Dear Parents and Friends of Holy Cross,

We are almost at the midpoint of Term 1! We have already had many great events with Year Six enjoying Camp, our Opening School Mass, our Student Representative Council (SRC) off to a great start, this week’s Meet & Greet sessions with teachers, and more to come!

On Monday afternoon, we open our gates to new families (and sibling families) seeking Kindergarten enrolment for 2026, with our Year Six students ready to be fabulous guides as they share all they know and love about our great school and community here at Holy Cross! 

HOLY CROSS FETE

Most significantly, our annual FETE is coming up on Saturday 15th March, organised and run by our amazing P&F, and the volunteering of you, our parents, on the various class stalls.  Our amazing Fete committee are well and truly in final preparations these last two weeks! If you have not yet responded to class stall rostering requests, I strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Many hands make the workload on the day lighter for all, and by helping out for a short time, it also enables everyone to enjoy the rest of the day as well!

We will open our Fete at 9:45am, with Acknowledgement of Country, and a short song and movement from each stage (K-2, Years 3 & 4 and Years 5 & 6), before the FETE starts officially at 10am.

HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL’s VISION AND MISSION

Throughout last year, one of our identified improvement goals was to review our school’s Vision and Mission statements. Through a process of reflection and refinement, informed by student, parent and staff feedback, supported by our Parish Priest Fr Paul, and facilitated by Gary Quinn, (Team Leader, Staff Spiritual Formation, Catholic Life, Education and Mission, CEDoW), I am pleased to be able to present our revitalised statement of who we aspire to be (Vision) and how we together, in partnership, can go forth to bring about the mission of Christ’ work in our school in the way we and our students can LOVE (our faith), LEARN (education) and LIVE (wellbeing) life to the full (John 10:10).

Words are just that- unless they are understood, brought to life, and recognised in word and action. Our “bringing to life” of our Vision and Mission will be a key focus of this year. More Soon!

P&F AGM  

Congratulations to our 2025 P&F Executive Team: 

President: Melissa McCallum

Vice President: Jess Duguid

Treasurer: Anthony Muscat

Secretary: Meryn Murray

I know this team will be very well supported by all the you!

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. Our staff, as part of Catholic Education Diocese of  Wollongong, engage in a range of contemporary, challenging and rigorous professional learning. Research tells us that teacher quality is the biggest in-school factor responsible for improved student outcomes, so professional learning is very much an integral part of any school’s improvement agenda. When we invest in teacher professionalism, we invest in every child’s learning. 

Our school’s professional learning plan for our teachers includes staff meetings before and after  school, Staff Development Days, onsite professional learning (half days and whole days) as well as offsite professional learning days. Some of these will require teachers to be given time away from face to face teaching. I am very mindful of ensuring a balance around these, and our professional teachers are very conscious of ensuring that continuity of learning for their class of students remains regardless of who is teaching them. When teachers attend professional learning, they plan the day's work and communicate with the casual teacher regarding the needs of students. 

The professional learning opportunities that staff attend willI be included in each fortnightly newsletter. 

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Milena Colussi
Principal

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Each year, CEDoW schools action a focused annual improvement goal. Our focus is:

2025 Annual Improvement Goal

Students will report increased levels of engagement and achieve personal learning growth in Mathematics and Reading. Some strategies we are actioning:

• Semester 1- Maths focus. Teacher Professional Learning and planning, supported by our Instructional Coach and Leadership Team;
• Using data effectively (formal and informal classroom based assessments which inform teachers about where students are at, and where to next and informs their programs and teaching to meet students at their level, both supporting and challenging their learning.
• Developing student understandings and how they can identify and talk about their own engagement in their learning of maths.

We also have ongoing action around our broader 4 year Strategic Improvement Plan 2024-2027 Priority Areas:

1. 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.

• In 2025
• Revised Vision & Mission - re-launch and bring the Vision and Mission to life this year. 
• Faith formation plan aligned to the Vision and Mission.

1. Student Centred Learning and Wellbeing; By 2027 students are agents of their own learning and wellbeing.

• In 2025
• SRC implementation
• Building further on a shared understanding of what student voice and agency looks and sounds like.
• Using a Student Engagement Continuum- a way students can talk about how engaged they feel when learning.
• Staff Professional Learning (with St Pius Unanderra) Berry St Education Model (BESM) for Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Parent Information session- student engagement and SEL

1. Excellence in Teaching: By 2027 all students will be engaged, challenged and have maximised their learning growth.

• In 2025, Teachers are experts in the English and Mathematics syllabus documents.
• HCH Vision for Learning developed (informed by our mission statement and CEDoW’s “Faith, Learning and Wellbeing Vision for Learning Framework” launched this week).
• Assessment informs teaching and learning.
• Students experience expected growth in Maths and Reading.

