ALUMNI

Last week we welcomed Georgia Heggs to the College as a relief teacher.  Georgia was one of our foundation students when she commenced at Holy Cross in 2010 and she is now a graduate teacher.  It was wonderful to welcome our first Alumni relief teacher.  

STAFF

It was a privilege  to attend the extraordinary liturgy of the Rite of Election of Catechumens at St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday night.  This was an important part in the journey of three of our staff – Mr Mark Potts, Miss Amy Edwards and Miss Jessie De Leon - who are preparing  for the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter.  At this celebration they will be fully incorporated into the Catholic Church.  It was also wonderful to see some of our College parents at the Cathedral as catechumens and sponsors.

Congratulations to Mrs Laura Billingron and her husband, Henry, on the birth of their son last week.

This week we farewell Mr Ian Oxwell, Digital Technologies Coordinator.  Mr Oxwell has made a significant contribution to Holy Cross in the past six years.  His commitment and expertise has provide us with ICT systems to support learning as we have grown as a leading digital school.  Mr Oxwell also played a key role in the implementation of pilgrimage as a faith practice at Holy Cross College. I think Mr Oxwell for his dedication and his contribution to so many areas of College life.  I wish him well as he embarks on a wonderful sailing journey.

This week we welcome the following new staff to the College :

• Mrs Joanna Nigro  - Education Assistant
• Mrs Carol Oats – Café Assistant
• Mr Adi Trehan – Digital Systems Coordinator  (Mr Trehan will officially start at the College on 15 April, but  will spend some time at HCC during the next few weeks doing handover.)

I have been asked to lead a group of Principals and CEWA staff on the Camino de Santiago in Spain during April.  It is wonderful to be able to share the spirit of pilgrimage which is so important to the faith story of Holy Cross.  I will be away for Weeks 9 and 10 of this term.  During this time Mr Peter Collins will take on the role of Acting Principal.  Mrs Kylie Day has been appointed as the  Acting Vice Principal.  Miss Aoife Hickey will take on an Assistant Deputy Principal role.  During Weeks 8 – 10 Mrs Christina Davini will take on an Acting Deputy Principal – Inter-relationships position and Mr Jarrad Pisano will take on the Frayne House Coordinator position for this time.

CELEBRATING SALVADO

Salvado House celebrated their Feast Day on Wednesday.  The day started with a Mass for Salvado students and their parents.  At the end of the Mass Student Leaders in Salvado House were commissioned with a special blessing.  The celebration continued into lunchtime with a share meal of pizzas.  Each House celebrates their Feast Day on a date which is close to that of the birth, death or canonization of their patron. Rosendo Salvado was born on 1 March in Tui, Spain and Salvado Feast Day is usually on a Wednesday on or near to this date.

 

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that 13 per cent of Australian students are missing a year of school by Year Ten. This is a concerning figure. If a student has a day off school each fortnight they will have missed about a year of schooling by the time they reach Year 10.  Regular days off and holidays in school time can add up to a student missing large amounts of learning.  While students need to stay home when they are sick, absence for other reasons should be avoided. I encourage parents to be very aware of the time students take off during the school year and the way in which the aggregation of these days can impact on student learning.  Professional Learning Days are usually attached to the long weekends in March and June giving families the opportunity to take an ‘extra long’ weekend away without impacting on class time.  This weekend students have a four day weekend asTuesday 5 March, is Professional Learning Day for staff. There will be no classes for students on this day.