Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
There has been quite a bit happening on the staffing front at Sacred Heart during last term which warrants sharing with the wider community. Our Wellbeing Leader and Religious Education Leader, Julie Leonard will be leaving us at the end of 2024. Julie has been invited to take up the Principal Position at St Mary’s Primary School in Warracknabeal commencing in Term 1 next year. Julie has given our school and this community great service in these very important roles over the past four years. I’m sure all parents will join me in congratulating Julie on her new role and wish her all the very best for her new challenge.
Unfortunately I have more to share; our wonderful Deputy Principal, Jane Daffy has decided to retire.
Jane began working at Sacred Heart in a part time capacity in 1986. She has been working at Sacred Heart Primary School for 39 years as a teacher, librarian and since 1995, as the school’s Deputy Principal.
Jane has, of course, stood in as Principal many times and did this role beautifully for three terms in 2001 before I was appointed as principal - those were very big shoes to fill for this little black duck!
Jane has been an amazing teacher, leader and confidant and I’m sure there are thousands of former pupils and dozens and dozens of staff members who would concur. Her resilience, kindness, thoughtfulness, communication skills, wisdom, sense of humour and problem solving skills are highly valued in her workplace, her family and our community.
Again, I am sure all members of our community join with me in congratulating Jane on a career that leaves me in awe of her. We wish her all the very best as she enjoys her continuing roles as wife, mum and nanny..
While it’s sad for our school community it also means new opportunities for others as we move to replace these staff members.
Last week the panel that has been appointed to find the new principal for our school met and made a short list of some fantastic applicants. Interviews will be conducted next week and an appointment made hopefully at the end of next week.
Another panel is today interviewing candidates to replace Jane and Julie and I hope to be able to make an announcement about these positions later this week. Again we have some excellent candidates and we feel very confident that our school will be in very good, just different hands for 2025 and beyond.
GRANDPARENTS DAY Every year at about this time we endeavour to host as many grandparents at school as we can. We are inviting all Grandparents into our school THIS Friday, October 18th for a picnic lunch on the school grounds with their grandchildren.
Grandparents should visit from about 1:15pm - 2:15pm. Grade 6 children will escort them to the ELDEST grandchild’s classroom where they can have a look at the work the children are doing before touring the school to admire the beautiful artwork on display.
Grandparents should bring something yummy for lunch to be enjoyed picnic style in our school grounds (or inside if the predicted rain shows up!) Children can still place a lunch order from Triggy’s on this day.
SCHOOL UNIFORM It has been pointed out to me that a number of our students are not wearing the correct shoes to school. Could we all make an effort to have the children in the correct footwear - there are some excellent “black shoes” on the market that act very much like runners allowing the kids to run around and play ball games quite easily and so I would encourage parents to get the kids into these. As you all know once a few stop following these rules it becomes harder on the rest of us to get the kids to do the right thing. Details about our uniform are published on our website S.H.S. School Uniform
Jack Lenaghan - Principal