Principal's Message

Good afternoon all,

We have had a wonderful start to 2026 welcoming back all our students as well as 36 new foundation students!

Our students commenced their learning quickly and it is great to walk around the classrooms and see that routines have already been firmly established.

Last Friday we celebrated our Opening Mass. We are grateful to Fr Joe Taylor who came from Longwood in Fr Uday’s absence. A highlight of this mass was the presentation of Year 6 shirts to our Grade 6 students. After the presentation I stated to all Year 6s that the shirts represent are passing on of leadership responsibilities to them as Year 6 leaders. They have already commenced their roles in such a positive manner by being kind, helpful and respectful buddies to the foundation students.

It was also lovely to have many from our parent community drop in last Wednesday evening to the Meet and Greet session. This was a wonderful opportunity to see the learning environment of your child/ ren and to meet their teacher. We encourage communication with our teaching staff if you have questions about your child’s learning program. All parents should have received the learning bulletin recently which provides an outline of what the children are doing as part of their learning program. You will notice that there are a few new literacy-based programs for students this year. SpellEx (a specific spelling program has commenced with Year 3&4s, Initial write has commenced with our Foundations and Year 1s) These programs are designed to support literacy development for our students, and we anticipate that they will provide a growth in learning outcomes for students.

Next week we will commence the sacred time of Lent. Next Tuesday is referred to as Shrove Tuesday and is considered the preparation day before Lent commences the following day on Ash Wednesday. Students will enjoy pancakes on this day and will learn about this tradition which comes from families using up all the foods like butter, cream and jam before the period of fasting during lent. If there are parents who would like to assist with pancake making next Tuesday, please reach out to Tony McDonald tmcdonald@shtatura.catholic.edu.au

Finally thank you to all who have supported a smooth transition back to (or to) school so far. We are appreciating that families are supporting our uniform policy and ensuring that your children are wearing the uniform. Teachers have commenced following up students who are out of uniform by sending parent emails. If you need support with uniform items, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office and chat with Tony McDonald.

I will leave you with a readiness for Lent prayer:

Jesus, 

you have known us from the beginning of time, 

you have known us in the depths of our dreams and in the darkness of our shame, 

you know us as your beloved. 

Help us to own that core identity more and more in this season of repentance and mercy. Give us the rock-solid assurance of your unwavering faith in us as we seek the same in you. Amen.

- Author Unknown

Blessings

Carolyn

STUDENT ATTENDANCE:

At Sacred Heart we expect and encourage 100% student attendance.  We understand that there are some circumstances where your child needs to stay at home.  Please be reminded that it is the parents' responsibility to notify school of any absence.  The best way to do this is through PAM or by ringing the school at 8.30am.  Unnotified absence requires follow up from the school as it is essential that we know where our students are each school day.  If you receive a text, please follow this up by calling the school to let us know the reason absence.  If no follow up is received then the school needs to make phone calls to parents which takes considerable time.  We appreciate your support in this matter.

CSEF & FEE CONCESSION FOR HCC HOLDERS

Families with a Health Care Card and would like to receive the CESL Fee Concession are reminded they need to commit to paying $540/student by school organised Direct Debit or by arrangement to be eligible for the Fee Conces.  Please see Debbie in the office if you have any questions regarding this.