The HASS Learning Area Welcomes Year 7s!

This week, as part of their Transition schedule, Year 7 students participated in an interactive Humanities and Social Sciences immersion. Students were given some information about the learning area and tips for success, which can be accessed on the cover page of the Humanities and Social Sciences course on Student and Parent Coneqt. Students then participated in a whole year level card sorting game, competing in their House groups.

The object of the game was to be the first house to sort a series of images into the four Humanities and Social Sciences categories of Civics & Citizenship, Economics, History and Geography. In a second round, students then raced to place relevant facts on each card, with the objective to be the House whose colour was most represented.

The Year 7 Humanities and Social Sciences teaching team - Mr Jamie Gotti, Miss Emilie Reynolds, Mrs Karen Dennett and myself welcome the Year 7 students to our learning area and we look forward to an exciting year in Humanities and Social Sciences!

Ms Karen Taylor
Learning Area Coordinator - Humanities and Social Sciences
9 February 2018

Year 9s Consider How to Bring Lunchtimes to LIFE...

In Week 2, Year 9s launched into their first Big Ideas project for 2018. They are exploring the big question: How can we bring lunchtimes to LIFE? This week, students began to consider their own experiences of a typical lunchtime at Holy Cross College, by producing a 'lunchbox' of their experiences and then undertaking a gallery walk of all of the students' lunch boxes to get an insight into the patterns and trends of Year 9 experiences.

Students then began to use some different types of data, including an interactive survey and interviews with students from other year groups, to develop their ideas about how lunchtimes are currently experienced by students and what some ideas might be to promote the LIFE pillars through lunchtime activities.

Over the coming weeks, students will deepen their awareness of the LIFE pillars and employ design thinking to develop and test a prototype for a business model to better engage students with one or more of the LIFE pillars through lunchtime activities. 

Ms Karen Taylor

Year 9 Learning Innovator

9 February 2017

Year 7 Big Ideas: Parenting 101!

The Year Sevens began Big Ideas on Thursday of Week 2 and were surprised to learn that they were going to become parents! As an introduction to their learning around the 6C’s and a focus on Citizenship, the students made ‘Flour Babies’ and began the process of caring for the babies 24 hours a day, for 7 days!

The students will take the baby everywhere they go over the next week, only leaving the baby in the crèche to go to P.E or with a responsible babysitter if they have sport outside school. 

They will record the baby’s activities in their Baby Book on Book Creator and keep up with daily Flour Baby Challenges on their Seesaw App. 

We look forward to watching the adventures of the Flour Babies over the next week and are excited to see the Year Sevens explore all of the 6Cs over the course of the year.

Miss Emilie Reynolds 

Year 7 Innovator

Junior School Update

Pre-Primary

Wow, what a fantastic start we have had in Pre-Primary!

Everyday we are amazed at how independent the Pre-Primary students are with their daily routines and responsibilities. Students are packing their school bags, collecting their belongings and helping with classroom jobs whilst displaying a sense of accomplishment and success. This independence was also carried into the student’s exploration of their new learning environments. Throughout the week children developed skills to interact with others and problem solve. Our dramatic play areas have been a huge hit as students take on different character roles, begin writing for a purpose and developing curious questions about the world around them.

In Religious Education, we have started with our first unit, Church community. Through class discussions we have explored communities around us and how Jesus showed love in the communities to which he belonged and visited. This was a great way to start the year because it has allowed us to identify the idea of belonging. As our Pre-Primary students grow and develop it is vital that our students feel this sense of belonging within our classrooms.

We welcome our families again to the start of 2018. We are looking forward to the fantastic year ahead!

Miss Abbey Rowlands, Mrs. Joanne Wright, Mrs. Caroline Hilton and Mrs. Helen Cooke

Pre-Primary Team.

Villain School Is In Session

Rehearsals are underway for the 2018 College Drama Production of VILLAIN SCHOOL. We are very lucky to have such a talented young cast for what is set to be a wild and colourful production. Students are getting to grips with their characters and beginning to understand their quirks and personality traits.

Our youngest cast member is in Year 6 and our oldest Year 12 so there is a fantastic sense of community amongst our cast and crew. Rehearsals so far have been full of fun, laughter and plenty of shenanigans and we are looking forward to what the remainder of the term will bring!

Mr Chris McRae
Learning Area Coordinator (The Arts)

School Parking Approach Initiative

Click to enlarge

Peter Collins
Vice Principal

Elevate - Year 8 Study Skills

Today, Year 8 students participated in a study skills session delivered by Elevate. The session focussed on the importance of time management and the skills needed to revise for assessments effectively. It is important for students to distinguish between homework and study and to develop study management skills.

Mr Paul Murphy
Deputy Principal
6 February 2018

Parish Sacramental Classes

In 2016, our parish, St Helena of the Holy Cross, in conjunction with Holy Cross College and St Helena's Catholic Primary School, adopted the Archdiocesan Sacramental Policy for School Aged Children.

Key to the Archdiocesan Policy is the cooperation that it invites between the parish, schools and families. 'Parents are the primary educators in the faith' - you are the first source of faith for your child and it is you who brings your child to the parish community as you seek for them to become initiated through the sacraments. Furthermore, your choice of a Catholic school for your child ensures that they are provided with knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith.

In our parish, we operate under a parish based, school supported, family focused model for preparing our students for Sacraments.

Students prepare for the Sacraments as part of the Religious Education curriculum in the following year levels:

Year 3 - Sacrament of Reconciliation

Year 4 - Sacrament of First Eucharist

Year 6 - Sacrament of Confirmation

If your child is new to Holy Cross College, they may have missed one or more of these sacraments. If your child is wishing to receive a sacrament but is not at the same stage as the class curriculum (i.e. a Year 4 student is in Eucharist class but needs to prepare for Reconciliation...) then, you may be interested in attending the after-school classes offered by the parish.

After school sacrament preparation classes are held on a Wednesday afternoon during term time from 3:30 to 4:30pm at Holy Cross College. The cost is $35 per sacrament and there are eight classes plus an information session, interactive workshop and rehearsal.

Reconciliation classes commence on February 7, First Eucharist classes on March 14, and Confirmation classes on June 20.

If you would like to enrol your child in After School Classes, please complete this online form https://goo.gl/forms/rTMZ7EtAujHEt9uG3 before the first lesson of the sacrament you wish your child to be prepared for. It is best if you click on the link or copy and paste the address.

For further information please contact me via sh.sacraments@holycross.wa.edu.au or 0407271706 or call the parish office.

Kind Regards,

Mrs. Claire Merry

Parish Sacramental Coordinator

On behalf of Fr Bonaventure, Fr Alexis and the Parish Sacramental Team

Day One in Junior School

All of our students in Kindergarten through to Year 6 had a very busy first day today. 

A large number of new students and new staff members were welcomed and we are very excited to build a connected, compassionate and caring community in the spirit of our 2018 focus Patron, Frederic Ozanam.  Classes spent quality time getting to know one another and their teachers and were involved in a variety of activities - both in and out of the classroom.

Lots of tired, happy faces flooded the boulevard area at the end of the day.  See you all tomorrow!

Vanja Basell
Assistant Principal, Junior School

Student Safety: Pick-up and Drop-off around the College

The College enrolments have continued to grow and in 2018 there is more than 1000 students enrolled. Consequently, there is considerable demand for parking spaces and pressure at peak times of student movement at the beginning and end of the school day. We must expect to change our habits to accommodate the growth in the College and, especially, to ensure the safety for our students.

There are three car parks within the College grounds, parents are asked to consider using the car parks off Coolamon Drive or Westgrove Drive to relieve pressure on the main car park off Strathmore Parkway.

Parking Bays – Coolamon Drive

As part of the last building program, the car park off Coolamon Drive has been extended to include more that 50 bays. Students can easily access the College grounds via the pathway leading past the courts and the New Norcia building. 

Westgrove Drive Car Park

Most Middle and Senior School students begin the day in their House Tutor Groups in the Paris/Dublin and Trayning/Subiaco buildings, which are best accessed via the car park off Westgrove Drive. Additionally, students' lockers are housed in these buildings. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to drop-off and pick-up students from the car park off Westgrove Drive. 

Note that this area is not marked for Kiss and Drive. To maintain safety parents must stop in a parking bay before students enter or leave the vehicle. Instances of cars stopping in the middle of the drive have presented a safety hazard.

Also, please do not drive through to the car park near the Maintenance sheds, as these bays are reserved for service vehicles and staff.

Drive through Kiss and Drive – off Strathmore Parkway

Key aspects of this procedure include the following:

• The Kiss and Drive doubles as an undercover area for students during the day. So:
• gates to the Kiss and Drive will be open in the morning from 8.10am and close at 8.40am.
• gates will reopen in the afternoon from 2.40pm and close at 3.30pm

• Student drop-off and pick-up will only be permitted in the drive through area in the front car park (see the attached diagram). This is not a parking zone.

• Students must wait in this area until their parents enter the drop-off/pick-up zone before alighting from the car or getting into the car.

• Where students are not present to be picked up parents will be required to immediately drive off and re-join the queue. This will ensure an orderly flow of traffic.

• There is considerable street-side parking a short walk from the school. Parents are encouraged to utilise these spaces.

• Where parents have found a parking space or are parked in the surrounding streets students will be permitted to walk to meet their parents. Students will not be permitted to be picked unless parents are parked in designated parking spaces.

• Come 10-15 minutes later, once the traffic has eased.

• Do not double park or block driveways.

• Drivers must not park and alight from your vehicle in the Kiss and Drive area.

• Do not overtake in the Kiss and Drive area, but wait for the traffic to move forward.

We take our responsibility for the safety of your children very seriously. Your support and cooperation is sincerely appreciated.

Peter Collins

Vice Principal