Catholic Education Week and NAIDOC Week 2025

As a school community we came together to celebrate two important occasions this week—Catholic Education Week and NAIDOC Week 2025. Both inviting us to reflect on who we are, what we value, and how we walk alongside one another in community.

This year’s Catholic Education Week theme— “Communities of Faith, Hope and Love”, reminds us that Catholic education is not just about classrooms and textbooks, but about hearts and relationships. It’s where we grow in faith, support each other with hope, and live out love in all that we do. Here at school, we continually celebrate what it means to be Holy Cross, a Catholic school. We Live and Learn in the Way of the Cross, celebrating community, building positive relationships with each other and outside agencies, serving and being stewards of creation.

At the same time, we proudly honour 50 years of NAIDOC Week, a national celebration of the history, culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme— “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”—calls us to recognise the wisdom of Elders, the spirit of young leaders, and the strength of communities who continue to shape this land.

This week has been a week full of joy, learning, reflection and celebration.

As a school community we gathered on Tuesday morning celebrate our Catholic Education Week and NAIDOC Week Mass. We were blessed to have many members from our community join us to listen to God’s word and share in the Eucharist. Father Dariusz shared with me how happy he was to leader our Mass, he truly enjoyed hearing our students, who were led by our choir singing so beautifully.

Our Year 3 students were gifted the opportunity to work with Shannon Shaw this week to talk and reflect on the theme of ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’. Shannon shared stories and discussed with the students the Next Generation’s vision for a strong future.  We are truly thankful to Shannon for sharing her time and the beauty of her artwork.

On Wednesday, Dolly McGaughey came to visit with our choir to share her story and workshop some new music with our students. The time Dolly spent with us was inspiring and we thank Dolly for joining us for the morning. Her gift of music and time gave the students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of music as a form of prayer and connect with the messages found in the lyrics.

As a part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations in Week 1, the Year Six students had the opportunity to connect with the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers in On Country Engagement Activities. They learnt how to identify different plants and understand their traditional uses, explored traditional marine resource management practices and agreements and were immersed in traditional storytelling. The children walked to the beach and engaged in the activities enthusiastically, coming away with new learnings and connections. We thank the Traditional Owners and Rangers who spent the morning with us.

On Thursday we were invited to take ten Year Six students to the Queensland Catholic Education Week Mass, which was held at St Monica’s Cathedral. This was a fantastic experience, an opportunity for our school to share in prayer and communion with many members of the wider Catholic community. Our students represented themselves and their school beautifully.

We celebrated students, staff and parents with our Spirit of Catholic Education Awards at assembly today. This is always such a joyous occasion and today was no different. In reading many of the comments, it was clear that all our recipients embody the true spirit of Catholic Education— demonstrating faith, hope and love in their daily actions. Congratulations again to all the students, to Mrs Willcock, Ms Monck and Xena Reeves. Congratulations also to many of our staff, who received a nomination for the Diocesan Spirit of Catholic Education Award.

To conclude, I would like to share a reflection and prayer from Sr Kym Harris osb. It is a great reflection on the theme of Faith, Hope and Love.

Stephanie Travers
Assistant Principal
Catholic Identity & Wellbeing

Awarded to an individual or team from each of the five dioceses and one Religious Institute/MPJP school, the Sprit of Catholic Education Award recognises a staff member, parent/carer, or volunteer, who is making an outstanding contribution to the life of the community in at least one of the following areas:

• Showing outstanding integrity in leading a school community or program
• Implementing change that improves teaching and learning and supports greater equity in education
• Building Catholic education identity and ethos to support flourishing communities
• Demonstrating outstanding service to others in the school education community and beyond
• Demonstrating excellence as a team that supports and builds school communities (applies to teams of two or more people).

It brings me great joy to announce the nomination of the following staff for this prestigious award:

• Deb Scarborough (Leader of Teaching)
• Clarissa Lam (School Officer: Wellbeing)

 Another annual award that is honoured during Catholic Education Week within Catholic Education Diocese (CEDC) of Cairns is the Docemus Award.

Celebrating the achievements and contribution of staff and volunteers, this award honours the contribution of staff across a number of categories: Primary Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Early Career Teacher, School Officer, Volunteer, Leadership, and Lifelong Contribution.

Please join us in congratulating the following staff for their nomination for this prestigious award:

• 
  Rebecca Bluett (Primary Teacher)
• Sara Hovell (Primary Teacher)
• Ayla White (Primary Teacher) 
• Loina Kissel (Primary Teacher)
• Sarah Green (Primary Teacher)
• Rachel Poulton (Primary Teacher)
• Deb Scarborough (Leadership)
• Brad Henry (Leadership)
• Jill Lindsay (Leadership)
• Stephanie Travers (Leadership)
• Bernice Gubby (Leadership)
• Joanne Cordwell (Leadership)

Year 3 made a Ninja Warrior course in Bush Play this week. They selected different items from loose parts play to create a circuit to challenge their friends. Amazing teamwork, creatively and balance displayed by all.

OMG DONUT FUNDRAISER

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The Year 6 leaders are raising money to support our Stephanie Alexander Garden Program. This program aims to help students learn through the fun of gardening and caring for the environment. To raise money we are selling OMG donuts through Flexischools and the school tuckshop. As donuts are a ‘Red Food’ item, we are only selling these donuts for a limited time so make sure you get in ASAP to secure your order. Orders for the single sale OMG donuts will go up on Flexischools on Monday the 28th of July for distribution on Friday in weeks 5 and 6. There are a plethora of fantastic flavours for you to choose from so feel free to order more than one! We look forward to raising money for this wonderful program and to providing delicious treats for the students at Holy Cross.

Sincerely,
Year 6, 6C

UPCYCLING OLD SCHOOL UNIFORMS - (UPPAREL)

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As part of the stewardship charism that we practice at Holy Cross, the year 6 leadersare looking to upcycle old school uniforms. We have teamed up with the recycling company Upparel to help us repurpose and reuse our old school uniforms. Upparel is a company who supports schools with less opportunity to have uniforms. By collecting all these uniforms, we’ll be sustainable and working as a community to reuse, repurpose and recycle. Upparel reuse clothes for Australian charities and not-for-profits, they also breakdown old materials to create new fibre used in packaging, homewares and more. The year 6 leaders are hosting this donation and we urge you to gather any old uniforms and drop them off to the school office for collection.

There is one super talented Year 2 student shining brightly in our school community pushing themselves to be ‘the best version of you’ outside of school hours.

• Aria J (2C) is shining in ‘ATHLETICS’ having successfully participated in the Cairns Athletics Coral Coast Carnival, competing in a total of 8 events throughout the day. A phenomenal achievement. We are super proud of her!

Please keep sharing news regarding your children’s achievements outside of school. We love sharing good news stories. Email:  principal.trinitypk@cns.catholic.edu.au

Click on the link below to access to view the videos:

https://cspqld.schoolzineplus.com/newsletter/article/52

Click on the link below to register:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1F2ru7CCQy-Ey1hGpbn-vw#/registration

Click on the link below for more information or to register:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars 

2025

TERM 3

AUG 5-6 - TCN Track & Field

AUG 6-8 - Year 5 Camp - Camp Paterson, Mareeba

AUG 11-15 - Student Led Conference Week

AUG 22 - Fowlers Cup Netball Carnival

AUG 25-29 - Book Week

AUG 29 - Book Week Assembly

AUG 29 - OSHC Re-enrolments close (existing families + siblings)

SEP 1 - OSHC Enrolments open (New families 2026)

SEP 1-4 - Year 6 Camp - Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre

SEP 4 - Chess - 2025 Far North Queensland Inter-School Competition

SEP 5 - Dad's Day Out

SEP 8-11 - Year 3 to Year 6 Swimming

SEP 12 - Holy Cross Day

SEP 15-18 - Year 3 to Year 6 Swimming

SEP 19 - Mary Mills Cup Netball Carnival

SEP 19 - Last Day Term 3

Position vacant
Casual School Crossing Supervisor

A position exists for a Casual School Crossing Supervisor at Holy Cross School.

• A School Crossing Supervisor must be able to work in all-weather conditions.
• Morning and afternoon shifts (on a rostered basis).
• Relief opportunities on your rostered days off.
• Pay Rate $37.10 per hour.

Commencement of employment for the successful applicant is dependent on:

• The favourable outcome of a health assessment.
• A Positive Notice Blue Card (you do not need to have a blue card to apply for the position).

Please call Kim at Transport and Main Roads for an application package on 0428 964 745.

Celebrating Catholic Education Week

Communities of Faith Hope and Love

Even the best relationships can be difficult at times. We can be bogged in our differing points of view and our attitude to each other can narrow.  In those times, I have found that Faith, Hope and Love can guide me through the challenge.  How is this?

Faith.  God has a unique plan for each of us.  When I look at my life, I can see many twists and turns as God’s ways sort me out.  God has kept faith with me.  When I find others difficult or challenging, I chose to believe that God is working in their lives as much as in mine, God loves them as much as God loves me.  This gives me Hope.

Hope.  If God has worked so well with me, God is working well in the other’s life.  At this time, we just may be having challenges. This negative can be a positive if we hope that God can and will work through both of us. It will involve change is us both.  Hope for change grounds Love.

Love.  This love is not a warm fuzzy feeling.  It is a decision to be as a child of God, deeply loved and therefore capable of loving people with whom I disagree or have challenges.  This love is a verb – it transforms my actions. It leads me to do loving actions when some part of me wants to close off. It leads me to allow the divine to dance in my life.

Communities of Love.  These thoughts have focussed on our personal relationships.  How much more of a challenge is it to apply them to our school communities. What diversity! What differences! How many people! But it is possible.  With each of us bringing our faith, our hope and our love into the daily interactions we have at school, we can form a community that forms our children in faith, hope and love.

Loving Father, guide me in the ways of faith, hope and love so that my relationships will be a model for my child/ren to grow in life and happiness.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb