ISSUE 13: 6th May, 2022
Principal / Executive Leadership Team
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and Friends,
I wish all Mums a very Happy Mothers’ Day for this coming Sunday and I hope the day is a special one for you.
Mother’s Day Parish Mass
Mother’s Day Mass is on tomorrow, Saturday 7th May at 6pm at the Sacred Heart Church. Families are encouraged to attend as this is considered a parish-led mass by Sacred Heart Primary School. Students from Sacred Heart are invited to join the choir for this Mass or may even be given a role within the Mass when they arrive.
Parents and Friends (P&F) Class Contact Information Meeting
We will have an important meeting for our allocated Class Contacts on Wednesday, 11th May from 5:15pm-6pm. We see this role as a simple but important one that will have a focus on re-engaging our whole school community in 2022.
The purpose of this meeting is to clarify processes to be used such as communication channels, 2022 events/dates associated with your allocated class, complete induction processes for those that haven’t done so, clarify and answer questions in regards to the Class Contact role and to discuss the changing role of the P&F within the school. Other interested parents are invited to attend this P&F Meeting.
This will be the only P&F meeting Class Contacts will need to attend this year.
NAPLAN
This week our Year 3 & 5 students will be participating in the ‘National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy’ (NAPLAN).
Year Three students will be completing their assessments in the classroom on the following days/times:
Tuesday @ 9am - Writing
Wednesday @ 9am - Reading
Thursday @ 11.45am - Language Conventions
Friday @ 9am - Maths
Year Five students will be completing their assessments in the Stadium on the following days/times:
Tuesday @ 9am - Writing
Wednesday @ 9am - Reading
Thursday @ 9am - Language Conventions
Friday @ 9am - Maths
Parish Mass - Amaroo
We have Amaroo participating in the Parish Mass at the church this Wednesday 9th March. Students will do some of the readings and jobs throughout the Mass. This celebration will begin at 9.30am and parents are welcome to attend.
Mother’s Day Stall
A huge thank you to parents who volunteered to help out with the Mother’s Day Stall today and in particular to Lauren Milton and Jodie McInerney for coordinating the stall. I am sure mums will appreciate the presents students give them.
Assembly
Thank you to Amaroo for hosting today's Assembly. The Student Leadership Team will host our next Assembly, which will be held in the Stadium at 2.30pm.
2023 Prep Enrolment Discovery Tours (Open Sessions)
We have had a busy week with our Guided Learning Walks occurring across the week. We had 34 people attend the nine opportunities available. Our Learning Walks are a great opportunity for new families to see how learning happens in classrooms at Sacred Heart. To book a tour you need to go to https://shmildura.catholic.edu.au/book-a-tour
We still have session tours available on the following dates and times:
- 9th May @ 9am
- 10th May @ 5:15pm
- 11th May @ 9:15am
2023 Prep Enrolments are Now Open
We are currently taking enrolment applications for 2023 Prep Students. Enrolments will close on Friday 20th May 2022 at 4pm. We encourage existing families to apply now via the school website if you know your child will be attending Sacred Heart: (Click Here)
If you know of any new families who are looking at enroling we encourage you to share our enrolment processes that are outlined here.
School Sports Victoria Division Cross Country
Well done to our students who represented and performed superbly at the SSV Sunraysia Cross Country. Their wonderful results appear later in the newsletter. It was great to hear from Mr Burford how well our students represented our school with behaviour, participation and support. Thank you and well done to Mr Burford on preparing our students so well.
Winter Uniform
With many days being much cooler we encourage children to dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Dressing appropriately can help avoid illness amongst students. On cold days our winter uniform is most appropriate. Tights should not be worn with summer uniform and the navy blue weather-proof jacket doesn’t replace a jumper. In classrooms these jackets cannot be worn so a jumper is still encouraged to be worn.
