Family & Faith

Welcome back to Our Lady of Fatima Caringbah for another exciting year of learning, growing in love and faith and making friends. I hope you had a relaxing break with family and friends and are ready for a happy and fulfilling year ahead. 

Welcome to the new families to our school!

It was lovely to meet and greet the new Kindergarten families last week at morning tea. I hope you made lots of new friends and enjoyed the Roots and Wings Prayer Pack which invites you to grow with your child (roots of a plant) and soar like a bird knowing that the sky’s the limit (feather).  

Family Prayer

Lord, as we prepare for the coming of a new term.

Make us ready, attentive and available to hear you.

Thank You for the gift of being able to rise each day 

with the assurance that You walk through it with us. 

Thank You for the gifts of creativity, curiosity and uniqueness and the energy to put them to good use.

Please bless our OLF school community, our parish and all whom we come into contact with

So that through us, they will come to know and love you.  Amen.

First Ever Weekend Kindy Playdate - Be in the Mix in 2026!

Thank you to the Kindy 2026 families who were able to attend our first ever OLF Weekend Kindy Playdate! Weatherwise it was a Goldilocks day - not too hot and not too cold - just right!

Many of the Kindy teachers and school staff attended because they didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Lots of friends were made and lollies eaten. A great day was had by all! 

OLOF Sunday School at 9.30am Mass

Kay Macadam, a beautiful OLOF parishioner, is the organiser of a new Parish initiative - Sunday School for 4 - 8 year olds at the Sunday 9.30am Mass twice a month in the Parish Meeting Room. It began last Sunday 1st February at the 9.30am Mass and I volunteered my services along with some other women.  We had 9 children who really got into the spirit of the  Beatitudes message with song, story and craft. Please see the flyers below to learn more about this program. All volunteers have a Working With Children number and have participated in the Catholic Archdiocesan Safeguarding Training and Child Protection courses. Here are some photos of the volunteers on the day and how the room is set up.

Fatima Friends Invitation - Come and join in the fun!                           

Pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies along with their parents and carers are warmly invited to attend Friday Fatima Friends in the Library on Friday mornings after Prayer Assembly.

Who:  Pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies are also welcome and parents and carers

With:  Tracey Bowler Family Educator/Teacher 

What: Fatima Friends involves participating in a 30 minute teacher directed lesson which includes activities such as praying, singing, talking, dancing, movement, craft, sport and games.

Where: Meet in the Mercy Library after Assembly Prayer on the playground.

When: Fridays at 9.00 am - 9:45 am beginning- Friday 27th February

Healthy Ideas and Practical Tips for Parents

Parents may need some inspiration with planning lunch boxes as we settle into the new school year. Need new ideas on making healthy lunches and snacks? Or information on screen time and sleep, family fitness activities and healthy living programs? Click on these links to access some great resources especially helpful for new Kindergarten 2026 parents.

Healthy Lunch Box | Cancer Council NSW

Lunch box builder – Healthy Lunch Box 

Parent & Carer Resources | South Eastern Sydney Local Health District 

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday - Wednesday 18th February

Take bitterness out of chocolate

From ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans)

Easter chocolate is already on the supermarket shelves, so let’s recommit to using our chocolate dollars to buy slavery-free chocolate this year. It’s also the right time to tell our families, friends and communities about the exploitation of children in chocolate production. You are encouraged to start buying slavery-free chocolate now – and to keep going after Easter. Your actions make a difference and have led to some significant improvements in the chocolate industry since 2008. Read more

Shrove Tuesday 17th February

Before  Ash Wednesday we celebrate Shrove Tuesday also known as Pancake Tuesday. Each child at OLF will be given a pancake (GF ones provided too) to share in this wonderful Catholic tradition. Perhaps as a family you might like to make pancakes for breakfast that day.

Key Catholic Meanings & Traditions:

• Shriving (Repentance): The name comes from "shrive," meaning to confess sins and receive absolution. Historically, a church bell was rung to call the faithful to confession.

• Pancake Tuesday (Using Up Riches): Pancakes became a traditional food to use up eggs, fat, and sugar before the Lenten fasting restrictions against these items began.

• Preparation for Lent: It serves as a final, joyous, yet reflective day to decide on Lenten sacrifices, prayer, and fasting.

• Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday): Similar to Carnival or Mardi Gras, it is the last opportunity for celebration (or "carnival") before the solemn season of Lent. 

Family Mass 2026 - Save the Date!

We Welcome 2026 Kindy Families!

At Family Masses EVERYONE is invited!

The first Family Mass will be on Sunday 1st March at 9.30am! 

We are  welcoming our Kindy 2026 families and new families to our school. Each Kindy child will receive a special Our Lady of Fatima storybook to celebrate joining our OLF community. A big thank you to Year 6 in advance for leading us in prayer at the Mass. Please come with a plate to share for the communal Morning Tea after the Mass. Year 6 students are keen to get to know their buddies and vice versa!

An invitation will soon be sent out to all families to join in this joyous celebration of new beginnings and friendships. 

Wishing all OLF families a beautiful week making new friends, re-establishing old friendships and making positive connections with our OLF staff. 

Tracey Bowler | Family Educator