Dear Parents and Friends of Holy Cross,

As we navigate through the school year, we're all focusing on helping our students build strong character and emotional resilience. At our Book Week parade, our teachers joyfully presented a story of Alice’s Adventures through Wonderland, meeting many different and unique characters who each were able to reinforce positive values and virtues such as kindness, care, bravery, loyalty, confidence, patience and resilience. 

One of the most important values we can instill in our children is forgiveness. It can be challenging to teach, but it's a vital skill for navigating relationships and resolving conflicts. We see small conflicts happen every day on the playground and in the classroom. For example, a student might accidentally knock over another student's block tower. The immediate reaction is often frustration or anger. In these moments, we can guide our children to see the situation from a different perspective and understand that forgiveness isn't about excusing bad behavior; it's about releasing the negative feelings that hold us back. It’s a gift they give themselves so they can move on and rebuild friendships.

You can help reinforce this value at home. When your child comes home upset because a friend said something unkind or didn't share a toy, instead of jumping to anger, use it as a teaching moment. Talk to them about how it felt to be on the receiving end, and then help them consider how their friend might have been feeling. Encourage them to find a way to talk to their friend and work through the issue together. Remind them that just as they want to be forgiven for their mistakes, others do too. By teaching our children to forgive, we're not just resolving a single conflict—we're equipping them with the tools to build lasting friendships, show empathy, and become compassionate, well-rounded individuals.

Feast Day on FRIDAY 12th SEPTEMBER

Together we will celebrate our school’s and parish's Feast Day with Mass at 9:15am, acknowledging our school’s revitalised Vision and Mission.  

Our school song has been reworked, and Tim Hart, once an REC here at Holy Cross, recently returned to record our choir singing the backing track. He will also be our special guest musician at our Feast Day Mass, joining Mr Body and our choir.  

Our students have been practising all term, and we will be singing our updated school song at our next Awards Assembly in Week 8!

Grandparents Morning Tea- Traditionally here at Holy Cross, we also celebrate the

special place grandparents have in our lives with a morning tea after our Feast Day Mass, and classroom visits to make special crosses together.

Catering RSVP: Please complete by Friday 5th September  RSVP MORNING TEA LINK 

We also invite parents to send a plate of pre sliced cake, cookies or cupcakes on Friday morning (drop off before school/mass) to supplement school catering.

Parent Helpers- if you can assist in the set up, serving or clean up of morning tea, we would really appreciate a few helpers. 

JUBILEE YEAR EVENTS

I encourage you to keep an eye out for diocesan Year of Jubilee pilgrimage events  such as this one coming up next month:

Rosemeadow Jubilee Pilgrimage Day Saturday 6 September 2025. The Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Rosemeadow invites everyone to a Jubilee Pilgrimage Day where we will uncover the profound meaning, history and significance of the Year of Jubilee and how we can continue living it out in our pilgrimage of life towards Christ. The day begins with Mass at 10:00am, followed by a catechesis led by Elise Duval, a time of Eucharistic Adoration with opportunity for confession, and concludes with Benediction at 3:00pm. Please BYO lunch. Come and be renewed in God’s mercy!

TEACHER PROFESSIONALISM

Our school’s Annual Improvement Plan’s impact on improving students’ faith, learning and wellbeing is highly dependent upon the ongoing professional learning and capacity building of our staff. The professional learning opportunities and official events that staff have engaged with the last two weeks: 

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Milena Colussi
Principal