PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents and Friends of Holy Cross,
HOLY CROSS FETE
In my first year as Principal in 2024, I was utterly amazed at the extraordinary work of our P&F in organising and preparing for the annual Holy Cross Fete! In most schools, including ones I have led in a previous diocese, the running of an annual Fete would be impossible. This is absolutely a credit to the well coordinated, strong communication, and dedicated hours given by our P&F ,and Fete committees, and the parents behind the scenes. Here at Holy Cross ths mammoth work put in by the P&F and parent volunteers is recognised and so highly valued.
We do STILL however, require a number of volunteers across all class stalls. Every cent of the funds raised end up back to the school with a wide range of resources purchased for your children. It is one of our community’s highlights for the year! So, please, even for ½ hr in what may be a busy schedule of family, sporting and other commitments, say YES! Yes to being a volunteer, by placing your name on the roster outside the office every morning and afternoon, drop in or call the office.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE 9:40am
We will open our Fete at 9:45am, with Acknowledgement of Country, a short song and movement from each stage (K-2, Years 3 & 4 and Years 5 & 6),and a local dance school performance before the FETE starts officially at 10am. We ask that parents have their child at school by 9:40am, on the TOP COLA, just before we commence the performances.
ENROLMENTS FOR 2026 ARE OPEN
Last Monday afternoon, many of our Year Six students served as wonderful and passionate tour guides for parents and their child visiting our school. I know that their enthusiasm and love of Holy Cross will have convinced them to enrol to come to school in 2026 for Kindergarten. Thank you Year Six!
The online application form will be accessible from the home page of our school website. https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/enrol/
THE PLACE OF TEACHER PROFESSIONALISM
Our school’s Annual Improvement Plan’s impact on improving students’ faith, learning and wellbeing is highly dependent upon the ongoing professional learning and capacity building of our staff.
Community of Practice (COP)
Last year, four one stream school principals came together to explore ways in which we could work together for the benefit of providing professional learning opportunities for our teachers which enable them to connect with other same year level teachers, and at the same time meeting similar school improvement goals around assessment, moderation and consistent teacher judgement. Yesterday, our staff joined together for a Twilight session with the staff of St Michael’s Thirroul, St Brigid’s Gwynneville and St Patrick’s Port Kembla til 6pm. We were fortunate to have Pr Jim Toglonini, Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment University of Sydney present for our staff. Our Staff Development Day (11th April 2025- last day of Term 1) will continue this important professional learning.
The professional learning opportunities and official events that staff have engaged with the last two weeks:
|
Date |
Event |
Staff |
|
28th February |
Communities of Practice (COP) Principal Planning |
Mrsd Colussi |
|
3rd March |
WHS Team Meeting Place Value Assessment Analysis |
Mrs Colussi, Mrs Maguire, Mr Burns, Ms Facci Mrs Baker with Mr Body, Mr Whotehall and Mrs Brannon |
|
4th March |
Caritas Launch Project Compassion @ Warrawong Collaborative Learning & Planning 12-4:30pm Learning for Leadership 2-4:30pm Planning for Professional Learning (High Potential/Gifted Education)
Sth Coast Swimming Event |
Mr Burns and Mrs Turton with Mini Vini Leaders Leadership team with Ms Young, Ms Facci. MrsTurton Mrs Mitrevski, Mrs Colussi, CEDoW Professional HPGE Officers Mr Whitehall, Mrs Timmins |
|
5th March |
Personalised Planning Release for Yr 5 Parent Meetings 9-11am |
Mrs Mitrevski, Mrs Brannon |
|
6th March |
K-12 REC Meeting SSSO Meeting Year 1 Personalised Planning Release for Parent Meetings 8:30-12pm CEDoW Pastoral Works Welcome Dinner for new teachers to Dioceses 5:30-9pm |
MrsTurton Mrs MaGuire Ms Facci Mr Burns, Ms Young and Ms Maher |
|
7th March |
CEDoW P/AP Network 2 Meeting 8:30-3:30pm Cross Country Preparation |
Mrs Colussi, Mr Burns Mr Whitehall |
|
10th March |
Place Value Assessment Analysis Leadership Team Meeting 3:10-4:20pm |
Mrs Baker, Mrs Turton Leadership Team |
|
11th March |
“Catholicity Stuff” Faith Formation |
Ms Young |
|
12th March |
Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change in RE Community of Practice (COP) staff meeting - 4:00-6:00pm |
Mrs Turton, Ms Facci Teaching staff |
May the peace of Christ be with you,
Milena Colussi
Principal
COMMUNITY OUTREACH CLOSE TO HOME
In his capacity as a Surf Lifesaving NSW volunteer, Mr Body has been deployed this week, to assist with emergency services to the current flood zones resulting from Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Northern NSW. This Community Service work is a great example of people in our community who are called to respond to a need beyond our community.
Mr Body and the SLSNSW team he is with are responding to communities in Yamba, Lismore, Byron Bay and Wollongbar, with 1200 points of contact with those in need on Wednesday alone between emergency services and community.
