Dear Parents and Caregivers,

May each of you know the beautiful gift that you are

during this most Holy Season

As we prepare for the final days of the school year, it is natural to reflect on the year gone. Little did we know what 2020 had in store for us! Remote learning, Google Meets, parents not on site, COVID restrictions, changing plans all quickly became part of the everyday.

Throughout everything that 2020 threw at us, the community of Sacred Heart came together, as always and did their best.

As I read the children’s reports a common thread seems to be that Remote Learning provided challenges but that with the support given, they got there. I would like to sincerely thank families for all they have done throughout this year. Around the challenges of Remote Learning, working from home and still organising busy households you supported and encouraged your children in the best possible way you could. Well done. Thank you also for the tremendous support you provided your children’s teachers. This year has very much been a team effort and we certainly value and appreciated your support.

Another common thread in the reports is how happy the children were to be back on site with their teachers and friends. The excitement of many children coming through the front doors after our second lockdown to reconnect with their friends and teachers will remain with me for a long time. Some a little apprehensive with many new restrictions but all able to grow in ways we could never have imagined. Thank you to all the staff who provided a safe, happy place for our children in changing times and for their commitment to deliver the best quality learning and teaching no matter what was happening around them.

As families are leaving us at the end of the year I would like to acknowledge and thank them for being part of our community. I’m sure you will always have fond memories of your time at Sacred Heart.

Congratulations to Matt Hooper and students on the incredible Art Exhibition. I hope families have been able to go to our Website to view a snapshot of the work done over the term. The busyness in the Art Room at all times of the day over the past few weeks as children have worked to complete their works was a credit to them and Matt.

Congratulations also to Karen Nihill and the forty Year 3-6s who performed in the virtual Sandhurst Arts on Show. They have worked hard rehearsing their performance and the end result is fantastic. I hope you all have a look on our Website and enjoy what they have been able to produce. With both the Art Exhibition and the Sandhurst Arts on Show performance the creativity and talent of our students, guided by their teachers never ceases to amaze me.

This week the School Board had an extraordinary meeting to endorse the School Master Plan 1-4. We are now able to proceed to developing the plans for the new Creative Centre so they are ready for submission to town planning early in the new year. Thank you to the Board members and in particular Emma Dalton for assisting with this.

Reports will be available through PAM next Monday. There have been some adjustments made as a result of the content taught this year but please spend time together, reading and reflecting on your child’s report, showing them the value, you place on their school life. Don’t forget to celebrate all their hard work, efforts and achievements after reading their reports!

It was so lovely to see all many new students on Orientation Day and very exciting to see our existing students move up into their new classes for next year. Watching our new Year 6s meet and spend time with their buddies was a real highlight for me. I’ve received lots of positive feedback about the transition and Orientation Day experience and especially about how much the Foundation children loved their buddies! This is such a wonderful way to begin your school journey with a big buddy! Kathryn Ferguson has also organised Buddy Families which I’m sure will help our new families settle in. Lots of preparation went into Orientation Day to ensure everyone transitioned well and they did. Thank you to parents for the positive way you supported your children, which will no doubt set them up for a wonderful year in 2021.

The staffing for 2021 has now been finalised.

Leadership Team
Pauline Hindson	Principal
Matt Cameron	Assistant Principal, Learning and Teaching Leader
Jessie Simpson	Religious Education Leader
Debbie Turvey	Learning Diversity and Pastoral Wellbeing Leader
Laura Mathieson	e-Learning Leader
Michelle Cameron	Learning Leader 3-6
Katy Dundon	Learning Leader F-2
Teaching Teams
Foundation	Kath O'Sullivan, Vanessa Tartaglia, Nikki Littlewood
Year 1	Jessie Simpson, Bree Petrie/Bec Borzillo, Nikki Littlewood
Year 2	Katy Dundon, Andrew Nilbett, Wendy Vincitorio
Year 3/4	Michelle Cameron, Laura Mathieson, Nicole Brown, Tracy Marshall
Year 5/6	Cath Basile, Dom Poppa, Emily Slaughter, Melissa Connors
Specialist Team
Performing Arts	Karen Nihill
Visual Arts	Matt Hooper
Languages (Italian)	Karen Nihill
Learning Inclusion Team
Learning Diversity and Pastoral Wellbeing Leader	Debbie Turvey
Wellbeing Officer	Kathryn Ferguson
Administration
Admin Office	Debbie Worm, Sally Dickinson

Congratulations to Jessie Simpson who has been appointed as our Religious Education Leader for 2021/22. Jessie will work with our Leadership Team and staff to continue to build on the strong Catholic Identity present in our school that Matt Cameron has led and grown over the past six years. I sincerely thank Matt for his Leadership, strong example and the work he has done in the many areas of Catholic Identity.

Dom Poppa, Cath Basile and Tracy Marshall organised a Year 6 Reflection Day and Year 5 Leadership Day earlier this week. Our Year 5 future leaders were engaged and enthusiastic about their new role next year and I felt a great confidence knowing they will be the leaders of Sacred Heart School. The Year 6s, although with a little sadness were reflective about their time at Sacred Heart. Their engagement and responses gave great confidence that our 2020 Graduates will do great things. Over the years they have aspired to achieve our Graduate Outcomes and are a credit to themselves, their families and their school. Another highlight of the day was our special guest, Xavier Hutchinson a past student and 2021 House Capitan of NDC. Xavier spoke openly to the group and was not only a wonderful example of a leader but gave his listeners much to think about and aspire to in the future. It is great to see our past students doing so well and leading within their community. Thank you, Xavier, for your time and Dom, Cath and Tracy for organising such a valuable day.

On behalf of the school community, I would like to wish Laura Mathieson and Matt Bradbury all our best wishes for their wedding day this weekend. We wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness. Congratulations to you both.

Congratulations to Shaylee Hill who received the Principal's Award for week 8. Shaylee has made some really big achievements this year as a Foundation student. She has matured and grown into a leader of the room who always listens attentively with her eyes, ears and heart. She makes very responsible choices and works at very best on all tasks.

Congratulations to all our 2020 students who have had an amazing year and have been awarded the Principal's Award for week 10.

Next Wednesday, December 18th is the final day for students. Children will be dismissed at the normal time of 3:20pm.

The first day of Term 1 2021 will be Thursday, 28th January and I look forward to greeting all our refreshed students and their families on that morning.

I wish you all the blessings of the Christmas season and a safe and happy holiday break.

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

Pauline Hindson

Principal