School News
School Closure Days
A reminder that next Thursday 25 April and Friday 26 April are School Closure Days.
Term 2 Camps
This term our Year 4 students will be attending Bayview Adventure Camp (formerly Grantville Lodge) in Grantville from Monday 29 April to Wednesday 1 May.
Year 5/6 students will participate in a 2 night camp at Lady Northcote Discovery Camp, Glenmore from Monday 13 May to Wednesday 15 May. On Thursday 16 May, the students will be going to Gravity Zone, Seaford, and on Friday 17 May, they will attend Rush HQ, Rowville.
Operoo permission was sent for both camps earlier this week. Please ensure all Medical Forms are updated and uploaded on Operoo.
Year 5/6 Puberty Education
As your child approaches or experiences puberty, they will undergo a significant period of rapid growth and change. To support Year 5/6 parents/carers as their primary educator during this sensitive phase, our school will host a virtual puberty parent night next Tuesday 23 April at 7pm. Click on the Zoom linkto join the event.
We strongly encourage all families to attend this event, which will serve as the foundation for our following classroom discussions later in the year.
This parent night will be facilitated by a qualified Family Life Educator using the program Things Are Changing, which is an endorsed resource by the Bishop and Catholic Schools Office of this Diocese. The event will run for 60 minutes and will cover various topics, including:
- Hormones and the time of intense growth that occurs during puberty.
- General changes that happen during puberty, such as hair growth, body odour, body shape, and perspiration.
- The male and female reproductive systems.
- The female cycle of fertility and menstruation.
- Emotional changes that occur.
- While this session will cover many important aspects of puberty, we will not discuss conception or sexual intercourse.
At the end of the parent night, you will receive a link to a parent pack containing a video, a parent book, and a student workbook. These resources are designed to assist you in continuing the conversation with your child and supporting their development.
Legacy's 92nd Annual ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony
The Year 6 Leaders attended the Legacy's 92nd Annual ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony todayat the Shrine of Remembrance. Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria was in attendance to address the students, and the ceremony also included Defence Force Cadets, school band & choir and a RAAF fly-over. Our School Captains, Alaia and Joel, laid a wreath during the service. Jess Wilson, Member for Kew, was also in attendance today. Later in the day, Jess visited us at school for our afternoon Assembly to present us with our three new flags.
ANZAC Day Dawn Service - Kew RSL
On behalf of the Kew RSL - All Sacred Heart Kew community members are invited to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service next Thursday, 25 April at the Kew RSL.
Mothers' Day Events
Our annual events for Mothers' Day are rapidly approaching with our Mothers' Day Stall (Wednesday 8 May) and Mothers' Day Paraliturgy and Morning Tea (Thursday 9 May). On Thursday 9 May, all mothers are invited into the classrooms from 8.30-9.00am, followed by a special Mothers' Day Paralitrugy in the MPR and Morning Tea in the Hall.
Our new Sandpit
In the holidays, our sandpit had a much needed facelift. It was practically rebuilt, with new Accoya sleepers and a brand new cover installed. To top off the renovations new sand was shipped in. This space looks totally different now and as you can see from the photos below, everyone is loving playing in this fresh new area.
Many thanks to our Parents' Association for funding this project. Thanks also to Milestone Property Services for completing these works and to the Milesi family for their very generous donation of a number of new buckets and spades for all children to enjoy.
Sacred Heart Kew's first apple
We are excited to announce that the Sacred Heart Kew “orchard” has produced its first harvest-one Braeburn apple! The Gardening club students are hoping that in the future we will have a more bountiful harvest, however, we are very proud of our one apple. Mrs Mulhall tells us all that it was absolutely DELICIOUS!!
Congratulations
Congratulations to Elia N (2EO) who came first in the 7 Year old Division for The Calisthenics Victoria State Championships during the holidays. A WONDERFUL achievement!
School Counsellor
Have you ever wondered what school counselling involves? Sometimes children and young people find living in our demanding, complex world difficult to navigate. This can impact their social, emotional and educational development. School Counselling is a confidential service offered at Sacred Heart Kew that assists students who may be experiencing small or big problems such as:
- worries
- friendships concerns
- trouble sleeping
- anger
- low self-esteem
- family tensions
The counsellor helps students to discuss their tricky feelings, understand their thoughts and behaviours, and provide coping strategies to reduce and mitigate symptoms before they become worse. Counselling sessions are a positive and fun experience, and can promote good help-seeking behaviour. Class observations are also offered by the school counsellor to gain further insight on how their emotional world is impacting student’s classroom behaviour.
