Message from the 

School Principal

Dear Sacred Heart Families,

The beginning of Lent is important to us as a Catholic school community because it marks a significant and sacred time in the Church's calendar. It is a time of reflection, repentance and renewal. It is a season that calls us to prepare our hearts for Easter by deepening our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

As educators who work at a Catholic primary school and parents/carers whose children attend Sacred Heart, Lent provides many opportunities for spiritual growth, community engagement, acts of service and charity and personal reflection.  It encourages students and staff to reflect on their faith, seek reconciliation, and grow closer to God. 

As a Catholic school, embracing the Lenten season allows us to live out our faith more fully, guiding students to become compassionate, faith-filled individuals.

Closure Day - What is our focus?

Next Tuesday, 11th March we will have a closure day so that educators at Sacred Heart are able to spend time in engaging in professional learning and dialogue on the important topic of student wellbeing, safety and behaviour. It is a pupil free day.

As I shared with you in the last newsletter, one of our strategic goals for 2025 is a focus on students demonstrating respect for self and others by following the school's behaviour expectations, contributing positively to the learning environment that is reflective of our Catholic identity. As a staff, we have begun working on the design and implementation of a behaviour curriculum that clearly details school wide norms reflective of our Ways of Being Together and on Tuesday, we are working towards finalising our behaviour curriculum which will then be implemented at Sacred Heart over the coming year and beyond. 

Teaching a behaviour curriculum is important because it provides students with a clear understanding of expectations, values and responsibilities, helping them develop into respectful, compassionate and caring people. By explicitly teaching positive behaviours, schools create a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where students can thrive both academically and spiritually. A structured behaviour curriculum also equips students with lifelong skills in self-discipline, conflict resolution and ethical decision-making, preparing them to contribute positively to their community.

 We thank you for your support as we engage in this important work.

Staffing News

After eleven years of teaching at Sacred Heart and a period of long service leave at the start of 2025, Anne Chapman will be taking up a new teaching position at Mount St Joseph Girl's College for Term 2 teaching Science & Stem.

We wish Anne all the very best in her new role, teaching in an area of passion for her. We thank Anne for all she has contributed to the Sacred Heart school in her time here. Good luck Anne!

Prep 2025 Welcome Drinks & Nibbles

A big thank you to our Prep families, staff and School Advisory Council members  who joined us last Thursday night at The Junction Hotel for our Prep 2025 Welcome Drink & Nibbles event.  It was a wonderful evening of connection, conversation and community as we welcomed our newest families to the school. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to come together, share stories and build new friendships. We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead, continuing to build on our family school partnerships. 

Naplan 2025 - Year 3 & 5

The upcoming National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assessments for our Year 3 and Year 5 students will take place soon, beginning next week.  

NAPLAN is designed to assess the literacy and numeracy skills of Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. 

Its purpose is to:

• Measure student progress – It provides a snapshot of each child’s abilities in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation), and numeracy.
• Support teaching and learning – Schools and teachers use the results to identify strengths and areas for improvement, helping to tailor learning programs.
• Provide national data – NAPLAN helps governments and education authorities track trends in student achievement over time and ensure all students receive the support they need.

While NAPLAN is a useful tool, it is just one measure of student learning, and results should be considered alongside ongoing classroom assessments.

We wish our Year 3 and 5 students all the very best as they engage in NAPLAN over the coming few weeks. 

Uniform addition

At our recent School Advisory Council, we discussed the addition of a skort to the Sacred Heart uniform. The SAC agreed to support the proposal and I have been in discussion with PSW regarding a design. Once this is available, I will share this with you. The skort will be able to be worn as an alternative to the school summer dress or shorts. 

Anaphylaxis Policy & Practices

As part of our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of all members of our school community, we would like to draw your attention to our school's Anaphylaxis Policy.

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur rapidly and without warning. Even a small amount of the allergen can trigger a serious reaction in some individuals.

The policy is attached below and is also available on the school website.

To ensure the safety of all students, staff, and visitors, we have implemented a range of measures in accordance with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools policies and guidelines which include risk management plans, communication plans & school wide practices that promote a nut & other allergen aware environment.  All staff at Sacred Heart school are trained in first aid procedures regularly which includes caring for a child or adult who is anaphylactic. 

 We rely on the cooperation and support of the entire school community to maintain a safe environment for students with allergies. We encourage open communication and cooperation among parents, students and staff to ensure the well-being of all.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Anaphylaxis Policy, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Parking in and around Sacred Heart

A reminder to please ensure those parking around the school to drop off or pick up children to park legally and with consideration to our neighbours. Residents in surrounding properties need to be able to get in and out of their properties and driveways without being blocked by cars belonging to Sacred Heart families. We thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Have a great long weekend everyone! 

I remain yours in faith and gratitude,

Kaylene Carlin

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL