These two women have been a part of Holy Family Primary School East Granville for a combined total of more than 50 years. Home Liaison Officer Fadia Rizk has worked at the school for 31 years, while Teacher’s Aide Sue Issa is about to clock up 24 years!
They are at the heart of a school community that is soon to celebrate its 80th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, a day of celebrations is being held on Wednesday, August 8 beginning at 9.30am with a special Mass and blessing of its new learning studio.
Mrs Rizk said she started at the school as a Bilingual Assistant.
"This role saw me interacting with parents on a number of different levels from having a casual chat to assisting them with filling out forms or sitting in on meetings with them and their children’s teachers,’’ Mrs Rizk said.
For six years, she also ran a playgroup for families attached to the school. “I enjoy helping families and if I need to go out and visit a family who needs some extra help, I am happy to do that,” Mrs Rizk said.
Mrs Rizk has two sons - George, 35 and Andre, 32. She can relate to a the challenges the school’s parent community faces, which makes her the perfect fit for her role at Holy Family.
Teacher’s Aide Sue Issa’s main role is helping students with their learning.
“All four of my children went to this school and I used to volunteer to help in the classrooms,’’ Mrs Issa said.
“Then one day the Principal asked if I would like to become a Teacher’s Aide, because at the time we had a lot of people who didn’t speak English.”
Mrs Issa said she is driven by the enjoyment she gets from working with infants as well as students with special needs.
“To me, this school community feels like one big family and I really do feel like I am making a difference in these kids’ lives.”
Mrs Issa, former student of Holy Family, is the mother of four children: Tania, 38, Steven, 36, Natalie, 33 and Pierre, 29 and grandmother to seven children. She never thought she would still be working at the school for this long but can’t see herself doing anything else. She hopes to continue in her role at the school for as long as her health will allow it.
Both Mrs Issa and Mrs Rizk have been part of the close-knit school community for so long, some of their former students have returned to the school as parents!
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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26 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Year 6 experienced a special day at ENCOUNTER with Gen Bryant. They lifted their voices in song, entered into prayer, reflected deeply on human dignity, and spent time in Adoration - encountering Christ in a powerful and personal way. ✝️ It was inspiring to see our students engaging with their faith so wholeheartedly as they continue to live, love and learn in Christ. 💜
25 Feb 2026
From Facebook
✨ Partners in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning ✨ This week at Holy Family, our classrooms have been filled with more than just learning, they’ve been filled with conversation, connection and collaboration. Our Partners in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning catch-ups are such a special part of the start of our year. They give families and teachers the opportunity to sit together, share insights, celebrate strengths, and talk intentionally about how we can support each child, academically, socially and spiritually. These conversations matter. They remind us that education is never done in isolation. It is a partnership. When school and home walk together, children thrive. 💛 We love hearing your hopes for the year ahead, learning more about your child’s interests and needs, and sharing how we will nurture them not just as learners, but as people of faith and character. And we’re not finished yet! If your meeting is still to come, we’re looking forward to welcoming you. The conversations (and yes… the sausage sizzle 🌭🔥) are continuing. Because at Holy Family, partnership isn’t a one-off event, it’s how we do school, together. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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26 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Year 6 experienced a special day at ENCOUNTER with Gen Bryant. They lifted their voices in song, entered into prayer, reflected deeply on human dignity, and spent time in Adoration - encountering Christ in a powerful and personal way. ✝️ It was inspiring to see our students engaging with their faith so wholeheartedly as they continue to live, love and learn in Christ. 💜
25 Feb 2026
From Facebook
✨ Partners in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning ✨ This week at Holy Family, our classrooms have been filled with more than just learning, they’ve been filled with conversation, connection and collaboration. Our Partners in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning catch-ups are such a special part of the start of our year. They give families and teachers the opportunity to sit together, share insights, celebrate strengths, and talk intentionally about how we can support each child, academically, socially and spiritually. These conversations matter. They remind us that education is never done in isolation. It is a partnership. When school and home walk together, children thrive. 💛 We love hearing your hopes for the year ahead, learning more about your child’s interests and needs, and sharing how we will nurture them not just as learners, but as people of faith and character. And we’re not finished yet! If your meeting is still to come, we’re looking forward to welcoming you. The conversations (and yes… the sausage sizzle 🌭🔥) are continuing. Because at Holy Family, partnership isn’t a one-off event, it’s how we do school, together. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
25 Feb 2026
From Facebook
📣✨ Holy Family Primary East Granville – Open Days 2027 Enrolments Now Open! ✨📣 Choosing the right school for your child is a big decision… and we would love to welcome you to Holy Family to experience our community firsthand 💛💜 Join us at one of our upcoming Open Days and see what makes our school such a special place to grow in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning. 🗓 Open Day Dates: 📍 3 March | 9:00am – 11:00am 📍 6 March | 2:00pm – 3:00pm 📍 19 March | 9:00am – 10:00am 📍 24 March | 2:00pm – 3:00pm 🌟 Tour our learning spaces 🌟 Meet our dedicated teachers 🌟 See our students in action 🌟 Discover how we nurture every child to thrive We are now enrolling for 2027, and places fill quickly! 📍 199 The Trongate, East Granville 📞 8633 8200 🌐 hfgranville.catholic.edu.au Simply scan the QR code on the flyer to register your interest, or contact our office for more information. We can’t wait to meet your family and share what makes Holy Family such a welcoming and vibrant community 💫
24 Feb 2026
From Facebook
🎉🌟 Celebrating Success in Years 3 & 4! 🌟🎉 A huge congratulations to our amazing Year 3 and Year 4 students who were the very first grades to reach their Safe and Ready to Learn reward! 🙌👏 Year 3 celebrated in cosy style with a Bring a Toy and Wear Your PJs Day 🧸💤, while Year 4 brightened up the school with a splash of personality for Wear Your Favourite Colour Day 🌈🎨. We are so proud of the way these students live safely, love respectfully and learn daily in all they do. What a fantastic achievement – well done, superstars! 💛✨
21 Feb 2026
From Facebook
💙🩵💧It’s time to UNITE AGAINST POVERTY 💧🩵💙 Today, our Year 5 students proudly launched Project Compassion at our morning school assembly, encouraging us all to put our faith into action this Lent. Together, we can stand in solidarity with communities around the world who need access to essentials like clean water, education and healthcare. You can help make a difference by bringing a donation to their classes Project Compassion box or donating to the link in the comments
20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
🌭✨ Connection. Conversation. Community. Have you booked your time for Partners in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning? This is a wonderful opportunity to spend 10 minutes connecting with your child’s teacher and sharing what matters most for your child this year. When home and school work together, children flourish. Book your time slot and join us for a sausage sizzle as we gather as a community. We can’t wait to see you there!
20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
✨ Come and See What Makes Holy Family So Special ✨ Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you’ll make and we would love to welcome you into our community. Join us for our Open Day at Holy Family Primary School, East Granville and experience firsthand what it means to be truly Partners in Faith, Wellbeing and Learning. 🌿 Walk through our classrooms 📚 See learning in action 💛 Meet our passionate teachers and leadership team 🙏 Discover how our Catholic identity shapes the everyday moments of school life 🌟 Hear from the students themselves — the heart of our community At Holy Family, we believe education is more than academics. It’s about nurturing confident learners, kind hearts and courageous spirits who strive, thrive and grow together. Whether you’re enrolling for Kindergarten or considering a move for your child, this is your opportunity to ask questions, explore our spaces and imagine your family becoming part of ours. Register your interest here https://info.parra.catholic.edu.au/open-day/hfgranville2?utm_campaign=54076646-2025fl&utm_source=Flyer We can’t wait to meet you.
20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
✨ Year 4 Assembly Highlights ✨ Today our Year 4 students led our school assembly with such confidence, pride and leadership! 👏🌟 They shared their learning beautifully and represented our school community so well. A big congratulations to our ⭐ Student of the Week ⭐ award recipients — we are so proud of your effort, attitude and the way you apply yourself to your learning each day! 💛 Thank you to the families who joined us — we love sharing these special moments with you and truly value your ongoing support. 🤝💫 We look forward to welcoming you to our next assembly on Friday 6th March — see you there! 📅✨
19 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Please join us tomorrow for our whole school assembly ✝️ We hope to see you there!
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
At Holy Family, we joyfully celebrated Shrove Tuesday as one Catholic community 🥞 Shrove Tuesday marks the day before the beginning of Lent and is a special time in our Catholic tradition. The word “shrove” comes from shrive, meaning to confess and prepare our hearts for the Lenten season. ✝️ Today, our students gathered in faith, friendship and gratitude, sharing in this tradition together as we prepare to journey through Lent as a school community. A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful staff who always go above and beyond to make these special events meaningful and memorable for our students. We are so grateful for your generosity and dedication.❤️
16 Feb 2026
From Facebook
🏉💙 What an exciting day here at Holy Family! 💛🏉 We were thrilled to welcome Parramatta Eels players Bailey Simonsson and Toni Mataele to our school! Our students loved the opportunity to meet the players, hear about their journeys in rugby league, and learn about the importance of teamwork, perseverance and following your dreams. 🙌✨ Bailey and Toni also shared powerful messages around wellbeing, speaking about the importance of looking after both our mental and physical health — including drinking lots of water and reducing our screen time 🧠💪 Some of our students were especially excited to take part in a fun team bonding game, building connection, communication and lots of school spirit! 🎉 There were plenty of smiles, high fives and unforgettable moments as we came together to share in this very special experience. Thank you, Bailey and Toni, for inspiring our students and taking the time to connect with them so genuinely. 💙💛 Parramatta Eels
14 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Happy Valentine’s Day, Holy Family 💕 Today isn’t just about chocolates and roses, it’s about love in its truest form. The kind of love that is patient, kind, forgiving and generous. The kind of love that chooses others, builds community and reflects the heart of Christ. At Holy Family, we see that love lived out every day: 🤍 in the way our students include one another 🤍 in the care shown in our classrooms 🤍 in the partnership between school and families 🤍 in the quiet acts of kindness that often go unnoticed As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we are reminded that love is not just something we feel, it is something we do. “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 May our hearts today and every day, be centred on the kind of love that helps us grow in faith, wellbeing and learning. 💗
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Our students were proud to attend the Project Compassion Launch: Unite Against Poverty 💜 Through prayer, a meaningful water blessing, and learning about Sisilia’s story, our students were invited to open their hearts and reflect on how we are called to live with compassion, justice and hope. They listened thoughtfully to inspiring words from Bishop Vincent Long and Jack De Groot, reminding us that even small actions can make a powerful difference. Together, we reflected on how we can bring this message back to our own school community and continue to live our motto: In Christ we live, love and learn. ✨ Watch this space, Holy Family community - exciting ways to Unite Against Poverty and support Project Compassion are coming soon. Stay tuned✨
12 Feb 2026
From Facebook
What. A. Day. 🙌 Our Year 6 legends have absolutely made the most of every minute at camp! From conquering the Rock Climbing wall 🧗♀️ to taking on the Giant Swing (with some very brave faces! 😅), it’s been non-stop adventure, courage and laughter. Dinner ✅ Smiles still going strong ✅ We’re now heading to the hall for some indoor games to finish off an already fantastic day. Camp memories are well and truly being made! 💙✨