Journey Through Lent

Banners of purple, bowls of ash, no flowers in the church…what do all these things mean? Lent is here. The community of the Catholic Church, along with many other Christian denominations (but not all) use Lent as a time of turning back to God, in preparation for the sorrow and joy of the Easter season. It is a time to reflect, to look inward, and to further develop one’s relationship with God. We traditionally think of it as a time of almsgiving, prayer and fasting, which links back to Scripture.

 "…when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Mt 6:2-3).

This week at Holy Cross, we came together in the Church to share our Ash Wednesday Liturgy and be blessed with ashes.  Ash Wednesday is Day One of our Lenten journey. God’s invitation to ‘come back to me with all your heart’ is also an invitation to leave our private room and step into a world in urgent need of our love and honesty.

The colour purple or violet, used during Lent, is a symbol of repentance and penance. It reminds us of the violet flower that bows its head and is a symbol of humility. The ashes, a sign of the dust from which God made us, were marked with a cross on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. They are a sign that we have made mistakes and are willing to repent, say sorry or change our ways.

"Repent and believe in the Gospel."

Project Compassion

Lent is a special time of year. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This year, Project Compassion is calling us to Unite Against Poverty. St Paul says, ‘now is the favourable time.’ We can make the most difference when we are most truly ourselves. As individuals we can help others, but when we come together though Project Compassion, our good becomes great. Our combined kindness grows. And when we unite with each other – and with people living in poverty – we can create BIG, lasting change. Let’s all Unite Against Poverty! There is no time like 2025.

Each year at Holy Cross, we fundraise to support Caritas Australia – Project compassion. During the time of Lent, we use teaching resources from Caritas to raise awareness amongst the students about the good work being done around the world by Caritas Australia. The Justice Squad, guided by Mr Brad Henry, will encourage the school to pray, to be more aware and to give during Lent. Their goal this year is to raise enough money to contribute to the work currently being undertaken in Samoa to alleviate the challenges for those in the country who are living with water scarcity. This coming week, the students will learn about Toefuata'iga and her classmates who faces frequent early school dismissals and missed lessons due to a lack of clean water. After Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas Samoa, installed a 10,000-litre water tank at her school, Toefuata'iga and her classmates saw improved health and more consistent class attendance. We would love to be able to help more communities in Samoa, if each student at Holy Cross was able to donate $2, we will easily reach our goal and change the world for many people. We encourage you to talk as a family about the ways the students can earn this $2. Maybe they could help a little extra around the house, dig for change in the lounge or forgo a treat during Lent and donate that money to Project Compassion. The possibilities are endless, and the impact will be felt by many.

First Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 10 March)

This Lent, we’re invited to Unite Against Poverty with Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity.

Project Compassion 2025 shares three stories from around the world. We’ll meet Toefuata'iga - (Toy-foo-ah-tah-ing-ah) a young student from Samoa who faced severe water shortages at her school. Thanks to Caritas Australia and the generosity of supporters like you, her school now has a 10,000 L water tank improving hygiene and allowing the teachers to prioritise education.

We’ll get to know Lam from Vietnam, born with short stature, Lam faced social exclusion and limited employment opportunities – through the I-SHINE program, Lam is now a freelance graphic designer.

And we’ll meet Irene from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who faced immense challenges after losing her father to war and raising her children in poverty. With support from Caritas Australia, Irene received vocational training in sewing and farming and can now support her whole family.

Watch our Introduction to Project Compassion film HERE - be inspired by 3 powerful stories of resilience and strength, and learn the impact that your support can have on vulnerable communities around the world.

So, as you journey through the forty days of Lent, challenge yourself to take time out to reflect, to connect, to give, and to pray.

This week on Shrove Tuesday, the Justice Squad was able to kick start their water tank project. Thanks to the generosity of families who ordered pancakes and to those who helped make, flip and serve. A special mention to the Justice Squad, who were able to feed the hungry staff and students with over 700 pancakes! Thank you, thank you!

Stephanie Travers
Assistant Principal - Catholic Identity and Wellbeing

Harmony Week was first initiated by the Australian government in 1999 to nationally celebrate diversity and inclusion in our multi-cultural Australia. Harmony Week is celebrated during the week that includes 21st March, which is also the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

Holy Cross is a living community full of cultural diversity. We want our students to develop a strong sense of their own cultural identity, our school identity and faith identity. We want to help our students to become great global citizens. One way is to do this is to celebrate Harmony Week. Students are asked to wear an orange accessory on Friday 21st March to promote the theme, "Everyone Belongs". 

