28 July 2016

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and friends of Holy Cross,

Happy Catholic Education Week!

This is one of my favourite weeks of the academic year because it provides the perfect vehicle for our school community to ‘jump off the tread-mill’, join together, and remind ourselves of our mission and ethos as one of over 300 Catholic schools in Queensland.

Each day at Holy Cross, we strive to challenge our young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. We truly hope that through the work that we do, our students will leave Holy Cross as well-informed, highly skilled and constructive members of the community who value diversity and treat others with dignity and respect. We hope that our students graduate with a commitment to social justice and a critical social consciousness, so that they are fully prepared for global responsibilities through stewardship of the earth’s resources. Catholic Education Week prompts us to reflect on this mission, and consider and celebrate our progress.

The theme this year is, ‘Opening Doors in the Year of Mercy.’ The key message is that God’s mercy is never ending. God is always there ready to forgive all, and wrap us each in everlasting love. As God is merciful to all, so all are called to show the same mercy and loving kindness to others. Remember, the God of Mercy is present in our homes and in our lives, loving, healing and embracing each of us. The sacred is present in the everyday events of family life: soccer games, birthday parties, shopping, dirty clothes, socks that don’t match etc. Families experience God in a baby’s smile, a child’s struggle to learn something new, a simple family meal, a family argument, the tender embrace of a spouse, or the loss of a family member or friend. Everywhere families turn, they meet God. God is present in the daily events of our lives, and this week, I encourage you to thank God each day as a family through simple gestures and acts of kindness. There are many ways that we can do this. Below are a few ideas to get you started:

• begin a family Gratitude Journal for all family members to jot down little things that they are grateful for. Younger children could draw what they are grateful for or have an older sibling or parent scribe for them;
• think about ways that your family might be able to practice some works of mercy e.g. feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, visiting the sick, helping the poor, comforting those who are sad or lonely, forgiving others, donating used toys or clothing, visiting people in nursing homes or aged care facilities and spending time with them maybe by reading the newspaper to them or playing a game of cards with them;
• create a short end-of-day ritual to ask for and extend forgiveness to members of your family. “Do not let the sun set on your anger” (Eph. 4:26);
• make a point to smile, greet or make conversation with others you may meet throughout your day or week; and, my absolute favourite,
• perform random acts of kindness.

Random acts of kindness highlight the values of justice, compassion and kindness, and promote a sense of community responsibility that is integral to the ethos of Catholic Education.

If each of our students and their families were willing to participate in just one act of kindness, we could touch the hearts of so many in our community. Please take a moment to watch this You Tube clip. I challenge you to make it to the end without being filled with emotion and inspiration:

And if you’re up for another challenge, see how many of the 101 random acts of kindness listed on this website you can complete in one week as a family. I think you’d be surprised how many you could do:

I truly am immensely proud to be the Principal of Holy Cross, and I thank you all for your ongoing love and support. Don’t forget to join us this Friday for our Holy Cross Parents’ Day Assembly, commencing with the opening of our classroom doors, and an invitation to spend the first half hour of the day with your child / children in their classroom. It would be so wonderful to see you there.

Wishing you God’s blessings now and always,
Sarah Hamilton
Principal

APRE News

Happy Catholic Education Week!

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 2016

Thank you to those family members and friends who were able to join us for Mass on Monday. It was a celebration of our Catholic tradition, of song and of community. It is always wonderful also, to be lead by our talented choir. A big thank you goes to Mrs Wight, for all the preparation she has put in with the Liturgy Choir this year, as well as the time she spends making classes familiar with music for big occasions.

Keep an eye out in the next newsletter for photos of the week’s celebrations.

WEEK 2 OF OUR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

Last week was the first week of our whole school Peer Support Program. It took a little bit of co-ordination and ‘group finding’ for the first session, but all went well in the end. Our Year 6 leaders were nervous in front of their group for the first time, however, the teachers have informed me that they coped very well, despite the nerves. We should see their leadership skills continue to develop over the eight weeks.

Session 2 - Strong me!

Our session this week for students involved in Stronger Together - our Peer Support module, encourages students to identify their personal strengths as a key protective factor to address bullying and looks at ways of utilising these positive attributes to support themselves and others to build resilience. Parents of participating students might like to ask what they said or thought their strengths might be and suggest some more.

LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE SCHOOL

Upcoming liturgies and Masses:

• Feast of the Assumption of Mary: Monday August 15th at 9:00am
• Years 1, 2 & 5 Mass: Tuesday August 30th at 9:00am
• Reconciliation: Tuesday 6th September, at 6pm
• Exaltation of the Cross-Feast Day: Wednesday September 14th at 9:00am

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Families of children preparing for Reconciliation should have their booklets by now. They are available for $10 from the school office. The first group session is this week (Tuesday 26th July). A reminder that the group sessions are optional, as the program can be completed by families at their own pace at home, or in a self-made group if preferred. If there are any questions regarding this program, please contact me via email or phone through the office, as soon as possible.

MENTORING PROGRAM

The Mentoring Program has started for Term 3. The teachers have offered places to as many of the nominated students as possible, however, because of age and need groupings, as well as time constraints, not all students have been able to be placed this time around.

PRAYER FOCUS FOR THE WEEK

Find time as a family this week to pray.

We light our candle for our own family, for all families in our school and parish community and for families all over our country and our world. May they be strengthened and guided in this Year of Mercy.

Take it in turns to name a family member and something that is special about them. Thank God for them.

Finish with the Our Father or a prayer of your choice.

I hope to see lots of parents and friends on Friday morning, at our open classrooms and special assembly. Have a wonderful week!

PARISH NEWS

Parish Mass Times

Jacinta Roberts
APRE Holy Cross

APA News

WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEARNER?

In Term 2 Holy Cross teachers began a process of Literacy Coaching with each other and with CES trained Teaching Coaches. Through watching and observing each other, teachers will participate in professional dialogue with each other around improving practice. At the student level teachers have begun to focus, through our positive behaviour approach, on the concepts of “being ready to learn” and “having pride in our learning environment”. Teachers are unpacking these concepts with students and exploring what “being ready to learn” means. The slides below I used in a previous newsletter last term, but thought it timely with the beginning of a new term and with many teachers, parents and students currently goal-setting, to include as a reminder.

7 Characteristics of a Good Learner

By: Maryellen Weimer, PhD

1. Good learners are curious – They wonder about all sorts of things, often about things way beyond their areas of expertise. They love the discovery part of learning. Finding out about something they didn’t know satisfies them for the moment, but their curiosity is addictive.
2. Good learners pursue understanding diligently – A few things may come easily to learners but most knowledge arrives after effort, and good learners are willing to put in the time. They search out information—sometimes aspiring to find out everything that is known about something. They read, analyze, and evaluate the information they’ve found. They talk with others, read more, study more, and carry around what they don’t understand; thinking about it before they go to sleep, at the gym, on the way to work, and sometimes when they should be listening to others. Good learners are persistent. They don’t give up easily.
3. Good learners recognize that a lot of learning isn’t fun – That doesn’t change how much they love learning. When understanding finally comes, when they get it, when all the pieces fit together, that is one special thrill. But the journey to understanding generally isn’t all that exciting. Some learning tasks require boring repetition; others a mind-numbing attention to detail; still others periods of intense mental focus. Backs hurt, bottoms get tired, the clutter on the desk expands, the coffee tastes stale—no, most learning isn’t fun.
4. Failure frightens good learners, but they know it’s beneficial – It’s a part of learning that offers special opportunities that aren’t there when success comes quickly and without failure. In the presence of repeated failure and seeming futility, good learners carry on, confident that they’ll figure it out. When faced with a motor that resists repair, my live-in mechanic announces he has yet to meet a motor that can’t be fixed. Sometimes it ends up looking like a grudge match, man against the machine, with the man undeterred by how many different fixes don’t work. He’s frustrated but determined to find the one that will, all the while learning from those that don’t.
5. Good learners make knowledge their own – This is about making the new knowledge fit with what the learner already knows, not making it mean whatever the learner wants. Good learners change their knowledge structures in order to accommodate what they are learning. They use the new knowledge to tear down what’s poorly constructed, to finish what’s only partially built, and to create new additions. In the process, they build a bigger and better knowledge structure. It’s not enough to just take in new knowledge. It has to make sense, to connect in meaningful ways with what the learner already knows.
6. Good learners never run out of questions – There’s always more to know. Good learners are never satisfied with how much they know about anything. They are pulled around by questions—the ones they still can’t answer, or can only answer part way, or the ones without very good answers. Those questions follow them around like day follows night with the answer bringing daylight but the next question revealing the darkness.
7. Good learners share what they’ve learned – Knowledge is inert. Unless it’s passed on, knowledge is lost. Good learners are teachers committed to sharing with others what they’ve learned. They write about it, and talk about it. Good learners can explain what they know in ways that make sense to others. They aren’t trapped by specialized language. They can translate, paraphrase, and find examples that make what they know meaningful to other learners. They are connected to the knowledge passed on to them and committed to leaving what they’ve learned with others.

