Dear Families,

It has been a BIG two weeks in Catholic Education in Melbourne with the announcement of the closure of four schools at the end of 2023. We will keep these schools and their communities in our prayers during this difficult time of change.

Book Week Parade

Last week we celebrated Book Week with our Dress Up Parade on Monday. It was wonderful to see al the smiling faces and hear the laughter and applause as the staff and students paraded around our quadrangle!

Thank you to our families for making this a special event full of fun, excitement and colour.

Jump Off Day

Our students have spent the last few weeks learning new skipping skills to showcase on our Jump Off Day last Friday.

We were blessed with sunny skies and generous parents to make the morning run smoothly.

'Shining A Light' Dr Edward Simons

On Thursday 17th August Dr Edward Simons, Executive Director of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), outlined an inspiring vision for the largest non-government schooling system in Australia and the single largest not-for-profit organisation in the country.

Leading MACS, he said, is both an ‘enormous privilege’ and a ‘huge responsibility’. To educate, form and care for more than 120,000 students across the Archdiocese of Melbourne, in almost 300 schools, MACS employs more than 17,000 staff, and its annual budget runs to billions of dollars.

To get a sense of the ‘bold and ambitious goal’ that has been set for the organisation, Dr Simons pointed his audience to MACS’ recently released strategic plan, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World, a document organised around the four pillars of faith, learning, leadership and community.

A number of opportunities inform this strategy and will shape the work of MACS in the years ahead, he said. One is the creation of ‘new and imaginative ways for our recently formed system of schools to be empowered centrally’, ensuring they perform more strongly than when they previously operated as stand-alone school entities. Another is the need to be ‘increasingly clear about what it means to be Catholic educators, and to embrace this as the core tenet of our work’. And recognising that MACS’ work is just one part of the broader work of the Church, Catholic schools must also ‘find news ways to work more effectively with parishes’ and other Catholic agencies.

I have no doubt, where there is good will and a shared mission between parish and school, we will do great things and achieve much.

https://melbournecatholic.org/news/shining-a-light-dr-ed-simons-on-the-life-changing-power-of-catholic-education

MACSSIS

Parents/Carers are invited to fill out the 2023 MACSSIS tool to provide feedback for our school community.

Personalised PINs were emailed home for each family.

The website for access is https://orima.com/macsfamily?&orimaW=1263

Devices are available in our 'gathering space' before school for parents/carers to access to complete the survey.

Surveys must be completed by Friday 15th September.

Thank you for your feedback and support.

School Closure

Due to the closure of St Mary Magdalen's Primary School in Chadstone we have had many families touring our school recently.

Our school community will do all that we can to support this community - staff and families in the coming weeks.

Please be assured that these enrolments will enhance our community and we warmly welcome new families. Holy Family has the facilities and staff to cater for this growth in our school.

If you have any wonderings about this process then please make a time to speak with me.

2024 Enrolments

We are in the fortunate position of increasing our enrolments in Prep for 2024.

Please let your family and friends know that enrolments are still being accepted with a few spaces still available.

Father's Day Celebrations at Holy Family

The significant men (dad, uncle, grandpa, friend) in our community had a wonderful time visiting students in their classrooms to celebrate Father's Day this weekend.

We hope you enjoy your special treats and have a wonderful day on Sunday!

Don't forget our Father's Day Stall tomorrow.

Father's Day blessing from Pope Francis

Joseph’s mission is certainly unique and unrepeatable, because Jesus is absolutely unique. And yet, in his guardianship of Jesus, forming him to grow in age, wisdom and grace, he is a model for every educator, especially every father.

St Joseph is the model of the educator and the dad, the father.

I, therefore, entrust to his protection all fathers.

I ask for you the grace to be ever closer to your children, allow them to grow, but be close, close! They need you, your presence, your closeness, your love.

May you be for them as St Joseph was: guardians of their growth in age, wisdom and grace.

May you guard them on their journey: be educators and walk with them. And by this closeness you will be true educators.

Thank you for all you do for your children: thank you. Best wishes to you, and a happy fathers’ day.

May St Joseph bless you and accompany you.

Some of us have lost our dad, he has passed away, the Lord has called him.

We can pray for all the fathers of the world, for the fathers living and deceased, as well as our own, and we can do it together, each one remembering his or her own father whether he be living or dead.

And let us pray to the great Father of us all, the Father.

An Our Father for our fathers: Our Father…. Best wishes to fathers!

