ISSUE 24: 11th, August 2023
Principal / Executive Leadership Team
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and Friends
Year 3 Swan Hill Camp
The Year Three Camp to Swan Hill is being held this Thursday 17th & Friday 18th August. We wish our Year Three students all the best for a fun two days at the Pioneer Settlement. Mrs Willersdorf, Mrs Whitehouse, Mrs Beckwith, Mr Barbary, Mrs Bax and myself will be the supervising teachers for this camp.
Student Teacher
Mrs Regan Zaxos is beginning teaching rounds with us this Monday and will be working with Miss Price in Minga. Mrs Zaxos’ placement will go for four weeks.
Athletics Carnival
We had a fantastic Athletics Carnival on Wednesday. This was a great school event and most importantly a wonderful day for our community. Our students were amazing in their performances, encouragement and support. Such a great day could not proceed without the co-ordination from Mr Burford/Mr O’Callaghan and the support of our many volunteers and staff.
Book Week
Book Week is fast approaching. All students are encouraged to dress up on Friday 25th August as their favourite book character. We look forward to seeing some great costumes!
Parish Mass - Eumeralla
We have Eumeralla participating in the Parish Mass at the church this Wednesday 16th August. This celebration will begin at 9.30am and parents are welcome to attend.
SWPBIS Acceptance Focus
Our focus on ACCEPTANCE has started well and continues into Week Six. Staff will continue to teach these expected behaviours, provide regular reminders for students and acknowledge students who are demonstrating ACCEPTANCE in both the classroom and the yard. Across the week we have had 693 incidents where students have shown acceptance. We will keep adding to this tally and when we have a tally of 2000 we will look at having an event where we acknowledge students for their efforts in displaying ACCEPTANCE.
Sacred Heart Welcome
A warm and heartfelt welcome to Himmat Sidhu who recently joined our Sacred Heart School. Himmat has joined our Year Three Mootwingee classroom. We are thrilled to have you join our close-knit and supportive learning community.
School Closure Days
Our Pupil Free and School Closure Days between now and the end of the year are listed below:
- Monday 7th November: School Closure Day
- Wednesday 9th November: Structured Literacy Pupil Free Day
- Friday 15th December: Last day for students
- Monday 18th December: 2024 Staff Preparation
- Tuesday 19th December: RE Pupil Free Day
- Wednesday 20th December: School Closure Day
Please be aware that we originally had a school closure day planned for this Monday 14th August. This day has been moved to accommodate for the earlier finish to the school year.
God Bless!
Mark Gibson
SWPBIS BLITZ
As part of our commitment to creating a respectful, responsible, and safe learning environment, we have developed a School Wide Positive Behavior Matrix. This matrix outlines the expected behaviours of being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe that we strive to see from every member of our school community.
Over the next week, we will continue our special focus from our Matrix on the value of ACCEPTANCE. We firmly believe that fostering a sense of acceptance is crucial in creating an inclusive and harmonious environment for everyone.
During this period, students in all classes will be engaging in discussions and activities centred around the concept of acceptance. We will be exploring various ways to demonstrate acceptance, including:
- Kind and Friendly Communication: Students will learn the importance of using kind and friendly words when interacting with others.
- Inclusion: Students will discover the power of including others in their activities and interactions in a kind and friendly manner.
- Helping Others: Students will understand how assisting others in a kind and friendly way can contribute to a positive atmosphere.
- Respecting Differences: The significance of respecting and appreciating the diversity among our peers will be emphasised.
To enhance this learning experience, we will be utilising videos that illustrate both positive and negative examples of displaying acceptance. By observing these scenarios, students will gain a deeper understanding of how their actions impact the overall atmosphere at school.
As we introduce these behaviours, we encourage our students to actively model them within the school environment. Our dedicated teachers will be on the lookout for instances of acceptance, providing constructive feedback, and acknowledging those who embody this expectation.
To make the process even more engaging, classes and units will have the opportunity to work towards a collective goal. Rewards such as free time, movie afternoons, or other fun activities will serve as incentives for demonstrating consistent acts of acceptance.
We are enthusiastic about the potential of this initiative to further enrich our school community and strengthen the bonds between students, teachers, and staff. Together, we can create a school environment where acceptance and respect thrive.
Religious Education
2023 Sacramental Dates
First Eucharist - Year 4 & Above
Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 6th September 2023 @ 7pm SH Church
Sacrament of First Eucharist - Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd October 2023
Reconciliation - Year 2 & Above
Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 11th October 2023 7pm SH Church
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Wednesday 22nd November 2023 7pm SH Church
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Last Monday Sacred Heart School cooked and served at the Parish Soup Kitchen. Once again our students were respectful, helpful, happy and well-mannered. Myself, together with the staff present, were incredibly proud of all these children.
Many thanks to Stella Kourdis, Thomas Simonetta and William Tallent for volunteering to assist with this important social justice initiative. The clients were served with roast pork and beef, scalloped potatoes and mixed veggies cooked by staff members. A range of delicious desserts followed and a big thank you to Shannon Bush as they were certainly appreciated by all. Each client also took home a big bag of mandarins kindly donated by Mrs Rose Zalec.
God Bless, Mrs Carmichael
Learning and Teaching News
NAPLAN Student Reports
A reminder that NAPLAN Student Reports for Year 3 and 5 students are available to be picked up from your child’s classroom teacher before or after school until the end of week 6 (18/08). Please ensure you carefully read the cover letter and information about how to read the report. If families have not picked up the NAPLAN reports by 18/08, they will be sent home via post.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. If you have any questions regarding aspects of your child’s progress, please speak to your child’s teacher so they can provide further information about their success and challenges in learning.
Prep Unit News
Well done to all the Prep students on participating in their very first SHPS Athletics Carnival. Everyone tried their best, participated with AMAZING sportspersonship and had fun. We have also been shopping at the Wahroonga and Cooinda General Store, using the correct coins to purchase items and doing lots of WRITING! As the weather begins to warm up please remember to make sure jumpers are named. We are finding a lot of jumpers but are unable to return them to their owners as they aren’t named.
Some reminders:
- Sounds to continue working on with your child at home: s, a, t, p, i, n, m, r, f, o, c, d, h, e, n, g, l, k, u, b, j, w, ck, ll, ff, ss, sh, ee, qu, z, zz, ch. It is important that we continue this practice as we are reading and writing with digraphs in Literacy time.
- Learn all the tricky words at the back of the reading diary.
- Library day is Monday.
- Show and tell reminder = something that is part of a collection!
Prep Unit Team Contact Details
- Unit Leader: Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan
- Cooinda: Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan - bocallaghan@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
- Wahroonga: Mrs Wendy Collins - wcollins@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Junior Unit News
Congratulations Kulkyne on your victory at our recent Athletics Day. We were grateful for the additional cheering and kindness that we witnessed from adults who supported our school on this exciting day and are extremely proud of the talented Junior Unit Students for all their efforts and achievements.
On Tuesday, students celebrated Mary Mackillop’s Feast Day by revising her history, mottos and selfless actions. Year Two students created visually appealing posters celebrating her life with quotes from Mary Mackillop. These can be seen on display in the school office area.
This week we celebrated Dental Health Week. Year One students explored actions that help make our school a healthy place by promoting Oral Health awareness. Students created a poster that was displayed around the school, with the hope of educating students and visitors about the importance of Dental Health. We enjoyed a visit from Tankard Dental’s Giselle and ‘Smiley’, who generously provided students with their own Colgate toothbrush and toothpaste.
We warmly welcome Filomena Tabacco to Karinya, who will be completing her final placement over the next few weeks.
During Show & Tell over the next two weeks, Year Two children will be presenting their Favourite Place in Australia that they have visited or would like to go to: As this is an assessment and we will be recording the children presenting their S&T, they are encouraged to use the proforma (previously sent home) as a guide of what we will be looking to see. Children may like to make a poster of this destination, bring some photos or email them through, to assist with their presentation.Well done to all the Prep students on participating in their very first SHPS Athletics Carnival. Everyone tried their best, participated with AMAZING sportspersonship and had fun. We have also been shopping at the Wahroonga and Cooinda General Store, using the correct coins to purchase items and doing lots of WRITING! As the weather begins to warm up please remember to make sure jumpers are named. We are finding a lot of jumpers but are unable to return them to their owners as they aren’t named.
Junior Unit Team Contact Details
Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.
- Unit Leader: Mrs Katrina Groves
- Karinya (Year 1): Mrs Katrina Groves (Monday-Thursday) & Mrs Christine Sherry (Friday)
- Bundaleer (Year 1): Miss Hayley Moore
- Barramunga (Year 2): Mrs Chris Carmichael
- Nangare: (Year 2): Mrs Maree Irvin
Middle Unit News
What an action packed Week 5 we have had! It is hard to believe we are halfway through Term 3 already! Don’t forget to log into Seesaw to see some fantastic work from your child.
Next week Minga will welcome fourth year student teacher Mrs Regan Zaxos for four weeks. We welcome new student Himmat Sidhu to Mootwingee this week! Welcome to our Sacred Heart community Himmat!
Benetook Farm Excursion
Year 3 students had a wonderful time on Monday when they visited the SRS Benetook Farm. This supported our learning about Respect in Religion. Year 4 students are very much looking forward to their visit on Monday.
Athletics Day
Wednesday’s Athletics Day was a wonderful day celebrating our persistence in all events! Well done to Kulkyne for taking out the win and all students for giving all events their very best! We sincerely thank Mr Burford for his coordination of a wonderful day, the parents who volunteered on the day and those who came and cheered everyone on!
SWPBIS Acceptance Blitz
We continue to focus on ACCEPTANCE as part of our School Wide Positive Behaviour Matrix and have been so impressed with the kindness and consideration students have been making a conscious effort to show. Classes have been keeping a tally of when these skills are shown and are working towards a whole class reward.
