Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers,

This will be our last newsletter for 2021, of course. It has again been a difficult year for everyone. I would like to congratulate all of our students for their resilience and their hard work this year. I’d like to thank our staff for the same and all parents and grandparents too.

All of us have been called upon to do things that we felt unprepared for. We’ve all had to do things we’d never done before and maybe didn’t ever want to do. But they’re done. We’re still here and our school community remains strong. It remains a safe and caring place where we continue to place the well being and educational needs of these fantastic kids at the centre of all of our decision making. Very little has been perfect but we have all done our best.

At the beginning of this pandemic I recall writing to parents that our kids would look to us to show them how to deal with a crisis. That we would show them what we are made of and what we truly value. As we race towards Christmas, I hope kindness, courage, understanding and the importance of love in our lives and in our families is something we can all celebrate this year.

And all of us, I know, look forward to a better 2022.

Thank you to all families for your ongoing support of our school, an imperfect school, but one where we all do our best.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

END OF YEAR ARRANGEMENTS All children are to complete Math testing with their 2022 teacher today and tomorrow. These “Numeracy Interviews” have always been conducted after the end of formal classes in previous years. This year auxiliary staff such as our Science teacher, Librarian and Principal (!) will be supervising classes as they complete Christmas activities to enable our class teachers to conduct these short tests in preparation for 2022.

The last day for children is tomorrow, Wednesday December 15th. School will finish at the normal time of 3:15pm. Children should wear their school uniform.

Staff will be taking part in Professional Development and preparing for 2022 on Thursday and Friday of this week.

END OF YEAR REPORTS Parents can access their children’s End of Year Reports via PAM after the end of school today.

PAM ACCOUNT If your youngest child is graduating or your family is leaving the school, it is recommended that you download the report as your access to PAM will be terminated in the new year.

 

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SERVICE 

Father Michael has asked me to promote the following: 

Vigil Mass - Christmas Eve at 6:0pm outside /Undercover: 

on the Tennis Courts at  St Mary’s Colac.

“This Mass has been arranged especially with Young Families & Young Children in Mind. Can I say some have questioned if this is necessary.

The Response of our school families will determine if such an ‘Outside’ Mass at 6pm (for families) will remain a feature of our Parish Christmas Celebrations’

Sister Carmody has generously offered to provide the Carols/Music with a children’s theme and invites the Children to come up around her to assist with the joyful participation and singing! - Fr Michael

 

We are very very lucky in Colac to have Fr Michael as our Spiritual and Parish leader. He is perhaps the best Religious Education Teacher I have ever met - for children and adults and I would commend this ceremony to all parents as a beautiful way to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas for your family.

 

 

SCHOOL COUNCIL MESSAGE 

Dear Sacred Heart Community

 None of us could have envisioned that 2021 was going to look like it did and isn’t it nice now to be moving forward rather than feeling stuck in lock-down.

 

 

Regardless of being physically at school or working from home, Jack has reflected many acts of kindness in the newsletter this year and they each go to the ‘heart’ of our school.  Many have also stretched beyond the classroom and may not have even been seen as such, but keeping in touch with friends, working together over messenger, meeting up for a walk or bike ride are all acts of kindness.

 

The resilience of our children has continued to shine through and while fatigue sets in at the end of term, they are growing up and learning to be adaptable and creative in our ever changing world.

 

Our sincere thanks to parents and carers that guided their children through home schooling again and of course teachers and support staff that made it feel seamless this time around. 

 

We feel very privileged as a School Council to represent the Sacred Heart community and proud of all that our students and staff have achieved this year.

 

We wish everyone a relaxing and safe holiday period filled with good blessings and perhaps a few more acts of kindness.

 

Sincerely

Leanne Klahsen, Chair

On behalf of School Council

 

 

BEGINNING 2022 Some early notice, 2022 will begin for our teachers on Friday January 28 with training and preparation. WE WILL NO LONGER BE TAKING TWO TESTING DAYS at this time of year.

Instead, next year we have planned to do some Professional training on Monday, January 31 and classes for the children will resume on TUESDAY FEB 1.

Please note this is different to the information that appears in the Foundation Handbooks that we have distributed to next year’s Foundation students.

CONGRATULATIONS to one of our former students, Josh Garner. Josh is the son of Lynne (Grade 6 teacher) and Leigh Garner and has been selected in the Australian Under 19 Men's Cricket Team to contest the World Cup in the West Indies during January 2022.

This is an amazing feat and we certainly wish Josh all the very best. I believe the tournament will be broadcast on Fox for those keen to follow Josh’s progress.