Dear Community,

It’s incredible how time passes. Sometimes, an hour may seem like an eternity, yet weeks seemingly fly by so quickly that we are left wondering where the time has gone. Already, we are nearing the conclusion of Week 8, Term 3!

It is timely to ask what exactly we expect of our school. We have 150 families here at Sacred Heart, and no doubt every one would have different expectations at different times. But there is something special about parents sending their children to a Catholic School: a choice has been made. As a family, you have chosen this school for your child. For many in the Government education system choice of school is based mainly on the local offering, the most convenient school. But why have you chosen Sacred Heart for your child’s education?

Over the years, I have interviewed hundreds of prospective parents and children for Sacred Heart and other Catholic Schools. I have had the privilege of listening to many reasons why Catholic schools, and this school, have been chosen. Some of the reasons are purely practical: it’s on the way to work, my carer can collect easily from here, and it’s a feeder school to various Catholic high schools. For others, the reasons are philosophical; we want “values-based” education, we like the teaching style here, and we want structure or discipline for our child. Sometimes the reasons are bizarre; we like the uniform or the view!

Mostly, however, people speak deeply from their own spirituality and psyche. We want our children to belong; we want him/her to feel safe, to be loved and valued for themselves. We want our child to hear and know the stories of Jesus to think that they are part of a wider community – the Church. We want them to know right from wrong, to be treated with dignity, and to be in an environment where they learn to treat others with respect and dignity. We want our children to be known and loved, be part of daily life, and have special community celebrations.

All of these reasons speak powerfully of our longing and need to belong, our need for inclusion and acceptance, and a realisation that school is part of the whole journey of learning about life and how we are part of a wider world. Realistically, we can’t meet these expectations on our own. We can achieve great things together at Sacred Heart through genuine partnership based upon the core principles, philosophy, and faith underpinning our school’s foundation.

So, while some of the novelty and shine of the beginning of the school year is beginning to show some scuff marks and dust, we need to ensure that we do our best to keep up with our task. Working together is hard work but well worth it for the health and vitality of our school. Thank you for your continued support.

Stage 2 camp next week

Next Monday and Tuesday, our Stage 2 students will embark on their first-ever overnight excursion at Birrigai—an exciting milestone in their school journey! The camp promises to be filled with fun activities, new experiences, and plenty of opportunities for the children to build independence and strengthen friendships.

We wish all our Stage 2 students the very best as they take this big step, and we can't wait to hear all about their adventures when they return. A huge thank you to the dedicated staff members attending and supporting the camp. Your time and effort are greatly appreciated in ensuring the students have a memorable and rewarding experience.

Safe travels, and have a fantastic time, Stage 2!

Tournament of Minds, congratulations!

Congratulations to our outstanding students who competed in the ANU Tournament of Minds (TOM) competition last Saturday! Both teams proudly represented Sacred Heart, showcasing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork.

A special mention goes to our ‘Chocolate Brains’ team, who have progressed to the next round—well done!

We would also like to thank Mr. Fulton and Mrs. Filardo for accompanying and supporting our students on the day. A big shout out to Mrs. Wode, who served as a judge for both days of the competition. She has returned to school in need of a well-deserved rest!

Well done to everyone involved!

First Day of School next term

This is just a friendly reminder that the first day back for Sacred Heart students will be Monday, 14 October. Please note that our school does not have a Pupil-Free Day on this day, as this only applies to Government schools. We look forward to welcoming all our students back for an exciting Term 4!

Twilight Fair- Friday 8 November

Our much-anticipated Twilight Fair is fast approaching! Please mark your calendars for Friday, 8 November, as we prepare for a fantastic evening of fun, food, and community spirit.

To make this event a success, we need the support of our wonderful parents. Even an hour of your time can make a big difference. Please consider signing up to help on a stall—your involvement is critical to ensuring that this day is enjoyable for everyone.

Let’s come together to create a memorable and exciting community day. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Claim the date: Grandparents Day

Please claim the date: Friday 29^th November. More information early next term.

I will be away next week attending the Australian Primary Principal Association (APPA) Conference. Thanks for allowing me the time away- it should be an excellent gathering. 

In faith and partnership,

David Austin

• Term 4 Sport Day will be sent as a Compass push before the term starts.

If your child is not returning to Sacred Heart Primary in 2025, please complete and forward the following document to the school office. This information is required for class organisation and government accountability. 

So proud of our Tournament of Minds teams! 

After months of preparation they presented their solutions to two challenges for the regional level at the ANU. Lots of serious fun from all. Congratulations to our STEM team. Your journey continues. Our Social Science team just missed out, but we are so proud you brought your best on the day. 

At the start of Term 4 students will start wearing their summer uniform.

Mr Austin would prefer if children did remain in the correct uniform until that time, but understands that the change in weather may affect some children.  If they are struggling with the heat/cold, by all means swap between the long and short. We usually give a two week buffer for change of seasons at the end or beginning of each term.

Please follow the LINK for the Uniform Policy on our website.

Mrs Tracey Kane opens the Clothing Pool for fittings on Wednesday and Friday mornings 8.30-9.30am. Orders can be placed online via Qkr! with the items delivered to your child's classroom once the order is processed. Hats can be purchased through our office at any time. A reminder that bags, including library bags can also be ordered.

 

Sports Uniform
	Girls	Boys
Shorts	Navy skorts or shorts	Navy shorts
Shirts	Sacred Heart Red and white shirt with blue trim	Sacred Heart Red and white shirt with blue trim
Socks	White school socks	White school socks
Shoes	Supportive sneakers	Supportive sneakers
Hat	Blue school hat	Blue school hat

Over the past week Kindergarten have had the experience of watching chickens hatch from their eggs and see their first few days of life.

Vinnies Workshops at Sacred Heart

Students in Year 3 and Year 4 recently participated in the DARE Program facilitated by the Vinnies School Engagement Team. The program aims to reduce incidences and severity of mental illnesses through exploring preventative factors.

The workshop explored the following topics:

• Values and Strengths
• Emotions
• Friendships
• Social Media and Gaming
• Help-seeking and Wellbeing

We thank the Vinnies Youth Liaison Officers for School Engagement, Teah and Sharkie, for their time and efforts delivering a fantastic program.

Mikaela W (older sister of Matilda W from 4R and former SHPS student) 
competed on Saturday night at the World powerlifting championships (in Malta). 
Mikaela placed 4th in the world for bench press( she missed out on a bronze 
medal by 2.5kgs) and she placed overall 6th in the World.

Mikaela lifted a new PB total of 400kgs! Mik sends a BIG thank you to all the
teachers at SHPS and 4 Red class for their beautiful messages of support before 
she flew out.

Chinese Film Week 2024

The Chinese Film Week 2024 event will take place at Hoyts Cinemas Belconnen, from this Thursday 12th to Sunday 16th September. Seven selected Chinese movies will be played for free. Just need to register on Eventbrite. This event will also take place in Sydney and other capital cities. Welcome you and your friends to attend. For Canberra registration, the link is below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chinese-film-week-2024-canberra-tickets-1004933863237?aff=oddtdtcreator