Dear Parents and Friends,

It is incredible to think that we are five weeks away from Christmas! Whilst we are reminded about Christmas being just around the corner, with shopping centres adorned with decorations and pre Christmas sales, as Catholics, we are encouraged to also take this time to honour the waiting and journey time before Christmas as well. 

Advent begins on Sunday 1st December. This is a beautiful time in our part of the world- I am always re energised by the Advent colours of the Jacaranda, agapanthus, hydrangea and gumtrees flowering purple and pinks, as well as the Illawarra Flame trees in their blazing red (a hint of Christmas of course). I encourage you to prepare for this special liturgical time of the year in your hearts ... and take the time in our homes and workplace to focus on this advent wonder, hope and a time of waiting, before rushing in towards all things Christmas. 

Advent is a season of waiting and preparation. It commemorates the beginning or arrival of something anticipated, both the historical birth of Jesus and the yearly spiritual rebirth of Christ within each one of us at Christmas. It’s a season when we slow down and look forward to the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Waiting is not always easy, but it does have a purpose. It can help us prepare our hearts for Jesus' coming, both as a man in the past and for his second coming in the future.

As parents, as teachers, we model for our children every day, and our example in expressing wonder and awe for and within the waiting time of Advent is uniquely our opportunity to be different to schools where the jump to Christmas "things" skips this. In this 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!

Annual Report- Parent Feedback

Each year, schools are required to write an Annual School Report. Previous Annual School Reports can be found on the school website. An important part of this process is seeking input from students, staff and parents. We are conscious that parents have been asked to complete other surveys throughout the year, but if you would like to provide your voice on aspects of our school, we invite you to complete the survey by next Tuesday 26 november 2024 using this link: Annual School Report Survey - Parents Say

2025 Staffing

We are getting very close to finalising our staffing for 2024. Once this is completed, we will share this with students and families by the end of Week 9, so that we can begin our grade-to-grade transition processes. 

2024 Olympian Gold Medalist visits Holy Cross next Wednesday

We were absolutely thrilled to receive an email from Saya Sakakibara last week, offering to visit our school next Wednesday 27 November, for a special Q&A style assembly and photo opportunity. Our student leaders are gathering a sample of questions to Saya, and we warmly welcome parents who may wish to join us, from 2:20pm, under the Top Cola.  

Student Leadership Timeline for 2025 

Our Year 5 students have submitted impressive self nominations for a variety of formal leadership roles. The first round of leadership speeches for the important role School Captains and Vice Captains will take place next Thursday 28th November, followed by voting. Parents of the students giving speeches are able to attend (from 11:30am).

Week 8: Thursday 5th December: Sport Leader Speeches and voting (House Colours)

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

Class teachers are currently gathering and analysing a range of student work samples and assessments which inform student reports. Reports will be finalised and made available via COMPASS on the 13th of December (Friday of Week 9). More information about Semester 2 reports will be provided in our next newsletter.

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

Feast of Christ the King - Sunday 24 November

As we approach the end of the Liturgical Year, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. This special day, observed on the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar, honours Jesus Christ as the King of the Universe. It's a time for our school community to reflect on the teachings of Christ and the values of justice, compassion, integrity and hope that He embodies. Let us celebrate the reign of Christ the King as it reminds us to live out His teachings, being people of mission, in our daily lives.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

Vinnies are asking for your help this year to donate non-perishable food items to make up Christmas hampers. In order for St. Vinnies to create as many Christmas food hampers as possible, items have been split throughout the school. In each classroom a basket is located near the prayer space to receive donations. Donations will be presented to the local St Vinnies members on Wednesday 11th December.

I would also like to ask you to consider contributing to the Parish Christmas Giving Tree. The Mini Vinnies have made labels for the Parish Christmas Tree (In the foyer of our Church). You are invited to take a tag and purchase a gift for a person described on the label, then wrap the gift and place it under the tree prior to Christmas. These gifts are generously given to members of our own local community in need this Christmas.

Thank you for your generosity.

Advent Liturgies

As we enter the festive season, it's time to embark on the Season of Advent, a period of joyful anticipation and reflection. During these four weeks leading up to Christmas, our students will engage in special prayers, activities, and traditions that focus on preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. Advent is a time of hope, love, joy, and peace, and we look forward to celebrating this special season as a school community.

You are invited to join us as we acknowledge Advent with three special Monday morning prayer services. 

Monday 2 December 8:50am -- Lead by Year 5 and 6

Monday 9 December 8:50am -- Lead by Year 3 and 4

Monday 16 December 8:50 -- Lead by Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2

Remembrance Day Prayer Service

Thank you to the parents who were able to join us for our Remembrance Day Prayer Service on November 11. The students and staff reflected upon the sacrifices made by all those who have served in conflict and wars. Our Remembrance Day Service was a special time for us to pause, pray and remember. Thank you to all of the students who assisted with leading us. Some of our school leaders also represented our school at the community service at Charles Harper Park.

In Peace, Mrs Debbie Turton
Religious Education Coordinator

Maths in K-2

• use tally marks
• find the total
• Analyse the data and make statements like, "Blue lunch boxes had the most, while grey lunch boxes had the least".

I also asked some of the students in kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 what they enjoy about maths. Here are some of the things they said...

