Dear Families & Friends,

As always, there is so much happening in our school and community and our commitment to the children of Sacred Heart continues to be the focus of why we do what we do, which leads me to the first message in our newsletter this fortnight - World Teachers Day!

World Teachers Day

Today is World Teachers Day. Most of us will be able to remember a teacher that had a significant impact on us in our time at school or university. Sometimes that impact can be so profound that it can change the course of our lives.

World Teachers Day is an opportunity to recognise the contributions and vital role of

teachers in the field of education. It is a day when educators, students, and communities come together to appreciate and thank teachers for their hard work and dedication.

In celebrating the work of educators at Sacred Heart, we remind our teachers that they are valued, respected and appreciate the connection they make with our children, each and every day. We know that you, as families, entrust your most precious gift to us, and we hold your child in the highest regard and want the very best for them.

So, thank you, teachers of Sacred Heart! We think you are amazing!!

School Visit - Christ the King Braybrook

Last Tuesday, the junior school team and Principal from Christ the King Primary School in Braybrook visited Sacred Heart to learn about our Discovery curriculum. Our Prep and Year One teachers generously invited the CTK team to observe their teaching and dialogue with the children.

The visitors also viewed the intentional learning spaces & Heart Spaces designed by Sacred Heart educators to encourage rich questions and fostering conceptual understandings of their Inquiry topics.

In collaborating with other schools, we have the opportunity to learn from one another, affirming what we are doing well and making improvements so as to enhance the learning outcomes of our students.

Christy's VIT focus

Christy Mak, one of our Year 3 educators so impressed us during her teaching placement as a student teacher that we invited her to apply for a teaching position at Sacred Heart the following year.

When beginning teachers graduate, they have two years in which to engage in a research project of their own design in order to gain full registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. Christy selected the research topic of feedback and student self efficacy. At the beginning of the term, Christy presented her findings to the staff and will shortly present the final project to the school leadership team. As a result of Christy's presentation, educators engaged in rich dialogue about the impact of feedback on student self efficacy and learning outcomes.

We congratulate Christy on the completion of her research project and commend her for her commitment to improving the learning outcomes of her students.

Trivia Night

Our Sacred Heart Trivia Night was an outstanding success, with lots of fun and laughter had by all. Thanks to all those who supported this event by attending. Thank you also to the amazing generosity of sponsors which meant their were some wonderful Auction Items to be won. A special thanks also to Andrea Finlay and Michael Gowland, our Family Engagement Leaders at Sacred Heart, for their hard work and organisation in bringing everything together. We raised approximately $4,000 which will benefit the children of our school.

Classes for 2024

It is that time of the year when we start to think about class groupings for the coming year. It is a complex process and one that we take very seriously. There are many factors to be considered when grouping children together including friendship groupings, the learning needs of the students and influences students have one another. As parents/carers, you know your child best and, at times, have had conversations with your child about school that we are not privy to. If you believe there is information that we may not be aware of, please do not hesitate to email your child's teacher, Lyndal (Year 3-6), Erin (Prep - Year 2) or myself and we will acknowledge your concerns or requests. Whilst we cannot accommodate all requests, we will always ensure your thoughts are considered in the decision making process.

Annual Parish Forum

This year our Annual Parish Forum will take place after the 10am Mass at our Sacred Heart Church on Sunday the 26th of November. It will be immediately followed by a parishioner luncheon where we will be able to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions so many people have made to the life of our parish this year. You can read more about this event in the Parish & Faith News section of the newsletter.

School Uniforms and Hats

In a Catholic school, the importance of school uniforms is often tied to the values, principles, and mission of the Catholic faith and the same can be said of our Sacred Heart school uniform.

At Sacred Heart Primary School, our school uniform also serves to foster a sense of community and belonging. It contributes to a sense of unity among students, parents, and staff by creating a shared identity and a common visual symbol of the school's Catholic mission and values. When out in public, either on excursion or before and after school, our Sacred Heart school uniform can serve as a witness to the broader community, reflecting the school's commitment to fostering character development, academic excellence, and a faith-filled life.

It is an expectation that students are now wearing hats during recess and lunch time and when requested for PE lessons. We have a NO HAT NO PLAY policy to ensure our students are protected from the weather in the warmer months.

It is a school wide expectation that all students are wearing full school uniform at all times, unless there is a special event or it has been otherwise communicated. We appreciate your support in this matter.

I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Erin, Kim and Lyndal for their leadership and commitment in ensuring our school continued to run smoothly in the absence of myself, Cath and Sue for Conference Leave. Without their support, we could not have committed to the very worthwhile professional learning we experienced under the guidance of ACU academics, Mr Peter Woods and Br David Hall on the topic of spirituality and evangelisation. We look forward to giving back to our school community through a faith leadership lens that is grounded in our beliefs as Catholics with the Holy Spirit as our guide.

A warm congratulations to our Year 3 students who celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation last night. May you always find strength and comfort knowing you are deeply loved by God.

Have a wonderful weekend with family and friends.

Warm regards

Kaylene

School Principal

Sports Updates

Sacred Heart Softball Team

Gellibrand Cricket