Message from the 

School Principal

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

With Term 4 already well underway, there has been lots happening at Sacred Heart! 

In my section of the newsletter today, I will be sharing some information about a range of topics which will continue to provide a deeper insight into our school and the broader system of  Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Education. I also provide a brief summary of dialogue that has been occuring over recent months regarding the future of the convent and the parish in general. 

Excitingly, we launched our new website recently and I encourage you to take a look when you have a moment. You never know who you might spot in it!

Our Year 6 students finally got to head off on a camp and by all accounts are having a wonderful time at Campaspe Downs. We look forward to hearing all about it on their return. A huge thank you to the staff  attending the camp - Cath, Kristian, Andrea, Kate and Anne- taking time away from their homes and families to give our Year 6 children an amazing camp experience. 

Thank you all for your ongoing support and encouragement as we work together to provide a wonderful school and community for our children and families,

Kaylene

Kaylene Carlin

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Vision for Instruction

Over the past 12 - 18 months, the teachers at Sacred Heart have been engaging in professional learning focused on understanding the science behind how children learn best.

Aligning with the MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) strategic directions, the Vision for Instruction articulates clearly high impact evidence based practices that are designed to ensure students flourish in their learning context.

The Vision for Instruction has two core goals: 

Excellence  All MACS schools deliver a knowledge-rich, evidence-based teaching and learning program.

Equity  Every student, regardless of background, achieves literacy and numeracy proficiency (MACS, 2024a, p. 5)

The document linked below provides more information to parents/carers of children in Catholic schools about the Vision for Instruction and the impact it will have on your child's education. I encourage you to take a moment to read it and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. 

School Improvement & Review

Every four years, Catholic schools undergo a review with an external reviewer. This year, Sacred Heart has been engaging in the review process. 

The review process has two core components. The first focuses on all aspects of compliance, including child safety. The reviewer closely examines policies, practices and documentation to ensure Sacred Heart is fully compliant. The second component of the review is a thorough reflection and examination of our religious dimension, leadership & management, learning & teaching, student wellbeing and school community. 

Our staff and students actively engaged in conversations with the reviewer and we look forward to the final report to be provided towards the end of the year. 

Parish Property Forum - Strategic Directions Convent and Presbytery future

Date: Tuesday, 29th October

Time: 8.45am - 9.15am, after school drop off

Where: Sacred Heart staffroom

In 2022, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) conducted extensive consultations with parishioners as a precursor to drafting a strategic plan for the parish. The Strategic Plan that was endorsed at our 2023 Annual Parish Forum laid out the Vision and Mission for our parish and set priorities for the next three years.

There have been ongoing discussions for several years as to how best use the parish properties of the presbytery and convent. As reported at last year’s Annual Parish Forum, the PPC and community sensed an opportunity to build upon what our parish predecessors established by realising the value of the redundant property and reinvesting it in our current mission to grow our parish.

On Tuesday, 29th October, Mr Tony Nicholson from the Parish Pastoral Council will be elaborating on the above topic and providing an opportunity for our school families to have a voice in regards to the proposed future of the convent and presbytery. 

If you are interested or have any questions, please come along to the Sacred Heart staffroom and hear more.

School Advisory Council - Calling for Expression of Interest

What is the School Advisory Council?

School Advisory Councils (SAC) are advisory bodies which form an important expression of the educational partnership that exists between parents, schools, parishes and the wider community to support all students.  

The SAC provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent voice and perspective are available to influence the decisions made by the principal and parish priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount. 

More specifically, the role of the School Advisory Council includes:

• encouraging the partnership and participation of school, parish and the wider community in the life of the school and parish
• allowing school principals, parish priests and parents to work closely in the common mission they share. 
• providing a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest for the good of School and Parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount
• ensuring that, at the local level, Catholic schools will remain 'actively embedded in the life of the faith communities of the local Church’ 

When: The meetings are on Tuesdays at 6.30pm in the staffroom and the dates for next year are as follows: 4th March, 29th April, 17th June, 12th August, 14th October & 25th November. 

VACANT POSITIONS

There is currently one position available on the School Advisory Council and I strongly encourage you to put your hand up to join the group.  All are welcome!

If there is more than one expression of interest, there will be a selection process as per the MACS guidelines for the operation of School Advisory Councils.

Please email Kaylene at principal@shnewport.catholic.edu.au with your Expression of Interest or if you have any questions.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST PERIOD CLOSES FRIDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER AT COB

Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for October

Pope Francis' prayer intention for October is 'For a shared mission'.....

We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

The Pope Video is available on The Pope Video website and the prepared prayer intentions for all of 2024 are available on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.