There was a true sense of joy in the air when Holy Family Primary, East Granville celebrated its 80th anniversary on the same day as St Mary of the Cross MacKillop was remembered for establishing the first Catholic school in Australia.
The celebrations began with an inspiring Mass and included a special blessing of a new learning space at the school.
Diocese of Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD reflected on some of the famous sayings of St Mary MacKillop including “never see a need without doing something about it”, “we are but travellers here” and “find happiness in making others happy.”
He said St Mary MacKillop saw a need to serve the poor and from that she founded the first Catholic school in rural Penola in South Australia and so Catholic education was born.
Australia’s Catholic education story includes the establishment in 1938 of Holy Family Primary East Granville Trongate Hall, newly purchased by Fr Halpin.
Holy Family’s Principal Yvette Baird said Fr Halpin asked the Sisters of St Joseph to look after the new school, and they did so for 50 years before the first lay principal Carmel Cannon took over the reigns.
Other past principals include Bernard Holland, Kevin Etherington and Sue Guilfoyle.
“However a school would be just bricks and mortar without one essential and valuable asset: the children who walk through the gates each morning with a smile on their face ready to live, love and learn,” Mrs Baird said.
“This has been our school motto - to live with hope, to love in hope and to learn for the hope of our world.”
In the spirit of the occasion Mrs Baird, along with her wonderful team of teachers, took to the church podium to add a splash of colour, music and song.
Following the Mass, Bishop Vincent blessed the school’s new learning space with the assistance of Holy Family Parish Priest Fr Andrew Bass.
Mrs Baird said she is very grateful of the new learning space which has already provided new possibilities and opportunities to cater for the learning needs of all the students.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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27 Sep 2026
From Facebook
2027 CSPD Primary Sport TEAM Registration Form (Expression of Interest) - Sport Trials (Basketball, Cricket & Tennis) - Session 1 (November 2026) AFL (Boys & Girls -trials in early 2027) Expression of Interest (EOI) Nominations are now open for students wishing to trial for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Primary Sport Teams. Parents and guardians are invited to complete this Expression of Interest (EOI) form for their child to be considered for selection trials. Please note: Submitting an EOI does not guarantee attendance at a trial. All nominations are subject to school approval. 1. Sports Currently Open for Nominations The following sports are accepting nominations for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Teams. Cricket – Boys & Girls (closing date 26 October 2026) Basketball – Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) Tennis – Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) AFL – Boys & Girls (closing date 28th January 2027) Cricket, Basketball and Tennis trials will be held in November 2026. AFL trials will take place in early February 2027. 2. Upcoming Nominations – Term 1 and Term 2 Trials Nominations for the following sports will open on 23 November 2026 and close on Friday, 5 February 2027. Trials will be held during Term 1 and Term 2 of 2027. Hockey Football Netball Rugby League Rugby Union Softball Touch Football 3. Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria Students nominated for diocesan trials must demonstrate an above-average to high level of skill in their chosen sport. Students should have experience playing in regular competitions outside of school. For some sports, representative playing experience may also be required. Year Level Eligibility Students must generally be in Year 5 or Year 6 in 2027 to be eligible for nomination. Students entering Year 4 in 2027 who demonstrate exceptional skill and ability may also be nominated. This is open age and will compete against Year 5 & 6 students for the following sports: Hockey Softball Tennis Touch Football All nominations must meet the eligibility and selection criteria for the relevant sport. 4. School Approval and Trial Selection All Expressions of Interest are subject to approval by the student's school principal and sports coordinator. Each sport has specific eligibility and selection criteria that schools must follow when considering nominations. Submitting an EOI does not automatically qualify a student to attend a diocesan trial. Schools have final discretion over which students are approved to attend. Students selected by their school will receive the relevant Parramatta Diocesan Team trial information directly from their school. 