This coming Sunday, a large number of our amazing Year 6 students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Brian Mascord and Father Henry. I would like to extend my congratulations and convey how proud I am of their enthusiasm for learning, their hard work and prayerfulness over the last five weeks of formation. I would also like to thank the parents and carers for passing on the gift of faith and walking alongside your children at this special time.

There are four main parts to the Sacrament of Confirmation:

1) The Calling Forth of the Candidates reminds candidates that God calls us each by name and that our parents continue the act of co-creation with God, and like Adam in the Book of Genesis, are given the privilege to partake in naming creation.

2) The Renewal of Baptismal Promises allows the candidates to confirm the promises of faith that their parents made on their behalf at Baptism. This is based on the Creed which contains the basic tenants of the Catholic Faith.

3) The Laying on of Hands is an ancient gesture which communicates blessing and commissioning. It calls forth the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be stirred within us. It can be linked all the way back to the Apostles and is even referenced in the Old Testament.

4) The Anointing with Chrism symbolises being set apart, being made holy to do God’s work. Those who are Confirmed are now responsible for taking faith as their own and commissioned to share their faith with others. It also denotes being sealed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit making them more aware of the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.”

Parish Fair

Last Saturday we celebrated our parish community with our Parish Fair. It was a wonderful day of food, performance and fun! We were very grateful to have been invited by Father Henry to participate!

Thank you to you all for your support with donating and buying books and purchasing your child’s artworks. All money donated was given to the parish. The school raised approximately $1800. 

Kindergarten 2025

This Friday, we begin the first of four Kindergarten Playgroup sessions. We are really looking forward to welcoming the newest members of our community to Holy Family and getting to know them better. If you see any new faces around, please make sure you give them a lovely Holy Family welcome!

Reminder - 2025 Classes

As we begin to approach the end of the 2024 school year, our teachers will soon be creating classes for 2025 that will support every student. They are considering various factors to create balanced and diverse learning environments that foster growth in faith and learning, collaboration and well-being.

We understand that some parents may have concerns about their child being placed with certain classmates. While we value your input and want to make sure your child has a positive school experience, we kindly ask for your understanding in our class placement process.

A Few Points to Keep in Mind:

• Balanced Classrooms: Teachers aim to build well-rounded classes that consider academic abilities, social dynamics, and individual needs. These balanced environments help promote effective learning for all students.

• Social Development: Learning how to work with a variety of peers is an important part of your child's social and emotional growth. Sometimes, being with different classmates can offer opportunities for building resilience and developing new friendships.

• Teacher Expertise: Our experienced teachers have deep insights into the needs of each student. They are committed to placing your child in an environment that supports their academic and personal development.

Requests for Class Placements:

We understand that sometimes parents may request specific arrangements regarding classmates. While we do take these into account, please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all requests will be met. Our priority is to ensure that all students benefit from a classroom that best meets their learning needs.

If you have specific concerns, please reach out to me before 15th November to discuss your child’s situation. We will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests, but we ask for your flexibility in trusting our teachers' judgement as logistically, not all requests can be met.

Thank you for your support, trust and cooperation. 

In all things at Holy Family, Give Thanks.