Deputy News 

Dear Sacred Heart families,

I hope you have all had a wonderful rest over the holidays and many families I've spoken to were able to get away over Easter or the Anzac Day long weekend to rest and recharge. I certainly had a lovely break away and we are all ready for a full term ahead. The students have come back rested and eager to learn and its been a pleasure seeing their smiling faces on the gate and around school this week. 

We farewelled our excited Yr 5/6 students to go on Camp to Rumbug on Monday morning and we look forward to hearing all about the adventures and fun they've had when they return to school today. We thank all the teachers for going on camp and a big thanks to all the staff for supporting us back at school. Thanks to  Heather McGrath and Liz Hyslop for stepping in to take Sophie Prosser's class while she was on camp. 1/2P have had  a lovely, settled week with them. 

As the leaves are changing on the trees so are the gentle changes in our school. 

The MSL approach is certainly making  a huge impact on our Junior students and I've witnessed first hand how incredible the classes have been at remembering their Sound Pack from las term. Two weeks break hasn't affected their memories or their learning of phonics. 

As we started this term the Prep-4 teachers have been extremely busy planning and assessing explicit phonics across the school so we are teaching to the points of need. We undertook an assessment of double and triple blends this week and this will directly affect our planning and teaching of Phonics. A massive thank you to Kate Stroud whohas been instrumental in getting  the MSL approach up and running in the Junior classes and as we all learn more, we are branching out further to assess the needs of the senior students to cater for their individual needs. A huge thank you must also go to our amazing Learning Support Officers, especially Louise Robertson and Anne Starke for learning the MSL approach and rolling that out with our 3-6 students at their points of need. We are thrilled that this Phonics based approach is streamlining our curriculum and meeting the needs across the school for coding and encoding (reading & writing).

On Wednesday morning we enjoyed our Easter Mass with Father David and celebrated Easter. The students were so reverend and respectful and it was a really lovely way for our students to understand the significance of the Resurrection and the celebration of the Easter period. 

On Wednesday afternoon the 1/2 students and I enjoyed an Autumn Walk around the block and we paid a quick visit to my house, collecting Autumn leaves from my garden. We met Skye my dog and Fergus my cat and my mum, Judy. What a lovely way to learn about Autumn and the deciduous trees. 

On Friday Morning we thank Mrs Collins for running  a beautiful and reflective Anzac Day assembly and we thank the very keen 3/4 students and SRC students who stepped in to help run the assembly while the 5/6 students were on camp. 

I'd also like to acknowledge and thank the 3/4 students for doing a remarkable job with the jobs around the school (sandpit, bins, boxes) in the absence of the 5/6 students. 

On Friday lunchtime we recognised International Dance day by Gemma Fahey running a Hip Hop dance class. An amazing dance teacher, we thank Mrs Fahey for  a fun end to the week. 

We look forward to some lovely Mother's Day celebrations next Friday the 6th May so a very warm welcome to all our mums. Please come along to our special assembly and morning tea next Friday at 9am.

Have  a lovely weekend and rest up campers,

Brigid Pennington

Deputy Principal , Learning Diversity & 

English Leader