What a wonderful day was had by all! The K-10 Athletics Carnival last Friday was such a fabulous day as a school community. Friday was a celebration post COVID of all the great things about Sacred Heart. The students and staff enjoyed the opportunity to mark the year with a traditional carnival even if there were no pathways to progress on. All our students had a lovely day in the spring sunshine. Our senior students were such wonderful role models and were supportive and interested in our littlest people. The K-10 carnival was the first in a very long time, if ever. It will be something we continue to offer in years to come. We are very proudly a K-10 school and we will continue to recognise what our students have to offer each other, the school community and themselves.

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Mr Ken Mooney has been offered the position as Assistant Principal for 2021 and moving forward. He has very big shoes to fill in replacing Mrs Katie Thompson who has been an invaluable part of the Sacred Heart community for over 27 years. As Katie and her husband Simon look to make a move to Young in 2021 we will sorely miss the dedication, tenacity and passion that she has brought to Sacred Heart. Mr Mooney is excited about the opportunity to help lead our school on the next part of our journey.

We are entering the important final period of testing and assessments as our year starts to look to the end of the 2020. Students in senior years will be busy preparing for final examinations or assessments and should be spending invaluable time revising and preparing for these exams. Teachers are focused on preparing our students to make the transition to the next stage of their education/learning. Our Year 10s have been exemplary in how they have led the school in these trying times and have only 2 ½ short weeks left in the classroom before their final examinations. Then they will be busy participating in the traditional “Beyond Sacred Heart”. This year it will consist on a COVID friendly program that will culminate in the interviews conducting by ZOOM, of course. We thank Mr Mahon and Ms Withers for all their efforts in making this invaluable experience possible despite the best efforts of COVID to hijack this year. Then they will have two weeks for the work experience opportunity provided all employers have a COVD safe plan.

We aim to teach our students more than syllabus content. We strive to teach them lessons of inclusion and resilience to provide them the skills for life. Last week Ms Withers organised a visit and workshops from Wheelchair Sports NSW for our secondary students and staff. An inspirational young man, who has shown enormous resilience in the face of physical and health challenges, spoke to our students and staff about his trajectory and life experiences. He then taught them some of the finer skills of wheelchair basketball. It was impressive to see his dexterity and ability in a wheelchair where he literally “wiped” the court of any challengers. His message of resilience and courage resonated with all who heard him. We are grateful for the lessons he shared and taught us.

We continue to juggle COVID procedures and policies. There is no relaxing on the mandatory testing for anyone who presents with flu like symptoms, no matter how mild. We will insist on hand hygiene and increased cleaning in line with NSW Health recommendations and policy.

Remember if you have to choose between being extraordinary or kind....Be extraordinarily kind!

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal

Dear Parents

Social Media Tips for Parents

Do your children disclose their personal information online? Or other people’s? Have you ever tagged photos of your children at Sacred Heart? Is your Instagram account set completely to “PRIVATE”? Did you know that complete strangers can find out your personal information and tell a completely convincing story to your child by using the information you have shared in a public forum of more than 500 million users?  

Safe on Social have produced another very helpful Cheat Sheet for parents about Social Media tips. Kirra has listed many ways that you can ensure your children and your family keep their personal information private as well as many other tips to ensure and protect our students and their families. Please read the following and discuss with your children the great ideas that Kirra has shared with us.

SoS_Cheat_Sheet_Social_Media_Tips_for_Parents.pdf

Kind regards

Katie Thompson

Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist  

Year 4 2020 Reconciliation and First Eucharist candidates have begun their preparation for these two Sacraments. Please keep these students in your prayers.

We encourage all candidates and their families to attend weekend Masses during this time of preparation.

Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist

The sessions for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will take place on Thursday afternoons, over a period of 5 weeks (4 lessons plus a twilight retreat including First Reconciliation), as indicated below. With the obvious time constraints, it is critical for your child to attend all the preparation sessions and the final Twilight Retreat, to adequately prepare our candidates for the reception of First Reconciliation which will be held at the Twilight Retreat and First Eucharist. If there is an unplanned inability to attend a session, please advise Fr Lolesio as soon as possible.

