Dear Parents and Carers,

We are delighted that we are able to welcome parents, grandparents and visitors back onto the school site from Monday 28 February. Thank you so much for your patience. 

A few of the significant events this term that parents are warmly welcome to attend include our school assemblies, Ash Wednesday Mass and 'Beginning of Year Mass and Commissioning of Year 6 Leaders'.

On Tuesday evening our Parents and Friends Association Annual General Meeting was held. Thank you to the parents who were able to attend or send their apologies. I am pleased to announce the following executive positions:

President: Jenny Amadio

Vice President: Karen Gander

Secretary: Kathy Godfrey

Treasurer: Melissa McCallum

I would like to sincerely thank our out going President, Lorraine Ashley for her commitment and passion and genuinely thank our new executive for volunteering to take up these important roles.

I look forward to working in partnership with our P&F Association this year to continue our very specific mission in educating our students in their faith and in their learning.

2023 ENROLMENTS

support in ensuring we continue to have a strong enrolment at Holy Cross. Enrolment numbers are very important in maintaining a thriving community and also in how the school operates.

Enrolment for Kindergarten 2023 is now open.  

ACTION:

• Current families are encouraged to complete an enrolment form for children who will start school in 2023.
• I also ask parents to promote enrolment to new families you may be aware of.
• 'Like' the enrolment information on our Facebook page

The enrolment form is available from:

• the school office
• the school Website
• Download: Catholic School Enrolment Package

Places are available in Year 1 to Year 6, 2022

Places are also available in most grades. If you know anyone thinking about enrolling their child please direct them to the link to Download: Catholic School Enrolment Package, or contact the school office or visit the school website.

Kaylene Duffin
Principal

Sacramental Dates

Reconciliation

Reconciliation Parent Evening: 6pm

Students and their family will be asked to nominate a time on one of the following afternoons;

Monday 28th March
Wednesday 30th March
Monday 4th April
Wednesday  6th April

First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion Parent Evening: Wednesday 19th May 6pm

First Holy Communion: Sunday 19th June 10:30am

Confirmation

Dates are still to be confirmed. 

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Next Wednesday, March 2nd, 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  simple but solemn services. As a school community, we will have a school Ash Wednesday Mass at 12pm. Family and friends are invited to attend. 

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. During Lent, Catholics take time for self reflection and help those in need. They do this through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Over the season of Lent, in classes and at whole school Liturgies, students will develop knowledge of these three areas. I encourage you to speak with your child/ren about this important Catholic season and what they are learning about Lent. 

Beginning of Year Mass and Commissioning of Year 6 Leaders

With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions we are now able to come together as a school community to celebrate the 2022 school year. We will celebrate with a whole school Mass on Wednesday, March 9, at 11am. Directly following the Mass we will commission our 2022 School and Vice captains and our Year Six leadership teams. There will also be a special blessing for our new Kinder students and students who are new to the school. Parents and friends are invited to join us.

Miss Costello
Religious Education Coordinator

Athletic Carnival and Cross Country Carnival Change of Dates

Due to the postponement of our Athletics carnival yesterday, we have had to juggle dates to ensure students who were at Diocesan events could still participate in our Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals and to get use of the 400m track at Rex Jackson Oval before the soccer season. Therefore please find the following. rescheduled dates for both the Cross Country and Athletics Carnival:

Athletics Carnival - Thursday 10 March

Cross Country Carnival - Friday 25 March

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 February 2022 - Spiritual Formation Program - Lamplighters

Mrs McEntee

21 February 2022 - Learning In Leadership

Mrs Jennett

22 February 2022 - Teaching Reading Strategies in Stages 2&3

Mrs Rowles, Mr Body, Miss Costello, Mr Whitehall, Mrs Jennett, Mrs Barbuto, Mrs N Baker, Mrs Duffin 

23 February 2022 - Teaching Reading Strategies in Stages 2&3 - half day

Mrs Rowles, Mr Body, Miss Costello, Mr Whitehall, Mrs Jennett, Mrs Barbuto, Mrs N Baker, Mrs Duffin 

24 February 2022 - BEST Start Analysis and Planning

Mrs McEntee

Parent Calendar and School Dates

All pertinent school dates and events can be viewed on our School Website under the News and Events tab https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/news-and-events/

Please click on View More Upcoming Events to see further events.

To view the 2022 School Calendar, please click on View Our School Calendar under the Upcoming Events section. From here, events can be added to your own calendar.

School Assemblies

Parents are invited to attend our Assembly on Thursday 3 March at 9am on the Top Cola. Principal Awards will also be presented. Please note, these will no longer be zoomed.

Canteen

The Canteen is open each Wednesday to Friday. 

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You may wish to purchase a reusable Lunch bag from the office for $12 each from the school office.

Reminder - Please write your child’s Class on lunch bags.

The Canteen is looking for volunteers to help out on Fridays. If you are interested please contact the school office.

Meet and Greet Meetings

To help develop strong partnerships between parents and teachers, we are hosting face to face Meet and Greet meetings in Week 8. 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. Bookings will be made via the Compass Parent Portal. Parents will be notified once the booking system has been set up. 

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. 

Device Roll out on Year 3

Congratulations Ella

Congratulations to Ella (Yr 5) for being selected in the Wollongong Diocesan Cricket team to attend the MacKillop selection trials in September, 2022.  

School Policies 

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2022_Homework_Policy.pdf

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Bicycle_Scooter_Policy.pdf

Bicycle_Scooter_Policy _pdf 67.00 KB

Bicycle_Scooter_Agreement.pdf

Bicycle_Scooter_Agreement _pdf 55.32 KB

Premiers Reading Challenge

Welcome to the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge

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 to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools.

2022 Challenge dates

Challenge opens: Monday 28 February 2022

Challenge closes for student entries: Friday 19 August 2022

By clicking on the link below parents and students will have access to:

• Booklists
• Rules
• Tips and Notes
• Privacy Information
• Personal Reading Log
• News
• Support
• Logon Instructions

Classes will receive more information and support during our library timetable. 

For more information and how to register, please go to https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html

Swimming Carnival Results