Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to everyone for Term 3. We also welcome two new families and three new students to our school this week. I trust their time at Sacred Heart will be enjoyable, challenging and satisfying as we continue to shape our community of learners.
Please note; I use the term “challenging” on purpose.
Something I have been reminding our students of recently is that school is supposed to be challenging.
A very tricky but important part of the teachers’ job is to set tasks for our students that are just a little too hard for them.
We want our children to struggle sometimes.
Because it is in the struggle that we grow and learn.
BUILDING PROGRAM In mid 2021 our School Advisory Council took the decision to approve the next stage of our Masterplan to build a new classroom and toilet block and to explore whether our school community could fund these improvements ourselves in order that our students benefit from these improved facilities.
With the assistance of a loan from the Catholic Development Fund and assistance from our Diocese I am pleased to let parents know that this new facility will be officially handed over to the school this coming Friday.
We have a beautiful new classroom that Mr Richardson’s Grade 5’s will move into, new internal toilets for our students, new staff amenities, a new meeting room opening off the revamped corridor and a new exit from our courtyard, where the old toilet block stood, which has really opened up this area.
We are very grateful to our builders Spence Constructions, their contractors and especially to the young foreman and former student, Darcy Howard.
Over the next week or two, four of our classrooms will be “shifting house” to fill the existing classroom that Mr Richardson’s class is to vacate.
FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION Parents who have children in Grade 3 who are Catholic should know that the Parish Preparation program for these two sacraments kicks off with an Information Night for parents this Wednesday, July 12th. There are two options for parents on Wednesday evening, one meeting will be held at 5:00pm and then it will be held again at 7:00pm in order to give parents every opportunity to come along.
Confirmation and First Communion are celebrated at the same Mass in our parish. These ceremonies are scheduled for the weekend of August 12 & 13.
Parents should have received an invitation to Wednesday’s meetings via a note with their children yesterday.
SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY Could all parents please note that our school will be closed on Friday August 11th in order that staff undergo further training.
THINK U KNOW - ONLINE SAFETY PRESENTATION Can I draw your attention to the upcoming event being offered to our school by Senior Constable Stephanie Ward of Colac Police. All classes will meet Stephanie next Thursday July 20th. (Times are listed elsewhere on today’s newsletter). The presentation is designed to help children recognise unsafe situations online and is linked to the Australian Curriculum. Parents are invited to attend the sessions as we have built a short Q & A for parents only at the conclusion of each session.
ReLate SURVEY As part of our school’s involvement in the ReLate program children are asked to complete a short survey with their parents. These surveys have been circulated with today’s newsletter. We would be very grateful if parents found some time to complete these surveys about our school.
The link to the survey is in Julie’s Wellbeing notes on today’s newsletter.