ISSUE 6: 26th March 2021

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Welcome to our update for next week.

Palm Sunday Parish Mass is being celebrated this Sunday, 28th March at 9am at the Sacred Heart Church as we begin Holy Week.  Students from Sacred Heart & St Paul’s will join to form a choir for this Mass. We will also have some students who will bring up Palm Sunday banners at the beginning of Mass.  We hope to see staff members and school families join this celebration. If any child is wanting to be part of the choir please meet Mrs Guthrie near the organ in the Church.

This Thursday is the last day of Term One.  Please note that students finish at the earlier time of 2.10pm.   We will have a Casual Clothes day with an optional gold coin donation.  Proceeds will go towards Project Compassion.  ALL SCHOOL BUS afternoon runs will commence one hour earlier than a regular school day.

On Thursday Myalla will host our final Assembly for Term One.  Assembly will begin at the earlier time of 1.30pm in the stadium.

We wish our Year 5/6 Rugby teams all the best at Tuesday’s Division Rugby Gala Day and likewise for our Year 3/4 teams on Wednesday.   Both days are being held at the Aerodrome Ovals.

Mrs Danielle Gunn begins Maternity Leave at the end of this week.  We wish Mrs Gunn and her husband Lewis all the best with the upcoming birth and look forward to hearing some exciting news in the near future.  Thanks to Mrs Gunn for stepping into the Performing Arts role this term and doing a great job with all year levels. We hope to finalise our replacement for Mrs Gunn before the end of term.

We have advertised for a Learning Support Officer position.  If anyone knows of anyone who may be interested in this position please forward the information below.  Thank you!

Congratulations to our Year Four students who received their First Reconciliation on Thursday evening. This Sacrament is one of love, forgiveness and healing, marking a significant step in the spiritual journey of our students. Many thanks to Father Matthew, Fr. Shaiju and together with parents/carers and the Sacred Heart Parish Community for preparing and supporting the candidates. Thank you to our staff who assisted with the preparation of, and attendance at the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Year Four students also had their Roses Gap camp this week.  The experiences were a fantastic opportunity for children to develop their learning, social skills, independence skills, health and fitness and decision making.  An enormous amount of work goes into organising a camp and so we must thank Miss Price, Mrs Beer, Mrs Willis, Mrs Johnson and Mrs Kotsiakos for the countless hours spent to ensure the camp was successful.  Thanks also to Mr O’Callaghan who assisted with the camp. Well done to the parents who had to do an enormous amount of work in getting the children organised for the camp and to some parents for spending time with their children to alleviate worries or fears prior to going on camp.   Well done also to the students for their fantastic behaviour while on camp.  It certainly makes it easier for helpers on camp when the students show respectful, safe and responsible behaviour.

Congratulations to all students who represented the school with Division Cricket this week.  It was great to hear that the students displayed outstanding behaviour and were great sports.  The boys cricket team won all three games and were the Division winners.  The girls had a great game competing against Irymple South today.

We congratulate Mrs Kerryn Weaver and her husband Luke on the arrival of their daughter Ellie who was born on December 20th 2020 and Mrs Clare Barnfield and her husband John who also welcomed their son Ben Barnfield on 10th March 2021.  Congratulations to all.

We hope everyone has a great week ten of term one.

Mr Gibson

School Advisory Council (SAC)

With schools transferring Governance from our Parish Priest to the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education (DOBCEL) we are encountering some change as how our School Advisory Council (SAC) works.  To help those that are interested in how DOBCEL is changing our school structures please look at this video.

DOBCEL is committed to working with school leadership and school communities to build thriving Catholic education schools. A key dimension of this collaborative work is the establishment and effective operation of advisory councils to support the work of schools. The School Advisory Council (SAC) is the leading advisory group for the Principal, as an active forum for parent and community participation, providing support and advice in strategic planning, school improvement, educational outcomes and stewardship of resources. 

