12 October 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome back to all students and parents for Term 4! I hope everyone had an enjoyable break and are ready for a busy term ahead full of learning, Prep Transition days, a school musical, Parent Teacher Interviews, a building opening, swimming lessons, health and wellbeing activities, graduation, carols and much more. I am looking forward to seeing our students continuing to thrive as they participate in the various opportunities provided to them throughout the term.

Habits of the Mind and Heart

We continue to consolidate our understanding and ability to implement the Habits of Heart and Mind into each lesson and everyday interactions. This is important to us as it plays a huge part in the process of developing expert learners. To support this, we have been engaging in impact cycles which involves setting goals and completing actions in a set time frame. Our current objectives for Ignite Learning include:

1. Teachers can write, share and assess using effective learning intentions and success criteria.
2. Learners can talk about what they are learning and how they are going in their learning? They can discuss what Habit of the Mind they are using in their learning.
3. Students and teachers can name and describe the Habits of the Heart and Habits of the Mind.

To assist with objective three, we have implemented two new strategies. One is a weekly student briefing which takes place each Monday morning in the eating area. During this time, staff discuss with students the focus Habits for the week and what this looks like, sounds like and feels like.

The second strategy includes a school-wide Habits of the Heart and Mind ticket system. Students are able to earn tickets by practicing or exhibiting our school Habits. These tickets go into a mega draw which will be drawn out on assembly every second Friday. We hope that by explicitly identifying the particular behaviour or ‘habit’ they have displayed helps consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the skill.

To provide parents and community members with some more information about our Habits of the Heart and Mind I have attached our Core Values booklet which explores each Habit in detail.

Building Opening

I am excited to announce that on Tuesday 2nd November at 9am, we will finally get the chance to officially open our new school library, amenities and under covered area. The building will be blessed by Bishop Robert McGuckin and opened by Hon David Littleproud. There will be many special guests attending the event as well as a special performance from our students. All school parents, parish and community members are welcome to attend.

PPF Meeting

Out next Parent Partnership Forum meeting will be held tonight, Tuesday 12th October at 5pm. I encourage all parents to attend to hear important messages for the term and contribute to decisions that impact our school.

Have a fantastic week.

Miss Polly Crawford
Principal

Prep/1 News

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope everyone had a relaxing and refreshing break. We hit the ground running in Prep/1 and got straight back into our learning! On the first day we wrote some sentences about what we did on the holidays. These are now on display in our classroom so please come have a look! We are very proud of our hard work. In Maths, we have started learning about how things can be heavy and light. We practiced weighting objects and discussed with our peers which is heavier and lighter. In Health, we revisited our Zones of Regulation and flipped through some magazines to try and find faces showing different emotions. It was lots of fun!

We are super excited for the upcoming extravaganza this week and cannot wait to show off our awesome dancing skills!

Have a great week!

Miss Bretherton
Prep/1 Teacher

Year 1/2 News

We’ve had a good beginning to the last nine weeks of the school year, with one behind us already but we have plenty to teach and the children much to learn and consolidate. I am beginning to find that the school years fly by faster with each passing one.

In English we’ve been exploring contractions, Maths has seen us revise previous term’s content and science, one of the favourite units entitled ‘All Mixed Up’, has been introduced. Some of the children wouldn’t agree though, with the Dinosaur unit being a red hot favourite in term 3. Even the ones who originally looked downcast at the mention of the topic in week one, fully embraced it at term’s end. Must say, I learnt a thing or two myself about our prehistoric animals, particularly when we compared their features to present day fauna. HPE for the next couple of months explores relationships and how our bodies grow and change.

All in all, an action packed nine weeks, so rest up!

Mrs Shellshear
Year 1/2 Teacher

Year 3/4 News

Welcome to Term 4! I hope you all had a relaxing and refreshing time away and are ready to begin the final term for 2021.

This term has started off on a busy note with the Year 3-4 students attending the “Get Ready” morning held by the Paroo Shire Council at Cunnamulla State School on the 11th of October. The students engaged in a variety of activities that helped them “get ready” for natural disasters and how to cope if something does happen. After the activities, students linked into Milton State School in Brisbane where Johnathon Thurston made an appearance and spoke to the students about emergency services, getting prepared and how we can do our part. Thank you to the council for organising this event.

The students have also begun looking at Poetry in English. We have explored Onomatopoeia, with the students creating their own posters with an onomatopoeia word of their choosing and explained how this language feature makes poetry more interesting/fun.

Miss Charlton
Year 3/4 Teacher

Year 5/6 News

Welcome back students and families to the last term of the year. Last week we left the Year 5 students behind and journeyed to the Sunshine Coast. Students were involved in many activities, including – rock climbing, canoeing, surfing, mid ropes, and an obstacle course that had a giant mud pit. The activities were extremely fun but often challenging too, causing the Year 6 students to take risk and believe in themselves. The Year 6 students also had the best time exploring Australia Zoo and Sea Life – the playful otters and clumsy giraffes were a favourite amongst many. We would like to thank Stephen Anderson and Paul McCarthy again for accompanying the camp and getting involved.

