Just a few things...

School Fee Payments

Thanks to those families who have settled their school fees for 2022. If you haven't already done so, please make prompt payment as soon as possible. For families experiencing financial hardship, please contact the school office. Payment plans can be arranged. Many thanks for your support.

2023 Plans

As previously mentioned many Catholic schools in the Eastern Region are experiencing a decline in enrolment numbers. We are no different. This will continue in 2023. We have a large group of Year Six children transitioning to high school, along with a large group of Year Four children departing Sacred Heart Kew for the Private/Independent school system at the end of this year.

Despite all of the above, once again, we will have healthy Prep numbers next year, however, we will still encounter a drop in enrolments and have planned accordingly.

As such, we have planned for next year based on known enrolment numbers, formulating class and year level structures as per below. Over the next few weeks we will continue to plan and allocate funds towards our school programs for 2023.

2023 Class Structure

In 2023, the following Class structure will be in place:

2 x Prep

2 x Year One

2 x Year Two

1 x Year Three

2 x Year Four

1 x Year 5

1 x Year 6

2023 Class Placement

In the coming weeks, staff will begin to consider and discuss student class placements for 2023. This task is quite extensive and a variety of factors are taken into account during this process. At Sacred Heart Kew, classroom teachers are ‘best placed’ when deciding the future learning environments for your child.

Later on this term, students will select a list of friends whom they would like to be in a class with next year. Students will be placed with one of these friends as a classmate for 2023. At Sacred Heart Kew our year levels often work collaboratively throughout the school week and all students are provided opportunities to work with their year level peers, as well as their usual classmates. It is also important to note that many friendships are fostered out in the playground and not necessarily within the classroom setting.

When completing this important activity, our staff really are the experts in placing students, having the ‘big picture’, considering all elements, when determining class groups each year. A reminder to parents of 'twins' that we can not always guarantee to keep your children together or separate them, from year to year.

Educational Concerns to be placed in writing and forwarded to Principal

If you do have a genuine ‘educational concern’ for your child, this needs to be placed in writing/email and forwarded to the Principal.

If this is the case, please complete this by next Friday 11 November.

Please note that any correspondence with classroom teachers will not be considered, all requests do need to be made in writing and sent to the Principal by the above date.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE - As a school, we do not act on parent requests for specific teachers. Thanks for your support and understanding.

Kiss and Drop (Before and After School)

A reminder that students are not allowed to play on the Junior Playground equipment before or after school while Kiss and Drop is operating. We ask that all students and parents who are waiting for Basketball training to commence on the Basketball Court, to please wait on the Senior Playground until Kiss and Drop has finished.

Front Staff Car Park

As previously communicated we have been advised by the Parish that there will be ongoing works with the Church extending into this term. For this reason the staff carpark gates need to remain open.

As it is a staff carpark and more importantly for safety reasons we ask that you do not park in there at anytime or drive in to drop off/pick up your child. Our students safety is our primary concern and as they use this area as a walkway, the least amount of cars in this area the better.

Glenferrie Road - Kiss and Drop Gates

It has been brought to our attention that there is often a car parked over the driveway on Glenferrie Road (before the gates open for Kiss and Drop), which in turn is blocking the footpath access for the public. As a result, pedestrians are unable to access the footpath and have been walking on to the road, behind the car. I am sure everyone can appreciate that this is both highly dangerous and illegal.

If you are the first couple of cars at the Kiss and Drop gates, please do not park over the footpath. The footpath must remain clear for all pedestrians to access this space.

St John's Parade 2 Minute Pick up and Drop off area

A reminder that the St John's Parade '2 min Pick up and Drop off' area is a no parking zone. Please do not park in this area and leave your car. Please also do not block the coner of St John's Parade and Cotham Road. This area needs to be clear at all times, to ensure traffic flow can be maintained.

Tuckshop

For Child Safety and OH&S compliance, children of parents assisting in the tuckshop are not allowed to enter the kitchen area. These children must line up at the window too. Thanks for your support with this.

Communication at Sacred Heart Kew

Your child(s) classroom teacher is always the FIRST port of call

From time to time, you may have information regarding your child that may be relevant to your child(s) classroom teacher. Or you may have a question or query, related to the classroom or another aspect of school life. In these instances, your child(s) classroom teacher is always the FIRST port of call.

Please ensure that all matters are communicated to your child(s) classroom teacher, through the admin@shkew.catholic.edu.au email address (as per our communication policy at Sacred Heart Kew - please do not directly email staff members).

Parents are also reminded that any emails received outside of school hours and on the weekend, will not be replied to or followed up until the following school day. We thank you for your understanding with this matter.

Before and After School Arrangements - Parent/Teacher Communication

Staff members are more than happy to discuss your child’s progress or other issues as they arise, but we ask that this is done by appointment. Classrooms are busy places, particularly around arrival and dismissal times with daily organisational duties required for teachers and children alike.

It is not appropriate to conduct private or sensitive conversations on the playground or in the morning before school as teachers cannot adequately respond to queries or engage in ‘a quick chat’ when they are supervising students or preparing classrooms for the upcoming day.

As above, an email to the office admin@shkew.catholic.edu.au or a note in the pouch requesting an interview or phone chat will always be followed up.

School Absences

If your child(ren) are absent please notify the school office or send notification through Skoolbag app. Please do so before 8.45am.

Student Supervision

Children are not to arrive at school before 8.30am. Teachers begin outside duty supervision at this time. If children arrive before this time they need to attend Before School Care.

Children arriving late to school and being picked up early from school

Children who arrive late to school in the morning are required to be signed in to the school office by an adult. Please do not take your child to the classroom or let them go unattended off to class.

Similiarly, if children are to be picked up early or if something has to be dropped off to them, parents are asked to please come to the school office first.

If children are not at school by 9.30am (and no notification has been sent by parents), a follow up phone call will be made to parents, regarding the whereabouts of absent children.

Punctuality is so very important in all our lives, none more so than in our children. Please aim to have your children here at school before the bell rings each day at 8.45am.

Miss Peppercorn Lunch Orders (each Friday)

Please read the document below that explains how to order school lunch orders (each Friday) through our supplier Miss Peppercorn. There is also a menu list attached.

Reflection

Wednesday 2 November