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Frequently Asked Questions

Please find below, frequently asked questions and answers to assist our parents and carers, as well as prospective families.

You can also see more about what we offer students and families at Holy Cross Helensburgh.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact our school office

Looking for more parent and carer resources to support your child through their Catholic education journey? Visit the CEDoW Parent & Carer Resources site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Download our enrolment package here. Alternatively, enrolment packages are available to collect or be sent to you by contacting the school officeOnce you have completed this form, you can post it or deliver it to the school office.

For more information on the enrolment process at Holy Cross, visit our Enrolment Information page

Enrolment interviews are held in May and June (Term 2). You will receive a letter or phone call prior, informing you of a time for you and your child to come in and meet with the principal. Written offers of placement will follow later in Term 2.

For more information on the enrolment process at Holy Cross, visit our Enrolment Information page

Holy Cross Helensburgh is a vibrant Catholic co-educational primary school committed to every student finding meaning and purpose through continual growth in faith and improvement in learning.

We ensure every student is provided with a learning program that is contemporary and personalised, in a learning environment that is inclusive, supportive and challenges each student to reach their full potential.

What you and your child can expect at Holy Cross includes:

  • The Catholic Experience
  • Challenging and Meaningful Learning Experiences
  • Personalised Learning
  • Technology-Enhancing Learning
  • Learning Beyond the Classroom
  • A Safe, Caring and Inclusive Environment
  • A Welcoming School Community
  • Social Justice Initiatives and Other Social Awareness
  • Accessibility and Affordability

Please see our What We Offer page or Contact Ufor more information. 

You are most welcome! Please contact our office to make an appointment to meet with the principal and tour the school grounds and facilities.

In the meantime, take a virtual tour of Holy Cross!

Our office opening hours are Monday to Friday, between 8:15am and 3:45pm.
 
Our school bell times are as follows:

Morning Bell

8:50am

Lunch 1

10:50am – 11:30am

Lunch

1:00pm – 1:30pm

Dismissal

3:00pm


Morning
Supervision begins at 8:25am each morning.

Afternoon: 
The school day concludes at 3:00pm.
 
Please see our Term Dates and Bell Times page for more information.

There are many co-curricular activities on offer at Holy Cross!

The school has many opportunities for students to participate in sport, including weekly sport experiences, school sport carnivals and diocesan sport gala days. Children also have the opportunity to try out for representative teams at a diocesan level and beyond in several different sports.

Holy Cross also provides the chance to compete and excel in different areas of interest, including our: gardening club, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) initiatives, art competitions, sacramental preparation programs, University of NSW competitions, public speaking, and CAFE Club (Culture, Activity, Fun, Education).

Find out more about the co-curricular activities available for students at our Co-Curricular Opportunities page.

The dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic Social Teaching and inherent to the mission of our school. Essential to this is the creation and maintenance of a respectful, safe and supportive learning environment that promotes student wellbeing and enables school communities to engage an inclusive and diverse range of learners.

At Holy Cross, we believe that all members of the community have the right to a learning and working environment free from intimidation, humiliation and harm. We all share a responsibility to create a culture of caring which will not tolerate bullying. We believe that bullying must be taken seriously and is not acceptable in any form. In witnessing Christian values we reject ideas, beliefs and behaviours, which marginalise or victimise people. 

Please refer to the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong's Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy.

You can also find further anti-bullying, wellbeing and online safety resources at our Resources page here.

Students are able to catch one of the Premier Charters school buses operating in the Northern Illawarra. See our school bus routes and timetables here (under 'Holy Cross Primary School').

Note: The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) gives eligible school students free or subsidised travel between home and school on NSW public transport, including buses and trains. For more information and to apply for a school travel pass for your child, click here.

Yes, we offer quality organised on-site before and after school care. Camp Australia's ' Your Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)' program at Holy Cross provides children with a safe environment in which they can explore and play – unique and tailored to the needs of the children in the service.

Find out more about our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services.

You can purchase our school uniforms from Claudine Schoolwear – both in store at 23 President Ave Caringbah or online at claudineschoolwear.com.au.

Some uniform items such as our school brim hat, cap, bag and library bag can be purchased directly from the school on the last two Wednesdays of each term, between 2:30pm and 3:30pm.

There is also a large supply of good quality, clean second-hand stock, which is available for $5 per item.

For more information on the Holy Cross school uniform, visit our Uniform page.

Please see our Fees Information page for more information.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay fees, please discuss the situation with our principal. Your situation will be treated with care and confidentiality, and an appropriate arrangement may be made for you. No student will be refused enrolment because of a family’s genuine inability to pay fees.

We'd love to have you! Holy Cross strives to be a connected and welcoming community and we value the engagement of parents and families in the school life in any way they can.

This could be as simple as being interested and informed about school events and activities, supporting and/or participating in community events, school assemblies and school liturgies.

If you are able, we also welcome and value your involvement in school activities. Parents (and grandparents!) can participate and contribute by:

  • Volunteering for the canteen roster
  • Assisting in the classroom with reading or mathematics groups
  • Volunteering at school working bees or maintenance
  • Assistance at sport carnivals and gala days

Please note: Given our commitment to safeguarding children, volunteers will first need to organise a Working With Children Check (WWCC) – information and forms can be found on the CEDoW website

All parents and families are also invited to become involved with our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association, who work collaboratively with the school and parish about matters that affect your child at school, as well as general issues about school life including social events, fundraising and community building.

For more information, please visit our Parent Engagement page.

If you have a concern or would like to raise any issue regarding your child’s learning and wellbeing, our staff welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your child.

We ask that you contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. The best way to do this is by:

  • phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
  • contacting the teacher via email at info@hchdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4294 1588.

We ask for your patience in response to your request as schools are busy places and the main priority of staff is the education, safety and wellbeing of the students in their care during school hours. Requests by parents for information and meetings will be responded to as quickly as possible. 

If you need to speak to your child’s teacher, we ask that you do this by:

  • phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
  • contacting the teacher via email at info@hchdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4294 1588.

We ask for your patience in response to your request as schools are busy places and the main priority of staff is the education, safety and wellbeing of the students in their care during school hours. Requests by parents for information and meetings will be responded to as quickly as possible.

The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework outlines for parents and the school, the principles and expectations of the partnership that is formed when a child is enrolled in a Catholic systemic school in the Diocese of Wollongong such as Holy Cross. It will be introduced and implemented in schools throughout the school year.

Download a copy of the Parent-School Partnership Framework and read more about this important partnership at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/partnershipframework

Parents and carers can access the Holy Cross Compass Parent Portal here and log in using their login details.

For more information on using Compass, see the Compass Guide for Parents.
 
For further information or enquiries, please contact the school office.

Ready to Enrol?

Interested in enrolling at Holy Cross? We'd love to welcome you to our school!
See What We Offer and find out more information below.