We have a jampacked term and a lot of learning to be done. In English, students will be examining a range of poems and will explore poet’s thoughts and feelings. In mathematics, students will investigate chance and represent probability. They will also collect, record and represent data using different displays. In science, students will be exploring light sources and how light sources form shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted.

Miss Daly
Year 5/6 Teacher

Class and Uniform Awards

This fortnight’s focus:

Habit of the Heart: Belonging
Habit of the Mind: Communication

Happy Birthday

Prep Transition Days

Sacred Heart Primary School will be hosting three Prep Transition days this term. The purpose of these days is for new students to build relationships with staff and students and to become familiar and comfortable in the Sacred Heart school environment. We encourage all students who are enrolled to start Prep in 2022 to attend as well as those families who are still yet to decide where to enrol their child. The school leadership team are available to provide a school tour, discuss what Sacred Heart can offer your child and answer any of your questions.

Transition Dates & Times

• Day 1: Wednesday 13th October 8:30am-10:30am. Students will need to bring a hat and water bottle. Parents are welcome to stay and meet our school Inclusive Education Coach, Eileen Moyle and School Occupational Therapist, Rachel Crooke while students participate in activities.
• Day 2: Wednesday 27th October 8:30am-11am. Students will need to bring a hat, water bottle and packed morning tea.
• Day 3: Wednesday 17th November 8:30am-12pm. Students will need to bring a hat, water bottle and packed morning tea.

The process for drop off and pick up

• Parents are to bring students to the office on arrival and sign them in. This means that the students will be in the duty of care of Sacred Heart School. Parents are not required to stay with their child during these sessions. If your child is not already enrolled to begin in 2022, we will require emergency contact details and medical information to keep at the office.
• Students will spend these sessions with Miss Aimee Bretherton (Prep/1 Teacher 2022), Miss Crawford, Mrs Haig and our current Prep students.
• Parents are to pick up students at the set times and sign them out.

For more information please contact the school office on 4655 1486.

Sacred Heart Extravaganza!

Get excited for our School Extravaganza – The Wizard of Aus!! The performance will take place this Friday 15th October at 6pm. All students have a role and need to be in attendance for the grand event.

Costumes

• Prep/Year 1 students: need to wear black pants or tights and their black school shoes. We have purchased the shirt they need to wear for one of their dances and will keep them at school. They also need a flannelette shirt or something similar (scarecrow like).
• Year 1/Year 2 students: need to wear black pants or tights and their black school shoes. We have purchased the shirt they need to wear and will keep them at school.
• Year 3/4 and Year 5/6: need to dress “Ocher” e.g. boardshorts and singlet or flannelette shirt and denim shorts, thongs, cork hats etc.
• Charlotte R, Macey M, Jesse F, Justin M, Ava A, Max M, Brooke R: have their costumes already at school.

All students who are required to bring a costume from home need to bring it to school on Wednesday 13th October in a labelled plastic bag for dress rehearsal. It will be left at school for them to change into on Friday evening when they arrive before the performance.

Arrival times on the Evening of 15th October

To ensure that students have enough time to get dressed into costume and have their face painted if required please see arrival times for you child below.

• 4:30pm – Charlotte R, Macey M, Jesse F, Justin M, Ava A, Max M, Brooke R
• 5:15pm – Year 1/2 Students
• 5:30pm – Prep/1, Year 3/4 and Year 5/6
• 6pm – Start time

After the production there will be a Bar and BBQ food for purchase and music. The Parish will also have a sweet stall. Please contact the school office if you have any questions.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent/Teacher interviews are taking place in Week 3 (next week) after school from Monday 18th to Friday 22nd October. Interviews run for approximately 15 minutes. They are a valuable opportunity for parents to discuss their child/children’s progress across all aspects of school life. I encourage every parent to make an appointment. Please see or phone Mrs Crick to book an interview time.

Health & Wellbeing Week

In Week Four (25th – 29th October) students will be participating in Health and Wellbeing week. As part of this students will be presented lessons on Personal development, Sexuality Education and Protective behaviours for children. These lessons are a part of the Daniel Morcombe Curriculum that students are participating in this term. These lessons align with the ACARA subject Health and Physical Education strand Personal, Social and Community Health and follow the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Toowoomba, Guidelines for Teaching Sexual Health.

Please be assured that this material will be handled with sensitivity, and that there will be an emphasis on the idea that our bodies are a gift from God. The purpose of this note is to inform you of this part of your child’s education and to prepare you for the possibility of questions being asked at home.

As your child’s primary caregiver, you are welcome to seek further information about the curriculum documents or to view any materials which will be shown to your child. Simply see your child’s teacher to make an appointment.

