Dear parents and friends of Holy Cross,

I am extremely proud of the learning that takes place each day at Holy Cross. I have the privilege of visiting classrooms daily and watching our teachers deliver carefully planned lessons and watching our students engage and learn. Over the past three years, we have focussed much of our professional learning on teaching Writing and as such our classroom data and NAPLAN results over this period of time have demonstrated significant student learning growth. We will continue to consolidate our teaching of Writing next year whilst we will pick up a new focus for a rigorous professional learning plan for 2023. We are currently in the process of analysing a wide range of data to identify goals for our school’s future strategic plan and will keep you updated.

In terms of our wider 2022 NAPLAN results and our Religious Literacy Assessment results (Year 4), we have performed well above both State and Diocesan means in all areas. We are extremely proud of these results and the learning agenda that has contributed to them.

We are very fortunate to have a high standard of learning resources across all Key Learning Areas and to further extend these, we have recently purchased a wide range of further resources. These include an extensive range of reading materials, mathematics resources - in particular length, time, mass and capacity resources, sporting equipment, STEM resources and a further 10 iPads. In addition to school funds, these resources were funded from the proceeds from our Dance-A-Thon and P&F contributions. We are very grateful for your support in being able to provide our students with such high quality resources.

Staffing for 2023 will be announced as soon as possible. I am very happy with the way this is coming together and I will keep you posted as we finalise our arrangements for next year.

On behalf of our Holy Cross community, I am thrilled to introduce Sadie (Yr 2) and Evelyn (Yr 4) and their family to Holy Cross. We look forward to getting to know you all. Welcome!

Wishing everyone all the very best and thanking you for your support and encouragement.

God Bless,

Kaylene Duffin

Scripture Focus

This fortnight our scripture focus comes from the Gospel of Luke. In this passage there is the reminder to let our light shine for all to see. We are encouraged to share our gifts and talents with others in a respectful manner. 

Luke 8: 16-18

A Lamp Under a Jar

16 “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18 Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”

Mission Moments In Action 

As Catholics, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world, being people of mission. To respond and celebrate when we have significant moments of mission each class has a special mission moments board. I encourage you to discuss with your child/ren mission moments they have had in their day.

Miss Emily Costello
Religious Education Coordinator

 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. Recent professional learning undertaken by our staff this fortnight includes”

 31 October 2022

Teaching Reading Strategies in Yrs 3-6 - Day 4

Mr Body, Mrs Rowles, Mrs Barbuto & Mrs Nat Baker

8 November 2022

Spiritual formation Program - Lamp Lighters

Miss Costello

COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP IMPROVING LEARNING 
Reading Routines in Years 3-6

As part of our Teaching Reading Strategies Program, the teachers in Years 3-6 have been learning about how Reading Routines can be used as part of teaching reading to encourage students to have rich conversations in small groups about quality texts. The students take on the role of the teacher and are encouraged to think more deeply about what they are reading, using the Super 7 Comprehension Strategies (Inferencing, Making Connections, Predicting, Questioning, Visualising, Summarising and Monitoring) to respond to, interpret, analyse and evaluate texts

There are three different Reading Routines that we have been focusing on, they are, Reciprocal Teaching, Questioning the Author, and Literature Circles.

The teachers in Years 3-6 have modelled and explicitly taught these routines and it is wonderful to listen to the conversations the students are having to help each other to comprehend what they are reading.

YOU ARE INVITED!
If you would like to see these routines in action, please come to our "Reading Routines in Years 3-6 Parent Sharing Session" on Monday, 28th November at 9:15am (Week 8- straight after the Advent Liturgy), where you will be able to see the students engaging in some rich reading conversations.

Natalie Baker
Instructional Coach

Last week, the staff completed a Shelter In Place drill. A Shelter In Place is an integral component of our Bushfire Management Policy and the procedure we will use in the event that we need to leave the classrooms and shelter. The Shelter in Place space is the Library and the current Years 3&4 classrooms. The drill was successful with our procedures updated slightly in response. 

Below is pertinent information for parents regarding our Bushfire Emergency Plan 2022-2023. It is important that parents understand the two options that will be available in the event of a Bushfire.

A reminder that students are urged to bring their own drink bottle to school each day.

