Library News
Book Club News:
Donations:
SHPS wishes to thank the families who have donated books to the library. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Scholastic Book Club Issue #3
Book Club catalogues have been sent home with students. Each order made contributes to Scholastic Dollars that the school can use to supplement resources. Orders must be made via the online LOOP ordering system through the link provided or follow the instructions on the back of the catalogue. Cash and Cheques are NOT accepted by the school.
Scholastic Book Club order;
Orders close at the end of the day on Thursday 11th of May and will be delivered to the school within 2 weeks. The items will be distributed to children via their classroom teachers. If you have questions or issues with Book Club, please do not hesitate to contact me rather than directly messaging Scholastic.
Mrs Irvin at mirvin@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Year Six News
A warm welcome back from the holiday break. We hope that everyone enjoyed time with family and friends, and the students are refreshed and ready to begin the new term energised and enthused.
Literature Circles
This week, we have introduced Literature Circles to the reading program. This is a new strategy for students and it will require some preparation work to be done at home each week and possibly some parental support. Literature Circles involve students reading a book as part of a small group. They are expected to read an agreed upon number of pages each week (this may also be done during silent reading times at school,) so they can then discuss what has been read with their group as well as complete an assigned role. This week’s focus is summarising what has been read.
Cross Country
The Year 6 students had a great day at our School’s annual cross-country event on Wednesday. We congratulate students on their positive attitude and participation
yLead - Lead with HEART School Experience
Students in Years 5 & 6 are very fortunate to be able to participate in a ‘Lead with HEART’ In School experience with yLead next Friday. During a yLead day, students will explore leadership, develop their confidence, enhance their tool kit and create connections outside their existing network. The experience will offer a high energy environment that is inclusive, positive and offers opportunities for many students to step up and be heard.
This experience educates and empowers students to be the best they can be. Throughout the day students explore the acronym HEART, in a series of fun and zany activities, students will walk away understanding that leadership is more than a badge or title, but about the impact of their actions.
Year Five News
Welcome back to Term Two! We hope all of our Grade Five families had a relaxing break and enjoyed making special memories with family and friends!
A big congratulations to all of our students with their efforts in our Cross Country! We saw some wonderful displays of sportsmanship and enthusiasm as students supported each other and cheered for their respective houses!
This Term we will have a strong focus on handwriting with the aim for students to receive their pen licences. We also begin our Geography Unit on Natural Disasters and will be focussing on Earth & Space in our Science lessons.
Upcoming Event: yLead - Lead with HEART School Experience
Students in Years 5 & 6 are very fortunate to be able to participate in a ‘Lead with HEART’ In School experience with yLead next Friday the 26th of April. During a yLead day, students will explore leadership, develop their confidence, enhance their tool kit and create connections outside their existing network. The experience will offer a high energy environment that is inclusive, positive and offers opportunities for many students to step up and be heard.
This experience educates and empowers students to be the best they can be. Throughout the day students explore the acronym HEART, in a series of fun and zany activities, students will walk away understanding that leadership is more than a badge or title, but about the impact of their actions.
We look forward to a fun filled term together. As always, our doors are always open if you have any questions!
Year Four News
Welcome back to Term 2! We have loved being back in the classroom and hearing all about your children’s Easter holidays.
Term One finished with an awesome camp at Roses Gap. There were many experiences that were new and challenging but our children did an amazing job.
Congratulations to the students who have received their pen licence. Over this term we hope more children will earn theirs.
As this is the beginning of the term, we ask that you check with your child on whether they need to replace any of their stationary that were supplied at the beginning of the year and have been misplaced. This does not include grey or red lead pencils. Things to ask about are eraser, ruler, sharpener, scissors, textas or coloured pencils.
Year Three News
Welcome back to Term 2! We have loved being back in the classroom and hearing all about your children’s Easter holidays.
This Term Year Three will be commencing weekly homework. Over the next one to two weeks your child will bring home a homework book that focuses on 10 minutes of nightly activities that consolidate classroom learning. This homework is aimed to complement their learning and students should be able to do the activities independently. In accordance with our school’s homework policy there are no penalties for children who forget to bring their completed homework to school or don’t complete it every night. Please note this homework book will also replace the reading log that your child used last Term, students will now record their evening reading in their new homework book.
Many of our students are now ready to graduate from taking home readers to selecting ‘just right’ books in the school library. We will be supporting all students on how to choose just right books. This may take some adjustment time, if you notice that your child is bringing home books that aren’t a good fit for them, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
This Term in Week 5, we are commencing our design and technology immersion day, where students will be creating and testing marble runs in small groups! This is an exciting week, but we would love your help!
We are seeking donations of the following, to help create our marble runs!
