Happy Holidays ....

Lord, as we prepare for Christmas,
let us help each other to be the best that we can be.
Help us to give generously of ourselves and others
in service to others for the sake of Christ.
 
Thanks to all families who gave generously to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.

We have reached the end of another busy year - our fourth since we opened as a College.     We are poised at an exciting milestone as we will return in 2014 to some significant developments - our first group of graduates will commence their final year at HCC and we will welcome the K - 2 students to our new Early Learning Centre.

This week we met with the Executive Student Leadership Team and at yesterday’s assembly the Senior Leaders welcomed the newly appointed leaders from Years 8 - 10 2014.  The full list of Student Leaders is on LIFE@HCC.

REPORTS AND LEARNING CONVERSATIONS
Reports are now available for all year levels through Parent Coneqt.  Instructions for accessing reports were emailed to parents on Friday.  Learning Conversations for Senior School students were held last Tuesday and students have the opportunity to reflect on their learning with their parents and Learning Advisors..  I encourage parents to spend some time with their Middle School students reflecting on the report and talking through goals for 2014.

CAMINO
On Thursday we did a walk with the group of students who will be walking a section of the Camino in 2014.   We walked from Perth Train Station up to Kings Park and then down into Subiaco to visit the area where Salvado and the Benedictines established themselves in the 1850s.  The area was called New Subiaco, named after Subiaco in Italy, where St Benedict lived in the fifth century. We visited St Joseph’s Church where we were welcomed by Fr Jo Walsh who gave the students some insights into the life of Bishop Salvado.  He also welcomed us into the Upper Room in the Parish Centre for a much needed cold drink on a very hot day.  Outside St Joseph’s Church is a magnificent bronze sculpture of Salvado ‘striding out’  towards Perth. In 1863 Salvado laid the foundation stone of St Mary’s Cathedral in Victoria Square  The Cathedral was built by Benedictine Monks who walked each day from Subiaco to the building site.
From St Joseph’s we walked to the Mercy Care Centre in Wembley  On this site are the stables, the last remaining buildings from the Benedictine farm and also some of the Olive Trees from the Benedictine era.  It was a good opportunity for the group  to immerse themselves in some of the history of the Benedictines in Western Australia, before setting out to Italy and Spain in April next year.

THANKS
I extend my deep gratitude to staff for their wonderful commitment to this growing school.  The many opportunities students have had this year are a result of a generous team of staff.  We will farewell two staff members at the end of this year - Mrs Kathy Mueller and Mr Tony Chinnock.  Mrs Mueller has been our first College Counsellor and has done a wonderful job in establishing this service at HCC and in supporting students.  Mr Chinnock has been with us for 12 months and has assisted with the building programme, the Onsite programme and Maths classes.  I wish Mrs Mueller and Mr Chinnock all the best for the next stage of their journey.  Mrs Denise Moolla will be taking Long Service Leave in Term One and I wish her all the best for a well deserved break.  We will look forward to seeing her back at HCC in Term 2.  Our staff will grow significantly in 2014 with the addition of nearly 200 new students.  A full list of new staff will be posted on LIFE@HCC.

I would like to thank all parents who have contributed to Holy Cross College this year.  I wish you all a happy and holy Christmas with your families and look forward to seeing you in the new year.


M Connor
Principal

Week 8

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Friday was a significant day as we welcomed parents of our new Early Learning Centre students to Holy Cross College.  It was delightful to see many of the young children who will commence in Kindergarten to Year 2 next year.   The parent information session included details regarding the faith life, the learning programme, the first days of school, swimming lessons and daily routines. The students have been fitted out with their new uniforms and are looking forward to their first day of school.  The Early Learning Centre will be completed at the beginning of March.  During the first few weeks of term the younger students will be accommodated in existing College facilities. 

COLLEGE BOARD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

The Board AGM was held on Tuesday evening.  The Board Chairperson's Report was presented as was the 2014 Budget.   I would like to thank the College Board for their commitment this year as we have worked through the planning process for a large building programme and for the development of a K - 12  College.  I particularly acknowledge Ms Flavia Lenzo, for her contribution to the College.  Flavia was a member of the Foundation Board and for the past four years has been Board Chairperson.  Flavia will remain on the Board during 2014 as the representative of Friends of Holy Cross, Marko Pasalich, who has been the Board Treasurer for the past two years, will take on the role of Board Chairperson. 

