2025 Term 4 Week 3 Newsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Sacred Heart Community,

This weekend we mark two important days in our Catholic tradition: All Souls Day (Saturday) and All Saints Day (Sunday). All Souls Day is a time to remember and pray for those who have gone before us, while All Saints Day celebrates the lives of those who have shown us how to live with faith, courage, and love. Saints come from all walks of life and show us how to follow Jesus in our own way. Some are well-known, like our own St Mary MacKillop, or more recently canonised Saint Carlo Acutis, while others are everyday heroes who quietly lived out their faith. At Sacred Heart, we encourage our students to look to the saints as role models and to remember that we are all called to be saints in how we treat others, live kindly, and grow in our relationship with God.

World Teachers’ Day

This Friday we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, and already our staff have been showered with kind messages and thoughtful treats from families—thank you! Teaching is a vocation that demands heart, resilience, and deep commitment. It’s not an easy job—there are long days, tough moments, and challenges that stretch us. But more often than not, these days are deeply rewarding. Personally, I have been a Catholic educator for over 33 years and couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Teachers shape lives, spark curiosity, and walk alongside students in their most formative years.

Here at Sacred Heart, we are incredibly fortunate to have a team of passionate, hard-working, and deeply committed Catholic educators. I am so lucky, as Principal, to work with such a dedicated group of people. They bring not only professionalism and care to their work, but also a wonderful sense of humour and joy that makes Sacred Heart a vibrant and welcoming place. To our staff: thank you for all you do, every day.

Happy World Teachers’ Day!

Year 3 & 4 Camp

On Monday, I had the privilege of visiting our Year 3 and 4 students on camp. There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and excitement! It was clear they were having a fantastic time, making memories that will last a lifetime.

A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers—Matt Maloney, Jo Filardo, May Schneider, and Caroline O'Mara—for their incredible work in making this camp such a success. Attending camp is a big ask; it means time away from their own families and being on duty around the clock. Their care, energy, and commitment ensured our students were safe and happy. Thank you also to our parents for trusting us with your precious children. We know they came home yesterday tired but full of stories!

Class Allocation Guidelines – 2026

As we move through Term 4, we will be finalising staffing arrangements and preparing class groupings for 2026. The following guidelines outline the principles and process we follow to ensure a fair, transparent, and student-centred approach to class allocations.

At Sacred Heart Primary School, we believe that teachers are best placed to make decisions about student placement, given their deep understanding of each child’s learning, social development, and classroom dynamics. However, we also value the insights of parents and invite you to share any information that may support your child’s wellbeing or learning needs.

With two streams in most year levels, class combinations vary annually. When forming class lists, the following factors are carefully considered:

• Gender balance
• Diverse learning needs
• Work habits
• Cognitive ability
• Friendships
• Behavioural considerations
• Health needs
• Religious background (particularly in Sacramental years)
• Common names (to avoid confusion)

Our goal is to create balanced classes that support both academic and social growth. While we aim to accommodate educationally-based parental requests where practical, we cannot guarantee all preferences will be met.

Principles and Process:

• Every effort is made to place each child in a setting that supports their learning and social development.
• Parents wishing to raise specific concerns should email me directly at david.austin@cg.catholic.edu.au by Friday of Week 4 (Term 4 – 7 November).
• All parent input will be considered, but no guarantees can be made.
• Input from the Classroom Support Teacher, School Counsellor, Welfare Officer, and current class teachers may be sought where appropriate.
• Class teachers begin compiling lists from mid-Term 4, which are then reviewed and confirmed by me.

Students will be informed of their class placement in December, typically during the final week of term, and will have the opportunity to meet their new teacher. New students joining in 2026 will also be invited to attend.

After appropriate consultation, I reserve the right to make final professional decisions regarding student placement.

 In faith and partnership,

David Austin

Principal

Assistant Principal

Wet Weather Arrangements

Last week, we had our first wet afternoon for a while . Murphy St was a bit messy! Please read below a reminder of our procedures to keep everyone safe and dry.

Morning

• If it is quite wet or actually raining in the morning, please drop your child to the hall from 8.30am.
• Children will put their bags in their class line, then join in quiet games or conversations with their friends. If your child is anxious with this change, please bring them up to the teacher on duty. We make alternative arrangements if the noisy hall overwhelms a child.
• We will have the morning assembly in the hall.

