Principal News 

WEEK 8 - TERM 1

To subscribe to future Newsletters, please click here

DOING THE LITTLE THINGS WELL

Dear Families & Friends,

What another amazing week at Sacred Heart. The biggest joy was to have so many prospective families in our school this week doing Open Day tours led by our incredibly polished and confident senior students. All families noted the strong reputation of our vibrant school community, positive connections within various networks, word of mouth endorsements and the changes to class structures in 2023 i.e. move to straight classes.  It was also most affirming to have families acknowledge the introduction of the MSL approach (Multisensory Structured Language) in recent weeks. Clearly this evidence based approach to teaching literacy has spread and resonated with future families beyond our immediate community. 

Multi-Sensory Structured Learning

We are excited to share with our community that the children and teachers at Sacred Heart have begun their MSL (Multisensory Structured Learning) journey. 

Mrs Kate Stroud, our fabulous reading intervention teacher is now trained and accredited in this approach and has started supporting the staff with professional development and the effective implementation of this approach in the classroom. We thank Mrs Stroud and the MOST responsive staff to this new and exciting learning opportunity and invaluable investment in our students' literacy development.

MSL is a scientific based approach that uses explicit teaching to inform students of common spelling rules and patterns. MSL applies proven knowledge of how the brain works, how students learn and how students most effectively learn to read and write. It incorporates the 5 essential steps to reading and writing success: identifying letter sounds, sounding out words, fluency, accuracy and comprehension. 

MSL aims to use two or more of the senses, auditory (hearing), visual (seeing) and kinaesthetic (movement), when teaching literacy to form stronger neural pathways in the brain. For example; when learning to write the letter ‘d’ we get the students to write the letter (kinaesthetic), say the sound the letter makes (auditory) and watch the letter being formed (visual).

Only 10% of the English Language is made up of irregular words and the other 90% are words that follow spelling rules and patterns. MSL allows students to be taught the spelling rules and patterns, without being afraid to explain to them why a word is spelt the way it is. It is important to use the correct language, even in Prep, such as ‘consonants’ and ‘vowels’ as well as ‘closed syllables’ and ‘open syllables’ to explain each concept.

It is important that the students are aware of the difference between irregular words (words that follow no spelling rule or pattern and just need to be learnt by memory) and decodable or regular words (words that can be sounded out using a spelling rule or pattern).

This distinction is an important part of MSL as students don’t get as frustrated by words that they can’t spell if the rule can be explained to them or they can be told that it is an irregular word. The explanations are very powerful for the students. In the classroom, concepts are taught in a cumulative approach. This means that each new concept builds upon the concepts that have already been taught.

This allows for a higher level of success and requires you to ‘stick to the skill’ that is being taught which avoids confusion. Ideally, you work as fast or as slow as the specific group of students require, ensuring they understand one skill before moving to the next.

This week, I was completely blown away when I visited the Preps and they were doing their daily Sound Pack - focussing on vowels (long sound, word and short sound) with the kinesthetic component and then short vowels. Whilst it was hard to believe that our Preps had already started to master these initial sounds, we simply cannot underestimate their capacity to so quickly absorb this new learning. Well done again Miss Maloney, you truly are doing an inspiring job with your students.  

The ‘Sound Pack’ technique involves daily repetition of some of the 44 sounds of the English language designed to develop an automatic response to the printed word we see and the phonic/sound we hear. Can you believe there are 44 sounds?

Preps have been learning the sounds and letters, a, m, s, f, p, while Yr.1/2 children have established the vowel sounds and letters and launched into the consonant sounds and letters. 

Ask your child for a demonstration, it is very impressive! 

School Tours - Open Days - Let’s keep spreading the good word

Hats off again to our most impressive student leaders who ran our Open Day tours for prospective families this week. We were thrilled by the volume of families who attended the afternoon session on Wednesday, in particular. The students spoke so proudly about THEIR school and learning experiences, leaving all staff in awe by their confidence and delivery in capturing all aspects of school life - even the hand santising units. From their academic agenda, sense of community, love of lunchtime clubs, camps, breadth of activities, to the relationships they have forged with their peers and teachers; we simply could not have scripted a better response from these outstanding and best advocates of Sacred Heart. For the record, the students were not scripted or coached prior to these tours. 

Whilst the staff were able to elaborate on the teaching and learning practices and our emphasis on wellbeing, our students spoke from the ‘heart’ of these rich experiences over their journey. Their strong connections and sense of belonging to Sacred Heart was certainly not lost on the families (nor the principal) as they loved these most comprehensive student-led tours. These exchanges are often the defining moment for the families as they seek the best school experience for their children. Well done leaders, you were AMAZING and we are blessed to have you at Sacred Heart, leading the way! Albeit in my early weeks in this community, the manner from the students over these sessions has left a lasting impression.  A special thank you to our staff for your most welcoming and engaging manner with the touring families - doing the little things so well. 

A most notable thread over these two sessions was the referencing of connections within the community, endorsing Sacred Heart. We are indebted to our current and past families and ask that you continue to spread the good word within your networks and broader community as we seek to secure our enrolments for 2023 and beyond. It is worth highlighting we had a number of families doing tours for 2024 & 2025 as they start their homework for schools. With a building program in our sights and other notable priorities circulating, our future families are looking forward to being part of the next exciting chapter at Sacred Heart. 

A gentle reminder enrolments (sibling and non-sibling) will be closing at the end of Term 1. In the meantime, we will be offering two more ‘formal’ open sessions for our families in the coming weeks and welcome tours outside of these dates due to recent requests within our broader community:

• 31st March 12:30pm - 3:30pm
• 5th April 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Thank you once again for your advocacy and support with these important sessions. 

Playing To Your Strengths

 Danny Frawley Centre

With a strong focus on wellbeing and improving the mental health of all members of the Sacred Heart community, our Senior School was afforded a wonderful opportunity on Friday to be the first school to use the education centre at the newly opened Danny Frawley Centre in Moorabbin. Danny Frawley, played 240 games for St Kilda and coached Richmond, before tragically passing away in 2019.  Danny was a high profile advocate for mental health and his dream was to create an educational centre to support others with their mental health. We are extremely grateful to work in partnership with St Kilda to further expand on our Respectful Relationships program and thank Mr Brown (Wellbeing Leader) for initiating this relationship. 

Using Saints players as inspiration, Play To Your Strengths is a program that introduces students to ‘Values in Action’ and ‘Character Strengths’ in their context. Students will learn about the 24 universal strengths, explore their top strengths and ways they can flex these in all aspects of life as well as gain an insight into the strengths of others. We hope when the students identify their character strengths they can skilfully apply these and positively impact their life. 

Our seniors look forward to forging strong relationships with the Danny Frawley Centre in the future.

St Patrick’s Day - An Irish Blessing!

On Thursday we celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a touch of green and some activities across our grades to acknowledge this special day for Irish connections across our community; namely Miss Maloney, Miss Rafferty and Mr Blake. We sincerely hope their extended Sacred Heart family affirmed how much they are admired by all through this small gesture of green. Thanks Miss Maloney and Mr Blake for putting on a very special Irish morning tea for our staff. From black pudding, to soda bread, the belt buckle has officially been adjusted. 

Art Club

What a joy to drop in on Mrs Hyslop’s amazing Art Club on Wednesday morning. The creativity and intent focus of all students was extraordinary as they were stitching up their stuffed toys. One of many clubs across offered so generously by our staff either before school or during break times. 

Environment Club

On Thursday morning Mrs Collins gathered for the Environment Club to plant our fresh crop of vegetables for the term. We cannot wait to watch these flourish and share with our families in the coming weeks. This team will make their way around the grounds tending to the various beds spread across the school. We simply love the sustainable bus that Mrs Collins passionately drives in our community. 

Staffing News - Retreat 2022

Many thanks again to Anna Box for sharing her gift and presenting at our recent staff retreat. Anna’s powerful wellbeing message was simply outstanding and resonated with all staff.  It's always a great indicator when you see staff modelling this message with their children on Tuesday.  On a personal note, this was such an important opportunity for me to work in this setting with my new staff and start shaping ‘our’ culture for the years to follow. We thank our families for their understanding with this two day closure period.  The students and staff are certainly refreshed and ready to close out this full term. 

School Advisory Council

Expressions of Interest

Last week the School Advisory Council met for the first time for 2022. This was an opportunity to meet the members and present the priorities and agenda for 2022-23. This valuable parent body acts in an advisory capacity (sounding board) to discuss ways to practically improve the school and to work on strategies and projects. The Council are now calling for new Member nominations to fill current vacancies. We encourage all parents to consider nominating for one of these important posts. Please note Council Membership is purely voluntary and is for a two (2) year term. 

See attached the School Advisory Council Membership Nomination Request

Friday Assembly

Although our senior students were out at the Danny Frawley Centre on Friday morning, that certainly didn't stop the rest of school (P-4s) gathering and celebrating our weekly assembly. And what a special celebration it was as Mr Blake and Miss Maloney shared a little touch of Ireland with a St Patrick's liturgy,  a history and language lesson and even an Irish song. It is indeed an Irish Blessing to have these wonderful educators in our community. 

Congratulations once again to our Class Award recipients. It's always a joy to acknowledge these 'efforts.' 

The following classes will be presenting at assembly on:

• 25th March - Yr.3/4CM
• 8th April - Yr.5/6B

Key Dates & Changes

Please note the following key dates for Term 1&2 have now been confirmed:

• 19th March - Kids Movie Night
• 31st March RCH Good Friday appeal- wear a touch of yellow gold coin donation and lemonade stall
• 31st March - Open Day #3 12:30-3:30pm
• 2nd April - P&F Cocktail Evening
• 5th April - SCHOOL PHOTO DAY
• 5th April - Open Day #4 12:30-3:30pm 
• 7th April- Stations of the Cross- parents welcome 
• 8th April - Easter Raffle
• 24th April - Working Bee (t.b.c)
• 6th May - Mother's Day Assembly
• 20th May - Kid's Disco
• 10th June - Grandparent's Day Assembly

NAPLAN DATES

• Thursday March 24th - Nationwide Coordinated Practice test 
• Tuesday May 10th - Writing Yr.3 & 5
• Wednesday  May 11th  Reading Yr.3 & 5   
• Thursday May 12th  Language Conventions and Numeracy Yr.3 & 5

Little Gems

A very special thank you to our beautiful Yr.1/2 classes for their heart-felt letters delivered to my office this week. Whilst letter writing was a focus across the junior school, I was pretty chuffed to be the intended audience for this exercise. A stunning keepsake. 

And finally...

Please note I will be away from Tuesday - Friday next week at the annual Victoria Catholic School Principals' Conference. Whilst the timing is never ideal, we are in great hands with Mrs Pennington and the Leadership Team. 

Let's ensure we keep doing the 'little things well' to make Sacred Heart the best school it can be.

A pretty proud principal and happy Blue Boy,

Simon Collis

Principal