Principal's Message
The 2019-20 school year will be one that we will never forget. Looking back at this past year, we have so much to be proud of and thankful for, both prior to the COVID -19 school closure and after.
Prior to the March Break – The past school year should not be completely defined by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our Titans continued to support our school community through our Titans Tackle Hunger and We Scare Hunger food drives where over 2,000lbs of food was collected. In addition, our Christmas Giving Tree campaign and Reaching Out Norfolk campaign raised funds and collected goods to support families in need in our community during the Christmas and Lenten seasons, respectively. We also continued to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Woman’s Shelter, and the Norfolk General Hospital through our dress down days. Our Titan’s drive for social justice went globally as well, as our students supported our Board’s Southern Encounter to Guatemala and our Board’s Mission Trip to New Orleans. Outstanding work Titans!
Our extracurricular program also thrived this past year. Holy Trinity’s athletic program continued to dominate in winning NSSAA championships in Golf, Tennis, Cross Country, Senior Boys Volleyball, Senior Girls Basketball, Swimming, Senior Boys Basketball, Senior & Junior Girls Volleyball, and Boys Hockey. Our Students Council organized our Fair activities, dances, Christmas Week, and Spirit Week activities. In addition, our Music program excelled at the Norfolk Music Arts Festival, our Eco Team continued to promote environmentally friendly initiatives, and our Jack Chapter ran several activities that promoted positive mental health and well-being. Way to go Titans! Please follow us on Twitter @trinitytitan to stay up to date with the many activities happening at Holy Trinity.
After the March Break - A global pandemic that closed our schools and forced our teaching instruction to go from the classroom to an online format was unprecedented. Through our students’ hard work, perseverance, commitment, in addition to the tremendous support from our staff and parents, we successfully completed the school year through the distance learning model. I do want to express my sincere gratitude to the following:
To the students of HT – Thank you for your commitment to your studies, your unwillingness to give up, and your desire to learn. Although there may have been some struggles along the way, your level of engagement in the distance learning model was excellent. Our Holy Trinity Staff is very proud of you all. You have all shown your true Titan spirit in your academic successes this semester. Excellent work Titans!
To the parents of HT – Thank you for your continuous support, patience, and understanding as we moved into a new model of learning. You took on a new role in helping your children learn at home. Your kitchens and living rooms became the classroom for your children and the patience, love and care you provided for your children helped them succeed during these difficult times. You have earned our deepest appreciation. Job well done parents of HT!
To the Graduating Class of 2020 – Sean Junkins once wrote, “So often you find that the students you’re trying to inspire are the ones that inspire you.” Graduates, you are an inspiration to us all. You faced the challenges of this global pandemic, you persevered, and showed tremendous resiliency in achieving your high school diploma. Your graduating class is one we will never forget, and we are so proud to call you graduates of Holy Trinity. Well done Graduating Class of 2020! We look forward to properly recognizing your outstanding achievements later this fall when it is safe to do so.
In addition to our departing graduates, we also have five staff members that will be leaving our Titan community:
Shaun Naylor – transferring to St. Mary’s Catholic Learning Centre
Sarah O’’Sullivan – transferring to Assumption College
Kayla Melfi – transferring to St. John’s College
Kerri Lomax – appointed Vice Principal of St. John’s College
Doris Paquin – retiring after 29 years in education
We wish all our departing staff all the best as they embark on new milestones in their lives. Always remember! Once a Titan, Always a Titan!
Unfortunately, our school will remain closed until mid-August at the earliest. This also means that our school uniform store will remain closed. Enclosed in this mailing you will find information from McCarthy’s Uniforms on how to order online, how to size properly, and how to book appointments in person (if necessary) at the McCarthy’s stores in London and Hamilton.
As we look forward to September, The Ministry of Education has asked each school board to prepare for three different scenarios for schools opening in the fall. These scenarios are a full opening with enhanced health and safety protocols, an online scenario, or a hybrid scenario of both face to face and online instruction. The Ministry of Education will announce which scenario schools will open with in early August. Whatever the scenario, please know that we will work together to open our school safely and continue to provide exceptional programming to your children.
In closing, I would like to leave with you a reflection that was shared with me when our schools first closed. It still resonates with me.
This pandemic experience is a massive experiment in collective vulnerability. We can be our worst selves when we are afraid, or, our best, bravest selves. When this is over, may we never again take for granted a handshake with a stranger, the taste of communion, full shelves at the grocery store, conversation with a neighbour, a crowd, a Friday night out, or a coffee with a friend at Timmy’s. When this ends, and it will end, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, were called to be…may we stay that way…better for each other. Let’s choose awkward, brave and kind. Let’s choose to do this together.
I would like to wish you all a very safe and relaxing summer vacation.
God bless,
Humberto Cacilhas
