Good afternoon Sacred Heart School Community,

As we embark on the 2024 academic journey together, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome from parents, students, and staff. It's been a joy greeting each student and parent in the morning, learning names, and building connections. A special thank you to our dedicated teachers for graciously allowing me to engage in the classrooms, immersing myself in the positive learning culture of our school.

I am excited about the promising year ahead, filled with opportunities for growth, collaboration, and shared successes. Your kindness has made my introduction as Principal truly special, and I am committed to fostering an environment that nurtures academic excellence and personal development. Let's embrace this journey together with enthusiasm, teamwork, and a shared commitment to the bright future that awaits us.

Welcome to our new Foundation students. It was truly wonderful to observe as our new Foundation children (eyes full of excitement and anticipation) said goodbye to their families and settled into their new learning space and routines. Thank you to their Year 6 Buddies who are helping each of them become more familiar with Sacred Heart. Welcome also to our new students in other classes. In the true spirit of Sacred Heart, it was beautiful to see new friends taking such special care of you all.

I would like to especially welcome all the new families who have started at Sacred Heart this year. I hope you already feel part of our very caring school community. To our new staff, Felicity Bryant (Assistant Principal), Tony McDonald (Religious Education and Wellbeing Leader), Deb Turvey (Wellbeing Officer) and Jorja Basile (LSO Trainee), thank you for the way you have embraced our school community.

I would like to warmly welcome and encourage our Sacred Heart families to pop in on Thursday afternoon for our Welcome Evening. This will be a great opportunity for old and new families to come together and meet each other, meet our staff and see your child’s learning spaces. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Thank you to Vanessa Tartaglia, Rebecca Borzillo, Bree Petrie and Loretta Robbins who presented an extremely thorough and informative Learning Information Session to our Foundation parents. Thank you to all the parents who attended. I hope you found the session informative and helpful in supporting your child as they begin this exciting learning journey.

We will also begin the school year with our Opening Mass on Friday, February 9th at 9:15am. All families are warmly invited to join us for this special occasion, as we acknowledge and celebrate, as a Catholic Learning Community, the theme for our Diocese; ‘Behold, I make all things new!’ This year's exciting theme reminds us, our Loving God is keen for us to experience the joy of new things - time and time again, always and forever.

Congratulations to our impressive Year 6 Students who were commissioned as our School Leaders for 2024 during Assembly last week and presented with their Leadership shirts. They have already begun this role in the true spirit of Sacred Heart, leading Assemblies, helping their buddies and commencing in their various leadership portfolios. I look forward to all that this wonderful group will bring to our school throughout the 2024 Academic School Year.

This week, we welcomed players from the Essendon Football Club, Dylan Shiel, Darcy Parish and Jayden Laverde to Sacred Heart, where they spoke with our students regarding a range of topics associated with being a professional athlete, and answered questions from our somewhat ‘Star Struck’ students. I would like to thank the Essendon Football Club, on behalf of our students, for their time.

In the interests of safety for everyone at Sacred Heart I have a few very important reminders during Drop Off and Pick Up times.

Carpark

Reverse Park, drive at walking pace, children wait on lawn area, parents come in the gate to collect your child, no child is to walk through the carpark not accompanied with an adult. We ask that parents don’t gather at the corner on the carpark and allow children to play when cars are exiting the carpark. It is very concerning for drivers and makes safe supervision of all children difficult for the staff member on duty.

Staff Carpark – is for staff only.

Children are not to walk through that area at any time. Visibility is very difficult with children walking along the footpath/bus and moving traffic. All children using Hogan St must exit down the ramp.

Hogan St

All pedestrians, children and adults, must use the crossing when it is supervised. This is a legal requirement.

Hunter St

This is an excellent option to avoid the busy traffic in Hogan St. Children walk to the gate supervised. They must be picked up on the school side of the road or an adult walk across to meet them. Children cannot cross the street without an adult.

School Office

The school gates are locked at 9am and opened at 3:20pm. All visitors to the school during those times must enter through and report to the main office.

Drop Off and Pick Up times are extremely busy times and it is important that this is managed safely. It may be inconvenient at times but I ask families to fully cooperate and support staff, keeping everyone at Sacred Heart safe.

Other information is provided in our fortnightly newsletters and on PAM. Information specific to your child’s class will be sent out in the Term Unit Bulletin. If you are at any time unsure about any school procedures, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I look forward to seeing you when you are at school picking up and dropping off your children and I know we are going to have another wonderful year at Sacred Heart.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to watch over our school community and bless us each and everyday.

God bless,

Jamie McDowall

Principal

Community Notices

NEW - Aquamoves Shepparton

NEW - SAVER PLUS

NEW - 2024 Ganbina Primary School Scholarship

NEW - Ritchies IGA Community Benefits Program

NEW - Greater Shepparton City Council Activities in the Park