Tabloids prove just the trick

Holy Name Primary School, Forster, has been a hive of activity recently, with students taking part in a host of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) events.

From a Youth Mass on the weekend, to open classrooms, sports tabloids, art activities, athletics coaching, tent construction and everything in between, there’s been something for everyone to get involved in.

Holy Name Primary principal Brooke Stephens says staff and students showcased and celebrated what it means to work and learn in a Catholic school.

“The students demonstrated their commitment and passion for Holy Name School and proudly represented at the pop-up stall, Mass, Open Day and in leading Friday’s fun activities,” said Mrs Stephens.

“A highlight for me was the Smoking Ceremony to kick off our Catholic Schools Week Mass, led by local Worimi elder Steve Brereton. We are so lucky to be a much-loved part of our local community.”

Holy Name fosters a positive, challenging, child-centred, culturally inclusive environment that values local Worimi traditions and experiences.

Students are nurtured to become responsible, resilient, respectful, discerning thinkers who grow to become confident, creative, active and informed citizens displaying concern for others.

Certainly Holy Name’s focus on service to others was on full display. Staff and students demonstrated their commitment to the school’s Mary MacKillop charism of “never seeing a need without doing something about it” during the events of CSW.

One of the events on Friday, tabloids, involved Year 6 students taking charge of an activity they wanted to stage. The rest of the school then rotated through the events, enabling them to engage in all the activities Year 6 designed. 

Year 6 student Gypsy said the tabloids were really fun. “We did loads of different activities with the younger kids,” she said. “We organised tug ‘o’ war.”

Another Year 6 student, Lylah, concurred on the fun of tabloids, but said the whole week had been exciting and very eventful.  “I think Mr Nicholls, the principal at St Clare’s, coming in on Wednesday was pretty cool,” she said. “He came in, looked around our school and spoke to us all.”

Helen, another Year 6 student, said getting ice cream was the most enjoyable part of the week, which drew a good deal of laugher. She then said the Mass and celebrating CSW was actually the best part. “On Monday at our assembly we sang our song,” she said.

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Brittany Gonzalez Image
Brittany Gonzalez

Brittany Gonzalez is a Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.