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A very warm welcome back to the Sacred Heart school community. I have been very heartened by the enthusiastic and calm way the children have settled into new classes and school routines. This is a great credit to you parents, and to our staff, for whom the children are our first priority.
Welcome to all of our new families – those with children in Kindergarten and those whose children are moving into other classes across the school. I would especially like to welcome our new staff and wish them so well this year at our beautiful school.
With the Sydney Catholic Schools scripture for 2025 in mind, "You are my witnesses, because you have been with me”, let us remember that we are called to be witnesses in the modern world, a call that is applicable to all staff, students and families. Part of being a witness is the call to seek and promote what is good, true and beautiful in creation. Being a witness is both a responsibility and a privilege, it is not about perfection but about authenticity. It is about showing kindness, forgiveness and compassion to others even when you feel you don’t have much left in the tank. It is about lifting others up, it is about choosing honesty, kindness, and open communication over gossip. It is important that we contribute to healthy, supportive communities where people feel respected and valued. Let us be true witnesses not only in word but in action.
I wish each of you a fulfilling and rewarding year ahead, full of accomplishments, collaboration, and joy.
SCHOOL COUNSELLOR
Our new school counsellor is Ms Carly Boaler. She will work on-site on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week. If you would like to request counselling for your child, you will need to discuss this with the classroom teacher. You will then be required to complete a permission form and return it to school signed by both parents.
PARENT CHARTER
The Sydney Catholic Schools Parent Charter has been updated and is available here.
UNIFORM REMINDER
The way in which a student wears their uniform gives a clear message about how the student sees themselves and our school. As members of this community, all students are expected to wear the uniform with pride, on the correct day and groom themselves appropriately. Students may wear their sport uniform to school only when they are timetabled on sport. Students should be in full school uniform at all other times.
PARENTING TIPS: EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT FOR CHILDREN
Managing children's behaviour can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can foster a positive and respectful environment at home. Here are some practical tips to help you guide your child's behaviour effectively.
Understanding Behaviour
- Identify Triggers: Pay attention to what triggers your child's behaviour. Understanding the root cause can help you address the issue more effectively.
- Consistency is Key: Children thrive on consistency. Ensure that rules and consequences are consistent and predictable.
Positive Reinforcement
- Praise and Rewards: Acknowledge and reward good behaviour. Positive reinforcement encourages children to repeat desirable actions.
- Set Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate what behaviour is expected. Use simple and direct language that your child can understand.
Effective Communication
- Active Listening: Show your child that you are listening by making eye contact and responding appropriately. This helps them feel heard and valued.
- Calm and Clear Instructions: Give instructions in a calm and clear manner. Avoid shouting or using negative language.
Setting Boundaries
- Establish Rules: Set clear and fair rules that are appropriate for your child's age. Make sure they understand the consequences of breaking these rules.
- Follow Through: Consistently follow through with consequences when rules are broken. This helps children understand the importance of boundaries.
Modelling Behaviour
- Lead by Example: Children often imitate the behaviour of adults. Model the behaviour you want to see in your child.
- Stay Calm: Manage your own emotions and stay calm, even in challenging situations. This teaches your child how to handle their emotions.
Problem-Solving Skills
- Encourage Problem-Solving: Help your child develop problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think of solutions to conflicts or issues.
- Teach Empathy: Encourage your child to consider how their actions affect others. Teaching empathy can reduce negative behaviours.
Resources
- Raising Children Network/: Offers comprehensive advice on child behaviour and development.
- Positive Parenting Program (Triple P): Provides strategies and support for managing child behaviour.
- Kids Helpline: A free, confidential counselling service for young people and their parents.
By implementing these strategies, you can create a supportive and structured environment that promotes positive behaviour in your children.
May God bless all our families.
Mrs Leanne Meehan
EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL
Welcome to 2025. Congratulations to the students who have enthusiastically returned to school and are excited to reconnect with their friends and welcome new class members. As the year begins we remind students of our core values of ‘Faith, Generosity and Courage’ and our positive behaviour expectations 'Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Kind', so that our school remains a happy and positive learning environment. Thank you to our teachers who have spent many days at school preparing the classrooms and at home, developing the teaching and learning programs for the term. A special thank you to our Year 6 students who are wonderful buddies for our Kindergarten students and are helping them have a happy start to school life.
School hours 8:40 am - 3:00 pm
Our staff supervision starts at 8:10 am. Children should not enter the school gate before 8:10 am unless they are going to before school care or participating in our Arrowsmith program. Please do not drop your child before 8:10 am as they are not supervised.
Pickup and Drop off
As we start the term, safe and efficient drop off and pick up is essential. Mrs Macourt and our P & F President, Clare Tynan met with the local council last year and are working together to improve safety on the roads around our school. In addition to our reminders in newsletters and Compass, our P & F have also included information in their past newsletters. The council rangers and highway patrol monitor to ensure everyone is adhering to rules. Please be reminded that fines apply for breaking the rules (example a fine for double parking is $410 with 2 demerit points and making an illegal U-turn is $410 and 3 demerit points). When we all do the right thing, safety for all in our community is enhanced.
Morning Drop Off
You may have noticed the new ‘swirly’ signs on the driveway gates. This was requested by parents last year to highlight the adjacent drop off areas, one spot after the driveway and two spots before the driveway. Children can be dropped here in the morning and then walk up Cardinal Street to the school entrance. Please consider using these drop off spots, especially if your child is in Year 3 or up, to assist with traffic flow in the morning.
Afternoon Pick Up
Our wonderful teachers run the carline as a service to our families. Car line should be really quick and completely finished by 3:15 pm. Please note:
- You should only use carline if your child is able to get themselves into the car quickly and buckle their own seat belt
- Parents, carers, nannies, grandparents etc, can not get out of the car
- Children should enter the car from the curb side only
- Children put their school bag on the floor or seat next to them, not in the boot
- Children need to know their surname so that when the teacher calls their surname, they are ready
- If your child is not ready at the steps, you may be asked to circle the block again so that we can keep the line moving
Kameruka is always available for pick up, especially if your child is not yet ready to use the carline. We ask that you pass this information on to any person that is collecting your child so that our car line runs smoothly and safely.
Bardwell and Wudgong streets
Remember to park correctly and enter the school and be mindful of local residents by not double parking or blocking of their driveways particularly in Bardwell and Wudgong streets.
Information Evenings - held in your child's classroom - Week 3
An opportunity for all parents to meet the teacher and hear about the learning for the year. Should you have children in multiple classes and can’t attend the allocated time, the teachers will be happy to share their slides afterwards.
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Class |
Information Evening |
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K Blue K Gold |
Wednesday 19 February 5:30 - 6:00 pm |
|
1 Blue 1 Gold |
Wednesday 19 February 6:00 - 6:30 pm |
|
2 Blue 2 Gold |
Wednesday 19 February 6:30 - 7:00 pm |
|
3 Blue 3 Gold |
Thursday 20 February 5:30 - 6:00 pm |
|
4 Blue 4 Gold |
Thursday 20 February 6:00 - 6:30 pm |
|
5 Blue 5 Gold |
Thursday 20 February 6:30 - 7:00 pm |
|
6 Blue 6 Gold |
Thursday 20 February 5:30 - 6:00 pm |
Amadeus
Our Amadeus program for students in Years 3 - 6 commences from next week. Sydney Catholic Schools has adjusted the structure of the program. Rather than attending tutorials and band or ensemble every Thursday, the program will now run on a tri-weekly cycle with tutorials for two weeks and then band or ensemble in the third week. As always we encourage students to do 5-10 minutes of practice each night as a little practice each day helps develop neural pathways and build the children's stamina and skills in playing and performing.
For students in Year 3, we are awaiting return of instruments from repair / cleaning and will distribute these according to the student preferences gained from their showcase lessons last year. All students are also issued with a music book which they shouldbring to school each week along with their instrument.
