ISSUE 41: 13th December, 2024

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

End of Year Calendar Dates

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

With this being the last newsletter for 2024 we hope that everyone has a great break. Please take the time to enjoy the company of loved ones. I hope you have a blessed and safe Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you all back in 2025 as we, once again, partner together in ensuring our students have access to the very best educational experiences we can offer.

Weekly Update

This week has been a busy and exciting one at Sacred Heart with several important events taking place:

• Year 6 Graduation Dinner: A heartfelt thank you to the Year 6 parents who have worked so hard to organise this wonderful celebration. It was a special evening to acknowledge the achievements of our Year 6 students as they prepare to embark on their next journey.
• Graduation Mass: Yesterday, we came together as a community to celebrate the Graduation Mass and giving thanks for our 2024 school year, marking the culmination of the primary school journey for our Year 6 students. It was a beautiful and reflective occasion.
• School Magazine: A big thank you to Wendy Collins for her dedication and effort in compiling this year’s school magazine. It’s a wonderful keepsake capturing the memories and highlights of 2024.
• Fun Days: Our Foundation, Year 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 students participated in fun days this week, and we’re proud to report that students represented Sacred Heart with respect, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes.
• Hammerton Jewellers:  A huge thank you to Hammerton Jewellers who once again donated books to all Foundation students across Sunraysia with our students receiving their book at Assembly.

Thank you to everyone involved in making these moments memorable for our students and community.

End-of-Year Arrangements

The final school day for students in 2024 is Wednesday, 18th December. From Monday, 15th December, to Wednesday, 18th December, we will focus on preparing for our upcoming building project, which involves significant classroom changes for 2025. All students will be engaged in learning activities, but it will be different to our normal routines. During this time, students may not be in their usual groups, classrooms, or with their regular teachers.

We appreciate your understanding as we make these adjustments to prepare for the changes ahead, which will impact six classroom spaces in 2025.

Farewell to Departing Staff

As we approach the end of 2024, we say goodbye to some much-loved members of our Sacred Heart community.

• Maree Irvin has dedicated an extraordinary 41 years to teaching, 36 of which have been here at Sacred Heart. Maree’s passion for teaching, creativity, and deep care for her students have left an indelible mark. We wish her a wonderful retirement filled with family time, grandchildren, and perfecting her golf swing.
• Ken Richards has been an integral part of Sacred Heart for 27 years. From cleaner to gardener to maintenance officer, Ken’s dedication and hard work have been unmatched. His passion for the Richmond Football Club will always be remembered, and we wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.
• Danielle Gunn has been with us since 2019, making a lasting impact as both a classroom teacher and performing arts specialist. Her passion for learning and engaging teaching style have inspired many. We wish her success in her new role at Irymple South Primary School.
• Josh Goss joined us last year as a Learning Support Officer and has quickly become a favorite among students for his fun and supportive approach. As Josh returns to university in Adelaide, we wish him the best in his future endeavors.

We also extend our good wishes to Carmel Pollifrone, who recently departed, and to Loretta Thompson, who will be on leave in 2025. We look forward to welcoming Loretta back in 2026. Additionally, we wish Kim Taylor all the best as she prepares for her upcoming maternity leave.

Thank you to all our departing staff for your dedication and contributions to our community. You will be greatly missed!

Year 1 Navy Hats

As our 2024 Prep students transition into Year 1 in 2025, they will be required to wear the school navy hats starting from the first day of the new school year. Hats can be purchased from Totally Workwear, and we strongly recommend having their name embroidered on the hat to avoid any mix-ups.

School Reports

School reports have been made available to families through SIMON on Tuesday. To access your child's report, click on their picture, select the Profile Menu, and choose 'Assessment Reports'. Here, you can view their report for this semester and review previous reports.

Parent Code of Conduct

A reminder to review and acknowledge the updated Parent Code of Conduct via SIMON before the conclusion of the school year. We’re waiting on a few families to complete this—please ensure it’s done soon.

Media Image/ Recording Consent

We are also updating our Media Image/ Recording Image Consent. We ask that parents please complete this form on SIMON as soon as possible. Please contact the school should you wish to discuss this further.

First Day of 2025

Students will return to school on Wednesday, 29th January 2025.

