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| 2024 |
|
| Wednesday 4th December |
Kindergarten Orientation 9.00-10.00am & 10.30-11.30 |
| Thursday 5th December |
Gold Coin Donation - St Vincent de Paul fundraiser |
| Friday 6th December |
Grade visit by Father to Kinder Nude Food Friday Assembly, 1.30pm - Talent Quest Parish Chistmas Carols, 6.30pm |
| Monday 9th December |
Last day - Kinder - Year 2 Swimming Lessons |
| Tuesday 10th December |
Promotions Afternoon (2025 classes: 2.00-2.40pm) |
| Wednesday 11th December |
Kinder & Yr 6 Mass - 9.00am |
| Friday 13th December |
Grade visit by Father to Year 2 Nude Food Friday Christmas Concert, 4.30 - 6.00pm (Church) |
| 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 |
| Tuesday 4th February 2025 |
Years 1 - 6 commence school year |
| Wednesday 5th February 2025 |
Kindergarten commences school year |
Reflection
As a church, we commenced Advent at the weekend. It is a special time of year when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. For children, it can be a time filled with wonder, joy, and the excitement of counting down to Christmas. But it’s also a time to stop and think about the gifts Jesus brings to our world: hope, peace, joy, and love.
Each week of Advent reminds us of these gifts. The first candle we light is for hope, reminding us that Jesus is the light in dark places. We can share hope with others by being kind and helping those who might be sad or in need.
The second candle is for peace. In the busy excitement of the season, we can take a moment to think about how we can bring peace to our homes and friendships—by sharing, forgiving, and working together.
The third candle is for joy. Jesus came to bring us joy, and we can show it through laughter, smiles, and small acts of kindness that make others happy.
The fourth candle is for love, reminding us of God’s great love for everyone. At Christmas, we remember that love isn’t just about giving presents—it’s about giving our time, attention, and care to the people around us.
As we journey through Advent, let’s encourage our children, and each other to live out these gifts in simple ways: helping a friend, saying a kind word, or showing love to family members. Let’s keep the true meaning of Christmas at the centre of this busy time of year.
Kindergarten Orientation
Over the last four weeks, we have held Kindergarten 2025 playgroup sessions. These sessions have proved to have been a wonderful opportunity for our newest students to make valuable connections with each other and our staff. It has also been a great opportunity for parents to make new friends and to feel part of our wonderful school community.
This Wednesday, our transition program will conclude with our orientation sessions. This is a great opportunity for our students to spend time with staff in the Kindergarten classrooms whilst their parents spend time in the hall for an information session.
Student Leaders for 2025
I am pleased to announce, that following a rigorous process, the following students are our student leaders for 2025:
School Captains: Riley D and Pauleen R
Vice Captains: Max H and Shuya H
Red House Captains: Bentley W and Charlie S
Blue House Captains: Mattheus B and Abigail E
Green House Captains: Koah L and Marcus N
Gold House Captains: Pyper W and Sofia B
We are really proud of all students who put themselves forward for a leadership role and to those who were successful in attaining a position. We know they will do a great job.
Father Henry's Jubilee
On Sunday 24th November, Father Henry celebrated 25 years as a priest with a wonderful Parish mass. The Parish came together to give thanks for Father Henry and all that he is as a priest. We are very grateful to have such a wise and compassionate pastor leading us at Holy Family.
Year 6 Cake Stall
Last Thursday, our amazing Year 6 students (with a great deal of support from their parents) brought in a delicious array of cakes and goodies for the rest of the school to enjoy. Our Year 6’s, through the guidance of their teachers, created a well organised cake stall which ended up raising $1,047.40 for a gift for the school. This amount included a very generous donation from a family within our school.
Upcoming and Final Events for 2024
We are coming to the end of the 2024 school year and what a year it has been! We have enjoyed many community events for which I am so grateful for. We still have a few to go!
Friday 6th December: Parish Christmas Carols 6:30pm (Holy Family Church)
Tuesday 10th December: 2025 new classes promotions 2 - 2:40pm
Friday 13th December: School Christmas Concert 4:30 - 6pm (Holy Family Church)
Wednesday 18th December: End of Year Mass 11:45am All welcome (Holy Family Church) and
Year 6 Farewell Ottimo House from 5:30pm (Year 6 Parents and students)
Thursday 19th December: Final day for students
2025 Staffing
At the end of the year, we farewell the following staff members:
Mrs Rebecca Maxfield: Rebecca has been at Holy Family for the last 6 years and leaves us to pursue career opportunities and has accepted a position at Mary Immaculate, Eagle Vale.
Mr Luke Burge: Luke has done a great job as our EALD teacher for 2025. Luke is looking to work in aquatics education in 2025.
Mrs Avril Morris: Avril has been a casual teacher at Holy Family for approximately 30 years. Avril is retiring at the end of the year.
In 2025, we welcome the following staff members:
Ms Lisa Young: Lisa comes to us from St Paul’s Camden and has many years experience in teaching. In fact, Lisa formerly taught at Holy Family a number of years ago and is looking forward to returning.
Ms Shivonne Martin: Shivonne will be our new EALD teacher from 2025 and comes to us with extensive experience, most recently at St Jospeh’s at Auburn.
I know you will all make our two new staff members feel welcome!
In all things at Holy Family, Give Thanks.
Mrs Amy Smith
Principal
Fundraiser for St Vincent de Paul - Thursday 5th December
Smart Watches
REMINDERS:
Class Requirements 2025
Canteen Lunch Pack
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. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.
Every Friday is Nude Food Friday at HFI. Nude Food is a worldwide initiative developed to encourage kids and parents to eat well and live well, and help eliminate unnecessary packaging and wrapping that goes into schools.
Pack: Snacks/drinks in reusable containers - Re-usable utensils when needed - Foods with no/minimal wrapping (eg. fruits - If wrapping is required, avoid plastic and opt for eco-friendly wrapping (eg. paper bags, beeswax wraps).
Ice-blocks are available for purchase at Break 2 for 50 cents.
Families of students that won't be returning to Holy Family School in 2025
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), you advise the school by completing the paperwork attached below.
Parent Volunteers
All approved parent volunteers must scan the QR code below and complete the on-boarding 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.
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.
Bus Service Update - Transit Systems
In addition, we encourage all students to check timetables at https://transportnsw.info/routes/bus or use the Trip Planner at https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip to check the times of the bus(es) they catch. Be sure to change the date in the options, and if using the Trip Planner, click “refine” and add “school bus” to ensure dedicated school services appear as a travel option.
Campbelltown City Council
Rocking Around Campbelltown
Christmas Carols
Billabong Christmas Craft
Billabong Hidden Creatures
Holy Family Parish Christmas Carols - Friday 6th December
Please join the Parish for an evening of beautiful hymns and Christmas cheer - Friday 6th December at 6.30pm. BYO drinks and food for supper afterwards (no alcohol please).
The Holy Family Youth and Young Adults Group will be selling home made Christmas Cakes (gluten free option available) after the Carols - Cash only $30.00 - For every cake sold, $15.00 will go towards the Parish Youth Ministry to fund continued growth in 2025.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
Money donations only this year via the Vinnies Appeal envelopes provided in the church. Vinnies will use this money to provide families with food hampers from Food Bank, Essential Woolworths cards and movie vouchers. Place your envelope under the Christmas tree by weekend of 7th and 8th December.
Christmas Mass Times
