We have made it through the penultimate week for Term 1. It has been the biggest start to the year that I can recall in my experience. We have had it all it seems and still our students and staff have made the best of the opportunities this term. Thank you to all our families, students and staff for their commitment to the learning at Sacred Heart.

It is with sadness that I announce the resignation of Mrs Pamela Cohen effective at the end of this term. Pamela has been a very loyal and important member of our staff, in a variety of roles for a number of years and offered a wealth of experience and exceptional skills as an English, Art, literacy and Classroom support teacher. We thank Pamela for her many and varied contributions to our school and the passion she brought to everything that she did. She will be sorely missed. We wish her every possible happiness and blessing as she begins this new stage of her life and hope that she will continue to visit and be a “casual” part of our community.

This week has seen a very small outbreak of COVID in our secondary school. There have been two cases reported in the past days and there are many others who are isolating due to being close contacts. Please be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms and continue testing as needed. If you could inform the school, via the Front Office asap, when there is a positive case it would be greatly appreciated.

This afternoon we had a flurry of activity in the Infants space with the decorating of the Easter Hats for next week’s parade. It was lovely to see parents able to come in and volunteer as helpers in the classrooms. At this stage helpers are required to be vaccinated but for assemblies and information sessions there is no expectation of vaccinations. Hopefully as we edge towards the holidays we will see more and more things return to pre-covid normal. We will keep you informed of any changes as they come to hand.

Also today we saw the return of the Mock trial competition for 2022. The scheduling of a trial has been fraught with logistical nightmares and COVID afflicted opposition but today we conducted the trial virtually. Our Year 10 team conducted themselves with distinction and are shaping up to be one of our best teams yet in terms of dedication, effort and enthusiasm. They competed against the Riverina Anglican College this morning and were very polished in their legal knowledge and presentation. Congratulations to the team: Brock Holder, Lily Murphy, Sam Grewal, Dieter Dickinson, Harmony Whicker, Ashlyn Perry, Lucy Deep, Ned Murray, Niall Lambert, Chloe Anderson and Emma Shields. They will compete against Canberra Grammar in the new term.

Last night 17 students experienced the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. It was the culmination of many weeks of afternoon preparation and a twilight retreat. Thank you to Mrs Maxwell, Ms Van Kerk Oerle and Miss Long for their assistance in preparing the children and the lovely reverent celebration. They will make their First Holy Communion at the Parish mass on Sunday. Please keep them and their families in your prayers as they walk this important part of their faith journey. Thank you to Fr Lolesio and Sr Kathy for their prayerful and passionate support.

Yesterday our Rugby 10 teams competed in the Young Western Region Rugby 10s carnival and had the very best day. Both teams have made it through to the next level and we wish them every success in the next round. Please see the sports reports for further details.

Next week will be the final week for Term 1. We still have a host of things to get through next week and we are looking forward to the holidays and some R & R. We will conduct the annual Cross Country event next week for Years 3-10 at the Golf Course, Friday 8 April and hopefully the weather will be kind and our students will have the best day. We will also stage the annual Passion Play for our Faith community. All are invited to attend this wonderful commemoration of the Easter message and the Passion of Christ at 10am on Thursday 7 April in the church.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and enjoys the extra hour sleep – I know I will. Remember it doesn’t cost anything to be kind!

Kind regards,

Ms Nicky Trinder

Principal

Yr 1 Reflection Day

On Wednesday of Week 7 Yr. 1 gathered together to enjoy their Reflection Day. The theme of the day was ”Caring for God’s Creation.” The focus of the day was to look at all the wonderous things that are part of creation and how we can care for them.

Parish Sacramental Program

Sacraments of Reconciliation

Last night, 17 students received the Sacrament of their First Reconciliation. This Sunday at these students will receive the Sacrament of their first Eucharist. Please keep these students in your prayers.

Alexander Byrne

Anna Clark

George Clark

Oliver Daley

Evelyn Drum

Ryan England

Charlotte Gay

Ned Hazlett

Brayden Kimber

Sophie Knewstub

Ruby Mitchell

Charlie Patterson

Thomas Shields

Eli Slattery-Jones

Reuben Smith

Ava Smith

William Stevens

Lent: Project Compassion

As we entre into the last couple of weeks of Lent please continue to consider the communities around the world that need our support. Please return the Project Compassion Boxes to school in Week 1 of Term 2.

