HOLY CROSS NEWSLETTER

TERM 1 - WEEK 7 - 16TH MARCH, 2018

Dear Parents, Students and Staff,

Reconciliation

This week the Yr 3 students and their families attended one of two Reconciliation ceremonies at St Brigid’s Church. It was wonderful to see the families come together to celebrate this sacrament. Throughout this term the students have been involved in learning about ‘Forgiveness’ and the teachings of Jesus and other key figures in our world who modelled forgiveness in their own lives. We celebrate this sacrament with our school community and wish God’s blessing upon our students who participated in this sacrament. A sincere thank you to Sharon Lee and Karina Romania for their commitment in preparing our students for this sacrament. Below is a beautiful quote which sums up forgiveness.

CONTACT US

158 HAMILTON RD, NEW GISBORNE PH: 5420 8100 www.holycross.com.au principal@hcnewgisborne.catholic.edu.au

MON 19TH MARCH

TUES 20TH MARCH

WED 21TH MARCH

THURS 22ND MARCH

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

FRI 23RD MARCH

No Class Mass

No Assembly

Grade 3/4 athletics

trials

SAT 24TH MARCH

SUN 25TH MARCH

The week ahead

Friendly Faces Thursday the whole school moved classrooms and formed their ‘Friendly Faces’ group. Yr six buddies picked up their prep buddies and helped them get to know other staff and students from all year levels. It is a safe and comfortable way for our students to meet some other friendly faces and then be able to recognise them out on the yard. The focus for this first session was ‘BULLYING- what it is and what it isn’t!’ The groups made posters to demonstrate their understanding, and these can be seen displayed around the school. The children then shared morning tea together. The program will continue to run throughout the year with a focus on meeting new friends in our school and building relationships. Fundraising Thanks to the Yr 4 staff, Sam Ganesh and Brian Coughlan for the selling of icy poles this week. They sold out (no surprises there!), and all funds raised will be donated to Caritas. Thanks to families who are supporting our fundraisers this semester, particularly during this time of Lent. ‘See Us In Action Day’ Yesterday the community was invited to attend Holy Cross to see us in action. A few families decided to wander around and were all suitably impressed with what they saw, both students and buildings alike! Thanks to everyone for making them feel very welcome. They could be future families in our school community! Athletics A wonderful day was had by the 5/6 students and attending staff at the Athletics day today. We were blessed with good weather which always makes it more enjoyable. Thank you to our students for their participation in the events on the day, and for their encouragement of each other. We are blessed to have students who support each other and show that it is the effort and courage to participate which is the most important thing. Thanks to Elaine Plowman for all the preparation and organisation, and to the staff and parents who also contributed. Tony on leave As many of you will be aware, Tony Falls will be away on Enrichment and Long Service Leave. Tony will be returning to work in Week 6 of term 2. Please contact the office or send me an email if you require any assistance. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe. Trish Dwyer Acting Principal

THERE WILL BE A SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY NEXT

THURSDAY 22ND MARCH . STUDENTS ARE NOT

REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL ON THIS DAY.

UNIFORM SHOP

OPEN WEDNESDAYS 8.30AM - 9.00AM Orders can be place via CDF Online: https:/hcnewgisborne.cdfpay.org.au

Emailed to : hcuniform@hcnewgisborne.catholic.edu.au

Pick up an order form from the office

****** SALE WINTER TROUSERS $15, STAND IN OFFICE FOYER.*******

CANTEEN ROSTER

Wednesday 21st March - Rebecca McQueen

Friday 23rd March - Jacquie Williamson & Briony Velling

Wednesday 28th March - Michelle Downes

The canteen is open on Wednesday and Fridays.

Wednesday duty from 1.00pm-1.30pm and Friday duty from 10.30am-1.30pm.

Menu can be accessed on our website:

http://www.hcnewgisborne.catholic.edu.au/tuck-shop.html

MARCH

Thurs 22 SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Fri 23 Grade 3 and 4 Athletic trials

Tues 27 School Board meeting

Thurs 29 Last day of Term 1, school finishes at 2.30pm

Easter Raffle drawn at assembly

Fri 30 Good Friday

APRIL

Mon 16 First day of Term 2

Tues 24 School photo day

Wed 25 Anzac day - NO SCHOOL

Fri 27 Interschool Cross country MAY Sat/Sun 5/6 Confirmation Commitment Masses Wed 9 Interschool Football Thurs 10 ‘School Philosophy Day’ 9.30am & 7.00pm (enrolments 2019) Tues 15 Confirmation Activity Night @ Holy Cross Thurs 17 Confirmation Activity Night @ St Brigid’s Wed 23 Interschool Soccer Thurs 24 Parish Enrolment Evening @ 7pm St Brigid’s Parish Hall Wed 30 Division Cross Country

