ISSUE 1: January 27th 2023

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

Happy New Year and welcome to those who join our school community for the first time.  As we prepare to commence another school year, we look forward to collaborating in the spirit of the Gospel in 2023 and working together to support the needs of our amazing students, families and staff. 

Staffing News

In staffing updates we are pleased to have appointed Miss Rosie Lennox to our Year 4 Eumeralla classroom position.  Rosie has been a swim coach and a learn to swim instructor for a number of years and and this passion led her to teaching.  Rosie is moving up from Melbourne so please make her feel welcome to our school community.

We also have employed Miss Georgie Connellan.  Georgie has been employed to provide release to teachers on Thursdays and Fridays.  Georgie has been working as a manager at Thrive Fitness and may be familiar to some within our community.

Major Organisational Changes for 2023

As was communicated last year we have several changes commencing from the start of the 2023 school to assist with student learning and also due to a new Agreement for staff in Victorian Catholic Schools requiring schools to make improvements to teacher workloads.  Below we have listed these major changes:

• Before School Supervision: Student supervision will continue to be from 8.15 am next year. Students will not be able to enter the school grounds until 8:15 am.  
• Classroom Opening Times: Classrooms will not open until 8:30 am in 2023. Parents will be able to visit teachers from 8:30 am - 8:45 am.
• Ideal Drop-Off Time:  Our ‘ideal drop-off time’ for students to enter school grounds will be 8:25 am-8:40 am.
• Tamarisk Grove & Olive Grove Gate Opening: These gates will not open until after 8:15 am when teacher supervision commences in the Courtyard.
• Lunch & Recess Changes: Students will now have lunch break from 10:55 am-11:40 am.  Students will play first and will then eat lunch in their classroom from 11:25 am-11:40 am.  Recess break will be from 1:40 pm-2:10 pm.
• Brainfood: Students will be able to have Brain food at around 10am.  A small container with small pieces of fruit or vegetables should be packed in addition to our recess snack and lunch.
• Office Hours: Office Hours will be from 8:15 am-4 pm each day.  Phone calls will be able to be made from 8 am.

We will possibly have some trial and error with these changes so we do seek your patience.  If parents have suggestions or queries about these likely changes please don’t hesitate to contact me.  We do want to come up with solutions that meet our expectations of staff but also suit our community. 

School Canteen

The School Canteen will be open for lunch orders on Wednesday, 1st February. Orders can be made via CDF Pay.  Canteen orders will close off at 7:30 am.  As we transition to our new  timetable we are restricting the variety of items on the menu. We hope to return items as we are confident in the time to prepare lunches.

Student Transition

Most students are moving classes or have a new teacher. Classes will slowly transition to the demands and different organisational structures of their new class. This is a learning process and I am sure it will not be too long before students have adjusted to the new, and perhaps more challenging demands being made on them in regard to their learning and behaviour. 

Calendar Dates

• Friday, 27th January - Staff Return (Staff Induction). 
• Monday, 30th January - Students return. 
• Wednesday, 1st February - Prep Rest Day 
• Friday, 3rd February - Assembly 2:30 pm
• Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th February - Get to Know You Interviews
• Thursday, 9th February - Beginning of School Year Mass 9:30 am

We have placed many 2023 dates in the PAM (SIMON Everywhere) calendar for parents. This may assist with your forward planning of events you like to attend. We will endeavour to always keep this calendar updated.

Parent Access Module (PAM) and SIMON Everywhere

You should by now have received an email regarding the resetting of your PAM accounts and passwords. If you have not received the email with the link to set this up or are having any difficulty with it please contact the office during opening hours. Some people have not received this email as the email we have on SIMON is not current, or it may have gone to the other Parent. 

As part of the changes you will also need to reinstall the SIMON Everywhere app. When logging in you will need to use your email address and the new password that you have just set up. 

