Dear Parents and carers, 

Each year the church celebrates the feast of St Anne and St Joachim on 26 July. As the parents of Mary and therefore the Grandparents of Jesus, Saints Anne and Joachim are also considered the patron saints of grandparents. We came together last week at our Grandparents Assembly and morning tea to celebrate our beautiful grandparents; we also remember the grandparents who cannot be with us, those who could not travel, those who live far away, those who are sick, and sadly those who have died and are now residing with God in heaven.

We acknowledge all the great work they did with our parents, and we thank them for being an important part of our lives. We know how much they love and care for us and we want to recognise and celebrate how much we love them!

Having grandparents is one of the best gifts by God for their grandchildren. We must value every moment we have with our grandparents. The strength of the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren comes in part because of the one generation step between them, they can love their grandchildren, give them some wisdom and be a listening ear but can leave the parenting to the parents.

Much credit and applause should go to all grandparents. We thank them sincerely for all that they do, they are often a hidden blessing in a family and I encourage all of our children to take the time to nurture their relationship with their grandparents and love them unconditionally.

Thank you to my team of staff who made the day so successful.

I especially thank Miss Hollingsworth and Mrs Roache, Miss Blake and Mrs Petersen and all of our Year 1 and 6 children for the  amazing tribute to our grandparents at assembly.

Mrs Taylor and I, as well as our very proud Kindergarten Teachers, Miss Morgan and Miss Adamo, gathered with the parents to celebrate a significant milestone in our children's lives—their first 100 days of school! 

To the parents, your support, love, and dedication has been instrumental in making this journey possible for your little ones. From the first day they stepped into the classroom, you have been their guiding light, offering encouragement and comfort during times of uncertainty. We celebrate not only our children's accomplishments but also the parents' unwavering commitment to their education.

The first 100 days of school have been foundational for our children's learning experience. The teachers and staff at Sacred Heart have created a safe and nurturing environment where the children feel inspired to explore, discover, and grow.

As we reflect on the past 100 days, we witness the incredible growth of our children. They have come so far in such a short period—learning to count, recognising letters, creating beautiful artwork, and building strong friendships. These achievements may seem small to some, but they are monumental to our little ones as they pave the way for a lifetime of learning and success.

Beyond the academic achievements, we have seen our children develop essential life skills—confidence, resilience, empathy, and a love for learning. They have learned the value of teamwork, the importance of sharing, and the beauty of diversity.

In these first 100 days, we have witnessed laughter, tears, and moments of pure joy. We have seen tiny hands raised in excitement to answer questions and eager faces anticipating the recess and lunch times where they can play with their friends and see their buddies. These moments are the essence of the magic that happens every day within these walls.

As we look ahead, we see a bright future filled with endless possibilities for our children. The foundation laid during these early days will continue to shape their character and pave the way for their dreams. Let us remember to cherish each moment, for time flies swiftly, and soon, these little ones will be embarking on new journeys, leaving behind their Kindergarten days.

Congratulations to our shining stars on their first 100 days of school! May your light continue to shine brightly as you discover the wonders of the world and leave your mark on it.

Thank you to those who were able to attend the P&F Meeting. Mrs Taylor will share some information regarding NAPLAN, bell times and Kiss and Drop in her newsletter section next fortnight. The next P&F to be confirmed.

May God bless all our families.

Leanne Meehan

PRINCIPAL

Upcoming K-6 Whole School Masses

Mary MacKillop Feast Day Mass- Tuesday 8th August @ 11:30am

Feast of the Assumption Mass- Tuesday 15th August @ 11:30am

Father’s Day Whole School Mass with a special presentation by Kindergarten- Friday, 1st September @ 9:30am

School Grade Masses on Fridays- parents are warmly welcome to attend! 

