ISSUE 5: February 24th 2023

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

It has certainly been a very busy week with School Photos, Pancake Breakfast & Ash Wednesday Mass.  Well done to all students, parents and staff for your efforts.  It seems that everyone has made a great start to the year!

What caught my eye this week?  Several times on Monday the photographers commented that our students are very cooperative and well mannered.  It’s great to hear such positive comments from visitors to our school.  Again, well done!

School Photos 

All went well with Monday’s School Photos.  Photos will arrive in a few weeks time and will be distributed to all families.  

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast 

It was wonderful to have so many families and students coming together for Tuesday’s Pancake Breakfast.  A big thank you to the Knights of the Southern Cross and Frank & Montana Simonetta for cooking the pancakes and to Ag Gray for her organisation with ordering and setting up.  Due to the pancakes being very popular, unfortunately a few people missed out which we do apologise for.  We will be sure to order some extra pancake mix in 2024. This has become a great school community event and we look forward to this tradition continuing into the future.  Thanks to everyone for coming along - it was great to catch up and connect.

Ash Wednesday Mass  

We had a great celebration with St Paul’s on Wednesday to recognise Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  May this be a time of personal growth for everyone as we prepare for Easter.  Thank you to Father Matthew for leading our Mass, Mrs Guthrie for her music and Maria-Stella Blagus from St Paul’s who did much of the organising for this Mass.  Thanks to those parents who were able to join us. 

Division Tennis 

Congratulations to Daisy Barber, Thomas Colbert, Oliver Farnsworth, Mercedes Leal-Kaiser, Baxter McCoy, Archie Wilkes & Jed Woodford who competed in Wednesday’s Division Tennis.  Everyone did a great job and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.  Special mention to Thomas who finished runner up in the boys section.

Mrs Danielle Gunn - Nangare 

Mrs Gunn will be finishing in Nangare this Thursday and beginning Maternity Leave.  We thank Mrs Gunn for her work with the students in Nangare over the last six weeks and for getting them off to a great start.  We wish Mrs Gunn, her husband Lewis & daughter Bonnie all the best and we look forward to hearing about their newest addition to the family.  Mrs Irvin will be back to work full time in Nangare from the beginning of Week Eight.  Mrs Kailla Coffey will work with Nangare in Week Seven.

In other staff news, Ms Niutta is expecting a baby later this year.  Congratulations to Ms Niutta, her husband Scott & their son Teddy!  

Evacuation Procedure

We will be holding our first Evacuation Procedure for the year on Monday morning at approximately 10.30am.  It is really important that all students, visitors and staff understand the correct process for this drill and what is expected in the event of an emergency.  In this Evacuation, students and staff will move from the classroom to our Emergency Assembly Point on the oval.  Throughout the year, we will be running various drills for responding to other types of emergency situations ie - lockdowns.    

School Vision & Mission

We have Tony Dalton & Chris Robarts joining us this Tuesday to begin work on reviewing our School Vision & Mission.  Both Chris and Tony are former Sacred Heart principals’ have worked in Leadership roles in Catholic Education for a long period of time and have great expertise around the vision and mission of Catholic schools. Chris will work with small groups of staff throughout the course of the day, whilst Tony will meet with students and parents.  We have an opportunity for parents to join a session with Tony from 9-10am.  Please contact the school office if you are willing to be a part of this discussion. Tony is a great facilitator and the session will be very casual and comfortable for those taking part.  Tony & Chris will also meet with the School Advisory Council at 5.15pm. 

School Advisory Council Meeting - Tuesday, 28th February   

Our first SAC Meeting for 2023 will be held this Tuesday evening beginning at 5.15pm.

Division Swimming - Wednesday 1st March

We wish Alana Chatfield, Niamh Fush, Johnny Guthrie, Eve Johnston, Mercedes Leal-Kaiser, Hannah Marshall, Archer Pengelly, Jesse Sinclair, Nicholas Stewart & Will Whelan all the best at Wednesday’s Division Swimming.  This event is being held at Mildura Waves.  Mr Burford will supervise students.

