Principal's Report

We are now officially past the halfway point of Term 1. I continue to be impressed by how well our students—especially our Preps—have settled into their learning routines. We’ve already enjoyed many wonderful experiences this term, including the Year 4Camp, our Swimming Carnival, Opening School Mass and the Meet & Greet BBQ.

Last Sunday’s Gospel (Mt 17:1–9) focused on the Transfiguration of Jesus. The Transfiguration reminds us that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. On themountain, the disciples glimpsed His true glory—assuring them that even in momentsof confusion or challenge, God is present and guiding them. For us today, this momentoffers a message of hope: that light and clarity often emerge in the ordinary and difficultmoments of our lives. We are invited to listen to Jesus, trust His guidance and allow His presence to shine through us in our daily actions.

We also share some staffing news with mixed emotions. Danielle Lombardi will be concluding her time at Sacred Heart in the coming weeks to take up an exciting new role at BlendED at Saints College. Danielle has been with us since 2024 in a range of teaching and support roles and is currently teaching Prep PE and providing release coverage.

Tanya Cardamone has also made the difficult decision to move on after more than five years of inspiring our students (and staff!) through Italian. Tanya has played a key role in raising the profile of Languages at Sacred Heart, and we are very grateful for her dedication and enthusiasm.

Friday 13th will be Mikaela Newton’s last day before she begins Family Leave. We thank Mikaela for the care, energy and dedication she has brought to our school community, and for the wonderful work she has done with our students. We wish Mikaela and Mark all the very best as they prepare for the exciting arrival of their first child!

We thank Mikaela, Danielle and Tanya sincerely and wish them both every blessing in their new adventures.

With the Labour Day long weekend approaching, I hope all families enjoy the extra break. Labour Day always reminds us of the well‑known “8–8–8” model—8 hours work,8 hours rest, 8 hours recreation—and the importance of a healthy work/life balance.

Next week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will begin NAPLAN assessments in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Mathematics. We wish them confidence and calm as they demonstrate their learning.

A reminder for families who haven’t yet booked their Learning Conversations(Parent/Teacher Interviews) to please do so as soon as possible. These valuable conversations allow us to celebrate your child’s learning and set goals for the term ahead.

Learning Conversations will be held on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 March. If you need help booking, please contact the office.

A Parent Volunteer form has been sent home. All volunteers must complete this form and the linked Child Safe module. While the form includes classroom helpers and excursions, these are not currently part of our regular practice—but may be included again in the future.

Important Dates –

Term 1

• Thurs 5 Mar: School Photos

• Mon 9 Mar: Labour Day Public Holiday

• Tues 17 & Wed 18 Mar: Learning Conversations

• Thurs 2 Apr: Last Day of Term 1

Traffic & Safety Reminders

• Morning spaces outside the front office are ‘kiss and go’ only. If you wish to walk your child in, please park nearby to keep traffic moving.

• Please avoid arriving at the Orr Street pick‑up area before 3:10pm, as early arrivals create congestion for local residents.

• Students not collected by 3:30pm will be followed up in line with our Child Safeguarding procedures.

• Local Police will be actively enforcing No Standing zones around the school to ensure student safety.

Have a wonderful long weekend, everyone.

Take care, God bless—and Go Saints!

Jarrod

Term Ahead - Term 1 - 2026
Week	Dates & Items
6	Thurs 5/3 - School photos
7	Mon 9/3 - Labour Day public holiday
8	Tues 17/3 - St Patrick’s Day Tues 17/3 - Learning Conversations Wed 18/3 - Learning Conversations
9	Wed 25/3-Fri 27/3 - Principal Conference
10	Thurs 2/4 - Last day Term 1 Early Finish 2.15pm

Term Dates for the Year:

TERM 1: January 27 to April 2

TERM 2: April 20 to June 26

TERM 3: July 13 to September 19

TERM 4: October 5 to December 18

Term 4
Wed 4 March	Divisional Swimming Wangaratta
Thurs 5 March	MSP School Photo Day
Mon 9 March	Labour Day Public Holiday
Tue 17 March	Learning Conversations
Wed 18 March	Learning Conversations Regional Swimming Shepparton
Thurs 2 April	Last Day of Term 1, 2.15pm early finish

Term Dates
2026 Term 1	January 27 to April 2
Term 2	April 20 to June 26
Term 3	July 13 to September 19
Term 4	October 5 to December 18

	Pupil Free Days
Term 1