Media

Holy Name Primary School is very proud of the various occasions which have been recognised by the local media. Please find below an overview of events that have featured the Holy Name Primary School community and its student’s achievements. Please click on each newspaper article to read.

Melbourne Victory U/12 Tour of Jakarta

Congratulations to Patrick who was picked to play with Melbourne Victory in an Under 12 competition in Jakarta, Indonesia.  He played against various academy teams from around the world. It was a great opportunity for Patrick to be able to play against teams from Spain, Italy, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, Japan and Indonesia.  

December 5, 2022

Miniroos Centre of the Year: Holy Name Primary School

Congratulations to Adrian and Carmela and all the Miniroos Coaches for their work in setting this wonderful program up for students. Below is an excerpt from the Football Victoria website: https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/news/2021-fv-community-awards-announced-congratulations-all-our-winners

“Based in Preston, Holy Name Primary School has a network of dedicated parents and staff who have created an inspiring program for kids aged between 4-11. The school has a ‘no-profit’ motive, meaning all funds are directed back to improving facilities and opportunities for its players.

Holy Name prides itself on being accommodating to families of all backgrounds and cultures, resulting in a strong bond forming between people in what is a heavily multicultural community in Melbourne’s north.

This approach has led its Miniroos program to thrive. 30 kids signed up for Holy Name’s Autumn program with the highlight of the year being a Family Fun Day where the Miniroos program was the shining light that brought kids and their families together through their common interest of football. With another 60 kids expected to take part over Summer, Holy Name Primary School’s Miniroos program is continuing to go from strength to strength.”

November 5, 2021

Holy Name Australian Open Tennis Future Champion Nominee

Congratulations to Vanessa who was one of eight ANZ Future Champions chosen to go behind the scenes at this year’s Australian Open Tennis. The experience included meet and greets with Dylan Alcott and Alicia Molik and one very special court session.
Well done Vanessa!

Nominated by her coaches and team-mates, Vanessa was chosen for displaying ‘great sportsmanship, passion, enthusiasm and
dedication’, on and off the court. She received a medal at the presentation on 24th January, and was featured in the Preston Leader newspaper. She said that the entire VIP day was a great experience and made her want to be a tennis player when she grows up. Serena Williams is her favourite player; she said “watching her play is a real inspiration”.

February 4, 2020

Holy Name Auskicker of the Year nominee

Congratulations to Lachlan for being the 2019 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year nominee for Round 2. What an amazing video that was submitted all the way from Italy.

Enter your Auskicker today by submitting a video at nab.com.au/auskick for their chance to win.

An all-together star

Reservoir teacher runner-up in new hit TV singing show

A RESERVOIR primary school teacher has hit her highest note, finishing second in the grand final of a hit national talent competition.

Tarryn Stokes teaches piano and singing at Holy Name Primary School and said she had been working on stepping out of her shell.

“I’ve been working on my personal growth and getting through anxiety and not worrying about what people think,” Ms Stokes said.

That attitude, and an impressive vocal range, took Ms Stokes all the way to the top of the TV singing show All Together Now.

The teacher delivered the last performance of the night and finished second in Sunday’s grand final with a stunning rendition of The Pretenders’ I’ll Stand By You.

Her performance had 78 of the 100 judges on their feet, behind winner Lai Utovou, whose cover of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk swayed 87 of the 100 judges.

Ms Stokes, who has been singing since she was a child, said she was inspired by her students and liked to reciprocate the good vibes.

“I like to set an example and influence people in a positive way,” she said.

“My students are inspired by me stepping out and giving it a go. I like to lead in that way and help people.”

Holy Name principal Caroline Galea said the school community had known Ms Stokes had the talent but it would have been a huge step for her to go on the show.

Ms Galea said the whole school had been behind the usually reserved teacher.

“(The students) are absolutely thrilled. They get the message that if you believe in what you’re doing you can aspire to do anything that you want to do,” Ms Galea said.

Ms Stokes is expecting a baby in January and said her future involved taking time to be a mum.

“It’s a little more tiring singing while pregnant and breathing becomes harder but I’ve been trying to manage the energy levels and still do what I love,” she said.

– Richard Pearce and Nui Te Koha

Final straw for school

Use of plastics to be reduced under student-led initiative

A SUSTAINABILITY superhero in Reservoir has attracted national attention in his campaign to bring metal straws to school.

Thanks to Holy Name Primary School student Cameron, lunch box makers Smash Foods will next year launch a range of reusable metal straws.

It all began when Cameron applied for a Nude Food grant to get reusable straws at his school fete after he learned about the impact of single-use plastic.

Cameron said after he discovered the Skip the Straw campaign, which highlights the danger plastic presented to sea turtles, he started talking to his friends about single-use materials and the existence of metal straws.

“It makes me feel sad knowing that nearly all species of sea turtles are on the endangered list,” Cameron said.

“Many of the plastic straws we use end up in the ocean, harming and killing our marine wildlife.”

The Grade 5 student applied for a grant of $1500 to provide free metal straws with all the drinks sold at his school fete and encourage customers to keep using them at home.

In response to Cameron’s application, staff members from Nude Food Movers and their partner Vegemite visited the school to give them the good news.

They announced lunch box makers Smash Foods, the owners of the Nude Food grant, would create 500 straws for Cameron and his school and launch a new range of metal straws in 2019.

Cameron’s parents Tim and Marla said they were “thrilled” to hear the news.

“(Cameron) and his classmates were very excited to learn that they were the lucky recipients of the reusable metal straws that will be used at the school fete,” Tim said.

“More importantly, they were happy to know their school is making a difference on the war on waste.”

Smash Foods managing director Jason Harbinson said the grant program was designed to foster change and also encourage and support the students who were creating that change.

“Our goal is to not only reduce waste in the school environment but to create the next generation of waste and Nude Food warriors, empowering them with the knowledge and skills to make sustainable choices that will be with them for life,” he said.

LETTER SPARKS CONVERSATIONS  (30/10/2018):

Preston Leader

STUDENTS at Holy Name Primary School have been hand picked to decorate a 1.2m tall letter M as part of RSL Victoria’s #remember project.

A giant ‘Remember’ sign will be displayed at some of Melbourne’s iconic landmarks in November, including the Shrine of Remembrance and Government House.

RSL Victoria state president Dr Rob Webster said the project was a great catalyst for children to learn about why November 11 was an important part of Australian history. “To remember is an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifices made by so many Australian men and women in conflicts past and present,” he said.

(RSL Victoria’s Kirsty Kennedy and Peter Smith with students Maya, Keeley and Oscar)

POSTER ON RIGHT TRACK (8/2018):

Preston Leader

IF EVERYONE knew the stay behind the yellow line message as well as Chloe Hidalgo, then safety around trains wouldn’t be an issue.

The Holy Name Primary School student (pictured) has won the Metro Trains’ annual Rail Safety Week poster competition. Her poster highlighted the importance of standing behind the yellow line as a train approaches.

The competition, open to Grade 5 and 6 students from across Melbourne, encourages students to be safe around trains. Chloe said she was shocked and overwhelmed to be named the competition’s winner.

She earned a school visit last week from Metro’s community education unit and Dumb Ways to Die characters for a special presentation of her prize. She received an Xbox One console and a Dumb Ways to Die showbag.

Picture: Ellen Smith

SAM SERVES UP ACE INITIATIVE (1/5/2018):

Preston Leader

Sam Stosur with Holy Name Primary School students Luca, Mila, Olivia, Lana and Ben. Picture: TONY GOUGH

STUDENTS at Holy Name Primary School in Reservoir got to meet a grand slam champion last week as part of the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots program.

Australian tennis pro Sam Stosur visited the school to gift students tennis racquets and launch the initiative for 2018, which will see 110,000 racquets in the hands of first-year primary students.

Stosur said tennis was an important part of her childhood and it was fantastic to see children get the chance to take part in the sport.

Tennis pros Todd Woodbridge, John Fitzgerald and Alicia Molik will visit 30 schools across the country and take part in clinics to encourage more children to pick up a racquet and get active.

Parent Protocols Policy

“A Catholic education is a partnership between school communities and parents, where parents are recognized as the first and lifelong educators of their children”.

Executive Director of Catholic Education Stephen Elder.

Holy Name is owned and operated by the Catholic Church, and teaches children in a Christian faith based educational setting. As a school, we believe in and aim to uphold, the principles of social and natural justice, mutual respect and cooperation, respect for privacy, open and honest communication, quality education, access and equity, accountability and working in partnership with others.

Holy Name Primary School considers all staff, teachers, students, parents, clergy and volunteers as members of the school community, and expects the entire community to uphold and abide by this policy. This policy also applies to all visitors and contractors entering the school grounds.

School Advisory Council

The Holy Name Primary School Advisory Council is comprised of parents, staff and our Parish Priest, Father Joe Tien. The committee meets each month and is an invaluable group within our school community.

The function of the group is to be a voice for the parent population when the school is making decisions and setting directions.

The parent representatives bring to the School Advisory Council forum, issues to be discussed and present initiatives from the parent community perspective.

The School Advisory Council is also an avenue for the school to present information about current practices, and future initiatives, to a selection of parents. The wealth of information is an important component of the decision making process when the leadership team and staff, as a whole, meet together.

The school’s Acceptable Internet Use Agreement is an example of a school initiative that was presented to the School Advisory Council, and received their ratification before being presented to the school community. Other initiatives the School Advisory Council has worked on include the introduction of an updated Home Learning Policy and introduction and discussion of an updated sexual and relationships education program. Another example is the free sunglasses program to students when they start their Prep year. All students wear sunglasses at lunch times, and outdoors, during terms one and four as part of the school’s Sun Smart policy. This was one of the first initiatives the School Advisory Council decided upon, more than ten years ago, and is still in practice today.

Remember if you have any issues or ideas that you would like to be presented in the School Advisory Council forum, please make contact with one of the members listed below.

The current members of the Holy Name Primary School Advisory Council are:

• Father Joe Tien – prestoneast@com.org.au (Parish Priest)
• Caroline Galea – principal@hnpe.catholic.edu.au (Principal)
• Derryn Ling – dling@hnpe.catholic.edu.au (Deputy Principal, Religious Education Leader & I.C.T. Coordinator)
• Tiare Georgiopoulos  – (Parent rep)
• Mariella Alessi  – mari_alessi@yahoo.com (Parent rep)
• Tim Date – tim.date@yahoo.com.au  (Parent Rep)
• Romel Reckerman – rreckerm@ford.com (Parent Rep)
• Adrian Gervasoni – adrian_gervasoni@hotmail.com (Parent Rep)
• Marla Paul – (Parent Rep)

The Holy Name School Advisory Council can be contacted through their new email address sac@hnpe.catholic.edu.au or their personal email contacts, as listed above. Otherwise, simply chat to one of its members.

Further information about primary school councils can be found on the following link from Parents as Partners, School Boards, Catholic Education Melbourne.