Message From Our
Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On Sunday, December 3rd we begin the Advent Season. Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s new year and is the season of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. Each week during Advent, classes will present a reflection focused on each of the four weeks, the first one commencing during Assembly in Week 9. These are always prayerful, lovely reflections and we welcome visitors to come along. Each year at this time we follow the Mercy example of giving and caring for others with our Christmas Appeal and Giving Tree. Through St Vinnies, we help our local families who may need some additional support this Christmas. We will launch this appeal during our Assembly on Friday and each class will be asked to bring something along to put under our Giving Tree. Please see the newsletter for what we would like each class to bring. These will be delivered to St Vinnies before Christmas and shared with others in our community. Hopefully we will show our generosity once again and enjoy the real spirit of giving this Christmas.
We are looking forward to welcoming all our families to school tomorrow afternoon for our Celebration of Learning. Come along and see all the wonderful learning that has taken place throughout Term 4. Remember also to put next week’s Rock Band and Choir performance on your calendar. This is always a very entertaining afternoon – as always everyone is most welcome!
Our 2024 Foundation children visited again this week as they become more familiar with the school setting. They spent time in our Art Studio, meeting new teachers and friends, listening to a story and modelling with plasticine. Last week they visited the music room and learnt some Italian through songs and stories. There will be one more Transition Session on Friday, Dec 1st, followed by Orientation Day Tuesday, Dec 12th.
Eight very special cadets have been working with Debbie Turvey and Annie Seccull to complete the SAS program [Secret Agent Society] over semester two. The cadets are busy preparing a presentation to be presented to their parents and teachers at their graduation next week. It’s been wonderful to be able to offer the SAS program at SH and provide these children with the skills to interact confidently and positively with others, particularly when things go wrong. We have had excellent feedback regarding the program from both the cadets and their families. I am very grateful to Debbie Turvey for her time, careful organisation and her commitment to ensuring this opportunity was made available in our school. Thank you also to Dom, Tracy and Wendy who trained as assistants and to the teachers for their support in implementing the program.
Next week Sacred Heart School Advisory Council will meet for the final time this year. Thank you to Hamish Crawford and Trudi Woodward who have so generously given their time and expertise to SHSAC for the past five years. It has been greatly appreciated by our school community. We welcome two new members, Katelyn McIntyre and Lachlan Scott. Both Katelyn and Lachlan have children going into Year 2 and Foundation in 2024. Thank you for accepting the nomination. I would like to sincerely thank our School Advisory Council for the support and advice provided throughout this year and to all past members during my time at Sacred Heart. Over the past seven years the SAC, and previously the School Board parent representatives have been a very vibrant, active group sharing their advice and guidance, ensuring Sacred Heart continues to be a place of excellence.
At the last meeting of the SHSAC, members discussed how the school community could further connect with the Sacred Heart School Improvement Plan. The SAC are keen to know ways in which families wish to be engaged in 2024 and beyond and in the new school year will survey parents for some ideas. The newsletter page, Sacred Heart Community Connect, will communicate what is happening in this space.
We will celebrate the 2023 school year together with a Mass on Friday, 8th December at 9:15am. Following the Mass, presentations will take place and leaving students, staff and families will be farewelled. Everyone is most welcome to come along and join us for this celebration.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to watch over our school community and bless us always.
Pauline Hindson
Principal
