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

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REPORT with Mrs Deanna  David

Greetings and many blessings to you all. Here are some updates and resources that I feel will be of benefit to you.

Year 6 Christmas Art Competition 

Our school participated in the annual Christmas Story art competition. One of our student’s artworks was shortlisted and was on display at the Wollongong City Art Gallery.   

We congratulate Anne Day who was one of 40 students to be selected from across the Diocese for her piece “The Final Journey”.  It was on display in the Art Gallery up until just recently. 

We also congratulate these other five students for being selected to have their artwork shortlisted: Saige Morris, Teresa Mikhael, Sebastian Fricot, Davitah Seneviratne, Sophia Masilungan. 

We thank the Year 5 and Year 6  teachers who supported the students in their Christmas Art Journey this year. 

CRAZY SOCK DAY - Catholic Mission Month

Next Friday the 28th of October our school will be celebrating Catholic Mission Month with a “Socktober” fundraising, awareness and activity day. Each class will choose an activity to do related to Socktober - some may choose making balls or kicking goals. Every child is invited to wear crazy or odd socks and bring a gold coin or note donation. We also have a school website if you wish to make a donation there as well. 

https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/holyfamilyingleburn 

Activate:

On Friday, our school hosted ‘Activate On Fire’. Our Year 6 students joined students from St Francis College Edmondson Park and Mary Immaculate Eagle Vale for a day of evangelisation and reflection on the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was a wonderful opportunity for all students involved. 

We thank the amazing parent helpers who assisted in the BBQ on this day - to feed over 250 people.  We also thank the Wollongong Youth Ministry Team who facilitated the day for us. 

Sacrament Update:

Recently we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Brian and Fr Henry. The candidates were extremely well-behaved and the service was beautiful. Please see photos below:   

The Sacrament of First Holy Communion will take place on Sunday 20th November.   We have our child/ parent/carer sessions starting on Monday at 7pm in the Church.  Please arrive early for registration. 

Whole School and Grade Mass      

Please see the dates and times below for details regarding Mass and Liturgical Celebrations. You are welcome to attend. More information will follow regarding some of these events. 

Grade/Parish Mass at 9;15am

25th October: Kindy and Year 6 

1st November: Year 1 and Year 5 

8th November: Year 4 and Kindy

15th November: Year 2 and Year 3

22nd November: Year 5 and Year 1

29th November: Year 6 and Year 4

Remembrance Day Liturgy

Friday 11th November time to be confirmed 

Whole School Christmas Concert

Wednesday 14th December 1130am 

Whole School End of Year  Mass/ Farewell to Year students

Friday 16th December 11:30am 

Podcast: Ripples Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parents on-going spiritual formation. It seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. See the link - you can either download the files as podcasts or listen to them directly from the website. 

Do you yearn to have a moment of stillness or inspiration?

Have you listened to one of the CEO Ripples Podcasts? 

Scan here to access the podcasts and download onto your phone.    

You can download straight onto iTunes or PodBean.

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)

1. School sport shoes: are to be predominately white with white shoelaces. 
2. 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

The University of Wollongong invites students to Learning Labs, an academic and creative arts enrichment holiday program. We are targeting students from Year 1 to 6 who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners.

Dates:                   Little Learning Labs (Years 1 and 2): 9^th – 11^th January 2023

                             Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 17^th – 19^th January 2023

Venue: University of Wollongong (Wollongong campus only)

Applications close: Wednesday, 9^th November 2022

Help us spread the word by passing this information on to your students and their parents via your school newsletters, website, or individual selection process:

• LITTLE AND EARLY LEARNING LABS program brochure

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Students can be encouraged to apply by their school, classroom teacher, subject specialist teachers from school or out-of-school or by their parents. If a school-based professional is identifying a potential student, please supply them with a Teacher Nomination Letter
• Parents/Guardians visit our website and read the full list of workshops available by scrolling to the “Workshop Descriptions” section.
• Students apply for workshops that are within their current year (ie. Year 6 students in 2022 will apply for the Year 5 & 6 workshop). In exceptional circumstances, we are willing to review applicants who would like to try a more challenging workshop.
• Parents/Guardians (or school if parent/guardian is unable to) fill out the online application form.
• This is an academic and creative arts enrichment program designed for students who are motivated and passionate learners and performing excellently in their area of interest. First-time applicants are required to demonstrate their suitability for the program. One piece of supporting documentation is required (see 'Supporting Documentation' section on website). Please note that the Teacher Nomination Letter can be used as a supporting document.

Please know that applications are now open, and workshops fill very quickly.

We will also have several sponsorship places available for students who identify as Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or students experiencing financial difficulty. 

On Sunday the 9th October 2022 we had a lovely day celebrating Fr Henry's Installation into our Parish.

It was enjoyed by many families and friends of Holy Family and we look forward to making many memories with Fr Henry.

FAMILY CAMPING WEEKEND

Friday 4 November – Sunday 6 November 2022

Wooglemai Catholic Camping Facility/Environmental Centre, Sheehys Creek Road, Oakdale (15 minutes from Picton).

This will be an awesome opportunity for families throughout the diocese to come together in a relaxed camping environment for connection, formation, walks, fun, meals, prayer, games, music, and Sunday Mass with Bishop Mascord.

It will be a self-catered weekend, tents and caravans are permitted and with limited spots for a male and female bunk room. The cost is $50 per adult, or $100 per family regardless of size. Please register here.

For more information or to help with the organisation email helen.bennett@dow.org.au.

The uniform shop will be open Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, 2.30pm - 3.15pm.

If you have any used and good condition school uniforms/clothes, they would be greatly appreciated.  These can be taken directly to the Shop on the above dates or can always be dropped off at the School Office!

Please remember it is cash only - no EFTPOS facilities are available.

2023 school travel applications are now open

Applications for student travel in 2023 opened from Monday 10 October 2022.

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2023 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

2022