Principal News
Dear Sacred Heart Community
Father Eloysius
At Mass last Sunday, Father Eloysius announced that he had received news earlier in the morning, that his youngest sister Brigitte had passed away. Father Eloysius' family reside in Indonesia and he is unable to attend the funeral. Please keep him and his family in your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.
Statewide rollout of rapid antigen testing in schools
On Monday evening as I was about to make my way to Seymour for my conference, information came through about the government's rapid antigen testing program in schools. There is a fair amount of information to digest and I want to make sure I give our community the correct information. I will send home a special bulletin tomorrow about the program. In the meantime, a brief summary is contained below.
On Monday 15 November, the Victorian Government began implementing the statewide rollout of a rapid antigen testing program for eligible students impacted by a COVID-19 exposure at school.
This program will enable unvaccinated or partially vaccinated primary close contact (PCC) students to safely return to school after seven days, rather than 14 days.
All schools that have close contacts as a result of a confirmed case on site will be able to take part in the program.
To make rapid antigen testing available to students who are eligible PCCs, schools will need to opt in. Schools will do this when they return the spreadsheet of potential PCCs.
Birthday food
I would ask all our parents and guardians to please adhere to our school policy for celebrating student's birthdays. We know that birthdays are a very special occasion in our students young lives, but we ask that if you are supplying food that it be a cake only and that in these Covid times, it be cup cakes which help avoid possible cross contamination. If you are also supplying a lolly bag please be aware that these will be taken home by the students to consume under their parent's supervision.
Positive Covid Cases
Over these past few weeks, I have been contacted by a number of parents to inform me that members of their family have become close contacts to confirmed Covid cases and in a couple of situations, our students were close contacts. I would like to thank all these families for strictly adhering to the DHHS protocols and allowing our Sacred Heart community to stay safe. We are well aware that the virus is still circulating but by continuing to stay alert, do the right thing and adhere to the protocols when alerted to the possibility of being a contact, we can minimise the risk to our school community.
School Advisory Council AGM
As indicated in a previous newsletter, we will hold our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 30th November in the staff room commencing at 7.15pm. All interested parents and guardians are warmly welcomed to attend.
The School Advisory Council is composed of members who appreciate, value and share the educational mission and ethos of Sacred Heart Primary School. At our AGM we will acknowledge and thank our members who are leaving the council and announce the new members.
Fees
A big thankyou to all our parents and guardians who have paid their outstanding fees. We ask that our remaining families please pay their outstanding balance as soon as possible.
Production
On Monday you received a letter from Kate, detailing some information about our school production Peter Pan. You will have noticed that all attendees over the age of sixteen will have to be double vaccinated. Please be aware that this is not intended to be a political statement, but is rather an adherence to mandated directions by our Victorian Government. Originally we were looking at the feasibility of having our production in the school grounds but the logistics and costs outweighed the benefits for all to attend.
Whilst I am unaware of any parents who are not vaccinated, I can only assume that if our school community is representative of the wider community, then we will have adults who are not vaccinated. If we do have any unvaccinated families, I ask that your children still participate in the school production. The production experience is very important for them, and as is the case for everything we do in our school, helps them develop important life skills and attitudes. We are currently looking into recording the production so that parents unable to attend can still share the experience.
Lunch Orders
No lunch orders will be received tomorrow Friday 19th November, as Parade Preston are closed for a pupil free day.
The New Fairy
I don't know if it's because of our concert preparation and the drawing of, creating costumes to be, dancing like or singing about fairies, but a new fairy has taken up residence in our school and has made the fairy tree home. She looks very like Tinkerbell who we will all meet on the 9th December at the Thornbury Theatre.
Parking
Further to last week's request for our parents and guardians to adhere to the road safety rules of a morning and evening. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the rules that apply on Clifton Grove.
General stopping and parking rules around school zones
You must not leave a vehicle stationary:
- double parked
- where there is a Keep Clear road marking
- within an intersection (except on the continuous side of a continuing road of a T-intersection)
- across a lane or private driveway (except for 2 minutes to pick up or drop off passengers without leaving the vehicle unattended)
- where you would leave less than 3 metres of road clear for traffic
- on the wrong side of the road, i.e. on the far right side of a two-way road
- on a footpath, nature strip or reservation (unless the vehicle is a motorcycle or bicycle)
You must not leave a vehicle within 20 metres (unless permitted by a sign) of:
- the approach side of a children’s crossing
- the approach side of a pedestrian crossing that is not at an intersection
- both sides of an intersection with traffic lights
- the approach side of a bus stop
- both sides of a level crossing
You must not leave a vehicle within 10 metres (unless permitted by a sign) of:
- the departure side of a children’s crossing
Please take care.
Yours sincerely
Mark Tierney
Principal