We are now very settled into the term and there is lots on the horizon. Final assessments are looming already and teachers and students are working hard in preparation for these busy weeks in the classroom. Most students are now aware of the different expectations and the assessment/exam/test schedules. If at any time the students are unsure they are encouraged to speak with their teachers and/or coordinators/PCAs to help them make sense of their workload.

Thank you to everyone for their support of photo day. We are very relieved that we were able to have our annual school photos. In coming weeks the photos will be returned to school and distributed and we hope they become important memories of a very challenging and ‘interesting’ year.

The most recent updates for COVID restrictions have made little changes to our day-to-day operations. However, we are now relieved to relax the wearing of masks in the open. However the requirement to wear makes in the classroom will continue for all secondary students and staff. Our primary students are still encouraged to wear masks but it is not mandated. We are still waiting anxiously for some changes to the permissions for events and events. Currently work experience for our Year 10 students is on hold and we hope that this will change. The final weeks at Sacred Heart for our senior students could be very different from what we initially planned but we hope that it may still be fulfilling and of value. We are still maintaining COVID-safe practices and anyone presenting at school with COVID-like symptoms will be sent home and required to get a COVID negative test result to return to school.

As we are now back into the routine of school life and the ‘honeymoon’ period of being back together in the classroom and playground has started to wane, we now need to focus on how we interact and treat each other.  My mantra is always about being “kind” to each other. There is never an excuse NOT TO BE KIND. However, whether we can blame COVID and an over-reliance on social media in place of ‘normal’ human relations we have noticed an increase in behaviours that are definitely not kind. We are trying to encourage students to recognise that what they say over social media and in ‘overheard’ conversations can be deemed to be unkind. We need to appreciate that the communications that we send or say have consequences and that young people sometimes struggle to interpret tone and meaning behind lots of interactions. Despite social media advocating that we need to have lots of ‘friends’ often we are not being friendly. I would encourage parents to carefully monitor the chat groups that students are part of and some of the discussion and conversations that are happening in cyber world. The language and content may be inappropriate and many are oblivious to the impact that it is having on others. It is never an excuse to say “it was just a joke” or “ I didn’t mean it’ it is about how the communication is received that is the issue. The intention can be harmless (often it is not) but as we have seen the receiving of a message can do all the damage. As many of our community struggle with their mental wellness we need to be mindful of the messages that we send. We are trying to host another information session early next year with ‘Safe on Social’. This was a really popular presentation back at the start of 2020 that looked at the different apps and legalities. Stay tuned.

In coming weeks you will receive an email invite to join COMPASS through the parent portal. Please ensure that the email you have recorded at school is correct because this is where the invitation will be sent. COMPASS is our new communication/school information platform that will eventually replace Schoolzine. Please accept the invite and further instructions will be made available in coming weeks as to how to access the different information. It will include news updates, school reports, sickbay entries, permission slips and possibly small payments. Many schools are already using COMPASS and we have only heard good things. Stay tuned.

It was also remiss of me in last week’s newsletter to not acknowledge the wonderful efforts of Reuben Smith in 2W who competed in the Western Region Public Speaking last week. He was successful as the First Reserve for the Archdiocesan Finals. Congratulations!

Please remember to be kind – no act of kindness is ever wasted and it may just change someone’s day for the better.

God Bless

Ms Nicky Trinder

Principal