Winter Term Notes

I extend a warm welcome back to all families, students and staff and trust that everyone has had an enjoyable and rejuvenating holiday.

The Winter Term presents with some exciting activities and challenges including:

• Catholic Schools’ Performing Art Festival held throughout the Winter Term
• Bishops Religious Literacy Assessments held in the week commencing 5 August
• HASS Week commencing 5 August
• Science Week commencing 12 August
• Book Week commencing 19 August
• LIFE Week – Week 6 commencing Monday 26 August and concluding Friday 30 August
• Fathers’ Day Liturgy – Wednesday 4 September
• Tenth Anniversary Celebrations – Friday 13 September
• Italian Week – commencing 16 September
• Italian Showcase – commencing 17 September
• Tour Day – Wednesday 18 September
• Kindergarten to Year Six Inter-House Athletics Carnival – Thursday 19 September
• Arts Showcase – Opening 23 September
• Year Twelve Breakfast and Final Assembly – Friday 27 September
• Feast Day Activities – Friday 27 September
• End of Winter Term – Friday 27 September

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated during the Winter Term with Confirmation Enrolments Masses held on the weekend of Saturday 27 July and Sunday 28 July. Conferment of the Sacrament will occur at Masses on the weekend of Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September

Staffing Changes

Mrs Clare Rosman is wished the very best as she takes six months Long Service Leave for the Winter and Spring Terms 2019. Mr Jarrad Pisano will take on the role of Digital Coach during this time.

We wish Mr Chris Gooch a rewarding Long Service Leave in the Winter Term 2019. Mr Mark Potts will take on the role of Technologies Co-ordinator from the beginning of Week Three in the Winter Term. Mr Paul Murphy will assume the role of Technologies Co-ordinator for the first two weeks of the Winter Term. Mr Augustin Lobet has been appointed to the position of Media and Photography Teacher in Mr Gooch’s absence.

We are grateful for the leadership of Mr Simon Falcone in the role of Salvado House Co-ordinator. Mr Falcone has done a sensational job, continuing to foster a strong House spirit. Mr Jarrad Pisano will assume the role of Salvado House Co-ordinator for the remainder of the 2019 school year.

Mrs Tracy Papenfus has accepted the role of Assistant Bursar at La Salle College. We wish Mrs Papenfus the very best as she builds her career in finance and accounting. Mrs Maria Bochrinis has been appointed to the position of Finance Officer and will commence on Monday 29 July 2019.

We welcome back Mr Antony Davis from long service leave. Mr Davis will teach Year Four one day a week and a number of specialist areas in Junior School, including Year Seven Religious Education.

New Sports Centre

Considerable work has been undertaken in regard progressing the construction of the new Sports Centre. The Board is finalising a number of small matters and it is expected that the project will go to tender in the coming weeks. This is an exciting project, eagerly anticipated by everyone.

College Annuals

The 2018 College Annual is currently at the printers and is expected to be available in the coming weeks. The College regrets the delay in publishing the 2018 College Annual. It is anticipated that the 2019 College Annual will be published in good time and be available at the commencement of the new school year.

Tenth Anniversary Celebrations

Planning of the events to mark the tenth anniversary of the opening of Holy Cross College is well underway. Mrs Vanja Basell, as a foundation staff member, has been very excited in leading her team to ensure the celebrations are of a high quality and fitting for celebrating such a milestone in our College’s history.

The main celebrations will be held on Friday 13 September 2019 commencing with an extra special Mass in the morning and concluding with a family festival of fun in the evening on the College oval. More details will be provided closer to the event.

LIFE Week

Parents are reminded that LIFE Week will be held in Week Six of the Winter Term. This is a unique opportunity for students to have extended time to explore big questions and learning beyond the classroom. Letters outlining the activities and events for each year group will be sent home during Week One.

Culture of high expectations and high standards – Attitude is Everything

Holy Cross College endeavours to foster a culture of excellence in all that we do. This is inherent in our College motto to live “Life to the Full”. As we begin the new term it is vital that students are appropriately dressed and in keeping with the College policy on uniform and grooming. A copy of which is available on the College website under Uniform Shop. Of particular concern in the past is students’ adherence to the policy in regard to hair, shoes and jewellery.

Our conduct and dress standards give people an initial impression of who we are and what we value. To wear the College uniform well, and in keeping with the College’s uniform standards, demonstrates one’s commitment to the College and to its vision and mission. It is a visible indication of our attitude. According to many, our attitude is everything and can be a building block for opportunities to come our way. We should always recall the truism: ‘If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door’, Milton Berle.

I have also been a little concerned about the punctuality and attendance of a small number of students. Being on time and attending every day is also a demonstration of our attitude and effort. Parents are expected to ensure students are punctual to school. Furthermore, it is a legal requirement that students attend every school day that is gazetted by the Minister of Education and in keeping with the school calendar of events.

To add to our culture of high expectations and high standards the College will be installing two honour boards in the College reception. The first is for Academic Excellence and will acknowledge students who achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 98 or greater. The second board is for Academic Achievement and will acknowledge students who achieve an ATAR score of 90 or greater.

The Carpenter – A story to highlight why our attitude is everything

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the pay cheque, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. ‘This is your house,’ he said, ‘my gift to you.’

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realised, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, ‘Life is a do-it-yourself project.’

Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today. So it is with our attitude and choices we make in our standard of uniform and grooming, punctuality, attendance and general school work. Author Unknown.