Catholic Performing Arts Festival

31 August 2014

Over the past 6 weeks, Music and Drama students from Holy Cross have participated in the 25th Annual Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival. A huge effort was put in by students and staff and the results are as follows:

• The HCC Lockie Leonard production was viewed by an adjudicator on Saturday 28 July and awarded a Certificate of Merit. Special mentions went to Jack Hammon (Year 10), Rebecca Hughes (Year 9) and James Evans (Year 8) for their performances.
• The HCC Contemporary Band performed at Mercy College on Tuesday 12 August and were given great feedback by ex Australian Idol finalist and Perth musician Courtney Murphy.
• Christian Fidelis (Year 9) performed a Violin Solo at Zenith Music on Monday 18 August
• Nathan Sweet (Year 8) performed a Guitar Solo at Zenith Music on Thursday 21 August and was awarded a Certificate of Merit, the College’s first for a Solo Performer.
• Chardonnay Mitchell (Year 8) and Angela Gethin (Year 8) performed a Piano Duet at Zenith Music on Monday 25 August
• Anthony Menegola (Year 8) performed a Piano Solo at Zenith Music on Monday 25 August
• The HCC Choir and Barbershop performed for a good sized audience at Trinity College on Tuesday 26 August
• Giordarna Rigoli (Year 12) performed her Original Solo Production monologue ‘And No I’m Not Crazy’ at Chisholm Catholic College on Thursday 28 August and was awarded ‘Excellent’ rankings (the highest possible score) for every category for which she is to be congratulated!

Special thank you's to instrumental tutors Ronnie Domp, Mark Cunniffe, Callum Morrison, Victoria Denn and former vocal tutor Catherine Rosman for preparing the students for their performances. Special thanks also to Laura Kendrick, Rebecca McGowan, Courtney Clark and the staff/student production team of Lockie Leonard. We look forward to next years’ festival.

Chris McRae
Music/Drama Teacher

Year 11 Curriculum Enrichment Week

This week saw Year 11 embark on their 5th Curriculum Enrichment at Holy Cross College.  The week began with a University visit to Murdoch, TAFE and workplace institutions, where students were able to have a good look around. The hope is that visits like this will give them a chance to see what is on offer in various places and to perhaps crystallise some plans for their future endeavours. After looking around Murdoch, the 11s participated in a study skills class at Murdoch with a group called Elevate. The energy of the guest speaker was quite impressive and students came away with some great ideas that they can put to the test in Year 12.

Day two saw the Year 11s complete the first part of the Camino Salvado by walking from Subaico to Guildford, via St Joseph's Church and St Mary's Cathedal. It was a fairly long walk but they were all up to the challenge and were very proud of themselves upon it's completion. It was great to see some students who walked the 110km Camino in Spain, leading the group this week. We began and ended our pilgrimage with the pilgrims prayer and had talked about the story of Salvado before we set off. I suspect it gave some of our students some food for thought in terms of how far Salvado walked for his mission in New Norcia. He didn't just do this walk once! 

The final 3 days of Enrichment Week was a highlight; the Year 11 Retreat. We travelled to Eagles Nest in Gidgeganup, a stunning setting in the hills and began 3 days of reflection, focusing on ourselves, our relationship with others, and then on our relationship with God. It was a wonderful opportunity for this class to get to know each other better, to reconnect and to reflect on what is really important to them. There were some amazing moments of trust when the students led each other, blind folded and relying only on touch to navigate. Other moments of fun during a pamper and games night and finally some teary moments when students received their warm fuzzies, written by each other. I have no doubt that the retreat is something that these students will carry with them for a long time to come. 

Thanks to all staff who made the Year 11 week so fantastic. It really was a week to remember. 

Anita Walmsley

Assistant Deptuy Principal - Learning

30 August 2014

Year 12 Curriculum Enrichment Week

Year 12 LIFE Week

Retreat at Peace Be Still

Following two days walking along the Camino Salvado our Year 12 pilgrims enjoyed a comfortable night’s sleep at the Peace Be Still Retreat Centre in the Chittering Valley. The location certainly lives up to its name, Peace Be Still, set amongst rolling green hills in the Chittering Valley with the calming sounds of birds and the occasional blare of sheep.

