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Dear parents and friends,
Last week, I travelled to Fremantle, Western Australia, with a delegation from Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong, to attend the National School Improvement Colloquium and share our Diocesan approach to school improvement. School improvement is critical work and we were very proud to share our system’s strategic plan, Lighting the Way, Bearers of Christ’s Love and our Continuous Catholic School Inquiry Framework with colleagues from around the nation. My part in the presentation was to specifically provide a school perspective to the Continuous Catholic School Inquiry Framework. In doing so, I proudly spoke of our student achievement gains that have been sustained over the past four years making us a very high performing school, as confirmed through the School Cyclic Inquiry process.
This process has also provided us with clear priorities for the faith, learning and wellbeing growth of our students moving forward. The Cyclic Inquiry recommendations include the school embracing:
- A revitalisation of the Catholic Culture through building a new community developed Vision, Mission, Values and Vision for Learning.
- Further develop the Learning/Wellbeing agenda through the lens of the Living Catholicity Domain and School Improvement Tool (including Elaborations).
These recommendations have since informed our School Strategic Improvement Plan 2024-2017 and subsequently, we have identified three Priority Areas for consideration and discussion:
- Living Our Catholic Identity: By 2027 our community will deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith and appreciate the meaningful role it can play in our lives today.
- Student Centred Learning and Wellbeing; By 2027 students are agents of their own learning and wellbeing.
- Excellence in Teaching: By 2027 learning experiences are designed to ensure that all students are appropriately engaged, challenged and extended.
These recommendations were shared at our P&F Meeting this week and prior to finalising these, we would welcome any feedback or queries from parents through the school office.
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Mrs Jennett’s Assistant Principal Appraisal was facilitated by Catholic Education Office colleagues on Monday of this week. This process occurs every fours years, and was affirming of Mrs Jennett’s leadership and the high regard in which she is held by students, staff, parents and Father Paul. Our community is very fortunate to have Mrs Jennett leading and on behalf of everyone, I thank and congratulate her on everything she has achieved and her contributions to ensuring that our community continues to thrive.
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Our 2024 Kindergarten Transition to School Playgroup continued last week and will continue to do so for this week and next. Our newest members of the Holy Cross family are becoming very familiar with Mrs McEntee and our school and are already making new friends. Next week, the students will officially meet their Year 5 Buddy…exciting times!!
Thank you for your continued support,
Kaylene Duffin
Principal
2023 ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Update
Goal 1
Improve students’ relationship with Jesus through the values of compassion, justice, hope and integrity.
- Christian meditation has been introduced across the school. Christian meditation is the prayer of stillness and silence including a relaxation, a short prayer and a period of silence where they say a mantra of Ma-Ra- Na- Tha meaning Come Lord, Jesus. All classrooms facilitate Christian Meditation immediately after Lunch 2, Monday - Thursday.
Scientific research shows that practising meditation offers many potential benefits to children. These include clinical improvements in mental and physical health as well as strengthening emotional and behavioural regulation, stress management and concentration.
Goal 2
By the end of 2023, all students will have increased their confidence and engagement in Mathematics so that all students achieve growth.
- Teachers in Years 1-6 administered the Place Value Assessment Tool (PVAT) to students this week and used this data to collaborate with colleagues to analyse and identify the learning growth achieved since conducting this assessment in May this year.
- The results were significant, with all students growing in their learning. This data correlates with student perception data that continues to report increased student confidence in Mathematics.
Socktober to Support the work of Catholic Mission
On Tuesday, the school donned crazy socks in spirited support for the Socktober campaign by Catholic Mission. Additionally, Year Six took charge of orchestrating a bake sale and conducted informative sessions about the remarkable initiatives undertaken by Catholic Mission in Timor Leste.
We wish to express our appreciation for your generous contributions and applaud the commitment demonstrated by our Year Six leaders. Thanks to your support, we have raised over $570 to assist Catholic Mission in their endeavours in Timor Leste.
Religious Literacy Assessment
Each year our Year Four Students sit an online Religious Literacy Assessment which explores concepts students have learnt over the time at school. Students are asked questions that explore their knowledge of Catholic Life as well as how they work with and apply this knowledge. This Year our results were exceptional and we have had growth from 2022.
Congratulations to our Year Four students and to our teachers who have been continually working to provide quality Religious Education lessons and learnings throughout our school days.
An Invitation to Sunday Mass
Holy Cross Parish would like to extend a warm invitation to all our beloved school families to join us for Mass on Sunday mornings at 8:30am.
Attending Mass as a family is not only a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and nurture our faith but also a chance to deepen the bonds that unite us as a parish, school and a wider community.
Some things you may not know:
- Sunday Mass goes for one hour, 8:30 - 9:30am.