SOURCE: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140319_udienza-generale.html

Walk for Tiwi

On Thursday 14th September our school community will take part in a walkathon to raise money to support the Catholic Mission on Bathurst Island and the restoration of St. Therese's Church.

Students are invited to wear their 'footy colours' on this day and bring along a donation for this community.

Here is a video for your family to share -

https://fb.watch/mI1SZZqV1H/

I have also included an article on Sister Anne Gardiner who has supported this community for decades. The Principals were fortunate enough to meet and spend time with Sister Anne.

All schools in our region will be hosting an event like this and the funds will be pooled together and sent to the Catholic Mission to support the great work that they do.

Our School Pride

Over the last couple of weeks students in our school have achieved incredible sporting achievements.

Soccer

Congratulations to our Boys Soccer Team who were awarded the title of State Champions yesterday! Your community is extremely proud of each of you.

This was an incredible effort from these boys. This group coached themselves leading up to yesterday and strengthened as a team during their games.

Thank you to our staff and parents who supported these students.

Basketball

Jake Seo was selected in the Victorian Basketball Team and he represented our state in the National Tournament in Perth last week. I am pleased to announce that Jake's team won the tournament.

Congratulations Jake we are so proud of your achievement!

Beanies for sale

Unfortunately we are nearing the end of the colder weather, but we have just had our first shipment of Holy Family School Beanies that can be purchased through CDFPay for $22.

2024 Classes

We are beginning to plan for next year.

Parents/carers are invited to email any class requests for 2024 by Friday 15th September to jdavid@hfmw.catholic.edu.au

Please keep in mind that some requests can not be met as we have to accommodate numerous requests from parents/carers, students and teachers. When spend many weeks planning classes with the academic and wellbeing needs of each child.

Term 3 Events

August

Thursday 31st - Father's Day Celebration

September

Friday 1st - Father's Day Stall

Sunday 3rd - Father's Day

Friday 8th - SDSSA Basketball Round Robin

Monday 11th - Year 5/6 Performing Arts Celebration (Avila College)

Thursday 14th - 'Walk for Tiwi' community action

Thursday 14th - Footy Colours Day and Sausage Sizzle

Friday 15th - Mass/Celebration of Learning

Friday 15th September - Students finish at 1pm

Term 4 Events

October

Monday 2nd - Students resume

Thursday 5th - MWD Division Track and Field

Tuesday 10th - P&F Meeting (7pm)

Thursday 12th - Sexuality Parent Education Session (online) 7pm

Wednesday 18th - Prep 2024 Parent Information Session (7pm)

Friday 20th - Year 1/2 Camp Day

Tuesday 24th - 2024 Prep Transition

Wednesday 25th - Parent Information Session for New Families (Years 1-6) 7pm

Thursday 26th - Transition Day (New students Years 1-6)

Tuesday 31st - 2024 Prep Transition

November

Monday 6th - School Closure Day (Report Preparation)

Tuesday 7th - School Closure Day (Melbourne Cup)

Wednesday 8th - Transition Day (New students Years 1-6)

Wednesday 8th - SAC AGM (6pm), Parents and Friends AGM (6:30pm)

Friday 10th - SDSSA Summer Sport

Saturday 11th - Remembrance Day

Tuesday 14th - 2024 Prep Transition

Thursday 16th - Year 3/4 Performing Arts Celebration

Monday 20th - Transition Day (New students Years 1-6)

Tuesday 21st - 2024 Prep Transition

Friday 24th - School Closure Day (2024 Planning)

Monday 27th - Friday 8th Dec (Prep-Year 4 Swimming Program)

Tuesday 28th - 2024 Prep Transition

Wednesday 29th - Swimming Rest Day

Wednesday 29th - Transition Day (New students Years 1-6)

December

Thursday 7th - Holy Family Community Christmas Carols

Monday 11th - Year 6 Graduation Ceremony (Avila College)

Wednesday 13th - End of Year Mass 9:15am (TBC)

Wednesday 13th - Year 6 Celebration Afternoon

Friday 15th - Final 2023 Assembly (2pm)

Friday 15th - School finishes at 3:15pm

Monday 18th - Staff Planning Day

Tuesday 19th - Staff Planning Day

Wednesday 20th - Staff Time In Lieu Day

2024 School Year

January

Monday 29th - Staff Return

Tuesday 30th - Student Testing

Wednesday 31st - Student Testing

February

Thursday 1st - All students commence

Wishing the men in our community a wonderful day on Sunday,

Julie David (Principal)

Camp Australia