Dear Families and Friends,

What a fortnight at Sacred Heart! This week, and dare I say, like every other fortnight we strongly encourage our families to read through the various leadership sections (e.g. Junior News, etc.) before venturing down to the depths of the Principal’s News. The quality of these pages and reports is exceptional, and truly reflective of the talent, care, and consideration our leaders give each fortnight to showcase and celebrate what is happening across our school. Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership team for preparing these outstanding pieces for our community. We are blessed, as this level of detail and consideration does not typically happen in schools in this capacity.

Enjoy!

FIRST COMMUNION

A big call-out to Team Eucharist for the wonderful celebration last Thursday. With a full church of proud families and staff, we could not speak more highly of how beautifully the students presented and how smoothly the evening unfolded for this important sacrament.

The preparation and outcome on the night were fabulous, and we sincerely thank Fr. Martin, Mrs Collins, Miss Porter and Miss Maloney for their guidance and considerable investment. Congratulations and thanks also to Miss Maloney for backing this up the very next day for the Feast of the Assumption - amazing!

Sincere thank you to all staff who supported the children and their colleagues with this special celebration, from artwork to seating and everything in between. We are truly blessed to have such a dedicated and supportive team.

Next Friday, 29th August is a Pupil Free Day. Staff will be meeting to work on our upcoming School Review.

BOOK WEEK

A very special call out to Mrs Stroud for organising and promoting the wonderful range of activities throughout Book Week. From guest speakers to shared storytime, culminating in a pretty special book parade, the week was a true celebration of literature. Remarkably, this year we had 100% participation from our students and staff.

While we celebrate and actively promote the importance of reading, having this extraordinary level of involvement speaks volumes about where we are placed as a school. A quiet thank you also to our dedicated families for your investment in this special occasion, making it such a success.

NETBALL VICTORIA STATE QUALIFIER

On Friday 8th August, the Sacred Heart School Netball Team competed in the Netball Victoria State Primary School Qualifier Competition, one of 16 held across Victoria. These qualifiers form part of a highly competitive and well-regarded pathway to the Netball Victoria State School Championships, scheduled for Tuesday 9th September.

Sacred Heart delivered a commanding performance, winning all seven matches convincingly. All 12 players took the court and shared equal game time, demonstrating the depth of talent in the team.

The team’s success is underpinned by a high level of skill and netballing experience, with five players currently representing the Bayside District Netball Association at a representative level. Their composure, teamwork, tenacity and strategic play were evident throughout the day.

The girls are now preparing to showcase their talent on a bigger stage at the Netball Victoria State Primary School Championships, where they’ll proudly represent Sacred Heart School among Victoria’s best. We sincerely thank Helen Lonsdale for generously offering up her time to coach and manage this dynamic team (Rosie, Odette, Pippa, Lulu, Eva, Micaela, Audrey B, Audrey S, Lily, Harriet & Emmerson).

HOOP TIME

Congratulations once again to our senior students for a fabulous day out last Friday representing the school at HoopTime. While we are especially thrilled to celebrate the success of our All Stars Girls team in winning the championship (what an incredible year these students are having), it was wonderful to see all of our students shine throughout the day.

The feedback from staff and families about the students’ outstanding behaviour and manner is something we are most proud of, as this will always underpin the success of these outings and representative opportunities at Sacred Heart. It is inspiring to see our seniors leading the way in such a positive capacity and setting a strong example for those who follow.

Many thanks to our staff, Mr Jaynes, Miss Newey, Lola, Oscar, Jack and Byron, as well as our parents for supporting and volunteering on the day. A great success all round!

DENDY ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

What a way to finish off our Friday with the Dendy Athletics Carnival! Coordinated by our fantastic PE teacher, Mr Jaynes, our wonderful team of 95 athletes represented Sacred Heart superbly, again reflecting the high standards we continue to set. A huge thank you to our dedicated staff who supported the children tirelessly throughout the day, and to our families for cheering on our team - some even working remotely on the day. While final placings are yet to be confirmed, we anticipate a number of our students will progress through to the Beachside Championships in the coming weeks. Congratulations to all involved, an outstanding effort, yet again!

Staffing News

There must be something in the water at Sandringham, as we are absolutely thrilled to share that Ms Rafferty and her partner Gary are expecting another baby in the coming months. Having only recently and excitedly welcomed Ms Rafferty back from maternity leave in her impressive role as joint Deputy Principal, we couldn’t be happier to hear that little Iris will soon have a baby brother or sister. Coincidentally, the due date is very close to Mrs McGrath’s, so we can look forward to plenty of play dates ahead and perhaps even reason to consider building a crèche at Sacred Heart!

School Advisory Council – Expressions of Interest

We are seeking expressions of interest from parents who would like to join our School Advisory Council. This is a valuable opportunity to work in partnership with the Principal and leadership team to help shape the future direction of our school.

The Advisory Council acts as a supportive voice, offering guidance on areas such as school improvement, financial governance, community engagement, communication, and the wellbeing and learning of our students.

If you are interested in contributing your skills and perspective, please contact the principal - principal@shs.catholic.edu.au

What's Coming Up in Term 3...

For the Fridge

School Closure - School Review Preparation - 29th August
Father's Day Assembly - 5th Sept
Dad's Footy Match - 6th Sept
School Production - 17th & 18th Sept

LITTLE GEMS💎

Not bad from these superstars (Jay, Seb, Maddie & Rohan), doing algebra in Yr.2, Miss Flynn's class.

Not to be out done, I loved seeing the writing coming out of Miss Porter's class. Two very proud students, Teja & Amelia.

May the Force be with this incredible writer in Prep, Owen Vader.

And finally...

My thoughts this week are with a dear family from my previous school who have tragically lost their son to a medical issue. A former School Captain and an exemplary role model throughout his life, James leaves an indelible legacy through the profound influence he had on so many. My love and heartfelt wishes go to James’ family at this time. Hug your children tightly, and never forget to tell them how much you love them.

With much pride and gratitude,

Simon C

Principal

P&F and Community News