Dear Parents and Friends of Holy Cross,

Our shared Lenten Journey

Our Year 4,5 and 6 students led us through a very moving journey with Jesus with the Stations of The Cross. As pilgrims of Christ, we too journey with Jesus

through the remaining week of Lent, solemnly into Holy Week, The Passion, the Easter Triduum, and the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. We journey with him as his weary legs and broken body make their way to be crucified. We remember Mary who stood,  tired and weak  at the foot of the cross, next to Jesus in unrelenting love and solidarity as he died on the Cross.

We may well struggle to connect with the story of Jesus, but in our reflection and connection to our everyday life, it’s struggles and joys, we too can may come to understand the great sacrifice Christ gave of himself, his life, for us. 

Try this: 

Close your eyes and focus on your legs as you stand | Bend your knees and feel the weight of your body | We are supported every day by our legs for our entire life | They engage and move us without any thought | Imagine standing with Mary at the cross as Jesus dies | Imagine the pain and also the sadness and anger at seeing Jesus die | Who did we stand next to yesterday in solidarity? | Who did we support through a challenging time?  |  When might we need to stand with someone today?

Read and reflect upon the Scripture:  Luke 23:1-49 (The Passion)  May you and your family experience the joy and peace of the resurrection this Easter.

Term 1 has been absolutely fantastic at Holy Cross!  Our whole school and grade masses, Monday morning prayerful encounters led by our students and classes during Lent, quality learning experiences, our fabulous P&F Fete community event and extensive professional learning for our teaching staff. Thank you to our hardworking teachers and support staff for their commitment to working in partnership with our parents to support our students in their learning growth. On behalf of all of our Holy Cross staff, we wish you all a safe and restful school break. 

Students return on Tuesday 29 April, as Monday 28th is PUPIL FREE DAY. 

A few snapshots gathered from our P&F Fete this term!

The Pilgrims of Hope - Jubilee Year Passports

Those who are regular parishioners, may already have a copy of the specially developed diocesan resource, The Pilgrims of Hope - Jubilee Year Passports. Bishop Brian is providing a copy of this resource to all Catholic school staff and students (Years 2–12).

Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 a Holy Year of Jubilee, a special year of grace, prayerfulness and service. Held every 25 years, the goal of a Jubilee Year is to inspire and encourage us in embracing the Church's universal call to holiness and to mission, strengthening us in our witness to God’s love and mercy for all people. and to do so specifically in this Jubilee Year, as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

These passports are a wonderful way to help our students, our families, and our staff to come to a fuller understanding of the purpose of this Jubilee Year, and to embrace some simple practices of prayerfulness, pilgrimage and service—helping us to open ourselves more fully to the love and mercy of God in the process.

Additionally, please include an explanation of the Jubilee Year and the Pilgrim Passports in your upcoming communication with

parents/guardians.

The Diocesan Jubilee Webpage is available for all to explore more about the Jubilee Year, and we will have some special opportunities at Holy Cross to further explore and engage with this wonderful resource. 

Celebrating a Millennial Saint

Did you know that Carlo Acutis, the inspiring teenager who used his computer skills to share his faith, will be officially canonised as a saint on 27 April 2025, during the Jubilee of Youth week?

Who is Carlo Acutis? 10 things you should know about him | Catholic News Agency

The Life of Carlo Acutis | Biography, Legacy, and Devotion | Catholic Answers Tract

To mark this special celebration, our system has developed digital resources that embrace Carlo's tech-savvy spirit and his passion for evangelisation. Created using apps and AI, these resources are perfect for exploring Carlo's life with your students:

• For primary students: An interactive digital school magazine. Access the magazine via Publuu here.
• For secondary students: A thought-provoking podcast and discussion guide. Access the guide via Publuu here.

These resources, inspired by Carlo's own use of technology to spread faith, demonstrate how to engage with and share faith in the digital age and can be explored for learning activities across Religious Education, English, ICLT, HSIE, Music and Art, and Civics and Citizenship.

ENROLMENTS FOR 2026 ARE OPEN

Enrolment Interviews have commenced and will continue throughout May! The online application form is accessible from the home page of our school website. https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/enrol/

INTERVIEW BOOKING REMINDER : If you have a younger sibling enrolled, please hop online or call our school office to book a time for an interview. 

