LIFE Week was wonderful week across the College.  Students in all year levels took part in activities in all the LIFE pillars of the College – participating in camps and excursions as they engaged with Big Ideas questions, participating in pilgrimages and Retreats, engaging with the community in Christian Service, work experience and visits to tertiary institutions.  I had the privilege of walking the final two stages of the Camino de Santiago into New Norcia with Year 12 students as part of their Retreat.  It was a deeply moving and faith-filled experience to walk the final 500 metres with the sound of the Abbey bells rung by Abbot John Herbert.  After we entered the Abbey Church at New Norcia we participated in a beautiful liturgy welcoming the pilgrims.  A very special part of this liturgy was the washing of the feet of two the pilgrims by Abbot John Herbert. 

Pilgrimage is a very special faith practice at Holy Cross College and all students in Years 7 – 12 are walking the Camino Salvado.  The current Year 11 students will be the first year group to have walked all the way from Subiaco and will arrive in New Norcia during their Retreat in 2018.  The current group of Year 12 students started their pilgrimage at Bells Rapids in Year 9 and have walked over 140 kilometres.  Two of the students, Logan Kain and Nykosak Lukanga, completed the first two sections with some staff and students on weekends, and became the first HCC students to complete the Camino Salvado.  In addition, Mrs Geraldine Nolan, Mrs Cathie Lewis, Mr Simon Falcone and myself also completed the Camino during LIFE Week.

Thanks to all staff who coordinated and assisted with LIFE Week activities.  Thanks also to parents for their support.

BLESSING AND OPENING OF STAGES 4 AND 5

On Wednesday Stages 4 and 5 of our Capital Development Plan were Blessed by Bishop Don Sproxton and Officially Opened by Mr Dan Wood from the Catholic Education Office.  It was a very special celebration and I thank all staff who contributed to the success of the day.  Thanks to students who participated in so many ways to this event.

FATHERS’ DAY

We celebrated Fathers’ Day at HCC on Tuesday with a liturgy and a breakfast. On Thursday evening Kindergarten and Pre-primary students also had some special Fathers’ Day activities with their Dads.  Thanks to the Early Learning Centre staff for their work in organising these activities.

STAFF REREAT

On Friday the staff gathered for their annual Retreat.  The theme of the Retreat was A Journey of Transformation : Blessed Oscar Romero.  We participated in a faith journey reflecting on the different stages of Romero’s life and on our own journeys of transformation.  A highlight of the Retreat was a session in the State Library facilitated by our Year 12 students.  The students shared their knowledge of understanding of Romero’s struggles and engagement with Vatican II and the Medellin documents.

STAFFING

I will be on Professional Renewal Leave/Long Service Leave form 7 September – 20 November.    During my absence Mr Peter Collins will be Acting Principal. 

The following staff will take on other leadership positions during this time:

Mr Paul Murphy: Acting Vice Principal  (7 September – 20 October)

Mrs Carla Pastorelli : Assistant Deputy Principal – Enrichment  (7 September – 20 October)

Mr Simon Falcone : McCormack House Coordinator  (7 September – 20 October)

Mrs Anita O’Donohue : Acting Vice Principal  (23 October – 20 November)

Mr James Parsons : Assistant Deputy Principal - Learning(23 October – 20 November)

Mr Christopher McRae has been appointed as Learning Area Coordinator – The Arts commencing 2018.  This is a new position in the College.

On Tuesday we celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Oscar Romero, our College patron.   As Romero was born on the Feast of the Assumption, we remembered the life of Oscar Romero during the College Mass on this Feast Day.  Romero’s life was cut short when he was assassinated in March 1980 for speaking out for justice.

FLOURISHING ARTS

The Arts are flourishing at Holy Cross College and it has been wonderful to see the level of participation in the Arts this month.  Many students have participated in the Catholic Performing Arts festival in a variety of individual and group categories.  The Junior School Choir gave a delightful performance in the Choral Music Section at St Benedict’s Church.  Well done to the students involved in the following performances which received Outstanding Awards:

• Story of Oscar Romero : Christian Drama
• Senior Band :Contemporary Bands Category
• Zoe Paluszak : Secondary Solo Drama

The Story of Oscar Romero has been awarded the Perpetual Shield for the Christian Drama category.  A student representative will receive this at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival Concert.  Thanks to Mr Chris McCrae for all his work in coordinating the participation of students in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival and to other staff who have provided support for the many events in the Festival.

The Angelico Exhibition is also taking place during August.  This year primary students have had their work exhibited for the first time.  The Official Opening of the Angelico Exhibition took place last Tuesday.  Well done to all students whose work was chosen for exhibition in this amazing event.  Congratulations to Mya Ubalde who was received a Highly Commended Award for the 2 dimensional Artwork Category.  Thanks to Miss Sara O’Neil for her work in preparing the students to participate in the Angelico Awards. It is wonderful for students to have their work displayed in a public exhibition.  Miss O’Neill also does a fantastic job of displaying student art work around the College.

