In our final week of Term Two we acknowledge all the amazing learning, activities, sport and experiences that have gone on. Our staff work tirelessly to ensure all our students have the very best opportunities to achieve growth and success. Our investment in the literacy and numeracy programs in our school, particularly K-2, have borne exceptional results and we thank Catholic education for the financial investment in our students. Today all our reports will be sent home. Our Primary students will receive their report package and our Secondary student reports will be mailed home. Please read them closely using the reporting criteria to recognise the skills and habits we are trying to build in our students. Accompanying the reports will be a letter with instructions on how to book a parent teacher interview for Term Three. As already noted in previous newsletter, the reports are devoid of comments but all aspects and grading will be explained at the interviews with greater clarity and effectiveness.

Personalised Plans

Also being mailed home today are the Personalised Plans (PPs) to support the differentiated and individualised learning of students who require tailored programs. These contain a receipt that needs to be returned to school as a legal requirement to acknowledge that you have received and read the document. Teachers at Sacred Heart are committed to ensuring that all students are given the opportunity to learn and reach their full potential at school, in all areas of their school life.  Some students may require the teacher to make adjustments or accommodations to their teaching, or to the learning environment, so that they will achieve success at school.  If a teacher is making adjustments for a child, these adjustments must be documented in a Personalised Plan (PP). It is a requirement of Catholic Schools NSW that teachers record all adjustments, through an online tool.  This online tool outlines student details, along with details of the support the student is receiving, the types of adjustments being made, and the goals being set for this student. As parents, it is important that we share this plan with you so that you have the opportunity to see and discuss the adjustments and the types of goals being set for your child.  It is an opportunity for you, your child’s teacher and in many cases, your child, to share, add to, discuss and further develop the PP. Please contact the Front Office if you have any queries.

Work of the Week

We have had so many nominations for Work of the Week that I had to choose two different examples of outstanding work. The first was shared between Charlotte Gay and Ned Hazlett of 1GH for their excellent mathematical skills in addition and subtraction of large numerals. Also our Stage 1 students spent some time with Mr Alderman in the Woodwork room constructing little wooden crosses for their prayer boxes.

Enrolment 2020

Over the past week we have welcomed possible new enrolments for next year. It is so exciting to see new faces who would like to join us as part of our Sacred Heart community. Our 2020 Kindergarten parents were introduced to all the wonderful things on offer at Sacred Heart and then were taken on a tour by our school leaders. Our students are our greatest asset and it was obvious to all the parents how our students feel comfortable and settled in our environment. This definitely makes for better learning and development. Yesterday our 2020 Year 7 students toured the school and sampled many of the different activities and learning on offer. From the chromatography experiment in the Science Lab to the bounteous feast in the Food Tech rooms it was a wonderful showcase of what we do well!! If you know of anyone who would like further information about possible enrolment please contact the Front Office and we will mail out relevant information.

Western Region

Last Friday Cootamundra hosted the Western Region Athletics Carnival. We welcomed students from 11 different schools as they competed for a pathway to Archdiocesan level. A huge thank you to Mrs Natalee Litchfield for her seamless convening of the carnival, to Mrs Megan Gale and her 9/10 PASS class who assisted with the running of events and to our wonderful staff and students who gave 100% to all that they did. The weather was exceptional and we were definitely blessed to have such a beautiful day. I have attached part of an email that recognised what we already knew, that we have the very best students.

Congratulations on such a wonderful carnival on Friday. Our parents, students and myself are grateful to you and your Cootamundra team for such a well organised, smooth-running carnival. Couldn’t have asked for better weather. Everything ran smoothly. I was particularly impressed with the gracious support from your senior students at the start of the day who willingly offered to help put up tents. Please pass on my sincere thanks to them with a compliment for their beautiful manners.

Sacred Heart Feast Day

This Friday at 11.45 we will celebrate Sacred Heart Feast Day Mass as a school community. This special way to finish such a productive term and to recognise all is great about our school. This will be followed by a sausage sizzle lunch and conclude with House trivia. The afternoon activities have been organised by our Senior School leaders and coordinated by Ms Marsay. We thank them for their efforts to finish the term in such a positive manner. All parents and parish community are very welcome to join us at Mass and for a BBQ lunch. If there are any parents who would like to volunteer to cook the 500 sausages then I would love to hear from you.

NAIDOC Week

When we return next term we will mark NAIDOC Week to recognise that we need to work together for a shared future and to celebrate the theme of Voice, Treaty Truth. More details will be made available as we refine our plans.

We hope that everyone manages to have a restful and relaxing holiday break and that all travel safely. Staff will be in Temora on Monday 22 July for an important presentation on the legal obligations and professional responsibilities of Duty of Care, social media, privacy and record keeping. This is an invaluable way for staff to learn about the current climate that we are working in. Students will return on Tuesday 23^rd July ready for another action packed term. All students are expected to be in full winter uniform and come prepared for a challenging 10 weeks of learning experiences.

Go gently and if you can be anything…be kind!

God Bless