Aoife's Message

Good afternoon Holy Cross families,

A very warm welcome to all of our new families and a hearty welcome back to everyone in our community. What a lovely first full week of school we have had. Straight into the deep end for our Yr 4 - 6s  with their swimming program taking place (yes I know, terrible pun, I couldn't help myself!). Our Prep - Yr 3 children will have this  experience next term. Speaking of Preps, they have well and truly made themselves at home in our beautiful spaces. Prep children, we hope you will be very happy at our school. 

The first couple of newsletters each year can be very lengthy as we share an abundance of information. We will endevour to reduce the volume in the coming weeks.  

Outdoor Ed - thank you

Thanks to the Richards, Mintern, Gatty, Summerfield, Shearer and Guthridge families for looking after our chickens, sheep and gardens over the school break. We really appreciate your help, as do our hungry little chooks! 

Documents to read over

Please see below for copies of our homework policy and our personal electronic devices policy. Both of these policies will be reviewed in 2025, parent and staff input will be sought to ensure we are best meeting the needs of our community. 

Please also familiarise yourself with our Parent Code of Conduct which is available on our website. All children, parents and staff have a right to be part of a respectful community.

School Closure Days Semester One

We have scheduled a closure day in Semester One to meet our obligations in terms of the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement for teaching staff. We have also booked in professional development for our entire staff focused on student wellbeing. To minimise disruption to families we have chosen dates that are next to the holidays/long weekends. Please see below for the dates, thank you for your support. 

12th March  - Student Wellbeing focus (Schools Out available to interested families)

26th April  - School Closure Day

11th June  - Student Wellbeing focus (Schools Out available to interested families)

Reminders

Please regularly check the Dates for your Diary section of the newsletter throughout 2024 as the dates and times of 'in class prayer gatherings' will vary. See below for further information from Lisa, our Faith Leader, as we are aiming to provide enriching experiences for children and families throughout the year. 

If you have not already done so please send in any medication, such as ventolin inhalers. 

Please book in for a Parent/Teacher chat via www.schoolinterviews.com.au using the code 93u4x. Chats are taking place next Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th Feb. 

Macedon Ranges Shire Council - Temporary Road Closure

We have received notification of a temporary road closure which impacts the intersection of Hamilton Road and Kilmore Road until late March 2024. Please see www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/About-Council/Projects-and-works/Works  for further details. 

Our children have settled in well across the school. We're looking forward to a productive and joy filled year of learning.

Enjoy the warm weekend ahead,

Aoife

PRAYER GATHERINGS AT HOLY CROSS 2024

Prayer Gatherings at Holy Cross are a wonderful way to bring the community together and are a key aspect of the faith life of a Catholic school. The children plan, create and present prayer to share with parents, teachers and our wider school community. As each class presents to the school, it is great to see the children's confidence grow, as they learn and practice skills such as public speaking, reading scripture, learning new hymns/religious songs.  We always enjoy seeing the faces of the many proud parents in attendance!

This year, we will be adding a new style of Prayer Gathering at Holy Cross in the hope that families continue to talk about scripture together at home. Throughout the year each class will invite their families to join them for one in-class Prayer Gathering. This smaller, intimate setting will provide families with opportunities to interact with one another through prayer and a reflective experience such as responding through art. We welcome families to their child’s classroom, where children will present their prayer gathering based on a theme according to the Liturgical Calendar or current world event. 

We will continue to have our usual whole school Prayer Gatherings, however these will be alternated with our "in-class Prayer Gatherings”.  Dates will be published in the newsletter.

Class Masses for our Yr 3 - Yr 6 children will also resume this year.  We look forward to welcoming you all into our prayer spaces throughout the year.

Lisa Peake

Faith Leader