Our progress towards these goals in 2025 will be shared with our parents and wider community throughout the year. 

Important Update for all Parent/Grandparent Volunteers & Contractors: New Visitor Management System for School Sign-Ins

We are excited to announce the implementation of a new Visitor Management System designed to streamline and enhance the safety and efficiency of signing in at our schools. This system will change the way parents and visitors sign in, ensuring a smoother and more secure process.

Important Steps for All Parents:

Token for Onboarding Process: If you have previously provided the school with your Working With Children’s Check number you will receive an email with your token via email shortly. If you would like to start volunteering, please click on the link provided below to complete the new on boarding process. 

Click here to complete the NEW on Boarding Process

Clearance for Volunteering: Once you have completed the onboarding process, you will receive clearance from the Child Protection team from the Catholic Education Office, allowing you to volunteer in our schools.

Quick Sign-In App: To make the sign-in process even simpler, CEDoW have introduced a quick sign-in app available for download from both the App Store and Google Play Store. This app will allow you to sign in quickly and efficiently whenever you visit the school.

Click here to download the Quick Sign-In App

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we transition to this new system. Our goal is to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, and visitors. Should you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

Ash Wednesday Mass and Lent

Wednesday the 5 March is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is named after the ritual of placing blessed ashes on the foreheads of the faithful and is a sign for those who desire to repent. Ash Wednesday Masses are a simple but solemn service. As a school community we will have a school Ash Wednesday Mass at 11:30am. Family and friends are invited to attend.

As the sacred season of Lent unfolds before us, we are invited to embark on a profound spiritual journey. This is a time set apart for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, a period that encourages us to deepen our relationship with God and to reflect on our commitment to one another and our community. In this jubilee year, let us embrace the opportunity to renew our faith and compassion, fostering a spirit of unity and love as we prepare for the celebration of Easter. 

The season of Lent lasts for a period of forty days beginning on Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Easter Vigil Mass. Over the season of Lent, students will develop knowledge of the importance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I encourage you to speak with your child/ren about this important Catholic season and what they are learning about Lent. 

Project Compassion

During Lent our Mini Vinnies will be promoting our support of Caritas through Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion Box for home on Ash Wednesday and we will also have Project Compassion Boxes at school on our classroom sacred spaces. Each week at Monday morning assembly we will have a prayer to begin our week focusing on a story from Caritas and the way that the money for Project Compassion has changed the lives of people around the world.

A link with further information: https://www.caritas.org.au/

Education Mass

On Tuesday evening many of our staff attended the Wollongong Diocese Education Mass at Fairy Meadow at 6pm. We gathered with other staff of schools from the whole diocese of Wollongong. Bishop Brian spoke to us about the Jubilee Year and our mission to be bearers of Christ’s love to the communities we serve.

The system's new "Vision for Learning Framework" was also launched by our Director Peter Hill.

First Reconciliation - Dates for Workshops

Upcoming Masses

Wednesday 5 March WHOLE SCHOOL ASH WEDNESDAY MASS 11:30 am

Thursday 20 March GRADE PARISH MASS: 2,3,4 (9am) 

Thursday 27 March GRADE PARISH MASS: Yr 5 and Kinder (9am) 

Thursday 10 April WHOLE SCHOOL HOLY WEEK Liturgy (Time to be advised)

In Peace,

Mrs Debbie Turton 
Religious Education Coordinator

Learning in Focus - Year 6

During Week 3, our Year 6 students participated in a camp at The Tops, Stanwell Park. The camp focused on a variety of activities with the aim of developing personal growth and leadership attributes within our students. Although students engaged in a wide variety of challenges and activities including archery, ‘survivor’ challenges and high ropes, a particularly challenging activity was the giant swing, where students were elevated to a height of 26 metres before having to reach out and voluntarily pulla cord to free fall several metres before swinging back and forth, all while their peers watched from far below. 

The giant swing is in itself a metaphor of a key messages that we strive for in all aspects of faith, learning and wellbeing at Holy Cross . The first message is that we can accomplish challenging and difficult things, things far beyond what we imagined we can do. The second message is that we are not alone when we face these challenges, but that we have both our faith and each other to support us in overcoming challenges.

The camp was a brilliant opportunity for students to learn about themselves, to grow in relationship with each other, and commence their final year of primary education in their final preparation before their next learning journey; high school. 

School Representative Council (SRC)

We are excited to introduce in 2025 our School Representative Council to enable and increase authentic opportunities for student voice in improving the school experience for our students. The SRC is comprised of 2 students elected from each class 1-5, as well as our school captains and vice-captains. Our SRC students met for the first time with Mr Burns in Week 4 in which they learnt about important aspects of student leadership including putting others first, doing the right thing and following through on promises with integrity. In Week 5 our SRC met with their classes to gather student voice, and they also met together to analyse trends and prioritise actions in planning ahead. Some priority areas our SRC are already working on implementing are lunch time clubs eg. chess club, as well as additional play options at lunch time.

