Dear Sacred Heart families,                                                                                             

As lockdown becomes our new normal it is important to ensure we are looking after all aspects of our lives. We hopefully have work, education, shopping, cooking and family reasonably sorted. The ongoing concern for this second lockdown can be our spiritual and mental health which hopefully should also be a priority during this time. We have gathered together some resources from different areas. Some of the resources include suggestions from our parents.

Today's Serenity prayer on the Jesuit prayer site (see first entry below)  is truly an apt one for our current times.

Service	Description
Jesuit Prayer of the day Jesuit Prayer	Daily scripture, reflection and prayer
Every occasions prayers	Prayers for schools: ideas to print and keep with you
CatholicCare Careline	Free Community support and services delivered by CatholicCare: Phone 13 18 19  (Mon -Fri 8am-6pm)
Parentline	ParentLine counsellors are available to support you during these tricky times. Whether you are worried about your child's behaviour, keeping track of their learning from home, ​supporting your own or your family's mental health Phone: 1300 1300 52
Kids Helpline	Kids Helpline is a free service, Kids Helpline (for under 25’s) Phone  1800 55 1800 Private and confidential 24/7, phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Smiling Mind (Thriving on the Inside)	A program to help people stay psychologically healthy. Free, tailored program for parents, educators and children
Top Parenting Tips For School Life During COVID	UK based Positive Parenting program
Nutrition Support	How parents can engage with their children at home in fun activities/games around fruit and vegetables. Written by SH parent Karina Savage
News Explained	A good show to watch with older children as the news is explained in kid friendly terms.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78	Website dedicated to men's mental health. Tips and access to online counselling
Create a Self Care Plan The Black Dog Institute	Self care can help people be more effective and prevent stress and anxiety. Self care explained. Template for creating your own self care plan
Coping with isolation - BeyondBlue	Resources to help you take care of your mental health as we adapt to covid-normal life Beyondblue – 1300 22 4636
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre site	(NSW Govt site) has a number of resources to help people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) to take care of their health and mental health during the pandemic. Resources and
Mental Health Line	Mental health professionals will answer calls and assist with any mental health concerns for you or someone you are concerned about, including children, teens, adults and older people.The Mental Health Line is available to everyone in NSW and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Beyond Blue	Beyond Blue provides information and support to help all Australian’s achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live. BeyondBlue 1800 512 348
Lifeline	Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14

Please keep and share these resources with family and friends. 

Stay safe and well and enjoy your week.

Regards,

Julie Caldwell 

Principal

Celebrating student effort and achievement

Over the past 4 and a half weeks, we have seen a number of achievements and examples of consistent effort from a number of students.

This week, I asked the class teachers to share examples of work from some of these students.

Please see this slide show to take a look at a small snapshot of what just a few of our hard working and talented students have produced.

Use of Zoom as a learning tool

As you can imagine, the school receives feedback around a number of tools being used by students throughout the period of remote learning.

We have received feedback asking for more Zoom, asking for less Zoom and to not use Zoom at all. Although, we have persevered and found ways to use Zoom effectively and safely with our students to find a balance.

Using Seesaw to distribute recorded videos of explanations of tasks as well as greetings and prayers means that the videos can be accessed by our students and parents at any time during the week. They are available to check back later to clarify teachers expectations or for assistance in approaching or beginning tasks.

On the other hand, using Zoom as a tool to connect with students on an optional basis for Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 has proved to be an approach that works well for teachers and students and parents. Students, parents and teachers have spoken about the joy it has brought students to speak to their peers, share their experiences and even share picture books.

We have been asked by Sydney Catholic Schools to avoid using Zoom on a one-on-one basis unless in special circumstances.

The use of Zoom at SHM offers us an excellent opportunity for teachers and students to connect, re-connect and re-engage using Zoom. The ability for schools to record Zooms has currently been suspended by Sydney Catholic Schools which restricts our ability to share our Zooms beyond what is seen live. We are definitely aware that not all of our K-2 students have access to devices, or even further, devices at specific times of the day or specific times in the week.

We have seen great success in Years 3-6 in the use of Zoom and teachers are always looking for ways to grow that even further.

Well done to parents!

I feel as though we are quick to congratulate and thank our students for their work. But I think it is important to recognise parents for your efforts in continuing to support your children throughout this period of remote learning. It is certainly the wish of all our staff that we return to face-to-face learning as quickly as possible when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, enjoy this time with your children because although it is difficult for now, you might look back fondly on the memories of this time in years to come.

Nick Brierley

Assistant Principal 

Reflections from the Solemnity of Saint Mary MacKillop, 8th of August- Sacred Heart Mass

‘May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts.’ Col 3:12-17

In the Second Reading of the day, Saint Paul described the ideal christian as compassionate, kind, humble and as one who forgives. Forgiveness is hard for us to do and we need God’s grace to be forgiving. The centrepoint of Christianity is the virtue of love. God loves and cares for us and we need to have confidence in God’s providence. Saint Mary MacKillop gives us a phenomenal example of love, peace and forgiveness. Mary faced many obstacles and difficulties. She had a huge heart and a great ability to forgive people. Love was at the forefront of Mary MacKillop’s mission. We learn from Saint Mary MacKillop, to be a gift of love and compassion to one another, for all Australians and the world.

The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, this Sunday, 15th of August

This coming Sunday, the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. We show our love, honour and devotion to Mary through the celebration of Feast Days throughout the Liturgical Year and through Prayer. Please join us via Zoom next Monday, 16th of August at the morning Assembly, to honour Mary with our Feast of the Assumption Prayer, led by Year Five students.

You can join in celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady this Sunday using the following links:

Sacred Heart Mosman- Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady

St Mary’s Cathedral- Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (scroll down to view the Live Stream)

Kristen Jackson

Religious Education Co-ordinator

COMPASS: