ISSUE 33: 18th October, 2024

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that true greatness comes through service. He tells His disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” This message is a powerful reminder for our school community that leadership and success are not about power or prestige, but about kindness, humility, and helping others.  As we guide our students, let’s encourage them to embrace the joy of serving others, whether it’s in the classroom, the playground, or at home. When we lift others up, we all rise together.

What’s on Next Week (Week 3)

Coming up in Term 4, Week 4

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

Weekly Highlights

A big thank you to all students and parents for your participation in the Bushwahzee Bush Cabaret Concert last week. The students were fantastic, and the event was a huge success!

Well done to the 9 students who represented our school at Region Athletics in Bendigo. They showed great teamwork and competed with pride. Special congratulations to Pensimani Fangaloka, who placed 1st in both the 11-year-old boys Discus and Shot Put!

Our Year 5 camp in Ballarat was a great adventure! The students had a wonderful time, behaved brilliantly, and fully engaged in all activities. A special thank you to our Year 5 teachers and staff for their hard work in making this camp possible.

Finally, congratulations to the Year 3/4 Basketball teams, the Year 5/6 Basketball teams, and the Year 5/6 Softball teams for their efforts and participation today!

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Mission Month

Our Mission Month activities are in full swing. Here’s what’s happening this week:

• Icy poles: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (whole school)
• Senior Unit: Guess the Lollies (Monday)
• Year 5:  Year 5 Pyjama & Movie Day! (Tuesday)
• Pie Orders ready for collection after 2pm (Thursday)
• Foundation & Junior Unit: Silly Socks Day (Wednesday)

Don’t forget, Hamper Raffles will be drawn at assembly on Friday!  We have over 10 hamper prizes plus a 12 month membership to Club Aquarius gym. Don't forget to buy your tickets on CDF pay. More details about Mission Month activities are listed below.

SSV Division Volleyball & Hot Shots Tennis

We wish our Year 5/6 students the best of luck in the Division Volleyball, Softball and Hot Shots Tennis competitions on Monday. All sports will take place at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.

School Assembly (Karinya)

Year One Karinya will host our Assembly at 2:30pm on Friday 25th October.  Following the assembly, Karinya parents are welcome to join an afternoon tea in their child's classroom, offering an opportunity to view student learning and to mingle and meet other parents.

2025 Foundation Transition Starts 

Our 2025 Foundation Transition program kicks off on Friday, 25th October. Incoming students will join us for a morning session from 9am to 11am, where they’ll have the chance to work with Mrs. Sherry and Miss Moore in the Foundation classrooms. We’re excited to welcome our newest students!

AITSL World Teachers Day

Join us in celebrating World Teachers' Day on Friday, 25 October! It's a great opportunity to recognise and thank our amazing teachers for their dedication and the support they provide to our students every day. We look forward to celebrating together!

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Many of our Year 4 students will be celebrating their First Eucharist next weekend, with masses on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Let’s keep them in our prayers as they prepare for this very special occasion.

Upcoming Pupil Free & School Closure Days

Please take note of the following important dates:

• Monday, 4 November: School Closure Day
• Friday, 15 November: Pupil Free Day (SIMON Usage for Student Plans)

Also, the last day for students this year will be Wednesday, 18 December.

2025 School Advisory Council – Parent Representatives

We are seeking interested parents to join the School Advisory Council (SAC) as parent representatives. This is a great opportunity to take an active role in our school community. If you'd like to nominate yourself, please contact the office for a nomination form.  Our 2025 parent representatives will be finalised at our last meeting on Tuesday 29th October.

Mark Gibson

2024 Dates of Interest

Religious Education

Sacrament of First Eucharist (Year 4 & Above)

We continue to pray for Year Four students who are preparing for the Sacrament of First Eucharist.

Celebration of Sacrament - Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October 2024.

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)

Thank you to parents for attending Wednesday's Parent Information session for First Reconciliation.  If you were unable to attend and collect your child’s pack you will need to contact Carmel Russo or Fr Matt at the Parish Office to organise a time to pick it up. Contact Ryan O’Callaghan at school or Carmel if you have any questions regarding this Sacrament. 

Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November

Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 27th November

Mission Month

It was certainly a CRAZY Day here at Sacred Heart today! There was colour everywhere and some incredibly creative hair styles. Once again, all families were very generous and we were able to collect $226.50   for this overseas Missions fundraiser.

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At this stage we have raised about $2000 online for our Colour Explosion Fun Run which is a great start. Our goal is to raise $10000 so if your child has not registered please refer to the booklet and instructions that were sent home last week and if possible, get them registered with a donation. For those children who decide not to register and fundraise for the Colour Explosion, they will need to bring $5 in cash to cover costs of the sunglasses, headbands and colour powder used on the day. Thanks

Learning and Teaching

Over the following weeks students will complete a range of different assessments.  These assessments are used to measure students' growth and to inform reporting.  We also use assessment data when planning for 2025, to ensure we are meeting the needs of all students. Our school wide results are excellent, particularly in the area of reading.

If your child is going to be away for a prolonged period, please let us know asap so we can ensure all assessments are completed.

SWPBS

As summer approaches, it’s essential to embrace the sun safely. Our SWPBS focus this fortnight is “Being Sunsmart”. The sun's rays can be harmful, leading to skin damage, sunburn, and an increased risk of skin cancer. Here are some key tips to help you stay SunSmart this season:

1. Seek Shade - Whenever possible, find shade, especially during peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whether it’s under a tree, an umbrella, or a sun shelter, staying in the shade significantly reduces your risk of UV exposure.

2. Wear Protective Clothing - Opt for long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a wide-brimmed hat to cover your skin. Look for clothing with a high UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating for added protection.

3. Use Sunscreen - Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it generously to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours, or more often if you’re swimming or sweating. Don’t forget areas like your ears, back of your neck, and the tops of your feet!

4. Accessorize with Sunglasses - Protect your eyes with sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Look for wraparound styles that offer additional coverage.

5. Stay Hydrated - While not directly related to sun protection, staying hydrated helps your skin stay healthy. Drink plenty of water, especially if you’re spending extended time outdoors.

6. Check Your Skin Regularly - Make it a habit to examine your skin for any new or changing moles or spots. Early detection is key in identifying potential skin issues.

7. Know Your UV Index - Stay informed about the daily UV index in your area. When the UV index is 3 or higher, it’s essential to take precautions to protect your skin.

Conclusion

Being SunSmart is not just about enjoying the sunshine; it’s about enjoying it safely. By following these simple tips, you can have a fun and safe summer while protecting your skin for years to come.

Congratulations to our Thumbs up Ray White awardees!

School TV

In this edition of SchoolTV - Friendship & Belonging

Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a young person’s wellbeing. It gives them a sense of security helping them feel valued which in turn builds their confidence.

Positive friendships are an important part of the journey to adulthood. Adult carers can support their child or teenager by providing guidance in the many social and emotional skills required for a healthy relationship. This will help them to obtain, retain and maintain friendships. However, not all friendships are regarded as positive. Sometimes young people develop negative or toxic friendships. Therefore it is also important for them to learn how to identify, avoid or deal with such a friendship.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers can learn how to support their young person’s friendship so that they experience a sense of belonging.

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 the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Friendship & Belonging edition of SchoolTV

Foundation News

This week we continued our Mission Month fundraising events. Icy poles are being sold Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays. On Monday we started our Lolly Jar which is 50c a guess donated by Woolworths which will continue until the 21st of October. Today was crazy hair day, we got to see lots of awesome hairstyles. 

This week in Writing we have been expanding sentences. We have learnt to identify the ‘who’ and ‘what doing’ orally and now are beginning to add these into our fragment sentences. For example “dances to the music” might be our fragment. We are adding a ‘who’ of our choice, such as “Mr O dances to the music”. 

In Mathematics we have been exploring the topic of Data. This includes understanding how to collect, display and interpret data. This has been through talleys, pictographs, and bar charts. 

We have loved getting back into our Art experiences. These next two weeks we focus on foreground and background in artworks. We have spoken about what this might look like and have even started creating our own city landscape which we will display in the classroom.  

Reminders: 

• Make sure you log in online to fill in your nurse form!! Only half of the Foundation students have done so.
• Show and Tell Wednesday: a silly or favourite hat

Year One News

We have had a fun and busy week in Year 1!! Students wrote an invitation to their soft toys, inviting them to come to a picnic at school on Monday. The students absolutely loved having the opportunity to bring their special soft toys to school and eat lunch with them, as well as meet other soft toys! They wrote beautiful thank you cards and were grateful for the experience.   

A magnificent effort today for Crazy Hair Day. Well done to all the families who went to the effort of creating some really cool hair designs. 

Congratulations to Bundaleer on a fantastic effort at assembly today. We are very proud of all the students with their commitment to learning their readings and their confidence speaking in front of the school. Thank you to the parents who supplied a delicious afternoon tea to share. 

Mission Month icy poles will be sold at school on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Thursday’s until the end of October, for 50c each. 

Upcoming Important Dates:  

Wednesday 23rd October: Wear Silly Socks Day…On this day children are encouraged to wear a pair of weird and wacky socks to school with their school uniform, for a gold coin donation.

Friday 25th October: Karinya Assembly 

Friday 29th October: Announcement of lolly jar winners
Friday 1st November: School Run4Fun Colour Explosion event 

Monday 4th November: Closure Day
Tuesday 5th November: Melbourne Cup Day

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Year Two News

We had a lovely soft toy picnic on Wednesday this week. Our ‘friends’ were very pleased to receive invitations to our picnic and the children loved having the opportunity to bring their special soft toys to school and then make a thankyou card for them. Our ‘friends’ worked in the classroom with us and the children capably explained the Maths that we were doing to them. 

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Children have put a photo of their Term 4 goals on Seesaw. Please check out our ‘Learning Goal Rockets’ and have a chat with your child about their goals for the remainder of the year.

Remember next Wednesday, 23rd October is our “Silly Socks” Day - children are encouraged to wear a pair of weird and wacky socks with their school uniform and bring a gold coin donation to go towards the missions.

Both Waminda and Barramunga still have plenty of guesses left for the Lolly Jar.

Thank you to those parents who attended the Reconciliation meeting on Wednesday. If you have questions regarding the online module, please contact the Parish Office

Year Three News

This week has seen students settle back into class routines and we are excited for the term ahead. 

Today we welcomed Georgina Whitehouse to Dourim. Mrs Whitehouse will be teaching Dourim on Fridays, the students are very excited to have her! 

Next week Year Three will be commencing their first lesson in their Fullness of Life learning. They will be learning about the sacredness of the human person, exploring what it means to be unique and how there is beauty in all of us. Students will be learning how we are all shaped by unique experiences, talents and backgrounds.

Reminder - could parents please spend some time speaking with their child about their origin story for Religion. This was sent home as homework for Week 2. Thank you!

Next Friday- October 25th, Year Three will be joining Year Four, creating a money line as one of our Mission efforts. Please start collecting coins for this.

Year Four News

Congratulations to Lily Colbert who completed in both hurdles(4th) and discus(12th) and Emmy Guthrie who competed in triple jump(4th) at the Regional finals in Bendigo on Monday. Both girls did themselves and Sacred Heart proud. Well done also to our basketballers who participated at The Precinct today. It was a great experience for them all. 

Mission Effort: Awesome effort today with those who participated in Crazy Hair day. 

Next Friday- October 25th, Year Four is having a money line as one of our Mission efforts. Please start collecting coins for this.

Year Five News

Grade Fives had the most wonderful time at camp this week! It was a jam packed 3 days full of activities which aligned wonderfully to their Term Three History Unit. Some special highlights included seeing the Eureka Flag, Gold Panning, The Aura Light Show & ofcourse, the Sovereign Hill Lolly Shop! We received some really positive comments regarding student behaviour from the Sovereign hill employees, commending students on their behaviour during tours and great questioning! We are very proud of how our students behaved when representing SHPS. 

Next week, our year level mission month activities will begin. Our ‘Guess the Lollies” begins on Monday. The cost for this is 50c per guess and we will announce the winner on Friday 1st November. We have changed our original fundraiser and will now be having a PJ/ MOVIE day on Tuesday next week. Students are invited to wear their Pj’s and bring a gold coin donation. Each class will screen a movie and students will be able to choose what movie they would like to watch.

Year Six News

Mission Month Fundraisers

Silly Shirt Day – On Wednesday, students wore silly shirts to school as part of our Mission Month fundraising efforts.

Lolly Jar - Students will have the opportunity to participate in ‘GUESS THE LOLLIES’ in the lolly jar beginning on Monday 21st of October. The cost will be 50c per guess. The winner will be announced on Friday 1st of November.

Year 6 Graduation

There will be a meeting this coming Monday (October 21st) at 4pm in the staffroom to commence preparation for the Year 6 End of Year Celebration. Please come along if you are interested in assisting with this.

We kindly ask that all students who did not begin their primary schooling at Sacred Heart either bring in a Prep photo to school or email one to lthompson@shmildura.catholic.edu.au as soon as conveniently possible.

Student Awards

Congratulations to this weeks Students of the Week! 

Library News

First Aid

As we are now in Term 4, we will begin planning for 2025. If your child has asthma, allergies/anaphylaxis and has an out of date Action Plan, please look into getting your child booked in to get these updated as soon as possible.
In the coming weeks, I will send home hard copies for you to get filled out by your GP so we can have updated plans to best support your child. These do not need to be completed until the end of the year/early next year.

I will also be in touch in the coming weeks for soon to be expired medications that need replacing here at school.

I appreciate everyone's cooperation as I continue to try and support your children as best as I can whilst they are here at school. 

Please check your junk email as I believe lots of my emails are ending up here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at school, or email me at ejones@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

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

In the mornings, the Olive Grove gate will remain closed, so students and visitors can only enter through the 12th Street or Tamarisk Grove gates. After school, only the Olive Grove gate near the Art House will be open and supervised by a staff member. This change aims to enhance student and traffic safety.

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.

1. Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search Simon Everywhere
2. Download and open the App and Allow Notifications
3. Enter your name and phone number and press verify, you will receive a code via SMS
4. Click on 'Add School'
5. Select Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura - Parent Access
6. Enter your PAM username and password. If you do not know your credentials, please call the school.

7. 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 

1. Log into the App - SimonEverywhere or login via PAM (type pam.shmildura.catholic.edu.au in your address bar).
2. 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.
3. You will then need to click the blue + Add Absence button circled below
4. 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