Dear Holy Family Parents and Carers,

As Term 3 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many wonderful events and achievements that have filled our school with energy, creativity, hope and joy over the past ten weeks. We began the term with a focus on professional growth during the CSBB Religious Education Staff Development Day, followed by a warm welcome back to our students, ready to dive into another term of learning.

Stage One kicked off the term with a fascinating excursion to the NSW Old School House Museum, sparking curiosity and conversations about Australia’s educational heritage. Throughout the term, our students have embraced a wide range of opportunities to grow academically, spiritually, and socially. From the North Shore Netball Gala Days and Athletics Carnival to the rich and engaging learning across all Key Learning Areas of the curriculum, our learners have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a strong commitment to excellence.

We celebrated our faith together at the St Mary of the Cross Mass, the Feast of the Assumption, and our Family Masses, deepening our connection with God. Our strong partnership with the parish continues to flourish through regular opportunities for community and outreach, including the Children’s Mass every second Sunday, our welcoming Playgroup, and Coffee Connect mornings that bring families together. Our students and parents have also embraced the spirit of service through social outreach initiatives, such as making sandwiches for the homeless, living out our shared values of compassion and care.

Creative expression was alive and well during our SPARK Art and Claymation Days, Book Week Parade and Performance, and the many inspiring Musical Performances. These events showcased the incredible talents of our students and the supportive spirit of our community.

Our Year 6 students shone in the Public Speaking Competitions, representing our school with confidence and grace. The term ended on a high note with the Band Evening Concert, the Zing Activ Dancing Showcase, and the beginning of our First Holy Communion celebrations—milestones that remind us of the joy and growth that come from shared experiences.

Congratulations to all our students on a successful term of learning, discovery, and achievement. Your enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication continue to inspire us each day. A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who have generously given their time and energy to support our school events, learning programs, and community initiatives. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and helps create the vibrant, caring environment we are so proud of.

Staff Development Day

While students enjoy an early start to their holiday break, our dedicated teaching staff are engaging in professional learning focused on the new Mathematics syllabus as part of the Curriculum Reform. This important day allows our teachers to deepen their knowledge and build capacity to deliver high-quality, contemporary mathematics learning experiences for all students.

I wish every family a safe and happy holiday break. May it be a time of rest, renewal, and connection. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, energised and ready for the exciting journey of Term 4 which commences on Monday 13th October.

Kindest regards,

Pauline Dinale

Principal

Swimming Carnival Update

As part of our commitment to enhancing whole-school sporting opportunities, we are excited to announce that we will be holding an additional swimming carnival this year on Monday, 24th November.

This decision has been made for several key reasons:

Facilities: While PLC offers excellent amenities, it does not cater well to intermediate swimmers or those still developing water confidence.
Student Support: By Term 4, teachers know their students well and can provide more tailored support during the event.
Inclusivity: We have booked Lane Cove Aquatic Centre, which features a shallow pool and a grassed area—ideal for creating a safe and inclusive experience for all students.

Please note:

For this year only, we will hold two swimming carnivals—one in Term 1 and one in Term 4.
From 2026 onwards, the swimming carnival will be held only in Term 4 each year.

To help students prepare, Mrs Coco will send out a Compass event at the end of next week, encouraging families to use the upcoming holidays to practise swimming skills.

Swimming results from this Term 4 carnival will determine eligibility for the North Shore Swimming Carnival in Term 1, 2026.

We look forward to a wonderful day of swimming, fun, and whole school spirit!

Parent Engagement Workshop – Building Resilience Together

Following on from my article last week on resilience, I’m delighted to invite all parents and carers to a Parent Engagement Workshop, proudly supported by our P&F Committee.

This engaging and informative session will be led by a facilitator from The Resilience Centre, home of The Resilience Doughnut—a strengths-based, solution-focused model designed to help children, adolescents, and adults build resilience in both personal and professional settings.

What to expect:

Learn how to identify the key factors that build resilience

Discover tools to cope confidently with challenges
Explore how to use strengths to thrive during adversity
Understand how to create opportunities for what works well
Develop optimistic thinking patterns
Learn to focus on solutions, not problems

This workshop will provide practical strategies to support your child’s emotional wellbeing and resilience development.

Date: Wednesday, 19 November (Term 4 Week 6)

Time: 6.00-7.30pm

Venue: School Library

Format: Face-to-face session (we are hoping to organise an online option)

We warmly encourage all families to attend and look forward to sharing this valuable learning experience with you.

	TERM 4
Week 1
Monday 13 October	Term 4 - students commence
Tuesday 14 October	Year 3-6 Touch Football Skills Session 1
Week 2
Sunday 19 October	Synodal Gathering
Tuesday 21 October	North Shore Stage 3 Touch Football at Koola Park 2.10pm Assembly
Wednesday 22 October	Stage 2 excursion to Chinatown + Friendship Gardens
Friday 24 October	Musica Viva Performance - Water Rhythm Tours (K-Year 6)
Sunday 26 October	First Holy Communion Session 4
Week 3
Monday 27 October	2026 Student Leadership Application due this week Improve Eyes Mobile Optometry (27th to 31st Oct.)
Tuesday 28 October	Year 3-6 Touch Football Skills Session 2
Wednesday 29 October	2026 Kindy Parent Information 6.00pm Parish Pastoral Council meeting 7.30pm
Thursday 30 October	2026 Student Leadership speeches
Friday 31 October	Stage 3 students - lunchtime at Primula Park World Teachers' Day
Saturday 1 November	TRIVIA NIGHT
Week 4
Monday 3 November	Band Demonstration Years 2 - 5 at 2pm
Tuesday 4 November	Kindy Transition morning no. 1 Year 3-6 Touch Footballs Skills Session 3 2.10pm Assembly
Saturday 8 November	5.30pm First Holy Communion at Killara
Week 5
Sunday 9 November	10.15am First Holy Communion at Lindfield
Tuesday 11 November	Remembrance Day 2026 Student Leadership Announcements Year 3-6 Touch Football Skills Session 4 P&F Forum
Wednesday 12 November	North Shore Stage 2 Touch Tag at Koola Park CSBB RE Creative Arts Showcase evening
Friday 14 November	School Disco 5.00-6.30pm Kinder to Year 2 6.30-8.00pm Years 3 to 6
Week 6
Monday 17 November	2026 Student Leadership all positions announced
Tuesday 18 November	Kindy Transition morning no. 2 2.10pm Assembly
Wednesday 19 November	Parent Engagement - Resilience Workshop 6.00pm
Friday 21 November	Colour Fun Run
Week 7
Sunday 23 November	10.15am Welcome to Holy Family Mass
Tuesday 25 November	2026 Kindy Transition whole group
Friday 28 November	Stage 3 students - lunchtime at Primula Park
Week 8
Sunday 30 November	Advent Begins Christmas Pudding Making "Stir it Up"
Tuesday 2 December	2.10pm Assembly
Friday 5 December	Christmas Concert Semester Two school reports
Sat. 6 & Sun 7 December	Band Camp at Galston
Week 9
Friday 12 December	1pm Year 6 Graduation Mass & celebration
Week 10
Monday 15 December	Holy Family's Got Talent Show
Tuesday 16 December	9am Meet the Teacher for 2026 Year 6 Special Outing to the movies
Wednesday 17 December	9am End of Year Mass Students last day for 2025
Thursday 18 December	Staff Development Day (Pupil free)

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

CatholicCare’s September/October Vacation Care Program

Enrolments are now open for CatholicCare’s September/October Vacation Care Program.

Vacation Care offers a wide range of engaging activities designed to suit children of all ages, interests, and abilities. It is a stimulating, fun, and supportive environment where each child’s strengths and interests are nurtured—while also allowing plenty of time for rest and relaxation.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Ryan, OSHC Coordinator at Holy Family Lindfield:

📞 0481 601 904

📧 oshc.lindfield@catholiccaredbb.org.au

🔗 Vacation Care Information & Enrolments

We look forward to welcoming your child to an exciting and enriching holiday experience!

Creative Arts