Good teachers model this kind of learning for their students, which makes me believe that “good learner” belongs on those lists of good teacher characteristics.

We look forward to sharing the journey with the community as we progress. If you have any questions, please feel free to make contact with your classroom teacher or one of the administration staff.

SAVE THESE DATES

It has been a busy start to the Term already with a number of events on. This week of course we are celebrating Catholic Education Week. Over the next few weeks there will be a number of other events on that I will continue to list in the upcoming dates. Please continue to watch for events such as Camps (Year 5 August 3rd-5th) (Year 6 August 17th -19th), Japanese Exchange visits, Book Week (Week 5 August 8th-12th), Father’s Day celebrations and our annual Holy Cross Feast Day and activities among others.

REPORTING

Over the holiday period you should have received Semester 1 Reports. Reports are both an opportunity to celebrate successes for the semester and an opportunity to set learning goals for the coming semester. I encourage you to make contact with your child’s teacher in the coming weeks, if you have not already done so, to talk about goals for the semester to ensure another successful end to the current year.

Many blessings for the week

Brad Henry
Assistant Principal - Administration

School News

Term 3 Fees

Term 3 fees have now been processed and emailed to families and are due for payment by Wednesday, 3rd August, unless alternative payment arrangements are currently in place (eg. Periodic Direct Debits, approved repayment plans etc). Your prompt attention to payment is appreciated.

The payment of school fees and levies is an important component of the income of the school. The school relies on these payments in order to provide the high quality education enjoyed by your child / children. In situations where there is genuine financial hardship and if you are struggling to pay school fees, you are encouraged to contact the school for an appointment with the Principal and your circumstances will be treated with the utmost confidence.

2016 Fee Concessions

Tuition Fee Discount Scheme for eligible Means-Tested Health Care Cards/Pension Cards

If you are a holder of an eligible Means-Tested Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card as outlined on the following attachment, please complete an application form below and present your card to the school office for verification. If you have previously supplied the school with a copy of your card and it is due to expire please complete a new application form and bring your new card to the school office for copying and verification. If your circumstances change throughout the year and you are no longer eligible to receive the tuition discount, it is the parent/carers responsibility to advise the school of the change in eligibility.

Please note that tuition discounts have already been applied to Term 3 fees and any Health Care Discount Scheme forms received from now can only be applied to future invoices.

Holy Cross Bike Bus

The Holy Cross Bike Bus runs every Wednesday (weather permitting) from Trinity Park Boat Ramp to school and back each week. The route is particularly suited to younger riders because it is flat and there is a very wide shoulder on the road. Please note, however, that younger riders must be competent riders who are able to stop and start with ease. Parents are encouraged to accompany younger riders. Students can be collected and dropped off along the route.

Age Suitability: Prep to Year 6
Morning Departure: 8am
Location: Trinity Park Boat Ramp, Reed Rd
Afternoon Departure: 3pm (ETA at boat ramp is 3:15pm)
Location: Holy Cross Bike Rack

PLEASE NOTE: The Bike Bus will not run if it is wet, or if it looks like it is about to rain.

For concerns or queries, please email Jo Van Ewyk jvanewyk@cns.catholic.edu.au

Host Families Wanted

Holy Cross School is looking forward to hosting Japanese students from Josei Primary School, Osaka, Japan.

20th August 2016 – 26th August 2016 (Holy Cross School)

Would you like to give your child/ren the opportunity to share in a wonderful cultural and educational experience?

• Host international students
• Japanese Primary aged children
• Remuneration: $200/week

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Jack at Sun Pacific College on (07) 4057 2100 or email accommodation@sunpacificcollege.com.au

P and F News

P & F Meeting

The next P & F Meeting will take place on Wednesday 10th August commencing at 7.00pm in the School Library. All welcome!

Please click on the link below to view the minutes from the July P & F Meeting.

Fathers’ Day Stall Wrapping Day – Friday 12th August

Please join us on Friday 12th August after the morning drop off to help wrap gifts for the upcoming Fathers’ Day stall. We will be setting up in the stage area and would greatly appreciate any help you could give us – even if it is only for a short amount of time. Please come to the stage in the Multi-purpose area after 8.30am or alternatively contact Kymberlee on 0409 183 332 for more details. Morning Tea will be provided.

Any prize donations for our raffle would also be greatly appreciated. Please contact Kymberlee or leave donations at the office. Thank you in advance!

P & F Fundraising

Entertainment Books

Holy Cross School is very excited to announce that we will be fundraising through the Entertainment Memberships this year! The popular Entertainment™ Books contain hundreds of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers from top local restaurants, cafés, take-away chains, attractions, activities and hotel accommodation.

Entertainment™ Memberships contain over $20,000 in valuable offers that you and your family can use until 1st June 2017. In fact, you only need to use your membership twice throughout the year and it will have paid for itself!

These memberships can be purchased as either a book or a digital membership that is loaded to your smart phone. They are great value at only $55, with $1000 of savings inside and something for the whole family. The best part is that we receive 20% from each sale which goes directly to our school.

These can be purchased via: www.entbook.com.au/2703t24 or in our front office at the school.

Thank you for your support.

Tuckshop News

Please email the Tuckshop Co-ordinator, Mrs Belinda Patmore at:- tuckshop.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au if you are able to help in the tuckshop.

Second hand uniforms available from the Tuckshop.
Plenty of stock, all sizes from 4 to 16 – only $5 per item!

The Arts News

Dance Drama Music (DDM)

Eisteddfod

Eisteddfod was a huge learning curve for many of our first time choir members. Everyone had to put in a lot of effort and persistence into one performance. We had a lot of positive comments on the day and everyone in the audience enjoyed our act immensely. While we weren't offered a placing, we had a lot of fun and the whole experience is one we are keen to repeat next year. I am very proud of all our choir students and very grateful for all the hard work our parents put in to help us make it a memorable moment. Thank you!

Choir

Choir rehearsals have had a staggered start this term. Due to the Peer Support program on Mondays, I've had to move Liturgy Choir rehearsals to Wednesdays at 2nd lunch. The General Choir rehearsals will be focused on learning hymns for the Catholic Education Week Mass (25/7/16), the Assumption Mass (15/8/16) and our Feast Day Mass (14/9/16). The Liturgy Choir has also been invited to be a part of the Parish's 50th Jubilant celebrations. I will send information and permission slips home closer to the time.

General Choir rehearsals begin Week 2 on Tuesdays at 2nd lunch. General Choir students have decided upon a list of six songs that they are going to sing for any future performances this year. We now need to work on all the little details that make each song a fantastic act to watch for our future audiences.

Please remind students to bring their choir folders to each rehearsal. This helps make our rehearsals run smoothly.

Holy Cross Has Talent

Congratulations to all the finalists who performed last term in the Holy Cross Has Got Talent Show.

God bless!
Christina Wight
Dance Drama Music Teacher

Music Tuition

Drums/Percussion

Are you interested in playing the drums or learning a percussion instrument?

For more information contact our friendly drum/percussion instructor Jen Fengler on ph: 0431461812 or email: jenfengler@hotmail.com

Piano

If you are interested in piano lessons please contact: Paul Brimstone on ph: 40551105

Guitar

If you are interested in guitar lessons please contact: Peter Drazic on email: pjd.guitar@bigpond.com

Sports News

Jamie Gosling After School Soccer Club

Jamie Gosling Football Academy is once again running their popular 6 week soccer skills program after school this term. Sessions will be held each Thursday after school from 2.50pm to 3.50pm commencing August 11th to September 15th 2016. Cost is $50 per student. Please click on the link below for more information and a player consent form.

NetFun Netball Skills Program – commences this week

Cairns Netball Association will again be running this valuable netball skills program at Holy Cross during Term 3 for boys and girls aged between 5 to 10 years. On Thursday afternoons from 3:05pm to 4:05pm for 7 weeks starting 28th July to 8th September, two qualified coaches will be teaching netball skills in the Multi-Purpose Court area. This program offers an opportunity for children to increase their social and motor skills in a friendly and fun environment.

The NetFun Program cost is $90 with a netball pack or $60 without a pack. If you are interested in the NetFun Program please click on the link below for more information and a Registration Form.

Net Set Go and Junior Netta Program

For anyone interested in commencing for Season 2 on Saturday mornings, a “Come and Try” day will be held on Saturday 16th July from 8.30am-9.30am at the Cairns Netball Association, Martyn Street Courts. Please click on the link below for more information and registration form.

Get Started Sports Vouchers

Round 8 for the $150 Get Started Sports vouchers is now open for applications. Please click on the link below for eligibility requirements for this assistance.

Parenting Programs

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program

Queensland parents can now get free parenting support. The State Government is giving parents and carers of children up to the age of 16 free access to the evidence-based Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. Triple P helps parents use positive feedback and encouragement to guide behaviour and give children the best start in life.

Families can sign up for as much or as little support as they like by going to the link below. New sessions are added regularly.

Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Program

This free 4 Week workshop commences on Tuesday 16th August through to the 6th September and is aimed at promoting positive and nurturing parent-child relationships. Please click on the link for more information.

Community Notices

Cairns Regional Council Community Survey – ‘Our Cairns’

Cairns Regional Council is conducting a wide-ranging community survey called Our Cairns.

This is your opportunity to tell Council what sort of Cairns you want to live in and what’s important to you. Go online to www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairns in August and fill out the survey.

You can also go into the draw to win some prizes if you leave your name and email address.

The survey will be available from 1 – 31 August. Be Heard! Do the Survey!

Kumon English or Maths Program Two-Week Free Trial

Find out how your child can develop essential Maths and English skills with Kumon. Kumon is an after-school learning programme that is tailored to their individual ability. The programme supports both students who are struggling with school, or those who are seeking a further challenge. To register your child for the free trial please contact your local Kumon Centre by 8th August to secure your child’s place. For further information, please click on the link below.

St Anthony’s School Dimbulah 50th Anniversary

All past teachers, teacher aides, administration staff, parents, students and community members are invited to attend the weekend of festivities on Saturday 27th August and Sunday 28th August 2016. Click on the flyer below for more information.

St Joseph’s School Parramatta Park 90th Anniversary 2017

In 2017, St Joseph’s School, Parramatta Park will celebrate 90 years of Catholic Education in Cairns. Various events will be held to celebrate this important occasion from the 18th August to the 20th August 2017. All current and former staff, students and families are requested to save these dates in your calendar for next year’s celebrations.

Queensland Government Well Women’s Clinics

Well Women’s Clinics (available to Medicare eligible clients) will be held at:-

Smithfield Community Health, Friday 5th August and Monday 15th August, phone 4226 4800

James Cook University (JCU) Tuesday 16th August, phone 4226 4812.

TYC Drama Classes for 5yrs+

Looking for fun, creative and educational after-school activities? Then come and tread the boards at The Young Company Theatre this semester! Develop confidence, explore your creativity, make new friends and learn the essentials of stage performance through improvisation, role-play, scripts, musical theatre and characterization activities and then perform in front of a live audience with costumes, sets, props, sound effects, live projections and theatrical lighting!! For more information phone 40414066, email info@theyoungcompany.com.au, visit our website www.theyoungcompany.com.au, visit us at 169 Bunda St, Cairns City. Classes across the Cairns region.

Ready Steady Go Kids (RSGK)

Multi-sport and exercise program for school kids aged 4 to 6 years. Click on the link below for more information.