ISSUE 1: 25th January, 2025

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to bring good news to the poor.” As parents, we are called to share this same good news in our homes.

With the new school year underway, it’s a chance to renew our mission to model Christ’s love—through encouragement, forgiveness, and creating a home filled with kindness and faith. The small moments we share with our children can make a lasting impact, shaping their hearts and spirits.

Let’s embrace this fresh start as a time to bring God’s love more fully into our families and daily routines.

Wishing you a joyful and blessed start to the school year!

What’s on Next Week (Week 1)

Coming up in Term 1, Week 2

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

We’re so excited to kick off a fantastic new year of learning and growth with you and your children! We hope everyone enjoyed a well-deserved break and is ready for a rewarding year ahead.  We welcome any new families to our wonderful school community.

Staff Return

Our amazing staff return this Tuesday for induction and planning. A warm welcome to our new team members: Brieanna Galvin (Yongana), Rachel Slimmon (Waminda), Demi Zanoni, Jackson Pallot, Alanna Kurtzer, Karen Hogarth, and Meg McManus (all LSO roles). We’re also thrilled to welcome Georgina Whitehouse (Digital Technology) back from maternity leave.

Classroom Open Visit – Tuesday, 2:30–3:00 pm

To help ease into the new school year, our classrooms will be open on Tuesday, from 2:30 to 3:00 pm, for parents to bring their children along to visit their 2025 classroom and meet their teacher.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with their new space, connect with their teacher, and feel more confident about the year ahead. It can be especially helpful for children who may be feeling a little nervous or unsure about the start of school.

We hope to see you there and look forward to welcoming you all!

Students Return

We can’t wait to see our students back this Wednesday, 29th January. Please note, it’s Wednesday—not Thursday as mentioned in last year’s class allocation page.

• School gates will open at 8:19 am.
• Classrooms will be open from 8:49 am.

Specialist Classes

Specialist classes also begin Wednesday. This year’s team includes:

• Physical Education: Mr. Jacob Burford
• Performing Arts: Mr. Corey Barbary
• Digital Technology: Mrs. Georgina Whitehouse
• Languages (Italian): Mrs. Lisa Cirillo & Mrs. Xana Priestley

CDF Pay & Lunch Orders

Lunch Orders will be available again on Wednesdays and Fridays in 2025.  We have a new app for ordering from the canteen.  This app is powered by Flexischools and is completely new, you will need to create a new account.  Please download the CDF Pay App and ensure you create an account (the previous CDFPay doesn't transper over to the app).

2025 Sports Uniform Days

Below is a reminder of Sports Uniform days for each class:

Foundation

• Eumeralla Miss Hayley Moore - Thursday & Friday
• Minga Mrs Rebecca O’Callaghan - Tuesday & Friday 

Year One

• Yongana Miss Brieanna Galvin - Tuesday & Friday
• Amaroo Mrs Katrina Groves - Wednesday & Friday                             

Year Two  

• Mootwingee Mrs Chris Carmichael - Monday & Friday 
• Nangare Mrs Wendy Collins - Wednesday & Friday

Year Three

• Narooma Mrs Sarah Beckwith - Wednesday & Friday  
• Dourim Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf - Tuesday & Friday

Year Four

• Illawarra Mrs Natalee Johnson - Tuesday & Friday              
• Myalla Mrs Cathryn Rowles - Monday & Friday

Year Five

• Barramunga Mrs Jacinda Deacon - Monday & Friday
• Waminda Mrs Rachel Slimmon/Mr Jacob Burford - Wednesday & Friday               

Year Six

• Cooinda Mrs Jo Campbell - Wednesday & Friday
• Wahroonga Mrs Regan Zaxos - Thursday & Friday

Assembly

Our first Assembly for the year will be held on Friday, 2nd February, at 2:30 pm in the Stadium. This event will be hosted by our 2025 Student Leadership Team, and all families are welcome to attend.  The dates for 2025 Assemblies are marked in our SIMON Calendar.

Get To Know You Meetings (GTKY)

GTKY Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, 11th February, and Wednesday, 12th February, starting at 3:20 pm. Bookings will open on SIMON this week—don’t miss this valuable opportunity to share insights about your child and strengthen the home-school partnership.

Beginning of Year Mass

Join us for our Beginning of School Year Mass on Friday, 14th February, at 9:30 am, at the church. It’s a beautiful way to come together as a community. All parents and friends are warmly invited!

SIMON Calendar

All important 2025 dates have been entered into the School Calendar on SIMON. Be sure to check it regularly for updates and events.

Pupil Free Day

Friday, 7th March is a Pupil Free Day.  Staff will participate in Resilience Project PD on this day.

Front Office

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the front office via email or phone. The office will reopen on Tuesday at 11 am.

I look forward to seeing students, parents and staff around the school next week as we begin what I’m sure will be a positive year of learning and growth.  

God Bless!

