Dear Parents and Carers,

A huge thank you to you all for your well wishes and heartfelt congratulations on my recent Wedding. Freddie and I, as well as our family and friends, had a wonderful day and are looking forward to a long and happy life together.

A special mention to all of my staff for their support leading up to my special day and to my beautiful children for always being so happy for me, SOOOO appreciate it! 

Mary MacKillop Feast Day

Mary MacKillop was a kind and dedicated person who made a big difference in many people's lives. Born in 1842 in Melbourne, Australia, Mary grew up to become a nun and later, Australia's first saint.

Mary MacKillop believed that every child, no matter how rich or poor, deserved a good education. At a time when many children couldn't go to school because their families were too poor, Mary and her friends started free schools. She helped build schools all over Australia, especially in places where no schools existed before.

But Mary did more than just build schools. She showed great courage and kindness, even when things were tough. She never gave up, even when faced with challenges and opposition. Her determination and faith helped her overcome many obstacles.

Mary's work didn't just stop at education. She also helped sick people, took care of orphans, and supported families in need. Her life was all about helping others and making the world a better place.

Mary MacKillop's story teaches us the importance of kindness, perseverance, and caring for others. She showed that one person can make a big difference in the world. So, let's remember her example and try to be helpful and kind in our own lives.

The P & F Meeting has changed and will now be held in the school library on Wednesday 14 August at 7pm.

MOSMAN MARKET

Last Saturday, our school, in conjunction with Blessed Sacrament, had a stall at Mosman Markets. The purpose of the day was to collaborate, build our schools profiles, promote our events, and demonstrate our commitment to being active and engaged members of the local community. There was facepainting, colouring in, and a lolly jar guessing competition. Staff from both schools were there throughout the day and it really was heartening to talk to so many interested, prospective parents and catch up with current parents and students. Thank you to my amazing staff for their support!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Harper Batiste’s younger sister, Willow, who guessed the exact number of lollies in the jar!!

UPCOMING EVENT *This has been promoted via our local preschools but feel free to ensure family and friends know about this valuable opportunity. You do not have to be attending either of our schools to come along to this workshop.

Our Year 5 students were lucky enough to experience some exciting problem solving exercises in The Hub recently. The Symbol Relations cognitive function is responsible for understanding and connecting ideas and processing complex relationships and concepts necessary for comprehension. Wow, were their eyes opened!!  Here are some reflections on what surprised them.

"How quickly the Arrowsmith kids can do things, like 6 handed clocks"

"The effort and commitment the Arrowsmith kids put in"

"How hard it is, I thought it would be easy"

"How smart the Arrowsmith children are and how much problem solving they have to do".

"I was surprised by how many details and how fast you have to work.  I was also surprised by how extreme and advanced it is".

"How much people can learn from different types of clocks and how it helps create neural pathways"

HELPFUL TIP FOR THE TERM (and forever!)

May God bless all our families.

Leanne Meehan

EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

Our Grandparents Day Celebration 

Each year the church celebrates the feast of St Anne and St Joachim on 26 July, the patron saints of grandparents.  At Sacred Heart, we came together to celebrate our Grandparents with open classrooms, a beautiful Mass and a morning tea.  We also remember the grandparents who could not be with us, those who live far away, those who are sick, and those who are now with God in heaven. 

We thank our grandparents for being an important part of our lives and know how much they love and care for us.  Having grandparents is one of the best gifts from God and we celebrate how much we love them!

What an amazing turn out - so many visitors that we also utilised the Parish hall and our Year 5 and 6 students, teachers and families watched the live stream.  Thank you to Father Matthew for his Homily and thoughtful words and sentiments.  Some of our grandparents remarked that it was “the nicest Mass they had been to for a long long time”

Thank you to Miss Jackson for her organisation of the Mass and for ensuring the smooth running of the morning and to Mrs Luscombe, Mrs Macri and all of our staff for making the event so successful.  We were thrilled to hear such positive feedback from grandparents:

“You made us feel like being a grandparent was the most important job.”

“The whole morning has just been so wonderful,  thank you”

“The morning tea is such a treat, especially the very yummy sandwiches”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world”

“You always make us feel so special and the students were so well behaved”

100 days of Kindergarten

Last Monday our very proud Kindergarten Teachers, Miss Morgan, Miss Adamo, Mrs McCartney and Mrs Markham gathered with the parents to celebrate a significant milestone in our children's lives - their first 100 days of school!  How amazing everyone looked as they dressed to impress.

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 time - 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.

So, dear parents, teachers, and children, let us take a moment to celebrate this significant milestone and honour the hard work and dedication that has brought us to this point. Let us continue to foster a love for learning, encourage curiosity, and support one another as we embark on the next phase of this incredible journey.

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.

Uniform 

A reminder again about our school uniform expectations.  Whilst we remind students daily and ask them to take off the wrong hats or jackets, it is our parents who are responsible for purchasing and ensuring that their child wears the uniform correctly.  We have explained to students that the word ‘uniform’ means just that - we all need to look the same and it is not right or fair on your friends or our school if they just choose to wear something else.  We ask that parents really enforce the correct uniform before your child leaves home - this includes school hat, socks, shoes and jackets. 

SACRED_HEART_UNIFORM_PRESENTATION_POLICY_2021_.pdf

I am pleased to say that 3 Gold were rewarded with a pizza lunch for being the first class to have every student wearing their hat in the morning.  We have seen a great improvement in students wearing the correct hat each day and actually wearing their hat when in the playground.  

Book Week - Week 5 please read our librarians news below

It’s time to think about those costumes as book week is quickly approaching.  The theme this year is: ”Reading is magic” which gives you lots of scope for dress ups.  

Mrs Jago has organised some wonderful activities and events to celebrate including our Book Week Parade on Friday 23/8 morning 8:45 am - 9:30 am approximately. 

Mosman Council Survey

Every 3-4 years, Mosman Council formally reaches out to the community to hear the voices of all residents about Mosman, its direction, facilities, environment, social programs etc. This year, they have asked Sacred Heart to help them better reach out to the children of Mosman to consult with them about the future. Our students have been asked these three questions:

1. What is your favourite thing about Mosman?
2. What is your least favourite thing about Mosman?
3. What would make Mosman a better place to live?

The Community Development Officer for Children and families, Jenny sent us a lovely email.  “I have just opened and read the responses to the survey – I can’t tell you how delighted I am to read them. They have represented Sacred Heart extremely well. The students have been thoughtful and wise beyond their years. Please let them know that their responses will be provided to the newly elected Councillors after the elections in September to help inform the newly elected Council of what the children and young people in Mosman are wanting for their area.”

We thank our teachers for facilitating this and are excited that some of our student’s ideas may help shape the future of Mosman. 

Wishing you God’s Blessings, 

Jane Taylor

Assistant Principal

Upcoming Grade Masses & Liturgical Celebrations

This Friday 9th August- St Mary of the Cross Feast Day prayer led by Year 2 in the School Hall (after the morning Assembly). Year 2 parents warmly welcome to attend (seating will be available for Year 2 parents at the back of the Hall on the lino floor area). 

-This Friday, all students in MacKillop (Green) House are invited to wear a green accessory with their uniforms (eg. green socks, a green headband, a green hat- no coloured hair spray please).

Grade Masses, Fridays at 9.15am (all families welcome to join)

• Friday 6th of September- Year 1 Mass
• Friday 13th of September- Year 5 Mass
• Friday 20th of September- Year K & 6 Mass
• Friday 27th of September- Year 4 Mass

Sacrament of the Eucharist

• Wednesday 14th Aug- First Holy Communion Lesson 3 (5pm or 6.30pm)
• First Holy Communion Retreat Day- Tuesday 20th of August

• First Holy Communion Masses- Saturday 7th September, Sunday 8th September and Sunday 15th September

 Father’s Day Mass, Friday 30th of August at 9.15am

Fathers and fatherly figures of our school community are warmly welcome to join us for Father’s Day Mass from 9.15am. If you will be joining us for the Father’s Day Mass, please click this link to advise (to ensure there is enough seating.) Thank you!

This week we celebrate the feast of The Transfiguration of the Lord on 6th August.

This was the date of the dedication of the first church built on Mount Tabor, which is traditionally considered to be the “high mountain” of the Transfiguration.

This feast commemorates the revelation of Christ’s divine glory before His disciples, affirming His identity as the Son of God.

The Liturgical colour for this feast day is White.

With Father’s Day fast approaching, here is something for dads!

Dads Rock Event! 

Please share with your communities and your own husbands, fathers, brothers, friends, etc.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1247816  PDF with Live Link

Fatherhood — like all parenthood — is a vocation. It is a call. It entails the giving of oneself to others and is founded on relationship, dependence, trust and above all, love. Fatherhood is a precious gift and fathers are truly amazing. In fact, the Sydney Catholic Schools Aerotropolis Network believes that dad’s rock! To celebrate dads, they’ve collaborated to create a special night at Club Marconi which promises to fill both the bellies and hearts of all who attend. They have three fabulous guest speakers in Fr Ronnie Maree (Parish Priest St Anthony's Parish, Austral), Charbel Raish (Author & Public Speaker, Founder of Parousia Media) and Tomislav Uskok (Professional Footballer and Founder of Beaded Armour). The night will also showcase music by the talented students of our local high schools. Registrations are open for anyone who’d like to attend this wonderful initiative.

Something for mums too.

As mums, we constantly feel guilty about all the things we don’t do or have time to get done. So here are some links to remind you, we are all in the same boat and doing the juggling act together. 

Remember to smile, have a laugh & with God by your side everything will be ok! 

https://motheringspirit.com/2024/04/a-prayer-for-the-mental-load-of-motherhood/

https://www.jesuscalling.com/blog/your-mental-load-isnt-invisible-to-god/

Saint Mary Mackillop day - 8th August

Let's celebrate Mary Mackillop by remembering the amazing things she did. Her love, dedication and selflessness will never be forgotten. The content in this website is wonderful to share with your family, it reflects on her charitable work and how it improved lives. 

Remembering her motto - Never see a need & do nothing about it. 

Free Mary Mackillop resources

My Initiatives for term 3. Please join me if you can.

Have a fabulous week!

Anna Macri

Family and Faith Educator

Dear Parents and Carers,

As part of Sacred Heart's commitment to fostering Highly Effective Teaching, I am pleased to inform you about a significant professional learning initiative our school has undertaken. Our dedicated team of teachers has recently engaged in professional learning centred around Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction, a key priority within our SCS diocese. Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction is a set of  rigorous  research-based guidelines, designed to improve teaching effectiveness and student outcomes, and promote a culture of questioning, modelling, and repeated exposure.

What are Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction?

How are these principles being applied in our classrooms?

Our teachers are integrating these principles into their daily instruction, creating engaging and effective learning experiences. Here's how:

• Structured Lessons: Lessons are carefully planned to incorporate daily reviews, clear objectives, and small, manageable steps.
• Interactive Learning: Teachers ask questions and provide immediate feedback to ensure students remain engaged and understand the material.
• Practical Examples: Through modelling and guided practice, students gain a clear understanding of new concepts.
• Ongoing Assessment: Regular checks for understanding allow teachers to adjust their instruction based on student needs.
• Supportive Environment: Scaffolding helps all students succeed, gradually moving towards independent practice and mastery.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Tuesday 30 July we recognised and celebrated International Day of Friendship.  A day that is held annually and is a wonderful occasion to highlight the importance of friendship and human connections in our lives. Established by the United Nations in 2011, this day encourages communities to foster mutual understanding, respect, and reconciliation. For teachers and parents, it offers an opportunity to teach children about the value of friendship, kindness, and empathy through fun and meaningful activities. At Sacred Heart the children participated in friendship activities within the classroom and many chose to make friendship bracelets on the day during Lunch Club. 

