Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope all our families enjoyed a restful and refreshing holiday break. As we begin the final term of the year, there is a wonderful sense of anticipation and excitement across our school community. Term 4 is always a time, filled with rich learning opportunities, celebrations of achievement, faith formation experiences, sporting events, and special occasions that bring our community together.

Our students have much to look forward to in the weeks ahead. Learning beyond the classroom will include our Stage 3 excursion to Taronga Zoo, the Australian Girls Choir visit, the Stage One World of Maths incursion, North Shore Touch Tag competitions, Interschools Tennis, and our annual Swimming Carnival. These experiences provide valuable opportunities for students to apply their learning in engaging and authentic ways.

Our commitment to faith and service will also continue throughout the term. Students and families will participate in Mission Masses, Family Masses, the Holy Family Parish Pilgrimage, Synodal Gathering, the Confirmation program and Graduation. These important experiences strengthen the partnership between parish, school, and family, while nurturing the spiritual growth of our students.

A significant event this term will be the arrival of the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talking Stick. This special symbol of connection, listening and shared storytelling offers an important opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to reflect on the values of respect, reconciliation and community.

We are also excited to welcome our newest families as our Kindergarten Transition Program begins, helping our future students become familiar with school life and our welcoming Holy Family community.

We look forward to celebrating student voice and leadership through the Year 6 Leadership Application process, recognising student achievements at assemblies, enjoying the energy of the Colour Fun Run, and coming together for our Christmas Concert, Talent Show, and Advent Mass.

Term 4 provides an opportunity to finish the year with purpose, gratitude, and enthusiasm. We encourage all students to embrace every opportunity, challenge themselves in their learning, and continue to demonstrate the values of respect, kindness, responsibility, and service that make Holy Family such a special place. I look forward to sharing many celebrations and successes with you throughout the term.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Message Stick & Smoking Ceremony

In 2027, Catholic Schools Broken Bay is excited to be hosting the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conference.This is a significant honour for our Diocese and an important opportunity to deepen our shared commitment to truth-telling, reconciliation and learning. As part of this, the CSNSW message stick will journey through our whole dioceses over the next 2 years until the conference. 

The Message Stick began its journey at the Diocesan Staff Mass in March, gifted by Aboriginal staff and students of our diocese, marking the start of its travels throughout the diocese. 

Crafted from Red Gum in 2013 by Trevor Clark and painted by Mutthi Mutthi artist Vicki Clark, the Message Stick reflects the rich tradition of Aboriginal peoples, who used message sticks to share invitations, stories and important information between clans and language groups. Traditionally, when a Message Stick is handed to you, you become the messenger, entrusted with carrying the story forward.  

Over the coming months, the Message Stick will travel to schools across our diocese, with its final destination being St Mary's Catholic Primary School at Manly, just prior to the 2027 Conference.  

This journey invites our students, staff and families to reflect on the deep spiritual heritage of this land and the ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures enriches Catholic education, reminding us that the Spirit is alive in each and every one of us. 

As part of our commitment to recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, Holy Family Catholic Primary School will host an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Message Stick and Smoking Ceremony. This special event provides an opportunity for our community to come together in a spirit of respect, reflection and reconciliation, acknowledging the rich cultural heritage and continuing contributions of Australia's First Peoples.

All parents, carers and family members are warmly invited to attend.

Date: Wednesday 11 November

Time: 9.00am

Location: School Playground

We look forward to sharing this meaningful experience with our community.

Kind regards,

Pauline Dinale

Principal

Yearbook Orders

Just a quick update that the Qkr! link to purchase the Yearbook will reopen this week. 

Please place your orders as soon as possible. The ordering deadline is 25 October. Please note that late orders will incur an additional printing fee.  Last year, the cost to purchase the book after cut-off date was around $50.