Dear Parents and Carers,

I have taken a few days Long Service Leave to attend a family celebration. Mrs Kerry Wode our Assistant Principal, with the support of Mr Aaron Fox and Mrs Katie Imbriano will be leading the school during my absence.

Congratulations to Emmy on her first prize in the ANZAC Day essay competition.

On Friday afternoon Mr Greg Kennett from the Woden Branch of the RSL attended our school assembly to present Emmy’s award for her essay on this year’s theme, The Royal Australian Air Force. Her grandparents were the subject of her inspiring essay.

Congratulations to the Confirmation Candidates of Mary Help of Christians Parish

Tonight and tomorrow night, Confirmation candidates from Mary Help of Christians Parish will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers.

The Feast of Mary Help of Christians Parish

On Monday we celebrate the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, our parish patron. Please find a brief outline of the history of this special feast from the Catholic Weekly.

The feast day of 'Mary Help of Christians' has been celebrated in Australia since 1844 but the history to this day dates back to the start of the 1800’s.

Napoleon Bonaparte had jailed Pius VI who died in jail. When Pope Pius VII was elected he too was jailed by Bonaparte, who kept him prisoner at Fontainbleau.

The Holy Father vowed to God that if he were restored to the Roman See, he would institute a special feast in honour of Mary.

The military eventually forced Bonaparte to release the Pope and on 24 May 1814, Pius VII returned in triumph to Rome.

Twelve months later the Pope decreed that the feast of Mary Help of Christians be kept on 24 May.

The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive.

Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness.

St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral.

When Australia became the first country to have Mary Help of Christians as patroness, it became the first country to have a mother-cathedral under the same title. 

Take care and God bless,

School Uniform

Please note that all children should be wearing full winter uniform to school. We have allowed a little flexibility with the exceptional weather we have been experiencing and we are aware there was a short delay of uniform availability.

Please note navy is the colour of our tracksuit pants and school trousers. Children have the option to wear the sky blue long sleeve polo, peter-pan collar shirt or skivvy on top half.  Navy trousers or the tunic with tights are worn on the bottom half. Tracksuit pants and sneakers must only be worn on the days your child’s class has sport.

Sport Days

Kinder: Wednesday and Friday

Stage 1: Wednesday and Friday

Stage 2: Tuesday and Friday

Stage 3: Tuesday and Thursday 

The Uniform Policy can be found on our website. https://sacredhps.act.edu.au/policies-forms

Our lost property pile is growing every day. Please speak to your child about looking after their own items. With the help of our wonderful parent volunteer Apinya M, we endeavour to reunite missing items with their owners. Having each item clearly labelled with your child’s name is of great benefit.

Student Absences

We have a large number of unexplained student absences this term. In previous terms, the teachers would remind the children. However, with Compass (our new online class rolls) this is not as easy for the teachers to do. Instead, parents and carers will be sent an email if you have not previously notified the school of the reason for your child’s absence. It is a legal requirement that we account for the whereabouts of each child on school days. We appreciate your support with this.

1. If your child is away from school send in a note before or immediately after the absence. The note can be via SZapp or an email to the teacher or office. We will still even accept a handwritten note!
2. Any unexplained absences must be followed up. You will receive an email from Compass. Please complete the note and return it to school or submit the dates via SZapp.

Literacy Video

During Term 1 our talented teachers from Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 created a video to share with parents and carers, showcasing some of the language and strategies we use to teach literacy skills. We share it again here, as many other families may find the tips useful in supporting your own child’s literacy development.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vT1uZjuGIsLz1G_FthLJslFpuw5gmCdcK3RLAO4Kr3Z6s2IUAn3NxeXK5lkPKCFRQunakPLg4U10pfm/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.gc8079631ac_0_7

Yours faithfully,

The following students will be making their Sacrament of Confirmation this Thursday and Friday at Sacred Heart Church. Please keep them in your prayers.

Howell. L, Maeve. L, Helena. M, Charlotte. RB, Josephine. A, Olivia. B, Lily. C, Arabella. G, Amelia. H, Carmelia, L, Mirella. M, Patrick. M, Samantha. VH, Layla V, Logan. W.

Updated Information -New Sign in/out System

As of the beginning of Term Two we have moved to a new procedure for signing in/out your child/children if they are late arriving or leaving early. This will now be done electronically by the front office staff.

Please Note:

• Parents and Carers need to come to the Front Office to sign in children that are late.
• Absent notes can be done on SZapp or emailed through to the Front Office, with the teacher CC'd in. 

Reporting - Semester 1 2021

Our teaching team has begun the process of creating each child’s Semester 1 2021 report. Reports will be sent home at the end of term.

