Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
This will be our final newsletter for 2022. One of the trickier years of my time at Sacred Heart as we emerged from the pandemic and endeavoured to “live with” Covid-19. As it has in all workplaces, keeping our staff healthy and present at work was a never ending challenge this year and I take this opportunity to acknowledge our amazing Deputy Principal, Jane Daffy who has performed the most amazing juggling act to source emergency staff and swing them into whatever positions we needed them in. This was done almost daily for 200 days.
As always, thank you to our parents and carers who continue to be understanding and supportive of our school while we have endeavoured to provide these children with the best possible education despite the hurdles and limitations that the pandemic has continued to cause.
Thank you to our wonderful staff as well whose flexibility, professionalism and dedication has been tested over these last three years. A big part of my job, particularly at this time of the year is saving this staff from themselves as they continue to volunteer and endeavour to offer opportunities to the kids despite the toll this can start to take on them.
Finally thanks to our wonderful students. These students have had to put up with more disruptions and changes to their education than any previous generation in memory. But they keep turning up, taking care of each other and doing their best in all endeavours. I am very proud of them all.
FAREWELL This year we are bidding farewell to a number of our staff as they pursue other opportunities. We will be publicly doing so and making some presentations at our final assembly and liturgy this Friday from 9:00am in the Multipurpose Room. Parents and carers are welcome to attend.
For the record though:
Mrs Kerry Eldridge is retiring after she began working at Sacred Heart in 1988, she had breaks in service to have children (including one of our younger teachers) before returning full time in 2016 and has brought with her a great deal of common sense and a fantastic sense of humour and fun.
Mr Aaron Walters began his teaching career with Sacred Heart in 2021, after doing all his primary schooling here. Aaron has made a great impression on us all and is destined for leadership in education if education is lucky. We wish Aaron well as he moves to St Patrick’s, Geelong West.
Ms Lizzie Mac(Laughlin) has been teaching at Sacred Heart since 2019 after saving us time and again, in the preceding years, as a very reliable and popular Emergency Teacher. Thank you for everything Lizzie.
Ms Kayla Morgan has worked at Sacred Heart since 2016 as our Music teacher. Kayla has such a gift to share with children and I know many of our students have formed very special bonds with Ms Morgan during her work at our school. Kayla is continuing her study but will be continuing to teach at Colac Secondary College part time and we wish her all the very best for her future.
Ms Maddison Searle joined our staff in 2019 as a newly graduated teacher. Maddie has endeared herself to children, staff and parents during her four years with us but now London is calling her and we wish her “Bon Voyage” as she begins an overseas adventure teaching in London next year.
Mrs Lucy Moynihan and Mrs Amanda Delorenzo are both heading off on Maternity Leave and we wish them both all the very best at this special time and look forward to both of these excellent young teachers returning to our school when their family commitments permit.
Mr Cooper Mackay and Ms Emily Wallace are also both leaving our team of amazing Learning Support Officers to pursue new career and study opportunities. We thank them both for their dedication, fun and energy and wish both of these outstanding young people the very best for the future.
KRIS KINDLE At Sunday’s Mass Fr Michael lit the third of the four candles on the Advent Wreath, the JOY candle. How can I spread joy amongst my family and my community this week?
Classrooms will be celebrating the climax of the Kris Kindle program this week. Please ensure your child/ren has brought along their special gift if they haven’t already.
PAM (Parent Access Module) Please refer to page two of the newsletter for important information in regards to your PAM account.
END OF YEAR REPORTS The children’s end of year reports will be available for parents to read via PAM from Friday December 16th. This is the last day of classes for 2022. Our staff will be here on Monday December 19th upgrading their First Aid qualifications and on Tuesday December 20th packing up, cleaning up and preparing for 2023.
BEGINNING 2023 Some early notice, 2023 will begin for our teachers on Friday January 27th with training and preparation.
Classes for the children will resume on Monday, January 30th.
LUNCH ORDERS Unfortunately again our Lunch Order providers cannot access Dim Sims for this coming Friday 16 December.
SCHOOL HATS Could all school hats please be taken home on the last day of school, Friday 16 December and returned washed, labelled and ready to go for the start of next year?