ISSUE 34: 19th November, 2021

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Sacred Heart Community,

It feels wonderful to be able to make plans, gather together and get back to experiencing school and community as they once were.  Our calendar seems to be jam packed with learning, events and fun.  Please read the newsletter carefully so that you know all that is happening over the next few weeks.

2022 Classroom Placements

We have finalised Classroom Teachers for Sacred Heart in 2022.  We will communicate other staffing over the coming weeks as we are very committed to ensuring extra support is being put in place for students to support them academically and socially/emotionally after a very interrupted two years.

• Prep: 
• Miss Courtney Sheridan (Wahroonga)
• Mrs Rebecca O’Callaghan (Cooinda)
• Year 1: 
• Mrs Maree Irvin {Tue-Fri} & Mrs Amelia Pacher {Mon} (Bundaleer)
• Mrs Katrina Groves {Mon-Thur} & Mrs Amelia Pacher {Fri} (Karinya) 
• Year 2: 
• Miss Georgina Hewitt (Barrumunga)
• Mrs Chris Carmichael (Waminda)
• Mrs Kim Taylor (Kyema)
• Year 3: 
• Mrs Sarah Beckwith (Eumeralla)
• Mrs Cathryn Rowles (Minga)
• Year 4:
• Mrs Natalee Johnson (Amaroo)
• Mr Corey Barbary (Yongana)
• Miss Sophie Price (Mootwingee)
• Year 5: 
• Miss Belinda Zappia (Illawarra)
• Mrs Kerryn Weaver {Mon-Wed} and Mrs Emma Kotsiakos {Wed-Fri} (Myalla)
• Year 6: 
• Mrs Jo Campbell (Narooma)
• Mrs Xana Priestley (Dourim)

# Please Note: Due to higher class sizes in Year 5 & 6 Mrs Maria Beer will work as a Senior Unit support teacher in Term 1 and Mrs Danielle Gunn and Mrs Bianca Niutta from Term 2-4.  This position will be on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Whole School Transition

Our first Whole School Transition will be held this Thursday from 11.30am to 1.30pm.  Students will be allocated to different classrooms, teachers and other students at their appropriate level in preparation for the 2022 school year.  This experience will help teachers as they are making decisions in regards to student classroom placement in 2022.   

House & School Captain Speeches

Today Year Five students gave their 2022 House Captain speeches.  The students delivered excellent speeches.  Voting was also completed by all students in Years 3-5, along with the 2021 SLT and teachers.  

School Captain speeches are being held in the Stadium on Tuesday at 9am.  Year 3, 4 and 5 students and teachers will attend along with the 2021 Student Leadership Team.  Voting will take place after the speeches.  We congratulate all Year Five students who have nominated for school captain and wish them all the best. 

House and School Captains will be announced to the whole school community on Friday 3rd December at School Assembly.

2022 Prep Transition

2022 Preps and Year Five Buddies had a very successful Buddy BBQ on Wednesday. We had lots of parents attend and our new Preps enjoyed playing with and getting to know their buddies. 

Their next session at school will occur this Wednesday 24th November from 8:45am-1:30pm.  Staff from school are currently visiting students in their Kindergarten setting. Our Prep 2022 Transition Program is attached below:

Work Experience Student

We welcome Prue Maloney this week who is a past student at Sacred Heart and is currently in Year 11 attending boarding school in Ballarat.  Prue will be doing a week of work experience and has been timetabled to help in various classrooms across the week. 

Year 5 Ballarat Camp

Thank you to parents for your prompt response on PAM indicating whether your child will attend this camp.  Interest has been strong so we can confirm that we will go ahead with the camp.  Further details will be provided before the camp.  I do sincerely thank our amazing staff who are working very hard to plan this experience for our Year 5 students who have missed many positive experiences over the last two years.

Pie Drive Mission Fundraiser

We are holding a Pie Drive as part of our Missions Fundraising.  Pies are $10 each and orders need to be placed via CDF Pay by Thursday 25th November.  A tally sheet was sent home with students to keep reference of orders.  This will be needed when you receive the pies.  We encourage you to ask family and friends to place an order.

Year 1 Stayback

Thank you to our amazing staff who worked around the COVID restrictions to plan and run such a fun stayback event for our Year 1 students yesterday. Thanks to Mrs Groves, Mrs Carmichael, Mrs Irvin and Mrs Collins Wendy for their planning and organisation of the Stayback along with the many helpers. The students loved their first excursion/camp experience at Sacred Heart.  Our students were treated to many fun activities across the day and I am sure students would have slept soundly last night after a huge day. 

Assembly

Thank you to the School Choir, Mrs Taylor and Student Leadership for hosting today’s Assembly.  The choir did a fantastic job. Wahroonga & Year Six buddies will host this Friday’s Assembly. Parents of students involved and those who are receiving awards will receive an invitation to the Assembly.  All visitors to school grounds must comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.

COVID Update

Below we have listed some current COVID restrictions we are needing to follow:

• Face Masks are still only required indoors for Year 3-Adults. Exemptions apply.
• Please remember that anyone entering the school buildings must sign in using the QR code and provide vaccination status.
• Parents entering buildings or attending school events must be double vaccinated.

'Visitors attending any event or activity inside a school building including, but not limited to tours, graduations, kindergarten transition, whole school events are required to show evidence of vaccination. Meetings and other discussions (such as Program Support Group meetings) with visitors who do not meet vaccination requirements should be held virtually. Visitors attending school sites for drop off and pick up who do not enter school buildings do not need to comply with vaccination requirements.’ (CECV COVID Guidelines)

Have a great week everyone and God Bless!

Mark Gibson

Religious Education News

End of Year & Graduation Mass

Our End of Year/Graduation Mass will be held at the Sacred Heart church on Thursday, 9th December beginning at 11.30am.  Parents attending this celebration will be required to check in and provide vaccination status. 

General News

Thank you to those families who have returned their Fee Commitment form. (blue) There are still families who are yet to return them.  I ask that you make this a priority.

I am also waiting on families to return their Payment Option form. (white).  If you have not returned yours, please do so immediately.  If you have any queries, please contact the office.

Learning Diversity News

Program Support Group (PSG) meetings are being held on Monday 22nd and Tuesday23rd November. Parents have been notified of their child’s scheduled PSG meeting via email. Goals set for term four will be discussed and term one, 2022 goals will be discussed and set. 

If you cannot find an email from Mrs Deacon (Term 4 PSG Meeting), please check your bin as it may have gone there.  Please notify Mrs Deacon of your preference for the meeting to be held face to face (at school) or via Zoom. Parents choosing Zoom will be emailed a link to access the meeting.

Prep Unit News

Nothing to report this week.

Junior Unit News

WHAT AN EPIC STAYBACK!!! Our Year One students displayed excellent manners and were very responsible whilst enjoying themselves on Thursday. The laughter, creativity and energy was infectious. We would like to thank all of our terrific Sacred Heart team and Our Year One teachers for your magnificent planning and support in making this day so special. 

On Monday ALL Junior Unit students are required to bring their costume for the Christmas concert to school for a full dress rehearsal. Please ensure that all items are labeled.
The filming of our School Christmas Concert will take place next Friday 26.11.21 and all students will need to be in full costume again on this day. 

Middle Unit News

A reminder that on Monday students will be participating in a full dress rehearsal for our Christmas Concert, with filming taking place on Friday. Year 3 students are asked to wear their costumes to school in the morning of Monday and Friday in preparation for dancing. Year 4 students will change into their costumes at recess time. Please ensure all items are named. If you are having trouble sourcing your child’s costume, please let your classroom teacher know.

Senior Unit News

Year 6 Human Development

The Year 6 students will participate in their Human Development session this coming week.  

Please click the below link for resources and webinars recommended by Denise Pragt.

Time to talk puberty? Here are some tips l New webinar on Feisty Roosters & Sensitive Lambs  I  Parental As Anything print edition now in UK and US

Dress Rehearsal for End of Year Concert

Please note there will be a full dress rehearsal for our Christmas Concert this coming Monday.  Students are asked to bring their costumes to school on this day.  Filming will occur on Friday (26.11.21).

Year 6 Swim & Survive

Today was the final day of the Swim and Survive program for our Year 6 students.   They all participated well in this program and learned some valuable life saving skills.

Year 5 Camp

Excitement is starting to build in anticipation of the upcoming Year 5 camp. Correspondence with what to bring will be sent home with your child this coming week. If you have any queries, please contact your child’s teacher.

Library News

This week is the final week of borrowing for children. All books must be returned by Thursday, December 2nd. Loans notices will be sent home the following week, but hopefully most books will be returned on time.

Library Times

Monday : Yr 5 & 6, Bundaleer, Nangare

Tuesday: Yongan,Minga, Yr 2

Wednesday: Mootwingee

Thursday: Preps, Karinya, Eumeralla

Friday: Barramunga

Performing Arts News

Just a reminder that Monday 22nd November is a full costume rehearsal for all students. Please bring all costumes and school uniforms clearly labeled and in a labeled plastic bag with the students name and class.

Friday 26th November is our concert filming day. Full costumes are required on this day also in labelled bags. 

Prep-3’s will be filmed first in the morning so they may wear their costumes to school so they only need to get dressed once. 

Grade 4-6’s can get changed into their costumes during recess and then changed back into their school clothes at lunch. 

Choir and leads will be rehearsing/performing before lunch.

Dorim will get changed at lunch time as will be rehearsing and performing in the green room after lunch. 

If you have any questions or are having trouble finding a costume please contact your classroom teacher or email me directly at ctaylor@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

Students of the Week & Ray White Awards