School News
Lent at Sacred Heart
St Patrick's Day
Next Monday 17 March we will celebrate St Patrick’s Day with all children and staff wearing a touch of green for the day. The Year 4's will be selling some goodies on St Patrick's Day (50 cents a bag) and also handing out specially made St Patrick’s bookmarks made by Year 3. All proceeds will go towards Project Compassion. Happy reading!
If there are any bags left over they will be sold during the 1st half of lunch.
Lenten Program
Huge Easter Egg Guess - 11-21 March (lunchtime)
The Easter Egg guess challenge has commenced! Guesses have been recorded by the Senior students and will continue next week:
Tuesday 18 March - Prep-Year 2
Thursday 20 March - Year 3-6
Stations of the Cross - 27 March
On Thursday 27 March, each class will have the opportunity to walk the Stations of the Cross around the Church.
What are the Stations of the Cross? (From The Way of the Cross, Juliette Levivier)
It was in Jerusalem that Jesus suffered his Passion and died on the cross, giving his life for us to save us from sin. It was there too, three days later, that he rose from the dead. A short time later, the first Christians started to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem to pray at the place where Jesus died and rose to life. They followed the same way that Jesus had walked as he went to the cross. When they returned home, they wanted to remember this ‘way' and to continue to meditate on Jesus' passion. In the 14th century some Franciscan monks decided to recreate this 'way of the passion' inside churches, for all the people who couldn't go to Jerusalem. That's why, today, there is a way of the Cross (usually depicted in Artwork) in every church.
Hot Cross Bun Day - 27 March (Parents' Association)
The Parents' Association will beorganising Hot Cross Bun day on Thursday 27 March. More information about the ordering process will be communicated soon.
Easter Bonnet Parade - April 12:15pm in MPR (NOTE A CHANGE TO TIME)
Social Justice Program
Pre-Loved Toy Drive
During Lent Sacred Heart School and Community are collecting pre-loved toys for the benefit of our local Childcare Centre Little Assets. If you have any items at home that you no longer need that can help others, it would be greatly appreciated.
Dates: Term 1 Week 7 March 11 - April 4 (collected by the Year 2's)
Toys Needed Include:
Musical Instruments, Wooden Toys, blocks, stacking cups etc
Toy vehicles (Cars, Aeroplanes, Boats, tractors etc)
Doll Houses
Role play equipment (eg kitchens, appliances, cookware etc)
Puzzles (up to 100 pieces)
Duplo but no lego
Please note all toys must be complete and in good condition.
Soft toys in good condition only, no lego or matchbox/hotwheel cars.
Thank you for your generosity!
2025 Sports Day - COMING UP
A reminder that in the final week of Term 1 we will hold our annual Sports Day (Thursday 3 April). More details to follow.
Disney Frozen Jr.
We are excited to announce that our cast for upcoming school production, Disney’s Frozen Jr., has been finalised (see attachment below). We have been overwhelmed by the talent and enthusiasm from our students, and we are looking forward to bringing this magical experience to life.
As you can imagine, with so many talented students, choosing the cast for the show is never an easy task. We worked closely with a panel of teachers, including classroom teachers, the Principal, and the Deputy Principal, to make these important casting decisions. While talent was a key consideration, we also looked at factors such as emotional maturity, ability to handle the added workload, and the ability to work as part of a team.
We understand that some students may be disappointed if they are not chosen for a lead role. However, we want to reassure everyone that every student who auditions will still be an important part of the production. All students who audition will be included in the ensemble or will have the opportunity to participate backstage as part of the crew. There are many vital roles to fill: from helping with set design and costumes, to assisting with lighting, sound, and stage management. We want all students to feel like they are contributing to the success of the show.
Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsals will begin next Wednesday March 19 in the MPR at 1.15pm where all main cast members will be expected to attend. The first rehearsals will be a read through of the script where we will begin to bring the characters to life.
Yours in Performing Arts!
Libby Mulhall
Garden Club
All children are invited to Garden Club on a Wednesday (each week this term) from 7.50am. Please remember to drop your children around 7.50am as the Glenferrie Rd pedestrian gate will be closed by 8am. Mrs Mulhall looks forward to seeing everyone in the Veggie Garden next Wednesday.
Running Club
SHK Running Club occurs each Friday morning from 7.45am. All children from Years 3 - 6 are welcome to attend with Mr O'Shea as they develop their health and fitness each week.
Here's what you need to know......
- Children will need to bring their own water bottle and perhaps a small towel
- They will need to enter from the Glenferrie Road pedestrian gate
- All fitness levels are welcome
- Along with running, there will be some fitness circuits and health-related learning involved including: stretching, breathing, tempo running, warm up and cool down (process), making use of smart watches and fitbit's
Friday Afternoon School Assemblies at 2.30pm
Assemblies for the remainder of Term 1:
Week 8 (21 March): No Assembly - Wellbeing Groups
Week 9 (28 March): Assembly
Week 10 (4 Apr): No Assembly - End of Term 1 12:45pm finish
2025 Term Dates
Term 1
Fri 31 January (Students begin) – Fri 4 April
Term 2
Tues 22 April – Fri 4 July
Term 3
Mon 21 July – Fri 19 September
Term 4
Tue 7 October - Tues 16 December
2025 School Closure Days
As was communicated to families last year...
* Time in Lieu (TIL)
The new Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022 (the Agreement) introduces a formal time in lieu (TIL) process for teachers. The Agreement provides that a principal may require a teacher to undertake work and attend a school activity outside the normal hours of attendance (i.e., in excess of the 38 hours or normal hours for a part-time teacher) and when this occurs, it will attract TIL.
Principals should prepare for the accrual and acquittal of TIL through their annual planning process. The timing of the acquittal of TIL is at the discretion of the principal, having regard to the operational needs of the school and causing the least disruption to the educational program of the school.
Principals may elect to acquit TIL through designating days during the year on which all staff and students are not required to attend school.
2025 SCHOOL DATES
Tuesday 28 January (staff return)
2025 Assessment Days
Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 January
First day of School 2025
Friday 31 January All children (Prep - Year Six)
Prep children attend 8.45am - 12.45pm
School Closure Days 2025
Term 1
Thursday 6 March (Staff Professional Learning)
Friday 7 March (Staff Professional Learning)
Monday 10 March (Labour Day Public Holiday)
Term 2
Friday 25 April (ANZAC Day Public Holiday)
Monday 9 June (King’s Birthday Public Holiday)
Term 3
N/A
Term 4
Monday 6 October (Move back to School Hall Classrooms) TO BE CONFIRMED!
Thursday 16 October (TIL day for staff)
Monday 3 November (TIL day for staff)
Tuesday 4 November (Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday)
Friday 5 December (Staff Planning for 2025)
Children finish on Tuesday 16 December at 12.45pm (Earliest date children can finish)
Please note that no primary school students should be dismissed from schools prior to Tuesday 16 December 2025 – this is their earliest finish date
CSEF (Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund) Application Form
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:
- school camps or trips
- swimming and school-organised sport programs
- outdoor education programs
- excursions and incursions.
Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. Schools can receive applications from families over term one and two. Families can list more than one student in the one application form if they are attending the same school.
If the above applies to your family, please complete the CSEF Application Form and email it to admin@shkew.catholic.edu.au
School Saving Bonus (SSB) & MACS Concessional School Fees
Please see below for information regarding the Victorian Government's $400 School Saving Bonus that was reported late last year.
The School Saving Bonus (SSB) is only eligible for students who applied for and received Camps, Sports and Excursion Funding (CSEF) in 2024.
MACS Concessional School Fees are available for families who hold a valid Health Care Card (HCC), Dept’ of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Card card or ImmiCard. Please contact the School Office for further information if this applies to your family.
MACSEYE - Outside School Hours Care
As we all know this year we have partnered with MACSEYE (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education) as our OSHC provider. MACSEYE is a newly approved provider, set up by MACS to offer a range of early childhood and school aged care programs.
Please see below for further information, including the MACSEYE Booking Link.
MACSEYE OSHC Provider Update
Many thanks to those families who communicated to the school their initial experiences with our new OSHC provider MACSEYE.
We continue to regularly liaise with our MACSEYE OSHC Coordinator Di and MACSEYE Area Manager (Claire Weiseenfeld), to ensure that our OSHC service operates at the high level we all expect, so our children are comfortable, confident and engaged when attending this service.
As a school, we once again apologise for the early 'hiccups' that some families are experiencing, and greatly appreciate your patience, support and understanding. We also still very much welcome any feedback that you may have regarding MACSEYE.
We will also pass on any further information that we may receive from MACSEYE, regarding an improved updated booking system or any other improvements/modifications that may be made.