• Upcoming dates for your diary
• Additional Student Support
• School Uniform
• ParentPay
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Parental Contribution
• Parents & Friends Association
• Useful Contacts
A warm welcome to The Holy Cross School community! Moving from primary to secondary school can be both an exciting and daunting time and we are here to make the transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible. We very much look forward to meeting you and getting to know you during this period of change. You will be well looked after by your tutors, teachers, Sixth Form mentors and myself.
Saturday 18th May - CAT Testing Day
All new students joining our school are required to sit a series of short cognitive ability tests. The tests provide us with information that will help us accurately place students in the correct teaching group for their ability. These tests should not cause you or your daughter any undue concern. There is no need to revise and the only preparation we ask is a good night’s sleep. Any parent/carer who has a concern because their daugher has an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) should contact Mrs Cappalonga (SENDCo).
Wednesday 3rd July - Induction Day
Your daughter is invited to the school for an Induction Day. This will be an enjoyable opportunity for new students to experience a taste of life at The Holy Cross School. Students are expected to wear the uniform of their primary school and must arrive with a packed lunch, drinks, pencil case, notebook and trainers.
Wednesday 3rd July - Year 7 Parent Information Evening
Parents/carers are warmly invited to attend a new Year 7 Parent Information Evening. This will take place in the School Hall. The purpose of this evening is to brief parents/carers on how we plan the transition from Year 6 into 7, to share the ethos of the school and our partnership with you. You will receive a booklet with information about term dates, school uniform, school planners and code of conduct.
Friday 30th August - Summer Activity Day
Your daughter is invited to the school for an optional fun Summer Activity Day. Please note that there will be a nominal charge for this day to cover costs. This will be an enjoyable opportunity for new students to make friends, become more familiar with the school and get to know some key members of staff. Students will be expected to wear their own sportswear (not PE kit) and trainers, and must arrive with a packed lunch and drinks.
Wednesday 4th September - First Day in Year 7
The first day will start with an assembly and will be spent getting to know the way around school, collecting diary planners, meeting form tutors and other students and preparing for the start of lessons. Note: If you are dropping off and/or collecting your daughter from school by car, we ask that you park in nearby residential roads to avoid congestion outside school. Please do not park across residents’ driveways.
Wednesday 4th September, 2.15pm in school - Mass for new Year 7
Parents/carers are invited to attend a Mass at the school for the new Year 7 students.
Summer Activity Day - an opportunity for new students to make friends and familiarise themselves with the school and key members of staff.
Parents of students with additional needs are welcome to contact Mrs Cappalonga (SENDCo) to arrange a meeting. Please visit our school website www.holycross. kingston.sch.uk for SEND information.
When your daughter attends Induction Day on 3rd July, she will be given a list of compulsory and optional school uniform items as well as details about where items can be purchased. The correct school uniform is to be worn at school and also when travelling to and from school. Students are expected to keep themselves, their uniform and belongings neat, clean and in good condition. All items must be named. Details will be shared with you at a later date about a second-hand uniform sale in school during the Summer Term.
Our school operates a cashless environment. All payments made to the school will be cashless. This system gives both you and your daughter security and peace of mind by allowing you to make payments using ParentPay. ParentPay is a secure online income collection and management service which allows you to make payments to the school using your debit/credit card or a bank transfer. Your child does not have to carry money either to or from school and money cannot be lost inside school. All payments for the following areas should be made online via ParentPay:• school meals• music lessons• school trips/events• charity fundraising etc.
During the last few years there has been considerable change to the secondary curriculum. There is now a far greater emphasis on a traditional academic curriculum, the content of GCSE examinations has been expanded and the grading for GCSE examinations has changed to a 9-1 system. The governors have therefore decided that in order to provide the best opportunity for students to gain an in-depth knowledge of a Modern Foreign Language, students will study only one foreign language. If you have a particular preference for a language your daughter should study (either French or Spanish), please request this on the Student Admissions Form which you
will be receiving via email. However, while we always strive to accommodate all requests, we cannot guarantee that your daughter will study her first language choice. Please note that the chosen Modern Foreign Language (French or Spanish) will be taken all the way through to GCSE.
Do you want to see us continue to make improvements at Holy Cross? In the past 2 years we have secured the perimeter of the school with robust fencing, created a Sixth Form entrance; we have also upgraded two blocks of toilets and last year we restructured our entrance and reception area to create a private student services facility. There are many more improvements we want to make to our school - a new Sixth Form centre, improved sports facilities, 3G astroturf pitch, Design & Technology kit, audio equipment for Performing Arts. I know that you would love your daughter to experience the best of facilities too. However with government funding for education at an all time low and no extra money being invested in the Autumn budget for schools, we need to ask parents to help support us. I invite you to become fully involved in our school by supporting our Service To The Holy Cross School. The generosity of parents and carers helps us provide a wide range of opportunities and activities for all students to broaden and enrich their experience of school. I ask all parents and carers, who are part of the Holy Cross community, to kindly consider making a voluntary donation of £10 or £20 a month or any other amount that you feel able to contribute. Even small amounts can quickly accumulate into a really useful sum which when added to a larger number of individual donations really does give us the power to do even more really good things for your children. The Holy Cross School has a community of over 700 families, you can make a sustained difference very quickly. In this period of time when educational funding is under so much pressure, parental contributions are vital to sustain an education provision that remains of the highest standard to benefit all students. Click here or on the school logo below to set up a regular monthly payment to support our school. If you are willing to contribute and are a UK Tax Payer, please tick the Gift Aid box as this then allows us to claim from the Government a further 25p for every £1 that is donated.
When your daughter joins Holy Cross, you automatically become a member of the PFA. The PFA is an opportunity for parents/carers to raise much needed funds that will benefit your daughter at the school. The biggest fundraiser is the Christmas Fair. Other popular events have been a Pizza & Bingo night, school discos for Years 7 and 8, as well as providing refreshments at the annual Carol Service and Rock and Pop evenings. As a volunteer you could run stalls, help with logistics, source raffle/auction prizes, display event advertising boards and bring along friends and family to the events. The PFA have contributed towards several fundraising efforts, including the school’s Future Tech Learning Studio, art tables, new catering facilities in the Sixth Form and new laptops.
Ms Silvana Saragosa-Voysey
PA to Headteacher, Admissions Manager
Tel: 020 8714 5039
ssarag1@holycross.kingston.sch.uk
Mrs Kristina Vakulya Student Services Officer
Tel: 020 8714 5027
kvakulya@holycross.kingston.sch.uk
Mrs Charlotte Cappalonga SEND Coordinator
Please call 020 8714 5051 to arrange an appointment ccappalonga1@holycross.kingston.sch.uk
School Finance Officer
Tel: 020 8714 5028
paikins@holycross.kingston.sch.uk
School Uniform Supplier
School-Zone, 3rd Floor
Bentalls Department Store
Wood Street
Kingston upon Thames www.school-zone.co.uk
Tel: 0208 541 6790