In summary, the School Advisory Council: 

• assists with stewardship of the Catholic vision ethos and culture of the school
• provides strategic advice and support to the principal on matters relating to school operations and undergoing improvement
• fairly represents the views and needs of the school community 
• assists with promoting the school and Catholic education generally in the local community 
• has what is best for the students at the heart of all advice it offers 

With Monday 15th being our first SAC meeting we spent a lot of time looking at our School Improvement Plan (2021-2025) and Annual Action Plan for 2021.  We looked at priorities already identified for 2021 and members identified ways we can even strengthen this plan through our SAC group.  Time was also spent looking at our new SAC agenda format that fits with the new governance structure.

2021 is a big year with our school needing to develop a Facilities Master Plan to identify how our school could look to meet the current and future educational needs of our students.  Our SAC will play an important role in this and we hope to engage with the wider community as we work through this journey.  With a good plan we hope to see some of this plan come to fruition over time.

Aside from looking at our SAC we also looked at how our Parents and Friends (P&F) play a vital role in our community.  With our fundraising levy taking away the importance of raising money for the school we see this group as being important in building community and connection between families.  We hope to meet with interested P&F members late this term or early Term 2.

At our meeting we also started to identify ways we may consider spending our fundraising levy for 2021.  Some early considerations are a BBQ trailer and furniture for classrooms.

Throughout the year, our SAC will meet for six meetings and an Annual General Meeting.  These meetings are scheduled to occur on the third Wednesday of the month in March, April, June, July, August, October (AGM) and November.  Meeting times are from 5:15pm-6:30pm.

We look forward to communicating with you some of our outcomes from our SAC meetings in 2021.

Religious Education News

Sacrament of Confirmation

Information regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation has been sent home with all Year 5 & 6 students.  Any parents wishing to register their child for this Sacrament must do so prior to the Parent Information Evening which is being held at the church on Wednesday, 21st April 2021.  The blue registration form needs to be filled out and payment can be made at the Parish Office (cash required as there is no eftpos).  Please contact Mr Ryan O’Callaghan at school or the Parish Office if you have any questions regarding this Sacrament.

Project Compassion

We appreciate those families that have been able to support this year’s Project Compassion.  Project Compassion boxes can be handed in to the front office at school by this Thursday, 1st April.

Sunraysia Catholic Communities Bulletin

We have attached below the bulletin for this weekend for the Sunraysia Catholic Communities. (Link to be added when published.)

Learning Diversity & Wellbeing News

Some PSG meetings were held in the absence of parents and have been signed by those present at the meetings and sent home as a hard copy for parents to read and ratify by placing a signature alongside those already there. If you still have the PSG meeting minutes at home please read, sign and return to school by the end of term as they are an important part of our record keeping for those students who have Personalised Learning plans.

Learning & Teaching News

In 2010, as part of our first NAIDOC journey, each class was “gifted” their own totem/creation pole. The class poles stand at the edge of the oval on the 12th Street side. These poles symbolize what is “precious” and “sacred” to each of our classes. Every year the poles are painted over with a plain colour and get repainted with their new designs.  At the beginning of the school year each class has many conversations to establish expectations and get to know each other.  They discuss such things as each person’s dreams for the year, rules, expectations, learning and what is important to each of them.

Our poles are integral to our NAIDOC celebrations and are always blessed as part of our NAIDOC week ceremonies later in the year. 

Painting of the Journey poles will be happening Week 1 of Term 2. Tuesday 20th - Thursday 22nd April.  All students will have a chance to contribute to their class pole, though we have art smocks at school we do ask that children bring along an old shirt large enough to cover their school uniform. 

If there are any parents who would like to volunteer to assist in the painting over the three days please let the office know.

Prep Unit News

No news to report.

Junior Unit News

Has your Junior Unit child/ren shared their knowledge of the Water Cycle with you? If not, please ask them to share their insight regarding our Science Immersions days this week. Students actively participated  in numerous experiments and discoveries throughout the day. 

Thank you to those families who have returned their note and were able to volunteer their time to support our Literacy program. This coming Tuesday (30th March) from 3.20-3.40pm, the Prep and Junior Unit teachers will be presenting information to our volunteer Literacy helpers on what to expect and techniques to support you when you are working with our students. 

