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Dear parents and friends of Holy Cross,
We are blessed to be in the position of welcoming our parents and friends into our school to join us in celebrating many events this term. The dates for all events can be found on the Parent Calendar https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/news-and-events/.
Parents and friends are always welcome to come into the school at morning drop off and afternoon pick up.
Week 6
Book Week - Thursday 25 August
Students are encouraged to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. A flyer was sent home with students earlier this week.
- 1.15pm - Whole School Assembly
- 1.45pm - Book Week Parade
- 3.00pm - School dismissal as usual
- 6.00pm - Parent Meeting Confirmation
Week 7
Literacy and Numeracy Week
Wednesday 31 August
- 9.45am - 10.45am - Open Classrooms
- 10.50am - 11.30am - Picnic Lunch
- 11.30am - Spelling Bee
Friday 2 September
Father’s Day Breakfast and Open Classroom
- From 8.15am - Breakfast served on the Bottom Playground
- 9.15am - Fathers are invited to spend time in their child’s classroom to celebrate learning
Week 9
Scholastic Bookfair in Library
Monday 12 September - Friday 16 September
Wednesday 14 September
The Feast of the Holy Cross & Grandparent’s Day
- 9.30am - Mass in the Church
- 10.15am - Open Classrooms
- 11am - Grandparents are invited to join their grandchildren for a Picnic lunch
Wednesday 14 September
Sacrament of Confirmation
- 6pm in the Church
2022-2023 Bushfire Management Plan
In preparation for the upcoming bushfire season, our Bushfire Management Plan has recently been reviewed and updated with rigorous consultation with the Rural Fire Service.
Below is pertinent information for parents - Notification for Parents - Bushfire Emergency Plan 2022-2023. It is important that parents understand the two options that will be available in the event of a Bushfire.
Please ensure the office is notified of any changes to your contact details.
A reminder that students are urged to bring their own drink bottle to school each day.
UCI Road World Championships
School will remain open during the Wollongong UCI cycling event (Week 10, Term 3)
Next month, Wollongong will host an international professional cycling race - the 2022 UCI Road World Championships.
The race will run from Sunday 18 - Sunday 25 September 2022 and is organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for cycling, in conjunction with Events NSW and Wollongong City Council and supported by a range of government and local community organisations.
You may be aware that a number of Catholic and public schools across Wollongong will be moving to remote learning during the event (Week 10, Term 3).
Please note that the UCI cycling event will NOT impact access to our school and we will remain open as usual in the final week of term.
Please find the list of road closures and advice for affected local residents on the UCI website: wollongong2022.com.au/resident-information-road-closures/
If you believe that road closures or other impacts of the event will prevent your child from accessing school in Week 10, Term 3, please contact the school office as soon as possible to discuss this further.
UCI Spin Fest Helensburgh
Wollongong Council will be hosting a festival for the opening of the UCI Road World Championships, for the festival details please visit the link below.
God Bless,
Kaylene
Feast of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop
On Monday the 8th August the school and parish community came together to celebrate Australia’s first Saint and a driving force in the establishment of our school, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Years Five and Six led us in Mass and a reflection on the life of Mary. Following the Mass we held the official blessing of our school Historical Timeline which can be found at the entrance of the school. Finally, family, friends and parishioners joined together for a morning tea. It was a beautiful celebration that brought to life the legacy of St Mary of the Cross. May we continue to follow her example and her words of ‘find happiness in making others happy.’
Feast of the Assumption Of Mary
On Monday, the school and parish, lead by the infants team celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary with a Mass. This feast is a day that we remember when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken into heaven, body and soul, after she died. Mary’s life and death are a wonderful example of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Confirmation
Just a reminder that the first Confirmation meeting will be held on Thursday 25th August at 6pm in the parish hall. Students making their Confirmation and a parent are required to attend.
Scripture Focus
This fortnight our school scripture focus reminds us to be inclusive of all. The Scripture focus is about Bartimaeus asking for help from Jesus and Jesus being inclusive; Jesus listened and responded by restoring Bartimaeus’ sight. We can be like Jesus by listening to others and doing what we can to help those in need.
Mark 10:46-52
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Religious Education Coordinator
This term, there continues to be 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 in:
10 August
Teacher Visit to Observe St Joseph’s Bulli - Teaching Reading Strategies in Years 3-6
Mrs Rowles, Mr Body, Miss Costello, Mr Whitehall, Mrs Baker.
CEDoW Religious Education Standing Committee Meeting
Mrs Duffin
16 August
Teaching Reading Strategies in Years 3-6 course
Mrs Jennett, Mrs Rowles, Mr Body, Mrs Barbuto, Miss Costello, Mr Whitehall, Mrs Baker, Mrs Duffin
Catholic Life, Education & Mission Project Team Meeting
Mrs Jennett
17 August
Principal’s Business Meeting
Mrs Duffin
18 August
Acadmeic Reporting 2023/24 Working Party
Mrs Jennett
Primary Staffing Committee Meeting
Mrs Duffin
National Science Week
LIBRARY NEWS
Premier’s Reading Challenge 2022
Fantastic News! Holy Cross is on target for every student completing the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2022! As of last week, all of our K-2 students have completed the Challenge thanks to their teachers' commitment to reading these quality texts regularly, as well as Mrs Barbuto in Library lessons. The majority of our primary students have also completed the challenge which has been a wonderful reading effort by all these students.
Scholastic Book Fair is Coming!
That’s right, we will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair once again from 12-16 September (Week 9).
