11 May 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers – especially our wonderful Mothers,

With time set aside this Friday to celebrate mothers, at the Holy Cross ‘All About Mum’ event, I commenced a hunt for lovely pamper-type activities for our students to bestow upon their mothers or significant care givers. One of my favourite ‘hunting grounds’ is Pinterest, and whilst in the midst of activity, I stumbled across this quote:

When I read it, my first response was to chuckle, but then the words prompted reflection on my own role as the mother of two young children, Edward (9) and Elizabeth (7), and I pondered on my performance. Again, in the absence of an Instruction Manual, my attempts at being ‘perfect’ fail every time, but my constant quest to raise them with a heart filled with love modelled on the teaching of Christ, more easily achieved.

For many years now, psychologists have stated that the bonding of a baby with its mother in the first few minutes of life is vital for the stability of the newborn child. The mother-infant bond is an intense relationship of unparalleled human affection. It is the foundation of the child’s emotional and physical survival. No wonder the saying: “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short time but their hearts forever”, (author unknown), and, “There is only one pretty child in the world and every mother owns it.” (Chinese proverb), are so pertinent.

There are many ways to answer the question, “What is Motherhood?” and one of those ways might be that Motherhood means sharing in the creative power of God. Conceiving, carrying and giving birth to a human being, is as close as any person can get to the act of creation. This is the beginning of Motherhood but it is far from the end. Motherhood is also about nurturing, sacrificing, loving and, ultimately, letting go.

Jesus’ mother, Mary, experienced all this, and then had the added drama of losing her young son for three days, later finding him in the Temple having a discussion with a group of Rabbis. When Mary rebuked Jesus for, “treating us this way”, Jesus informed her that the Temple was the first place she should have looked: “Did you not know that I must be about the things of my Father?” I cannot imagine what Mary and Joseph must have experienced during those three days, and the roller coaster of emotions they would have experienced.

Besides being embarrassed for Joseph, I expect Mary would have found it hard to accept that Jesus was growing up with a mind of his own, and his own sense of how his Father was leading him. It would have been so hard for Mary, caught up in the tension of fulfilling the daily responsibilities in her role as mother, whilst grappling with the knowledge she was parenting the Son of God.

Although the situation modern-day mothers find themselves in is not at all, like the world that Mary lived in, mothers continue to live caught up in the world of tension as they try to be all things to their children.

I thank God for mothers, and thank mothers for helping us to understand an all-loving God.

I so hope that you can all make it to our celebrations this Friday, but if this is simply not possible, staff and students at Holy Cross School thank you for being you, and wish you a very happy mother’s day.

Peace and best wishes,

Sarah Hamilton
Principal

APA News

Volunteer Inductions

Volunteer Inductions are here. At Holy Cross we have a number of volunteers who kindly give of their time to support classroom teachers and the school community in a variety of ways. Whether your time is large or small, regular or intermittent, your contribution is certainly valued by our school community. As part of your volunteering time it is important to understand particular aspects of the school community including ‘Code of Conduct’, ‘Student Protection’ and other important bits of information. Over the past three weeks, sessions have been set aside to cover induction. I have set up an additional time on Wednesday 24th May from 8:30am-9:30am. If you are a volunteer in some capacity at Holy Cross, and you have not yet been to a session, I strongly encourage you to put your name down. You can do so by emailing mthorpe@cns.catholic.edu.au including your name and the session you can attend. As I know your time is extremely valuable, if you are unable to make one of the following times, please email or phone the Office and arrange an alternative time to meet with me.

Cairns Festival Float Entry – Expressions of Interest

As part of the 30th Anniversary for Holy Cross in 2017, the school community has shared the idea of Holy Cross putting an entry into the Cairns Festival Grand Parade. The parade is on Saturday 26th of August, which would be the week before Holy Cross Day and our 30th Anniversary celebrations.

I would like to extend a big thank-you to the staff and parents who have expressed their willingness to support this venture. In the next newsletter I will include a list of items to begin collecting and details of the float ideas themselves. If you are interested in assisting with costume and decoration building etc, or simply assisting on the day with costume, make-up, or supervision please speak with myself or Mellie Emmerick. Alternatively, please drop an email to mthorpe@cns.catholic.edu.au with your name and how you may be willing to assist.

