ELC CHRISTMAS CONCERT AND ROSE PLANTING

CELEBRATING THE YEAR

ROSE PLANTING 

In 2010 our foundation families planted roses representing the College Houses.  On Monday the students in their Early Learning Centre will plant roses with their families to mark the foundation year of the ELC.  The roses symbolise each House:

Frayne - McAuley Rose (Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of St Mercy, the Order to which Sr Ursula Frayne belonged.)

Ozanam - Good Samartan Rose (Like the  Good Samaritan, Frederic Ozanam helped those in need and inspired others to do the same.)

McCormack - MacKillop Rose  (Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph, the Order to which Irene McCormack belonged.)

Salvado - Peace Rose (The Motto of the Benedictine community of New Norcia is Pax, which means Peace.)

GRATITUDE MASS

On Wednesday we held the Gratitude Mass. We gathered as a College community to give thanks for all the gifts we have received this year. 

FINAL ASSEMBLY

Classes for 2014 finish on Friday 12 December.  Parents are invited to join us for our final College Assembly at 1:30pm on this day.

WELCOMING NEW STUDENTS

In the last couple of weeks we have welcomed students who will be attending the College in 2015. New Kindergarten and pre-Kindergarten children and their parents joined us for a morning in the Early Learning Centre.  The children had a chance to get to know the staff and their new environment and parents were able to familiarise themselves with the routines of HCC.  Last Tuesday 2015 Year 7 students spent the day at HCC participating in a range of activities to introduce them to Middle School.   During the afternoon an information session was held for parents.

Our enrolments are growing rapidly and next year we will have over 160 additional students in the College.  We are full at several year levels and close to full at a couple  of others. If you have a son/daughter who you wish to enrol in the College in 2016 or 2017, it is important you submit your paperwork as soon as possible. 

SALVADO SYMPOSIUM

Last Thursday staff and students who participated in the Camino tour presented at the Salvado Symposium. This two day forum, held at the State Library, included a range of academic speakers.  We were invited to make a presentation regarding walking the Camino de Santiago and also the Camino Salvado.  Members of the audience were very appreciative of the perspective of the students.   

COMMUNITY  MEETINGS

The Annual General Meetings for the College Board and Friends of Holy Cross will be held on Tuesday 2 December.  Parents are encouraged to attend. Information regarding these meetings and nomination forms  will be sent out this week. 

WHY DO WE WALK THE CAMINO?

From Principal's Speech - Annual Celebration Night ....

This year nearly all of the students in the Middle and Senior Schools at Holy Cross have completed a section of the Pilgrim Trail - the Camino Salvado, which connects Subiaco to New Norcia.  Each year students will walk sections of the pilgrim trail and starting with the current Year 8 students, during their time at the College they will complete the whole trail from Subiaco to New Norcia.    Hopefully in years to come more students will have an opportunity to walk the Camino in Spain.

Why are we walking the Camino?  

Before our Camino group left Tui on  Easter Monday  we gathered at Salvado's statue in the main square and Fr Angel, a local priest, gave us a blessing, before we set out on our pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago.   Fr Angel spoke abut how on  our pilgrimage we would encounter self, others, God and nature.

At HCC we are walking to the Camino to encounter God - pilgrimages are an important part of our Catholic tradition .... Pope Benedict said,“… different from a wanderer whose steps have no established final destination, a pilgrim always has a destination, even if at times he is not explicitly aware of it. And this destination is none other than the encounter with God …”

We will walk.the Camono to encounter self,  as we slow down and find a rhythm without our electronic devices.   Amidst the fast pace of life this is hard to do, but we need to remember the words of St Augustine, ‘It is solved by walking.”  Indeed walking can give us a new perspective.

We will walk to encounter others - to have real conversations.   Pope Francis said,’It is terrible to walk alone, terrible and tedious.  Walking in community, with friends, with those who love us: this helps us, it helps us to arrive precisely at the destination where we must arrive …’

We will also walk to encounter nature.  We often see in the news how young people spend less time in the outdoors and are becoming disconnected from nature.  Our walks have taken us along the Swan River, through Bells Rapids, Walyunga and lower Chittering and in these places some students saw kangaroos and kookaburras in the wild for the very first time.  In connecting with nature, hopefully our students will be encouraged to live out the value of Stewardship which for our College is linked to Salvaodo and the Enrichment pillar.