5. How to Submit an Expression of Interest Parents and guardians may complete this form on behalf of their child. A separate EOI form must be submitted for each child and each sport. Once all required information has been completed, click SUBMIT to register your child's Expression of Interest. https://forms.gle/22MBb12d7cZgeTzo8 6. Additional Team Sports (MacKillop level only) – CSNSW Sport Portal Nominations for the following sports will open in early 2027 and must be completed through the CSNSW Sport Portal: Diving Golf Netball – Boys Rugby 7s – Girls These sports are not included in this EOI form. 7. Further Information For further information about eligibility, nomination requirements or selection trials, please contact your school's sports coordinator. Important reminder: This registration is an Expression of Interest only. Participation in Parramatta Diocesan Team trials is subject to school approval.24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations Holy Family on achieving your whole school reward for Term 3! 🎉🏆 Students celebrated today with a session of Putt Party! ⛳️ It was wonderful to see all our students using their grit and teamwork to cheer each other on as they completed different themed courses. 👏 This day was to celebrate the way the students have worked hard to live safely, learn daily and love respect while navigating such a busy term. 🌟📚 Keep up the good work Holy Family! 🙌✨
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Celebrating 40 years of Voice of Youth and the power of student voice
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27 Sep 2026
From Facebook
2027 CSPD Primary Sport TEAM Registration Form (Expression of Interest) - Sport Trials (Basketball, Cricket & Tennis) - Session 1 (November 2026) AFL (Boys & Girls -trials in early 2027) Expression of Interest (EOI) Nominations are now open for students wishing to trial for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Primary Sport Teams. Parents and guardians are invited to complete this Expression of Interest (EOI) form for their child to be considered for selection trials. Please note: Submitting an EOI does not guarantee attendance at a trial. All nominations are subject to school approval. 1. Sports Currently Open for Nominations The following sports are accepting nominations for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Teams. Cricket – Boys & Girls (closing date 26 October 2026) Basketball – Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) Tennis – Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) AFL – Boys & Girls (closing date 28th January 2027) Cricket, Basketball and Tennis trials will be held in November 2026. AFL trials will take place in early February 2027. 2. Upcoming Nominations – Term 1 and Term 2 Trials Nominations for the following sports will open on 23 November 2026 and close on Friday, 5 February 2027. Trials will be held during Term 1 and Term 2 of 2027. Hockey Football Netball Rugby League Rugby Union Softball Touch Football 3. Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria Students nominated for diocesan trials must demonstrate an above-average to high level of skill in their chosen sport. Students should have experience playing in regular competitions outside of school. For some sports, representative playing experience may also be required. Year Level Eligibility Students must generally be in Year 5 or Year 6 in 2027 to be eligible for nomination. Students entering Year 4 in 2027 who demonstrate exceptional skill and ability may also be nominated. This is open age and will compete against Year 5 & 6 students for the following sports: Hockey Softball Tennis Touch Football All nominations must meet the eligibility and selection criteria for the relevant sport. 4. School Approval and Trial Selection All Expressions of Interest are subject to approval by the student's school principal and sports coordinator. Each sport has specific eligibility and selection criteria that schools must follow when considering nominations. Submitting an EOI does not automatically qualify a student to attend a diocesan trial. Schools have final discretion over which students are approved to attend. Students selected by their school will receive the relevant Parramatta Diocesan Team trial information directly from their school. 