ISSUE 7: 8th March, 2024

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

As we approach the Fourth Sunday of Lent, it's an opportune time to reflect on the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness. During this season, we are reminded of the importance of introspection, repentance, and renewal. Just as the prodigal son was welcomed back with open arms by his father after straying from the path, Lent offers us the chance to reconcile with ourselves, with others, and with our faith. It's a time to let go of grudges, to seek forgiveness, and to extend compassion to those around us. As we journey through Lent together, may we embrace the opportunity for spiritual growth and emerge stronger, more compassionate individuals. Let us carry the lessons of forgiveness and reconciliation with us, spreading love and understanding in our families, our communities, and beyond.

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

We are flying through the term and I hope enjoys a well deserved rest over this long weekend.

On Monday and Tuesday, classes painted their Journey Pole located on the edge of the oval on 12th Street. This tradition, dating back to 2010, sees each class gifted their own totem/journey pole during our NAIDOC celebrations. These poles symbolise what is "precious" and "sacred" to each class, with their designs renewed yearly atop a plain-coloured base, and blessed as part of our NAIDOC festivities.

Congratulations to Johnny Guthrie who won both his freestyle and butterfly at Wednesday’s swimming and has qualified for next week's Region Finals in Swan Hill.

Congratulations to our boys team who competed at the District Cricket competition yesterday.

Yesterday we had our external School Auditor’s visit and ‘audit’ of our 2023 financial year.   Well done to Mrs Avery on receiving very positive feedback.

We have many things happening again next week at Sacred Heart.

Labour Day Weekend

This Monday, March 11th, marks the Labour Day public holiday. We wish everyone a wonderful long weekend filled with relaxation, family time, and rejuvenation.

Program Support Group (PSG) Meetings

PSG Meetings are being held from Tuesday to Friday in the Boardroom. These meetings in schools serve as collaborative platforms for parents, teachers, and relevant stakeholders to discuss and address the individual needs of students requiring additional support. These meetings focus on developing strategies to support students academically, socially, and emotionally, fostering open communication and problem-solving for optimal student outcomes.   Parents involved will have received an allocated meeting time.

School Sports Victoria (SSV) Region Swimming

Best wishes to Johnny Guthrie for Tuesday’s Division Swimming event at Swan Hill.

Parish Mass

Illawarra will attend the Parish Mass at Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday morning at 9:30 am.

St. Patrick’s Day (Casual Clothes)

This Friday, we're celebrating St. Patrick's Day and encourage students to wear something green, paired with appropriate casual attire.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)

Next week, Year 3 and 5 students will engage in NAPLAN online. This adaptive testing format tailors questions to each student's performance level, providing a more precise measurement of achievement across a wider range of abilities. Students may encounter more challenging questions, as the test adapts to their responses. NAPLAN serves as one component of the school's assessment process, complementing ongoing teacher evaluations, while also offering valuable insights for educational programs and outcomes nationwide. Testing schedules are outlined above.

School Assembly Mootwingee

Year Six Yongana will host our Assembly at 2:30pm on Friday. Following the assembly, Mootwingee parents are welcome to join an afternoon tea in their child's classroom, offering an opportunity to view student learning and to mingle and meet other parents.

Annual and Termly School Fee Payments

Thank you for your school fee payments.

If you've opted for termly or annual payments through Direct Credit (transferring funds to the school account) or paying at Reception, please ensure payment is completed by the end of Term One, March 28th, 2024.

Year 4 Camp

The Year Four Camp scheduled for the final week of this term (March 25th to 27th) is in planning. Given recent bushfires near Roses Gap in the Grampians, risk assessments are ongoing with support by (DOBCEL), Julie Graham our Risk and Compliance Officer, and camp staff at Roses Gap. Barring any issues, we anticipate the camp proceeding as scheduled.

SHPS Family Footy Tipping 2024

The AFL season begins this weekend!  Our Family Footy Tipping competition is on again.  Join the fun!  See the note for all details. 

God Bless!

Mr Mark Gibson

Religious Education

2024 Sacramental Dates

Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 & Above) 

Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 27th March

Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th May

Registration form will be sent home with all Year Three students in Week Seven.

Sacrament of First Eucharist (Year 4 & Above)

Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 28th August

Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)

Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 16th October

Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November

ALTAR SERVERS GUILD

The parish is founding an Altar Servers Guild to provide practical training and ongoing formation to Guild members. The Guild will meet weekly during school terms. If you are interested in joining the Guild and becoming an altar server visit www.sunraysiacatholic.org/altar-servers or call the parish office on 5021 2872.

