cohort students, HTH is returning to our practice of creating diverse student groupings that include both English and French Immersion students for Mathematics, English Physical Education, Home Economics, and Art classes. Because of this your child may notice that some of their peers change for these classes. While we recognize that this may be a new experience for our grade 9 students, this is designed as part of the transition to a high school schedule. If your child is struggling with the beginning of their school year, we ask that you encourage them to reach out to a member of our guidance team (Amy Small - amysmall@nlesd.ca or Catherine Strong - catherinestrong@nlesd.ca) 

Regards, 

The HTH Admin Team