Dourim Parish Mass - Wednesday 1st March

Parish Masses are beginning this week with Dourim attending on Wednesday morning.  Parish Masses begin at 9.30am and are held at the church.  These are an opportunity for each class and their teacher to attend mass together joining other members of the Parish.  Parents are welcome to attend these masses.

Pupil Free Day - Friday, 3rd March

This Friday is a pupil free day with Staff focussing on School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) professional learning.  Staff will be working with Anne Ruddell from Catholic Education Ballarat.  A big focus of the day will be developing lesson plans and a Scope & Sequence for the Social Emotional curriculum.  

Assembly

Thank you to the class of Narooma (Year 6) for hosting today’s Assembly.  Due to our Pupil Free Day there will be no Assembly this week.

School Uniform

Everyone seems to be doing a great job of wearing our school uniform correctly and proudly so far this year. There are a few little things that we need to be aware of in regards to what is acceptable school attire. Please pay attention to what is acceptable in regards to Hair Styles, Jewellery, Nail Polish & Make-Up:

• The childrens’ hair is to be worn in a neat and tidy style appropriate for school.  Children with longer hair (below shoulders) or that can potentially cover their eyes are to wear it tied back or up in a ponytail, plait or some other suitable style. This includes both girls and boys. 
• Hair ribbons or scrunchies are to be of the predominant school colours of either pale or navy blue.  Claw clips, large bows, coloured hair extensions are not to be worn.

• Jewellery is not considered part of the Sacred Heart dress code and generally is not to be worn with the school uniform; this includes bracelets, bangles, rings and anklets. The following exceptions apply:

1. If your child has pierced ears:

• Plain studs or  small plain sleepers, not hoops (nothing that glitters or dangles)

• Only one stud per ear in the ear lobe
• No other body piercing adornments are permitted

     2.  A religious medal may be worn on a chain round the neck. Care must be taken to ensure that      these are worn in such a way as to be safe when the children are playing.

• Nail polish and make-up are not permitted as part of the school uniform

Mobile Phones & Smart Watches

Students are not permitted to have Mobile Phones at school or to be wearing a Smartwatch that is able to make and receive calls/text messages.  If your child needs to use one of these devices before and after school they are permitted to hand it in at the front office at the beginning of the day and pick it up at the end of the day.  Watches that are permitted at school are those that can simply ‘tell the time’. Smartwatches can be a distraction for students in the classroom, therefore they are not permitted.  

If you have any questions about what is and isn’t acceptable in regards to these School Uniform, Phones & Smartwatches, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself. 

God Bless,

Ryan O’Callaghan

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Religious Education

Project Compassion

Families have received a Project Compassion this week.  Spanning across the six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world.  Your generous support can help change lives today - and For All Future Generations.  We encourage families to support Project Compassion this year.  Boxes are due back to the school office on Thursday, 6th April.  

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 Reconciliation - Wednesday 29th November 2023 7pm SH Church

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Learning and Teaching News

Homework is intended to be learning tasks that reiterate learning that has already occurred in the classroom. It should require no extra explicit teaching and is something that children, particularly in the middle and senior units, can undertake independently.  Homework is often a contentious issue and can cause much conflict at home when tired children just want to run and play. 

In 2023, homework for each year level Prep-Year 6 will be some form of either reading, times tables practice or spelling practice. This is to reinforce important foundational skills covered in the classroom. Each year level will direct you as to what their expectation is around this.

At times, your child’s teacher may communicate with you that your child is finding a particular concept challenging. It may then be  mutually agreed that they send home some extra practice to support your child’s classroom learning. 

Reading is a wonderful activity to do as a family- just because your child can read independently doesn’t mean they always need to. You might select a novel to read together as a family so you can all share in the enjoyment of a rich text!

NAPLAN

NAPLAN arrangements are underway. If your child is in Year 3 or 5 please ensure you have read over the note that went home last week and if you have any queries or concerns contact me bniutta@shmildura.catholic.edu.au or your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

Prep Unit News

This week in Prep we have been working hard on representing numbers, identifying our emotions and the SATPIN sounds. The video below gives a fantastic example of the way to help your child with the articulation of their sounds at home. We have celebrated Shrove Tuesday by making our own Pancake People and joining with the school for the Burning of the Palms in preparation of Ash Wednesday.

