Deputy News
Maximising Impact: Intentional Teaching Time and Targeted Support
At Sacred Heart, we are deeply intentional with our teaching time, valuing every minute as an opportunity to support student growth. By making the most of each moment, we honour our students and strive for the best possible outcomes. We continue to plan and timetable with purpose ensuring that key learning is given the time it deserves and nothing important is overlooked or treated superficially.
We are incredibly proud of the team we have built in supporting our students double dose instruction, is in when instructional lessons are supplemented to provide additional instructional time. Importantly, our students are not regularly removed from their core classroom instruction for intervention. Instead, we work hard to create a timetable that protects essential learning time while still providing targeted support.
Timetabling is certainly complex, but research consistently shows that increasing the dosage of high quality instruction leads to stronger student outcomes. By continuing to prioritise purposeful planning and collaboration, we give every child the best possible opportunity to succeed. We are fortunate at Sacred Heart to have an intervention team that supports students with targeted learning, builds confidence and works closely with teachers to ensure every child can access success in the classroom.
Midweek, while looking for Jane and Karin (part of our exceptional intervention team) during their lunch break and eventually found them tucked away in a classroom completing professional learning together. It was a wonderful reminder of the dedication of our staff, who continually seek opportunities to grow, reflect and strengthen their practice, even during the busiest parts of the week.
NAPLAN
As we reflect on recent learning data from NAPLAN, we were incredibly proud to see Sacred Heart recognised in the Herald Sun’s Top 100 Private Primary Schools in Victoria, ranked 90th across Catholic and Independent schools and, more notably, among the top Catholic primary schools in the state. While these rankings represent only one measure of school performance, they do reflect the ongoing dedication of our staff, students and families in nurturing high expectations, strong learning growth and a culture that values learning at Sacred Heart.
At Sacred Heart, we know that a child’s ability to access learning is closely connected to how they feel about themselves and their sense of belonging within the school community. Students who feel connected, supported and valued are more likely to engage positively in learning, take risks and persevere through challenges. Our approach to teaching and learning recognises the strong link between wellbeing, belonging and achievement, with calm, consistent routines and high expectations helping to create an environment where every child feels known, capable and confident.
This is reflected in our classrooms each day through strong relationships, explicit teaching and a commitment to ensuring every student experiences success. The collective effort of our staff in establishing clear expectations and nurturing calm, purposeful learning environments has been outstanding. This culture does not happen by chance; it is built through a shared vision, professionalism and a consistent approach from Prep to Year 6.
Well done to our students and staff for continuing to create such a positive and inspiring environment for learning at Sacred Heart. The strong culture that continues to flourish across our school community is something truly special.
Kate & Bronagh
Deputy Principals