ISSUE 36: 8th November, 2024

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus honours a poor widow who gives her last two coins at the temple, a true act of faith and generosity. Unlike others who give from their abundance, she offers all she has.  This story reminds us that even small acts of kindness and sacrifice have great value. As parents and educators, we can encourage our children to make a difference through these quiet acts of love. This week, let’s celebrate the small ways we show generosity and compassion, building a community rooted in faith and kindness.

What’s on Next Week (Week 6)

Coming up in Term 4, Week 7

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

Weekly Highlights

A big congratulations to our Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 students who took part in the SSV Division T20 Cricket at the Aero Ovals. Well done to all involved! 

Congratulations to Penisimani Fangaloka, who competed in the State Athletics in Melbourne! Penisimani represented our school in Discus (Finished 9th) and Shot Put (Finished 4th) in the 12/13-year age group. Well done!

Remembrance Day Observance

This Monday, we will observe Remembrance Day, honouring the brave members of the armed forces who gave their lives in service. Throughout the week, classes will engage in learning activities that deepen understanding and appreciation for this important day. On Monday morning, students will also have a special prayer time to pay their respects.  Additionally, members of the Student Leadership Team will represent our school at the Remembrance Day service at Henderson Park, beginning at 11am.

New Staff Appointments for 2024

We’re pleased to announce several staff appointments for next year. Kailla Coffey will step into the role of Year 5/6 Learning Community Leader, bringing her expertise in structured literacy and leadership experience. We’re also excited to welcome Brieanna Galvin from Adelaide, who brings a strong focus on inclusive practices, and Rachel Slimmon, who joins us with a background in classroom teaching and structured literacy.

Our Learning Support Team will grow with Allanah Kurtzer, Karen Hogarth, Jackson Pallot, and the return of Emily Cheek. We’re looking forward to the strengths and experiences they’ll bring to our Sacred Heart community.

Year 5 Student Leadership Day

This Thursday, our Year Five students will participate in the Student Leadership Day, led online by Unleashing Personal Potential (UPP) with activities conducted in their classrooms. This event marks the beginning of our selection process for the 2025 Student Leadership Team (SLT).  On Monday, 20th November, Year Five students will also have the chance to nominate themselves for House and School Captain roles.

2025 Classroom Structure, Transition & Class Placement

Last week, we provided families with information about Classroom Structure, Transition, and Class Placement for the 2025 school year. Please review the attached document for all the details. A printed copy of this note was also sent home with families. Parents interested in completing the Class Placement Survey can obtain it from the front office and should return it by Monday, November 11th.

Pupil Free Day

This Friday will be a pupil-free day, and students are not required to attend school. Teachers will be using this time to work with SIMON for Individual Learning Plans (ILP) and Program Support Group (PSG) meetings, helping to streamline our support processes.

2024 Prep Transition Dates

Below are the details for the upcoming sessions:

• Session 2: Monday, 11th November, 8:45am – 1:30pm
• Session 3: Wednesday, 20th November, 5:00pm – 6:00pm (Buddy BBQ)
• Session 4: Tuesday, 3rd December, 8:30am – 1:30pm
  (Including a Parent Information Session from 9:00am – 10:00am)

We look forward to seeing our new students and parents at these sessions!

Ensuring Quality Time with Your Child’s Teacher: Schedule a Meeting for In-Depth Conversations

We value the strong relationship between our families and teaching staff, and we know that you may occasionally need to speak with your child’s teacher. To ensure that all conversations are meaningful and uninterrupted, we kindly ask that you make an appointment if you'd like to discuss anything in depth.

On-the-spot conversations, especially during school pick-up or drop-off, are often not the best time for teachers to engage in focused discussions about your child's progress or well-being. Of course, greetings or brief exchanges are always welcome, but for anything more substantial, please contact the teacher to schedule a time that suits both you and the teacher.

This process ensures that each discussion gets the attention it deserves and that teachers can continue giving their best to all students.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Mark Gibson

2024 Dates of Interest

Religious Education

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year Two & Above)

Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November 5.30pm, 6pm or 6.30pm

Learning and Teaching

The benefits of reading to and with your child include:

Enhances Concentration Skills: focusing on a story, character and plot is a good interactive way to develop a child’s ability to remain focussed.

Improves Memory: reading an extended story (chapter book) over several nights and encouraging your child to recall the events and details from previous chapters. 

Develops Empathy: students learn to identify with characters' feelings and identify the reasons for these feelings.  They imagine being in the ‘character’s shoes’.

Learn About The World Around Them: Stories invite children into the  different ‘worlds of characters’, they visit strange lands and interesting new places.