- Tin foil and the cardboard rolls
- Cardboard (shoe boxes, tissue boxes etc)
- Milk containers
- Any other recyclables that your child may like to use.
Please note that all supplies will form part of a whole Year Three supply and shared amongst every student.
As always our classroom is open if you have any questions!
Year Two News
Welcome back to Term 2! We are very excited to see everyone looking well rested and ready to learn! Mrs Carmichael is enjoying a wonderful cruise at the moment with Mr Carmichael - we look forward to seeing her amazing photos when she returns! In the meantime, Mrs Neyland and Mr Bower are looking after Barramunga.
Barramunga have also welcomed a new student this term, Olympia Jordan, and look forward to getting to know her.
All children should be commended for their wonderful behaviour and attitude on Wednesday for our school Cross Country! Well done to everyone for an amazing effort!
Show and Tell for week 2 will be the EVEN group and the focus is “What would your ideal day at school be like?” We are currently learning all about persuasive texts in Literacy so the children are asked to choose 3 subjects or activities that would make their day at school ideal and then PERSUADE their classmates by giving some convincing reasons! Feel free to help your child make up a list of reasons, or a poster, or just be prepared to orally share these reasons!
In maths this term we will be continuing our work on place value, the four operations as well as learning more about money. Even though so many of us rarely carry cash these days, it is still vitally important that children are aware of the value of our Australian coins and notes. Children are encouraged to look at coins and notes at home and chat about the value of these and if they have the opportunity to spend some coins at the shops, please encourage them to take notice of what they are using and whether they receive any change.
Children have all received a new diary for Term 2, please cover with clear contact at your earliest convenience! Just a reminder that the Enhanced Comprehension packs go home on a Monday and read each night, following the suggested questioning, and returned on Fridays.
Foundation News
Welcome back to Term 2! We trust everyone had a lovely break and is ready for a fun-filled term of learning and experiences.
Well done to all of our Preps on competing in their very first Cross Country.
Our Prep Breakfast is coming up… Friday 17th May. A note with all the necessary information will come home closer to the date.
Our Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 10th May. Please make your payment through CDF Pay.
Reminders:
- All children should have headphones at school (named)
- 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.
- Your child’s library bag needs to be at school every day - kept in their school bag.
- Sports days are Thursday and Friday - sports uniform is needed.
- Practise the sounds caterpillars and fluency chart each night.
- Read and record ‘Enhanced Comprehension’ and ‘Reader’ in the reading diary each night.
- Library books are to be returned to school on Fridays.
- Sounds to continue practising with your child/ren at home: s, a, t, p, i, n, m, r, f, o.
This term we are learning about the Creation Story in Religion, Addition and Subtraction in Maths and lots more sounds in Literacy… plus much, much more. Our Integrated Studies topic this term is The Changing Environment. This is a Science unit. Today we have sent home a ‘knowledge organiser’ for The Changing Environment Unit. It has key terminology that students will hear during learning and will also be a good way to start conversations with your child about what they’re learning.
Here are some photos of how we have returned to school for term 2… ENJOY!
Mother's Day Stall
Our Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 10th May and students will be able to purchase an item from the stall for $5. Parents can make payment through CDF Pay (which has been set up) or some may choose to bring in cash. Children will come as a class to the stall and choose from a range of items that will be available. If you are free and would like to help we will require parent helpers on the stall between 8:30am & 11am, please contact the office and leave your contact details and the time you are available. All money raised is used to purchase resources for your children.
Wellbeing
Resilience is one of those skills that all kids need and should have. It refers to their ability to cope and adapt in situations when confronted with challenges such as adversity, trauma, tragedy, or even stress. It is essential to their mental health and wellbeing as part of their journey to adulthood. It is a skill that can be learned from an early age through the support of an adult role model.
However, being resilient does not mean your child won't experience any difficulties, but it will better equip them to manage those situations. Over-protective parenting can be viewed as being unhelpful towards the building of resilience. Although this may be a natural instinct, potentially experiencing failure is all part of the process. Encouraging children to take healthy risks will help them trust their capacity to deal with uncomfortable situations and increase their capacity for courage.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will gain an understanding of how to support their child’s brave behaviour to help them adapt and build resilience.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Resilience edition of SchoolTV
Parent Information
Arriving and Leaving Safely
Kiss & Go
To help keep everyone safe during drop-off and pick-up please take note of the following rules at Kiss and Go and the School Crossing that should be followed both in the morning (8:10-8:45am) and afternoon (3pm-3:30pm):
- Stay in your vehicle unless you need to assist younger students with their seat belts.
- Aim to keep your car in the Kiss & Go area for a maximum of two minutes to allow others to use the space too.
- Access the Kiss & Go only from Olive Grove, not 12th Street.
- Please refrain from dropping off students outside of cars in Olive Grove.
- Avoid performing U-turns within the Kiss & Go area.
- For your safety, use the school crossing if you need to cross 12th Street.
Thanks for helping us keep our school safe for everyone!
Pick Up and Drop Off Points
These designated areas serve as convenient points for collecting or dropping off children at the school if you are walking in with them. Please ensure you find a suitable and permissible parking spot for your car in order to use these locations.
Riding Scooters & Bikes
Certain students walk, ride bikes, or scooters to school and are requested to use either the 12th Street entrance or the Tamarisk Grove entrance at the rear of the oval. Riding into or through the school grounds is not permitted.
Collect Children from School Grounds
Feel free to come into school to pick up your child directly from their classroom. It's an excellent opportunity to meet other parents, have casual conversations with teachers, and ensure your child is organised at the end of the day. If you choose this option, please park appropriately and be outside the classroom by the 3.10 bell; otherwise, your child will be directed to the supervised Kiss and Go area. Students and young siblings should refrain from using the playground equipment.
School Crossings
Students walking home are advised to use the school crossings on Twelfth Street, Walnut Avenue and Eleventh Street to safely avoid heavily trafficked roads. All crossings are supervised by a School Crossing Supervisor, and it's crucial to follow their directions. We also encourage parents to model expected behaviours by using the School Crossings also.
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.
Drop Off Times
Preferred 'Drop Off' Time: 8.25 - 8.45 am. For safety reasons, please refrain from dropping off students before 8.19 am, as there is no supervision provided. Our gates open at this time.
Pick Up Times
Recommended 'Pick Up' Time: 3.10 - 3.25 PM. While we understand occasional delays, if regular or extending beyond 3.30 PM, please consider enrolling your child/ren in After School Care.
Walking or Riding Home
If your children walk or ride home or to your workplace after school, please submit written permission authorising them to leave unaccompanied. They must exit through the main 12th Street gate or accompany the 11th Street bus group through Tamarisk Grove.
Alternative Pick Up Places
For safety, we strongly advise against arrangements where children wait unsupervised at public pick-up locations like Walnut Avenue or St Joseph’s College.
EATING AND DRINKING AT SCHOOL
Healthy Eating
To sustain learning and promote healthy eating we encourage students to bring to school predominantly healthy food choices.
Brainfood
Students have a brain food break during the morning to keep children’s brains fuelled for learning. We ask that families send an extra fresh fruit or vegetable snack for children to have during this time. When sending the snack, please pack it separately from your child’s lunch in a small, named container so it can be placed on their desk each morning.
Lunch Snack
The main meal of the school day; a sandwich or roll, a salad or a slice of quiche. A healthy ‘treat’ may also be appropriate here that is healthy and gives long-term energy. Lunch is eaten usually in the classroom from 11:25am-11:40am.
Recess Snack
We encourage parents to pack fresh fruit or vegetables in your child’s recess snack box. You may like to pack one or two other snack items for them at this time. This snack is eaten at 1:40pm.
Packing Food
The school has a bank of refrigerators for the storage of students’’ food. For the ease of packing and unloading the fridges, we ask that parents provide separate, small, well-labelled containers or zip-lock bags for their child’s recess snack and lunch. Insulated ‘puffy’ lunchboxes and ice-blocks are not required.
School Canteen
Our School Canteen operates on a Wednesday and Friday and provides a range of lunch options at low cost. The current menu and prices can be accessed through and ordered via the CDFpay website https://shmildura.cdfpay.org.au
OFFICE INFORMATION
Office Hours
Office hours will run from 8:20am to 4:00pm every day. Phone calls can be made starting at 8:00 am.
Change of Personal Details
If there are any changes to your contact details (address/phone number/emergency contacts), kindly inform the office by calling 50231204, emailing office@shmildura.catholic.edu.au, or visiting the office in person.
Simon Everywhere and Parent Access Module (PAM)
Simon Everywhere is an App for smart phones that allows parents to access all information relating to their child/ren such as reports, attendance and much more. It also allows you to update medical information, give permission for excursions, access teacher emails and also receive notifications from the school.
For parents familiar with PAM, the new App works mostly the same as PAM and you can still access PAM through the web site: pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au, however the app has additional functionality such as Push notifications and the ability to sign in without having to enter your username and password each time.
- Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search Simon Everywhere
- Download and open the App and Allow Notifications
- Enter your name and phone number and press verify, you will receive a code via SMS
- Click on 'Add School'
- Select Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura - Parent Access
- Enter your PAM username and password. If you do not know your credentials, please call the school.
Click on the Home icon.
Simon everywhere works best when notifications are turned on. You can check the notifications setting on your phone to be sure by going to the Settings – Notifications – Then find the Simon Everywhere App.
Sickness at School
Children with severe colds, flus, or other debilitating illnesses must stay at home. Do not send the child if they have:
- Fever: Children with a fever over 38 degrees should stay home.
- Prescribed antibiotics: Keep a child at home for at least 24 hours if prescribed antibiotics for an acute illness.
- Diarrhea: Children with watery stool should return only after being symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
- Vomiting: Children who are vomiting should stay home until at least 24 hours after it has stopped.
After School Care
After School Care is available for Sacred Heart students and is located on our school grounds. Camp Australia run this program for students from Sacred Heart Primary School and St Paul's Primary School. The program runs from the Art House building which is located on Olive Grove.
Sacred Heart families can make use of the Camp Australia After-School Care Program that is held on the grounds of Sacred Heart. The service is available from 3:10pm through to 6pm on school days. A healthy snack is provided to children. Registration needs to be done through the Camp Australia website www.campaustralia.com.au . Further information can be obtained by calling 1300 105 343. Each day the office will print out a list of students attending Out of Hours School Care and notify the students at the end of the day via the announcements.
Marking Child’s Absence
- Log into the App - SimonEverywhere or login via PAM (type pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au in your address bar).
- You can either log by clicking on the large blue calendar section that says Parent Notified Absences or you can click on the 3 menu lines at the top right-hand side of your screen. NOTE: On your phone it will appear below your child/ren’s name.
- You will then need to click the blue + Add Absence button circled below
- Then select your child, and in reason
If your family is going on an extended family holiday. Please contact the school to inquire about an Student Absence Learning Plan.
School Day
- 8:19 am - Gates open & students can access Courtyard
- 8:34 am - Access Courtyard and play on Oval (classrooms opening optional for teachers)
- 8.49 am - School day begins - classroom open
- 8:55 am - School starts.
- 9.55 am - Brain Break
- 10:55 am - Lunch Play
- 11.25 am - Lunch Eat
- 1.40 pm - Recess
- 2.10 pm - Recess Finishes
- 3.10 pm - School finishes
Sports Uniform Days
Prep:
- Cooinda (Mrs O’Callaghan) - Thursday & Friday
- Wahroonga (Miss Moore) - Thursday & Friday
Year One:
- Bundaleer (Mrs Coffey & Mrs Priestley) - Tuesday & Wednesday
- Karinya (Mrs Groves) - Tuesday & Wednesday
Year Two:
- Barramunga (Mrs Carmichael) - Tuesday & Friday
- Waminda (Mrs Collins) - Monday & Friday
Year Three:
- Narooma (Mrs Beckwith) - Monday & Tuesday
- Dourim (Mrs Kotsiakos & Mrs Irvin) - Monday & Thursday
Year Four:
- Illawarra (Mrs Willersdorf) - Monday & Tuesday
- Myalla (Mrs Rowles) - Monday & Wednesday
- Kyema (Mrs Johnson) - Monday & Thursday
Year Five:
- Minga (Mrs Deacon) - Monday & Wednesday
- Eumeralla (Mrs Gunn & Mrs Pacher) - Monday & Wednesday
Year Six:
- Amaroo (Mrs Campbell) - Tuesday & Friday
- Yongana (Mrs Zaxos) - Monday & Friday
- Mootwingee (Mrs Thompson) - Thursday & Friday
Term Dates
Period | Start | Finish | Length |
Term 1 | Monday 29 January (Students start 30 January) | Thursday 28 March | 9 weeks |
Term 2 | Monday 15 April | Friday 28 June | 11 weeks |
Term 3 | Monday 15 July | Friday 20 September | 10 weeks |
Term 4 | Monday 7 October | Friday 20 December (Students likely finish Wednesday 18th December but is yet to be confirmed) | 11 weeks |
Year One News
Term Two has begun with a fun and busy week of activities and learning experiences. We are all very excited for the Year One Stayback next Wednesday 24th April.
In preparation for the day, the students have begun their Term Two Art by making Tie Dye T-Shirts which they will wear on Wednesday evening. A reminder to please respond to the permission on PAM and to read the information on the note carefully about what students need to bring to school on their Stayback day.
Well done to all of the students on their effort and behaviour at Cross Country on Wednesday. It was a wonderful morning with many smiles, acts of kindness and persistence shown by the Year One students.
Year One students received their Show and Tell schedule and Term 2 Diary this week. We encourage nightly reading and practising spelling the tricky words which are located in the back of the students' diaries.