God Bless,
Mark Gibson

Religious Education

Social Justice: A special thanks to all the Year 2 children who gave up their lunch time to sell icy poles to their peers. We raised $160 and were able to select 8 tags from the St Vinnie’s Giving Tree at the Sacred Heart Church. Eli, William, Veida & Thea were in charge of shopping for the presents and then other children were chosen to be in charge of wrapping these presents. We handed over the presents to Fr Matt who will ensure they get to the children via St Vinnies.  We are proud to say that we will have brought happiness to 8 children who will be very excited when they open their gift on Christmas morning.  With Thanks, Mrs Carmichael & Mrs Collins

Learning and Teaching

Semester Two Student Reports

Over the past few weeks, teachers have spent time assessing student work, reviewing student growth and writing a report that reflects the achievements of your child. This is quite an undertaking by teachers particularly at this time of year. We commend them for their commitment and genuine care they have for your children and their academic and social growth. Reports are now available to view via SIMON. Please read them carefully and consider the report alongside work samples which can be found on SeeSaw. 

Downloading your child’s 2024 Seesaw Learning Portfolio

As the year comes to a close, we invite parents to download their child’s Seesaw Learning Portfolio for the 2024 school year. Attached are the instructions to complete this. Please note: downloading your child’s 2024 Learning Portfolio can be completed at any time, regardless of if the class has been archived.

Getting ready for 2025
Here is a list of items that your child will need to bring to school in 2025 that you might want to start thinking about over the holidays: 

Headphones - As per previous years, students will be required to bring a set of headphones to school to use with iPads and laptops.
Headphones should include a cord to plug in and basic style. We request that students do not have impractical headphones with extra decorations or materials attached.

Pencil Cases - In 2025 we request that students in years 3-6 bring their own pencil cases to school. It is important that the pencil cases come to school empty, as the school will supply the correct supplies needed. Please ensure the pencil case can fit a 30cm ruler inside.

Two small lunch boxes - Please clearly label your child's lunch boxes and containers. Students require two separate lunch boxes - one for recess and one for lunch.

At the beginning of Term 1, your child’s teacher will be sending a communication note home with the above information as well as anything else specific to their year level for 2025. 

Joining the library  The summer holidays are a wonderful time to join and visit our local library. You can join via the website:  www.mildura.vic.gov.au/Explore/Libraries or by going into the  library.  Fee of cost, children can borrow books and games.

Wellbeing News

The Resilience Project: Building Resilience and Wellbeing in Our School Community

At our school, we’re proud to partner with The Resilience Project in 2025, a comprehensive mental health and wellbeing program that empowers students, staff, and families to build resilience and foster positive emotions. This evidence-based program provides our entire school community with valuable tools and strategies focused on enhancing mental health, resilience, and emotional wellbeing through practices of gratitude, empathy, mindfulness (GEM), and emotional literacy.

We are incredibly grateful to have received a generous grant from Ski For Life, which has made it possible for us to implement the TRP program in our school during its first year. A heartfelt thank you to Ski For Life for their support and commitment to our cause.

Program Highlights

The Resilience Project takes a whole-school approach, engaging students, teachers, and parents to foster a supportive wellbeing culture. Key aspects include:

• Engaging Lessons & Presentations: Through interactive presentations, students across all year levels learn about GEM principles, emotional literacy, and techniques for managing stress and emotions positively. Additionally, parents and carers are invited to participate in sessions designed to support their children's resilience.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: With a year-long curriculum tailored for each year level, teachers guide students through 15-30 structured lessons. Student journals, teacher resources, and an online teaching hub provide additional support to integrate these practices into daily routines.

Professional Development for Staff: Our staff benefit from dedicated training sessions and resources to support mental health strategies in the classroom. Workshops also allow us to review Resilience Profile data, deepening our understanding of student needs.

Ongoing Support and Resources

Our partnership with The Resilience Project includes access to regular newsletters and a teaching hub filled with resources, helping us stay connected with the latest strategies in wellbeing education. A Resilient Youth Survey, conducted annually, also provides valuable insights, allowing us to track our students’ resilience and adapt our approaches as needed.

Program Benefits

Through weekly curriculum sessions, digital presentations, and tailored resources, The Resilience Project helps students learn to manage stress, build emotional awareness, and strengthen relationships. By embedding these skills, our school community is working towards a positive, resilient culture where students feel equipped to thrive both academically and personally.

TRP@HOME

Parents are encouraged to extend TRP’s teachings into the home with TRP@HOME, an online platform offering activities, tips, and insights to help families integrate GEM principles into everyday life. With engaging lessons, a comprehensive curriculum, and ongoing professional development for staff, The Resilience Project is helping us embed resilience and emotional wellbeing across our school community, building a foundation for positive, resilient growth that extends well beyond the classroom.

To access TRP@HOME, scan this QR code.

