ISSUE 10: 7th May 2021

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

I wish all Mums a very Happy Mothers’ Day for this coming Sunday and I hope the day is a special one for you. A huge thank you to parents who volunteered to help out with the Mother’s Day stall today and in particular to Lauren Milton and Jodie McInerney for coordinating the stall. I am sure mums will appreciate the presents students give them.  Students in Visual Arts this week painted pictures of their mum that they can expect to receive at some stage if they were taking part in their lesson this week.  

Mother’s Day Parish Mass is being celebrated tomorrow, Saturday at 6pm in the Sacred Heart Church.  Students from Sacred Heart are invited to join the choir for this Mass.  We hope to see staff members and school families join this celebration. If any child is wanting to be part of the choir please meet Mrs Guthrie near the organ in the Church.

Across next week Year 3 and 5 students are participating in the ‘National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy’ (NAPLAN). We will once again be doing our NAPLAN online this year.  One of the main benefits of doing NAPLAN online is that it is tailored (or adaptive) testing, in which the test presents questions of higher or lower complexity depending on a student’s performance. Tailored (or adaptive) testing is designed to assess a wider range of student abilities and to measure student achievement more precisely. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions more challenging than usual; they may be taking a more complex test pathway. A student’s overall NAPLAN score is based on the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.  

We pray for many of our Year 5/6 students who will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on the weekend of 21st to 23rd of May.   To help prepare our Year 5/6 Confirmation Retreat Day is being held this Friday.  All Year 5/6 students will participate in this day, including those students who are not registered to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Mrs Campbell, Mr Barbary, Mrs Niutta & Miss Zappia will coordinate the Retreat Day activities and will be supported by Father Matt & Sister Helen.

Thank you to Yongana for hosting today’s Assembly.  Waminda is hosting next week’s Assembly, which will begin at 2.30pm in the Stadium on Friday.

Currently our lunch order cut off time through CDF pay is at 9am.  From Wednesday 19th May the time will change to 8:30am.  This will give canteen staff and volunteers more time to prepare lunches as there has been greater demand this year.  

Well done to our students who represented and performed superbly at the SSV Sunraysia Cross Country. Their wonderful results appear later in the newsletter. It was great to hear from Mr Burford how well our students represented our school with behaviour, participation and support. Thank you and well done to Mr Burford on preparing our students so well.

We are currently seeking passionate teachers for the following employment opportunities:

• Classroom Teacher for Grade 4: Part-Time (FTE 0.4 working Monday and Tuesday) Fixed Term
• Classroom Teacher for Grade 5:  Full-Time Fixed Term
• Boost / Intervention Teacher: Full-Time Fixed Term

Each of these positions commence in Term 3 – July 12, 2021 (or earlier by negotiation) and concluding on January 28, 2022.  Applications close Friday May 21st, 2021 at 9am. If you know of anyone interested in applying please refer them to: https://www.shmildura.catholic.edu.au/employment/

With many days being much cooler we encourage children to dress appropriately for the weather conditions.  Dressing appropriately can help avoid illness amongst students. On cold days our winter uniform is most appropriate.  Tights should not be worn with summer uniform and the navy blue weather-proof jacket doesn’t replace a jumper.   In classrooms these jackets cannot be worn so a jumper is still encouraged to be worn.

We have had a busy week with our Guided Learning Walks occurring across the week.  We had 34 families attend the nine opportunities available.  Having small groups allowed the families to visit classrooms and see learning in action.  The families could see how learning progresses across the school, witness special programs the school has put in place and how we support students when having difficulties academically, socially and emotionally.  Visitors were impressed and surprised how schooling has changed since they were at school. We now move to the next phase of 2022 Prep Transition with small groups of children coming in to work with a staff member and parents with a member of the Leadership Team.  Meeting times are arranged after we receive ‘Application for Enrolment’ forms. 

As part of our Guided Learning Walks we created short videos showing a snapshot of learning in a classroom.  Over the coming weeks we will show parents through the newsletter some of these videos.  Our first video is showing our Prep - Cooinda classroom participating in their InitiaLit lesson.  IntiaLit is the phonics program we are using for reading to teach children how to decode letters into their respective sounds, a skill that is essential for students to read unfamiliar words by themselves. InitiaLit is being used from Prep to Year 2.  The part of the lesson being shown here is after the whole group learning and when students are working in a teacher focussed group and independent groups.  It amazes me when I watch this video how well Prep students can work independently at this stage of their school life.  I hope you enjoy it. 

God Bless,

Mark Gibson

2022 Enrolment Information

Enrolment processes have commenced for new Prep students in 2022 at Sacred Heart.  We are currently taking enrolment applications. We have changed enrolment processes with an aim to strengthen students' transition into school.  With the school being limited to only two class groupings in 2022 we encourage families to hand in their Application for Enrolment form before 21st May.  Advertising in the newspaper and television will be promoting enrolment in our Sunraysia Catholic schools over April and May. Below is our process for enrolment:

• 1st April: Enrolment Applications are open.
• Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th May at 9:30am, 12:30pm & 6pm: Guided Learning Walk to see facilities and learning at the school.  This is a great opportunity for prospective or existing families to see learning at Sacred Heart.
• Friday 21st May: ‘Application for Enrolment’ closes and needs to be emailed to office@shmildura.catholic.edu.au  or handed in at the School Office.

• Monday 10th-Friday 28th May: In groups for an enrolment interview that takes around 40 minutes for prospective students and a parent, parents or guardian. Parents will be contacted to arrange a meeting time after the Enrolment Application Form is received.  Parents will meet with Mr O’Callaghan or myself and students in a small group with a teacher to do some activities.
• Friday 11th June:  Enrolment acceptance letters will be sent out.

