Greetings, Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Mālō e lelei,  Namaste, Ni Hao, Bula, Hola, Kumusta, Namaskārām,
Sat Shri Akaal, Vanakkam and Ayubowan

Dear Families

Thank you to our fantastic whānau community who have walked alongside us this 2025 year. Along with the children and staff, you too are the heartbeat of Holy Trinity and we salute you for the many ways you have supported us throughout the year to make it the success it has been, for all.  As we end this year, we can reflect with pride on all that has been achieved together. It has been wonderful to celebrate our achievements at the various end of year school events …  Praise-giving,  End of Year School Leavers Mass, Family Picnic and Nativity Play.

We are filled with gratitude for the way you support with Language Weeks, Sports Events, Maori Whānau Hui, Pasifika Fono, Filipino and Indian/Sri Lankan family gatherings, consultation and workshop evenings for families, community surveys, EOTC activities, Board and PTFA meetings and activities, Learning at Home projects and concept learning etc – school is all about partnership and working together to enable the best opportunities for our children, so we are truly blessed with our school community and the significant contributions that you make to the daily life of our school.  

We are very proud of you and are looking forward to all we can achieve together in 2026!

Finally …
May the promise of hope, peace, love and joy be with you this Christmas Season.
Wishing you all a Holy and Blessed Christmas and restful, relaxing and safe holidays!

Peta Lindstrom
Principal/Tumuaki

From the School Board …

Greetings to all of our Holy Trinity community,
It has been a pleasure to share this year of learning, loving and serving together with you all, friends, family, students and staff at Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School.
It has been a big year, with our prayer garden and installing Mary into her rightful place there being a particular highlight.
As always we are hugely indebted to Peta for her strength, resilience and leadership. It also feels appropriate to especially celebrate Ana and Maria, for the many ways in which they  have stepped into the breach in challenging times.
Our whole staff deserve special congratulations this year. Not only have they done their usually exemplary job with all of our children, but they have also been at the forefront of the implementation of the new curriculum, particularly for mathematics, reading & writing, and in Religious Education. You should all know that Holy Trinity is upheld as an exemplar to other schools in a wide variety of educational contexts.
Another particular thank you goes out to our tireless PTFA, who do so very much for all of our children, and who make so many things possible which we might otherwise miss out on.
As we celebrate the particular successes of our prize winning students from the Praise-giving last week, let us all remember that we learn and grow in our own ways and our own seasons. Every student at Holy Trinity deserves celebration, and I wish congratulations to them all.
Let us continue to learn, love and serve in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God bless, may you all have a joy filled Christmas, and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever you go.
Jason Farley
Presiding Member
Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School Board

From our PTFA … THANKS for a Great Colour Fun Run Event!

THANK YOU to our fantastic school community for a great fun evening at the School’s Colour Run last Friday. Our PTFA team, brilliantly led by Louise Ruegg, are so dedicated and worked across the whole day to make sure that all was ready for our children and whānau. Thank you to the PTFA and many families who helped with registration, food stalls, helping out on the course, set-up and clean up and all the other many tasks that went into making the Colour Fun Run possible. You are all awesome and we are so proud of you!
We have raised $4.7k profit from the Colour Run which was a great result to add to this year’s fundraising efforts. WELL DONE!
Thank You Holy Trinity Whānau!
AND THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS …
  • Cathy Mei from Ray White who was our main event sponsor
  • Ostle Electrical who sponsored our BBQ
  • 24 Engineering, sKids Holy Trinity and Priyanka Chacko who all sponsored our colour fun run stations!

Thank You to the students from St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College who also came along to provide some much needed helping hands! You created lots of fun and colour for the children!!!

DRS Report

Nativity Storytelling

Next Wednesday 10 December, our school will be having an evening of storytelling where our tamariki will be sharing the greatest story of hope, the story of the birth of Jesus. They will be doing this through drama and song! We invite our families to come along with your picnic and have your kai from 5:00pm. The storytelling will begin at 6:00pm and we’ll be calling for the children to be changed before that. We pray for good weather so we can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas time.

Year 5 Retreat at St Ignatius of Loyola

On Monday 8 December, our Year 5 tamariki will be travelling to St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College for a day of personal reflection as they are led on a Journey with Jesus retreat, facilitated by senior students of Sancta Maria Catholic College. The retreat day supports our learners to become peer ministers to younger learners in the school if they choose to become peer ministry leaders in 2026. We pray for our young people as they attend this spiritual retreat.

2025 Praise-giving Celebrations

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tātou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki a koutou ki tēnei wā.

Last Friday afternoon, we were able to gather with our school community to celebrate our students’ achievements from throughout the year. It was a joyous, noisy, wonderful celebration of our learners successes and we were delighted to have students share their gifts and talents with the community too.

Congratulations to all of our recipients who received school certificates! We are very proud of you all!

The 2025 Senior Student Awards were presented to:

Duffy Books In Homes Mainfreight “Positive Attitude” Award – Francheska Palisoc, Learning Community Moana
St Vincent de Paul College Scholarship Awards – Mia Yandall and Matt Marcasote, Learning Community Moana
St Vincent de Paul – School Service Trophy – George Kent, Learning Community Moana
St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College Benefactor’s Scholarship Award – Mele Kaloni, Learning Community Moana
Excellence in Leadership Award – Eva Abin, Learning Community Moana
Excellence in Sports Award – Khayla Platon, Learning Community Moana
Excellence in Cultural Activities Award – Genesis Feagaiga, Learning Community Moana
Excellence in the Arts Award – Alicia Soriano, Learning Community Moana
Excellence in Academic Learning Award – Eva Abin and Jaeyoung Hwang, Learning Community Moana
Excellence in Catholic Special Character Award – Genesis Feagaiga and Joseph Seemon, Learning Community Moana

Save the Dates: 2025 End of Year Special Events and Activities

Our very last End of Year event is next week – we are delighted to warmly welcome our school families and wider school community to be part of this special event where we celebrate who we are as a catholic school – rejoicing in our catholic faith!

Wednesday 10th December
Whole School Whānau/Family Picnic and Nativity Liturgy celebrations 5:00pm – 7:00pm @ school

2026 Staffing and Learning Communities

Our staffing is confirmed for 2026 and the Learning Communities and kaitiaki/teachers have been organised as:

Learning Community Whenua = New Entrants, Years 0 and 1 students
Mrs Michaela Griffiths, Mrs Sydney Buzmion and Ms Geralyn Chua

Learning Community Ngahere (relocatable rooms) – Older Year 1s and Year 2 students
Mrs Geraldine Malgas and Mrs Sahlee Cortez

Learning Community Awa – Older Year 2s and Year 3 students
Mrs Alana Sherlock, Mrs Upashna Nadan and Miss Jennifer Anacleto

Learning Community Maunga – Year 4 and Year 5 students
Mrs Lainee Davies and Mrs Mavis Chung

Learning Community Moana – Year 5 and Year 6 students
Ms Kirstie Gill, Mrs Ranjita Reshmi/Mrs Ali and Mr Varun Kumar

Mrs Liezl Jeftha, Mrs Vicki Alexander and Mr Bruce Wilson will be working with us in a ‘release teacher’ capacity.

Senior and Middle Leadership Team:
Miss Peta Lindstrom, Mrs Maria Speechlay, Mrs Ana Silva (DRS), Ms Kirstie Gill, Mrs Alana Sherlock, Mrs Geraldine Malgas and Mrs Michaela Griffiths

Students will have an opportunity to visit their 2026 Learning Communities next week and to spend time getting to know their teachers/kaitiaki and their new 2026 learning community environment.

2026 Learning Community placement confirmation for your child is on the HERO Online Reporting underneath the General Comment.  Families were also informed at the recent Mahi Tahi Conference times. 

Due to the differing numbers of students at each year level, our learning communities spaces, make-up and composition do change in the Year 0-6 classes for 2026.

