As we enter the Advent season in preparation for Christmas we often forget the real reason for the season in the frantic rush of finishing the year, shopping for presents, social functions and planning for holidays. Advent is a time of expectation, when we prepare our home and our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Over the weeks before Christmas let us take the time to consider others, be kind to all and worry less about the pressures of the Christmas season.

Our Year 10 students have now completed one week of their work experience program. Already they have learned lessons about being in the work force and being an adult. They have a second week this week and we look forward to them returning with a myriad of experiences and lots of stories. They were very well prepared for this opportunity by completing the Beyond Sacred Heart program. And according to all reports the program lived up to its reputation and we are extremely grateful to the many community members who gave up their time, shared their wisdom and supported our students. Thank you to Ms Withers and Mr Mahon for their efforts in providing this experience.

Last Friday we celebrated the Thanksgiving Mass for our Year 6 students as they acknowledge the end of their Primary education at Sacred Heart. It was a fitting celebration with their parents, families and school community to witness them pass the mantle of leadership to our Year 5 students. Thank you to Mrs Maxwell for a lovely Mass and to the Stage 3 teachers who helped prepare the students.

Our Stage 3 students leave tomorrow morning for their biannual trip to Ballarat and Sovereign Hill. This is the culmination of a long year’s planning and organisation and we thank the teachers – Mrs McLeod, Mrs Maxwell, Mrs Winsor, Ms Van Kerk Oerle who have generously volunteered to accompany the students. The itinerary is action packed and promises a week of fun. We pray for safe travel and positive experiences.

DON’T FORGET: The world renowned online educator Kirra Pendergast will speak to students, staff and parents on Wednesday 4 December. This is a fantastic opportunity to consider what the new legislation will mean for children, their parents and educators as we strive to keep our children safe in a perilous online world. Only today Kirra was quoted on the ABC responding to the social media ban and the demand for online platforms like Roblox to be reclassified as social media because of the dangers in the open chat room features. Parents must be informed about the risks posed in chat rooms and the subversive and confronting nature of many features in commonly used “games”. Don’t miss out on hearing from an expert who will detail different ways you can help to protect your child/ren. The presentation will be held in the Infants Breakout space at 6pm. Please notify the school if you are attending so we can prepare the space appropriately.

REMINDERS FROM THE LAST NEWSLETTER: It is always the same every year that our students have growth spurts and some uniform pieces/shoes no longer fit. We appreciate at this time of year that it is costly to purchase new items when there are still 10 weeks until the 2025 school year begins and some students grow exponentially in the summer break. If you need to send a student in something other than school uniform because you are waiting until next year to purchase uniform items then PLEASE SEND THEM WITH A NOTE that details that.  This will avoid teachers questioning uniform choices. It does not however mean that students an choose to wear sports uniform until the end of the year because that is their preference.

Please note in your diaries that our students will return for 2025 on Tuesday 4 February. Teachers will return to school on 31 January and 3 February and the Front Office will be open. As we finalise preparations for 2025 it is important that you have notified the school of any changes to your plans for 2025 and contacted me nicky.trinder@cg.catholic.edu.au if you would like consideration in class placements. All care is taken in the construction of the classes to provide a positive class in which the students can work and consideration of special requests is given but not a guarantee. I am very happy to have the necessary conversations if you would prefer.

The Infants Swimming program begins this week. This is an intensive program designed to develop the fundamental skills and confidence for our littlest students to be safe in and around water. Thank you to Mrs Hunt for her organisation and to the Infants staff for their support of this important initiative.

With less than 3 weeks to go until the close of the academic school year we still have lots to get through before we close on 18 December. Attendance is still vitally important and students are required to be at school everyday unless they have parental permission and a note is supplied. Teachers are busy finalising end of semester reports and they are setting up the learning required in the new year so there are still many things to cover and get through.

Take care in the coming weeks and remember that there is always a reason to be kind.

God Bless.

Ms Nicky Trinder

Principal