Message from the 

School Principal

Dear Sacred Heart Families & Friends,

It has been such a hectic few weeks as all of Melbourne and Victoria have navigated such challenging weather conditions including storms and relentless strong winds. 

Sadly one of the consequences of the wild weather was the last minute cancellation of the much anticipated Year 6 snow camp to Mt Buller this week. Despite frantically searching for an alternate snow experience for the children for this week, we did not have any luck in making new arrangements. 

Whilst we have since booked another camp for mid October, the children still had to work through the inevitable disappointment of not going to the snow as planned. I would personally like to commend the children on how maturely they processed the news and acknowledged that sometimes things happen that are beyond anyone's control, especially when the weather is such a major factor. I would also like to thank Cath, Anne and Kate for working within a tight time frame to provide engaging alternate activities this week that included a trip to O'Brien Icehouse in the city for an ice skating lesson and free time on the ice. Thank you also to the Year 6 parent community for supporting both your children and the school in making the most of what was a disappointing situation. Last but not least, thank you to the staff who were to attend the three day camp, taking the time away from their own families and then juggling the last minute changes so as to be available for the rescheduled camp. 

The Year 6 students and teachers are now looking forward to an exciting new camp in October. 

Emerging Leaders Forum - Year 5 & 6

Recently, the Year 5 & 6 students were given the opportunity to apply for a program that is a collaboration between the University of Melbourne 'Asia Education Foundation' and Victorian Department of Education. 

After submitting written applications that were of a very high standard, four Year 5 and four Year 6 students were selected to participate in the program and they engaged in their first online session today to learn more about the program. Thank you to all students who put their hand up to be a part of it as well. You are all to be commended on your leadership qualities. Congratulations to Oscar, Rhiannon, Madison, Layla, Millie, Rose, Elisha and Ishaan on being accepted into the program. 

The Emerging Leaders Forum (ELF) is designed for Victorian students in Years 5 & 6, offering chances for them to connect and collaborate with peers from around the world. Students will explore intercultural communication, collaboration, and leadership. Throughout the program, the students will engage in a range of activities and regular breakout rooms in small groups with peers from a range of other schools and countries.

The learning outcomes of the ELF Program support students to: 

• Appreciate and understand what it means to be a global citizen
• Strengthen awareness of assumptions and stereotypes and build intercultural understanding
• Interact with different global perspectives, experiences, and cultures. 
• Apply knowledge and skills to take action and address global/local challenges

The students had their first online session today and are looking forward to engaging with students from all over the world as the program progresses. 

Father's Day Celebrations

 Father's Day provides an opportunity for our school community, especially the children, to acknowledge and appreciate the role their Dads, father figures and other special people play in our lives. It’s a chance for us to show our gratitude for their support, guidance and love. Our Sacred Heart community celebrated Father's Day last Friday with a delicious breakfast of bacon, sausages and eggs prepared by our SH staff, playing games and visiting classrooms. 

Thanks to Megan Di Clemente, Rebecca Greaves & Micaela McGee and their team of helpers who organised and ran the Father's Day stall this year. 

Thank you also to our Sacred Heart staff who organised, prepared and served at our Father's Day Breakfast this year, especially the organising team of Kate Gannon, Kristian, Nick and Kim .

We hope our Dads and special father figures had a wonderful Father's Day.

Smart Watches

As we continue to embrace technology in various forms, we recognise that many students are now using smart watches. These devices offer some very helpful features, however it's essential to ensure that they are being used appropriately during school hours.

At Sacred Heart Primary School, our primary focus is on learning, and we want to maintain an environment that minimises distractions for all students. To help achieve this, we kindly remind parents and students of the following guidelines for smartwatches:

Communication: Students should not use their smartwatches to send or receive messages, calls, or any form of communication during class time. If parents need to contact their child in an emergency, please go through the school office.

Distractions: Smartwatches should not be used for games, social media, or browsing the internet during school hours. These activities can divert attention away from important learning.

Silent Mode: All smartwatches should be kept in silent mode to avoid disruptions in class. Any alerts or notifications that are audible can distract the wearer and their classmates.

Responsible Use: Students are expected to take care of their smartwatches. The school is not responsible for lost or damaged devices.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these guidelines with your children at home. Our goal is to create a focused and productive learning environment while allowing students to benefit from technology responsibly.

I remain yours in faith and gratitude,

Kaylene Carlin

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL