Dear Parents and Friends,

We are well and truly into the busy part of Term 2 now. It is also the season of winter illnesses, with colds, flu strains and COVID making the rounds. As we all manage these challenges in our family and working lives, I thank you in advance for your understanding around staff absences due to illness. We do our very best to ensure that we have our regular casual teaching staff relief, but the winter months pose an additional challenge to the teacher shortages felt right across education systems everywhere. 

Our staff are now in the process of gathering assessments and evidence of student learning which will inform Semester 1 reporting. A number of changes have been made this year, due to the implementation of the new English and Maths syllabus.

2024 Student Semester Reports

As you may be aware, the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) have undertaken a comprehensive review of the NSW Curriculum, leading to curriculum reform and subsequent implementation of a reformed curriculum which commenced in 2023. In response to the curriculum changes, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has made significant modifications to student semester reports for Primary schools to better reflect your child's academic progress at key points throughout the year and provide parents and carers with a clear picture of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement in specific subject areas.

The following changes will be evident in your child’s semester report from Semester 1 2024: 

• A ‘new look’ report format released via Compass reflecting the outcomes of the new K-10 English and Mathematics syllabuses providing a descriptor for each of the focus areas found in the respective syllabuses
• All Kindergarten students will now receive a written report in Semester 1 and Semester 2 with a three-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors:
• Thorough
• Sound 
• Basic
• Students in Year 1 - Year 6 will continue to receive semester reports twice a year with a five-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors: 
• Extensive
• Thorough
• Sound
• Basic
• Elementary 

This short video also explains the updates too reporting : 

Parent video: academic reports (Link)

Report formats are also available for students who are working towards outcomes by which a graded report will not accurately represent their learning progress. As an alternative to a graded report, a comment is provided for each Key Learning Area in line with the student’s goals identified in their Personalised Plan. These reports are only used following consultation between school and parents/carers. 

At Holy Cross, the reporting timeframes are as follows:

Week 9: 

• Monday 24th June: Compass Bookings will open for parent interviews and close Sunday 30th June
• Friday 28th June- your child’s report will be available on COMPASS

Week 10: 

• Parent- Teacher Interviews will be available Monday- Thursday 
• Tuesday 2 July -  later evening times available to 6:45pm.

We look forward to this positive shift in our reporting system and appreciate your continued support in your child's educational journey.

HELPFUL CURRICULUM GUIDES FOR PARENTS 

In recent weeks, we held parent workshops for Kindergarten and Year 1 parents about the teaching of reading in the early foundational years. These parent guides from NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) are helpful in outlining the key content and ways in which you can also support your child.

This week, we share English: 

Kindergarten (Early Stage 1) LINK to Guide

Years 1 and 2 (Stage 1) LINK to Guide

Years 3-6  (Stages 2 and 3) LINK to Guide

 Next Newsletter-Mathematics Parent Guides

Safety online for children & young people:  eSafety Commissioner Term 2 webinars for parents & carers

Recent media reporting has highlighted the ongoing concerns and worrying impacts around children and young people’s access to social media. The  Australian Government eSafety Commissioner is hosting four webinars in Term 2 to give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support and protect children and young people in primary and secondary school to have safe online experiences.

Helpful links: 

• The eSafety Guide ( https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/esafety-guide)
• eSafetyparents  ( https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents )

Various dates until Thursday 20 June. More information and registration: 

Webinars for parents and carers  (https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars)

Kids’ Helpline: 1800 55 1800            Lifeline: 13 11 14        

NSW Mental Health Access Line: 1800 011 511     Parent Line: 1300 1300 52

OUR FAITH LIFE AT HOLY CROSS

Term 2 Monday Morning Prayer 8:50-9am - If you have the time, we warmly welcome you, our parents, to join us every Monday morning on the bottom playground (undercroft area) as we gather to start the week and pray together. 

Parish Masses - As a parish catholic school, we seek to enable opportunities for our community to encounter the mass. Each term, our classes attend a weekday parish mash, as well as whole school masses for important Feast days. Parents are always welcome to attend. In Term 2, these are:

• Friday 7th June - K-6 Mass for Feast of the Sacred Heart @ 9:15am
• Thursday 20th June - Year 1 and 6 @ 9am Parish Mass

Sunday Parish Mass - Families are of course always welcomed to attend the Holy Cross Parish Sunday Masses. On Sunday 2nd June, all Year 1 and 6 families are invited to celebrate mass. Some of our students and their parents will be invited to read a universal prayer or one of the readings or bring the offertory forward. We hope to see many Year 1 and 5 students and their families there.

TELL THEM FROM ME SURVEY- EXTENDED CLOSING DATE- Tomorrow 31 May

It’s not too late to provide us with your thoughts, insights and feedback! You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using this URL LINK : http://tellthemfromme.com/hch2024

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 or other professional commitments by our staff this past fortnight includes:

Date	Event	Staff
16th May	Diverse Learning Needs Network Meeting	Mrs Jennett  Mrs Mitrevski
20th May	Principal and Assistant Principal Network Meeting	Mrs Colussi Mrs Jennett
21st May	Learning Walks K-6 (Focus on Writing practices)
22nd May	Communities of Practice - small schools project	Mrs Colussi
23rd May	NCCD Meeting	Mrs Mitrevski
27th May	The Why, What and How of Evidence-Based Reading Instruction	Mrs Colussi
29th May	Wollongong Environmental Network Teacher Meeting day	Mrs Turton
NEXT STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS (PUPIL FREE DAYS)  FRIDAY 5th JULY ( The last day of Term 2 for students will be Thursday 4th July.  TERM 3:   Monday 22nd July (First day of Term 3 for students is Tuesday 23rd July)          NEW Date confirmed: Friday 20th September

Every Blessing,

Milena Colussi, Principal