- We regularly gather for morning tea and a catch up afterwards.
- Every second week we have a children's liturgy which enables our kids to build some great friendships and learn about their faith.
We look forward to welcoming you and your family at our next Mass as we come together to celebrate the gift of faith and the joy of community.
Uncle Kevin Butler
Uncle Kevin is continuing work on our value murals and to ensure these are completed, he will be with us each Monday and Tuesday for the remainder of the year. Within this time, he will also be visiting classrooms to share stories of Aboriginal histories and cultures.
Assemblies
Assemblies during Term 4 will be held on Wednesday mornings at 9am. Our next assembly will be held on Wednesday, 15 November 2023. Principal Awards will be presented and Stage 2 will showcase their learning. All are welcome.
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:
16-18 October 2023 - National School Improvement Colloquium
Mrs Duffin
16 October 2023 - Year 3 -6 Curriculum Planning Day for the Revised NSW English and Maths syllabuses
Mr Body and Mrs N Baker
20 October 2023 - Principal and Clergy Meeting
Mrs Duffin
23 October 2023 - Collaborative Planning - Mathematics: Place Value
Mrs N Baker, Mrs Hennock, Mrs Rowles, Mr Body
24 October 2023 - Collaborative Planning - Mathematics: Place Value
Mrs N Baker, Miss Costello, Mr Whitehall
26 October 2023 - Learning In Leadership
Mrs Jennett
TERM 4 Dates
Please find pertinent dates for Term 4. All pertinent dates can be found on our Parent Calendar.
Wednesday 1 November - 9.30am All Saints Mass - Year 5 Leading
Wednesday 22 November - 2024 Kindergarten Orientation Day
Friday 8 December - Swimming Carnival
Thursday 14 December
- 9.30am End of Year Mass and Year 6 Graduation Ceremony
- 12pm - Year 6 to Helensburgh Pool
Friday 15 December - Christmas Concert and last day of 2023 for students
Students’ final day of the year is Friday 15 December, 2023.
Tuesday 19 December - Last day of 2023 for staff
Waste Free Wednesday
SWAP IT Booklets
Library News
THE LIBRARY CHRISTMAS RAFFLE IS BACK!
It’s on again! As of Week 1 this term, every student who returns their Library books and borrows will receive a ticket in the Christmas Raffle with a bonus ticket per student given if their class achieves zero overdues. Our students are very excited over the prizes on offer and are keen to get their ticket each week. Raffle will be drawn in Week 9.
BOOK COVERING CALL!
If you enjoy covering books in contact (or find it therapeutic), we have some covering which needs to be done. If you are able to assist, please see the Office Staff who can give you a bag.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB Issue 7 Now Open
Book Club Issue 7 catalogues were sent home in Week 1. Orders are due tomorrow - Friday, 27 October 2023.
Just jump online to order: https://bookclubs.scholastic.com.au/
LIBRARY WARRIOR
Introducing…Zara (Year 3)
What section are you responsible for?
I help with all of them but my favourite section is the Graphic Novel section.
What is your favourite book?
I love the Dog Man series and my favourite one is ‘Lord Of The Fleas’.
What do you love about being a Library Warrior?
It’s fun to help Mrs Murray out and you can find lots of books you didn’t know about and reserve them.
What is your favourite Library task?
I love the morning jobs. I help bring the returned books into the Library for Mrs Murray to ‘zap zap’. When there is enough helpers, I come in and stack the return books into a big book pile and little book pile for Mrs Murray. This is when I get to see all the books.
‘zap zap’ – the term we use in the Library to scan the barcodes when borrowing or returning.
Happy reading everyone!
Sue Murray
Library Coordinator
Emma’s Motocross Season Highlights
Over recent months, Emma has competed in several Motocross events and has travelled not only to local tracks but also Bega, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn and Cooma. In each event, Emma completed a practice round and three races, each consisting of three laps. At some events the laps were 2 km per lap. So, all up, Emma has clocked up over 200 laps this season, with a few events still on the calendar. During the season, Emma also stepped up and started to ride a bigger bike, an 85cc, that she will compete on next year.
Throughout the season, Emma often made the podium, which only spurred on her to practise even harder and race faster! At most events, Emma is the only girl on the grid, something she just takes in her stride. Recently, Emma appeared in the Crusty Demons Australian tour, riding in front of a packed stadium under lights!
All her hard work, dedication, training and persistence paid off, when she was recently crowned the Club Champion for her Division (65 cc 10- 12yrs) at Wollongong Motocross Club! She has also been selected by Yamaha to compete in the YZ65 Cup as part of the Australian Supercross Championship at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on 25 November 2023!
These are such great achievements and we are so very proud of you, Emma!
2024 Family Fun Day
