Applications are now open for 2026 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2026. Students progressing from year 2 to year 3 and from year 6 to year 7 need to re-apply. Where a student meets the new distance eligibility, the system will automatically update their entitlement. If they do not meet the new distance requirements, they will receive an expiry notification. Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification for their school travel entitlement need to renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications before the end of the year, so students travel entitlement can remain valid for the start of the 2026 school year. Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply. Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Arludo Game Design Challenge - Vote NOW!

Voting closes at 11:59pm, Friday 21st November 2025

During Coding lessons in Terms 2 and 3, Senior students participated in the National Arludo Game Design Challenge. Teams had to design a game based on a Science topic of interest to them. The students learnt all about game genre, gameplay, game mechanics, data collection and aesthetics.

15 teams across Australia have made the shortlist. We are so proud that 3 of our Holy Family teams have made it through to the shortlist. Our three teams are:

The Lost Echidna – Charlotte, Josie, Janice, Sarah
Super Circuit Kid – Luke, Irwin, Noah L
Disaster Attack - Noah T, Isaac, Budhi

Now they need your votes! You can vote once a day for the next 3 weeks to ensure they make it to the top 10 teams. Voting closes at 11:59pm, Friday 21st November 2025.

Please take some time to look at their submissions and vote for your favourite. Ask everyone you know to vote. You can only vote once from a device and you need to enter a valid email address to ensure you only vote once. Click on the link below to vote or use the QR code.

https://arludo.com/national-game-design-challenge-voting/

The Lost Echidna

Team: Eco Echidna

From Holy Family Catholic School, NSW (Charlotte, Josie, Janice, Sarah)

Science Topic: Ecology

Game Genre: Adventure / Survival

Play as an echidna lost in the wild and learn how Australian animals survive their toughest challenges. Eat ants, escape predators, and navigate the harsh outback while tracking your survival stats. It’s a fun, fast-paced journey through ecology and adaptation.

Super Circuit Kid

Team: LNI Studio

From Holy Family Catholic School, NSW (Luke, Irwin, Noah L)

Science Topic: Electricity

Game Genre: Platformer / Puzzle

Join Sam, the Super Circuit Kid, on a mission to power up a factory by building working electrical circuits. Players drag, drop, and connect parts to learn about series and parallel circuits while dodging lasers and enemies. It’s fast, fun, and full of electrifying physics!

Disaster Attack

Team: Disazy Studios

From Holy Family Catholic School, NSW (Noah T, Isaac, Budhi)

Science Topic: Earth Science

Game Genre: Adventure / Survival

When nature strikes, can you survive? In Disaster Attack, players face volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, and meteor showers while learning about natural disasters and Earth’s power. Collect elements, combine them to fight back, and stay alive in this thrilling science survival game!

Have a lovely weekend

Sam Edwards - Assistant Principal

Band Banter