Dear parents and families,

This week marked National Sorry Day and the beginning of Reconciliation Week 2021.

Observed annually on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’. Our Leaders of Faith led a prayer in recognition of this important day.

National Reconciliation Week 2021 began yesterday, 27 May. As a school community, we took part in launching National Reconciliation Week 2021 by taking part in the National Acknowledgement of Country. This involved posting our own Acknowledgement of Country to our school Facebook page and gathering as a school community yesterday morning to share our Acknowledgement of Country.

The theme of Reconciliation Week 2021, is More Than Words. Reconciliation Takes Action.

Yesterday, we spoke to our students about the importance of building our knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal histories, cultures and traditions and challenged them to engage in the activities that are planned over the next week by listening and asking questions so that they learn more about Aboriginal histories, cultures and traditions. 

After our Acknowledgement of Country yesterday, our Yr 6 Leaders of Learning facilitated Yarning Circles in each of the classrooms to help our students reflect on and understand Reconciliation and deepen their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal histories, cultures and traditions. It was a privilege to be a part of these yarning circles and witness the profound and compassionate responses of our students.

Throughout next week, our students will engage with Indigenous texts, explore the meaning of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags, play Indigenous games, participate in Yarning Circles to develop their understanding of reconciliation and identify ‘actions’ they can take to promote reconciliation in our community.

Kaylene Duffin
Principal

On Monday, our school captains, Matilda and Dominic, joined me at the CEDoW mass celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia. Bishop Brian Mascord led this mass and celebration. Within his welcome, Bishop Brian reminded us that whilst 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia is indeed a wonderful milestone and worthy of celebration, education within this country has been in existence for millennia. Our Indigneous brothers and sisters have used this land to educate their people and all peoples forever. I found this a profound reminder of the responsibility we have today to respect and honour the education our first peoples offer of us about our country's past, present and future. We have so much to learn and at Holy Cross, we welcome learning as much as we can.

Video Message from Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the Bicentenary of Catholic Education

St Vincent De Paul Society

The St Vincent De Paul Society is a Catholic organisation that works to help those in need. During winter some members of our Helensburgh community need a helping hand to get through the cold months. As a school community we are asking that you help out our local Vinnies group to support those in need by bringing in a gold coin donation in return for wearing your PJ's for the day on Thursday, 17 June. Please remember to bring a hat and enclosed footwear.

First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion Mass - Sunday 20 June 10am 

Reconciliation - 15 Minute timeslots

Monday, 31 May 3.15 - 6pm

Wednesday, 2 June 3.15pm - 6pm

Contact the Parish Office regarding First Holy Communion and Reconciliation on

Ph: 4294 1009, if unattended please leave a voice message.

Recent Staff 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.

17 May - Assistant Principal Network Meeting

Mrs Jennett

18 May - School Support Officer - Library Administration

Mrs Murry and Mrs Richardson

19 May - CEDoW Review of School Review and Improvement Focus Group

Mrs Duffin

21 May - SSSO Network Meeting

Mrs Bartholomeusz

25 May - Learning In Leadership

Mrs Jennett

26 May - Wollongong Environmental Network Meeting

Mrs Jennett - 

28 May - CEDoW & Principal Meeting

Mrs Duffin

Sending Food To School

Please be reminded that we have a number of students with severe allergies to various foods and therefore we request that the following foods not be sent into school:

• Foods containing nuts eg all types of nuts, sesame seeds, Nutella, Peanut Butter
• Foods containing whole eggs, for example egg sandwiches, boiled eggs

Sending in Treats to Celebrate Birthdays

Some families choose to send in a small treat for their child’s classmates to celebrate their child’s birthday. Please note, this idea is not welcomed by all parents. If parents choose to send in a small treat to share with classmates, we ask that these be limited to Freddo Frogs or Snake lollies only.

Navigating the Pre-Teen Years 9yrs-12rs - Catholic Care Parent Presentation at Holy Cross

Our Catholic Care Counsellor, Doreen, in response to many parent concerns, will deliver a presentation to support parents through parenting children in their pre-teen years (ages 9-12).

If you would like to know more about the changes and challenges children experience in the pre-teen years (ages 9-12), Doreen has put together a presentation that covers the following topics:

• What are the pre-teen years
• What is happening to my child
• Changes and Challenges
• Girls
• Boys
• Gender
• Social Media and Gaming
• What does my child need from me
• Tips for parents
• When should I be concerned

Q and A opportunities

Parents are warmly invited to attend this Information Session to be delivered face to face in our School Library on the following dates:

• Tuesday 8 June -  2.15pm-3pm
• Thursday 10 June -  9am - 9.45am

Reporting Timeline - Years 1 -6

Towards the end of Term 2, Year 1-6 students will receive their Semester 1 reports. The Semester 1 report, will demonstrate student’s academic achievement in relation to what they have learnt in Term 1 and Term 2. Reports will be released via Compass on Thursday 17 June, Week 9. This will be followed by Parent/Teacher Interviews in Week 10. There will be one late night of interviews on Tuesday 22 June. Interview bookings will be released closer to the date. 

Assemblies

Parents and families are invited to attend our assemblies this term each Monday fortnight at 9am. Our next assembly will be held on Monday 7 June and our final assembly for Term 2, on Monday 21 June. At this assembly, Principal Awards will be given out and Year 3 will be sharing aspects of their learning. 

In Term 3, our fortnightly assemblies will be held on Tuesday afternoons at 2.40pm.

Gardening Club

Year 2 – Glue and Tally’s

Week 4 saw Year 2 do the particularly messy, yet popular task, of making glue for a paper mache mask – we investigated how a solid and a liquid when combined make a completely new substance that is different to its parts and how it can be used as an everyday product. Week 5 was about mathematics, science and the environment, our young scientists went “into the field” of the school and tallied every living thing in both Yalunga Garden and The Patch, with some very interesting results!  You’ll need to ask them to find out!

Lunchtime Gardening Club – The secret garden…

The last fortnight saw Gardening Club working on a “secret garden” the details will be revealed next newsletter. All I can say is that it involved renewing an old location, LOTS of weeding and digging through a very root-bound soil and in true Gardening Club style  there was lots of laughter and teamwork!

Stay tuned to see what we get up to next.

Mrs Sue Murray, Gardening Club

School Term Dates - 2021 

• Term 3 – Monday 12 July - Thursday 16 September  (Friday 17 September is a pupil free day)

• Term 4 – Tuesday 5 October - Wednesday 15 December (Thursday 16 & Friday 17 December are pupil free days)
  
  

Confirmed Pupil Free Dates - 2021

Term 3 - Friday, 17 September

Term 4 - Thursday & Friday, 16 & 17 December

Students are looking very smart in their winter uniform. Please note, girls may have the option of wearing short white socks (same as summer uniform) instead of tights.