This past week, the Archdiocese hosted and recognized our teachers celebrating anniversary years within the Archdiocese. We're proud to celebrate the following:

• 5 Years: Mary Charles Zoppoth & Michelle Harrington (as a classroom teacher)
• 10 Years: Courtney Billig
• 15 Years: Alice Kervin
• 20 Years: Amy Sharp & Paula Watkins
• 25 Years: Kelley Powers 
• 35 Years: Dee Bacigalupi

It's almost time for our grade level service-learning November projects and drives, themed around "Giving with a Thankful Heart"! As part of our Catholic social teachings, we're called to help our neighbors during their times of need. Sometime during the dates of Nov. 1 - 12, all HTPS students will be invited and called to participate in a project that supports their grade-level community partner.

The specific dates vary by grade and each community partner's need/space availability, so we ask parents to watch grade-level newsletters and folders for more specifics. Discuss the opportunity to serve and give back as a family, shop together if you can, and send donations in during your child's donation days. Some grade-level projects will involve a sign-up genius for specific items that students will then put together in the classroom as part of a larger project. Other grades will include an ask for any item you choose off of a requested list. Questions can be directed to your child's religion teacher, the grade level's service-learning coordinating parent, and/or Mrs. Davenport. 

Thank you in advance to all who participate, donate, help us create baskets/bags of items in the classroom, and/or deliver items to our community partners. We appreciate your time, efforts, and commitment!

We continue to look for the best candidate to assist our Jr. high students and teachers, as our Jr. High instructional assistant (one of two)! If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please connect with Ms. Bacigalupi, our assistant principal. 

This year, our 6th graders returned to Camp Piomingo! A great annual tradition for Holy Trinity 6th graders, students participated in activities outdoors for two days on Oct. 20 - 21. Following Archdiocese recommendations for indoor and overnight activities, we opted not to spend the night as in years past.  Students completed the High Ropes course, as well as the Zip Line, participated in team-building activities, went on hikes, enjoyed the Pipeline Slide, learned archery and ax throwing, played cards, and grew together as a class while creating many great memories!

Thank you to our 6th grade teachers for planning this great tradition, as well as all of our parent chaperones who made it possible! From the student conversations and stories at school upon returning to classes today, it was a great success and a wonderful experience. Thank you!

Catholics celebrate and remember the work of St. Francis of Assisi on his October 4 feast day. Annually, our Holy Trinity Parish School community blesses our pets in honor of St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day. This year, we welcomed back pets and family members to join us in person outdoors; photos of pets are always welcome if they can't join us, too. Included in the prayer service is a focus on us as stewards of God’s creation, so whether we have a pet or not – we’re all involved and included in the blessing.

May we continue to take care of ourselves, each other, and the living world around us. Amen!

Within their Jr. High Spanish classes, our students have been learning about the Day of the Dead traditions in Spanish cultures. Through a collaborative effort by Sra. Claudia and Ms. Given, the students are then displaying their cultural learning and understanding in art on mugs. Focusing on balance and creation, students have designed and drawn sugar masks on mugs to fire in our kilns here at school during art classes. Great work, artists!