Due to technical developments with our new online system Compass, the CE have directed all schools to not include student comments in the Semester 1 reports this year. 

In Semester 1 our reports will contain:

For Kindergarten students:

• Achievement in each subject will be reported using a four-point scale (Exceeding Expectations, Expectations, Meeting Expectations and Working Towards Expectations).

For Year 1 to Year 6 students:

• Academic grades for Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, The Arts, Technologies and Health and Physical Education using a five-point scale from A-E will be reported using the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards.

For all students:

• Strand Achievement will be reported in English, Mathematics, Social Sciences, The Arts and Health and Physical Education using a five-point scale (Excellent, High, Sound, Basic, Elementary).
• Engagement with Learning statements, which are taken directly from the Australian Curriculum, will provide specific information about your child’s Critical and Creative Thinking, and Personal and Social Responsibility, using a three-point scale (Beginning, Developing, Consistently).

Sacred Heart staff are addressing the lack of comments by developing a learning letter which will provide parents with insight into how their child is developing as a learner. This supports our approach to building reflective learners. 

There will be an opportunity for parents to meet with their child’s classroom teacher after reports have been sent home should there be a need for follow-up.

Recess Eating – Check-in

We have noticed that several children in Kindergarten to Year 2 do not have sufficient food for the recess break (2.05pm). Could you please discuss recess eating time with your child/ren to ensure they have a clear understanding of how they could organise their food.

Pick-up & Safety

If your child is not using a designated after school supervised exit from school could please send an email to the classroom teacher so that we can support the arrangements for your child/ren.

Could we please remind parent/carers to have their family name on their car visor. Contact the Front Office if you require a replacement.

Stage 3 Renewable Energy Source Exhibit

You are invited to attend the Renewable Energy Source Exhibit at Sacred Heart Primary School Hall on Wednesday 26^th May 2021. Stage 3 students will showcase their renewable energy models from 10-11am and 11:45-1:45pm. The students will explain how their models work and answer questions.

Library News

Our school library is looking for donations of:

• Balls of wool in green, black, white and blue 
• Long sturdy cardboard rolls (eg. fabric rolls)

Items can be dropped off at the front office or the library. 

Thanks in advance 

WARM UP WITH A GOOD BOOK

TUESDAY MORNINGS - 8:30am - 9:00am

The school library is open each Tuesday morning during Term 2  between 8:30am-9:00am. Parents and carers are invited to visit the library with their children before school to borrow books or just come in to share a story before school starts.

Hope to see you!

Mrs Borgia  

• Sacrament of Confirmation Liturgies will be held on 20 May and 21 May at 6pm in the Church.  Please join us in thoughts and spirit by praying for our Candidates and wishing each of them a life full of faith and love.

During Library lessons this week, students participated in National Simultaneous Storytime. NSSS is an annual event where a picture book written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, bookshops and many places around the country. 

This year's book Give Me Some Space by Phillip Bunting was read by astronaut Dr Shannon Walker from the International Space Station. Here is the link if you would like to share the story with your family.  

httpss:/urldefensee.com/v3/_httpss:/aliaa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3d85c7e31956025c7f13258fb&id=0084860e29&e=b76f18bc0c__;!!AxPnKpllFIIgPxBB!057ul95fXdGUby9GqGtp4_qP28CZP6mvfydPExn-8T4vVUBzh6zZG87Ik3-M-Zx5BBKBOXZWb3w$

 Cooking with Mrs Kane

Last week Year 2 spent some time with Mrs Kane learning to follow a recipe and cook pikelets.

This week 4 Navy had their turn cooking with Mrs Kane.

Stage 3 Excursion to Parliament House

Stage 3 went on an excursion to Parliament House on Monday 17th May.  Our local Member of Parliament for the Bean electorate, Mr David Smith, met with the students and answered questions about his role and the government. The students then spent time at the Parliament Education Office and participated in a role play learning about the various roles in the different chambers of Parliament House. The students finished with a guided tour and learnt lots of interesting information about the House of Representatives and the Senate as well as the architecture of Parliament House. After lunch in the Senate Gardens the students visited Magna Carta Place before returning to school.

Peer Support Session 2

Last week in Peer Support the children shared the things they enjoyed in life and had an opportunity to discuss their favourite activity. The session enabled the children to recognise what makes them happy.

PLaygroup

Our playgroup children have produced some great artwork and made rockets this week.

Congratulations to the following students celebrating their birthday this week 

Lucy M, Olivia C, Grace M.

St Clare's College Enrolling for 2022

Merici College Presents

Lakeside Leisure Centre