Religious Education
2024 Sacramental Dates
Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 & Above)
- Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th May
Sacrament of First Eucharist (Year 4 & Above)
- Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 28th August
- Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)
- Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 16th October
- Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November
Learning and Teaching
Structured Literacy - The Simple View of Reading
As you would be aware, our literacy instruction at Sacred Heart is driven by the Structured Literacy methodology. This is a highly researched and recommended teaching pedagogy that is considered best practice for Literacy instruction. This explicit, teacher driven methodology is underpinned by The Simple View of Reading. Take a look at the video below to learn more about the research behind this methodology. The Simple View of Reading
SWPBS News
As we return to school ready for an exciting and busy Term 2 our SWPBS focus this week will be to revisit our classroom expectations and routines.
Effective classroom procedures and routines offer many benefits to students. Students who know how they should act in the classroom can be more successful because they can learn and achieve more. Students will spend more time learning instead of getting ready for class or asking questions about what they should do because you've streamlined the process for daily tasks. The benefits of classroom routines and procedures include:
Creates consistency: Your students will learn what to expect when you're consistent. Routine consistency fosters a positive learning environment because the same rules apply to everyone so no one can be discriminated against or favoured.
Reduces classroom distractions: An established routine will lessen student movement in the classroom or direct it where you want it to go. When the students know what they're supposed to be doing, it will also reduce distractions. If someone comes to class late, they can easily catch up without disrupting the class because they know the class structure.
Boosts focus and engagement: Students will become familiar with the classroom flow and what comes next, making it easier for them to be focussed and engaged.
Principal Message
Gospel Reflection
As we approach the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, we reflect on the comforting imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who guides, protects, and cares for his flock. In this season of renewal and hope, let us take comfort in the knowledge that we are lovingly watched over and guided by our compassionate Savior. Just as the Good Shepherd knows each of his sheep by name, so too does Jesus know and cherish each one of us. As parents and members of the Sacred Heart Primary School community, let us strive to emulate the qualities of the Good Shepherd by caring for one another with compassion, kindness, and selflessness. May we find solace in the arms of our loving Shepherd and follow his example of love and service in our daily lives.
What’s on Next Week (Term 2 Week 2)
Monday 23rd April | School Sports Victoria Team Vic Trials |
Wednesday 24th April | Year 1 Stayback |
Thursday 25th April | ANZAC Day Public Holiday Student Leadership Team represent school @ Henderson Park 11.30am |
Friday 26th April | Year 7 St Joseph’s College Enrolment Closes Year 5/6 Leadership Day facilitated by Y-Lead |
Coming Up in Week 3
Catholic Education Week (29th April to 3rd May)
Tuesday 30th April | School Advisory Council Mtg 5:15pm |
Wednesday 1st May | 2025 Foundation Open Day Tours 9:30am, 12pm and 5:30pm School Hats not required to be worn during lunch & recess |
Thursday 2nd May | School Sports Victoria Division Cross Country @ Aero Ovals 9:50am |
Friday 3rd May | Catholic Education Mass with other schools in the Parish of St Anne & Joachim @ SH Church 10am Minga Assembly @ 2:30pm |
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,
Students have settled into the new term splendidly, with a fantastic cross country event this Wednesday. Congratulations to all our students for their exceptional performances, showcasing their dedication and giving it their all on the day, while also cheering on their fellow runners. A big shoutout to Mr. Burford for organizing the event and to all the parents who came out to support their children. Special congratulations to Murray who were the winning team, and to all our place getters across the different age groups. Great job, everyone!
2024 Foundation Open Day Tours
Join us for our Open Day Tours for families considering enrolling at Sacred Heart for Foundation in 2024! Tours will be held on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, at 9:30 am, 12 pm, and 5:30 pm. It's a fantastic chance for new families to experience our learning environment and for parents to connect with each other as we prepare for a seamless transition to school. To book a tour, please complete the form by clicking here.
2024 Foundation Enrolment
We're excited to announce that enrolment for new Foundation students in 2025 has begun! If you're interested, you can inquire, apply, and schedule tours by clicking here. The deadline for enrolments is Friday, May 31st, 2024, at 4 pm. We encourage our current families to apply now through the school website link provided above. If you know any new families considering Sacred Heart for their child, please share this information about our enrolment process with them. An advertising campaign for all Catholic schools will be starting from this week to promote enrolling children in Catholic schools.
New Families
We welcome the following new students, along with their families to Sacred Heart this term - Olympia Jordan (Barramunga), Sebastijan Krivec (Karinya), Franceska Krivec (Kyema) & Veronika Krivec (Minga).
Year One Stayback
We extend our best wishes to our Year One students for their upcoming Year One Stayback event on Wednesday. Students will enjoy a morning of swimming, followed by a day and evening filled with exciting activities. For further details, please refer to the Year 1 Report. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your child's classroom teacher.
ANZAC Day Public Holiday
On Thursday, we observe ANZAC Day with a public holiday. Our Student Leadership Team, along with Mr. O'Callaghan and I, will be representing the school at the 11:30 am service held at Henderson Park. Staff and students are warmly invited to join us if they would like to pay their respects. Lest we forget.
St Joseph’s College Enrolment Closes
This message is primarily directed to our Year 6 families. Enrolments for St. Joseph's College will be closing on Friday. Please ensure all necessary paperwork is submitted if you are interested in enrolling at the school.
Year 5/6 Leadership Day
Next Friday, our Year 5 & 6 students will engage in a Leadership Day led by yLead. The theme, "Lead With Heart," will guide students in discovering the qualities of respectful, courageous, and positive leadership within our school community. For more information, please see the Year 5 and Year 6 news section below.
Thumbs Up Morning Tea
We will celebrate our First Thumbs Up in the yard afternoon tea next Friday April 27th.
God Bless!
Mr Mark Gibson
2024 Dates of Interest
| Wednesday 24th April | Year One Stayback |
| Wednesday 1st May | Open Day Tours 9:30am, 12pm & 5:30pm |
| Tuesday 28th May | Junior Unit Social 5:15pm-6:45pm Year 3-6 Disco 7:30pm-8:30pm |
| Friday 7th June | Pupil Free Day - ‘Catholic Identity’ |
| Friday 21st June | School Feast Day |
| Friday 19th July | Pupil Free Day - ‘Structured Literacy’ |
| Friday 2nd August | Grandparents’ Day |
| Thursday-Friday 8th-9th August | Year 2 Sleepover |
| Thursday 15th - Friday 16th August | Year 3 Swan Hill Camp |
| Wednesday 28th August | Athletics Carnival @ Aero Ovals |
| Monday 14th - Thursday 19th September | Year 6 Melbourne Camp |
| Monday 14th - Wednesday 16th October | Year 5 Ballarat Camp |
| Thursday 12th December | End of Year Graduation Mass |
Principals Awards
Our Term 1 Principal's Awards were announced atassembly on the last day of Term 1. Well done to these outstanding students.
Wellbeing
School TV
Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting relating to youth mental health and wellbeing. Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges being faced by young people today.
Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and browse a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps and other videos.
This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting those conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.
Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person's life and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.
Explore SchoolTV today!
Parent Information
Arriving and Leaving Safely
Kiss & Go
To help keep everyone safe during drop-off and pick-up please take note of the following rules at Kiss and Go and the School Crossing that should be followed both in the morning (8:10-8:45am) and afternoon (3pm-3:30pm):
- Stay in your vehicle unless you need to assist younger students with their seat belts.
- Aim to keep your car in the Kiss & Go area for a maximum of two minutes to allow others to use the space too.
- Access the Kiss & Go only from Olive Grove, not 12th Street.
- Please refrain from dropping off students outside of cars in Olive Grove.
- Avoid performing U-turns within the Kiss & Go area.
- For your safety, use the school crossing if you need to cross 12th Street.
Thanks for helping us keep our school safe for everyone!
Pick Up and Drop Off Points
These designated areas serve as convenient points for collecting or dropping off children at the school if you are walking in with them. Please ensure you find a suitable and permissible parking spot for your car in order to use these locations.
Riding Scooters & Bikes
Certain students walk, ride bikes, or scooters to school and are requested to use either the 12th Street entrance or the Tamarisk Grove entrance at the rear of the oval. Riding into or through the school grounds is not permitted.
Collect Children from School Grounds
Feel free to come into school to pick up your child directly from their classroom. It's an excellent opportunity to meet other parents, have casual conversations with teachers, and ensure your child is organised at the end of the day. If you choose this option, please park appropriately and be outside the classroom by the 3.10 bell; otherwise, your child will be directed to the supervised Kiss and Go area. Students and young siblings should refrain from using the playground equipment.
School Crossings
Students walking home are advised to use the school crossings on Twelfth Street, Walnut Avenue and Eleventh Street to safely avoid heavily trafficked roads. All crossings are supervised by a School Crossing Supervisor, and it's crucial to follow their directions. We also encourage parents to model expected behaviours by using the School Crossings also.
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.
Drop Off Times
Preferred 'Drop Off' Time: 8.25 - 8.45 am. For safety reasons, please refrain from dropping off students before 8.19 am, as there is no supervision provided. Our gates open at this time.
Pick Up Times
Recommended 'Pick Up' Time: 3.10 - 3.25 PM. While we understand occasional delays, if regular or extending beyond 3.30 PM, please consider enrolling your child/ren in After School Care.
Walking or Riding Home
If your children walk or ride home or to your workplace after school, please submit written permission authorising them to leave unaccompanied. They must exit through the main 12th Street gate or accompany the 11th Street bus group through Tamarisk Grove.
