Greetings, Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Mālō e lelei, Namaste, Ni Hao, Bula, Hola, Kumusta, Namaskārām,
Sat Shri Akaal, Vanakkam and Ayubowan
Dear Families
Once again, we have raced through another term of busy school life and now find ourselves fast approaching Term 2 but not until after the well deserved April holidays! So as we do go on holiday, we pause to give thanks to God for all that has been achieved as a school community. We give thanks to God for our staff and the dedication they show in working with each child as they grow in their learning and personal development. We give thanks to God for our children who take on the opportunities and challenges of school life with willingness and positive attitudes. We give thanks to God for our families/whānau who continue to support their child and school in the many shared activities and events AND we give thanks to God for all those who lead and support our school through governance (our School Board), prayer and spiritual life (our Parish Priest, Fr Tony), fundraising and social events (our PTFA) – may we all be blessed for the work we do to nurture and grow this special school community in learning ka ako, loving ka aroha and serving ka manaaki in the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
A special thanks to our families – parents, grandparents and family friends who have assisted at the Gymnastics sessions each week for our Year 3 and Year 4 students. Your dedication to this role is inspiring – THANK YOU!
Easter Triduum
During these next few days, we have the opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with our God through the various Holy Week and Easter liturgies, Masses and services happening in our parish communities. We hope you are able to take time to celebrate this very sacred time in the Church year with your families as we welcome the gift of love and hope that is our Christian faith.
On Good Friday, we pray for all those “nailed” into hopeless situations, that through our concern and efforts, hope will dawn for all again. On Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, we pray that we joyfully proclaim the “Good News of the Resurrection” through our own lives.
A Family Easter prayer to pray together …
Let us pray,
God of all, continue to walk with us as we journey through this Easter Triduum.
Help us to keep you in our hearts as we remember Jesus’ dying and rising again.
Help our own hearts to burn and overflow with joy and love.
Help us to be a living family, alive with faith, joy and service of being your disciples.
Help us to love you more and more each day so that everyone else will love you too.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
DRS Report
Journey to the Cross
On Holy Thursday, which is the last day of this term, our children will be leading in a special liturgy that commemorates Jesus’ final ‘journey to the cross’. We are inviting our school whānau to come along and be part of this special liturgy. We begin with the Last Supper where Jesus breaks bread with his disciples and shows servitude through the Washing of the Feet. This continues to when Jesus was captured and was condemned to death. On Thursday 2 April, at 12:00pm, we walk with Jesus on this journey and listen to the reflections from our tamariki. We will begin at our sacred space/prayer garden, ending with the final stations being re-enacted in front of Taamaua/school hall.
Palm Sunday Liturgy
This Sunday 29 March, we celebrate the first day of Holy Week, Passion/Palm Sunday. We celebrate by laying palms on our prayer spaces and hang them on our doors for others to see. Palm Sunday is both a happy and sad day. As disciples of Christ, we sing praise and welcome Jesus as he enters Jerusalem on a donkey yet at the same time we are saddened by the knowledge that our Lord’s suffering and death is near. You are invited to come along on Monday 30 March as the learners of Learning Community Awa and Whenua will be leading us in our Palm Sunday liturgy at our School Gathering Liturgy and assembly time at 9:00am.
Alpha Retreat
Kia ora koutou,
At St Mary’s Papakura Parish we have been running our alpha programme this term. We kindly invite our local community and families to our upcoming Retreat.
We warmly invite all families to join us for our upcoming Alpha Retreat this Saturday.
Alpha is a journey of faith, friendship, and conversation, and the Retreat is truly the highlight of the experience. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect, reflect, and enjoy fellowship together — and yes, there will be free food.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, 28 March 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Location: Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School, Airfield Road
Families are welcome to join us for part of the day or stay for the full programme. We would love to see as many of you there as possible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
School Board News
Community Consultation and Engagement
The School Board will be using the ‘survey’ function in HERO to publish the community consultation questions below, to all of our school families. This survey is open to all our families to contribute to. Keep an eye out for the HERO notification and survey coming home this week.
Key areas are:
- Supporting Growth – What two things would most improve your child’s growth and success at our school?
- Learning & Curriculum – How can we better support you to understand and help with your child’s learning?
- Wellbeing – What should we strengthen to support student wellbeing and belonging?
- Communication & Partnerships – What should learning look like at our school to prepare students for their future?
- Our Culture – In 2027, what do you want our school to be known for?
PTFA News …
- Pizza Lunch – Friday 1st May
- Oxford Pie & Cookie Time fundraiser – Delivery date 19th June
- Movie Night – Date TBC
Second Hand Uniform – Donations and next date!
The PTFA will be running a Second Hand Uniform Shop sale during the school holidays – pop in if you need some additional school uniform
The Second Hand Uniform Shop
You can find us upstairs in Taamaua (the school hall) with a range of uniform pieces for sale.
We are still in need of some uniform donations especially in the small sizes (all items), PE tops and shorts as well as boys shorts. If you’d like to donate any items, you’re welcome to bring those along as well or drop them into the office during school hours.
HTCPS PTFA
Term 1 Online Reporting on HERO
Next week, we will share our term’s learning with families on HERO. This will include each student’s progress toward their learning goals in reading, writing, and maths—click on My Learning Wall in HERO to access this information.
You will also find updates on student achievement in Relgious Education and The Arts (drama discipline). To view these, visit your child’s Learning Community page in HERO e.g. Learning Community Whenua.
We encourage you to read and discuss your child’s HERO online reporting comments together, celebrating their learning successes and personal growth this term!
Moth Plant Pod Competition
Kia ora Holy Trinity whānau,
You may have seen our recent post on our Facebook page about collecting moth plant pods. We are currently taking part in the Moth Plant Pod Competition 2026, which runs until 8 May.
Our school is proudly participating as Team Whenua, caring for our land and protecting our native plants. Moth plants are highly invasive and harmful, as they grow quickly and suffocate the plants they cling to. Each pod contains up to 800 seeds, which spread easily when the pod bursts, making the problem grow rapidly.
This project is organised by Pest Free South Auckland, who are encouraging communities to work together to remove these invasive and poisonous plants. This is our first time joining the competition, and it is a meaningful way for us to care for God’s creation – our taonga.
If you notice moth plant pods or seedlings growing in your backyard or in our community, we would greatly appreciate your help. When removing them, please:
- Wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing, as the sap can irritate the skin
- Carefully collect the pods or seedlings and place them in a bag
- Take extra care if dogs or other animals are nearby, as moth plants are poisonous
- Only collect pods if it is safe to do so, and avoid areas that may be dangerous
You can bring your collection to LC Whenua, where Mrs Buzmion will receive and safely dispose of them. We will keep a weekly record and report our totals to the organisers.
So far, we have collected 679 pods – an amazing start!
Thank you for supporting us in protecting our environment.
Mrs Buzmion
Learning Community Whenua Kaitiaki
ENVIRO Team Leader
Learning Community News
Learning Community Whenua
In Learning Community Whenua learners have been engaging in The Arts – drama learning. They have been busy retelling the stories from ‘our Whakapapa’, like the Good Samaritan, The Wise and Foolish Builders and pretending to be people from our school story like our whānau patrons.
Throughout this term learners have made great connections to our overarching concept – Te Wā/Our Journey and this term’s concept A Tātou Whakapapa/Our Story. They are able to share about their own journey and stories, Jesus’ journey and stories from the Bible, and are able to listen to others share about their journey and their own stories.
Learning Community Awa
LC Awa has been enjoying time at Gymnastics. We have been learning all the different shapes we can make with our bodies and have been practicing our balancing and our forward rolls. Gymnastics has helped us to look after our hauora/well being. We have identified how gymnastics helps our bodies and helps our mood. We have also been learning about the safe practices we need to make our gym experience safe and enjoyable for us all.
Learning Community Ngahere
In Religious Education in Learning Community Ngahere, our learners have been exploring Holy Week and the Stations of the Cross. They have engaged in prayer, reflection, and creative activities as part of our whole-school transfer task.
In Drama, learners presented short performances focusing on a specific element of drama and are now practising for our upcoming Journey to the Cross.
In Mathematics, following the ASB GetWise Financial Education programme, learners have been exploring time by learning to read and order months, seasons, and important events.
This term has been a rich and meaningful learning journey for our tamariki. They have begun to recognise and make connections between their own individual whakapapa, God’s whakapapa, and our shared school whakapapa. It is wonderful to see this sense of belonging continue to grow as we deepen our faith journey together.
Learning Community Maunga
This week in Maunga, our Year 5 tamariki presented the Living Museum with LC Moana. We spent a lot of time writing our scripts and used the drama techniques of improvisation and role play. The students took on the role of one of our school whānau patrons and presented a narrative of their life, highlighting the events which led them to answer God’s call to mission in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was fantastic, and the learners were so proud of themselves.
As we prepare for the Stations of the Cross, the drama elements and techniques we have learnt over this term are so important. We are all working hard to ensure we have just the right action and facial expressions to make our Station come alive.
Learning Community Moana
Our Year 5/6 Living Museum Day on Tuesday was a huge success.! We are very proud of our tamariki’s enthusiastic efforts to share their learning from this term on the roles different people – like Bishop Pompallier, Suzanne Aubert, Chief Ihaka Takaanini, and Governor George Grey – have played in our school’s whakapapa (story). Everyone was able to roleplay and share key information, and our visitors left having learned something new about our school’s story. Thank you to our many visitors for your enthusiasm and support for our Year 5 and 6 learners.
Our Year 6s had their final technology session with Ms Cayla Parkinson from St Ignatius of Loyola College this week. They have thoroughly enjoyed the process of designing and creating a panel to honour people from our school’s whakapapa. Their panels look amazing with their beautiful artwork, an overlayed stencil, and a simple circuit to light up two LED lights. We extend a huge thank you to Ms Parkinson for sharing her gifts and talents with us.
Year 6 Camp
Our Year 6 students are working hard to fundraise money to go towards the cost of camp. Next term there will be a parent information evening held at school on Tuesday 21 April at 6:00pm in Taamaua/school hall. It is important that Year 6 students’ families attend so they can be informed about the upcoming camp.
Our Year 6 students offer their heartfelt thanks to our school community and the PTFA for the wonderful support of their fundraising efforts for the Term 2 camp. Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $400 through ice block sales. What a great achievement! We will be holding additional fundraising events throughout the year, so please keep an eye on HERO notifications for upcoming opportunities to support our Year 6s.
Hauora News
Travelwise
This week has been a wonderful week of active travel! Throughout the week, a lot of our students showed great interest by walking, biking, and scootering to school. From Move-it Monday to Funky Feet Friday, it was fantastic to see so many students and whānau getting involved, making healthy choices.
Each day, students had their WOW passports stamped and ticked, and it was wonderful to see the excitement as they came to the picnic benches to check in with our Travelwise team. A big shout out to our whānau who supported this initiative by encouraging active travel and sharing photos on the WOW Week Facebook event by Auckland Transport.
We are especially excited to celebrate Aayden Rathnasekera from Whenua, who was a spot prize winner from Auckland Transport! Aayden received a fantastic prize of a scooter, helmet, and high-visibility vest — what an awesome achievement!
Heads off to all those students who showed courage and determination to participate in WoW Week despite unfavourable weather conditions.
WOW Week has been a great success, helping our students build healthy habits and strengthen our sense of community. It is strongly encouraged to continue this initiative.
Walk, Wheel, Ride – Travelwise with Pride!
Thanks to Mrs Ali and the Student Travelwise Team – Ka mau te wehi!
Sports News
North Counties Football
Our tamariki participated in a football competition organized by the North Counties Soccer Association at McLennan Park. Our dedicated Year 5 and 6 boys displayed exceptional effort and perseverance throughout the tournament.
Despite the tough competition, our boys finished in 3rd place out of 10 schools in the Year 5 and 6 category. The tournament was challenging, providing valuable exposure and experience for our players. Their journey through the competition reflected our school’s core values of Resilience/Ngawari and Unity/Kotahitanga. Through hard work, determination and teamwork they found their way to the semi-finals, showcasing their talent and spirit.
It was a fun, learning-filled day for our young soccer players who have trained hard to make our school proud. Heartfelt thanks to all the Year 5 and 6 whānau who were present, standing in unity to support our team. Your cheers and encouragement made a significant difference. Some whānau even went as far as providing refreshment for our players, demonstrating incredible community support and dedication. Thank you all for your ongoing support and for helping our tamariki shine both on and off the field. We look forward to more opportunities to celebrate their achievements and to foster our school values through sport and teamwork.
Thank you Mr Kumar for coaching our soccer players and for organising this great day of competition for them!
