Principal News
Dear Sacred Heart Community
Welcome to the start of the 2020 school year. I hope during the break, you were able to have some special time with your families and friends, and were able to experience some moments that are otherwise difficult to find the time to have, in your busy lives. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the school community, to offer our prayers and thoughts to those people who were affected by the terrible bush fires.
I would like to welcome our new students and their families who have joined us this year. It was great to see our Year Prep students and the new students in other classes seeming to be so welcomed into our school community. Yesterday morning, the playground was vibrant with students catching up with friends and parents with other parents. Smiles and laughter were everywhere to be seen and heard, and were a great indication of how happy everyone was, being back at school. Walking around the classrooms in the morning revealed a studious hum as our students recaptured their focus and enthusiasm for learning so quickly after their holidays. Well done to all our students.
As this week is a short one, our first newsletter will be a little short on content, but I remind all parents and guardians of the importance of staying in touch and informed about what is happening in the school through this main source of information.
2020 Year Preps, First Day
Our 2020 Year Prep class started their first day at school yesterday, as if they were experienced students. Their smiling faces that greeted our community as they entered the school gate yesterday morning, never disappeared all day. Whenever I encountered the group during the day, whether in their room, in the playground, or on a tour familiarising themselves with their new environment, they displayed great excitement and happiness, and showed a sense of joy in their new surroundings. At recess and lunch time, they were already forming friendships. From yesterday's showing, they are going to be a great class for Bethany and Ann, and great members of our school community. Well done Year Prep.
Year Five/Six Transition Days
Our Year Five/Six classes have started the year with a transition program. They are spending this week as a whole group in the presbertry, working on bonding activities, self and group awareness activities, and being involved in learning experiences around leadership, responsibility and the need for making good decisions. As is the case in every school, our Year Five/Six students are our leaders and set the tone for the other students to follow. I am very confident that as has been the case the past two years, they will be great leaders for our school.
2020 Staff and Classrooms
Year Prep BA - Bethany and Ann (Friday)
Year One/Two A - Alexandra and Ann (Monday)
Year Three/Four M - Marie
Year Three/Four D - Denise and Belinda (every alternate Friday)
Year Five/Six M - Marty and Belinda (every alternate Friday)
Year Five/Six AJ - Amanda (Monday - Wednesday) and Jenny (Thursday/Friday)
Italian - Claudia (Wednesday)
Physical Education - Stuart (Wednesday)
Music - Kate (Wednesday and Thursday)
Deputy Principal and Religious Education Coordinator - Jenny
Learning Diversity, Student Wellbeing and Library - Liz
Learning and Teaching Coordinator and Literacy Coordinator - Belinda
Maths Coordinator - Marty
ICT Coordinator - Denise
Office Staff - Maria and Gerry
Learning Support - Francesca, Rose Lee, Amalie and Filomena
New Dismissal Time
As detailed in a letter that went home yesterday, as of next Monday 3rd February, the bell will ring at 3.20 pm to dismiss all classes. The split dismissal times will no longer continue.
Coronavirus
I would like to assure the school community, that the precautions some school communities have had to take to ensure the health of their students, due to the coronavirus, are not necessary at our school. I have been in contact with the three beautiful families in our community who have family connections in China and none have visited China over the recent few months. Like all School Principals, I will continue to follow the advice of the Education Department and Catholic Education Melbourne.
Yours Sincerely
Mark Tierney
Principal