Additionally, we would like to get an indication of the number of students and parents who are planning to participate in the parade itself. Could all families please assist by competing the following and emailing to mthorpe@cns.catholic.edu.au.

Holy Cross Parent Portal

All letters home will be placed on the Parent Portal for easy access in case of ‘being lost, not being in good shape, or just needing a second copy. Once you have logged on and found the link below, click on ‘Forms’ and locate your child’s Year Level. All letters and notes home can be found here. Should you experience any difficulty please contact us.

GOTCHA Points

Positive Behaviour Focus

Congratulations to Week 2 & 3 Holy Cross Heroes:

“We were caught being READY TO LEARN”

Below are a number of key dates for Term 2 2017 to consider:

Many blessings for the week

Brad Henry
Assistant Principal - Administration

APRE News

You may have been in our church over the past week and noticed that Fr Neil has purchased some new banners. These impressive banners will hang at various times throughout the year. Currently, the one hanging is white and gold for the time of Easter. There will be a green one for Ordinary Time, purple for Lent and red for Pentecost.

Parents often ask me about the coloured light at the back of the church at night. It also helps to show the colours of the liturgical seasons. If you are interested in learning more about liturgical colours, please visit:

LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE SCHOOL

Families are invited to attend a special Mass at St Monica’s Cathedral, on Saturday 27th May. It is the Referendum Anniversary Mass and our Year 5 and choir students have been invited to sing with Mr Norman Miller at this special event.

Upcoming liturgies and Masses:

• Mothers’ Day Liturgy Friday 12th May at 9:30am
• Referendum Anniversary Mass at St Monica’s Cathedral, Saturday 27th May at 7.00pm
• Weekend Family Mass Years 1 & 2 Sunday 28th May at 8:30am TBC
• First Holy Communion Saturday 17th June at 6:00pm, Sunday 18th June at 8:30am (Holy Cross) and 5:00pm (St Andrews)

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Please continue to pray for our Sacramental candidates, as they learn more about the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. For the families concerned, please make sure you have the, “How to Receive” session on 23rd May marked in your diaries. It is a chance for children to practise receiving the host and holding the chalice. Also, please send in to the school office, your templates from Helen Bozzo that have your child’s photo on. These will be laminated and placed in the church, so that parishioners can also pray for the candidates. I have attached a PDF version below.

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will occur in the Northern Beaches Parish, in September and is for students in Year Three and above. The first meeting is not until July.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM

This week and next week, teachers will be starting the first of the Second Step SEL sessions. Our theme, as I mentioned last newsletter, is that our school is a welcoming place where every student feels like he or she belongs. In our morning announcements and school assembly, we’ll be reminding students to welcome others and act and speak in safe, respectful, and responsible ways.

Support your child at home in welcoming others and acting and speaking in safe, respectful, and responsible ways. Please tell your child’s teacher if you have questions about specific ways you can help your child with these behaviours at home.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER FOCUS FOR THE WEEK

Too much on your plate?

That caught your eye, didn’t it? It seems to me that nearly all of us, and especially parents and carers of families, seem to be racing through life with more on their plate than they can cope with. Demands and expectations seem to come from all directions: family, work, society, and yes the various media outlets we connect to. Then we have our own internal taskmasters who often make contradictory demands. It wasn’t meant to be like this. When Jesus said he wanted us to have the fullness of life, it wasn’t meant to be a blur that we can’t catch hold of.

Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday and the Gospel reading called us to listen to the voice of Jesus as the primary influence shaping our lives. Now that is scary. Not because of what he might challenge us to take up but rather what we might have to put down. Many of the demands we put on ourselves give us a false sense of security or importance that really isn’t life-giving. When I grew up, there was a high expectation for women to have a well-run, clean to the point of pristine, tidy house. Thank God, Mum didn’t buy into that! She chose to do other things – like be a good cook. The point I want to make is that she chose, she chose for something she really wanted to do and what gave her life.

May I put a challenge to you? If you feel overwhelmed in your life, during this coming week take some time to ask Jesus, the Good Shepherd what it is you should drop out of your life. Then don’t fill it with something else. Just take as time to be. ‘Just to be is a blessing, just to live is holy.’ (Abraham Heschel)

Loving Jesus, people can expect so much of me. I can expect too much of myself. Help me to share with you all the demands that are made on me. Let your Spirit show me what is truly good for me and those around me and let me drop what I don’t need to do.

Sr Kym Harris osb

Jacinta Roberts
APRE Holy Cross

Holy Cross Shining Stars

Holy Cross Shining Stars is a new initiative being introduced to provide a forum to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of our students. We encourage parents, carers and members of the wider community to complete the Shining Stars Template, soon to be uploaded to the School Portal for easy access early next week (see below) when there is exciting news regarding one of our students. A photograph would be a wonderful addition if possible. We look forward to filling our newsletter with many “Shining Stars” in the weeks that follow. Please forward completed forms and attached photos to mthorpe@cns.catholic.edu.au

Congratulations to the following Holy Cross Shining Stars who have been selected to represent Barron River at the Cross Country Peninsula Trials at TAS White Rock on Friday 19th May:-

Jake T (1st 2006), Christian N (2nd 2005), Olivia B (3rd 2006), Zara S (6th 2006), Harrison C-B (6th 2007)

We wish them all well.

Look What’s Been Going On …

BRONCO’s Visit

Students in Year 4, 5 and 6 who play Rugby League were fortunate to receive a development coaching workshop from Bronco players, Paul Dwyer and Jack Reed on Monday.

Library News

Spelling Bee

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE

Saturday 3rd June will be a day of excitement and maybe a few twinges of nervous anticipation for our students representing Holy Cross in the Mt Sheridan Spelling Bee.

After fierce and determined effort and a few nerve-racking tie-breakers at our “Holy Cross Spell Out”, the students representing Holy Cross are:

Grand Final Winners of the event could win some fabulous prizes!

• School Prize - $1000
• 3 x Winner Prizes - iPad Mini Wi-Fi 16GB
• 3 x Runner Up Prizes - iPod Touch 16GB

Spelling is essentially the visual form of the spoken language and spelling requires several areas of the brain to activate at once as seen in the diagram below. So over the next few weeks, leading up to the event, our Spelling Bees will be introduced to different strategies that may help them to create spelling memories. One very easy way for anyone to improve their ability to spell is to read and be exposed to different vocabulary.

Library Guardians are our Library Angels

The Library is open every second lunch for all year levels. Students can participate in a variety of activities such as puppets, Lego, blocks, drawing, dominoes and of course, reading. To help with these activities we have several wonderful Library Guardians from Years 5 and 6 who are rostered across the week.

Their main priority is to take a leadership role and interact positively with younger students by:-

• talking to students
• helping students play nicely
• giving students creative ideas
• reading a book with students
• encouraging all children to help pack away

Other jobs will include creating digital slides about books and events to display on the Library TV monitor and helping with the general housekeeping of the Library. They were a great help getting the Book Club magazines ready and out to the classes. They really are little angels!

These are our Library Guardians.

Back: Claire W., Madelyn L., Charleigh W., Mathew C., Mary B.
Front: Zoe O’F., Gwyneth P., Grace L.
Sitting: Kate C.

Jo Neil
Teacher Librarian

Administration News

Term 2 School Fees

Term 2 school fee invoices have been sent via email. Payment is due by Friday 19th May 2017 unless you have a direct debit or payment plan in place.

If you currently have a direct debit arrangement in place continuing from 2016 and have not already made contact with our Finance Officer, Carolyn Mealing, to update the amount for 2017, please do so as soon as possible.

2017 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, please complete an application form and present your card to the school office for verification. If you have previously supplied the school with a copy of your card in 2016 you will still need to complete a new application form and bring your existing/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.

Unfortunately, due to system requirements we are unable to backdate concession card discounts, so all applications and cards must be presented to the school office prior to the fees being issued for the discount to apply to that term.

P and F News

P & F Meeting Agenda 10.5.17

Please click on the link below to view the Agenda for the next P & F Meeting scheduled for Wednesday 10th May 2017. We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any items that you wish to discuss at a P & F meeting, please complete the Agenda Item Request form and email to the P & F President or Secretary indicated on the form, or leave at the school office at least two days prior to the meeting.

Working Bee

Entertainment Book Fundraising

Help support our school by buying the NEW 2017 / 2018 Entertainment Membership for your mum, other family members, or even spoil yourself this Mother’s Day. Entertainment Memberships are filled with hundreds of valuable offers for everything you love to do, and you’ll be helping our school fundraise at the same time.

Click on the link below to order your book or digital membership now. Books are also available for purchase at the school office for $60 (cash only).

Tuckshop

A big thankyou to those families currently utilising the Flexischools online ordering service, your support is very much appreciated! For those who may be unsure of how to set up an account, please pop into the tuckshop during opening hours and I will be happy to set up your registration for you. Flexischools can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of the School Website or directly through the link below.

Please ensure you update your student/s year level & class in your online accounts so lunches are being distributed to the correct class basket. This can be done by logging on to your account, select “my students”, then selecting “change class or school” and choose current class from drop down options.

The Term 1 menu is available on the link below and hard copies may be collected from the Tuckshop if required.

I am always on the lookout for extra sets of hands willing to volunteer their time to assist in the tuckshop. Any and all offers of help would be welcomed.

Please contact Belinda Patmore on 0422 712 461, email to tuckshop.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au or pop into the Tuckshop if you think you may be able to assist.

Music News

Instrumental Lessons

Do you want to join the Holy Cross Band? We have Trumpets, Trombones, Saxophones, Flutes and Clarinets waiting for some keen young musicians. If you are interested in learning to play one of these instruments and to join the Holy Cross Band, then collect a green “Instrumental lesson request” form from the main school office and we can start the ball rolling with your enrolment. If you are unsure what instrument is for you, come and see us on Friday mornings in the French room and we can help.

Mr Hurdley and Mrs Mcintyre

French News

Language Ambassadors

I would like to introduce you to our new Young Language Ambassadors! Congratulations to Taaj, Emma, Holly, Connor, Sienna & Thomas from Year 6 who have been selected to represent Holy Cross at the Young Language Ambassador Conference at JCU in May. They will learn about the importance of learning languages in an increasingly global community, and they will help to promote a love of language learning within the school.

Trip to Paris

The students really enjoyed our brief trip to Paris (during class in front of the green screen)! We certainly got some lovely souvenir photos as you can see below.

Families needed!

Host a French student from CEI - Centre d’Echanges Internationaux

A great opportunity to host French students aged 15-19 is available to families for 5 weeks from 12/7/17 to 13/8/17. The French students attend local schools such as Smithfield High School during their stay and families are paid a fee to cover expenses. It is a great way for families to make international friends and share cultural experiences.

If you would like more information about hosting a French student contact:

Jo Cawood: M: 0417 330 045 E: cawoodsmith@gmail.com

Immersion technique

This year we are very busy and very noisy in the French room as students are encouraged to speak only Français once they enter across the magic line. In Years 3-6 we have been using this new immersion technique to accelerate language acquisition. Years 3-6 will be learning the play "The Three Little Pigs" and Years P-2 will learn a play based on the traditional Henny Penny story. We are looking forward to bringing the plays to life later in the year.

Thats all the nouvelles for now.

A bientôt! See you soon!

Sam Weterkamp
French Teacher Holy Cross School
sweterkamp@cns.catholic.edu.au

Sports News

Holy Cross NetFun Program

NETFUN IS AT YOUR SCHOOL AGAIN THIS TERM!!!

Cairns Netball Association is bringing NETBALL TO YOU!!!

On THURSDAY afternoons for 7 weeks starting 4th May from 3:05 – 4:05pm, two qualified, accredited coaches will be teaching netball at your school.

NetFun is for boys and girls aged 5-10 years. This program offers an opportunity for children to increase their social and motor skills in a friendly and fun environment and also builds a pathway into the Cairns Netball Association.

NetFun is $90 with a netball pack or $60 without a pack. If you are interested in the NetFun Program you can download a registration form from the link below or collect a form from the school office if preferred. If you would like more information or have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Paige at netsetgo@cairnsnetball.net.au

Barron River District School Sport Trial Notices

To access Barron River trial dates and regional information for Queensland School Sports please click on the link below and go to District Information / Barron River to view the latest calendar of events.

Please note: For students wishing to trial for Barron River in any sport, parents are required to complete the Parent Consent Form which is found in the sport’s trial notice link for that particular sport, as well as the following Peninsula Region Paperwork and bring these with them to the trials.

Touch Football Trial Notice (students born 2005, 2006 & 2007)

Trial dates: Monday May 8th and Monday May 15th 2017 at Redlynch State College, Prep-Year6 Oval, Redlynch. Time: 3.30pm-4.30pm. Click on the link below for more information and Parent Consent form.

Sailing

Yorkey’s Knob Boating Club are running ‘Tackers’ training programs for children aged 7 to 12 years who are interested in sailing. Please click on the link below for more information and contact details.

Parent Engagement

Catholic Education Parent Engagement Workshop

The parent engagement workshop features visiting Canadian Professor Debbie Pushor who is internationally recognised for her work in parent engagement in student learning and the recent trend in moving parent involvement beyond fundraising and working bees to being an active partner with schools in their children’s education.

This free workshop will be held on Saturday 27th May from 9.00am to 3.00pm at the MacAuley Hall, St Monica’s College, Cairns. Please click on the flyer for more information and registration details. Registrations close on Wednesday 24th May.

ECO Fiesta

Cairns Regional Council are hosting ECOfiesta on Sunday 28th May at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal. This free community festival will be jam-packed with free children’s programs including circus and clowning skills, face painting, extreme BMX shows and eco-craft workshops. For the adults there will also be 8 live bands, fashion shows, local food tasting, 120+ market stalls and fantastic street food.

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program

Queensland parents and carers can now get free parenting support through the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. This initiative is funded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

Depending on where they live and what practitioners are offering in their area (new sessions are added all the time), parents and carers can attend free individual or group parenting support sessions in-person or sign up for Triple P online. Families also have the option of a self-help workbook if Internet access is a problem.

Triple P is an evidence-based parenting program developed by Professor Matt Sanders at The University of Queensland more than 30 years ago. Professor Sanders is also Director of UQ’s Parenting and Family Support Centre and continues to lead Triple P’s extensive and ongoing global research program.

Triple P is proven to encourage positive behaviour in children and significantly improve parent wellbeing, which is why we’re offering all parents and carers the opportunity to access evidence-based support if and when they need it.

If you have any questions please visit the link below for more information.

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia offer free 6 week group programs to help support children following parent separation. The Poppers program is aimed at children 7 to 9 years of age and the Popstars program is aimed at children 10 to 13 years. Please click on the following flyers for more information regarding these support programs.

Uniting Care Parenting Programs

Bringing Up Great Kids

This FREE 4 session workshop promotes positive and nurturing parent-child relationships. Held on Fridays from 19th May – 9th June 2017, 9.30am to 12pm. Click on the flyer for more information and contact details.

Who’s Chatting to Your Kids

This information session provides valuable information on surviving the use of social media with your children. The session will be held on Tuesday 23rd May 2017 from 5.30pm-7.30pm. Please click on the flyer below for more information or phone 4032 6800 for bookings.

Children’s Playtime Group

Speech Plus Speech Pathology

Kath Bruno has re-opened her speech pathology practice with small group programs targeting:-

1. School readiness for children in the year before Prep.
2. Literacy development for children Prep – Year 6.

Places are limited so email or phone now for further information about individual or small group programs in 2017. Further information is also available on our website.

E. speechplus@bigpond.com
M. 0419390668

Children’s Eyesight Screening

Let’s detect vision problems before it affects a child’s learning

Catholic Education has teamed with Optometry Queensland to promote the screening of children’s eyesight before entering school and in the early years. Smart Eye Start is an initiative of Optometry Queensland that provides comprehensive eye examinations by member optometrists, for children entering the Catholic school system.

Without early detection, eye conditions can negatively impact on a child’s social and educational development, and in some cases, increase the risk of total blindness in adulthood. This comprehensive eye examination will ensure the one in four children with significant eye conditions do not go undetected.

Parents/carers, you are encouraged to take your child to an optometrist, either listed on the form or one of your choice, and return the form to the school office when your child starts Prep. Children who have already started school without screening are also encouraged to participate in the program, as soon as possible in the Early Years.

Girl Guides

For fun, friendship and adventure, join Girl Guides. Click on the link below for more information on how to join.

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.

TYC Drama Classes for 5yrs+

Looking for engaging, creative and educational after-school activities? Then come and tread the boards at The Young Company Theatre this term! Your young performer will discover their electrifying creative abilities, super charged social confidence and magnetic idea generation skills as they are nurtured through our powerful youth theatre framework. For more information phone 40414066, email admin@theyoungcompany.com.au, visit our website below, visit us at 169 Bunda St, Cairns City or click on the flyer below. Classes across the Cairns region.