Dear Parents and Friends,

Today, the 15th August, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation, and as a school with our Holy Cross parish, we celebrated this special mass together. The Assumption is the oldest feast day of Our Lady. Catholics around the world mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, commemorating the end of her earthly life and assumption into Heaven.

The dogma of the Assumption of Mary – also called the “Dormition of Mary” in the Eastern Churches – has its roots in the early centuries of the Church.

Assumption of Mary facts

• The belief in the Assumption underscores the idea of Mary's special place in the plan of salvation. Because she was the mother of Jesus, it is believed that she was free from original sin and did not undergo bodily decay after death.
• In the Roman Catholic Church, the Assumption is considered a dogma, an official and binding doctrine. This dogma was declared by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
• In Australia, the Assumption of Mary is considered a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that Catholics are expected to attend mass on this day. Many Catholic churches across the country hold special masses and events to mark the occasion.
• Historically, both flowers and herbs are brought to church as offerings or to be blessed during the Feast of the Assumption, in honour of Mary.

VISION & MISSION PARENT INPUT SESSIONS

As has been outlined throughout the year, one of our school’s Annual Improvement Goals in 2024, is to revise our school’s Vision and Mission. We seek your input as parents, and invite you to a short introduction session with time to complete a short survey, which is designed in collaboration with Gary Quinn, from our CEDoW office.

The second session, as seen below, is next Wednesday 21st August, from 8:45-9:10am. Alternatively, the QR code will take you straight to the survey, which we invite and encourage a parent/carer from each family to complete.

Parent Survey Link

2024 NAPLAN RESULTS

2024 NAPLAN results were received earlier this term and once again, our Year 3 and Year 5 students achieved fantastic results. Holy Cross performed either at or above the State, National and Diocesan averages in every domain in both Year 3 and Year 5 tests. 

• 78% of our Year 3 and 5 students performed at either the strong or exceeding levels for READING
• 87% of our Year 3 and 5 students performed at either the strong or exceeding levels for WRITING
• 72% of our Year 3 and 5 students performed at either the strong or exceeding levels for SPELLING
• 72% of our Year 3 and 5 students performed at either the strong or exceeding levels for GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION
• 76% of our Year 3 and 5 students performed at either the strong or exceeding levels for NUMERACY

The detailed data available to schools and teachers has helped us to evaluate the impact of our teaching and professional learning, and also identifies additional support or challenges we can plan for to meet the learning needs of our students.

Pre-Service Teachers at Holy Cross

We welcome Mitchell Wells, who will be working in Kindergarten for the remainder of the term as part of his final practicum component of his teaching studies. Whilst he is already registered to teach, and has completed many days of casual relief with us here at Holy Cross, we are confident he will learn a lot about quality learning and teaching during this time with us. 

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

Our Scripture focus for this week has centred around the Catholic Value of Compassion. We show compassion when we care deeply for others and show them love, mercy and respect.

This week at Monday morning prayer we reminded the students of ways we can show compassion by smiling at others and by always using kind words.

Colossians 3: 12-14

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Key Dates RE dates for this term:

Week 6: Thursday 29th August,9am Parish Mass ~ Years 1 & 6

             Friday 30th August  Fathers Day celebrations and Liturgy in the library

Week 8: Friday 13th September ~ Holy Cross Feast Day Celebrations (Grandparents)

Week 9: Thursday 19th September,9am Parish Mass ~ Years 2,3 & 4

Week 10: Thursday 26th September,9am Parish Mass ~ Years K & 5

Confirmation: Year 6 Parents - Please see COMPASS for enrolment details for the Sacrament of Confirmation

In Peace,

Mrs Debbie Turton
Religious Education Coordinator

ASSEMBLIES in TERM 3

Our fortnightly school assemblies during Term 3 will be held on Wednesday afternoons at 2.35pm. 

• Wk 6 - Wednesday 28 August  - Principal Awards

• Wk 8 - Wednesday 11 September  - Yr 5 Sharing

• Wk 10 - Wednesday 25 September - Principal Awards

FATHERS’ DAY Friday 30 August, from 1:15pm

This year, we are looking forward to seeing lots of dads, grandads, or father figures at our fun Friday afternoon of lunch, playtime, reading and prayer! To assist with orders, please complete this very short Catering Survey.

BOOK WEEK

We can’t wait to celebrate Book Week this term, along with our annual Scholastic Book Fair in the same week. Our Book Week Parade will be on WEDNESDAY 5th September, from 9:15am. 

