Holy Name Primary School Forster eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of another busy and productive year at Holy Name Primary School, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on our achievements and express my heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful school community.

Firstly, I want to extend my deepest thanks to our dedicated students. Your enthusiasm for learning and your commitment to personal growth have been truly inspiring. You have all worked incredibly hard, and your achievements this year are a testament to your perseverance and determination.

To our parents and guardians, your unwavering support and involvement in your children's education have been invaluable. Your partnership with our school has played a crucial role in fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment for our students. Thank you for your continued dedication and for being such an integral part of our school community.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge our exceptional teachers and staff. Your passion for education and your tireless efforts to provide the best possible learning experiences for our students have not gone unnoticed. Your creativity, patience, and commitment to excellence have made this year a resounding success.

I have thoroughly loved my time at Holy Name and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be in this very special place. It has been an absolute pleasure working with the staff and the P&F. Unfortunately, we were not able to get play equipment installed this year, but we are planning on beginning the project in 2025 and completing it in 2026 as the budget is approved by our central accountants. The big project for 2025 that has been approved is air conditioning/fan for the hall.

As we look forward to the new year, I am confident that we will continue to build on our successes and strive for even greater achievements. Thank you all for your ongoing dedication to learning and to Holy Name Primary School. Mr Ben Doyle will be taking over the reins in January and we wish every success.

Wishing you all a restful and joyous holiday season.

Merry Christmas and God Bless,

Niamh

Principal

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Another year is drawing to a close and didn't it fly by! Wishing all our families a most Merry Christmas and health and prosperity in the New Year. Thanks for your support of our wonderful school during 2024.

Farewell to our Year 6 students - may you stay safe and enjoy every opportunity that comes your way. A goodbye as well to all families leaving HNS at the end of this school year.

Final Awards were given out at an assembly this morning.

PB4L - Principal's Awards

Oceana Cockeram	4H	40 surfboards
Vann King	4H	40 surfboards
Oliver Crain	4H	60 surfboards
Evie Redman	1M	80 surfboards
Stevie Hallam	4H	80 surfboards
Gracie Johnson	4H	80 surfboards
John Andaray	4H	80 surfboards
Danny De Sousa	4H	100 surfboards
Amelia Pruim	4H	100 surfboards
Astyn Rettke	4H	100 surfboards
Edie Loy	4Q	120 surfboards
Joshua Matthews	4Q	120 surfboards
Olivia Sleiman	4Q	120 surfboards

Students that were part of the Manning ASPIRE workshops and performance also received a certificate to recognise their contributions.

Garden Gallery

Our garden is full of Summer produce thanks to the wonderful work of Mrs Amato and her band of garden helpers. We have tomatoes, lettuce, fresh herbs and even some apricots growing beautifully. Our Community Kitchen are always happy to receieve the produce to use in meals for those in our community.

A Christmas Message

As the year quickly now draws to an end, I wish to thank the students and their families and also the Holy Name Staff for helping us to build our community of faith. At Holy Name our mission is to Belong, Learn and Show Concern for Others, In His Holy Name. We are called to do this intentionally and willingly. We all have our own gifts of the Holy Spirit, a gift that is given to each person not just for ourselves but to build up the community and even society. Living our Gospel values and by experiencing and following the catholic traditions and rituals in Mass and Liturgies, we are bringing about building God’s kingdom together.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank two very special people who have shaped the Catholic culture of Holy Name. To Mrs Niamh Marzol, a sincere thank you to you for your steady leadership, warmth and guidance you have given us at Holy Name School these past six months. You got to know us so quickly and we feel you have been with us for so much longer. Our staff and students will miss you and send to you our best wishes as you leave us to commence your principalship at St Joseph’s of Lochinvar. And to Mrs Kristie Banham… we love you Mrs Banham, you have been an angel who walked among us, and we will be forever grateful. You have taught us the very essence of what it means to live like Jesus. We have been blessed to have had you be part of our school community, and although you are leaving to take up a position at St Dominics Mayfield, please know there are so many of your pastoral care initiatives woven into the fabric of who we are at Holy Name that will live on in your memory. God Bless Mrs Banham!

May God’s good grace shine on you now Christmastime is here, followed by his blessings throughout a wonderful new year.

Parish News

A message from Fr John:

THE LATEST NEWS FROM OUR SAFEGUARDING PROMOTERS – 15 DEC 2024

The Promoters of Safeguarding continue to endorse a culture of safeguarding within the Parish.

To this end, we mention water safety for children over Christmas. The school year for children concludes this coming Wednesday, 18th December 2024, marking the commencement of the festive season which brings joy and relaxation, but it’s crucial to stay vigilant about water safety, especially for children. Whether at the beach, pool, or lake, constant supervision is key. Always designate a responsible adult as the ‘water watcher’ to keep an eye on kids at all times, avoiding distractions like phones. Teach children basic water safety rules, such as never swimming alone and swimming between the flags on a patrolled beach. Secure home pools with fences and gates and remove toys that may attract children to the water when not in use. Be mindful of inflatable Christmas toys or floats; they can give a false sense of security and are not a substitute for supervision. Historically, the time between Christmas and New Year is the most tragic week for drowning deaths in Australia BUT by prioritizing water safety, you can ensure a fun and accident-free Christmas holiday.

