Principal News

Dear Sacred Heart School Community

      

As indicated below, the start to our school year has been a lot less challenging than we anticipated, as so far, the expected incidences of Covid amongst students and school staff has not eventuated. Fortunately this has allowed us to focus on the traditional objectives at the beginning of each school year. Concerns expressed in parts of the media about the effect on student's interpersonal skills of sustained learning from home have also not been evidenced amongst our students so far. Their ability to work and play together, share, negotiate, compromise and take turns are what we have pleasingly seen in both the classroom and playground. 

Please be assured however, that despite the start to our 2022 school year, our staff are under no false illusions about the possible effects of the last two years challenges, and as always, will be monitoring their students closely.

 

Covid News

Thank you to all those families who are diligently using the RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) with their children twice a week. I know it is the last thing we want to do with an already hectic morning routine, but your adherence to this protocol is keeping our school community safe. The great news is that we have only had one student report a positive test and he and his siblings isolated for the required seven days. I have also been contacted by a number of parents who have kept their children home with Covid like symptoms, even though their RAT has been negative. For this we are very grateful.

Can I remind all parents that students from Year Three to Year Six are to be wearing a face mask unless they have a medical reason and that we encourage students in other classes to do so as well.

The second batch of RAT tests will be given out on Monday afternoon and those not collected by parents will be sent home on Tuesday with students.

 

Parent/Teacher Interviews

A letter went home to all families yesterday informing about Parent/Teacher interviews on Wednesday 23rd February and asking families to nominate a preferred time for an interview. On this day our students will not be dismissed early as in previous years but will be at school until normal dismissal time 3.20pm. Interviews will not take place face to face because of our Covid protocols and will be held virtually or if desired, by telephone.

 

Sacramental Dates

There is a saying about making the same mistake twice which I cannot find, but what I do know, being the person who has done it, I ask for your apology. In the newsletter last week and then again in a letter sent home yesterday about Sacramental dates, I have given the wrong date for Year Five and Year Six student's First Eucharist. The date is Sunday 3rd April at 2.00pm. Again my apologies.

 

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders through the Parade Preston Campus Canteen commence next Friday 18th February. As in previous years, orders need to be with your child's teacher by Thursday evening as orders have to be taken over to Parade before 9.00am.  A copy of the canteen menu can be found in this newsletter. When students are ordering a lunch, the money needs to be in a paper bag on which the student's name, class and order is clearly written.

 

Parents and Friend's Meeting

We will hold our first Parents and Friend's meeting next Friday morning 18th February. Due to Covid protocols and restrictions on parents entering the school building, we will have the meeting outside on the tables. Hopefully it will be a beautiful morning. Jodi and I would love to see some new parents who would like to join our group. The Parents and Friend's Committee organises fund raising activities and social events (hopefully!!) for our school community. The meeting will commence at 9.00am and run for about 45 minutes

 

Coffee Van

Due to popular demand, the coffee van returns on Thursday 24th February. Danielle will be making coffee from 8.30am each Thursday morning. Can I just remind parents that the drinks are for them only and not our students.

 

Another Busy Week in Year Prep

Our Year Preps have almost finished their second week at Sacred Heart. They continue to amaze us all, with the way they have transitioned to school life and its extra challenges.

                                                 Meeting our Year Six Buddies

                                                Wednesday Testing With Amanda

 

 

Thank you

Thank you to the very kind family who have donated an amount of money to cover the cost of our icy poles for the next three weeks. The selling of icy poles each Friday raises valuable money for our school and this family's generous act means we raise even more. Again thank you to Jodi who purchases the icy poles each week.

 

Video of Sacred Heart School

On Thursday 24th February we will be filming a video of our school and our students. The video will eventually be published on our school's website. The video was due to be filmed last year but was cancelled because of Covid. At the time, I contacted parents whose children had a speaking part and will do this again in the coming days.

 

Please take care.

 

Yours sincerely

Mark Tierney

Principal