Learning and Teaching

National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)

Year Three & Five classes are preparing for NAPLAN in Weeks Seven & Eight.  

The Test Schedule has been confirmed for the following days:

Week Seven:

Wednesday, 13th March 2024

Year Three Writing @ 9am

Year Five Writing @ 11.40am

Thursday, 14th March 2024

Year Three Reading @ 9am 

Year Five Reading @ 11.40am

Week Eight:

Tuesday, 19th March 2024

Year Three Conventions of Language @ 9am

Wednesday, 20th March 2024

Year Three Numeracy @ 9am

Year Five Conventions of Language @ 11.40am

Thursday, 21th March 2024 

Year Five Numeracy @ 11.40am

Please read the attached note for NAPLAN Parent Information.  We understand that children can be nervous about NAPLAN testing and will endeavour to support students as much as possible with these assessments.  Parents are encouraged to get in touch with their child’s teacher if you have any concerns to ensure that appropriate adjustments and support can be put in place. 

Foundation News

This week in Prep we have continued our learning of blending and segmenting words that contain the SATPINM sounds. It would be beneficial for your child to continue practising these sounds at home. This is in readiness for when your child brings home the reading book that they will need to read to you at home to practise the skills learnt at school. We have also had great discussions about our emotions and the students have been identifying and expressing a range of different emotions. Then we have been practising using strategies to help regulate and understand our emotions. Some great tools we have looked at to help get back onto the green zone are deep breaths, a drink of water and a break. In Sport, the students have started their Cross Country training to be ready for next term and participating and developing their gross and fine motor control through Perceptual Motor Program Activities (PMP), check out how much fun we have been having in our photos.

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We have been working on developing independence with the students and will be having a focus on 2 points in the last weeks of term 1. 1) Being able to pack their school bag with everything zipped up inside. This can be tricky so having a practise at home will help. 2) Carrying their school bag!

Enhanced Comprehension packs go home each Monday and are returned on Fridays. This book is to be read to the child by the parent and then asked the corresponding questions for each day. This is then recorded in your child’s reading diary each night it is read. If children forget to bring their pack back, they are unable to borrow a new one. Here is an example of how to fill in the home reading diary…

Some reminders:

- Each morning the students need to do their jobs before finding something to do. They need to bring into the classroom their drink bottle, lunch container, snack container, brainfood container, and diary. 

- The school library books are borrowed on Wednesday and returned the following Monday. If your child does not bring back their books or does not have their library bag on library day they will not be able to borrow new books.

- The ‘Enhanced Comprehension’ books are to be returned to school each Friday. 

- Students' Diaries are to be brought into school every day and put into our diaries tub. These are to be sighted by the teacher and returned back to the child for their new reading each night.

- Your child’s library bag needs to be at school every day - kept in their school bag.

- Remember to use 2 small containers for recess and lunch so that they fit into our fridge boxes. The time frame the students have to eat their lunch and snack is short so packing a sandwich and one other thing is often enough and then 2-3 snacks for recess. Please be mindful of students with allergies to nuts and eggs.

- Brainfood needs to be a small fruit or vegetable snack that can be eaten in 5 minutes - cut up and in a small container.

- Sports days are Thursday and Friday - sports uniform is to be worn on these days.

Year One News

This week in Year One we have had lots of fun learning about super sentences and what is required to write a sentence. It has been fantastic to see the students focusing on their handwriting practice and beginning to demonstrate how to correctly form letters with correct sizing using the Victorian Modern Cursive font on 24mm dotted thirds. During reading we have reviewed the digraph sounds /oo/, /ng/, /sh/, /ch/, /th/.  

In Mathematics, the Year One’s have been looking at hundreds charts and number lines to help recognise, model, read, write and order numbers to at least 100. Some photos are attached for you to see their learning.

We have been practising using strategies from our Zones Toolbox to help regulate and understand our emotions. Some great tools we have looked at to help get back onto the green zone are deep breaths, a drink of water and a break.   

Thank you for completing the family tree activity with your child, and thank you for returning them to school. If your child has not returned their family tree, can we please ask that it is returned as soon as possible as we will be presenting these within the classroom. 

Show and Tell Topic for next week: An item that is green- (Linked with St Patrick’s Day)

Some friendly reminders:

• School starts at 8:49am each day. If you are at school after 8:49am you will need to sign your child in at the office. 
• Each morning the students need to unpack their lunchboxes, drink bottles, readers and diaries and put them on top of the bag area. Then they must go to a supervised area of the school, we encourage the playground in the courtyard. 
• ‘Enhanced Comprehension’ books are to be returned each Friday so we can borrow new packs each Monday. 
• Your child’s library bag needs to be at school every day - kept in their school bag.
• Sports days are Tuesday and Wednesday - sports uniform is needed.