SWPBS

This week we celebrated our final SWPBS afternoon tea for the year. It has been fantastic to see the increase in thumbs up tokens in the barrel as the year has progress and to be able to celebrate all the wonderful ways our students contribute to our Sacred Heart Community.

School TV

In this edition of SchoolTV - School Transitions

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

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 School Transitions edition of SchoolTV

Foundation News

Congratulations to all Foundation students on completing their last full week of school! The students have done an amazing job with their learning throughout the year. We are very proud and wish them all the best moving forward into Year One. 

Today students enjoyed their Foundation Fun Day. We went to the Splash Park and enjoyed chips and nuggets for lunch when we got back! To end our day we celebrated with popcorn and a Christmas movie.

Reminders: 

• All borrowed books from the school need to be returned

Year One News

Our fun in Year One has come to an end and we have had such an amazing year! All Year One staff are grateful to have supported and facilitated your child on their educational journey during 2024 and thank you for your valuable contribution towards their success. We wish our Year One students a smooth and pleasant transition into Year Two, and know that you will be well supported by the brilliant Year Two teachers. We wish you a joyous, safe and very Merry Christmas.  

Your child will have brought home all of their school work and supplies by now, and have received special gifts made with love and care from the teachers. We hope you enjoy looking through the hard work that our students have put into their learning tasks this year. 

The Year One Fun Day certainly was fun!! The students raced around the maze, explored the hidden wonders of the cave and enjoyed spending collaborative time together on the playground. They enjoyed their chicken nuggets and chips, icy pole, snacks and fruit box. They did some baking, toy making and ended the day watching a Christmas movie with popcorn. Their manners and behaviour were outstanding which added to the success of the day.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

Year Two News

All Year Two children should be very proud of the efforts they have made this year! We are very proud of each student in our classes and finish the year knowing our students have done their best. We also thank all parents for supporting your children through their last as a Junior student. We wish all our Year Two’s a wonderful and safeChristmas, and look forward to seeing everyone again year!

God Bless,

Mrs Carmichael & Mrs Collins

Year Three News

What a fantastic year we have had in Year Three! Thank you to all the Year Three families and students for their support. This week we enjoyed our end of year Fun Day, students loved watching Moana 2 and having lunch at the Riverfront Splash Park.

This week we finished our Middle Unit Kick Ball competition and photos can be found in the Year Four News!

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!

Sarah, Emma and Georgina

Year Four News

Year Four has completed a very busy and fun filled year. Thank you to all students and families for their support. We wish you all the joys of Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. 

Despite the cooler than expected weather on Monday, we had a great ‘fun day’!

This week we concluded the popular Middle Unit Kickball competition with our final series. All teams are to be congratulated on their enthusiasm and participation. Congratulations to the ‘Crunchies’ who were victorious over the Snickers in the Grand Final. Coming in third were the Twirls.

Thanks again for a fabulous year to all students of Year Four 2024. 

Have a great break!

Natalee, Jaimi, Cathryn

Year Five News



Year Six News

WOW! We have come to the end of another school year. We would like to wish all our students and their families a wonderful Christmas and a well-deserved rest during the summer holiday break.  Thank you for the support you have given throughout the 2024 school year. We wish our Year Six students continued growth and success as they embark on the next chapter of their schooling journey.

A HUGE thank you goes out to our parent committee for the work you have put into coordinating and organising the Year Six Graduation Dinner. The students had a great time celebrating the end of their primary school education on Tuesday evening.

Student Awards - Term 4 Principal's Awards

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 13

Next

Library News

I am still chasing a few overdue library books. If you come across any school books at home, can they please be returned on Monday. 

If you know that a book has been lost or damaged beyond repair, please let me know via email so I can adjust our records.

apacher@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) - 
• Wahroonga (Miss Moore) - 

Year One: 

• Bundaleer (Mrs Coffey & Mrs Priestley) - 
• Karinya (Mrs Groves) - 

Year Two:

• Barramunga (Mrs Carmichael) - 
• Waminda (Mrs Collins) - 

Year Three:

• Narooma (Mrs Beckwith) - 
• Dourim (Mrs Kotsiakos & Mrs Irvin) - 

Year Four:

• Illawarra (Mrs Willersdorf) - 
• Myalla (Mrs Rowles) - 
• Kyema (Mrs Johnson) -

Year Five:  

• Minga (Mrs Deacon) - 
• Eumeralla (Mrs Gunn & Mrs Pacher) - 

Year Six:  

• Amaroo (Mrs Campbell) - 
• Yongana (Mrs Zaxos) - 
• Mootwingee (Mrs Thompson) -

Term Dates