Deputy News 

At Sacred Heart, we strive to create a thriving environment where every child builds strong foundations for lifelong learning and well-being. As we wrap up our first term, we take a moment to reflect on the journey so far.

All students at Sacred Heart deserve a strong foundation for their development and growth. With the right support, they can build confidence, resilience, and a love for learning. We envision a future where every student leaves our community as a healthy, happy, and engaged learner—well-positioned to thrive throughout life.

When students are engaged in learning, it creates a positive atmosphere that enhances their sense of well-being. At the same time, we recognise that without well-being, children struggle to learn, engage, and reach their full potential. Without a strong foundation of emotional and social well-being, their ability to focus, retain information, and develop essential skills is significantly hindered.

In a school with a strong instructional culture, there are shared expectations about what is taught and how it is delivered. These decisions are made collaboratively by leaders and teachers, ensuring that instructional choices move from individual preferences to a collective, evidence based approach. A strong instructional culture allows the organisation to learn, refine, and grow, reinforcing continuous improvement. Effective instruction and scaffolding can also support students at risk of developing low self-concept, high anxiety, poor attention, and disengagement.

Developing a Low-Variance Curriculum

The goal of a low-variance curriculum is to:

✔ Provide opportunities for teachers to share best practices.

✔ Increase the quality of instruction over time.

✔ Ensure students have a consistent experience across classes.

✔ Reduce teachers’ planning and preparation workload.

✔ Build a strong instructional culture.

Our consistent approaches this term have strengthened student engagement and understanding. Effective learning requires students’ active participation, focus, and attention. Evidence based teaching fosters these conditions, maximizing learning while building self-efficacy, a sense of belonging, and ongoing engagement.

A strong sense of belonging at school has significant benefits for students, enhancing their learning, engagement, and overall well-being. When students feel valued, supported, and connected to their school community, they are more likely to enjoy learning, trust their teachers, and actively participate in school life.

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has developed a research-based guide on fostering school connectedness. It highlights practical, evidence-based strategies that can be integrated into everyday teaching and whole-school practices to support student belonging. 

Key benefits of a strong sense of belonging include:

✔ Higher levels of motivation and engagement

✔ Improved academic outcomes

✔ Stronger peer and teacher relationships

✔ Lower absenteeism and greater enjoyment of school

As we eased off the pedal slightly towards the end of the term, we took time to celebrate all the achievements from Term 1.

Have a fabulous break. I hope that everyone is able to recharge, reset, enjoy some chocolate, and spend quality time with family.

Kate Stroud 

Deputy Principal