Library borrowing days are: Karinya- Tuesday, Bundaleer- Wednesday.

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Year Two News

In our history unit this term, we are learning about the past with a focus on our school and local area. We have had a good look around our school at some of the original artefacts and are looking forward to exploring information about our local area, including Rio Vista and the Old Mildura Homestead. 
In Maths we are looking at fact families and this week we integrated Maths with Art and created a Fact Family Monster where the children had to come up with their three numbers to create a fact family with 2 addition and 2 subtraction sums. Here are some photos for you to see the children’s wonderful and very clever work.

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Show and Tell Topic for next week: The ODD group - something from a special occasion.

Thank you for covering your child’s workbooks. If you were unable to cover them, please organise a time with your child to bring them home one night.

Year Three News

This week in Year Three we have been supporting our students in preparation for Naplan testing beginning next week. This has included learning about the different computer functions when doing a practice test, viewing a social story about what is expected during testing and providing plenty of opportunities for our students to ask any questions that have about Naplan. We hope you have received the Naplan information sheet that was sent home with your child. Please let your child's classroom teacher know  if you haven’t received this or if you have any questions.

This week in science we have been learning about the equator and how the Earth spins on its axis while rotating around the sun, creating our seasons. Our students have been loving this inquiry unit. We have also continued learning about celebrations and commemorations in Australia. Next week we will be extending this learning globally. 

During maths we have been learning the jump and split strategy for addition and subtraction of three digit numbers. Our students are also learning how to use their maths books to demonstrate their working out when solving a maths problem. 

Below are some photos of students enjoying working with a partner during their inquiry unit of learning!

Year Four News

The Year Four students enjoyed painting their Journey Poles Monday and Tuesday. Kyema’s Journey pole shows their door display which means “Drinking Place”. There will still be some details added to Kyema’s pole. Myalla’s Journey Pole shows a rainbow displaying their class theme for this year- “ A rainbow of possibilities’.  Illawarra has an animal theme in 2024. Their Journey Pole was painted with snakes.

Below are the finished products.

During the past few weeks in Art, Year Four have been learning about the colour wheel and warm and cool colours. They have created some awesome pictures, some of which are displayed below.

Year Five News

This week in Grade Five we have finished off our Science Unit on “Animal Adaptations”. Students in Eumeralla were tasked with camouflaging a butterfly in our classroom to hide from the predator… none other than Mr O! We loved finishing our unit off this way and students displayed so much creativity and made it very hard for Mr O to spot our hiding butterflies! See images below. 

In Literacy, students have been focussing on note taking key points from a text. We have been busy preparing ourselves for NAPLAN next week through our daily review each morning. In Maths, students have worked incredibly hard understanding decimals and fractions. We have been plotting decimals onto a number line, ordering them and representing them. 

A reminder that NAPLAN is fast approaching and will be taking place over the next two weeks. Some students are still without headphones and will need these for testing. Could we please ask that students bring some in, labelled to be kept in our classrooms.

Have a great long weekend!

Danielle, Amilea & Jacinda

Year Six News

During Literacy time, the Year 6 students begin their lesson with a Daily Review. This allows students the opportunity to revisit previous learning and consolidate their understanding. We have been using dictionaries to locate the meaning of words in our paired fluency text and our writing focus is based on writing a variety of complete sentences.

Next Friday, Mootwingee will be hosting assembly. We look forward to seeing you there.

Library

Library Bags:

It is part of the SHPS routine for students to bring SHPS library bags to school every day. The bags may store important notes, or students' work distributed that day, and the bags also protect library books and prevent damage. It is an effective way to keep the books all together. 

At SHPS, the students are encouraged to be safe, respectful and responsible as they go about their learning and play breaks. It is safe, respectful and responsible to keep library books in their library bag. 

If students need a new bag or a replacement—follow this link to the SHPS website uniform page, and scroll down to the library bag section. There is an assortment of colours and an option to have the student’s name embroidered on it.

Book Club News: Scholastic Book Club Issue #2

Book Club newspaper catalogues have been sent home with students. Each order made contributes to Scholastic Dollars that the school can use to supplement resources. Orders must be made via the online LOOP ordering system that can be found here or follow the instructions on the back of the newspaper pamphlet. Cash and Cheques will NOT be accepted at school.

Orders close no later than Monday 11th March and will be delivered within 1-2 weeks. They will be distributed to children when they arrive. 

Overdue Books:

Please return overdue library books asap. Even though I am in the library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, books can be returned any week day and placed in the returns box.

