We have just had the biggest week! We could not have squeezed more into this past week if we had tried. We had Kinder and Year 7 transition programs running which meant an extra 55 students on the grounds. We had the highly successful Beyond Sacred Heart program which was enthusiastically received by our leaving Year 10 class. We had Years 7, 8, 9 exams (not so enthusiastically received). We had budget meetings. Catholic Education visits. We had assessments being marked. Reports being written. Phone calls being made. Every type of weather. We had sick students and sick staff. We had heaps of casual staff in to cover classes.  We had 2022 planning and preparation. We had NAPLAN analysis.  And in the midst of all that, we had lots of teaching moments and lots of tired students and staff.

But it was a good week!

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of 2021 and all its challenges and adventures. The final 5 weeks will also be jam-packed with the typical end-of-year ‘stuff’. Disappointingly for our Year 10 students they will be unable to finish their time at Sacred Heart with the traditional work experience opportunities but we hope that we can make their final weeks memorable. Thank you to Mr Mahon, Ms Withers, Mrs Murray for their huge efforts with organizing the final weeks and to all the staff who have helped out. Thank you to Ms McDonnell, Mrs Maher, Mrs Alexander and the entire Infants staff for a wonderful start to the Kinder orientation. The Infants classrooms were buzzing with excitement with all the new faces. Thank you to Mrs Chesworth, Mrs Hunt, Mrs Alexander and Mrs Maher for the wonderfully reverent Mary Gallery. This was a respectful and prayerful recognition of our Lady and the students created amazing artwork to honour Mary and to showcase all they had learnt about her.

Last Saturday night three dedicated members of the P & F hosted the S & C Bingo on the school’s behalf. They raised over $700 for their efforts in coordinating the bingo sales and the cake table. Thank you to Aaron and Balinda Walker and Mark Lake for their generous efforts. Thank you also to all those who donated goodies for sale on the night. This just illustrates what a fabulous community we have at Sacred Heart.

Coming home next week will be the NAPLAN reports. We received them in the past weeks and have had the opportunity to consider the results and what they tell us about our students. We always remember that they are a snapshot of a certain day in the entire educational journey and they are not definitive end point assessments of skills and potential but help build a picture of a student, class and cohort in combination with a whole range of other assessments. If you have any questions arising from the reports please make contact with your class teacher.

Remember there is never a reason not to be kind! If you have to choose between being extraordinary and kind – be extraordinarily kind. Be the bigger kindness and always choose kindness.

God Bless