1 December 2015

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Parents,

It is hard to believe that the end of the school year has just about arrived! The past school year certainly seems to have passed very quickly!

The end of each school year brings with it a tremendous sense of accomplishment both for our students and for our staff. So many things have been accomplished this year in our community! A tremendous amount of learning too has taken place during the year both in classrooms and as children have moved through milestones and built confidence across a number of areas. Throughout all of the activities that our students have participated in, I have consistently witnessed their ongoing demonstration of our wonderful Holy Cross Spirit!

To our graduating class – I offer my congratulations on the achievement of completing your Primary School journey! Our entire Holy Cross community wish you the very best as you move to your new high schools. We will miss each and everyone one of you. Our staff always look forward to hearing about their next journey when they come back to visit at school events and celebrations or if they come along to volunteer in our school.

Parents, whether this is your last child who is leaving us this year, or a continuing journey for you next year at Holy Cross, on behalf of our staff, I wish to offer you my thanks for your ongoing support and collaboration, and for the guidance that you have provided for your child/ren while they have been here with us at Holy Cross and especially during 2015. We appreciate the time you have given both individually and as a group to help continue to shape our beautiful school community.

For those families returning January 2016, Term One commences on January 27th. Class lists are currently being finalised and will be circulated as soon as possible during the first few weeks of the holidays and will be based on the information which has already been provided regarding exiting families and confirmed new enrolments. Whilst we do not wish to create anxiety for any students should they be required to change classes at the beginning of school, it is important to understand that if class numbers or make-ups become uneven due to unforeseen changes in this enrolment information, then this situation will be managed accordingly. As always your understanding is appreciated.

As I leave Holy Cross, I know Friday will be an incredibly sad day for me personally, knowing that I am actually leaving this special place. I am confident however, that I will be leaving with many, many beautiful, enjoyable, proud and wonderful memories of this special school. I have been genuinely blessed to have been a part of this community and honoured to lead it as Principal for the past 6 years. A guiding motto for me is that I truly always believe that 'The Holy Spirit is guiding each and every one of us along our journey through life.' Each and every one of us is exactly where we are meant and need to be at each moment in our lives. I feel equally blessed by the next opportunity which now awaits and takes me to a new horizon on the West Coast at Frances Jordan Catholic School.

To our staff, I thank each one of you for your ongoing commitment that you give to our students each day and for the support you have shown to our parents throughout the year as well as to me personally. I wish you all a restful break and thank you for your work this year.

To our parents and members of the P & F, thank you for your ongoing support and contributions to our school community during the 2015 school year. Our school community relies upon a strong collaboration with families. You make our school community all the richer by your continued presence and I encourage all families to remain closely connected to our school next year.

To our students, I thank you all for the efforts and determination and sheer joy that you have brought me each day as I have encountered you either in classrooms or out in the field or on the pathways around the school. YOU are the shining stars who bring joy to me in my role as Principal! Not the 'admin-is-trivial' duties which often take over my time!!!

Especially to those Staff, students and families who are leaving us, we offer our blessings as you leave. We wish you the best in your next adventure!

We congratulate the following students who will form our School Council for 2016:

SCHOOL CAPTAINS	Abriel R, William D
VICE CAPTAINS	Layla B, Harley V
DILLON HOUSE CAPTAINS	Kiara V, Hossain N
PETERSEN HOUSE CAPTAINS	Jorja A, James W
ROBINSON HOUSE CAPTAINS	Jade O, Finn B
MALLON HOUSE CAPTAINS	Maya B, Jaxon S

We thank Lowes Smithfield for their generous support to the school this year. A $2000 cheque has been received which will be put towards the cost of the purchase of our prayer garden cross and $800 in gift cards which are distributed to families in our community in need.

On behalf of all of our staff here at Holy Cross, I take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe, peaceful and happy holiday filled with beautiful memories over the Christmas Season.

Blessings

Wendy Manners
Principal

Wrong Swing?

It was a hot Sunday in June. Millions of Americans were watching the U.S. Golf Open on TV. At a critical point in the play, the camera focussed on Jack Nicklaus. He was in the rough and preparing to shoot out.

Slowly and deliberately, he addressed the ball. Then for a full 20 seconds of prime time TV, he stood poised and ready to swing. Suddenly, at the last moment, be backed away from the ball and said loud enough for everybody to hear, "That's the wrong swing."

The sports announcer covering the match was confused and said, "But he didn't swing! What's going on here?"

A lot was going on. And Nicklaus explains exactly what it was in his book Golf My Way. There he describes how he prepares for every shot he takes.

It's a process called mental rehearsal. This simply means that he plays every shot in his imagination before he plays it for real. Nicklaus writes:

"It's like a colour movie. First, I 'see' the ball where I want it to finish, nice and white … on the bright green grass. Then the scene quickly changes and I 'see' the ball going there … even its behaviour on landing. Then there's a sort of fade-out, and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality."

What Nicklaus was doing that hot Sunday afternoon in the U.S. Open is what the Church asks us to do during the season of Advent. The Church asks us to go through a kind of mental rehearsal to prepare for the coming of Christ.

And the coming of Christ that we are to prepare for is not just his historical coming, which we commemorate at Christmas time. And it's not just his sacramental coming, which takes place in each Eucharist. Rather, and most especially, it's his final coming, which will take place at the end of time.

When you come right down to it, that's what Advent is all about. It's a time of mental rehearsal. It's a time of preparation. It's a time for taking inventory. It's a time for asking ourselves: "How prepared are we to meet Jesus right now?"

APRE News

LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE SCHOOL

All parents are invited to our end of year Mass on the last day of school: Friday 4th of December, at 11:00am, in the church.

Upcoming Liturgies and Masses

• Graduation Mass Year 6 Wednesday 2nd December at 6:30pm
• End of Year Whole School Mass on Friday 4th December at 11:00am

FUNDRAISING

St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal

The classroom donation baskets are full to overflowing, thanks to the kind generosity of our families. This Friday at assembly, we will be presenting the hampers to representatives from St Vincent De Paul. There are many families in our Far North community who will be grateful to receive these special treats this Christmas.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Mission Australia

Please see the thank you letter below from Mr Musumeci from Mission Australia, who is grateful to the families of Holy Cross, for donating over 400 second-hand clothing items to their appeal.

I wish to pass on my sincere thanks from Mission Australia for being a vital part of the recent "Mission Australia's Supporting Remote Communities" Project. The support has been overwhelming.

As a direct result from the many donations given by so many from the School we have exceeded all expectations with over 400 items being donated including much needed children's clothing, shoes, toys and other essential items to assist with families in need. These items have already been packaged and sent to communities to ensure they can be utilised by families before Christmas.

Your school proves that it is a very kind, sharing, and loving school that opens their arms for others in their time of need.

It is greatly appreciative that the Holy Cross Primary School clearly illustrates its Mission Statement as well as the many parents and carers that have assisted in a very successful outcome. Mission Australia would like to pass on our sincere Christmas wishes to your school community and look forward to continue to work with the Holy Cross Primary School in 2016.

Michael Musumeci
Area Manager

Catholic Mission Update

I will share with you the thank you note that was sent by Sr. Rose from Madagascar. The money we raised in October was gratefully received. Catholic Mission partners with schools, parishes and generous donors to raise funds in order to support the work of the Catholic Church across 160 countries around the world including Madagascar. Although Catholic Mission featured Madagascar this year, know that your efforts and monetary contributions will be used not only for Madagascar but also to respond to a greater need for the work of the Catholic Church all over the world.

RESILIENCE PARENT SESSION

Last week I facilitated the second parent session on Resilience, covering the topics of losing well and encouraging optimism. The following five points are for your reflection (taken directly from Michael Grose's program, "Talking Parenting-Resilience"):

• Helping your child look on the bright side is a significant skill to develop. When they think they can succeed, they are more likely to give things a try.
• Model positive thinking and optimism. Let children hear your positive self-talk.
• Teach children to positively reframe-look on the bright side.

• Good losers are more resilient. Teach children how to be gracious winners and losers.
• Children need a variety of experiences that include winning and losing so they learn to cope with disappointment.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER FOCUS FOR THE WEEK

This week we enter into the season of Advent. Here is a reflection from Greg Sunter at www.liturgyhelp.com.au :

Jesus, you are light even in the darkest places.
Help us to trust in you when we are lost or lonely.
Shine hope into our hearts we pray.
Amen.

Parish Mass Times

Saturday Holy Cross, Trinity Park 6:00pm Sunday Sacred Heart, Freshwater 7:00am Holy Cross, Trinity Park 8:30am St Augustine's, Stratford 10:30am All Saints Chapel, St Andrew's Redlynch 5:30pm

Jacinta Roberts
APRE Holy Cross
jroberts1@cns.catholic.edu.au

APA News

Merry Christmas and Blessings for 2016

With the blink of an eye the 2015 school year is about to end. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Holy Cross School Community for welcoming me into this wonderful school and for the partnerships we have already forged. I look forward to continuing to build relationships and continue to strengthen these partnerships. To the staff of Holy Cross, you are a dedicated and hard-working team to whom I feel blessed to come to work with each day. Getting to know 530 individual students have certainly been the greatest challenge this year, I think I might have made a good dent. I have enjoyed leading the School Wide Positive Behaviour focus with you all and have learnt as much from you as I hope you have learnt at Holy Cross.

I would like to wish all families, staff and students a Merry Christmas, blessed with joy, love and family and look forward to working with you again in 2016.

To our Year 6 students and all those students and families departing I wish you well on your new journeys and look forward to sharing stories one day.

"May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

End of Year Events

Year 6 Graduation Liturgy will be held on Wednesday 2nd December from 6:30pm in the Holy Cross Parish Church. Teachers and students are busy preparing for this special occasion to farewell our departing Year 6 cohort as they begin the next stage of their schooling journey. Please keep your eyes out for additional information.

It is tradition at Holy Cross to finish our final day of the school year with an End of Year Whole School Mass. This will be held on Friday 4th December from 11:00am-12:00pm in the church. We encourage as many families and carers to attend and help us to celebrate the Eucharist and the year that was 2015. Following this, students will return to class for final farewells. Students will then be dismissed and are asked to be collected at 12:30pm. OHSC will operate on this day for students who are booked in.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOCUS Term 4 Week 9 – 'Be a Holy Cross Hero!' Congratulations to our Holy Cross Hero Design Competition Winners Clodagh C 1S Georgia A 3H Mali S 5C Aleena L 6H

Congratulations to NOVEMBER Holy Cross SUPER Hero: AMBER S 1C

KEY DATES Term 4 2015
Wednesday 2nd December 6:30pm	Year 6 Graduation Mass 6.30pm
Friday 4th December 11:00am	End of Year Whole School Mass 11.00am
Friday 4th December 12.30pm	Last Day of School (1/2 day) – Ends at 12.30pm
KEY DATES Term 1 2016
Monday 18th January	Holy Cross Office Reopens
Monday 25th January	Pupil Free Day – All Queensland Schools
Tuesday 26th January	Australia Day Public Holiday
Wednesday 27th January	Term 1 Commences

2016 Term Dates for Holy Cross School

Term 1: Wednesday 27th January to Thursday 24th March (9 week term)
Term 2: Monday 11th April to Friday 24th June (11 week term)
Term 3: Monday 11th July to Friday 16th September (10 week term)
Term 4: Tuesday 4th October to Friday 2nd December (9 week term)

Many blessings for the week and the upcoming holidays

Brad Henry
Assistant Principal - Administration

stop_bullying.jpg (float right of salutation)

Curriculum News

Semester 2 Report Cards

Semester 2 reports will be mailed out on Friday 4th December to those families who are financial or have a current payment plan in place. If you have changed address details please notify the school office as soon as possible to ensure delivery.

Library Notice

All library books and home readers should now have been returned as a stocktake of library resources is currently taking place.

We are blessed to have an extensive range and variety of children's resources available for borrowing through our Library at Holy Cross. We are doubly blessed to have such an efficient Library Assistant in Luci Whouley, managing our collection and our Teacher Librarian, Larissa McKirdy working with teachers and classes. Our collection ranges from home readers, picture books, novels, fiction and non-fiction books and magazines. Our resources are purchased through our library budget as well as Book Fair and Book Club commissions. We also graciously receive donations.

Unfortunately, each year hundreds of dollars worth of communal resources in the form of library books are accidently misplaced, damaged or lost. In a bid to seek the assistance of all families and students to care of our resources and reduce any loss; the relevant section of the Holy Cross Library Policy, which outlines replacement requirements for overdue library resources is outlined for your information.

Library resource replacement requirements…

• When books are overdue, students receive a friendly reminder to return them.
• If these books remain unreturned, students receive a listing of the items not returned along with a sticker seeking parental assistance to look for and return any missing books.
• If books are more than four weeks overdue, written notification about the missing item is forwarded to parents requesting assistance locating the books while our Library staff also continues a thorough shelf search.
• If after six – eight weeks and an extensive search, both at home and at school, the missing books have not been located, an invoice is sent home requesting the replacement costs to be remitted for lost or damaged resources.

Christmas Cards and Candy Canes

Embed: Christmas Cards and Candy Canes.pdf

2016 Back to School Booklists

Stationery and Book Lists for 2016 will be emailed to parents this week or may be downloaded from the Year level booklist links below for your convenience.

Harley's Educational Store are a locally owned and run company, who are happy to take orders with payment not required until you take delivery in January.

Harley's pay a commission to the school, on orders placed by December 14, 2015. You also get "early-bird" discount prices for orders that are submitted on or before this date. Orders placed after December 14 will be subject to normal store prices.

Other suppliers, such as local newsagents and Collins Booksellers, Smithfield may also stock some of the attached supplies.

Ordering with Harley's is easy:

• Use the list or go online to http://www.harleyseducational.com.au , and then to the Back to School tab, where you can choose our school and the year level you require a list for,
• As a further service, previous customers will be emailed a copy of the list and a link to order on the their online store.
• Place your order with Harley's via post, email, fax or in person for the school to receive a commission
• Order now, and either pre-pay now or pay when you pick up your order. It's up to you!

PLEASE NOTE:

Basic stationery items such as lead pencils, erasers, glue, rulers, sharpeners and pens have been omitted from the 2016 book lists. These consumables, and in some year levels certain exercise books and other items, will be administered to students in the first week of school. Their cost will be charged as a levy in the Term 1 school fees.

For the convenience of students, their 'RETAINED' textbooks on the Year 4 – 6 booklists will be remain at school and not sent home at the end of term.

Donations of Stationery Items to Schools in PNG

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would appreciate any DONATIONS of stationery items, new or used, that can be sent to remote communities of PNG where there are VERY limited educational resources are available and the children are very eager to learn.

If you have any of these items at home not in use, please consider donating them:

• pencils (used or new),
• colouring-in pencils,
• crayons,
• erasers,
• rulers,
• pencil cases,
• exercise pads - new or with some used pages ripped out,
• any storybooks would also be welcomed,
• water bottles,
• lunch boxes with lids,
• sporting equipment

A container will depart later next month with much needed equipment on board.

All items can be left at the School Office.

