Dear Families,

This week I had the rare privilege of standing at both ends of the schooling journey in a single day, beginning the morning at Prep Orientation and ending the evening at a Year 12 Graduation. It was a true bookend moment.

Seeing our youngest learners take their first steps into school life, and then watching young adults confidently step into their future, was a powerful reminder of why our work matters. Every stage of a child’s journey is shaped by care, connection and the steady efforts of families and educators walking alongside them.

This Sunday’s Feast of Christ the King, which closes one liturgical year and opens another, echoes this same sense of standing between an ending and a beginning. These bookend moments are part of all our lives, and this week they felt especially real and meaningful.

And with Advent beginning the following week, we are invited into a season of hopeful waiting and preparation and a reminder that every ending opens the door to something new. Advent calls us to make space for the future God dreams for us, and to take the small, faithful steps that help bring that future to life.

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, we know it may feel like many things are changing at once. To support families, we will soon send out a short Parent Survey where you can share any questions or wonderings. It’s simply another way to ensure you have the information you need and that our communication remains timely, clear and helpful. And of course, you are always welcome to email me or your child’s teacher.

Amidst all the transition, some things remain constant: our commitment to every child, our dedication to excellent learning and teaching, and our belief that every child can flourish when surrounded by people who value and support them.

Thank you for the privilege of partnering with you in this journey.

Many Blessings,

Eloise Meyer

emeyer@hcnewgisborne.catholic.edu.au

Class Structures Update 2026

We appreciate your patience as we finalise our preparations for next year.

We confirm that in 2026, the school will operate with the following class structures:

Grade Prep/1: 2 classes
Grade 1/2: 2 classes
Grade 3/4: 3 classes
Grade 5/6: 2 classes

We have put a great deal of work into deciding these structures including the move to a composite model which we shared in the last newsletter (see Q & A sheet here). Additionally, we are excited about the increased opportunity for collaboration among our teaching teams.

We are in the final stages of individual student placements and staff allocation and are working hard to ensure the best possible arrangements for all students.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out.

Holy Cross Leadership Appointments 2026

We are delighted to formally announce the appointment of Jane Barlow as our new Deputy Principal (Engagement), beginning in Term 1, 2026.

Jane comes to us from St Carlo Borromeo in Greenvale where she has been in the role of Acting Deputy Principal. While she may be new to our staff, she is deeply familiar with our local community and shares our values as a local resident and active member of St Brigid’s Parish.

Jane’s Deputy Principal (Engagement) role is a comprehensive new role that was borne from our schools’ improvement direction, designed to build on the incredible wellbeing program already at Holy Cross, whilst specifically drawing attention to belonging, inclusion, and community, to ensure that we continue to foster inclusive learning environments and a strong, positive culture for all. We look forward to welcoming Jane to Holy Cross in the new year.

We are equally excited to confirm the appointment of our Learning Diversity Leader and Learning and Teaching Leader from 2026.

We extend our congratulations to Zoe Vandenhurk on her appointment as Learning and Teaching Leader. Zoe has been a fundamental member of the Holy Cross team, serving previously as Literacy Leader and Religious Education Leader. In this crucial role, Zoe will ensure high-quality, consistent teaching across all subjects, including our commitment to explicit teaching and a knowledge rich, connected curriculum. We congratulate Zoe on her appointment!

Additionally, we are delighted to announce the re-appointment of Kathleen Masters as our Learning Diversity Leader. Kathleen already plays a vital role in inclusive education at Holy Cross, working to ensure that every unique learner is welcomed, valued, and actively engaged in learning. We look forward to seeing her incredible work in this space continue. Congratulations Kathleen!

🚦 Holy Cross Wins $5,000 Bendigo Bank Grant for Traffic Safety School! 🎉

We have amazing news! Holy Cross has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Bendigo Community Bank to create a brand new Traffic Safety School right here on the school grounds!

Inspired by conversations with our students about the need for signs and safety education on our bike track, this exciting project aims to transform the top asphalt area into a realistic zone complete with roundabouts, road markings, signs, and even traffic lights!

It will be a fantastic hands-on resource for:

Bike Education and safety lessons for our students.
Structured and imaginative play at break times.
Local community groups and kindergartens.

We have already consulted with the Student Representative Council who have prioritised safety, storage and imaginative play that can run alongside the traffic school. Additionally we have staff attending Bike Education training this week to ensure alignment with the Bike Ed program.

Our sincere thanks to the PFA for running this project and bringing this unique idea to life! We also want to give a shout-out to Mikey in Year 3 (pictured), whose passionate description of bout why a traffic school would be great for Holy Cross helped secure this crucial funding.

We can't wait to start building this practical and engaging learning space!

School Closure on Fire Danger Days

We would like to draw your attention to our processes for Fire Danger Days including the requirement to CLOSE the school on EXTREME and CATASTROPHIC fire danger days. Please visit 'Fire Danger Days' for more information.

Transition to NFORMA in 2026!

We are excited to announce a significant upgrade to how we manage student information and communicate with you. In 2026, Holy Cross is transitioning to NFORMA, our new, all-in-one student management and communication platform.

What is NFORMA?

NFORMA replaces several different systems with one central platform, eliminating the need to log into multiple apps or websites for different tasks (including Operoo which will cease Australian operations in January 2026). We are confident this consolidation will make staying connected with the school simpler and more efficient than ever!

Key Benefits for You:

Single Access Point: Access everything via the user-friendly NFORMA Parent App (Apple/Android) or a web portal.
Centralised Communication: Get newsletters, notices, and direct messages from teachers/staff all in one place.
Real-Time Updates: Receive push notifications to keep you up-to-date instantly. No more searching through emails.
Digital Permissions: Complete and sign all necessary permission slips and school forms digitally. (This replaces Operoo.)
Effortless Attendance: Quickly and easily notify the school of your child's absence directly through the app.
Secure Reports: Easily view, download, and store your child's past and present semester reports.
Medical & Safety: Accurately track and manage your child's medical information and emergency contacts. Plus, notification of first aid visits and history.
School Calendar: Access the school calendar easily within the platform.

Next Steps for You:

We will be providing detailed instructions soon on how to download the NFORMA Parent App and log into the Parent Portal for the first time in the coming weeks.

Please note any payment and purchasing will remain through CDF pay.

We look forward to a smoother and more connected 2026!

Post-Assembly Stalls: Bake Sale & Produce!

Thanks everyone who came to last Friday's Bake Sale and produce stall especially those who baked and donated such an amazing array of goodies.

We can't think of a batter way to spend a Friday afternoon, catch up with friends, and support our school at the same time.

So don't dessert us and join us next Friday!

Date	Year Level Hosting
Friday 17th October	Year 4 - Thankyou!
Friday 31st October	Year 5 - Incredible!
Friday 14th November	Year 6 - Fantastic!
Friday 28th November	Year Prep

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.

School's Out