Dear Parents and Carers,

As we draw close to the end of the term and the end of the year, I would like to draw your attention to the great events of the last fortnight.

Holy Name Primary represented our region at the Diocesan Debating competition. Although the team did not win the competition, getting to this stage with minimal practice and experience is no mean feat. The girls, Eden, Amna, and Sara did well to think on their feet and prepare arguments as to whether Disney princesses are good role models.  I was very proud of their efforts given it was their second debate ever. I hope that this has given the students a taste of what is possible in High School debating.

Congratulations to our Virtual Academy students, especially Eli, Rueben, Max, and Eammon who presented their work at Newcastle University last week. All of the students' work was commended by the VA teachers and others in the space. I would like to say how proud I was of their efforts and thank Miss Spinks for guiding them.

Australia ranked 4th in the world on the PISA Creativity scale, behind Singapore, South Korea, and Canada. Professor Copley, internationally recognised expert in creativity, from the University of South Australia, states that we have entered an age of digitalization in industry and economy, driving a renewed interest in creativity. Creativity is becoming a commodity that will transform the way we work as computers increasingly perform the routine tasks, leaving the creative and non-algorithmic jobs that humans are highly suited to. He says that creativity can be taught and learned and is not confined to music and art but excels in science and language and is developed in how we relate to problems and how we ask and answer questions. Teachers can play a huge role in nourishing creativity by asking open-ended questions and questions with multiple answers. This takes more time and resources than a constrained question or task but is much richer and benefits students. Divergent thinking is how we develop creativity. VA is a terrific way for our students to showcase their creativity and I commend the students on a fine effort.

Thank you to Mrs Sheppard, Miss Frost and Mr Hassett for taking the Year 5 students to Great Aussie Bush Camp last week for their camp. From all reports the students had a wonderful time and were very well behaved. Some group leaders stated that they loved having Holy Name students as they are always polite and participate with enthusiasm. Well done students!

Our Year 6 Graduation and end of Year Mass held yesterday under the COLA was a fitting way to end the year spiritually. The students participated well in their reading and processions and the prayers for the children were very special. Thank you to Mrs Williamson and Ms McKinnon for organising the Mass. Fr John gave a fitting sermon and a lovely blessing at the end. We are fortunate to have his support at this busy time.

We have just had a solar install of over 20KW which will go a long way in assisting us to be more environmentally responsible and save on our power bills. The carpet project is still underway and I thank teachers and Mrs Arrow for coping with the disruption.

Congratulations to our newly elected school leaders Scarlett Garrard, Eli Lea, Nanma Joy and Mia Collins, SRC, Mikayla Bowie, Jax Tull, Bella Sleiman, Maddie Keegan, Mackenzie Quilter and Evie Barnett and sport captains, Haya Hamdy, Harrison Naughton, Grayson Wood, Elijah Suckling, Max Stephenson, Harrison Mills, Felix Yeates and Eden Lucenti. I am sure you will do a terrific job leading our school in 2025.

We look forward to our Christmas carol concert next week and our annual awards ceremony on Friday. Reports are due to you on Friday afternoon via COMPASS. The Year 6 Graduation dinner will be held on the following Monday, thank you to the organising committee. As part of the end of year activities students will be cleaning their desks and chairs. Parents who would like to come in to assist with this job are welcome to join us on Thursday 12 December. There will be a time of transition to new classroom spaces next week in readiness for 2025. I trust this will go smoothly and the students will be excited about the year ahead. The last day of school will be Wednesday 18 December.

Kind regards,

Niamh Marzol

Welcome to our pentultimate newsletter for 2024! Things are buzzing around school at the moment and there is a feeling of Christmas joy around the place.

PIVOT Survey

All students in Years 3-6 have completed the PIVOT well being survey over the last fortnight.

It is a survey designed for schools to measure, track and support students across 5 wellbeing domains: General Wellbeing, Resilience, Sense of Belonging, Feelings of Safety and Protective Behaviour. It has been mapped to the CSO’s ‘Wellbeing Together’ framework which supports student learning and wellbeing across the whole school.

The tool is widely used in many Catholic schools across Australia and was designed by expert school psychologists and wellbeing researchers.

It involves several brief surveys completed by students on a laptop or tablet across school terms. Questions are tailored to the student’s age group. Teachers are provided with simple-to-use mini lessons to help explain the survey to students and reinforce why wellbeing is important for learning.

How will the PIVOT pilot benefit your school?

PIVOT will provide schools with valuable data to help set goals for implementing the Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Policy and Wellbeing Together Framework. The Pivot tool provides a simple way to gather student voice on questions aligned to the Framework such as:

· Do students have a sense of belonging & connectedness at school?

· Do students feel they have agency in their learning?

· Do students feel they have an adult at the school they can talk to if they have a problem?

PIVOT provides timely data & insights to identify, support and monitor students in need of support and provides evidence-based resources for next-day action. The data can be analysed by different student cohorts and student attributes for targeted intervention.

Communication

We are trying to streamline our methods of communication to families. Please keep an eye out for a link to a survey through Compass next week so we can find out which communication methods are best for families. Compass is our main communications platform and will continue to be used.

If your child is unwell, could you please use Compass to notify the school or alternatively, ring the school office. Any absences not noted are recorded as unexplained absences.

PB4L

Our PB4L focus for weeks 7 & 8 was Using Kind Words.

The following students received class awards:

The following students received Principal's Awards:

PB4L signage is in the process of being designed and constructed and will be a welcome new addition to our space in 2025. Our PB4L team meets twice a term to analyse data, plan for focus learning behaviours and design social and emotional learning experiences.

