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| 2024 |
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| Friday 8th November |
Kinder 2025 Playgroup - 9.00-10.00am Grade visit by Father to Year 3 Assembly, 2.10pm - Mini Vinnie's Fashion Show |
| Sunday 10th November |
Confirmation |
| Monday 11th November |
Kinder - Year 2 Swimming Lessons Remembrance Day Liturgy - 11.00am |
| Friday 15th November |
Kinder 2025 Playgroup - 9.00-10.00am Grade visit by Father to Year 6 |
| Monday 18th November |
Kinder - Year 2 Swimming Lessons |
| Wednesday 20th November |
Yr 2 & Yr 4 Mass - 9am |
| Friday 22nd November |
Kinder 2025 Playgroup - 9.00-10.00am Grade visit by Father to Year 5 Assembly, 2.10pm |
| Monday 25th November |
Kinder - Year 2 Swimming Lessons |
| Friday 29th November |
Kinder 2025 Playgroup - 9.00-10.00am Grade visit by Father to Year 4 |
| Monday 2nd December |
Kinder - Year 2 Swimming Lessons |
| Wednesday 4th December |
Kindergarten Orientation 9.00-10.00am & 10.30-11.30 |
| Friday 6th December |
Grade visit by Father to Kinder Assembly, 2.10pm - Talent Quest Talent Parish Chistmas Carols |
| Monday 9th December |
Last day - Kinder - Year 2 Swimming Lessons |
| Wednesday 11th December |
Kinder & Yr 6 Mass - 9.00am |
| Friday 13th December |
Grade visit by Father to Year 2 Christmas Concert |
| Wednesday 18th December |
Whole school End of Year/Graduation Mass - 11.45am Yr 6 Farewell & Dinner at Otttimo House |
| Thursday 19th December |
Assembly - Year 6 LAST DAY OF TERM 4 |
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.
Mrs Amy Smith
Principal
Payment of School Fees
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2025 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.
Excursion to Vinnies - Macquarie Fields
P&F Meeting
As a requirement of NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority), we ask that if your family will NOT be returning to Holy Family in 2025 (this excludes Year 6 students), that you email the school.
Please find the attached paperwork for completion and return to school. This process will assist us with accommodating students who are currently on our Wait-list.
Parent Volunteers
All approved parent volunteers must scan the QR code below and complete the onboarding process on the CEODOW website. Once you have been cleared you will receive an email with your digital token.
This will also replace the presentation process for volunteers that occurs each year.
School Student Travel Information for Parents and Students
 Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. |
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SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Sacrament of Confirmation Masses with Bishop Brian
10 November 2024 10:30am Mass & 12:30pm Mass
If you have any questions at all in relation to this Sacramental Program, please contact the Parish Office on 9059 4134. Thank you
Mrs Kathryn Hampton
Religious Education Coordinator
Belonging in a connected community is important to us at Holy Family. We work hard to live out our vision to be a welcoming Catholic school community that endeavours to bear Christ to all. We aim to do this through the many opportunities for faith formation, high quality teaching and learning and robust PB4L (positive behaviours for learning) structures that are built on positive relationships and underpinned by Catholic Social Teaching. Our wonderful community celebrations involving our parents and carers, as well as our school’s Parents and Friends all help connect us as a community.
In addition to this, we know that many of our students participate in a number of extra curricular activities outside of school and we would like to celebrate some of these great achievements! These could include achievements in their Parish, music, sport, dance, drama, community service and community awards, to name a few.
If your child has recently achieved something in an outside school area, please let us know! Details can be sent to info_holyfamily@dow.catholic.edu.au with the email subject ‘Belonging in a Connected Community’. We can then showcase their achievement in this section of our newsletter.
Congratulations to:
Tulsi Bowen (1W) - Tulsi recently had her dancing concert where she won the Director's award "Star of the Show" for her amazing smile during performances and for her kindness to fellow dancers :) Well done Tulsi!!
Cash Carney (5B) - - Cash has been selected in the Oztag Under 11s Macarthur Mustangs representative team that will compete in the 2025 NSW Oztag State Cup in February 2025. Training has commenced and we look to reading about Cash's results early next year.
Vase Carney (3B) - The Final Whistle Nines (TFW9) is a tackle rugby league competition that runs over 2 days. Teams from all over the state compete to have an eventual winner. TFW9’s was created to target 6-12 year olds who want to compete in tackle rugby.
Vase competed in two TFW9 tournaments in the last two weeks of October under the South West All Stars team banner.
In the Western Sydney Mini’s tournament (St Mary’s), Vase’s team were runner’s up in the 8B division and Vase received Man of the Match for Game 1 and Player of the Tournament. An outstanding effort Vase!
One week later, in the Southern Corridor event in Albion Park, Vase’s team took out the Tournament for under 8B division. Vase and his team were humble in defeat as well as proud in their victories.
MMJ Aquathon - Wollongong Harbour - 26.01.2025
The much-anticipated MMJ Aquathon returns to Wollongong Harbour on January 26, 2025, marking the very special 25th anniversary. It is Australia’s biggest swim-run attracting participants from across Australia and only 80km south of Sydney. An event the wider community can take part in, and is proud to support the Black Dog Institute and local sports clubs. With the popular 5k fun run, and multiple swim-run aquathon events, all ages can take part.
Please find attached some resources, provided by CatholicCare, which you may find useful.
New Ways - November
How My Stress Works - Big Life Journal
My Calming Fortune Teller - Big Life Journal
Warm regards
Sarah
Parish Fair - Thank you
Father Henry wishes to thank everyone who participated in the inaugural Parish Fair. It was a wonderful event filled with good food, amazing music and entertainment, fun and friendship.
November - Month of the Holy Souls
Traditionally prayers are offered for our departed loved ones during the month of November. If you would like a Mass offered for departed family or a loved one, please fill out a November Mass envelope. Masses will be offered during November and ongoing. If you would like Mass offered on a particular day, please see Father Henry. The Parish will also be remembering loved ones who have died in a Book of Remembrance. You are invited to take a moment to add the names of your loved ones to the Parish Book.