Award Assemblies

Our school assemblies in Term 1 will be held fortnightly on Monday afternoons beginning at 2:30pm. Any change to the time will be communicated to parents via Compass. 

• Wk 7: Monday 10 March - Class & Principal Awards, Student Leadership badges presented (Sport House captains, Mini Vinnies Leaders, Environmental & WEN leaders, SRC Yrs 1-5)
  
  
• Wk 9: Monday 24 March- Year 6 Class sharing

• Wk 11: Monday 7 April- Principal Awards
  
  

Communicating with your child’s teacher

We value our partnership with you in supporting your child’s faith, learning and wellbeing. Respectful, informed and open communication is vital in our work together, and can be both formal and informal throughout the year. 

To ensure that our teaching time with your children is maximised during the day, any messages or communication must be directed via a phone call or email to our school office only info_holycross@dow.catholic.edu.au and not via SEESAW.

• To request a time to meet with your child’s teacher, please email or call the school office. This will be passed on to the teacher, and a mutually suitable time will be made.
• To communicate non urgent matters, please email or call the school office, and it will be passed on and responded to in a timely manner.
• An urgent matter- please call the school office.

SEE SAW GUIDELINES REMINDER

IMPORTANT DATES

HOLY CROSS P&F FETE- SATURDAY 15th MARCH

2025 School Photos

School photos will be held in Week 11 of this term on MONDAY 7th April. 

PUPIL FREE DAY  Friday 11 April 2025.

Whole School Sport Carnival Dates 2025

Please find below a reminder of these dates, they are also on the Parent Calendar.

Cross Country - Tuesday 11 March @ Rex Jackson Oval, K-6 

Athletics Carnival - Thursday, 29 May Barden Ridge K-6

Swimming Carnival - in Term 4 Date to be confirmed

CROSS COUNTRY

Our annual whole school Cross Country is coming up on Tuesday 11th March, at Rex Jackson Oval. Details and permission requests have already been shared via COMPASS, and the order of events will be shared via compass closer to the day.

Transport: Students will walk to and from the oval departing school promptly at 9:15am and depart the oval at approximately 1:30pm. Parents who wish to take their child home at this dismissal time (not earlier) will need to wait and then sign out their child after the last event. 

Wear: Students wear their full sports uniform including their school hat. They may wear a t- shirt in their house colour.

Bring: A small back pack with their Crunch and Sip, morning tea, lunch, plenty of water, and sunscreen.  

Supervision: All class teachers and School Support Officers

Parents are welcome to come along and watch. Please note that students are expected to remain in their class groups, and are fully supervised by our staff.

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025 HAS BEGUN!

Each year at Holy Cross, we participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in

students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge for each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. With hundreds of PRC texts in our Library, the challenge is a great way for our students to enjoy reading and maybe read something they may not normally choose, thus expanding their exposure to different genres.

With support from all our staff, our students complete the Challenge at school:

K-2: 30 books – teachers read Challenge books to students and reading records are entered by me.

Year 3-6: 20 books – students complete and enter their own reading records. Each student records their own Reading Log where they enter ALL books they read – this includes: Library books (both school and public Library), books from home, and books their teachers read to them. At the end of Term 2, there is a dedicated Library lesson on entering their Reading Logs.

The Challenge opened on Monday, 24 February and ends Friday, 22 August 2025.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

At Holy Cross, we promote the Scholastic Book Club. Each term, your child will bring home a Book Club catalogue. Book Club is a great way for parents to provide their children with popular literature in a variety of genres which aids in encouraging children to read. And they also make great gifts!

Book Club Issue 1 orders are on their way and will be distributed once they arrive.

Book Club Issue 2 catalogues will be sent home soon. These orders will be due by 28 March 2025.

Instructions:

* jump online to order: https://bookclubs.scholastic.com.au/

* if your order is a gift, you can nominate it online as ‘gift’.

* once the orders arrive, all parents are given a courtesy call.

PLEASE NOTE: all orders are done online, the school does not collect cash or cheques.

BOOK COVERERS – THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the wonderful parents and carers who emailed me to go on my book covering list - I truly appreciate the support from you.

If you enjoy covering books in contact (or find it therapeutic) and would love to be on the list, please email me at hchlibrary@dow.catholic.edu.au

LIBRARY LUNCH 1 = CLUB TIME FUN!

Our Library is open every day at Lunch 1 for Lunchtime Clubs where all students are welcome if they wish to attend. Each day has a different Club but they all have one main goal – to have fun!

Happy reading everyone!

Sue Murray
Library 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

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.