Greetings, Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Mālō e lelei, Namaste, Ni Hao, Bula, Hola, Kumusta, Namaskārām,
Sat Shri Akaal, Vanakkam and Ayubowan
Dear Families
Welcome to another busy term of school! It was an honour to welcome our newest students to school last Monday along with their whānau and to welcome new staff who are joining our school family. We hope you feel the wairua of the Holy Trinity within you and around you as you enter this wonderful community of learning ka ako, loving ka aroha and serving ka manaaki!
This term we hope to be the disciples of Christ that Jesus asks us to be, by being respectful /showing manaakitia for who we are and how we are as our own selves, for each other and for our environment, mother earth!
RESPECT/MANAAKITIA is one of our own school Gospel values. The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us to “go and do the same”, “to reach out in love to one another”, “to keep giving” and “to care deeply for each other”.
MANAAKITIA – RESPECT
To show respect for ourselves, each other and our community: to speak respectfully, to act respectfully, to interact respectfully, to care for our environment i.e. – caring for our learning community, picking up after ourselves, wearing our uniform with pride and to share and respect school equipment.
A personal note …
… to say THANK YOU for the love, hugs, prayers, cards, flowers and thoughts shared with me and my family as we nursed, cared and prayed for my beloved Mum in her last earthly days. Mum died peacefully with our family by her side – praying the Rosary, singing and sharing stories with Mum and each other as we celebrated a life well lived.
Mum/Pat had great faith in God, she knew that Jesus was with her every moment of her day. Even in her illness this past year, Mum remembered her prayers – her rosary beads were never far from her side. She would go to sleep praying the rosary and wake up by praying the rosary. She was always open to Jesus’ presence in her life – strengthening her and giving her grace. We know that Mum is on her way to the place that Jesus has prepared for her and this gives us hope that this will be our resting place too, when we can all be together again.
We are a big whānau so it has been a very special time for us all – gathering together, remembering Mum and celebrating her life. Thanks to the Holy Trinity team – staff, students and families who were at Mum’s Requiem Mass and who brought all your arohanui to the Lindstrom family. We certainly felt it and it was so appreciated!
DRS Report
Whole School Mass
On Wednesday 30 July, we will have a whole school Mass at 9:30am in Taamaua/school hall. Our whānau and friends are welcome to join us as we gather to celebrate Eucharistic Mass as we commence this new term. Father Mathew of St Mary’s Parish Papakura will be our celebrant for this special Mass. We look forward to seeing you there!
Caring Foundation’s Jubilee Caring Mass
On Thursday 31 July, a Caring Foundation Jubilee Mass will be held at Christ the King Church in Owairaka. We are very proud to say that six of our students and two teachers have been nominated to receive special Caring Awards at the Mass. These awards will be presented by Bishop Steve who is also the celebrant of the Mass. It’s a great achievement to be recognised for the care and service that we demonstrate in our school and Parish communities. We congratulate these students: Genesis Feagaiga, Lilac Encino, Eva Abin, Joseph Seemon, Isaiah Raega and Mia Yandall. We also congratulate our two teachers nominated: Mrs Sahlee Cortez and Miss Jennifer Anacleto.
Baptism at St Mary’s Parish (7-12years)
This is an invitation for Catholic parents who have children between the ages of 7-12 years old and not yet baptised but open to baptism in the Catholic Church. St Mary’s Parish Papakura is offering faith formation with a process of discernment for baptism. Registration is now open, please contact the Parish Office at (09) 299 6056 for more information. The deadline for registration is the 20th of September.
School Board Elections
Dear Families,
Nominations are open for the election of 5 parent representatives to the Holy Trinity School Board.
This is an exciting opportunity for you as parents/caregivers to become involved in the governance of the school and your children’s education. The Board is the voice for our community and its representatives.
In all our decision making, we look to our school’s vision and values which are our foundation and which guide us in our governance role
The School Board also needs to represent the diversity of its school community. The Board election is the opportunity to nominate and vote for candidates who will make a positive difference for children’s education. We need people from the various ethnic groups who make up our culturally rich school.
Nomination Forms will be available at the school office or by contacting our Returning Officer – Jocelyn Ochoa – jochoa@holytrinity.school.nz.
The Parent Electoral Roll is available for viewing at the school office.
REMEMBER : Nominations close at midday on 6th August 2025.
If this sounds like you, please think about putting your name forward, or get someone to nominate you.
PTFA News …
THANK YOU to our PTFA Team!
The PTFA Annual General meeting was held this week and on behalf of our school community, we extend a huge vote of thanks to our current PTFA Office Holders – Louise Ruegg/Chairperson, Jeff Williams/Secretary and Sarah Langford/Treasurer plus the PTFA committee team who have been so instrumental in ensuring the PTFA is such an integral part of our school partnership with teachers, parents and friends of Holy Trinity. Each of you give a significant amount of time and dedication to this work – organising school fundraisers, social events, fun days and events and making contributions to the financial position of the school so that all our children/students can benefit from curriculum learning experiences. We are so grateful for your wonderful efforts, for everything you do for us and we absolutely thank you for your unwavering support. We also acknowledge all your respective family members who have happily been roped in to assist with the various activities. What a team effort from all. Thank you for surrounding our school family, always looking out for us and blessing us with the fruits of your efforts!
THANK YOU to Sarah Langford, our outgoing 2024 Treasurer – we are grateful for the expertise you have shared with us in looking after the PTFA finances. Thank you for your amazing support and for all the work undertaken in the background to make our fundraising a success.
Congratulations to our 2025 PTFA Office Holders!
THANK YOU Louise and Jeff for being so willing to continue in your current roles as Chairperson and Secretary. We are so thrilled to know we are once again in your safe hands!
Chairperson – Louise Ruegg
Secretary – Jeff Williams
Treasurer – vacancy still to be filled
Congratulations to you all and “Thank You” for your willingness to continue the great work of the PTFA team. We look forward to working closely with you for another year and we hope you continue to find it rewarding and fulfilling to be involved in the life of the school in this way. Bless you all!
PTFA Chairperson’s Annual Report – Louise Ruegg
I am grateful to wrap up another successful year for both the school and the PTFA. It has been great to see the local community come together to support the school.
Firstly, I’d like to say a special thank you to the following people:
- The PTFA team – we have a great bunch of individuals who are always willing to jump in and help support!
- Jeff & Sarah – thanks for joining me on this incredible journey and being by my side through the last 12 months!
- Peta – your guidance and support during this transition and helping get me up to speed has been amazing. It is also incredible to see how much you care for not only the school community but each and every child that is a part of this great school community
- Sahlee and Geraldine for joining the PTFA this year as teacher representatives, allowing us to have a close connection and support of the teachers
- Philip and the members of the School Board – your willingness to jump in and support with our fundraisers and ongoing guidance. Whether it is helping with parking or sorting pizzas, you are always there to help
- Carmel and Jocelyn – for all your support in the office from running the EFTPOS machine, helping with all the printing and orders and just in being a great support in general
- Steven & now Peter – thank you for always pitching in and helping, making sure the BBQs are ready and that we have everything we need to get our events running so smoothly.
- Teresa – for your ongoing support in running the second-hand uniform shop and being there for each fundraiser we do!
- Michelle & Laura – your handover and ongoing support has been incredible, whether it’s sorting raffles, running stalls through to designing artwork, I know I can always count on you to be there!
- Cultural communities for donating all your yummy food to make events like our Christmas Markets such a great success!
- Also, the teachers, staff and volunteers that have helped at the events and fundraising activities this year, we wouldn’t have been able to do this without you!
Over the past 12 months, we have had a range of key fundraising activities:
- Dancing the night away at the HTCPS Disco
- Swimming and riding the waves at the Massey Park Wave Rave
- Enjoying yummy Pizza Lunches!
- Cooling down with a Friday Ice block!
