Dear Parents and Carers,

As we another come to the end of another exciting week at Holy Family, I want to take a moment to celebrate the wonderful learning, faith, and community spirit that continues to shine throughout our school. There is always so much happening, and I am grateful for the enthusiasm and support of our students, staff, families and parish.

This week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed their NAPLAN tests, demonstrating resilience and perseverance throughout the process. We commend them for their hard work and the dedication of their teachers and parents in preparing them for this important milestone.

NAPLAN is just one measure of student learning, and we are proud of the effort and growth our students continue to show across all areas of their education.

We are also looking forward to a very special moment in the faith journey of some of our students—the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Saturday. After weeks of preparation, these students will experience God’s love and forgiveness in this beautiful sacrament. We keep them in our prayers and thank our parish team and families who have supported them in this important step in their faith formation.

CSBB Faith Formation

The school leadership team is currently engaged in a two-year CSBB Faith Formation program, deepening our commitment to leading with faith and purpose. This week, we participated in the Catholic Leadership in Contemporary Culture module, led by The Very Rev. Dr. David Ranson who continues to guide us in exploring the role of faith-based leadership in today’s ever-evolving educational and societal landscape. We took a deeper look into Catholic culture schools are trying to navigate in a modern world. It involved listening to two podcasts, then attending a plenary session to unpack the learning and discuss practical applications in the school context. We look forward to sharing our learnings and integrating them into our daily practice.

State of the System and Funding Update

At the System Leaders Meeting last week, Dallas McInerney, CEO of Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW), provided a comprehensive update on the state of the Catholic education system and the current landscape of school funding.

Key points from his address included:

Sustainability and Growth: Catholic schools across NSW continue to experience strong enrolments, reaffirming the trust that families place in faith-based education. Strategic planning remains essential to ensure ongoing viability and growth, particularly in response to demographic shifts and emerging educational needs.
Funding Advocacy: CSNSW is actively engaging with government stakeholders to secure fair and sustainable funding for Catholic schools. This includes advocating for equitable distribution of resources, ensuring that Catholic education remains accessible and affordable for all families.
Support for School Leadership and Staff: Continued investment in professional learning, faith formation, and curriculum development remains a priority, equipping educators to meet the evolving needs of students while maintaining a strong Catholic identity.
Commitment to Educational Excellence: The system-wide focus remains on improving student outcomes, with initiatives supporting literacy, numeracy, and overall student well-being. CSNSW is also working towards ensuring that schools are well-resourced to provide high-quality learning environments.

These insights reinforce our shared commitment to providing an exceptional Catholic education for our students, in partnership with our parish and broader community. As funding and policy landscapes evolve, our school remains dedicated to adapting and advocating for the best outcomes for our students and families.

Kindest regards,

Pauline Dinale - Principal

CatholicCare Vacation Care Programs

Looking for fun and engaging activities for your kids during the school holidays? CatholicCare Vacation Care programs are designed for children of all ages, interests, and needs!

From exciting local excursions to hands-on activities, there’s something for everyone. 🎨🚌

The environment provided is stimulating and enjoyable with activities that harness the children’s interests and strengths, while respecting their need for leisure.

📅 See the latest programs here.

For more information, visit our website or contact our OSHC coordinator:

Ryan (Lindfield OSHC and vacation care Coordinator)

P: 0481 601 904 or 9488 2400

E: oshc.lindfield@catholiccaredbb.org.au

W: www.catholiccaredbb.org.au

Keep School Funding Fair

Did you know Government funding for schools is based on parent income, ensuring those who need more support receive it? Visit https://bit.ly/3XkSKT1 to learn the facts and why it matters for our schools.

Siblings starting at Holy Family in 2026?

Do you have a sibling to enrol for Kindergarten in 2026? If so, please complete the form here. It is important for us to know how many siblings to expect before we offer places to new families. Kindly submit the form asap.

Once enrolment paperwork has been submitted you will be contacted to book an Interview with the Principal. We want to ensure a smooth process for all families, so your timely submission is greatly appreciated.

Download the Enrolment Application Form here.

2025 Term Dates

TERM ONE 2025

	Week 8
Sunday 23 March	Kinder and Seniors (Years 5 & 6) Family Mass at 10.15 am with morning tea to follow
Tuesday 25 March	Assembly 2.10pm
Friday 28 March	Lenten Mass 9am
	Week 9
Wed. 2- Fri. 4 April	Stage 3 Leadership Camp at Narrabeen
	Week 10
Monday 7 April	Holy Family Cross Country Years 2-6
Tuesday 8 April	School photos Assembly 2.10pm
Wednesday 9 April	Open Day 9am for prospective parents
Thursday 10 April	Cross Country Back-up Day + last day of Term One for students
Friday 11 April	Staff Spirituality Day - “Way of the HeART” (Pupil Free Day)

TERM TWO
Monday 28 April & Tuesday 29 April	Two Staff Development System Curriculum Days (Pupil Free Days)
Wednesday 30 April	Term 2 commences for students
Wednesday 7 May	North Shore Cross Country
Thursday 8 May	Mothers' Day Mass 9.00am
Sunday 18 May	Year 3 & 4 Family Mass at 6.00pm
Tuesday 20 May	Combined Broken Bay Cross Country
Thursday 29 May	Year 6 CSBB Leaders' Day
Friday 6 June	Holy Family Athletics Carnival
Monday 9 June	King's Birthday Public Holiday
Mon 9- Fri 13 June	Wellbeing Week
Monday 16-Wed. 18 June	Stage 3 Excursion to Canberra
Friday 27 June	Grandparent's Day - Open Classrooms, Mass and Morning Tea School Reports due
Week 10	Parent Conferences

Please CLICK HERE to read the Parents Charter from Catholic Schools Broken Bay.

Coles Development Update (Almost finished!)

Last week the site has made some progress, see below items that were achieved.

Plasterboard setting in Level 4A lobby
Level 4A tiling to Lobby
Landscaping continuing on Level 2
Landscaping continuing on Level 1
Electrical lights and power installation on Level 1
Tiling to lobby stairs
Continue with public domain works
Tiling in front of Coles entrance on Pacific Hwy
Waterproofing Level 1 balconies
Continuing joinery on Level 2 and Level 3
Continuing paving to Level 3 balconies
Continuing Installing appliances on Level 1 units
Continuing Waterproofing Level 2 balconies
Continuing aluminium windows to Level 4B roof
Continuing installing stone in wet areas on Level 3
Installing Level 2 appliances
Continuing electrical fit off on Level 2
Continuing lift installation
Continuing paving to Level 1 balconies
Installing blinds to Level 1 units
Installing joinery to Level 4
Paving to Level 2 balcony podium
Level 4 entry doors installation
Installing kitchen marble stone to Level 3
Waterproofing Upper Ground common areas

Over the coming week we anticipate the progress of the below.

Continuing joinery on Level 2 and Level 3
Continuing paving to Level 3 balconies
Continuing Installing appliances on Level 1 units
Continuing Waterproofing Level 2 balconies
Continuing aluminium windows to Level 4B roof
Continuing installing stone in wet areas on Level 3
Installing Level 2 appliances
Continuing electrical fit off on Level 2
Continuing lift installation
Continuing paving to Level 1 balconies
Installing blinds to Level 1 units
Installing joinery to Level 4
Paving to Level 2 balcony podium
Level 4 entry doors installation
Installing kitchen marble stone to Level 3
Waterproofing Upper Ground common areas

Tuckshop Matters