Dear parents and friends,

Last Thursday evening, many of our staff and our school captains attended the Diocesean Education Mass. This Mass, which is usually held annually, although has not been held since 2020, is a very special opportunity for all 38 schools in the Diocese of Wollongong and CEDoW staff to celebrate everything that is special about quality Catholic education in the Diocrese of Wollongong. During this mass, I was commissioned to be Principal, by Bishop Brian Mascord. This was a real honour made even more special by the attendance and support of our school captains, Mia and Joseph and their families. I believe that being a Principal really is the best job in the world and I am so grateful to the Holy Cross Community for their support of me in my role. 

Lent - A Time To Be Joyful

As we come into the third week of Lent, our students have been thinking about the purpose of Lent in our Church’s year. They have been learning that Lent is a time for reflection and action and at the same time it is also a time of joy. Living the Christian life is one of joy, as we strengthen our relationship with God, others and our world. As Pope Francis reminds us, Christians have good reason to be joyful and should let it shine in their faces rather than sport sad, pessimistic looks. 

I would like to thank Year 5 students Isabel G, Indiana, Grace, Evelyn T, Hannah and Mikaela who took it upon themselves to host a bake sale in Helensburgh on weekend raising $264 for Project Compassion! This is truly an example of reflection, action and joy. 

2023 ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Update

Goal 1  By the end of 2023, all students will have deepened their knowledge and understanding of our school’s Catholic values through their increased engagement in scripture and prayer life so that they actively live their faith and live life to the full.

• • All classrooms display the four Catholic values; Compassion, Hope, Justice and Integrity

Goal 2  By the end of 2023, all students will achieve learning growth and increased confidence and engagement in Mathematics.

• • Students in Kindergarten-Year 6 completed a school-wide place value assessment. A Collaborative Planning day was held where teachers collaboratively analysed the assessments and identified the next steps in learning for each student. 

• • Our Instructional Coach, Mrs N Baker, Middle Leader, Mr Body and Knowledgeable Other, Mrs McEntee will become our Expert Teaching Team in Numeracy and as such attended two days of professional learning focusing on evidence-based instructional strategies in Mathematics

Thank you for your support,

Kaylene Duffin

Have you ever considered having your child Baptised?

If your child is not Baptised and you have been considering this or you would like to find out more about the process, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the leadership team via the school office for a chat, we would love to hear from you.

Scripture

This fortnight our scripture passage is that of ‘The Widow's Offering’ from the Gospel of Mark. In this passage the widow gives all that she can in the hope that she will be able to help others. She was a person of compassion who gave all that she could. In this Lenten season we are encouraged to also give what we can. It does not have to be in the form of money but could be in compassion.

Mark 12: 41-44 The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Reconciliation

Last week, many of our Year Three students began their journey towards making the sacrement of Reconciliation.  We keep these students in our prayers as they prepare and learn the importance of knwoing that God’s love is always there for us.

Project Compassion Cake Stall

Over the weekend, four Year Five students with an important mission gathered together to bake sweets to sell at Charles Harper Park. The call to action was to raise money for Project Compassion and their actions embodied the Catholic Values of Hope, Justice, Integrity and Compassion. Congratulations to Isabel, Indi, Evelyn and Grace along with their helpers Mikaela and Hannah who raised a huge $264. Holy Cross is ever so proud of this achievement. 

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:

1 March 2023 - Instructional Coach Network day

Mrs N Baker

2 March 2023 - CEDoW Staffing Committee Meeting

Mrs Duffin 

6 March 2023 - System Professional Learning Day - School Improvement 

Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett, Mr Body & Mrs N Baker 

7 March 2023 - System Professional Learning Day - School Improvement 

Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett, Miss Costello & Mrs N Baker 

8 March 2023 - Changing Our Narrative in Numeracy  

Mr Body, Mrs N Baker & Mrs McEntee 

9 March 2023 - Changing Our Narrative in Numeracy  

Mr Body, Mrs N Baker & Mrs McEntee

Assemblies

Our next whole school assembly will be held on Tuesday 28 March from 8.50am. At this assembly we will be presenting Principal Awards and Stage 3 will be sharing their learning. Additionally, this assembly will acknowledge our work with Project Compassion including showcasing students’ dress up - For All Future Generations. 

School Uniform

A reminder that Claudines will set up a pop up shop in the school library on Thursday 23 March from 2.15pm. This will be an opportunity for parents to view winter uniforms, try on and purchase on the day. 

