Dear Holy Cross Families and Friends,

Our new bus should be arriving next week. Right now, we've got the same arrangement secured through Christmas break (same drivers, same buses). Come January, we only have a driver secured for the afternoon on the new bus route starting in New Prague at Coborn's. We're doing everything we can to try to attract a bus driver (the pay will be going up for all our drivers, we're offering substantial tuition credits, signing bonuses, etc). Long-term, we realize we're going to have to structure a job with longer hours and benefits for this position. However, in the short-term, we just need someone to step up and help us make it through the year. We'll be praying now at all Masses for a solution to this dilemma. If need be, there are some contingencies we can resort to while we're waiting for a solution (going back to last year's routes is one of them). But unless something goes our way in the next month, I just wanted to be upfront with people on that new route that there could be a (hopefully short) disruption to our services for the morning bus route. 

Jim Grogan, 

Principal

Library: Our library is small but is back to being used again! As Christmas approaches, we are going to be asking for used book donations. In the process of moving the library, we especially lost many of our great middle school appropriate books (Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, Tolkien, Dickens, Alcott, etc.).  We could also use the entire Rick Riordan collections of young adult novels. Below are lists of some of the books we could use and one attachment. Let me know if you want to donate any books, and they don't necessarily have to be on this list. But since mainly Kindergarteners through 4th graders use the library, we are also in dire need of replenishing those shelves (to keep the choices vibrant for our students).

Middle School Youth Group: We'd love to see many of our Holy Cross students start in youth group--please consider!
The next middle school youth group meeting will be held on December 2nd in conjunction with Cor Jesu at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lonsdale. There will be gym time and sweets following Cor Jesu at the Immaculate Conception Parish campus. Typically youth group is on the 2nd Friday of the month at St. Nick's but the date is being changed for the month of December.

2023-2024 Tuition: Attached is the information on continuous enrollment and the tuition rates for next year. For returning families and students, the process is explained in the letter (you simply update any information on TADs and please know that the applications for Financial Aid must be filled out on TADs by February 18th.  If a class is approaching its capacity (the 20 in next Kindergarten could be met easily with the students, we have eligible) we will be asking for a tentative commitment by January 10th so we can manage the waiting list in a manner fair to those hoping to get in. 

The TADs portal for enrollment of new students for returning families (a kindergarten or pre-K/preschool student) will be opened on December 1st. New families will be able to enroll their children starting January 4th.   

Aim Higher: The Reserve Fund is officially open and available as needed. You can find out more information at https://aimhigherfoundation.org/scholarships/.

As a reminder, the Reserve Fund exists as a way to provide financial support to families who experience sudden and unexpected hardship throughout the school year. This fund provides $1,000 scholarships that turn into Aim Higher scholarships in subsequent years.

Open House: Please spread the Good News and tell your friends and family about the great opportunities at Holy Cross Catholic School. Tell them about our Open House and as a reminder, HCCS families that refer a new family to Holy Cross receive $1000 off of their upcoming tuition! If they can’t make that, let them know that we will welcome them anytime for a tour and an explanation of how specifically we prioritize Truth and virtue while attaining a high level of academic achievement.

Families can RSVP for our open house at https://holycrossschool.net/open-house