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Today some children have brought home their school work books home again, could these please be covered in clear contact and returned to school on Monday. It is really important that these books are covered to keep them protected.

Reminders:

- School starts at 8:45am each day. If you are at school after 8:45am you will need to sign your child in at the office. 

- Each morning the students need to do their jobs before finding something to do.

- The school library books are to be returned on Friday. 

- Your child’s library bag needs to be at school every day - kept in their school bag.

- 2 small NAMED containers for recess and lunch so that they fit into our fridge boxes. 

- Brainfood needs to be in a NAMED small container and placed on children’s tables in the morning.

- Sports days are Tuesday and Wednesday - sports uniform is needed.

- ALL students should have their own headphones at school.

Thank you to everyone for their attendance at our Prep Reading Information Session. We hope that it was insightful and you now have an understanding about how we teach reading at Sacred Heart, as well as some tips on how to help your child when learning to read at home. Below are the links from the ‘tips’ handout…

~ This week the Prep children will be at school on Wednesday and not Friday. ~

Junior Unit News

PHEW! A warm and wonderful week is over and we are very appreciative of your support in organising our students on Monday for school photos, Tuesday for our Shrove Tuesday pancake feast and on Wednesday as we celebrated the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday.

Next week is a shorter week than usual with a school closure on Friday. We hope you all enjoy this extra day with your families.

Year One children continued to enhance their knowledge of digraphs this week building on their understanding of th (feather), th (thumb), oo (moon), oo (,book) and ng (swing). Next week they are developing a deeper understanding of sentence expansion and continuing their focus on letter formations. In Numeracy, students are focusing on understanding and using the symbols = + correctly and their automatic recall of ‘Friends of 10’(the numbers that add to 10; 1+9, 2+8, 3+7....)

In Year Two, children continue to build on their understanding of phonemes ee/ea/e_e igh/_y/i_e and word knowledge using sentence stems and conjunctions. In Numeracy, students are focusing on three digit numbers and addition.

Middle Unit News

We have had such a busy time in Week 5 with the beginning of Lent. Students have done lots of learning around what Lent is and why it is such an important time in the Catholic Church. 

Year 3 have done some wonderful learning this week in Science observing plants and their features.

Uniform

A reminder that students should be wearing their correct uniform everyday. This includes the correct socks and shoes. Boys' school shoes should be all black (no white soles or coloured ticks or writing).

Girls should not be wearing any makeup to school, this includes coloured lip glosses. Perfumes and aerosol sprays should also not be brought to school as this can trigger asthma. Hair longer than shoulder length is to be tied back. 

It is important that Sports Uniform is only worn on Sports days and that students are wearing appropriate shoes for PE sessions. Skate shoes and casual lace ups (eg: converses) are not appropriate and we ask that students wear runners.

Other reminders

• All students require a set of working, named headphones at school. Please send these in asap as it does impact learning in the classroom. 
• If students have an injury or medical reason to sit out of sport sessions we ask that parents either send along a note or email your child’s teacher/ Mr Burford. 
• A reminder that school gates don't open until 8:15am and classrooms at 8:30. Year 4 students who arrive prior to 8:30 are asked to go to the courtyard where they are supervised.

Year 4 Camp - Wednesday 15th March - Friday 17th March

Our Year 4 Camp to the amazing Roses Gap is fast approaching. Next week students will bring home a note outlining the final arrangements for the camp which will be held in Week 8. This note will also be forwarded to parents electronically. We ask you to carefully read this note and don’t hesitate to ask us any questions. 

We ask at this stage that you please email Sophie Price (sprice@shmildura.catholic.edu.au) if your child has any medications they will be bringing along on camp as well as advising if your child may experience travel sickness. 

Over the next couple of weeks classes will continue discussing camp and the arrangements so that students feel comfortable with this experience. We will go through social stories that have images of what the camp and facilities look like as well as having many opportunities for questions. If you or your child have concerns around camp please let us know so we can support all students to have a wonderful time away.

Sacred Items - Religion Show & Tell

Next week students in the Middle Unit are asked to bring something to share with their class that is sacred or special to them. If items are precious we ask that parents send us an image of this item rather than bringing the actual item in.  Ideas include a medal, photograph of family members or special gift.