Year 3 Swan Hill Camp - Next Week!
Next Thursday 17th of August the Year 3 students are very excited to head off on their Swan Hill Camp! Some reminders in readiness:
- All students are required to be at school at 7:30am on Thursday 17th August and will return at approximately 4:00pm on Friday 18th August.
- Students must bring their own lunch/snacks and a refillable water bottle for the first day. This includes recess and lunch. All other meals will be provided. NO other food or drink is to be taken.
- Please ensure your child has everything packed on the provided list and all items are clearly labelled.
- Students are permitted to bring $20 spending money. We ask that money is in a labelled ziplock bag with your child’s name and handed to Mrs Beckwith when you arrive at the bus.
- Please ensure any medications that your child will be bringing are clearly labelled and handed to Mrs Whitehouse at the bus.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the camp please contact your child’s teacher or Sophie Price (Middle Unit Leader) via email: sprice@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Middle Unit Team Contact Details
Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.
- Unit Leader: Miss Sophie Price
- Amaroo (Year 3): Mrs Sarah Beckwith
- Yongana (Year 3): Mrs Georgina Whitehouse
- Mootwingee (Year 3): Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf
- Minga (Year 4): Miss Sophie Price
- Eumeralla (Year 4): Miss Rosie Lennox
Senior Unit News
Wednesday’s Athletics Day was a great day celebrating our skill, enthusiasm and persistence in all events. Well done to all Year 6 students for giving all events their very best shot on their last Sacred Heart Athletics day! We thank Mr Burford for his coordination of athletics day, the parents and SJC students who volunteered on the day and those who came and cheered everyone on
Melbourne Camp preparations are coming along well. Information of what the students need to bring will be sent home in Week 7. Please ensure that your child’s contact and medical details are up to date on PAM. Thank you.
Graduation preparation will begin soon. We are asking all students who did not begin their primary schooling at Sacred Heart to either bring in a Prep photo or it can be emailed to lthompson@shmildura.catholic.edu.au at your earliest conveniance.
A Big congratulations to Remi McClelland who has spent the week in Albury for the National School Sports Carnival playing for the Victorian Girls Football Team. It was with great excitement that her peers got to cheer her on from the classroom to watch Remi and her team snag victory in the final against the South Australian team 33 to 5. Well done Remi, we are all very proud of your achievements and wish you well in your future football career.
Senior Unit Team Contact Details
Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.
- Unit Leader Year 5: Mrs. Natalee Johnson
- Unit Leader Year 6: Mrs. Loretta Thompson
- Illawarra (Year 5): Mrs. Cathryn Rowles
- Kyema (Year 5): Mrs. Natalee Johnson
- Myalla (Year 5): Mrs. Emma Kotsiakos (Monday-Thursday) & Mr. Corey Barbary (Friday)
- Narooma (Year 6): Mrs. Jo Campbell
- Dourim (Year 6): Mrs. Loretta Thompson
- Illawarra (Year 6): Mrs. Amelia Pacher (Monday-Thursday) & Mr. Jacob Burford (Friday)
Library News
Recess in the Library:
During our afternoon break, we open the library for students to explore books or engage in recreational activities with friends. NAIDOC Friday last week saw a fun-focused crowd enjoy the library space. New friends in mixed age groups enjoyed various activities, including Lego and board games, with one student taking time out to absorb himself in soft-cover picture storybooks (three!) quietly to himself. Keep up the great work; showing respect and acceptance towards friends, classmates and other students through positive and encouraging interactions is fantastic!
Book Week News: (19 - 25th of August)
It’s a countdown to this year’s book week, with the CBCA 2023 shortlist being amazing. This year’s theme is Read, Grow and Inspire! Look at these specially chosen books awaiting the final decision of winners.
SHPS library has purchased CBCA-shortlisted age-appropriate books for the students, which will be displayed during book week. These books will be available for loan within the following weeks.
On Monday 31st of July our book week colouring competition began. Please return completed entries to your teacher before Friday the 18th of August. This book week activity is encouraged, however, students are not obligated to submit an entry. Please note: one entry per student and one winner per unit level (Prep, Junior, Middle and Senior). Winners will be announced during the book week assembly.
Friday, August 25th is book week dress-up or casual clothes day. Students may like to dress up as their favourite book character, person, or career or come in their favourite casual attire. Also, students are encouraged to bring their favourite book to school and share why with their classmates.
Scholastic Book Club News:
Did you know that every purchase you make on Book Club earns our school 15% of the order value in Scholastic Rewards? We use these to purchase more books and educational resources for the school. It all helps!
Issue #5 earned SHPS library $34.13.
Thank you for supporting the students’ reading welfare and the SHPS library.
Ms Zema at azema@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Student of the Week Awards
No awards this week.
Ray White Positive Behaviour Awards
Responsible
Safe
Respectful