Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week we welcomed our new Kindergarten students into our school community. This is always such an exciting time for everyone - students, staff, parents and of course the Kindergarten students themselves. Congratulations to our Year 5 Buddies who have responsibly supported our Kinder students with genuine love and care.
Welcome to our new families. Holy Cross is an incredibly welcoming community and we hope that despite our current restrictions, our new families experience the warm welcome our parent and wider community is well known for.
Yesterday, we held a school liturgy under the COLA and as well as introducing and formally welcoming our Kindergarten students, our Year 6 leaders were presented with their leadership badges. Holy Cross is fortunate to have a strong Year 6 leadership group this year. These students will be mentored throughout the year by our school leadership team as they work in partnership with our teachers to help bring about our school vision: Learning to Learn, Live, Love.
We congratulate our 2021 Year 6 leaders:
|
School Captains |
Matilda Jukes |
|
School Vice Captains |
Kitty Wakim |
Semester 1 Leadership Group
|
Leaders of Faith |
Leaders of Learning |
Leaders of Community |
|
Charlotte Ryan |
Matthew Quinlan |
Harry Boyle |
As soon as restrictions ease and we can welcome parents on site or in the Church, we will bless, acknowledge and celebrate our Yr 6 leaders and our Kindergarten students as an entire school community.
Kaylene Duffin
Principal
ENROLMENTS FORMS FOR 2022
Enrolment forms are now available at the
school office for Kindergarten 2022.
Welcome Kindergarten 2021
Our Kindergarten students have had a fabulous start to Holy Cross. Each Kindergarten student was warmly welcomed by our students and staff during yesterday’s Liturgy and they have been very settled and engaged in class with Mrs Cardamone.
FEES 2021
Fee Statements have now been emailed to all families from the Catholic Education Office, please note that fees are 30 day accounts. If you are not paying your fees within the 30 day period you will need to complete a Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment form and email it to the CEO Wollongong. You can nominate to pay your account weekly, fortnightly or whatever best suits your finances however this must be arranged by completing the form attached and emailing it to: instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible.
Please note that Bpay is the preferred payment method. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
TERM DATES - 2021
- Term 1 – Wednesday 27 January - Thursday 1 April
- Term 2 – Monday 19 April - Friday 25 June
- Term 3 – Monday 12 July - Friday 17 September
- Term 4 – Tuesday 5 October - Friday 17 December
CONFIRMED PUPIL FREE DATES 2021
Term 2 - Monday, 19 April
Term 4 - Thursday & Friday, 16 & 17 December
WHOLE SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS – TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY
Our whole school photos will be held on Tuesday 23 February 2021. All orders are completed on-line prior to photo day using the code provided on the flyer sent home with students (and attached). Students will wear their full summer uniform for the photographs. School sibling photo flyers are available from the office, these will also be completed by parents on-line this year.
Staffing 2021
Parish Priest - Fr Patrick Vaughan
Priest in Residence - Fr Paul Clark
School Leadership Team
Principal: Mrs Kaylene Duffin
Assistant Principal: Mrs Kate Jennett
Religious Education Coordinator: Miss Emily Costello
Middle Leader: Mr Jeff Bõdy
Class Teachers
Kindergarten: Mrs Tiana Cardamone
Year 1: Mrs Tami Hennock
Year 2: Mrs Anne Rowles
Year 3: Miss Elise Facci
Year 4: Mr Jeff Bõdy and Mrs Lucy Barbuto (Wednesdays)
Year 5: Miss Emily Costello and Mrs Lucy Barbuto (Thursdays)
Year 6: Mr Christopher Whitehall
Instructional Coach: Mrs Natalie Baker
Learning Support Teachers
Mrs Bernie Baker
Mrs Jenny Mitrevski
Physical Education Teacher: Mrs Kate Boyle
Music/Drama Teacher: Mrs Melissa Sommerville
Library Teacher: Mrs Lucy Barbuto
Senior School Support Officer
Mrs Diane Bartholomeusz
School Support Officers
Mrs Sue Mapp (Office)
Mrs Joanne Carroll (Office)
Mrs Sylvia Richardson
Mrs Suzanne Murray
Mrs Larissa Timmins
Mrs Kim Attenborough
Mrs Margaret Liackman
Miss Shanna Brennan
School Maintenance & Cleaning: Mr Arturo Miranda
Catholic Care Counsellor: Mrs Doreen Waddington
Term 1 School Assemblies
School Assemblies will be held fortnightly on Wednesdays (odd weeks). Until parents are able to be onsite, assemblies will be live Zoomed. Zoom codes reminders will be sent to parents via COMPASS on the morning of each assembly.
|
Week & Date |
Time |
Zoom Code |
|
Week 3 - 10 February |
2.30pm |
|
|
Week 5 - 24 February |
2.20pm |
|
|
Week 7 - 10 March |
2.30pm |
|
|
Week 9 - 24 March |
2.20pm |
Meet and Greet Meetings
To help develop strong partnerships between parents and teachers, we are hosting Meet and Greet meetings this week and next week. This is an important opportunity for you to share pertinent information about your child with his/her teacher. Your insights into how your child learns and socialises with others can help the teacher get to know your child quickly whilst building a relationship with you. This year, both face-to-face and phone interviews are being offered. Bookings can be made via the Compass Parent Portal. If you have any trouble making a booking, please contact the school office.
We strongly encourage parents to make contact with teachers at any time throughout the year. Teachers are only too willing to meet with you or return phone calls. If you would like to arrange a time to meet with a teacher, please contact the school office.
Mrs Duffin and Mrs Jennett are also available to meet with parents. Please do not hesitate to contact the office to make an appointment.
UNIFORM SHOP OPEN
Monday, 8 February - 8.45am - 9.30am
All second hand items - $5.00
New hats, caps, library bags and school bags
also available
(CASH ONLY)
P&F Annual General Meeting
The P&F AGM will be held on Wednesday, 17 February in the Library at 7pm. A COVID safe plan will be in operation and all attendees will need to practise social distancing and sign on using the QR code.
NCCD
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year. All schools in Australia must collect information about students with disability. The NCCD is a collection that counts:
- the number of school students receiving an adjustment or ‘help’ due to disability
- the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.
The 2021 NCCD process has commenced. Further information is attached for your information.
As a parent, guardian or carer, what do I need to know?
A Message From The Counsellor
Happy New Year and welcome back to a new school year. Just want to let everyone know that my availability has increased this year to 3 days per fortnight this year. I will be here every Tuesday as usual, and now on alternate Thursdays starting 4 February. I am very excited to have started my fourth consecutive year here at Holy Cross.
For those of you that are not familiar with my work at the school, I am able to help your child with various issues that may arise. This may include separation anxiety, general anxiety, peer issues, family separation, grief and loss, anger, sadness, fears or worries. You can pick up a referral form from the school office if the need arises. Counselling occurs during school hours and there is no fee for service. I will always consult with you prior to seeing your child, and I will keep communication open and collaborative.
Having a counsellor available in the primary school environment is important, because it means we can address small problems before they grow into big ones. Also, because the children know me from being around the school, and the children that come to counselling generally enjoy the process, it helps to destigmatise seeing a counsellor generally, which is important. When the first experience of counselling is gentle and positive, children are more likely to seek it out in the future if problems or difficulties arise.
The new year school year can sometimes present a difficult adjustment back to reality. CatholicCare has developed two fact sheets that may assist you to help your children with the transition. These sheets are attached. As always, if you have any questions for me, you can contact the school office and I will return the call. Alternatively, my email address is doreenw@catholiccare.dow.org.au.
Wishing you and your child a great school year!
Doreen Waddington