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CHRISTMAS 2025

CROSSWIRE THE HOLY CROSS SCHOOL MAGAZINE

WELCOME

DIARY DATES JAN

5 JAN

7 jan

26 FEB

3 FEB

23 FEB

24 mar

3 MAR

Start of Spring Term

INSET Day: School closed for pupils

The HX Factor Final!

Staff Planning: School closed for pupils

Start of Year 13 mock exams

Year 9 Parents’ Evening

Year 7 Parents’ Evening

End of Spring Term (12.30pm)

INSIDE THIS EDITION... 3

Headteacher’s Message

Year 7 trip to The Globe Theatre

News & Events

Photo Gallery: Autumn Term 2025

The Young Reporters Scheme

National Poetry Day Competition Winners

Puzzles & Teasers - and where is Santa Claus?

Staff farewells

Christmas at Holy Cross

An Advent Poem

THANKS FOR THIS EDITION OF CROSSWIRE TO ... Mrs McConn-Finch, Ms Gordon, Mrs Newman, Mrs F Smith, Ms Duizend, Miss Carrani, Mrs Rex, Miss Tran, Mrs Dewar, Mrs Saragosa-Voysey, Mr Taylor, and Mrs Vickers. PUZZLES & TEASERS ANSWERS GUESS THE TEACHER 1 Mrs Ilieva 2 Ms Santoo 3 Mr Chan TEACHER CONNECTION They are all DOYs! ANAGRAMS 1 Drainage 2 Latitude 3 Headland RIDDLE Wrapping Paper! THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS... A Maths Corridor (outside Room 32) B St Theresa’s C Reception D The hall! E Learning Zone F Statue outside Canteen G Benches by The Rose Hub

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headteacher’S message

TIME IS NO OBSTACLE FOR COMMUNITY spirit Shakespeare famously wrote in one of his comedies, ”there’s time for all things.” And in the Book of Ecclesiastes (New Testament) it says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”. Perhaps this is where Shakespeare found the inspiration for his quote! Often, the whole concept of time eludes us; it can be our default position to suggest, “I don’t have time for that” or “I need time to do this.” I can see in all the fundraising, charity activities promoting solidarity and human dignity, and care for creation, that you have given your time willingly and generously. Over this Christmas holiday, remember that it is a season to spend time with family and friends. Give the gift of your time by visiting someone you haven’t seen, helping out with Christmas preparations and bringing hope to those around you. Over the last four years, we have built our Holy Cross ethos around the principles of Catholic Social Teaching such as respect for Human Dignity, Solidarity, the Common Good, Option for the Poor, Rights and Responsibilities etc. These principles are not just to be learned in the classroom, no, they are to be put into practice and lived. We are driven towards a common goal of providing education for those disadvantaged in any way. The power of education is something which evokes love and allows us to ‘take stock’ and reflect on what we are grateful for. For each other, for our education and our shared sense of community. Throughout the year, you have all been engaging with the build-up of examinations, assessments and a key moment in our liturgical calendar: Advent, preparing for the celebration and birth of Christ. We experience this in our community here at Holy Cross – firstly through our work supporting Breast Cancer Now, the Ukraine Share a Story, the Red Cross Pyjama Day for Gaza, the Catholic Children’s fund, our Social Justice Ambassadors leading our Year 9s and our Faith In Action group in Sixth Form in their work this Christmas reaching out to the residents of a local elderly care home, and focusing on bringing people together in the hope of forgiveness and renewal and preparing our hearts for the new year. It’s evident that the power of community is awe-inspiring and brings us together in a number of ways. I will leave you with this piece of scripture from Corinthians 13:11: ‘Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.’ Have a very merry Christmas, and thank you for all your support. Mrs McConn-Finch

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NEWS & EVENTS

if THEATRE be the food of love . . . Views from the yard as Year 7 enjoy a special performance of William Shakespeareʼs Twelfth Night at The Globe Theatre ...

by Mia Farr Duarte (7Mercy)

by Isla Driver (7Hope)

Hark, forsooth! A troupe of fortunate younglings from year seven did venture forth to the illustrious Globe Theatre for one truly magical experience. In the ﬁrst week of October our year 7s were privileged enough to be able to see twelfth night in the Globe theatre. You may be wondering why they choose to go to Twelfth Night in particular, but it is because they were studying that captivating play in their English class. They took trains all the way from New Malden to Waterloo, then had approximately a 20 minute walk directly to the Globe. The children had 45 minutes to eat their lunch, then after that they were all given tickets and went to ﬁnd their seats next to each other. On the way they saw many famous places, including The Tate Modern, London Eye, Big Ben, and The Tower of London. Once they were in their seats they all had a brilliant and clear viw of the stage, where they got to relax, eat, and (most importantly) watch the story unfold. It was a very exciting play with many plot twists and the actors were all wearing vibrant and intricate costumes which kept everyone intrigued. After the ending, everyone took the train back to New Malden before going home from a very successful and educational trip to watch one of the greatest playwrightʼs pieces. Greta from 7Faith said: “My favourite part of the play was the great reveal because it was very exciting to watch them all reveal their secrets, and everyone had a happy ending.”

On 7th October 2025, for the first time in Holy Cross history, Year 7 were transported back in time to the play Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre in London Waterloo! The students loved the exclusive experience which enlightened them in understanding this Elizabethan theatre piece. The first impressions of this grand, historical venue was that this was a unique amphitheatre as it was open-air and had a wooden structure. The threetiered galleries were a magnificent sight - it was a privilege for the Holy Cross spectators, as in Tudor England only the rich would have occupied them. Although the standing pit were the cheaper tickets, the audience here would have been able to interact with the actors on stage and would have had a better view. The performance of Twelfth Night was witty and full of love triangles despite being retold in Shakespearean English. “I was a little bit confused at the beginning of the play, however I enjoyed the energy and the humour and understood the overall themes,” mentioned Juanita in 7Faith. “My favourite costume was Malvolioʼs because his bright, yellow cross-garters were so striking!” noted Lola (7Hope). Another member of this Year group, Klara (7Peace) stated: “Watching the show will really help me to understand the complexities of this drama when we are studying it.” Overall, it was an entertaining, memorable event which captured the imaginations of The Holy Cross pupils who had an unforgettable time and would recommend this trip to future visitors.

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NEWS & EVENTS

YEAR 10 ENJOY SOME HORRIBLE HISTORY! In November, Year 10 history students enjoyed - and endured! - a slightly gruesome look at medical care through the ages. They visited the Old Operating Theatre a historic surgical theatre that performed surgeries for female patients from the lower classes during the 19th century. The theatre, now accompanied by a museum, is located inside St Thomasʼ Church near London Bridge, and the girls were given a talk on how medical procedures were conducted without the health and safety regulations we enjoy today. Elsie Haylett, 10Mercy, observed: “Surgery in the early 19th century would have been truly horriﬁc. “The operating table women had to lie on was made from hard wood, while the surgeons wore bloody aprons, would only wash their hands once, and would never really wash the tools they used! Everything was unsanitary and there was no anaesthesia oﬀered.” The museum also held many artefacts of interest, including real human remains, including a brain; a herbal remedy station; and tools that were used for surgeries. “It was a really fun and interesting trip,” said Elsie. “I was most interested in the process of surgery, but also by the cures people used. For example, many groups used herbs in an attempt to cure diseases.”

The trip forms part of the studentsʼ GCSE studies. The day also included a visit to the Science Museum, where the girls got to see many items, including historic ideas about mental illness, Pasteurʼs microscope, and Vesaliusʼs medical book. As always, our students were immaculately behaved. They also managed to survive the walk up the steep, narrow staircase that leads to the theatre and, as far as we are aware, avoided any nightmares in the days afterward!

Our Sixth Form Netball team enjoyed a stunning victory over Coombe Girls in November. The team defeated their hosts 34-3 in a fantastic performance that demonstrated their hard work, skill, and strong team ethic. Pictured are Lea, Isla, Rebecca, and Malia from Year 12, and Jeanmarie, Chloe, and Shireen in Year 13. Well done girls!

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GCSE GEOGRAPHERS

GO WEST! Year 11 Geography students enjoyed a beautiful day in West Wittering as they completed their GCSE fieldwork studies. With the Isle of Wight watching on, the girls worked studiously and conscientiously to collect data on the effects of longshore drift on Englandʼs coastline. Studies were led by the Chichester Harbour Education Group, who were very complimentary about the studentsʼ behaviour, application, and work ethic. “We were taught about the history of West Wittering and the problems of coastal management there,” explains Angela Ubavkov Stefanova (11Hope). “We were then given booklets and worked through them in groups, before carrying out our fieldwork investigations. “The staff were really nice and welcoming, and our group leader did a great job explaining everything to us. “Overall the day was amazing. We were lucky to have a good weather day, and the activities were all really interesting.”

INSPIRING WORDS AT ANNUAL HX AWARDS EVENING The school was delighted to welcome award-winning structural engineer Zainab Adigun to speak to students and parents at our annual prizegiving event. Zainab, a passionate advocate for women in engineering, described her journey from enthusiastic maths pupil to highlyesteemed project leader. She now leads a UK-wide schools programme that aims to make engineering accessible to students from low socio-economic backgrounds, but whilst her day-to-day job involves such very complicated problem solving, her advice to young people interested in her ﬁeld is very simple: “YOU CAN DO IT!” Our prize-giving evening is always a wonderful event, recognising the eﬀort and achievement of all pupils in all year groups across a range of disciplines. Zainab is pictured above with Hannah Chan, 8Faith, who received the award for Year 7 Student of the Year.

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NEWS & EVENTS

HX STUDENTS WEAR IT PINK IN CHARITY DRIVE Students and staﬀ wore pink in October to raise money in aid of a Breast Cancer charity. Any item of pink clothing was allowed - be it tops, trousers, hair accessories, or onesies! Over £3,000 was donated to Breast Cancer Now, a research and support charity that aims to help everyone aﬀected by breast cancer. The day was the idea of Florrie Smith (10Mercy), who was delighted with how everyone supported the cause. “I felt the school needed to do something for breast cancer. It is a topic quite personal to me, so I felt it important to raise money and awareness about the charity. “I was very pleased with how it went - it was cool to see everyone wearing pink, knowing it was because of my idea!” For more information about the charity, visit breastcancernow.org.

REWARDs POSTCARD IS VERY WELL DONE! Congratulations to Shenara Upadya (7Hope) who won the annual Art department Congratulations Postcard design! Every year, Art students in Year 7 are invited to create a piece of artwork based on a famous painting. The design is then used for the schoolʼs rewards and recognition postcards that are awarded to students who go the extra mile in art, and produce fantastic pieces of work by putting in lots of eﬀort and dedication to their studies. Shenaraʼs design was based on a painting by modernist painter Georgia OʼKeefe, and selected as the winner by Mr Taylor, Ms Peneda, and Mrs Deahl. As well as being selected for the postcard design, Shenara won a bag of art goodies!

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DRAMA AS STUDENTS PLAY WITNESS AT CHRISTIE CLASSIC GCSE Drama students had a memorable afternoon at County Hall as they watched Agatha Christieʼs Witness For The Prosecution. The play, adapated from Christieʼs classic short story, is based around the trial of Leonard Vole, who is accused of murdering Emily French. Twelve members of the audience form a jury, and they must deliver their verdict on Voleʼs innocence as part of the production. Scarlett Belderson, 11 Charity, said: “I very much enjoyed the play. The acting was really good, and I loved the twist at the end! “The staging was really cool - it was set-up like a courtroom and it really enhanced the performance. I highly recommend seeing this show!” Members of the public in attendance contacted the school after the performance to praise the girlsʼ behaviour and investment in the story, with one correspondent saying, “your girlsʼ reactions to the twist, and enthusiasm at the end of the play, made my day!” Students will use their notes on the performance during their ﬁnal, written, GCSE exam, where they will be asked to evaluate diﬀerent elements of the show.

MEDIA STUDENTS ENCHANTED BY STUDIO TOUR A group of Sixth Form students had a magical time visiting Warner Bros. Studios in Neasden! A-Level Media Studies and BTEC Media Production classes got a tour of Harry Potter film sets as part of their course content. They were also able to take part in a storyboarding workshop to assist their understanding of the film-making process, and their skills in planning their own televised or multimedia clips - and staff at the studios praised the studentsʼ effort and behaviour. “It was one of the best trips Iʼve ever been on!” enthused Kylie Chan (13Faith).

“I say that not only because Iʼm a huge Harry Potter fan, but because it was fascinating to see sets in real life that I have seen in the cinema and many times on TV. “As well as seeing sets from the movies, we took part in a storyboard workshop, in which we learnt the journey a production takes from a storyboard to the screen. It was really useful.”

A Level students will apply what they learnt to the nonexamination assessment of their course, in which they have to create their own cross-media production, whilst BTEC students will use their storyboarding skills in their Unit 8 assessment in January, in which they will be tasked to create a media campaign for a UK lobby group.

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GALLERY

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AUTUMN TERM 2025

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POETRY COMPETITION

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NATIONAL POETRY DAY COMPETITION WINNERS!

We Played Emma Andrea (8Mercy)

This yearʼs theme was ʻplayʼ. Well done to everyone who took part - the standard was ridiculously high, and gave our judging panel some very tough decisions, but the poems printed here just got the nod as prize winners in each year group. Clearly, there is a huge number of talented writers at Holy Cross!

We played we played, We drew we danced, Dressed in our grandmotherʼs good scarves, We sung, we jumped we fought we cried As the clock ticked we said goodbye See you next summer And the clock ticks on Tick tock tick tock Growing up, not that much Summerʼs back, its the same We sung we drew we danced we played We fought and hugged My younger cousin and I The clock ticks on Tick tock tick tock Two new friends join us The clock wonʼt stop Tick tock See you next summer while weʼll all play Tick tock tick tock Growing up, not that much By next summer theyʼve left our new friends But now we have a third My baby cousin sheʼs fun sometimes But even then its still the same Familiar comforting routine We sing we dance we draw we play We ﬁght we laugh weʼll always play

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Tick tock tick tock Growing up. I see myself changed That summer once again they come But we didnʼt draw nor dance nor play At the end of the day it wasnʼt the same Because I know that I have played But still she told me put on the scarves Do you want the pink or patterned halves I put them on and smiled and laughed It wasnʼt a lie but it didnʼt stay 555 times I lied Excuses not to play They are still the same but I have changed Tick tock tick tock The chasm I have been running from Is catching up to me I am older by 4 years I am older by 11 Too big of a leap Too diﬀerent now Tick tick tick tock Now at home in the dead of night I tell myself even if we change Weʼll still ﬁnd a way to play So at home in the dead of night I pray to God let me be right.

A Lost Childhood Andriana Kashchuk (9Hope)

Play Andrina Saji John (7Peace) The word begins in laughterʼs chord, A ball of sun, a wooden sword‒ The stage unlit, until a child Declares the clouds are castles wild. We play before we learn to fear, Before the mirror whispers “here.” The grass becomes the emerald sea, A cardboard box, a galaxy Each rule we make, we break with glee‒ For what is play but liberty? The rain applauds, the wind joins in, Our breath, a song, our skin, our skin‒ For life, that grand and trembling stage, Is not a cage, but endless page; And those who dance despite the gray Keep the world from slipping away So play‒ As if the sky depends on sound, As if your feet can touch the ground Only when hoy is real and loud Play, and make the silence proud.

“Are you ready for a kiratto start?” Satan in a fairy mask, I thought Help me. But nobody had warned me That the blinding lights And the shrill voice Like honey given to a baby Were permanent It deafened me. “Are you ready for a kiratto start?” The fuchsia demon dressed as a child

Maybe mother knew best, When I look around into the future, And think where did my childhood go, Where I look about and think where did my childhood go, where I look around And children are stuck to their phones Instead of going out to play, Where a childʼs heart becomes so cold, They wonʼt even notice the beauty of the world, Itʼs called a cell phone for a reason, People are prisoners of their own phone, Wasting your lives, staring and scrolling, Reading and texting, listening and writing, Recording and speaking, Maybe mother knew best, when I walk past a park, And not a child in sight, Just a child at home, stuck to their phone, Oh where has my childhood ﬂown, Just as a child alone, talking to the unknown, Oh where did my childhood go?

Kiratto.exe Esther Uchendu (11Charity) Sang. Her hand outstretched Like a plea I almost smiled

The dvd that once shone pink Now looked putrid In my hand Chocolate that ﬁnally darkened The spell had failed But iʼm still here “Are you ready for a kiratto start?” It rang again

But Iʼm still here, Wrapped loosely in what I used to call gameplay What used to be my safe place Did I do too much? “Are you ready for a kiratto start?” It sang But itʼs diﬀerent More muﬄed More dark I think I like this version 27 hours staring at a screen can do a lot to someone I guess

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YOUNG REPORTERS

pressing Students tackle some big issues as part of journalism scheme ...

MATTERS

Students in Year 12 have become published writers as part of The Young Reporters Scheme. The scheme is a schools programme giving students in Key Stages 4 and 5 the opportunity to write for a real, live, online newspaper. The programme runs for eight months during the school term, with various opportunities oﬀered along the way. With guidance from Mrs Dewar, nine Year 12 students embarked on the scheme in September, and they have had great success, with a range of articles appearing on the London Now web site. Articles have tackled subjects ranging from the Model United Nations - and the importance of

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building young leaders - to the music of Ethel Cain, and the importance of storytellng through music. The students celebrated their success with a special breakfast in school last month. Alex Janda (12Peace) said: “The scheme is really enjoyable. I feel I can freely express my thoughts and opinions on a number of subjects. “Mrs Dewar has been really helpful, especially in leading our meetings. Iʼm very happy with how my articles have been received.” A couple of articles have been reproduced on the next page, but all articles from our girls can be found by visiting the London Now web site at london-now.co.uk/young-reporter.

Should English Literature be made a compulsory subject after GCSEs? by Renata Bujorean Over the years, there has been a noticeable decrease of students continuing studying English Literature after their GCSEs, but what is the reasoning behind this and should it really be this normalised? Presumably, a reason for this drop could be due to the rise in STEM subjects, such as science and maths, which could sometimes be seen as more useful subjects in our postmodernism world where technology is constantly evolving. Yet another reason could be that English literature is seen as a much harder subject, due to how subjective and complex it could be. However, English Literature being a more ʻtraditionalʼ subject is still widely appreciated by higher education,such as universities as it possesses many transferable skills, some including critical thinking, essay writing skills, communication, time manageable skills and more.

AI and the Environment by Alexandra Janda AI produces masses of e-waste containing many hazardous chemicals that contaminate soil and water. Through these contaminations we are posing serious threats to the health of not only animals and plants but ourselves as well. AI consumes large amounts of water with every use, whether small or big, which is an essential resource that is ﬁnding to be scarce in many regions on Earth

Moreover, some people may argue that English Literature will not secure them a good job,but this is false as english literature is also a widely applicable subject for many jobs, such as journalist, lawyer, teacher, copy editor, publisher ... the list goes on. Finally, this decline in care for humanity subjects like english literature,history and the arts could potentially damage society as they have always been a gateway to understanding the past and encouraging to not let history repeat itself. Therefore, should English Literature be made a compulsory subject after GCSEs?

Therefore AIʼs consumerism in the natural worldʼs resource is causing for these regions with worse water security to struggle even more. AI isnʼt just a big consumer, to allow AI to be made and continue working , minerals and rare elements are mined in unsustainable ways. Through unsustainable mining, the environment is only put through even more destruction as forests are chopped and burned down along with using great amounts of electricity, adding onto carbon emissions. AIʼs production only spurs for a bigger carbon footprint. The world is already struggling with the Earthʼs increasing temperature , yet people continue to create unsustainable works. Does the easy and “helpful” nature of AI undermine these issues?

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santa spotting

THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS...

Santa has already visited Holy Cross this December! But can you work out whereabouts in the school he rested his weary head? Answers on page 2 ...

A D

E 16

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PUZZLES & TEASERS

GUESS the

TEACHER

WHAT CONNECTS THESE FOUR HOLY CROSS TEACHERS?

Can you work out the identity of these three teachers?

Favourite ... Film: The Red Violin TV Show: Friends Musician: Sade Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics Restaurant: Pho

MRS SMITH

MRS KELLY

MISS simpson

MRS CHEN

Dream Holiday: Christmas in New York If I wasn’t a teacher, I would be ... a fashion stylist

Favourite ...

Sport: Football Musician: Foo Fighters Book: To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee) and Salem’s Lot (Stephen King) TV Show: IT: Welcome to Derry Dream Holiday: French Polynesia If I wasn’t a teacher, I would be ... a marine biologist

Favourite ...

TV Show: Bargain Hunt Musician: MP4 Book: Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom) Restaurant: McDonalds Sport: Basketball Dream Holiday: Greenland If I wasn’t a teacher, I would be ... working in advertising

RIDDLE I KEEP A SECRET UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY. I MAKE A MESS WHEREVER I LAY. WHAT AM I? A

A M

Rearrange the letters to find three Geographical terms!

ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING ABOVE CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 2!

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GOODBYE & GOOD LUCK

IT IS TIME TO SAY FAREWELL TO SOME MEMBERS OF STAFF LEAVING HOLY CROSS AT THE END OF THIS TERM. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE, AND ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR NEXT STEPS ...

MRS MCDONNELL Mrs McDonnell has been an integral part of Holy Cross for nineteen years. She is a remarkable teacher, leader, and mentor, leaving a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the wider school community. Mrs McDonnell joined Holy Cross at the age of 21 and quickly became a valued member of the team. She progressed from trainee teacher to a fully qualified educator, and within four years, she was appointed Director of Year, a role in which her talent and dedication were immediately evident. She has led the PE department through countless challenges, including school trips, fixtures, and major events, always with calmness, generosity, and unwavering commitment. Her guidance, support, and encouragement have shaped the experiences of students across the school, who have come to value her as a trusted teacher and mentor. It is with pride that we acknowledge Mrs McDonnell’s next step as she moves into the role of deputy SENCO. We thank her for her nineteen years of exceptional service and for the profound impact she has had on the Holy Cross community. Her contributions will be remembered and celebrated for many years to come. Mrs Rex

MISS WARNA Staff and students at Holy Cross are genuinely sorry to say goodbye to Miss Warna, who will be leaving us this December after three wonderful years. Having first joined us as a student Maths teacher, Miss Warna became a permanent member of staff in September 2023 and quickly became a muchloved part of the school community. From the moment she arrived, she demonstrated incredible passion, commitment, and creativity in everything she undertook. She has consistently supported and inspired her students, not only in their academic growth but also in their personal development. She is a truly exceptional Maths teacher, a dedicated form tutor, and a highly valued member of our department. Miss Warna is now ready to begin an exciting new chapter, following her own personal plans. While she leaves behind a very high standard for her replacement to meet, she also leaves us with countless happy memories filled with fun and laughter. We wish her every happiness and success as she steps into the next stage of her journey. You will be greatly missed, Miss Warna! Miss Tran 18

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‘TIs THE SEASON

CHRISTMAS AT HOLY CROSS

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The weeks of Advent form a quiet, patient wait As darkness falls and winter seals our gate. A season of reflection, a silent, humble space, preparing hearts and minds for coming grace The first week, Hope, a purple gleam, A future promise like a waking dream The flame bold and clear, with God’s presence, no need to fear. The second speaks of peace, in shadows deep. A calm prayer of love, towards God above The third week is for joy, a splash of pink, A happy moment where we pause to think. The time draws near, as clear as a storm, The world awaits the blessed day is born. The fourth, a purple flame, is lit for Love, The greatest gift dešcending from above. It binds us close and asks us to embrace, The shared humanity in every time and place. And on the eve a white light starts to shine, The Christ Candle, the holy and divine. A manger, a shining star The light of the world, a gift to one and all.

Linda Nanes 8Hope