Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you everyone for all that you did to support staff and your children’s learning during this extraordinary time. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday and break from school to relax as everyone I have spoken with is exhausted.

We extend our thanks for your support of the adjustments to our parent teacher interviews for this Semester. We appreciate the patience of some of our parents who experienced technical issues. The teachers have really valued the time to catch up with you about your child’s learning and wellbeing.

We have a few changes to staff for next term.

Mrs Trish Iles will be taking leave from the beginning of Term 3. We wish her all the best on her a well-deserved break and look forward to her return. We will be welcoming back Mr Jason French who will be teaching 3/4 Red for the remainder of the year.

Mrs Elysia Riley will be joining Mrs Evenden in teaching Year 1 White each Friday. Mrs Morella will continue  working with her small groups and working with teachers in her role as Literacy Leader.

The staff are preparing for School Registration which will take place in Week 2 next term. The procedure occurs every five years and gives us as a school community an opportunity to reflect on what we are doing and celebrate the achievements we have made. It also allows someone outside to give some feedback. As many things this year, the process has had to change due to the current requirements and therefore we will not be able to have a panel visit the school for onsite interaction with parents, staff and children.

NAIDOC Week celebrations which are usually held around this time have been postponed until November for 2020. The Theme this year is ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’. We will provide more information closer to the new date.

Take care and God bless,

COVID-19 Easing of Restrictions

As school begins for Term 3 we are hoping to ease into COVID-19 Stage 3 restrictions. Our response is being guided by the ACT Chief Medical Officer and CE recommendations. Our response will be adapted as the advice changes.

Please see the updated Q&A document on our school website for all the information. Click here

Parenting Ideas Blog – Two interesting posts

‘Resistance words to avoid when talking to kids’

Our choice of words when communicating with kids makes a huge difference when trying to get their co-operation. The more we push a child who is resistant, the more likely they are to push back and display greater opposition. You can read the rest of the article by clicking here

‘Raising resilient problem solvers’

Personal problem-solving is an under-rated skill shared by resilient children and adults. First, identified alongside independence, social connection and optimism by early resilience-researchers in the US, the ability to solve your own problems is the basis of a child’s autonomy and self-efficacy. You can read the rest of the article by clicking here

Yours faithfully,

Nurturing Hearts, Minds and Spirits for 50 Years

Upon reflection of the school semester, our Sacred Heart community has shown tremendous support for each other to meet the many challenges that have occurred in these unprecedented times.  Nurturing hearts, minds and spirits became pivotal to ensure the wellbeing and connection of the community.

Hearts, minds and spirits are three elements that are indivisible from one other, they are interrelated aspects of what it means to be human. Just like God is tripartite – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we too have three parts - heart, mind and spirit.

As we commemorate 50 years of Sacred Heart Primary School, the values of the first educators in 1970, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, still permeate through the classrooms today. The founder of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, Euphrasie Barbier, encouraged her sisters to care lovingly for the children so that they could become valiant young people able to make a significant contribution to family and society.

The monogram of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions has a V and a K emblazed on it which stands for Virtue and Knowledge. These two values were very strong in Euphrasie Barbier’s vision for education, “The children should receive thorough and practical religious education which will develop in their minds and hearts the virtues of faith, hope and charity”.

Sacred Heart’s school crest, which sits above the heart on the school uniform, is a reminder of the important values of virtue and knowledge from Euphrasie Barbier and the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions.

Sacred Heart Connection            

The students at Sacred Heart Central School Cootamundra received the beautiful cards from our students for Sacred Heart Feast Day. We are told the students felt very special reading the individual cards and have thoughtfully written back. We are hoping to continue this wonderful connection between the two Sacred Heart schools. 

Reminders

• School Photos are on the 23rd July (Week One Term Three). Full school uniform is to be worn including maroon jumper.

• Canteen Recess Reminder: Counter sales for the canteen are unavailable at the moment. You can order recess from Qkr-Canteen-snacks and your child's order will be delivered to their classroom. 