Sports Uniform Days

Classes have been scheduled to wear their Sports Uniform on the following days of the week:

Prep:  

• Cooinda (Mrs. O’Callaghan) - Tuesday & Wednesday  
• Wahroonga (Mrs. Collins) - Tuesday & Wednesday

Year One: 

• Bundaleer (Miss Moore) - Monday & Wednesday  
• Karinya (Mrs. Groves & Mrs. Sherry) - Monday & Wednesday   

Year Two:

•  Barramunga (Mrs. Carmichael) - Thursday & Friday 
• Nangare (Mrs. Gunn/Mrs. Irvin) - Tuesday & Friday  

Year Three:

• Amaroo (Mrs. Beckwith) - Tuesday & Wednesday 
• Yongana (Mrs. Whitehouse) - Wednesday & Thursday
• Mootwingee (Mrs. Willersdorf) - Monday & Wednesday 

Year Four:

• Eumeralla (Miss Lennox) - Wednesday & Thursday 
• Minga (Miss Price) - Wednesday & Friday

Year Five:  

• Waminda (Mrs. Rowles) - Thursday & Friday 
• Kyema (Mrs. Johnson) - Tuesday & Friday
• Myalla (Mrs. Kotsiakos & Mr Barbary) - Wednesday & Friday

Year Six:  

• Illawarra (Mrs. Pacher & Mr Burford) - Monday & Thursday 
• Narooma (Mrs. Campbell) - Monday & Wednesday
• Dourim (Mrs. Thompson) - Monday & Friday

 On the first day of school we ask that Year 6 students wear normal summer uniform as they will be having photos taken with their buddy

Get to Know You Meetings - Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th February

On Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th February we will be holding 'Getting to Know You' Parent Teacher Meetings after school. These are an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher and give the teacher a better understanding of your child/ren. More information about these will be shared via PAM (SIMON Everywhere) next week.

School Assemblies

Assemblies will again be on Fridays, at 2:30 pm in the Stadium. Our assemblies will often showcase many of the skills children are learning and celebrating achievements. Each class will have one opportunity to present assemblies this year. The class presenting will be listed on our calendar linked to PAM (SIMON Everywhere).  

Our first Assembly for the year will be held this Friday, 3rd February in the Stadium at 2.30 pm.  The 2023 Student Leadership Team will host this Assembly.

We are looking forward to welcoming all students, parents and staff back for what we hope will be a rewarding 2023 school year. It is great that students can start the year at school.  We hope this information assists with questions you may have.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the school from 12pm today, Friday 27th January if you have any queries.

God bless! 

Mark Gibson 

Arriving and Leaving School Safely

As we start the new year it is very timely to inform parents of  the need to be careful when travelling to and from school.  Below we have important information in regards to ensuring we minimise risk and ensure that students arrive at school and return home safely.  We encourage parents to make themselves familiar with these arrangements.

Kiss and Go

There are ‘No Parking’ signs on 12th Street in front of Sacred Heart and this is known as the ‘Kiss and Go’ zone. This zone is used for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. The idea is that cars form a moving procession coming from the 11th Street end of Olive Grove, into 12th Street and into the Kiss and Go zone. Cars are parked for a maximum of two minutes to drop-off or pick-up children and then drive down 12th Street towards Deakin Avenue (no u-turns).

Entry into the Kiss and Go area via Walnut Avenue and 12th Street is strictly prohibited. The Kiss and Go can only be entered via Olive Grove. There is to be no parking or stopping on either side of Olive Grove as this will be part of the moving ‘pick-up & drop-off’ line. Under no circumstances are students to be picked up or dropped off in Olive Grove. Those students being picked up at the end of the school day from the Kiss and Go area assemble in front of the school on 12th Street and are directed to leave when their vehicle is in this area, via the supervised Kiss and Go gate.

Alternative 'Drop Off' Arrangements

Some children walk, or ride bikes or scooters to school, and they are asked to enter via either the 12th Street entrance or the Tamarisk Grove entrance at the back of the oval. 

Parents may choose to accompany their children into the school grounds in the morning. If you choose to do so, please join us in fostering independence, by encouraging your child to undertake his/her morning routine (changing library books, greeting friends and teachers, putting lunch orders in, etc.) with as little help as possible.

Alternative 'Pick Up' Arrangements

You are more than welcome to come into school to pick your child up from his/her classroom. This is a great way to meet other parents, informally chat to the teachers and ensure your child has everything organised at the end of the school day. If you do so, please park appropriately and make sure you are outside the classroom by the 3.10 bell, otherwise your child will be sent to wait in the supervised Kiss and Go area.

Use School Crossings

Students need to use the school crossing on Twelfth Street and Eleventh Street if walking home to avoid the need to cross heavily trafficked roads safely.  Both of these crossings are supervised by a School Crossing Supervisor. Please ensure we follow the directions of this person.

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.

Walking Home or Alternative Pick Up Places

You may wish for your children to walk home, or to your place of work after school. If so, we ask that you provide written permission to the school, stating that you authorise your children to leave the school unaccompanied by an adult. These children must leave either through the main 12th Street gate OR walk with the 11th Street bus group through Tamarisk Grove.

