Dear Parents and Friends,

Last week’s School Fete was an authentic expression of the connectedness of our school community and of the love and support our community has for our students. Blessed with beautiful weather, hundreds of fete goers enjoyed the fun, entertainment and food on offer. A huge thank you to our Fete Coordinators and to all of our parents who hosted stalls. These parents have worked for many months behind the scenes to prepare for the Fete and we are sincerely grateful. Thank you also to the many parents and friends who worked on the stalls and assisted with the set up and clean up. There are too many names to mention but we are grateful for all of the help we received. THANK YOU!!!

LIGHTING THE WAY 23+

Our Diocesan new strategic plan, was launched recently by Bishop Brian Mascord and is now available to parents and the wider community along with members of the public. The link to the plan can be found below:

Over the next series of newsletters, I will share one of the plan’s five focus areas in the hope of providing our community with a deep understanding of the essence of Catholic Education in the Diocese and how our Holy Cross strategic plan aligns to this.

Formation In The Catholic Tradition

The aim of this focus area is to further engage students and staff in the beauty and depth of the Catholic faith through effective methods of formation, both old and new, that speak to the contemporary experience of believers and those searching for faith and meaning.

Outcomes and Indicators of Improvement

Students are supported to flourish through their deep knowledge and appreciation of Catholicity and their active participation in how it is lived and celebrated today.

Progress towards this outcome will be measured by:

• Students’ knowledge and understanding of Catholicity
• Students’ self-reporting of the connection between the Catholic faith and their lives
• Students’ appreciation of participation in liturgy, Eucharist, prayer and advocacy and outreach informed by Catholic Social Teaching

Staff are able to authentically infuse Catholicity into learning and engage students in questions and topics in light of the Gospel and Catholic intellectual tradition

Progress towards this outcome will be measured by:

• The capability of staff to engage with students across curriculum areas on diverse topics in light of the Catholic faith
• The integration of a Catholic foundation to enquire and understanding in all learning programs

Lighting the Way 23+ is a strategic plan that Holy Cross is very much aligned with. It will continue to provide guidance and direction for us as we move into the future always with the belief that every student is capable of improving in their learning and wellbeing while growing in their faith.

2023 ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Update

Goal 1   Improve  students’ relationship with Jesus through the values of compassion, justice, hope and integrity.

• Collaboratively design a Religious Education unit of work for Easter that includes exploring a scripture passage and aligning it to one of our Catholic values

Goal 2    By the end of 2023, all students will have increased their confidence and engagement in Mathematics so that all students achieve growth

• Teachers deepened their knowledge and understanding of the 6 Aspects of Place Value.
• Staff analysed teacher and student perception data regarding how everyone 
  ‘feels’ about maths.
  
  Below is the Wordle which is generated from the

  

  responses of our Years 1-6 students when asked the question - When doing maths, I feel…

Thank you for your support,

Kaylene Duffin

Scripture

This fortnight our scripture passage brings to life the Catholic Value of hope and comes from Matthew’s Gospel. 

Matthew 5:14-15

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

This scripture reminds us that we are all created in the image and likeness of God and thus have special gifts and talents that we must share with the world. As people of hope we strive to share these talents with others as well as be blessed to receive the light from others.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

We continue to hold our Year Three students in our prayers as they make the Sacrament of Reconciliation beginning next week. Thank you to Mrs Rowles and Father Paul for the work they have done to prepare the students for this important sacrament. 

Professional Learning

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:

10 March 2023

PB4L Network Day - Mrs Jennett, Mr Whitehall & Mrs Mitrevski

13 March 2023

School Cyclic Inquiry - School Improvement - Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett, Mr Body, Miss Costello & Mrs N Baker

15 March 2023

Changing Our Narrative in Numeracy - Collaborative Planning Half Days - All teachers

16 March 2023

Religious Education Coordinator Network Meeting - Miss Costello

20 March 2023

Personalised Planning Day - Miss Facci

21 March 2023

Continuous Catholic School Improvement - Mrs Duffin, Mrs Jennett, Mr Body, Miss Costello & Mrs N Baker

22 March 2023

Revised K-2 Syllabus Workshop - Mrs McEntee

Assemblies

Our final 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. 

Uniform

The change from wearing Summer uniform to Winter uniform officially begins in Week 4, Term 2, Monday 15 May. Prior to this date, there is a transition period whereby students have the option of wearing either summer or winter uniform as appropriate for the weather.  

ENROLMENTS

We are currently accepting enrolments for 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. Please submit to the office by the end of this term. 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/

Term 2 Dates

All dates can be found on the school website via the Parent Calendar. Key Term 2 dates include:

Monday 24 April - PUPIL FREE DAY

Wednesday 26 April - students first day of Term 2, ANZAC Day service at 2.30pm

Thursday 27 April - Whole school Easter Mass. Parents and friends welcome.

