Professional Learning

Recent Staff Professional Learning

Research tells us that the quality of the teacher is the greatest in-school influence on student achievement. Therefore high quality professional learning for teachers must be a priority to ensure improved teacher practice that leads to improved student growth. Recent professional learning undertaken by our staff this fortnight includes:

6 February 2023

Lamplighters Spirituality Program Miss Costello & Miss Facci

15 February 2023

Programming Quality & Compliance Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett, Miss Costello & Mr Body

17 February 2023

School Cyclic Inquiry Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett & Mrs N Baker

22 February 2023

NCCD Meeting Mrs Jennett & Mrs Mitrevski

23 February 2023

New K-2 Syllabus PD Mrs Jennett & Mrs McEntee

School Uniform

Thank you for ensuring your children attend school each day in the correct school uniform. We are grateful for your support in maintaining the high expectations we have regarding uniforms at Holy Cross. Uniform items can be purchased from Claudine’s in Caringbah or via Claudine's website https://www.claudineschoolwear.com.au/

This year we are introducing an optional unisex ½ zip Polar Fleece Jumper with the school logo. These jumpers may be worn under the Holy Cross Softshell Jacket or Sports Jacket on cold days or by itself with the winter or summer uniform. These are currently available through Claudine’s website for pre order and will be available in approximately 3-4 weeks. 

This winter, all girls also have the option of wearing long grey trousers. There are two options; girls zip trousers or elasticised trousers which are the same as the boys. All students wearing trousers will wear the blue long sleeve shirt with pointed collar and the long school tie.

IMPORTANT Please note that the girls’ long sleeve sky blue shirt with peter pan collar will be phased out by 2025. The school blue, long sleeve shirt with pointed collar (the same as the boys) is to be worn under the girls’ winter tunic and therefore should be purchased when buying a new long sleeve shirt. 

Claudines will set up a pop up shop in the school library on Thursday 23 March from 2.15pm. This will be an opportunity for parents to view winter uniform items, try on and purchase on the day. More details to follow.

Please find the Holy Cross School Uniform Policy attached.

Recent Resources Purchased

To support our learning and teaching programs, we have recently purchased the following resources:

Maths - Approximately $6000 spent on quality Maths resources for Measurement and Geometry. Thank you to Mr Body for organising these…

3D Printer - We are extremely excited about our purchase of a 3D Printer. This Printer will be used in Semester 1 to support our students’ participation in STEM Mad (https://stemnational.cna.catholic.edu.au/) and Makability (https://www.makeablechallenge.com/)

Competitions. We cannot wait to share the innovations and designs our students come up with! Thank you to Mrs Mitrevski for organising this.

Same on the Inside - Different on the outside Guest Speaker

On Monday Maree Jenner came to our school. She talked to the students about her life and how she could do things when they were challenging. She showed us other people who have achondroplasia or dawarfism, and what their problems were in their lives. I am so glad that she came to share her story.  All of our students learned a lot and wil now be able to make the world a better place.

LIBRARY NEWS

LIBRARY WARRIORS

Who are they?

Library Warriors are students who give up their time to help out in the Library on Fridays. They assist me with a range of tasks from collecting the returned Library books before school, sorting the books into their Collections, shelving the books, and looking after the shelves making sure they are ordered and kept tidy. These students assist before school and at Lunch 2 and are invaluable to the upkeep of our Library – I certainly cannot do it all without them and I very much appreciate their help.

Being totally voluntary, we have many students from Kinder to Year 6 who come to help out each week – however there is a core group of students who come every Friday, and these students have been given a Collection to be responsible for – a role they take very seriously. Each newsletter I will introduce you to one of our long term Library Warriors.

Introducing…Pippa (Year 6)

 

What section are you responsible for?

Senior Fiction and Senior Fiction series

 

What is your favourite book?

 I love fantasy - The School For Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani is one of my favourites.

 

What do you love about being a Library Warrior?

Spending time in the Library – I love being in my own space and discovering new books.

 

What is your favourite Library task?

I really like getting together with the other Warriors.

GENTLE REMINDERS…

• Our school expectations are that every child borrows each week (or reborrows if they haven’t finished their book).
• Library day is FRIDAY for all students.
• Students are expected to bring their Holy Cross Library Bag every Friday – these bags are designed to be sturdy and waterproof to protect the books. If your child has misplaced their Library Bag, they may bring an alternative bag.

Happy reading everyone!

ENROLMENTS

We are currently accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2024. If you son/daughter will be starting school next year, please collect an enrolment form from the school office or download one from our school website. If you know of anyone who is interested in enrolling their child, please advise them to contact our school office. 

Enrolment forms may be collected from the school office or via the school Website 

https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/

Holy Spirit College, Bellambi is currently accepting enrolments for students who will begin Year 7 in 2024 and 2025. Please note that enrolment applications will need to be received by the college by Thursday 6 April, 2023 for families who wish to secure a position. Please find information below from the College.

PUPIL FREE DAYS

We have now allocated all seven Pupil Free Days for 2023:

Term 1, 2023

• Pupil Free Days - 27 & 30 January 2023
• Pupil Free Day - Thursday 6 April 2023
• 5 April - Last day of Term 1 (Wednesday) 

Term 2, 2023

• Pupil Free Day- 24 April (Monday)
• 26 April - First day of Term 2 (Wednesday) 
• 30 June - Last day of Term 2 (Friday) 

Term 3, 2023

• 17 July - First day of Term 3 (Monday) 
• Pupil Free Day -  18 August (Friday)
• 22 September - Last day of Term 3 (Friday)

Term 4, 2023

• 9 October - First day of Term 4 (Monday) 
• 15 December - Last day of Term 4 (Friday)
• 18 December - Pupil Free Day (Monday)
• 19 December - Pupil Free Day (Tuesday)

Catholic Care Counsellor

Please note that Doreen, our Catholic School Counsellor, will be on leave from Thursday 2 March to the end of the term. During this time, another Catholic Care counsellor will be available.