Biru, 30, lives in a rural village in Jharkand State in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child, which makes it difficult for him to walk. He managed to complete his education until grade six but was always dependent on his parents to get him to school because he was unable to walk so far on his own. A member of India’s Ho ethnic minority population, Biru started to work as a shepherd from a young age, looking after other people’s cattle. He continued this work, after he married his wife, Budhni and had four daughters, even though keeping up with the cattle was a challenge. “The problem was that I couldn't walk in mud, I used to fall and the grazing cattle would sometimes make me run, I could not handle them. I also used to face psychological challenges,” Biru says. “Looking at others who did not have a disability, I wondered what it was like to be them. I was wondering how to look after my family”. Over 26 million people who have a disability in India also live in poverty. A further, 69 percent of the population living with a disability reside in rural areas which makes access to support services, education and employment an even greater challenge.1 Discrimination can further limit job opportunities and lead to social exclusion. Although he had taught himself to repair bicycles, by watching other people, Biru never dreamed of using his skills to start his own business. Then in 2016, Caritas India’s staff saw Biru struggling to walk along with the cattle and invited him to join its Community Led Development and Governance (Gram Nirman) program which is supported by Caritas Australia. The program works with tribal communities and vulnerable groups, such as people living with a disability, women and the elderly. It supports them to develop small businesses, including improving farming and financial management skills, which helps them to increase their incomes.

Holy Week

Over the next week students will be participating in a wide variety of activities that explore and help us make connection to the events of Holy Week. Today, Stage 3 reacted the last supper. They used their 5 senses to experience the tastes, sights, feelings, smells and sounds of the special meal that Jesus shared with his apostles.

Naplan.jpg

~Year 10 Sydney Excursion Fundraiser~

Tickets available from Year 10 students or the Front Office.

Cross Country 

Next week on Friday is our annual Cross Country event. Students are to meet at the Rugby Club oval by 8:30 for roll marking. Bus students need to get off the bus at Cootamundra High and a Sacred Heart staff member will walk the students to the oval. 

Participants will walk the course before completing their race. 

If you are able to assist on the day please contact us at megan.withers@cg.catholic.edu.au or wendy.vankerkoerle@cg.catholic.edu.au or the office on 0269422612.

Primary Sport

Rugby 10s

Yesterday in Young our students in stage two and three participated in the western region rugby 10s competition. 

Our stage two team topped their pool.

Stage three came second in their pool only losing by two in the finals against Coota public.

Both teams showed respect and sportsmanship. 

A special thanks to Mr Dunk and Mr Byrne for coaching.

Congratulations to both teams who have made it to the next level in Wagga on the 6th of May

CG cricket trials 

The CG cricket trials that were scheduled for this Friday the 11th of March have been postponed. All relevant students have been notified. The new date is set for Thursday 7th of April, 9:30 in Gundagai. 

CG Netball and League trials

Good Luck to Jake Harris and Jett Johnson, who have travelled to Canberra today to trial for CG rugby league. We will report on their progress next week. 

Primary Sport Dates

Regards

Wendy Van Kerk Oerle

Primary Sports Coordinator

Secondary Sport

Sacred Heart Team Nominations for Gala Days

Please keep checking the Secondary SPORT @ SHC google classroom for forms to complete. These are expressions of interest only, and so further information can be distributed.

Good Luck

Best of luck to the students attending trials and carnivals next week:

• Southern Country Opens Soccer teams
• Dieter Dickinson, Blake Holder, Riley Mills, Alex English
• April Dickinson, Lily Murphy
• NSWCCC Swimming Carnival
• Josh Harris, Jake Winsor, Xavier Jones, Blake Holder
• Emma Simmons, Isobel Cram, Emma Sheilds, Ellie Lake

Secondary Sport Dates

For further information, see Ms Withers or go to:

• CSNSW Sport: website (https://csnsw.sport/)
• CG Sport: Canberra Goulburn Sport nominations page (https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations)
• Sport @ SHC: Secondary Google Classroom (student code - xcdqo3f) https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/Njk2NjYzNTMxM1pa 

For school teams to go away to gala days and competitions, students must return their note and money by the due date to be eligible to attend the excursion.

As always, if you are concerned about anything to do with PE or Sport, please arrange a meeting or get in contact with me so we can work out a solution. We want everyone to be involved in all aspects of school life, to the best of their ability and feel good about their experience.

I can be contacted at megan.withers@cg.catholic.edu.au or on 02 69422612 during school hours. 

Regards

Megan Withers

Secondary Sports Coordinator