A 2011 study revealed that ‘Australian children are now among the most ''cosseted'' and ''chauffeured'' in the world.  In 1970  84 per cent of all students travelled by public transport, walking and cycling, with just 16 per cent using cars. Today  63 per cent of students are driven to and from school as the numbers who walk, cycle and take public transport fall to new lows. Along the Camino Salvado our students and staff are rediscovering ‘getting there by walking’.

We will walk the Camino Salvado because it is a challenge and overcoming challenges builds resilience. Pope Francis said,  ‘In the art of walking it is not the falling that matters, but ‘not staying falling’.  Get up quickly, immediately, and continue to go on …’ This is a lesson for walking and a lesson for life.

We will walk the Camino Salvado because it is part of our faith story, our connection with Dom Salvado, who walked a similar journey on his travels from Perth to New Norcia. It strengthens our link with the Benedictine community of New Norcia with who we already have a very special connection.u

M Connor 

8 November 2014

ANNUAL CELEBRATION NIGHT

Extract from Principal"a Speech - Annual Celebration Night ...

One of the most significant milestones for  2014  is the graduation of our first Year 12 students  I am very pleased that every one of them met the requirements of both College and WACE Graduation.  

Of the 15 students who will graduate tonight, 9 of them were foundation students.  Their journey started in February 2010 when they arrived at this brand new College.  I thank the Year 12 students for their enthusiasm and commitment to Holy Cross.  I particularly acknowledge the positive spirit and initiative of our first College Captains, Giordarna and Teaghan. 

 

Last week we gathered for our Graduation Mass and each of our graduating Year 12 students received a small bottle of oil, a symbol of their pilgrimage.  The oil was  pressed from the fruit of Olive trees,  propagated from those at New Norcia.  Hopefully in years to come we will be able to present graduating students with olive oil from our own small olive grove - trees that were a gift from the Benedctine community of New Norcia and also the Mayor of Subiaco.

This is a proud night for us as we present our first class of Graduates.  For those who have selected the vocational pathway this is their last school commitment and then they are on their way to the next stage of their journey.  Those who are sitting ATAR exams have another hill to climb.  On the Camino, Padron was the town where we stayed on the last night - the ATAR students need to remember Padron, where you are nearly there but not there, they will need to put their heads down and keep going through the ATAR exams and out the other side and then onward ever onward through all that awaits.  

I hope our first graduates  will strive to be the best they can be and will live life in all its fulness. I hope they  stay true to the values of our College and make a difference in the world.

While we were in Tui, Fr Angel one of the local priests and our tour guide, told us that when Dom Salvado returned to Spain for a visit he was offered the position of Bishop in prestigious European diocese, but Australia had taken his heart - and so he returned to the challenges of New Norcia and the Swan River Colony.  I hope that like Salvado, our graduating students wont always take the comfortable option, but will follow their hearts in their journey ahead.

M Connor, Principal

2 November 2014

NEW COLLEGE CAPTAINS - CONNOR FRANCOIS AND TAYA HORLEY

ANNOUNCEMENT OF STUDENT LEADRRSHIP EXECUTIBE

GRADUATION MASS

EXCERPT FROM PRINCIPAL'S. ADDRESS AT GRADUATION MASS

....A number of you are foundation students at Holy Cross, you have helped to shaped this College and you helped to select our patrons who through their lives model values to which we aspire.  You have helped to create history here at HCC.

As you take the next steps on your journey I hope you take with you the values modelled by our College patron and the values of our House patrons, which you have printed on your sashes.  What all of these people have in common is their faith and that they knew what they stood for.  Like Malali, they stood for something beyond themselves. 

 I hope you live lives in which you are prepared to do the hard yards and to keep learning in order  to achieve your personal best; in which you connect with others,   respecting the dignity of the human person and treating people with compassion; in which you serve and are prepared to speak for justice; in which you are stewards of your own gifts and of this beautiful earth and in which you never forget the value of gratitude - to give thanks for all you have been given, including parents and teachers who have supported you to this milestone in your life.

I hope that like Oscar Romero you are prepared to be passionate about what you believe in and  never to be complacent,; that like Ursula Frayne you will make journeys to far away place; that like Irene McCormack you will find joy in the simple things of life and meet people whose lives are different to your own; that like  Frederic Ozanam you will have strong family relationships to keep you connected and grounded. Each of you have done a section of the Camino Salvado and some of you have walked part of the Camino de Santiago, how wonderful it would be if one day you could finish these journey - but regardless, i hope that like Salvado you get out and enjoy the natural wonders of this world.

I hope that you live life in all its fulness.

Ms Mandy Connor 

Principal

23 October 2014

Year 12 Final Assembly- Congratulations!

OUR FIRST YEAR 12s ARE GRADUATING

Our first group of Year 12 students have finished their final school exams and in the next two weeks will participate in a number of rituals to signify their rite of passage as they move into the world beyond school.  The Graduation Mass on Thursday evening will be an opportunity for the family of our Graduates to gather in a  celebration of friendship and growth.  It will be an opportunity to give thanks for the many gifts these students have received during their fourteen years of schooling - from parents, staff, other students and their school communities.

Our foundation students will receive their Graduation Certificates at the Annual Celebration Evening which will be held on Thursday 30 October.  All students in Middle and Senior Schools are expected to attend this event.  Details were sent home in a letter last week.

SENIOR SCHOOL TRANSITION

Our Senior School academic year begins on Wednesday.  During the past week Year 10 and 11 students have completed their exams and Year 9 students have been engaged in  transition activities.  They have participate in  subject seminars to prepare them for their Senior School courses and on Monday will take part in study skills workshops facilitated by Elevate. Year 9 students will also participate in a full  day workshop, facilitated by Loving for Life, on Christian Sexuality and Relationships.  On Friday students were challenged to complete a section of the Camino Salvado from Bells Rapids to lower Chittering.  We have got very used to relying on cars and walking is no longer such a natural part of daily life. The Camino Salvado is a pilgrimage walk, a chance to reflect, but also to build resilience, fitness and to overcome obstacles.  This section of the Camino climbs through Walyunga National,Park, with lovely views, and some students commented it was the first time they had seen kookaburras and kangaroos in the wild. Year 10' students will complete their first section of the Camino Salvado on Tuesday when they hike from Subiaco to Guildford. 

SHARING OUR LEARNING

Last Monday a group of students and staff from Holy Cross participated in a Professional Learning Day at Kolbe Catholic College.  Mrs Irene Louden, Ms Emilie Reynolds, Ms Karen Taylor and  Ms Anita Walmsley presented workshops at the Celebrating Learning Conference.  They were joined by three of the Learning Leaders - Gabriella Van Der Linde, Zoe Paluszak and Jesse Hughes - who did an outstanding job in presenting to groups of teachers from a range of schools. We received some great feedback about how articulate our students were about their learning and about how much their audiences learned from their presentations about Big Ideas and Curriculum Enrichment Week.

  

BLESSING AND OPENING OF NEW FACILITIES

On Thursday Holy Cross College held the Blessing and Official Opening of the Early Learning Centre, Secondary Learning Centre and extension to the Administration building.   The  project, worth more than $12 Million dollars, has resulted in state of the art facilities designed for contemporary learning.

 

The buildings were blessed by Monsignor Michael Keating and Officially Opened by Dr Tony Curry, Director School Improvement.  The Hon Christian Porter addressed the gathered audience.  As a College we acknowledged our appreciation of the Federal and State Governments, Catholic Development Fund and coresponsibility of Catholic Schools in WA for making this project possible.

NAMING OF BUILDINGS

As the number of buildings in our College grows now is an opportune time to name them. and  during the ceremony we named each of the buildings in the College.   Sense of place is important and the naming of the buildings can make an important statement about what we value.  The buildings have been named the after places associated with our College patrons allowing for wonderful opportunities for the telling of our faith story.  We were delighted to have representatives of the Benedicitnes, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph join us for the Occasion.

Our new Early Learning Centre will be called Tui after the town in Spain where Bishop Rosendo Salvado was born 200 years ago this year.
Santiago de Compostella will be the name of the lower level of Learning Centre 2, including the Cafe.  Compostella in Spain was where Salvado trained at the Benedictine Abby of St Martins.    
I am also very pleased to welcome representatives from the Sisters of Mercy.  

The lower level of the new Learning Centre  will be called Dublin after the city in Ireland where Ursula Frayne was both born and became a Sister of Mercy..  

The upper level of Learning Centre 2 will be named Victoria Square.  This is the place where Ursula Frayne founded the first convent School in Western Australia, the Convent of the Holy Cross. Victoria Square is also the location of St Mary’s Cathedral where Bishop Rosendo Salvado laid the foundation stone and Benedictine monks built the first stage of the Cathedral.
The Upper level of Learning Centre 1 will be named Huasahuasi after the village in the Andes mountains where Irene McCormack lost her life.   
The upper level of the new secondary building will be named Paris recalling the city where Frederic Ozanam started his work with the poor which grew to the worldwide organisation of the St Vincent de Paul society.
The lower level of Learning Centre 1 will be named Lyon for the town where Frederic Ozanam grew up and where he retuned to study law.
The newly extended Adminstration Building will be called Santiago de Maria after the Diocese in El Salvador where our College Patron Oscar Romero was born and where he served for 25 years in his ministry. The Learning Resource Centre will be called San Salvador remembering the City in El Salvador where Archbishop Romero spoke spoke so powerfully for justice and was assassinated while saying Mass.  
As we add new buildings we will give them  names associated with our patrons - Lima, Subiaco, Traiying, New Norcia, Fitzroy and more.  In a sense we will have our own pilgrimage around the College along which our students and staff  will journey with a purpose -  to honour God in embracing life to the full.

Ms Mandy Connor 

20 September 2014

LIFE TO THE FULL

Today we celebrated our College Feast Day - held each year on the Friday nearest to the Feast of the Holy Cross, 14 September.  The day's celebrations started with a College Mass.  We listened to the Gospel incorporating John 10:10 - I came that you may have life and have it to the full', from which our College motto is drawn.  Fr Bona spoke of the importance of counting our blessings and giving thanks for what we have.  

The Feast Day Fair was a great success.  Junior School classes and Secondary House Tutor Grouos had each organised stalls and activities.  The addition of Junior School students gave the fair a real family atmosphere and it was great to have parents joining in.  The little children (and the big ones) enjoyed the facepainting, the nail bar, pluck the duck and the bouncy castle.  There was a variety of food on offer, including delicious cupcakes and ice cream.  The Italian game, Bocce, has become an annual favourite and the teacher auction generated enthusiastic bidding.  The day finished with a tug of war and the staff had the chance to show their strength as they pulled the Year 12s over the line in a fitting finish to the day.  Thanks to Mr Collins for coordinating Feast Day activities, to Mr Muller for organising the Mass and to all staff who assisted in making this a great day.

HIGH TEA

Thanks  to Mrs Brown and the Year9 Hospitality students for the delicious High Tea on Wednesday afternoon.  Parents, grandparents and staff were treated to an array of cakes, scones and savoury snacks, all beautifully presented.  The students were excellent hosts looking after each of the guests and keeping them well supplied with refreshments.  

COLLEGE BLESSING AND OPENING

Families and friends are invited to attend the Odficial Blessing and Opening of Stages 2 and 3 of our building programme..  This stage includes the Ealry Learning Secondary, new Secondary building and extension to the Administration building and car park.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ACC WINNERS

Congratulations to the Athletics Squad (captained by James Evans and Georgia Heggs) for an amazing effort today.  In wet, windy and cold conditions the team worked hard to win  the G Division of the Associated and Catholic Colleges Carnival. 

We also brought home the trophies for the Junior Boys and Overall Boys and the Junior Girls came second just four points behind first place.  Well done to Cameron Smythe who broke the ACC record for U/13 Discus with a throw of 33.25 metres.  Thanks to Mr Gareth Elliott, Mrs Christina Davini, Ms Fiona D Courcier, Mr Brendan Buckley and Mr Ian Wilson for all their work with the ACC Athletics Squad.    

CELEBRATING FATHERS

Last Wednesday fathers and grandfathers joined their children to celebrate Frathers' Day at HCC. We started the day with a liturgy in which we gave thanks for the gifts of our fathers. This was followed by a delicious breakfast in the College Cafe, a good opportunity for the young people to spend some time with their Dads.

REMEMBERING SALVADO

Staff gathered iat St Joseph's, Subiaco for. Retreat Day on Friday.  The theme of the Retreat was Pilgrimage - Taking The Long View and provided opportunities for staff to learn more about Bishop Rosendo Salvado and Benedictine spirituality.  The day started with a pilgrimage walk along the Camino Salvado from St Mary's Cathedral to Subiaco.  En route we visited the MercyCare Centre, site of the 19th century Benedictine Monastery. The day included stories from Abbot John Herbert and also Greg Clune and Monica Mulcahy who had been students at school in New Norcia.  We celebrated Mass and reflected on our LIFE pillars.  The Retreat day was a great chance for staff to come together to reflect, pray and 'take the long view".

A WEEK OF LIFE ACTIVITIES

Curriculum Enrichment Week was truly a week of LIFE experiences across the College.  Each year group had an individualised programme.  Students participated in a number of activities including excursions to Mundaring Weir, Guildford and Bells Rapids, walked sections of the Camino Salvado, participated in Retreats and Christian Service Learning Activities, created a mosaic, explored the environment of Ellenbrook, enjoyed multicultural activities including a delicious shared lunch, stayed over in New Norcia on Camp and spent a week in Perth with the city as their classroom. 

Thanks to staff for theiir work in putting together the rich learning experiences embedded in the week.  We will look forward to seeing some of the products of their learning on the last day of term.  Details of activities undertaken by each of the year levels can be found at http://web.holycross.wa.edu.au/news/lifeblog.php

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY

A reminder that Friday 5 September is a Professional Learning Day for staff.  There will be no classes for students on this day.  Staff will be participating in a Retreat Day - Pilgrimage :Taking The Long View.

CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT WEEK

YEAR 12 RETREAT - PILGRIMAGE  - TAKING THE LONG VIEW

ALONG THE CAMINO SALVADO

THE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE PLAYGROUND IS OPEN

A CONNECTED COMMUNITY

On Friday we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption with a College Mass.  Fr Bona spoke of the Gospel account  of Mary's Visit to Elizabeth.  He  noted Mary"s commitment to  family and the importance of young people staying connected to their family in what is very much an 'Ii world' where people connect to iPods, iPads, all  forms of IT, rather than each other.  

COMBINED BOARD AND LEADERSHIP FUNCTION

Tonight we will host members of the College Boards and Leadership Teams from Lumen Christi College, Las Salle College and St Joseph's Northam.  The visitors will have a tour of the new buildings led by the Learning Leaders and will enjoy a meal prepared by a Hospitality students under the guidance of Mrs Brown.  The Camino students will be the furs speakers for the evening sharing storied of their pilgrimage in  April. 

CONGRATULATION

Well done to Jack Hammond, Max Hughes, Laura Evans, Jamie Evans and Rebecca Hughes on their superb performance of scenes from Lockie Leonard at the Tim Winton Awards last night.  The Students were invited by the City of Subiaco to perform excerpts from the College production at these annual writing awards.  It was an amazing opportunity for the students to perform in front of Tim Winton, author of 'Lockie Leonard".    They did a great job. Congratulations also to Giordarna Rigoli for her evocative reading of the winning story from the competition.  The evening was a great chance for the College to reconnect with the Mayor  of Subiaco who visited the College in June to hear about the Camino journey to celebrate the Bicentenary of Bishop Rosendo Salvado.  

19 August 2014

ANGELICO EXHIBITION

On Tuesday the Catholic Arts office celebrated the 21^st year of the prestigious Angelico Exhibition. The official opening night and award presentations held at the Forrest Centre in Perth City, attracted hundreds of students, staff and supportive parents from Catholic Schools across Western Australia. This year Holy Cross College entered five works from students in years 7 to 11. The exhibition was a wonderful night and an excellent opportunity to not only showcase the talents of our art students, but also appreciate and admire the talents of other art students across WA’s Catholic schools. Congratulations to all students who showcased their beautiful work this year – Skyler Stewart (year 8); Nayan Kerai (year 9); Sally Reyes (year 9); Caitlyn Henry (year 10); and Daniella Jacobs (year 11).  Thanks to Ms Sara O'Neil for the wonderful work she does with the students. The students are producing high quality art works and it is great to see them exhibited around the College.

NEVER SEE A NEED WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT

We will all enjoy our beds tonight, because our night 'sleeping out' was a fundraiser and a reality check, but tonight we return home.  The Sleep Out gave all incolved an insight into a life that too many people experience every night on our streets.  Dinner replicated a soup kitchen experience and sleeping accommodation was constructed from cardboard boxes.  Our guest speakers, Bev and John from Manna Inc, were inspiring.  Theiy spoke about how 17 years ago they had been.moved to take a pot of soup to homeless people and in the years that followed they had formed Manna Inc to support people in need.  Today they feed homeless though their soup van, as well as providing breakfast and winter school uniforms for thousands of school children.  Students and staff were moved by the stories Bev and John told.  