LIFE WEEK

This week is LIFE Week and students across the College will be involved in activities encompassing all of the LIFE pillars – Learning, Inter-relationships, Faith and Enrichment.  Students will be involved in Retreats, Pilgrimages, Christian Service Learning activities, Camps and Excursions.  Students in Junior and Middle School will be engaged in activities which will contribute to their Big Ideas projects for the term.  A group of Year 9 students left yesterday for a trip to Melbourne and Canberra for their LIFE week activities.  The remainder of Year 9 will engage with the same Big Question as the Melbourne-Canberra group as Perth and Fremantle become their classrooms for the week.  Year 6 students will travel to Albany for the week and Year 8 students will spend 3 days at New Norcia.  Year 11 students will spend three days on Retreat in Serpentine.  A highlight of the week will be the Year 12 Retreat where students will walk into New Norcia as they walk the final sections of the Camino Salvado.  

It was wonderful to spend the day yesterday, with 13 parents and Grandparents, walking Section 3 of the Camino Salvado pilgrimage.  For the past three years Friends of Holy Cross have provided opportunities for parents to participate in this faith practice which is an integral part of holy Cross College.  Yesterday was our third parent pilgrimage for the year.  While it was a real winter’s day everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk though the Bells Rapids area and Walyunga National Park.  The bush was magnificent and we saw many kangaroos along the way.  The group managed the steep climb well and were rewarded with fantastic views from the high points.  Thanks to Mrs Susan Sorenson for organizing the Parent Camino and to staff members, Mr Ian Oxwell and Mr James Parsons, for their assistance.

CATHOLIC PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL

The Catholic Performing Arts Festival takes place throughout August and gives students in Catholic Schools the opportunity to showcase their talents.  A group of Middle and Senior School students performed ‘The Story of Oscar Romero’ as part of the Christian Drama section.  They received excellence feedback for a skilled and reverent performance.  Many Holy Cross Students will be involved in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival – instrumental soloists and member of ensembles, rock bands and choirs.  Thanks to Mr Chris McRae for his work in organizing Holy Cross College’s  involvement in this significant event.

LIFE WEEK

LIFE Week takes place from 21 – 25  August.  Students in all year levels will be involved in a variety of activities including pilgrimages, retreats, excursions and camps.  Information about LIFE Week will be sent home to parents early next week.

BLESSING AND OPENING – STAGES 4 AND 5

On Wednesday 30 August we will have the Official Ceremony for the Blessing and Opening of Stages 4 and 5 of our building programme.  The buildings will be blessed by Bishop Don Sproxton and officially opened by Hon Christian Porter MP.  The ceremony will commence at 10.00am and all parents are invited to attend.

LIFELINK SLEEP-OUT

Last week nearly 100 students and staff ‘slept out’ to raise money for the Archbishop’s LifeLink Appeal. Some Junior School students participated in the event at the beginning of the evening, joining in activities to learn more about social justice, including eating from a ‘soup kitchen’.    Students from Years 5 – 12 participated in activities led by representatives from the Young Vinnies, learning about what it means to be homeless.  They had their dinner at the ‘soup kitchen’ before making up packages of food and toiletries to donate to people in need.   Evening prayer was held in ‘The Olive Grove’, our beautiful reflection garden.  Year 5 and 6 students slept on the floor in classrooms in the New Norcia building, while Middle and Senior School made shelters in which to sleep  in the Undercover area under San Salvador.  They woke to one of the coldest mornings of the year. Thanks to Mrs Kelly Bond for her work in organizing the Sleep-out, supported by Mr Muller and Ms Henderson.  Thanks to all staff who assisted and to the Year 12 students for making the soup.  A huge thanks to all the students who participated, raising money for the much needed services of LifeLink.

SACRAMENT OF EUCHARIST

Many of our Year Four students will receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist during June.  Please keep these children in your prayers at this important time in their faith journey.

STAFFING

Ms Christina Davini, Frayne House Coordinator commenced commence maternity leave on Friday.  On behalf of the College community, I wish Mrs Davini  all the best at this exciting time.  Ms Laura Billington will take on the role of Frayne House Coordinator while Mrs Davini is on leave.

SENIOR SCHOOL SUBJECT SELECTION

Year 10 students are preparing to select subjects for Year 11.  On Wednesday parents and students gathered for an Information Evening.  They also had the opportunity, along with other students, to attend the Careers Expo at the College.  Thanks to Mrs Susan Wilson for organizing the Expo.

YEAR 5 ON THE BIBBULMUN TRACK

Year 5 students spent yesterday walking a section of the Bibbulmun track in Paulls Valley.  They had the opportunity to learn about the long distance track and its symbol the Wagyl, a snake or rainbow serpent in the Aboriginal dreamtime.  The students learned about the special connection of Aboriginal people to the land.  Along the track they had the opportunity to see one of the Bibbulmun Track huts.  The students rose to the challenge of hiking the track and had a wonderful day in the bush. Thanks to Ms McMahon for organizing the hike and for other staff who assisted.  In Year 6 students walk a section near the end of the Bibbulmun track in Albany.

PARENT CAMINO

The Friends of Holy Cross are organizing Parent Caminos on 28 June and 28 July.  This is a beautiful time of the year for the pilgrimage walks. Information has been sent out to parents, but if you require more information or another copy of the letter, please contact the College Office.