2019-2020 Parish Theme:
Live by the Spirit, Walk by the Spirit
A Pair of Home Runs for HCA's PTO
Huge thanks to the Holy Cross Academy PTO for two outstanding events last week! Our Grandparents Day program was an absolute delight. It was wonderful to host so many proud grandparents on campus for the day.

Our Trunk or Treat event was a huge success and gave many of our students practice on their advanced trick or treating techniques.

Holy Cross Academy is blessed to have such outstanding support from its parent community.
Formation in Christian Chastity
Each year, teachers in grades 1-8 present lessons from our Diocesan curriculum in Formation in Christian Chastity. Parents may choose to have their child opt out of the lessons if they wish. Detailed information on the material presented at each grade level is available from the link below.


If you would like for your child NOT to participate in the lessons, please print and return the form below to the school office by Wednesday, October 30th. These lessons will be upcoming for our students in grades 1-8.

Middle School Basketball Try Outs
Try outs for boys and girls basketball is this week. The schedule for try outs is as follows:

Monday, October 28- Girls 3:30-5:00, Boys 5:00-6:30

Wednesday, October 30- Boys 3:30-5:00, Girls 5:00-6:30

Please contact Mrs. Brenda Meskunas, our athletic director, with any questions at [email protected] .
St. Mary Altar Server Training - Starts Tomorrow
All children 4 th grade and older are invited to Altar Server Training with Fr. Mosimann! This training is for Saturday and Sunday masses at both St. Mary and Holy Cross. Our training will be on 4 consecutive Tuesdays from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at St. Mary. All 4 dates are mandatory to complete training. Our dates are as follows:

Tuesday, October 29th
Tuesday, November 5 th
Tuesday, November 12 th
Tuesday, November 19 th

Flyers are going home with 4th through 8th grade students today.

Please contact Vicky Kopcak if your child will be included in these trainings which are mandatory at: [email protected] .

I look forward to hearing from you and working with your children.

Vicky Kopcak
Coordinator, Altar Servers
ORANGE OUT Dress Down Day
October 31 will be a specially themed dress down day at HCA. Students are encouraged ( but not required ) to wear orange that day. Attire for the day will still follow our dress down day guidelines.

With it being Halloween Day, students may wear Halloween themed accessories (headband, bracelet, hair ties) for the day.

Who We Will Help with This Event?
The Brisben Center is our region's homeless shelter. They provide at-risk and homeless men, women and children essential temporary shelter and services to affect positive life changes. In 2018 alone, they served 590 men, women and children. The center is in need of new towels and wash cloths for their residents. They can use them while in residence and keep them when they move on to a more permanent home.

We are asking each family to donate a towel, pair of washcloths, or $2 or more donation to the Brisben Center to earn the dress down day for your child(ren). Thank you to everyone who has already donated.
Holy Cross Academy Book Fair - Starts Thursday
Our Holy Cross Academy Book Fair is about to begin. Please follow the link to the flyer below for more information.


Below is the web address for the book fair homepage. Parents can order online, set up e-wallet for their children, and get updated information. Beginning on October 26th, all online orders are part of our book fair and sales and profits will go to HCA.

Coffee Chat Friday 7:15 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Fr. Mosimann and I would like to invite any interested parents to a Coffee Chat on Friday, November 1st before Mass starting at 7:15 a.m. in the Conference Room. It is an informal chance to talk with parents and to report on some exciting things happening on campus. We'll have a Keurig machine warmed up and donuts available.

In particular that day, I would love to gain parent feedback on our communication efforts and what has worked and not worked in that area. Mrs. Appleton will be a guest speaker talking about the 6th grade Chromebook initiative and her after school Science Squad.
Winter Dress Code Begins Friday
A reminder that our winter dress code begins Friday, November 1st. Students should be in full winter uniform, including their school sweater that day.

The only change made to the winter uniform this year is that HCA sweater vests were added as an option for middle school students.
All Saints Day and Parade Info - November 1
A reminder that All Saints Day (Friday) is a Holy Day of Obligation. As always, parents are invited to join us for our 8:15 a.m. school Mass.

Students in grades K to 5 participate in our All Saints Parade on Nov. 1 in the afternoon. We encourage the children to research a saint they do not yet know much about, and to dress in a very simple costume depicting this saint. Students should come to school in their regular uniform and will dress before the parade at 2:30. Consider a costume that can be worn over their uniform to make it easy for them to dress themselves. Parents are welcome to attend and encourage all our little saints!
Chocolate is Arriving This Week
P TO's biggest fundraiser of the year, Worlds Greatest Chocolate bar sale, will kick off this week. Our parent volunteers will sort the chocolate as it arrives mid-week. We expect to send chocolate home for families who did not take the buy out option on Friday.

A Signup Genius will be up soon for those wishing to sell chocolate outside of mass either at St. Mary's or St. Matthew's. This is a proven way to sell all that chocolate before the parents of the house eat it and deny it ever happened; it's also a great way to market our school.
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Picture Day - November 4th
A reminder that school picture day is Monday, November 4th. All students will wear their full winter uniform. Picture order forms went home with students last week.

