OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Caitlin McKenzie, College Captain and Year 12 student has been announced as a winner of the Premier’s ANZAC Student Tour Competition.  Caitlin had to write an essay and was then shortlisted as a finalist, at which stage she went through an interview process.  In April 2017, Caitlin will travel to Singapore with the nine otherWA winners.  The is an amazing achievement for Caitlin.  Thanks to Miss Reynolds for support and encouragement of Caitlin in entering this competition.

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM – GLOBAL TRENDS FOR ALL GENERATIONS

I have recently returned from representing Catholic Secondary Principals Australia at an International Symposium in Toronto.  It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with representatives from Principals associations from around the world and to share ideas on educational leadership.  The purpose was to gather leaders of professional principal and vice-principal associations from around the globe in an effort to better inform, share expertise and ideas, and discuss common issues. The symposium included representatives from professional associations in Australia, Canada (British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador and Ontario), Finland, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.   It was a great learning experience and i came away with an assurance that education in Australia - and aT Holy Cross - is in a very good place.

ORIENTATION DAY

Today we welcomed new students and parents to the College for Orientation Day.  We had a large number of Kindergarten and Year 7 students, as they are our main intake years, as well as a number of other Junior School students.  The new students had an opportunity to meet staff and make new friends..  Junior School students transitioned to their next year level.  We welcomed new Junior School staff - Miss Abby Rowlands, Miss Aisling Keating and Mrs Pieta Bloxom..  Miss Aoife Hickey, who will also be joining the Junior School staff, will meet the students next week.  Last Friday we welcomed 2017 Pre-Kindergarten students and their parents to the College.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Last Friday we gathered as a College to mark Remembrance Day.  We prayed for those who have lost their lives and been injured in wars, past and preset, and for those affected by conflicts today.  Mr Collins and College Captains, Rebecca Hughes and Caitlin McKenzie, represented the College at the community Remembrance Day Service.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS - COLLEGE BOARD AND FRIENDS OF HOLY CROSS

The Annual General Meetings for the College Board and Friends of Holy Cross will be held on 29 November.  The evening will commence with wine and cheese provided by the Friends of Holy Cross College at 5.30pm in San Salvador,  followed by the AGMs at 6.30pm.  I encourage parents to attend.

CELEBRATING GRADUATION

I have just returned from Long Service Leave during which I enjoyed a wonderful holiday and a family wedding in Europe.  Thanks to Mr Peter Collins for the wonderful job he did as Acting Principal during my absence and for enabling me to take a real break. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2016 as they graduate from Holy Cross.  Last Thursday we gathered for a graduation breakfast, followed by a College Assembly and the Grand Parade, during which the whole College farewelled the Year 12 students.  On Thursday evening we celebrated the Graduation Mass and gave thanks for the many gifts that the Year 12  students have in their lives and the importance of sharing these.  I have included the text of my address below.

On Thursday evening the Year 12 students will receive their Graduation Certificates on Annual Celebration Night.  I am looking forward to seeing you at this important community event which starts at 6.30pm on Thursday 27 October.  

Graduation Mass - Principal’s Address 2016

This year we have had a special focus  on Ursula Frayne and the Gospel values she represents - dignity and personal best.  This has also been an Olympic year and in August many of us spent hours watching athletes who have given much of their lives to the achievement of their personal best. 

In 1924 the Olympic Games were held in Paris and the life of one of the Olympians from these games was celebrated in movie Chariots of Fire.  Eric Liddell is a beautiful example of someone who throughout his life modelled the values of dignity and personal best.

He achieved notoriety because he refused to run in  the heats of the Olympic 100 metres  because they were scheduled on a Sunday  and it was in conflict with his beliefs to compete on the Sabbath.   He  stuck to his principles despite immense pressure from the British Olympic Committee and the public.  Ironically he came home a hero after winning the gold medal in the 400 metres, an event for which he only trained for a couple of months,

Eric Liddell, was born in China, the son of Scottish Christian missionary parents who spent much of their lives in China.  While Eric was educated in England and Scotland, he too became a missionary and returned to China after the Olympics, as a missionary and a teacher. Eric believed his speed was a gift from God  He said ‘God made me for a purpose,  but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure.’    At the Paris Olympics Eric Liddell was admired not  just for his athletic prowess but for his sportsmanship and  the dignity with which he treated other people.  

After the Olympics Eric went to China where he worked as a Science teacher and a missionary.  He spent his last years in a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II and here he died of a brain tumour, aged 43.  In the camp he did all he could to make life more bearable for others, particularly for the young people.  After his death a young man who knew him in the camp  said, ‘We confided in him, went to him for advice, looked on him as probably the most perfect and honourable Christian friend we had ever known and in losing Eric the whole camp feels they have lost a real friend.  It is my prayer that I may live like Eric, a life that is exemplary, lovely,  useful and full of caring service to others.’

In his short life, Eric Liddell lived life to the full, he received the gifts of God with gratitude, developed them responsibly and shared them lovingly with others.  Pope Francis said, Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you!  Do not be afraid to dream of great things!  

I hope that as graduates you will dream of great things and use your gifts to achieve them, that in living life to the full you will have a vision beyond yourselves and will remember that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.   In his poem ‘An Arundel Tomb’ Philip Larkin wrote ‘What will survive of us is love’.   I hope you too will live lives full of caring service to others and that you will leave a legacy of love.

 

WEEK 6, WINTER TERM

This week we have LIFE Week in the College. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 will participate in a range of activities including Camino pilgrimage walks, Retreats, Christian Service Learning activities and a variety of excursions. A group of Year 9 students left for Canberra on Friday night and, for the remainder of this year group, the City of Perth will be their classroom for the week. Year 6 students will spend the week in Albany and Year 8 students will be in New Norcia.  Year 12 students will walk the final two stages of the Camino Salvado, walking into new Norcia on Wednesday and staying there for their  Retreat. Thank you to all staff for their work in organising LIFE week and attending the many activities.

PRINCIPAL'S LEAVE

I will be on Long Service Leave from 24 August - 17 October;  Mr Peter Collins will be a acting Principal during this period.

STAFFING

On Monday we welcome Miss Sara O'Neill back from leave.  I would like to thank Ms Sharon Andrews for her work at the College during the five weeks Miss O'Neill has been away.  Ms Andrew's has been generous in her commitment to the College during this period of time.

ANGELICO EXHIBITION

Last week I attended the official opening of the Angelico Exhibition.  I am always amazed at the quality of the art work which is produced by young people in our Catholic schools and it was great  to see the exhibits of our College students. Thank you to Miss O'Neill for her work in preparation for the Angelico exhibition and to Ms Andrews for supporting the students at the event.

PERFORMING  ARTS FESTIVAL FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

The Performing  Arts Festival for Catholic Schools & Colleges continued this week.  Well done to the Junior School Choir on their performance on Thursday.  This was the first time the Junior School have  been involved in the festival and the students did a great job.  Thanks to Mr Chris McRae for preparing the students for this event.

 

SUBIACO AND TRAYNING BUILDING

On Friday we took possession of Stage 4 of our Capital Development Plan. The new learning centre consists of two levels which will be named Subiaco and Trayning.  Subiaco is a town in Italy, about an hour From Rome; here  the Monastery of St Benedict  enshrines the cave (Sacro Speco) in which St. Benedict lived as a hermit before he organised his first monastic community.  This community was the first of the Bendictine communities of which Bishop Rosendo Salvado was a member.  

Trayning is the town in the West Australian wheat belt where Sr Irene McCormack was born. 

 

This stage of our building programme has included significant development of the grounds,   including our beautiful reflection garden.   We now have extensive ovals, outdoor learning  and recreational spaces and new play equipment.  

Thanks to the Student Leaders from across the College who had input into the design of the outdoor spaces.  I think the older students will be pleased with the outcome with the realisation of their idea of installing a small trampoline, a big swing and table tennis tables, as well as seating and a stage area.

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ENRICHMENT

Congratulations to our DaVinci students who competed in the Robocup, on Friday and Saturday.  All teams did very well and one of the teams won a bronze medal.  The DaVinci programme is an extension programme for students in Years 5 and 6 at HCC and five other regional Catholic primary schools.  This semester the students have been developing their skills in robotics. Thanks to Mrs DiPino for her work with the students and her commitment to preparing the teams for this event.

CATHOLIC PERFORMING ARTS

Students in the Performing Arts have had the opportunity to showcase their talents this week. I was pleased to see the dance students as they paid tribute to Sr Irene McCormack in their liturgical dance. This is the first time we have been represented in this category in the festival.  Thanks to Miss Hannah Sibbald and Mrs Christina Davini for their work with these students.  Well done to musicians who also performed last week.  Thanks to Mr Chris McRae for coordinating HCC's participation in this event, which runs throughout August.  See a full report on the LIFE@HCC blog -  https://www.holycross.wa.edu.au/news/lifeblog.php

APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL

Holy Cross College has once again been awarded the title of Apple Distinguished School.  The award recognises HCC for innovation, leadership and educational excellence.  The focus of the award is on innovation in learning rather than simply on the technology.  

PLAYGROUND

The new Junior School play area is nearing completion.  The children have been watching in anticipation as the poles and ropes have been installed during the past week.  I am sure they are looking forward to their first play in this area.

YEAR 12 PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

I am looking forward to meeting with Year 12 students and their parents on Wednesday, 10 August, to discuss their final months of school.  This is an important session as we will outline procedures for TAFE and university entrance, as well as key events over the next few months, including Graduation.  

BOOK WEEK

Thanks to Friends of Holy Cross, and particularly Mrs Jo Davies, for organising the Scholastic Book Fair.  This is a good opportunity to promote the important skill of reading.  The Junior School children enjoyed the chance to gather in San Salvador in their pyjamas on Thursday night to listen to bedtime stories.  The Book Fair continues, in San Salvador, this week.