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

OUR GRADE 5’S VISIT TO SACRED HEART COLLEGE, KYNETON

STUDENT WELLBEING NEWS Today is the National Day against Bullying and Violence, which will be marked by hundreds of schools across

Australia. Here at Holy Cross we gathered in our FRIENDLY FACES multi aged groups yesterday (due to the senior

students being involved in Athletics on Friday) to talk about Bullying and discuss what we can all do to "Stand Up"

against it. One of the ways we can do this is by being "Active Bystanders" who get involved to help to stop

Bullying. The children then made Anti-Bullying Posters (which are displayed around the school) and had a shared

recess snack together.

Earlier this Term the staff at Holy Cross were very fortunate to be part of Professional Development Training in a

new Program called Respectful Relationships. This Whole School Program is part of our Social and Emotional

Learning (SEL) and will be taught throughout the school through the following Topics

EMOTIONAL LITERACY : The ability to understand, express and manage our own emotions, build empathy and

respond appropriately to the emotions of others

PERSONAL STRENGTHS ; Children need a vocabulary to help them recognise strengths and positive qualities in

them selves and others.

POSITIVE COPING; Activities in this topic introduce children to the concept of "Self-Talk" and practice using

"Positive Self-Talk" to approach and manage challenging situations. "Positive Self-Talk" is a key strategy for

coping with negative thoughts, emotions and events

PROBLEM SOLVING: Problem solving skills are an important part of the coping repertoire. The program provides

a number of learning activities to develop childrens' problem solving skills.

STRESS MANAGEMENT: Children experience a range of personal, social and work related stressors in their

everyday lives. Activities within this topic have an explicit focus on teaching positive approaches to stress

management. Assisting children to recognise their personal signs and symptoms of stress, and to develop

strategies to deal with stress effectively and cope with future challenges.

HELP SEEKING : Scenario-based activities help children identify situations in which help should be sought,

identify trusted sources of help and practice seeking help from peers and adults.

GENDER AND IDENTITY : This topic assists children to challenge stereotypes ( Eg " Girls are no good at footy" or

" Boys can't do dancing" ) and focus on the importance of respect within relationships. This helps promote

respect for diversity and difference.

POSITIVE GENDER RELATIONS : In this topic children will develop the skills to solve problems, set boundaries

within relationships and seek help where inappropriate behaviour occurs in a relationship.

Kind regards,

Jill Cannon

Student Wellbeing and Additional Learning Needs Leader

2019 ENROLMENT TIMELINE

ST. BRIGID’S & HOLY CROSS SCHOOLS

“See Us In Action” Day: Thurs March 15, 2018 (9am-11am) Come along to our schools and observe the children working in all the learning environments throughout the school. “School Philosophy” Day: Thurs May 10, 2018 (9.30am & 7.00pm) Come for a guided tour, taken by our senior students, and listen to our staff speak about how the students are engaged in curriculum and their learning. Parish Enrolment Evening: Thurs May 24, 2018 (7pm St Brigid’s Parish Hall) An opportunity to meet our Parish Priest, Father Gerard Spillane, and some of our existing parents, and hear how the Parish of St Brigid’s support students and families. Zoning requirements and the enrolment process will also be discussed. * Enrolment Application Forms will be available at this meeting. Closing date for Enrolment applications: Friday 8th June, 2018 Interviews for new families applying for Enrolment: Week commencing 18th June, 2018 Notification of Offer of Places: Posted in the week beginning 6th August, 2018 Prep Orientation Sessions: Dates to be advised

UBUNTU CONCERT Tickets are now on sale for Ubuntu's Gisborne Concert.

Our school choir of over 50 children will be performing as their support act, along with the Gisborne

Singers.

Tickets are available through "Trybooking" and are selling fast!

See poster for details.

Unfortunately, there was an error on the Trybooking site for our concert. Our concert will have an

open seating plan, so please disregard the seat number on your ticket.

The error has since been corrected, so any tickets purchased from now onwards will not have a

seat number attached to it.

Also, we have now sold half the tickets.. thank you to all of you who are supporting this event.

A reminder that if your child is in the choir, they do not need to purchase a ticket.