5. How to Submit an Expression of Interest Parents and guardians may complete this form on behalf of their child. A separate EOI form must be submitted for each child and each sport. Once all required information has been completed, click SUBMIT to register your child's Expression of Interest. https://forms.gle/22MBb12d7cZgeTzo8 6. Additional Team Sports (MacKillop level only) – CSNSW Sport Portal Nominations for the following sports will open in early 2027 and must be completed through the CSNSW Sport Portal: Diving Golf Netball – Boys Rugby 7s – Girls These sports are not included in this EOI form. 7. Further Information For further information about eligibility, nomination requirements or selection trials, please contact your school's sports coordinator. Important reminder: This registration is an Expression of Interest only. Participation in Parramatta Diocesan Team trials is subject to school approval.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations Holy Family on achieving your whole school reward for Term 3! 🎉🏆 Students celebrated today with a session of Putt Party! ⛳️ It was wonderful to see all our students using their grit and teamwork to cheer each other on as they completed different themed courses. 👏 This day was to celebrate the way the students have worked hard to live safely, learn daily and love respect while navigating such a busy term. 🌟📚 Keep up the good work Holy Family! 🙌✨
17 Sep 2026
From Facebook
💻🔐 Learning to Be Safe Online! 📱🌐 Today, Stage 1 students took part in an engaging Digital Safety incursion, exploring how to stay safe, respectful and responsible when using technology and navigating the online world. 🛡️✨ Students learnt about making safe choices online, protecting their personal information and recognising situations where they may need to ask a trusted adult for help. 👩🏫💬 It was a valuable and interactive day, helping our students build the knowledge and confidence they need to become safe and responsible digital citizens! 🌟💻
11 Sep 2026
From Facebook
🌏 Global Environments | Year 6 🐚🌿 On Tuesday, Year 6 embarked on a hands-on “Global Environments” excursion to Clifton Gardens, exploring how climate, vegetation and human impact shape our world. 🌱🌊 Throughout the day, students discovered the cultural and ecological importance of World Heritage sites and learned how deeply humans depend on natural environments for essential food and resources. 🌍💚 Students put their learning into practice through a range of hands-on experiences, including building beach shelters 🏖️, trying hand-reel fishing 🎣, experimenting with waterworks 💧, and catching bugs 🐛 to investigate local biodiversity. It was a fantastic day of learning, exploration and discovery! 🔎🌿🌊
09 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Year 2 has been exploring time in Maths! ⏰ We looked at clocks 🕰️ learning how to read o'clock, half past, quarter-to, and quarter-past times. 🕘 Halfway through, we switched gears! ⚙️ Now we are looking at the duration of different events ⏱️ and will be exploring a calendar 📅 to countdown to different events... we might start with working out how many school days until the holidays!! 🎒➡️🏖️ 🎭 Year 3 Drama Literacy 🎭 During Drama Literacy, Year 3 explored the idea of accidents through the familiar story of Humpty Dumpty 🥚✨. Students used their bodies to embody different types of accidents, thinking creatively about how each situation might look and feel. They then explored the emotions of shock, determination, terror and pride 😲💪😱🌟, using facial expressions, body movements and poses to communicate each feeling — all without saying a word! 🎭👏
06 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Heavenly Father, You entrusted Your Son Jesus to the care of Joseph, an earthly father. Bless all fathers and father figures as they care for their families. Give them strength and wisdom, tenderness and patience. Support them in their daily work, and let Your face shine upon them with grace and peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏻 Wishing all the special men in the Holy Family community a happy Father’s Day⭐️💙⭐️
04 Sep 2026
From Facebook
💙 A special morning celebrating all the incredible people who take on the role of a father in our children’s lives! 💙 We started our morning with a delicious Father’s Day Breakfast, bringing our school community together for smiles, laughter and precious moments shared with the special dads, grandfathers, stepdads and father figures who mean so much to our students. 🍳☕️👨👧👦 We then gathered for a beautiful Father’s Day Mass, giving thanks for the love, guidance, support and encouragement our dads and father figures provide each day. 🙏✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our morning so special. 💙 Happy Father’s Day to all our amazing dads and father figures! 🌟💙 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
02 Sep 2026
From Facebook
🐠🦘 Year 2 Goes WILD! 🐊🐧 Today, our Year 2 students headed off on an exciting adventure to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo! 🌊🦁 From discovering incredible underwater creatures 🐟🐢 to getting up close with some of Australia’s amazing wildlife 🦘🐨, our students had a fantastic day of learning, exploring and making memories together! 💙✨ What a WILD day for Year 2! 🌏🐾🎉
01 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Celebrating Our School Community, Safely 💙 You may begin to notice some changes in the way we share photos of our students on our public social media pages. We love giving our families a glimpse into school life and celebrating the learning, achievements, friendships, faith experiences and special moments that make our community so wonderful. However, as technology continues to evolve, particularly with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the ways images can be accessed, altered and shared online, we are becoming increasingly mindful of how we share identifiable images of our students publicly. Our students’ privacy and online safety must always come first. Don’t worry, our socials aren’t disappearing! We will continue to celebrate all the wonderful things happening across our school, from learning and sporting achievements to liturgies, excursions, performances and special events. You may simply notice fewer full-face or individually identifiable photographs of students appearing on our public social media pages. 📱 Families won’t miss out! More photos and special moments will be shared directly with our families through Compass, providing a more appropriate space for us to celebrate and share our students’ experiences. The way we share may be changing, but there will certainly be no shortage of wonderful things to celebrate. 💙 Thank you for supporting us as we continue to navigate an ever-changing digital world while keeping the safety, privacy and wellbeing of our students at the centre of our decisions. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
01 Sep 2026
From Facebook
💛 Support Staff Appreciation Week 💛 Today we celebrated our amazing support staff and the incredible difference they make every day. From supporting learning and navigating big emotions to offering encouragement and care, they are such an important part of our Holy Family community. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
28 Aug 2026
Our schools are cracking the reading code
Do you remember how you learned to read? For a vital skill that is linked to all other learning, it’s surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
27 Aug 2026
From Facebook
🎶📚 A SYMPHONY OF STORIES! 📚🎶 Today, our school was filled with characters, creativity and a whole lot of BOOK WEEK MAGIC! ✨📖🎭 In celebration of Children’s Book Week 2026 and this year’s theme, ‘Symphony of Stories’, our students brought the pages of their favourite books to life! 🌟 Just like a symphony brings together different instruments to create something wonderful, stories bring together different characters, voices, adventures and ideas to create a world of imagination. 🎶📚💫 From magical creatures and courageous heroes to much-loved storybook characters, our school was certainly making some beautiful literary music today! 🧙♀️🦸♂️🐻📚 A huge thank you to our wonderful families and staff for helping make today such a special celebration of the joy of reading. 💛 🎶 Every story has a voice. Every book has an adventure. Together, they create our Symphony of Stories! 📖✨ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
25 Aug 2026
From Facebook
In Maths, Year 2 has been learning about 2D shapes 📐. We explored the language of quarter-turns, half-turns and full-turns 🔄. We used the Beebots 🐝 to strengthen our understanding of the language and compared it to the clock ⏰ to discuss clockwise and anticlockwise. Check out our Year 2 mathematicians hard at work! 🗺️ Mapping Our Way! 🧭✨ Year 3 students have been learning how to draw and read maps using legends and symbols! 🌏📍 They have been practising how to use symbols to represent different features and using a legend to work out what each symbol means. 🔎🗺️ They’re becoming confident little mapmakers! 👏✨
23 Aug 2026
From Facebook
📚✨ BOOK WEEK IS HERE! ✨📚 Get ready to celebrate Children’s Book Week 2026 – Symphony of Stories! 🎶📖 We have a fantastic week ahead filled with books, imagination and plenty of fun, including our Book Performance, Book Fair, Author Visit, family picnic and our much-loved Character Parade! 🌟 📅 Thursday 27 August is our BIG celebration! 🧺 1:40pm – Families are invited to bring a picnic blanket or cushions, find a spot on the grass and share a book with your child. 🎭 2:30pm – Stay and enjoy our Character Parade on P2! Students are invited to come dressed as a favourite book character and don’t forget to bring your completed Character Profile with you! We can’t wait to see our school come alive with a Symphony of Stories! 📚🎶✨