CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS

Friday 14 September is the Feast of the Holy Cross and the day we celebrate our College Feast Day.  The Gospel for Feast Fay Mass included John 10:10. - ‘I came that you may have life and have it to the full.  This year we were blessed to have Emeritus Archbishop Hickey as the Main Celebrant at Feast Day Mass, concelebrating with our Parish Priest Fr Bona.    In 2010 Archbishop Hickey blessed and opened the first stage of Holy Cross College, at a time when we had just 69 students.  Yesterday 1000 students, staff and parents gathered for our Feast Day celebration.  During the Mass Archbishop Hickey blessed the pilgrims who will be travelling to Rome for the canonisation of Blessed Oscar Romero in October.  The Feast Day stalls and  activities raise money for House projects in Perth, New Norcia, Timor Leste, and Peru.  Thanks to Mr Collins, Mr Shelton and the House Coordinators for their work in organising Feast Day and to all staff, students and parents who assisted.

ITALIAN WEEK

Last week we celebrated Italian language and culture in the College. Activities included Italian cooking, quizzes and a showcase of work.  Thanks to Signora Amatulli, Signora Morlotti and Signora Smiroldo for all their work in preparing these wonderful learning experiences for the students.

LAST DAY OF CLASSES

Friday 21 September  last day of classes for Winter Term.  This is also the final week of classes for Senior School before they commence exams. Spring Term commences on Monday 8 October.

CELEBRATING THE ARTS

On Monday John Paul Botha, Year 11, was presented with the Ron Dullard Award for Christian Drama at the Final Concert of the Catholic Performing Arts Concert at Perth Concert Hall.   He accepted the award on behalf of the students who performed ‘The Way of the Cross’.  Holy Cross College also won this award in 2017.  Well done to all the students who were part of this performance group and to Mr McRae and Mr Shelton for their work with them.  

I am looking forward to the  Opening of the Arts Showcase on Monday 17 September,  The Showcase commences at 6.00pm and will include exhibitions and performances in visual and performing arts.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ATHLETICS SQUAD

Well done to the HCC Athletic Squad on winning today’s G division Associated and Catholic Colleges (ACC) Athletics Carnival.  Scores were close all day and HCC went into the relays in second place.  An outstanding performance in all relays (with six first places and two second places) placed Holy Cross in the leading position at the end of the carnival.  In addition to taking home the Overall Aggregate Shield, the squad also won the Senior Boys and Overall Boys Shields.  Thanks to the students for their great efforts and to Mr James Parsons, Mr Brendan Buckley, Mrs Christina Davini, Mr Gareth Elliott, Mr Simon Falcone, Mr Jarrod Parsons, and Mr Ian Wilson for their work in training the Athletics Squad.

 

CATHOLIC PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL

Well done to all students involved in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival.  This is a significant event which takes place throughout August with students participating in Drama, Dance and Music performances. Holy Cross College received the following awards.

• Ron Dullard Shield for Christian Drama- Secondary
• Outstanding Award for Christian Drama- Secondary
• Excellence Award for Christian Dance- Secondary
• Merit Award for Christian Dance- Primary
• Excellence Award for Secondary Drama Production
• Excellence Award for Secondary Solo Drama (Eva Ladyman- Year 9) 

Thanks to Mr Chris McRae for coordinating Holy Cross College’s participation in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival and to all other staff who assisted.

 

FATHERS’ DAY LITURGY AND BREAKFAST

Last Wednesday students gathered in the Olive Grove with their fathers and grandfathers for a special liturgy.  The Fathers’ Day liturgy celebrated the role of these special people in our lives. After the liturgy everyone was treated to a delicious breakfast.  Thanks to Mr Ryan Shelton, Mrs Cathie Lewis and all staff and students who assisted with the organisation of the liturgy and breakfast.

 

STAFF RETREAT DAY

Last Friday we held our Annual Staff Retreat.  The focus was on Blessed Frederic Ozanam and how he modelled the Gospel values of Compassion and Connection.  During the morning staff engaged in Christian Service activities.  These included giving service at St Vincent de Paul and other charity shops, Brother Ollie’s Wheelchairs for Kids project and at agencies which support refugees and homeless people.  A group of staff sang at Aegis Aged Care and others supported elderly people in a variety of settings.  Some of the staff cooked food and made up toiletry packs and delivered them to homeless people around the city, while others helped to assemble the new pews for the Parish Church.  In the afternoon staff took part in a pilgrimage walk during which they reflected on the morning’s experiences.  At the end of the Retreat Service we reflected on how service is a very important part of our lives as Christians and we are all called to do what we can do.

 

STAFFING

Congratulations to Ms Anita O’Donohue  who has been  appointed as Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching at Kolbe Catholic College commencing January 2019.  Ms  O’Donohue is a foundation staff member at Holy Cross College and has done a great deal during the past nine years to build an excellent culture of contemporary learning.

 

The following people have been appointed to Senior Leadership Positions commencing 2019:

• Mr Ryan Shelton – Deputy Principal – Learning
• Mr Benjamin Bull – Assistant Deputy Principal – Faith

Mr Bull is currently the Head of Religious Education at Mercedes College and is also a member of St Helena’s Parish.