Dear Parents and Friends,

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of our Parish and school, an understanding of  the background and transforming meaning of the Cross  is important for us

all to know about. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross takes place on Saturday, 14th September. 

On 13 September 335, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem (also called the Church of the Resurrection) was dedicated. The following day, the cross that Empress Helena had discovered on 14 September 320, was venerated in a solemn ceremony. In 614, the Persian King, Chosroes II, waged war on the Romans. After conquering Jerusalem, he confiscated many treasures, among which was the Cross of Jesus. The Byzantine emperor Heraclius initiated peace negotiations, but was rejected. He then waged war and won near Nineveh, asking for the restitution of the Cross, which was then returned to Jerusalem. Today, the cruelty of the Cross is not what is exalted, but the Love that God manifested to humanity by accepting death on the Cross: “Who, though in the form of God, emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus!” (Pope Francis)

Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.’ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him (Jn 3:13-17).

Pope Benedict XVI wrote, 

The Gospel the liturgy offers us on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross suggests that God wants to enter into a relationship of love with everyone. This is offered in His Son, Jesus, lifted up on the Cross. Lifting up our gaze to God expresses a very important truth: we are invited to enter back into relationship with Him.

Being Christians, we make a choice before every action, for the actions of a Christian are none other than the witness of how “God has loved us so much that he gave His only Son, Jesus”.

Whilst I wrote about the sacred and very special role Grandparents hold in our lives earlier this term, I acknowledge their presence amongst us tomorrow, and we give thanks as they join us to celebrate. 

       

Professional Learning

Recent professional learning undertaken or other professional commitments by our staff this fortnight includes:

Every Blessing,

Milena Colussi
Principal

On Sunday 8 September our Year 6 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Sacrament of Confirmation continues, strengthens, confirms and celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism. At the conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he promised his followers that he would send them the gift of the Holy Spirit who would help them to live as he had taught them and to pass on his message to all the nations. (See John 20:22 and Acts 2).

Our students were prepared for this very important Sacrament by Father Paul in parent and student workshops. We thank Father Paul for these workshops where we listened, discussed, reflected and prayed so that we had a well developed understanding of this special Sacrament of initiation. We also thank Bishop Brian who confirmed the candidates and reminded them of our participation in the ministry and mission of Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit strengthens us to follow Jesus more closely.

Feast Day:

A reminder that Mass for our Holy Cross Feast Day will begin at 9:15am on Friday 13 September in the Church. Looking forward to seeing you and celebrating both our special feast day and also our wonderful Grandparents.

Christmas Art Competition 

An annual event for our students is the Christmas Story Art Competition organised by the Diocese of Wollongong. The subject matter is drawn from the Religious Education Curriculum and includes additional verses from the Gospel of Matthew.

On Friday during our feast day celebrations- Year 5 and 6 will be displaying their artwork in the library - We encourage all grandparents to stop by to have a look at their work. 

Six ‘winners’ are selected each year and entered into the Diocesan Competition. We look forward to announcing these winners after our display.

Grade Masses:

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

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

In Peace, 

Mrs Debbie Turton
Religious Education Coordinator

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

Kindergarten’s Excursion Recount Writing

Kindergarten enjoyed their excursion to Calmsley Hill Farm. Their experiences have been the focus of the writing this past week!

Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee

The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee is a national on-line competition designed to expose students to unfamiliar words, providing them with definitions and word origins to help expand their vocabulary and encourage them to use knowledge of strategies to spell each word.  This year, 9 students from Stage 2 and 14 students from Stage 3 participated in the competition.  These students are spelling above their age level. 

Well done to our class champions who scored the highest in their class:

Yr 3 - Henry

Yr 4 - Jenna 

Yr 5 - Lee 

Yr 6 - Evie 

A big congratulations to our State Finalists Henry and Jenna.  Unfortunately they didn’t make it to the Nationals round, but we are so proud of them for being one of the top 200 spellers in the state.

The Holy Cross Spelling Bee 2024 is coming!

The annual Holy Cross Spelling Bee will take place on Tuesday 24th September. Information was shared last week.

Year 4 Learning 

SUMMER UNIFORM TRANSITION

Given the start of some warmer weather in recent weeks, students may now wear their summer uniform on warm dates.  Our current Uniform policy states the transition options as follows:

We do appreciate parents supporting the high expectations we have for our students’ uniform. A reminder that school shoes must be black leather, and sports shoes should be predominantly white or blue in colour. The uniform policy is to be reviewed by the end of 2024, and we value your input informally, or, at our next P&F meeting in Term 4.

