The final week for Term 3 2024. It is amazing to think that we are staring down the final term of the year. We are finishing this term with a bang. Our Year 9 students left today to head to Melbourne for their city experience. It promises to be full of fabulous experiences and memories.  Thank you to the teachers; Ms Murray, Mr Smith, Mrs McPherson and Mrs Simmons who are accompanying the students. Hopefully they manage to get lots of sleep and everyone has a wonderful time. At this stage the Science Fair is still on but the weather forecast is not looking great for Wednesday. We will monitor the weather and make a decision possibly much later this afternoon. Our Traditions Day Mass has been postponed until the first Friday of next term because Fr Lolesio has to travel to Brisbane this week. We will still finish the term with our House community event of bingo. Our Kinder students are having an excursion to the town library tomorrow and they are excited about learning what it has to offer. Our Year 8 students and their parents are invited to the Stage 5 Elective showcase evening tomorrow Tuesday 24 September beginning at 5.40pm, this gives our students the opportunity to hear about the subjects on offer for their elective choices for 2025 and beyond. Our Kinder 2025 students will return for their third orientation morning on Thursday. It has been a smooth experience for all our students and this supports the transition that they will make next year when they formally begin their primary education. Thank you to our fabulous staff who do extra to make sure that these opportunities are valuable and beneficial. We are excited to welcome 85 new students into our transition programs. Please let anyone know that may be interested that there is still time to consider Sacred Heart for 2025.

Stage 3 will be sharing The Journey with Jesus retreat on Tuesday. This is a faith-filled experience for our Year 5 and 6 students. The day is packed with games, activities, dramas, videos and talks that all explore the Gospel messages of God’s love, salvation, and forgiveness. From this retreat we are aiming to form a school-based youth ministry group. Some of our Year 10 students have been selected to help lead this new initiative.

Our fabulous new school beanies have arrived and they look spectacular. They are a stylish addition to our uniform and we hope that the students and staff wear them with pride. With some colder weather still possible this week the students might get a chance to wear them before they pack them away for the summer.

Last week our new Community Council executive met for the first time to consider the charter and the function and purpose of the new parent/community body. We are very blessed to have wonderful people who are prepared to give up their valuable time to be a voice for the parents and to be a wise advisory body. CE have instituted the new structure and the original School Board model has been phased out. Sacred Heart has always been blessed with such wise and invested people who have spent time on the Board. In particular we would like to acknowledge the service and skills of Mrs Elizabeth Bodycott, Mr Chris Drum and Mr John English who have given tireless hours to be involved in meetings, discussions and considerations for the future, wellbeing and directions of the school. Thank you to Ms Lucy Webster, Mrs Rebekah Twyford, Mr Gareth Jones, Mrs Debbie Cram, Ms Lisa Buchanan and Fr Lolesio who will make up the Executive moving forward. The model recommended by the CE advocates that there are at least two opportunities over the school year for an open Council meeting with any members of the community who have tabled agenda items. Any information about the formation of the Council and its function is available on request.

Remember if you have to choose between being extraordinary or kind - be extraordinarily kind.

God Bless

Ms Nicky Trinder

Principal