TAKING THE LONG VIEW

Taking the Long view: A Strategic Compass For The Next Stage Of Our Journey 2015 - 2018 is available on the College website. http://web.holycross.wa.edu.au/about/strategiccompass.php

It is appropriate that the consultation process for this plan took place during our fifth year as a College, the year in which we welcomed students into the Early Learning Centre and also had our first Year Twelve Graduation.  Oscar Romero, our College patron, is often associated with a prayer that begins: It helos now and then to step back and take a long view.  this is what we have done in developing the Strategic Compass and it is from these inspirational words it takes its title.  We are very privileged that the Benedicitine community of New Norcia have entrusted us with custody of Salvado's  surveyor's compass for 12 months.  This compass guided Dom  Salvado's journeys during the 19th century.  Our Strategic Compass will guide us on the next stage of our journey, as we grow to become. a College with students from Pre-Kindergarten - Year 12.

A NEW TERM

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Year 3 students,who will are preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, made a commitment to this at the Parish Masses this weekend. This is an important first step in their journey in preparing for this important milestone in their faith lives.

STAFFING 

Mr Ian Wilson is on Long Service Leave this term.  We welcome Mrs Emma Robinson to the College in his place.  We also welcome Mrs Tracey Papenfus who will be working in Accounts.  I will be away from the College during Weeks 3, 4 and 5, attending the International Confederation of Principals and also taking long service leave.  Mr Collins will be the Acting Principal while I am on leave. 

CAMINO SALVADO

Students in year 7 completed the first section of the Camino Salvado on Thursday,walking from Subiaco to East Perth. This week Year 8 students will walk from Guildford to Bells Rapids.  Prior to LIFE week students will receive a Pilgrim's Passport, in which they will keep an official record of their progress along the Pilgrim Trail.  

LIFE WEEK

Week Six is LIFE Week for students K - 12.  A range of rich learning experiences are being planned for students, including Retreats, excursions, Camino walks and visits to Universities and TAFE Colleges.  This year for  the first time,Year 9 students have the opportunity to take part in the city experience in either Perth or Sydney and Canberra. 

ATHLETICS CARNIVALS

There was great House spirit evident as the College Athletic Carnivals  took place this week.  Thanks to Mrs DeCourcier, Health and Physical Education Coordinator, for organising the carnivals, to Mr Gareth Elliott for coordinating the Middle and  Senior Schools Carnival and to Physical Education staff for their assistance,  Thanks also to the Senior School Physical Education students, who did a great job in assisting with the Junior School Carnival and  to parents who came along.  The Friends of Holy Cross organised a sausage sizzle and we really appreciated these  these parents who did a great job in feeding staff and students on the day.

BUILDING PROGRAMME

Stage 4 of our building programme is underway.  The builders are now preparing the site for the building of a Middle School building, sports change rooms and additional classrooms above these change rooms.  Ovals and outside areas will be developed as part of this stage; as a result we will not have access to the oval as of this week.  We will have one new oval available in November and the remainder of the new ovals will be accessible in the completion of the building programme.  Parents have been sent an email regarding Physical Education classes for a Middle and Senior Schools during this time.  This is a very large stage of our building programme and we will have more excellent facilities on its completion.

JUNIOR SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTS - UNIFORM

At the Junior School  parent meeting last term we asked for feedback regarding the transition to formal uniform for Junior School students.  Having considered parent and staff feedback, the following has been decided:

From the commencement of Year 5, students will wear the formal College uniform and will also wear the microfibre tracksuit currently worn by the Middle and Senior School students.  If a student in Year 4 student requires a new tracksuit during the year, parents will have the option of purchasing the microfibre tracksuit.  All students must be in formal uniform and have the microfibre tracksuit by the commencement of Year 5.  This means that parents of current Year 3 students have nearly 18 months to prepare for the transition to the Year 5 uniform.  The uniform for students in K -4 remains the same as it  is at present.  

There were a diversity of views expressed In feedback  and we have taken into consideration the desire to keep the children playing actively and also their increasing maturity as they move into the upper years of the Junior School.