Sacred Heart Primary School Mildura eNewsletter

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

The third week of Advent is the candle of joy. Also known as the "shepherd candle", it is in this third week of advent that we rejoice for the coming King. The shepherds experienced joy at the good news of the birth of the Messiah.

Sing Along on the Oval

Join us for the rescheduled Sing Along on the Oval on Monday, December 11th. Families can enjoy a picnic dinner from 5:15 to 6:00 pm, socialising before classes showcase Performing Arts songs at 6:00 pm, with karaoke-style videos. The event concludes with choir Christmas Carols. We should be finished by 7:30 pm. If the weather leads to a cancellation again the event will be held in the Stadium from 1:30 pm to 3:10 pm, with a live Facebook stream for remote viewing or being able to view at a later time. If this happens we invite available parents to join and enjoy the performances live. A decision will be made according to the forecast on Sunday. We will communicate this information as soon as a decision is made.

Key Dates

Students finish at the normal time of 3.10pm on Friday, 15th December. We look forward to seeing students for their ‘first day’ back on Tuesday, 30th January 2023.

Year 6 Graduation Dinner

We wish our Year Six students all the best for their Graduation Dinner which is being held at Willow & Ivie on Tuesday 12th December at 6pm. Have a great night!

End of Year/Graduation Mass

Our End of Year & Graduation Mass is being held at the church this Thursday, 14th December at 11.30am. All parents and friends are welcome to attend this end of year celebration. Please note there will be reserved seating for Year Six families.

2024 Prep Families

Thank you to our 2023 Prep parents who attended our Parent Information Session on Tuesday. For those that couldn’t make it we have sent home packs for students, a present from their buddy/buddies and a Prep Parent Handbook that gives important information including dates and ways that you can help transition your child into schooling life. This is a huge change for many children and the booklet can be very useful.

School Reports

Reports were made available to families through SIMON today, 8th December. To access your child's report please click on their picture and then, on the Profile Menu, select 'Assessment Reports'. From here you should be able to access their report for this semester and be able to look at previous reports.

Staff Thanks and Farewell

At the end of this school year we say farewell to some staff members.

Marion Guthrie: We bid farewell to Marion, an extraordinary individual who devoted 43 years to Sacred Heart. The focus of Marion’s work as a teacher has always been guided by the belief that all children have the right to be literate, and that all children, their families, and her colleagues will feel the love of their God within their school and parish communities. Marion advocates for the less fortunate and her unwavering dedication and compassion as a teacher have positively impacted countless lives. Despite her love for her role, she's made the tough decision to retire. We wish her all the best as she spends more time with Luke.
Isaac Fabich: After six dedicated years at Sacred Heart, Isaac bids farewell. As an exceptional Digital Technology teacher, he made a challenging subject enjoyable for students. Isaac played a key role in maintaining technology resources and enhancing student access to tech tools. His streamlined management system for iPads and Chromebooks improved efficiency. As he and his wife Emma prepare for their move to Geelong next year, we extend heartfelt best wishes and gratitude for his significant contributions to Sacred Heart.
Wendy Kerr: During her time at Sacred Heart, Wendy, in her role as a Learning Support Officer, provided vital assistance to numerous students, with a primary focus on supporting Prep and Junior students. Her tireless efforts included aiding classrooms, offering one-on-one guidance, leading reading intervention programs, and supporting students' health needs. As Wendy pursues a new career path, we anticipate her continued presence as a parent in our Sacred Heart community.
Agata Zema: In 2023, Agata significantly contributed to our school library, demonstrating a friendly demeanour, exceptional organisational skills, and hard work. As our first non-teaching librarian, she excelled. Agata will soon leave to pursue Youth Work studies. We extend heartfelt thanks for her invaluable contributions to our school community.
Georgie Connellan: Georgie, who joined us a year ago in a last-minute role, has been a valuable teacher on Thursdays and Fridays, providing crucial planning time for our staff. Additionally, she supported Italian lessons and formed positive connections with students. In 2024, Georgie will focus on her work at Thrive Gym. We extend our best wishes for her future endeavours and keep the door open for her return to Sacred Heart.