Senior Unit News

Congratulations to the Senior Unit students who participated in Interschool Tennis on Wednesday. 

Year 6 

The Year 6 students are excited to receive their commemorative rugby jumper this week. If you would like to place an order or a second order please do so through Mattnifico https://www.mattnifico.com.au/ . The cost will be $68. There will be a range of sizes available to purchase (please use the sizing chart on the website). If you have any questions regarding the size, please contact Matt through the website.

Uniform

A reminder that students should be wearing their correct uniform everyday. This includes the correct socks and shoes. School shoes should be all black (no white soles or coloured ticks or writing). 

Students should not be wearing jewellery to school. Both girls and boys hair longer than shoulder length must be tired back off the face at all times. Perfumes and aerosol sprays should also not be brought to school as this can trigger asthma. 

It is important that Sports Uniform is only worn on Sports days and that students are wearing appropriate shoes for PE sessions. Skate shoes and casual lace ups (eg: converses) are not appropriate and we ask that students wear runners. 

Reminders

• All students require a set of working, named headphones at school. Please send these in asap as it does impact learning in the classroom.

Library News

Students of the Week

Cooinda -  Sonny Roberts        Wahroonga - Ari Poulton

Bundaleer -  Sienna Dean              Karinya -  Caterina Bajer

Nangare -  Aileen Kaur         Barramunga - Ty Willersdorf

Amaroo -  Alexander Henderson             Yongana - Sebastian Stoica

Mootwingee -  Emmy Guthrie        Minga - Maggie McCoy

Eumeralla -  Noah Stephens      Waminda -  McKenna Farley            Kyema - Ada McInerney

Myalla - Cristiano Cursaro        Illawarra - Paige Jukes       Narooma -  Baxter McCoy

Dourim - Jackson Evans

Ray White Positive Behaviour Awards

Respectful - Annika Madden - Hickey

Responsible -  Gianna Scullino

Responsible - Elle Njegovan

SHEC (Sacred Heart Environmental Committee 2023)

SHEC  is a special group of students who are keen to “give the environment a hand” Over the years, SHEC has done many wonderful things to help improve matters in our school environment. 

SHEC beginnings

SHEC was started a long time ago by a small number of Sacred Heart students who had attended a River Health Conference in Mildura. At this Conference they learned that many schools were involved in activities that were helping to save and look after the environment.The Sacred Heart students that attended this Conference in 1999, were so inspired by  what  they had heard and seen, they decided to  start up their own environmental group in our school.They decided to call the group.SHEC.  SHEC stood for:  Sacred Heart Environmental Committee. The first SHEC group selected the motto, “SHEC: giving the environment a hand”. to be their inspiration and guide and so, SHEC over the years did some wonderful work to help our environment and to teach their fellow students how “to give the environment a hand”. Our SHEC team also  did a lot to inspire other schools by participating in various Environmental conferences.

Unfortunately, due to the school “lockdowns”,  SHEC  could not continue their environmental activities during this period. The good news is that we are once again able to start up a SHEC group. The 2023 SHEC team will have one or two  representatives from each class. In total, SHEC 2023  will follow the motto of the original SHEC team, SHEC will meet once a week during their Thursday lunch break. 

To be selected as a SHEC member, students need to have a sincere interest in wanting to “give the environment a hand” and/or have special talents to bring into the SHEC 2023 group  

Students must be willing to  take on the job of being “an Environmental Ambassador” 

Focus for 2023 

SHEC this year will focus on recycling and will help each class to learn more about the benefits and values to the environment.  SHEC’s  job will be to e.g. do some fun KTK (Kids Teaching Kids) activities with the children in our school and to inspire the students to take on recycling activities  

We look forward to SHEC 2023 members “giving the environment a hand” 

There is great excitement among students who have been selected for SHEC 2023.

E.g. Quote by Hudson in Grade 3

It made my world to be chosen to be in SHEC”

Admin News

Dont miss this years Easter colouring competition with Banjo's Mildura.

Each Child will get a free hot cross bun when they drop their picture into the store, and will go into the draw to win an easter prize pack for their age group.

*Hard Copies available at the School Office.