Dear Holy Family Community,

What’s Been Happening at Holy Family This Week?

Open Day

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming twenty-nine prospective families to our Open Day. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the vibrant learning community we have at Holy Family. This was also the first time our new Senior School Leaders took on the responsibility of leading the school tours, and they did a fantastic job representing our school with confidence and enthusiasm.

Our talented school band, led by Maddie from Teaching Services Australia (TSA), provided fantastic entertainment. Their performance highlighted the rich musical opportunities available to our students and was enjoyed by all. We are incredibly proud of our students and staff for their efforts in making the day such a success. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special event!

Ash Wednesday Celebration

On Wednesday, our whole school came together to celebrate Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent—a time for reflection, prayer, and renewal. It was a meaningful celebration, reminding us of the importance of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion in our daily lives. A heartfelt thank you to Father Colin, Mr. Knapman, Mrs Stella and our Year 4 students for their thoughtful preparation of the Mass. Their efforts helped create a reflective and reverent experience for our school community.

Rice Day – A Time for Reflection and Building Community

On Thursday, our school marked Rice Day, a special time to reflect on those who are less fortunate than us. This simple yet powerful experience encouraged our students to consider the importance of gratitude, empathy, and service to others. A huge thank you to Mrs. Stella, Mrs. Gray, and the many generous volunteers who helped prepare and serve the rice. Your efforts made this meaningful tradition possible. It also provided a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together in the spirit of compassion and generosity.

Diocesan Schools Staff Mass – Celebrating the Year of Jubilee

Our staff had the privilege of attending the Diocesan Schools Staff Mass at The Light of Christ Centre in Waitara to celebrate the Year of Jubilee. The Jubilee Year is a sacred tradition that occurs every 25 years. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together in faith, prayer, and gratitude for our shared mission in Catholic education.

A special moment of the evening was the recognition of Mrs Caroline Dickinson for her incredible 35 years of service to Catholic education. We are so proud of her dedication, commitment, and the lasting impact she has had on so many students and colleagues over the years.

Term One P&F Meeting

Thank you to the large number of parents who attended our first P&F meeting for the year. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, share ideas, ask questions, and actively contribute to our school community. Your involvement and support play a critical role in shaping our school community. The minutes for the meeting are attached to the Compass message.

Faith Formation Leadership Program

Mrs. Stella and I will be away from school today to participate in the Catholic Schools Broken Bay - Christology, Scripture & Prayer Formation Day, an important part of our two-year Faith Formation Program. This day will provide us with a deeper understanding of Christology—exploring who Jesus is, His mission, and His presence in our lives. Through prayer, reflection, and theological discussions, we will engage in meaningful learning that strengthens our faith and informs our leadership within the school community. We look forward to sharing our insights and experiences with staff, students and parents ensuring that our learning enriches the spiritual life of Holy Family.

Thank You

A huge "Thank You" for your very kind birthday wishes earlier this week. The flowers and gift voucher are very much appreciated.

What’s On Next Week?

Synodal Gathering this Sunday, 9th March

Please join us this Sunday for our parish Synodal Gathering. This is an opportunity to listen, discuss and discern on the topic of "Our Community".

NAPLAN

Next week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will commence their NAPLAN assessments, beginning with the Writing test on Wednesday. We wish all our students the very best as they demonstrate their learning and skills.

NAPLAN provides valuable insights into student progress in literacy and numeracy, helping teachers identify strengths and areas for growth. The results are used to inform teaching strategies, support student learning, and track progress over time. As a school, we analyse this data alongside classroom assessments to ensure every child receives the support they need to succeed. We encourage students to approach the tests with confidence, do their best, and remember that NAPLAN is just one part of their learning journey.

Wellbeing Week

Next week we celebrate Wellbeing Week, the special week in the term when we really focus on promoting health, happiness, and overall well-being among students and staff. It’s a time dedicated to activities that support mental, physical, and emotional wellness, helping everyone take a break from academic pressures and prioritise self-care. Throughout the week, we’ll have various activities organised by Mrs Overton and the Senior students. It’s a great chance to reflect on our well-being and adopt habits that support a balanced lifestyle.

Kindest regards

Pauline Dinale - Principal

Siblings starting at Holy Family in 2026?

Do you have a sibling to enrol for Kindergarten in 2026? If so, please complete the form here. It is important for us to know how many siblings to expect before we offer places to new families. Kindly submit the form asap.

Once enrolment paperwork has been submitted you will be contacted to book an Interview with the Principal. We want to ensure a smooth process for all families, so your timely submission is greatly appreciated.

Download the Enrolment Application Form here.

2025 Term Dates

TERM ONE 2025

Week 6 WELLBEING WEEK
Sunday 9 March	Synodal Gathering 11.15am -1.30pm
Tuesday 11 March	Broken Bay Swimming Carnival Assembly 2.10pm
Wed. 12 March	NAPLAN: Writing - Years 3 & 5
Week 7
Sunday 16 March	Reconciliation sessions 2&3 at 4.45pm Family Mass Year 4 at 6pm + Pot Luck dinner
Monday 17 March	NAPLAN: Reading - Years 3 & 5
Tuesday 18 March	NAPLAN: Language of Conventions - Years 3 & 5
Thursday 20 March	Numeracy: NAPLAN - Years 3 & 5
Saturday 22 March	Reconciliation @ 1.30pm + 3.00pm
Week 8
Sunday 23 March	Family Mass Kinder, Year 5 and 6 at 10.15am
Tuesday 25 March	Assembly 2.10pm
Wednesday 26 March	North Shore Stage 3 Touch Football
Friday 28 March	Lenten Mass 10am
Week 9
Wed. 2 – Fri. 4 March	Stage 3 Leadership Camp at Narrabeen
Week 10
Monday 7 April	Holy Family Cross Country Years 2-6
Tuesday 8 April	School photos Assembly 2.10pm
Wednesday 9 April	Open Day 9am for prospective parents
Thursday 10 April	Cross Country Back-up Day + last day of Term One for students
Friday 11 April	Staff Spirituality Day - “Way of the HeART” (Pupil Free Day)

TERM TWO 2025
Monday 28 April & Tuesday 29 April	Two Staff Development System Curriculum Days (Pupil Free Days)
Wednesday 30 April	Term 2 commences for students

Please CLICK HERE to read the Parents Charter from Catholic Schools Broken Bay.

Coles Development Update

Last week the site has made some progress, see below items that were achieved:

Level 4B roof prep work
Skylight installation to Level 4A roof
Tiling stairs
Waterproofing to level 1 balconies to commence paver install
Electrical fit off to Level 1 units
Electrical installed EV charges on Lower Ground 2
Gyprock sanding to Level 3B
Mobile Crane set-up in rear lane way next to Ausgrid substation on Saturday 08/03. Access will be maintained to school and parish with traffic control available.

Over the coming week we anticipate the progress of the below:

Continuing joinery install on level 2 and level 3
Continuing paving Level 3 balconies
Continuing Gyprock setting in Level 4A lobby
Continuing installing appliances in Level 1 units
Continuing Waterproofing level 2 balconies
Continuing window installation on Level 4B roof
Continuing installing stone in wet areas on Level 3
Installing Level 2 appliances
Commenced electrical fit-off on level 2
Commenced landscaping on Level 2
Commenced Lift installation
Commenced Level 4A tiling
Installing blinds in Level 1 units

P & F