ISSUE 31: 4th October, 2024

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

In the Gospel for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B), Jesus reminds us of the sacredness of relationships, particularly in the context of marriage and family. He highlights the importance of love, commitment, and unity, encouraging us to value the bonds that bring us together. For families, this is a reminder to cherish and nurture our relationships with one another, showing patience, forgiveness, and understanding in our daily lives. As parents, we are called to model these values, creating a home filled with love and kindness for our children.

What’s on Next Week (Term 4 Week 1)

Coming up in Term 4, Week 2

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

Year Six Camp: In the final week of Term Three, our Year Six students had an amazing four-day camp in Melbourne, where they displayed excellent behaviour and actively participated in all activities. A big thank you to our Year Six teachers and staff for their dedication in organising the camp.

2025 Foundation Orientation: We also kicked off our 2025 Foundation Orientation, where new students met their buddies and enjoyed a 30-minute play session. A special shout-out to our Year Five students for doing a wonderful job welcoming our new students to Sacred Heart!

We look forward to seeing all students back at school on Monday.

Mission Month Mass

Our Whole School Mission Mass will be held on Thursday, 10th October, at 9:30am in the church. Parents are warmly invited to join us for this special celebration.

Mission Month

October marks the beginning of Mission Month, and we have plenty of exciting activities planned! Mission Immersion Day will occur on Wednesday, where students can dress in casual clothes and donate a gold coin. Icy poles will be sold for 50 cents during recess on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. On Friday, we’ll have a dinner from 5pm-6pm at our Bush Cabaret catered by Enjoy Wine.  Further details are below. 

Throughout the month, students will engage in a variety of school, unit, and class events. Check the Mission Month calendar below for details. All funds raised will support Fr. Michael McKinnon’s overseas missionary work. Thank you for your support!

Bush Cabaret School Concert

Our Bush Cabaret Concert is happening on Friday on the school oval! Bushwahzee will be running student workshops during the day, followed by a concert from 6pm-7:30pm, where each class will perform.  We look forward to parents and extended families joining us for a fun evening. 

Bush Cabaret School Concert Dinner for Missions

Join us for a delicious dinner before the concert on Friday, 11th October! From 5pm-6pm, Enjoy Wine Catering will serve dishes including Chicken Chorizo Paella, Lamb Ragu with Penne, Italian Meatballs with Penne, and Vegetarian Paella, with all profits supporting our Mission Month fundraising. Kids’ meals are $12, and adults’ meals are $16. Pre-orders through CDF Pay are due by Wednesday, 9th October. Drinks will also be available on the night.

Parent Information Session: Fullness of Life for All: Relationships and Sexuality Education F-10

Sacred Heart Primary School is committed to working with families in all areas of your child’s education. We invite parents and caregivers to an information session about the Diocese of Ballarat's Fullness of Life for All Relationships and Sexuality Education F-10 program.

This session will be held on Tuesday, 8th October at 2:20pm, 5pm, and 6pm. The program covers learning from Foundation to Year 10, based on Catholic values. Please fill out the short form below to confirm your attendance at the session of your choice. 

An Executive Summary of the scope and sequence is attached for your reference.

Parent Information Session: Relationships and Sexuality Education Session Attendance

Staffing Update

We are pleased to welcome Emma Livingstone, our new speech pathologist, who will join us on Mondays this term.

Starting this term, Mrs. Irvin will no longer be working in Dourim on Fridays. To ensure a smooth transition, Mrs. Kotsiakos and Mrs. Georgina Whitehouse will be taking over on Fridays, with occasional support from emergency teachers if needed.

School Fees

Thank you to all families who have paid their school fees. A reminder to those who opted for term or yearly payments that fees must be paid in full by now unless other arrangements have been made. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the school to discuss options.

We look forward to another wonderful term ahead!

Mark Gibson

2024 Dates of Interest

Religious Education

Mission Month

On Monday we will commence our Mission Month fundraising efforts for The Shared Table projects in and around Lima, and projects in Yanaoca, Peru where Fr Michael McKinnon is currently working and living. As a finale to our Mission Month we will be holding a whole school Colour Explosion School Run event on Fri 1st Nov. On Monday the children will bring home a sponsorship booklet and letter with information on how to sign up, raise money and earn prizes.

Sacrament of First Eucharist (Year 4 & Above)

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

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)

Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 16th October @ 7pm

Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November

Learning and Teaching

During Term 4, students will undertake a range of assessments, particularly in maths and literacy. This assessment data will be used to inform daily teaching, intervention, extension, end of year reports and Term 1 planning for 2025. 

