ISSUE 14: 13th May, 2022
Principal / Executive Leadership Team
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and Friends,
Over the last two days I have joined eight other staff in attending the Australian Inclusive Schooling Conference. This was a great opportunity that is allowing us to deepen our understanding of inclusive education, be challenged to think bigger about the potential of students with disabilities, and be inspired to work towards even greater outcomes for all.
2023 Prep Enrolments Close Friday 20th May
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.
Assembly
Thank you to our Student Leadership Team for leading all of today's Assembly. They did a marvellous job! Yongana will host our next Assembly, which will be held in the Stadium at 2.30pm.
Melbourne Camp
We wish our Year Six students all the best for their camp to Melbourne. Students and teachers will leave at 6am on Monday morning 16th May and return to school on Friday evening. We will inform parents of the return time. This camp is a fantastic opportunity for children to develop their learning, social skills, independence skills, fitness and decision making. An enormous amount of work goes into organising a camp and so we must thank Mrs Campbell for her many hours spent preparing for the camp. Have fun everyone!
Education Support Staff Day
Monday 16th May is Education Support Staff Day. This is a day to recognise the great work that our Learning Support Officers, Administration, Cleaning, Canteen, Gardening & Maintenance Staff do in our school. Their roles are valued and all contribute to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for our students. Thank you to all of our Education Support Staff for your contribution to our team and the effort, care and dedication that you show on a daily basis. We will have a morning tea on Monday amongst our staff to acknowledge this work.
Prep Breakfast
We wish our Prep students all the best for the Prep Breakfast which is being held at school on Friday, 20th May at 7am. Mrs O’Callaghan and Miss Sheridan have a fun morning planned for our Preps. Students will need to be dropped off at school at 7am.
Parish Mass - Mootwingee
We have Mootwingee participating in the Parish Mass at the church this Wednesday 18th May. 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.
Baby News
A big congratulations to Miss Madden and her partner Josh on the arrival of Kora Florence last Thursday, 5th May. It is great to hear that Kora, Abbey and Josh are all going well and enjoying this special time.
School Bus Travel
CDC Mildura, under the direction of Department of Transport Victoria, would like to remind everyone that students are not to carry a scooter that cannot be folded and placed in a secure bag on the buses. This directive, from the Department Of Transport, is in place for the safety of all travelling on board the network to avoid the scooter becoming a missile in the case of an accident.
NAPLAN
I would like to acknowledge all the year 3 and 5 children, who have been working hard on showing their best on the NAPLAN tests this week. We are very proud that students tried their best. Well done! If students were away we will do some catch up tests at school over the next week.
Performing Arts
Recently we advertised our Performing Arts position due to Mrs Taylor finishing at the end of Term 2 to go on maternity leave. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to fill this position and are readvertising again.
2023 Prep Enrolment Meetings
For those that have applied to enrol their child, an Enrolment Meeting for the prospective enrolment and at least one parent or guardian will be conducted. Parents meet with a member of staff from the Leadership Team and the prospective enrolment meets with a classroom teacher to do fun play and learning activities.
These meetings will be conducted on the Tuesday 24th May and Tuesday 31st May. Meetings take around 40 minutes and will be able to be booked by parents on the school website (Click Here) from Tuesday 17th May.
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.
COVID Cases
Over this week we have 9 COVID cases impacting the classes of Cooinda (Prep), Barramunga (Year 2), Eumeralla (Year 3), Narooma (Year 6) and Myalla (Year 5). 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
Catholic Education Week Mass
Catholic Education Week Mass
Catholic Education Week is being celebrated this year from Sunday 22nd to Friday 27th May (Week 5). This year the theme is “Share the Good News”. The Combined Catholic Schools Mass will be held on Friday, 27th May at the SJC Mercy Campus. This Mass will be held at 10am. Students & staff will be transported by bus to and from this event. More details will be provided in next week’s Newsletter.
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 and Teaching News
Years 3 and 5 children sat NAPLAN tests this week. The children approached the assessment with positivity and they should be immensely proud of the way they conducted themselves throughout the week.
Several Catch-Up sessions will be held next week however some children who are absent through illness may miss these also- please do not be concerned by this. Your child’s recuperation is of the utmost importance!
Please note that Year 3 Writing Catch-Ups occurred this week as the test was in a different format (on paper).
- Year 5 Writing: Monday 9:00am
- Years 3 & 5 Reading: Monday 11:30am
- Years 3 & 5 Language Conventions: Tuesday 9:15
- Years 3 & 5 Numeracy: Wednesday 9:00am
Prep Unit News
This week in Prep we have been working super hard to perfect our dancing ready for the Junior Unit social. A reminder that this event is on Thursday 26th May from 6-8pm. All Preps students need to dress up as ‘swag people’.
Prep breakfast will take place on Friday 20th May. A note will be sent home this Monday with all the information you need.
We have been fortunate to have some of our parents (or grandparents) volunteer to help during our Literacy Program… we would LOVE (and welcome) some more help if you have any spare time! It will be from 9.30am-10am on either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Please see your child’s teacher if you are able to help. We will aim to begin Literacy Helpers in week 6 - Monday 30th May.
Please enjoy some photos of our learning this week.
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
To support the success of our Religion unit on ‘LOVE’, we Encourage students to bring in a photo, drawing or magazine picture that represents love to them: (hobby, sport, pet, family, friends, toy, garden- creation/environment)
Thank you to the parents who attended our Literacy Helpers meeting. Should you wish to support our children during literacy time (30-45 mins) 9:30 on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, please contact their classroom teacher. We begin our Literacy helpers from Monday 30th May.
YEAR ONE Show and Tell- In the coming week, we are enhancing our understanding of living and non living. Some students may need assistance to locate and bring in something living and non living around your home that they can talk about for 1 minute for their show and tell. Photos can be emailed to Mrs Pacher at apacher@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Bundaleers show and tell day is on Thursday.
Karinya’s show and tell day is on Friday.
We welcome Mrs Irvin back on Monday from Long Service Leave.
This week all Junior Unit students have been working super hard to perfect our dancing ready for the Junior Unit social. A reminder that this event is on Thursday 26th May from 6-8pm. All students need to dress up as ‘swag people’.
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
Year 3 Maths Supplies
Year 3 are after some containers for their Maths unit on capacity next week.
Examples are: 1L and 2L drink bottles, ice cream containers, yoghurt containers, plastic cups/ cream bottles etc.
Seesaw
Just a reminder we are regularly uploading lots of fantastic work on Seesaw. If you are having trouble logging into your parent account please contact your child’s teacher.
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
Woohoo!!! Only three sleeps to go! The excitement of the Melbourne Camp is very evident in the Year Six classrooms. We depart for Melbourne at 6:30am sharp Monday morning. We know the students and staff will all have a fabulous time and return on Friday with lots of stories to share with you all. Please look out for the Facebook posts highlighting our adventures from each day.
We ask that all students complete a RA Test on Sunday or Monday morning before our departure.
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 has been ordered. All books will be distributed to students when they arrive. If you have any issues with Book Club, please email me on wcollins@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Overdue books
Thank you to all the children who have returned or re-borrowed overdue books. If you are having difficulty finding these, please let me know via email or drop into the library. Occasionally books are found on classroom shelves or in the library - please let me know if you have done a good search at home and have been unable to find them.
Care of books
Unfortunately we sometimes have books that have been damaged in some way, pages torn, covers coming off, moisture damage etc. We ask that all children keep their library books and Take Home books in library bags to protect as much as possible, and let me know if damage does occur.
Timetable (**** please note the change of day for Bundaleer****)
- Monday - Mootwingee, Yongana
- Tuesday - Yr 5, Kyema, Barramunga
- Wednesday - Eumeralla, Waminda,
- Thursday - Preps, Amaroo, Bundaleer
- Friday - Minga, Karinya
Performing Arts News
Just a reminder that our choir students will be attending the Mildura Eisteddfod on Friday morning June 17th. An excursion note will go home closer to the date. Please learn all lyrics ASAP.
Please keep collecting socks and craft scraps for our sock puppets all grade P-6’s will be making towards the end of the term. Students will be notified when they will need to bring their socks to school.
A reminder that the Junior Unit Social is on Thursday 26th May from 6-8pm. Please see your classroom teacher if you have any questions about costumes.
Students of the Week and Ray White Awards
My New Gallery
