Sacred Heart Primary School Mildura eNewsletter

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and Friends

Yet another busy week and many wonderful learning experiences for our students. Keep up the great work everyone! There’s more fun to come over the next few weeks.

Year 3 Swan Hill Camp

Our Year Three students have enjoyed a fantastic Camp in Swan Hill over the last two days. I would like to congratulate all students for their excellent behaviour and participation in the camp activities. A big thanks to the supervising teachers in Mrs Willersdorf, Mrs Whitehouse, Mrs Beckwith, Mr Barbary, Mrs Bax and Mr Gibson, for their organisation and coordination of the camp, along with Middle Unit Leader Miss Price. I’m sure students will sleep well over the weekend!

Book Week

This week we celebrate CBCA Book Week with the theme of “Read, Grow, Inspire”. Thank you to Ms Zema (Library) for her planning and organisation for Book Week. This is a great opportunity to promote the importance of reading at school and at home, and recognise the enjoyment that comes from reading a good book. Classes will focus on various Book Week activities throughout the week and we will have a special Book Week Assembly on Friday.

Book Week Dress Up - Friday 25th August

All students are encouraged to dress up on Friday as their favourite book character. We look forward to seeing some great costumes!

District Basketball & Softball - Tuesday 22nd August

We wish our boys and girls Basketball & Softball teams all the best at Tuesday’s District Basketball & Softball. Basketball is being played at the Mildura Sporting Precinct and Softball is being played at the Old Aerodrome Ovals. Students will be transported to and from this event via bus. Mr Burford & Mrs Thompson will attend with the Basketball teams and Mr Barbary & Mrs Campbell with the Softball teams. Good luck!

Year One Stayback - Thursday 24th August

We wish our Year One students all the best for this Thursday’s Year One Stayback. Students will participate in swimming on Thursday morning along with many fun activities throughout the day and evening. See the Junior Unit Report for more details and contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions

Division Golf - Friday 25th August

Division Golf is being held on Friday at the Mildura Golf Club. Daisy Barber, Henry Guthrie, Oliver Hobbs, Harvey O’Brien, Jesse Sinclair, Lacey Coffey & Cooper Bush have been selected to represent our school at this event. We wish them all the best.

SWPBIS Acceptance Focus

Well done to all students on your efforts to show ACCEPTANCE in all aspects of learning this week. Staff will continue to teach these expected behaviours, provide regular reminders for students and acknowledge students who are demonstrating ACCEPTANCE in both the classroom and the yard. Our commendations continue to accumulate. We will keep adding to this tally and when we have a tally of 2000 we will look at having an event where we acknowledge all students.

School Closure Days

Our Pupil Free and School Closure Days between now and the end of the year are listed below:

Monday 6th November: School Closure Day
Wednesday 8th November: Structured Literacy Pupil Free Day
Friday 15th December: Last day for students
Monday 18th December: 2024 Staff Preparation
Tuesday 19th December: RE Pupil Free Day
Wednesday 20th December: School Closure Day

Assembly

Thank you to Year Two Barramunga for hosting today’s Assembly. Year 3/4 Student Leaders along with the support of Mrs Collins, Mrs Coffey & Ms Zema will be hosting next week’s Book Week Assembly. Assembly will be held in the Stadium at 2.30pm. All are welcome.

Have an enjoyable weekend,

God Bless!

Ryan O’Callaghan

SWPBIS BLITZ

As part of our commitment to creating a respectful, responsible, and safe learning environment, we have developed a School Wide Positive Behavior Matrix. This matrix outlines the expected behaviours of being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe that we strive to see from every member of our school community.

Over the next week, we will continue our special focus from our Matrix on the value of ACCEPTANCE. We firmly believe that fostering a sense of acceptance is crucial in creating an inclusive and harmonious environment for everyone.

During this period, students in all classes will be engaging in discussions and activities centred around the concept of acceptance. We will be exploring various ways to demonstrate acceptance, including:

Kind and Friendly Communication: Students will learn the importance of using kind and friendly words when interacting with others.
Inclusion: Students will discover the power of including others in their activities and interactions in a kind and friendly manner.
Helping Others: Students will understand how assisting others in a kind and friendly way can contribute to a positive atmosphere.
Respecting Differences: The significance of respecting and appreciating the diversity among our peers will be emphasised.

To enhance this learning experience, we will be utilising videos that illustrate both positive and negative examples of displaying acceptance. By observing these scenarios, students will gain a deeper understanding of how their actions impact the overall atmosphere at school.

As we introduce these behaviours, we encourage our students to actively model them within the school environment. Our dedicated teachers will be on the lookout for instances of acceptance, providing constructive feedback, and acknowledging those who embody this expectation.

To make the process even more engaging, classes and units will have the opportunity to work towards a collective goal. Rewards such as free time, movie afternoons, or other fun activities will serve as incentives for demonstrating consistent acts of acceptance.

We are enthusiastic about the potential of this initiative to further enrich our school community and strengthen the bonds between students, teachers, and staff. Together, we can create a school environment where acceptance and respect thrive.

Father's Day Stall

Our Father’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 1^st September and students will be able to purchase a gift from the stall for $5. Parents can make payment through CDF Pay 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.

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

PLEASE NOTE - First Eucharist registration forms (blue) have been sent home with all Year Four students this week. Registration must be completed and handed in at the Parish Office by Tuesday, 5th September. If you have a child in Year 5 or 6 who is wishing to receive this Sacrament please contact the school office for a registration form. Please contact the school or email Ryan O’Callaghan (ryocallaghan@shmildura.catholic.edu.au) if you have any questions.

Reconciliation - Year 2 & Above

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

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

Social Justice

Last week we celebrated the Feast Day for St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop) The Barramunga children researched Mary MacKillop and then used her mottos to create posters. The most well known motto of Mary’s was NEVER SEE A NEED, WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. These awesome art pieces can be viewed as you walk through the school office so take the time to have a look at the journey and life of Australia’s very first and only Saint through the eyes of a Year 2 child.

Mrs Carmichael

Learning and Teaching News

Structured Literacy: Daily Review

The staff at Sacred Heart are continuing to build their Structured Literacy knowledge and have been beginning to implement parts of the structure into their literacy block. The most previous professional development session was about the ‘Daily Review’. Daily review is a short, fast-paced whole class activity. It requires students to quickly recall previously-learnt information and does not include any new learning. Differentiation can be achieved through adjusting the amount of support and challenge at each step. It has been fabulous to see the routines picked up very quickly from the students as well as their engagement levels during these sessions. Below is a fantastic phonics website you can look at with your child. There are games, read-alongs, decodable books and articles.

"Phonics and Stuff"

Naplan: Year 3 and Year 5 students

If you did not get a chance over the last few weeks to come into the school and pick up your child’s NAPLAN Report from their classroom teacher, they will now be posted home. If you have any questions regarding aspects of your child’s progress, please speak to your child’s teacher so they can provide further information about their success and challenges in learning.

Prep Unit News

This week in Prep we have been working hard learning the friends of ten and doubles in Mathematics, more new sounds and digraphs in Literacy, had fun playing Bocce and we have read more stories from the old testament in the bible.

Sounds to continue working on with your child at home: s, a, t, p, i, n, m, r, f, o, c, d, h, e, n, g, l, k, u, b, j, w, ck, ll, ff, ss, sh, ee, qu, z, zz, ch, v, x, y. It is important that we continue this practice as we are reading and writing with digraphs in Literacy time.
Learn all the tricky words at the back of the reading diary.
Library day is Monday.
Show and tell reminder = a favourite picture story book.

Next Friday is ‘Book Week’ dress up day…. the students are encouraged to come dressed up as their favourite book character.

Prep Unit Team Contact Details

Unit Leader: Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan
Cooinda: Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan - bocallaghan@shmildura.catholic.edu.au
Wahroonga: Mrs Wendy Collins - wcollins@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

Junior Unit News

This week we congratulated Brittney and Jasmin on their exceptional colouring skills. They were selected as the winners of the Tankard Dental Colouring competition.

On Thursday we had a visit from the talented Jane Walters from Bunnings. Her patience, creativity and kindness allowed for our students to create masterpieces that some special people may receive on Father’s Day.

In the coming weeks we have: Year One Stayback (Thursday 24th August), Book Week Dress Up (Friday 25th August), Year Two Sleepover (Thursday 31st August), Father’s Day stall (Friday 1st September), Bundaleer Assembly (Friday 1st September), AFL Dress up day (Friday 8th September), Karinya Assembly (Friday 8th September) and R U OK Day (Thursday 14th September).

Next week we celebrate “The Year One Stayback” on Thursday 24th August. On arrival at school, students are asked to bring their stayback belongings into the classroom and place them on/under their tables. Please ensure that parents have given permission via SIMON for your child to attend and communicate any additional information to your child’s teacher if necessary.

The Year Two Sleepover will occur on Thursday 31st August. Attached is a copy of the note that was sent home earlier in the week. Please ensure that you provide permission for your child to attend via PAM and that you reach out to your child/ren’s teacher should you have any questions or concerns.

ASSEMBLY:

Congratulations Nangare and Barramunga on your spectacular assemblies. We have very talented children in Year Two and you spoke beautifully. Mrs Carmichael would particularly like to congratulate the Barramunga children who quickly and capably learned their readings and presented them today with confidence and skill. The children were enthusiastic right from the start of our planning and shared their happiness with big proud smiles, throughout our Assembly today.

