8 December 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Dear Parents / Carers,

Since the departure of our students last Friday, I have suddenly become aware of an abundance of images proudly declaring, “Countdown to Christmas,” or “Christmas is almost here!” Bearing in mind that I have not yet had the opportunity to hang decorations, write Christmas cards to loved ones far and wide, or purchase any gifts, stumbling across words such as these fill me with panic.

In a moment of quiet, I pondered on my sentiments, and wondered what impact these words might have on others. Do the words ‘Christmas Countdown’ create anxiety across Australia with people focusing on all the preparations that contribute to making the day an ‘enjoyable occasion’: delicious food, presents, lights and tinsel? Or are there other emotions rushing through people’s bodies?

Upon reflection, it seemed a little trivial to be thinking of all the things I have not yet done when really I should be focusing on the joy that Christmas brings through the birth of Jesus, God’s Son.

We need to remember that Christmas is an anniversary celebration of when God gave us the gift of Himself without splendour or opulence but in poverty and weakness, in the form of a tiny baby in an animal enclosure. Jesus, Son of God, emptied himself of power, privilege and possessions, and was born into the human race in the humblest of manner. Boris Pasternak in his book, Dr Zhivago, wrote: “Something in the world had been changed. … The story of a human life became the story of God and filled the Universe.” Indeed a VERY worthy anniversary to celebrate.

In the early years of the Church, Christianity grew and spread very quickly. Christians were known for their unusual compassion for those around them – rather different to the treatment metered out by the Romans. The first Christians knew that God, taking flesh in Jesus for the sake of the whole world, wasn’t an event of the past; it was the pattern for their own lives every day. People in any age of anxiety and oppression were attracted to a religion whose adherents dared not to follow the culture of the day but to transform it.

Round about the year 250 A.D., a plague struck Alexandria and killed nearly half the population. Rather than trying to flee and save themselves, Christians stayed. In a time of pain and danger, they stayed and cared for the sick and dying. If we choose to reach out to others in the midst of our own worrying, as did those early Christians, we too can be liberated by the joy of knowing ourselves to be united to Christ.

The goodness of a Christian, one who models life on Christ, is not a matter of achieving a high moral standard or of scoring high marks in a test of “rules- observance”. It is letting the wonder of God’s love come through our lives and allowing it to be available to other people. Love is given so that love can be born in another and given in return.

“As a baby, Jesus came
From his home above,
He left his throne and where he was
To teach us how to love.
As a baby, Jesus came
The hope of eternal life,
Recalling us back to God
Giving meaning to our lives.”

So please enjoy the Christmas season with your families, and try not to follow my appalling example fretting over tasks, but instead focus on the gifts that surround us.

No doubt, as soon as the festive season has passed, we will all turn our attention to family holidays and then the start of the new school year. To help you to prepare for 2018, I have compiled a list of helpful information, outlined below:

CLASS PLACEMENT

Staff are, I believe, the greatest asset at Holy Cross, and considerable time and energy has been devoted to finding the perfect combination of teachers for our wonderful school. Now that our staffing schedule is complete, it is with great pleasure that I announce our staffing list for your information:

Letters to families regarding 2018 class placement will be emailed presently. I once again ask parents to trust the staff at Holy Cross with class allocation. Our process is very transparent, and involves a tremendous amount of consultation and consideration. Keep the positive conversations going at home about the inevitable changes ahead to ensure a happy transition at the start of next year.

UNIFORM

Lowes, Smithfield, have everything you need to kit your child out with a smart new uniform for 2018 including our new reversible school hat, the only exception being the Holy Cross school bag (available for purchase at the office) and school shoes.

As per the Holy Cross School Uniform Policy, students are required to wear black leather sports shoes, as per the image below (velcro for Prep please). Shoes must be entirely black, free of white or coloured logos and soles.

Due to Health and Safety policies, students not wearing the correct shoe-type in 2018, will not be able to participate fully in HPE lessons. It is therefore imperative that you purchase the correct style of shoe to avoid further cost being incurred replacing an incorrect shoe type.

NUDE FOOD LUNCH BOXES

The Holy Cross Student Environment Committee kindly requests the support of families in the provision of ‘Nude Food’ lunches. In their passionate attempts to look after our environment and preserve marine life on the Great Barrier Reef, they ask that families pack food items in plastic reusable containers to minimise rubbish brought to school. They would be most grateful if you support them in their quest by adding suitable containers to their child’s Christmas Wish List.

Before I conclude, I thank you once again for the constant flow of love and support bestowed upon me throughout 2017. I feel incredibly honoured and extremely blessed to have been invited into this incredible community. I am looking forward to 2018 with immense excitement and anticipation as we enter the next leg of our exciting journey together.

HOLY CROSS INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM

At Holy Cross School, we are committed to ensuring a curriculum rich with opportunities to enable all our students to shine. Part of this commitment includes our Instrumental Program, catering for students seeking tuition in woodwind, brass, guitar, piano and drums. To date, the St Andrew’s Catholic College Music Department have been able to assist with the delivery of this program, however this is no longer possible in 2018.

At this stage, we have we have successfully secured instrumental staff offering woodwind, piano, guitar, violin, drums and voice. A brass teacher is yet to be confirmed. The Holy Cross Band will continue, but with a possible change of day. I will write again early 2018 with an update.

We thank St Andrew’s for their many years of service, and contribution to this initiative.

Before I conclude, I would like to thank the entire Holy Cross community – students, staff, parents, Father Neil and members of the Parish and wider community - for the constant flow of love and support bestowed upon our school throughout 2017. It is the most incredible privilege and honour to work with each and every one of you, and I am looking forward to 2018 with immense excitement and anticipation as we enter the next leg of our exciting journey together. Stay safe over the Christmas break, and remember to keep an eye out for any stray unicorns!

Wishing you God’s every blessing, now and always,

Sarah Hamilton
Principal

SCHOOL ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

2017 has been a year filled with growth and renewal at Holy Cross, very befitting of our ‘Year of the Unicorn’ theme protecting our hopes and dreams.

Staff have worked tirelessly to meet our 2017 goals, and I feel tremendously proud of the positive impact our endeavours have had on the education of our students. I have attached the 2017 SAIP one final time for your perusal, with completed goals highlighted in yellow, and goals being carried over into 2018 highlighted in blue.

Following our Term 3 Internal School Review, and analysis of the results of the 2017 School Satisfaction Surveys, we have settled upon two new focus areas for 2018:

1. Community Partnerships
2. Differentiated Teaching and Learning.

I have reduced our complete SAIP to a simple list of bullet points as a brief summary for your information.

The final plan will be published early 2018 once all the finer details are complete.

With parent and community engagement a BIG focus area for next year, I look forward to connecting more frequently with all our parents in 2018.

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL BOARD

Expressions of interest are invited from those interested in serving as a member of the Holy Cross School Board in 2018. Please contact Mrs Sarah Hamilton at secretary.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

DATE CLAIMERS