Message From Our 

Principal

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Last week Sacred Heart School was engaged in a school review required by the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) to ensure our registration as a school meets the many required standards. Although the Reviewer was unable to come on site at Sacred Heart, she was able to look at all our policies and practices and tour the school remotely.  Sacred Heart was compliant in all areas.  Thank you to Matt Cameron and Sally Dickinson for their work, and the staff and School Board who supported the Leadership Team in their preparation. 

At the School Board meeting last week, the ongoing growth of Tatura district and increased enrolment numbers at Sacred Heart School were discussed. We are still awaiting a decision on the Victorian Government Building Grant for our proposed Arts Centre but it was decided that a Master Plan, taking into consideration all the future needs of the school will lead us in a clear and exciting direction. Paul Maher, CEOS has been invited to an extraordinary September Board meeting to assist Board members to look at some short-term and long-term planning options and consider the future directions of the school. Some other points of discussion at the August meeting included Child Safety and ways Parent and Volunteer Inductions could be more manageable.

Staff and School Board will commence formulating a new Strategic Plan for 2021-2023 in the coming weeks with Educational Consultant, Julie Cobbledick. The new plan will take into consideration the future directions imagined by the School Board and the necessary provisions for future learning and teaching for the coming three years.  

A reminder that tomorrow and Friday are Pupil Free Days as teachers will spend time with students and their families on Video Conferences. As home and school contact has been quite challenging for us all during the 2020 school year, this is an important opportunity for students, their families and teacher to have good learning conversations to ensure everyone is feeling positive and well placed for the remainder of the school year. There will be no remote learning, onsite supervision or Out of School Hours Care on either of those days. I hope all families enjoy some well deserved time away from online learning over the next couple of days. 

SchoolTV has shared a special video of a presentation by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Riding the Corona Coaster. 

This video explores how the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next may impact students, families and staff in school communities and emphasises the importance of promoting help seeking behaviour and reducing stress levels at home. Dr Carr-Gregg provides tips for parents/carers on looking after their wellbeing during this challenging time. I encourage you to spend some time viewing this video. If you or a family member are struggling please consult a medical professional or call one of the Helplines listed on the link. If you need or know of anyone who may need extra support from us at school please do not hesitate to call me. It is important that we all take extra care of each other during these challenging times. 

All excursions for 2020, including the Term 4 swimming program are currently cancelled. An email has been sent to families regarding the rebated costs. Refer to the School News page for further information.

Matt Cameron and I have had a lovely few days getting to know our 2021 Foundation students via Google Meet.  It’s been a delight to chat with these happy, engaging four and five year olds and meet with their parents. Starting school is such an exciting time and I’m glad that under the present restrictions we have been able to meet with families and begin this important transition. 

I’d like to wish all our dads, stepdads, grandfathers and all the special men in the children’s lives a Happy Father's Day. We are sorry not to be sharing our usual Bloke’s Breakfast and lovely Father’s Day Mass this week, however I’m sure your children will go all out to make Sunday very special for you.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to watch over our school community and bless us always. 

Pauline Hindson

Principal

Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Board - Expressions of Interest