Enrolments

We are currently accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2024. If your son/daughter will be starting school next year, please collect an enrolment form from the school office or download one from our school website. If you know of anyone who is interested in enrolling their child, please advise them to contact our school office. 

https://www.hchdow.catholic.edu.au/

School Cross Country Carnival

Our school Cross Country carnival will be held on Tuesday 14 March. All students, Kinder to Year 6 will walk to Rex Jackson oval leaving school at 9am. Parents, families and friends are welcome to join us!

If your child would like to get some practice in before the day, they are very welcome to join our HCH Running Club on Friday mornings before school at either the Duck Pond or Rex Jackson oval. 

We already have a great little bunch of kids that come along to run either 1km or 2km. All ages and running abilities welcome.

Check out our Facebook Page for more information and details

https://www.facebook.com/hcrunningclub


St Patrick’s Day

The feast of St Patrick will be held on Friday 17 March. In honour of this day, students are encouraged to wear a ‘splash’ of green with their Sports Uniform. This could include a green hat, sock, jumper, scrunchie etc.

Harmony Day

On Tuesday 21 March, we will celebrate Harmony Day.  Students are encouraged to wear a splash of orange with their summer uniform e.g. hat, socks, scrunchies etc.

Library News

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge HAS BEGUN!

Each year at Holy Cross, we participate in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). With hundreds of PRC texts in our Library, the Challenge is a great way for students to enjoy reading and maybe read something they may not normally choose, thus expanding their exposure to different genres.

With support from all our staff, our students complete the Challenge at school:

K-2: 30 books – teachers read Challenge books to students and Reading Logs are entered by the Library.

Year 3-6: 20 books – students complete and enter their own Reading Logs. Each student has a Reading Log (set up by their teacher) where they have been entering ALL books they read – this includes, Library books (both school and public), books from home, and books their teachers read to them. At the end of Term 2, there is a dedicated Library lesson for entering their Reading Logs.

There have been some new rules which our primary students were very excited about:

* students can read 10 Free Choice books (instead of 5)

* students can include 3 books from a series (instead of 2)

The Challenge closes 18 August 2023 so there is plenty of time.

In fact, we have some very keen readers in Year 6 who have completed the Challenge already! Congratulations to:

Pippa Snelling

Mia Amadio

***Stay tuned to see who completes the Challenge next!***

Introducing…Mikaela (Year 5)

 

What section are you responsible for?

Graphic Novels

What is your favourite book?

The Harry Potter series, The Little Wave by Pip Harry, The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble, and the Dog Man series.

What do you love about being a Library Warrior?

I love making the Library beautiful and because it’s lots of fun.

What is your favourite Library task?

Putting the books in a category, particularly the Graphic Novels – I like to make sure they are ordered and that all the books in a series are together.

Camp Australia

On Thursday the 2nd of March, our school captains had the honour to accompany Mrs Duffin to the 2023 Diocese of Wollongong Education Mass at the St John Vianney Co-Cathedral in Fairy Meadow led by Bishop Brian, where she was commissioned as the excellent principal she is of Holy Cross, Helensburgh! This very special mass is held every year, but unfortunately it hasn’t been held the past couple of years due to COVID.

The mass was truly a beautiful night! The choir, music and Welcome to Country featuring Indigenous students made it all the while majestic. What made it even more special was that Mrs Duffin’s family were also there alongside her in her memorable moment. Once the captains and Mrs Duffin were upfront with the crowd, she received a framed certificate which made her officially our principal! There were seven principals altogether who were commissioned including Mrs Duffin and all of which were either primary or secondary school principals. Everyone in our school is proud and excited to have Mrs Duffin as our principal! 

By Bella, Oliver R, Joseph and Mia G (Year 6).

Ella - NSW Cricket Representative

Last week from the 27th of February to the 2nd of March, I went out to Bathurst to play cricket for MacKillop in the NSWPSSA State Championships. At the end of the four days my team came third, because of this we got a bronze medal. From that carnival, twelve people were selected to be in the NSW team. I was so excited to hear my name called out and I got in the NSW team. It was a great week and on top of it all  I also made so many new friends with the girls from the MacKillop team. I will now be travelling to Darwin in June for the School Sport Australia Girls Cricket Championships.

We are incredibly proud of Ella’s recent cricket achievements. She is not only an outstanding cricket player, but an amazing sportswomen who shows sportsmanship, commitment and drive. This is fabulous news and so well deserved.

South Coast Diocesan Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to the Holy Cross athletes who competed at the South Coast Diocesan Swimming carnival yesterday. They competed in the true spirit of sport! 

Good luck to Eddie, who will compete at the Swimming Selection Trials next Monday!