ALPHA—2018

Everyone has questions.

Is there more to life?

Why did Jesus have to die for us?

Is the Holy Spirit truly our helper?

Come and have morning tea with us to have a chat

and be inspired!

When: Wednesdays - starting 18th April 2018

9:00am – 11:00am

Where: Holy Cross Primary School 158 Hamilton Road New Gisborne

(meet at the office)

OR

When: Fridays - starting 20th April 2018

9.00am – 11.00am

Where: St Brigid’s Primary School 68 Aitken Street Gisborne

(meet at the office)

No cost, no pressure, no commitments.

Just come, make some friends and have a chat.

Please register through: Madalin 0412 301 618

or Mary 0416 052 401

HEALING MASS

To be held at

St Brigid’s Catholic Church

Aitken Street Gisborne On

FRIDAY 23RD MARCH AT 10.00AM

ALL WELCOME!

OUR JOURNEY TO EASTER

2018 Year B

Tuesday - 27th

March

Tenebrae

Service of Light into Darkness

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 7.00pm

Wednesday - 28th

March

Communal Service of Forgiveness

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 7.00pm

Holy Thursday - 29th

March

1st Rite of Reconciliation

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 9.00am

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 7.00pm

(Return Project Compassion Boxes)

Good Friday - 30th

March

Stations of the Cross

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 10.00am

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 3.00pm

Holy Saturday - 31st

March

1st Rite of Reconciliation

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 9.00am

Easter Vigil

St Brigid’s Gisborne – 7.00pm

Easter Sunday - 1st

April

Mass at St Patrick’s Macedon – 9.30am

Mass at St Brigid’s Gisborne – 11.00am

Holy Week/Easter Tuesday 7.00pm - Tenebrae

(Ancient service of the Church drawing us into the solemnity of the of the Lord's Passion.) It is a service of Light into Darkness where seven candles are extinguished one by one following the progression of Readings leading us into the darkness of the Crucifixion and death of Jesus. It is a ceremony which allows time for personal reflection and introduces us gently into the Spirit of Holy Week in preparation for the celebration of the Triduum.

Wednesday 7.00pm - Communal Service of Forgiveness

A Communal gathering of the Community allowing us to get in touch with our brokenness and preparing us for reconciliation in our relationship with God and each other. This is not the 3rd Rite of Reconciliation and there will be no general absolution. But it is a service of for-giveness, seeking the Lord’s reconciling love who constantly calls each one of us to wholeness and new life. Just as we seek forgiveness and healing with the Penitential rite and the Eucharist at Mass, so we ask for his healing presence in this service.

Thursday 7.00pm - Mass of the Lord’s Supper

As we celebrate this Mass, recalling the Passover in which Jesus gathered with his disciples on the night before he died, we call to mind the three elements of this celebration: the Eucha-rist, the call to Service and the Priesthood. As well we will be reminded of the significance of the Passover ( the Seder Meal ): it reminds us of the way in which the Israelites enjoyed Divine pro-tection before they left Egypt. The Passover is the memorial of the Exodus. At the conclusion of Mass, there will be the procession to the side altar to allow time for adoration and reflection, until 10.30pm.

Friday 10.00am - Stations of the Cross

Friday 3.00pm - Good Friday Service of the Lord’s Passion

This gathering is the Solemn Service of the Passion of the Lord Jesus and the Adoration of the Cross. This is not a celebration of the Eucharist but a liturgical service during which our attention is focused on the suffering and death of Jesus and not on the reception of Communion, which is more appropriately celebrated on Holy Thursday during the Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Easter Vigil. Therefore, Communion will not be distributed during this Service

Saturday 7.00pm - The Easter Vigil (Mass)

The culmination of Holy Week in which the church celebrates Christ Jesus as the Light that dispels the darkness that often overshadows the world. We commence with the Easter fire and process into the Church with the lit Paschal Candle. We recall our faith story from Scripture, bless the new baptismal water and profess our faith.

Easter Sunday - Mass at 9.30am St Patrick's Macedon

Mass at 11.00am St Brigid's Gisborne

Gisborne Soccer Club

Limited places available for boys aged 9 to 13 who want to play outdoor soccer.

Games are on a Sunday morning at home (Dixon Field Gisborne) and away (15-45 min drive). Season runs 15d April through to September.

Come to training at Dixon Field Wednesday 5-6pm to try. For more information call Steve 0449 806 504. To register http://websites.sportstg.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-8746-124378-0-0&clubID=124378&sID=402485