Dear Families,

As a community we are keeping our Year 4 staff and students in our prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist this Sunday at 10am Mass.

The Eucharist is the central and greatest sacrament of the Church. It is the means by which the Church is continually maintained in communion with Jesus Christ the Lord and the means by which each Christian participates in the once and for all sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The Catechism of the Catholic Church following a document of Vatican II calls the Eucharist the ‘source and summit of the Christian life’.

The word ‘Eucharist’ from the Greek word for ‘thanksgiving’ is commonly used in various ways: You might read a sign outside a church that says: “Sunday Eucharist: 8.00, 9.30 and 11.00 am”. Here the word Eucharist means the Mass – the act of worship through which Catholics re-present and participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (MACS)

Celebration Mass

Everyone is welcome to join our staff and students for Mass on Friday 4th July at 9:15am. At this Mass we will give thanks and celebrate our achievements this term.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday

Families are invited to join parishioners for 10am Mass on Sunday 6th July. At this Mass some of our students will be reading and welcoming parishioners.

I look forward to celebrating with our community.

This year, we come together under the theme: “Sent Forth in Strength and Hope.” It is Christ who sends us to walk together in faith, grounded in the deep spirituality and culture of First Nations Peoples, strengthened by the Gospel, and filled with hope for the future God is leading us into.

Our Catholic Church is a tapestry woven from many cultures. From the enduring wisdom of the world’s oldest continuing cultures — the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples — to those who have journeyed from distant lands, we are one Body in Christ. In our diversity, we discover richness. In our unity, we find strength. And in every heart, we see the Spirit of God at work. Saint John Paul II once reminded us:

“The Church herself is enriched by the development of different forms of culture… she takes them up in her evangelising mission and adopts them.” (NATSICC)

Semester One Student Reports

Over the last couple of weeks I have had the pleasure of reading each child's Semester One Report.

I would like to thank the teachers for the time and dedication that they have put into writing these reports. It was pleasing to read all about our incredible students' academic and social achievements.

The reports will be emailed to families in the last week of this term.

Flourishing Learners

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) aims to become ‘the benchmark for excellence in teaching and learning, through a coherently integrated, academically competitive and distinctively Catholic educational offering’ (MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World).

The Flourishing Learners position statements Vision for Engagement and Vision for Instruction are key documents underpinning the MACS 2030 strategic plan. They represent a leap toward delivering a unified approach where high-quality teaching drives meaningful student engagement and recognises that the impact of such teaching cannot be truly realised without ensuring that students are fully engaged.

NCCD Information

In the community section of this newsletter there is information for parents/carers about the NCCD Data Collection.

The NCCD is an annual collection of information about Australian school students with a disability.

If you are a parent, guardian or carer of a child with disability who requires ongoing adjustments at school, a teacher or another school staff member will consult with you to understand your child’s needs. This collaborative approach ensures the most appropriate adjustments are chosen to support your child’s learning and participation at school. In some cases, an individual education plan (IEP) or personal learning plan (PLP) may be developed to document specific educational goals and to review your child’s progress over time.

Your child will be included in the NCCD if they require ongoing adjustments at school due to a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992This link will open in a new window (the DDA). This is a very broad definition of disability, which includes physical and intellectual disabilities, learning disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

https://www.nccd.edu.au/for-parents-guardians-and-carers

Work Experience Students

Our school community is welcoming six secondary students over the next 3 weeks. These students will support our staff and students in the classroom during their time with us.

Special Lunch Order Day (Friday 4th July)

Don't forget to go to CDF Pay to place your order for our Term 2 Special Lunch.

Trivia Night School Fundraiser (Christmas Theme)

It's time to find your Christmas attire in preparation for our Annual Trivia Night! We are gathering as a community on Saturday 16th August in the Parish Hall to have fun and raise money for our students. The funds raised will go towards purchasing resources for our students and upgrading our oval.

Prep 2026 Enrolments

If you have a child ready to start school in 2026 please submit your enrolment form to the office as soon as possible. We look forward to welcoming your family to Holy Family School in 2026.

Once you have enrolled your child -

You will be invited to attend and interview with school staff and your child to discuss how to 'best' transition your child to primary school
Your child will be invited to attend 'Step Into prep' sessions late in Term 3
Your child will attend 5 Transition Sessions in Term 4
You will be invited to attend a Prep Parent Information Session in Term 4
Your child will meet their Year 5 Buddy at their final Transition Session in Term 4

Open Days

Open Days are held every Tuesday at 9:30am. Please go to our website to book a tour.

Our 2025 School Captains (Micah and Georgia) and Vice Captains (Xavier and Sienna) will support these tours.

2025 School Year Dates

Term Two Important Dates

JUNE

Fri 20 Winter Sport Gala Day (Year 5/6)

Sun 22 Sacrament of First Eucharist (10am)

Tues 24 Parents and Friends Meeting (online) 7pm

Fri 27 Winter Sport Gala Day (Year 5/6)

JULY

Fri 4 Celebrate Term 2 Mass (9:15am) All welcome

Fri 4 Last day of Term 2 (1pm finish)

Term Three Important Dates

JULY

Mon 21 Term 3 Commences

Thur 31 Parent/Teacher Discussions

AUGUST

Fri 1 Grandparents Day

Fri 1 Principals Day

Mon 4 School Closure Day (Review preparation)

Tues 5 Bishop Thinh visiting Confirmation Candidates

Fri 8 Jump Rope for Heart

Mon 11 Week of Action Against Bullying

Fri 15 District Basketball

Sat 16 Holy Family Trivia Night (Adults only)

Mon 18 Book Week (Book an Adventure)

Mon 18 National Catholic Education Commission Conference (Julie)

Thur 21 Year 3/4 Concert (Avila College)

Wed 27 Deputy Principal Conference

Fri 29 Sacrament of Confirmation (St Patrick's Cathedral) 6pm

SEPTEMBER

Mon 1 Julie on Long Service Leave

Fri 5 Father's Day Stall

Sun 7 Happy Father's Day!

Thur 11 R U OK? Day

Fri 12 District Athletics

Fri 19 Celebrate Term 3 Mass (9:15am)

Fri 19 Final Day of Term 3 (1pm finish)

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend,

Julie David (Principal)

Parish News