- Seeing your Tamariki to create their masterpieces with our Calendar Art fundraiser
- Bringing the community together for the Christmas Market selling all our yummy goodies, arts and crafts, and so much more
- Kicking the year off with a bang with our Math-a-thon fundraiser – getting the kids to test their maths skills while raising money for the new senior playground
It has been great to try a range of new fundraisers and activities to get both Tamariki and the wider school community involved.
We have been truly grateful as a PTFA to be able to donate the following to the school community over the 2024/25 financial year:
- $34,400 donation to the school to be used to support the school community and fundraise towards to the senior playground
- Along with 2 trophies to celebrate the kids’ achievements for the 2024 year
- Coming together as a school community with a Matariki Breakfast for all
As the PTFA, we are working towards the following goals for 2025 & beyond:
- Continue to support the school in their ongoing activities
- Fundraising and working with the school community to design and install a new senior school playground
We have an exciting line-up for the rest of this year, and it is great to have everyone here together as we elect / re-elect our new committee members for the coming year.
Thank you all for your ongoing support!
Louise Ruegg
PTFA Chairperson
Our next Parents, Teachers & Friends Association (PTFA) meeting, will be held at school Tuesday 29th July. We would love to see you there! We will be focusing on getting our plans together for Term 3 events!
PTFA meetings are open to everyone!
Date: Tuesday, 29th July 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: School Staffroom
This is a great opportunity to contribute your ideas and to volunteer support for the upcoming 2025 events, get an update on what’s happening at school, and chat to other parents.
Ngā mihi nui,
HTCPS PTFA
Teaching and Learning News
“Eye on Nature” Wearable Arts 2025
We are excited to announce that this year, our school is participating in the Eye on Nature Wearable Arts—an annual competition for Auckland primary, intermediate, and secondary school students. Students are challenged to design and create eco-friendly wearable art inspired by the Eye on Nature theme.
This year’s theme is Wellbeing – Taiao and Me.
Our talented designers, working either independently or in teams, come from across the learning communities:
- LC Moana – Ileanah Del Rosario and Zia Sarath, Mia Yandall
- LC Ngahere – Lucy Buzmion
- LC Whenua – Arkin Lazo, Mary Alcantara, Nicaella Alejandro, Skylah Watkins, and Josephine Peto
They have been working on their wearable garments from the school holidays through to the end of July. Judging will take place by Wednesday 30th of July 2025 and the model per entry will showcase the beautiful creations at the Eye on Nature Wearable Arts Fashion Show on Thursday 31 July 2025.
We warmly encourage everyone to support our amazing designers, creators, and models from Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School.
Tickets are available through Eventfinda or by visiting the Eye on Nature website. Theatre’s open from 6pm. Hope to see you there!
Cook Island Language Week
‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani – Cook Islands Māori Language Week 3rd – 9th August
The 2025 theme for Cook Islands Māori Language Week is ‘Ātui’tui’ia au ki te raurau a tōku matakeinanga – “Connect me to the offerings of my people’.
Have a go at learning these Cook Island Māori phrases …
Ko’ai tō’ou ingoa? – What’s your name?
Ko ____tōku ingoa – My name is ____
Meitaki te Atua – God is good Ka pure tātou – Let us pray
Pē’ea ‘ua koe? – How are you? Meitaki ‘ua au – I’m good thank you
Meitaki ma’ata /thank you to the families who met at school this week to help us plan activities to celebrate Cook Island Language Week. It was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas on how we can celebrate and highlight the uniqueness of the Cook Island culture and language in our school.
Book Week
2025’s Book Week is fast approaching!
Book Week will be held in Week 4 (4th -8th August) and this year’s theme is “Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds”. We will be holding our usual events such as Secret Reader, Simultaneous Reading Time, and the Learning Community Door Decorating Contest. We will have the Scholastic Book Fair running in the Library during the week as well.
And, as always, on Friday morning we will finish the week with our ever-popular Book Character Parade. This is an event where staff and learners dress up as a book character in the hope of winning prizes. Whānau are very welcome to come along to watch the parade.
Keep an eye on HERO and our school’s Facebook page for more information.
Mahi Tahi Conferences
A big thank you to all our parents and whānau who attended Mahi Tahi Conference last week. It was wonderful to see such strong engagement between whānau, students and kaitiaki, coming together to talk about learning, progress, and achievement in Reading, Writing, and Maths for each child at the mid-point of 2025.
We truly appreciate you making the effort to attend, especially in this cold and wet weather. Your presence and support is appreciated in helping our children to thrive in their learning.
Learning Community News
Learning Community Whenua
We are delighted to welcome four new children to our Learning Community Whenua, with more expected to join us throughout the term.
Since our focus for Religious Education this term is on Jesus and stories of Jesus in the Bible, it was fitting to have Father Mathew visit us and talk about Jesus. Our learners actively listened as Fr. Mathew spoke about the birth of Jesus, His family—Mary and Joseph—and the people who visited Him.
The children showed enthusiasm when discussing the shepherds who visited Jesus. Fr. Mathew further explained the significance of the gifts that the wise men brought for Jesus and how King Herod tried to deceive them.
In Technology curriculum learning, we explored the needs of the plants that have been growing in our LC as part of last term’s science project. Learners observed that the plants—kūmara, potatoes, choko, and moong beans—needed to be planted into soil to help them grow healthier.
Later in the term, learners will use the “Design Thinking” process to design and create innovative ways to help the plants grow even better.
Learning Community Awa
Kia ora e te whānau, A warm welcome to the ten children from LC Whenua who have joined us this week and settled in so well.
LC Awa have been exploring sounds through musical instruments, body percussion and everyday items around us. We noticed that we don’t have enough musical instruments in our LC to all play them at the same time, so we will be following the design thinking process to explore music and create inspiring ways to help people encounter Christ.
We will use recycled materials to create our instruments and through recycling we are playing our part to respect and look after ‘our common home’.
In Health and PE, learners are learning all about Hauora/Wellbeing and identifying innovations that help strengthen our hauora. Learners are using various Health Activity Learning activities to practise their Maths and Literacy concepts.
In RE, we are learning about Jesus’ life on Earth from the start to the Resurrection, sharing innovations about some stories in the Bible and thinking about what they are teaching us. We are also learning about Jesus’ whānau and that Jesus was a real person who lived about 2000 years ago. We look forward to working with all our whānau this term as we seek ways to serve, nurture and sustain our common home.
Learning Community Ngahere
LC Ngahere has had a wonderful start to Term 3! This term, we’re exploring innovation, building on last term’s focus on systems. We began by learning about key events in Jesus’ life, His whānau, and how people like Mary and Joseph supported Him. Learners shared stories showing how Jesus is God and reflected on His childhood.We explored parables, why Jesus used them, and the creative ways He shared His message through everyday stories, symbols, and questions. In Literacy, we’re learning how innovation in storytelling can inspire others to encounter Christ and care for our common home. In Health & PE, we’re exploring how innovation can support our hauora/well-being. In Music, we identified ways to create music using voice, instruments, body, and technology. We also enjoyed a special mahi tahi, coming together to share and celebrate our learning as a community. Thank you to our whānau for being the unique and shining stars in this learning journey. Your support lights the way for our tamariki to grow, create, and thrive!
Learning Community Maunga
LC Maunga has had an amazing start to the term! This term, our learners are connecting their learning about systems to innovation and exploring parables from the Bible. In RE, our children are seeking ways to encounter Christ through the innovative stories and messages that Jesus shared. These stories inspire us to meet needs, serve others, and nurture and sustain ‘our common home’.
Our students have also begun exploring the elements of music. They are learning about different aspects such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and dynamics. Additionally, children have started to reflect on how innovation in music can help us encounter Christ. They are learning to see how new musical ideas can bring us closer to understanding and experiencing faith in meaningful ways. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to a wonderful term of learning and growth together.
Learning Community Termly Newsletters
LC Newsletters will be published on HERO! Please take a moment to read the respective Learning Community newsletters to be posted on Hero this coming week. Kaitiaki/teachers have shared important learning information for each curriculum area, so you can support your child’s learning at home. The newsletters also include homework expectations and details about when your child will need to bring their PE gear to school. We look forward to a wonderful term of learning together!
Sports News
North Counties Inter-schools Cross Country
On Wednesday 13 August, some of our Year 5/6 students will be representing our school at the North Counties Cross Country held at Te Hihi School. It’s a tough course running through the muddy paddocks and in the past, our students have shown great resilience and enjoyment as they completed the course for the day.
St Anne’s Shield Sports Tournament
We are the hosting school for the St Anne’s Shield Sports Tournament this year which will be held at Bruce Pulman Park on Tuesday 9 September. The tournament involves nine Catholic Schools with Year 5-8 students and playing netball, rugby, tag and football. If you are able to support us by helping to coach a tag team, please let the office know or email Ana at asilva@holytrinity.school.nz
Hauora/WellBeing News
Awhi Team – Peer Mediators

School Traffic Safety
This safety video clip is from Auckland Transport to support and encourage behaviour change at the school gate in a humorous way.
The marketing campaign for this safety video has been very successful with a net positive score of 78%. This is the highest score of any campaign we’ve run – which shows that this is a topic that parents are interested in.
Link to video on YouTube – School Safety 2025
Make our schools safer and don’t be THAT Karen – Things you can avoid to make school zones safer:
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Parking across a driveway
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Getting kids to run across the road
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Stopping in the middle of the road
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Parking on yellow lines
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Being rude to AT parking officers
C’mon Auckland, together let’s bring a bit more “Nice Karen” to the school run and avoid getting a fine! Let’s make our roads safer one nice drop-off at a time.
Annie
Annie Ferguson | Senior Specialist Comms and Engagement
Strategic Programmes | Partnerships and Engagement
Auckland Transport
Beginning Experience Grief Resolution Programme 5-7 Sept 2025.
“ALONE AGAIN ? A weekend away to help those suffering the heartache of Separation, Divorce, or Widowhood on 5-7 September. The Beginning Experience is a non-profit organization that provides support for the grieving single again, and offers an opportunity to turn the pain of loss into an experience of positive growth. The cost for 2 nights’ accommodation, meals, and materials and follow up event is $350 with EARLY BIRD cost $325 if paid by 30 JULY. For further information please phone Karena, evenings on 021802352. www.beginningexperience.org.nz
Reminder about Student Attendance!
There is great concern around students attendance at school and the impact this is having on levels of student progress and achievement. The Ministry of Education is requesting schools to have an “intervention tier” in place so that student attendance is monitored, tracked and intervention strategies are put in place quickly and efficiently to ensure high rates of school attendance for every child.
For Holy Trinity School, our student attendance concern is with the large number of children who are regularly arriving late to school after the 8:50am bell or are leaving school early in the afternoon
The school gates open from 8:30am and children are able to be on site. This then allows time for them to organise themselves for the day ahead, greet and spend time with their kaitiaki/teachers and friends, undertake roles and responsibilities, prepare for morning karakia/prayer etc.
School begins at 8:50am with morning karakia/prayer – it’s important that the children are at school and have this time for prayer, song, reflection and meditation.
As the first intervention tier for our school, we will be …
1. monitoring student lateness and we will be communicating promptly with those families where there is regular lateness – special circumstances permitting.
2. asking parents to refrain from requesting early afternoon finishing time for their child/ren unless it is necessary or a special circumstance. If you need to collect your child early from school then you must notify school the day before where reasonable and practicable.
Please do not be offended if we say “no” to your child leaving school before the end of the school day if you do not have a legitimate reason. We are abiding by the Ministry of Education guidelines.
We are confident that by working together and respecting the school bell times, we can ensure our children have the best possible opportunity for their learning!