MATHS OLYMPIAD

Maths Olympiad is a program for high achieving students in the area of Mathematics. Students in Stage 2 and 3 are presented with a range of challenging questions to problem solve using a variety of strategies. During the year, they compete with other students across Australia and New Zealand and we are so proud of the following students for thinking critically and  challenging themselves to analyse problems to find solutions. Our Holy Cross students involved this year were:

• Stage 2: Jenna, Khai, Pippin, Dylan, Max, Ryan, Henry, Hannah, Travis R, Lara
• Stage 3: Amos, Jake, Maya, Joshua, Amelia, Isabella, MollyRose, Jimmy, Olivia, Lachlan, Lee, Alessandra, Jesse, Luca

A big congratulations to Lee for placing in the top 25% of students across Australia and New Zealand. 

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE- School of Mathematics & Statistics

Lee (Year 5) also competed in The University of Melbourne - School of Mathematics and Statistics competition, which provides students with the opportunity to understand what it means to conduct mathematical and statistical research. Students were given a set of open-ended research problems from which they chose one. They can then employ methods used by mathematical researchers to investigate their problem; they can gather data, simplify, visualise, hypothesise, conjecture and prove. The aim of the competition is to allow students to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to make choices about how best to ask and answer questions about their chosen project. Lee spent a term researching “a toilet paper producing company that makes two types of toilet rolls. I had to find the area, diameter, value, monitor the usage of toilet paper in my household and create a new type of toilet roll.”

As a result of his analysis and investigations, he earned a merit, placing him in the top 26% of students across Australia. Congratulations on a wonderful achievement, Lee!

Uncle Kevin Butler

We are so pleased to report that Uncle Kevin Butler has been able to continue to work on our school values artworks commenced in 2023. On Friday 8th November, Uncle Kevin visited to say hello to our students, who warmly welcomed him. We also worked out a plan to complete the artworks. Our Hope and Integrity panels will  be given a coat of protective lacquer and installed in the holidays, in our undercover area where we line up in the mornings next to the canteen. Uncle Kevin will work on the COMPASSION artwork from his home studio, and visit us again in early 2025 to design our last panel of Justice for our students to complete over Term 1. We are so grateful to have him join us once again.

Check out these short video stories of the  Hope and Integrity panels, created by Uncle Kevin.

ASSEMBLIES in TERM 4

Our fortnightly school assemblies during Term 4 will be held under the top Cola on Thursday afternoons at 2.35pm. 

• Week 6 - Thursday 21st November, Principal Awards
• Week 8 - Thursday 5th December

Our final assembly for the year will be held in Week 10, on Tuesday, 17 December 2023 at 2:30pm. Principal Awards will also be presented.

HOLY CROSS HAS TALENT 

Our annual Talent Quest will take place in Week 9, organised by Mr Whitehall and Year 6:

• Monday 9 December K-2. 2-3pm 
• Wednesday 11 December 3-6. 1:45-3pm

Criteria:

• One performance per child (Either individual or as part of a group (not both, or in multiple performances)
• Songs and actions must be respectful and age appropriate (Songs will be checked by staff)
• No more than 2 minutes long

Save the Dates

• Swimming Carnival
  This annual event will take place on Friday 6th December, at Helensburgh Swimming Pool. More information and race nominations will be sent home shortly.
• 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

Leadership Day

CEDoW Sports Awards 

Last Friday evening, six of our students were recognised for their outstanding school sporting achievements during 2024 at the Diocese of Wollongong CDF Sports Awards. 

We congratulate Emma, Eddie, Archie, Jesse, Nate and Lachie for their dedication, passion and sportsmanship they have shown in their sporting pathways this year. Thank you for representing Holy Cross with pride!

A special congratulations to Eddie who was nominated for and WON Para Athlete of the Year for 2024!! This is the 3rd year he has won this! A wonderful recognition of the hard work he puts into all of his sporting endeavours.

With an Olympic theme, the night was a wonderful celebration of school sport this year.

Promoting Positive Behaviour

Promoting positive behaviour in children is essential for their social and emotional development, and it starts with clear communication and consistency at home. When children learn to exhibit respectful and kind behaviours, they not only enhance their social skills but also build healthy relationships with peers. Positive behaviour fosters a sense of belonging and safety, making children feel more confident in expressing themselves. Moreover, improving these behaviours early on helps establish a strong moral foundation, enabling children to navigate challenges and make responsible choices as they grow. By reinforcing positive behaviour, parents play a crucial role in shaping their child's character, leading to improved academic performance, emotional regulation, and a greater sense of empathy toward others.

Here are some tips on promoting positive behaviour:

Set Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate the behaviours you expect from your child, making sure they understand the rules and the reasons behind them.

Use Positive Reinforcement: Praise and reward your child for displaying positive behaviour. This could be through verbal encouragement, stickers, or small rewards that motivate them to continue behaving well.

Model Good Behaviour: Children learn by observing their parents. Demonstrate the behaviours you want to see, such as kindness, patience, and respect.

Create a Routine: Establishing a daily routine helps children feel secure and understand what is expected of them. Consistency is key.

Encourage Open Communication: Create an environment where your child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. Listen actively and validate their emotions.

Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Help your child learn to think critically about situations and explore different ways to handle conflicts or challenges they may face.

Use Natural Consequences: Allow children to experience the natural consequences of their actions (when safe) to help them understand the impact of their behaviour. E.g. If your child refuses to put on a coat, your child feels cold.

Practice Empathy: Encourage your child to consider other people's feelings by discussing how their actions affect others. This will help build their emotional intelligence and compassion.

Establish Consequences for Negative Behaviour: Be consistent in applying fair consequences for negative behaviour, ensuring that your child understands the reasons behind them.

Encourage Teamwork: Involve your child in group activities, whether at home or in the community. Working with others can help them practice cooperation and positive social interactions.

Sara Ljuboja 
School Counsellor

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

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. 

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.