Return of Volunteers (Performing Work)
We are very excited to allow volunteers back into school. Units or classes may ask parents to assist with roles such as classroom helpers. Parents who do wish to volunteer at school are required to show evidence of 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The nature of that evidence that needs to be provided could include a COVID-19 vaccine digital certificate, immunisation history statement, or medical exception letter or certificate, this must be provided to our school administration staff. All Volunteers (volunteers that attend an education facility and that work in close proximity to children, students or staff (including parent helpers) must meet the third dose vaccination requirements.
Additionally all Volunteers must sign in our School Visitor Management Software (Passtab) located in our school reception area. All Volunteers will be required to provide photo identification and a current Working with Children Check. This information will be stored within Passtab. Passtab will also prompt completion of an online school induction (completed annually), which provides information on emergency evacuation procedures and our Child Safe policies and procedures.
COVID Cases
Over this week we have 14 COVID cases impacting the classes of Cooinda (Prep), Barramunga (Year 2), Eumeralla (Year 3), Illawarra (Year 5), Dourim (Year 6), Narooma (Year 6), Waminda (Year 2) and Minga (Year 4). We encourage families to complete their twice weekly RA Tests if they have not been a positive case over the last twelve weeks. Please inform the school of positive cases.
Please refer COVID Positive Case Procedures outlined below to assist with positive cases of students or household contacts.
Have a great weekend everyone and God Bless!
Mark Gibson
COVID Update
The Victorian Government has announced some important changes to COVIDSafe measures for schools that will apply from the start of Term 2.
Face masks
From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at risk.
Screening requirements
Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
Household contacts
Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact.
Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption.
If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools
Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
RAT screening program reminder
The testing recommendations will remain the same this Term for students and staff with to test at home twice a week. RATs were sent home at the end of last term. Should you have not received yours or need additional RATs please contact our office.
Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our school safe and open.
Religious Education
Mother’s Day Mass
This Mass is being held at the Sacred Heart church this Saturday, 6th May at 6pm. We are inviting all Sacred Heart students, parents and staff to join in this mass to acknowledge all of the special women in our lives.
Sacrament of Confirmation
All students have now received their information folder which outlines all requirements for this Sacrament, including student lessons.
Parents are reminded that completed lessons need to be handed in at the Parish Office on the following dates:
- Books 1-3 Monday 16th May
- Books 4-5 Monday 30th May
If books are not completed and submitted then the candidate will not be able to receive this Sacrament.
2022 Sacramental Program Dates
Sacrament of Confirmation 2022 Year 3, 4 & 5 students
Celebration of Sacrament Friday 3rd June, Saturday 4th June & Sunday 5th June
Sacrament of First Communion (Eucharist) 2022 Year 4 students
Parents Information Night Wednesday 7th September 7pm Sacred Heart Church
Celebration of Sacrament Friday 21st Saturday 22nd Sunday 23rd October
Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) 2022 Year 2 students
Parents Information Night Wednesday 12th October 7pm Sacred Heart Church
Celebration of the Sacrament Wednesday 23rd November 7pm Sacred Heart Church
Learning Diversity News
All school staff- Learning Support Officers (LSOs), teaching staff and leadership viewed an Illume Learning Online Webinar on "Rethinking the Role of TA's (LSOs) in Inclusive Schools.”
LSOs play an invaluable role in supporting the education of students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms and Sacred Heart is very appreciative of the dedicated work that our LSOs do every day in supporting all of our students. Our LSOs support student learning in the classroom, support individual student's health needs, supervise students during recess and lunch times, deliver evidence-based interventions to students in small groups or one to one to name a few of their very valuable contributions to our students' learning.
Focus of the webinar -
The session focused on practical changes that can be made within educational settings to ensure the presence of an LSO results in the best outcomes possible. The session challenged us to reflect on our current practices and approaches to the use of LSOs in the school setting.
Content of the webinar -
During the presentation, we reviewed the latest research internationally and were provided practical, evidence-based recommendations to support educators and families. We discussed how to best deploy, utilise and support our LSOs within our school setting to promote positive outcomes for students, both academically, behaviourally, socially and emotionally.
Reflections on the research -
- LSOs add value to what teachers do
- LSOs help students develop independent learning skills and manage their own learning
- LSOs deliver high quality, one to one and small group support using structured, evidence based interventions (MiniLit, MacqLit, Toe By Toe, Reading Tutor Program)
Learning and Teaching News
NAPLAN will take place next week for Years 3 and 5. Please ensure your child is at school on time to allow them to settle in and begin tests in a focussed manner.
Assessments will take place at the following times:
- Years 3 & 5 Writing: Tuesday 9:00am
- Years 3 & 5 Reading: Wednesday 9:00am
- Year 5 Language Conventions: Thursday 9:00am
- Year 3 Language Conventions: Thursday 11:45am
- Years 3 & 5 Numeracy: Friday 9:00am
Prep Unit News
This week in Prep we have learned lots about using our sounds to write sentences. We have been focussing on making sure we try super hard to write our letters correctly, put a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence, use a full stop at the end of a sentence and use our phoneme fist to help us hear the sounds we need to write in our words. A little practise at home never hurts… here are some sentences you could have your child/ren write: I sat on the mat, I sat, Sam is sad, I am Sam, Nan sat in it.
Enjoy the photos of some of this week’s learning!
On Wednesday a note was sent home about our Literacy helpers. If you have some spare time and would like to help out, please complete the form and return it to your teacher.
Our Prep Breakfast date has been moved back a week… the new date will now be Friday 20th May. A note will come home on Monday 16th May with all the details!
We wish all our prep mums, grandmas and women who care for us a very happy Mother’s Day for this Sunday. Our mums play such a pivotal role in the lives of us all and deserve to be well and truly spoiled!
Prep Unit Team Contact Details
- Unit Leader: Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan
- Cooinda (Year Prep): Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan
- Wahroonga (Year Prep): Miss Courtney Sheridan
Junior Unit News
Thank you for the communication we have received regarding Literacy helpers. We are having a ‘brief’ Literacy helpers meeting on Wednesday 11th May at 3.30 in the staffroom and would love to see you there.
We have seen great improvement in our students ability to recognise their ‘tricky words’ during our InitiaLit lessons and in class reading experiences. Thank you for allowing your child to have the additional opportunity to practise these at home. We are grateful for the the positive partnership we have established and appreciate your continued support.
We wish Miss Hewitt a magnificent wedding day on Saturday and are excited to hear about your magical day when she returns as Mrs Whitehouse.
This week you have received the invitation to our Junior Unit Social and a double sided note explaining the significance of the celebration along with costume ideas. We are SUPER EXCITED to share this very special night with you face to face this year. Should you have any further questions about this evening, please do not hesitate to speak with your child/ren’s classroom teacher.We wish all our magnificent Junior Unit Mother’s and significant Motherly figures a tremendous Mother’s Day. May your day be all that you need it to be.
Junior Unit Team Contact Details
Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.
- Unit Leader: Mrs Katrina Groves
- Karinya (Year 1): Mrs Katrina Groves (Monday-Thursday) & Mrs Amilea Pacher (Friday)
- Bundaleer (Year 1): Mrs Maree Irvin (Tuesday-Friday) & Mrs Amilea Pacher (Monday)
- Barramunga (Year 2): Miss Georgina Hewitt
- Waminda (Year 2): Mrs Chris Carmichael
- Kyema (Year 2): Mrs Kim Taylor
Middle Unit News
Premier’s Reading Challenge
During Term 2 and 3 students in the Middle Unit will be participating in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. The Challenge encourages children and students to read a set number of books over the year and record their efforts online. Since the Challenge first began in 2005, more than 3.5 million students have read over 54 million books.
We are encouraging all children to read 15 books before the 2nd of September when the Challenge closes. There is an extensive list of books that are on the Challenge list (books in our library are labelled with a sticker). Students can have up to 5 books that are not on the list. Classes will also read a wide range of books together to add to students totals.
We are trying to build motivation for reading in students and feel that this Challenge will be a great way to do so. We will have some prizes at the end of the Challenge also.
We ask that you support your child by encouraging them to read for 20 minutes each night, assisting children to fill in their diary and ensuring they bring their library bag to school each day.
Special Interest Items
A reminder that students should not be bringing any toys, footy cards, fiddle toys, pokemon cards, lego etc to school. These items can very easily be lost. The final day of each term is Special Interest Day where students are permitted to bring along these items.
NAPLAN
Next week, NAPLAN testing will take place for Year 3 students. Please ensure all students have a set of working headphones.
Year 4 Homework
Starting next week, Year 4 students will have a simple timetable sheet for their homework. This is to be returned by Friday.
General Reminders
- Year 4 students must have their laptop fully charged everyday.
- Please ensure your child has their library bag at school everyday.
- Please ensure children are filling in their reading diary after they have read each night and it is signed.
Middle Unit Team Contact Details
Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.
- Unit Leader: Miss Sophie Price
- Minga (Year 3): Mrs Cathryn Rowles
- Eumeralla (Year 3): Mrs Sarah Beckwith
- Amaroo (Year 4): Mrs Natalee Johnson
- Yongana (Year 4): Mr Corey Barbary
- Mootwingee (Year 4): Miss Sophie Price
Senior Unit News
In Religion, students are learning about our Christian heritage and tradition, and have begun by looking at their own, and Australia’s heritage. In class your child began creating a mind map with their own prior knowledge and questions they have about their own family heritage. They will then take this home. We would love it if you could take the time to discuss this with your child and answer any further questions that they have.
NAPLAN
Next week, NAPLAN testing will take place Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday for Year 5 students. It is very important that ALL students have their laptop at school everyday and it is fully charged, as well as a set of working headphones.
Year 6 Melbourne Camp
Excitement is building in anticipation of the Year 6 camp. Correspondence with what to bring, an itinerary and a behaviour expectations were sent home with your child on Wednesday of this week. If you have any queries, please contact your child’s teacher.
Senior Unit Team Contact Details
Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.
- Unit Leader: Mrs Jo Campbell
- Myalla (Year 5): Mrs Kerryn Weaver (Monday-Wednesday) & Mrs Emma Kotsiakos (Wednesday-Friday)
- Illawarra (Year 5): Miss Belinda Zappia
- Narooma (Year 6): Mrs Jo Campbell
- Dourim (Year 6): Mrs Xana Priestley
Library
Scholastic Book club Issue #3
Issue #3 closes on Tuesday May 10th. All orders are to be completed online by this date.
If you wish to view the catalogue online, please visit: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/
OVERDUE BOOKS
Overdue slips have been sent home today. If the Classification is “TH” or “KIT EC” for students in Prep to Yr 3, these are books that are borrowed from the classroom. Please have a good look for all overdue books and return to school as soon as possible. If books cannot be found or are damaged, please email me on wcollins@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Timetable
Monday - Mootwingee, Bundaleer, Yr 6, Yongana
Tuesday - Yr 5, Kyema, Barramunga
Wednesday - Eumeralla, Waminda,
Thursday - Preps, Amaroo
Friday Minga, Karinya
Physical Education News
On Thursday some of our Year 3-6 students competed in the SSV Division Cross Country which took place at the Old Aerodrome Ovals. It was a great day for all involved with the students achieving some individual and team/age group success. The 9/10 year old girls and 9/10 year old boys both won the champion school award with Jesse Sinclair finishing in third place. The 11 year old girls were runners up and the 11 year old boys finished third in the champion school award. The 12 year old girls all did really well to finish the 3km track and the boys were able to finish second in the champion school award. Individually, Thomas O’Callaghan came in third place. Well done to all those students involved for their efforts and good luck to those who have qualified for the Regional Cross Country to be held in St. Arnaud at the end of the month.
Students of the Week and Ray White Awards
