Message From Our
Principal
Dear Parents, Carers and Members of our School Community,
Sacred Heart School Invites & Welcomes Feedback
As part of the schools annual action plan work, I will be seeking feedback from our school community regarding ways/strategies/events in which we can increase and strengthen the 'social connectiveness' and partnerships with our families. A strong, open and engaging school community is vital for achieving our collective mission of growing the faith and learning outcomes of our students in our care for a hope-filled future.
This week, as part of our strategy to improve the schools connection and engagement with its community, I will be sending out a survey seeking feedback regarding our recent Mother's Day morning where we invited our mum's (and significant women in our lives) to a Mass, Open Classrooms and a special Morning Tea. Please take the time to complete the survey which will be available through the Parent Access Module (PAM) later this afternoon. Your valuable feedback will provide the school with data to inform changes (if indicated) to next year's event. I thank you in advance for completing the survey in a constructive and supportive manner. I look forward to sharing the results of the survey towards the end of Term 2.
New Groundskeeper Position at Sacred Heart
We are excited to announce a new part-time Groundskeeper position, a vital addition to our school structure. This role will ensure our grounds, facilities, and learning environments are maintained to the highest standards for our school community. The position will be advertised later this week. For more information, please visit our website or follow our social media platforms. Applications will be reviewed by a panel, with interviews to follow, and the successful candidate will commence in Term 3, 2024 (Fingers Crossed!). We look forward to welcoming a dedicated individual to our school.
Semester One Student Reporting & Parent Teacher Interviews
In this edition of the newsletter and upcoming ones, we share significant improvements to the Semester One Student Report aimed at enhancing clarity around learning growth and attainment against educational standards. The redesigned report, though not without its flaws, marks a notable step towards providing parents with a more user-friendly and informative overview of their child's academic progress. Our goal is to make it easier for parents to understand how their children are processing and growing in relation to established educational benchmarks. This report will offer clearer insights, making it a valuable instrument for identifying student development and areas of growth.
Additionally, we are pleased to announce that the portal for booking a Parent Teacher Interview will open on Thursday, 23rd May at 9am. This semester, the previously used "Learning Conversation" will be replaced with a Parent Teacher Interview, providing a more formal and structured opportunity for parents to engage with teachers about their child's progress based on the Semester One report. We encourage all parents to take advantage of this opportunity to discuss their child's achievements and areas for growth in with their classroom teacher. The Parent Teacher conversations will be allocated a 10 minute appointment time slot. All specialist teachers will be available for interviews; first in, first served for booking them. It is important that parents are punctual to their time slot to ensure all meetings run on time. Your participation is important in supporting your child's educational journey, and we look forward to these collaborative discussions. Stay tuned for further updates in the next editions of our newsletter. Parents will be asked to provide further feedback regarding student reporting and student progress meeting structures (Learning Conversations, Student Led Conferences or Parent Teacher Interviews) at the beginning of Term 3 for review and refinement for the Semester Two reporting period.
National Simultaneous Storytime Day - Bowerbird Blues
Today students from Foundation to Year 6 raided their wardrobes to find items of clothing that were blue as part of our National Simultaneous Storytime Day. National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event held by the Australian Library and Information Association. It involves children reading the same book simultaneously in libraries, early learning services, schools, and homes across Australia. This year’s book was Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker. It’s a beautifully written and illustrated Australian story about a bird collecting blue items from across the land, cities, and under the sea. This year I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read the book to the entire school community, Foundation to Year 6.
Australian Early Development Census (AEDC):
Our school will take part in the AEDC between May and July this year. The AEDC is a national census conducted every three years by the Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments. It measures how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.
The AEDC is voluntary and does not measure how well children are doing at school or how their school compares to others. Instead, it shows how children are growing and progressing in five key areas, highlighting what is being done well and what can be improved. AEDC data is used by schools, early childhood organisations, researchers, and governments to plan and improve services and supports for children and families. This is why it is important for all children in their first year of school to be included in the AEDC.
To learn more about how AEDC data is used, visit https://www.aedc.gov.au/.
As we continue through the term, let's carry forward this momentum of enthusiasm and dedication. Together, let's create more moments of joy, discovery, and achievement, nurturing the potential within each of our students and strengthening the bonds within our cherished Sacred Heart School Community.
God bless,
Jamie McDowall
Principal
