Dear Families,

Don’t walk… RUN!

That was the reaction on Monday morning as our children arrived to find two very special visitors in our paddock, Highland cows! Children and adults alike couldn't contain their excitement and it was contagious, smiles spread throughout the day. And how could we not smile? Just look at Louis in Prep, his expression says it all! Priceless.

A huge welcome to Little Red and Valerie! As children, families, and staff gathered to meet our newest furry friends. Smiles, laughter, and pure joy filled the air as our school community embraced this incredible surprise.

A big thank you to the Robertson family for sharing these beautiful animals with our Holy Cross community. We can’t wait for all the adventures ahead!

How truly blessed to come to school each day and be surrounded by happy children and beautiful animals.

More Reasons to Smile

The Grade One Bake Sale was a huge success after school on Friday! A big thank you to our Year 1 families for providing delicious treats for our school community to enjoy as a weekend treat. There were plenty of tempting options, and with our enthusiastic stallholders, it was almost impossible to resist buying something! If you didn’t get persuaded by our keen Grade 1 salespeople, their teacher, Kate B, was also very good at persuading staff to purchase treats, armed with an EFTPOS machine and ready to make a sale!

It was all for a great cause, giving children a voice in deciding how to spend the money they raised. Their choice? New sandpit toys for everyone to share!

The Year 1 children were thrilled to test them out before break time, a well-deserved reward for their hard work. Thank you to all the families who supported this PFA initiative.

Our Year 2 families will be hosting the next bake sale after assembly next week.

School Review

Today, our staff participated in a school closure day to prepare for our upcoming school review. Every four years, all schools undertake this important process to reflect on our progress and set goals for the future.

The review has two key dimensions. The first focuses on school policies and procedures, ensuring we meet requirements in areas such as curriculum, child safety standards, emergency management, and overall school registration in line with both State and Commonwealth expectations. The second involves self-reflection, assessing our performance, growth, and areas for improvement in school development.

It was a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team, where everyone had the opportunity to contribute their insights and experiences. The conversations were open, thoughtful, and constructive, fostering a strong sense of shared purpose.

We will keep you informed as we move through the process. Following the review, we will develop our School Improvement Plan and Annual Action Plan, outlining our next steps.

Thank you to our families for your ongoing support as we engage in this important work.

Prep Enrolments 2026!

Yes, you read that right, we're only halfway through Term 1, but we're already planning ahead for 2026!

A big thank you to Rachelle, our ICT support, for creating the flyers for our upcoming school tours. If you have family or friends with a child starting Prep next year, please share our tour details with them, we’d love to welcome them to our school community.

We also ask our existing families with younger children starting Prep in 2026 to let us know as soon as possible. Early enrolment helps us plan for class sizes and staffing for the year ahead.

And finally, a special thank you to the wonderful children who featured in our flyers, who said you shouldn’t work with children and animals?

The Season of Lent

Today marks the last day of summer, and as the mornings grow cooler, we begin to turn our thoughts toward the Easter season.

Next Wednesday, we enter the season of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares Catholics for the celebration of Easter. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent commemorates Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert, emphasising repentance and spiritual renewal. During this time, Catholics are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God by making sacrifices, performing acts of charity, and dedicating more time to prayer.

We warmly invite families to join us for a Prayer Gathering at 9:00 am next Wednesday in the multipurpose room as we begin this sacred season together.

Schools Out

It has been lovely hearing the excitement and laughter, especially on a Thursday morning, with children attending our before and after-school care program. Each Thursday, Jack from Schools Out runs a sports program, and it is a wonderful sound to walk into school and hear the collaboration, encouragement, and fun the children are having. Each day, there is an organised program where each child's needs are met by having some choice in what they would like to do. It is a wonderful space where the children are cared for and enjoy many activities. Please reach out to the office or Schools Out staff if you would like more information about the program.

Introducing Our New Sports Page!

We’re excited to launch the Holy Cross Sports Page, a new addition to our newsletter! Updated monthly by our House Leaders, this page will feature the latest sports news, highlights, and important dates for upcoming events.

Stay tuned for all things sport at Holy Cross!

This Week on the Learning and Teaching Page:

This week, we reflect on one year of MACS’ Vision for Instruction at Holy Cross and the positive impact it has had on teaching and learning. With a focus on explicit instruction, we have strengthened our Literacy and Mathematics programs through Daily Reviews, frequent Checks for Understanding, and in-depth novel studies. As we move forward, our goal is to refine and embed these practices to ensure all children continue to flourish. Read more about how we are embracing this approach in our classrooms on the Learning and Teaching page.

To our Year 3 & 5 families, NAPLAN 2025 begins on Wednesday 12th March.

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will be sitting their NAPLAN tests starting on March 12th. We approach NAPLAN with a calm and supportive mindset, ensuring our students feel reassured and confident.

To help them perform at their best, we encourage plenty of rest and good nutrition. While some children handle these testing days with ease, others may feel tired or irritable. Your understanding and encouragement will go a long way in supporting them.

If you have any concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher. An information flyer, along with the testing timetable, is available on our Learning and Teaching page.

Thank you!

Not only have our outdoor tables and chairs been repaired and replaced, but Paul has also given them a thorough clean and a fresh coat of paint. They are now more inviting spaces for children and families to gather and enjoy.

Thank you, Paul! We truly appreciate the time and care you’ve put into making our outdoor area more welcoming.

Have a wonderful weekend, and remember school photos are next Tuesday!

Kellie and Kate

All students attending Holy Cross Primary School have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.

Inform and Empower