Welcome back to school for 2024.  It was so wonderful to see our students' smiling faces on the first day and to see how excited they were to reconnect with their friends. Luckily the smiles have remained and our classrooms are buzzing with enthusiasm for learning.   

This year we have a new Mathematics and English Syllabus for Years 3 to 6, in line with the K-2 Syllabus introduced in 2023. Our teachers participated in professional learning last year and have been busy planning the curriculum to meet these requirements.  During 2024 we have a number of our Staff Development days dedicated to either English or Mathematics.  Mrs Nerissa McCartney will lead and work collaboratively with teachers in all aspects of teaching and learning across both our school and Blessed Sacrament. 

We continue to focus on our core values of ‘Faith, Generosity and Courage’.  Each week our student leaders will explain what our values ‘look, feel and sound’ like by offering practical ways for students to apply our values in their interactions with their friends and teachers.  We have high expectations around behaviour and ‘personal space’ for all our students with clear expectations of our ‘hands to yourself’ (and feet) rule. Mrs Amanda Macourt is working with teachers and students to introduce a wellbeing program across Sacred Heart and Blessed Sacrament. This program helps students to understand the brain and emotions and as the year progresses will include further aspects of wellbeing.  

A special thank you to our Year 6 leaders who have been very proactive in ensuring the Kindergarten students have a positive start to school life.  At our opening school Mass on Friday, our Year 6 students will receive their leadership badges.  

Cyber Safety

Yesterday was Safer Internet Day - a worldwide event that raises awareness about online safety and encourages individuals and the community to create a better internet for everyone. Mrs Petersen has organised an incursion for all students in Years 1-6 today, along with teacher professional learning and a parent session focussed on the importance of Cyber safety.  So far we have over seventy families registered to join us tonight.  If you haven’t registered, you can still attend - 6:00 pm in the hall. 

Zing Activ

We partner with Zing Activ to provide some of our sport activities.  This year we have Dance in Term 1,  Athletics in Term 2 and Gymnastics in Term 4.  As part of our partnership they offer us the option to join their Interschool Dance Challenge for Years 3-6.  Last year we had over 130 students participate.  All students in Years 3-6 and their families are invited to attend.

Dance Fever Challenge - Tuesday 9th April

Venue - Hordern Pavilion

Time - 6pm (doors will open earlier) finish approx. 8.15pm

We will share further details about the event when at hand.  Parents are required to transport their child to and from the venue.  Details around how and when to buy tickets will be communicated when we receive them. We will also share details about what to wear once the ‘show dance’ theme has been chosen.  Please add this date to your calendar and join in the excitement of the night.  

NAPLAN

Students in Year 3 and Year 5 participate in NAPLAN, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy between 13-25 March.  If your child is in Year 3 or Year 5, please install the 2023 NAPLAN Locked-down browser on their iPad.  Students also need their own headphones to complete the tests as some of the questions require students to listen and then respond.  Specific dates for the tests will be advised. 

You can find further information about NAPLAN on the following link: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers

Building works

You may notice some painting and updates happening around our school.  The hall is being painted and custom built cabinets will be installed in a few weeks.  Our foyer area is being refreshed with painting, wallpaper and consistent carpet and our staff toilets (original to the building) are being redone.  

Information Evenings - Next week

Our class Information evenings are an opportunity for all parents to meet their child’s teacher and to hear about the expectations and learning for the year.  Teachers will share their class curriculum newsletter prior to the evening so you can read through beforehand.  If you have any general questions about class routines or expectations, please ask the teacher during the information evening, which is held in your child’s classroom.  Should you have children in multiple classes and can’t attend one of the sessions, teachers will be happy to share their slides afterwards.  

Tuesday 13th February - in your child’s classroom

Year 3 and Year 6 @ 5.30pm

Year 4 @ 6.00pm

Year 5 @ 6.30pm

Wednesday 14th February - in your child’s classroom

Kinder @ 5.30pm

Thursday 15th February - in your child’s classroom

Year 1 @ 6.00pm

Year 2 @ 6.30pm

Please remember that the evening is for general information about class routines and learning.  If you have specific questions or information you wish to share about your child, email the office and your child’s teacher can get back to you.  Teachers provide these sessions in their own time and we ask you to be mindful of this at the end of the session so that they can leave to be home with their own families. 

Pickup and Drop off

Our school is located within residential streets and we need to be good neighbours. We should all work together to make drop off and pick up safe for our students, as efficiently as possible for our parents/carers and to cause the least amount of inconvenience to our neighbours.  For those parents who are new to our school and as a refresher for existing parents, please be aware of the following rules and courtesies around pickup and drop off:

Before school

Our staff supervision starts at 8:10 am. The school gate is locked until this time. Please do not drop your child before 8:10 am as they are not supervised.  All students enter the school via the main gate on Cardinal street. 

Do not park in the drop off zone or no parking areas - council regularly patrols and the fines are quite high.  

After school

You can collect your child from Kameruka inside our school or carline.  Both the back gate on Cardinal street and Bardwell street open from 3pm for 15 minutes. 

Bardwell Street 

• Parents should follow road rules and only park where there is a safe spot - no parking across driveways or double parking.  

Carline 

• Parents should only use the carline for drop off or pick up if your child is able to get themselves in and out of the car from the curb side.  They need to buckle and unbuckle their own seatbelt.
• Students should have their school bag on the floor or seat next to them not in the boot. 
• Please be patient and wait for your turn - do not double park or pull out from the curb before the car in front of you.
• If your child is not ready at the steps, you may be asked to circle the block again so that we can keep the line moving.

Attendance

Teachers mark rolls directly onto the Compass system each morning.  The roll is a legal document and any unexplained absences are a concern for your child’s attendance record.  Please ensure as a priority that you record your child’s absence directly in Compass.  If you are unable to access Compass for any reason, phone or email the office to let us know of the reason why your child is absent so that it can be recorded.  There is no need to provide a follow up note.  

Late arrivals

Parents should enter the school to accompany their child if arriving after 8:50 am, as any students who enter without an adult are marked as an unexplained absence.  We ask parents to be diligent in accompanying their child to the office.  Once you arrive at the office, your child should go straight to class by themself and not wait for you to sign them in.  Parents should not go to the classroom as all late arrivals are automatically entered onto the Compass system once you sign your child in.    

Amadeus

Students should start to bring their instruments to school starting next week.  There are no lessons until the following week however our tutors will check sizing.  

Year 3

Year 3 will be new to the instrumental program so will be sized and allocated an instrument based on their preferences and amount of instruments and sizes the school has. 

No Dogs on school grounds

As much as we understand that dogs are an important part of family life, the ‘Companion Animals Act 1998 No 87’, prohibits dogs in some public places including school grounds. This means that parents and carers are not able to bring dogs onto the school grounds in the mornings or afternoons and this applies to dogs on a leash or being held.    

If you are bringing a dog on your walk, please tie the dog safely outside the school gate whilst you collect your child.  

Allergy Awareness

We have a number of children with known food allergies who have severe anaphylactic reactions.  In line with best practice guidelines we have an ‘allergy aware’ approach to minimise the risk of exposure to known allergens.  We ask parents to avoid packing lunches with peanut butter, nutella, nuts, chocolate bars with nuts or nut muesli bars.  Students should not share food, should not give food to others and should not leave food or packaging in the playground. 

Some of the procedures we have in place include:

• Keeping up to date medical information and individualised anaphylaxis care plans for each student at risk based on information from parents and medical professionals.
• Our staff are trained in the prevention, recognition and treatment of allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.
• We provide age-appropriate education for students with allergies and their peers to manage risks in school settings.
• We communicate in the newsletter about anaphylaxis management to help raise community awareness 
• We implement practical strategies to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to known allergic triggers 

All staff completed their annual CPR training last week which also included training in anaphylaxis awareness and administering of ‘Epi- pens’.

I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

May God’s love be with you. 

Jane Taylor

Assistant Principal