Senior School News

Can you believe it's already Week 3 of Term 3? The Grade 5's and 6's at Sacred Heart School have had an incredible start to the term, and they've been enthusiastically immersing themselves in various learning areas.

English Program: Public Speaking and Debating

As part of our English program, we're thrilled to have an external company running a Public Speaking and Debating program for our students . The Year 5's are honing their public speaking skills, while the Year 6's are delving into the world of debating. They're learning persuasive techniques, debate structures, and effective ways to counter opposing arguments. The program takes place every Monday, and due to its schedule, the Spelling Mastery program now runs from Tuesday to Friday. We've already seen remarkable progress in Spelling Mastery earlier in the year, and we're excited to witness further growth in our students' spelling abilities. During our English block, held between lunch and recess, we're continuing to explore the morphology and etymology of words and we're regularly practising fluency by reading aloud and working on comprehension articles to enhance our language skills.

A Journey through Space: Our First Topic of Term 3

Our first topic for Term 3 has taken us on an exciting journey through space and the planets in our solar system. So far the students have been researching famous astronauts, learning about the order and distance of planets, and exploring the significance of the sun, our 'dwarf' star.

Mathematics Adventures

In Mathematics, we've been busy over the past three weeks. The students have engaged in BODMAS exercises, focusing on exponents, indices, and square roots within equations. Additionally, we've explored length and area in our catch groups. The different catch groups have focussed on converting between units of measurement, calculating area and perimeter of regular and irregular shapes, and finding the area and circumference of circles using Pi.

Religious Education: David and Goliath

During our R.E lessons, the students have been delving into the scripture of David and Goliath. They've been unpacking the moral of the story, recontextualizing it into modern-day terms, and drawing comparisons to other historical events.

Respectful Relationships 

In our Respectful Relationships sessions, the Grade 6's have started exploring Positive Gender Relationships, while the Grade 5's have begun their journey into understanding character strengths. Within the Positive Gender Relationships unit, the Grade 6's have examined different forms of violence (physical, verbal, emotional, online, psychological)  and reflected on how they manifest in various ways and how this can vary between males and females. Meanwhile, the Grade 5's are discovering different character strengths and identifying the ones that resonate most strongly with them.

Homework and Study Habits

Homework has resumed for this term and will run from Wednesday to Tuesday. This new schedule allows students to utilise spare time on weekends to complete tasks while still having the opportunity to ask their teachers questions on Monday. We encourage students to plan out their week, selecting one or two tasks each night, and avoid completing everything in one sitting. Remember, homework aims to create good study habits, preparing our students for their future in High School.

Celebrating Hoop Time Success

A big congratulations to all the students who participated in Hoop Time! We received incredible feedback from parents and other schools about our students' exemplary behaviour and enthusiasm on the day. It's fantastic to see so many students giving their best efforts, regardless of their basketball background.  Special mention goes to our All Star teams, Sacred Heart Hawks and Sacred Heart ASG, who have advanced to the next stage.

Sacred Heart Hawks: Angus Keating, Benji Simpson, Eden Molony, Harrison Lonsdale-Coates, Harry Hopgood, Joe Bade, Johnny Simon, and Liam Pert.

Sacred Heart ASG: Bonnie Lagan, Eloise Tuohey, Imogen Thomson, Milly Surkitt, Scarlett Withington, Stevie King, and Tilly Monaghan.

A big thank you to all the parents who helped out on the day! Hoop time couldn't go ahead without your support.

Grade 6 Sleepout: Making a Difference for the Homeless

We are excited to announce that applications for the Grade 6 Sleepout are now open! This annual event aims to raise funds for the homeless in our community. While participation is not mandatory, we encourage as many Year 6 students as possible to get involved. The Sleepout provides a wonderful opportunity for students to develop empathy and understanding for those who are less fortunate and lack a safe place to sleep each night.

To be part of this impactful event, interested students need to write an application letter addressed to Miss McKay and our Social Justice Captains. The deadline for applications is Monday, 31st July. Well done to those students who have already got their applications in. For those who haven't, there's still time! We look forward to receiving more applications from compassionate students who are eager to make a difference in the lives of others.

The Grade 6 Sleepout will take place during the first week of Term 4. We believe that coming together as a community can create a positive change and support those in need. Let us work together to make this year's Sleepout a huge success!

Keep up the excellent work, everyone! We are proud of all your accomplishments and dedication to learning and growth.

Jayne Mckay

Senior Leader