Why orange?

• Orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations.
• It relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
• Orange symbolises optimism, confidence, enthusiasm, warmth and agreeableness.
• It is a bright and vivacious colour and may help people feel outgoing or even bold.

Throughout Week 8, our teachers and students have many different activities planned to our broaden awareness of different cultural connections in our school community. There will be focused curriculum lessons, as well as buddy class and lunch activities. Cultural cuisine is also on the agenda.

Cultural identity at Holy Cross School

Jo Neil
Teacher Librarian

At Holy Cross our Year 3 and 5 students are now busily preparing for 2025 Online NAPLAN Testing, fast approaching. Students will test next week, March 12^th - 14^th.

NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine how well young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. NAPLAN does not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. A child’s teacher will have the best insight into the child’s educational progress. NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.

NAPLAN questions are directly linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. As such, the best preparation students can do for NAPLAN is to learn what they do in the classroom every day. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so. The assessments allow parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy, and over time. Along with other school assessment reports, NAPLAN supports parents in discussing their child’s strengths and areas for improvement with teachers.

NAPLAN results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress.

NAPLAN can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy. Here at Holy Cross this is a big part of what we do not only with NAPLAN results but with all standardised tests students complete. Our School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP) for Teaching and Learning is heavily guided by these results.

Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

A new proficiency standard with 4 levels of achievement has replaced the previous 10-band structure and the old national minimum standard set in 2008. This will be included on all NAPLAN reporting including the National Report, the My School website, the reports received by schools and the Individual Student Reports (ISRs) received by parents and carers.

The changes make better use of the online adaptive tests to deliver better information for parents, carers and teachers.

The standard represents a challenging but reasonable expectation of student achievement at the time of testing. If a student is “Strong” or "Exceeding", it means they have demonstrated that their literacy or numeracy skills are where they should be at this stage of their schooling.

NAPLAN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT REPORTS

The standard replaced the numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard with the following 4 levels of achievement:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support

The reports continue to show the national average and the range of achievement for the middle 60 per cent of students in their year level, allowing comparison of a child’s achievement against these measures. Detailed information on the knowledge and skills being measured in each NAPLAN assessment is available on the NAP website.

Below is a timetable of the testing that will take place.

During test week, catch-up tests are available for individual students who are absent on test days.

Testing can be a stressful time for students. Whilst we want students to achieve their best, we encourage students to simply try their best with testing and not to feel anxious around results. If you are concerned about your child’s ‘stress’ or have any other questions about NAPLAN Testing I encourage you to speak with your child’s teachers so we can work together to support them.

Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or an exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the tests. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a Student Withdrawal form. These forms are available at the school. These forms are required to be completed as a matter of urgency should you be considering.

Below are a few helpful tips.

Teachers will help students become familiar with testing by:

• 
  Ensuring ‘Test Literacy’ with all students so they are familiar with testing and different test formats
• Teach clear and simple procedure (timing, seating, equipment etc)
• Providing some opportunities to practise and revise content
• Let students know how they will be marked and help to them to become familiar with marking rubrics
• Simply encourage students to try their best.

What teachers will not be doing:

• Extensive test and or teaching to tests
• Spending a disproportionate amount of time on NAPLAN areas, thus neglecting the day to day curriculum

At Home:

• Encourage your child to simply try their best
• Don’t set extensive NAPLAN homework or over purchase commercialised books
• The best preparation for NAPLAN Tests a parent can provide is ensuring their child has a good night’s sleep of between 10-11 hours and a healthy breakfast on the morning of the testing

For further information you may wish to view the following links:

So, wish your child good luck and remember all we ask they do, is try their very best on the day.

With may blessings,

Mr Brad Henry
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

2025

2025 TERM 1

MAR 11 - Year 6 Reconciliation - 9.15am

MAR 12-14 - Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN

MAR 17-21 - Harmony Week

MAR 21 - Harmony Day - Wear Orange Accessories 

MAR 18 - Year 5 Reconciliation - 9.15am

MAR 18 - Volunteer Induction Session - 8.45am

MAR 19 - School Photo Day 2025

MAR 25 - Year 4 Reconciliation - 9.15am

MAR 28 - HCS Cross Country Trials - Year 3 to 6 (Morning 8.45am-10.30am)

MAR 28 - HCS Cross County Races - Prep to Year 2 (Afternoon 1.30pm-2.30pm)

APR 4 - LAST DAY TERM 1