Holy Cross Happenings 

Christmas Concert 

Thank you to all our families for coming along and supporting the children at our annual Christmas Concert. It was wonderful to see everyone dressed in festive colours and enjoying time together as a community.

A special thank you to the Little family for generously providing the stage again this year and to the Jones family for loaning us their generator, ensuring we could hear the children’s beautiful singing voices loud and clear!

As always, Rach did an amazing job managing the IT and organising the music, thank you! And who knew our teachers had choreography skills? 

Red Cross Visit 

We were grateful to have Red Cross volunteers Margot, Anne, and Kathy visit our Year 4 children to present the Pillowcase Program before the end of term. They spoke with the children about emergencies, the importance of staying calm, and how being prepared can make a big difference. Part of this preparation involved thinking about what to include in an emergency kit.

Anne shared a calming exercise she learned from a nurse at the Children’s Hospital. The children closed their eyes and imagined their favorite color, breathing it in deeply, then exhaling a color they didn’t like. This simple breathing practice is a great tool to help stay calm, whether in the car, at home, or during other waiting times.

Kathy then guided the children in exploring what items they might include in an emergency kit. The students thoughtfully considered the difference between needs and wants, showing great insight.

While children may be vulnerable in emergencies, they also have unique strengths and the capacity to prepare, cope, and support their families.

Click the link below to watch the video the students viewed during the session.

Pillowcase Project

Congratulations to Isabella Howley

We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Year 6 student Isabella Howley and wish her every success in her exciting journey ahead. Isabella has been invited to participate in a prestigious 19-day sports tour in Canada next year (June-July 2025). This incredible opportunity follows her outstanding performance at the SSV State Track and Field Championships and her consistent achievements at various State Championships this year.

The invitation highlights Isabella’s impressive standards, noting they are “comparable to athletes in Canada,” making her an excellent candidate to train and compete with peers internationally.

Isabella is currently ranked 5th in Victoria for both the 800m and 1500m events, remarkable accomplishments given Victoria’s reputation as one of Australia’s strongest states in track and field. This year, Isabella has represented Holy Cross at SSV State Cross Country and Track and Field events and competed in State Championships for Gisborne Little Athletics and Essendon Athletics VIC in individual and relay events. Additionally, she proudly represented Team VIC at the National Aquathlon Championships in March.

Next year, Isabella will continue her athletic journey at Assumption College, aspiring to become a professional track athlete. We wish her every success in achieving her dreams and look forward to following her progress with great pride.

Music

Groovin' Guitars and Ranges Music celebrates Christmas

Preps Creativity 

​Our Prep children had a fantastic time during their Nüdel Cart incursion, working creatively and collaboratively to explore endless possibilities with the mobile play carts. These innovative resources are designed to encourage self-directed learning and support children’s development.

A big thank you to Scott from Nüdel Cart for visiting during the final week of school and making this experience so memorable for our Preps!

Sacred Heart Transition Day 

Sacred Heart has shared some photos from the Year 6 Transition Day. We wish all our Year 6 children the very best as they prepare to begin their high school journey.

Year 3 

Our kids had a hoot making a chain that was 15m 10 cm long

More Outdoor Ed Cooking Fun

Here are the comments from 3A about cooking the bush tucker pie.

Scarlett:  The taste of it was yummy! And if I had to rate it I would give it an 8/10!

Ashleigh: The berries were yummy!

Tommy: Cutting the pastry was fun!

Grace: All the plates turned purple from the berries! And I liked that everybody tasted it.

Oliver: I liked putting the pastry on top of the fruit and mixing in the apple.

Zach: I really loved it! And the emu berries tasted like blueberries.

Nate: Cooking was fun because we all worked together.

Finnan: I liked it all, it was really yummy and I want to have it again.

Asha: I really enjoyed it when we got to cut the apples. 

Grade 2 Loom Bands

Some of our Year 2 children have created their own lunchtime club, making loom bands for each other. On Tuesday, they were making Christmas braclets ready for our school Christmas concert! 

Families urged to stay safe this summer by following 5 water safety education rules

Each year, too many lives are lost trying to help others in trouble in the water. Kingswim is on a mission to equip all families with the essential water safety education and swimming tips to prevent water-related accidents.

5 water safety rules:

• Never swim alone: Supervision saves lives. Always swim with a buddy or under the watchful eye of a responsible adult.
• Know your limits: Life jackets aren’t just for kids. Be aware of your swimming abilities and wear a life jacket when appropriate, especially in open water or challenging conditions.
• Understand your environment: Water conditions can change rapidly. Stay informed about potential hazards, currents, and weather conditions before entering the water.
• In trouble? Float and signal: If you find yourself in difficulty, stay calm, float on your back, and signal for help.
• Learn to help others safely: Know CPR and dryland rescue techniques. Learning how to assist someone in trouble without putting yourself at risk is crucial.