Today I write from Bowral where the 56 Catholic School Principals meet for a System Day and a Retreat. This year we heard about the current financial programs and new procedures of our education system and the rational behind the incorporation of the Archdiocese. It has been a lovely opportunity to network with the other principals and learn about what is happening in other schools, successes and also what-not-to-do again. We have also had the privilege of hearing Fr Timothy Radcliffe a Dominican priest from England. His wisdom, humour and insight into how we can lead our schools in the mission of the church has been wonderful. Thank you to Erryn Marsay and our dedicated teachers for covering whilst I have been away.

Our First Eucharist students are also busily preparing for their sacrament. Please keep them in your prayers and we are grateful for the Faith and generosity of our Stage 2 teachers, Mrs Maxwell and Sr Kathy and Fr Lolesio.

The Parish BBQ that was postponed from the end of 2023 has been rescheduled for Sunday 17^th March . We hope to make this a wonderful Parish/School event where we introduce our school Leadership teams to the Parish. The Parish provides the meat and we ask families attending to bring a salad or dessert to share. It is an important connection with our Parish community and they are always praying for our students and our school. Many of them have a log term connection to the school and some were even responsible for many of the buildings and resources that we have utilised in the past. All are welcome but please rsvp to the Front Office.

We sit on the cusp of NAPLAN weeks. We begin the annual testing next week and the data that is available in a few months is valuable in future planning for our students. The indications of growth and areas for intervention are important for our school to better provide for our students. Please avoid making appointments during this time and please ensure that students come prepared with a charged IPad (not Year 3), earphones, keyboards (if they use one) and that they get lots of sleep prior to the tests. Please speak to your child’s teacher if you have any concerns, especially if a student is anxious.

Congratulations to our fabulous swimmers who were outstanding at the recent Boorowa and Queanbeyan carnivals. The dedication of our swimmers is inspiring and the results were especially good this year. Please read the sports report for the record of the results and the photos.

When I have the privilege of enrolling or interviewing new students I always inform them that we are not a perfect school. We do have perfect intentions to provide the best education and the best life skills for our students.  We aim to teach our students the value of kindness and taking responsibility for their education and their actions as they grow into maturity. Life isn’t always fair nor is it always nice but if you look for the joy in each day there are lots of reasons to be positive, happy and kind.

There is never a reason not to be kind.

God Bless

Ms Nicky Trinder

Archie Byrne

Catalina Carter - Pahulu

Izaiah Carter- Pahulu

Ella Clark

Sam Clark

Arthur Connolly

Juliet Daley

Sam Fairman

James Gay

Aleena Haisell

Joshua Knewstub

Scarlett Lange

Ignatius Burraston

Estee McLeod

Edie Roberts

Ella Sannazzaro

Venue: Sacred Heart School Library

Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm

Session 5: 7th March

Twilight Retreat and First Reconciliation: 14^th March 3.30pm–7.00pm(shared supper)

Sacrament of First Eucharist Celebration: Saturday 16^th March (6 pm Mass)

Re-establishment of Altar Servers

Together with the Parish we are looking to reestablish our altar servers’ program. Students who are in Year 4, 5, 6 and Secondary and who have made their First Eucharist are invited to be a part of our Parish Altar Serving Roster for the Saturday Masses. It is a beautiful ministry that you can offer your children in their faith life.

Mass Time

Saturday -5:00 pm and 6:00 pm (During Daylight saving)                                                                                                                                                              

For the children who wish to serve on the altar there will be training sessions at Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday 12th March, Tuesday 19th March and Tuesday 26th March with Sr Kathy Hodge and Mrs Patrece Maxwell

An information note has been sent home with interest students. Please return the slip below by Friday 8^th March 2024 if your child is interested.

Thank you. May the good Lord bless all you are doing for your child’s faith formation.

Project Compassion Week 4

MEMORY’S STORY (MALAWI)

Many young people in Malawi, especially girls, don’t have the chance to finish school. And if they do, there are not a lot of opportunities available after school. Memory is 26 years old and lives in rural Malawi. Her parents are subsistence farmers, which means they rely on what they can grow to survive. With the changing climate making it difficult to grow enough food, poverty levels remain high in Malawi. Nearly 70 per cent of the population live on less than $2.15 a day. This is one of the highest rates of poverty in the world.1 As the eldest of 5 children, Memory had to support her family with chores such as farming, carrying water, cooking and cleaning, while also attending school. “Growing up in the village was not easy. My parents don’t have a job, so they depend on farming. When the season goes wrong, we suffer a lot and become food insecure. Sometimes we need to bathe without soap. Sometimes we need to walk without shoes,” Memory said. “When I was in primary school, I went to school barefooted because my parents didn’t have money to buy shoes for me.” It is particularly hard for girls and women. When families are living in poverty, parents often make the difficult choice to only send their sons to school, thinking that when their daughters get married, their husbands will support them.

“Many women in my community drop out of school because they can’t afford school fees, which lead to early marriage and more poverty,” Memory said. “But I told myself I can’t stop going to school because this is the only way I can get a better life.” Memory worked hard to secure her dream. The local leaders in her village suggested Memory go to a college where they teach job skills like carpentry. “It was my dream to go to college, so I was very excited to get that opportunity. My parents also were very excited to see their daughter go to college,” Memory said. Caritas Australia’s partner, CADECOM, supported Memory with her course and boarding fees through a program called A+. The program has provided opportunities for more than 360 youth to be empowered through job skills such as welding, carpentry, tailoring and brick laying. “In my community, most people think that only men can be carpenters, so I want to prove to my community that women can do it as well,” Memory said.

Upcoming Faith Formation Events

First Eucharist and Reconciliation Sacramental Program Weeks 2-7

Year 9 Retreat (Cootamundra) - 12^th March

Year 8 Retreat (Cootamundra) March - 13th March

St Patrick’s Day Liturgy, Parish BBQ and Presentation of Student Leadership Team 17^th March 10:30am

Holy Week 24^th March- 31^st March

Sacrament of First Reconciliation Thursday 14^th March 6:00pm

Sacrament of First Eucharist Saturday 16th March 6:00pm

Yr 1 Reflection Day - 21^st March

Year 9 Enactment of the Passion of Our Lord: Thursday 28^th March 10am and Good Friday 29^th March 10 am.

Yr 6 Reflection Day  4^th April (New Date)

Term 1 Week 6

Triathlon 

Congratulations to all those who swam, biked and rode at our Triathlon. It was a great day.  Thankyou to  those parents who came down to cheer on our students. 

Swimming

Congratulations to all our swimmers who went to Boorowa to represent the Western Region. A special mention to: 

• Zoe Lake- Runner up 11yrs girls champion 

Zoe came first in the 50m backstroke with a time of 41.58. Second in 11yr girls 50 freestyle with a time of 25.64 and second in the 50m butterfly with a time of 41.16. Well done Zoe. Additionally, both our Junior and Senior Girls relay teams have qualified for Sydney.  

As a result the following students will represent the Canberra Goulburn at the next level on 3rd April in Sydney. 

Our team includes;

Full Results by all the Sacred Heart Swimmers can be found https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/results/swimming 

C&G Sporting Representatives

This program is an opportunity for our stage 3 students to trial and represent their sport at a higher level. It is up to parents to register for these events. If you have missed the closing date, please let us know and we will contact the organisers. Please go to https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc to register for any of these events. 

Athletics

Our SHC Athletics carnival is again set for early term 2, therefore we will start trialling and learning how to perform some of these events from week 6 this term. These will include, High Jump, Discus, long distance running, Long Jump and Shot Put. The top 6-8 students for High Jump and Discus will compete on the day. Students will be given the opportunity to practise and improve on these throughout the weeks. 

Primary Sport Dates

If you have any photos from any event please email them through and we will put them in the newsletter.

If you have any concerns or questions please don’t hesitate to contact me via email

Kind regards/

Wendy Van Kerk Oerle

Primary sports coordinator

wendy.vankerkoerle@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Secondary Sport

Canberra Goulburn Swimming

Well done to all the students who represented Sacred Heart at the CG Swimming on Tuesday in Queanbeyan.