If you give consent for your child to participate in these lessons, please sign the permission slip that is attached to the newsletter and hand into your child’s classroom teacher. If you wish for your child/children not to participate in these lessons, please contact their classroom teacher.

Homework Centre

Homework centre is up and running again for the term and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-3:45pm. It is a great way for students to receive support with their homework tasks. Miss Devey will be supervising the students.

Swimming Days

Class swimming days will be as follows for Term 4:

Thursdays: Year 2 – 12.15pm – 12.45pm and Prep/1 – 2.15pm – 2.45pm
Fridays: Year 3/4 – 12.15pm – 12.45pm and Year 5/6 – 2.15pm – 2.45pm

Students will need to bring: Togs, sun smart shirt, towel, thongs, goggles and $1 every week.

Sacred Heart Snack Shack

Are you fed up packing lunches each morning? Well, we have the solution for you!

The Sacred Heart Parish are selling lunch packs for the Sacred Heart students on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Term 4. The lunch pack includes enough food for both morning tea and lunch (sandwich, fruit, yoghurt, biscuits and home baked cooking e.g. cake) for $5.

If you wish to place an order, please pick up a form from the school office. Forms need submitted to the office the Friday before the week you have ordered lunch. If parents wish to set up a regular order this can be arranged as well.

We thank Fr Shane and the Parish community for their support.

Prep Enrolments 2022

We are calling for Prep enrolments for 2022. If your child is born between 1st July 2016 and 30th June 2017, they are eligible to be enrolled in Prep for 2022. Prep Enrolment packages are available at the front office or at the Kindy. Prep interviews will be conducted over the next month. Please contact the office to pick up an enrolment pack and to make an enrolment interview.

PPF News

Tuckshop

We are in desperate need of helpers for Tuckshop as well as a Tuckshop Convenor, so if you are interested, please contact the school office. Our ability to continue providing tuckshop as a service will depend on whether these positions can be filled.

Sipahh Straw Fundraiser

The PPF are selling Sipahh straws at the school office. What are Sipahh straws? They are flavoured straws you use to drink milk! Flavours to choose from include chocolate, choc-mint, vanilla, caramel and strawberry. They have no preservatives, artificial colours or flavours and contain less than ½ teaspoon of sugar. A perfect after school treat!

Prices:

1 straw = $2
Pack 10 = $15

Year 4/5 Sport Camp

In the final week of last term, our Year 4/5 students travelled to Thargomindah to participate in a range of team sports along with 7 other schools from our area. It was an action-packed week but lots of fun and learning happened as well as opportunity to interact with other students and coaches. Sports enjoyed included tennis, rugby league, orienteering, soccer, traditional Indigenous games and much more. I sincerely thank Geoff Rynne for driving the bus and running the activities as well as Mrs Fett for all you help during the week.

2021 Sports Camp Thargomindah

COVID-19

At Sacred Heart, we continue to be vigilant with cleaning and hygiene protocols within our school community.

The staff continue to ask children to:

• wash their hands regularly with soap and water, particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet;
• use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap is unavailable;
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow;
• dispose of used tissues in the bin immediately;
• apply social distancing as far as possible at school.

We ask parents to ensure they do the following if their child develops flu like symptoms:

• keep the child at home and seek advice about undergoing COVID testing
• contact your doctor or contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately
• call ahead to the medical centre or doctor’s surgery, advising of your child’s symptoms

Student Protection

At Sacred Heart the safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority. All children should grow up free of violence or exploitation and be able to learn in a safe and supported environment. Schools have several specific child protection reporting obligations that are detailed in our Student Protection Processes and Guidelines.

If a student wants to talk to someone about harm, abuse or inappropriate behaviour toward themselves or others, they can speak to a trusted staff member or one of our School Student Protection Contacts (SSPCs). The SSPCs receive additional training and are identified in the student protection posters displayed around the school.

Summary documents have been developed for parents and caregivers about our student protection obligations and our broader strategy for maintaining safe school environments.

Further information on all of the above topics can be found on the Toowoomba Catholic Schools website at the link below:

Our Schools Student Protection Contacts are:

Mrs Cara Haig (Deputy / LST)
Mrs Carolyn Crick (Administration Officer)
Mrs Karen Bruggemann (School Guidance Counsellor)
Miss Polly Crawford (Principal)

School Tuition Fees

At Sacred Heart, we have several payment options for your convenience: Cash, Cheque, ETPOS, Direct Debit and Centrepay. For further details on these payment options please see the school office.

Direct Deposit Details

Church Times

Sunday 17th October – Eucharistic Service @ 9.00am - Cunnamulla
Sunday 24th October – Mass @ 9am - Cunnamulla
Sunday 31st October – Eucharistic Service @ 9.00am - Cunnamulla
Saturday 7th November – Mass @ 9am – Cunnamulla
Saturday 13th November - Mass @ 9am – Cunnamulla
Sunday 14th November - Mass @ 9am - Eulo

Community News

Term 4 Important Dates