Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
As you are all aware by now, I will be retiring as Principal of Sacred Heart at the end of this current school year. This has come as a surprise to me, perhaps even more than to you. I had formed a “loose intention” to definitely be here again in 2025 and consider 2026 as next year progressed, but I have just hit a bit of a wall. And so the decision has been sort of easy to take and I know it is the right thing for me to do.
I believe it will be the best thing for Sacred Heart too.
I have been very lucky to have found a career that I have loved. I still get a kick out of working with your kids. They make me laugh every day. I’ve tried to repay that favour every day too.
If only us adults could apologise as humbly as they can. If only we could forgive each other the way they do. This is why it is always my strong recommendation for the adults to tread very carefully when kids have a disagreement - there are always two sides to every story and they can forgive one another without a grudge and can be sharing their textas or playing a game together straight after.
When adults have a disagreement you can end up never speaking again or worse.
The kids have been asking me who the next principal will be. My answer has been that it will be someone that is probably taller than me, with smaller ears and someone who can do a cartwheel - they will be better than me I tell them.
One of the great joys of being in this role for so long is that so many of our parents are former students, many of our staff are former students. These are long lasting relationships that I am very proud of.
I am very much looking forward to the rest of 2024. I intend to try to enjoy it and savour all the conversations with the kids, all the silly, funny, sweet and honest things they say.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2025 DOBCEL (Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited) are my employer. They have accepted my resignation and have begun the process of finding a new principal for this fantastic school.
A promotional package about the school that includes video taped interviews with parents, staff and students will be completed this week and advertisements will be placed this week also. I am very confident that there will be strong interest in this position and look forward to an appointment being made early in Term 4.
HEALTH ALERT All parents should have received an email about a case of Whooping Cough in our school last week. Unfortunately I have been advised this morning that we now have a second confirmed case amongst our student population.
Children and adults with pertussis (Whooping Cough) must not attend primary school for 21 days after the onset of cough or until they have completed 5 days of a course of antibiotic treatment. This is legislated under The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Schedule 7).
Further advice will be sent home today via email.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM Congratulations to all of our students who were confirmed and made their First Communion last weekend. I was at the eleven o’clock Mass on Sunday which went beautifully.
A big thank you to Fr Michael, to our teachers for supporting the program at school and at Church and to parents for their support for the kids who all did a fantastic job.
BOOK WEEK Thank you to Yolanda McVilly and Jane Daffy for organising last Wednesday’s Book Week parade and activities. Just quietly I was pretty happy with my headstand but the cartwheel was a bridge too far for this old bloke!
Thank you too, to parents for the work in assembling and organising the amazing costumes for the kids.
Jack Lenaghan - Principal