Jo Neil
Curriculum Support

School Notices

Mayor's Aussie Christmas eCard Competition

Congratulations to Aimee G from Year 5 who was the 10-13years category winner in the Mayor's Aussie Christmas eCard Competition. There were around 170 entrants in that category. She won an iPod Shuffle, a voucher, had morning tea with the Mayor and gets to help turn on the Christmas lights on the Esplanade.

Well Done Aimee!

Term 4 Fee Accounts

Term 4 fees are now past due and require your urgent attention. Thank you to the families who have already paid their school account or updated their payment plan. As the end of the school year approaches, parents and carers who have direct debit arrangements in place are asked to re-check the balance on their fee account to ensure that this account will be paid in full by the end of the school year with the current arrangements. If families have not updated their direct debit this year, it is quite possible that there may be a shortfall in the total amount owing. Please check this information that has been emailed, so as to ensure your account will be paid in full. Please be aware that Semester 2 report cards will be withheld if fee accounts remain unpaid and communication regarding genuine financial difficulties or other influencing family circumstances has not been received. For those families returning next year who have direct debits in place, please plan to make a time early in the year to update this information and make adjustments as necessary.

2015 Exiting Student Enrolments

Prep -Year 5 Exiting Enrolments – Families who are aware that they are relocating or moving your child to another school should by now have notified the office of your intention to exit. If you have not done so already, please fill in an exit form from the link below and contact the school office ASAP to organise an exit interview. As class lists are currently being finalised for our continuing families, it is of utmost urgency that we are made aware of impending exits so that we are able to make offers to those currently on our waitlists where known vacancies exist.

P & F News

Hi All,

Wow, what a year! We have just about outfitted the whole school with the metal picnic style benches! We are about to install our senior buddy bench this week! We had the mothers day and fathers days stalls and discos. We sponsored the mentoring program and got into the school gardens with our working bee. And not forgetting the hard work put in by all those individuals organising our ever popular Christmas Fair. All in all it has been a pretty busy year.

I want to personally thank any parent or friend or student of Holy Cross School who assisted in any way from the Christmas Fair to the working bee. Without you we would have no P&F. And the P&F would be nothing without you.

Our school triumphs because of you and all those who support our school fundraising efforts. Thankyou.

Hoping you have a fantastic Christmas and a happy and safe new year.

Damian Martin-Blakey
P & F President

Christmas Fair Wrap Up 2015

2015 Holy Cross Christmas Fair was a great success. Thank you to our school community.

We have a number of people to thank so the long list shall begin:

To our convenors, Tony Sheehan – bar, Rachel Bowe – soft drink, Tina Stevens and Gisele Rossini who manned the tuck shop, Paulette Henderson, Deb Scarborough, Cath Molloy, Odie Barton - white elephant, Nikki Davies – bottle stall, Kymberlee Jackson – show bags, Karen Arthur – silent auction and cent sale, Clare Ryan – choc lotto, Jennifer Pett – lucky dips and glow sticks, Mark Freeman - BBQ Tony & Vicki Sheehan - Preserves, Jac Herbert & Rachel Bowe - Raffle, Team "DeRose" - construction/woodworking, Jenni Rigby & Kylie Gowlett – ham wheel, Vicky Martin Blakey – Hairspray and Nails we say THANK YOU. Without you we would not have a Fair. We are very grateful for your dedication to making the night a success.

We also have a number of businesses and people that donate to our Fair and we would like to mention them also. If you can support them in any way please do so as they have supported our school:

Silent Auction and Cent Sale– Beachfront Hair – Palm Cove, Go Bowling Cairns, Quicksilver – Great Adventures, Jungle Surfing, Sugarworld, Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort, Tjapukai, Smithfield Shopping Centre, Cairns Harbour Cruise/Cairns Sunset Cruises, Smithfield Tavern, Kuranda Scenic Railway, GBR Helicopters, Cable Ski Cairns, Hartley's Creek Crocodile Adventures, Birdworld Kuranda, Travelscene (Endeavour Travel) Smithfield, Half Moon Bay Golf Club, Oceans Edge Health Club – Palm Cove, Julia Driscoll (parent) – Eacham Escape Holiday House, Deb Reynold (parent) – Avon Gift Basket, hand crotched blanket and baby doll sets, Geckos Play Centre, Nexus Martial Arts, Matusmoto Karate, Sunlover Cruises, Glo Hairstylists, Liz Meek (parent) – Handmade Soap Gift Packs (see her at Smithfield Shopping Centre Markets), Meat @ Mickeys for their relish gift pack and vouchers – visit them in Kewarra Beach, McDonalds Smithfield, DC Mechanical

To Erin Ingram, Melinda Ryan, Naomi McCarthy, Jane Marks, Janelle Bradridge, Dianne Rue and Kira from 3C Karen says thank you for assisting her. She is very grateful for what is a pretty busy stall on Fair night.

Ham Wheel Marshes Butchers and StanPol Smallgoods. Thank you to Jenni Rigby and Kylie Gowlett together with Ms Neil, Mrs Roberts, Ms Reidel, as ticket sellers. To the other wonderful teaching staff that I missed peddling tickets on the night – thank you.

