Principal News

Dear Sacred Heart Community

Our "Distance Education"  platform of learning, concludes this Friday for our students in Year Prep and Year One/Two. For these classes normal learning arrangements will recommence on Tuesday 26th May. As detailed in last week's newsletter, our Year Three to Six students will continue their "Distance Education" learning until normal classes recommence at school, on Tuesday 9th June. A reminder that next Monday 25th May is a pupil free day as mandated by our state government, and Monday 8th June is the Queen's Birthday public holiday.

Tomorrow all families will receive an email detailing the parent protocols that will need to be followed until the remainder of this term. Included in this email will be details of the changes that will need to be made within the normal school day, to keep everyone within our school community safe.

These protocols have been developed from the COVID 19 guidelines with regards to Health and Safety advice for Returning to Onsite Learning. These guidelines come from Catholic Education Melbourne, The Department of Health and the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

I ask that whilst I am presenting some of the main protocols, that all families familarise themselves with the more detailed list tomorrow, as we ensure we do everything to keep our Sacred Heart community safe.

• Parents/Guardians are asked not to enter the school yard of a morning at drop off time and of an evening at pick up time (next Tuesday this rule is relaxed as students are returning after a considerable break and may experience some anxiety)
• To alleviate congestion of an afternoon, our students in Year Prep and Year One/Two with older siblings, will be dismissed at 3.10pm. Our remaining students will be dismissed at 3.20pm
• If parents/guardians need to make contact with the school office, principal, uniform shop or their child's teacher, they are asked to contact the school to organise a meeting
• Students will need their own drink bottle as our school drinking fountains cannot be used

Winter Uniform/Uniform Shop

Due to the unusual beginning to the term, I recognise that some students may not have had the opportunity to purchase their winter uniform as yet. Dani will be in the uniform shop on Tuesday from 8.45 am. Please do not stress if your child's winter uniform is not ready for restarting school.

Thank You/Congratulations/Welcome

On behalf of our school community, I would like to thank and congratulate Maria and our new business manager Bernadette, on all their work these past four weeks preparing for our new management and finance platform ICON. Maria and Bernadette have worked tirelessly to ensure all our data is correct before the transfer to our new system. I would also like to welcome Bernadette to our staff. As part of ICON, schools have the option of employing a business manager which in consultation with Catholic Education Melbourne, I have decided for our school to do. Welcome Bernadette. 

School Crossing

After this considerable break from onsite learning, I ask all students and their parents and guardians, to remember the correct protocols for using our school crossing of an evening and morning. We want everyone to arrive and get home safely

Displayed below is some of our students who were working at school,  "Autumn Collages". As you can see, the students were asked to fossick in our school yard to find things they could put together to make an autumn scene. Following these scenes, are two letters from our parishioners expressing their gratitude for the letters they received from our students.

International Volunteer's Week/Educational Support Day

This week we acknowledge the contribution to our school of our Educational Support staff and our parents and guardians who act as volunteers in many capacities.

Firstly to Maria, Gerry, Francesca, Rose Lee, Amalie and Filomena thank you for your tireless work at Sacred Heart. To our parents and guardians who help in official roles such as the Parents and Friends Association and School Board, or in unofficial roles such as attending our dinner dance or acting as classroom helpers thank you for all you do.

Please stay safe.

Yours Sincerely

Mark Tierney

Principal