Last Sunday’s Gospel...

We heard the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert. Despite the difficulties he would have been experiencing because he was human – hunger, thirst, loneliness, an uncomfortable bed, he resisted all Satan offered him.

 Did you know...

Lent lasts for 40 days because Jesus was in the desert preparing himself for his entrance into public life for 40 days. We echo that preparation time by praying, doing without some luxuries and giving more to all around us.

From the Principal...

Thank you to all of you who came to the P&F Meeting. It was a very welcoming and positive experience for me. I have a list of things to get back to you on including car park possibilities, sacramental questions, Compass message issues, signage, uniforms to possibly reflect house colours, showing you reading and maths strategies and publishing the school calendar for the year ahead to name a few. I will work through them all and give you an update next meeting if not before. The P&F approved funds for us to give some attention to the front of school entrance by way of refurbishing the gardens and signage. You will see the money you generously give to the P&F each year enhancing and beautifying our entrance.

The syllabus documents from which we teach can be found at the link below.

https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/home

Just hover over the Kindergarten – Year 10 heading and you will be able to select any subject area so you know what we need to be, and are, teaching your children.

The consistency of procedure seems to be working very well – thank you! Just a couple of things for the car park need some attention. Please do not park in the disabled car spaces unless you have the permit, reverse into car park spaces and walk your children in to school because it is not a drop off zone. Please also be mindful of the crossing areas, hold your child’s hand, and don’t walk along the roadway. I want everyone to be safe!

Thank you to the P&F for the lovely BBQ they prepared to launch us into Catholic Schools Week on Sunday. It was great to see so many families come along and spend time together. I also want to especially mention our staff, 17 of whom made the effort to come to Mass at Holy Family rather than in their own parishes and stayed for the BBQ as well. We are certainly blessed to have such a dedicated team at Holy Family!

I am looking forward too seeing you all at the celebrations this week!

God Bless,

Michelle Rolfe

Principal

Project Compassion Launch Mass

Last Tuesday Mrs Rolfe and I accompanied four students to the Caritas Australia and Catholic Education Office Project Compassion Launch at St Benedicts Catholic College. It was a very reverent ceremony and gave the students the opportunity to learn about the importance of Project Compassion which takes place during the Lenten season each year. It was also a wonderful opportunity for the students to meet students from other schools in the Diocese and speak to Bishop Brian Mascord.

Lent

“Give alms...Pray to your Father...Fast without a gloomy face...' (Matthew 6:1-18).”

In Pope Francis 2020 Lenten message, Pope Francis wrote that: “Lent is a favourable time to prepare to celebrate with renewed hearts the great mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the cornerstone of our personal and communal Christian life. We must continually return to this mystery in mind and heart, for it will continue to grow within us in the measure that we are open to its spiritual power and respond with freedom and generosity.” Project Compassion is part of this spiritual renewal.

Parish/Family Mass and BBQ

On Sunday we had a very successful Parish Mass and BBQ. It was a sensational opportunity to speak with other families and to especially welcome the new Kindergarten families into our community.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

At Mass on Sunday, we handed out to students the enrolment forms for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. If you did not attend Mass and believe your child is eligible to participate, please go to the school office and collect the forms. Any family that fails to return the completed forms and money by Wednesday the 25th of March will need to reapply for the Sacrament next year.

Sunday Gospel Reading: (From Liturgy Help)

Did you know that...

Purple is the liturgical colour for Lent and Advent!!!

Deanna David

Religious Education Coordinator

'EMBRACING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER'

Catholic Schools Week is about celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of Catholic education and is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our school comunity.

The activities below showcase the wonderful teaching and learning opportunities that Holy Family Catholic Primary School provides our students.

Open Classrooms:               Friday 6 March from 11.45am - 12.15pm

School Assembly:                Friday 6 March at 12.30pm

Thank you for your ongoing support. We encourage parents, families and friends to join with us on Friday.

Dear students, families and school communities,

Thank you for your school's participation in Catholic Schools Week from 1-7 March. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase many of the fantastic things happening in your school every day, and in all our Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong.

We thank you for working together in partnership with us to help make your school community such a vibrant, nurturing place of learning, faith, belonging and hope.

If you or a family member or friend would like to enrol your child in one of our schools, please download an enrolment package here.

Have a look at our Catholic Schools Week video below, celebrating what our students across the diocese love about their Catholic school. Can you spot the students from your school?

The Parents and Friends Association (P & F) held their Annual General Meeting on Friday, 28 February 2020.  Congratulations to the following parents who were elected:

President:                    Michelle Wydmuch

Vice President:             Iresha Anbu

Secretary:                   Sharon Heginbotham-Day

Assistant Secretary:     Glacel Lubrin-Zabat

Treasurer:                   Mary Poll

Assistant Treasurer:     Veronica Attard

Diocese Liaison:          Maria Antifiliotis

The Principal, Mrs Rolfe and the school community would like to thank the outgoing committee for their commitment and hard work that only results in a positive partnership between the school and parent body.

The next P & F meeting will be held on Friday, 1 May at 9am in the Hall meeting room and everyone is welcome.  If you have an item you would like added to the agenda, please email pandf@hfidow.catholic.edu.au. 

St Thérèse is widely known and loved for her “little way” of spiritual childhood. Born in 1873, she entered the Discalced Carmelite order at age 15, died at the age of 24 and was canonised in 1925. Her parents, Louis and Zélie, were the first spouses to be canonised as a couple in 2015. These three saints show us the integrity of virtue and holiness. The path to holiness is the path of struggle and ordinary life. It is carried and lived with love, and dependence on God. They experienced the mercy of the Father and this mercy crafted the way they lived and loved. In this they are of great relevance for us. They have been where we are, and have together allowed God to perfect them. Being a family, the Martins prove that the family is the seed ground of holiness and goodness. We can learn from them.( extract of reflection by Bishop Gregory Homeming OCD)

The information below is provided to give families an opportunity to view the relics, pray and experience the saints.

What a great welcoming celebration of Mass and BBQ last Sunday.  Thank you to Holy Family school community, students, staff and the P & F for your tremendous efforts.

 

We are only in Week 6 and already there is a significant amount of 'Lost Property' in the containers.  Items that are labelled with students names (current students!) are returned to their classrooms.  It is very important that every item of uniform worn or carried by your child has their name on it.

Next Monday there will be a table near the administration area with unclaimed lost property on it - 'Free to a Good Home".