Allergies
Please be aware that some of our students have food allergies relating to a number of different foods. Allergies can range from mild to severe and may involve anaphylaxis management. Whilst we work closely with their parents to raise awareness and minimise risks, we also ask all parents to be mindful of the food they pack for lunches each day, particularly around being nut aware and avoiding items with obvious nuts eg. peanut butter and nutella. Students are reminded that sharing of food is not allowed at school and they should not bring any food, cakes, lollies, chocolate etc. to share with the class or their friends.
Our staff will complete their annual CPR training this week which also includes training in anaphylaxis awareness and administering of ‘Epi- pens’.
If your child has an allergy and the school is unaware, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can work together to implement practical strategies to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to known allergic triggers.
NAPLAN - Year 3 & Year 5
The 2025, NAPLAN will be held from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March. Most of the tests are held in the first 4 days of the testing window with the rest of the dates available for ‘catch up tests’ should your child be sick.
Just a reminder for parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 that all students need to have the current NAP app for 2025 installed on their iPad. Type ‘nap’ in the app store and then click on ‘nap lockdown browser’ to install. Additionally, every student needs their own headphones to be able to complete the tests.
You can find further information about NAPLAN on the following link: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers
Wishing you God's blessings.
Mrs Jane Taylor
Religious Education Update, Term One Week One 2025
My name is Kristen Jackson and I am the Religious Education Coordinator here at Sacred Heart. My role is centred around the Catholic identity of the school, celebrating our faith through Liturgy and supporting the teaching and learning practices in Religious Education. If you are new to our community and there is anything that I can assist with in terms of Religious Education, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Please see upcoming important dates from our Term One Religious Education calendar:
- Friday 21st February- Beginning Year Mass for 2025 (Yrs 1-6 attending)
- Shrove Tuesday, 4th March
- Ash Wednesday, 5th March
- Holy Week Reflections, Thursday 10th April
Sacramental Program for Terms One/Two
The Sacrament of Confirmation is received in Term Two of the school year, for students in Year Six or students who have received their Sacrament of First Holy Communion. There is an online enrolment period which begins on the 20th of February and runs until the 6th of March.
Confirmation Family Night: Wednesday 19th of March @ 6:30pm
Confirmation Commitment Masses: 22nd/23rd of March (Saturday 6.15pm or Sunday 9am or Sunday 5pm)
Program sessions begin in Term Two
Confirmation ceremonies in Term Two (Thursday 29th of May and Friday 30th of May).
Term 1 School Grade Mass dates- parents are warmly welcome to attend
Each grade will visit the Church once a term to join Friday Mass at 9:15am. Parents are most welcome and we would love to see you there!
Friday 7th February- Year Four Grade Mass
Friday 14th February- Year Five Grade Mass
Friday 21st February- Beginning Year Mass led by Year Six
Friday 28th February- Year One Grade Mass
Friday 14th March- Year Two Grade Mass
Friday 28th March- Year Three Grade Mass
Term 1 Family Mass dates, Sunday 9am at Sacred Heart Church
Families are encouraged to attend their allocated Family Mass- students from Years 3 to 6 will be invited to take part in a special role at the Mass. We ask that the families from K-2 please bring a plate along to their allocated Family Mass.
16th February- Kinder and Year Six Buddy Mass
2nd March- Family Mass with students and families in McAuley House (Blue)
9th March- Family Mass with students and families in MacKillop House (Green)
23rd March- Year Six Confirmation Candidates ‘Commitment Mass’
30th March- Family Mass with students and families in Champagnat House (Gold)
6th April- Family Mass with students and families in Polding House (Red)
Kristen Jackson,
Religious Education Coordinator.
Our Catholic faith is built on and nourished by relationships –
relationships with our God and with each other. Mk 12:30-31
That means, the greatest gift is love and it’s free!
Family & Faith Educator group activities and dates for Term 1.
Playgroup every Monday fortnight. Beginning Monday 10th Feb.
Parents, Grandparents, carers are welcome to join our Sacred Heart community playgroup for you & your toddlers. Bring a snack for your child & morning tea is provided for adults.
Walking for Wellbeing, every Tuesday morning after school drop off at 8:45am
Beginning Week 2, Tuesday 11th Feb.
Walking helps to promote physical fitness, mobility & healthy activity.
Helps broaden social & community bonds & improves mental health.
Parents, carers & friends are all welcome.
Stop, Pray & Reflect , every Wednesday 9:15am.
Beginning week 2, Wednesday 12th Feb.
Meet in the Holy Family Church for morning mass at 9:15 am
This is a time for you to sit & relax after the morning rush & be aware of God’s Presence. Followed by coffee & morning tea.
FAITH & LIFE ARE NOT SEPARATE, BUT ONE.
I am happy to pray for you and your family members.
I can take your intentions with me to Wednesday morning Mass. Just reach out to me at the front gate in the morning or on email anna.macri@syd.catholic.edu.au with the name of your loved one. These prayers always remain confidential.
I hope you can participate whenever you can in one or more activities, and I look forward to meeting more of you in 2025.
Anna Macri
Family & Faith Educator
Welcome to the 2025 school year! I hope you and your family had a restful and enjoyable break. It is always wonderful to see our students return with enthusiasm, ready to learn and grow.
As most of you are aware, as Leader of Teaching and Learning at Sacred Heart, my role is to lead and collaborate with teachers in curriculum delivery, effective pedagogy, and assessment practices to support them in ensuring that every child is both supported and challenged in their learning. This year, with a continued focus on Curriculum Reform, the Sydney Catholic Schools ‘Excellence in Action’ approach emphasises evidence-based principles and a data-informed approach to assessment, which we are committed to at Sacred Heart to strengthen student growth in literacy and numeracy.
At Sacred Heart, we recognise that Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment are the three key dimensions of high-quality learning:
- Curriculum outlines what students are expected to learn.
- Pedagogy refers to the teaching approaches used to engage and support student learning.
- Assessment allows us to evaluate student progress and inform future teaching.
For learning to be most effective, these three elements work together seamlessly in every classroom.
I am also delighted to welcome Miss Jess Hollingsworth to our team in her new role as Coordinator of Assessment & Data. Miss Hollingsworth will be working closely with me to support teachers in using assessment data to drive learning and tailor instruction to meet student needs.
I look forward to a fantastic year ahead and encourage open communication between home and school. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth and success for all our students.
Warm regards,Nerissa McCartney
I hope you all had a rested and refreshing summer break. As we begin the new school year, we continue our commitment to fostering a positive and supportive learning environment where every child can thrive.
One of our key wellbeing initiatives, the Grow Your Mind program, will continue in all classes from Kindergarten to Year 6. This program helps children develop essential skills for resilience, emotional intelligence, and a positive mindset. Through engaging activities, students will learn how to care for their own mental wellbeing and support their peers.
Additionally, we will continue to reinforce our School-Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning (SPBL) framework, with focus on our key expectations: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Kind. These values guide our daily interactions and help create a safe and inclusive school community.
As part of our SPBL approach, the students have selected some exciting end-of-term rewards that they will work towards by earning reward tokens. We encourage you to chat with your child about the expectations and celebrate their efforts in demonstrating these positive behaviours.
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We look forward to a fantastic year ahead, filled with growth, kindness, and learning. Thank you for your ongoing support in nurturing your child’s wellbeing.
Have a great week!
Amanda Macourt
Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement
We are excited to inform you that the Student Representative Council (SRC) will be starting in Week 3 of this term! The SRC provides our students with a wonderful opportunity to develop leadership skills, contribute to school initiatives, and be actively involved in decision-making processes that impact their school community.
SRC Member Elections:
Each year, the committee is formed with a peer-elected representative from every class. The class will hold a vote to select one student to become their official SRC member. The Year 6 students take on the leadership role, guiding the younger students in discussions, and facilitating the weekly meetings.
Weekly SRC Meetings:
Once elected, the SRC member will attend weekly meetings where they will have the chance to discuss important topics and plan initiatives that aim to improve school life. We are also encouraging students to get involved in the process—each week, the SRC member will be allowed to bring a friend along to the meeting. This helps foster collaboration and allows more students to participate in leadership activities.
As an integral part of the school’s decision-making process, the SRC plays a key role in creating a school culture that fosters respect, collaboration, and kindness. By working together, the SRC promotes positive relationships throughout the school, helping to create an environment that enhances the confidence and self-esteem of every student.
Thank you for your continued support as we encourage our students to grow as leaders!
Warm regards,
Miss Abbey Adamo
Welcome to the first sporting edition of 2025! We are looking forward to a great year in everything sport with many sporting events, gala days, MacKillop trials and so much more planned ahead. I am looking forward to another exciting year alongside you all and our students.
To start us off, I would like to begin by notifying Year 5 and Year 6 parents that expressions of interest for sporting pathways opened last year. Parents should have received a reminder email on Compass in week 1 for parents to register interest.. The sports included are netball, football (soccer), rugby league, rugby union, hockey, softball, diving, touch and rugby 7’s (girls only). For sports with a high level of interest, a physical in school trial will need to be held to select students. Please note that before registering your interest, students must meet requirements which will be listed on the information sheet with the link to register your interest. This includes but is not limited to:
- The student is to demonstrate a high level of skill development and talent in desired sport
- The student is to have experience playing in regular competition outside of school
- School requirements
- Age restrictions
- Selection trials are not come and try activities for students - Do not send students with limited experience
On Monday the 3rd of March, the Sydney Catholic Schools Primary Conference 1 Swimming Championships will be taking place at Des Renford Aquatic Centre in Maroubra. We will have 25 students representing Sacred Heart at this event. The students who have progressed will have been determined by their placings at last year's swimming carnival. More information to come as the event nears.
As our year begins, with sporting carnivals coming soon, please be reminded that SCS requires additional steps for parents to volunteer. If you are looking to volunteer for any sporting events this year, please be sure to have completed all the steps in the volunteer information pack. If you require this information or are unsure, please do not hesitate to email me or the office.
That’s all for now in sporting news. I look forward to an exciting year of sports and giving you all further updates on our student achievements throughout the year. Bring on 2025! Until next time!
Kind Regards,
Miss Austrie Calizar
Sports Co-ordinator
Netball 2025 – Registrations for Year 2-6
Netball registrations for Years 2-6 are now open and will close on Wednesday 12 February. All information regarding the 2025 netball season including registration links, training times, season dates etc is available on the Sacred Heart Mosman Sports Club website: shmsportsclub.org.au
Grading Years 4-6
Grading for Years 4, 5 & 6 will be held after school on Thursday 13 February and Tuesday 18 February at Marie Bashir Centre, Cross St, Mosman (times TBC). The first grading session will start at 3.30pm. Parents will be provided further information about grading start and finish times.
Contact Suzanne O’Neil, SHM Netball Coordinator: shmnetball@gmail.com
From our Shelves to your Hands:
"LIBRARY NEWS"
school shoes! A warm welcome to all of our new students and staff. We
always say that the new year awaits us like the chapters of a book waiting to
be written!
The Library will be open Tuesdays and Fridays for borrowing. Please check your
child’s time table for when their class has Library. Books can be returned any
day of the week. In addition, we have Library Lunch Club every Tuesday, 2 nd
lunch.
Scholastic Book Club, Issue 1 is available. Brochures will be sent home this
week including instructions for new families on how to order. Orders are
placed online and the brochure can also be viewed – scholastic.com.au/LOOP.
Every purchase made, earns school rewards that can be used to purchase
valuable educational resources that benefit all our students.
The 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) will open to students on Monday
February 24 th . Students will receive their unique login details shortly. PRC is
not a competition but a challenge for each student to read, read more and
read more widely. Last year, we had 222 students complete the challenge
which was an amazing achievement.
Australia participate in what constitutes ‘a warm hug for your ears’ – they have
a story read to them at the same time as their peers across the country.
Book Week
Our favourite time of the year is of course, Book Week. This year’s
celebrations start on Saturday 16 th August. The 2025 theme is – BOOK AN
ADVENTURE! We have lots of activities in store for our students and some
amazing authors booked to visit our school.
Looking forward to sharing our love of literacy and our wonderful range of
books with you all in the Library.
Happy reading!
Cecilia Jago and Josie Spano