Book Week Theme “Reading is Magic” Dress up Ideas - here are some links for inspirational and creative ideas!

• Spotlight
• 12 Easy Book Week Costumes
• 75 Easy World Book Day & Book Week Costume Ideas for 2024

Library News

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE (PRC) – WE DID IT!

Our PRC Champions for this fortnight are:

K-2 have completed their challenge in class.

Year 3 – the whole class

Year 4 – Zara, Dylan, Charli H., Abbie, Sadie, Cooper, Phoebe, Layla, Seraphina, Eden, Elsa, Patti, Taeya, Mila, Charli W., Khai

Year 5 –Sage, Luca, Luke

That means the whole school has now completed the Challenge - well done Holy Cross, I am so proud of you all!

Certificates will be sent to the school late in Term 4.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB ISSUE 5

Book Club Issue 5 orders will arrive soon and be sent home.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS COMING – SAVE THE DATE!

That’s right, we will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair once again from 2-6 September (Week 7).

The Book Fair is a wonderful way to encourage reading with our students, not to mention stocking up on a few sneaky Christmas pressies.

Our students, who are very excited, will get a preview of what’s on offer and complete a ‘Wish List’ to bring home in Week 6.

The Book Fair will be open at the following times:

Monday 2 September:           8.20-8.50am and 2.45-3.15pm

Tuesday 3 September:           8.20-8.50am and 2.45-3.15pm

Wednesday 4 September:      8.20-8.50am and 2.45-3.15pm

                                                After the Book Parade

Thursday 5 September:          8.20-8.50am and 2.45-3.15pm

Friday 6 September:               8.20-8.50am

Happy reading everyone!

Sue Murray
Library Coordinator

 

CLUB NEWS – Kpop Club celebrates its 100^th session!

On Friday 2 August, Kpop Club celebrated its 100^th session at Lunch 1.

This club was originally initiated by one of our students, Lee, who expressed an

interest in Kpop (South Korean pop music) back in 2021 and asked me if we could play some songs at Lunch 1. Songs were trialled, students started turning up wanting to dance and Kpop Club was born as one of our Lunchtime Clubs.

Students discussed how they would like to celebrate this milestone. Korean snacks and student picks for the songs were unanimously agreed too.

So on 2 August, requests were taken and students danced to their favourite Kpop songs while experiencing the Korean snacks between songs with all agreeing that the snacks were delicious with none, not even a crumb, being leftover (there was A LOT of excitement that these snacks could be bought at our Coles!)

With everyone having fun, unfortunately the end came all too soon with no one wanting it to end. So we finished with a celebratory photo under the posters Lee crafted for the occasion.

And of course everyone did their best Kpop pose!

Sue Murray
Kpop Club Coordinator

Creative Arts

Holy Cross students have been very busy in their Friday Creative Arts lessons.

Kindergarten have been creating their very own about a Diplodocus dinosaur searching for her missing egg - visiting a Pterodactyl and a T-Rex on her journey.
In Drama, Stage 1 have been learning about how to express a range of different emotions when conveying characters.

Also in Drama, Stage 2 have been playbuilding based on many famous artworks from history, and are also developing a Reader’s Theatre performance of “Danny In The Toybox”. Stage 3 have completed their own short films in out very own “Burgh-Fest” film competition, filming on location at school, and even taking to the suburb of Helensburgh to film. 

The Ned Show

• Never Give Up
• Encourage Others
• Do your best

On Tuesday the 13th of August students watched the Ned show. NED was all about learning to always try your best, encourage others and never give up. The show entertained and taught students the importance of Ned. The N in NED stands for Never Give Up, the E stands for Encourage Others and the D stands for Do Your Best. Put this all together and this creates NED.

Abraham was the director of the NED show. Journeying from all around the world to teach kids to always believe in themselves as sometimes life can be tough. This show was filled with wisdom but also with a fun little twist that made everyone laugh with Abraham’s funny stories and awesome Yo-Yo tricks that impressed everyone.  (Reporters: James and Evie, Year 6 Leaders)

South Coast Athletics Carnival

Yesterday a number of students competed in track and field events, at Beaton Park. We were one of the smallest schools there but were very successful because we won the small schools award, getting the most points in our category! Our school participants competed very well with the other schools and cheered everyone on, boosting their spirit. Good luck to the students who are competing next week on Tuesday, we will be cheering you on!   (Reporters: Macie and Mikaela, Year 6)

