Dear Families,

Our Year 3 and 4 students are having a wonderful time under blue skies at Sovereign Hill. I would like to thank our staff who have volunteered to support this camp and leave the comforts of their homes for three days.

Also, a BIG thank you to our families for the support you provide to our staff and the trust you place in us to look after your most precious gift, your child.

School Camps are a great way to provide rich learning experiences that support the academic, social, emotional and spiritual growth of our students. Away from the classroom, children develop independence, resilience and stronger relationships with peers and teachers in a supportive environment.

Staying Well This Winter

As we head into the winter season, we encourage all families to take extra care to help keep our school community healthy and well. During the colder months, illnesses such as colds, flu and other viruses can spread quickly, particularly in busy school environments.

Simple habits can make a big difference. We encourage students to wash their hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, eat healthy foods, stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. Wearing warm clothing each day is also important as temperatures continue to drop.

To support the wellbeing of all students and staff, we kindly ask families to keep children at home if they are unwell or showing symptoms of illness. Children should remain at home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or are not well enough to participate comfortably in learning activities.

By working together and showing care for one another, we can help maintain a healthy, safe and positive environment for all members of our school community throughout winter.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Pentecost Sunday

Last Sunday our Parish and School Communities celebrated Pentecost Sunday with a meaningful Mass and community luncheon with food from around the world. Often referred to as the "birthday of the Church," its influence ripples powerfully through both local church communities and the broader social fabric.

Here is how Pentecost Sunday shapes community dynamics, drawing from the themes highlighted by faith communities like Holy Family School:

1. Fostering Multicultural and Inclusive Communities

The biblical narrative of Pentecost centers on people from diverse nations hearing the Apostles speak in their own languages. Today, this manifests as a celebration of diversity. Communities use this day to.

2. A Catalyst for Community Action and Renewal

Because Pentecost represents the descent of the Holy Spirit to empower the faithful, it acts as an annual "spiritual reset" that drives outward-facing action.

3. Strengthening Intergenerational Bonds

Pentecost shifts a community's focus toward milestones and the future generation.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Each year, schools, libraries and communities across Australia come together to celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime — a wonderful opportunity to promote a love of reading and learning among children.

On Wednesday all of our community were invited to wear their PJs and bring their favourite soft toy to school. They were warm and comfortable listening to the story, 'Luna Roo'!

Participating in National Simultaneous Storytime provides many benefits for students and the wider school community:

Promotes a Love of Reading
Sharing a story together helps children see reading as enjoyable, exciting and meaningful. It encourages positive reading habits from an early age.
Builds Literacy Skills
Listening to stories strengthens vocabulary, comprehension, imagination and oral language development. Students are exposed to rich language and storytelling techniques.
Creates a Sense of Community
Reading the same story at the same time connects students with children across Australia. It fosters belonging, shared experiences and community spirit.
Encourages Imagination and Creativity
Stories inspire curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make connections and explore new ideas.
Supports Social and Emotional Learning
Many stories explore themes such as kindness, friendship, resilience and inclusion, helping children develop empathy and emotional understanding.
Celebrates the Importance of Books and Libraries
National Simultaneous Storytime highlights the important role that books, libraries and educators play in nurturing lifelong learners.
Strengthens Home–School Partnerships
Families are encouraged to engage in reading together at home, reinforcing the message that literacy is valued within our school community.

At Holy Family, we value opportunities such as National Simultaneous Storytime that bring joy, connection and learning to our students while strengthening a culture of reading throughout our school community. We joined with other classes to listen to the reading of the story online.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week, held annually from 27 May to 3 June, is a time for all Australians to come together and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia, and reflect on how each of us can contribute towards achieving true reconciliation in this country. Our Holy family Community will celebrate this event next week as we have students away on school camp this week.

This years theme, “All In”, urges every Australian to commit to reconciliation in everything they do. It is our timely reminder that every person has a role to play, and this is not something we can ‘clock off’ on. As Reconciliation Australia puts it,

"All In" makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities have known for a long time, reconciliation cannot and will not happen, until every Australian recognises their part to play, not just in their workplaces and schools, but in their everyday lives.

The artwork for this years Reconciliation Week poster, ‘Gaagal’ (meaning ocean in Gumbayngirr language), by Otis Hope Carey, captures beautifully the energy of ‘All In’.

In his words:

"this artwork uses the ocean as a metaphor for people from all walks of life swirling together to be ‘all in’ for reconciliation… the movement in the work is a representation of tidal charts, wave currents and flowing tides, which emulates the non-stop movement of the ocean… a symbol that reflects the ongoing fight for reconciliation in this country."

First Eucharist Commitment Masses

This weekend, Year 4 students who are preparing to receive Eucharist for the first time will be attending one of the Parish Masses to make a commitment to this sacrament in front of our Holy Family Parishioners.

Commitment Mass Times

Saturday 30th May (5pm)

Sunday 31st May (8:30am, 10am)

Please keep these students and their families in your prayers.

Staff Learning

On Monday our Teaching and Learning Support Staff gathered to continue our learning journey to provide the best possible outcomes for all of our students.

Our day was divided into three areas of development for all staff -

Religious Education (Sacraments, Scripture and Mass)
Literacy (Paired Fluency, Mentor Sentences and Writing Moderation)
Learning Diversity (SMART Goals and Effective Student Adjustments)

I would like to thank our Staff Leaders (Mrs Kelly, Ms Pejic and Mrs Curtain) who preapred and lead this learning for our staff.

Holy Family Playgroup

'Holy Family Playgroup' is continuing! Thank you to those families who came along to our 'Autumn' Playgroup. Next playgroup will be about 'Winter'.

There is one session left for this term -

Friday 19th June

Please phone our office to book in 9807 3300.

If you have a Working With Children Check and would like to go on a roster to help out please email office@hfmw.catholic.edu.au

Enrol Now

Enrolments for 2027 are strong. Please go to our website and download the enrolment form. Don't miss out!

https://hfmw.catholic.edu.au/

Soft Plastics Recycling Pick Up

Thank you to those families who have volunteered to drop off our soft plastics. Please find the roster for this term below.

Thank you for your continued support,

Julie David (Principal)

Term 2 Dates

May

Wed 27-29 Year 3 and 4 School Camp (Sovereign Hill)

Sat 30 First Eucharist Commitment Mass (5pm)

Sun 31 First Eucharist Commitment Masses (8:30am, 10am)

June

Mon 8 Public Holiday (King's Birthday)

Thur 11 EMR Cross Country

Fri 12 District Soccer Gala

Fri 19 First Eucharist Reflection Day

Fri 19 Summer Sports Gala Day

Sun 21 Sacrament of First Eucharist (10am)

Fri 26 Term 2 concludes (1pm)

Term 3 Dates

July

Mon 14 School Closure Day

Tues 15 All students resume

Wed 22 Division Netball

Wed 22 Parent/Teacher Interviews (3:30-6pm)

Thurs 23 Parent/Teacher Interviews (3:30-6pm)

Mon 27 Division AFL

Tues 28 Division Soccer (Girls)

Wed 29 Division Soccer (Boys)

Fri 31 Division T-Ball

August

Sat 8 Feast of St Mary of the Cross

Sat 8 Parents and Friends Trivia Night

Fri 21 School Closure Day (Religious Education PL for staff)

Wed 26 Year 5 and 6 Camp (Alexandra) 3 days

September

Fri 5 Magnificent Men in Our Community Morning (Father's Day Celebration)

Sun 6 Father's Day

Fri 11 District Basketball (Year 5 and 6)

Wed 16 District Athletics (Year 3-6)

Fri 18 Term 3 concludes (1pm)

NCCD