Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
As another term draws to a close I take this opportunity to thank our staff, our community of parents and carers, our amazing students and the very many Emergency Teachers and fill-in Learning Support Officers that have contributed to the safe and effective running of our school this term. Like every other industry and as you will have heard or read in the news we currently have a national shortage of teachers and support staff in education in Victoria and, I suspect across Australia. I feel very blessed to be working with the people that I do. Professionals who really care about the kids and the quality of work that they do.
I trust they all enjoy some down time over the next week or two and look forward to coming back to school fully refreshed and just as enthusiastic and joyous about the important work that they continue to do in our school.
STAFF NEWS 2024 Last Friday we were very sorry to say farewell to Ms Hayley Everitt who has had to finish this year early due to health concerns. Hayley has been a tremendous asset in our school this year and been an integral part of our Foundation team.
Hayley will undergo surgery this Friday on her leg which will require her to take at least 12 months to recover. We wish her all the very best for a full recovery and look forward to the opportunity to welcome her back to Sacred Heart in due course.
Mrs Kerry Eldridge (4 days) and Mrs Deb Mackrell (1 day) have generously accepted our offer to look after Ms Hayley’s Preps for the remainder of 2023 and these kids could hardly be in better hands. Both Kerry and Deb have taught at Sacred Heart for many years and I consider both of them to be absolute experts of their profession.
I am also pleased to advise parents that our recent recruiting program for teachers was very successful where we were delighted to appoint two Graduate teachers for 2024: Adam Garner and Sheridan Finn. Both Adam and Sheridan worked at Sacred Heart straight after high school as trainees before going off to University. Both of them have worked here part time as Learning Support Officers around their university courses and both are outstanding Graduates who know our kids and our school so well.
Sheridan will be joining our Foundation team in 2024 while Adam will be teaching in Grade 1. Adam will be replacing Ms Melissa Callahan who is taking 12 months leave to travel and work in Western Australia in 2024. Whilst we will miss Melissa this will be an excellent adventure for her and be an excellent opportunity for her own personal and professional growth.
END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS Third term will conclude THIS Friday, September 16th at 2:25pm. Children will be given a hot dog and a drink for lunch on Friday unless parents have advised us otherwise (NO LUNCH ORDERS). The cost of this lunch is built into your fees and helps to offset the cost of our grade 6 camps.
Children may wear casual clothes but are encouraged to wear their footy colours and bring a gold coin donation. These donations will be sent to the “Fight Cancer Foundation” to support children with cancer.
Fourth term will begin on Monday, October 2nd. We haven’t needed them very often yet but HATS are part of our school uniform particularly in 4th and 1st terms.
PARENTING PRIMARY AGED CHILDREN I understand that we have enough interest to run both sessions of this program this week, which is great. There will be an afternoon session from 1:15pm - 3:15pm and then the same session repeated from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Last minute enrolments still being taken, please complete the connect survey through PAM.
GRANDPARENTS DAY Calling all Grandparents! You are cordially invited to attend Sacred Heart on Friday October 6th to visit your darling grandchildren.
Grandparents are welcome to attend from about 1:00 pm and can visit the grandchildren in their classrooms, where we will have our art work on display. Nans and Pas might like to bring a picnic lunch to share with their grandchildren, while some musical entertainment will be provided by students that are studying music with David Stewart or Kelly Kerr.
So Kids, get on the phone and invite your Nans and Pas! Or send the attached invite electronically.
Jack Lenaghan - Principal