RELIGIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS In Year 4, we have been learning about the covenant made between God and his people. We used different scripture passages to identify the significance of this covenant. God s promise to Noah Genesis 9: 8-15 Call of Abram Genesis 12:2-3 Ten commandments Exodus 20: 1-17 In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 1
Holy Family is now accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2019 and enrolments in Years 1-6 for 2018/19. All enrolment packages can be collected from the front office or downloaded from our website. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 2
STUDENT AWARDS We congratulate Week 5 Student of the Week Award recipients : Kindy Emelia Lum Rebecca Moussa Year 1 Jeremy Georges Aiden Sorojevic Year 2 Samuel Georges Lauren Callao Year 3 Tyrell Firmin Maria Tawk Year 4 Melissa El Hayek Joseph Saba Year 5 Chanel Makdissi Gabriel Nakhoul Year 6 Ashton James Amir Ayoub In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 3
STUDENT AWARDS We congratulate Week 6 Student of the Week Award recipients : Kindy Mia Houshmand Augustine Huang Year 1 Christian El Khoury Isaac Hakko Year 2 Alannah Feher-Hegarty Mary Kapaka Year 3 Helena Youssef Chris Georges Year 4 Lucas Kanaan Annalise Kanaan Year 5 Myah Abi Kabalane Simon Kanaan Year 6 Sosefo taufa Bethany Agito In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 4
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Catholic Schools Week On Monday we celebrated the beginning of Catholic Schools Week praising and thanking our Lord. Following the Liturgy, students invited their parents into their learning spaces to showcase the great learning they have been doing so far this term. We ended the morning with a picnic morning tea. It was special to see so many children joining other families as they sat together and shared a meal in true Catholic tradition. Sincere thanks to Miss Nelson and Mr Bawden for creating such a beautiful prayer experience for our community. Coffee and a Chat with the Principal This morning many parents accepted the invitation to join me for a coffee and a chat. This is a great way for me to speak with members of our community in an informal setting. I am hoping to host a morning coffee and chat each term. Diocesan Welcoming Mass On Thursday afternoon the staff will be attending the Diocesan Welcoming Mass. During this Mass, many of our new teachers to Holy Family will be commissioned into our Diocese. This is a very special time of welcome for our teachers. Whole School Assembly It is that time again when we gather to pray and showcase the great learning happening at Holy Family. At this assembly, Years 1,3 and 5 will present their learning, we will acknowledge the swimming champions from our recent Swimming Carnival, present Principal Awards to students who always show respect, and we will also be presenting certificates to students who have shown compassion to others during the season of Lent. I look forward to sharing this event with our community. Assembly will begin around 2pm. Year 6 experience a live stage production On Friday the Year 6 students will participate in a live theatre production at the Riverside Theater at Parramatta. The production is called Who Needs A Conductor This production combines the elements of drama and music. I am sure the children will enjoy this experience. OPEN DAY Holy Family is having an OPEN DAY. On the 19th of March we are opening our gates to the community who would like to know a little more about our wonderful school. Open day will begin at 11.30am and conclude at 1.30pm. The children will have an opportunity to speak with interested families about what it is like to be a student at Holy Family. If you have friends or family who would like to come to Holy Family, this is a great opportunity to walk them through our facilities and view the learning in action. Enrolment time will begin this week. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 5
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL CONT D School Cross Country Trails and Activity Day Date:20th March 2017 As you know, this year our Cross Country Carnival will look a little different. We are asking for expressions of interest for children who are 8 years and over to participate in the Cross Country trails. The children who are 8, 9 or 10 years old have to be able to run, not walk 2km and the senior children need to be able to run, not walk 3km within a qualifying time. This trial race will be run at Colquhoun park at approximately 9.30am. Following this race, all children will have an opportunity to participate in a tabloid style activities morning run by the teachers. The activities morning will conclude at around 11.30pm. The children will then return back to school for normal lessons. Our infants classes will also have an activities morning at school with their teachers. Parents are very welcome to join us and participate in the fun. Can I please ask parents to send children to school on this day. It is a normal school day and attendance is compulsory. In the past, the Cross Country Carnival has seen the highest rate of absenteeism. Let s CHANGE THIS TREND. Student Wellbeing Guidelines Last Friday a copy of our Student Wellbeing policy went home to every family. If you did not receive this document, please contact the office. The next policy document to be under revision will be for uniform, haircut and jewellery. A letter will go home in the near future asking parents to be on the revision committee for this document. If you would like to have a voice and create policy please come along. Important Information for parents On occasions, children have disagreements with each other. It is important that parents allow teachers to investigate the incident and follow our school processes and consequences. We ask parents to not contact families or other children to find out information, as in most cases only part of the information will be uncovered. The process of investigation allows all children involved to have the right of reply and what we call procedural fairness. This is where all children can retell what has happened in a safe and calm environment. We are a Catholic community and it is vital that the dignity and respect of all children is maintained. We all make mistakes, but we are a faith that forgives. This is the message that we need to share with our children. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 6
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER 7th March 2018 TERM 1 WEEK 6 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK In Christ we Live, Love and Learn 199 The Trongate Granville East 2142 Page 7 Ph: 8633 8200 Fax: 9637 8464
Project Compassion How will you show compassion during Lent? As it is the season of Lent, it important for us to stop and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. As a school community we will be raising money to support Caritas Australia.Caritas Australia is a Catholic agency for international aid development, therefore our money is going to a great cause to help those in need. This week your child will bring home a Project Compassion box. It would be greatly appreciated if your family can give generously and return the Project Compassion box to school during Holy Week (Week 9) School Fees Statements Dear Parents/Carers 2018 Statements for Holy Family have been incorrectly issued by head office with Mother Teresa's Biller Code 636068. Please note the biller code for Holy Family is 191684. New statements will be sent out as soon as possible. If you have any question please don t hesitate to contact the school office on 8633 8200. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 8
The Premier Reading Challenge is for Kindy to Year 9 students. It commences on the 5 th March and closes on 31 st August. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading. It is not a competition but a challenge for each to read and acquire the benefits of reading. Some of the benefits of reading are Mental stimulation Knowledge Memory improvement Better writing skills Certificates will be handed out in December, once received from the Premier. If you would like your child to enter the challenge, please see Mrs Gordon in the library for the registration letter. BOOK CLUB Issue 1 Delivery will be the week of the 26 th February. Yours in reading Mrs Lyn Gordon/ Library Assistant. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 9
School Banking A school banking service is available to students who hold Commonwealth Dollarmites or Youth Saver accounts. Encouraging children to make small regular deposits to a bank account helps them to develop good savings habits and awareness of the value of money. Students who wish to deposit money should bring bank books (with the deposit slip filled in) and money to school on Tuesday morning. The deposits are processed on Thursday during the morning and the bank books returned to students by their class teacher. Please note that we are unable to process cheques. For every deposit you make, you will receive a token. When you receive 10 tokens you can redeem them for a prize. Any parent wishing to open a Commonwealth account for their child may collect an information package from the school office. SCHOOL FEES School Fee Statements have been mailed by the Catholic Education Office. Term 1 school fees are due on the 21st March 2018. Please note, that any school fee payment arrangement made in 2017 does not automatically continue. This also includes those families that have automatic payments deducted from Centrelink. Can families that have Centrelink arrangements please check that payments are coming out of your accounts. Please contact the office to make an appointment as soon as possible, if you have difficulty in paying school fees. An appointment will need to be made to discuss this matter with Mrs Baird. Thank You Payments can be made by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, BPAY or at the Post Office. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 10
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2018 IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES Week 6 2018 Wednesday 7th March Friday 9th March 9am-9:30am Parent Social with Mrs Baird Coffee and Chat 2pm Whole School Assembly Year 6 Excursion Riverside Theatre Week 7 Friday 16th March Year 1 Excursion to Elizabeth Farm Week 8 Monday 19th March Tuesday 20th March 11:30am-1:30pm Holy Family Open Day Cross Country In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 12
BIRTHDAY WISHES! Congratulations to the following students who celebrate their birthday this Month Joniska Karki Ying Chen Hakim Assan-Larry Elizabeth El Boutty Tayla Kayrouz Florence Zaitouni Ngor Mathiang Leah El Chediac Jacob Abdulbaki Mary Kpaka Abeiku Kwansah-Aidoo In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 13
DIOCESAN AND COMMUNITY NEWS In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 14
DIOCESAN AND COMMUNITY NEWS Sacramental Program Below is the Sacrament schedule for Holy Family Church and Holy Trinity Church. Letters detailing the enrolment will be sent out shortly. Sacrament of Confirmation: Thursday, 14 June at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Family Church. Sacrament of Penance (first confessions): Thursday, 23 August at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Family Church. Sacrament of Penance (first confessions): Thursday, 30 August at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church. Sacrament of the Eucharist (first Holy Communion): Sunday, 16 September at 12:00 p.m. at Holy Family Church. Sacrament of the Eucharist (first Holy Communion): Sunday, 23 September at 12:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church. In Christ we Live, Love and Learn Page 15