Kellie & Kate's Message

Dear Families,

 

What a busy and rewarding two weeks it has been! It has been a privilege to spend time with the children and families in our school community, sharing experiences, and celebrating successes together.

 

Yesterday we attended the Victorian Schools Garden Awards at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, where Holy Cross was recognised with an award for the Best Edible Garden! As part of the award, we also received $1,000 to spend on enhancing our garden. This is a wonderful achievement, and it was a privilege to accept the award on behalf of our school. A special congratulations to Caitlyn Blake, our dedicated Outdoor Education Leader, who not only oversees this wonderful program but also prepared the application that showcased the incredible initiatives our children engage in during outdoor education classes.

We’ve included some more photos in the Holy Cross Happenings section. We are so grateful for the rich learning opportunities provided through these sessions and are very appreciative of the support from our parent volunteers. Their time and effort are vital to the success of this program, and this award is a testament to their dedication as well.

We encourage you to check out the video submission included in the Holy Cross Happenings to see just how much is achieved in this space. A big thank-you to Caitlyn and her team of volunteers for creating such meaningful and engaging experiences for our children, and to Abby Fiddes for continuing this valuable program while Caitlyn is on leave.

 

 

 

Sovereign Hill 

 

Last Thursday, our Year 5 and 6 children stepped back in time with a visit to Sovereign Hill, immersing themselves in the rich history of the goldfields. They had the opportunity to try their hand at candle making, master the art of writing with a quill pen and of course, no trip to Sovereign Hill is complete without trying your luck panning for gold!

Watching the children's faces as they found a gold speck in their pan was priceless! 

When the troopers approached asking to see our gold license and then ripped them up in front of our eyes, was also fun to watch. 

It was an amazing day of adventure and learning. A big thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who joined us, making it easier for the children to explore and enjoy the experience. More photos in Holy Cross happenings page. 

 

 

 

Year 3/4 Camp

 

This week, we also had the pleasure of spending time with our Year 3 and 4 students at YMCA Lady Northcote Camp in Glenmore. The weather was perfect for two days of outdoor activities, and some even thought it was warm enough for a swim! Others enjoyed a refreshing splash while canoeing—whether planned or not!

The children approached every activity with a positive mindset, challenging themselves to try new things. We were incredibly proud of their behaviour, attentiveness, and enthusiasm. Even the camp staff commented on their engagement and have-a-go attitude, which was wonderful to hear.

Camps are a fantastic opportunity for children to strengthen friendships, step outside their comfort zones, and simply have fun and laugh together in a relaxed setting. It was a privilege to share this experience with them.

Thank you to our staff, who gave up time with their own families to make this camp possible. Their care and attention to the children while away from home was heartwarming to see.

Don’t forget to check out the Holy Cross Happenings section for more camp photos!

 

 

Year 6 Graduation

 

It’s that time of year again when we begin preparing to farewell our Year 6 children as they embark on their high school journey. At Holy Cross, our long-standing tradition for Graduation includes a special theme, revealed on the evening, making it a truly memorable occasion. Year 5 families have assisted with the set-up of the multipurpose room and meal service on the night. Additionally, our past students, now in Year 7, continue the spirit of community by volunteering to serve meals—a beautiful way to stay connected to our school.

We are seeking Year 5 parent volunteers to assist with the Graduation setup on Saturday, 30th November, or Sunday, 1st December or assist on the night of Graduation, Tuesday the 3rd of December to help with serving meals. If you’re available to help, please email us at holycross@hcnewgisborne.catholic.edu.au.

We are also meeting at 10 am tomorrow morning in the multipurpose room if any Year 5 parents would like to join us, unfortunately, children can not attend during the set up of graduation. 

Your support ensures this milestone event is a success and creates cherished memories for our graduating students. Thank you for helping make it possible!

 

 

Before School Drop-Offs: A Reminder About Safety

Children's safety is always our top priority. Please note that yard supervision begins at 8:30 am each morning. If your child needs to arrive earlier than this, we encourage you to take advantage of the School’s Out Before School Care Program.

For children walking or riding to school, we kindly ask that you ensure they do not arrive too early. Unsupervised children may face safety risks, and we want to avoid any incidents where assistance may not be immediately available.

For more information about before or after school care, including how to enroll in the School’s Out program, please refer to the new dedicated section in this newsletter.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community safe!

 

Whooping Cough

There have been a couple of confirmed cases of whooping cough (Pertussis) at school. Whooping cough is a serious, contagious, respiratory infection.

Whooping cough begins with symptoms like those of a cold such as a cough, tiredness, blocked or runny nose, and low-grade fevers, which may last for one to 2 weeks. After these symptoms, the cough usually worsens to include:

  • severe cough that can occur in bouts
  • characteristic 'whooping' sound on breathing
  • vomiting at the end of a bout of coughing

Other symptoms may include poor appetite, fatigue and dehydration. People may appear well between bouts of coughing. During the recovery period, the cough gradually decreases but can last up to 3 months.

As whooping cough is highly contagious, we are taking every precaution to prevent further spread of the infection. If your child is unwell and/or coughing, please don't send them to school and seek medical attention. 

 

Thank you also to Jodie and our Year 1 children for their beautiful Prayer Gathering this afternoon. It was a wonderful way to end a very busy week!

 

Have a peaceful weekend,

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.