Religious Education News

Sacrament of Confirmation

A reminder that information regarding your child’s Confirmation name, sponsor etc needs to be filled in (small white sheet) and returned to the Parish Office by the 14th May.  

Sacrament of Confirmation Timeline

Week beginning Sunday 9th May 3. Work of the Holy Spirit- Gifts and Fruits 

Week beginning Sunday 16th May 4. Celebrating Confirmation 

CHILDREN’S RETREAT DAY (held at Sacred Heart) Friday 14th May 9:30am – 1.30pm. 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION - 

Friday 21st May 6pm

Saturday 22nd May 9.30am 

Saturday 22nd May 6:00pm 

Sunday 23rd May 9:00am 

Sunday 23rd May 5pm

Class Mass

On Wednesday Kyema will be participating in the Parish Mass at the church.  Students will do some of the readings and jobs throughout the Mass.  This celebration will begin at 9.30am and parents are welcome to attend.

Ryan O’Callaghan (Religious Education Leader)

Learning Diversity & Wellbeing News

Nothing to report this week.

Learning & Teaching News

Next week, NAPLAN testing will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for Year 3 and 5 students. It is very important that ALL students have their laptop at school everyday and it is fully charged, as well as a set of working headphones.

General News

Cross Country

On Wednesday, 30 Sacred Heart students went down to the Aerodrome Ovals to compete in the Division Cross Country. These students finished top 5 in their respective age groups at our own school Cross Country, qualifying them for this event. The 3 groups that raced on the day were 9 and 10 year olds combined, 11 year olds and 12 year olds. 

We were fortunate enough to have some success on the day with our 11 year old boys and 12 year old girls winning the Champion School Award which is given to the school based on the results of their top 3 runners in each event. 

Individually, Sadie Woollard ran extremely well to win the 12 year old girls event. Tanner Strong finished runners up in the 12 year old boys and Remi McClelland and Charlie Spratt each came third in the 9/10 year old event. 

The top 12 in each event will move on to the regional Cross Country in St. Arnaud on June 1st. As well as Sadie, Tanner, Remi and Charlie we will also have Henry Guthrie, Max Gaylard, Olivia Alvey, Rafferty Wiseman, Thomas O’Callaghan, George Miller, Maya De Rosa, Mia Hards, Darcy Collins, Mollie O’Callaghan and Isabel Alvey representing the school in St.Arnaud. We wish these students the best of luck. 

Jacob Burford (Sports Coordinator)

Prep Unit News

The preps have been working really hard on learning all the letter names and sounds and tricky words we have learnt during our InitiaLit lessons. We recommend that the students continue to learn these at home; m, s, t, a, p, i, f, r, o, c, d, h and e. The tricky words can be found in the back of the reading diary. As soon as your child knows all the tricky words in the reading diary, new words will be put in. Please continue to read with your child every night and record the book they have read in their reading diary (we are up to the week 3 page!)

Junior Unit News

A friendly reminder that ALL students MUST have their own set of headphones to use during class times. If you have trouble attaining a pair, please contact your child’s teacher. 

As it is becoming cooler, please ensure that all student jumpers, jackets and  scarves are labeled clearly. Should you wish to invest in additional winter wear, our school second-hand shop has them for sale at a reasonable price. Please contact the school office for additional information.

It has been terrific having classroom literacy helpers for a week. Should you wish to help out, contact your classroom teacher.

We would like to thank Sarah Beckwith for her valuable contribution to our Junior Unit Team. Sarah finished up her placement in Kyema last week and is expected to graduate in the next few weeks. We wish her all the best on her journey into Primary Education.

Middle Unit News

Next week, Year 3 students will be undertaking NAPLAN. It is very important that ALL students in Year 3 have their laptop at school everyday and it is fully charged, as well as a set of working headphones. 

A friendly reminder that students are required to have their reading diary and library bag at school everyday. Homework is due on Fridays. Thank you for your assistance in developing these organisational habits in your children. 

Don’t forget to access your parent account for Seesaw to see lots of wonderful work your child has been completing, along with comments outlining the progress of your child on these particular assessment tasks. If you are having trouble accessing your account, please contact your child’s teacher.

Senior Unit News

Excitement is building in anticipation of the Year 6 camp. Correspondence with what to bring, an itinerary and a behaviour expectations were sent home with your child on Tuesday of this week. If you have any queries, please contact your child’s teacher.

Student Leadership Groups

The SLT met on Thursday afternoon to begin making changes to the existing Child Friendly Child Safe Policy. When it is complete they will share it with the school community.

Library News

Author/Illustrator Writing Immersion Day

Sacred Heart were very pleased last week to host local author Phil Kettle and illustrator Marc McBride. Phil and Marc spent the day talking to all students about reading, writing and illustrating books and were more than happy to share their expertise with the children. Marc showed his prowess with an air brush as he painted numerous dragons and guided children to draw their own dragons, while Phil went through the process of how to plan a story. Lunchtime saw many children popping into the library to speak to Phil and Marc - as well as getting a few autographs! We were very lucky to have such awesome talent at our school!

Marc also mentioned a competition that children were encouraged to enter - this includes both writing and art. Winning pieces are published online on the website and in a magazine and at the end of the year all published entries are entered into the Young Australian Writers Award. If you would like to find out more information, head to https://www.ozkids.com.au/

Library Timetable Week 4

Monday: Year 5, Year 6 & Bundaleer

Tuesday: Minga, Waminda & Kyema

Wednesday: Mootwingee & Nangare

Thursday: Preps, Amaroo, Yongana, Karinya & Eumeralla

Friday: Barramunga

Scholastic Book Club Issue #3 has been processed and will be distributed when it arrives. Australia Post have had issues with deliveries - hopefully this order will all arrive together!

Weekly Awards

Student of the Week

Ray White Award Positive Behaviour Award