Mr Mark Gibson

Learning & Teaching

This year Mrs Christine Sherry (F-2), Miss Sophie Price (3 & 4) and Mrs Kailla Coffey (5 & 6) will undertake the role of Learning Community Leaders. This role will encompass curriculum initiatives at Sacred Heart, as well as intervention programs. Should you wish to contact Christine, Sophie or Kailla please see their email addresses below:

• Sophie Price - sprice@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
• Christine Sherry - csherry@shmildura.catholic.edu.au 
• Kailla Coffey - kcoffey@shmildura.catholic.edu.au 

At Sacred Heart we are committed to the Structured Literacy instructional approach. Please see the following flyer which explains the principles behind this evidence based methodology.

Wellbeing News

The Resilience Project: Building Resilience and Wellbeing in Our School Community

At our school, we’re proud to partner with The Resilience Project in 2025, a comprehensive mental health and wellbeing program that empowers students, staff, and families to build resilience and foster positive emotions. This evidence-based program provides our entire school community with valuable tools and strategies focused on enhancing mental health, resilience, and emotional wellbeing through practices of gratitude, empathy, mindfulness (GEM), and emotional literacy.

We are incredibly grateful to have received a generous grant from Ski For Life, which has made it possible for us to implement the TRP program in our school during its first year. A heartfelt thank you to Ski For Life for their support and commitment to our cause.

Program Highlights

The Resilience Project takes a whole-school approach, engaging students, teachers, and parents to foster a supportive wellbeing culture. Key aspects include:

• Engaging Lessons & Presentations: Through interactive presentations, students across all year levels learn about GEM principles, emotional literacy, and techniques for managing stress and emotions positively. Additionally, parents and carers are invited to participate in sessions designed to support their children's resilience.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: With a year-long curriculum tailored for each year level, teachers guide students through 15-30 structured lessons. Student journals, teacher resources, and an online teaching hub provide additional support to integrate these practices into daily routines.

Professional Development for Staff: Our staff benefit from dedicated training sessions and resources to support mental health strategies in the classroom. Workshops also allow us to review Resilience Profile data, deepening our understanding of student needs.

Ongoing Support and Resources

Our partnership with The Resilience Project includes access to regular newsletters and a teaching hub filled with resources, helping us stay connected with the latest strategies in wellbeing education. A Resilient Youth Survey, conducted annually, also provides valuable insights, allowing us to track our students’ resilience and adapt our approaches as needed.

Program Benefits

Through weekly curriculum sessions, digital presentations, and tailored resources, The Resilience Project helps students learn to manage stress, build emotional awareness, and strengthen relationships. By embedding these skills, our school community is working towards a positive, resilient culture where students feel equipped to thrive both academically and personally.

TRP@HOME

Parents are encouraged to extend TRP’s teachings into the home with TRP@HOME, an online platform offering activities, tips, and insights to help families integrate GEM principles into everyday life. With engaging lessons, a comprehensive curriculum, and ongoing professional development for staff, The Resilience Project is helping us embed resilience and emotional wellbeing across our school community, building a foundation for positive, resilient growth that extends well beyond the classroom.

To access TRP@HOME, scan this QR code.

School TV

In this edition of SchoolTV - School Transitions

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Transitions edition of SchoolTV

Getting Ready for 2025

Here is a list of items that your child will need to bring to school in 2025 that you might want to start thinking about over the holidays: 

Headphones - As per previous years, students will be required to bring a set of headphones to school to use with iPads and laptops.
Headphones should include a cord to plug in and basic style. We request that students do not have impractical headphones with extra decorations or materials attached.

Pencil Cases - In 2025 we request that students in years 3-6 bring their own pencil cases to school. It is important that the pencil cases come to school empty, as the school will supply the correct supplies needed. Please ensure the pencil case can fit a 30cm ruler inside.

Two small lunch boxes - Please clearly label your child's lunch boxes and containers. Students require two separate lunch boxes - one for recess and one for lunch.

At the beginning of Term 1, your child’s teacher will be sending a communication note home with the above information as well as anything else specific to their year level for 2025. 

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.  This app is powered by Flexischools and  you will need to create an account.  Please download the CDF Pay App and ensure you create an account (the previous CDFPay doesn't transper over to the app).

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

Foundation

• Eumeralla Miss Hayley Moore - Thursday & Friday
• Minga Mrs Rebecca O’Callaghan - Tuesday & Friday 

Year One

• Yongana Miss Brieanna Galvin - Tuesday & Friday
• Amaroo Mrs Katrina Groves - Wednesday & Friday                             

Year Two  

• Mootwingee Mrs Chris Carmichael - Monday & Friday 
• Nangare Mrs Wendy Collins - Wednesday & Friday

Year Three

• Narooma Mrs Sarah Beckwith - Wednesday & Friday  
• Dourim Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf - Tuesday & Friday

Year Four

• Illawarra Mrs Natalee Johnson - Tuesday & Friday              
• Myalla Mrs Cathryn Rowles - Monday & Friday

Year Five

• Barramunga Mrs Jacinda Deacon - Monday & Friday
• Waminda Mrs Rachel Slimmon/Mr Jacob Burford - Wednesday & Friday               

Year Six

• Cooinda Mrs Jo Campbell - Wednesday & Friday
• Wahroonga Mrs Regan Zaxos - Thursday & Friday