Dear Parents,

As we come to the end of another incredible term, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. This term has been filled with amazing achievements, memorable moments, and significant growth, all made possible by the unwavering support and dedication of our entire school community.

To our dedicated teachers and staff, thank you for your tireless efforts, your passion for education, and your commitment to nurturing and inspiring our students every day. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for everything you do.

To everyone who contributes to making our school a better place, whether through volunteering, participating in events, or simply spreading positivity, your contributions are invaluable and greatly appreciated.

As we look forward to a well-deserved break, let’s take pride in all we have accomplished together. I wish you all a restful, joyful, and safe holiday, and I eagerly anticipate the exciting opportunities that await us next term.

BEHAVIOUR FOCUS 
At Sacred Heart, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment where every child feels valued and can thrive. Our school values of Faith, Generosity and Courage as well as our expectations of BEING RESPECTFUL, BEING RESPONSIBLE and BEING KIND, guide everything we do, and we continually work to ensure these are lived out in our classrooms and playgrounds.

Recently, we've observed an increase in behaviours that go against these core values and expectations, specifically name-calling, making unkind comments about another child or their  appearance, and labeling students as "tell-tales" or “snitches” for reporting concerning behaviour. These actions are unacceptable and cause significant hurt and discomfort. Furthermore, it is never okay to make someone feel bad for speaking up when they or another student needs help or support. We encourage all students to report any behaviour that makes them or others feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or unhappy to a trusted adult. Speaking up is a brave and responsible action that helps us keep our school a safe place for everyone.

We ask for your partnership in reinforcing these messages at home. Please talk with your children about the importance of using kind words, celebrating differences, and being an Upstander rather than a Bystander when they witness unkindness. Together, we can ensure that Sacred Heart remains a place where every child feels they truly belong, are respected, and can shine.

BATHURST
Year 5 had an amazing time in Bathurst for their very first sleepover camp. I was privileged to be able to attend and I loved observing our students interact and collaborate on a range of activities. I especially want to acknowledge and thank our dedicated staff who always strive to provide the best possible experiences for our students. Thank you, Mrs Watson, Mr Harton, Mrs Loughland, Miss Monckton and Mrs Jago.

May God bless all our families.

Leanne Meehan
EXECUTIVE  PRINCIPAL

As we come to the end of term, I would like to wish the students a relaxing break and a time to refresh and energise ready for Term 3.  For parents, I hope you also have a break, or at least a change from usual routines. For our teachers the mid term break is when they plan teaching and learning for the term ahead and I hope they also have time to spend with their family and friends.  Students return to school for Term 3 on Tuesday 22 July.

Reports
Reports on Student Academic achievement will be open to parents on Compass, this Friday afternoon.  Just a reminder that Sydney Catholic Schools have adjusted requirements for reports so that they are standardised across all 147 schools.  Teachers will give levels of achievement and effort for each of the curriculum areas along with a comment at the end of reports.

When you read your child’s report, please be mindful that the report is based on the learning for the year so far - a snapshot in time.  Teachers select an achievement grade based on a variety of learning and assessment tasks over the semester.  This might include samples of work, formal and informal testing and anecdotal records of achievements.  It is best to focus on how your child is achieving at this point in time rather than comparing to previous years as students may have changed stages or are at a different point of learning within the stage.  When looking at grades please carefully consider the achievement level descriptors associated with the report.  For Kindergarten students, achievement is allocated according to three levels - Basic, Sound and Thorough.  For students in Years 1 - 6, achievement is based on a five point scale - Elementary, Basic, Sound, Thorough, Extensive.  The first page of the report has an Explanatory guide which describes each level.

We recommend that you print a copy for your child’s report, particularly if your child is in Year 6, as you lose access to Compass if not continuing to a Sydney Catholic School High School. 

Parent Teacher Conferences
We are holding our Semester 1 Parent Teacher Conferences next week. This is an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s Academic Report and progress this year. Each teacher has been allocated set times to conduct their conferences. The conference is face to face, held at school, however if you prefer Zoom, please email your child’s teacher to let them know and they will send a Zoom link before the conference.  The conference should take no more than ten minutes.

If you haven't already, please book a time via Compass.  As you can imagine, teachers spend many hours writing reports and whilst the conference is not compulsory, we ask that if you do intend to participate, that you choose one of the times that your child’s teacher

Staff Development Day Reminder
Students will finish this term on Thursday 3 July and return to school Tuesday 22 July.  SCECS will be open for these days.  Our staff have two Staff Development Days, one organised by SCS Network and is the second in a series around Curriculum, Writing or Mathematics and the other is a combined Spirituality day with staff from Blessed Sacrament.  Thank you to Miss Jackson for her preparation for this day. 

Making the Most of Academic Reports: A Positive Path to Growth!
Academic reports are coming home soon, and we know the whole family is always eager to share in their learning achievements. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate progress and identify areas for growth together. This week I would like to share some ways to make the conversation positive and constructive, which can also lead to creating meaningful "homework goals" for the coming term - an idea shared with me recently from a parent! So I have expanded on this great idea to share with you all!

Sharing the Report: A Positive Approach
When you sit down with your child, remember your goal is to encourage and empower them!

• Choose the Right Time and Place: Find a quiet moment when you're both relaxed and have ample time. Avoid rushing or discussing it just before bedtime.
• Start with Strengths! Begin by highlighting the positive comments and subjects where your child has excelled. This builds their confidence and makes them more receptive to feedback. "Wow, you've really shone in…. Your teacher mentioned…"
• Focus on Progress, Not Just Grades: Emphasise effort and improvement, not just the grade. Acknowledge the written word.
• Encourage Self-Reflection: Ask open-ended questions. "What are you most proud of in this report?" or "Is there anything you would like to share about your learning?" Listen actively to their responses.
• Frame Challenges as Opportunities: When discussing areas for improvement, use positive language. "How can we work together to strengthen your maths skills?"
• Avoid Comparisons: Every child is unique. Comparing your child to siblings or classmates can be demotivating and counterproductive.

Using Reports to Set "Homework Goals"
Feedback in a report is like a roadmap for future learning, and some parents have shared with me that they like to use it to set clear, achievable homework goals! Here are some ideas:

• Collaborate on Goals: Involve your child in setting homework goals. This gives them ownership and increases their commitment.
• Be Specific and Achievable:
  • Instead of: "You need to read more." Try: "Let's aim to read for 15 minutes every night before bed, and you can choose the book!"
  • Instead of: "Improve your maths." Try: "We'll work on practicing our multiplication tables for 10 minutes, three times a week, using flashcards."
• Focus on One or Two Key Areas: Don't overwhelm your child with too many goals at once. Pick one or two areas from the report where a focused effort will make the biggest difference.
• Brainstorm Strategies Together: Once a goal is identified, work with your child to figure out how they'll achieve it. If organisation is an issue, maybe it's creating a dedicated study space or using a planner.
• Regular Check-Ins and Celebrations: Acknowledge their efforts and celebrate small victories along the way. This reinforces positive habits and keeps them motivated.

By reading reports as a family and approaching them with a positive mindset, you can empower your child to take ownership of their learning and feel more supported. Being open and creating invaluable discussion around their academic report fosters a love for learning and shows them that with effort and your support at home, they can achieve great things!

Kind regards,

Nerissa McCartney
Teaching and Learning

Wellbeing Groups – Grow Your Mind
Wellbeing groups have continued to run weekly throughout this term, exploring key themes from the Grow Your Mind program. These groups run alongside whole class Health lessons delivered by classroom teachers, helping to reinforce and deepen students’ understanding of positive health and wellbeing.

Two key themes we have explored recently include:

Boundaries and Personal Space Bubbles
Using the concept of a “personal space bubble,” students discussed the idea that everyone has their own boundaries. We talked about how these “bubbles” can be different sizes depending on our relationship with someone, and the importance of asking for permission before entering another person’s space.

Healthy Friendships
We also explored what it means to be a good friend. Through interactive discussions, students reflected on kindness, respect, listening, sharing, and celebrating others.

These lessons help students build empathy, confidence, and respectful relationships, essential foundations for wellbeing and learning.

You might like to continue the conversation at home by discussing these themes with your children.

