ISSUE 1: 19TH FEBRUARY 2021
New Newsletter Format
In 2021, our newsletter will now be sent out digitally as an eNewsletter. Our new format will be able to be read easily on any type of technological device and its new format will be a great way to inform parents what is happening in the school. As will be evident in this issue we can easily share events, photos, videos, forms, and articles.
Published newsletters will be accessible in multiple ways with the new format. We will send a link to access it, it will also be available through the Parent Access Module (PAM) and Simon Everywhere. Grandparents, extended family, or those that are interested in receiving our newsletter can subscribe at https://shpsmildura.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe
With the newsletter being responsive across mobile, tablet, and desktop we envisage many parents having easy access to the newsletter. Answers to questions may easily be found by having easy access to new and old versions of the newsletter, and losing the newsletter will be a thing of the past.
Of great benefit to some of our families will be the ability to access the newsletter in over 100 languages at just a click of a button. Google Translate allows this to happen.
Available within the new format is a dynamic calendar and events section. When new events are added to our parent calendar, they will be available in the newsletter and also in PAM or Simon Everywhere.
Our weekly newsletter will be available each Friday and is the best way of staying informed of what is happening in our school community and how things operate at school. Please invest five or so minutes each week to help ensure your child’s education is rewarding and fun.
We hope you enjoy this new newsletter experience and if you have any ideas or suggestions please let us know.
Principal / Executive Leadership Team
Welcome to our update for next week,
Our staff and I am sure parents were extremely happy that our Circuit Breaker Lockdown was very short and students got to return to school yesterday. I thank our parents and carers for being so supportive and all the work you did with your children on our pupil-free day on Monday and remote learning on Tuesday and Wednesday. I also thank our specialist teachers and Learning Support Officers (LSO's) who provided onsite supervision for the students who attended school. I also thank our teachers who promptly were able to provide learning materials for our students. During the two days of remote learning teachers spent significant time reflecting upon our previous remote learning experiences and planning for how remote learning may be best delivered if we ever return to this method of learning in 2021. Fingers crossed that we don't but if we do I know we are well prepared.
Early in 2021 our teachers are very aware that some students would have been impacted by how learning occurred in 2020. Like we do at all times we will monitor each child’s progress closely. If additional support is required academically or from a social/emotional perspective we will strive to put in place early interventions to support students. If parents feel your child is experiencing difficulty with learning or high anxiety please communicate with your child’s teacher. We will aim to work in partnership to put place necessary supports for the child.
The students have really enjoyed their two days of swimming. Thanks to Mildura Waves for their organisation and program. We will aim to make up the days that they missed later in the year. As you can see the students are enjoying the opportunity.
A huge thankyou to our Prep parents who turned up to our Prep Information Session yesterday. We had a large turnout of parents. Thanks to Mrs O'Callaghan and Miss Sheridan who led this session.
A combined School Advisory Council (SAC) and Parents & Friends (P&F) meeting is being held this Tuesday at 5pm. All parents are welcome and encouraged to participate in this meeting. Chris Robarts (CEB) will facilitate this forum which is being held in the staff room.
Reconciliation Parent Information Session (previously planned for last Tuesday) is happening at the church this Tuesday at 7pm. This session is for all Year Four parents who have registered their child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist this year.
Prep & Year Six buddies along with their parents will come together this Thursday for a picnic on the school oval. Due to COVID restrictions this has moved from Jaycee Park to the school oval. Parents will bring their own dinner, chair, picnic rug etc for this gathering which begins at 5pm.
Families received the information below in regards to our School Photos. These are scheduled to occur on next Tuesday, 23th February. Orders will need to be completed online. All students are expected to wear their full summer school uniform on this day. Classes who have PE on this day will need to bring their runners to school to change into.
On our calendar in PAM (Simon Everywhere), we have worked very hard to make sure we have set out dates for the 2021 school year. Please look at this to find our important dates for the year such as Grandparents Day. This calendar also displays in this new newsletter format.
We have confirmed our pupil-free days for the year. Please be aware that students don't attend school on these dates. These are:
- Friday 26th March - Literacy Professional Development (PD)
- Friday 3rd September - Literacy PD
- Thursday 16th December - Staff PD & 2022 Preparation
- Friday 17th December - 2022 Preparation
We wish James Clay, Alby Woollard, Will Siale, George Miller, Leo Madafferi & Alice Siale all the best at Tuesday’s Division Tennis. Our boy's cricket team is competing in District Cricket this Thursday against Trinity Lutheran College. Likewise, we wish them the best of luck.
Unfortunately Pancake Breakfast on Shrove Tuesday had to be canceled but we still want this community opportunity to occur. This event will now happen on Tuesday, March 2nd from 7:45 am-8:40 am on the school oval. We have sent home an invitation to families today. We want families to send back the reply slip to assist with our catering by Thursday 25th February.
On Monday 1st March Tony Dalton will be leading a Guided Learning Walk for anyone interested from 8:45 am - 10:15 am. With this walk, participants learn more about how we teach and how the children learn at Sacred Heart. The feedback from the parents when Tony has worked with the school has been received extremely positively. There are limited places for the Walk. We will be running these Guided Learning Walks each term so there are plenty of opportunities for you to participate. Parents can attend more than once. If you are interested, please fill in the survey form provided below to register.
Thank you to Nangare for hosting today's Assembly. Mootwingee is hosting next week’s Assembly, which will begin at 2.30 pm in the Stadium.
We hope everyone has a great week five of term one.
Mr Gibson
General News
Parish Soup Kitchen
The Sacred Heart Parish Soup Kitchen is seeking plastic shopping bags to give out with Take-Away meals at the Soup Kitchen. Many people receive plastic shopping bags with online shopping so if you do not need these, please take them to the Parish Office or our Sacred Heart School Front office to be passed on to the Soup Kitchen.
We are also seeking ice-cream containers to use to freeze food in when needed. So if you have unneeded ice cream containers please bring them in as well.
We are also seeking any new chef or waiter volunteers for the Soup Kitchen. Contact Paula Cox on pcox@sjcmda.vic.edu.au if you are interested in volunteering.
Thanks in appreciation of your support of the Sacred Heart Parish Soup Kitchen.
St Joseph's College 2022 Year 7 Enrolments
Please contact Mrs Tracy Aston, Admissions and Communications Manager on 5018 8034 or email taston@sjcmda.vic.edu.au if you wish to receive an enrolment information package for your child for 2022. The College Open Evening will be held on Tuesday March 16 commencing at 4.00pm. Activities and displays will be available at the Enright Campus, 154 Twelfth Street and the Mercy Campus, Cnr Riverside Avenue and Eleventh Street. Everyone is welcome to attend.Please visit the College website - www.sjcmda.vic.edu.au
Bus Travellers
CDC Mildura have advised that cash handling has re-commenced this year on the buses.
Kiss and Go
A reminder to all using the ‘Kiss & Go’ process to follow all the rules including; entry into the ‘Kiss & Go’ is only permitted via Olive Grove, no ‘U’-turns at anytime out of this area, do not leave your vehicle at anytime and please do not be talking on mobile phones while in the ‘Kiss & Go’ area. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of all.
Sunraysia Catholic Communities Bulletin
We have attached below the bulletin for this weekend for the Sunraysia Catholic Communities.