ACCEPTANCE: Our school wide Behaviour Blitz is well underway and students have been focusing on using kind and friendly words and actions. Another focus is including others and accepting the differences of others in the classroom and in the yard.

Next week, Year One students are investigating numbers that add up to 10. We call these friends of ten and are working on recalling them automatically.

Junior Unit Team Contact Details

Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.

Unit Leader: Mrs Katrina Groves
Karinya (Year 1): Mrs Katrina Groves (Monday-Thursday) & Mrs Christine Sherry (Friday)
Bundaleer (Year 1): Miss Hayley Moore
Barramunga (Year 2): Mrs Chris Carmichael
Nangare: (Year 2): Mrs Maree Irvin

Middle Unit News

Year 3 Swan Hill Camp

This week Year 3 students have had a wonderful time away on our Swan Hill Camp! After an early morning we made the most of our first day in Swan Hill by exploring the Pioneer Settlement and participating in some activities such as visiting the blacksmith, butter churning, taking some snaps at the photo parlour and even a bit of retail therapy at the old fashioned shops. We finished our night with a yummy dinner at the Murray Downs Golf Club and viewing the spectacular Heartbeat of the Murray Sound and Light Show. After a big sleep last night today we concluded our experience with some final activities at the Pioneer Settlement before making our journey home. No doubt our travellers are a little weary after a big couple of days making memories! A big thank you must go to Mrs Whitehouse, Mrs Willersdorf, Mrs Beckwith, Mrs Bax, Mr Barbary and Mr Gibson for attending with students and their care. Well done to all Year 3 students for your positive attitude and excellent behaviour whilst on camp.

The Year 4 students had their turn this week to visit the fantastic SRS Benetook Farm. Students had a wonderful time looking at the facilities and finding examples of how this place fosters respect in our community.

Uniform Reminders

A friendly uniform reminder:

Girls are reminded that leggings are not part of the school uniform and tracksuit pants are to be worn instead.
Runners are expected as part of the sport uniform, not skate shoes.
Makeup and nail polish is not permitted.

Middle Unit Team Contact Details

Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.

Unit Leader: Miss Sophie Price
Amaroo (Year 3): Mrs Sarah Beckwith
Yongana (Year 3): Mrs Georgina Whitehouse
Mootwingee (Year 3): Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf
Minga (Year 4): Miss Sophie Price
Eumeralla (Year 4): Miss Rosie Lennox

Senior Unit News

The Year 6 students have enjoyed investigating fungi and how living organisms like mould and yeast, feed grow and multiply in different conditions. These experiments have created great discussions between the students.

Please ensure that your child’s contact and medical details are up to date on PAM prior to Camps.

Year 6 students who did not begin their primary schooling at Sacred Heart please provide a Prep photo emailed to lthompson@shmildura.catholic.edu.au at your earliest convenience.

SWPBIS BLITZ - Great to see our Year 6 students leading the way with our positive behaviour.

We continue to focus on ACCEPTANCE and have noticed students making a conscious effort to be kind and considerate towards others Classes have been keeping a tally of when these skills are shown and are working towards a whole class reward.

Senior Unit Team Contact Details

Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.

Unit Leader Year 5: Mrs. Natalee Johnson
Unit Leader Year 6: Mrs. Loretta Thompson
Illawarra (Year 5): Mrs. Cathryn Rowles
Kyema (Year 5): Mrs. Natalee Johnson
Myalla (Year 5): Mrs. Emma Kotsiakos (Monday-Thursday) & Mr. Corey Barbary (Friday)
Narooma (Year 6): Mrs. Jo Campbell
Dourim (Year 6): Mrs. Loretta Thompson
Illawarra (Year 6): Mrs. Amelia Pacher (Monday-Thursday) & Mr. Jacob Burford (Friday)

Library News

Book Week News: (19 - 25th of August)

CBCA Book Week 2023 starts tomorrow, and at SHPS, we celebrate from Monday 21st to Friday 25th. This year’s theme is Read, Grow and Inspire!

To explore the short-list and various categories, please click on the link:

Children's Book Week Shortlist

Officially the winners were announced today; please click on the link to find out the details:

Book Week Winners!

The book week colouring competition closed today. Mrs Coffey and I are excited to be the judges and looking forward to announcing the winners—one per unit level—at the book week assembly.

Friday, the 25th of August, is book week dress-up or casual clothes day. Students may like to dress up as their favourite book character, person, or career or come in their favourite casual attire. (Please, we ask that students wear enclosed shoes.) Students may bring their favourite book to school and share why with their classmates.

The book week assembly starts at 2:30pm on this day, and we’d love for you to join us. If you’re also keen to come in costume that would be terrific!

Scholastic Book Club News, Issue #6:

Book Club catalogues were sent home with students this 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:

Parent Login for Book Club

Orders close at the end of the day on Thursday, the 31st of August and will be delivered to the school within two weeks. When the orders arrive at the SHPS library, 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