We will once again complete the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) suite of assessments.  Our overall results are shared with Latrobe University as a part of a research project monitoring the effectiveness of direct literacy instruction and a knowledge rich curriculum.

Foundation News

We welcome back all Foundation families to Term 4…. let’s go for the last term of learning for 2024! 

In October, we celebrate MISSION MONTH with a number of fundraising efforts happening over the next few weeks. Please ensure that all dates have been recorded to ensure the students are part of these special days. 

Each class in the Junior Unit is holding a ‘Guess the number of lollies in the jar’. Students are able to purchase a guess for 50 cents. (Monday 14th October and ends Tuesday 29th October). All monies raised will be going to the overseas Missions in Peru and in particular, Yanaoka where Fr Michael McKinnon is currently working.

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, v, x, y, wh, th (unvoiced as in ‘thick’), oo, ng, ay. It is important that we continue this practice as we are reading and writing with digraphs during Literacy time.
• Make sure we continue to read every night at home and record it in the reading diary.
• Learn all the tricky words at the back of the reading diary.
• Library day is Wednesday.
• Show and tell reminder = NO SHOW AND TELL (a note will come home in Week 1)

Upcoming Important Dates:  

• Monday 7th October: Term 4 commences
• Wednesday 9th October: Mission Month Immersion Day…Casual clothes and gold coin donation.
• Thursday 10th October: Mission Mass
• Friday 11th October: School Concert 
• Friday 18th October: Crazy Hair Day and gold coin donation. 
• Wednesday 23rd October: Wear Silly Socks Day…on this day children are encouraged to wear a pair of weird and wacky socks to school, with their school uniform and bring a gold coin donation.
• Friday 1st November: Colour Run!!
  

Year One News

We welcome back all Year One families to Term 4, feeling refreshed and ready for the final term of the year. 

We excitedly celebrate MISSION MONTH with numerous fundraising efforts happening over the next few weeks. Please ensure that all dates have been recorded to ensure the students are part of these special days. 

Each class in the Junior Unit is holding a ‘Guess the number of lollies in the jar’. Students are able to purchase a guess for 50 cents. (Monday 14th October and ends Tuesday 29th October).
All proceeds will be going to the overseas Missions in Peru and in particular, Yanaoka where Fr Michael McKinnon is currently working.

Reading Fluency: What is it? Why is it important?

If someone is fluent in speaking another language or in playing an instrument, there’s a smooth, graceful and easy quality to it. The same is true with reading skills. Reading fluency is a child’s ability to read a book or other text correctly, quickly, and with expression. A fluent reader doesn’t have to stop and “decode” each word. Rather, most of the words can be read automatically. This means the reader can focus his attention on what the story or text means. For that reason, fluency is critically important — it’s the bridge between decoding words and understanding what has been read.

How can we foster reading fluency?

Parents can help their child develop reading fluency through a few simple and fun activities.
The easiest and best way to help your child develop fluency is to sit with your child and read! Read together every day, which is often called paired or buddy reading. To use paired reading, simply take turns reading aloud. You go first, as your reading provides a model of what good fluent reading sounds like. Then, ask your child to re-read the same page you just read. You’ll notice that your child’s reading will start to sound more and more like yours. Do this for several pages. Once your child is comfortable enough, and familiar enough with the book, take turns reading page for page.

Reread favourite books

Another way parents can help develop fluency is to build a tall stack of books that your child can read quickly and easily. Encourage your child to reread favourite books over and over again. With each reading, you may notice your child reading a bit easier, a bit faster, and with a bit more confidence and expression.

Upcoming Important Dates:  

• Monday 7th October: Term 4 commences
• Wednesday 9th October: Mission Month Immersion Day…Casual clothes and gold coin donation.
• Thursday 10th October: Mission Mass
• Friday 11th October: School Concert 
• Friday 18th October: Bundaleer Assembly and Crazy Hair Day and gold coin donation. 
• Wednesday 23rd October: Wear Silly Socks Day…On this day children are encouraged to wear a pair of weird and wacky socks to school, with their school uniform, for a gold coin donation.
• Friday 25th October: Karinya Assembly
• Friday 1st November: Colour Run!!  
  

Year Two News

Welcome back to all Year 2 children and their families. We have a jam packed term coming up with loads of fun and learning.

This Monday commences MISSION MONTH throughout the school where there will be numerous  events happening to raise funds for the overseas Missions in Peru and in particular, Yanaoka where Fr Michael McKinnon is currently working.  Please ensure that all dates have been recorded to ensure the students are part of these special days. In Week 1 icy poles will be for sale at lunchtime @50c. Wednesday will be our Mission Immersion Day with casual clothes and a gold coin donation. On Thursday we will attend Mass with our school community. Each class in the Junior Unit is holding a ‘Guess the number of lollies in the jar’. Students are able to purchase a guess for 50 cents. This will commence on Monday 14th October and the winner will be announced on Tuesday 29th October.

Year Three News

We are excited to welcome all our Year Three students back for what promises to be another action-packed term! We hope you had a restful and refreshing break, and that you're returning full of energy.

At the end of Term 3, Narooma said goodbye to Thisath Marashinge, who, along with his family, is returning to Sri Lanka. We wish them all the best for the future. We also bid farewell to our beloved Mrs Irvin as she begins her long service leave. Maree dedicated 41 years of her life to teaching and inspiring children in Catholic schools. She will be very missed! 

As we kick off this term, please remind your child to bring their library bag to school each day, it is essential for every student to use a library bag to transport books to and from school.

Year Four News

We welcome all our Year Four students back for what is shaping to be another busy Term!  We hope you all have had a restful and relaxing break and that you return energised. 

On the last Friday of Term 3, Myalla farewelled Minudi Marashinge. We wish Minudi and her family all the best as they return to their country of origin- Sri Lanka. We also take this opportunity to welcome a new student to  Illawarra Year Four, Rubaz Bhullar who began at SH in Week in Term 3. Apologies for not welcoming Rubaz sooner.

As we begin this term, we ask that you check with your child if they need to replace any items for their pencil case apart from grey and red lead pencils or pen if they have their pen  licence.  We have also noticed many children are not using a library bag. It is a requirement that each child uses a library bag to transport their library books to and from school.

Year Five News

We welcome all our Year Five students back for what is shaping to be another busy Term!  We hope you all have had a restful and relaxing break and that you return energised. 

With our camp coming around quickly in week two we have our information note below:

If your child is attending Grade 5 camp in the second week of Term 4, please return the Medication Authority Form as soon as possible your child needs to take medication with them on camp. Most parents have done so   already.  If your child requires any sort of medication administration whilst on camp and you have not received a medication authority form, please contact Ebony Jones at school on 5023 1204, or ejones@shmildura.catholic.edu.au  We are unable to administer medication to your child without this form.

Year Six News

Welcome back to the final term of the 2024 school year. We trust everyone had a lovely break and is looking forward to the term ahead.

 What a great week the Year 6 students had in Melbourne for their very last camp at Sacred Heart. Students can access the photos taken on camp via a link shared in Google Classrooms.

 Mission Month Fundraisers

Lolly Jar - Students will have the opportunity to participate in ‘GUESS THE LOLLIES’ in the lolly jar beginning on Monday 21st of October. The cost will be 50c per guess. The winner will be announced on Friday 1st of November.

 Silly Shirt Day – Students will be having a Silly Shirt Day, where students can wear a funky/silly shirt to school. This will be held on Wednesday, October 16th, and we ask all students to please bring along a gold coin donation.

Library News

Welcome to Term 4!

We look forward to progressing in making better book choices, enabling and encouraging the students to keep enjoying their reading and learning journey.

A big thank you to all the students who made a conscious effort to return or renew their books, especially those in the year levels who borrowed extra for the term break.

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

Mrs Pacher at apacher@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

First Aid

Term 4 is here!

As we wrap up 2024, please be mindful if your child needs a new Asthma Action Plan, Anaphylaxis Action Plan and/or Severe Allergies Action Plan and organise these to be renewed as soon as possible. (These plans can only be completed by a GP)

Early next year, I will be reaching out to families of students with Asthma, Anaphylaxis, and/or Severe Allergies, and other medical conditions, to complete a new School Support Plan/Risk Minimisation Plan. These will be used for 2025 and will be used to support students whilst they are here at school and on off-site activities.
Please keep an eye on your emails, especially the ‘junk’ or ‘spam’ folder as I will be in contact.

Grade 5 Camp: If your child is attending Grade 5 camp in the second week of Term 4, please return the Medication Authority Form as soon as possible, if you have not done so already. If your child requires any sort of medication administration whilst on camp and you have not received a medication authority form, please contact me at school on 5023 1204, or ejones@shmildura.catholic.edu.au We are unable to administer medication to your child without this form.

I hope you have all had a wonderful break, and I look forward to seeing you all in term 4!
Ebony

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