• Canteen/Clothing Pool product update: 

  • Spray/wind jacket (navy) $25
  • Gloves (navy) $5
  • Healthy snack: carrot/cucumber strips with hommus

Thank you to the Sacred Heart community on raising $261 for the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Community Council Connections

Before we end Semester 1, the Community Council wanted to share a sneak peak (as promised) of the planned upgrade to our interior courtyard. Thanks again to all the parents and carers for the fundraising over the last few years to bring this project to life.

We have selected a contractor from the quotes and plans received, and we are in the process of gaining Catholic Education C&G approval, as the cost is over a set threshold. There is not perceived to be any issues with this due diligence process. Once this is granted we will sign the contract and the full plan will be shared.

In the meantime, here is a little tease of the plan! It will offer many options for children and teachers to find a relaxed, creative, sunny, shaded, textured, vibrant place to learn and play. The materials include pavers, decking, softfall, gardens, stepping stones, and a water bottle station.

We are hoping to get the project started in the next Semester, as soon as funding is released. 

 Sarah Lloyd | Catherine Woods | John Berry | Jac Hrast | Josie Lanzetta | Sharon Poole | Catherine West | Brendan Mitchell | Kerry Wode | Anne Staines | Fr Richard

SHPS Community Council 2020

Sacrament of Confirmation at South Woden Parish 

(Year 6 students and above)

Mary Help of Christians, South Woden Parish in Pearce would like to notify all students who live within our Parish boundaries, of the dates for our Confirmation Sacramental Programme for 2020.   

The dates are as follows:                                                     

12 August           Parent Formation Night

15/16 August      Presentation Masses

19 August           Session 1

26 August           Session 2

2 September       Session 3

9 September       Session 4

11 September     Retreat Day

12/13 September Confirmation Masses with restricted numbers at this stage. There may be more than three Masses celebrated that weekend, but that will be confirmed in due course.

Enrolments will open Friday 24^th July online at our website www.mhoc.org.au or on the Qkr! App.

At this stage, each of the sessions will be held via Zoom, but we will clarify the programme closer to the time. If Zoom is not a possibility for your child, we will make arrangements to conduct the sessions for you in the church while the sessions are Zoomed. Watch this space!

If you have any questions, please contact our Parish Office 9am-3pm Wed-Fri on 02 6286 1908 or wodensouth@cg.org.au

First Holy Communion Families       

Dear First Holy Communion Families and Carers,

With the upset of COVID19 our normal preparation for First Holy Communion (Eucharist) was interrupted, as I know you are all aware.

My priority is to have your children make their First Communion as soon as possible.

I plan to offer First Communion to the candidates from five (5) families with their immediate family only at any Weekend Mass in August this year. That is, one pew per family. This will allow our parishioners to still attend masses. Each family MUST register their child to receive FHC in August.

 There are 5 spots available for each Mass in our booking system. Please book one "ticket" (spot) per family. If your family has more than one child receiving FHC, you only need to book the one "ticket" (spot) - please include both children's name in that booking.

Bookings are now open for Masses in the month of August, please go to: https://www.trybooking.com/BKIHA.

The link is also available through our website www.mhoc.org.au.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we support each other in these challenging times. I look forward to seeing you back in the pews.

Blessings ~ Fr Richard

• Holiday Happenings:  
  
  The Holiday Happenings Winter Edition is now available online.
  To see the Programs, Activities & Events happening these holidays go to:
  www.holidayhappenings.com.au/online-booklet

Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2

On Wednesday Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 were visited by Josephine Reardon who is a member of the Ngunawal community. Josephine shared her wisdom with us on Ngunawal practices and culture as well as teaching us about the Ngunawal seasons. She also brought leaves for everyone to paint on. We had to use dot painting to tell a story on our leaves. It was such great learning for us all. We thank Josephine so much and can't wait to have her visit us again.

Congratulations to the following students celebrating their Birthday this week and over the school holidays

Harrison H, Jeanina C, Liam W, Samantha V, Helena M, Lucas B, Jasmine C, Kayla G, Leila W,William J,Belle R, Oscar B, Pascal B, Joshua H, Tadi K, Mia M. 

Congratulations to the following students have received Gold Mathletics Certificates for this Semester

Matilda W, Matthew K, Ruby B, Milla K, Olivier S.