Camp Australia

A Word from our After School Care Provider - Camp Australia

Students of The Week

Note - Assemblies are now held fortnightly, Students of the week will be presented at these.

NO AWARDS THIS WEEK

Ray White Awards

NO AWARDS THIS WEEK

Parent Information

Arriving and Leaving Safely

Kiss & Go

To help keep everyone safe during drop-off and pick-up please take note of the following rules at Kiss and Go and the School Crossing that should be followed both in the morning (8:10-8:45am) and afternoon (3pm-3:30pm):

• Stay in your vehicle unless you need to assist younger students with their seat belts.
• Aim to keep your car in the Kiss & Go area for a maximum of two minutes to allow others to use the space too.
• Access the Kiss & Go only from Olive Grove, not 12th Street.
• Please refrain from dropping off students outside of cars in Olive Grove.
• Avoid performing U-turns within the Kiss & Go area.
• For your safety, use the school crossing if you need to cross 12th Street.


Thanks for helping us keep our school safe for everyone!

Pick Up and Drop Off Points

These designated areas serve as convenient points for collecting or dropping off children at the school if you are walking in with them. Please ensure you find a suitable and permissible parking spot for your car in order to use these locations.

Riding Scooters & Bikes

Certain students walk, ride bikes, or scooters to school and are requested to use either the 12th Street entrance or the Tamarisk Grove entrance at the rear of the oval. Riding into or through the school grounds is not permitted.

Collect Children from School Grounds

Feel free to come into school to pick up your child directly from their classroom. It's an excellent opportunity to meet other parents, have casual conversations with teachers, and ensure your child is organised at the end of the day. If you choose this option, please park appropriately and be outside the classroom by the 3.10 bell; otherwise, your child will be directed to the supervised Kiss and Go area. Students and young siblings should refrain from using the playground equipment.

School Crossings

Students walking home are advised to use the school crossings on Twelfth Street, Walnut Avenue and Eleventh Street to safely avoid heavily trafficked roads. All crossings are supervised by a School Crossing Supervisor, and it's crucial to follow their directions.  We also encourage parents to model expected behaviours by using the School Crossings also.

Buses

Several of our students catch buses home from the St. Joseph’s bus stop on 11th Street. Each day a teacher gathers these children together and accompanies them to the bus stop to supervise until they are all safely on the bus.

Drop Off Times

Preferred 'Drop Off' Time: 8.25 - 8.45 am. For safety reasons, please refrain from dropping off students before 8.19 am, as there is no supervision provided.  Our gates open at this time.

Pick Up Times

Recommended 'Pick Up' Time: 3.10 - 3.25 PM. While we understand occasional delays, if regular or extending beyond 3.30 PM, please consider enrolling your child/ren in After School Care.

Walking or Riding Home

If your children walk or ride home or to your workplace after school, please submit written permission authorising them to leave unaccompanied. They must exit through the main 12th Street gate or accompany the 11th Street bus group through Tamarisk Grove.

Alternative Pick Up Places

For safety, we strongly advise against arrangements where children wait unsupervised at public pick-up locations like Walnut Avenue or St Joseph’s College.

EATING AND DRINKING AT SCHOOL

Healthy Eating

To sustain learning and promote healthy eating we encourage students to bring to school predominantly healthy food choices.

Brainfood

Students have a brain food break during the morning to keep children’s brains fuelled for learning. We ask that families send an extra fresh fruit or vegetable snack for children to have during this time. When sending the snack, please pack it separately from your child’s lunch in a small, named container so it can be placed on their desk each morning.

Lunch Snack

The main meal of the school day; a sandwich or roll, a salad or a slice of quiche. A healthy ‘treat’ may also be appropriate here that is healthy and gives long-term energy.  Lunch is eaten usually in the classroom from 11:25am-11:40am.

Recess Snack

We encourage parents to pack fresh fruit or vegetables in your child’s recess snack box.  You may like to pack one or two other snack items for them at this time.  This snack is eaten at 1:40pm.

Packing Food

 The school has a bank of refrigerators for the storage of students’’ food. For the ease of packing and unloading the fridges, we ask that parents provide separate, small, well-labelled containers or zip-lock bags for their child’s recess snack and lunch. Insulated ‘puffy’ lunchboxes and ice-blocks are not required.

School Canteen

Our School Canteen operates on a Wednesday and Friday and provides a range of lunch options at low cost.    The current menu and prices can be accessed through and ordered via the CDFpay website https://shmildura.cdfpay.org.au

OFFICE INFORMATION

Office Hours

Office hours will run from 8:20am to 4:00pm every day. Phone calls can be made starting at 8:00 am.