Expands Vocabulary: Just 20 minutes of reading time a day will expose your child to more than 1.8 million words a year. That means an expanded vocabulary for your child and more ways for them to express themselves

Boosts Critical Thinking: Reading enhances comprehension skills and analytical thinking. It is important to teach children not to believe everything they read- to identify the author's opinion/bias.

Develop A  Lifelong Love of Reading: Spending uninterrupted time with your child reading can help students develop a positive emotional connection to books.

SWPBS

Our SWPBS focus this fortnight is “Being Responsible”

Responsibility is one of the most important qualities you can develop in school. It not only helps you succeed academically but also shapes you into a more dependable, organised, and proactive person. Whether you're a student just starting out or someone preparing for graduation, learning how to be responsible at school can set you up for success in every area of life.

One of the biggest challenges students face is managing their time effectively. Being responsible means balancing homework, studying, extracurricular activities, and personal time. To do this well, try creating a schedule or using a planner. Break larger assignments into smaller tasks and set deadlines for each part. This way, you can avoid last-minute stress and ensure that you're on top of your schoolwork.

Being responsible also means taking ownership of your education. Don't wait for your teachers or parents to remind you to study, complete assignments, or participate in class. Take initiative and be proactive. If you don't understand something, ask questions or seek help. Set personal learning goals and track your progress.

Responsibility isn't just about academics—it's also about how you interact with others. Show respect to your teachers, classmates, and school staff. Follow the rules and be on time for class. Take responsibility for your actions, whether they’re positive or negative. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologise if necessary, and work to improve.

Being accountable not only builds trust with others but also helps you develop integrity—a key trait of a responsible individual.

Part of being responsible at school is being mindful of your belongings and your school environment. Keep your desk, locker, and classroom tidy. Taking care of school supplies, books, and materials shows that you value your education and are organised. It's also important to respect shared spaces like the playground. Clean up after yourself, return sports equipment and encourage others to do the same.

Taking care of yourself is an essential part of being responsible. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and staying active. Managing your health will help you stay energised and focused during school. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to talk to a trusted adult. Mental and emotional health are just as important as physical health, so be mindful of your well-being and ask for support when needed.

As you grow in responsibility, you'll become a role model for your peers. Being responsible at school means showing leadership through actions, whether it’s helping a classmate, being a team player in group projects, or encouraging others to stay focused and positive. Your behaviour can inspire others to take responsibility for their actions and work towards their goals.

Being responsible at school is not just about meeting deadlines or following rules—it's about taking ownership of your actions, learning, and personal growth. It can be challenging, but the rewards are worth it. When you take responsibility, you set yourself up for academic success, build meaningful relationships, and develop skills that will help you throughout your life.

So, take pride in being responsible. Whether it's managing your time, participating in class, or helping create a positive school environment, every action counts toward becoming the best version of yourself.

A Special Report: The Cost of Living Crisis

In our ever-changing economic landscape, parents and caregivers are increasingly faced with the task of broaching the subject of growing expenses with their children. While the instinct may be to shield young people from life’s challenges, there's a growing belief that addressing real-world issues, including financial uncertainties, can actually foster resilience and understanding. Striking a balance between protection and education is crucial for those looking to empower their children.

To effectively introduce the topic of finances, we need to be mindful of the timing and setting of the conversation. Using straightforward, age-appropriate language helps maintain transparency, and openly discussing adjustments to the family budget can carry significant weight. By encouraging children to participate in finding creative ways to save and make thoughtful spending choices, parents can nurture a sense of responsibility.

This Special Report offers a valuable opportunity to enhance children's financial literacy, equipping them with the resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:

Foundation News

Short week this week! It was lovely to have a rest and recharge ready to tackle the busy end of the year. Congratulations to Wahroonga for completing their first school assembly on Friday. We are very proud of their efforts leading up to this special event. Thank you to families who attended and provided nibbles for afternoon tea. Keep an eye out for assessments uploaded to Seesaw as a final part of your child’s learning. 

A massive congratulations to Wahroonga for your very first assembly on Friday! Everyone spoke very well and danced spectacularly! It was great to see so many mums, dads and grandparents coming along to enjoy our assembly! Cooinda is preparing for its turn to host assembly. It is next Friday, November 22nd at 2.25pm in the stadium. Please remember to practise the students’ assembly words every night after they do their reading. All Cooinda parents are invited to attend afternoon tea following the assembly. If parents attending could please provide a small plate of food/nibbles that would be greatly appreciated.

Reminders: 

• Pupil-free day November 15th
• Next week’s Show and Tell: Something that starts with the same letter as your name
• Mrs P has three more weeks working at Sacred Heart with her last day being Friday, November 22nd.

