Dear Families,

It’s incredible how much can happen in just two days, let alone two weeks since our last newsletter! We could easily fill this edition with everything that has taken place in such a short time.

Today, we were delighted to welcome Emmy in Prep and her family to our Holy Cross community. We know our children, staff, and families will warmly welcome the Haynes family and help them feel at home as they settle in.

We are truly grateful for the enthusiastic support of our staff and families in all our extracurricular activities. While it’s not often that so many major events happen in such a short time, the past two weeks have been a whirlwind of energy and excitement!

Welcome Picnic

Last Friday, we were fortunate to enjoy perfect weather for our annual Welcome Picnic, something quite rare for Holy Cross events! It was wonderful to see families coming together and enjoying the evening. A big thank you to our incredible PFA, who once again amazed us with their seamless organisation of the BBQ for our whole school community. While they make it look easy, we know just how much planning, preparation, and cleanup goes into making the event a success. On behalf of everyone who attended, thank you to all our volunteers for their time and dedication.

St Brigid’s Church 150th Anniversary

Following the Welcome Picnic, many of our staff and families joined in celebrating the 150th anniversary of St Brigid’s Church last Sunday. It was a beautiful reminder of the importance of our wider faith community and the joy of coming together in celebration. The organising committee spent eight months planning this special event and was truly overwhelmed by the support on the day. We have included a letter from Trish Armstrong, who did an incredible job coordinating the event, on our Parish News page.

Year 3–6 Swimming Trials

Once again, we were extremely grateful for the fantastic support for our Year 3–6 swimming trials. The amount of behind-the-scenes preparation required, especially the paperwork, is astounding! A huge thank you to Casey Gaunt, who triple-checks every detail before the children even leave school.

On the day, there was a mix of nerves and excitement, especially for our Year 3 children competing for the first time. We are incredibly proud of their courage in giving it a go, as well as the way all students supported and encouraged one another. Of course, this event wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers, and we are so grateful to everyone who contributed to making the day so enjoyable for the children.

A Special ‘Haircut’ for Our Sheep!

While half the school was at the swimming trials, those who stayed behind had a unique experience, watching our beloved sheep get a haircut!

We are fortunate to have three Dorper sheep on site, thanks to the generosity of the Williams family. While Dorpers typically shed their wool naturally, sometimes they need a little extra help. Two of our Year 6 students, Thea and Mehar, have been diligently caring for the sheep, checking on them daily and ensuring their well-being. Concerned about the recent hot weather, they approached us about arranging a shearing session, and thanks to the kindness of Tyson and Tiffany from mobile shearing in Bacchus Marsh, the sheep are now much more comfortable! Thea and Mehar have shared photos on our Holy Cross Happenings page.

Aqua Aware Program

It may feel like a long time ago, but just last week, our Year 4 to 6 students took part in the Aqua Aware program at the Gisborne Aquatic Centre. A great deal of preparation goes into making this program a success, and we truly appreciate the efforts of everyone involved, especially again, to our volunteers!

Water safety is an essential life skill, and programs like Aqua Aware help our children build confidence and awareness in and around water. Learning these skills not only supports their physical development but also equips them with the knowledge to stay safe in different aquatic environments.

School's Out

On Tuesday morning, the School’s Out team treated our children, families, and staff to a wonderful breakfast. With music playing, games being enjoyed, and a delicious buffet of breakfast items to share, it was a fantastic way to start the day!

If you’re interested in before or after-school care, feel free to drop in and chat with one of the team members or enquire at the school office.

Parent - Teacher Chats

Thank you to all the families who joined us, whether in person or via phone, for our recent parent-teacher chats. Strong partnerships between home and school are essential, and open communication throughout the year helps us work together to support each child’s learning and wellbeing.

We encourage parents to stay in touch, whether by email, a phone call, or arranging a meeting, to discuss any concerns or questions. Likewise, we love hearing about the successes, milestones, and special moments in your child’s life. Your insights and celebrations help us build a connected and supportive school community.

We look forward to continuing this partnership throughout the year!

Learning and Teaching Page

Read the Learning and Teaching Page to find out more about our Synthetic Phonics Reading lessons, Discovery for 2025 and our upcoming NAPLAN assessments.

Reminder: Mobile Phone & Smart Watch Policy

To ensure the safety and focus of all students, children are required to hand in their mobile phones at the school office upon arrival and collect them at the end of the school day.

We have noticed an increase in the number of children wearing smart watches to school. To minimise distractions in class and align with our child safety standards, smartwatches must be set to school mode during school hours. Additionally, no photos of children are allowed to be taken on these devices.

If students or families need to communicate during school hours, please contact the school office directly.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school a safe and focused learning environment.

A Heartfelt Thank You

We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from our school community. Your kind messages, check-ins, and offers of help mean so much to us.

We are fortunate to have such generous people sharing their time and talents to support our children at Holy Cross. Today, John Ellis visited the Year 6 Outdoor Education class to demonstrate how to use a refractometer to test the sugar levels in our grapes. The children ventured into the vineyard to gather a sample, and John showed them how to read the levels using the juice. Stay tuned for more updates, we’ve heard from the best authority (John himself) that we could be picking our grapes in the next few weeks! John will be back next Friday to test the sugar levels with our other Year 6 Outdoor Ed class. A huge thank you to John for sharing his time and teaching both the children and us.

We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Paul Gatty for his generosity over the past few weeks. Replacing and painting some of our outdoor tables was on last year’s working bee agenda, but other priorities meant it had to be postponed. Thanks to Paul and his son Wyatt, the damaged wood has now been replaced, and the children are already enjoying the refreshed space. Keep an eye out for Paul in his fluro vest as he continues painting the benches, and be sure to thank him for his time and effort. We truly appreciate all he has done. Thank you, Paul!

Building a Strong Foundation in Term 1

We feel privileged to witness the kindness and learning shared between students each day. Our Year 6 leaders have truly stepped up, showing initiative and responsibility, identifying needs, and taking action. The school has had a wonderful, calm atmosphere, with children, staff, and families all supporting one another.

Term 1 is all about building strong relationships, setting expectations, and establishing routines that will guide us through the year. We are grateful for our wonderful school community and look forward to all that’s ahead.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend filled with precious family time.

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.

Parish News

St Brigid's Church 150th Anniversary