Curry Stall – To Tina and Gisele for stepping in when asked. What a relief it was to have them in tuck shop making sure everything was running smoothly. To Bec Hera-Singh, Liz Inglis, Kerrie Seymour, Paulina for assisting with serving on the night. I know we have missed a couple here so we apologise but again serving our food is important and we thank you for your offer of assistance.

Nana's Spaghetti - To Mary Camilleri (grandmother of Jack and Jasmine Bowe) who made our awesome pasta sauce. This was a huge effort on her part and we are grateful to her for offering to do this for our school. Well done Mary

BBQ – Trinity Auto Group for the BBQ trailer & $100.00 worth of donated meat, Holy Cross Tuck Shop, Meat @ Mickeys in Kewarra Beach. To the small army of volunteers who assisted Mark during preparation and on the evening. The BBQ is a busy and hot place to be on Fair night so you are all very much appreciated. In Marks own words he says to his volunteers:

"Thank you to Tracey Cook for organising and arranging the food delivery.

Thanks also to Tony Sheehan and Damien Martin Blakey for picking up/dropping back the BBQ Trailer and meats.

Thanks to the Saturday morning set up team of Chris, Michael and Mal and the food prep girls of Jodie, Maree, Sascha and Belinda who rocked the kitchen.

Thank you to Luke on the onions, Michael and Bowie on the deep fryer, Chris on the snags and Mal and Darren the Pattie Flippers.

Thanks to Sandra, Maree, Jodie, Emma, Christine, Vireena, Mick and Gavin who peddled the food.

Thank you to the quiet achievers of Sheryl, Maree and Coral who diligently took orders and, looked after the till and kept the line moving.

Also thank you to Mark, Darren and the "Lady with a cold" who turned up and offered to help, and for one reason or another didn't get a shift. It was still appreciated that you found time to come along.

Thank you to Bowie, Chris and the Sunday morning clean up team for getting all the gear cleaned up and stacked"

Choc Lotto - Clare wishes to thank all the amazing volunteers, especially Sue & Craig, Bonnie, Renee, Wendy, Helen, the kids that helped out picking up coins and restocking, and also those that were "encouraged" to help at the last minute on the night. Also a huge thank you to families for their amazing donations and to Penny for helping us with lolly donations. As always, it's a very busy and successful stall and we hope that everyone enjoyed the night. Thanks to the kids for supporting the Choc Lotto stall.

This was Clare's last year running our Choco Lotto stall as she is moving on to high school. What a fabulous job she has done not only with Choc Lotto but as a big part of our school P & F Association. Thanks Clare, well done, we will miss you!

Bottle Stall – Thank you to our Holy Cross Families for their continued support of this stall. To Nikki Davies who co-ordinates the Stall and her merry band of happy volunteers helping her on the night – Well done Nikki!

Preserves – Sheehan Family and Cook Family. Also thank you to Maria Marsden who donates to our Preserves stall every year and has done so since her first grandchild started Grade 1 in the very first year Holy Cross opened. Maria has not had a grandchild at Holy Cross since 2004 but continues to donate to our Christmas Fair preserves stall. She is a star in our eyes.

Construction/Woodworking – Cairns Hardware (hammers, safety goggles and timber) and Mitre 10 Smithfield (timber). To Sam and Gianni thanks for running with this stall and making it fabulous on the day. It was very much appreciated at such short notice. They would like to thank Vic for his help on the night.

Soft Drink – Rachel very carefully handed me (Tracey) the list of volunteers for this stall to say thank you as she truly appreciated the assistance however I seem to have misplaced it in the after math of our school Fair. I hope those who worked on this stall (and Rachel) will forgive me but THANKYOU to our soft drink stall volunteers.

Show Bags – Huge thanks to Kymberlee Jackson for running our Show Bag stall this year.

Lucky Dip/Glow Sticks – Jenn would like to thank her volunteers on the night of Veronica, Sam, Sue, Helen & Helen. Sadly Jenn will be moving on from Holy Cross in 2016 as her son moves to high school. We thank you and Colin for your dedication to our school over many years Jenn. You will both be missed.

Spring Rolls- A fabulous addition to our 2015 food stalls this year. Thanks Joe Dobson for organising this and for spending many an hour making them with Mimelle Albero who generously agreed to help with this. Joe would like to thank Steven Doherty, Damien Martin-Blakey and Mel Emmerick for helping him at the Fair.

Cake Stall – WOW it looked fantastic this year. Well done Prep parents and to those contributed to the cake stall. Thank you also to those who volunteered their time helping out on the night.

Bar РTo Chill Caf̩ for once again donating mangoes for our mango daiquiri's.

To our Holy Cross Families who donated to the following:

• Our Raffle
• Choc Lotto and our Bottle Stall Day
• Cakes

Thanks to McDonalds Smithfield for the loan of their shade tents and eskies as well as their donation of prizes. Their continued support of our school is wonderful.

Thanks to the many Holy Cross parents, grandparents and friends who came along on the night to volunteer on their allocated stall. What a wonderful way to contribute to the school and we are very grateful.

To Margie Thorpe and her husband John who as usual, were locked in our counting room as they have been every year for too many years to count ensuring that all runs smoothly and our takings are counted and put on a spreadsheet. We are truly very grateful for this.

To Scott Ross for his security work on the night.