Year One News

We had a wonderful end to our Mission Month fundraising with the Colour Explosion!! The students have settled well into routines this week after a long weekend, ready and recharged for the second half of the term. Please keep an eye out for assessments and learning tasks uploaded to Seesaw as a final part of your child’s learning. 

Congratulations to Miss Huddleston and partner Tim on the announcement of your pregnancy. We are all very  excited about your news and are looking forward to offering some name suggestions. 

We wish Oliver Tallent and family all the best on their caravan trip over the next few months. I’m sure many fantastic places will be explored and Oliver will learn so much about Australia during his travels.  

Reminders: 

• Pupil-free day Friday November 15th

Week 6 Show and Tell: Demonstrate or explain to the class a talent or strength that you have!  

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Year Two News

No News this Week

Year Three News

We had a fantastic end to our Mission Month fundraising! Year Threes thoroughly enjoyed the Colour Explosion Fun Run on Friday. We hope you all had a wonderful long weekend, and we’ve now settled back into our classroom routines.

In literacy this week, we’re focusing on scrambled sentences and note-taking. Please keep an eye on SeeSaw, where we’ll be sharing samples of your child’s learning in the coming weeks.

Students have also begun their street art project in Visual Arts, which ties in with our communities and religion lessons. For this task, students choose a word that inspires positive change in the community.

With warmer weather on the way, we’ll be using air conditioning in the classrooms. It might still be helpful for your child to bring a jumper in case the room temperature varies.

Emma, Sarah and Georgina

Year Four News

Well done to all students who participated in the colour run last Friday. Year Four students also enjoyed the Movie & PJ day on Thursday. Thank you to all families for supporting these and ALL fundraising efforts for the missions in Peru.  As we still have some treats left over from our Movie & PJ day, we will be selling these for 50c an item at recess on Monday.

Well done to the following students who represented Sacred Heart in inter school cricket Friday. Olivia Fraser, Rosie Barber, Baylee Joyce, Betty Dichiera, Poppy Fraser, Immi Stafford, Eliza Marciano, Eva Reid, Will Tallent, Alexander Groves, Ollie McClelland, Hamish Petrie, Hugh Petrie, Ted Cleary & Rubaz Bhullar. They had a great time and enjoyed the experience. 

We wish Will Tallent and family all the best on their caravan trip over the next few months. I’m sure many fantastic places will be explored and Will will learn so much about Australia during his travels. 

Enjoy your weekend, after our extra long one last week it has come around quickly!

Natalee, Jaimi & Cathryn

Year Five News

Students thoroughly enjoyed our colour run to finish our mission month fundraising efforts. We would like to sincerely thank all families for their fundraising efforts over the month of October. This money will make such a wonderful difference to so many in Peru. Thank you. 

We are looking forward to our Grade Five leadership day happening next Thursday 14th November. Students will work in their classrooms for the day. After this day, students will have the opportunity for positions of leadership in 2025. We have started preparing some speeches in class and students are most welcome to continue these at home in readiness for their upcoming speeches later in the term. 

Students will be invited to spend another morning with their buddies in Week 6 and our annual buddy BBQ is happening on 20th November from 5-6pm. 

Mrs Gunn will be out of class for the duration of Week 6 - Eumeralla will be working with a relief teacher during this time. 

Have a wonderful week!

Year Six News

No News this Week

Student Awards

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Library News

Looking ahead:

The last week for borrowing will be Week 7 for all classes. This allows times for students to finish their books and return them in Week 8 and 9.

First Aid

As the end of the year approaches we need to think about updating Asthma, Allergy and Anaphylaxis Action Plans. Asthma Australia recommends all students with Asthma provide schools with an updated Asthma Action Plan at least annually. ASCIA recommends that a student’s ASCIA Anaphylaxis and Severe Allergy plan should be updated every 12-18 months, when they are reviewed by their doctor and receive a new adrenaline injector prescription. 

If your child has an Action Plan that has not been updated in the last 12-18 months, please consider arranging an appointment with their GP to organise this as soon as possible. 

If your child is in Grade 6, please consider that when they attend high school, these Action Plans are still required to be provided to their school. 

As the weather starts to warm up, please ensure you are packing a drink bottle to come to school with your child. Staying hydrated throughout the day is super important to reduce the risk of heat related illnesses. 

If your child suffers from hayfever and other seasonal allergies, please also consider administering their medication at home before they arrive at school, such as Claratyne and Zyrtec. Some students may even have a preventive inhaler for use at home, this is encouraged to be used as we only have Ventolin here at school for use. This will avoid having to bring the medication down to school throughout the day.

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

In the mornings, the Olive Grove gate will remain closed, so students and visitors can only enter through the 12th Street or Tamarisk Grove gates. After school, only the Olive Grove gate near the Art House will be open and supervised by a staff member. This change aims to enhance student and traffic safety.

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