For families new to Holy Cross, you may have heard your child, or their teacher mention the "Zones of Regulation." To help clarify, we wanted to provide an introduction (or refresher) on what this program is and how we use it to support students in developing a shared emotional language.

What Are the Zones of Regulation?

The Zones of Regulation framework was created by Leah Kuypers in 2011 as a social skills intervention, originally designed to support children with ASD or ADHD. However, it has proven beneficial for all children—and even adults. At Holy Cross, we explicitly teach this framework to help students:

• Identify their emotions and energy levels
• Learn effective self-regulation strategies
• Understand when and how to use these strategies
• Solve problems and develop positive solutions with support
• Recognise how their behaviour affects others
• Develop independence in managing their emotions and responses

When children (or adults) experience strong emotions, they may struggle to manage their impulses or reactions. The ability to recognise and regulate our own heightened states is called self-regulation—a crucial skill for emotional well-being, decision-making, and learning.

Why Teach Self-Regulation?

Self-regulation helps children succeed in school and social settings. Those who can manage their emotions and impulses are better equipped to focus on learning, navigate challenges, and build positive relationships. Research also shows that teachers play a key role in developing students' self-regulation skills, which carry into adolescence and adulthood.

Understanding the Four Zones

At Holy Cross, we use four color-coded zones to help students understand their emotions and energy levels:

• Blue Zone (Low Energy) – When a child is feeling tired, sad, sick, or bored. Their body is running slow, and they may need rest or strategies to boost their energy.
• Green Zone (Balanced Energy) – The ideal state for learning. In this zone, children feel happy, calm, and focused. Their energy is balanced.
• Yellow Zone (High Energy, Need for Regulation) – A heightened state where children may feel excited, frustrated, anxious, or silly. It can be difficult to focus, so strategies are needed to bring energy levels back to balance.
• Red Zone (Overwhelmed, Loss of Control) – A state of extreme emotion, such as anger, fear, or elation, where a child may struggle to think clearly. Adult support is often needed to help them regain control.
  

  It’s important to note that no zone is “bad” or “wrong”—everyone experiences different emotions and energy levels throughout the day. Some children may naturally lean toward the Blue or Yellow Zones depending on their temperament. Our goal is to equip them with strategies to balance their energy levels and access learning effectively.

  How We Use the Zones at Holy Cross

  At Holy Cross, we support students in building a consistent, shared emotional language. Through direct teaching and practice, children learn to recognise their energy levels and apply appropriate strategies. For example:

  • If they are in the Blue Zone and feeling sluggish, we help them find ways to increase their energy.
  • If they are in the Yellow Zone and feeling overexcited, we teach strategies to help them calm down and refocus.
  • If they begin to escalate toward the Red Zone, we provide tools to prevent emotional overwhelm and support recovery.

  Students are also encouraged to explore their thoughts and thinking patterns, helping them find solutions to self-regulate before their emotions escalate.

  Holy Cross Video Resource

  

  To support parents in understanding how the Zones of Regulation are applied in our school, we have created a video resource. You can find it on the Parent Portal under the video folder—check it out!

  By working together, we can help children develop strong self-regulation skills, supporting their success both in and out of the classroom.

  • For more information on the Zones of Regulation you can link onto the website zonesofregulation.com
  • If you would like to talk more about the Zones of Regulation and how you could implement this at home, please email jcordwell@cns.catholic.edu.au

   

  Jo Cordwell
  Holy Cross School Counsellor

As we head towards the half way mark of Term 1, I would like to once again thank everyone for their patience and care whilst navigating a safe 'Stop, Drop and Go'. I ask that you continue to be patient and respectful for this short time of the day. I will be reminding the kids, but for the most part they have been doing a great job of being more alert and looking for your cars too.

This is just a friendly reminder on a few tips to help make this area run as smoothly as possible.

A promise to stay safe CLICK TO WATCH.

• Using the zone quickly and efficiently. Please remain in your car and allow students to be independent.
• Parking is NOT permitted in the Stop, Drop, Go Zone before 2:50pm. This area is zoned a ‘2 minute Loading Zone’. This will ensure a better flow of traffic from the start of pick-up.
• There is only one line of traffic in and out. When entering the zone move straight to the waiting bay (marked in yellow) and follow through to the ‘Drop, Go Zone’ when free.
• Be respectful to staff and supportive if asked to move on and go around the roundabouts again if your child is not present.
• Speak with your child about the importance of being at the Stop, Drop, Go Zone promptly after school and being alert to their car coming.
• Use your NAME visor provided to support staff in identifying vehicles efficiently. If you need a new one, please contact the front office at secretary.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au 
• As you leave the school parking from around Holy Cross Church and approach the Stop, Drop, Go Zone, you must give way to your right at all times before entering the line of traffic, unless signed by the teacher on duty to stop.
• Please ensure you adhere to the one way of traffic.
• Please only park in designated car parks.
• Always adhere to the signed speed limit.
• Cars exiting the Stop Drop Go Zone must also be allowed to merge into the exiting line of traffic.
• Staff are on duty from 8:10am until 8:30am and then again from 2:50pm until 3:15pm. We encourage you to please consider using the full time of duty to assist with traffic jams. Students are safely supervised for the full duration. Most often cars arriving in the first half of the morning allocation and second half of the afternoon allocation are able to drive in and out with little traffic.
• Be patient and thoughtful to others.

Remember SAFETY of our students, your children is our top priority. We look forward to working together for the benefit of all. Thanking you in advance for your support.

Holy Cross School tuckshop operates Monday to Friday for both Morning tea, at 10:30 am (1st break) & Lunch at 1:20pm (2nd break).

Food Safety

Please note that due to Food Safety Regulations, the staff in the school tuckshop are unable to cook or microwave students food brought in from home.

Flexischools

Flexischools https://www.flexischools.com.au/ is our main form of ordering. We strongly encourage all families ordering morning tea or lunch, to please use the Flexi Schools App/Website. Should you require any assistance with setting up a new account, please give Manfa, our Tuckshop Coordinator a call. Lunch orders must be submitted prior to a 8:45am cut off each day. There is a Late Orders menu offering limited items for those that have missed the 8:45am cut off, please use this option if you have missed the cut off time.

A small selection of items can be purchased over the counter at first breaks, including icy poles.

There are some menu items that are offered online only e.g. Sushi, and from time to time there may be alternate items featured on Flexischools.

If you are new to Flexischools please see the attached flyer or click on the link below for step by step instructions for registering an account.

If you are a previous user please ensure that you update your student’s 2025 year level class.

NEW Menu

Click on the link below to view the Term 1 Tuckshop Menu. A copy is also available via the Parent Portal at any time.

Volunteers

Any volunteers who may like to lend a hand in the Tuckshop are always appreciated, please email tuckshop.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au to register your interest.

Breakfast Club

I am pleased to share that, we will be offering a Breakfast Club for all students, once again. We are able to offer a breakfast service for students and families in need. Between 8:10am and 8:30am, students will be able to come to the canteen for toast, cereal or fruit. All breakfast is to be consumed in the breakfast club area.

Should you require further information please contact the Tuckshop via email at tuckshop.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au .

Catholic Education in the Diocese of Cairns is committed to safe, ethical and legal work and learning places based on the respectful and responsible behaviour of all members of our system and school communities. To assist with this, we have a Code of Conduct for Staff as well as a Code of Conduct for Parents, Volunteers and Visitors.

This Code of Conduct applies to all parents, volunteers and visitors who interact within our schools and Catholic Education Services in the Diocese of Cairns. It also applies to all parents, volunteers and visitors who are present at school and school sponsored meetings/functions within and outside of school hours.

As parents, volunteers and visitors there is an expectation of support for the vision and mission of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Cairns.

2025

2025 TERM 1

FEB 24-28 - Student Led Conference Week

FEB 25 - Volunteer Induction Session - 8.45am (*date change)

FEB 27 - Year 6 Leadership Retreat - Seville Mercy Centre

MAR 4 - Shrove Tuesday

MAR 5 - Ash Wednesday Liturgy (Years 2-6) - 9.00am

MAR 12-14 - Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN

MAR 17-21 - Harmony Week

MAR 18 - Volunteer Induction Session - 8.45am

MAR 19 - School Photos 2025

APR 4 - LAST DAY TERM 1

God our Father, we pray that we may grow in such a way as to be welcoming to other people, and generous in every way. Lead us to appreciate others in the same way to those people we don’t agree with. Show us to be open-minded and able to learn from each other so that, together, we may grow as the people you invite us to be.
Amen