Staffing News
In staffing updates we are pleased to have appointed the following people to Learning Support positions for the new school year:
- Miss Rosie Lennox: Rosie has been appointed as a Learning Support Officer (LSO) for the 2024 school year after serving as a Year Four Eumeralla classroom teacher this year. Rosie is transitioning to this role as she undertakes more university studies.
- Mr Josh Goss: Josh is currently working on a casual basis and will join us more permanently for the 2024 year.
- Mrs Laurenca Dichiera: Laurenca joins us as a new staff member. She is currently a Sacred Heart parent and is in the process of completing a Cert IV in School-Based Education Support.
Leaving Families
A special thank you to those families who are finishing up having children enrolled at Sacred Heart. Unfortunately next Tuesday we are losing 258 years of contribution and partnership with the school. I hope you have found the partnership equally rewarding. We thank the following families:
- Avery (5 Years)
- Burns (13 Years)
- Coleman (3 Years)
- Dini (5 Years)
- Evans (12 Years)
- Evans ( 4 Years)
- Farley (7 Years)
- Gaylard (6 Years)
- Holmes (8 Years)
- Howard (8 Years)
- Hunt (12 Years)
- King (9 Years)
- Mazza (5 Years)
- Mazza (9 Years)
- McNamara (8 Years)
- Mensch (7 Years)
- Middleton (6 Years)
- Nelson (8 Years)
- O'Brien (3 Years)
- Oguzkaya (10 Years)
- Payen (10 Years)
- Plany (10 Years)
- Ribarits (18 Years)
- Richardson ( 8 Years)
- Robinson (4 Years)
- Simonetta (6 Years)
- Sinclair (9 Years)
- Spratt (5 Years)
- Tiller (9 Years)
- Wade (7 Years)
- Whelan (6 Years)
- Wilkes (7 Years)
- Woodford (6 Years)
- Zervas (5 Years)
School Magazine
A huge thank you to Mrs Collins who has put together a fantastic School Magazine. This is a fantastic reminder of our 2023 school year. The magazine will be sent home with the eldest student in the family on Thursday 14th December.
Year 1 Navy Hats
With our 2023 Preps becoming Year 1 students they will be required to begin wearing our School navy hats from the start of the 2024 school year. Hats can be purchased from Totally Workwear. We highly recommend having their name embroidered onto the hat.
First Day for Students 2024
The first day back at school for students in 2024 is Tuesday, 30th January.
Important End of Year Dates
- Senior Unit Fun Day - Monday 11th December
- Singalong on the Oval (Student Performance) - Monday 11th December
- Year Six Government School Transition Day (Non SJC students) - Tuesday 12th December
- Graduation Dinner - Tuesday 12th December @ 6pm Willow & Ivie
- Prep Unit Fun Day - Wednesday 13th December
- End of Year/Graduation Mass - Thurssday 14th December @ 11.30am
- Last Day Students School - Friday 15th December @ 3:10pm
With this being the last newsletter for 2023 we hope that everyone has a great break. Please take the time to enjoy the company of loved ones. I hope you have a blessed and safe Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you all back in 2024 as we, once again, partner together in ensuring our students have access to the very best educational experiences we can offer.
Have a great week everyone and God Bless!
Mark Gibson

Religious Education

Children are invited to attend and be part of our traditional Nativity Play on Christmas Eve at 6pm.

The first practice session is on Wednesday, December 13th at 5.30pm and the second will be a dress rehearsal on Wednesday, December 20th at 5.30pm.

Please contact the Parish Office for more details on 5021 2872.

Hello all

This is the response from Ive (Cayara y Huancapi, Peru) when we informed her that we were sending $5000 of our Mission fundraising money for her to use with her planned projects. As you can understand she was incredibly grateful and excited for what she could do with this generous amount of money in her very remote and poor community.

Once again a huge thanks to all our school community for your support and generosity throughout Mission month

Christ has no hands but ours!

Chris Carmichael

SRA.MARION :

Reciba mi cordial y cariñoso saludo, esperando se encuentre bien igualmente mi saludo al Sr. Lucas.

Me alegra mucho poder recibir su email ,no sabe que me preocupaba mucho al no saber de Ud.

Agradezco infinitamente esa muestra de solidaridad con las mujeres de Cayara y Huancapi,por favor Sra Marion haga presente mi agradecimiento a la escuela Sagrado Corazón de Jesús de Mildura. Mi saludo a los profesores Sra. Cristina, y el Sr.Rian. y los alumnos .

Gracias Sra.Marion por su amistad por su trabajo Dios la bendecirá por siempre.

Unidas en oración.

Un abrazo, IVE

MRS MARION:

Receive my cordial and affectionate greetings, I hope you are well, and my greetings to Mr. Lucas.

I am very happy to receive the email from him, you don't know that I was very worried not hearing from you.

I am infinitely grateful for this show of solidarity with the women of Cayara and Huancapi. Please, Mrs. Marion, express my gratitude to the Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Mildura. My greetings to the teachers Mrs. Christina, and Mr. Ryan. and the students.

Thank you Mrs. Marion for her friendship for her work. God will bless her forever.

United in prayer.

A hug, IVE

Learning and Teaching News

Semester Two Student Reports - Friday 8th December

Over the past few weeks, teachers have spent time assessing student work, reviewing student growth and writing a report that reflects the achievements of your child. This is quite an undertaking by teachers particularly at this time of year. I commend them for their commitment and genuine care they have for your children and their academic and social growth. Reports have been released via PAM today. Please read them carefully and consider the report alongside work samples which can be found on SeeSaw. Should you have any queries about your child’s report please contact the relevant teacher to arrange a time to meet in person and discuss.

Prep Unit News

This week in Literacy we have continued our learning about non-fiction texts. We learnt so many facts about hens and even had a visit over to Mr Carmichael and the SHPS chook yard! A big thanks to Mr Carmichael for introducing us to our school hens and teaching us all about how we look after them. In Religion, we have been talking about the birth of Jesus, so Wahroonga welcomed Raymond’s mum Louise and his brand new little baby sister.

The Prep students are looking forward to their Fun Day at the All Seasons Splash Park this wEDNESDAY. Thank you to everyone who responded with permission, if you haven’t completed the permission form yet please remember to do so ASAP. A reminder that students are asked to wear casual clothes with their bathers underneath. All children require a rashie, a hat and their own sunscreen if they have sensitive skin. Students are asked to bring their own recess which we will eat prior to leaving for the Splash Park. Students will be provided with a snack at the Splash Park and a lunch of nuggets and hot chips when we return to school (please send along an alternative if your child does not wish to have this). Remember you can access the Fun Day note via SIMON Everywhere as well as the permission form.

School Sing-A-Long - Monday 11th December

Monday night we are so excited to share in our School Sing-A-Long on the oval. Both Wahroonga and Cooinda are very busy rehearsing! The Prep students can wear Christmas colours, and accessories i.e; hat, socks, earrings etc.

On behalf of Mrs Collins and myself, we would like to thank all families for their support across 2023. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and an enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school in 2024!

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

Karinya and Bundaleer have used the understanding of text, storytelling and digital technology to create their own digital book which they shared with the students of Minga on Monday. It was full concentration, smiles and enjoyment as these students grew in confidence and patience.

Thursday’s fun days were EPIC!! Our Year One and Year Two students laughed, ate, cheered, reminisced and celebrated with their peers, the spectacular year that was in 2023. It was an honour to be part of and we are most grateful to our students for the positive, respectful behaviour and kindness that was demonstrated on this day. Year One's raced around the maze, explored the hidden wonders of the cave and discovered polishing techniques at Woodsies Gem Shop. Our Year Two students enjoyed a Waves session, splashing, laughing and demonstrating their swimming skills to all.

At the end of the school year we will be farewelling Mrs Wendy Kerr. Wendy has worked tirelessly in the Year 2 classrooms and all children have benefited from her kindness, patience, knowledge and help throughout the year. Of course the teachers have also benefited from her initiative, support and friendship. May the coming years for Wendy be full of happiness and we wish her well in her new adventure.

We would also like to take the opportunity to wish Evie Coleman and Fletcher Farley all the best in their future endeavours as they leave Sacred Heart Primary School with their families. We look forward to seeing both Evie and Fletcher again and appreciate the energy they brought to our school community.

PLEASE have a check over the weekend of any school books that are still at home. Families would have received a library slip earlier in the week if their child/ren have outstanding books.

By now, many of our students' school work has come home and next week special gifts to go under your tree will arrive. These gifts have been made with love and care. We hope you enjoy the hard work that our students have put into them.

Next week we reflect and light the rose candle of Joy, giving our appreciation to others. This is our prayer song for the last few days of the term.

We Light This Candle- Joy by Andrew Chinn (Advent, Third Sunday, Shepherds' Candle- Joy)

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

We had the best time at our Fun Day today! We got to relax at the cinema as we enjoyed ‘Trolls 3’ and then had a blast with our water fight on the oval!

As we near the end of the school year we are asking students in the Middle Unit to please bring along a shopping bag that teachers are able to send home stationary and books from the year.

We would like to take the opportunity to farewell the following students in the Middle Unit who are departing Sacred Heart at the end of the school year: Mia Howard, Scarlett Coleman and Sofia Mazza. Thank you to these girls and their families for their contributions to our Sacred Heart community. We wish you all the very best in the future!

Thank you to all families for a wonderful year of learning in 2023. It has been a privilege to work with your children this year and we wish everyone a very safe and happy Christmas!

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

We farewell Year 5 students Adelina Mazza, Tully Wade and Charlee Butcher at the end of this year. We thank them and their families for all their contributions to the Sacred Heart Community during their journey here. We wish them and their families all the very best.

Year Six Kris Kringle

Just a reminder that the Year Six students will exchange their Kris Kringle gift on Friday 15th. Please ensure that they have their gift of no more than $5 at school prior to this day.

Fun Day

On Monday 11th, the Senior Unit will be heading to the Merbein Pool for a day of FUN to celebrate the end of the 2023 school year. Please refer to the note on PAM for more details.

Graduation Dinner & End of Year Mass

A HUGE thank you goes out to our parent committee for the work you have put into coordinating and organising the Year Six Graduation Dinner. The students are looking forward to celebrating the end of their primary school education Tuesday evening.

Thursday 14th at 11:30am we celebrate the end of the school year and acknowledge our Year Six students who will be finishing their time at Sacred Heart. We thank the Year Six students for the valuable contributions they have made to our school during their time here.

2024 Year Six Polo T-Shirt Orders

Thank you all so much for ordering the commemorative rugby jumpers and polo t-shirts for next year. They will be ready for pick up 97a Seventh Street.

We would like to wish all our students and their families a wonderful Christmas and a well-deserved rest during the summer holiday break. Thank you for the support you have given throughout the 2023 school year. We wish our Year Six students continued growth and success as they embark on the next chapter of their schooling journey and we look forward to seeing our Year Five students back at school after the break.

YEAR 6 STEM CHALLENGE