Duffy Books Role Model Assembly
On Friday morning, we were delighted to host a very special Duffy Role Model Assembly. Our guest, Sam Smith, is a comedian, actor, and author, and he grabbed our learners’ attention with his creativity and humour.
Sam shared how he comes up with imaginative character names and book titles, along with stories about his experiences on television.
We were incredibly grateful to receive a signed copy of his hilarious book Don’t Scare the Dentist, too.
Most importantly, Sam left our learners with a powerful message about the importance of reading and writing, which is an inspiring takeaway for us all!
Term 1 Attendance Dues – Now Due
Term 1 Attendance Dues must be paid by Thursday 2nd April unless you are paying by automatic payment. All financial statements were sent out by HERO last week. All Term 1 Dues must be paid in full unless you are making regular automatic payments. We are required to send these funds to the Diocese by the end of next week.
Please note that there are 3 options for payment of the Attendance Dues and Catholic Special Character Contribution
- Full amount paid by Internet Banking to ASB school account – details for payment are on the statement.
- Automatic Payment to be set up via internet banking to ASB school account
- Payment can be made at the school office – cash or Eftpos
Many of our families choose the AP (Automatic Payment) option to make a small payment each week or fortnight which helps families to manage their financial budget for the year. This is a very good option and one that is encouraged by our school. For those families paying by Automatic Payment (AP), please note that 2026 payments must all be completed by 1st December 2026.
Please see Carmel Stewart (Office Administrator) or Peta Lindstrom (Principal) in the strictest confidence if you have any concerns or questions regarding the payment of Attendance Dues.
Financial Assistance is available for payment of Attendance Dues.
Vector Roadworks Project Update …
Please note Airfield Road /Mill Rd roundabout will be CLOSED over EASTER weekend and ANZAC weekend. Detours will be put in place for these. Please click on the links to access the Vector community/neighbourhood letter Vector Roadworks Project Update March 2026 and
Roadworks Map
Work will take place on Airfield Road – road closure will be from Porchester Road to Mill Road.
Access to Holy Trinity School during the school holidays will ONLY be from Kapowai Boulevard. You will need to park in Kapowai Boulevard and walk into school using the front entrance driveway – please take extreme care at all times!
sKids Holiday Programme
Holy Trinity April Holiday Programme – The Great Outdoors!
Dear tamariki, get ready for a great holiday adventure from 7–17 April with sKids! Packed with outdoor fun, creativity, and hands-on experiences, every day brings something exciting for you
Build mini treehouses & explore nature
Create your own bug-themed games & tasty treats
Get creative with outdoor art & natural materials
Plant and grow your own mini greenhouse
Take on the high-energy Amazing Race challenges
Enjoy a special Inflatable World & Super Mario Galaxy movie excursions
Finish strong with our fun-filled Barnyard Bash!
With a mix of adventure, creativity, and teamwork, this programme is all about making memories, building confidence, and having loads of fun in the great outdoors
137 Airfield Road, Takanini, Auckland
Full day for only $40!**
Limited spaces available – book now to secure your spot! https://www.skids.co.nz/locations/holy-trinity/
**T&Cs apply.
See you then!
Term 2 After School Soccer Tuition – HJ Elite Academy
“We’re excited to be back for Term 2 and are now open for registrations for our After School Programme.
This programme is designed for both girls and boys who are new to soccer, as well as those looking to build on their existing skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Our focus is on identifying each child’s individual strengths, supporting their age-appropriate development, and most importantly, ensuring they enjoy the game while growing in confidence and ability.
Payment Plans Available.
If you would like more information or assistance with registration, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
To register, CLICK HERE.”
Staff/Teacher Only Days in 2026
School will be closed for students on Friday 22nd May Term 2 and Friday 14th August Term 3.
Teachers and Support Staff will be involved in professional development and learning days about the newly released New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, Mathematics and Statistics Learning Area. These are Ministry of Education approved Teacher/Staff Only Days.
These teacher-only days will provide our school with a dedicated time to understand and engage with changes across The Mathematics and Statistics curriculum. It is an opportunity for our kaitiaki to share ideas and expertise and to grow in our confidence in implementing the refreshed curriculum and assessment changes.
Reminders!
School Winter Uniform
Students will be expected to wear the correct winter school uniform in Term 2. This includes the long sleeved blouse or shirt, school stripe/ navy knee high socks and black closed shoes. Please name all items of clothing so that they can be returned to the children immediately when found.