Lily Berryman, Archie Blackman, Harry Blackman, Caitlyn Cram, Grace Derrick, Roy Dunk, Ella Gammon, Jake Harris, Josey Hoey, Blake Holder, Halle Johnson, Jett Johnson, Emerson Jones, Sarah Lake, Ellie Lake, Ashlee Peacey, Thomas Peacey, Sophie Sannazzaro, Darcy Thompson, Lucas Walker, Harry Winsor, Jake Winsor

Full Results by all the Sacred Heart Swimmers can be found HERE

Congratulations to:

13 Years Boys Champion – Jake Harris

14 Years Girls Champion – Halle Johnson

15 Years Girls Champion – Ashlee Peacey

16 Years Boys Champion – Jake Winsor

16 Years Girls Runner-Up - Grace Derrick

9 records broken by our students:

• Intermediate Girls 4x50 Free Relay set a new record - Grace Derrick, Caitlyn Cram, Ellie Lake and Ashlee Peacey
• Halle Johnson broke 5 individual records - 50 Free, 50 Butterfly, 100 Free, 50 Backstroke and the 100 Butterfly
• Jake Harris broke 3 individual records - 50 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly

(See below for times)

CG Advancers to NSWCCC Swimming Championships

These swimmers have progressed to represent Canberra Goulburn at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships in Homebush on the 4th of April.

1 Cram, Caitlyn - Female - Age: 15

#3 Girls 15-16 4x50 Free Relay (2) 2:12.15 - Record

2 Derrick, Grace - Female - Age: 16

#3 Girls 15-16 4x50 Free Relay (1) 2:12.15 - Record 

#15 Girls 16 50 Free 32.07

#75 Girls 16 50 Breast 40.96 

#139 Girls 16 100 Breast 1:32.39

3 Harris, Jake - Male - Age: 13

#10 Boys 13 50 Free 30.18 

#26 Boys 13 50 Fly 31.89 - Record

#40 Boys 12-14 200 Free 2:30.31 

#46 Boys 12-13 100 Back 1:22.31 - Record

#86 Boys 13 100 Free 1:09.84 

#104 Boys 13 50 Back 37.48

#118 Boys 12-14 200 IM 2:54.05 

#124 Boys 12-13 100 Fly 1:26.19 - Record

4 Johnson, Halle - Female - Age: 14

#11 Girls 14 50 Free 29.48 - Record 

#27 Girls 14 50 Fly 30.82 - Record 

#47 Girls 14 100 Back 1:15.69 

#87 Girls 14 100 Free 1:05.52 - Record 

#105 Girls 14 50 Back 34.07 - Record  

#125 Girls 14 100 Fly 1:13.31 - Record 

5 Lake, Ellie - Female - Age: 15

#3 Girls 15-16 4x50 Free Relay (3) 2:12.15 - Record

6 Peacey, Ashlee - Female - Age: 15

#3 Girls 15-16 4x50 Free Relay (4) 2:12.15 - Record 

#13 Girls 15 50 Free 31.27

#41 Girls 15-16 200 Free 2:33.45 

#119 Girls 15-16 200 IM 2:50.79

7 Winsor, Jake - Male - Age: 16

#16 Boys 16 50 Free 27.26 

#32 Boys 16 50 Fly 30.51

#42 Boys 15-16 200 Free 2:19.73 

#52 Boys 16 100 Back 1:22.32

#92 Boys 16 100 Free 1:00.31 

#110 Boys 16 50 Back 33.82

#120 Boys 15-16 200 IM 2:48.76 

#130 Boys 16 100 Fly 1:23.66

What an amazing effort. Go, Sacred Heart!

If anyone has any photos from the day could you please email them to megan.withers@cg.catholic.edu.au or wendy.mcglynn@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Good Luck

Best of luck to:

• the Secondary students participating in the school Triathlon tomorrow. We have more students competing as individuals than ever before. Well done.
• The students trialing for the Opens CG Soccer Team on Monday - Zara Bodycott, Ryan Dempsey, Alex English, Blake Holder, Riley Mills, Sophie Sannazzaro, Matilda Sannazzaro
• The students trialing for the U16s Western Rugby League team on Tuesday - Josey Hoey, Sophie Boxsell, Halle Kelly.

Secondary Sports Dates

W6

Fri 8th Mar - Secondary Triathlon - Fisher Park base

W7

Mon 11th Mar - CG Opens Soccer Trials - Canberra

Tue 12th Mar - Western Rugby League Girls U16s Trials - Canberra

W9

Tue 26th Mar - CG Basketball Gala Day - Canberra

W10

Tue 2nd Apr - CG Teams Tennis 

Wed 3rd Apr - Western League Boys 15s and Opens Trials - Forbes

Thu 4th Apr - CCC Swimming - Homebush

Fri 5th Apr - SHC Cross Country - Country Club Oval base

W11

Mon 8th Apr - CG Netball Gala Day and U15s CG Trials - Canberra

Tue 9th/Wed 10th Apr - NSWCCC Touch - Tuggrah