Students experienced a wonderful Mass celebrated by Fr Bona before enjoying a sumptuous meal followed by the showing of the film “The Way”, staring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. The story is a moving and sometimes humorous account of several characters on pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Like the students’ own pilgrimage, it is a journey of self-discovery and a time of spiritual reflection.

The next day students participated in a range of activities focussed on taking the long view in life, an idiom that asks the students to think about the effects actions and decisions taken today will have in the future. This is particularly relevant to our Year 12 students as they prepare for their final examinations and consider future career options. Activities included showing affirmation, journaling, creating “Way Markers” for their life’s journey, and a reflective journey through a labyrinth in the retreat centre grounds.

A visit to Tertiary Institutions

On Thursday of LIFE Week Year 12 VET students visited the Careers Centre and the Defence Forces Recruiting Centre in the city.

ATAR students visited Notre Dame University, Australia in Fremantle and were welcomed by Dave and Hannah from the prospective students office who gave an informative insight into the distinctive features of the courses, what life is like at the university, and a presentation on the admission procedures. Students also enjoyed a visit to the Biomedical laboratories where they investigated different urine samples for diseases. Student also had the opportunity to dissect a sheep kidney.

The VET students travelled to Fremantle to join the ATAR students for a typical Fremantle lunch of fish and chips by the wharf.

On Friday a number of VET students attended their regular work placement program while a small group caught up with some Christian Service at Holy Cross College.

ATAR students visited the University of Western Australia on a very wet Friday and began with a presentation on admission procedures and university courses present by Nasim from the future students office. Our guide for the day was third year Science student, Sasha, who escorted the students to many places around the enormous campus. Sasha was an expert in university history and trivia, even pointing out the space invaders art piece hidden on the wall of one of the buildings.

Simone, at University Hall, welcomed us for an amazing lunch and tour of the residential complex. Students completed the day with around two hours of intensive study on Mathematics at the Reid Library.

Throughout the week we have been overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to us from Wendy at the Peace Be Still Retreat Centre, Dave and Hannah at NDA and Sasha and Simone at UWA.

I would like to thank all staff who have contributed to making LIFE Week especially memorable for the graduating Class of 2014: Ms Connor, Mrs Amatulli, Fr Bona, Mr Muller, Mrs De Courcier, Mrs De Pino on the pilgrim walk along the Camino Salvado and retreat at Peace Be Still; and Mr Wilson, Mr Mazzini, Mr Gray and Mrs Jess at the visits to the tertiary institutions and careers centres.

Mr Peter Collins

Vice Principal

29 August 2014

How can poorer people around the World have access to clean water?

This was the question we asked year 7 in week 5, when we had an incursion. Students of engineering came to Holy Cross from the University of Western Australia, as part of the Engineers without Borders program.

Students were gathered into groups, each representing a different country. They were given information on how to make a water filter, with a list of prices for the equipment. However, the different countries had different amounts of money given to them. Also, lots of the poorer countries only had partial instructions. The students were then asked to make a water filter, which were tested in front of the whole group. One or two groups produced highly effective water filters!

The students also got the chance to create a pipeline to transport water from one place to another.
A completed water filter:

Preparing for the pipeline activity: 

Buying materials for the water filter:

Curriculum Enrichment Week - Junior School

What's My Story?

The Kindergarten to Year Two students have been busy investigating their BIG IDEA, "What's my story?", during Curriculum Enrichment Week. The students have visited the Mundaring Discovery Centre; walked the streets of Ellenbrook looking for "treasure"; taken part in dancing, cooking, games, and craft of different cultures; shared lunch with their friends and families; connected with their spirituality; and created artwork for their dreamtime stories. 

Mundaring Discovery Centre

The students participated in the Nearer to Nature program on Monday 25 August. After a very long bus ride we broke off into three groups. Each group had a guide who told stories, showed us how to find 'tucker' in the bush and throw a spear, helped us to make honkey nut jewellery, led us on bush walks, painted our faces with symbols for knowledge and different animals, and explained the traditional roles the men and women took in their families. Some of the girls were not happy they were not able to help hunt and were left holding the baby!

          

Cultural Day

On Tuesday 26 August we learnt more about where our friends came from and what their stories were. Some of our families joined us in dancing, singing, cooking, playing traditional sporting games, and completing craft activities. We started the day by researching the flags of the different countries around the world. Some of the parents and staff then shared their interests and talents with the students: Tatiana's dad played the Flamenco guitar, Jennah's mum helped to make Maori Poi balls used in traditional dancing, Mbako's mum taught us Setswana which is spoken in Botswana, we cooked Australian damper with Isabele's mum, Mrs Doherty and Mrs Tucker taught Irish dancing and the Italian Tarantella, Mrs D'Andrea made Italian gnocchi, Miss Pritchard made English trifle, we made Indian paratha with Mrs Matthews, Mrs Basell taught us how to play bocce from Crotia, while we used footballs with Miss Croswell for Australian Rules Football skills, and we made English shields with Mrs Ryan. Thanks to all of the other parents for helping too.

After a very busy morning we stopped to share lunch together. Parents provided food from the country of their heritage. There was enough for everyone including the families who joined us for lunch. 

Ellenbrook Walk

Day 3 of Curriculum Enrichment Week, Wednesday 27 August, saw the Pre-Primary, Year One and Year Two students walk around the local streets of the Coolamon area in Ellenbrook. The students needed to follow the map and find the missing parts of their photo puzzles. There was a lot to look at and different artwork and businesses to find. The students noticed there was a lot of different types of 'coolamons'. On Monday the students learnt that the coolamon was used to carry food, bark, and even babies. 

The Year One and Two students explored the parkland that is also a map of Australia. They found and recorded the different coordinates of each city on their Explain Everything projects.

Aboriginal and Catholic Culture

The students were visited by Fr Bona on Thursday 28 August. The Junior School celebrated a liturgy together reflecting on how God loves us and the importance of our families and friends. 

The students listened to a number of dreamtime stories and discussed how they are important in passing the Aboriginal culture from generation to generation.

Miss Croswell
Head of Junior School
28 August 2014

Happy Science Week in the Junior School!

Kindergarten       

This week, we celebrated Science week with a few special experiments. Mr Brooke came across to the Junior school with some dry ice and liquid solutions to conduct some amazing experiments.  We observed how dry ice in a bowl of water could create an eruption of cloudy steam. We also watched a measuring cylinder full of water and a special solution change colours when the dry ice was added.

In class we conducted our own experiment, a chocolate experiment! The children observed how chocolate changes shape when it is heated and melted and then how it can change its shape again when cooled. With a bit of melting, mixing, pouring and sprinkling, the children made delicious chocolate freckles.

In Big Ideas, the children have been very busy exploring different types of houses that people live in all over the world. They have also been creating their own digital photo albums, which include beautiful photos of the people in their family.

We are looking forward to the start of our busy week of fun and learning for Curriculum Enrichment Week, which starts on Monday with an Excursion to the Mundaring Discovery Centre.

Mrs Tucker

Class Teacher

Year One

The playground has been completed and the Year Ones are OVERWHELMED with excitement. On Tuesday we officially opened the Early Learning Centre’s playground and the children LOVED the water pump, plane, car and ropes. They really enjoyed taking their shoes off and playing in the sand too!

            

Last week we had the Year Seven students from Mrs Louden’s drama class perform some readers' theatre. We all enjoyed a giggle and thought they were all very brave! 

This week was Science Week and we had a visit from Mr Brooke. He showcased some exciting experiments with dry ice. The children watched in awe as water changed colours and continued to bubble rapidly. 

           

During Physical Education we are working on movement skills. This fortnight we have been performing locomotor movements using different body parts to travel in different directions and controlling objects with equipment and different parts of our body. In the coming weeks we will be working on balancing techniques and transferring weight from one part of the body to another.

Next week is Curriculum Enrichment Week and we are looking forward to visiting the Mundaring Discovery Centre!

Miss Behiels
Class Teacher

As a special treat for Science week, the Year 1s ventured across to the Senior school to see what a real Science lab actually looks like. We noticed there was a lot of interesting equipment and had lots of questions about what the different tools were used for. We then took some samples of preserved insects back to our classroom to conduct some further research on the physical traits.

Mrs Tucker

Year One Science Teacher

Curriculum Enrichment Week

Parents are reminder to check the schedule of information provided for details of the week's events. We look forward to an exciting day one at the Mundaring Discovery Centre on Monday. Students are required to have their recess and lunch packed in a disposable, labelled bag.

Miss Croswell

Head of Junior School

24 August 2014

Apple Bus Tour

Today was an exciting day for the College as we hosted an Apple Bus Tour. 100 delegates from around Australia and South East Asia visited the college to look at how we are using ICT for learning. They spent some time in both the middle and junior schools. I would like to thank the staff involved and all of our wonderful learning leaders who really excelled themselves with their articulate discussions about how they learn at Holy Cross. 

Ms Anita Walmsley

Assistant Deputy Learning

20 August 2014

Week Four Autumn Term in the ELC

The Pre-Primary’s have been BUSY BEES

Over the last two weeks we have been buzzing around creating recipes on the iPads and then using the instructions to cook. We have made cupcakes and cookies so far with two very helpful mothers.

We have seen some amazing accomplishments including; Jaxon making an multi story tower with dinosaurs, and Emily working independently to write a sentence. WOW!

On Thursday, Ryan’s older brother Nathan came into Pre-Primary to share his musical talent. He played his guitar and sung the children’s favourite song “Let it go” from the movie Frozen and a couple of other songs that the boys considered “Rock N’ Roll". Nathan is now going back to learn more songs to play for us. We cannot wait to have him back. 

I would like to thank the Wallace family for donating hard hats, fluro vests, glasses and gloves for playground dress ups. We should be able to use them VERY SOON!!!

Emma Pritchard

Class Teacher

Year Two

The Year Two students would like to say thank you to all of the families and friends who attended our assembly on Monday. We thoroughly enjoyed it and are very proud if our performance. The next day we performed for the Year Seven students and then showed them our presentations of our water cycles. We have to say they were impressed!

In Mathematics we are learning about capacity with our buddies. We need to learn these skills to help us when we cook so our food tastes nice. We are currently developing our Masterchef recipes to present to the College in Week 8!

In Big Ideas we are looking at our houses from a birds eye view and asking why people live where they live. We will be comparing our house plan drawn at school with one we will be completing at home to see how good our memories are!

Orilee Ryan

Class Teacher

Upcoming Events

The Kindergarten and selected Pre-Primary students will have the health screening checks Tuesday 19th August. 

Parents are invited to attend a PATHS parent information session followed by morning tea on Friday 22 August in the ELC. Kristy McAvan, Non-Government School Psychologist, will be talking to parents about the programme and implementation at Holy Cross College. Please return your reply slip to your child's class teacher.

The Playground is extremely close. Kids Safe visited on Friday to provide their approval of the various pieces. We envisage the students playing on the playground before the week's end.  

 

Melissa Croswell

Head of Junior School

17 August 2014

Year 9 Perth City Learning Experience

On Thursday, 14 August, Year 9s took their learning about the City of a Perth out into the real world with a visit to the city for tours of St. Mary's Cathedral and the colonial exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA. Students experienced taking public transport into the city and grew in their confidence with the busy city environment as they prepared for Curriculum Enrichment Week. Students undertook a number of challenges throughout the day to enrich their learning about our destinations and have shared their ideas through the #HCC9PERTH Twitter Feed.

Ms Karen Taylor

Year 9 Big Ideas

14 August 2014

Upcoming Literacy Assessments

14 August 2014

National NAPLAN Online Trial
Holy Cross College has been chosen to participate in a national online trial of NAPLAN. Selected students from Years 7 & 9 have been chosen to participate in the trial assessments. The assessments are taking place in Week 5 on Thursday and Friday.

Year 10 OLNA Literacy Assessments:
The Year 10 September round of OLNA assessments are coming up. The assessments will be taking place on the 2nd and 4th of September.

Good luck to all students involved!

Paul Murphy
Assistant Deputy Principal

Senior School Booklists

A note that booklists for Senior School will be given to students in the first week of September, this is week 7.

Anita Walmsley

Assistant Deputy Learning

13 August 2014

Curriculum Enrichment Week 2014

Curriculum Enrichment Week 2014 is fast approaching. Letters went home last week across the College and will conclude with Year 10 receiving their letter today. Please read these carefully so you are prepared for the fantastic week that has been planned for you.

Enrichment week is an opportunity for us as a College community to invest some extended learning time in real world contexts. There will be an array of wonderful activities happening, from retreat programmes, to Big Ideas real world connections, to future focus visits in our senior school. 

For your diary, Enrichment Week takes place from 25-29 August.

More information will follow here in the weeks to come.

Anita Walmsley

Assistant Deputy Learning

11 August 2014

Week 3 Winter Term and 100 days in the Junior School

Kindergarten

What a dddddddelightful fortnight we have had in the Kindergarten room. We have explored many things that begin with the letter d. We discovered that not only does “dog” starts with the letter d, but a special dog, a Dalmatian also starts with the letter d. Xavier F identified that he had seen Dalmatians working at fire stations. This then sparked our imaginations to become fire fighters. Of course, an amazing red fire truck was essential for our play!

           

During the fortnight we also made some damper. We mixed, measured and rolled the dough to make this tasty treat. They tasted DELICIOUS (with some students even going back for seconds!)

This week we will continue working to create our own didgeridoos. We have been investigating different Aboriginal art that we might like to paint onto these musical instruments. Mr McRae and Brady in Year 7 have also offered to come and perform for the class with real didgeridoos. We cannot wait!


Mrs Tucker
Class Teacher

Year One

WE REACHED 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL, HIP HIP HOORAY!

On Thursday 31 July we celebrated 100 days of school. The children had a great time exploring how many times they could perform different activities in 100 seconds. They counted how many times in 100 seconds they could say the alphabet, count, jump, hop and write their name. Year One created a crown in honour of the day which had 100 jewels. The children wrote all of the different things they would do if they had 100 of something or $100. Some of the responses included: “I wish I had 100 toys” (Chelsea), “If I had $100 I would spend it on chocolate" (Monika), Emilia informed us that she would like to eat 100 pieces of bacon, and Oscar would buy a robot if he had $100. The children created pictures with the number 100 and sorted a number chart puzzle of numbers 1 to 100. We even had the helpful hands of Miss Brooks, who will be completing work experience in Year One for the next seven weeks.

During the past fortnight we have continued our Geography programme, particularly focussing on bird’s-eye views. We have drawn and labelled maps of the Early Learning Centre and most recently labelled sections of the College from a Google Maps bird’s-eye view. They were amazed by how we can view different places using Google Maps and how small Ellenbrook is in comparison to Australia, on a map.

On Friday, 8 August we are celebrated the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop. In class we have discussed how she was an Australian nun who established a number of schools and helped the less fortunate. Furthermore, we analysed her famous quote: “never see a need without doing something about it”.

Miss Behiels

Class Teacher

In Science this term, the Year Ones are investigating things that are alive. This week they went for a walk around the school to identify the habitats of different living things in the school environment. The budding scientists carefully searched to find things that eat, breath and grow. Some amazing discoveries were made, including slugs, slaters, birds, moss, flowers and spiders.

    

Miss Tucker
Year One Science Teacher

Upcoming Events

The Year Twos are hosting the Junior School Assembly on Monday, 11 August at 2:15pm. 

The Book Fair 'Garden' has commenced. Opening times are available on the College calendar. Tuesday, 12 August, 5:30pm-7:00pm, is the Storytellers night. Children are welcome to come in their pyjamas to listen to a number of stories and enjoy popcorn, milo and other goodies. Books will also be on sale. 

The Feast of the Assumption Mass will be held in the Parish Church on Friday, 15 August at 9:00am. Families are welcome to attend.

A parent information session is being held to discuss the PATHS social and emotional learning programme on Friday, 22 August at 9:00am in the ELC. Parents are reminded to return their attendance reply slips. 

The first stage of the nature playground, adjacent to the Kindergarten and Pre-Primary rooms, is very close to completion. Further information will soon be made available.

Miss Croswell

Head of Junior School

10 August 2014