Year 6 Graduation 

Christ is My Lighthouse

Yesterday Holy Name School celebrated the Year 6 Graduation in front of our parent community. Our Mass was led by Fr John and he spoke beautifully about the Yr 6 students. He reminded them that they have been guided by the light of Christ in their years at Holy Name. This light has shone brightly for our students through the guidance of School Leaders- Mrs Stephens, Mrs Loring and Mrs Marzol, their teachers and friends. Congratulations to the following graduating class of 2024: Caleb Younani, Sara Uprety, Jade Smith, Zia Singh, Noah Portelli, Mike Pan, Max Isbel, Zoya Darzi, Tyson Crain, Layla Price, Sophie Andrews, Chase Brooks, Rhys Corrigan, Amna Omar, Klahra Ridgeway, Zac Te-Raki-Pitfield, Sophia Whitehouse-Miotto, Taricki Smith, Hayden Pol, Phoebe Herzberg Nicholls, Kaileirah Cunningham-Elder, Airlia Coulton- Donnelly and Brady Clarke. You will be remembered!

Genevieve Williamson

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Kindergarten and Year One End of Year Movie Excursion

Today was a day filled with excitement as our Kindergarten and Year One students ventured out on a special excursion to Great Lakes Cinema 3. This outing was organised to celebrate the end of an incredible year of learning, growth, and fun.

The adventure began with a fun bus ride to the cinema, which was just as exciting for the children as the event itself! Laughter and chatter filled the air as the students eagerly anticipated what lay ahead.

At the movies, the children were treated to a screening of Moana 2, a film that captivated their imaginations with its colorful visuals, catchy songs, and a heartwarming story. To add to the excitement, each student received a delicious treat of popcorn and juice, making the experience even more special.

The teachers shared in the fun, their enthusiasm matching the students' as they celebrated a successful year together. It was a so nice to see the joy and camaraderie between students and staff alike.

This excursion was the perfect way to wrap up an amazing year, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come. Here's to a fantastic year of learning and growth—and to many more adventures ahead!

A fun way to finish the week!

Christmas Cheer in 4H!

The festive spirit is alive and well in 4H, with a special visitor spreading Christmas cheer straight from the North Pole! The students were thrilled to welcome their mischievous Elf on the Shelf, who brought a touch of magic and plenty of smiles to the classroom. Each day, the elf's playful antics have sparked excitement and wonder, adding a sprinkle of holiday joy to their learning environment.

As part of the seasonal celebrations, the class worked together on a collaborative Christmas wreath craft. Each student contributed their unique touch, combining creativity and teamwork to produce a stunning holiday decoration. The wreath now brightens the classroom, serving as a symbol of unity and the joyous season.

 

Science and Art fun in 3M

This term, 3M students dived into the fascinating world of Science by exploring the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. Through interactive, hands-on experiments, they identified and investigated materials, discovering how heat can transform their states. Highlights included making slime, melting crayons for crazy designs, and creating delicious ice cream!

The learning didn’t stop there—students applied their scientific discoveries to art, using clay to sculpt realistic food items. What a creative and fun-filled way to combine science and art!

Not to be outdone by 4H, Mr Mackay insists there is just as much Christmas cheer in his room as his Yr 4 neighbours! The class created decorations will definitiely held build the festive spirit. Nice work team 3M!

Enjoy the last 2 weeks of the school year! 

Mrs Suzie Monks

Primary Coordinator

HNS Upcoming Events

Wishing Tree and Hampers 

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who have generously donated to our Wishing Tree and Hamper drive so far. Your kindness is helping to make Christmas a little brighter for families in our local community.

There’s still time to get involved! If you would like to contribute, please send in your gifts  or hamper items as soon as possible. Every donation, big or small, makes a meaningful difference. Together, we can share the joy and spirit of giving this Christmas season.

Mini Vinnies

Last week some of our dedicated Mini Vinnies members visited the Year 4 students to share their inspiring journey as part of the team. During their visit, they showcased a short clip highlighting the incredible work Mini Vinnies has achieved this year and spoke passionately about their favorite projects from 2024. From organizing charity drives to spreading kindness within the school community, their stories demonstrated the impact of small actions driven by big hearts. The Year 4 students left feeling excited and inspired to join Mini Vinnies next year and continue making a difference!

Art Club

Our Art Club friends have been spreading Christmas joy helping complete our huge Christmas mural using paint sticks. Our paint sticks dry super fast and students have been making Christmas tree crafts a from cut up milk cartons and cardboard rolls. Brown paper bag gingerbread houses have been fun to make, art club friends have made some fun and quirky houses. Making Christmas craft and listening to carols has been such a joy filled part of Art Club over the past two weeks.

Playgroup

This week, we celebrated our final playgroup session for the year with laughter, play, and festive cheer. It has been a joy to watch friendships grow and little ones flourish throughout 2024. As we wrapped up, we shared stories, songs, and a touch of Christmas magic, cherishing the wonderful memories we’ve made together.

To all our playgroup friends and families, we wish you a happy, blessed, and joyful Christmas. May your holidays be filled with love, peace, and laughter.

Always grateful, 

Kristie Banham

Pastoral Care Worker

On the weekend our school cheerleading team DOLPHINS competed at cheercon best of the best nationals. The teams hard work paid off walking away with 2nd place in the Primary School Division and Bronze place GRAND CHAMPIONS. We are so proud of the team and all they have achieved this year. Cant wait to see what 2025 brings us.