Dear parents and carers,

In his message for Lent 2022, Pope Francis invites the faithful to sow seeds of goodness, so that we might reap a harvest of salvation for ourselves and others. Pope Francis based his Message for Lent 2022 on a passage from St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: 

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, 

if we do not give up. 

So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10)

One of the reasons why Lent is such a special season in the Church’s Liturgical Calendar is this notion of Doing Good For All. Over the past few weeks, I have witnessed first hand this in action within our community:

• Project Compassion - embraced by our school and parish community to raise much needed funds so that we can do good for others
• Harmony Day - linked to Project Compassion and the importance of standing in solidarity with those less fortunate was brought to life by our Year 5 & 6 students who facilitated lessons for our younger students. Their message….doing good for others
• Buddy Program - observing each day the love and kindness our Yr 5 students give to their Kindergarten buddies and vice versa
• A grateful parent who chose to Pay It Forward and left a donation at the local cafe for staff 
• Caring Staff who take the time to stop during the busyness of their day to actively listen and authentically converse with our students

                                                       ….and the list goes on….

Pope Francis says that each year during Lent “we are reminded that ‘goodness, together with love, justice, and solidarity, are not achieved once and for all; they have to be realised each day.’”

We are blessed that we are a part of a community that values doing good for all.

Congratulations 

This week, our School was recognised by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) for the high gains our students achieved in the latest NAPLAN scores. Catholic Schools New South Wales, further acknowledged Holy Cross as one of 40 schools across the state for this outstanding achievement.

I am extremely proud of this achievement and although NAPLAN results are only one small part of our school’s story, it is testament to our staff’s willingness to continually improve and refine targeted teaching practice to improve student outcomes as well as our students’ drive and passion for learning.

The Director of Schools, Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong, Mr Peter Hill acknowledged our staff with a letter of congratulations:

Holy Cross Open Twilight Event

This year, we are holding an Open Day - or Twilight session to invite prospective families who are thinking of enrolling their children into our school to have a look around, meet our staff and enjoy some hospitality (aka sausage!). 

This event is being held on Thursday 31 March, 4.30pm-6.00pm. If you know of anyone who may be interested in enrolling at Holy Cross either for Kindergarten in 2023 or for students in other grades this year,  we would appreciate you sharing this invitation.

Mrs Kaylene Duffin
Principal

First Reconciliation

Over the next two weeks our Year Three students will be receiving the Sacrament of  Reconciliation. 

We keep these students in our prayers as they continue their sacramental journey in their Catholic faith.

Parents and Carers Are Always Welcome at Holy Cross

We are thankful that our parents and carers are now able to be with us on the school grounds. Your presence makes our school a better learning environment and a more vibrant community.

Thank you for attending our Meet and Greets. Valuing such opportunities to work in partnership with teachers to discuss and share students’ learning and well being is greatly appreciated. 

Assembly

It was wonderful to see so many parents at our School Assembly last Thursday morning. Our next Assembly will be held next Thursday 31 March at 9am with Merit Awards and Principal Awards to be presented. 

Bishop’s Flood Relief Appeal 2022

In response to the devastating floods, particularly in the Northern Rivers community of Lismore, Bishop Brian has established the Bishop’s Flood Relief Appeal 2022 in direct response to calls for support from the Lismore Diocese and from parts of our own diocese.

A message from Bishop Brian is provided below. We will be holding a Mufty Day the last day of term, Friday 8 April and encourage a gold coin donation to go towards this appeal.

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ

My prayers and thoughts are with you all as this flood disaster continues. In recent days we have had towns in our diocese cut off; a number of our schools closed, non-operational or on alert; church buildings and agency offices affected by flooding and heavy rain; and clergy, staff, families, students and friends from our extended community experiencing another trauma. And while the rain is set to ease, authorities are warning it doesn’t mean the state’s flooding emergency is over.

In a heartfelt video message to his flock (see below), Greg Homeming OCD, Bishop of Lismore, said it had been “a very tragic few days”. To those who had “lost everything” in these floods, Bishop Greg said that everyone across the diocese was suffering with them. “This has all happened at a time when we were hoping that 2022 would be a year of hope, a good year,” he said.

As a diocese, I would like to provide practical support for the people of Lismore. I also want to provide pastoral and practical support for the people in our own diocese who have been, and will continue to be, impacted by these floods. I am inviting you to donate to my Flood Relief Appeal 2022 https://www.dow.org.au/giving/ so that, with your support, we can meet this goal

Yours in Christ

Most Rev Brian G Mascord DD
BISHOP OF WOLLONGONG

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.

15 March 2022 - Collaborative Leadership Improving Learning - Quality Assessment

Mrs McEntee, Miss Facci, Mrs Hennock, Mrs Jennett, Mrs N Baker, Mrs Duffin 

16 March 2022 - CEDoW Colloquium Strategic Directions 

Mrs Jennett and Mrs Duffin 

17 March 2022 - Collaborative Leadership Improving Learning - Quality Assessment

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

23 March 2022 - Respectful Relationships 

Mrs Jennett and Mr Whitehall 

24 March 2022 - Spiritual Formation - Lamplighters

Miss Costello 

24 March 2022 - Teaching Phonemic Awareness and Phonics in the Early years

Miss Facci

PB4L Classroom Correction Sequence

Enrolling Now For 2023

Enrolment forms are available at the school office or on school Website.

NAPLAN Online 2022 - 10 -12 May

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students do. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time. 

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.

Little Athletics State Championships

On the weekend Eddie competed at the Little Athletics State Championships. He achieved outstanding results in his events: 1st Shot Put, 1st Long Jump, 2nd 200m, 2nd 800m.

Well done Eddie - we are so proud of you!

Mackillop Swimming 

How to Talk with Kids About War: Pointers for Parents

With all coverage and discussion about the war in Ukraine, it occurred to me that it is difficult to know how much children are taking in and how we should talk to them about it.   I thought I would share the following tips I came across on a Family Education website, written by Alvin Poussaint, M.D. and Susan Linn, Ed.D.

How Do I Explain War to My Children?

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated the news streams and social media with images of violence and outrage. The events in Ukraine can cause anxiety and fear in young children and teens, now that kids have more access to online information than ever before. With so much chaos around, many parents are wondering, how can I explain what’s happening in Ukraine to my kids? 

Don’t Shelter Your Children From The Reality of War and Conflict 

t's painfully difficult to talk with children about war. And given kids' access to media, it's almost impossible to protect them from frightening and confusing world events. However, while your instincts may be to shield them from all the bad events in the world, kids today will find out this information somehow whether that’s from their friends or sites like TikTok and YouTube. 

It’s important for parents not to dismiss children’s curiosity and anxiety about world events. Take them seriously, and discuss what they’re seeing and hearing on the news together. By monitoring what they watch and read, you’re able to help kids avoid false sources of information that could be making their anxiety and fear of war even worse. 

Listening to Children’s Concerns Without Making Them Worse

What we say to our children depends on their age, the questions they ask, and our own political and moral beliefs. Whatever we feel about what's happening in Ukraine and other countries, we want to encourage children to continue to be curious about the world, to value peaceful resolutions to problems, and to feel free to come to us with questions and concerns.

General Guidelines for Explaining War to Children:

• Try to find out what your children already know about the war situation, and how they found out about it.
• Let them know that you understand that what is happening with the war is confusing and complicated.
• Let them know you're glad to be talking with them about it. Share whatever your opinions and feelings are about bombings and attacks in the war. Allow your children to express their own opinions.
• Ask your children if they are worried and/or frightened about war. Even if they say, "No," you are giving them permission to have those feelings and to talk about them if they choose.
• Whatever our feelings were about Putin and the Russian-Ukraine conflict, our children should know that their Russian citizens are not bad people.
• This is a good opportunity to debunk stereotypes. Little kids are used to seeing the world in black and white or good vs. evil. However, real-life wars aren’t a Disney movie, so you need to be careful not to villainize other cultures and countries. 

Kids' feelings are real and the distress they are feeling is perfectly normal. Make sure you validate your kids' feelings and empathize with them through statements like “It can be scary to hear about wars, and many adults right now feel scared too. But we will get through this together.”  

Limit Media and News for Kids Younger Than Five  

While kids in elementary and High School are able to participate in productive conversations around big topics, explaining war gets tricky when dealing with young children, especially kids under five. Be mindful of how you talk about violence and war in the news around your children, especially with other adults. If your kids see you upset or angry, it only reinforces their own worries.

Very young children can't always verbalize their anxieties, but they may express them through things like crying or refusal to go outside. Too much anxiety can also lead to things like nightmares or wetting the bed if this distress is not addressed. Children under 5 should only get very limited information on the topic of war and the Ukraine and Russia situation. It’s often best to break things down into basic terms like, “Countries are very angry with each other at the moment and are fighting.” 

You’ll want to provide positive reassurance that they themselves are safe and secure. Focus on things your kid can control now. Rather than making large, vague statements about the war stopping eventually, try something like “Tomorrow we’ll go to school, then we’ll go play soccer after, and have meatballs for dinner.”  Giving young kids a routine enforces a sense of normalcy for them that prevents them from constantly seeking reassurance for what happens in the future.  

Encourage Giving Back and Helping Others

Volunteering and helping others is a great way to give kids a sense of calm and control when talking about a crisis. When kids hear about all the fighting and terrible things happening internationally, they may get an overwhelming sense of guilt or panic that they need to help solve all the world’s problems themselves.  Instead of letting your little one be overwhelmed, parents can turn major world events like the invasion of Ukraine into an opportunity to learn and give back together. Here are some ways that kids can give back and feel like they’re making a difference.  

• Raise money for aid organizations through crafts or fundraisers
• Children can write letters to veterans or send care packages to support military members and their families
• Volunteer for humanitarian organizations focused on helping children in crisis gain access to clean water and food.  
• One of the most wonderful things about children is that they love doing positive things for others and making a difference. As terrible as the global situation right now, seeing people coming together to lend a hand is inspiring and teaches both adults and children that there is hope.