Parents can also order school pictures online at:


4th Grade Mini Mall - November 7th
Our 4th grade students will be holding their famous mini mall on Thursday, November 7th. Items are for purchase that day for students only. Each grade will be given an opportunity to shop in the mini mall that day. All items are handmade by our 4th graders and are just 50 cents each. Parents may stop in prior to 8:45 a.m. to help set up and to see the creativity of our students.

Proceeds from the mini mall sales will benefit Catholic Charities.
St. Mary's Choir and Orchestra Concert - November 8th at 8:00 p.m.

Save the Date for Donuts with Dad!

Join us on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11 from 7:30am- 8:00am in Father Brisson Hall. Enjoy a special morning with coffee, juice and yummy donuts to celebrate our Holy Cross Academy Dads! We hope to see you there!!
Tell a Friend, Tell a Neighbor, Tell Everybody!!! HCA Open House November 12th
Holy Cross Academy will hold our first Open House event of the year on Tuesday, November 12th at 9:00 a.m. It is a great chance for prospective families to tour the school, see our classes in action, and learn more about how their child can become a Holy Cross Academy Crusader.

Please help spread the word to any parent or guardian you know whose child could benefit from a high-quality Catholic education.
Drama Production News - Try Outs Nov 17
Now that the calendar is about to flip to November, it’s time to prepare for Drama Club. We have exciting things in the works! Try outs and our mandatory parent meeting is Sunday, November 17th from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Please follow the links below for more information and to RSVP.




Paint and Sip Fundraiser
Grab your friends (children 8 and over welcome) and come to our paint and sip fundraiser sponsored by Painting With A Twist! Come get some art and wine therapy (wine and/or soft drink provided) all while supporting the Drama Club! 
Sign up directly here ——> Paint and Sip Registration

Looking for a Music Director
We are seeking a talented music director. If you have any questions please contact Marty Ferraioli 
Mass with Bishop Burbidge - 9:00 a.m. on November 19
Our school is blessed to have a visit from Bishop Burbidge on Tuesday, November 19. We just received additional information regarding Bishop's visit to campus.

Mass that day will be at 9:00 a.m. After Mass, Bishop Burbidge will spend time with students in their classrooms.

Noon Dismissal November 19
Bishop Burbidge would like to conclude his visit to Holy Cross Academy with a visit and lunch with our outstanding faculty and staff. We will have a special dismissal time of 12:00 on November 19.

Afternoon Aviat Care will be in session that afternoon.

Parents, please make note of this noon dismissal on November 19.
Looking Ahead - HCA Sports + Important Dates
28: Basketball Try Outs 3:30-5:00 Girls, 5:00 -6:30 Boys
29: NAEP Assessment, 13 year old 7th & 8th graders
29: Field Hockey @ WGMS, Early Dismissal @ 2:50p.m.
29: Boys MS Soccer Tournament - 10:15 Early Dismissal
30: Basketball Try Outs 3:30-5:00 Boys, 5:00-6:30 Girls
31: Orange Out Dress Down Day to Benefit Brisben Center
31-November 8: Book Fair

November
1: Coffee Chat 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
1: All Saints Day, Mass 8:15 a.m
1: All Saints Parade, 2:30 p.m.
1: Winter Uniforms Begin
2: Confirmation Retreat
4: Picture Day at HCA
5: 8th Grade Field Trip to John Paul the Great High School
7: Early Dismissal - Conferences begin 12:30 p.m.
7: 4th Grade Mini Mall
7: Chick Fil-a Spirit Night, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
8: No School - Conference Day
9: Confirmation Retreat
11: Doughnuts with Dad, 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
12: Open House at HCA, 9:00 a.m.
14: Transition to High School Night @ HCA 7:00 p.m.
15: Paint and Sip Fundraiser for Drama Club
15: School Mass, 8:15 a.m.
17: Drama Auditions, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
18: Girls Basketball @ Aquinas, JV Early Dismissal at 2:30 p.m.
18: Boys Basketball vs. Aquinas
19: Visit from Bishop Burbidge - Mass 9:00 a.m. Mass, 12:00 p.m. dismissal
20: Boys Basketball vs St. Patrick
20: Girls Basketball @ St. Patrick
21: PTO Board Meeting
25: Boys Basketball @ SWOY, Varsity Only, Early Dismissal at 2:50pm
25: Girls Basketball vs. SWOY, Vasity Only
27-29: Thanksgiving Holiday, No School

December
3: Girls Basketball @ Holy Family, Early Dismissal @ 2:30 p.m.
3: Boys Basketball vs. Holy Family
5: High School Placement Test, grade 8
6: 1st Trimester Report Cards
6: School Mass, 8:15 a.m.
Mission Statement

At Holy Cross Academy, we are guided by the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales as we dedicate ourselves to: 

  • Create an atmosphere of prayer and reliance on our heavenly Father;
  • Spread the message of Jesus in our families and our community by treating all persons with respect and showing reverence for the gift of God in each one;
  • Build up the Spirit-filled faith community within Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish;
  • Serve those in need in our local community and in the Missions through an awareness of our global responsibility to all humanity;
  • Develop the whole child: spiritually, emotionally, academically and physically;
  • Promote academic excellence by challenging all our students to recognize their gifts and fulfill their God-given potential.

It's About the Children
Holy Cross Academy
250 Stafford Lakes Parkway  
Fredericksburg, VA 22406
540-286-1600 
St. Mary Preschool
1009 Stafford Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-373-7553