Money raised from the Sleep Out will go to LifeLink, the Catholic community based social welfare agencieswhich respond compassionately to anyone in need.  To date we have collected over $7000, a fantastic effort.  

it was very appropriate that today is the feast Day of Mary MaxKillope,    Mary's motto was 'Never See a Need Without Doing Something Anout It'.  Through our annual Sleep Out our school community are able to make at least a small response to the issue of homelessness. We gathered as a school community to celebrate the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop led by our Junior School students.  At the end of the liturgy students who had slept out shared their stories of what their experiences and had learned.  The news video of the night captured footage of the Sleep Ou and reflections of students on the experience.  

Our College Vision is "A Community of Transformation in the Spirit of the Risen Christ.  Mary MaxKillop is a wonderful role model of a woman who though her life transformed the life of many people and whose legacy lives on today. Hopefully the experience of the Sleep Out will inspire our students to make their own contribution to transformation in their own lives - to never see a need without doing something about it.

M CONNOR

PRINCIPAL

8 AUGUST 2014

CAMINO SUBIACO

CONGRATULATIONS TO YEAR 8 STUDENTS WHO WALKED THE FIRST SECTION OF THE CAMINO SALVADO TODAY - SUBIACO TO GUILDFORD

31 July 2014

Journeys

CAMINO SUBIACO

On Wednesday Year 8 students will walk the first section of the Camino Salvado pilgrimage trail  from Subiaco to Guildford.  This pilgrimage trail starts outside St Joseph's Church in Subiaco and ends at New Norcia.  It is more than a walk, it is a very special journey which covers countryside walked by Bishop Rosendo Salvado many times during his time in New Norcia.  The trailhead is in Subiaco because the Benedictines established a monastery at Subiaco in 1851.  Subiaco in Perth was originally called New Subiaco after the town in Italy where the Benedictines originated.  

The Year 8 walk will take us from Subiaco to the city and St Mary's Cathedral where Salvado laid the foundation stone.  From there we will follow the Swan River to Guildford.  During their time at Holy Cross College the Year 8 students will complete the whole of the Camino Salvado from Subiaco to New Norcia.   During Curriculum  Enrichment Week Year 8s will walk another section of the trail, as will year 11 and 12 students as part of their Retreats.  Walking the pilgrimage trail is a great LIFE experience and what a great accomplishment it will be if they can walk the full distance.

SHANGHAI PRESENTATION

During the school holidays I travelled to Shanghai to do a presentation for Apple.  I was invited to present the story of our digital journey to Principals and Education leaders in Shanghai.  This was a great recognition of the work which is being done at HCC to use digital technology as an integral - and seamless -  part of the learning environment.  It was a very interesting  experience and a privilege to be able to share our learning journey at an international forum.  

ATHLETICS CARNIVALS

The  College Athletics Carnivals were held last week and were wonderful events with a very strong House spirit evident among the students.  The first Junior School Athletics Carnival took place on Thursday and it was great to see the strong parent support.  The children were very excited as they participated in their running races and team games.  Salvado were the winning House on the day, prompting great joy among students in this House.  We were blessed with beautiful weather for the Junior Carnival and the rain held off for most of the day for the Middle and Senior School students.  There was a great spirit among the older students as, dressed In their House colours, they participate in the various events. Congratulations to McCormack House who won the Secondary Carnival.  Well done to the year level champions and runners-up and to all the students who competed on the day.  Thanks to Miss Croswell and Mr Elliott for their work in organising the carnivals and to all staff who assisted.  

Congratulations - State Teams

Congratulations to the following students who have been named in State Teams based on outstanding performance in State competitions:

Cian Guest and Michaela Maynard have been selected to compete in the National School Cross Country  Championships in Albany in August.

Michaela Maynard and Hannah Schnell have been selected to participate in the National Schools Orienteering Championships in Perth at the end of September.

Well done to these students on a terrific achievement.

AUTUMN TERM CONCLUDES

Thanks to families for their prayers, cards and messages of condolence on the passing of my mum, Kath Connor. It has been a sad and difficult time for our family and I appreciate the support of the College community.  

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE PUBLIC ART AND PLAYGROUND

Last Friday Ms Croswell and I visited a property outside Northam to view the artwork that is being built for the Early Learning Centre.  It is a requirement of the City of Swan that we commit a percentage of the building project to public art.  Nic Compton is doing a magnificent job of carving from wood a beautiful piece of art work with which the students will be able to interact.  The art will form the central piece of the play area.  We are hoping to receive sign off on the extension to the ELC later this week and once this happens, the  installation of the art work and the ELC play areas can commence.  I appreciate the patience of parents and children as we complete the building project.  I am sure the children are going to be delighted with the finished playgrounds.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

We are also hoping to have access to the ground floor of the new secondary building from the beginning of next term - this floor houses the  Design and Technology studios, which will be used for woodwork, metalwork, jewellery, media and design.  We are looking forward to moving into this state of the art facility.  We are also looking forward to taking possession of the new uniform shop early next term. 

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Well done to all students and staff who played a role in bringing Lockie Leanord to the stage at Holy Cross College. It was great to see the students performing in this contemporary Australian  drama. Thanks to Mr Chris McRae and.Miss Laura Kendrick for the enormous amount of work they put into preparing for the College production,  Thanks to all other staff, parents and students who assisted. 

HOLIDAYS

Autumn Term ends of Friday 4 July.  Parents are invited to join us for the Learning Journey and Assembly.  Classes resume on Monday 21 July.

M Connor

29 June 2014

URSULA FRAYNE - PIONEER EDUCATOR AND ROLE MODEL

We stood in the wilds of Australia on that mid summer night and we could truly say, with our Divine model, we have nowhere to lay our heads. (Mother Ursula Frayne 1846)

Ursula Frayne arrived in Australia in 1846 crossed the world on the  same sailing ship as Rosendo Salvado.  After their 113 day journey Ursula Frayne and the small group of Mercy Sisters who accompanied her had no provision for a place to stay.  The Irish Sisters had travelled to Australia to provide Catholic Education in the Swan River colony.  They opened the first Convent School in Western Australia - the Convent of the Holy Cross.  In the newly 200 years since Catholic Education has flourished. 

On Wednesday we celebrated Frayne Feast Day and commemorated the life of this remarkable woman.  Staff and students in Frayne  House and parents gathered to celebrate Mass.  During the homily Fr Bona spoke of the importance of saying please, saying thank you and saying sorry.  He also encouraged students to give hope to others as Ursula Frayne had done in the life she lived. The values of the Learning pillar, dignity and personal best, were highlighted. It was delightful to see the students in the Early Learning Centre and the older students join together for this celebration.  Thanks to House Coordinator, Mrs Christina DaVini, Frayne staff and Student Leaders for the organisation of their Feast Day celebrations.  

  

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Michaela Maynard and Cian Guest who won Gold and Silver medals respectively at the ACC Cross-country carnival today.  Well done to all Holy Cross College competitors for their great spirit of participation.  Cian has been selected to compete in the Nationals in August for his terrific performance in the State event last week.

'Choose Life'

On Wednesday, 21 May we celebrated the McCormack House Feast Day.  Irene McCormack was a Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, the same order as Mary McKillop.  A West Australian, she taught in Catholic Schools in WA and in her last post was principal of Kearnan College in Manjimup.  In 1987, when  Sr Irene made the decision to travel to Peru to work  with the poor and marginalised, she said 'I choose life'.  In Huasa Huasi a poor village in the mountains she carried out her ministry - making library books available to poor children to complete their homework and doing parish work.  In 1991 she was executed by the Shining Path terrorists - her crime, giving out Caritas food parcels.  In our liturgy on Wednesday we remembered the life of Irene McCormack and reflected on the way in which she is a role model for us in her commitment to living out the Gospel message of justice and service.

WA ALL SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY

Congratulations to Cian Guest who on Thursday won the silver medial in the WA All School Cross-country Championships.  This places Cian second in the state for this event - a fantastic effort!  Michaela  Maynard (11th place) and Yugusuk Soka (14th place) also ran very well.  Congratulations to all students who participated.  Thanks to Mr Elliott for his work in coaching the squad and to Mrs  Davini for her support. We look forward to the ACC cross-country carnival next week.

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE CENTRE. ASSEMBLY

Thank you to the Year 2 class for hosting the first Early Learning Centre Assembly on Monday.  The students spoke beautifully and it was wonderful to see some of the work they had done in class.  Their Bible  story imovie was fantastic and I really enjoyed their Italian song with actions.  It was great to see so many parents in attendance.  

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY

Staff will be involved in professional learning on Friday, 30 May.  There will be no classes for students on this day or on Tuesday, 3 June when the school will be closed for our 'Catholic Day'.  These days are a good opportunity for students to study, particularly Senior School Students, and also to complete their hours for 'Giving Life', our Christian Service Learning programme.  The office will be closed on 30 May and 3 June.