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We have just had the biggest week! We could not have squeezed more into this past week if we had tried. We had Kinder and Year 7 transition programs running which meant an extra 55 students on the grounds. We had the highly successful Beyond Sacred Heart program which was enthusiastically received by our leaving Year 10 class. We had Years 7, 8, 9 exams (not so enthusiastically received). We had budget meetings. Catholic Education visits. We had assessments being marked. Reports being written. Phone calls being made. Every type of weather. We had sick students and sick staff. We had heaps of casual staff in to cover classes. We had 2022 planning and preparation. We had NAPLAN analysis. And in the midst of all that, we had lots of teaching moments and lots of tired students and staff.
But it was a good week!
It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of 2021 and all its challenges and adventures. The final 5 weeks will also be jam-packed with the typical end-of-year ‘stuff’. Disappointingly for our Year 10 students they will be unable to finish their time at Sacred Heart with the traditional work experience opportunities but we hope that we can make their final weeks memorable. Thank you to Mr Mahon, Ms Withers, Mrs Murray for their huge efforts with organizing the final weeks and to all the staff who have helped out. Thank you to Ms McDonnell, Mrs Maher, Mrs Alexander and the entire Infants staff for a wonderful start to the Kinder orientation. The Infants classrooms were buzzing with excitement with all the new faces. Thank you to Mrs Chesworth, Mrs Hunt, Mrs Alexander and Mrs Maher for the wonderfully reverent Mary Gallery. This was a respectful and prayerful recognition of our Lady and the students created amazing artwork to honour Mary and to showcase all they had learnt about her.
Last Saturday night three dedicated members of the P & F hosted the S & C Bingo on the school’s behalf. They raised over $700 for their efforts in coordinating the bingo sales and the cake table. Thank you to Aaron and Balinda Walker and Mark Lake for their generous efforts. Thank you also to all those who donated goodies for sale on the night. This just illustrates what a fabulous community we have at Sacred Heart.
Coming home next week will be the NAPLAN reports. We received them in the past weeks and have had the opportunity to consider the results and what they tell us about our students. We always remember that they are a snapshot of a certain day in the entire educational journey and they are not definitive end point assessments of skills and potential but help build a picture of a student, class and cohort in combination with a whole range of other assessments. If you have any questions arising from the reports please make contact with your class teacher.
Remember there is never a reason not to be kind! If you have to choose between being extraordinary and kind – be extraordinarily kind. Be the bigger kindness and always choose kindness.
God Bless
| S1GH | S2N |
| Joshus Knewstub | Oliver Daley |
| Ashley Hall | George Clark |
| Estee McLeod | Zafir Alam |
| Polly Manwaring | |
| Ella Gammon | |
| S2W | |
| Darcy Fry | |
| Lucy Dunk | |
| Koby Bryant |
Primary Sport
Term four swimming.
This week we have started our primary weekly swimming for sport. Students are reminded to bring their $2.50 or pass, swimmers including a rashie, towel, goggles, and sunscreen. The school has sunscreen however if your child needs different sunscreen please send it with them. Students should also have a hat every day for play and sport.
If your child is not swimming please send a note or have a conversation with your child’s teacher. We will be swimming for the remainder of the term for sport every Thursday.
Secondary Sport
In the coming weeks, Secondary students will have the opportunity to attend the pool during sports time on Fridays. These visits will cost $2.50 (payable on the day of the visit) or a pool membership pass (no Fitness passes are allowed sorry). Students will require their hat, swimmers, rashie, towel, and sunscreen. Students will be informed of their pool days via the ‘Sport at SHC’ Google Classroom. Please contact me on 0269422612 or at megan.withers@cg.catholic.edu.au if you have any concerns.
Wearing of Mask
It is still a requirement for secondary students to wear a mask.
It is the responsibility of families to ensure that each student has a mask to be worn at school each day. It is therefore strongly recommended that students have a second spare mask with them in their bag each day in case their mask becomes damaged or lost.
Term 4 School Fees are now overdue
Prompt payment would be greatly appreciated.
Beyond Sacred Heart is a program designed to, in some ways, further prepare students for the future. This year is the tenth time this program has been conducted and will cover a range of activities, culminating in the mock interviews on Friday. A range of different guests and activities were arranged and students completed their resumes and cover letters for the mock interviews.
