I am back sitting at my desk this week after a hectic week of activity where, once again, the Sacred Heart community proved its worth.

Thank you for the Fete!

Last Friday night despite many reservations and worried examinations of the weather apps we decided to proceed with the biannual Fete. So much work had gone into its preparation and it was always going to be difficult to find an alternative date, so ahead we went! It was a fabulous evening that was just reward for the hardworking committee. Despite the looming clouds there were pockets of warm autumn evening and the crowd grew and enjoyed the activities, the food and the fellowship. The chocolate wheel was laden with some amazing prizes and we are grateful to a very generous community for donating some wonderful prizes. All the stalls were very busy and nearly all of the supplies ran very low by the end of the evening. The skies eventually opened up and down came the rain in an absolute deluge that saw a mad flurry of activity to pack up the numerous stalls, tents and activities. The fete was very well supported by the staff who recognised the enormous contributions of the parents and students. Thank you to Nancye Smith and her fete committee for hours and hours of work, thank you to our sponsors who made the event even more profitable and to our students who enthusiastically set up and packed up. A final figure of profit has not been finalised but we still have many left over prizes that we plan to auction or raffle throughout the year.  Please see the list below of all our wonderful sponsors

RETREATS

Today our Year 8 students shared in the retreat program with St Anne’s Temora and McCauley in Tumut at the Cootamundra Stadium. It was a special time to reflect on their own faith journey and to spend time with their peers from across the diocese. Thank you to the CYSMA team for leading the retreat under the guidance of Mr Nathan Galea, the Project Officer : New Evangelisation in Catholic Schools. Tomorrow our year 9 students will be part of a similar program to support their understanding of their faith. Thank you to Mrs Maxwell for all her organisation.

Camp Hudson

We are all very excited about our year 7 Indigenous Immersion that will be happening at camp Hudson this Thursday and Friday. We thank Mrs Maher and Ms Marsay for all their organisation and their passion to develop tolerance and understanding of our cultural history. We pray that the weather is kind to them all! They will need to pack sensible clothes, warm bedding (swags for the boys) and be prepared to involved in all activities.

NAPLAN Online

All Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will have completed the demonstration tests for NAPLAN online throughout this week. This new testing platform will be the format for the NAPLAN tests in Week 3 term 2. All students will use their own BYOD except year 3 who will use the desktop units in the lab. Please ensure that they are fully charged and ready for the tests throughout the week. These are not meant to be onerous or stressful but basically to test the bandwidth and technology support for the testing period at a later date. Thank you to Mrs Thompson for coordinating this new initiative for our school.

Day One Term 2

A reminder that Day One Term 2 29 April is a Staff Professional Learning Day and the students do not return to school until Tuesday 30 April. On the Monday we will host over 100 teachers from around the diocese to learn about the Challenging Learning Model to improve student outcomes and differentiation. Students will return in the winter uniform (with two weeks’ grace).

First Reconciliation and Eucharist

This Thursday evening our latest cohort of communicants will make their First Reconciliation, and at the Saturday Vigil mass will celebrate their first Eucharist. This is a very special time for our small group  - Lillian McGuiness, John McGuiness, Lucy Shields, Macey Bryant, Zane Lange, Isabella Ward and  Archie O’Brien who have been devoted to their preparation over the past weeks under the guidance of Mr O’Brien. We wish them the richest of God’s blessings and pray that their life is enriched by the commitment to their faith journey.  Please join with us at either celebration to share this special moment. Congratulations to them all and thank you to their families for their support of the Sacramental Program.

Cross Country

The last day of Term One 12 April will be the annual Cross Country Carnival. This is a mandatory school day and activity and all students are expected to attend and participate. It will be held at the Cootamundra Country Club from 9.05. Information will be sent home today regarding the schedule for the day and requesting additional help on the numerous checkpoints around the course. Please contact Mrs Maxwell or Mrs Litchfield if you can spare a couple of hours. All children, unless they are collected by a parent or guardian at the completion of the carnival (about 12noon), will return to school for the remainder of the day.

Shave for a Cure

Another reminder that Leila Ismay will part with her glorious locks to support research into blood cancers. This will happen on the return to school after the Cross Country. If you would like to donate to this wonderful cause we have a collection tin on the Front Office or you can lodge your donation on line  - https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?RegristrationID=734913

PHOTO DAY

Next Tuesday 9^th April is Photo Day. It is full summer uniform and normal hair and makeup rules apply. Please ensure that you have returned the payment envelopes and identified whether you would like family portraits as well.

Have a fabulous week!

God bless

Mrs Nicky Trinder