2025 KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN: Your Ultimate Guide to a Confident Start

A reminder: On Friday 16 August we will be holding a ‘School Readiness Expo’ for preschoolers and their families. The morning will include: tips and insights from experienced educators and will allow for questions to be answered by the experts. We hope that you can join us! Please share with any friends or family with preschool aged children. See flyer below.

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

Amanda Macourt

Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement

Science Week 2024

Next week we will be celebrating Science week. The school theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival - More than just sustainability

The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world.

 Students will have an amazing variety of topics to investigate throughout the week with presentations from:

• Marine Science Institute Conservation Program (Stage 3)
• Scienza Viva: Big Science Show (all grades)
• Marine life incursion with George Evatt Marine Biologist (all grades)

Students will also have the opportunity to attend science workshops at lunchtime and enjoy exploring Science in the classroom.

If you’d like to participate in Science week at home please try the Science Trail link for many fun things to do.

Donations needed!

The workshops have a sustainable focus and use recycled materials. If you have any 

of the following available for donation we would greatly appreciate them.

Resources needed

• Old CDs
• Paper towel rolls, or any cardboard rolls 30cm plus
• Boxes from coffee pods
• Clean shiny empty coffee pods

GARDENING SMOCKS

We are seeking donations of old but clean adult sized shirts for the students to wear as smocks when working in the garden.

Tubs will be left outside the year 6 classrooms for donated items to be dropped off. 

 Thank you for your support!

Mrs Petersen,

Deep Learning Coordinator

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been an exciting few weeks since the last update of the sporting news segment. I look forward to bringing back our students’ achievements for this term.

As some of you may have already seen on our school’s Facebook page, one of our alumni, Cassidy Thomson set off to the FIBA World Cup 2024 in Mexico on July 13-22, where she competed in the u17 Women Basketball for New Zealand. 

Cassidy was a student at Sacred Heart for all her primary years (2013-2019) where she was introduced to the sport of basketball in kindergarten, going on to proudly represent her school, MacKillop and NSW at Primary Australia All Schools in 2019.

Cassidy represented New Zealand at the Asia Cup in 2023 winning the bronze medal and won gold undefeated for NSW in the Australian u16 and u18 Australian Nationals 2022 and again in 2024.

“What started out as learning to dribble on the school basketball court has now taken me to compete on the world stage. I am thankful for the opportunity, those who supported me throughout my development years at SHM and past teachers and students of the school who remain in touch and supportive today”.

At the end of last term on Monday the 1st of July, Flynn Daggett was selected for the MacKillop selection trials and represented Sacred Heart in rugby union which was held in Forbes. There was a lot of tough competition as students were competing for a spot on the MacKillop Team, and although he just missed out, he had a great time and experience. We congratulate Flynn on a great achievement.

On Monday the 5th of August, we also had 34 students represent Sacred Heart at the Conference 1 Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. It was a long day, but our students gave their best effort and we managed to walk away with five medals! Sacred Heart will have four students progress to the pre to post championships at Sydney Olympic Park on the 30th of August.

Congratulations to the students below who won a medal and will be progressing to the next round:

Olivia Doughty: Junior girls discus (SILVER)

Gisele Camus: Junior girls 800m (GOLD); Girls 10 years 100m (SILVER)

Jorge Pyke: Boys 11 years shot put (SILVER)

Olivia P: Senior girls long jump (BRONZE)

To end us off, I wanted to notify parents of our Interschool Sport Gala Days this term. This is an initiative from Sydney Catholic Schools which began last year. It is a friendly competition between schools within the district to introduce students to new sports and also to allow for community between schools. The football gala day for Stage 2 will be hosted by Sydney FC so we are really looking forward to this terms initiative.

Stage 2 - Football (Soccer): Tuesday 3rd of September

Stage 3 - European Handball: Wednesday 18th of September (Date TBC)

That’s all for now in sporting news. I hope you and your families have a restful and enjoyable break. I look forward to giving you all further updates on our student achievements next term. Until next time!

Kind Regards,

Miss Austrie Calizar

Sports Co-ordinator