Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools - School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS)

Monday 29 August-Friday 16 September

Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as effective school communities and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices.

A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholis Schools-School Improvement Surveys.

MACSSIS is a set of surveys that have been built specifically for Catholic schools in Melbourne by the Learning Services team at MACS, in partnership with researchers at Learning First and in wide consultation with principals in our schools.

In 2022, students, families and staff are invited to participate in MACSSIS via our secure and purpose-built online platform. The online platform is where our school leaders will access the summary reports that visualise the results of the student, family and staff surveys.

The MACSSIS survey platform is operated by an independent supplier, ORIMA Research Pty Ltd. The platform meets with the high security and privacy standards for handling student and school data.

Students at our school will be provided with supervised sessions, where teachers are on hand to help answer any questions. Families and staff can complete the survey anytime over the three-week window via an emailed link and password.

The survey is available online, can be accessed from Monday 29 August and needs to be completed by Friday 16 September 2022. This survey may only be completed once. Details to access the survey, including your family's personalised identification number (PIN) will be emailed to you on Monday 29 August.

Our community's opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing-MACSSIS is a key data source for guiding the ongoing work to improve our school. We highly encourage families to complete the survey.

We thank you for your participation in the survey.

Staffing

Jasmine Dabley (Learning Support Staff)

This week we farewelled Jasmine Dabley (Learning Support Officer) who has taken on a new position with the IVET group as Lead School Relationship Manager. Jasmine will be responsible for VET programs in Secondary schools.

We thank Jasmine for all her work with our students and staff this year as Learning Support Officer and wish her well for her exciting new position. We are hopeful that we will secure a replacement for Jasmine to begin with us in Term 4.

School Counsellor/Psychologist (CatholicCare)

CatholicCare are still searching for a suitable candidate for our School Counsellor/Psychologist position at Sacred Heart Kew. At present, staff shortages are greatly impacting the Allied Health Industry, in particular, the Counselling space. We will communicate any update to families as soon as it's received. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Pupil Free Day - Friday 2 September

As previously mentioned, as per the MACS directive, we will have a Pupil Free Day on Friday 2 September. This extra Pupil Free Day was approved by the MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) Executive Leadership Team to acknowledge the incredible job all schools have done to minimise disruption for staff and students despite the high number of COVID-19 and flu cases within our community this year.

As a school we are most grateful for this extra pupil free day. This day will assist us to meet our professional practice obligations as we continue to deliver improved educational outcomes for all children in our care. Thank you for your support and understanding of this additional Pupil Free Day.

Basketball Clincs for all children (Prep - Year Six)

Over the next two weeks, all children (Prep - Year Six) will participate in Basketball Clinics facilitated by 'Level Up Basketball' coaches. As part of this program, specialist coaches (and our own Mr O'Shea) will provide fun, skills based activities during the usual PE lesson times for children. We pray for plesant weather next week!

Gardening Club

Gardening Club is back! It was wonderful to open up our Glenferrie Road Pedestrian Gate at the new time of 7.50am last Thursday morning and welcome all students back to weed, plant and dress up our Sacred Heart Scarecrows. A big thank you to Mrs Mulhall and Miss Olney who meet and greet our gardeners and work with them to maintain these beautiful and budding garden beds each week.

Gardening Club operates on a Thursday morning at 7.50am (enter via the Glenferrie Road Pedestrian Gate).

Bush Tucker

Development is well underway for the Gardening Club's Bush Tucker garden bed located in the 4-Square Court. The children will be learning about native Australian plants and edible Australian plants that can be used in cooking. We look forward to seeing the Bush Tucker garden flourish this semester.

Year 5/6 Mixed Soccer Team - 3rd Place at the Regional Soccer Championships

Last Friday, our Year 5/6 Mixed Soccer Team competed at the Regional Soccer Championships at Donvale Reserve. They won through to the finals (losing 2-4 to eventual Champions Templestowe Primary) in the first playoff game. The team regrouped, sealing their 3rd place with a nail-biting penalty shoot out in the second playoff game (despite the pouring rain).

We congratulate all members of the Year 5/6 Mixed Soccer team for this outstanding achievement. A BIG thanks to Super Coach Mr O'Shea who guided the team all the way to the Regional Championships and to the many parents who supported the team during the season. Well done to all involved.

Book Week

Please read the flyer below to find out what is happening during Book Week this year.

Book Fair

We are very excited to host the Scholastic Book Fair this year from Wednesday 24 August to Tuesday 30 August in the MPR.

Book Fairs are designed to give kids access to more books they want to read, from relevant new-releases to classic award winners. Every book sold at the Book Fair earns free books for our school.

On Wednesday 24 August, all students will visit the Book Fair and write a Wish List of the books that they like. The Book Fair will be open for families to visit at the following days and times:

DATE	TIME
Thursday 25 August	8:30am - 9:00am 3:15pm - 3:45pm
Friday 26 August	8:30am - 9:00am 3:15pm - 3:45pm
Monday 29 August	8:30am - 9:00am 3:15pm - 3:45pm
Tuesday 30 August	8:30am - 9:00am 3:15pm - 3:45pm

We strongly encourage purchases to be made electronically, either at the Book Fair (EFT/Credit) or online at www.scholastic.com.au/payment (see the back of the My Wish List order form that your child will bring home on Wednesday 24 August).

If you are unable to visit the Book Fair with your child, they will be able to bring money in an enclosed envelope and purchase the book themselves. Please inform the classroom teacher that this will occur.

MS Readathon

To sign up under our school's MS Readathon, just click the link below!

REGISTER HERE: www.msreadathon.org.au/register

If you have already registered, although haven't joined our Sacred Heart fundraising page, click here: https://www.msreadathon.org.au/fundraisers/sacred-heart-school-3101 and select the "Join Us" button to add your child to the page.

Thank you to those who have already joined and donated money to the MS Readathon. We have raised $4838.00 so far.

Reflection

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Sunday 15 August