ISSUE 28: 15th September, 2023

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and Friends,

Welcome to our final newsletter for Term Three.

Mission Mass

Our whole school Mission Mass is being held on Thursday 5th October at the church beginning at 9.30am.  Parents are invited to join us for this celebration.

Mission Month

Once again, October marks the arrival of 'Mission Month,' and we're thrilled to announce a series of exciting and enjoyable activities on the horizon. To kick things off, we've scheduled our inaugural fundraising event for the first Friday on Term 4, which includes a Casual Clothes day where students can participate by making a gold coin donation. Additionally, we're introducing the Staff Bucket Dump event as part of the festivities.

To participate in the Staff Bucket Dump, students can purchase an entry for just 50 cents through CDFPay.   Multiple entries can be purchased.  This unique opportunity allows them to take aim at the target, and when they hit it, the staff member positioned underneath will experience a refreshing drenching with water. We'll be organising this event separately for each of the year levels, ensuring everyone has a chance to join in the fun.

Throughout the month our students will participate in numerous whole school, unit and class events. Detailed information about these can be found in the Mission Month calendar below. We look forward to and appreciate your support during this time when we concentrate on bringing our faith to life through a deliberate focus on those in need. All money raised will once again go to support Fr Michael McKinnon, our former parish priest in his overseas missionary work.

Year 6 Camp

Well done to our Year Six students for their participation and positive behaviour during their camp to Melbourne last week.  Huge thanks to Mrs Thompson in particular, Mrs Campbell, Mrs Matthews, Mr O’Callaghan and Mr Burford for their supervision, coordination and preparation of the camp.  Such a wonderful experience for our students.

2024 School Advisory Council (SAC) Parent Representatives

We are asking for interested parents to nominate as parent representatives for the School Advisory Council (SAC). Please consider taking an active role in this body. Nomination forms are available from the Office, and we ask that any nomination be handed into the Office by Tuesday 18th October.

School Crossing

It is extremely important that all students cross the road at the school crossings on 11th and 12th street before and after school. It is a very busy area, particularly after school hours. Please remind your child that they must always cross at the crossing, as it is for everyone’s safety.    

Kiss and Go 

A reminder for parents that when picking up your child at Kiss and Go, you must enter the Kiss and Go line from 11th Street, into Olive Grove then turn onto Twelfth street. There have been some instances where cars have cut off other cars by driving straight down Twelfth Street into the Kiss and Go line, almost causing an accident. If you are unsure about how Kiss and Go works, please contact the school for further information.

Prep Enrolments

We still have a few available spaces for 2024 Prep enrolments.  If you know of anyone who is interested in enrolment at Sacred Heart please get them to contact the school.

School Fees

Thank you to everyone who has paid their school fees. Reminder to the families who opted for payment by term or year that these accounts MUST be paid in full by the end of this term unless other arrangements have been made. As always, if you are experiencing any difficulty in making your fee payment please contact us to make an arrangement. 

2023 Victorian Government Fund for Non Government Schools

I'm pleased to announce that Sacred Heart School has received approval for a $3,000,000 grant to enhance our current general learning facilities and related areas. Consequently, we are collaborating with Energy Architecture to conclude plans for the renovation of our older classrooms situated along Olive Grove and Twelfth Street.

Assembly

Thank you to our Student Leaders  for hosting today's Assembly and congratulations to the Principal Award recipients. 

School Closure Days

Our Pupil Free and School Closure Days between now and the end of the year are listed below:

• Monday 6th November: School Closure Day
• Wednesday 8th November: Structured Literacy Pupil Free Day
• Thursday 30th November:  RE Pupil Free Day
• Friday 15th December: Last day for students
• Monday 18th December: 2024 Staff Preparation
• Tuesday 19th December: School Closure Day
• Wednesday 20th December: School Closure Day

With the end of Term approaching, all school fees are required to be paid unless you are on a special plan, eg Direct Debit.  All Direct Credit Families please ensure you have paid your fees prior to the 14th of September.  

Finalising school numbers 

It is at this time of year that we begin to forecast how many students will be attending our school in 2023. These forecasts are very important as it tells us how many classes will be required for 2023. This of course impacts on how many teachers we need and how many classrooms we need. Subsequently, I ask that all parents advise me if children will be leaving Sacred Heart at the end of this year. Thank you.

Return to School Term Four 

Well done to the students, staff and parents for their wonderful efforts throughout the term. We look forward to everyone returning for Term Four on Monday, 2nd October refreshed and ready for a big Term Four. 

I hope everyone has a very relaxing and enjoyable break after a very busy term.

Mark Gibson

Religious Education

2023 Sacramental Dates

First Eucharist - Year 4 & Above

Sacrament of First Eucharist - Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd October 2023

Thank you to parents who attended Wednesday’s information session.  Everything for this Sacrament has been outlined in the green folder. Please contact the school or email Ryan O’Callaghan (ryocallaghan@shmildura.catholic.edu.au) if you have any questions.

Reconciliation - Year 2 & Above

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 11th October 2023 7pm SH Church 

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Wednesday 22nd November 2023 7pm SH Church

Learning and Teaching News

Seesaw- Please continue to check Seesaw to see your child’s wonderful digital learning portfolio from Term 3. It is encouraged that you leave a comment and let your child know what you think of their work.

Holiday Reading

Children who continue to read over the school holidays will consolidate the learning they have developed throughout Term 3. It is important to keep it up as much as you can, however ensure that it is enjoyable and a way to connect as a family. Why not take them to the library, where they can choose some of their own books? If they've chosen them independently, they’re more likely to be interested enough to read them. 

Click here to see the wonderful activities in our local libraries over the school holidays

Holiday Writing

A fun and engaging way to keep children busy over the school holidays is to encourage meaningful writing. Letter writing to friends or family is a fantastic way to encourage real life connections and meaningful writing. Children could also write lists, create posters, write podcasts, book reviews or movie reviews. 

Holiday Maths

Prep Unit News

WOW…. the end of term 3! Well done to all Prep Unit students on all you have achieved in this very busy term. We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday break and look forward to seeing everyone back for Term 4. 

Some reminders for the holidays:

• 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, v, x, y, wh, th (unvoiced as in ‘thick’), ng, ay. It is important that we continue this practice as we are reading and writing with digraphs in Literacy time.
• Make sure we are continuing to have a regular reading routine during the holidays.
• Learn all the tricky words at the back of the reading diary.
• Library day is  Monday.
• Show and tell reminder for Term 4 Week 1 = something from your holidays.

Farewell to Jack Gaylard

This term we are saying goodbye to Jack Gaylard of Cooinda as his family move away. Jack has been a valued member of his class and great friend to all the prep children. All the best to Jack and his family!

Junior Unit News

Thank you to all families for a wonderful term of excitement, enthusiasm and fun. We are grateful for the support you’ve provided to our school in the classroom, at school social and sporting events as well as special days. Students’ are encouraged to have fun, relax and continue to practise their reading skills during the holiday break.

Miss Tobacco finished up her 6 week placement in Karinya yesterday and we are most appreciative of the effort, planning and dedication she provided our students. We wish her all the very best in her teaching career and know that her future will be bright. 

We wish all our students and their families a restful and safe holiday break. 

We look forward to seeing you on Monday 2nd October.

Middle Unit News

We have come to the end of another very busy term! Well done to all Year 3 and 4 students for their hard work and wonderful learning they have embraced this term. We hope everyone has a wonderful break and look forward to seeing everyone back at school for Term 4!

Farewell to Harry Gaylard

This term we are saying goodbye to Harry Gaylard of Mootwingee as his family move away. Harry has been Class Captain of Mootwingee this term and a valued member of his class. All the best to Harry and his family!

Year 4 Term 4 Homework  

In Term 4 Year 4’s will have a slightly different expectation for homework. Students will have a wellbeing based task to complete, spelling words to segment and a reading log to fill in. This will be provided on a single sheet each week, handed out on a Monday and to be returned on a Friday. We would ask that all homework folders are returned to school. 

Hats

All students are required to have their own hat at school. We are really discouraging the sharing of spare hats so please ensure your child has theirs packed.

Senior Unit News

On Monday our Year 5 students got to meet their buddy for next year during the first school transition session - ‘Buddy Playtime’.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 35

Next

Library News

Thank you, parents, caregivers and staff, for your continued support in nurturing reading welfare and good book choices.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy term break.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Term 4.

For all library enquiries and borrowing/returning history, please contact me anytime.

Ms Zema at azema@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

SHEC News (Sacred Heart Environmental Committee)

Nothing to report this week

Principal's Awards

Congratulations to the following students on receiving the Principal's Award for Term 3!

Prep - Jack Gaylard                                    Year 4 - Cooper Bush

Year 1 - Kaitlin John                                   Year 5 - Adelina Mazza

Year 2 - Sophie Ferguson                         Year 6 - Hannah Marshall

Year 3 - Harry Gaylard

Student of the Week Awards

- No Students of the Week this week

Ray White Positive Behaviour Awards

No Ray White Awards this week