As we start the term, I pray that your child had a relaxing holiday and has returned refreshed and ready for new learning.  

In 2019, Sacred Heart school participated in the Sydney Catholic Schools ‘School-Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning (SPBL)’ program which involved students, teachers and parents looking at values and consistency across the school.  From this process, PAWS was developed as our whole school's behavioural expectations.  You will notice PAWS posters around the school.  Ms Blake is leading our PAWS initiative this year as part of her role as our wellbeing coordinator.  To start the year, there has been a different focus of PAWS highlighted each week to remind students of the overall expectations.  This term, we are focussing more specifically on the "P" component of PAWS - We participate - Be kind, Listen and Be respectful.  

An example of this focus can be seen at our morning assembly and greeting, when the students say, “Good morning and may God’s peace be with you”.  Miss Meehan and I, along with your child’s teacher, have been reflecting on what this means and reminding the students that God’s peace relies on each person to participate and do the right thing. Students are encouraged to speak kindly, to listen to the teacher and each other and are reminded to be respectful in their words and actions including keeping their hands to themselves.  We will focus on other components of PAWS throughout the year. 

Anzac Day

Yesterday, some of our families attended the ‘Returned and Services League of Australia Mosman Sub-Branch’ ANZAC Day Dawn Service, to remember and honour those who have served our country.  Thank you to our school captains, Ivy and Alex, for laying a wreath on behalf of our school and to their families for attending the service.  A special mention also to Flynn Malcom who proudly listened to his father Jamie read the Dedication from Kemal Ataturk, the commander of the Turkish Forces at Gallipoli.  

At school, we continue the ANZAC tradition with a special prayer on Friday, enabling students to commemorate the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and remember all those who have fought in war.  We remind students of the values of courage and mateship that are still relevant today.

Winter Uniform

Students can now start wearing their winter uniform, however given the warm weather, students may wear either their summer or winter uniform over the next two weeks.  All students should wear their full winter uniform starting Week 3, Monday 8th May.  

Dancefever 

An exciting evening was had by all on the last Wednesday of Term 1 when one hundred and four of our Year 3 - 6 students attended the Dancefever challenge.  Congratulations to all for their participation including our parents who won the parent competition for their amazing dance moves (now we know where our students get their talents!).  Many of our students won beautiful ribbons for their partner tango or jive dances.  A special mention to Iggy and Lexi in Year 4 who won and were awarded their ribbons at assembly the following day. 

Overall we were awarded two beautiful big trophies - one for winning the school showdance with the ‘Adam’s Family’ theme and one for Year 6 as the winners of the best Year 6 group across all of the schools participating. We will have these trophies engraved and proudly displayed in our foyer.  

Additionally, our K-2 students showcased their dancing at school by performing some of the moves they had learnt throughout the term.  Thank you to the many parents who were able to attend and experience the program by joining in with the final dance (just before the rain came).  You can see photos of both events on our Facebook page. 

Sports Carnival - 31 May 

Dancefever have now undergone a name change and rebranded to ZING Activ.  We have partnered with them for our Athletics Carnival this term to plan and organise the day with Miss Calizar.  We are intending to run the day with the usual running events as well as K-2 tabloid events and Years 3-6 events including shot put and discus.  Given feedback from teachers and students, we hope to make the day more fun for the students than it was last year, with more of the day spent ‘doing’ rather than ‘watching’.  

For us to run a carnival successfully, we seek parent support and assistance.  If you are planning to attend on the day, please get involved, especially as students will be ‘doing’ events across the whole oval throughout the day.  A note will be sent home soon outlining some of the assistance needed.  

Year 5 Camp - May 25 and 26

Year 5 camp is fast approaching and an initial information note will be sent home this week.  We are holding a zoom session for Year 5 parents, next Wednesday 10 May at 6:30 pm, to explain everything you might need to know about camp and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions.  Zoom Link  Password: 313924

Welcome Ms Morris

We welcome back Ms Liane Morris as 5 Blue’s teacher on Tuesday - Friday each week and know that the Year 5 students will welcome your return. Thank you to Mrs Anna Siokos, Mrs Stephanie Matchett and Mrs Marilina Watson for maintaining an excellent approach to teaching and learning across Year 5. 

Welcome Mrs Macri 

Welcome to Anna Macri who is our new Family Educator at Sacred Heart Mosman.  Anna hopes to meet you all over the next two weeks and then she is going on a Pilgrimage for four weeks to Portugal, Rome, Assisi, Croatia and Lourdes to see and experience some of the beautiful places where Our Lady visited as well as sites of importance for Saints of the Catholic Church.  Anna will be working five days per fortnight from Week 7 (odd weeks Monday - Wednesday and even weeks, Tuesday and Wednesday) and will have some wonderful initiatives to assist our parents and their connection with the faith. 

Reporting to Parents

As mentioned in our last newsletter, this term, teachers write a written report to parents of their child’s learning for Semester 1 covering both Term 1 and Term 2 learning.  

This report is distributed via Compass and uses the A–E grading scale for Years 1 - 6 to provide a common language for teachers to report student levels of achievement.  Kindergarten students also receive a written report with a grading system showing if they are working towards, achieving or beyond the expected levels. 

The reports will be available to parents on Friday 23 June via Compass. Parent face to face or zoom meetings are scheduled for Term 3 to discuss this report and if needed, parents may request an earlier meeting with their child’s teacher. 

Jane Taylor 

Assistant Principal