HTH - Updates and Reminders (November 12th)

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and reminders for the week of November 12th. We ask that you please review the information below and have a discussion with your child if necessary. If you have any questions, or require clarification, please let a member of our office staff know. 

Term I Reports and Family Teacher Conferences - Distribution  and Timelines
Please be advised that Holy Trinity High School will be shifting to digitally releasing report cards for Term I and III.  This will be facilitated through our PowerSchool platform using the information already provided to families and students. Please note, to see individual teacher comments, parents/guardians must click on the grade to load the class assessment and evaluation screen. This is best done using a laptop or desktop device. 

In preparation for the release of reports, we ask that you review the following dates

• Thursday, November 14th - PowerSchool reopens for the virtual release of Term I grades/comments

• Thursday, November 14th - The HTH OPTIS portal will open for families to begin booking Family Teacher Conferences. Family members may book up to three 10 minute appointments with their child's teachers. If additional meetings are required, please contact your child's teacher directly to arrange a time. 

• Thursday, November 21st - Family Teacher Conferences will take place between 1:00 - 4:30 and 5:30 - 7:00. This will be a partial day for all students with dismissal taking place at 11:40AM. 

Request for Paper Copies
Families can request paper copies of Term I reports by completing the following Google Form: Click Here. We will review all requests on Monday, November 18th and facilitate distribution through our Homeroom teachers. 

Student Academics - Family Obligations
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen family-school partnerships, we ask that all families review the memo linked below. This memo outlines current assessment and evaluation policy changes at HTH and provides suggestions to families in ways they can help their child experience academic success. 

HTH - Family Memo - Term I Assessment and Evaluation (Nov 2024)

HTH - Updates and Reminders (November 5th)

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates and remainders for the week of November 5th. We ask that you please review the information below and have a discussion with your child if necessary. If you have any questions, or require clarification, please let a member of our office staff know. 

Professional Learning Days - November 6th and 12th
Holy Trinity High School will be closed for students on November 6th and 15th as teachers engage in professional learning. Classes will resume for all students on November 7th (Day 4) and 18th (10) respectfully. 

Remembrance Day Assembly and Holiday
Ceremonies commemorating Remembrance Day will take place on Friday, November 8th during our morning session.  We ask that you speak with your child regarding the importance of recognizing such an event for our school and community. School will be closed for both staff and students on Monday, November 11th. Classes resume of Tuesday, November 12th (Day 6). 

Term I Reports (Nov 14th) and Family Teacher Conferences (Nov 21st)
Teachers are now in the process of finalizing Term I reports. As per our past practice, access to PowerSchool grades and comments will be disabled between November 5th to November 12th to allow our educators to engage in this work. Family Teacher conferences will be taking place on November 21st following the release of reports on November 14th. Bookings will take place online through the OPTIS system (additional information to follow). 

Midterm Assessments - January 20th - 24th, 2025
As previously communicated, students will be writing midterm examinations in core subject areas beginning in the 2024/2025 school year. While a schedule is still being developed for Holy Trinity High, families are reminded that students must write these assessments as per the NLSchools Assessment, Reporting and Evaluation Policy. We ask that during identified examination period, every effort is made to ensure students attend regularly. Absences will be considered on a case by case basis with accommodations made for unavoidable circumstances only. 

HTH - Halloween and Spirit Week Activities (October 28th, 2024)

Dear Families, 

Please see the following updates from the HTH AV and Drama Club regarding Halloween Activities which have been planned for this week

Spirit Week - Dress up Days (Oct 28th - Nov 1st)
To help us get in the Spooky Spirit, all staff and students are invited to participate in our weekly dress up days!

• Twin Day - Find a partner and take 'matching' to a whole new level! 

• Black Cat - Be one with the night and don your best black attire! 

• Costumes - Get creative and dress to impress. A reminder that costumes worn to school must be school appropriate with no references to drugs or alcohol. In addition, students wearing masks will be asked to remove them and props resembling weapons will be confiscated until the end of the day. 

• PJ Day - Take a break and relax as we ease into the weekend with some comfy clothes. 

Halloween Dance (Oct 29th, 2024) (7:00 - 10:00)
As announced last week, our AV team will be hosting a school dance on Tuesday, October 29th from 7:00 - 10:00. Open to all students and will take place in our Cafeteria and Theatre Arts spaces. Once students are admitted entry, they must stay in the building until they are ready to leave. Costumes must be school appropriate and a contest will be held with prizes to be won! Families are reminded that students must be picked up no later than 10:00PM as all supervising teachers will be leaving at this time.

HTH Haunted House (Oct 30th, 2024) (6:30 - 9:00)
Hosted by our AV and Drama Clubs, the HTH Haunted House will be open for community visitors on Wednesday, October 30th from 6:30 - 9:00. A nominal donation will be accepted for entry ($2 - $5) or non-perishable food item. The experience is adjusted based on the ages of participants and personal preference. 

HTH - Reminders and Updates (October 17th, 2024)

Dear Families, 

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

Doorways Counseling
Members of our guidance team will be visiting classes over the coming weeks 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. The Doorways Program is an external counseling service that has partnered with HTH to offer additional support for our students in areas related to mental health and addictions. 

Doorways - Letter for Families
Doorways - Limits of Confidentiality Form

Assessment and Evaluation - Unit Tests and Major Assessments
While a further memo will be released to families in the coming days regarding assessment practices at HTH, we would like to advise all families of the process which will be implemented if a student misses a scheduled Unit Test or major summative assessment. With the introduction of a new NLSchools Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting Policy, HTH will be following Procedure 3.2 for missed tests and summative assessments. That is, if a student is absent for a unit test ... 

• A second date will be decided by the teacher.  This will be for all students who did not write the assessment and take into consideration the individual circumstances and profiles of our students.

• On the rescheduled date if the student is unable to write for a valid reason, the grade will be excused. However, if the student is absent without a valid reason, a grade of zero will be assigned.

• Mark replacement and improvement opportunities  may take place until the student writes their mid-course of year-end examination. In the event there is no examination, an alternate assessment will be scheduled during our examination week (if suitable) or at a date determined by the teacher. Students who have missed assessments for valid reasons, will be identified and plans will be created on a case-by-case basis

Media Consents and Acceptable Use of Technology Agreements  (Action Required)
To date we have now received nearly 300 forms from families. All families are reminded that our Media Consents as well as Acceptable Use of Technology Agreements have been posted online through Rycor. Students must complete our Acceptable Use agreements if they  intended to continue using NLSchools issued devices or bring personal devices to school. For additional information on how to access Rycor, families can visit the NLSchools website.

Walk For Wenjack (2024/2025)

The Social Justice Action Committee is asking for family support throughout Secret Path Week this year as we participate in the Walk for Wenjack. 

“Walk for Wenjack is a grassroots event that started in 2016. The first walk retraced the steps of Chanie Wenjack, starting at the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, ON, and continued to Redditt, ON for a ceremony representing Chanie’s final resting spot near Farlane, ON.  Since then, Walk for Wenjack has provided Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada with the opportunity to participate in Secret Path Week in a meaningful way.”

The following link provides more information about the Walk for Wenjack. https://downiewenjack.ca/our-work/walk-for-wenjack/

From Thursday, October 17th to Monday, October 21st we are asking that students consider walking in the gym during lunchtime. Student and staff laps will be tracked at this time and will be used to contribute towards our school goal of 600 km. In addition to in-school participation, we would like to invite families to track their own kilometers from October 17th to October 21st and record their progress on the following google form. https://forms.gle/CA7j6Bf5HssQFAHP7

Families can also support this event by donating to our schools team through the following link:

https://walk-for-wenjack-2024.raiselysite.com/holy-trinity-high 

Thank you so much for all of your support as we participate in this meaningful event. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. 

Alyssa Brennan (alyssabrennan@nlschools.ca)
Nicole Reid (nicolereid1@nlschools.ca)

Dear Families, 

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

Walk  for Breakfast Fundraiser & Rescheduled Terry Fox Walk/Run for the Cure (October 4th)
Tomorrow we will be hosting our annual Walk For Breakfast fundraiser in support of our school breakfast program. Families and students and encouraged to bring in a nominal donation ($2-$5) to support this initiative or donate online: Click Here (Please choose Holy Trinity High as the recipient).  We would like to thank all those who have donated to the Terry Fox Foundation on behalf of the school! This year we raised over $500 to support cancer research! 

School Pictures - Orders and Retakes (October 24th, 2024)
Retakes for school pictures have been scheduled for October 24th, 2024. Proofs and ordering information is now available online through Lifetouch's website.
The following message is from the Lifetouch Team: 

"Dear parents, School pictures are ready! To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.ca or create an account using your student's student ID number.Paper proofs will also be sent to your home in the near future. All families can also log on and order a FREE digital Pictures2Protect Card. More about the Pictures2Protect program here. Thank you!"

Thanksgiving Day Holiday  (October 14th, 2024)
School will be closed for all staff and students on Monday, October 14th to recognize the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday and it will be Day 1 on the school day calendar. 

Media Consents and Acceptable Use of Technology Agreements  (Action Required)
To date we have only received 187 forms from families. All families are reminded that our Media Consents as well as Acceptable Use of Technology Agreements have been posted online through Rycor. Students must complete our Acceptable Use agreements if they  intended to continue using NLSchools issued devices or bring personal devices to school. For additional information on how to access Rycor, families can visit the NLSchools website.

Modular Assessments - Field Testing at HTH
Holy Trinity High School has been selected to help field test the upcoming modular assessments as announced by the Department of Education in 2023/2024. Impacted classes will receive a separate memo with additional details and what they can expect during this school year. Presently this will only apply to students who are enrolled in English 3201, Math 3201, Math 3200, Biology 3201, Chemistry 3202, Physics 3204 and Earth Systems 3209. 

HTH - Reminders and Updates (September 18th, 2024)

Dear Families, 

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

Media Consents and Acceptable Use of Technology Agreements  (Action Required)
All families are reminded that our Media Consents as well as Acceptable Use of Technology Agreements have been posted online through Rycor. Students must complete our Acceptable Use agreements if they  intended to continue using NLSchools issued devices or bring personal devices to school. For additional information on how to access Rycor, families can visit the NLSchools website.

Terry Fox Walk and Run for the Cure (Postponed)
Originally planned for Sept 19th, 2024, our annual Walk and Run for the Cure will be postponed to a later date (TBD). Families can continue making donations to our school through the online platform, or send a nominal donation in with their child.  Online donations can also be made here: Click Here

HTH School Showcase (Thursday, September 19th @ 7PM) (Student Volunteers Needed)  
Formally known as 'Curriculum Night', families of students are invited to Holy Trinity High on Thursday, September 19th for a school showcase. 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! We are still seeking out student volunteers to help guide families through our building and instructional spaces. Additional details are below: 

• Families can arrive at the school for ~6:50PM through our Main Entrance

• All families will meet in the gym for a short presentation by the administration and a school-community meet-and-greet with our teachers and external partners

• Following our meet-and-greet families will be permitted to visit our classroom spaces. Attending family members are asked to please bring their child's schedule so they can identify teachers and their room numbers. 

• Donations will be collected for our School Breakfast Program at this time. Families are asked to consider making a monetary or suitable food donation. Each year our Breakfast Program provides nearly $20000 worth of healthy food to our students - something which would not be possible without the support of our community!  

Grade 9 Inoculations - Update from NLHealth and our School Nurse (due back by Oct 1st, 2024)
Grade 9 Inoculation forms have been provided to students identified by NLHealth who have yet to receive their inoculations. If your child has already received their vaccines, they would not receive a form. That said, if your child has not received their inoculation previously, blank consent forms are available at the office for pickup. For questions or clarification, families can contact our School Nurse, Joan Vietch, by phone at 709-752-4747. Ms. Veitch will also be available during our School Showcase to answer questions and distribute other information from NLHealth. Completed forms can be returned directly to the office. 

HTH - Reminders and Updates (September 11th, 2024)

Dear Families, 

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

Student Chromebooks and PowerSchool Accounts
It has come to our attention that a number of students do not have access to their  PowerSchool accounts or have an NLSchools assigned Chromebook. For the purposes of organizing a plan to address these issues we are asking all students (or their families) to submit a Help Request using the following forms: 

HTH Chromebook Inquiry Form

HTH PowerSchool Inquiry Form

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we address these issues.

Student Forms (Rycor)
Families are reminded that student demographic forms must be returned to the school as soon as possible. In addition, our Media Consent and Acceptable Use of Technology forms are now live on our Rycor Page. For additional information on how to access Rycor, families can visit the NLSchools website. Students must have their Acceptable Use of Technology agreement signed to use Chromebooks or personal devices in our school. If this agreement is not submitted, students will be asked to leave their personal devices at home or at the office. Paper copies of online forms are available upon request through our office staff. 

HTH School Showcase (Thursday, September 19th @ 7PM) 
Formally known as 'Curriculum Night', families of students are invited to Holy Trinity High on Thursday, September 19th for a school showcase. 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! 

HTH Picture Day (Friday, September 20th)
School pictures for all students will take place on Friday, September 20th. Please note, this is separate from our grade 12 graduation pictures which will occur at a later date. Students are required to have their pictures taken for the purposes of updating their school files and assigning student IDs. 

Energy Drinks in Instructional Spaces and during Lunch
All families are asked to engage in a discussion with their child regarding the consumption of 'Energy Drinks' in schools. As communicated last year, HTH does not allow these beverages to be consumed within our instructional spaces or supervised areas during lunch. This approach aligns with EDU School Food Guidelines and supports our goal of creating optimal learning environments for all. 

Course Change Requests and Grade 9 Programming (Update)
At this time we would like to advise all students and families that the majority of submitted course change requests have been reviewed by our administration or guidance team. If students have not been contacted by a member of these teams they are expected to attend their scheduled classes. Requests which have been submitted by email are being addressed as time permits and, due to the volume of correspondence received, families/students should expect delays in receiving a response. 

HTH - Reminders for the First Day of School (September 3rd, 2024)

Please see the following reminders as we approach the first day of school for our students. As always, if you have additional questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Opening Day - Partial Day and Staggered Start
As previously communicated, Holy Trinity High School implements a staggered start to begin our school year. Students in grades 9 and 10 will attend a morning session (9:10 - 11:30) while all other students will attend the afternoon session (1:10 - 3:10). While bus runs will begin at their scheduled times for grades 9 and 10, runs in the afternoon will depart 4 hours later than normal. Upon arrival at school, all students will make their way to our gymnasium for an assembly, followed by a Homeroom session.

Homeroom Assignments and Schedules
PowerSchool for all students is live. All students (or families) are asked to login to their account to identify their Homeroom teacher and review their schedule. Students' homeroom is assigned based on their Day 1, Period 1 class (please make note of the room number). Following our assembly, all students will meet their homeroom teacher. Members of our staff will be available to assist your child in the event they do not know their Homeroom class.

PowerSchool Login Concerns
Students who are experiencing difficulty logging into PowerSchool are asked to use the 'Forgot my Password' function that has been added to the PowerSchool portal. If students have been locked out of their account, please contact Stephanie Chaytor or Cindy Sullivan. 

Course Change Requests
As a reminder for all students and families, course change requests will be accepted between Sept 4th - Sept 9th. Priority for changes is given based on High School Graduation Requirements. If your child has indicated they would like a schedule change, please direct them to complete the Google Form (Click Here). Due to the considerable volume of students who submit requests, all requests must be submitted through this form. The form will open for requests on September 4th, 2024.

New Families - Open House and School Tour (August 29th, 2024)

Welcome to Holy Trinity High School. Whether you're arriving at our school from Juniper Ridge Intermediate, or have recently moved into our community, our goal is to ensure you have all the information you need for a successful start to the academic year. 

To ensure all families are familiar with our school we are once again offering an Open House for new students and families on Thursday, August 29th from 1:00PM - 2:00PM. This opportunity will include a presentation from members of the administration and a guided tour of our building. 

• Doors open at August 29th, 2024 at 12:45PM 

• Families and students can enter through our Main Entrance

• Session will begin with a presentation in the Gymnasium

Additional information on school opening will be sent to all families on Friday, August 30th by e-mail and will be posted on our website under 'Memos and Reminders' 

Volunteers Needed! 

We are seeking Grade 10, 11 and 12 students who can help lead our tours on Thursday. Each student will receive a minimum of three (3) volunteer hours (Career Education Requirements) for their time. Interested students are asked to contact Mrs. Stephanie Chaytor (stephaniechaytor@nlschools.ca)