ISSUE 22: 24th July, 2025

Principal Message

Gospel Reflection

This week’s Gospel reminds us of the incredible gift of prayer. When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, He shares the Lord’s Prayer—a simple but powerful way to connect with God. Jesus goes on to remind us to ask, seek, and knock, trusting that God always listens with love and responds with what we truly need.

As parents and carers, this is a gentle encouragement to model prayer in everyday moments—whether giving thanks, seeking guidance, or asking for patience (especially during the school rush!). Prayer isn’t about having the perfect words—it’s about opening our hearts to God, and showing our children that we can turn to Him in every season of life.

What’s on Next Week Term 3, Week 2

Coming up in Term 3 (Week 3) 

This Week at Sacred Heart

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

It's been a fantastic start to the term, with students settling in well and embracing their learning with energy and enthusiasm. There’s already been a positive buzz across classrooms and the yard — it’s lovely to see friendships, routines, and curiosity back in full swing.

Today, we proudly celebrated NAIDOC Day at Sacred Heart, marking 50 years of NAIDOC Week and embracing this year’s theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.” We were honoured to welcome Tony Hunt and the Thuukalu Dance Group, who captivated students with a dynamic performance and engaging workshops. Their storytelling and cultural sharing created a vibrant and meaningful learning experience for all.

 Students also took part in classroom activities that explored Indigenous culture, history, and leadership, while celebrating the contributions and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Events like NAIDOC Day play a vital role in promoting inclusion, understanding, and acceptance in our school. They help our students grow in cultural awareness, respect for diverse voices, and appreciation of the wisdom passed down through generations.

A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Rachel Slimmon, who thoughtfully planned and coordinated such an engaging and respectful day of learning and celebration.

Thank you also to all families for supporting the day — especially through wearing NAIDOC colours and embracing the spirit of unity.

Together, we continue walking forward with pride and purpose.

As we head into the rest of Term 3, we look forward to continuing the great momentum we've seen this week. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership — it makes all the difference in helping our students thrive.

We look forward to another positive and purposeful week ahead at Sacred Heart.

During the holidays, we were delighted to celebrate a very special occasion — Mrs Evelyn Smith, a much-loved former Sacred Heart staff member, turned 100 years old. Evelyn marked this incredible milestone with a group of her former colleagues, including some who are still part of our Sacred Heart team today.  We congratulate Evelyn on this momentous achievement and thank her for her invaluable contribution to the Sacred Heart community over the years.

Pictured: Evelyn with past and present Sacred Heart staff members who joined in the celebration.

Year 1/2 Swimming

Our Year 1/2 students are participating in their Swimming Program this week from Monday to Thursday, focusing on water safety, swimming technique, and survival skills. Please provide permission for your child to attend and refer to the note sent home for details.

Student Changes

We are excited to welcome Charan to Nangare, and Ava to Illawarra on Monday. We hope they quickly feel part of our Sacred Heart family! 

Placement

We’re pleased to welcome Mrs Lindy Garzon to Sacred Heart who will be completing her teacher placement over the next four weeks.  Lindy will be working in Nangare.  If you see her please make her feel welcome.

Grandparents/Special Friends Day

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is being held on Friday 1st August. Sacred Heart will celebrate Grandparents and Special Friends Day with a Mass at the Sacred Heart Church beginning at 9.15am. The students and grandparents will return to school for Family Group activities and a special morning tea. We ask that each family bring a plate to share.  So we have a variety of plates we ask that the Year levels below bring the following: 

Year Prep, One and Two families bring a plate of sweets.

Year Three and Four families bring a plate of sandwiches.

Year Five and Six families bring a plate of savouries.

We kindly ask that all morning tea is brought in using disposable plates (cardboard/plastic). 

Please be aware of the following:

• There will be no facilities to cook or warm food on the day, food will need to be sent prepared. 
• No foods to be sent that contain nuts due to allergies.
• If your plate is gluten/dairy free clearly label that it is, as the coordinators’ of the day will have a separate table for this.
• We understand that some families have children across the year levels so just send one plate of your choice.

Any parents who are able to help with setting up morning tea (8.30-9am), helping during morning tea (10.50-11.30am) and packing up following morning tea (11.30am) please contact the school office.

Upcoming School Improvement Review & Validation – Week 3

Our school review will take place in Week 3 on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th August. This is an important opportunity for Sacred Heart to reflect on the progress we’ve made over the past four years and confirm the direction of our next improvement cycle.

Since late last year, we’ve been reviewing student, staff, and parent feedback, analysing school data, and refining our goals with support from educational consultants. This work has led to the development of three key priorities that will guide our next chapter from 2026-2030:

• Deepening Catholic Identity and Recontextualising Religious Education
• Embedding Inclusive Practices and Whole-School Wellbeing
• Enhancing Engagement through Curiosity, Agency, and Deep Collaborative Learning

As part of the review process, our visiting panel will meet with students, staff, and parents to help validate—and, if needed, refine—our proposed improvement priorities. We look forward to sharing our journey and continuing to grow as a school where inclusion, learning, and student wellbeing remain central to all we do.

Foundation 2026 Enrolments – Still Open

While the official enrolment period for Foundation 2026 closed Friday, May 30th at 4pm, we will remain open for applications beyond this date as we have not yet filled all available places. We encourage current families to apply via the school website if they haven’t already done so. If you know of any new families considering Sacred Heart for their child, please pass this information along—we’d love to welcome them into our school community.

God Bless!

Mr Mark Gibson

Learning Diversity

The annual Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) collects and collates information about the number of Australian school students with disability, where they are located and the adjustments they receive.

The NCCD acknowledges the work already undertaken in schools to support students with disability access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. NCCD data is used for the calculation of Australian Government funding for schools.

The NCCD reinforces the existing obligations that schools have towards students under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

Having Nationally consistent information from all Australian schools about students receiving adjustments for disability enables schools, education authorities, and governments to better understand the needs of students with disability and how they can be best supported at school.

Sacred Heart has a team of staff who identify students for inclusion based on their professional judgement and their understanding and knowledge of the students. This team conducts meetings with teachers for consultation, collaboration and development of reasonable adjustments to assist each student to access and participate in education free from discrimination and on the same basis as other students. With all information gathered a personalised learning plan is developed, shared and implemented by teaching staff.

The NCCD collection of data is conducted in August each year and is being prepared by staff this week.

Religious Education

2025 Sacramental Dates

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)

• Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 15th October
• Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday 26th November

Lost Property: All lost property was taken home in the holidays and has been freshly washed and sorted. The jumpers and jackets that were named, were returned to their owners earlier this week. Most unnamed items have been donated to the secondhand uniform shop and some others are folded and back in the lost property baskets. The message is that if uniform items are named, I can sort and return very easily. 

Chris Carmichael

Learning and Teaching

DIBELS (Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills)

This week students completed the mid year DIBELS assessments.

 We choose to to complete the  DIBELS suite of assessments because they:

• Are norm referenced and evidence-based
• Are empirically tested and validated
• They predict levels of reading risk in all high-leverage reading sub-skills
• Includes assessments and measures in:
• Comprehension
• Processing speed
• Phonological awareness
• The Alphabetic Principle 
• Nonsense word fluency
• Advanced phonics patterns, and 
• Oral reading fluency
• Provides data teachers can use in planning instruction and intervention for all students
• Includes a Rapid Automatic Naming measure, which can be used for Dyslexia Screening purposes.

DIBELS Data is entered onto a whole school data tool, allowing us to track the progress of  individual students and of class cohorts.

Term 3 Overviews of Learning

We are pleased to share the Term 3 Overviews of Learning with our school community. These documents outline the key areas of study for each year level. We encourage all families to engage in conversations with their children about their learning experiences, as ongoing support at home plays an important role in student success.

Wellbeing

Resilience Youth Survey Highlights Student Habits Around Sleep and Screen Time

As part of our commitment to the Resilience project, students in Years 3 to 6 recently completed the Resilience Youth Survey, offering insights into their wellbeing, including key areas such as sleep habits, online gaming, and late-night device use. Below are some results revealing clear patterns across different year levels and between girls and boys, with both encouraging trends and areas for growth.

The survey showed that a majority of students are getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night—an important benchmark for healthy growth, learning, and emotional regulation. Girls generally reported higher rates of adequate sleep than boys, particularly in the early years.

Students who reported getting at least 8 hours of sleep:

Girls:

• Year 3: 82%
  
  
• Year 4: 72%
  
  
• Year 5: 78%
  
  
• Year 6: 81%

Boys:

• Year 3: 44%
  
  
• Year 4: 75%
  
  
• Year 5: 59%
  
  
• Year 6: 85%

While Year 6 boys reported the highest rate of sufficient sleep (85%), only 44% of Year 3 boys met the same benchmark—highlighting a potential concern for younger male students.

The survey also explored how many students avoid excessive online gaming, revealing noticeable differences between genders and year levels.

Girls who reported not playing excessive online games:

• Year 3: 91%
  
  
• Year 4: 59%
  
  
• Year 5: 74%
  
  
• Year 6: 94%

Boys who reported not playing excessive online games:

• Year 3: 61%
  
  
• Year 4: 50%
  
  
• Year 5: 73%
  
  
• Year 6: 30%

The data suggests a sharp decline in Year 6 boys' ability to regulate gaming, with only 30% reporting limited gaming time. This contrasts significantly with 94% of Year 6 girls.

Late-night device use, particularly between midnight and 6 a.m., can impact students’ sleep quality and next-day focus. The survey asked students in Year 5 & 6 whether they avoid using devices during this critical rest window.

Girls who reported not using devices between midnight and 6 a.m.:

• Year 5: 70%
  
  
• Year 6: 63%

Boys who reported not using devices between midnight and 6 a.m.:

• Year 5: 82%
  
  
• Year 6: 45%

While Year 5 boys showed strong digital boundaries, Year 6 boys reported the lowest rate of restraint, with more than half indicating device use during the early hours of the morning.

The Resilience Youth Survey highlights both strengths and areas where students could benefit from further support—particularly around screen time management and healthy sleep routines. Promoting consistent bedtime routines, open conversations about digital wellbeing, and balanced screen use are key strategies for helping students thrive.

As schools and families work together to support student resilience and wellbeing, this data provides a clear foundation for targeted, age-appropriate interventions that can make a lasting impact.

SWPBS

End-of-Day Expectations: Leaving School Grounds Safely and Respectfully

As part of our commitment to student safety and respectful behaviour, we are reminding all students and families about the importance of promptly and responsibly leaving school grounds at the end of the day.

Kiss and Go Area

Students waiting in the Kiss and Go area are expected to sit quietly and wait to be picked up. This is not a space for running, playing games, or loud behaviour. The area must remain calm and orderly to ensure the safety of all students and help parents and carers locate their children quickly during pick-up.

Bus Travellers and Eleventh Street Exit

Students catching buses or leaving via Eleventh Street must wait at the gate for the bus duty teacher and then walk around to the designated bus stop. This system is in place to ensure every student is accounted for and gets to the correct location safely.

Other Exits

Students leaving through other exits should walk directly to their identified pick-up point. Students should not stop to play on the playground, run across the oval, or gather in groups for conversations after the bell has gone. Loitering on school grounds after school hours can create safety and supervision concerns.

Walking Near Buildings

When leaving via the front gate, students are reminded to walk calmly and stay near the buildings. This area can be busy with families, staff, and younger children moving through, so walking helps prevent accidents and keeps everyone safe. Students are also reminded they are not to walk through the main office when leaving the school.

By following these expectations, students help create a safe and respectful environment for all. We thank parents and carers for reinforcing these messages at home and supporting a smooth, safe end to each school day.

School TV

A Special Report: Celebrating NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of Indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of a range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities and is a great opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:

General News

Reminder - The second hand uniform shop is open during assembly times, which is fortnightly (the shop can be found in the stadium next to the stage) - eftpos and cash welcome. You can place your order in advance using the link below. You will get a text message from the school when it is ready. 

Foundation 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. Here is a link of the learning for Foundation students this term. We welcome a new student Aiden into Eumeralla with Miss Moore this Term.

Show and Tell will be starting next week (Week 2) and held each fortnight on Fridays. Each student will have a designated week- either on odd or even weeks- to participate. Please note, if your child forgets to bring their item on their scheduled Show and Tell day, they will not have another opportunity to present it later- as there won’t be time to catch up. Students are asked to prepare a short, one-minute presentation related to the topics provided on the note that was sent home this week. All items should be small enough to bring to school safely. Please see attached the note per classroom name.

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 must sign your child in at the office. 
• Your child’s library bag needs to be at school every day - kept in their school bag.
• Practise the sounds caterpillars and snakes and fluency chart each night.
• Read and record ‘Enhanced Comprehension’ and ‘Reader’ in the reading diary each night.
• Continue practising the sounds with your child/ren at home

Here is a reminder about the correct school uniform that the students need to be wearing.

The Foundation students will be celebrating their 100th day of school on Friday 8th of August… we will be dressing up as 100-year-old people (see the example below).

Year One News

Welcome back to all our Year One students and their families! It’s been wonderful to see everyone return from the holidays and settle so smoothly into Term 3. We’re looking forward to an exciting and productive term ahead.

We are looking forward to the following events next week:

• Mon-Thurs Swimming Program (please refer to the letter that was sent home at the end of last term for details). 
• Fri Aug 1 Grandparent’s Day (all invitations were made and sent home earlier in the week, so please help your child deliver or post this to their grandparents).

Term 3 Show and Tell Rosters 

Show and Tell will begin in week 2.

A reminder that Mrs Groves will be away for the first two weeks of Term 3. During this time, Mrs K will be teaching Amaroo. 

We hope that everyone has a fantastic weekend, 

Emma and Brieanna

Year Two News

Welcome back to all Year 2 children and their families. We have started Term 3 off in a very settled but rather busy manner. 

We look forward to the following events next week:

Mon-Thurs Swimming Program (please refer to the letter below and that was sent home at the end of last term for further details)

Fri Aug 1 Grandparent’s Day (all invitations were made and sent home earlier in the week, so please help your child deliver or post this to their grandparents)

Nangare welcomes Mrs Lindy Garzon (Pre service teacher) for her 4 week placement. We know she will have a great time with the Nangare Year 2’s.

Our Term 3 Show & Tell topics and roster are below: Please encourage your child to participate in Show & Tell each fortnight as it helps to build their ‘speaking for an audience’ skills.

In Geography, we will be learning all about The Land Down Under - where we are in the world, reading and understanding maps and the importance of knowing our own addresses. We encourage all children to be able to cite their full residential address along with their phone number, as that will also lead into our work this term on Emergency Services.

Year Three News

Welcome back! We hope all of our Year Three families had a restful break over the school holidays.

This week we have enjoyed beginning our science topic of states of matter. Students loved exploring the three states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) and had fun making oobleck!

In maths we are beginning our topic of rounding, students are incorporating their measuring skills with rounding to the nearest ten. 

In Week 3, Middle Unit Students will be participating in our swimming program. Please see the attached note for further details and ensure you have provided consent on PAM as soon as possible.

Our Year 3 Swan Hill Camp is fast approaching! Please see the details below and reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

This term we have a few exciting excursions coming up!

We will be visiting the Mildura Arts Centre on the 22nd of August to view a performance of ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’. All details can be found on PAM - please provide consent for this excursion as soon as possible.

We will also be visiting the Mildura Sporting Precinct on the 17th of September to participate in Sunray Warriors. All details can be found on PAM - please provide consent for this excursion as soon as possible.

Year Four News

Welcome back to Term 3! 

We are pleased to welcome Mrs Nicole Kilpatrick to Illawarra for Weeks 1 and 2. Mrs Kilpatrick is a highly experienced educator who has recently been teaching in Queensland. Miss Sophie Price will also be supporting the Illawarra this term. Please contact the school if you have any questions or concerns. Sophie can be contacted directly at sprice@shmildura.catholic.edu.au 

In Week 3, Middle Unit Students will be participating in our swimming program. Please see the attached note for further details and ensure you have provided consent on PAM as soon as possible.

This term we will be visiting the Mildura Sporting Precinct on the 17th of September to participate in Sunray Warriors. All details can be found on PAM - please provide consent for this excursion as soon as possible

This week Year Four students who are nominating to be their Semester Two Class Captain will be preparing their speeches during Literacy time. The speeches will be delivered on Thursday. If for any reason your child will be absent for the speeches, please send in a video so they can present their speech to the class.  

We thank Tessa(Myalla) and Ty (Illawarra) for setting a wonderful example as Semester One Class Captains.

