Principal News
Dear Sacred Heart Community
I would like to thank all members of our school community for the resilience you have displayed, spirit of cooperation you have brought towards working jointly with our school staff, and patience and love you have given your children during this term. It has been a very challenging period, but as a school, made easier because of the way you have worked hand in hand with our staff, to achieve the best outcomes possible given the unusual circumstances. We have a timeline for our Year Prep and Year One/Two classes and hope and pray that our Year Three to Year Six students are back onsite as soon as possible. At this stage, the COVID 19 numbers are trending down, so the possibility of our older students returning sooner rather than later is looking like a distinct possibility.
Timeline for return to onsite learning
As indicated in last week's newsletter, the plan for Term Four resumption to onsite learning has been outlined by our premier and is as follows:
Week 2 Term 4
Monday 12th October: Years Prep to Year Two return to school Onsite learning continues for students of permitted workers. Unless required for onsite duties, staff who can work from home are required to do so
Years Three to Year Six return to school (subject to COVID 19 cases)
Creativity Or Knowledge?
It was Albert Einstein who said "creativity is more important than knowledge". I share this quote, the graphic below and pictures of creative design and ideas, as examples of the very important learning that has continued over these past two terms despite our students not being at school. Our students have continued to learn in the classrooms you have created at home. Classrooms that may have been in the kitchen following a recipe and helping cook, in the garden shed tinkering with wood and nails, outside walking the block and looking at the vegetation sprouting for Spring or creating a piece of art on the driveway with a special message. These are the authentic experiences that you have given your children these past two terms and the sort of learning that will stand them in good stead for their great future.
Parishioner Kevin Sievers
It is with great sadness that I inform our school community of the passing of our much loved parishioner Kevin Sievers last week. Kevin took great pleasure in any involvement of our students in parish masses and events. He always made it his intent before he went home, to shake our students hands and tell them what a great job they had done. He loved our school choir in particular and took great delight in hearing our students read and lead prayer.
100 Faces in 100 Days
As mentioned in our last two newsletters, Liz has taken on the challenge of drawing 100 faces in 100 days. Over these 100 days, Liz has taken the opportunity to draw our Year 5/6 students and staff members. See if you can work out who is depicted this week.
School Photos New Date
Due to the uncertainty around the resumption date of onsite learning returning for our Year Three to Year Six students, we have postponed our school photo day to Thursday 26th November.
Thank you
Those of you familiar with the work of the Resilience Project will know that its founder, Hugh Van Cuylenburg advocates gratitude as one of the platforms for living a happy life. The ability to find the things we should be grateful for and acknowledging them is a habit Hugh espouses for realistic and sustainable happiness, no matter what challenges life brings. I share this reflection from our Year Four student Ria, and acknowledge a beautiful phone call from Year One student Gail Martina and follow surprise for our staff. Whilst our staff don't look for but really appreciate expressions of gratitude, I am sure that both Ria and Gail Martina also drew great happiness from their actions.
Staff Trivia
This term the staff have participated in a Zoom version of trivia once a fortnight on a Thursday night. I would like to personally thank Rose Lee and Belinda for the incredible amount of work they have put into organising these events. These social catch ups have played a very important role in our staff maintaining relationships during this isolating time. I am very grateful to both Belinda and Rose Lee. If you are planning a trivia night you could not go past these two ladies and I am sure their rates would be very affordable.
Please stay safe.
Yours sincerely
Mark Tierney,
Principal
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2020 – extension of time due to COVID-19
Each year the Victorian government (education) provides funding specifically for educational activities in outdoor activities which includes, all sports activities, camps and excursions for both primary students.
This year the government has extended the application to the 25th November 2020 due to the Corona Virus.
If you have recently applied for and received either a Health Care Card and/or pension card due to change of circumstances in your work status during this pandemic, you may be eligible to receive these funds.
The annual CSEF per student is $125.00 for primary schools and is eligible to families who hold a valid means tested Pensioner Concession Card or Centrelink Health Care Card
Funds are administered by the school and can only be used for activities listed above. Any unused funds remain in your school account and roll over to the next year for the above activities.
We have attached the application to this news bulletin for you to complete if you are eligible. Please complete and return no later than the 20th November to rontanim@shpreston.catholic.edu.au