The Book Fair is a wonderful way to encourage reading with our students, not to mention stocking up on a few sneaky Christmas pressies. More details on times will be forwarded soon…
Mrs Sue Murray
Library Coordinator
Next School Assembly
Our next school assembly will be held in conjunction with our Book Week Parade on Thursday 25 August at 1.15pm. Awards and Principal Awards will be presented, followed by our Book Week Parade at 1.45pm.
Important Term 3 Dates
All pertinent school dates can be found on the HCH parent calendar. The calendar can be accessed from our School Website, https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/news-and-events/.
On Tuesday 9 August, 27 of our students competed at the Primary South Coast Athletics Carnival at Beaton Park and we are very proud of all of their achievements. Each student displayed great sportsmanship and amazing team spirit!
Thank you to the amazing parents who were there encouraging everyone, helping out as officials and for all of your support.
Special mention to the following students who placed in the top 4 in their events and were able to progress to the Selection Trials on Tuesday 16th August.
- Eddie- 1st in 100m, 1st in 200m, 1st in Shot Put, 1st Place in Long Jump- New Carnival Records for 100, 200 and shot put!! ?
- Bella - 2nd in 100m, 2nd in 200m, 3rd in Long Jump and 3rd Place Age Champion!
- Luna- 3rd in 100m
- Senior Girls relay team- Bella, Luna, Lara and Ella- 3rd
- Lachlan- 3rd in 200m
- Joseph- 3rd in Discus
- Jesse- 4th in 800m
- Emma- 4th in High Jump
Primary Selection Trials
On Tuesday, 16th August, 8 students attended the Selection Athletics Trials at Beaton Park. They competed to gain selection into the Wollongong Diocese Team to compete at the Mackillop Trials at Homebush on 21st September.
A special congratulations to Jesse and Eddie who were selected after placing 1st or 2nd in their events.
Congratulations to all the students who attend, they all performed well, with some amazing results achieved.
- Senior Girls Relay- 4th Place (Bella, Lara, Ella, Ruby)
- Jesse- 2nd in 1500m and 1st in 800m
- Bella- 4th in 100m, 4th in 200m, 5th in Long Jump
- Lachlan- 3rd in 200m
- Joseph- 3rd in Discus
- Emma- 5th in High Jump
NSW State Athletics
- Bella - 1st in her 100m heat and 5th overall with a PB
- Eddie - 1st in 400m, 1st 800m, 1st 200m, 1st shot put
- Jesse - 2nd in his 80mm heat and 7th overall and participated in 200m, and Long Jump
- Archie -3rd in his 400m heat and participated in the 100m, 200m and shot put
Managing stubborn emotions.
It's normal and natural for children to feel sad sometimes, but it's important for them to be able to identify what the feeling is. Sometimes talking about their feelings and experience can help to shift a negative thinking pattern, or to problem-solve the issue.
Tips for parents:
- Encourage children to talk about all of their feelings. Let them know that sad feelings are okay sometimes, but that they have some power to help themselves feel better.
- Teach your child to ask for help.
- Talk to them about who else they can reach out to in their community.
- Your children learn by watching you, so be aware of how you respond to life's stresses.
Tips for kids:
- Do mindful things that require your full concentration, you will STOP THINKING about it. Try colouring books, drawing, craft, reading. Anything that requires full attention.
- Keep a feelings diary.
- Write a gratitude list of all the things you are grateful for and look back at it whenever you're feeling sad.
- Keep busy, see friends, get active.
- Plan fun outings and activities so you have lots to look forward to.
- Set small goals and try to achieve them every day.
- Routines are healthy, so wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day.
- Stay active to keep those endorphins pumping and eat nutrient-rich food like fresh fruit and veggies.
Things to look out for:
- Irritability or sadness that seems to go on too long
- loss of pleasure from things they used to enjoy
- change of appetite, change of sleep habits, tiredness
- feelings of worthlessness or any talk about death or dying.
What if it doesn't go away?
Sometimes sadness won't budge, no matter what we do. When this happens ,you might want chat to your School Counsellor, or seek out your GP for advice.
Doreen
Holy Cross Family Fun Day 2022
The sun was shining and lots of people were out and about on Saturday 6th August for The Holy Cross Family Fun Day. It was such a fun day, with so many smiling faces about, and so many of you coming out to support our great little school. The day was a huge success for our fundraising efforts to help the school revamp Yulunga Gardens, and we have our amazing school community and local community to thank for coming out and supporting us!
We would also like to thank our major sponsors for the day -
Peabody, Ray White and Raine and Horne.
As well as our stall sponsors Kore Property Group, EBOP Building Pty Ltd, Matthew
Faulkner Accountancy Pty Ltd and Active Mail for helping make this day possible.
Many local businesses and individuals also donated prizes toward the raffle, provided amazing entertainment, supplied great products and services and gave us some generous discounts on our purchases for the day. We would like to sincerely thank all of them. Without all of this support, big or small, fundraisers like these would not be possible.
Lastly, but not least, we would like to thank all the volunteers who gave their time before, during and after the Family Fun Day. We know life is extremely busy and your generosity with your limited spare time does not go unnoticed.
We hope everyone enjoyed the Holy Cross Family Fun Day as much as we did. Looking forward
to seeing you all back in March 2023!!!
Kinya Donnan, Meryn Murray, Kirrily Sloan & Maria Winter
Email: hchfete@gmail.com
Fete Co-ordinators | Holy Cross Helensburgh Parents & Friends Association
