School News
The Examen - A way to reflect on the day ahead
The Examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s actually an attitude more than a method, a time set aside for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life. At Sacred Heart Kew, all students participate in a 10 minute Examen every Tuesday after lunch.
Examen Process
Step 1. Students sit in a circle and lights are turned off. Students make the sign of the cross.
Step 2. Quietly start the Examen saying Ma-Ra-Na-Tha (Come Lord). This is repeated quietly a few times allowing children to breathe in and out and settle any wriggles. This process is guided by the teacher for children to join in.
Step 3. Quietly the teacher directs the Examen questions below to the class. Students respond appropriately in a quiet and reflective manner.
Step 4. Finish with the Examen Prayer below and conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
Thank you God for all the good things that have happened to me today.
Forgive me if I have hurt others.
Help me to learn from today.
I pray that tomorrow will be a new day, filled with hope, joy and good decisions.
Be with me Lord, as I try each day to grow closer to you.
Amen
2025 Sacred Heart Food Drive and Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass
Our annual Sacred Heart Food Drive (see poster below) begins next week (led by our Year 3 children as part of our Whole School Social Justice program). Each year as a school we collect donations to support the Brigidine Asylum Resource Centre.
As we do every year we call on all our families to 'give what they can' as we collect essential household items for those less fortunate than ourselves in our community.
We will all celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday 27 June at our 9.15am Parish Mass. Everyone is welcome to join us for this whole school/parish celebration.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!
2025 Primary School Leaders' Forum
As mentioned earlier in the newsletter, our two School Captains, Emily and Freddie visited Parliament House this week, invited by Jess Wilson MP to share a local and state issue that is important to them and their community of Kew. Both our School Captains were terrific ambassadors for our school and spoke about issues that concerned them and their classmates. Emily spoke about 'Safety on Footpaths and Roads' and Freddie spoke about 'Homelessness and Poverty'. Congratulations to both Emily and Freddie on a job well done in at State Parliament.
Walk-A-Thon THANK YOU TO ALL!
The weather Gods smiled down upon us last Friday as we all participated in our annual Walkathon, raising money for CatholicCare. After a presentation by Kalma from CatholicCare, where she explained how and who our donation of funds would help, we all set off with our legs primed and ready, wrist tags on, and began our Walkathon to the beat of some Mrs Richardson chosen tunes.
We thank all our staff and parents who ensured that all participants were safe as we walked many times around our school block and surrounding streets.
Our children and families generously contributed a WHOPPING $4,332.50
This is an OUTSTANDING result! Well done and THANK YOU to all families who were able to donate to our very keen and fast walkers on the day.
Kalma from CatholicCare and her entire organisation will be so appreciative of all our efforts.
Garden Club
With the cold weather finally upon us and Mrs Mulhall on Long Service Leave, Garden Club will be hibernating for the Winter. It will resurface in Term 4, perhaps with a few Term 3 mornings thrown in when the weather is milder.
Friday Afternoon School Assemblies at 2:30pm
Term 2:
Week 8 (13 June) - No Assembly
Week 9 (20 June) - Wellbeing Groups
Week 10 (27 June) - Assembly: Year 3 Spotlight on Learning
Week 11 (4 July) - No Assembly: End of Term 2 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.
School Closure Days 2025
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
Please see below for further information, including the MACSEYE Booking Link.