Life post-COVID has pretty well returned to normal at school and the NAPLAN testing program is an obvious sign that it is business as normal. All students in 3,5,7 and 9 will complete the tests over this coming week with make-up tests spilling over into next week. Students are reminded to make sure their iPads are fully charged and they have earphones and a positive attitude.

Please make note that there has been a change of date for the Annual Athletics Carnival. Due to a few extenuating circumstance the carnival has been shifted to TUESDAY 1 June at Albert Park. We will also continue with the K-10 model that was introduced last year but, unlike last year, parents are invited and encouraged to attend. We will still require all spectators to sign in upon arrival at the park and we hope it will be nice weather and a wonderful day. We are seeking parent support in assisting with the carnival. If you are able to help please contact Megan Withers or Wendy Van Kerk Oerle at school.

This Friday 14 May will also be the Annual Young Soccer Gala Day. We will have over 90 students participating in this carnival and we thank the parents who have been able to assist with managing a team or providing transport. Our primary students are very excited about the opportunity to participate in a regional sporting day. Hopefully it will be a successful day for all concerned. A reminder that normal school uniform expectations still apply for any sporting event or excursion. Children are required to wear the full sports uniform including the broad brimmed hat and to have their own water bottle with them. We will look forward to photos in next week’s newsletter

Next Wednesday 19 May we will reinstitute our community breakfast program. We invite all members of our school community to join us after 8am to share breakfast and meet with other parents and teachers in the secondary BBQ area. Once again we will ask parents to sign in as they arrive for breakfast.

We will also celebrate the learning and development of our 2N students when they present their annual assembly this THURSDAY 13 May at 11.45. We have needed to switch the date from the traditional Friday presentation because of the Soccer Carnival and so many students being out of school. We invite all parents of 2N students to join us in the Infants breakout space. We will have QR codes for scanning upon arrival at the space.

Last week’s Camp Hudson experience for our Year 7 and 8 students was fabulous. The students had a wonderful time being immersed in a range of different aspects of the indigenous Wiradjuri culture. We thank Mrs Maher for her organisation and catering. We also included a spiritual reflection activity for our Year 7 students on the Wednesday evening that saw them consider goals and future directions for their lives. They wrote a letter to themselves which were sealed in messages sticks for them to reopen when they are finishing their time at Sacred Heart in Year 10 2024. Thank you to all the teachers who helped with the management of the immersion and to Peter Beath who shared his wisdom, culture and experiences with our Year 8 students.

We continue to push the importance of attendance to improving student outcomes and building lifelong skills. Please contact the classroom teacher/PCA if you have any issues or challenges around attendance.

The challenges of being a teacher in this day and age are always evolving, as are the challenges of being a parent. We are very appreciative of the support that our parents give to the school community and we are privileged to have such an important role in our students’ lives. However, the role of parents is, and always has been, to be the first teacher. As parents we strive to keep honest conversations happening with our children and to set them clear and realistic boundaries for their safety and development. With all the competing pressures on our young people we encourage them to continue to ask their parents for guidance and advice. Over the coming weeks and terms we hope to be able to present different information sessions to our students about challenges in their world. We will keep you informed so that you are also able to join in on the conversations around topics like; vaping, being safe on social media, positive relationships and bullying. Stay tuned and informed!!!

Remember: If you can be anything…be kind!

“Go gently” was the parting message from Fr Kevin every time I saw him. It is sage advice for us all!

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal