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Last Sunday’s Gospel…
The gospel and reading last Sunday were about prayer and how necessary it is to us. Prayer is talking and listening to God and we need times of silence to do that. And finding the quiet can be hard too. There are formal prayers to help us and we can also use our own words. Sometimes it is a quick comment too like talking to a friend. Whichever kind we use at any point, it is very important so find some time to be with our Heavenly Friends.
From the Principal...
Welcome back to Term 4. It’s always a busy but happy term with all the end of year things and finishing with the biggest deadline we have every year – Christmas! I hope you all enjoyed the break and managed to find a little time in the sun.
It is the month of the Rosary as Mrs David has told you in more detail in her part but I wanted to share a very heartwarming story. At break time on a Monday, we are praying the rosary with any of the students who want to come to the library. The best part is that one of the students had the idea! It didn’t come from the staff. So if your children come home talking about praying the rosary this month especially, you might like to let them teach you how to say it. If you don’t have rosary beads at home, don’t let that stop you. God gave us ten fingers!
We have welcomed many of our Kinder 2023 students and their families to the first sessions of our Kinder Transition through Play program. We start playing at different stations which encourages increased vocabulary and speaking in complete sentences. Then the students go into one room for a story while we talk to the parents for a few minutes to gradually get the students used to separating. It has worked well for this group so far so hopefully we’ll have happy faces starting ‘big’ school on the first day next year!
I am busily finalizing staffing for 2023. There are still a couple of things I am waiting for and then I’ll be able to let you know who we have on the staff team next year.
Following an extensive look at our data and the National School Improvement Tool, which is a research based method for whole school improvement, on the last day of last term, we have decided that Maths will be a big focus area for 2023, along with increased whole school planning of content areas in all subjects to provide more strategic delivery of content. Of course we will also be implementing the new K-2 Maths and English syllabus. I will keep you posted on our progress throughout the year.
I am looking forward to seeing you at assembly on Friday!
God Bless,
Mrs Michelle Rolfe
Principal
I would like to thank all of you for all your support with ensuring your child is dressed in the correct school summer uniform. At the end of last term teachers completed a uniform check with their class and reminded students about the school uniform policy. You may have received a uniform slip informing you if your child was in the incorrect uniform. Please ensure you have made these appropriate changes.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s school uniform please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.
Just a reminder about a few things: (Please see the images)
- School sport shoes: are to be predominately white with white shoelaces.
- School leather shoes: are to be plain, standard black leather lace up traditional school shoes. No deck shoes or boots.
Please give our school Facebook page a like. We regularly upload photos of students through this platform and would love to keep our school community updated. Select the link for Holy Family, Ingleburn Facebook page.
Regards,
Miss Alana Stroligo
This year a group of targeted students took part in the SPLICED program which is run by the Catholic Education Office. The program involves students independently researching and presenting work around a given theme.
The students are extremely proud to be able to share their work with our school community.
https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/2022-spliced/home
Musica Viva
On Friday the 16th of September, Musica Viva visited Holy Family to teach us about music and share some compositions to all grades. It was a wonderful opportunity for all students to learn more about music and how they can create their own. We learnt about musical history and got a chance to express the musical talent in all of us. As well as that, we got to hear beautiful music played by an orchestra who made it seem like music was an easy topic to talk about. It was a way for us to learn more about instruments like the violin, bass and saxophone. In the most unique ways, they have opened our eyes and given us a little guidance that encourages us to find the music that is in all of us. This was an experience like no other and we are very grateful for the chance to meet the Musica Viva team.
By Sophia and Eliana.
Creating childhood memories with family time
Put family time back on the agenda with these ideas for entertaining the kids from toddlers through to teenagers.
It can be easy to let time get away from you when you’re busy with work, chores and everything in between. But it’s important not to let the meaningful things slide like spending quality time with your family and school holidays can be a great time to strengthen those connections.
Creating happy memories for your children as they’re growing up is something that will stay with them into adulthood. No matter how busy everyone is, it’s essential for every member of your household to feel important, included and loved.
We’ve put together a list of suggestions for how you can reclaim some dedicated family time these holidays, from toddlers to teenagers. See which ones work best for you and your family.
Toddlers
- Play outside - take the family to the park or beach and play simple ball games - it’s good exercise and allows kids to practice new skills.
- Go to the local park - slides, swings, climbing apparatus; letting your toddler loose in the local park is excellent exercise - for you and your little one.
Car journeys - non-driving parents can play games such as ‘I Spy’ or have sing-alongs to their favourite
School-age
- Board games - simple card games, snakes and ladders or dominoes - these games teach children the importance of playing fair.
- Astronomy - go outside on a clear night, look at the moon and stars, and learn the constellations together.
- Individual activities - if you have more than one child, set aside some time every week for an activity with each of them. It could be a trip to the cinema, baking a cake together or, better still, let them choose their own favourite activity.
Teenage
- Reduce screen time - this article from the ABC reports that we spend eight times more hours per week looking at screens than with loved ones. To combat this behaviour in teens, try setting some time aside when the whole family has to turn off their device, perhaps at meal-times and at least a couple of hours at the weekend.
- Set routines to reduce arguments - once you have teenagers in the house, it can be difficult to organise around schedules. Making sure that the whole family has the same time set aside in their diaries for family time to reduce the fuss of getting everyone together.
- Family dinners - cooking, sharing and eating food can really bring a family together, if only for an hour or so. It gives everyone a chance to talk about what has been going on in their lives.
Taking the time to connect with your family is helpful for everyone; it strengthens bonds, creates happy memories and encourages everyone to feel loved and supported.
The resources in the Catholiccare Parenting HUB are put together by family specialists who work with families across Sydney every day. If you would like to know more about this topic, please contact Catholiccare Wollongong at 0242271122 #alwaysconnected. You can also call the professional Parent Line NSW counsellors on 1300 1300 52 for individual advice.
Disclaimer: This article does not give professional advice. The contents constitute general information of a summary nature of interest and relevance at the time of
publication. You should not rely on the contents as professional advice but should seek, formal advice in particular matters relevant to your particular situation.
Please see attachments for school holiday activities!
2022
|
Monday 10th October - 28th November (Monday's only) |
Learn to swim - Kinder, Year 1 & Year 2 |
| Tuesday 25th October | Kindergarten & Yr 6 Mass - 9.15am |
| Thursday 27th October | Kinder 2023 - Orientation morning |
| Friday 28th October | Socktober - students wear 'Crazy Socks' Gold coin donation |
| Tuesday 1 November | Year 1 & Year 5 Mass - 9.15am |
| Tuesday 8th November | Kindergarten & Yr 4 Mass - 9.15am |
| Monday 7th 8th & 9th November | Years 4, 5 and 6 Bicycle Education Centre |
| Friday 11th November | Remembrance Day Liturgy |
| Tuesday 15th November | Year 2 & Year 3 Mass - 9.15am |
| Sunday 20th November | First Holy Communion |
| Tuesday 22 November | Year 5 & Year 1 Mass - 9.15am |
| Tuesday 29th November | Year 6 & Year 4 Mass - 9.15am |
| Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th December |
Year 5 Camp - Wedderburn |
| Tuesday 13th December | Year 6 Dinner - 'Ottimo House' |
| Wednesday 14th December | Whole school Christmas Concert |
| Friday 16th Decembr | End of year Mass/Year 6 Farewell Mass |