Current News
SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
Friday 29th November
(2025 Planning)
LAST SCHOOL DAY 2024
Tuesday 17th December
(1pm finish)
Dear Families,
Our Parish and School Communities are preparing to celebrate the 2024 school year and the season of Advent/Christmas.
In the coming weeks we have more community events to look forward to.
- Thursday 28th November - Whole School Wellbeing Excursion (Melbourne Zoo)
- Thursday 5th December - Holy Family School Christmas Carols (5:30-7pm) Everyone welcome
- Tuesday 10th December - 2024 Year 6 Graduation (Avila College)
- Tuesday 17th December - Holy Family School Final Assembly (11:30am-1pm)
- Tuesday 24th December - Holy Family Parish Christmas Eve Family Mass (5pm)
Season of Advent
The season of Advent commences on Sunday 1st December.
Advent is originally a time to reflect and prepare for Christmas similarly to how Lent is in preparation for Easter. The term “Advent” derives from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”. It refers to the period immediately before Christmas, during which time one might prepare for the symbolic birth of Christ each year.
Purple is historically the main color used for Advent because it reflects penitence, fasting, and the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the king (Jesus Christ). The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his first Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his second Advent.
Advent wreaths are symbolic of Advent.
Your family may want to create your own Advent Wreath to pray around during this Advent Season.
Holy Family Christmas Eve Mass (narrators and actors needed)
Father Justel and the Parish community would like to invite our school families to take part in the Christmas Eve Mass. Mass will be held at 5pm in our Parish Church.
Our hope is that some of our Holy Family school children will narrate and act out the story of the Nativity at this Mass.
The children will be involved in rehearsals during school time and may be required to attend a couple in the Church.
Please indicate if your child would like to act or narrate at this Family Mass by Wednesday 27th November.
https://forms.gle/dkFALGbxuFZXaboz8
Holy Family School Choir
Last Friday our school choir performed at the Parish Christmas lunch in the small hall.
The children sang beautifully, and it was done Acapello! Well done to our amazing performers.
There are also plans for our choir to sing in the coming weeks outside the Mt Waverley St Vincent de Paul shop, and a special Christmas celebration at Scotchman's Creek nursing home. More details will follow about these events.
Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Our Christmas elves have well and truly started their journey.
They have visited each classroom daily to collect goodies for our Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
Our school looks forward to gathering many donations for people in the Mt Waverley community to bring happiness this Christmas.
More information can be found in the 'Mini Vinnies' section of this newsletter.
2025 Leadership Speeches
Next week, we look forward to hearing the speeches for all children who have applied for School and House captains.
This week we have started interviewing for other leadership positions also.
Thank you to our teachers and parents for supporting our students with their application process.
Chairs
We have some chair that are free to go to a good home! If you would like some of these chairs please let the school office know and we can work out a time for pick up. We have about 30 of the 'dining' chairs and a few of the 'tub' chairs up for grabs.
Whole School excursion
We look forward to our whole school excursion next Thursday to the Zoo. A reminder that children need to be at school at 8:30am so we can leave at 9am sharp. Please see other reminders in the image below.
Prep 2025 Transition
Next Tuesday we welcome our Preps for their last transition session where they will get to meet their buddies! A reminder to parents that we have a presentation with Carley McGauran (psychologist) while you enjoy a light lunch. The second hand uniform shop will also be open for the 2025 Prep families from 2:30pm.
Prep-4 Swimming Program
Our Prep-4 swimming program commences on Monday 4th December. Please respond to the Operoo note sent out for permission and parent helpers by next Friday 29th November.
Coffee Roster
Soft Plastics Roster
Thank you to those who are coming to pick up the soft plastics on your rostered week- a gentle reminder if you have forgotten!
Many thanks,
Eithne King (Deputy Principal)
2024
Term 3 Dates
November
Friday 22nd - Summer Sports Round Robin
Friday 22nd - Year 3/4 Incursion (Mad About Science)
Tuesday 26th - Prep 2025 (Transition 5)
Wednesday 27th - P&F, SAC AGMs
Thursday 28th- Whole school excursion- Melbourne Zoo (Wellbeing focus)
Friday 29th - School Closure Day (2025 Planning)
December
Monday 2nd - 13th Swimming Program (Prep-Year 4)
Thursday 5th - Community Christmas Carols
Thursday 5th - Last day for donations (Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal)
Friday 6th - P&F Special Lunch
Friday 6th - Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal Pick Up Day
Tuesday 10th- Year 6 Graduation
Thursday 12th - Transition Speeches from previous Holy Family students to our current Year 6 students
Friday 13th - End of Year Mass (9:15am)
Monday 16th - Year 6 Big Day Out
Tuesday 17th - Final Assembly (11:30am-1pm)
Tuesday 17th - Last day for students (1pm finish)
2025
Term 1 Dates
January
Tuesday 28th - Staff return
Wednesday 29th - Student Assessments
Thursday 30th - Student Assessments
Friday 31st - First Day of School (All students)
February
Sunday 2nd - Prep 2025 Playdate
Wednesday 5th - Prep Rest Day
Tuesday 11th - Meet the Teacher (Parents)
Wednesday 12th - Meet the Teacher (Parents)
Wednesday 12th - Prep Rest Day
Wednesday 19th - Prep Rest Day
Wednesday 26th - Prep Rest Day
Thursday 27th - Welcome Dinner (New families)
Friday 28th - School Closure Day
March
Monday 3rd - Halogen Young Leaders Day
Wednesday 5th - Prep-Year 2 Parent Evening (Literacy)
Wednesday 5th - Prep Rest Day
Monday 10th - Public Holiday (Labor Day)
Thursday 13th - Twilight Sports
Friday 21st - Harmony Day, World Syndrome Day, Earth Hour
Tuesday 25th - Parent Evening (Maria Ruberto)