Dear parents and friends of Holy Cross,

Last Sunday, many of our Year 3 students made their First Holy Communion. It was a very special day and a reverent celebration. Thank you to Father Paul for conducting this beautiful mass and to the parish choir, along with our smaller parishioners, Jake, Amelia and Bella who were led by our musician Mr Bôdy. 

The Semester 1 reporting period is a time to celebrate your child/ren's achievements and learning during the first half of the year. The reporting period includes two components: the written report and the parent-teacher interviews. The parent-teacher interview compliments the written report and is a valuable communication channel with teachers.  

Semester 1 student reports for Years 1 - Year 6 were made available to parents via the Compass Portal yesterday, Wednesday 22 June. Parent-teacher interview bookings with your child/ren’s teacher are available via the Compass Portal. All bookings will need to be made by Friday 24 June at 4.00pm.

On behalf of the Holy Cross School community, I would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mrs Bede Parkes who passed away early last Friday morning. Bede’s funeral will be held in the Holy Cross Church on Monday 27 June at 11am.

God Bless,
Kaylene

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. This year’s theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! 

With NAIDOC week being held in the first week of the school holidays (3-10 July), we will be celebrating NAIDOC week on the last day of term 2, Friday 1 July. Students are asked to wear clothes in the colours of the Aboriginal flag: Red, Yellow and Black,  indigenous jerseys or other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clothing. Students will participate in a variety of learning activities from 11.30am - 3.00pm. 

Work, Health and Safety Committee

Two weeks ago, our Work, Health and Safety (WHS) Committee met with the Team Leader of Work, Health, Safety and Wellbeing from the CEO for a planning day. This was a very productive day with our team reviewing our Emergency Management Plans and Risk Assessment processes. A couple of immediate introductions to our processes will include the labelling of each external gate (Gate A - Gate E) and the wearing of specific coloured vests in the event of an emergency or drill by selected staff.

Emergency Evacuation Drill

Throughout the year, we are required to prepare for a number of emergencies. A part of this preparation is to conduct emergency drills. Last Wednesday, we held an Emergency Evacuation Drill. This drill went very smoothly with all staff and students evacuating the school grounds quickly and calmly to the Emergency Assembly Point which is located at the western end of MacMillan street.

Future Emergency Drills will be conducted for a Lockdown, Shelter In Place (in the event of Bushfire) and an Emergency Evacuation that occurs during a lunch break.

External Building Works 

On Wednesday, builders began their work to fix the external administration wall affected by the flooding. This should hopefully be completed during the school holidays. We are expecting the internal works to begin on completion of the external works. We will keep you updated.

Assemblies

Our final school assembly for Term 2 will be held on Tuesday 28 June at 2.30pm. At this assembly we will also be presenting Principal’s Awards. Everyone is welcome.

COVID-19 Update

Thank you to parents who continue to advise the school if their child has tested positive to COVID-19. A reminder that NSW Health states that anyone who tests positive to COVID-19 must isolate for 7 days from the date and time the positive test was confirmed. Please note that additional RAT kits are available from the school if required.

Recent Staff Professional Learning

This term, there has been limited Professional Learning for staff due to CEDoW balancing continuity of learning for students together with staff shortages due to illness. However, please find the Professional Learning that our staff have been engaged with.

16 & 17 June - National Religious Education Symposium

Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett and Miss Costello

20 June - 2023 Lighting The Way Launch 

Mrs Duffin and Mrs Jennett 

22 June - CEDoW Reading Position Paper 

Mrs Duffin 

23 June - CEDoW Policy Writing Day

Mrs Jennett 

Do You Know A Family Who Would Love To Have Their Children at Holy Cross?

Kinder - Year 6 2023 places available

We still have some places for Kinder 2023. If you know a family who has a child starting school next year please let them know and point them to our enrolment form. They are also very welcome to contact the school office or Mrs Duffin for a school tour or information. Additionally, we have places available in other grades in 2023 if you know of a family interested.

Year 1 - Year 6 2022 places available

There are places for new students in most grades for the remainder of this year so please encourage any families you know to consider enrolling at Holy Cross.

