Filter Content
As we head towards Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent when we prepare ourselves for the Easter season, let us spread kindness everywhere as part of our 2023 Lenten Journey.
Kindness helps people feel respected, valued and worthy. It helps them feel connected to others; that they belong.
In his book The Kindness Revolution, Hugh Mackay notes that: listening is one of the most precious gifts we can give each other. It is one of the most potent symbols of love and friendship. It’s one of the loveliest expressions of kindness. It’s one of the greatest sources of encouragement to the discouraged, confidence to the insecure and comfort to the emotionally wounded (2021. 83).
Listening is also an act of kindness that we can all practise in the everyday of our lives. It requires care and openness to others and the ability to put aside our own needs and preconceptions. It requires attentiveness, patience and the ability to step into the shoes of another without judgement. And it requires courage to open ourselves to the burdens and sorrow of others.
Listening is a gift we can give others – friends, family, colleagues and strangers – anywhere and anytime. Attentive listening is a way of saying ‘you matter’. It is a humble, responsive and loving response to those who walk life’s journey with us.
When describing acts of kindness like listening, Mackay observes that everyday acts of kindness, compassion, goodwill, and cooperation go unremarked precisely because they are unremarkable for members of a species like ours. The people who stop to help total strangers out of a jam … the people who, night after night, week after week, year after year, volunteer their services to help feed the poor and homeless … the people who have cheerfully sacrificed their own ambition to support a spouse, or a child who needed them … the people who volunteer big chunks of their week to patrol surf beaches, or train as bush fire-fighters, or coach sports teams … (2021. 44).
This list could go on and on, but Mackay is making the point that kindness is never about doing something for another to reap a benefit – it is the essential quality of a cooperative species … a frame of mind; a way of being in the world (47).
It is something we can all practise in our own homes, communities and workplaces. Kindness helps people feel respected, valued and worthy. It helps them feel connected to others; reinforcing that they belong. The more people who experience kindness from you, the happier people you’ll have in your life.
In the words of St Teresa of Calcutta:
Spread kindness wherever you go and let nobody come to you without leaving happier.
Take care and keep safe
| Friday 17th February |
|
| Monday 20th February |
|
| Tuesday 21st February |
|
| Wednesday 22nd February |
|
| Monday 27th February-3rd March |
|
| Thursday 2nd March |
|
| Friday 3rd March |
|
| Monday 6th March |
|
| Friday 10th March |
|
| Monday 13th March |
|
Compass Notifications
Please refer to Compass for the following notifications:
- 2023 Parent Information Note
- Tuesday 21st Community Night
- NAPLAN
- HeartSong Choir
- Bike Club for years 5 & 6
- Come and join a Netball team at SHPS 2023
Opening School and Leadership Mass Friday 17th February
Sacred Heart will be welcoming the new school year at our Opening and Leadership Mass on Friday 17th February at 9:30am at Sacred Heart Church. Parents and carers of our Year 6 Leaders are invited to attend, as well as all members of our community.
Sport Dates for your Diary
Athletics Carnival - Thursday 2nd March, Woden Athletics Track
Swimming Carnival - Wednesday 22nd March, Stromlo
Cross Country - Term 2, Week 1, Friday 28th April, On site at school.
As with any community events, we always need help to run these, so if you could spare a few hours with any of these events, it would be greatly appreciated.
All permission notes and information regarding these events will be sent out through the COMPASS App.
Sport
Athletics
The Athletics Carnival permission note has come out via compass. This is the new way we are doing permission notes. Please ensure you have your Compass app updated and ready to go. If you need help, please contact the Front Office.
If you have some time on the day of the Athletics Carnival, we would love some assistance. If you are able to assist please email Laura Stumbles.
Swimming
Students who turn 8 years of age in 2023, and all ages above, will have the opportunity to nominate to swim in 50m races of all strokes and 25m of all strokes prior to the swimming carnival (the note will come out early march). Younger students (Kinder, Y1 and some Y2 students) will participate in water based novelty games.
If you would like to nominate your child for any of these events please make sure they are confident and comfortable in the strokes of choice and the distance. Practicing at a big pool is a great way to build confidence. Some swimming pools often offer swimming carnival practise so look out for those at your local pool.
Rising Star Tennis Academy offer 6-week tennis programs from Week 3, Term 1. They will start from Monday 13th February and will run through till the end of Week 9.
The Red Ball Play and Train Program, which is aimed at students between Years 2-6, runs Mondays after school from 3:20 - 4:20pm. These sessions will be held at Sacred Heart on the tennis courts at the back of the school.
The Whizz Kids Program, aimed at students Yrs K-2, will run Tuesdays during lunchtime from 11:00am – 11:30pm. This program will be open for our Playgroup participants as well.
The cost of these programs are:
$160 for the Play and Train Program
$140 for the Whizz Kids Program
These can be paid via Qkr!
If you are interested in your child participating in these sessions please email Mrs Stumbles ASAP. The sessions will commence from Monday 13th February. An email will be sent back confirming the enrolment of your child in the Rising Star tennis sessions.
All equipment needed for the program will be provided by Rising Star Tennis Academy and Sacred Heart Primary. On a non-sports uniform day, the children are asked to bring a pair of runners that they get changed into before the start of the session. They do not need to get changed into different clothing. If it is their sports day they are to just wear their sports uniform.
Any questions contact the Front Office or Mrs Stumbles.
NAPLAN
The annual NAPLAN tests will be held across Australia between 15-27 March. Information was sent via COMPASS to families with children in Years 3 and 5 this week.
Attached here is the link to the NAPLAN website with Parent and Carer Information for general community reference. https://nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the liturgical season of Lent. It is a day when Catholics go to mass and in addition to receiving the word of God and the Eucharist, receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.
All members of the our community are welcome to mass on Wednesday 22nd February at 9:30am at Sacred Heart Church.
Come play Netball with a SACRED HEART team.
Are you in year 2, 3 or 4 and interested in playing Netball in a school team?
New and experienced players welcome.
Games: Saturday mornings, Arawang netball courts, Stirling
Training: Convenient coaching held either on the school grounds after school or before the game at the Stirling courts. TBC by coaches once teams are established.
Uniform: School sport uniform.
Season: Apr 29 – Aug 26 (plus finals weeks)
Cost: approx. $165
Email Brooke for more info.
Sacred Heart Netball Coordinator
(Mia’s mum from year 3)
Canberra Raiders Visit
Last Friday we were lucky enough to have the Canberra Raiders pay us a visit. They spoke to the whole school about the importance of teamwork, support and resilience.
Congratulations to the following student celebrating their birthday this week
Felix A, Macks B, Albert W, Adrian R.
Awards will be presented during the school assembly on Friday from 2.40pm.
|
Kindergarten |
Lila D, Agatha P, Ivy S, Jessica M, Ruby M, Devine N. |
|
Stage One |
Rex A, Archie A, Nicholas H, Olivia T, Leo M, Adriana L, Taylor C, Isla P, Samuel W, Anton C. |
|
Stage Two |
Harrison M, Joshua L, Angus F, Phoebe Y, Ryan M, Billy B, Noah F, Aivan C, Mikayla B. |
|
Stage Three |
Holly C, Hope O, Madeleine K, Lillian M, Iris S, Matilda K, Mikayla R, Maxx B, Destiny N. |
Little Hearts Playgroup
Little Hearts Playgroup offers a range of educational experiences for toddlers and preschool children with the support of their parents or carers. You do not need to have children attend Sacred Heart Primary to be a part of our playgroup community.
Come and join us each Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 11am
Woden Valley Swimming Club
If you would like some help and practice for our swimming carnival, Woden Swimming Club are hosting a special meet for this purpose. Follow the LINK for more information.
Private Piano Tuition
Places have now become available for 2023
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
- Mr Craig Mewett Phone: 0409 151 887 / 6278 7382