Aoife's Message

*NO ASSEMBLY NEXT FRIDAY 18TH DUE TO SETTING UP FOR THE TWILIGHT FAIR

Dear Families,
Welcome to Term 4, traditionally this term is always jam packed, but then again it seems like all terms are like that at Holy Cross! Over the holidays we upgraded the wifi in all classrooms and replaced our server, setting ourselves up for a smoother and more efficient digital experience. We are also part way through refurbishing the staffroom so that it can be used more purposefully. Works should be complete in the next ten days. Please see the Learning & Teaching page for more information on our recent professional development and the Wellbeing page for cyber safety tips and the 'Day For Daniel' initiative.

Welcome
This term we welcome the Cavanagh family to our school. Lewis has joined Year 2 and his sister Isabella has joined us in Year 1. We hope you'll be very happy at Holy Cross.

Thank You for Caring for Our Animals and Garden
A big thank you to the families who helped care for our animals and vegetable garden over the holidays—including the extra sheep that unexpectedly joined our Holy Cross family for part of the break! We love using our Outdoor Ed space as a teaching tool for a variety of subjects, from environmental education, wellbeing and science to nutrition. This valuable resource wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of our wonderful volunteers during the holidays. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Abby Fiddes is teaching Outdoor Ed this term while Caitlyn is on maternity leave. Abby has planned sessions alongside Caitlyn and will no doubt have everyone engaged in the many aspects of teaching and learning that this area provides.

Sunbury Show

If you happen to be at the Sunbury Show tomorrow, swing past the stage and check out our Holy Cross School choir performing some songs as part of a choir competition. They have been practising hard and are looking forward to taking to the stage.

You may also see some creative works entered in the show by Holy Cross children!

Disco

In the last week of Term 3 our tireless PFA crew hosted a school disco for the children. As always plenty of organisation and effort went into ensuring that this was a fun and well run experience - thank you to the PFA team. Check out the PFA page for some photos and videos of this event.

Term 4 Reminders

Hats

A reminder that Term 4 requires children to wear their school hat while outside. As the UV rates increase staff will begin to remind children to reapply sunscreen at the second break.

School Closure Days

Friday 1st November

Monday 4th November

TWILIGHT FAIR

Preparations are well underway for our upcoming Twilight Fair next week, we are incredibly grateful for the hard work and effort going on behind the scenes. It's hard to quantify exactly how much time and energy has gone into this event, we are blessed to have such a dedicated and passionate group of parents at our school. Please see our Twilight Fair Sponsors page and support our generous sponsors.

Pilgrimage - Journey of Saint Paul

I am extremely grateful to have been able to travel with the Outer North West Zone principal group in the last two weeks of Term 3. I wanted to share with you two moments from this pilgrimage have stood out above all others:

- Praying at the Baptistry of Lydia and renewing our baptismal promises was a profound experience. The simplicity of the setting, the peace and tranquillity and feeling of being at one with God was truly beautiful. I'm not ashamed to say that tears sprang to my eyes while I was there.

- At the Monastery of Saint John in Patmos two of the principals and I happened to stop and listen to a group of people who were praying in Spanish. They began to sing the most beautiful song and reached out to us to hold hands with them. It might have seemed awkward elsewhere but Daniel, Terry and I were deeply moved that they would include us and bless us as part of their pilgrimage experience.

Thank you to Kellie and Kate J for their support while I was away.

Have a peaceful weekend,

Aoife

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.