Enjoy your weekend,

Sophie, Nicole & Cathryn

Year Five News

Welcome back to Term 3. It has been so great seeing the students again and hearing all about their holiday adventures. Term 3 is shaping up to be a busy and engaging term. Please keep an eye on the calendar for future events and updates.

Today students enjoyed celebrating NAIDOC Day and participating in the cultural workshops and experience. Thanks to the students for showing respect and acknowledging our Indigenous culture and history.

Last term, students explored perspective in artworks, learning how it can be achieved using a horizon line or vanishing point. They practised these techniques by drawing rectangles and using colour to create the illusion of depth.

Coming up this Term:

• Grandparents/Special Friends Morning - Friday 1st August (week 2)
• Barramunga Assembly - Friday 8th August (week 3)
• Senior Swimmon - Week 4 - Please make sure permission is granted via SIMON ASAP and check that all medical profiles are up to date.
• Book Week Dress Up - Friday 22nd August (week 5)
• SHPS Athletics Day - Wednesday 27th August (week 6)

In Year Five this term, students are completing a STEM project on Roller Coasters in Digital Tech. Students are asked to bring in empty toilet paper rolls, empty paper towel rolls, straws, popsicle sticks and tape to help them with this learning project.

Year Six News

Well done to all our students for hitting the ground running this week and making such a smooth transition back into Term 3 — it’s been a fantastic start!

On Friday, students took part in our NAIDOC Day celebrations. It was wonderful to see everyone engaging so respectfully in the activities and taking the time to learn more about the rich culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Next Friday, we’ll be celebrating Grandparents Day, a much-loved event on our calendar. We know our students are looking forward to sharing the morning with their grandparents and special guests.

🏊‍♂️ Swimming lessons begin in Week 4. A note and permission form has been sent via Simon/PAM , please make sure this is completed at your earliest convenience.

📢 A quick reminder to also complete the Camp Permission Form on Simon/PAM if you haven’t already. This needs to be finalised as soon as possible.

🗓️ Important Dates

1st August – Grandparents Day

Week 4t – Swimming
18–22 August – Book Week
19th August – SSV Region Netball

27th August – SHPS Athletics Day
2nd September – Division Athletics
5th September – Father’s Day Stall
12th September – AFL Day
15–18th September – Year 6 Camp (Reminder: If you haven’t already, please complete the camp permission form on PAM/Simon.)

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Student Awards

Congratulations to our ONE Agency Positive Behaviour award recipients this week! 

~ Bodelle R (Mootwingee) ~ Hinaya K (Yongana) ~ Ty W (Illawarra) ~

Digital Technology

We have made some updates to the Digital Technologies SWPBS framework for students. This will help students understand the clear expectations when using their school devices. Over the next two weeks, students in the middle and senior units will be completing a Student Agreement which they will bring home to sign. This is a device contract to ensure students are completing school tasks appropriately and not changing settings on their devices. 

In Year Five this term, students are completing a STEM project on Roller Coasters. Students are asked to bring in empty toilet paper rolls, empty paper towel rolls, straws, popsicle sticks and tape to help them with this learning project.

If you have any questions, please email me; gwhitehouse@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

Thank you 🙂

First Aid

Welcome back everyone!
I hope you all had a safe and happy break.

Please ensure that SIMON medical profiles are all up to date as there are lots of school activities coming up this term. It is very important that we are aware of student needs.

If you could ensure that permissions via PAM are also given as soon as possible for excursions and camps.
If your child requires medication on an upcoming camp, please ensure the Medication Authority Form is filled out and returned to me as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Ebony - ejones@shmildura.catholic.edu.au

Parent Information

School Uniform

It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure, that their children come to school wearing the correct uniform. If for some reason, particular items are not available on a given day, a note should be sent with the child, to eliminate any misunderstanding. 

School Uniform Requirements

Physical Education Uniform Days

Children can wear their sports uniform on their sport and Physical Education days.

Foundation

• Eumeralla Miss Hayley Moore - Thursday & Friday
• Minga Mrs Rebecca O’Callaghan - Tuesday & Friday 

Year One

• Yongana Miss Brieanna Galvin - Tuesday & Friday
• Amaroo Mrs Katrina Groves - Wednesday & Friday                             

Year Two  

• Mootwingee Mrs Chris Carmichael - Monday & Friday 
• Nangare Mrs Wendy Collins - Wednesday & Friday

Year Three

• Narooma Mrs Sarah Beckwith - Wednesday & Friday  
• Dourim Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf - Tuesday & Friday

Year Four

• Illawarra Mrs Natalee Johnson - Tuesday & Friday              
• Myalla Mrs Cathryn Rowles - Monday & Friday

Year Five

• Barramunga Mrs Jacinda Deacon - Monday & Friday
• Waminda Mrs Rachel Slimmon/Mr Jacob Burford - Wednesday & Friday                  

Year Six

• Cooinda Mrs Jo Campbell - Wednesday & Friday
• Wahroonga Mrs Regan Zaxos - Thursday & Friday

School Hats

It is school policy that hats should be worn from September 1st until May 1st whenever the children are outside at recess or lunch.  Outside these times the wearing of a school hat is based upon the forecast UV rating.  Foundation children have a light blue hat so that they are easy to identify in the playground.

Shoes

Parents are asked to give special attention to the shoes children wear to school.  The uniform regulations specify black leather shoes.  There are many styles on the market that fit this description, however parents are urged to avoid shoes that feature coloured stripes, logos or any other coloured decoration.  Unless specifically authorised, (e.g. on Physical Education days) sneakers are not to be worn.

Socks

Specific attention is also drawn to the colour of the socks to be worn as part of the general uniform: pale blue for girls, grey for boys.  Sacred Heart sports socks or plain white sports socks (with no logos or markings) are to be worn as part of the Physical Education uniform.

School Uniform Purchase

The Uniform Shop is run independently to the school through Totally Workwear. The shop is located at 87 Lime Ave, Mildura (Ph. 03 5021 4697). 

Second Hand Uniform Shop

The Parents and Friends (P&F) operate a Second Hand Uniform shop. Opening hours are usually during our School Assembly times. All items for sale are donated and all proceeds go directly to the P&F to support our school.  An order form is placed on our website https://www.shmildura.catholic.edu.au/school-uniform .

School Bags

School bags with the school emblem printed on them are available for purchase from Totally Workwear but are not compulsory.

Library Bags

All students require a Sacred Heart Library Bag (ordered through Totally Workwear) which is used to protect books borrowed from school as well as newsletters and other correspondence.

Lost Property

Please label ALL UNIFORM ITEMS with your child’s name. Lost property can be retrieved from breezeway between the courtyard and Olive Grove and if left unclaimed, will be donated to the second hand uniform shop.

Hair, Jewellery, Nail Polish & Make-Up

Students should keep their hair neat and tidy. Long hair that may cover the eyes must be tied back in a ponytail, plait, or similar style—this applies to both boys and girls. Hair accessories should be in the school colors: pale blue or navy blue.

 Jewellery is generally not part of the school uniform, with a few exceptions:

• Earrings: Only plain studs (no glitter or dangling styles), with one stud per earlobe. No other piercings are allowed.
• Religious Medals: May be worn on a chain or pin but must be safe for play.

Nail polish and make-up are not allowed as part of the school uniform.

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.  This app is powered by Flexischools and  you will need to create an account.  Please download the CDF Pay App and ensure you create an account (the previous CDFPay doesn't transfer over to the app).

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

Foundation

• Eumeralla Miss Hayley Moore - Thursday & Friday
• Minga Mrs Rebecca O’Callaghan - Tuesday & Friday 

Year One

• Yongana Miss Brieanna Galvin - Tuesday & Friday
• Amaroo Mrs Katrina Groves - Wednesday & Friday                             

Year Two  

• Mootwingee Mrs Chris Carmichael - Monday & Friday 
• Nangare Mrs Wendy Collins - Wednesday & Friday

Year Three

• Narooma Mrs Sarah Beckwith - Wednesday & Friday  
• Dourim Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf - Tuesday & Friday

Year Four

• Illawarra Mrs Natalee Johnson - Tuesday & Friday              
• Myalla Mrs Cathryn Rowles - Monday & Friday

Year Five

• Barramunga Mrs Jacinda Deacon - Monday & Friday
• Waminda Mrs Rachel Slimmon/Mr Jacob Burford - Wednesday & Friday               

Year Six

• Cooinda Mrs Jo Campbell - Wednesday & Friday
• Wahroonga Mrs Regan Zaxos - Thursday & Friday