For safety reasons, we strongly discourage families from making arrangements whereby children leave school at the end of the day and go and wait at an unsupervised public pick-up location (e.g. on Walnut Avenue or St Joseph’s College).

Ideal Drop Off & Pick Up Time

Ideal ‘Drop Off’ Time: 8.25 - 8.40 This allows children time to get themselves oriented to the school day. Students should  not be dropped at school earlier than 8.15am.

Ideal ‘Pick Up’ Time: 3.10 - 3.25 We appreciate that from time to time you may run late when picking up your child at the end of the day. However, if this is a regular occurrence, or the pick-up can’t occur by 3.30, you are kindly asked to enrol your child/ren in After School Care.

Religious Education

2023 Sacramental Dates

Confirmation

• Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 29th March 2023 @ 7pm SH Church 
• Sacrament of Confirmation - Friday 26th to Sunday 28th May 2023

First Eucharist

• Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 12th July 2023 @ 7pm SH Church 
• Sacrament of First Eucharist - Friday 25th to Sunday 27th August 2023

Reconciliation

• Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 11th October 2023 7pm SH Church 
• Sacrament of Reconcilation - Wednesday 29th November 2023 7pm SH Church

Prep Unit News

Welcome to the 2023 School Year Prep Families! We are so excited to welcome you to school on Monday and look forward to working with you. Students will need their own, named drink bottles, lunch and recess boxes (both small boxes to fit into the blue fridge tubs), library bag and their hat for the first day of school.

Prep Rest Days

Students will have the following days/dates as a rest day from school:

• Wednesday 1st February
• Wednesday 8th February
• Wednesday 15th February
• Wednesday 22nd February
• Friday 3rd March
• Wednesday 8th March
  

Prep Assessments

Prep Assessments will be held at school during Prep Rest Days on Wednesday 8th & Wednesday 15th February. Students will be scheduled for an individual 30-minute time to meet with their classroom teacher to complete assessment tasks. These bookings will be made via SIMON and will be opened to Prep families early next week.

Junior Unit News

Welcome back to all Sacred Heart Families. We hope you enjoyed a special time with those you love during the school holiday break. We are looking forward to working in partnership with you to support the children in their educational journey. 

Students in both Year 1 and 2 will need to bring their library bag along with all their borrowing books back to school on a Friday in 2023.  (Students will need to bring their daily reader, diary and library bag to school each day to change).

All Children will need to have their drink bottle, named navy school hat and library bag at school with them each day.

Students' brain food, recess and lunch containers will also need labelling. Please ensure they are an appropriate size to fit in our fridges/boxes.

All students are asked to bring in a named set of headphones to be used in the classroom.

A friendly reminder that parking along the Left hand side of Olive Grove is prohibited as it blocks off the Kiss and Go line. Please find alternative parking or use the Kiss and Go option. 

We are facilitating 'Getting to Know you Interviews' on 7th and 8th February. These are optional to attend. 

We are very excited for the new school year and CANNOT WAIT to see our students on Monday Morning. Enjoy your weekend.

Middle Unit News

Welcome back to the 2023 school year. We are all very much looking forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday. 

Year 3 students will have a pencil case supplied. Year 4’s have the option of bringing their own but we have some spares for any students who may need one. All students are asked to bring in a named set of headphones to be used in the classroom. 

In the next few weeks Middle Unit students will begin writing and delivering their Class Captain speeches. We will provide more information about this next week.

Library Days

Please see below our Library days this year for Year 3’s and 4’s. It is very important on these days that students have their library bag and any books to be returned at school.

Year 3 - Monday

Year 4 - Friday

Senior Unit News

We are all very excited to welcome everyone back on Monday and look forward to working with you in 2023. 

On Monday, students will be supplied with all the stationery they will need, students will not need to bring any stationery from home. Year 5 have pencil cases supplied for students, Year 6 will need bring their own, these must be of a medium size and able to fit into their tubs.  These supplies will be sent home with students on Friday for labelling over the weekend. 

On the first day of school we ask that Year 6 students wear normal summer uniform as they will be having photos taken with their buddy.

All students are asked to bring in a named set of headphones to be used in the classroom. 

Year 6 students are asked to bring in a small glass jar to use for an activity on Tuesday.  A jam jar would be the perfect size for this activity.

Class Captain speeches will be taking place next Friday, students will be given a hardcopy note on Monday to inform them of what is required if they wish to nominate and present a speech.