From the Principal

“Row your boat out into the deep water…” (Luke 5:4). Phrases like ‘jumping into the deep end’ and ‘getting in too deep’ conjure a sense of danger and risk. For whatever reason, even after a long and unsuccessful night of fishing Simon Peter trusted Jesus and put out into deep water. Peter responded with the same trust when asked to leave everything and follow him. There is a lot happening in this story that speaks to each one of us today. For me it is a reminder to be open and listening to what I am being called to do: to build the Kingdom of God today and to trust God even if the water looks deep! It all sounds straight forward but it is all too easy to make excuses for not doing something which may take us outside our comfort zone even when we know it is the right

thing to do! Statements like, I could never do that, it’s not my job, I really don’t have the time, someone else could do better than I could, in the end nothing happens and our world, community, school is no better. It is worth looking at who Jesus chose to continue his mission. I think it is worth reading the following adaptation from Father Richard Leonard’s (SJ) reflection and consider how you can put out into deeper water, especially starting this Lent, to bring the God’s Kingdom to life for others:

‘Think about this for a minute! It is time to elect a world leader, and yours is the deciding vote. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates: Candidate A associates with crooked politicians, consults with astrologers, is severely disabled, chain smokes and drinks 8 to10 martinis a day. Candidate B was kicked out of office twice, slept until noon, used opium at university, is an undiagnosed manic-depressive and drinks a bottle of whiskey every day. Candidate C is a decorated war hero, vegetarian, doesn't smoke or drink, except for an occasional beer. Who would you choose?

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Candidate B is Winston Churchill. Candidate C is Adolph Hitler. Sometimes the best candidate on paper is the worst leader in reality. Thank goodness Jesus did not hire a management consultancy to help him recruit his earliest disciples. On paper Peter, James and John would not have got past expressing interest in the job. Jesus recognised, however, that they had the three things necessary for Christian leadership: faith, hope and love.’ Richard Leonard SJ

Kindergarten & New Families Welcome BBQ Kindergarten students began full days on Monday and not only survived but keep coming back each day! The children have been very settled and seem to be coping well, so far, with the rigours of the school day. I look forward to catching up with Kindergarten, new families and Year 6 buddies at this evening’s welcome barbecue. A very big thank you for the generosity of spirit of the parents who ‘put out into deep waters’ by volunteering to organise and run the barbecue!

February

8 5.00pm Kindy & New Families Welcome BBQ 11 6.00pm PDHPE Parent Information Night 12 Swimming Carnival at West Pymble 13 3.00pm Mandarin Classes commence (Library)

14 8.40am Parent Volunteer Induction (Library) 19 7.30pm P & F Meeting 20 - 22 Year 6 Leadership Camp (Narrabeen) 20 2.30pm Parent Volunteer Induction (Library) 22 10.00 am Year 5 reconciliation 23 7.00pm Kindergarten Cocktail Party

2 – 4 Highfield Road, LINDFIELD NSW 2070 Phone: (02) 9416 7200 Email: info@holyfamily.nsw.edu.au Website: www.holyfamily.nsw.edu.au ABN 89 548 339 579

Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Congratulations Year 6 Congratulations to our 2019 Year 6 cohort, inducted and blessed as Seniors and into Leadership roles! ‘Instilling confidence takes more than heaping praise on kids.’ Make time to read the first of this year’s ‘Parenting ideas Insights’ from Michael Grose, attached, that looks at 10 practical confidence-building strategies that I hope will make sense and be of use to you.

In Your Prayers Please keep the Atamian family (Ani Year 3/4W) in your prayers as Ani’s grandfather, Wanes Atamian passed away this week.

Lou Dogao - Principal

From the Assistant Principal

It has been a very fast moving start to the term. The children have been busy but often they don’t share a lot about their day at home. “What did you do today?” is a common question we ask our children when we see them after the school day. Often the answer is “nothing” or “I don’t know”. Students spend around 6 hours at school, most of which is learning time and the school day is demanding. Sometimes it is good to give our children a break before expecting them to answer more fully. Talking around the dinner table and each member of the family sharing their day is one suggested time for good discussions or at bed time is another. Changing up the questions can also be a good idea. Here are a few suggestions- “What was the funniest thing you heard today?” “What was something new you read today?” “Was someone away today?” “What did you enjoy most about lunch?” “Did someone do something nice for you today?” “Did you do something nice for someone else?” “What was your favourite thing about today?” Including positive questions is very important. We all have good days and bad ones. Ensuring a focus on positive things that happen (without diminishing the not so good) can teach our children that although not so nice things happen, other good things do.

Volunteer Inductions There will be two more Volunteer Inductions, if you haven’t already been inducted and you wish to volunteer at the school please ensure you attend one of these sessions:

Thursday 14/2 at 8:40am Weds 20/2 at 2:30pm (please note the change in date from the 13/2 as previously advertised).