Physical Education - Mini Olympics

In other sporting news, how fabulous to see one of our students, Emma (Yr
6) featured recently in Australasian Dirt Bike magazine for her Motocross riding: 

PARENT TIPS

Helping Your Child Understand and Show Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It goes beyond sympathy, as it involves truly putting oneself in someone else's shoes and experiencing their emotions. Teaching empathy to children is crucial because it fosters kindness, compassion, and understanding in their interactions with others. By learning to empathise, children develop stronger social skills, improved relationships, and a greater awareness of the diverse perspectives and experiences of people around them. Empathy also plays a vital role in conflict resolution and in creating a more inclusive and supportive community. As parents, nurturing empathy in our children helps them grow into caring individuals who contribute positively to society and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Here are some tips on helping your kids understand and show empathy:

Lead by Example: Children often learn empathy by observing how their parents/carers treat others. Show empathy in your own interactions and talk about why you respond the way you do.

Talk About Feelings: Encourage your child to identify and express their own emotions. Use feeling words and validate their emotions to help them understand that feelings are natural and important.

Listen Actively: When your child talks about their feelings or experiences, listen attentively without judgement. This shows them that their emotions matter and teaches them to listen empathetically to others.

Discuss Perspectives: Help your child see situations from different points of view. Ask questions like, "How do you think they feel?" or "Why do you think they did that?" This encourages empathy by considering others' feelings and motivations.

Read Books and Watch Movies: Choose stories that emphasize empathy and discuss them together. Ask questions about characters' feelings and how the story would change if they showed more empathy. E.g. Inside out and Beauty and the Beast.

Encourage Acts of Kindness: Support your child in performing small acts of kindness, like sharing toys or helping a friend in need. Praise and reinforce these behaviours.

Set Limits on Hurtful Behaviour: Teach your child that actions have consequences and help them understand when their actions may hurt others. Encourage apologies and make amends when necessary.

Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Empathy helps in resolving conflicts. Teach your child to negotiate and find solutions that consider everyone's feelings and needs.

Practice Gratitude: Cultivate gratitude in your child by discussing things they appreciate and encouraging them to consider others' kindnesses.

Be Patient and Consistent: Developing empathy takes time and practice. Be patient with your child's progress and consistently model empathetic behaviour yourself.

Sara Ljuboja

School Counsellor

Free Parent Courses

https://aus.oltinternational.net/free-parents-courses

Blended Online Learning offers Specialised self-paced online courses that build

understanding, awareness, and knowledge about students with disability. The following courses are available for parents and are focused on helping parents and the family understand ADHD and Autism

Parent Courses - ADHD & Autism 

Parent and Carer Evening with Dr Justin Coulson at St John's Catholic Parish Primary School Dapto

The St John's Catholic Parish Primary School Dapto Parents and Friends Association are excited to announce they are hosting a parent and carer information session with Dr Justin Coulson on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 at 6:30pm.

Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s “Parental Guidance” and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au and is considered one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.

The parent session will focus on the topic of Resilience, in this session, parents will learn the psychological secrets that build their child’s sense of identity, strengths, and growth mindset in order to perform better, be happier, and build resilience.

Tickets can be purchased using this link https://events.humanitix.com/resilience-with-dr-justin-coulson-parental-guidance-workshop

The live session runs from 7:00pm-8:30pm and refreshments will be provided from 6:30pm on the night.

Free Program for Separating and Divorcing Parents

Family Transitions Triple P Online, developed by the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, is an easy-to-use online resource that gives proven tips and strategies for managing the transition in a way that can boost parenting confidence and minimise the impact on children.

e-Safety Commissioner Free webinars 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars 

Catholic Care - Group Programs for Term 3 2024

Our group programs can help adults and parents become the best versions of

themselves. We are available to attend your service to provide an overview of the groups we offer, speak in more detail about a particular group, or discuss other service offerings such as our individual groups or professional development sessions. Our range of groups focus on:

• strengthening relationships
• parenting
• post-separation
• supporting parents with children in care
• managing challenging emotions
• grief and loss

2024 Term 3 Strengthening Relationships - Course Flyer.pdf

Group programs are held in a supportive environment online or in-person at our Nowra, Campbelltown and Wollongong offices, with others who share similar life experiences. 

Click Here to Learn More About Our Group Programs

For more information or to make a booking please contact our Intake Service on 4254 9395 or email IntakeService@catholiccare.dow.org.au

The Holy Cross Parish Bulletin is emailed to our families via COMPASS, but it is easily accessible on the Parish website: https://www.helensburghcatholic.org.au/bulletins