Last Sunday’s Gospel...

Jesus speaks in some detail about the Jewish laws. He emphasises the most important ones. A thread running through His gospel is that we have to work to try to be in right relationship with those around us. We also need to behave with integrity – our actions must match our words and we need to obey the laws inwardly as well as outwardly.

Did you know...

Jesus was a Jew and so kept the Jewish laws. Our Catholic Faith is based on that very solid foundation of Jewish Faith and tradition.

From the Principal...

I had the pleasure of seeing many of you at our Opening Mass last Friday. It can be difficult for parents to leave other commitments to make time to come to school events and it means a great deal to the children to see you all there – so thank you. It was a beautiful celebration where our young leaders were presented with their badges. I am sure they are going to be a group who will set a positive example to the rest of the school. We are very grateful to Fr Peter for celebrating Mass for us and I commend Mrs David and her team for her first Mass as REC in our school.

Information evenings have taken place many evenings this week. Along with the information from the first newsletter and the extra material sent home tomorrow, I hope you are all very familiar with our compliance with school procedures. I know some things will feel like a change but we are actually just being consistent. Much of the information has gone home electronically through Compass. Please let us know if for any reason you are not receiving it. I thank you in advance for your support with this. Teachers will be going through it with their classes too.

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent is this coming Wednesday. All the students will be attending Mass and you are all most welcome too. There will be no meat sold in the canteen on Ash Wednesday so please order something different for your children that day. We abstain from meat to help remind us of what Jesus gave up for us. The ashes we receive remind us that we will return to dust ourselves but have everlasting life with Jesus, who conquered death at Easter.

God Bless,

Michelle Rolfe

Principal

Introduction

Welcome to another wonderful week of learning and growing together. I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself to the school community as I am new to the Holy Family community this year.

I started teaching 17 years ago at St Francis Xavier’s Primary School in Lurnea and spent 6 years there before moving to St Therese Primary School in Sadleir. For several years I held a Religious Education Coordinator position at St Therese. Over the last few years I have been busy working and raising three boys with my husband.

I have a six year old Brysen and four year old twin boys Clayton and Flynn. We spend a lot of time playing and learning different sports. We also spend time together learning about God.

I have been welcomed into the Holy Family community. Mrs Rolfe, Mrs Smith, the school staff, Fr Peter and Mrs Donovan have been very kind in answering my questions regarding the school and parish. I hope that you may feel comfortable talking to me and asking me any questions too.

Opening School Mass

Last Friday we celebrated our Opening School Mass. It was a beautiful opportunity to come together, particularly to reflect on the importance of the year ahead of us.

Students received their Student Representative Council Badges and every child in Year 6 pledged that they would do their best as leaders of the school.

I would particularly like to take this opportunity to thank the The Day family (Mr Day, AJ, Anne and Victoria Day) as well as Ron, Cathey and Geoff, who rung the bells in the morning. It added to the importance of the Mass. Bell ringing is a very special skill and requires months of training. It is much more difficult to master than one might think.

Sacraments for 2020

Sacraments help us to become closer to God. The children at Holy Family who are Catholics and baptised can participate in the sacramental programs run by the school and parish. We are currently exploring parent/carer interest for after-school and weekend programs where the child and parent/carer participate in a four-week program together. We will inform you shortly of our decision regarding this program.

Please mark these dates in your calendar: (times will be confirmed soon)

Sunday 14th June Sacrament of First Holy Communion (for mostly Year 3 students)

Sacrament of First Reconciliation/Penance will be in Term 3. We will advise you about a possible night soon. (Mostly Year 2 students)

Sacrament of Confirmation Sunday 20th September (Year 6 students)

If you have any questions regarding these programs, please leave a message with the school office. 

If you would like your child to participate in the Sacramental programs and are concerned about their eligibility, please see Mrs David or leave a message for Mrs David with the office. Mrs David can assist with parents/carers who wish to speak to Fr Peter to have their child baptised and/or to receive sacraments that they may have missed. 

Family Parish Mass

You are all welcome to attend our Welcoming Family Parish Mass on Sunday March 1, at 11am at the Church. This will be followed by a BBQ lunch. Further details to come.

Holy Family School Prayer  For those families new to our school, below is our School Prayer. The children pray this on a daily basis.

This is our school

Let peace dwell here,

Let the rooms be full of contentment.

Let love abide here

Love of God, Love of each other

And love of life itself.

Let us remember that as many hands build a house

So many hearts build a school.

Amen.

Deanna David

Religious Education Coordinator

Thank you to the parents who have paid school fees in full or submitted a 'Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment' form.  Any parents who have not submited this form to the school office will need to pay the full balance of the school fee payment by 28 February 2020.  Thank you for your co-operation with this school fee payment  obligation.

Kinder enrolment packages for Holy Family 2021 are available on our website for downloading and completion. Hard copy enrolments forms are also available to be collected at the school office.

Please make sure the entire enrolment package has been read and all sections completed. Also ensure photocopies of the additional documentation listed under section 22 is also attached to the enrolment. 

Office staff will not be accepting incomplete applications. 

Please ensure Kindergarten enrolments are returned by Thursday 9 April 2020. For years 1 to 6 the school will start to take enrolments from the end of term 2.

A message from the State Member of Parliament for Macquarie Fields, Mr Anoulack Chanthivong MP...

I am writing to let you know that I am conducting an electorate-wide School Safety Survey to improve traffic conditions around our local schools.

I know how hard our local principals work to keep students and families safe around schools and I want to support you to make our local schools safer.

I have set up a short survey for school staff, P&Cs, parents and concerned local residents to report issues with traffic or safety around local schools. I will use this information to lobby the State Government and local Council to improve safety around schools.

I know that teachers and parents know their schools best and I am writing to ask for your feedback about what you think needs the most attention.

Please take a few minutes To share your thoughts and fill in the survey at www.nswschoolsafety.com/macquariefields

Please note that we (Holy Family) are passing this on for your information. You are completely free to participate in the survey, or choose not to.