Venue: Sacred Heart School Library

Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Session 4: 5th November

Session 5: 12th November (Twilight Retreat)

#Socktober2020

 On Friday 6th November Sacred Heart, led by the student leadership team, will be hold during part of the day a sporting challenge day and coin line as the school’s annual fundraiser for Catholic Missions Socktober. Students on this day can wear uniform free in the theme of their favourite teams sporting colours. We ask that the students bring as many coins as they can as their donation. The stage that raises the most amount of money will receive a prize.

Uniform Free Day

Thank you for your donation.

$476.75 was raised for the local Can Assist.

Stage 2 NRl Gala Day - Boys Tackle & Girls League Tag

S2_NRL_Gala_Day.pdf

Stage 3 NRL Gale Day - Boys Tackle & Girls League Tag

S3_NRL_Gala_Day.pdf

Year 5 Reflection Day

Year_5_Reflection_Day.pdf

Stage 3 Narrandera Lake Talbot excursion

S3_Narrandera_Excursion.pdf

Sacred Heart Athletics Carnival 

A glorious day on Friday for our first whole school Athletics Carnival. It was wonderful to see students and staff come together and participate in numerous events throughout the day. Congratulations and thank you to all students who participated, helped and supported. A big thank you to our hard working staff for their efforts on the day. 

NSW Wheelchair Roadshow

On Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd October, Richard Engles from NSW Wheelchair Sports facilitated programs with the Staff and Secondary PDHPE and PASS classes. 

The focus of the presentations were:

• PDHPE - Road Safety and Disability Awareness with Wheelchair Basketball games
• PASS - Physical Activity and Sport for Specific Groups with Wheelchair Basketball and AFL
• Staff participated in a Team Building session of Wheelchair Basketball, during the afternoon staff meeting.

Rick enlightened us on his illustrious career in many wheelchair sports and told stories of his life and travels. Students left the session with a new appreciation for the challenges people in wheelchairs face on a daily basis. Rick demonstrated his Basketball skills with some entertaining 1 (Rick) vs 10 (students) plays. 

Thanks to all involved for their participation and flexibility to accommodate class changes, and allow all secondary students to attend.

Primary Sport

2021 C&G Primary AFL Trials - Expression of Interest

Primary students currently in Year 4 and 5 who wish to participate in the Canberra Goulburn/Wollongong AFL Trials for 2021 are to nominate online at http://sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations. Nominations close Friday 20th November 2020. 

Primary NRL Gala Days, Young - Boys Tackle and Girls League Tag 

Stage 3 - Wednesday 4th November (Week 4)

Stage 2 - Wednesday 18th November (Week 6)

No spectators can attend the carnival and students are to be dropped off/picked up by their own parent/caregiver. Students received a permission note last week. If there are any parents that are available on the day to be a team manager please email Mrs Litchfield natalee.litchfield@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Secondary Sport

Colours Challenge

Friday 13th November - Secondary students will compete in the annual Touch Colours Challenge, which will complete the Inter-House Sports Challenge for 2020. The day will consist of a few special treats to send our Year 10 students off from their last sports day Sacred Heart. More information will go out to families closer to the day.

Years 7-9 League Tag

Wednesday 25th November - Yr 7-9 League Tag - at this stage this event will go ahead, COVID dependent. More information will go out to families closer to the day.

If you are looking for good quality winter and summer clothes, sizes from 4 through to 24, shoes sizes kids 11 through men's 11. Please email Kylie Winsor on kylie.winsor@cg.catholic.edu.au with sizes and requirements and she will have a look and get back to you and leave them in the Front Office to be collected and paid for in cash. 

In anyone has any clothes that their children have outgrown, they would be very much apprieciated (particularly size 6-10 sizes).

 Many thanks,

Kylie