SCHOOL NEWS
Book Week and Literacy & Numeracy Week Celebrations
We are excited to announce that our Book Week parade and celebrations will be held in conjunction with Literacy & Numeracy week celebrations on Friday 25 August. Students are encouraged to come dressed to school as their favourite book character and our whole school parade will begin at 9.15am. After the parade, visitors are welcome to visit Numeracy learning in the classrooms. We expect the celebrations to conclude by 11.15am.
Assemblies
Our next assembly for Term 3 will be held on Thursday 10 August at 2.35pm. Kindergarten will be on the Excursion and will not be in attendance.
Uniform
Maintaining high standards of uniform at Holy Cross reflects the high standards we have across all aspects of school. We are currently reminding students of the following points and ask that these expectations are supported by parents;
- School hats are to be worn to and from school and at all times on the playground
- If wearing trousers, students must wear the blue pointed collar long sleeve shirt with school tie
- Shirts must be tucked into trousers on arrival to school and on departure. Shirts must also be tucked in at all time during the school day, except during playing
We appreciate the support of parents and families in ensuring these standards are upheld.
Lifeguard Visits
We were fortunate to have had Wollongong City Council Lifeguards visit Years 2, 4, 6 last Thursday to share pertinent surf sense and sun safe information. Each of the three lifeguards gave glowing reports of the behaviour of our students and the interest they showed during the presentations.
Life Education Van
Domino Club
We have purchased over 1000 toppling dominos thanks to the generous donation from the Helensburgh Lions Club. We look forward to lots of toppling fun at our domino club.
Pre-Service Teacher
We welcome Mr Mills to Holy Cross. Mr Mills will be working with Miss Costello, Mrs Barbuto and Year 5 from Monday to the remainder of the term. We are confident that Mr Mills will learn a lot and find his time at Holy Cross valuable.
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:
26 July 2023 - Changing Our Narrative In Numeracy - Place Value & Targeted Teaching
Mr Bod, Mrs N Baker, Mrs McEntee
27 July 2023 & 4 August 2023 - Safety Interventions Training
Mrs Jennett & Mrs Body
27 & 28 July 2023 - Religious Education Coordinator Retreat
Miss Costello
1 August 2023 - Numeracy Professional Learning - Place Value & Targeted Teaching
Mrs N Baker, Mr Body, Mrs Barbuto, Mrs Rowles, Mr Whitehall, Miss Costello, Mrs Duffin
2 August 2023 - System Colloquium Day - Facilitating School Improvement with Helen Timperley
Mrs N Baker, Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett
Upcoming TERM 3 Dates
Please find pertinent dates for Term 3. All pertinent dates can be found on our parent Calendar.
https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/news-and-events/events/
8 August - Whole School Mass - Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop
- South Coast Athletics Carnival
10 August - Kindergarten Excursion
14 August - Years 3, 4 & 5 Excursion
15 August - Whole School Mass - Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
24 August - Sacrament of Confirmation Parent Evening
25 August - Book Week Parade and Literacy and Numeracy Week celebrations
1 September - Father’s Day Breakfast and celebrations
13 September - Sacrament of Confirmation @ 6pm
14 September - Feast of Holy Cross - Grandaprent’s Day
22 September - Last Day of Term 3
Library News
CONGRATULATIONS HOLY CROSS STUDENTS!
Each term we are given the Diocese borrowing statistics from our CEO. Our borrowing stats are as follows:
Library Borrowing – 6th overall
SORA Borrowing – 10th overall
Total Borrowing – 7th overall
Considering we are the 5th smallest school out of 29 Primary Schools in our Diocese, our students should be really proud of their efforts. I believe these stats show our students commitment to borrowing which helps foster a love of reading. WELL DONE HOLY CROSS!
PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE (PRC)
Our first Primary class to complete the PRC is…Year 3! The following Year 3 students completed the challenge last week…
Zara, Zoe, Pippin, Abbie, Logan, Cooper, Layla, Elsa, Mila, and Khai
CONGRATULATIONS to you all of Year 3 for completing the challenge!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB Issue 5 Now Open
Book Club Issue 5 catalogues were sent home last week. Orders are due by Monday, 7 August 2023.
Just jump online to order: https://bookclubs.scholastic.com.au/
CBCA SHORTLIST BOOKS
I have been busy preparing the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlist Books for our teachers to share with their class in the lead up to Book Week. The CBCA Shortlist represents some of Australia’s best children’s literature and is divided into 6 categories. At Holy Cross, we are invested in providing our students with quality literature and make a priority of purchasing the age-appropriate Shortlist titles each year.
Over the next few newsletters, I will showcase two categories.
Eve Pownall Award – these books have the prime intention of documenting factual material with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style.
New Illustrator - this Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration.
Introducing…Elise (Year 3)
What section are you responsible for?
All of the sections – I help where I am needed.
What is your favourite book?
The Hot Dog series.
What do you love about being a Library Warrior?
That I can help out.
What is your favourite Library task?
I love putting books away and that we get to listen to music while we do it – it’s a lot of fun!
Happy reading everyone!
Sue Murray
Library Coordinator