Student Medications Please ensure if your child needs an Epipen or a Ventolin puffer that these are handed in to the school office on Monday (if you haven’t already done so). With the Swimming Carnival on Tuesday (Years 2 - 6) we need to be taking all these medications with us to the Carnival. Have a lovely weekend. Maree Board - Acting Assistant Principal

From the REC

Opening School Mass A big thank you to all the parents who joined us for our opening mass this week. It was a lovely way to

open our school year. I would like to thank Mrs McNally for playing so beautifully and the school choir

who led the joyful singing. Thank you also to 3 / 4 W and the children who had parts in our mass as they

participated with such reverence. Father highlighted during his homily the inspiring words in the First

Reading from ST. Paul to the Ephesians “ I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through

faith.” Great advice as we begin a fresh new year.

Have a lovely weekend Carmel Hogan - Acting REC

From the Tuckshop

Tuckshop Roster 9.00 am - 1.30 pm

Monday 11th February Thursday 14th February Youn Joanne Blayney Anne-Marie Healy Volunteer Needed (1W) Volunteer Needed (1W)

From the Sport Coordinator Good luck to our three Year 6 students Ruby P, Annie H, and Ruby I who are in Lismore today trialling for the Polding Girls State Basketball team. The girls are trialling for a spot in the 10 person squad to play in the NSW PSSA State Basketball Championships in Albury in June. Geoff Perez - Sport Coordinator

From the P & F Please join us on Tuesday 19th February at 7:30pm for our first P & F meeting for 2019. This is your chance to hear about what’s happening in your school community and have your say! Everyone is welcome and we aim to keep our timings reasonable and be finished by 9.00pm at the latest. If you have any questions please contact: elenaburnheim@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you there! Elena Burnheim - P&F Secretary

From the Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop now open on Monday morning Please note the Uniform Shop will be open every Monday (except Monday 25th Feb) from 8.30am to 9.30am. There is a huge selection of second hand uniforms for sale so pop down on a Monday morning and grab a few bargains. Credit cards ONLY - NO cash.

Dates for your diary Whole School Masses Term 1

Reconciliation Enrolments are open from 5 - 28 February (Year 3 and above) 6th March 9.15am Ash Wednesday Mass- Year 3 G 10th April 9.15am Lenten Mass- Year 5G Wednesday

From the Art Show & Fair

CALL OUT FOR VOLUNTEERS We are looking for some assistance in the following areas: KIDZONE

We have the plan but need the helpers. Big shout out for Year 1 Volunteers as we need a team. ART SHOW GALLERY

We need Volunteers to help build the gallery on Friday, 8 March from 5pm

We need an Electrician to check / test all electrical cables and lights COCKTAIL PARTY Families and anyone in the industry your donations of alcohol would be amazing (cases of beer and wine) CHAMPAGNE BAR We’d like to get in touch with anyone who holds their current RSA.

LASAF Team 2019: For any queries or suggestions you may have, please contact us:

Did you know we’re on Facebook and Instagram?

Follow us @LindfieldArtShow&Fair

Art Show = Chantel Moylan Cocktail Party = Emily Manion

BBQ = Richard Kenderes & Richard Martin

Social Justice = Sam Lloyd & Julia Hall

Chocolate Wheel = Requel Burden Champagne Bar = Natalie Collins

Cake Stall = Briana Mandile Marketing & Social Media = Virginia Smirniotis

General enquires = Pamela Diaz (holyfamilyartfestival@gmail.com)

From the SRC & PBL Teams

From the Parish

Enrolments for the Reconciliation Preparation Programme If your child is in Year 3 or older and wanting to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please download the document on how to enrol on the Parish website: http://www.lindfieldkillara.org.au then go to Sacraments and then Children's Sacraments and find the document at the bottom of the page. Enrolment is from 5-28 February only. We are very much looking forward to seeing you all again. Sue-Anne Sherwood - Sacramental Co-Ordinator'

THE PARISH DADS’ CLUB resumes in February and will gather on Friday 15th February (please note change from the last Sunday of the month on this occasion). Contact Michael Willett for details (willetm@gmail.com).

PARISH PLAYGROUP ‘Characters Playgroup’ resumes on Wednesday 13th February from 10:450am till 12:15pm in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Holy Family church. Please contact Sue-Anne for more details: sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au

Holy Family Swimming Carnival Tuesday 12th February - Ku-ring Gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre West Pymble

All students (2 - 6) need to be at school to catch the bus to the Swimming Carnival. You may take them home if you wish but they all need to be taken by bus from school in the morning.

All Parents welcome to attend

PBL FOCUS – Include Others HABIT– Synergise

© Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Lindfield. Material in this newsletter is not to be reproduced without the permission of the School Principal.

PDHPE Parent Information Night

For Years 5 & 6 Monday 11th February Commencing at 6.00pm In the Seniors’ classrooms