ALUMNI

Last week we welcomed Georgia Heggs to the College as a relief teacher.  Georgia was one of our foundation students when she commenced at Holy Cross in 2010 and she is now a graduate teacher.  It was wonderful to welcome our first Alumni relief teacher.  

STAFF

It was a privilege  to attend the extraordinary liturgy of the Rite of Election of Catechumens at St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday night.  This was an important part in the journey of three of our staff – Mr Mark Potts, Miss Amy Edwards and Miss Jessie De Leon - who are preparing  for the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter.  At this celebration they will be fully incorporated into the Catholic Church.  It was also wonderful to see some of our College parents at the Cathedral as catechumens and sponsors.

Congratulations to Mrs Laura Billingron and her husband, Henry, on the birth of their son last week.

This week we farewell Mr Ian Oxwell, Digital Technologies Coordinator.  Mr Oxwell has made a significant contribution to Holy Cross in the past six years.  His commitment and expertise has provide us with ICT systems to support learning as we have grown as a leading digital school.  Mr Oxwell also played a key role in the implementation of pilgrimage as a faith practice at Holy Cross College. I think Mr Oxwell for his dedication and his contribution to so many areas of College life.  I wish him well as he embarks on a wonderful sailing journey.

This week we welcome the following new staff to the College :

• Mrs Joanna Nigro  - Education Assistant
• Mrs Carol Oats – Café Assistant
• Mr Adi Trehan – Digital Systems Coordinator  (Mr Trehan will officially start at the College on 15 April, but  will spend some time at HCC during the next few weeks doing handover.)

I have been asked to lead a group of Principals and CEWA staff on the Camino de Santiago in Spain during April.  It is wonderful to be able to share the spirit of pilgrimage which is so important to the faith story of Holy Cross.  I will be away for Weeks 9 and 10 of this term.  During this time Mr Peter Collins will take on the role of Acting Principal.  Mrs Kylie Day has been appointed as the  Acting Vice Principal.  Miss Aoife Hickey will take on an Assistant Deputy Principal role.  During Weeks 8 – 10 Mrs Christina Davini will take on an Acting Deputy Principal – Inter-relationships position and Mr Jarrad Pisano will take on the Frayne House Coordinator position for this time.

CELEBRATING SALVADO

Salvado House celebrated their Feast Day on Wednesday.  The day started with a Mass for Salvado students and their parents.  At the end of the Mass Student Leaders in Salvado House were commissioned with a special blessing.  The celebration continued into lunchtime with a share meal of pizzas.  Each House celebrates their Feast Day on a date which is close to that of the birth, death or canonization of their patron. Rosendo Salvado was born on 1 March in Tui, Spain and Salvado Feast Day is usually on a Wednesday on or near to this date.

 

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that 13 per cent of Australian students are missing a year of school by Year Ten. This is a concerning figure. If a student has a day off school each fortnight they will have missed about a year of schooling by the time they reach Year 10.  Regular days off and holidays in school time can add up to a student missing large amounts of learning.  While students need to stay home when they are sick, absence for other reasons should be avoided. I encourage parents to be very aware of the time students take off during the school year and the way in which the aggregation of these days can impact on student learning.  Professional Learning Days are usually attached to the long weekends in March and June giving families the opportunity to take an ‘extra long’ weekend away without impacting on class time.  This weekend students have a four day weekend asTuesday 5 March, is Professional Learning Day for staff. There will be no classes for students on this day.

CELEBRATING CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ELLENBROOK

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to St Helena’s Catholic Primary School who celebrated their 20^th anniversary with a Mass and BBQ last  night.  St Helena’s CPS was the first Catholic school in Ellenbrook and prior to our opening as a College we had our office at St Helena’s.  We value our relationship with St Helena’s as we work together as one Catholic community in Ellenbrook.

REMEMBERING SR IRENE McCORMACK

Last week were privileged to have a visit from John McCormack, brother of Sr Irene McCormack.  John visited Holy Cross with his cousin Graham Fisher.  It was a pleasure to be able to show them our College and to share our Faith story which has been strongly influenced by the faith-filled life of Sr Irene.  We heard stories of Irene growing up on the farm in Trayning and of her final years in Peru.  John also told us of a visit by his nephew to Huasahuasi and shared some photos of this small town, high in the Andes mountains where Irene was executed by Shining Path Terrorists.  Her crime – handing out Caritas food parcels.  Talking with John, it reminded me that in Irene was an ordinary West Australian who loved her job as an educator and was passionate about football.  She has had an extraordinary influence on so many people because of her courage in living out the Gospel message by working with impoverished villagers in Peru despite the danger to her own life.  We were delighted to be able to tell John and Graham that our new Gymnasium will be named Lima. This city is the capital of Peru, and a place where Irene also worked with the poor in Peru.  

OPENING COLLEGE MASS

We celebrated our Opening College Mass on Wednesday, coming together a College community to give thanks for the beginning of a new school year. At the beginning of Mass we had a special blessing for new staff and students, as well for Board members and the Executive of the Friends of Holy Cross.  Thanks to Mr Ben Bull for coordinating the organisation of the Mass and to our celebrant and Parish Priest, Fr Bona.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Years 4 – 7 enjoyed their swimming carnival yesterday. There was a wonderful sense of House spirit and a great level of participation.  The final scores were very close, with Ozanam taking the shield and Frayne a close second.  It was great to see many parents and family members at the carnival, as helpers and spectators.  Thanks to Mr James Parsons and the Health and Physical Education Team for their organisation of this event.