Semester One Reports

Semester One Academic Reports for students in Years 1-6 are now available through the Compass Parent Portal. Parents of students K-6 are able to book an interview with their child’s teacher to discuss this Report and their child’s progress via the Compass Parent Portal. Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held during Week 10.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations 

NAIDOC Week 2023 will be held nationally from Sunday 2 July 2023 and continue through to Sunday 9 July 2023 which is during the school holidays and so we will celebrate NAIDOC Week when we return to school on Wednesday 19 July.

This year's NAIDOC 2023 theme is For Our Elders.

Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role, and hold a prominent place, in our community and families. They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and our loved ones. They guide our generations and pave the way for us to take the paths that we can take today. They influence and inspire us to work for the equality and hope that they fought for.

During NAIDOC, we remember the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of our country and celebrate their rich cultures and inspiring contributions to Australia.

To reflect this year’s theme, FOR OUR ELDERS, we are inviting all elders in our community to our Liturgy at 9.15am followed by Morning Tea in the Library. Our students will then participate in a range of activities for the remainder of the day. We are inviting our students to wear Mufti - Indigenous clothing or clothes in the colours Red, Black, Yellow.

Assemblies in Term 3

School Assemblies in Term 3 will be held fortnightly (even weeks) on Thursday afternoons from 2.35pm. 

Week 2 - Thursday 27 July 

Week 4 - Thursday 10 August 

Week 6 - Thursday 24 August (Principal Awards & Stage 3 sharing learning)

Week 8 - Thursday 7 September

Week 10 - Thursday 21 September (Principal Awards & Kindergarten sharing learning) 

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:

9 June 2023 - K-2 Revised Curriculum Professional Learning - Mathematics

Mrs McEntee and Miss Facci

15 June 2023 - K-2 Revised Curriculum Planning Day- Mathematics

Mrs McEntee, Miss Facci, Mrs Hennock

19 June 2023 - School Cyclic Inquiry Preparation 12pm-3pm

Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett, Miss Costello, Mr Bõdy

Indigenous Voice to Parliament – One Journey, Together

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has launched a new website called One Journey, Together for Catholics to learn about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The website hosts messages from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and community members, Bishops and other religious leaders and statements from Catholic organisations on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament to support the Catholic community to vote in a way that aligns with their Catholic values.   

As part of the launch of the One Journey, Together website, Darwin Bishop Charles Gauci stated: 

“As Australians, we are at a very important time reflecting on the Voice to Parliament. I will not tell anyone how to vote, but it is my responsibility as Bishop to encourage you all to be reflective in the light of our faith and Catholic Social Teachings: the common good and the dignity of all people.

“We need the ongoing journey of reconciliation and healing. Whatever happens with the Voice will not solve all the issues, we are all on the journey together. Let’s make sure we are informed, and to see which is the best way forward for dignity and respect for all.” 

TERM 3 Dates

Below are some of the pertinent dates in Term 3. For all dates, please see the parent calendar https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/news-and-events/events/

Monday 17 July - Students return to school in Term 3

Wednesday 19 July - NAIDOC Celebrations & Mufti Day 

Friday 28 July - Soccer Gala Day

Thursday 10 August - Kindergarten Excursion

Monday 14 August - Years 3, 4, 5 Excursion

Friday 18 August - Pupil Free Day

Friday 25 August - Book Week and Literacy & Numeracy Week Celebrations

Friday 1 September - Father’s Day Breakfast & Celebration

Friday 8 September - Aboriginal Incursion & Mufti Day 

Thursday 14 September - Feast of Holy Cross & Grandparents Day

Friday 22 September - Last Day of Term 3

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with disability

What is the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data? 

Schools must complete the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) every year in August. It counts the number of students who receive additional adjustments or “help” at school because of a disability. The NCCD helps governments plan for the needs of students with disability. 

Where can I find out more? 

The National NCCD portal – www.nccd.edu.au has a specific section for parents regarding information about the NCCD.

Library News

Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC)

Our PRC Champions for this fortnight are:

Year 3 – Charlie H., Dylan, Charlotte W.

Year 5 – Emma B., Isabella, Elise, Indiana

Year 6 – Oliver R.

CONGRATULATIONS to you all for completing the challenge!

New Books Now Available…

As soccer fever sweeps Holy Cross with the up and coming FIFA Women’s World Cup, I have been able to acquire from Scholastic a few more texts to add to our collection to help satisfy the demand from our students! These books have all been student requests and we have been able to use our Scholastic Rewards to purchase them. They are:

We Are The Matildas  (Junior Fiction)

The Amazing Sam Kerr  (Non Fiction)

FIFA Women's World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023. The Official Guide  (Non Fiction)

Ronaldo Rules  (Non Fiction)

Messi Rules  (Non Fiction)

Mbappe Rules  (Non Fiction)

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all our parents who buy from Scholastic Book Club – our school receives reward points with each order which I use to purchase titles requested by our students. And of course thank you to our wonderful parents who cover the books!

Stayed tuned for more titles…

Book Covering Call!

If you enjoy covering books in contact (or find it therapeutic), we have some covering which needs to be done. If you are able to assist, please see the Office Staff who can give you a bag.

LIBRARY WARRIOR

Introducing…Indi (Year 5)

What section are you responsible for?

I am responsible for any section I get put with and I help in other areas with Evie.

What is your favourite book?

My favourite books are the Harry Potter series but my favourite one is ‘The Chamber Of Secrets’.

What do you love about being a Library Warrior?

I love how I get to sort the books and I have lots of fun.

What is your favourite Library task?

Mt favourite Library task is sorting the books into their sections.

Happy reading everyone!

Sue Murray
Library Coordinator