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.