Upcoming School Events
School Gathering Liturgy and School Assembly – led by Ms Gill/LC Moana and Mrs Nadan/LC Ngahere
Monday 28th July @ 8:50am in Taamaua/school hall
Cultural Group Practice
Monday 28th July 9:30am-10:30am
School Beginning of the Term Mass – Fr Mathew as Celebrant
Wednesday 30th July @ 9:30am in Taamaua/school hall
Wearable Arts & Fashion Rehearsal – nominated students to attend
Wednesday 30th July @ Due Drop Centre/Manukau
Caring Foundation Jubilee Mass – nominated students to attend with staff and whānau
Thursday 31st July @ 11:00am Christ the King Parish/Owairaka
Wearable Arts & Fashion Awards – nominated students to attend
Thursday 31st July @ Due Drop Centre/Manukau from 3:30pm
Cook Island Language Week Celebrations
Monday 4th – Friday 8th August
BOOK WEEK Celebrations
Monday 4th – Friday 8th August
Cultural Group Practice
Monday 4th August 9:30am-10:30am
Papakura/Takanini Schools Cluster Rehu Tai Speech Competition – nominated students
Wednesday 6th August @ Edmund Hillary School, Papakura
Senior Constable Lisa Ross working with Year 4-6 students
Wednesday 6th August @ school
Kāhui Ako Year 5&6 Speech Competition – nominated students
Thursday 7th August @ De La Salle College
BOOK WEEK Character Parade
Friday 8th August @ school
Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Friday 8th August
School Gathering Liturgy and School Assembly – led by Mrs Griffiths/LC Moana and Mrs Chua/LC Whenua
Monday 11th August @ 8:50am in Taamaua/school hall
Cultural Group Practice
Monday 11th August 9:30am-10:30am
School Mass – Feast Day of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – a HOLY DAY
Friday 15th August @ 9:15am in Taamaua/school hall
Indian Independence Day Celebrations
Friday 15th August @ school
Tongan Language Week Celebrations
Monday 18th – Friday 22nd August
Cultural Group Practice
Monday 18th August 9:30am-10:30am
Whole School Cross Country Day
Thursday 21st August 10:00am – 2:00pm @ school
Term 3 Concludes
Friday 19th September 2:50pm
Term 4 Commences
Monday 6th October 8:50am
Have Your Say …. A New Bus Service for Takaanini and Papakura
- Tuesday 22 July: Takaanini Station, 3pm – 6pm
- Wednesday 23 July: Papakura Station, 3pm – 6pm
- Thursday 24 July: Sir Edmund Hillary Library, Papakura, 10am – 12pm
- Saturday 26 July: Takaanini Library and Community Hub, 11am – 2pm
Ngā mihi,
Elena Pihera (she/her) | Specialist Communications and Engagement
Strategic Programmes – Communications and Engagement | Partnerships and Engagement
Auckland Transport
Upcoming Community Events
Counties Classic’s – our Walking Basketball Programme
An exciting opportunity for you and friends to stay active, build friendships, and have fun through Counties Classic’s – our Walking Basketball Program. Walking basketball is a low-impact sport designed for seniors and anyone looking to get active or recovering from injury.
Programme Overview:
- Frequency: 1 session per week for 5 weeks
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Location: Bruce Pulman Park – Tuesdays (Starting on 15th July)
- Target Group: Seniors and anyone looking to get active or recovering from injury.
- Goal: To promote physical activity, balance, and social connection in a safe and inclusive environment.
Each weekly session offers:
- Low-impact walking basketball (no running or jumping)
- Gentle exercises to enhance mobility, coordination, and balance
- A safe and supportive space for all fitness levels
- Social time and refreshments following each session
Each weekly session offers:
Low-impact walking basketball (no running or jumping)
Gentle exercises to enhance mobility, coordination, and balance
A safe and supportive space for all fitness levels
Social time and refreshments following each session
Program Rates:
$250 per team (5–7 players)
$10 casual rate – perfect for individuals wanting to try it out
Register your team or as an individual through our website by clicking on the link below:
Link to registrations: Counties Manukau Sport – Counties Classics – Walking Basketball