Annie Evans

Jubilee 2025

The 2025 Jubilee will officially open on December 24, 2024 at 7pm, with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by the Holy Father, who will then preside over the celebration of the Night Mass of the Lord's Birth inside the Basilica.

Let us pray that the Jubilee Year of 2025 will strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognise the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope. Amen.

Genevieve Williamson

Religious Education Coordinator.

Pastoral Care Report

This year has been one of connection, compassion, and creativity, as our school community came together to foster a spirit of belonging, wellbeing, and as always ‘Concern for Others.’ Through our various wellbeing initiatives, we have strived to support the holistic development of our students, nurture staff wellbeing, and strengthen the bonds between families and the school.

Our Art Club continued to support our artists, providing a creative outlet for students to express themselves while forming meaningful connections. As an alternate play space Art Club encourages everyone to explore new techniques, share ideas, and celebrate their unique talents, fostering confidence and collaboration.

Our Mini Vinnies group demonstrated outstanding leadership and empathy, organising impactful projects to support those in need. From food drives to awareness campaigns, these young changemakers embodied the true spirit of giving and service.

Playgroup has been a hub of joy and connection for our youngest members and their families. Each week, the space buzzed with creativity, laughter, and a sense of belonging, laying the foundation for strong community ties.

The school community rallied behind several fundraising initiatives, working together to make a difference. Whether through Australia’s Biggest Morning tea, mufti days, or other events, the generosity and enthusiasm of our families shone through, reminding us of the power of collective action.

The Heart to Heart program for Year 5 students was a standout this year, bringing students together to explore art as a means of self-expression and connection. Our team Lara Went, Kristie Banham, Crystal Simon, Steve Davies and Koran North, the program fostered heartfelt conversations and the creation of meaningful artwork, celebrating the importance of friendship, reflection, wellbeing and culminated in beautiful Art Exhibitions shared by families and our heartists.

Our Wellbeing Weeks offered students and staff a chance to recharge, refocus, and engage in activities promoting mindfulness, physical health, and emotional resilience. From mindfulness activities and creative workshops to team-building challenges, these weeks were a testament to our commitment to prioritising mental health and overall wellbeing.

Throughout the year, a focus on student and staff wellbeing underpinned all our initiatives. From morning dancing and check ins to flash mobs and finding gratitude in tiny, simple moments we continually strived to ensure that everyone in our community felt supported, valued, and cared for. I have treasured every spectacular moment of my time at Holy Name.

Holy Name has been forever etched into my heart and I will miss everyone. As the year comes to a close, and my time at Holy Name I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all families, students, and staff for their contributions and dedication. You are what makes this community so special. I leave you with the following quote -

“Good people do good things for other people. That’s it.” It really is that simple, keep being the amazing people you are. May you continue to grow, thrive, and shine wherever life takes you. Take precious care, enjoy the holidays with those you love.

Kristie Banham

Pastoral Care Worker

The Boots Are Off, and So Are We—its HOLYday time"

The Holy Heroes have wrapped up this half of the summer 6-a-side season with a solid 1-0 victory against the ‘Tavern Teasers’. Our final game had us grinding like a vacuum on gravel, as we were down some key players and no sub's. Playing a full game with a skeleton crew was harder than resisting Mrs Banham's 'melting moments' so a special thanks goes to our moon-boot magic sweeper, Miss Nolan for her ‘motivational’ coaching from the sidelines to "stop worrying about being thirsty and mark a player," as well as the guest of honour Niamh Marzol who brought all the good luck and inspiration to not embarrass her and get the win.

Players of the match go to Mrs Harrison, the smiling assassin and “Frosty no-boots” (Miss Jourdan Frost) for their defence and dazzling footwork that kept the Teasers at bay.

With this win, the Heroes sit in EQUAL FIRST to close out the year – A Christmas miracle! This should be reason enough for all you faithful followers to come and cheer us on in 2025, because your spirit, lifts ours and we won’t want to disappoint you so we will try harder!

Here’s to a great season filled with ups, downs, and plenty of laughs. See you all in the new year/next half of the season, ready to kick some serious grass (after we’ve recovered from the break with our own children).

Until then, may your holidays be as legendary as that 1-0 win!

Warm regards,

Lauren Lupton

Art Mural Project

During Term 3 and 4 this year our Aboriginal Education and Torres Strait Islander Worker Mrs Went has been working on designing and creating some murals around our school. These murals have been designed to tell the story of Worimi Country, in particular the Forster area.

Some of our students have had the chance to work on the murals with Mrs Went and Crystal, learning new skills as well as the meaning behind the artworks. They have really enjoyed contributing to brightening the school. The murals are located at the back gate yarning circle area as well as the entrance to our school hall. We still have some work to do to complete the murals in 2025 and cannot wait to see them completed. We will share more about these projects in the New Year.