Final Assembly and Year 6 and Leaving Families Walkout

Swimming Carnival - Years 3 to 6

Staff Development (Pupil Free) Days 2025

REMINDERS:

Class Requirements 2025

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.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students,

As we approach the end of the school year, our Library has been a busy, vibrant place full of stories, learning, and imagination.

A Friendly Reminder: Please Return All Library Books!
As we prepare for the summer holidays and prepare our library for next year, we kindly ask that all students return any library books/ Home Readers they have checked out. This will help us ensure that our shelves are fully stocked and ready for the new school year. Please take a moment to check around your home, backpacks, and classrooms for any outstanding books.

Students should aim to have all library books returned by Thursday. If any books are lost or damaged, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make arrangements. Your help in returning books on time is greatly appreciated!

A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Parents!
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents/guardians who have supported the library throughout this year. Especially during the book fair. Whether you’ve volunteered to cover books or simply encouraged your child’s love of reading at home, your involvement has made a big difference. Together, we’ve helped foster a community of young readers who are eager to explore and learn.

As we look ahead to next year, we are excited to bring even more wonderful books and activities to inspire our students. We can't wait to continue this reading journey with your children!

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we wish all our students, parents, guardians and Grandparents a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.

“Reading Gives you wings to fly!”

Warm regards,

Mrs. Kreltszheim
Librarian.

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. 

Netball Triumph

Dear Families,

Schools Out (almost!) …… so here are all the fun ways you can spend it in South West Sydney!

School link have once again set out to collate a helpful list of free/low cost activities and events across the region that might present opportunities for children, young people and families to have a chance to learn new skills, engage with the community and have a whole lot of fun! 

 See below for information by council area:

All SWSLHD:

• Check your local council page for details on:

• Enjoy Christmas music, carols or lights – Watch on tv, visit a local event or walk/drive around town looking at the best decorative displays!
• Various Firework Displays near you, for Christmas, New Year or Lunar New Year
• Celebrate the start of the New Calendar year!
• Celebrate Lunar New Year! -  29^th January

• Stay cool at your local pool, river, basin, lake, waterfall, ocean or local air-conditioned library!
• Take on a DIY Bunning project over the holidays: https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/kids-craft/christmas or https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/kids-craft

EVENTS BY LGA:      

Camden – Check out a range of great events:

• Magic of Christmas at Gledswood Homestead - https://www.gledswood.com.au/christmascelebrationsatgledswood $5 per person, or $20 per vehicle/family
• @ Camden Council Here - Bookable includes Markets, liquid nitrogen show, lego makers, Evening Storytime,
• 30+ Things to do for under $20,
• https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/event-calendar/  - Camden Valley Inn fun days and more
• Check out Camden Kids for more activities
• Active Activities School Holiday Programs : More here – Art , Sport and more

Campbelltown – Check out a range of great events for all ages at

• Christmas Nights Free events! - https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/Whats-On/Christmas-On-Q-Friday-Nights
• https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn?dlv_LV%20Public%20Events=(dd_Event%20category=School%20Holiday%20Programs) – Check out School Holiday programs and events including Christmas Lights and Festivals,
• 30+ Things to do for under $20 
• Check out a bunch of events for children, young people and the family at https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn includes events at Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown Library
• Active Activities School Holiday Programs : More here – Art , Sport and more
• https://www.pcycnsw.org.au/campbelltown/school-holidays

Fairfield - Check out a range of great events

• CORE – January School holiday Program ages 12-19 living in Fairfield or Liverpool includes laser tag, reptile workshop, patisserie class and Aquatopia!– See attached FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY 1st January 2025 to CORE Youth Office: 32 – 36 HARRIS STREET FAIRFIELD 2165 OR SENT TO ekrakue@corecs.org.au

• Enjoy upcoming fireworks! Fireworks Fairfield City Council (nsw.gov.au) – and info on supporting your pets during fireworks!
• Illuminate Festival for NYE - https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Whats-on/Events-Workshops-and-Social-Calendar/Major-Events/Illuminate-NYE

• https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Whats-on/Events-Workshops-Social-Gatherings - includes Beach Bus to Manly Beach  (Jan 5th). Bondi Beach (Jan 12th), D &D for beginners, Ocean Adventure Show (Jan 14^th), board games, Chess Club for new and seasoned players (Jan 14^th), craft, and more.
• https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Whats-on  
• Get Hooked on Books and join the summer holiday reading program - https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Services/Fairfield-City-Open-Libraries/Mayors-Summer-Holiday-Program -
• Active Activities School Holiday Programs : Liverpool/Fairfield here
• https://www.thejunctionworks.org/service/school-holiday-youth-programs/
• https://www.pcycnsw.org.au/fairfield-cabramatta

 Liverpool – Check out all the events listed for all ages at

• LMA - Free Pottery Workshop see attached Monday 13^th Jan
• LMA - Free Paint and Picnic Thursday 23^rd Jan 2025
• Undertake a taster Barber Workshop in the new Year with Community First Step 16-24 years
• CORE – January School holiday Program ages 12-19 living in Fairfield or Liverpool includes laser tag, reptile workshop, patisserie class and Aquatopia!– See attached FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY 1st January 2025 to CORE Youth Office: 32 – 36 HARRIS STREET FAIRFIELD 2165 OR SENT TO ekrakue@corecs.org.au
• Liverpool Council – All abilities School Holiday Activities 22^nd and 29^th Jan 2025 (See Lurnea 2021 free January Holiday Program)

• Liverpool School Holiday Workshops, includes Hoops clinic, Laser tag, cupcake decorating, Necklace and bracelet making, Circus workshop, movie nights at the Powerhouse Arts Centre, Chess, Indigenous Art, Lego, Kung Fu Acting and Filmmaking workshop and more! Visit https://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/community/your-community/school-holidays for all the info and bookings
• Enjoy Christmas Light decorations - Christmas Lights | Liverpool City Council (nsw.gov.au)
• Celebrate New Year and FREE Fireworks - NYE 2024 | Liverpool City Council (nsw.gov.au)
• Library Events - WHAT'S ON | Liverpool City Council - Library (nsw.gov.au)
• Active Activities School Holiday Programs : Liverpool/Fairfield here
• The Street University: Check out what’s on at https://streetuni.com.au/
• https://www.thejunctionworks.org/service/school-holiday-youth-programs/
• FREE Western Sydney Airport Christmas Holiday events eg Christmas Craft, Aviation, Engineering Lego and Cultural activities

NEARBY /OTHER OFFERINGS for the Holidays:

• Participate Australia hosts a range of Holiday Programs for low cost activities – see attached
• NSW Office of Sport – FREE Holiday Break Camps : NSW Office of Sport For more information on School Holiday Programs https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sport-and-recreation-centres/school-holiday-programs
• Active Activities School Holiday Programs : More here – Art , Sport and more
• Check out your local Headspace centre or Youth Centre for more ideas.

There are also many services who will continue to be available in this time. These include:

• Safe Haven – Friday-Mondays 12-7.30 (INCLUDING public holidays) Sites at Liverpool and Campbelltown. Face to Face peer support, and a safe place for those with chronic suicidal thoughts - https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/SafeHaven SPOT will also remain available.
• Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 or online video chat option-  Suicide Call Back Service provides free immediate professional telephone and online counselling support for anyone affected by suicide. eg feeling suicidal, worried about someone else, or bereaved by suicide.
• Lifeline – 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline – For ages 5 – 25 years. Call 1800 55 1800 or Webchat at https://kidshelpline.com.au/
• NSW Mental Health Line - 1800 011 511
• Emergency Services remain available, via 000 or your local Emergency Department
• For those engaged with CAMHS, services will continue throughout the holiday period, excluding public holidays.
• 1800 RESPECT (Call 1800 737 732)

 When You Feel Overwhelmed

 Tricky Holiday Scenarious

We hope you all have a restful, safe and enjoyable festive season. Take care of yourself, and see you in the New Year!

Warm regards,

Sarah

Patronal Feast Day

The celebration of the Parish Patronal Feast Day will occur after every Mass on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th December.  Please bring a plate of finger food to share.