GRATITUDE MASS

On Wednesday we celebrated the College Gratitude Mass.  This is an annual liturgical celebration through which we give thanks for all the gifts we have received this year.  This was our final College Mass with Fr Francis as he is leaving the Parish in January to take up hospital chaplaincy.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Thanks you to Mr Elliott  for organising Thursday's Inter-House Swimming Carnival.  It was good to see the spirit of participation among the students who attended and great to see many students getting involved in competitive and novelty events.  Well done to Frayne House - the overall winners of the carnival.  Full results for the swimming carnival can be found on Life@HCC blog - http://web.holycross.wa.edu.au/news/lifeblog.php

It was disappointing to note the high rate of absenteeism on Thursday.  I would like to remind parents that when students enter the College students and parents sign an Enrolment Agreement committing themselves to participating in all College events.  

SCHOOL REPORTS

Senior School Interim Reports will be uploaded to Parent Coneqt on Tuesday. Students in Years 10 - 12  will finish classes at midday on Tuesday and will meet with their parents and Learning Advisors during the afternoon to discuss their Interim Report. 

Middle School Reports will be uploaded to Parent Coneqt on Friday.  Instructions for accessing Reports will be emailed to parents.  If any parents have difficulty accessing Reports please contact the College Office.

Ms Mandy Connor

Week 7

ANNUAL CELEBRATION EVENING

Thank you to all parents and family members who joined us for our Annual Celebration Evening on Thursday. The evening commenced with a moving liturgy on the theme ‘Praying the Gospel’. Thank you to Mrs Walmsley for preparing the liturgy. The evening’s entertainment included a movie of ‘The Year That Was’ prepared by Mr Gooch and entertainment by the College Choir and Barbershop led by Mr McRae. Student achievements were celebrated in the form of academic awards for Excellence and Effort as well as Special Awards for LIFE, House and the Romero Christian Citizenship Award. A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Senior School Student

Executive Leadership. Well done to Giordarna Rigoli and Teaghan Barone who have been selected as the College Captains, to LIFE Captains - Michael Stewart, Abbey Clayton, Sofia Sofocado and Georgia Heggs, House Captains - Taya Horley, Connor Francois, Sarah Reyes and Casey van der Merwe - and Student Secretary - Kirsten Calitz. Pictured here are some of the Student Leaders.

DA VINCI PRESENTATIONS

On Thursday the 2013 Da Vinci programme concluded with a presentation of the Semester 2 projects and a morning tea for parents and school representatives. The Da Vinci programme is an extension Science and Technology programme offered by the College for selected students in our regional Catholic primary schools - St Helena’s Catholic Primary School - Ellenbrook, Mary MacKillop Catholic Community Primary School - Ballajura, Good Shepherd Catholic School - Lockridge, St Brigid’s Primary School - Middle Swan and St Anthony’s School - Greenmount. Thank you to Ms Kendrick for her work in running the DaVinci programme this year - she has really enthused the students about the study of Science.

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

The building of the Early Learning Centre is progressing well. We were able to give the newly appointed Junior School staff a walk through the Early Learning Centre during the two days they spent at the College last week. They were most impressed at what is going to be a fantastic learning space. Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 have been being fitted out with their uniforms in the last couple of days and on Friday, 6 December we will welcome parents for an Information Session and morning tea.

GRATITUDE MASS

On Wednesday, 6 December we will celebrate our Gratitude Mass. This is an opportunity to gather as a College to give thanks for the many gifts we have received this year. We will also farewell Fr Francis as he will be leaving the Parish early next year to take up a position in Hospital Ministry. Fr Francis has had a long involvement with Holy Cross College dating back to the planning period. He played a key role in the formation of the Board and in the development of the Vision and Mission of the College. I thank Fr Francis for his spiritual guidance and his pastoral care of staff and students.

COLLEGE BOARD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The College Board Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 3 December. Parents are invited to attend this meeting and also to nominate for positions on the Board. The meeting will commence at 6,30pm in the Learning Resource Centre.

COLLEGE SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The College Swimming Carnival will be held this Thursday, 5 December. The Carnival commences at 9.30am at Bayswater Waves Aquatic Centre. I look forward to parents joining us for this event.

Ms Mandy Connor