Principal News

Dear Sacred Heart Community

Last weekend our Premier released the exciting news, that the return to school for all our students has been brought forward to next Wednesday 3rd November. To repeat, all our students will be onsite every day from next Wednesday. We sincerely hope and pray that the days of offsite learning are past us, and can become over time, just a distant memory. As I have said consistently in the pages of this newsletter, thank you for they way you have supported your children during this period, and for the way you have willingly worked with us to continue your children, our student's sense of wellbeing and learning.

On Tuesday we welcomed back our last class to transition, our Year Three/Fours. It was hard to tell who was more excited, the students or Marie. As with our previous groups, there was much earnest conversation, enthusiastic play and sense of relief being back with friends. As can be seen from the following photographs taken this week, our teachers are using the outdoors as places of learning. Kate took her music classes into the multipurpose room which is a larger space and with the glass doors open, allows for great ventilation.

Our staff have set up tables and chairs near the school entrance so that they can be together during lunch but in the relative safety of the great outdoors.

Protocols

I would like to repeat the protocols that have been in place during this period of transition and will continue to be in place until further notice. These steps have been introduced to keep our community as safe as possible, and I thank our parents and guardians for abiding by these protocols the last three weeks.

All students from Year Three to Six are to wear facemasks inside the school building (This is a mandate from our Chief Health Officer. If there is a legitimate reason your child cannot wear a face mask please email). Again I have noticed today that we also have some students in Years Prep to Two wearing a facemask which we really encourage
Parents/Guardians are not permitted into the yard of a morning or afternoon
Parents are asked to limit their presence in the school office. If business can be completed over the phone or by email please do so
If you do need to enter the office, please remember to QR code and face masks are mandatory. You will find the front door locked, so if not sighted, please ring the school so you can gain entrance
Our students will not be mixing indoors across classes. For example normally our Year Prep and Year One class gather together for "Discovery" and our Year Five/Six classes gather together for prayer and class meetings. This will not be occurring at least for the next three weeks
Teachers are encouraged to use outdoor spaces as much as possible to conduct classes

Lastly in accordance with our Premier's mandate, all our staff have had at least one vaccination with almost all double vaxed. The remaining couple are due for their second over the coming days.

Liz

Whilst staffing arrangements for next year are yet to be finalised, I would like to let our community know that Liz is moving next year to the beach for a well deserved sea change. I will speak about Liz's legacy and support of me in a later newsletter. Liz's learning diversity role will be filled by Geraldine Sloan from 2022. I worked very closely with Geraldine at my previous school Holy Name, and I know how lucky we are to have a person with the skills and experience to carry on Liz's work next year and beyond. Please note that there is some further information from Liz on her Deputy Principal page.

Sacraments

We are very aware that due to the challenges of this year, our Year Three students have not received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and our Year Four students their First Eucharist. At the moment religious gatherings indoors have heavily restricted numbers unless all above the age of 16 years are fully vaccinated. I will be honest and say that whilst I have my own opinion with regards to the place of vaccination, I do not want to be put in the position of being arbiter of who can and cannot attend religious gatherings. At this stage our Year Four students will make their Eucharist early next year in time for Confirmation. We still hope to celebrate First Reconciliation this year as it's a smaller gathering of people.

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders with the Parade Preston Campus canteen will resume next Friday 5th November. A reminder that orders need to be written on a paper bag along with the student's name and class. Orders need to be at school by the Thursday as they cannot be accepted on the Friday morning.

Pre Melbourne Cup Holiday

Again please be aware that next Monday 1st November is a pupil free day as teachers will be working on reports.

School Fees

All families will have received their Term Four school fees earlier this week. Already today, we have had a number of parents ring and drop in to pay their child's fees and for this we are most grateful. I ask that you please fulfill your financial commitment to our school in the coming weeks.

Parents may not have noticed on their invoice, but as mentioned in a previous newsletter, this year we have rebated the swimming levy and an appropriate proportion of the incursion/excursion levy (amount depends on excursions that eventuated). For families who finalised fees last term, that will mean they have a credit which will come off next year's fees.

First Year Six student to be double "vaxed"

As you would be aware, students twelve years and above now qualify to receive a vaccine against the Covid 19 virus. A number of our Year Six students have received their first dose with Josh being our first student to be double vaxed. Congratulations to Josh.

All the best Aryan

Yesterday we bid our Year Four student Aryan farewell, as he and his family move to Point Cook. Aryan has been a very popular member of his pool class and will be missed by his peers and teachers. On behalf of our school community, I would like to wish Aryan and his lovely family every happiness and success on this new exciting phase in their lives.

Correspondence from MACS

Please take care.

Regards

Mark Tierney

Principal