Dear Parents and Friends,

It is incredible to think that we are five weeks away from Christmas! Whilst we are reminded about Christmas being just around the corner, with shopping centres adorned with decorations and pre Christmas sales, as Catholics, we are encouraged to also take this time to honour the waiting and journey time before Christmas as well. 

Advent begins on Sunday 1st December. This is a beautiful time in our part of the world- I am always re energised by the Advent colours of the Jacaranda, agapanthus, hydrangea and gumtrees flowering purple and pinks, as well as the Illawarra Flame trees in their blazing red (a hint of Christmas of course). I encourage you to prepare for this special liturgical time of the year in your hearts ... and take the time in our homes and workplace to focus on this advent wonder, hope and a time of waiting, before rushing in towards all things Christmas. 

Advent is a season of waiting and preparation. It commemorates the beginning or arrival of something anticipated, both the historical birth of Jesus and the yearly spiritual rebirth of Christ within each one of us at Christmas. It’s a season when we slow down and look forward to the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Waiting is not always easy, but it does have a purpose. It can help us prepare our hearts for Jesus' coming, both as a man in the past and for his second coming in the future.

As parents, as teachers, we model for our children every day, and our example in expressing wonder and awe for and within the waiting time of Advent is uniquely our opportunity to be different to schools where the jump to Christmas "things" skips this. In this spirit of Advent, Christmas "things" (cards, candy canes) are best saved for children, if they wish to, for sharing in the last week of school when we are preparing for our Christmas concert!

Annual Report- Parent Feedback

Each year, schools are required to write an Annual School Report. Previous Annual School Reports can be found on the school website. An important part of this process is seeking input from students, staff and parents. We are conscious that parents have been asked to complete other surveys throughout the year, but if you would like to provide your voice on aspects of our school, we invite you to complete the survey by next Tuesday 26 november 2024 using this link: Annual School Report Survey - Parents Say

2025 Staffing

We are getting very close to finalising our staffing for 2024. Once this is completed, we will share this with students and families by the end of Week 9, so that we can begin our grade-to-grade transition processes. 

2024 Olympian Gold Medalist visits Holy Cross next Wednesday

We were absolutely thrilled to receive an email from Saya Sakakibara last week, offering to visit our school next Wednesday 27 November, for a special Q&A style assembly and photo opportunity. Our student leaders are gathering a sample of questions to Saya, and we warmly welcome parents who may wish to join us, from 2:20pm, under the Top Cola.  

Student Leadership Timeline for 2025 

Our Year 5 students have submitted impressive self nominations for a variety of formal leadership roles. The first round of leadership speeches for the important role School Captains and Vice Captains will take place next Thursday 28th November, followed by voting. Parents of the students giving speeches are able to attend (from 11:30am).

Week 8: Thursday 5th December: Sport Leader Speeches and voting (House Colours)

Week 9: Evangelisation & WEN Leaders Selection (In Year 5)

Week 9: Thursday 12 December Mass: New 2025 School Captains and Vice Captains expected to attend Whole school Thanksgiving Mass- 2024 Leaders pass on Leadership Light.

Semester 2 Student Reports

Class teachers are currently gathering and analysing a range of student work samples and assessments which inform student reports. Reports will be finalised and made available via COMPASS on the 13th of December (Friday of Week 9). More information about Semester 2 reports will be provided in our next newsletter.

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 fortnight includes:

Every Blessing,

Milena Colussi
Principal