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS 

ASSESSMENT This Friday 11th April, our teaching staff will join three other schools (Thirroul, Gwynneville and Port Kembla) offsite for professional learning around Assessment and moderation practices, as part of a Community of Practice (4 One stream schools) working together. We have an expert external professional, Professor Jim Toglonini, from the Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment, Sydney University guiding our work. 

STUDENT WELLBEING  On Monday 28th April, our staff will have a Professional Learning Day with the staff of St Pius X Unanderra, addressing one of our key school’s Strategic Improvement Plan goals around enhancing our whole school approach to supporting student emotional wellbeing. Both schools, over the next 2 years, will complete four days of training (two each year) with The Berry St Education Model (BSEM). BESM is a comprehensive approach used by many schools.

About The Berry St Education Model

In today’s changing world, many primary and secondary school students encounter daily challenges that can impact their success at school. These can range from ongoing stress when learning, to unsuccessfully meeting their own needs within the classroom. Despite best efforts and intentions, schools often require specialised strategies to address student needs for healing, growth, and achievement.

The Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) provides strategies for teaching and learning that enable teachers to increase engagement of students with complex, unmet learning needs and to successfully improve all students’ self-regulation, relationships, wellbeing, growth and academic achievement.

The BESM pedagogical strategies incorporate trauma-informed teaching, positive education and wellbeing practices.

This year, our staff will engage in professional learning Days 1 & 2

Day 1 (Term 2 Monday 28/4/25): Body – How to help your students to regulate their stress response, de-escalate in school and classroom contexts and provide strategies for increased focus.

Day 2 (Term 3 Friday 26/9/25): Relationship – Positive relational classroom management strategies that promote on-task learning

In 2026, these are the two days:

Day 3: Stamina – How to create a culture of academic persistence in your classroom by nurturing student resilience, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset. Engagement – How to motivate students with strategies that increase their willingness to learn

Day 4: Character – How to harness our values and character strengths approach for effective learning and for future pathways.

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. 

The professional learning opportunities and official events that staff have engaged with the last two weeks: 

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Milena Colussi
Principal

EASTER CEREMONIES:

We warmly invite all parents to join in the Easter services at Holy Cross Parish over the school holiday break. As we come together to celebrate the most important

time in our Church year. Your presence and participation will enrich our community as we reflect on the hope and joy of the Resurrection. 

Project Compassion 2025

Thank you for your generous donations and continued support of Project Compassion. It would be wonderful if all Project Compassion boxes could be returned either this week or in Week 1, Term 2.

PROJECT COMPASSION DAY at HOLY CROSS

Last Week we held a Project Compassion Day, where the Mini Vinnies students prepared and held a “Bake Sale” of treats with all proceeds raised going to support Project Compassion. The Mini Vinnies served at the stall and there was also a group of students who made Loom band bracelets to sell with all proceeds raised also going to support Project Compassion. A special mention to some Year 4 students who also organised a colouring competition for the younger grades to raise awareness of the great work of Caritas.

Students K-6 engaged in a “Walk for Water Activity” where they experienced what it would be like to have to carry water long distances each day in countries that do not have ready access to clean water. 

Journey with Jesus: We Walk the Way of the Cross 

A big thank you to the parents, grandparents and friends who were able to join us yesterday for Stations of the Cross led by Years 5 and 6. The students worked in groups to present each station and some Year 4 students creatively interpreted the journey through the Stations in dance (self choreographed).

A heartfelt thank you to our Year 5 and 6 students for their thoughtful leadership in guiding our school community throughout this prayer service, reflecting on the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Your reverent actions, including the talented narration by Lachie and Lee, beautifully reflected our mission to live out our faith with compassion and purpose so that Jesus is known and loved. 

Upcoming Masses/Liturgies - Early Term 2

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE IN HELENSBURGH ~  FRIDAY 25 APRIL 

Each year our school community, along with the Parish, is invited by the Helensburgh RSL Sub-Branch to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Helensburgh War Memorial at Charles Harper Park.

Student leaders lay a wreath and the ANZAC AWARD is announced and presented to a Year 6 student.