To Jodie Vincent and Margie Thorpe who generally assist in whatever way we asked without question. Thank you for your dedication, it is so very much appreciated by the P & F.

We had a small army turn up to help set up on the morning of the Fair and the same again who helped with pack up. I would like to thank the following dedicated people, Jeanette, Sandra and Stephen Turner, Rachel Bowe, Tony Sheehan, Jodie Vincent, Mark Freeman, Vicky and Damien Martin Blakey, Joe Dobson, Adam Gowlett, Mick Seymour and Bowie who were all at school for the better part of both Saturday and Sunday setting up and packing up. Awesome effort on their part.

Special thanks to Paul Stevens of TWT Electrical who at very short notice stepped in and did an amazing job setting up lights to ensure our stalls were all well-lit. Your help was appreciated. Thanks Paul for giving up so much of your time

I am always reluctant to try to thank everyone personally who helped with set up and pack up by name as I lost count over the two days as to who was there however I am thankful for these people. They were the ones who got the Fair up and running and got our school back to normal for our students so if I have missed your name I am so very sorry.

Thank you to our fabulous Holy Cross Band, Guitar and Piano Instrumentalists and Holy Cross Choir. Julia Russell and Christina Wight did an awesome job up on our stage showcasing the talents of our students.

Of course any feedback you may have can be emailed to me at timtraceycook@bigpond.com . Thank you.

Thank you to our 2015 Raffle Sponsors this year:

Finally, our Raffle winners are

1st Prize – Coral Young, 2nd Prize – Aleisha Russell, 3rd Prize – The Dawson Family. Congratulations to these Holy Cross Families.

To Jac Herbert, Rachel Bowe and Susie Dobson who as always co-ordinated and ran our Raffle like champions. This is a huge and time consuming task and their dedication to this is awesome. Thank you.

While we are still working on final figures and checking banking and all expenses are paid we raised approximately $19,000.00 for our school.

Finally I would like to thank Susan Cooper of Sweetlip Graphic Design for helping me with our Fair Flyers and logos this year. Again I would have been lost without your help!

Tracey Cook

Tuckshop News

TUCKSHOP ROSTER
TERM 4 WEEK 9
WED	02/12/15	HELP REQUIRED	Ashlyn S 4H
			Isabelle M 5C
THU	03/12/15	HELP REQUIRED	Hannah C 5S
			Chloe M 5S
FRI	04/12/15	Janelle Bradridge
NO LUNCH ORDERS ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FRIDAY 4/12/15 OVER THE COUNTER SALES 1ST BREAK ONLY

Secondhand Uniforms

Secondhand uniforms and green jumpers are available for purchase at the tuckshop for $5.00 each.

The Arts News

Dance Drama Music

This year has been a very memorable year for me at Holy Cross. There is a saying, "If you love your job, then you will never work a day in your life" and this feels true for me at this moment. 2015 has been a dream year for me and I am very honoured to be a part of the loving community that surrounds Holy Cross. I have already started planning some great activities for your students for next year and hope that 2016 will bring even more fantastic experiences.

Thank You!

In conclusion to my lessons last week, I asked the students what they liked about Dance, Drama and Music lessons and what things we could improve upon. Across all the grades levels it was clear that working in groups with their friends was at the top of their list of likes. They also liked being creative, they liked acting and the really liked playing the musical instruments. When it was time to think about things we could improve for next year, they suggested we do more of everything! It is really great to see that the students are developing a passion for the arts in their school lives. I can't wait to see what we can achieve together in 2016!

ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE

Some students from Years 5 & 6 also performed on their assembly in week 7. We had seven student bands that competed in the Holy Cross Song Competition finals! They came with the rock band attitude and performed their own version of the Lion Sleeps Tonight using their lyrics about Holy Cross. They played ukuleles, maracas and drums and sung loudly and proudly. We had a panel of judges who listened to their performance and gave them a rating out of 5 towards a total score of 12. We had Mrs Morton who was judging the quality of the lyrics and singing; we had Mr Gunter who was judging the instrumental playing and we had Mrs Scott who was judging "Band Attitude" which included stage presence and costume. While we had a very close competition it was the year 6 girls band "Swagger McJagger" (12 points) who won by half a point! The "Hillbilly Geese" (11 ½ points) came a close second with third place tied (10 points each) between "Da Laws" and "The Blue Dots." The "Kawaii Kats", "Californian Girls", "4 Define" also gave very fine performances on the day. Billy (6H) was the crowd's favourite band member with his awesome ukulele playing. The crowd took up chanting his name during the applause. I would like to thank all the year 5 and year 6 students for their participation and efforts in creating their own Cairns bands. We had great fun!

Year 5 & 6 Band Performances

ARTS ALIVE!

This term in the Arts Alive profiles we are focusing on Visual Arts. Visual Arts is a huge area as in encompasses drawing, painting, sculpting, textiles and mixed media art just to name a few. Basically anything that creates a visual image for people to enjoy. This week we have the very arty Jillian (4C) and the maze wizard Harry (2H) who are keen to share their wonderful artwork! We also have Alison and Lena who are mother and daughter team that also like to dabble in the arts! Please email me, cwight@cns.catholic.edu.au , if you know someone who would like to be interviewed for the school newsletter!

