Students celebrating birthdays at SHM

Birthdays are such a special time for our students. They love to create birthday charts in classrooms, do ‘countdowns’ to the big day and whole class ‘Happy Birthday’ songs (outside, of course).

Most parents and guardians would be aware that a number of difficulties arise when students celebrate birthdays at school. We would like to remind parents of two particular requests from the school:

• We have asked that no foods or gifts be brought to school to celebrate birthdays. Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask as a general rule that items brought from the home of one student do not go home with another student at the end of the day.
• Additionally, we would ask that when inviting children to a birthday party or celebration, we would ask that invites are not handed out at school, namely in the playground or the classroom. This can be particularly upsetting for some students who are not invited - so we would ask that it is done privately outside of school.

Literacy and Numeracy Enrichment opportunities for 2021

At Sacred Heart, we firmly believe in offering an education to our students that is rigorous, engaging and allows each child to achieve. We understand that each student possesses areas of strength, interest and need. We notice each student.

For a number of years, the Enrichment program at Sacred Heart has offered a range of experiences and opportunities for our students that challenge and extend beyond the chronological age curriculum. The Enrichment program will continue in 2021 with an extensive screening process to allow the most eligible candidates to join the programs. The selection process will be repeated each year.

In order to be accepted into the Literacy or Numeracy Enrichment programs, students will be assessed in a number of ways via:

• NEW: CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) screeners (provided by ACER)
• Data from the ACER PAT standardised assessments in Reading and Maths administered every six months
• NEW: External reports from a range of health professionals when students undergo assessments that identify intelligent quotient (IQ) as well as abilities in verbal comprehension, visual spatial, fluid reasoning, working memory and processing speed
• Nominations from class teachers
• NEW: Nominations from parents

In the past, we have used teacher nominations and data from class assessment and standardised tests. Our aim is to ensure that the process is transparent and as fair as possible to allow the most eligible candidates to receive a place for the current calendar year. 

Nominations for Enrichment from parents

We would like to invite parents and guardians to participate in the nomination process this year. Nominations are open from today (Wednesday 3rd March) and will close for processing early next week (Tuesday 9th March). Either follow this link or scan the QR code below:

Mrs Russell

We would like to thank Mrs Susan Russell for the time, effort and care that she has offered to the students participating in the Enrichment projects over the past several years. She is currently caring for her gravely ill husband and so I will commence Enrichment lessons from Week 8.

Thank You

Thank you to all of the parents, guardians and community who continue to not only support our Enrichment programs, but support the teaching and learning at Sacred Heart. I will be managing our Enrichment programs moving forward at Sacred Heart for the remainder of 2021 so would be the best person to contact if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to email nicholas.brierley@syd.catholic.edu.au any time.

Mr Nick Brierley

Assistant Principal