If you cannot make the meeting, please let your child's classroom teacher know and we can send this presentation to you via email.  It is not compulsory to attend.

Year 1 & 2 Science Immersion

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Middle Unit News

What an amazing time we had on our Year 4 Camp to Roses Gap! We had an extremely busy three days. From having a go on the giant swing, to walking to Beehive Falls, we had an action packed time and the rain didn’t stop us! All students displayed excellent behaviour and are to be commended for their participation and persistence! Some photos will be shared with students in the coming weeks to keep for memories.

Year 4 Roses Gap Camp

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Senior Unit News

Year Six Melbourne Camp: A note has been sent via PAM in regards to camp attendance. We ask that Parent Consent be completed on PAM by this Friday, 26th of March.

Year 5 Science Immersion Day

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Last Thursday and Friday, we had our Science Immersion days. It was awesome. We learnt about adaptations which is when a living plant or animal has had a change in its environment so the plant or animal changes characteristics to suit the new environment better. We did an activity where we had to build a type of root. There were 4 different types of roots, the Buttress, Knee, Pencil and Stilt roots.  My group made Knee Roots which are ones that stick out of the ground but not all the way out and they bend like knees. The reason for them sticking out is so they can gather nutrients from the air so they can grow. 

Finally, on Friday we completed research on the Frill Neck Lizard and the Echidnas. Did you know that Frill Neck Lizards run on their hind legs and that Echidnas bury themselves underground during bushfires? In conclusion, Science Immersion days were really fun!

Written By Aidan Njegovan

Student Leadership Groups

The PLAY leaders will be facilitating more activities this Wednesday during the lunch break for anyone in the school who would like to join in. 

Icy poles will be sold for the last week, this Tuesday and Thursday. Monies raised will go to Student Leadership funds.

General News

Library News

Scholastic Book club Issue #2 has had a delay in delivery. Hopefully it will arrive before next Thursday before the end of Term.

Week 10 Library times:

Monday: Year 5, Year 6 & Bundaleer

Tuesday: Minga, Waminda & Kyema

Wednesday: Mootwingee & Nangare

Thursday: Preps, Amaroo, Yongana, Barramunga, Karinya & Eumeralla

There are still a number of children who have overdue books. Notices have been given to these children - please check library bags for a note to see if your child has an overdue book. If you are unable to find books, please email me on wcollins@shmildura.catholic.edu.au Junior unit children also have their “Take Home” books that are overdue on this notice as well - these are identified by the “TH” on the white spine label on the back. All take home books need to be returned to the classroom, all other books to the library. It would be great to have all overdue books in before the end of the term.

St Joseph's College 2022 Year 7 Enrolments

Please contact Mrs Tracy Aston, Admissions and Communications Manager on 5018 8034 or email taston@sjcmda.vic.edu.au if you wish to receive an enrolment information package for your child for 2022. Please visit the College website - www.sjcmda.vic.edu.au

Imperial Football & Netball Club NetSetGo

Imps FNC NetSetGO  is the official netball starter program for children born in 2013 – 2015. It’s a chance to learn the netball basics, get outside and make some friends.

The fun will commence @ Brian Weightman Oval (No. 1 Oval) on Wednesday 21st April at 4:30pm finishing at 5:15pm and go for 10 weeks with the last session scheduled for Wednesday June 23rd.

Please bring a drink bottle and your NetSetGO ball (once you register this will be sent to you). For more information please email emf24@live.com.au

Register through 

https://netball.resultsvault.com/common/pages/reg/welcome.aspx?type=6&id=94924&entityid=45125 

If any families that have a child born in 2012 or 2013 and they are interested in playing 9 & Under netball for Imps FNC please email emf24@live.com.au by April 2nd.

TennisMad Holiday Clinic

Warratah's Hockey Club

Mildura Horse Riding School Holiday Program

Sacred Heart Tennis Club

Irymple Basketball Association

Please refer below to a flyer from Irymple Basketball Association.

Weekly Awards

Student of the Week

There is no awards this week.

Ray White Award Positive Behaviour Award

There is no awards this week.