Jillian (4C)

Jillian with her Artworks

Profile Questions:

1. What type of art do you enjoy creating the most?
   I like doing shading and painting.
2. Who / what has inspired you to continue to create?
   I went to art classes with Hayley Gillespie at the Cairns Art Gallery.
3. How long have you been creating your artworks?
   Since I was about 5.
4. What places do you like to go that help you appreciate art?
   I like sitting on my deck outside in nature and thinking.
5. What things do you like the most about the art you do?
   I like creating the artwork but it's hard to come up with ideas.
6. In three words, describe what creating art is to you.
   Happy, fun and a sense of achievement!

Harry (2H)

Harry with his Artworks

Profile Questions:

1. What type of art do you enjoy creating the most?
   I like drawing mazes.
2. Who / what has inspired you to continue to create?
   I thought of them, I started to make drawings with boxes. Then I thought maybe I could make mazes and create levels and make it really hard for my mum and dad so they could not work them out.
3. How long have you been creating your artworks?
   Since I was in Prep and I am now in Year 2.
4. What places do you like to go that help you appreciate art?
   I sit at the kitchen bench and I draw and sometimes I sit at my desk and draw as well. Most nights I drive my mum crazy at the dinner table when I am supposed to be eating and I am drawing instead.
5. What things do you like the most about the art you do?
   The weapons and monsters that I create. I also try to make them very detailed and interesting.
6. In three words, describe what creating art is to you.
   Mazes, fun and colouring.

Lena

Lena with her Artworks

Profile Questions:

1. What type of art do you enjoy creating the most?
   I love drawing.
2. Who / what has inspired you to continue to create?
   My parents and my friends.
3. How long have you been creating your artworks?
   Since I was 3 yrs old.
4. What places do you like to go that help you appreciate art?
   Home and at school.
5. What things do you like the most about the art you do?
   The dogs that I draw.
6. In three words, describe what creating art is to you.
   Enjoyable, hard and fun.

Alison

Alison & Lena with their Artworks

Profile Questions:

1. What type of art do you enjoy creating the most?
   I love drawing with pencil, coloured pencil, or charcoal, but over the last few years I have been creating 3D costumes for my children, which is my back ground dating back to university.
2. Who / what has inspired you to continue to create?
   I've always loved art, even since a child I loved to draw; my mum always gave me a pack of crayons. My Grandpa was very artistic, maybe I followed in his footsteps.
3. How long have you been creating your artworks?
   I have been drawing since I was a child and it developed over the years into different areas. Drawing lead me into design, and I studied Costume & Set Design at University, this eventually lead to Visual Merchandising for a major department store in the UK. My favourite time was always Christmas as I got to create the Christmas Windows, which was so much fun!
4. What places do you like to go that help you appreciate art?
   The beach has always been a favourite, as I grew up by the sea, but outside seeing everyday things is very insightful.
5. What things do you like the most about the art you do?
   Of recent it would be for my children, so it makes me happy when they smile, even if what I have created is not perfect in my eyes.
6. In three words, describe what creating art is to you.
   Exciting Relaxing Challenging.

CHOIR UPDATE

We are having a choir break up party on Tuesday this week during 2nd lunch. The students will be given a little lolly bag and we will have some party type activities to celebrate the achievements of the choirs this year. Well done students and parents for all your hard work. I have really enjoyed working with you all and hope that you will all return next year. We are continuing to perform on Anzac Days events, all school events, attend some community events and also enter a choir in the Junior Eisteddfod next year.

Check out all the photos of the choir and band at the Christmas Concert below.

The Liturgy Choir will also be involved in the End of Year Mass (Fri 4th Dec).

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

What a wonderful, fantastic and exciting night we had last Thursday! We had many very positive comments being passed onto us that we feel that overall it was a very successful night. We have been collating all the feedback from students, parents and staff from last night to inform the planning and co-ordination of next year's concert. We had three teams of photographers last night and the amazing photos that are attached below are their great work. Thank you Colin Pett from ModPhotos, Phoebe (6C), Mrs Judd, Kit (6S), Carie (6C), Jasmine (6H), Kiara (6H) and Mrs Weterkamp for all your hard work! You are artists!

Thank you for all your support! God bless!

Christina Wight
Dance Drama Music Specialist Teacher

Music Tuition

Instrumental Music News

Holy Cross band finish the year on a high note at their end of year performances!

The band had outstanding performances at both the Christmas Fair and the end of year music concert (despite having to cut the concert short due to the rain.) These performances finish off a very successful year of music making at Holy Cross school.

What a year it has been! Earlier in the year the Holy Cross band entered the Cairns & District Junior Eisteddfod and were awarded 2nd place in the under 13 ensemble section, for the 2nd year in a row. Students from the band also participated in workshops and masterclasses at St Andrews College, and were very successful in the "Young Musician of the Year" solo competition where each student performed a solo. It has been wonderful seeing the band program and instrumental students grow over the years. It was only mid-2012 that the band started with a mere 10 players. Now we are a strong band of 30 players.

Places in 2016

Instrumental music places are filling quickly for next year! If you are interested in being a part of the school band and learning a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument get your green music form in fast! (These can be collected from the front office.) Any questions? email Miss Russell to enquire: julia.russell@standrewscc.qld.edu.au

Award Recipients!