Tuesday 2 May - Diocesan Cross Country Carnival

Thursday 4 May - School Athletics Carnival @ Beaton Park, Wollongong

Friday 12 May - Mother’s Day celebrations

Wednesday 17 May - Year 1 Excursion

Thursday 8 June - Year 2 Excursion

Tuesday 20 June - Netball Gala Day

Thursday 22 June - P&F Disco

Friday 30 June - NAIDOC Week celebrations. Last day of Term 2

NAPLAN 2023

The Big Veggie Crunch 2023

Library

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Just a reminder that Issue 2 orders are due by Saturday, 25 March. Just jump online to order: https://bookclubs.scholastic.com.au/

TERM 1 STOCKTAKES – a huge success!

Each term at Holy Cross, mandatory Stocktakes need to occur. Each Collection needs to go through Stocktake every 3 years – this is where we need to account for every resource in a Collection. This term it was our Graphic Novel and Popular Fiction Collections and I was able to account for every single resource – this is fantastic result.

What this means is that our students are being mindful to make sure that all books are borrowed and returned – in other words none are going ‘missing in action’.

Well done Holy Cross and keep up the good borrowing and returning work!

LIBRARY WARRIOR

Introducing…Dominic (Year 3) 

What section are you responsible for?

Fiction and Fiction Series

What is your favourite book?

The Minecraft series

What do you love about being a Library Warrior?

Helping Mrs Murray in the Library – there’s a lot to do

What is your favourite Library task?

I help bring the books to the Library before school and help Jake look after the Fiction section – my favourite thing is sorting the books.

Happy reading everyone!

Sue Murray
Library Coordinator

School Cross Country Carnival

Congratulations to Team O’Connor who were the 2023 Cross Country winning House!

 

Congratulations to the following place-getters:

KINDER BOYS

1st- Carson

2nd- Bodhi 

3rd- Declan

KINDER GIRLS

1st- Willow 

2nd- Jarrah 

3rd- Bella 

YEAR 1/7YR BOYS

1st- Jack

2nd- Noah

3rd- Blake

YEAR 1/7YR GIRLS

1st- Arie

2nd- Sophia

3rd- Kalani 

 

Congratulations to the following students who now will represent Holy Cross at the Diocesan Cross Country Championships in May.

8/9 YR BOYS

1st- Archie

2nd- Cooper

3rd- Max

8/9 YR GIRLS

1st- Emily

2nd- Zara 

3rd- Jenna 

1st MC- Patti 

10 YR BOYS

1st- Jesse

2nd- Nate 

3rd- Lachlan

10 YR GIRLS

1st- Vida 

2nd- Sadie

3rd- Sophie 

11 YR BOYS

1st- Amos 

2nd- Sebastian 

3rd- Aiden 

1st MC- Eddie 

11 YR GIRLS

1st- Emma 

2nd- Mikaela 

3rd- Anna 

12 YR BOYS

1st- Tom 

2nd- Riley 

3rd- Reuben 

12 YR GIRLS

1st- Ruby 

2nd- Leni 

3rd- Shanay 

A big thank you to our parent helpers and also to Helensburgh & Districts Little Athletics Club and Helensburgh Thistles Soccer Club for lending equipment and helping with the setup to ensure our day ran smoothly.

 

 

Natalie Baker, Christopher Whitehall & Kate Jennett

Sport Team

State Track & Field Championships

We love learning about the ‘out of school’ experiences and achievements of our students! Please email us a photo and a blurb about your child’s recent achievements so that we can add them to our newsletter!!

Sacrament of Reconciliation 

The next couple of weeks will be a big step into Catholicism for many of our Year 3 students and their families! These students will make their Sacrament of Reconciliation at our Holy Cross Catholic Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is given by Jesus to offer his love, mercy and forgiveness to sinners for their mistakes committed against God.

For this issue of Captains Corner, Joseph and Bella have interviewed four Year 3 students who are preparing to make their reconciliation over the next two weeks:

Jenna - “I’m really excited cause I’m glad to be in the Catholic faith!”

Elise - “I’m a bit nervous because I don't know what to say but I’m excited to be fulfilled with the Holy Spirit.”

Logan - “I’m nervous because I don’t want to share my sins and don’t know what to say but it’ll be something that’ll stay with me forever.”

Dylan - “It’s a great way to be with the school in reconciliation. I feel very great.” 

Holy Cross Family Fun Day

On behalf of the P & F committee, a huge thank you to each of our wonderful helpers, sponsors, volunteers, teachers, students, families and community members who contributed to make our Family Fun Day such a success.  Each of our stalls were kept busy with large crowds supporting our school in glorious hot weather. 

We made over $20000 on the day which is to go towards creating a more sustainable school, beginning with a transition to LED lighting across the school.

Congratulations to our major raffle winners: -

1^st Elouise Burns – 12 Person tent from Adventure Operations
2^nd Amanda Bombaci – 50” Akai TV
3^rd Kim – Doterra wombat diffuser from the Wallace family
4^th Hunter Shaw – Whale watching cruise from Shellharbour Wild
5^th Chantelle Pasani – Crawchys Swim Voucher
6^th Kris Johnson – Sacci OG Junior Scooter from Engadine Cycles and Scooters
7^th Catherin Carolan – Family Pass to the Royal Easter Show
8^th Vickie – Free Day camp at Monster Skate Park

Photography Competition

From Yrs 4,5,6 (Senior/Primary winner) - Oliver R with his entry "Agave Beauty"                                                   &