COMMUNICATIONS

At Sacred Heart, our aim is to foster a positive and productive communication environment for parents, teachers, and students. Our fortnightly newsletter and regular Compass updates should be your main source of school information. Over the years, WhatsApp has become an additional tool and should only be used to remind one another about important dates/information and upcoming events. 

SACRED HEART FEAST DAY

A HUGE thanks to Miss Jackson, our Religious Education Coordinator, for all of her preparation and organisation leading up to our feast day. A special mention to Mrs Conroy, Mrs Merillo and our amazing choir also. So much work goes into making these days meaningful and successful- we are all so grateful! 

Our amazing Year 6 leaders and their teachers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that all of the activities were organised and facilitated, this  led to the fun vibe of our day. For all of their efforts, they will have a special pizza lunch on Friday!! Thank you, Year 6!

On our Sacred Heart Feast Day, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. John Paul II, a great devotee of the Sacred Heart, said, “this feast reminds us of the mystery of the love of God for the people of all times.” This feast day uses the heart as a symbol of love and there is an emphasis on God’s love and mercy. In fact, that love and mercy is so intense that the symbol of the sacred heart is a human heart encircled with a crown of thorns, crowned with a cross, and radiating flames: this is how much Christ loves us.

Jesus’ divine love for humanity coupled with our SCS theme ‘we journey together as joyful witnesses to hope’  was our inspiration for the day. A great example of your love, generosity and care which gives hope to others was seen in our recent collection of donations for those in need within our community through the SVDP Winter Appeal. When we help others, it is two-fold because it also helps our community to grow in a substantial way. We grow in awareness, we broaden our perspective, we recognise real-world problems…. In fact it appears we get much more out of this than anyone else. Your recent donations and generosity make me so proud to be a part of this community. At the end of mass, I invited our Mission Captains to present our hampers to Mr Peter Marshall who is the President of our Sydney Harbour North Conference of SVDP. He and Carolina Briscoe were so pleased to accept such thoughtful donations from our Sacred Heart community. I thank you all sincerely! 

A huge thank you to all of our parent volunteers and especially to Anthony O’Gorman and the team at O’Gorman & Partners Real Estate, Mosman for providing the sausages/bread and labour for our sausage sizzle on the day.

PUBLIC SPEAKING:

Public speaking has a significant place in the K – 6 English Syllabus and interweaves both Oral Language and Communication: an integral part of  a child’s overall literacy development. The SHM Public Speaking program and competition provides an excellent opportunity to enhance students’ speaking and listening skills in front of an audience. 

We know that students across the school have been working incredibly hard to draft, write and practice their speeches. I congratulate all students and their teachers for their support. It is never an easy decision for teachers in deciding who will make it through as class finalists, grade finalists and school finalists. So luckily, we had some wonderful judges in Mrs Monckton and Mrs Macourt,  who were able to use our prescribed rubric to help in their decision making. I thank Mrs McCartney for her organisation and for always giving us clear guidelines and resources so as to make this experience such a success for all students. I was lucky enough to attend the network final last year and Sacred Heart was so well represented, I know the same will happen this year. The following children were the finalists and one ‘Champion’ from each stage will now go on to represent Sacred Heart at the Sydney Harbour North Network Public Speaking Comp next week.

Congratulations to all of our finalists!  

STAGE 1 Finalists

Isabella Zhao- If I was a fly on the wall

Alba Kenig- The best thing I’ve ever learnt

STAGE 1 CHAMPION: Alba Kenig

STAGE 2 Finalists

Annelise Hughes- If I rewrote a fairytale it would go like this…

Chloe James- The world would be a better place if ..

Mariana Alvarez- The world would be a better place if ..

Alex Sokulsky- The world would be a better place if ..

STAGE 2 CHAMPION: Annelise Hughes

STAGE 3 Finalists

Elle Stuart- How to measure success                                         

Emily Bezuidenhout- How to measure success

Amelia Gray- See a need and act

Caitlin Swain- See a need and act

STAGE 3 CHAMPION: Caitlin Swain

Camille Dunger (Year 5) and Maggie Dunger (Year 4) were part of a crew of 930 young people who helped provide over 6,500 meals, snack packs, and care packages to support 15 charities across Sydney. These students showed incredible leadership, compassion, and a real drive to give back to the community. They completely embody a generous spirit, and it's a credit to the values of our school. Thank you girls for your support and empathy! 

‘Kids Giving Back’ is eager to involve more students in their ‘giving back’ initiatives and so I have listed some of the options below:

Little Helpers Saturday Program - K-2 Students
We have launched a monthly Saturday program for Year K-2 students and a parent/carer to volunteer together. 

July School Holiday Community Programs
Bookings NOW OPEN! please find the attached flyer for details. We would be grateful if you could include this in your newsletter. Our programs are popular and fill up quickly, so we encourage early booking! School holiday programs | Kids Giving Back

May God bless all our families.

Leanne Meehan

EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

Families can live and practise their faith together when they are,

PRAYING AS A FAMILY

There is a faith-promoting power in hearing someone pray for you. Not in the “You are in my prayers” kind of way. But to kneel together as a family or group and hear your name prayed for specifically. The power in prayer is only unlocked when we don't hold back our emotions and what we want to say to God. In family prayer, I pray for each of my children, family members and friends by name and ask for blessings specific to whatever they might be facing. 

I attend Tuesday 9:15am Mass at Holy Family Parish, so please feel comfortable enough to come and join me anytime. Otherwise if you feel you need prayers for yourself or a family member, send me an email with the name/names and I will be happy to add them to my prayers.

Reminder, Anointing Mass for the sick,

We are very lucky that our Holy Family Parish has an Anointing Mass for the sick every Friday. If you or a family or friend are in need of a healing Mass all are welcome to attend.  We need faith to help with the healing.

Friday, midday anointing Mass in Sacred Heart Church followed by a luncheon in the parish hall.

Also, a reminder of all Mass times for the week.

SACRED HEART, Mosman

Saturday Vigil: 6.15pm - Mass

Sunday: 9am, 11am, 5pm

Monday: 9.15am

Tuesday: 9.15am

Wednesday: 9.15am

Thursday: 9.15am

Friday: 9.15am & Midday

Free MH training

Sponsored by NSW Health

2-5pm Saturday 22 June

Safe TALK is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone, regardless of experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. SafeTALK-trained helpers can take action by connecting others with life-saving mental health  support. Suicide can impact us all directly or indirectly no matter what age or background. Minimum of 15 people required to hold this vital free training. 

Please text Anne 0413142731 to attend.

New Initiative 

Come when you can Wednesday morning walking group.  We will walk for approx 1 hour to Mosman park or the surrounding area, including Tea/coffee at a  local cafe.

Meeting point at the Cardinal St, front school gate at 8:45-9am.

Wear your comfy walking shoes.

Also, a reminder playgroup is next Monday in Parish Hall. Only 2 more playdates for this term- 17th June & 1st July. Bring morning tea for your child & morning tea for adults is provided.

All are welcome to join.

Many Blessings,

Anna Macri

Family & Faith Educator

anna.macri@syd.catholic.edu.au

Dear Parents and Carers,

As the school year progresses, I want to highlight the crucial role that mastering times tables plays in your child's education. Times tables are more than just a set of facts to memorise; they are foundational building blocks that support a wide range of mathematical and cognitive skills.

Why Times Tables Matter:

1. Maths Proficiency: Knowing times tables fluently enhances your child's ability to tackle more complex mathematical concepts with ease. Multiplication is a key component in topics like division, fractions, and algebra.
2. Problem-Solving Skills: Quick recall of multiplication facts allows your child to focus on problem-solving strategies rather than getting bogged down by basic calculations.
3. Confidence Boost: Mastery of times tables can significantly boost your child's confidence in maths, leading to greater participation and engagement in class.
4. Real-Life Applications: Times tables are used in everyday situations, from calculating costs while shopping to measuring ingredients for a recipe.