Change of Personal Details

If there are any changes to your contact details (address/phone number/emergency contacts), kindly inform the office by calling 50231204, emailing office@shmildura.catholic.edu.au, or visiting the office in person.

Simon Everywhere and Parent Access Module (PAM)

Simon Everywhere is an App for smart phones that allows parents to access all information relating to their child/ren such as reports, attendance and much more. It also allows you to update medical information, give permission for excursions, access teacher emails and also receive notifications from the school.

For parents familiar with PAM, the new App works mostly the same as PAM and you can still access PAM through the web site: pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au, however the app has additional functionality such as Push notifications and the ability to sign in without having to enter your username and password each time.

1. Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search Simon Everywhere
2. Download and open the App and Allow Notifications
3. Enter your name and phone number and press verify, you will receive a code via SMS
4. Click on 'Add School'
5. Select Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura - Parent Access
6. Enter your PAM username and password. If you do not know your credentials, please call the school.

7. Click on the Home icon.
   

Simon everywhere works best when notifications are turned on. You can check the notifications setting on your phone to be sure by going to the Settings – Notifications – Then find the Simon Everywhere App.

Sickness at School

Children with severe colds, flus, or other debilitating illnesses must stay at home. Do not send the child if they have:

• Fever: Children with a fever over 38 degrees should stay home.
• Prescribed antibiotics: Keep a child at home for at least 24 hours if prescribed antibiotics for an acute illness.
• Diarrhea: Children with watery stool should return only after being symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
• Vomiting: Children who are vomiting should stay home until at least 24 hours after it has stopped.

After School Care

After School Care is available for Sacred Heart students and is located on our school grounds.  Camp Australia run this program for students from Sacred Heart Primary School and St Paul's Primary School.  The program runs from the Art House building which is located on Olive Grove.

Sacred Heart families can make use of the Camp Australia After-School Care Program that is held on the grounds of Sacred Heart.  The service is available from 3:10pm through to 6pm on school days.  A healthy snack is provided to children.  Registration needs to be done through the Camp Australia website www.campaustralia.com.au .  Further information can be obtained by calling 1300 105 343.  Each day the office will print out a list of students attending Out of Hours School Care and notify the students at the end of the day via the announcements.

Marking Child’s Absence 

1. Log into the App - SimonEverywhere or login via PAM (type pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au in your address bar).
2. You can either log by clicking on the large blue calendar section that says Parent Notified Absences or you can click on the 3 menu lines at the top right-hand side of your screen. NOTE: On your phone it will appear below your child/ren’s name.
3. You will then need to click the blue + Add Absence button circled below
4. Then select your child, and in reason

If your family is going on an extended family holiday. Please contact the school to inquire about an Student Absence Learning Plan.

School Day

• 8:19 am - Gates open & students can access Courtyard
• 8:34 am - Access Courtyard and play on Oval (classrooms opening optional for teachers)
• 8.49 am - School day begins - classroom open
• 8:55 am - School starts.
• 9.55 am - Brain Break
• 10:55 am - Lunch Play
• 11.25 am - Lunch Eat
• 1.40 pm - Recess 
• 2.10 pm - Recess Finishes
• 3.10 pm - School finishes

Sports Uniform Days

Prep:  

• Cooinda (Mrs O’Callaghan) - Thursday & Friday  
• Wahroonga (Miss Moore) - Thursday & Friday  

Year One: 

• Bundaleer (Mrs Coffey & Mrs Priestley) - Tuesday & Wednesday 
• Karinya (Mrs Groves) - Tuesday & Wednesday 

Year Two:

• Barramunga (Mrs Carmichael) - Tuesday & Friday
• Waminda (Mrs Collins) - Monday & Friday

Year Three:

• Narooma (Mrs Beckwith) - Monday & Tuesday
• Dourim (Mrs Kotsiakos & Mrs Irvin) - Monday & Thursday

Year Four:

• Illawarra (Mrs Willersdorf) - Monday & Tuesday 
• Myalla (Mrs Rowles) - Monday & Wednesday
• Kyema (Mrs Johnson) - Monday & Thursday 

Year Five:  

• Minga (Mrs Deacon) - Monday & Wednesday 
• Eumeralla (Mrs Gunn & Mrs Pacher) - Monday & Wednesday

Year Six:  

• Amaroo (Mrs Campbell) - Tuesday & Friday 
• Yongana (Mrs Zaxos) - Monday & Friday
• Mootwingee (Mrs Thompson) - Thursday & Friday

Term Dates