Monday
On Monday, Susie Alderman, a former student and School Captain the first year we ran the program, joined us virtually from Darwin to discuss her journey since her time at Sacred Heart. Her key messages were to look for opportunities and to try your best when given the chance. She is currently working for the Charles Darwin University in communications, dealing with International students and doing part time work for the ABC. Susie also emphasised to look at the positives rather than dwell on the negative. We then developed cover letters and resumes for their interviews on Friday.
Later in the day Mrs Leanne Parkman, the Stage Six Career Coordinator from Hennessy Catholic College, presented information regarding her role and the numerous pathways for future careers. The information covered subject selection, University admissions, and scholarships, Traineeships, Apprenticeships and other opportunities for further studies and employment.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, the students enjoyed a shared breakfast at school with beverages from E-Claire’s coffee shop from 8:30 am.
The girls then walked to Jak+Jill’s and the boys visited Deep’s Clothing, to gain information on appropriate attire to wear to a job interview. Thank you to Deeps, Jamie Hall, and Tracey Ewings for their insight.
Chris Ryan from Flemings Real Estate, joined us virtually, to present information on renting accommodation, paying bonds, and the legalities involved. The remainder of the day consisted of completing the paperwork required for their interviews - cover letters, resumes, CV’s and work sample presentations.
Wednesday
Another ex-student and School Captain, Ryan Connell, volunteered his time to join us virtually from Canberra. Ryan spoke of his journey from Year 10, not knowing really what he wanted to do, until his work experience opportunities helped him decide the pathway he wanted to take for his career. He has now worked with elite athletes and the Canberra Raiders for 5-6 years as an Exercise Physiologist as he completed his degree. He continues to work with the Raiders as well as for a private practice and his own practice in Canberra. The messages students gained were:
- Be prepared to start at the bottom and that it may be a slow process to get to the top of your career
- Make your own opportunities and don't give up
- Do what you love and make a career out of it
- Be flexible and have a back-up plan
- And that there are many different and indirect ways to get to the career you want and love
Matt Holt, from the Westpac Bank presented a talk on financial matters including traps with credit cards, how to apply for loans, issues around defaulting and how to manage bank accounts.
Tom McDevitt, the Rural Fire Service Chief, presented excellent information on skills for interviews. Tom has volunteered his time as a panelist for us, for many years and enjoyed a new way to contribute to the program.
The next session was on interview skills including body language and response techniques. Students were given the opportunity to research their chosen careers and prepare some responses for general interview questions.
Mrs Deb Tiernan then advised the students on grooming, make-ups tips and presentation for an interview. Students then modelled their interview attire, and visited classrooms, wowing their younger cohorts. They all looked very professional. Thank you, Deb, for your expertise.
Thursday
On Thursday, John Murray presented a session on basic routine mechanical tasks associated with driving. It involved checking fluid levels, tyre conditions, how to change a tyre, attaching a trailer, checking lights and fuses, and securely tying a load onto a trailer. Each student completed a checklist of tasks.
Then a food challenge was held, in which students prepared and cooked their lunch on a budget. The students were in groups of three or four and were limited to $5.00 per person. The meals produced were very nutritious and smelt amazing.
After recess, areas around the school were prepared and set up for the interviews.
Friday
The week concluded with all students attending mock interviews. For the second year, we had to conduct the mock interviews via video conferencing. Thank you to Lora Bance and Nick Nell from the Canberra Catholic Education Office, for their guidance and efforts to assist with setting this up. We all know a great deal more about the inner workings of Teams meetings and breakout rooms.
The panel career areas and personnel are sourced after the students select the areas they are interested in. We then put together the panels based on the best fit for the students. This year the focus areas covered by the panels included Agriculture, Business, Design, Education, Health - Nursing, Health - Science, Law, Sport, and three Trades panels for Electricians, Engineers, and Mechanics. Our list of possible community members willing and able to assist has reached 200.
Thank you to Ms McGylnn, Mrs Williams and Mrs Deep for being the interview receptionists and grading the students on their presentation and manners.
After the pressure of the morning, we wound down with a hot chip lunch. The usual game of volleyball between the staff and the students had to be postponed due to the wet weather. This will be held next week when once again the staff will remain as champions.
We would like to thank all the community members and staff that were involved in making the program so successful and the students for treating the experience as a lifelong and valuable learning opportunity.
Good luck to Year 10 for your future endeavours and life Beyond Sacred Heart.