Afternoon

Please discuss your family plans with your child, so that they are aware of wet weather arrangements. We ask families to take extra care in the rain. Don’t rush, we will keep your child dry and safe with us until you arrive!

• If the ground is wet, normal arrangements apply. 
• If it is actually raining the following safety arrangements will be in place. 

Drive-through: Students line up in the hall with the duty teacher. We will assist your child to the car as you pull into pick-up points 1-3.

Murphy St: Students will meet the teacher in the shelter of the kinder courtyard. An extra teacher wearing an orange vest, will be outside the courtyard gate further up the hill than the normal black gates. Parents can pull up to the kerb and we will help your child to come to your car. If you wish to park, please do so below the normal black gates to keep the area outside the courtyard as a quick ‘drive-through’ only.

Walkers/bus/bikes will operate as normal, with the teacher carrying an umbrella.

Yours in working together

Kerry Wode

Reminders

Students Not Returning to Sacred Heart Primary in 2026

If your child is not returning to Sacred Heart Primary in 2026, please complete and forward the following document to the school office. This information is required for class organisation and government accountability. 

Save the date - Twilight Fair -366 days away!

 30th October 2026

We have an eager committee. We have stalls, like the big rides and a petting zoo, already booked.

We are seeking:

• food vendors - traditional and authentic flavours very welcome!
• Stall holders - showcase your personal business
• Sponsors - 2 major and several minor opportunities available

Can you help us? Or know family and friends who run great businesses? Let’s come together to make this our best Twilight Fair yet!

Contact Leanne McGrath & Kerry Wode (Fair Coordinators) around the school or email your ideas.

Boorowa

Last Friday, we had 50 students attend the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival which is hosted by both St. Josephs Boorowa and the Boorowa Central School. This is an enormous carnival with over 600 games of netball and touch played. Our students had a wonderful day participating in their chosen sport for the day.
This carnival is not possible without the support of their parents to get their child to Boorowa and especially those parents (Jasmin, Stacey, Carmen and Aaron) who helped to coach and/or manage the teams on the day. A special thank you to Mr Sweeney, Mr Maloney and Mrs B who coached teams on the day. 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 18

Next

Playgroup

Building cities and making playdough monsters at playgroup.

Tennis

Mary Help of Christians, South Woden

MHoC Website

Please find in this week’s bulletin details of:

• Fr Rozo Palic visiting our church on 30 October for a healing Mass,

• Lalith Perera joining us for a Parish Day retreat on 9 November and

• We are looking for a new Office Manager.

Position Vacant – Parish Officer South Woden

People are invited to apply for the position of Parish Officer for Mary Help of Christians, South Woden Parish. This is a permanent part-time position of 24 hours per week (preference for Tues- Fri)

Essential Requirements:

• Experience with database packages & Microsoft Suite
• Strong communication and liaison skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to work on your own, as part of a team, and take direction
• Understand and administer areas of church and regulatory compliance (eg. Parish sacrament registers, Working With Vulnerable People, WHS, child protection, copyright)
• Understanding and respect for the Catholic Church and its teaching
• Current experience in an office environment.

Salary will be subject to the Clerks Award.  For a copy of the Duty Statement please contact the Parish Priest, Fr Emil Milat 0414 523 036 or the  Parish Office Applications addressing the Selection Criteria and current CV to be sent to Fr Emil Milat by CoB Friday 28 November 2025

Birthdays

Congratulations to the following students celebrating their birthday this week.

Alana S, Xavier B, Rex A, Ishanvi W.

Awards

 Awards will be presented during the Friday morning assembly at 8:55am.

Saver Plus

Positive Partnerships

Music Tuition

Private Piano Tuition

Those parents who are wanting their child/children to have piano lessons, can contact the teachers directly on the following contact numbers;

• Mrs Hildegarde Mendoza Phone: 0417 580 975
• Mrs Pam Cox Phone: 0418 442 203

Private Guitar Lessons

Those parents who are wanting their child/children to have guitar lessons, can contact the teacher directly on the following contact details.

Private Violin Lessons

Those parents who are wanting their child/children to have violin lessons, can contact the teacher directly on the following contact details.

• Peter Thorne: 0413 106 584 or   Email