ISSUE 20: July 14th, 2023

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students & Staff,

Welcome to Term Three. It is great to be back at school after taking the last six weeks of Term Two for sabbatical leave. This opportunity was a rewarding experience that will assist me professionally and personally.  Over the coming weeks I will share with the community some of the learnings that took place while I was on my trip.

I thank Mr O’Callaghan who covered me while I was on leave and I thank him for all that he has done for me to date this year.  I also thank anyone who was required to do extra during my absence.

Baby News

A big congratulations to Mrs Amilea Pacher and her husband Daniel on the safe arrival of Joseph on Friday, 23rd June.  It is great to hear that Amilea, Daniel, big sister Lucy and Joseph are all going well and enjoying this special time.

Prep Enrolments 2023

We still have five available spaces for 2023 Prep enrolments.  If you know of anyone who is interested in enrolment at Sacred Heart please get them to contact the school.

Parish Mass - Amaroo

We have Amaroo participating in the Parish Mass at the church this Wednesday 19th July. This celebration will begin at 9.30am and parents are welcome to attend.

Assembly - Yongana

Our next Assembly will be led by Yongana.  Assembly will be held in the Stadium at 2.30pm on Friday, 21st July. 

Grandparents/Special Friends Day

Grandparents/Special Friends Day will be held on Friday, 28th July. This is a special occasion on our school calendar that we all look forward to each year.  The day will begin with grandparents and special friends meeting the children at the church at 9:15am to celebrate together.  After Mass we will come back to school for morning tea.  We are seeking parents to assist with our catering on the day.  If you can assist please let the school know. 

Work Experience

Former Sacred Heart student Ryder Irvine will be joining us for Work Experience from Monday to Wednesday this week. Ryder currently attends school in Adelaide.  He will work with a range of classes over the three days.

Middle & Senior Disco

Last night we had a successful  Middle & Senior Unit School disco.  A huge thanks and praise to staff and parents who gave their time and efforts to organise another fun event for our students.

Staffing News

We officially welcome Mrs Kailla Coffey into the role of Teaching & Learning Leader.  We will also have Mrs Xana Priestley who is beginning to transition back from Maternity Leave and will begin by working and planning with Nangare on occasions.

Prep Enrolments 2024

A reminder that we have a few spaces available for Prep in 2024. If you wish to enrol a child at Sacred Heart in 2024, could you please complete and return an enrolment form in the coming weeks. Please complete an Enrolment Forms as soon as possible that is available from our school website: https://www.shmildura.catholic.edu.au/apply-now

Administration News - School Fees

Just a reminder that all school fees are to be finalised prior to 14th September.  If you are paying via your bank (Direct Credit) please ensure that payments have been made during the year and the final payment is made prior to 14th September.  It cannot be paid as a lump sum on the 14th September.  This is clearly outlined in the Fee Commitment and Payment Option form that is signed each year.

Have a great weekend everyone and God Bless!

Mark Gibson

Religious Education

2023 Sacramental Dates

First Eucharist - Year 4 & Above

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 6th September 2023 @ 7pm SH Church 

Sacrament of First Eucharist - Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd October 2023

Reconciliation - Year 2 & Above

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 11th October 2023 7pm SH Church 

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Wednesday 22nd November 2023 7pm SH Church

Learning and Teaching News

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

This term children across all year levels will focus on topics of ‘Stress Management’ and ‘Help Seeking’ during SEL lessons. These lessons follow the scope and sequence of Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships framework. While these lessons focus on the same concepts, lessons are different based on the year level being taught. 

TOPIC 5: STRESS MANAGEMENT

Children and young people experience a range of personal,

social and work-related stressors in their everyday lives.

Activities within this topic have an explicit focus on

teaching positive approaches to stress management.

Assisting students to recognise their personal signs and

symptoms of stress, and to develop strategies that will help

them to deal with stress effectively, will help students cope

with future challenges. The activities focus on the ways

in which self-calming strategies can be used to manage

stressful situations.

Teachers will also continue to refer to Zones of Regulation during the teaching of this content as a way of consolidating children’s known strategies for managing their stress or uncomfortable feelings. 

TOPIC 6: HELP-SEEKING

Learning activities in this topic area are designed to help

students discuss the importance of seeking help and

providing peer support when dealing with problems that

are too big to solve alone. This helps to normalise and de-

stigmatise help-seeking behaviour. Scenario-based activities

help students identify situations in which help should be

sought, identify trusted sources of help, and practice

seeking help from peers and adults.

Prep Unit News

Welcome back to Term 3! We trust that everyone had a lovely break and is feeling refreshed ready for an excellent term of learning

Some reminders for the beginning of term:

• Please cover the Term 3 reading diary in clear contact.
• 2 small lunch boxes: 1 for recess snacks and the other for lunch… this is so that they fit into our fridge containers.
• Students need to be at school on time each day (beginning of school is (8.45am). This allows them to settle into the morning routines and avoids disruption to learning. If you are arriving later than this time you need to come through the office and sign in.
• Show and Tell needs to be small enough to fit into the small container (if you need to know how big these are please ask) and into school bags!
• Monday = Enhanced Comprehension Book Pocket comes home and stays at home until Friday.
• Monday - Friday = Students borrow and read each night a ‘Home Reading Book’. The book is returned to school each morning for the selection of a new book. If you don’t return your book your child/ren will not be able to borrow a book.
• Monday - Friday = Reading Diary is to be at school each day. You will now need to record the ‘Home Reading Books’ in the diary each night.
• Continue practising the letter sounds with your child at home. 
• Learn all the tricky words at the back of the reading diary.

Show and tell will begin this Monday. This week the students will need to bring in a small toy to talk about.

The Preps will be celebrating their 100th day of school soon… we will be dressing up as 100 year old people (see the example below).

Junior Unit News

Welcome back to another fun filled term. Our special Grandparents Day will occur on Friday 28th July, Year One Stayback date has been set for Thursday 24th August, Year Two’s Sleepover camp is confirmed for Thursday 31st August and our Athletics Day is at the Aerodrome Ovals on Wednesday 9th August (just to name a few significant events). Each Junior Unit class will also host an Assembly, and celebrate Book Week and NAIDOC Day throughout the term.

During our Social Emotional Learning times, Junior Unit students are revisiting our school expectations and behaviours as well as learning about problem solving and stress management through games, books and discussions.

A reminder about having a brainfood snack of fruit or a vegetable for the children to eat at 10am. Please pack it separately from your child’s lunch in a small, named container so it can be placed on their table each morning. 

Our students' Library Bags, Take Home Books and Reading Diaries are needed at school each day please. Diaries are used for checking in with students: having conversations about books they have read or comments that have been written as well as monitoring reading and spelling of tricky words.

Show and Tell will begin next week (Mon for Year 1 and Fri for Year 2). A reminder to help your child/ren practise their Show and Tell as this term's themes relate closely to our school events and learning. Photos can be emailed at any time to your child/rens teacher. 

Class Library days: 

Friday- Bundaleer and Karinya (Year 1)

Friday- Nangare and Barramunga (Year 2)

 YEAR ONE

Year 1 children have been focusing on the long  vowel sounds as well as  sorting adjectives and nouns. We continue to practise reading and spelling the tricky words house, why, because, before, after, these, children, baby, work.

During Maths we have revised  the  strategy of doubles, doubles plus one and doubles plus as well as introducing  2D shapes and naming types of lines.

Middle Unit News

Welcome back to Term 3! 

Disco

We have already had a busy start to the term with the Disco on Thursday night! Thank you so much to Richard Morfaw & Bec Rudd for running our disco and playing some awesome tunes for us to dance to! Big thanks must also go to Fiona Ribarits for her coordination of the food and drinks. Thank you also to the many parents who volunteered on the night!

Year 3 Camp

Year 3 Camp is coming up later in the term. Permissions have been made available on PAM. Please respond to this as soon as possible. Further details will be provided closer to the time. If you have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s teacher.

Year 4 Homework

Year 4 students are asked to please bring their homework folder on Monday so we can set it up in preparation for Term 3 homework and nightly reading to commence. 

Uniform Reminders

As we are in the cooler months we strongly encourage students to wear their correct winter uniform. Sport uniform should be worn with navy tracksuit pants. Please note that leggings are not the correct uniform. If girls choose to wear their winter skirt they are to wear it with navy tights or their plain blue socks. Below are some examples of correct uniform.

Senior Unit News

Many of our students enjoyed the Disco last night. A big thank you to our parent helpers for the evening, especially Richard Morfaw & Bec Rudd for running our disco and keeping us dancing. A massive thank you to Fiona Ribarits for her coordination of the food and drinks. Fiona has supported our Middle/Senior Unit disco in this role for the past 17 years, we greatly appreciate her efforts. 

Year 6 Camp is in planning. Please make sure you have given consent for your child to attend. If you have any questions or concerns in attendance, please contact Mrs Thompson. 

Year 6 classes have begun their new Literature Circle books. This is our homework for term 3, please ensure that the children have completed their task by Monday’s.

A reminder PE uniform is worn twice a week. Normal school uniforms for boys require fully black shoes. Please make sure your child is in the correct school uniform on these days including footwear.

Library News

Scholastic Book Club News:

Issue #5

Book Club catalogues were sent home with students during the week. Each order contributes to Scholastic Dollars that the school can use to supplement resources. Please order via the online LOOP ordering system through the link provided or by following the instructions on the back of the catalogue. The school does not accept cash and cheques. 

Please make your order via the link: https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

Please take note of the special Issue #5 offer: Free Book Giveaway!

Orders close at the end of the day on Thursday, 27th of July and will be delivered to the school within two weeks. When the orders arrive at the SHPS library, I will sort and check the orders. Then the students will receive them from their classroom teacher/s. If you have questions or issues with Book Club, please do not hesitate to contact me rather than directly messaging Scholastic.

 Ms Zema at azema@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

Student of the Week Awards

Cooinda - Paradise Mann          Wahroonga - Annviya Jison

Bundaleer - Leo Waters               Karinya - Eli Argiro

Nangare - Levi Zara                      Barramunga - Lilliana Manno

Amaroo - Bayle Joyce                    Yongana - Madeleine Kampff                    Mootwingee - Paige Jukes

Minga - Henry Crane                     Eumeralla - Jed McDougall 

Waminda - Jaxon Thorpe             Kyema - James O'Connor                           Myalla - Ivy Hards

Illawarra - Ted McNamara           Narooma - Henry Guthrie                        Dourim - Reeve Nelson

Ray White Positive Behaviour Awards