Elise, our school counsellor, is available on Tuesdays in 2024. Parents are welcome to reach out to discuss if counselling is the right fit for them and their child. Please contact the School Office admin@shkew.catholic.edu.au
Garden Club
The next Garden Club will meet on Wednesday 24 April.
A reminder that ALL children are invited to Garden Club on a Wednesday (every fortnight) from 7.50am. Please remember to drop your children around 7.50am as the Glenferrie Rd pedestrian gate will be closed by 8am.
Running Club
Running Club resumed this morning. Due to our School Closure day next Friday, Running Club will take place on Friday 3 and Friday 10 May, before it 'hibernates' for the colder months.
Term 2 School Assemblies
All parents are welcome to attend our Assemblies which take place in the MPR on Fridays at 2.30pm (see below dates). From Term 2, classes will be timetabled to present an item to the school community.
Term 2 Assemblies:
Week 2 - Friday 26 April (School Closure Day)
Week 3 - Friday 3 May (Wellbeing Groups-No Assembly)
Week 4 - Friday 10 May (No Spotlight on Learning)
Week 5 - Friday 17 May (No Assembly)
Week 6 - Friday 24 May (Year 5/6 Spotlight on Learning)
Week 7 - Friday 31 May (Year 4 Spotlight on Learning)
Week 8 - Friday 7 June (No Spotlight on Learning)
Week 9 - Friday 14 June (No Spotlight on Learning)
Week 10 - Friday 21 June (Wellbeing Groups-No Assembly)
Week 11 - Friday 28 June (End of Term 2 12:45pm-No Assembly)
Tuckshop
A reminder that children are asked to please only bring $2 with them to school each Friday in a labelled purse/wallet or a zip lock bag.
We also ask for your support in ensuring that your child does not order too many items e.g. 3 icy poles, as they are unable to eat everything in the given time. Please talk to your child about the suggested items to buy before Tuckshop day.
For Child Safety and OH&S compliance, children of parents assisting in the tuckshop, are not allowed to enter the kitchen area. They must line up at the window.
Many thanks for your support and assistance with this.
2024 Term Dates
Term 1
Thurs 1 February (Students begin) – Thurs 28 March (12:45pm finish)
Term 2
Mon 15 April – Fri 28 June (12:45pm finish)
Term 3
Mon 15 July – Fri 20 September (12:45pm finish)
Term 4
Mon 7 October - Tue 17 December (12:45pm finish)
2024 School Closure Days
The following days and dates will be School Closure Days in 2024:
Term 2
Thursday 25 April (ANZAC Day)
Friday 26 April (Time in lieu day for staff) *
Monday 10 June (King’s Birthday Public Holiday)
Term 3
None
Term 4
Monday 4 November (Time in lieu day for staff) *
Tuesday 5 November (Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday)
Friday 6 December (Staff Planning for 2025 School Closure Day)
Children finish on Tuesday 17 December at 12.45pm
Wednesday 18 December (Time in lieu day for staff) *
As was communicated to families towards the end of last year...
* Time in Lieu (TIL)
The new Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022 (the Agreement) introduces a formal time in lieu (TIL) process for teachers. The Agreement provides that a principal may require a teacher to undertake work and attend a school activity outside the normal hours of attendance (i.e., in excess of the 38 hours or normal hours for a part-time teacher) and when this occurs, it will attract TIL.
Principals should prepare for the accrual and acquittal of TIL through their annual planning process. The timing of the acquittal of TIL is at the discretion of the principal, having regard to the operational needs of the school and causing the least disruption to the educational program of the school.
Principals may elect to acquit TIL through designating days during the year on which all staff and students are not required to attend school. For 2024, there are opportunities to acquit TIL for the whole school on the following days:
Friday April 26 (day after ANZAC Day);
Monday November 4 (day before Cup Day);
early finishes on the last days of Terms 1, 2 and 3;
end of Term 4 from Wednesday 18 December.
Please note that no primary school students should be dismissed from schools prior to Tuesday 17 December 2024 – this is their earliest finish date