I thank parents for your 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.

We still have spaces in most classes for 2023. If you know of anyone who may be interested in enrolling their child at Holy Cross please encourage them to contact the school office.

Holy Cross Enrolment Package

STEM MAD is a competition that encourages students to Make A Difference, by providing a solution  to a real-life problem, in acting for justice and the common good. This aligns with Pope Francis’ letter Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home.  

Stage 3 participated in this competition, designing and creating solutions to problems they felt needed to be addressed in our local area.  Overall, there were over 120 entries submitted throughout the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong and we had some great entries from our school.  

We are so pleased and proud to announce winners in two categories:

• St Francis of Assisi Award For The Care of Animals - Isabella (Yr 5) The Bird House
• Laudato Si’ Award - Joseph (Yr 5) Paper From Paper

Congratulations to Isabella and Joseph for your outstanding entries.  We are so proud of all your hard work.

Thank you to Mr Ben Woods and Mr Scott Llamas (Catholic Diocese Wollongong),  who were a part of the judging process, for visiting Holy Cross and presenting the awards to our students.  

To view these wonderful projects and others in the Diocese, please visit: 

https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/cedowstemmadshowcase/2022-awards

Year 4 Gardening Club leaders share what inspires them about their leadership roles in the Gardening Club:

I love to help the environment grow rather than decrease and I have fun at the same time. You learn facts when ever you go and you feel more confident the more you know. When ever I see a plant growing nicely because of our help, I feel very happy. The garden grows everyday and it amazes me!  Mikaela

I like gardening Club because I get to help the environment by planting, weed attacking and taking care of it.  Jake

Library Bag Reminder     

Just a reminder that every student must bring a Library Bag in on Fridays. If your child’s Holy Cross Library Bag has gone missing, a waterproof bag can be used.

New ‘Student Picks’ Coming…

Our P&F have generously allocated some funds to spend on books for the Library – and the coming order has been selected by our student requests! We have a ‘Wish List’ in place where students are able to write down any books they would like in the Library or books they have read that they think other students would like. This order has plenty of variety catering for all grades – thank you so much to our P&F – our students can’t wait for their delivery!  

Interview with a Library Leader – Jake from Year 4

What section are you responsible for? Fiction & Fiction Series. And I am the backup for the Graphic Novel section.

What is your favourite book? The Pokemon Series of course!

What do you love about being a Library Leader? I love helping out in the Library and being responsible for a section. Mrs Murray puts on music at Lunch 2 when we put books away and we have lots of fun. I must admit, I make a lot of jokes while I’m working!!!

What is your favourite Library task? My favourite thing is collecting the books before school to help Mrs Murray with the returns.

Happy reading everyone!

Mrs Sue Murray
Library Coordinator

Keeping kids motivated during Term 4

As children start thinking about the end of year, Christmas, and summer holidays, it can be hard to keep them motivated to do their best in term 4. 

• Child Psychologist Eleanor Mackey offers the following tips: 
• Acknowledge that you understand it is difficult to stay focused. Let them know this is something we all experience sometimes.  Be careful not to label your child as “lazy” or “unmotivated”.
• Encourage and praise your child when they are staying on task or completing work.
•  Help your child list out the big and little things that need to get done. Put those tasks on a calendar so they can see what they need to do each day.
•  Schedule time each day to do homework. Some will benefit from getting their work done as soon as they get home, while others may need a mental/physical break between school and homework.
•  Find ways to motivate your child. Plan small rewards such as getting out of a chore or choosing a family movie or activity to encourage success. 

 More tips:

• Focus on the process of learning, not the results. That way, you cultivate a love of learning for its own sake.
• Use active listening by reflecting back what you hear your child saying to you, and then work with them to problem-solve. For example, “What I hear you saying is that you feel tired and over it. How can we work together to help you feel better about these last weeks of school?”
• Don’t make threats, offer collaboration and assistance instead
• Focus on your child’s strengths
• Gently remind them what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable but give them some agency in how they do things.

Have a great term 4.   

Doreen

If you have a spare hour on Friday’s from 10am to 11am and would love to help out in the canteen whilst getting paid, I would love to hear from you.

Your help would really be appreciated.

Thanks Jo