Alternative Pick Up Places
For safety, we strongly advise against arrangements where children wait unsupervised at public pick-up locations like Walnut Avenue or St Joseph’s College.
EATING AND DRINKING AT SCHOOL
Healthy Eating
To sustain learning and promote healthy eating we encourage students to bring to school predominantly healthy food choices.
Brainfood
Students have a brain food break during the morning to keep children’s brains fuelled for learning. We ask that families send an extra fresh fruit or vegetable snack for children to have during this time. When sending the snack, please pack it separately from your child’s lunch in a small, named container so it can be placed on their desk each morning.
Lunch Snack
The main meal of the school day; a sandwich or roll, a salad or a slice of quiche. A healthy ‘treat’ may also be appropriate here that is healthy and gives long-term energy. Lunch is eaten usually in the classroom from 11:25am-11:40am.
Recess Snack
We encourage parents to pack fresh fruit or vegetables in your child’s recess snack box. You may like to pack one or two other snack items for them at this time. This snack is eaten at 1:40pm.
Packing Food
The school has a bank of refrigerators for the storage of students’’ food. For the ease of packing and unloading the fridges, we ask that parents provide separate, small, well-labelled containers or zip-lock bags for their child’s recess snack and lunch. Insulated ‘puffy’ lunchboxes and ice-blocks are not required.
School Canteen
Our School Canteen operates on a Wednesday and Friday and provides a range of lunch options at low cost. The current menu and prices can be accessed through and ordered via the CDFpay website https://shmildura.cdfpay.org.au
OFFICE INFORMATION
Office Hours
Office hours will run from 8:20am to 4:00pm every day. Phone calls can be made starting at 8:00 am.
Change of Personal Details
If there are any changes to your contact details (address/phone number/emergency contacts), kindly inform the office by calling 50231204, emailing office@shmildura.catholic.edu.au, or visiting the office in person.
Simon Everywhere and Parent Access Module (PAM)
Simon Everywhere is an App for smart phones that allows parents to access all information relating to their child/ren such as reports, attendance and much more. It also allows you to update medical information, give permission for excursions, access teacher emails and also receive notifications from the school.
For parents familiar with PAM, the new App works mostly the same as PAM and you can still access PAM through the web site: pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au, however the app has additional functionality such as Push notifications and the ability to sign in without having to enter your username and password each time.
- Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search Simon Everywhere
- Download and open the App and Allow Notifications
- Enter your name and phone number and press verify, you will receive a code via SMS
- Click on 'Add School'
- Select Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura - Parent Access
- Enter your PAM username and password. If you do not know your credentials, please call the school.
Click on the Home icon.
Simon everywhere works best when notifications are turned on. You can check the notifications setting on your phone to be sure by going to the Settings – Notifications – Then find the Simon Everywhere App.
Sickness at School
Children with severe colds, flus, or other debilitating illnesses must stay at home. Do not send the child if they have:
- Fever: Children with a fever over 38 degrees should stay home.
- Prescribed antibiotics: Keep a child at home for at least 24 hours if prescribed antibiotics for an acute illness.
- Diarrhea: Children with watery stool should return only after being symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
- Vomiting: Children who are vomiting should stay home until at least 24 hours after it has stopped.
After School Care
After School Care is available for Sacred Heart students and is located on our school grounds. Camp Australia run this program for students from Sacred Heart Primary School and St Paul's Primary School. The program runs from the Art House building which is located on Olive Grove.
Sacred Heart families can make use of the Camp Australia After-School Care Program that is held on the grounds of Sacred Heart. The service is available from 3:10pm through to 6pm on school days. A healthy snack is provided to children. Registration needs to be done through the Camp Australia website www.campaustralia.com.au . Further information can be obtained by calling 1300 105 343. Each day the office will print out a list of students attending Out of Hours School Care and notify the students at the end of the day via the announcements.
Marking Child’s Absence
- Log into the App - SimonEverywhere or login via PAM (type pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au in your address bar).
- You can either log by clicking on the large blue calendar section that says Parent Notified Absences or you can click on the 3 menu lines at the top right-hand side of your screen. NOTE: On your phone it will appear below your child/ren’s name.
- You will then need to click the blue + Add Absence button circled below
- Then select your child, and in reason
If your family is going on an extended family holiday. Please contact the school to inquire about an Student Absence Learning Plan.
School Day
- 8:19 am - Gates open & students can access Courtyard
- 8:34 am - Access Courtyard and play on Oval (classrooms opening optional for teachers)
- 8.49 am - School day begins - classroom open
- 8:55 am - School starts.
