CURRENT NEWS

2023 SCHOOL THEME - ‘WE BELONG’

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are nearing the end of Term 2 and it feels like we have just started! I would like to thank everyone in our community for your support during this term.

Term 2 has been very busy -

• school camps for Years 3-6  
• excursions
• celebration of First Eucharist for our Year 4 students
• launch of our Mini Vinnies Program (Year 4)
• episodes of 'Out and About at Holy Family' streamed into classrooms (Senior students)
• sporting opportunities (cross country)
• multiple school tours for prospective families
• trialling of SeeSaw in some classes to provide real time feedback for parents/carers
• implementation of UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) in some classes (UFLI is an ongoing effort by UF faculty, students, and staff to improve literacy outcomes for children learning to read)
• continuation of Tier 2 Reading Intervention (MultiLit)
• implementation of EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) intervention

Please find time to stop and enjoy time with family and friends over the holidays.

Events of last weekend made me reflect on how precious each day is with our family and friends.

The brother of one of my daughter's close friends was hit by a car while riding his bike and ended up in Intensive Care at Royal Melbourne Hospital not being able to recognise his own parents. Thankfully his memory is improving each day and his rehabilitation will begin.

My family was also impacted by the Hunter Valley bus crash with my sister's close friends losing their eldest son in this incident.

Life is the biggest treasure. Each moment is priceless.

(AiR, Live Life)

Prep-2 Performing Arts Celebration- Ticket Allocation

A note regarding ticket allocation for next Thursday's performance at Avila College has been sent to each Prep-2 family via Operoo.  To fairly allocate tickets we need all responses to be submitted by 5pm next Tuesday.  Don't miss out on the performance of the decade!

End of Term Mass/Celebration of Learning

Please come and join us for Mass on Friday 23rd June at 9:15am to celebrate the end of Term 2.

After Mass parents/carers are invited to come back into the Year 3-6 classrooms for their Celebration of Learning.

Our Prep-Year 2 Learning Celebration for this term is their performance on Thursday 22nd June. They will amaze their parents with their movements!

East Central Principal's Conference

On Monday 17th July, 19 Principals are travelling to Darwin for a week. During this week the focus will be, Darwin - the people, the history and us.

Some of our experiences will be visiting  -

• WW2 Oil Tunnels
• Darwin Military museum
• Royal Flying Doctor Service 
• Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory.
• Litchfield National Park
• Adelaide River Cemetery
• Tiwi Islands

I look forward to sharing this learning with our community on my return.

First Eucharist

On the weekend of 3rd and 4th of June our Year 4 students received the Eucharist for the first time. It was wonderful to witness our students receiving this sacrament with our Parish community. Father Justel looks forward to seeing our families at Sunday Masses on a regular basis.

Our students looked very smart and read and prayed reverently during these Masses.

Mini Vinnies

Miss Lark and our Year 4 students have formed Mini Vinnies at Holy Family School. 

Mini Vinnies empowers our students to become advocates within our school and local community by putting their values into action. They meet regularly to learn about social justice issues, develop leadership skills and engage with the wider St Vincent de Paul Society.

These students are holding their first fundraising event today at 3pm in the quadrangle. Please bring $2 to support the efforts of the students and those in need in our community.

Out and About at Holy Family

Our Senior students have launched the first news show at Holy Family. Students stream this show live into classrooms and highlight events and achievements of students with the Holy Family school community each Tuesday. Thank you to Miss King for supporting this idea and making it happen.

Semester One Student Reports

It was a pleasure reading all of our students reports this week. It is a privilege to support such an incredible group of young people and their families.

Please take time to sit down with your child and read the report together and celebrate his/her achievements.

Parents/Carers will have the opportunity to meet with their child's class teacher in the first week of Term 3 to set goals for semester two.

Parent Teacher Interviews

At the end of this term you will receive a report of your child's progress in Semester One. Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences will be held in the first week of Term Three. 

More details to follow.

Supervision

A reminder to parents that teacher work hours onsite are 8:30am-3:30pm and until 4:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Outside of these hours staff are not required to supervise children who are at school before or after these hours.  Our gates open from 8:30am for children to be adequately supervised before school by school staff.  Parents are responsible for their children onsite before 8:30am.  

Camp Australia runs a fully supervised program if you need your child/ren at school before 8:30am, and after 3:15pm.  Please register with Camp Australia if you need supervision for your child.

https://campaustralia.com.au/

Congratulations

Cross Country

Our school had students progress to the next stage of Cross Country at Yarra Glen for the Eastern Region. 

We are proud of their achievement -

• Dylan H 25th
• Ben H 32nd
• Sophia R 59th
• Caitlyn C 86th

Thank you to our parents and Mrs Michelsson for supporting these students. A magnificent result considering there was 90+ runners in each event.

Basketball

Jake S has been selected in the SSV Team Vic Basketball Rep Team and will be playing Basketball against interstate representatives in Perth in August 2023.

Congratulations Jake, enjoy this amazing experience!

Parking

A reminder to all parents that parking in the school grounds is not permitted unless you are helping out or have special circumstances that have been discussed with school leadership.  

We also need to remind parentsnot to park behind the hall blocking the back oval gates.  These gates need to be accessed at all times for deliveries and for emergency services if needed.

Term Two/Three Dates

• Thursday 22nd June (Prep-Year 2 Performing Arts Celebration)
• Friday 16th June (Paint and Sip) Parent Function
• Monday 19th June (VACPSP Principal Council Meeting) Julie
• Friday 23rd June (Final Day of Term 2) 1pm finish
• Monday 10th July (School Closure Day)
• Tuesday 11th July (School resumes)
• Wednesday 12th July (Avila Musical - Year 5)
• Monday 17th July - Friday 21st July (Principal Conference - Darwin)
• Tuesday 18th July (Parents and Friends Meeting) 7pm online
• Wednesday 19th July (Confirmation Information Evening) 6.30pm
• Wednesday 26th July (School Advisory Council Meeting) 6pm
• Friday 28th July (National Tree Planting Day)
• Tuesday 8th August (Confirmation Reflection Day)
• Friday 11th August (Sacrament of Confirmation) 5.30pm and 7pm
• Tuesday 22nd August (Parents and Friends Meeting) 7pm
• Friday 25th August (Jump Off Day)
• Wednesday 6th September (School Advisory Council Meeting TBA) 6pm
• Monday 11th September (Year 5/6 Performing Arts Celebration)
• Friday 15th September (Mass/Celebration of Learning)
• Friday 15th September (Final Day of Term 3)

Julie David

Principal