FAITH TO LEAD, LEAD TO FAITH

The National Catholic Education Conference was held in Perth last week.  It was a very inspiring conference with outstanding keynote speakers, including Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga from Hunduras and Bishop Saunders from Broome, as well as Archbishop Timothy Costelloe.  The theme of the conference was Faith to Lead - Lead to Faith.  Holy Cross College had a significant involvement in the conference, in addition to a number of staff attending as delegates.  A group of Middle School students spent two days learning at the convention centre, working on a Big Ideas extension project.  They were showcasing learning in a contemporary classroom.  Mr Harry Muller and myself presented a workshop on Pilgrimage.  We were supported by Belinda Cooper, Salvado House Captain,  and Lauren Ford, College Captain.  In addition, Karen Taylor presented a visual display on the LIFE Week City Experience, in which Year 9 students participate.  Some of our Year 10 and 11 students had an opportunity to participate in a Youth Summit on Friday.  Details of this experience can be found on the LIFE@HCC blog.

PARENT CAMINO

Last Friday we held a parent Camino.  We visited the site of the Benedictine Monastery in Subiaco before walking to the trail head outside  St Joseph’s Church.  After praying our Pilgrim’s Prayer in the Church we proceeded to Victoria Square, where we saw the original Convent of the Holy Cross, now part of Mercedes College, and visited St Mary’s Cathedral.  The first stage of the Cathedral was built by Benedictine monks, who walked each day from Subiaco to the Cathedral site.  Our Camino walk finished with a lovely lunch at Claisebrook Cove. Thanks to Mrs Susan Sorenson and Mrs Tiffany Bray from Friends of Holy Cross for organising our pilgrimage walk.  

REPORTS

Reports are now available to parents of students in Middle and Junior Schools.  If you are having difficulty accessing your child's report through Parent Coneqt, please contact the College Office.  It was pleasing to see the number of parents meeting with staff and their sons/daughters at Learning Conversations. 

BUILDING PROGRESS

You may have noticed the slab for the new Junior School building being poured on Monday.  It is great to see the progress being made.  The new Middle School Building is also nearer completion and we should have possession in the middle of August.  We are also looking forward to the completion of the reflection garden, which is looking really beautiful.

END OF TERM

Classes finish at the usual time on Friday, before the commencement of the holidays. I hope you are able to spend some time with your children over the holidays.  Winter term commences on Monday 18 July

CELEBRATING FRAYNE

Last week we celebrated Frayne Feast Day with a House Mass followed by lunch.  It was an opportunity to focus on the values of Frayne House - Dignity and Personal Best - and to reflect on the life of a remarkable woman born 200 years ago. Ursula Frayne sailed to Western Australia on the Elizabeth, arriving in January 1847.  During LIFE Week, Year 5 students will participate in a pilgrimage, which will follow  Ursula Frayne’s journey down the river from Fremantle to Perth.  From Barrack St, they will walk up to Victoria Square, where Ursula Frayne founded the first convent school in Western Australia, the Convent of the Holy Cross.

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP 2017

Congratulations to Samantha Evans who has been awarded the Middle School Scholarship for 2017.  Samantha was selected on the basis of academic testing.  Well done to Samantha and thanks to all students who sat for the Scholarship test.  Samantha will be presented with her scholarship at he Annual Celebration Night.

 

LifeLink SLEEP-OUT

Last Thursday staff and students slept out to raise money for LifeLink. It was a cold night and it gave all who participated a little insight into the experience of people who are homeless and sleep out on a regular basis.  Volunteers from the Young Vinnies and Passages assisted on the night.  In addition to raising money for LifeKink, students made bags of donated toiletries to give to Passages, a service which enables marginalised and young people with a safe, friendly and positive place to access essential support. Year 12 students made the soup for the Sleep-out Soup Kitchen.  Junior School students also had their pre-sleep out event during which they ate dinner from a soup kitchen and participated in a number of activities to raise their awareness of the issue of homelessness. 

 

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

The curtains will open on the College production on Thursday. After months of preparation, the cast and crew are ready to take to the stage for the opening performance - a Matinee on Thursday, which will have residents from some of the local aged care facilities in the audience.  Thank you to Mr McRae, Ms Maher, Ms Collender and Mrs Robinson for all the work they have done on the production and to all other staff and students who have assisted. 

 

SENIOR SCHOOL REPORTS AND SUBJECT SELECTION

Senior School Reports are now available through Parent Coneqt and Senior School Learning Conversations are happening today.  Next Wednesday, 22 June, an Information Night will be held for Year 10 students and their parents, to assist them in the subject selection process for Year 11.

THIS WEEK

REFLECTION GARDEN

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS - CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FURNITURE FOR NEW BUILDINGS

JUNIIOR SCHOOL ASSEMBLY