HOLY CROSS STUDENT WINS SIMPSON MEDAL WINNER

It is with great pleasure I can now announce the wonderful news that Bianca Sumich is the WA winner of the Simpson Prize.   The winners were presented at Parliament House in Canberra this morning.   The Simpson Prize is a national competition  for Year 9 and 10 students and encourages participants to focus on the significance of ANZAC day.  Entrants had to write a History essay on a given topic related to Australia's involvement in World War I.  Bianca is now in Year 10, but wrote the essay as a Year 9 student.  Bianca will travel to Gallipoli with the other state winners of the Simpson Prize.  This will be a particularly special experience given this year is the 100th anniversary of the Australian landing at Gallipoli.  Congratulations to Bianca on this fantastic achievement. Thanks to Miss Emilie Reynolds for her encouragement and support of Bianca in entering the Simpson Prize competition.

Oscar Romero To Be Beatified

Pope Francis has announced that Archbishop Oscar Romero will be beatified on 23 May.  Oscar Romero is our College patron, a wonderful example of our College Vision as he worked towards building A Community of Transformation In The Spirit of The Risen Christ.  Romero was assassinated in 1980 for speaking up for social justice.

http://cathnews.com/cathnews/20726-oscar-romero-to-be-beatified-on-may-23

FUTURE SCHOOLS ... AND FUTURE SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Miss Melissa Croswell, Mrs Jacinta Tucker and I have been presenting at the Future Schools Conference in Sydney this week.  We were invited to present on the topic of Digital Play for Young Learners.  It was great to be part of a gathering with a large number of educators grappling with the joys and challenges of contemporary learning. The focus of our presentation  was the importance of always starting with the learning intention; that the driver needs to be learning not the device.  The audience was very interested in the practical examples of learning through multi-modal activities, using technology as well as other tools, to enhance engagement and to support  students in  their learning progression.   I appreciate the work Ms Melissa Croswell and Mrs Jacinta Tucker, put into the presentation and other staff who supported us through the preparation of resources.

BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE

We are currently finalising the designs for the next stage of our build, Stage 4. This is a large build which will include a Middle School building, including Science laboratories, sports change room with learning studios on the upper floor and development of oval spaces.  The temporary sports change rooms in Dublin will be redesigned as specialist spaces for Media, Design and Robotics.  We have been working with  staff in specialist areas to design purpose built, innovative learning spaces.  Students have also been providing feedback.   In addition a group of students have been assisting with ideas for new furniture for our cafe.  In May we have a Capital Planning Panel visit to assess our funding application for Stage 5 of our build, which includes the next stage of the Junior School.  

RECEIVE THE GIFTS OF GOD WITH GRATITUDE

SALVADO FEAST DAY

Students in Salvado House celebrated Salvado's Feast Day last Wednesday with Mass and a shared lunch.   Dom Rosendo Salvado was born in Tuy Spain on 1 March 1814.  He founded the monastic community of New Norcia.  This year students from Years 7 - 12 will walk sections of the Camino Salvado Pilgrimage trail which connects Subiaco with New Norcia.   In his life Dom Salvado explores for our College, the values of gratitude and stewardship.

EXPANDING THE CITY EXPERIENCE

this year we will be conducting our first Sydney/Canberra tour for Year 9 students.  The trip will run during LIFE week (previously Curriculum Enrichment Week) in August.  It is an expansion of the City Experence, enabling a year 9 students to spend the week in either Perth City or Sydney and Canberra.  The city experience is a rich learning experience for Year 9s and students in both places will be working on the same Big Question.  The students on the Eastern States trip will have the opportunity to spend a couple of days in the snow.  A reminder, there is a parent meeting for the Sydney/Canberra tour on Wednesday 4 March.  Details have been sent to parents involved.

COLLEGE BUS

I am very pleased to tell you that we now have a College bus.  Our bus levy has allowed us to pay the deposit for a loan to purchase the 28 seater bus and the levy will allow us to make the ongoing repayments.  Thanks to parents who have supported us in the project of getting a bus.  It is already getting good use in pro being thansport for swimming training.

ENROLMENTS

Holy Cross College is growing rapidly and we now have over 600 students.  We are currently conducting enrolment interviews for Kindergarten 2016 and Year 7 2017. If you have a child who you wish to enrol in either of these year levels it is essential you get the application in as soon as possible.  

OPEN DAY

We will be conducting an Open Day on Thursday 26 March.  You are very welcome to join us on this day and to bring children who may be enrolling at the College.  

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY

Staff will be engaged in Professional Learning on Tuesday 2 March.  There will be no classes on this day.

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE VISITORS 

On Friday 20 March we conducted a workshop on Early Learning for Catholic Secondary Principals.  The workshop, held  in our Early Learning Centre, was an opportunity for secondary principals to learn about the Early Years Framework and National Quality Standards and to see their implementation.  Our students hosts, from Year 3 did an excellent job.