Positive Behaviours for Learning - REWARD TOKENS
As part of our PBL reward system, students receive tokens for demonstrating positive behaviours. We will be conducting a token audit at the end of this term to count our stock. If your child has any tokens at home, please remind them to return them to school as soon as possible. Tokens are used to vote for the whole-school reward and should be placed in the designated ballot boxes. They are not to be taken home. Thank you for your support with this.

Have a wonderful winter holiday break!

Students will be provided with special picnic snacks to enjoy after eating their lunch including- a fun size packet of original (plain) smiths crisps, 2 x natural confectionary snakes and a lemonade ice block.

Sacred Heart Feast Day Jubilee celebration
This Friday we will have a special guest from Sydney Catholic Schools to help celebrate our feast day. Singer and songwriter John Burland, along with his team, will lead us in a Jubilee celebration of faith held in the school hall. The first session is for Years Three to Five classes commencing at 11:30am. The second session is for Kinder to Year Two classes commencing at 12:20pm. Parents are warmly invited to attend.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Hamper Drive
A sincere thank you for your generosity in supporting the St Vincent de Paul Winter Hamper Appeal for 2025. A big thank you to Mrs Luscombe, Mrs Macri and the Year Six Pope Francis Award students for assembling the hampers. Hampers will be presented to the St Vincent de Paul Society this coming Friday at our Feast Day Mass. Thank you for showing your generosity and kindness to those in our community who are in need of support this Winter.

Kindergarten and Year Six Buddy Mass this Sunday, 29th June 9am
We warmly welcome Kinder & Year Six families to join for the 9am Family Mass this Sunday, 29th of June at Sacred Heart Church, followed by morning tea in the Parish courtyard. We ask that our Kinder families please bring a small plate to contribute to the morning tea after Mass.

Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 2! Oh wow, how much this term has flown. We have now almost reached the halfway point of the schooling year. As it is the end of the term, the sporting sector is finally slowing down.

As mentioned in last week's newsletter, Conrad Barbour will be representing Sacred Heart this week at the MacKillop Selections Trial for Rugby Union. He will be in Forbes on Monday 30th of June, fighting for a spot on the MacKillop team. If successful, he will progress into the NSWPSSA trials.

On this note, we had two students represent Sacred Heart at the MacKillop Cross Country Championships a couple of weeks ago. I would like to take the time to congratulate Gisele Camus for progressing into the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships and for making the MacKillop team. She will further represent us on Wednesday the 23rd of July at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. She came 5^th to qualify within the top 6 to book her place at state to represent McKillop.  We wish both Gisele and Conrad the best of luck in their upcoming sporting trials.

I look forward to seeing you all in Term 3. I hope you all have a restful and well deserved break in these upcoming school holidays. I cannot wait to announce all of our student’s achievements next term!

Miss Austrie Calizar

Sports Co-ordinator

A note from SCS:

Sydney Catholic Schools -Term 2 Holiday Camps Closing Soon

This is a reminder that the closing date for the nominations and registrations for the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Term 2 Holiday camps  is fast approaching.

 All programs are open to both boys and girls

Introducing:  

• Buddy basketball:
  • This holiday tournament is for students who want to make a team of friends from any SCS school and participate in a great day of basketball
• Pickleball
  • Pickleball is a paddle and ball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played on a smaller court with a net.

Registrations for Buddy Basketball close on Friday 27 June,

All other camps close Wednesday 25 June.

For detailed information and to register, visit the following link:  https://bit.ly/SCSHolidayCamps

Best regards,

SCS Sports Team

Arrowsmith student testimonials

Arrowsmith can have a transformational impact, not just on many aspects of learning but on life, as you can see from our graduating students’ reflections.

Dear Parents and Carers,

The Australian state and federal governments provide significant financial support for the education of students in our school system based on data we provide through the Census. These census collections also provide valuable information used to plan for the future educational needs of our schools in terms of the administration of programs and provisions of resources. 

The 2025 Non-Government School Census will take place on 1st August 2025. Please see links and attachments below in regards to collection of data and privacy notice

2025_Non_government_schools_census_privacy_collection_notice_1_.pdf

FRM_StandardCollectionNotice_V2_20240603_4_.pdf