Enrolment form

The enrolment form is available from the school office, school website or Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong website. https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/enrol/

CANTEEN NEWS

Our Canteen is open each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for Breakfast and Lunch. Any changes to these opening days will be communicated via Compass. Please find the Canteen Menu here. A reminder that ‘Sticky Beak’ reusable lunch bags can be purchased from the school office.

Upcoming Events 

All of our upcoming events can be found on the parent calendar. The calendar can be accessed from our School Website, https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/news-and-events/

Mini Vinnies

The Mini Vinnies group has finally arrived at Holy Cross! This group of students from Year 3 - 5 will stand beside the Helensburgh Vinnies Group to help and care for the poor and those in need. 

The Mini Vinnies’ first call to action is the winter appeal. Yesterday we had a Share the Winter Warmth day to thank students and families for their generous donation to this year’s appeal. Thank you to all families for your support. Next week, The Mini Vinnies team will work with the Helensburgh Parish Vinnies to pack hampers to go to those in need. 

By Lilly Year Five

First Holy Communion

Last Sunday, students from Year 3 came together with their family and friends to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time. The word ‘communion’ means to be united with. As Catholics, we believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ. At his last supper, united with his followers, Jesus said, “Take and eat, this is my body.” When we receive Holy Communion, we as Catholics believe that in a mysterious way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ.

First Holy Communion is a special occasion as it is a step further in becoming one with Christ. The celebration last Sunday was so special to our students and the Parish community.  Congratulations to all the students who enjoyed this special day and may you continue to be in communion with our Parish and faith community. A special thank you goes to Mrs Rowles and Mrs Brannon for all their hard work in preparing the students. Additionally, thank you to Mr Bõdy, Jake, Amelia and Bella (Year Four) for their music ministry on the day.

Some Year Three students wanted to share their thoughts on the day. 

Florence: It was a special day because when I received the bread I felt close to God and I get to spend time with my family. 

Ally: I enjoyed celebrating with all my friends and I liked the cake.
Sam: My First Holy Communion was special as after I had the host I felt brave and strong.

National Symposium

Last week Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennet and Miss Costello attended the BBI TAITE Scripture and Religious Education Symposium. The place of scripture in Religious Education is of leading importance.  The symposium examined how educators can utilize scripture as a transformative agent in the classroom and amongst the wider school community as well  how teachers can better engage students in scripture. The two day events has provided a wealth of resources that will be shared with all school staff to continue to allow our students use the scriptures to engage with their faith.

Project Compassion

Thank you to Jo in the Canteen who has kept a Project Compassion box on the front counter for students to donate any change. So far our generous students have donated $124. Great job!

Netball & Soccer Gala Day Cancellations 

Catholic Education Office Wollongong's leadership team has made a decision that all gala days set for the near future are to be cancelled. The levels of staff and student absenteeism are at extreme levels so all non essential professional learning including non pathway sport is suspended. Therefore, the soccer gala days set for Friday 29 July have been cancelled. This is unfortunate as the gala days are so valued and enjoyed by our students. 

Athletics, being a pathway event, will continue as planned with the South Coast Carnival being held at Beaton Park on Tuesday, 9 August 2022. Any student successful in gaining further selection after this carnival will compete at the Diocesan Selection Trials on Tuesday, 16 August 2022.

P&F Disco – this Friday 24 June

The P&F Disco is on this Friday 24 June on the school grounds.

Pre-schoolers – Year 2:  5:00pm – 6:00pm

Years 3 – 6:    6:30pm – 8:00pm

$10 entry (cash only) - will include a sausage sizzle, snack and a drink.

Full details in flyer below.

Pie Drive

Thank you to the many families who ordered pies through our pie drive. They will be available for pick up this Friday 24 June from the school canteen from 2:30pm – 3:30pm. We request that an adult collects them please.

If you are unable to pick up your order in this timeslot, please speak with the P&F executive committee or contact Mel on 0430 495 066 to organise an alternative arrangement.

Save the Date - Term 3 P&F Meeting

The P&F meeting for Term 3 will be held on Tuesday 9 August at 7pm please contact a member of the P&F Executive Committee (Jenny Amadio, Karen Gander, Mel McCallum or Kathy Godfrey) if you have an item you’d like to add to the agenda.