ASSEMBLIES in TERM 3

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

• Wk 10 - Wednesday 25 September - Principal Awards

Save the Dates

• End Of Year Mass and Yr 6 Graduation

Please note that our End of Year Mass and Year 6 Graduation Ceremony will be held in the church on Thursday 12 December at 9.30am. 

• Christmas Concert

This wonderful event will be held on Wednesday 18th December, on the playground, from 9:30am.

Library News

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR A HUGE SUCCESS!

As part of our Book Week celebrations last week, we held the Scholastic Book Fair and our school community proved once again how generous and supportive it is.

There was a fantastic vibe all week, with lots of very excited students coming in before school every day, Wish List in hand. On the first morning, it didn’t take long for a team of very keen Library Warriors to work out where they could help. They were assigned the tasks of shelf stocking, shelf tidying, and assisting parents find items from the Wish Lists – and they were brilliant at it.

To everyone in our Holy Cross community who came and supported our Book Fair – parents, grandparents, students and staff - we made $5256 in sales which was phenomenal AND we had 33 books generously donated to our Library covering all Library collections. I can’t wait to share with you in future newsletters some of these titles - there is literally something for everyone.

So, THANK YOU everyone for making our Book Fair a huge success.

Happy reading everyone!

Sue Murray
Library Coordinator

PARENT TIPS - FROM OUR CATHOLIC CARE COUNSELLOR 

Encouraging Independence and Responsibility

Encouraging independence and responsibility in children is vital for their overall development and future success. When children learn to take initiative and make decisions on their own, they develop confidence in their abilities and a sense of freedom. This fosters a healthy sense of self-esteem and resilience, enabling them to navigate challenges and setbacks more effectively. Moreover, fostering independence teaches children important life skills such as problem-solving, time management, and decision-making. As they grow older, these skills prepare them to become responsible adults who can contribute positively to society. Encouraging independence does not mean abandoning guidance and support; rather, it involves gradually giving children opportunities to learn and grow, while offering guidance and encouragement along the way. Ultimately, fostering independence and responsibility empowers children to become self-reliant individuals who are capable of achieving their goals and adapting to various situations confidently.

Here are some tips on encouraging your child to be independent and responsible:

Assign Age-Appropriate Tasks: Give your child chores or responsibilities around the house that are suitable for their age and capabilities. This could include making their bed, setting the table, or helping with simple meal preparations.

Allow Decision-Making: Offer choices whenever possible to allow your child to practice decision-making. For example, let them choose their outfit for the day or decide what book to read before bedtime.

Teach Life Skills: Teach practical skills such as tying shoelaces, managing money (e.g., allowance), or using basic household tools. These skills empower children to handle daily tasks independently.

Encourage Problem-Solving: When your child faces a challenge or problem, encourage them to brainstorm solutions and consider consequences. Guide them through the process rather than providing immediate solutions.

Promote Self-Care: Teach your child to take care of themselves by encouraging habits such as brushing teeth, bathing independently, and tidying their own belongings.

Set Expectations and Follow Through: Clearly communicate expectations for behaviour and responsibilities. Ensure that consequences and rewards are consistent when expectations are met or not met.

Provide Opportunities for Growth: Support your child in trying new activities or hobbies where they can learn and develop skills independently. This could include joining clubs, sports teams, or art classes.

Model Independence: Demonstrate independence in your own actions and decisions. Children often learn by observing their parents' behaviours and attitudes.

Offer Guidance and Support: Be available to offer guidance and support when needed but allow your child space to learn from their mistakes and develop problem-solving skills.

Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and praise your child's efforts and accomplishments in becoming more independent and responsible. Positive reinforcement encourages them to continue taking initiative and making responsible choices.

Sara Ljuboja

School Counsellor

Catholic Care - Group Programs for Term 3 2024

 

2024 Term 3 Strengthening Relationships - Course Flyer.pdf

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

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

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 

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

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources#videos

Soccer Gala Day 2024

On Friday 23 August, 90 of our Yr 3-6 students attended the Northern Soccer Gala Day at Ocean Park Woonona. Please enjoy this recount by Mollyrose and Emma M from Year 6: