Dear parents and families,

Last Thursday, the CEDoW Director of Schools, Peter Hill, spent the day with us at Holy Cross. Mr Hill has prioritised visits to all 38 schools in the Wollongong Diocese to develop a greater understanding of each school and to be with our students. 

Mr Hill’s visit gave us the opportunity to showcase our learning during the English block. Our students engaged with Mr Hill and explained what they were learning and why this learning is important. Our Yr 6 students and Mr Hill participated in a yarning circle which gave Mr Hill the opportunity to learn more about our school leaders, their role as leaders in the school and the legacy they hope to leave behind at the end of the year. 

Mr Hill then gathered with our school community for our World Environment day liturgy and addressed the gathering with insights into the importance of this day. He also helped to plant the final addition to our bush tucker garden and engaged with our Gardening Club leaders and Ecologist, Rod, to learn more about the environmental initiatives at our school.

Mr Hill’s presence was warmly received and greatly appreciated by our staff and students.

Kaylene Duffin
Principal

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 

Contact the Parish Office regarding First Holy Communion on Ph: 4294 1009, if unattended please leave a voice message.

Reporting Timeline - Years 1-6

Student academic reports will be released via Compass on Thursday 17 June, Week 9 for Year 1-6 students. The Semester 1 report demonstrates students’ academic achievement in relation to what they have learnt in Term 1 and Term 2. Parent/Teacher Interviews will be offered in Week 10. Interview bookings are available via Compass.

Assemblies 

Our final assembly for Term 2 will be held on Monday, 21 June at 8.50am. Principal Awards will be presented and Year 3 will present a celebration of their learning.  

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

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.

1 June - Online - Dyslexia & Significant Reading Difficulties

Mrs Mitrevski

3 June - NCCD Moderation Day

Mrs Mitrevski

7 June - Teaching Reading Strategies in Years 3-6

Miss Facci, Mr Body, Miss Costello, Mrs B Baker, Mrs N Baker, Mrs Barbuto, Mrs Jennett

9 June - Principal’s Business Meeting

Mrs Duffin

10 & 11 June - Religious Education Coordinator Spiritual Retreat

Miss Costello

Crazy Hair Day and Dance-A-Thon

On Friday, 25 June, we will be hosting a Dance-A-Thon to raise money for our school. Students are asked to come in their Sports Uniform but are also encouraged to come with Crazy Hair!! Today, each student will bring home a Dance-A-Thon sponsorship form. We ask that this form, along with any money raised, be brought back to school by Friday 25 June. 

Parents and families will be invited into our school to watch the Dance-A-Thon from 1.30pm on the day. 

Holy Cross Fairy Gardens

Sport News

Touch Football Mackillop Team Selection

Congratulations to Emma

Congratulations to Emma M in Year 3 who represented the Wollongong Diocese at the Catholic Schools NSW Cross Country Trials at Eastern Creek on Tuesday. Emma ran a great race and we are very proud of her.

Gardening Club

Year 2 – I smell fresh bread…

Week 6 was our last week with Year 2 – we did our evaluation AND what better activity shows how individual everyday materials, when combined, make a completely different material…than bread. They were the envy of anyone that entered the infants block based on the smell of fresh bread, they learnt how dry materials when combined with wet materials, can make something truly yummy…and the proof was in the tasting - there was nothing left, not even a crust!

Lunchtime Gardening Club – The secret garden has been revealed…

The last fortnight saw Gardening Club working on our “secret garden” – which I can now reveal is our Bush Tucker garden at the site of the old vege patch! Our dedicated members worked hard and with the assistance of Year 6 (thank you MUST go to Mr Whitehall for allowing Year 6 to assist us for most of the day) were able to complete the project within the timeframe. A HUGE thank you needs to go to: Mr Nathan Dalmer who provided the mulch; Bunnings for providing a beautiful pot, bench and tools; and Heathcote Wildflower Nursery for the plants. Mr Peter Hill, Director of Schools, opened our new garden last week – a garden that will provide an outdoor learning space of bush tucker which the whole school will benefit from.

Stay tuned to see what we get up to next.

Sue Murray, Coordinator

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.