Please note …

Learning Community Whenua = Years 0 and 1

Learning Community Ngahere/relocatables = Older Year 1s and Year 2

Learning Community Awa = Older Year 2s and Year 3

Learning Community Maunga = Year 4 and Year 5

Learning Community Moana = Year 5 and Year 6

End of Year Staff Farewells

At the end of this school year, we farewell Mrs Euginea Fernandes/Middle Leader and teacher/kaitikai of LC Whenua; Ms Laura Ahern/LC Ngahere teacher/kaitiaki; Mrs Ruth Leonidas/ LC Awa Learning Assistant and Ms Sonam Singh/ LCs Moana and Maunga Learning Assistant. “Thank you” does not seem adequate enough to say to these wonderful staff members, for all that they have contributed to our school community this past year.

 We value and treasure your work, and your strengths as teaching and learning assistant practitioners – THANK YOU!

A special shout out to Euginea/Mrs Fernandes who has led our Learning Community Whenua so brilliantly – with care, with expertise and with generosity for each person, each child and each family. Euginea, we will miss your knowledge, your skills and your fun! Along with the team, you have created a welcoming home for our new little ones and their families and have set the scene for school life at Holy Trinity. God Bless you Euginea!

To Laura/Ms Ahern, thank you for the way you have loved and encouraged our young ones as learners and helped to smooth the pathway for them – thank you for your engagement and the relationships that you have nurtured with us all and for sharing your strengths as a teaching practitioner. We wish you every blessing as you go on to seek new adventures at home!

To Ruth/Mrs Leonidas and Sonam/Ms Singh – we are so grateful for the love, care and support shown to our students especially those who have been most in need. Thank you for your guiding hand, ready smile and words of praise and encouragement as you have supported the children in your care.

WE DO SAY A “BIG THANK YOU” TO YOU ALL!

Year 6 School Leavers Mass

This week, we also celebrated our Year 6 School Leavers and End of Year Mass with Fr Daniel leading us in Eucharist. This was the first time that the whole school travelled by bus to be able to celebrate Mass at our school Parish – St Mary’s in Papakura. And although the weather was against us, it was a very special and significant celebration.

It was a lovely opportunity to thank, bless and farewell our senior students.  Our Year 6 student leavers received a cross pendant and a special blessing at the Mass. It was also a time to give thanks to God for another year of many blessings – we have much to be thankful for!

After the Mass, we continued our celebrations in Taamaua/school hall by sharing afternoon tea with our Year 6 students and their families/whānau.

Leaver’s Speech by Eva Abin – Year 6

Respected Principal, teachers, parents, and my dear friends,

My name is Eva, and today I feel truly blessed to share a few words of gratitude.

Two years ago, I moved from Ireland to New Zealand. Everything was new for me—new country, new people, and a new school. I joined in Year 5 as a completely new student, while most of my classmates had been together for years. I was nervous, but from my very first day, I felt welcomed, supported, and included. Because of this school’s kindness, my journey became beautiful.

Over these two years, I have grown in confidence, leadership, faith, learning, and friendships. Every opportunity helped me discover something new about myself, and I am truly grateful.

My heartfelt thanks to our parish and priest for guiding our faith and helping us understand God’s love.

To our principal, teachers, and school management—thank you for teaching us, encouraging us, correcting us with love, and helping us grow not just in knowledge but in values.

A big thank you to all the support and office staff for everything you do, both big and small.

To our parents, thank you for being our strongest support.

To the PTFA, You keep spoiling us with treats, food, and fun activities, and we all secretly love your team the most because you make every event exciting and filled with joy.

And to my friends, thank you for accepting me and filling my days with happiness.

Teachers are like our second parents, and on behalf of all students, I sincerely thank you for your patience, dedication, and care. I also apologise for any mistakes we may have made—knowingly or unknowingly. Please bless us .

As I move to the next stage of my life, I will carry your blessings, your teachings, and your kindness with me. This school will always stay close to my heart.

On behalf of all students leaving this year, thank you for everything.

May God bless you all.

Hauora/WellBeing News

Awhi Team – Peer Mediators

Last week the Awhi Peer Mediation Team celebrated their efforts over the course of this year by having a special picnic at the duck pond at Bruce Pulman Park. There they shared kai and had fun playing games under the shade of the trees.
At our assembly this week, we celebrated members of our team who earned their silver or gold service award badges and certificates, and all of the Awhi Team received a special certificate to acknowledge their service to our school. Well done to our 2025 Awhi Team for their commitment to serving our school community. They are truly followers of Jesus through their eagerness to help others solve conflict in healthy ways.
We also congratulate the inaugural winner of the Peer Mediator of the Year award, Caitlin Atienza. She has shown incredible dedication to spreading peace around our school and is a reliable and skilled peer mediator. Caitlin is a fabulous role model for the rest of the team. Ka pai, Caitlin!
For the last week of school, our peer mediators will be looking for tamariki who are showing the school Gospel values in the playground. We want to emphasise that knowing the school Gospel values is important, but it’s more important that we show them.
Finally, I conducted a survey among the Awhi Team and with some learners from the different learning communities. It’s great to see that most learners know what the Awhi Team is and what they do. The 2026 Awhi Team (to be announced early in Term 1) and I have some projects to plan to help make the impact of the Awhi Team in our school even stronger! Watch this space!
The Awhi Peer Mediation Team sends warm wishes for a safe, peaceful, and enjoyable summer ahead to the entire school community.
Ngā mihi,
Ms Kirstie Gill
Awhi Team Coordinator

New Navigation

Our Year 6 students have been given the opportunity for on-water sailing experience through the Healthy Active Learning initiative that our school is participating in. The New Navigators Programme is run by Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust and Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC). This Monday 8 December, our senior students will be participating in this programme, supported by their kaitiaki. It promises to be a great opportunity for our children as part of the Outdoor Education key learning area from the NZ Health and Physical Education curriculum.

Book Club and Duffy Books in Homes

The last of the Book Club orders for 2025 have made their way home, and it’s a break now until early in Term 1 when the first issue of the Book Club catalogue for 2026 will come out. It’s been a busy year with eight catalogues, two role model assemblies, a visit from Duffy Theatre, the Summer Reading Offer, the Book Fair, and more. Thank you to the school community for your support of our school by purchasing books through Scholastic Book Club and the Book Fair. Together we raised over $1000 in reward dollars for our library and learning communities to use to buy resources and books.
Wishing everyone a restful break and happy summer reading, and we look forward to another wonderful year of reading adventures with you in 2026.
Ms Kirstie Gill
Book Club and Duffy Books in Homes Coordinator

2026 School Dates

The School Board has approved the 2026 school dates as:

Term One    9 weeks     Tuesday 3rd February – Thursday 2nd April (84 ½ days)

Term Two     11 weeks     Monday 20th April  – Friday 3rd July (106 ½ days)

Term Three   10 weeks     Monday 20th July – Friday 25th September (100 ½ days)

Term Four     9 weeks       Monday 12th October – Friday 11th December (88 ½ days)

School must be open for 378 half days in 2026

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

Term 1 – Week 1 Friday 6th February Waitangi Day

EASTER – Friday 3rd April, Saturday 4th April, Sunday 5th April, Monday 6th April

Term 2 – Week 2 Monday 27th April – ANZAC Day

2026 Attendance Dues Information

New Zealand Travellers Declaration

Going overseas for the school holidays? Everyone travelling into New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, including returning New Zealand passport holders.

Its FREE and you can do it on the online form or on the NZTD app. 

If you’re travelling as a family or group and completing multiple declarations, the NZTD app allows you to copy your travel details into another declaration, making it easier to complete multiple declarations for the same journey. The submitted declarations are then all easy to see within the app.

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration collects travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information and aims to improve the safety and security of New Zealand. It replaces the paper card you used to fill out on the plane.

 To make your arrival easier, do your digital declaration before your flight back to New Zealand.

Head to travellerdeclaration.govt.nz today!

Upcoming School Events

Sailing Day programme for Year 6 Students
Monday 8th December @ Okahu Bay, Mission Bay

Retreat Day programme for Year 5 Students
Monday 8th December @ St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, Drury

Eye Vision Team at school for ‘glasses fitting’ for identified students
Wednesday 10th December @ school

Whānau/Family Picnic and Nativity Liturgy celebrations 
Wednesday 10th December 5:00pm-7:00pm @ school

PTFA Lunchtime ‘ice-block’ sale
Friday 12th December 1:00pm

FINAL Assembly and Liturgy 
Tuesday 16th December 11:30am in Taamaua/school hall

Term 4 Concludes for the 2025 year at 1:00pm
Tuesday 16th December

School Board Monthly Meeting
Wednesday 17th December 6:00pm in the staffroom

Term 1 Commences for the 2026 year 
Tuesday 3rd February 2026 @ 8:50am

Alpha Programme

Thank you for all your continued support of our St Mary’s Parish, Papakura Alpha Team & Programme.

I’m writing to share information about our Alpha program at St Mary’s Papakura Parish, happening early next year.

Father rightly encouraged us to run Alpha before the next RCIA & OCIA programmes at our Parish so we are starting a little earlier (term 1 next year) for those that may wish as a follow on from Alpha to join RCIA/OCIA.

As you know Alpha is a relaxed and welcoming opportunity for people to explore the Christian faith, values, and community. The program is open to anyone interested, and we’d love to invite students, families, and staff from our whanau to join us.

We’re also excited with the possibility of running Youth Alpha but will keep you posted as more details are available.

Please click on the link for the Alpha Programme details Alpha Flyer Prototype

Thank you for considering sharing this with your school community.

Ngā mihi,
Apaula Lautua
On behalf of the Alpha Team at St Mary’s Papakura Parish

Upcoming Community Events

Ardmore Marist Rugby & Sports Club

JUNIOR RUGBY – 2026 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST OPEN!
Ardmore Marist Rugby & Sports Club is excited to welcome new and returning tamariki for the 2026 Junior season. We offer a fun, supportive environment that builds confidence, teamwork and friendships, both on and off the field.

In 2026 we will be running:
 Girls Rippa Rugby (Y1–8)
 Mixed Rippa & Tackle Rugby (Y1–8)

Parents/caregivers can complete an Expression of Interest by scanning the QR code on the attached poster or using the link – https://forms.gle/guLxZk8AeQjSw2LdA 

Get in early to receive updates as we head into the new season.

For more information, contact: admin@ardmoremarist.co.nz

Come join the Ardmore Marist whānau – we’d love to see your child on the field in 2026!

Coding Holiday Workshop

Little Science Holiday Workshop

Sustainable Papakura Workshops

I just want to let you know about the workshops we have running at our Base at 67 O’Shannessey in Papakura before December 25th.
We have a dedicated team of facilitators and volunteers who want to end the year on a high by inviting you to register for all or any of the following sustainable practice and waste minimisation workshops with a focus on HANDMADE and Conscious Consumption. Come along and make your gifts, decorations, and cards for a gold coin (or more) koha/donation to our Base.
Register using the links below:
  4. Repair Cafe Papakura (Saturday December 6th) https://sustainablepapakura.org/?mec-events=repair-cafe-sustainable-papakura&occurrence=2025-12-06 Bring along your items to get repaired instead of buying new ones. See the advertisement link for further information.
  7. Compost Collective Workshop on December 14th – Check on the website next week for the link.
  8. Crafting with Keri @ the Sustainable Papakura Monthly Market – our last one for 2025 (20 spaces available – this is a drop in type of workshop – while you are at the Market you can make some last minute purchases) https://sustainablepapakura.org/?mec-events=crafting-with-keri-the-sustainable-papakura-monthly-market-christmas-cards&occurrence=2025-12-20
  9. We are hosting drop-in workshops on Monday December 22nd and Tuesday 23rd at the Base between 10.30am and 2.30pm where you can come and make some last minute cards or gifts, or get a jump on next year’s Christmas – The Sustainable Shop will be open from 12.30pm to 5pm on these days as well.
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