This Sunday, we're celebrating Fathers' Day, a time to honor our fathers and all the father figures in our lives. As people who spend a lot of time with children, it's not hard to notice how children often look up to their dads, copying their actions and even their mannerisms, and this week was no exception. We saw toddlers arrive in full hi-vis gear just like their fathers, and watched a new prep student share a confident handshake, a gesture they had seen moments earlier. Whilst snapping Fathers' Day portraits, it was clear that many students and their dads even shared the same expression.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus asks us, his disciples, to pick up our cross and follow him. As a school named 'Holy Cross', this message holds special meaning for us. This call is much like a child's desire to emulate their parent. We are called to copy and embody Christ in everything we do, not just in the easy moments, but rather fully embrace what it means to be Christ to others.

This means living out our faith in all aspects of our lives:

Speaking kindly to our friends, but also to those who have hurt or challenged us.
Reaching out to people who are lonely or feel left out, ensuring they have a sense of belonging.
Sacrificing our own comforts so that others, especially those facing hardship, can find comfort too.

As we celebrate Fathers' Day, let's remember that just as children look up to and copy the actions of their parents, we are called to look to Christ as our example and emulate him in everything we do.

Many Blessings,

Eloise Meyer

In the loop this week...

For a full run down of what's coming up, visit our Dates for your Diary Page

Monday 8th - Year 4 Eucharist Reflection Day
Wednesday 10th - Year 5 and 6 Camp to Phillip Island ( 2 nights)
Thursday 11th - Division Athletics
Friday 12th - No Assembly (moved to Thursday 18th September due to Camp)
Sunday 14th - Year 4 First Eucharist Ceremony, 4.30pm St Brigid's Church

Fathers' Day Breakfast

What a great way to start Father's Day! Thank you to everyone who braved the frosty morning to join us for our special breakfast. It was wonderful to see so many of our families gathered together to celebrate the dads and father figures in our community.

A huge thank you goes out to the PFA for sourcing the bacon, eggs, and rolls, and to Josh's Rainbow Eggs for their generous donation of eggs. Thanks also to School's Out for running our Father's Day craft workshop.

We also want to give a special shout-out to our dedicated staff some who arrived at school from 6 a.m., setting up and serving over 200 Bacon and Egg Rolls with a smile. Their hard work made the morning a huge success.

Finally, we'd like to extend our deepest gratitude to our Year 5A students for their beautiful and thoughtful prayer service. Their blessing for all the dads and father figures was a perfect start to the day.

Your presence and support mean the world to us. Happy Fathers' Day!

Enrolments and planning for 2026

A big thank you to all the new families who braved the weather to visit our school over the weekend! It was a pleasure to show so many new faces our beautiful school.

At this point in the year, we understand there may be questions about 2026, and we want to assure you that no decisions have been made regarding class structures or staffing. We are still accepting enrolments and it's simply too early to determine our plans for next year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at principal@hcnewgisborne.catholic.edu.au

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.