Dear Parents, Carers, Students, Staff, and Friends of Sacred Heart,

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope that you found an opportunity to rest and spend some time as a family over the last few weeks.

Easter is without a doubt the most important time in the Liturgical Year of the church. At the end of Term 1, our classroom teachers and students in conjunction with Miss Kristen Jackson, assembled a series of Holy Week Liturgies to commemorate Jesus' last week on earth and the events leading up to his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Today, we have completed our Liturgy series with Year 4 leading us through the events of the risen Jesus. Assembling and participating in these Liturgies is an engaging way for the students to learn about the Easter story and why it is important for us as Catholics. We are grateful to the students, staff and Miss Jackson for all of their efforts. We are also grateful to all of the parents who were able to attend these Liturgies, and for supporting our work with the students. 

This week, we reflect on ANZAC Day as we acknowledge the service of men and women who have served their country in the pursuit of peace. The Year 6 students and teachers will lead a Liturgy on Thursday to help our students remember and learn about the legacy of all who fought, and supported those who fought in times of war and conflict.

Our Year 6 School Captains and Vice Captains represented our school community at our local ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony in Mosman early on Monday morning, supported by Miss Kristen Jackson. Thanks to all those who attended and represented us so well.

God of love and liberty,

we thank you for the peace and security we enjoy.

It was won for us through the courage and devotion of those

who gave their lives in time of war.

We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain,

but that their spirit may live on in us and in generations to come.

We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus

and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Sydney Catholic Schools has been excellent in supporting and updating Sacred Heart with the latest protocols and guidelines for best practice around COVID-19. As you may have heard, household contacts (staff and students) are no longer required to isolate and can attend school if they fulfil the following requirements:

• Please notify the school that there is a household member who has tested positive for COVID-19;
• Please conduct a daily RAT and return a negative result each morning before attending school for 5 school days;
• Wearing a mask indoors except when eating or exercising is recommended, but not mandatory;
• Not permitted to participate in overnight excursions, including school camps.
• Also, any parent who is a household contact is required to advise the school of that before they come on site and follow the above rules.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or our School Office if you have any questions or if you need any support.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. It is such a wonderful time to reflect on the mothers, grandmothers and all those who act in the place of a mother in our lives. We look forward to celebrating at the Mother’s Day Breakfast next Friday at 7.30am. For those families who are scratching their heads about what exactly they may purchase for their mothers, grandmother or significant mother figures, Cana has some wonderful options that you can browse via the QKR app.

On Tuesday, the teachers participated in a Staff Development Day focused on the teaching of Science, and how we can engage students in their learning, looking closely at collaboration and citizenship. The day also allows teachers to be given valuable planning time to ensure that Term 2 is the best that it can be for our students.

Over the past few weeks, we have had some exciting staff news. Firstly, we welcome Mrs Kelly's second child Charlie Michael Kelly and Mrs Morris’ first grandchild Roman. We also celebrated the Baptism of my own daughter Lily at Sacred Heart and the weddings of Miss Conroy and Miss Roache whom we will now start to refer to as Mrs Conroy and Mrs Roache for the remainder of the year.

Mr Nick Brierley

Acting Principal.

Upcoming dates

Wednesday April 26th @ 2.10pm: Holy Week Liturgy: ‘He is Risen’ led by Year 4 and their teachers (Parents welcome)

Thursday April 27th @ 12.00pm: ANZAC Day Liturgy (Students to attend)

Wednesday May 4th @ 9.30am: Parent Engagement Series: Keeping Your Child Safe Online

Friday May 6th @ 7.30am: Mother’s Day Breakfast

Saturday May 28th: School Disco

Welcome back parents and students,

I hope you are all well rested and looking forward to an exciting term of sport.

An update for the Cross Country Selection process. As the weather has not been in our favour last term, it has been decided that student selection for the Cross Country will be conducted at school in Week 2 during their Physical Education timetabled lessons.

During this time, students will partake in The Beep Test, this is a Cardiovascular measurement testing tool that measures a student’s physical capacity and endurance capabilities in running. Four students will be selected in each age group (boys and girls separate) who record the highest score.

Ribbons and awards will be distributed to the top place getters. Results of this will be displayed in the Week 3 newsletter. The aim of this test is to simulate the intensity and distance running that students will experience in the next levels of competition.

I do understand that this unfortunately does not simulate the changing terrain that students will experience at a Cross Country. However, we do believe that this is a fair method to select our runners.

As such I will be discussing this with the Year 6 Sports Leadership team and School Captains to receive their opinions and guidance. I will be discussing this selection process with students this week and how The Beep Test will be conducted.

I will be encouraging students to discuss this with their parents.

Mr De-Villiers

Sports/Wellbeing