Year 3 School Mass- Friday, 4th August @ 9:30am

Year 5 School Mass- Friday, 11th August @ 9:30am

Year 1 School Mass- Friday, 8th September @ 9:30am

Year K & 6 School Mass- Friday, 15th September @ 9:30am  

Sacramental Program dates

Upcoming First Holy Communion Program sessions:

• Lesson 3: Wed 9th August choose 5pm or 6.30pm
• First Holy Communion Retreat Day: Monday 14th August
• First Holy Communion Masses: 26th August, 27th August and 10th September

Sydney Catholic Schools Christmas Story Art Competition

Students in Years 5/6 who may be artistically inclined, are warmly welcome to take part in the annual Christmas Story Art Competition by Sydney Catholic Schools. Please see the flyer attached and it your child is interested in participating, could you please email: kristen.jackson@syd.catholic.edu.au

Please scroll down further to view the Weekend Family Mass schedule for Term 3.

This Sunday at 9am, we invite Kinder & Year 6 families to attend a combined Family Mass. We very much look forward to seeing you then.

Thank you to our families who attended, and volunteered to assist, at the Year 5 Family Mass last Sunday. It was a lovely opportunity to gather together as a community.

It was an absolute pleasure last Wednesday to meet so many of our grandparents. I had lovely conversations and many laughs with some of them as they entered the front gate and at the morning tea. I felt blessed to be a part of the day.
Pope Francis has said:
Let us honour them, neither depriving ourselves of their company nor depriving them of ours.
May we never allow the elderly to be cast aside!

Sunday 6th August, we celebrate – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
The lesson we learn from this Holy event is …to remind us that no matter how powerful a spiritual experience is, the time comes when we need to come down
off the mountain and re-join our everyday life. When we do so, we need to do it with a humble heart.

Monday 8th August, we celebrate – Feast of the Saint Mary of the cross
Mary MacKillop was an educator, a pioneer and a leader; someone who had compassion for others regardless of their situation or race.
Her motto of “Never see a need without doing something about it” continues to call us forward to action especially at a time when real heroes are in short
supply. St Mary of the Cross MacKillop is a true inspiration.

Last week I had my first Eat, Pray and Laugh get together.
Morning Mass is 20mins and the walk to the café is 10mins. It was such a beautiful way to begin the day. I hope you can come along sometime.

CATHOLIC AFFIRMATION:
Our muscles and our faith can get weary from carrying heavy loads.
However, before any heavy lifting or exercise.. we should always stretch to keep our muscles flexible, strong and healthy.
Stretching our faith does the same thing and it is important for our wellbeing.

Anna Macri

Family Educator 

Year 3 Celebration Central

As part of their Deep Learning unit about celebrations, Year 3 integrated History, Art, Literacy and Science to create an incredible display of the learning. Posters and slideshows captured historical facts about significant celebrations and artistic displays adorned the classrooms. For the first time this year, the study of materials in Science was also integrated. The students focussed on the problem of single use purchases for expo displays and wanted to change that. Students explored and tested the properties of materials, their purpose and whether they were recyclable. Using their Science knowledge they designed and created costumes or artefacts representing their particular celebrations. They proudly displayed them at their expo at the end of last term. A terrific example of integrated deep learning. Well done Year 3!

Year 2 Makey Makey Moves

Year 2 embraced a new technology in the classroom last term and integrated it into their Science learning about light and sound. Earlier in the term students explored a variety of ways that sound and light could be manipulated using a range of physical investigations. They explored the concepts of light and sound further in a Science show hosted by Kaleidoscope Science. This unit culminated in the students creating a soundboard using digital technology. Students were introduced to Makey Makey circuit boards, were guided through a coding session and downloaded their code to the board to create an interactive soundboard. Demonstrating their ability to create sound physically and digitally in their world. Amazing Year 2!

We have the following items in the office - perhaps from 100 days of Kinder?

Please check to see if the following belongs to your family.

If your child has a friend who is not currently in the chess class and would like to give it a try, please forward the attached document to them. Siblings are also welcome to try the chess club.

In order to participate in the free demonstration, you must fill in the online form which is found here https://sydneyacademyofchess.com.au/demonstration

Students who turn up to the class without the online form being filled in will be turned away from the class.

Please note the chess demonstration is for students who are new to chess club or have not attended chess club this year.

Sydney Academy of Chess

(02) 9745 1170