Dear Parents and Friends,

Advent is a time of great joy and expectation. Throughout December, students at Holy Cross are learning what Christmas truly means and how we can prepare our

hearts for the birth of Jesus. If you’re looking for ways to engage with your son or daughter during this special time, here are some great ideas. 

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/news/celebrating-advent

Parent Reflection on Advent through Art

As we enter the season of Advent, I share with you a recent posting by our Wollongong Diocese - Monsignor Graham Schmitzer's Week One Artwork Reflection from this year's Advent program, The Light. You may wish to purchase your own copy of the full program: https://www.dow.org.au/shop/

The Light of the World  Artist ~ WILLIAM HOLMAN HUNT (1827–1910) (see image below)

Advent was a latecomer to the Roman liturgy. Pope St Leo the Great (+461) who, in his preaching, developed such a rich theology of Christmas, does not even mention it. It made its appearance about the middle of the sixth century—Christmas having become a major solemnity. Previously, the birth of our Lord was a simple memorial; everything revolving around Easter in the early Church. 

The earliest form of Advent had already been celebrated in Spain and Gaul. In Spain, there was a three-week period of preparation from 17 December to the feast of the Epiphany which, like Easter, was a time for the conferring of Baptism. But in Gaul, the three-week period was extended to 40 days. It began the day after the feast of St Martin of Tours (November 11) and was known as St Martin’s Lent— well chosen, for the season was strongly penitential in character. Christmas by now had replaced Epiphany as the terminus of the time of preparation. 

The primitive form of the Roman Advent ran for six weeks before Christmas. Pope St Gregory the Great (+604) reduced the number of weeks to four, and that has remained the tradition. He judged it inappropriate that Advent should have the same duration as Lent—he saw the season as liturgical rather than penitential in character. The emphasis was on joyful hope, but some of the ceremonial expressions of joy were suppressed. The absence of the Gloria was simply to allow it to ring out with freshness at Christmas, and the wearing of purple vestments would make the white appear all the more brilliant on Christmas Day. 

Mind you, the Roman Advent has always included a note of penance, but in the positive sense of a call to conversion and renewal of life. That note is sounded in the Mass readings which summon us to “prepare a way for the Lord” and “to cast off the works of darkness”. The very word Adventus comes from Roman times and referred to the coming of the emperor to his dominions. The roads were repaired so that his passage would be smooth. It is why the term was used by St John the Baptist. The roads into our hearts may have become cluttered with debris. Sin may make Christ’s entry difficult. Remember, he is the most gracious guest and usually does not barge in, but “stands at the door and knocks” (cf. Rev 3:20). 

The artist William Holman Hunt made this obvious in his famous painting The Light of the World, now housed in the side chapel at Keble College, Oxford. An

observer questioned the absence of a handle on the door. Hunt replied that this door can only be opened from the inside. 

“Casting off the works of darkness” also presupposes some effort at spiritual renewal. Prayer, fasting, and works of charity are always the soul’s weapons at any time of the year. The Second Vatican Council greatly enriched the Advent liturgy with extra Mass formalities and Scripture readings. They are a mine of inspiration. Fasting will remind us that many in the world will not be gorging themselves at the Christmas feasts. The money saved, as in Lent, can well be given to various Christmas charities. Many churches display a “giving tree”. 

William Holman Hunt was a founding member of a group of like-minded young artists who, in 1848 in London, established themselves as the Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood. They embraced medieval art and focused on religious subjects. Hunt’s The Light of the World toured Australia in 1906, with thousands queuing to see it (The Weekend Australian Review, 13–14 January 2024). 

The painting is steeped in symbolism. Christ holds a lantern—the light of conscience. Around his head is the halo—the light of salvation. The morning star is just visible above Christ’s head—the dawning of a new day. All this counteracts the fallen apples in the lower right-hand corner (see cover image), symbols of the original sin of the Fall. The overgrown ivy covering the door hints that our past life may have made it difficult for Christ to enter. 

MSGR GRAHAM SCHMITZER    Wollongong Diocese 

As communicated in the last newsletter, in the 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!

2025 Staffing

We are in the process of recruitment for a music, dance and drama teacher. Previously, Mr Wells had accepted the 1 day a week position for 2025, however, he has been fortunate to be offered a full time classroom teacher position at St Therese Wollongong. 

We are of course also in equal parts very happy for Mrs Kate Jennett, who will move into an Education Officer role within the Catholic Education Office Wollongong, and sad to farewell her after having been our Assistant Principal here at Holy Cross since 2020. This is a system level recruitment and appointment process, which is currently taking place. This will be an Actng role for 2025, given the lateness in the school year. 

Once we finalise these two positions, I will be able to share our staffing for 2025. Students will meet their 2025 class teacher on Tuesday 17th December. 

Student Leadership Timeline for 2025 

Congratulations to our 2025 School and Vice Captains!

Check out our Facebook page for the Sport Leader Announcements later today!

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

Reports will be available via COMPASS NEXT Friday, 13th of December, from 3:30pm. 

About Semester 2 reports

Schools are required to include the following:

• Attendance
• Social development and commitment to learning
• Reporting a student’s learning achievement in each key learning area, requiring
• the outcomes assessed (informed by the NSW syllabus we teach- outcomes and content taught)
• A-E grades or word equivalent (Years 1-6); 3 point scale (Kindergarten)
• student effort in each Key Learning Area
• key learning area, subject or course-specific comment. (Religious Education-as Learning Gains (in Years 1-6); English and Mathematics -as Learning Gains and areas for growth, and a General Comment)
• whole school activities that may be included, as relevant, in the general comment : extracurricular activities (eg, gardening club); academic events and competitions (eg, public speaking, maths Olympiad); student leadership opportunities; sporting events and competitions (eg, school or representative sport)

The Common Grade scale is used to indicate a student's achievement in an area of learning.

Teachers report on the outcomes and content taught.  Teacher judgements about student achievement are based on quality evidence. The evidence used by teachers to make that judgement can include results from formative and summative assessments (work samples, book work, assessments) as well as teacher observations. Decisions about student achievement of the learning in which students have participated in, is up to a point of time in each KLA.  Information on a student's achievement is collected during the second semester of learning and is used as part of this broader assessment strategy to allocate grades.

Semester reports reflect a child’s learning at that point in time. Of importance is that the common grade scale is not used to show growth from one semester to the next. 

For example, 

• If a student receives the same grade for two consecutive reports, they have made progress, as the complexity of the outcomes and content increases.
• If a student receives a grade Sound in the middle of the year and again at the end of the year, they will be making progress.
• Between the two reporting periods the student will have learned new knowledge and skills of a more advanced nature.

Effort Descriptors:

Our CEDoW report formats have been updated in the area of PB4L:

“Your Child as a Community Member & Your child as a Learner”, for example

“Rarely” typically means something happens infrequently, often interpreted as around 10% of the time or less.

“Sometimes” generally refers to something that occurs intermittently, often interpreted as around 30% to 50% of the time.

“Usually” typically means something happens most of the time, often interpreted as around 70% to 90% of the time. It suggests a frequency that's more consistent than “sometimes.”

“Consistently” generally implies something occurs nearly all the time, often around 90% to 100% of the time.

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