Message From Our 

Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Sacred Heart and the new school year. We were delighted to see the children return to school last week with such energy and enthusiasm. Although there may have been some nerves, the first day fun of reconnecting with friends was very evident as the children and families returned. Thank you to all staff who have spent lots of time over the past few weeks ensuring the learning spaces were inviting and ready for the children’s return.

A special welcome to our new Foundation students. It was lovely to watch as they said goodbye to their families and settled into their new learning space and routines. Thank you to their big buddies who are helping each of them become more familiar with Sacred Heart. Welcome also to our new students in other classes. It was lovely to see new friends taking such special care of you all.

I would like to especially welcome all the new families who have started at Sacred Heart this year. I hope you already feel part of our very caring school community. To our new staff, Brooke Cimera, Kathryn Reid, Sonia Lagozzino and Lily Vincitorio thank you for the way you have embraced our school community.

I encourage you all to pop in on Thursday for our Welcome Evening. This will be a great opportunity for old and new families to come together and meet each other, meet our staff and see your child’s learning spaces. We look forward to seeing you all there.

We will also begin the school year with our Opening Mass on Friday, February 17th 9:15am. All families are warmly invited to join us for this special occasion.

‘Let the Words You Speak Always be Full of Grace’, is our theme this year and comes from Colossians 4:6. It is drawn from a longer piece of scripture that encourages each of us to walk with wisdom and courage and to speak with truth, being mindful that words have the power to break or connect communities. To choose to use kind words and speak with grace in our daily interactions is a theme that is very accessible for our children to understand and act upon.

Congratulations to Year 6s who were commissioned as School Leaders 2023 during Assembly last week and presented with their Leadership shirts. They have already begun this role in the true spirit of Sacred Heart, leading Assemblies, helping their buddies and commencing in their various teams. I look forward to all that this wonderful group will bring to our school throughout the coming year.

Thank you to Vanessa Tartaglia, Sonia Lagozzino and Loretta Robbins who presented a very informative Learning Information Session to our Foundation parents. Thank you to all the parents who attended. I hope you found the session very informative and helpful in supporting your child as they begin this exciting learning journey. 

You may have noticed that our usual Term 1 Athletics Carnival is not on the calendar. This is because our local athletics day has been rescheduled to later in the year to align with the district sports. Cross Country will be held later this term.

In the interests of safety for everyone at Sacred Heart I have a few very important reminders during Drop Off and Pick Up times.

Carpark

Reverse Park, drive at walking pace, children wait on lawn area, parents come in the gate to collect your child, no child is to walk through the carpark not accompanied with an adult. We ask that parents don’t gather at the corner on the carpark and allow children to play when cars are exiting the carpark. It is very concerning for drivers and makes safe supervision of all children difficult for the staff member on duty.

Staff Carpark – is for staff only.

Currently this carpark is being used for the building site which has added to traffic management. Children are not to walk through that area at any time. Visibility is very difficult with children walking along the footpath/bus and moving traffic. All children using Hogan St must exit down the ramp. 

Hogan St

All pedestrians, children and adults, must use the crossing when it is supervised. This is a legal requirement. 

Hunter St

This is an excellent option to avoid the busy traffic in Hogan St. Children walk to the gate supervised. They must be picked up on the school side of the road or an adult walk across to meet them. Children cannot cross the street without an adult. 

School Office

The school gates are locked at 9am and opened at 3:20pm. All visitors to the school during those times must enter through and report to the main office. 

Drop Off and Pick Up times are extremely busy times and it is important that this is managed safely. It may be inconvenient at times but I ask families to fully cooperate and support staff, keeping everyone at Sacred Heart safe.

Other information is provided in our fortnightly newsletters and on PAM. Information specific to your child’s class will be sent out in the Term Unit Bulletin. If you are at any time unsure about any school procedures, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I look forward to seeing you when you are at school picking up and dropping off your children and I know we are going to have another wonderful year at Sacred Heart.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to watch over our school community and bless us always.

Pauline Hindson 

Principal