Our School uniform is only available for purchase from NZ Uniforms on 5/20 Lambie Drive, Manukau.
All students are required to wear the correct school uniform for winter as listed below. NZ Uniforms have school jerseys available to purchase. Our preference is for students to wear their school jumper/school fleece inside the learning community and school jackets outdoors.
Girls Uniform
Tartan skort or culottes
Blue long sleeved monogrammed blouse (winter)
Black closed shoes (winter)
School stripe / navy knee high socks
Navy bucket sun-hat monogrammed
Navy woollen monogrammed school jumper OR Navy monogrammed fleece
School jacket
Boys Uniform
Navy shorts
Blue long sleeved monogrammed shirt (winter)
School stripe / navy knee high socks
Navy bucket sun-hat monogrammed
Navy woollen monogrammed school jumper OR Navy monogrammed fleece
School jacket
Managing our School Roll
Holy Trinity is now “managing” our school roll for 2026. Some of our learning spaces and year levels are now at capacity for the year. This includes students who are already pre-enrolled for the 2026 year. The lack of further buildings/learning community spaces means we are in a position of having to manage school enrolments for new inquiries. Families are welcome to place their child on the preference waiting list for 2027 – this does not guarantee a placement for 2027 as we will only be able to accept siblings as a first priority.Upcoming School Events
School Gathering Liturgy and Assembly – led by Mrs Nadan/LC Awa and Mrs Buzmion/LC Whenua
Monday 30th March @ 8:50am in Taamaua/school hall
Gymnastics/Fundamental Skills Lessons for Year 3 (10am-11am) and Year 4 (11am-12:00)
Wednesday 1st April @ Bruce Pulman Park Recreation Centre
Fr Tony King-Archer visiting Learning Communities
Wednesday 1st April 10:00am – 11:30am
Holy Thursday Liturgy “Journey to the Cross”
Thursday 2nd April 12:00pm @ school
Term 1 Concludes
Thursday 2nd April
Term 2 Commences 8:50am
Monday 20th April
Upcoming Community Events
Rippa Rugby for Girls
Ardmore Marist Rugby & Sports Club is excited to be bringing back our Girls Only Rippa Rugby programme for 2026. This is a great opportunity for girls in Years 3–8 to get involved in a fun, social, and supportive environment while learning new skills and making friends
We have spaces in our Years 3/4, 5/6 & 7/8 teams. Come have fun, make friends, and learn new skills.
Kicks off May 6th, every Wednesday night.
Email us now – juniors@ardmoremarist.co.nz
Thank you for helping us connect with local families and encourage more girls to get involved in sport.
Free English Course
Artz on Show April Holiday Programme
Little Scientists April Holiday Programme
✨Dreamer ✨
A brand-new indoor light festival is coming to Auckland these school holidays.
For 10 days only, Dreamer transforms the New Zealand International Convention Centre into a glowing world of colour, light and interactive installations designed to spark curiosity and imagination.
Perfect for families, Dreamer is fully indoors (all weather) and open during the day – making it an easy school holiday outing.
Family passes (2 adults + 2 children) are just $35 + booking fee, and under 5’s are free.
📅 3–12 April 2026 | 🕙 10am–4pm daily
✨ WIN a Family Pass!
Kumon Lessons – Free Trial
ABS Community Basketball League Term 2
Hey There,
We are running our Community Basketball League (CBL) out at Pulman Arena in term 2. This will be a 8-week league and costs $320.00 per team! We will be running our U10, U12, U14 & U16 grades.
Linked below is the registration link for CBL. In the link should give out relevant details such as dates, times, location and costs.
Registration Link: https://membership.mygameday.app/regoform.cgi?formID=120354
Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions
Ngā mihi,
Michael Babaran | Leagues & Tournaments Officer
Auckland Basketball Services
ECOFEST!
Looking for things to do with the kids these school holidays?
EcoFest is back across Tāmaki Makaurau with 400+ events celebrating nature, sustainability and community. Over the school holidays there are heaps of whānau friendly events to enjoy – including nature crafts, bug hunts, gardening, workshops, bike events and more.
Many events are free or low-cost, making them a great option for families looking for fun things to do locally.
Explore what’s happening near you – www.ecofest.org.nz
