Dear parents and carers,

Your child has been busy this term settling into their new class, establishing routines and making friends. The school holidays is a time to slow down, relax and enjoy time with family.

As a parent/carer, you are an important part of our school community. Communication between our school and you is critical for us to partner together.

Our staff will always stay in touch because open communication is what's best for your child and their education.

We are looking at our channels of communication, and will soon clarify the best ways to make contact and where to find out information.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need to discuss a matter about your child, please use the school's email address holroyd-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au Our administration staff will forward your email to the appropriate staff member. Staff will respond to your enquiry within two school days.

For student health, safety and wellbeing issues, please contact 9637 1219. The school office is open from 8.30am to 3.15pm.

For longer discussions or complex matters, please make an appointment to speak to the Deputy Principal.

Finally, I wish to express my appreciation for the ongoing support Trails Inc provides Holroyd School. This support is invaluable as it enhances the school's capacity to deliver engaging and impactful programs for our students and to provide a safe and supportive working and learning environment for all. 

Today is the last day of term. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Students return to school on Tuesday, 30 April.

Kind regards,

Mrs K Thorson

Principal

Dear parents and carers,

The Parents & Carers Committee extends a warm welcome to all new families experiencing Holroyd School for the first time. It was lovely meeting some of you at our recent Tea and Tissues Morning Tea. 

It was great to see such a large turnout for the Meet The Staff evening and recent Easter Hat parade too. I hope you all enjoyed meeting your child's classroom teachers and support staff and the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.

The Holroyd School P&C had a successful 2023 and we are hoping to achieve bigger and better things for our much-loved school this year. Look out for notices on Facebook and in your child's bag for our upcoming Mother's Day stall on Thursday 9 May and other exciting events.

Just a reminder that we are still running monthly P&C meetings. All parents and carers are welcome to join us. These meetings are an invaluable opportunity to learn what is happening at school and connect with other parents and school staff.

Our next meeting is at 9.30am, Wednesday 1 May, in the Community Hub Please join us!

If you are interested in attending, or have any questions or suggestions, please email me at liz.brannon@yahoo.com.au

Until next time,

Liz Brannon

President

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

1.5 years.

What is your all-time favourite TV show?

Masterchef.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?

I would help Cancer patients.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?

I would love to see the earliest / first civilisation.

If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be?

Mother Teresa.

If you won a dream holiday to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Paris.

If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Dumplings.

What is the last movie you saw?

The Proposal.

Do you keep your tomato sauce in the fridge or the pantry?

In the pantry.

What is your favourite song to sing along to?

Unstoppable by Sia.

How long have you worked at Holroyd School?

Since February 2024.

What is your all-time favourite TV show?

Gilmore Girls.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?

Permanent residency in Australia.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?

The Live Aid concert in July 1985.

If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be?

Michael Cusack.

If you won a dream holiday to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Ireland.

If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A spice bag with curry sauce (spicy crispy chicken and chips with vegetables - a very popular dish in Ireland).

Champions.

Do you keep your tomato sauce in the fridge or the pantry?

In the pantry.

A warm welcome to our new students - Jawad, Hao-Hao, Mia, Aidan, Isha, Nour, Nevayah, Jamal and Nabil (kindergarten); Nirvaya, Didi and Lochlan (Year 1); Kawa (Year 5); and Carla (Year 9).

We wish all our new learners a happy new beginning here at Holroyd. We are very happy to have you here with us!

Students enjoyed a close encounter with a range of cute and cuddly animals from Golden Ridge Animal Farm on Wednesday, 3 April.

Take a look at these photos.

Here are some fun photo highlights from this term's junior and middle school Easter Hat Parade.

Holroyd School was awash in a sea of orange on Thursday 21 March, as we celebrated Australia's cultural diversity in the spirit of togetherness and kindness.

In the spirit of this year's Harmony Day theme, 'everyone belongs', every class at Holroyd School contributed to a major Harmony Day art project. The impressive final artwork is now on display.

Harmony Day, now in its 25th year, was established to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity and to be a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home.

Take a look at all these smiling faces!

Former Olympian Nicole from Limitless Gymnastics was back this term to teach students fundamental skills. It has been wonderful to see all our gymnasts grow in confidence and independence with every lesson. Nicole's classes were a lot of fun! 

Your child's statement of account was sent home earlier this term.

Fees can be paid online via the Holroyd School website or School Bytes app, Eftpos at the school office, or in cash.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, or would like to discuss this account further, please contact the school office on 9637 1219.

When packing your child's lunchbox we ask that you avoid foods containing nuts (such as peanut butter, Nutella, some muesli bars) as we have several highly allergic students. Holroyd School is committed to providing a safe environment that meets the needs of all students.

Please also note, to control food-associated risks and reduce the impact on school resources, we kindly ask that parents refrain from using food delivery services. If you forget to pack your child's lunch, you are welcome to drop it into the school office anytime.

If your child is unwell - sore throat, cough, fever, runny nose, diarrhoea - please keep them home from school until they have fully recovered.

Let's do our best to keep everyone safe.

We love birthdays at Holroyd School! Here are some photo highlights of recent class parties.

School commences at 9am and concludes at 2.45pm, with playground supervision from 8.40am.

It is important that students arrive at school on time and that therapy and other appointments are scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible.

Why is it important to be on time for school every day?

- when children are punctual, they will be calm and ready to learn.

- when children miss the start of the lesson, they do not know what to do.

- when children arrive late, it disrupts the learning program for others.

However, we do understand that on occasion, and for various reasons, arriving late or leaving early is unavoidable. In these instances, we ask parents and carers to avoid dropping off or picking up their child between the hours of 10.30-11.00 and 1.00-1.30pm due to the limited availability of staff to collect the child from, or take them to, the office.

If a child is absent from school, it is a legal requirement for an explanation to be provided. We are working on an easier way for you to provide this. In the meantime, please call the school office, or write a note in your child's communication book, to explain an absence.

Maintaining regular attendance at school is important as it impacts student learning, progress and achievement.

Thinking about the next school holiday break already? Here are the dates for the 2024 school holidays so you can plan ahead!