The Service begins at 5.45am. We hope that some of our students with their families can attend.

School ANZAC DAY Service

Our School ANZAC Day service will take place on  Tuesday 29 April at 11:30am on the Top Cola. Parents, grandparents and friends are warmly invited.

Mothers Day

SAVE THE DATE! Friday 9 May we will have our Mother’s Day Liturgy and events. Please see the flyer in school news to RSVP.

In Peace,

Mrs Debbie Turton 
Religious Education Coordinator

MOTHERS DAY- SAVE THE DATE!

Please RSVP using the QR code or this link https://forms.gle/pGFFaCHam14aCamw7

Award Assemblies

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

• Week 2:  6 May 
• Week 4:  20 May (Year 5 sharing learning)
• Week 6:  3 June (inc Principal Awards)
• Week 8:  17 June (Year 3 sharing learning)
• Week 10: 1 July (inc Principal Awards)

Term 2 2025 Parent Planner 

This is a handy two page parent calendar for your fridge or home noticeboard! Simply print and and have it handy for your day to day reference. Any updates and changes will be posted either via Compass, our parent website calendar or as reminders on our weekly Infographic posted on our school’s Facebook page. All dates can also be found on the Parent online Calendar accessed also on our school’s website. 

Please note the two PUPIL FREE DAYS in Term 2 are Monday 28 April and Friday 4 July.

Tell Them From Me Survey - Term 2

Next term, all schools in Wollongong diocese will survey the voice of parents, staff, Parish, and students in Years 4-6 via the 'Tell Them From Me' survey. The survey will provide important feedback which continues to inform our work in designing improvement priorities that are responsive to the needs of our school community. More detail and links will be provided after the holidays.

Excursions this year 

Excursions form one part of your child’s learning experiences at Holy Cross. The opportunity for students to be immersed in an excursion visit that is connected to an area of their learning helps to build their understandings in a practical, first hand and experiential way. Your child’s class will have their class teacher and an additional teacher on staff or from the Leadership team attending, as well as one of our support officers. 

Uniform

The change from wearing Summer uniform to Winter uniform officially begins in Week 3, Term 2, Monday 12 May. Up until this date, there will be a transition period whereby students have the option of wearing either summer or winter uniform as appropriate for the weather.  

Please Note:

½ zip polar fleece jumper with school logo can be worn under School Jacket or under Sports Jacket on cold days or by itself with the Winter or Summer uniform.

To assist with the changeover of uniforms, Claudines will have a pop up shop early Term 2 (date to be confirmed), Where winter uniforms can be purchased or ordered.  A Compass reminder will also be sent at the beginning of Term 2.

School Lockdown and Evacuation Drills

Each term, we conduct these practice drills to ensure that our staff and students are as best prepared as they can, should there be the need. This term, we held a Lockdown last week, and an evacuation to our designated emergency assembly area offsite at the end of MacMillan St. 

IMPORTANT DATES

TERM 2 PUPIL FREE DAYS  

• Monday 28th April

• Friday 4th July

MOTHERS’ DAY

• P&F Gift Staff- Thursday 8th May

• Mothers Day celebrations - Friday 9th May from 9-11:30am

PUBLIC HOLIDAY (KING’S BIRTHDAY)

• Monday 9th June

Last Day of Term 2 for Students- Thursday 3rd July

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025!

PRC Champions for this fortnight are:

Indigo, Evie Sam, Keira – Year 6

Mila – Year 5

Congratulations to the above students!

***Stay tuned to see who completes the Challenge next!***

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB ISSUE 2

Book Club Issue 2 is now closed. Parents will be called when orders come in.

LIBRARY WARRIORS

An Interview With…Kalani (Year 3)

Note from Mrs Murray: Kalani started her Library Warrior journey in 2024 learning the Popular Fiction section under the guidance of Keira. She is now responsible for this section and often teaches our infants helpers where the books in this section go. Kalani takes her role very seriously and is an invaluable member of the Library Warrior team.

 

What section are you responsible for?

Popular Fiction and Popular Fiction Series

What is your favourite book?

 The H2O series with my favourite ones being ‘First Crush’ and ‘Moonspell’.

What do you love about being a Library Warrior?

I get to sort the books.

