Wellbeing ~ NAIDOC
What a wonderful Wellbeing Week ~
Celebrating NAIDOC Week at Holy Family
NAIDOC Week has been filled with many unique and interesting opportunities to immerse ourselves into our First Nation's People culture.
We created new flags, and learnt about the meaning behind the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Flags.
We painted an ancient Boab Tree on the playground and used the colours of country to represent our connection to the land.
At Holy Family we are “Pilgrims of Hope: Branching Out in Unity, Grounded in the Colours of Country.
We looked at the different tools and foods associated with the Aboriginal Culture, sorting and creating a wheel of Senses and Spirit.
We even had a go at writing a new Acknowledgement of Country and letters to our future selves.
NAIDOC Week celebrates over 65,000 years of continuous culture, knowledge, and connection to Country. It’s a time to recognise the rich traditions, languages, and stories of First Nations peoples.
SPARK - CLAYMATION
On Wednesday this week, Emme, Emma, Nicholas, Noah T and Matthew went to Prouille in Wahroonga for a Claymation Spark Day. We learnt about the history of Claymation which started with stop motion and slowly evolved, now we get awesome shows like Wallace and Gromit. We then formed into groups which was an amazing opportunity to make new friends from other schools in our area. We created our Claymation based off simple topics they gave us. It was a great experience to get our hands dirty and have some fun, we were all super satisfied with our results, we were proud of what we achieved, but we know we still have so much to learn. Overall our day was awesome! And we were so glad we went.
T.O.M (Tournament of the Minds)
This term, the Stage 3 students had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Tournament of the Minds. Each week, two groups of seven would come to the classroom and work on an play, story representation or dance. In week six, they went to Barker College to perform their long-term piece to a group of judges and an audience, and then they had an impromptu act to do in front of the judges. The mixed group of Year 6 and 5 had a wonderful time and learnt so much.
Participation in TOM enhances learning in several many ways:
- Development of Interdisciplinary Skills – TOM promotes the "4Cs": creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, which are essential for success in modern education and careers
- Real-World Problem Solving – Students tackle authentic challenges that require innovative thinking and practical solutions, preparing them for future academic and professional tasks
- Confidence and Resilience – Presenting solutions publicly and handling spontaneous challenges builds self-assurance and the ability to stay calm under pressure
- Enriched Curriculum Engagement – TOM aligns with curriculum goals and offers extension opportunities for gifted and high-achieving students, deepening their understanding and engagement
Teamwork and Leadership – Students learn to lead, support peers, and navigate group dynamics, which are vital interpersonal skills
Thank you to Mrs Dickinson, Mrs Dinale, Mr Clark and Mrs Overton for their time and support.
Write a Book in a Day
On Wednesday, eight Year Five and Six students worked very hard from 8am until 5pm, writing a book in a day, as part of a challenge to raise money for children with cancer.
Congratulations to our "Write a Book in a Day" team – Mia, Amelia, Noah L, Esmerelda, Charlotte, Mika, Allison and Lucas. They all worked so hard to brainstorm ideas, plan the storyline, write the 10 chapters, illustrate the chapters, design a front cover and back cover/blurb as well as editing the whole book. I am so proud of the way they all pulled together, using their unique talents to create this amazing story. They had to include the following parameters in their story:
Character – garbage collector Character - swimmer Non-human character - ladder Setting - laneway Issue – broken down vehicle
Please take the time to read their book (linked below).
Holy Family Lindfield.docx.pdf
We have also been raising money for the children with cancer, and we can accept donations until the end of September. So far, we have raised an incredible $1042. If you are able to donate, please use this link to our Holy Family team page:
Well done to the whole team.
On Wednesday, we had the incredible opportunity to stay in the library and take part in the “Write a Book in a Day” challenge. Our senior students worked together to create a heartfelt and imaginative story titled Dear Life, which follows a girl named Kirra on a journey to find her father after being separated from him at a young age.
This fun and mysterious tale explores themes of hope, resilience, and belonging, and truly got our creative minds working. The story also touches on the idea of the lost generation, adding depth and meaning to Kirra’s adventure.
It was a challenging yet rewarding experience, and we loved every moment of it. We hope our book, complete with both words and illustrations, brings joy and smiles to the children who read it. It was a privilege to contribute to such a meaningful cause.
Mrs Dickinson & The Stage Three Students
Have a lovely weekend,
Melissa Overton
Wellbeing Coordinator