Last Sunday’s Gospel…

Last Sunday we heard about John the Baptist being in prison and sending some of his followers to ask Jesus if Jesus was the one he was waiting for – if he was the one John was telling people about. It seems a strange reading just before Christmas but the significance of the birth of the Baby in Bethlehem was only understood by large numbers of people after Jesus’ actions as an adult showed He was the Promised One. Jesus honoured John, because of his faithfulness and hard work, knowing John would have been having a terrible time in prison waiting for his death. John would have died happily in the knowledge that he had carried out his mission.

From the Principal...

I write this today following a joyful night last night where we shared the Year 6 Farewell dinner and in happy anticipation of the Christmas concert that will begin in a couple of hours. It was a very special evening where our Year 6 students, their families and staff from the school reflected and celebrated 7 years at Holy Family. For some families, with their youngest child leaving Year 6, it has been a much longer time. I commend the Year 6 teachers for their happy tireless effort to attend to all the details that make a night like we had run so smoothly. I also congratulate our parents because our young people were students to be very proud of. You have all done a wonderful job since their birth, to form them into the people they are today. We are privileged at Holy Family school to have been part of that journey with you. 

The students pranced in with great excitement this morning for the Christmas concert. I must say that putting on a set of antlers myself added a spring to my step too! Thank you for the effort you have gone to, to have them dressed for the occasion. I am very much looking forward to seeing you there as are the children and staff. 

All our classes are covered for next year as you know and I have just completed interviews for the leadership release and teacher release positions. I will give you a full staff list in early 2023. While there will be quite a number of new faces, many have already had significant time in our school getting to know us all and the students so I anticipate a smooth transition into 2023. Please feel free to introduce yourselves to next year’s teachers. They are very much looking forward to meeting you all, especially if they don’t know you already.

We have our End of Year Mass on Friday where we will formally present our Year 6 students with their Graduation certificates and gift from the school. We will also formally farewell our leaving staff. That will be followed by our last assembly and the Year 6 final walk out. We hope putting those events on the one day has meant more of you have been able to arrange to come. 

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas where you and your family feel the joy and hope the birth of baby Jesus brings. Be busy making memories with your children over the break but relax in all other things. I look forward to seeing you all back safe and well in 2023.