Supporting Your Child:

• Practice Regularly: Encourage your child to practise times tables daily through fun activities, games, and apps designed to make learning engaging.
• Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate their progress and provide positive feedback to keep them motivated.
• Integrate Learning: Incorporate multiplication into daily routines, such as counting items or playing number-based games.

Games are a fun and effective way for children to develop multiplication facts at home:

• Multiplication Bingo uses a bingo card with multiplication problems; children mark the answers. 
• Flash Card Races challenge kids to quickly answer multiplication flash cards, fostering speed and accuracy. 
• Times Table Hopscotch combines physical activity with learning, where children jump on squares labelled with multiplication problems. 
• Online Games and Apps like Times Tables Rock Stars and Math Blaster make learning interactive and engaging. 
• Board Games like Multiplication War, where players use a deck of cards to practise multiplying numbers, add a competitive and educational twist to family game night!

By reinforcing the importance of times tables, we can help our children build a strong mathematical foundation that will benefit them in all areas of learning. 

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education.

Nerissa McCartney

Leader of Teaching & Learning

Dear Parents and Carers,

Raising Boys to Live & Learn - Parent Workshop

Last night we hosted a collaborative and engaging parent information session facilitated by Mr Warren Hopley on the topic of ‘Raising Boys to Live & Learn.’ The work of Ian Lillico and Stephen Biddulph was discussed, along with the 50 recommendations of how best to engage boys in schooling. Some of the key points and takeaways were:

• Fostering humility and service in boys is paramount
• At both, home and school men and women need to hold positions of power in partnership
• Boys ‘learn teachers’ and ‘not subjects’ - relationships are important
• Boys need ‘think time’ before answering questions - at least 3 seconds
• Rewards and praise that are helpful should be integral to teaching and parenting boys  
• Homework should be time structured - so that boys can quantify the amount of time they are giving up
• Movement breaks are essential
• Boys write best when provided with scaffolds and expectations 
• Parents and teachers should never shame boys - boys will clam up and disengage
• All boys should have good male role models in their lives (this does not have to be their Dad exclusively)

Wellbeing Week

Last week we celebrated Wellbeing Week at Sacred Heart. A time for us to have conversations with each other about reinforcing the message that simple acts can significantly impact our health and wellbeing as a community. Our focus for the week was Kindness! We discussed what kindness looks like in the classroom, on the playground and at home. Every student contributed to the creation of our School Kindness Tree by identifying a simple ‘act of kindness.’ Each class participated in daily kindness offerings with a focus on - mindfulness, positive affirmations and gratitude. The staff enjoyed a Wellbeing Lunch together.

For your reference, see below, the titles of some picture books that explore the theme of kindness that you could read with your children at home.

• Have you filled a bucket today? By Carol McCloud
• A Hat for Mrs Goldman. A story about knitting and love. By Michelle Edwards
• Let’s get a pup. By Bob Graham
• Wings. By Christopher Myers

Have a wonderful week and remember to keep refilling that cup.

Amanda Macourt

Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement

Marine Science Excursion

Today, the winners of the Sacred Heart "Pollocean Art Competition" were privileged to tour the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS). 

We are most grateful to Brett and Courtney, the esteemed "Seahorse Scientists," for delivering an insightful presentation on seahorses, their habitats, and the threats they face.

Following an engaging Q&A session with the students, we had the unique opportunity to observe seahorses being prepared for their release at Balmoral. The students, ranging from Kindergarten to Year 5, represented the school so beautifully and thoroughly  enjoyed the experience. Our sincere thanks to SIMS for hosting us on such a memorable morning.

Deep Learning in Science

Our Kindergarten students have been exploring forces and motion in their science classes. Last week, they had the exciting opportunity to learn how forces work through various toys in a hands-on workshop, thanks to our learning partners at Fizzics Education. The workshop was filled with fun and engaging learning experiences for everyone! 

Technology Club Update

Each Wednesday at lunchtime, our Year 6 Science and Technology leaders guide younger students in Tech Club. Here, students have the chance to explore Beebots, Spheros, Drones, and our Dashbot, navigating obstacle courses and playing special games.

Mrs Petersen, Deep Learning Co-ordinator

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week 7 of sporting news, we are now past the halfway mark for this sporting term. 

To start us off, I would like to acknowledge two students who represented Sacred Heart at the MacKillop Selections trial for Cross Country. Both Grace Meacock and Gisele Camus represented their age group, Sacred Heart and Sydney Catholic Schools at this event. They both ran astonishing times at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Wednesday 5th of June. Grace placed 31st out of 59 students and Gisele placed 6th out of 60 students.

Congratulations to Gisele, who due to her amazing effort, will soon be representing Sacred Heart and MacKillop at the NSWPSSA (State) Cross Country Championships. On Tuesday July 23, she will be competing for a spot to represent NSW. If successful, she will attend the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships in Tasmania. We wish her the best of luck!

On Wednesday May 29, the students also had their annual Athletics Carnival. Despite some of the challenges during the day, the new venue showed lots of promise and the students had an amazing time. It was great to see every child involved in one way or another. Thank you again to all of our amazing parent volunteers who sacrificed their time and assisted on the day. Events like this can never come together without all of your help. I would also like to thank Brenton, Molly and Brayden (not pictured) for their assistance in the organisation of the carnival  during the day. We are very lucky to be able to partner with Zing for the running of these events. Progression notes from the Athletics Carnival will be handed out to students in the next couple of weeks.

Our amazing sports captains also announced the overall house winner results at assembly the following week. It really was a close competition with only a 1 point difference between third and fourth place. Congratulations to Champagnat who came in on top this year for the Athletics Carnival.

Moving on to the next news piece, unfortunately due to ground closures, our Stage 2 OzTag Interschool sports program was postponed. Students and parents will be advised of the new date once confirmed. Our Stage 3 Soccer Interschool sports program is looking to still go ahead on Wednesday June 26 at Artarmon Reserve. Fingers crossed for blue skies! 

Speaking of postponements, in the previous edition of sporting news it was noted that Henry Pearson and Zachary Meacock were meant to represent Sacred Heart in the Sydney Cricket Trials on June 3. Due to rain and ground closures, it has been postponed once again. This will now be held on Monday June 24th. We wish them all the best for this trial and will be hoping for dry grounds and clear skies! 

To close us off, I will end with a message from Sydney Catholic Schools:

We are thrilled to share with you a range of exciting holiday opportunities for your child/ren here at Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS).

Prepare them for a holiday experience filled with joy, growth and unforgettable memories with their friends attending these active offerings:

All programs are open to both boys and girls

Rugby 7’s: Year 4 - 9

Martial Arts: Year 4 - 9

Badminton : Year 4 - 9

Volleyball : Year 4 - 9

Golf : Ages 9 - 14 year olds

Cricket : Year 4 - 9

Equip your child with skills, a love for physical activity, and nurture their spirit of competition, all while having fun. 

For detailed information and to secure a spot, visit the following link: https://sport.syd.catholic.edu.au/scs-outsidehours/holiday-camps

Best regards,

SCS Sports Team

That’s all for now in sporting news. I look forward to giving you all further updates on our student achievements. Until next time!

Kind Regards,

Miss Austrie Calizar

Sports Co-ordinator

National Reconciliation Week provides an invaluable opportunity for Australians to delve into our collective histories, cultures, and accomplishments, while also working toward fostering reconciliation within our nation. 

During Reconciliation week, students ranging from Kindergarten to Year 6, under the guidance of the Student Representative Council (SRC) team, engaged in an exploration of diverse Aboriginal Dreamtime stories. They participated in various artistic activities, creating symbolic artwork, bracelets incorporating significant colours, and designing informative posters aimed at raising awareness about the significance of this week.