What is your favourite Library task?

Putting the books away.

Whole School Sport Carnival Dates 2025

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

Disocesan Cross Country - Tuesday 6th May (for students selected to represent Holy Cross)

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

Swimming Carnival - Friday 5th December

What a Week of Sporting Success at Holy Cross!

It’s been a huge week in sport, and our Holy Cross students have truly shone on the big stage!

A massive shoutout to Nate and Max, who recently showcased their skills at the Diocesan Rugby League Trials. Both boys impressed the selectors, advancing to the Possibles/Probables round with Nate being successfully selected to represent the Diocese. 

We’re so proud of the dedication, talent, and sportsmanship shown by our students. Keep chasing your dreams!

Mr Whitehall

Understanding and Coping with Worry 

It’s natural for children to feel worried sometimes, and it’s important to help them understand that these feelings are okay. Let your child know that worrying is a part of life and that everyone experiences it at some point. Encourage them to talk about what’s making them anxious and listen with empathy. Teach them that worrying doesn’t change the outcome, and together, you can focus on what can be controlled, like preparing for a big event or taking deep breaths. Help them recognize when their thoughts are focused on "what ifs" that are unlikely to happen, and gently guide them back to the present moment. Reassure them that it’s okay to feel worried, but that they don’t have to face it alone—you’re there to support them every step of the way. By helping your child understand their worries and giving them tools to manage them, you’re giving them a sense of control over their emotions and fostering resilience.

Here are some tips on helping your child cope with worries:

Acknowledge their worries: Let your child know that it’s okay to feel worried and that their concerns are valid. Don’t dismiss their feelings, but rather show understanding and empathy.

Encourage open communication: Create an open space where your child feels comfortable talking about their worries. Sometimes just expressing their fears can help them feel less overwhelmed.

Help them identify their worry: Work with your child to identify what exactly is making them anxious. This can help break down the worry into manageable pieces and make it less scary.

Reframe negative thoughts: Gently guide your child to challenge unhelpful "what if" thinking by asking them to consider more positive or realistic outcomes.

Teach relaxation techniques: Show your child calming strategies like deep breathing, counting to ten, or progressive muscle relaxation to help them manage anxious feelings.

Focus on what’s in their control: Help your child focus on things they can control, like preparing for an upcoming test or taking small steps to address a fear. This empowers them and reduces helplessness.

Encourage problem-solving: Help your child come up with solutions to their worries. For example, if they’re worried about school, talk through what they can do to feel more prepared.

Set aside "worry time": If your child tends to worry a lot, create a specific time each day to talk about their concerns. This helps limit excessive worrying and gives them a sense of structure.

Model healthy coping: Show your child how you cope with your own worries in a healthy way. Your behaviour will set an example for them to follow.

Provide comfort and reassurance: Reassure your child that you are there for them and that, no matter what happens, they will be okay. Remind them that worries often feel bigger in the moment but tend to fade with time.

Sara Ljuboja
School Counsellor

Jesse Baker is doing Holy Cross proud all the way over in Perth, representing NSW Athletics at the Australian Athletics Championships! Jesse qualified in not one but two events—the 800m and 1500m—and on Sunday, he stormed home to win bronze in the U13’s 800m, smashing his personal best in the process! On Tuesday evening, Jesse gave it his all again in the 1500m and again finished in 3rd. Congratulations Jesse!

Dancing Stars Shine Bright!

We’ve had some incredible dance results recently that deserve a big round of applause!

Airlie, Evie and Emily wowed the judges at the Menai Eisteddfod, with both Evie and Airlie taking out 1st place in their respective sections—an outstanding achievement that saw them qualify for the Champions of Champions! In this prestigious event, Evie danced her way to 2nd place, while Airlie also earned a medal for her brilliant performance. Well done, girls!

Meanwhile, Leni impressed at her dance competition held at the Wollongong Performing Arts School, placing 3rd in every section she competed in. What a fantastic and consistent effort. Congratulations Leni!

And there’s even more excitement on the horizon… Emily and Evie are about to embark on an unforgettable adventure, dancing their hearts out in Disneyland, Universal Studios and even on a Cruise Ship in the USA! Wishing you both the best of luck on your magical journey!