Special awards were given out at the end of year music concert to students who are doing exceptionally well on their instrument!

• Most Home Practice – Nakiso N (yr 3)
• Quiet Achiever – Olivia B (yr 3)
• Encouragement Award – Max P (yr 5)
• Most Improved Player – Liam S (yr 4)
• Most Dedicated Player – Tyler F (yr 5)
• Most Promising Player – Nakiso N (yr 3)
• Most Outstanding Musician – Kit M (yr 6)

Thank you & Goodbye!

Sadly, I farewell our wonderful year 6 band members. Kit, Harry, Caden, Lauren, Emily, Kai-En, Makenzie & Declan have all been a wonderful part of the instrumental and band program over the past years. I know all of these students will be missed and I wish them the best of luck at high school and with their music in the future.

I hope you have a safe and Merry Christmas, and I look forward to a great year of music making again in 2016!

Miss Russell

Violin

An expression of interest is sort from parents who may wish for their child to commence Violin lessons at Holy Cross School in 2016.

Michael Wittgens is a professional musician who has played first violin with many orchestras, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, on their tour of Asia. Michael studied at the Sydney Conservatorium and played for many years at the Sydney Opera House for the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He has played in diverse ensembles and productions including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, productions such as 'Les Miserables' and 'Big River' and on tour with the Stylistics, Gene Pitney, Barbara Streisand and Savage Garden at the ARIA Awards. He currently enjoys teaching violin students at his home studio, from beginners to advanced, as well as playing in local orchestras and at weddings and events.

Please click on the link below to download a form and return to the school office as soon as possible if you are interested in your child learning violin in 2016.

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 Notices

2015 U9 FNQ Futsal Champions

A team made up entirely of Holy Cross boys won the Under 9 title at the 2015 FNQ Futsal Championships at Redlynch Central Sports Stadium last weekend! The boys were:

Sam T and Jake B (both Year 2), Patrick R, Jake T, Shannon T, Harry C, Jarod M (all Year 4), and Jaxon S (Year 5).

Congratulations to you all on your outstanding performance!

Gavin Broomhead & Stephen Turner
Coaches

NetSetGo Coaches Wanted

Cairns Netball are looking for anybody interested in coaching their NetFun program at schools or NetSetGo on Saturday mornings. If interested, Cairns Netball Association will provide you with the required qualifications. Coaches need to be available to coach afternoons from around 3pm-4pm or Saturday mornings at Martyn Street, Cairns from 8.30pm-9.30am. Contact Kym at info@cairnsnetball.net.au for further information.

Community Notices

Important Road Safety Message

Pedestrian crossings

Pedestrian crossings are safe places on the road marked for pedestrians to cross at. Drivers must give way to pedestrians that are on the crossing.

Children's crossings

Children's crossings work when kids are going to school or back home. They're marked by orange flags.

If there is no supervisor at the crossing, you must give way to pedestrians walking on the crossing, or stepping on to it, until they're safely back on the footpath.

If the crossing has a supervisor, you must wait until the pedestrians have crossed the road and the supervisor has returned to the footpath.

You must not overtake a vehicle in front that has stopped at a children's crossing. This is because a car in front of you makes it difficult for you to see children who may be using the crossing.

Shirley King
Road Safety Officer Northern Region
Department of Transport and Main Roads

TYC Super Summer Drama School 5yrs - 12yrs

Want some stage time these school holidays? Join us for our Summer Drama School and battle the evil Queen of Hearts in Hearts & Spades: Painting the Roses Red (7/12 – 10/12) or join the quest to save Christmas in Christmas Chaos: Operation Mrs Clause! (14/12 – 17/12). Check our our masterclass series from 21/12 - 23/12. Join the battle in Marvel Mayhem: Super Heroes vs Spies (4/1 – 7/1), become a Jedi knight in Galaxy Force: The Sage Continues (11/1 – 14/1) and get prepared for our Super Duper 5-Day Drama School, the frighteningly funny Spine-Tingling Goosebumps! (18/1 – 22/1). Special Guest costume artist Hayley Gillespie. Come along and explore acting, costumes, lighting, sound and multimedia elements, finishing with a creative performance on the final afternoon. Learn the essentials of stage performance through improvisation, role-play 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 or visit our website www.theyoungcompany.com.au . Book today to receive an early bird saving! First round of Early Bird Discount closes this Friday 27th November 5pm.

Well Women's Clinics (available to Medicare eligible clients)

Service includes Pap Smears, Sexual Health Screening, Breast Awareness, also info on Contraception, Continence, Menopause, Lifestyle Issues, Bowel Health, Domestic Violence, etc. All services are provided by a specially trained Women's Health Nurse.

Smithfield Community Health Friday 11th December Ph: 4226 4800

Advent Retreat Day

Siloam Advent Retreat Day, Saturday December 12. 'Waiting in Hope' 10.00am to 3.00pm. Some input and time for quiet reflection. 206 Rockley Road, Atherton. BYO lunch. Suggested donation $25. Registration essential. Phone 4091 2339 or email christine@siloamcentre.com