- 9.55 am - Brain Break
- 10:55 am - Lunch Play
- 11.25 am - Lunch Eat
- 1.40 pm - Recess
- 2.10 pm - Recess Finishes
- 3.10 pm - School finishes
Sports Uniform Days
Prep:
- Cooinda (Mrs O’Callaghan) - Thursday & Friday
- Wahroonga (Miss Moore) - Thursday & Friday
Year One:
- Bundaleer (Mrs Coffey & Mrs Priestley) - Tuesday & Wednesday
- Karinya (Mrs Groves) - Tuesday & Wednesday
Year Two:
- Barramunga (Mrs Carmichael) - Tuesday & Friday
- Waminda (Mrs Collins) - Monday & Friday
Year Three:
- Narooma (Mrs Beckwith) - Monday & Tuesday
- Dourim (Mrs Kotsiakos & Mrs Irvin) - Monday & Thursday
Year Four:
- Illawarra (Mrs Willersdorf) - Monday & Tuesday
- Myalla (Mrs Rowles) - Monday & Wednesday
- Kyema (Mrs Johnson) - Monday & Thursday
Year Five:
- Minga (Mrs Deacon) - Monday & Wednesday
- Eumeralla (Mrs Gunn & Mrs Pacher) - Monday & Wednesday
Year Six:
- Amaroo (Mrs Campbell) - Tuesday & Friday
- Yongana (Mrs Zaxos) - Monday & Friday
- Mootwingee (Mrs Thompson) - Thursday & Friday
Term Dates
Period | Start | Finish | Length |
Term 1 | Monday 29 January (Students start 30 January) | Thursday 28 March | 9 weeks |
Term 2 | Monday 15 April | Friday 28 June | 11 weeks |
Term 3 | Monday 15 July | Friday 20 September | 10 weeks |
Term 4 | Monday 7 October | Friday 20 December (Students likely finish Wednesday 18th December but is yet to be confirmed) | 11 weeks |
Year One News
We have had such a fantastic first term of learning and getting to know one another in Year One, we cannot believe how quickly the term has flown. We thank you for your support towards your child at school and thank you for your dedication with nightly reading. We have already seen students' reading abilities expand and their love for reading becoming more apparent.
Throughout Term One our main Literacy focuses were blending phonemes and identifying digraphs, looking at syllables in words, identifying fragments and sentences, writing super sentences, understanding nouns and verbs, handwriting on 24mm dotted thirds with correct letter formation and sizing, reading and writing high frequency words with an understanding of the ‘tricky’ part and sequencing stories.
Our main Numeracy focuses were reading, writing and understanding number and place value to 100, use of hundreds charts and number lines to identify numbers, data representation and interpretation, informally measuring length and describing duration of time using months, weeks, days and hours.
Our History and Health focus was ‘Then and Now’ with the key inquiry question: How has family life changed over time? We compared life in the past, present and future; Family connections; Special celebrations; How times have changed; Personal growth and changes as well as stages of life. A highlight was the incursion with Historian Bob Walton. We celebrated this learning by playing olden day games in our last class sport session. The students had such a fun time playing hopscotch, marbles, elastics, skipping ropes, hoops, knucklebones and tic tac toe.
Throughout our Social Emotional Learning lessons, we focused on The Zones of Regulation, Emotional Literacy and Personal Strengths. During Religious studies, the students learnt about Relationships, Christian Ethics: Personal and Social, Prayer, Liturgy, Sacraments, Lent and Holy Week.
Early Term 2
Wednesday April 17th: Cross Country. Sacred Heart Primary School are hosting their annual Cross Country event at the Aerodrome ovals where the children will run 1 km.
Wednesday April 24th: Year One Stayback. Please check your child’s bag for a note that was sent home during the last week of Term 1 regarding the Year One Stayback. If you need another copy, or would like some more information, please email your child’s teacher.
We hope you have all had a blessed Easter and restful, happy and safe time with your family.
We look forward to seeing Year One students and families again in Term Two on Monday 15th April.
Religious Education
2024 Sacramental Dates
Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 & Above)
- Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th May
Sacrament of First Eucharist (Year 4 & Above)
- Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 28th August
- Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)
- Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 16th October
- Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November
Learning Diversity
Vision & Hearning Checks
Hearing and vision screenings are critically important for children as they play a pivotal role in their overall development and academic success. Imagine your child struggling to follow classroom discussions or constantly squinting at books – undiagnosed hearing or vision issues can hinder their learning and social interaction.
Early screenings can identify problems like hearing impairments or nearsightedness, which could go unnoticed. For example, if your child has an undetected hearing problem, they may have trouble understanding instructions, affecting their academic progress and self-esteem. Similarly, untreated vision issues can lead to difficulties in reading, impacting their educational performance.
