What a busy week we have had! So much has happened in such a short time and it seems as though that will be the flavour for the remainder of the term. The Swimming Carnival held on  Friday 18^th February was a resounding success. It was glorious weather, the students were enthusiastic and well behaved and everything ran according to schedule. Thank you to Ms Withers and Ms Van Kerk Oerle, who put in an enormous amount of hours in preparing for the day. Thank you to Gareth Jones who volunteered his time to help unpack the new carnival software to enable smooth running of the day.

Last week our Term One Fee statements will be sent out. Thank you to all our families who are financially committed to supporting our school so that we can continue to provide an outstanding education. If you have any queries about the fees please contact Mrs Deep at the Front Office. If at any time you need to discuss fees and/or a remission please make an appointment to see me at your earliest convenience.

We continue to be informed and managed regarding current COVID protocols and despite the possibility of parents coming onto school grounds there are still expectations that students and staff take a COVID test if they display any symptoms and that parents can only transport their own child/ren to sporting or extra-curricular events. If this changes, I will inform the school community. We do encourage students to continue to practise positive COVID safe habits of handwashing and sanitising. Thank you again for your cooperation in this matter. At the moment we appear to have stemmed the tide of COVID cases but we must continue to stay vigilant and sensible despite the relaxing of restrictions. Some schools in the region have shifted to remote learning for some stages because they have experienced extreme numbers of cases. Our staff and students have very maturely approached the restrictions and limitations and have helped us to manage tricky situations and keep the school functioning as normal with learning for all.

We are continuing to monitor attendance, especially in this COVID climate so that our students are given every opportunity to learn by being in the classroom. This also includes attendance at any school event like the Swimming Carnival, sport days and other activities beyond the classroom. It is a legal requirement that every absence is authorised by parents/guardians and see value in all students being physically present at whole school activities to help build community regardless of their sporting prowess or interest.

Last Friday our Primary swimmers competed in the Western Region Swimming Carnival here at the Cootamundra pool. It was an extremely successful day and our swimmers conducted themselves with distinction, smashing personal bests and winning ribbons. We were only narrowly beaten by St Marys’ for the overall champion school by a measly 5 points. We will get them next year. Thank you to Mr Winsor, Ms Van Kerk Oerle and Ms Withers for their organisation. A big thank you to our Stage 5 PASS class who helped out in so many different ways in a mature, enthusiastic and positive manner. Thank you to the P & F who organised a BBQ and raffle to raise funds for our school. Thank you to Brad Shields, Dermot Kiely, Brigid Holder, Carmen Clark, Kim Sannazzaro and Sonya Ward who were instrumental in coordinating the success of the fundraising. Also thank you to the Westaway family at the Cootamundra Pool who generously donated the prizes for the raffle.

This week will mark the beginning of Lent. Father Lolesio told our students last year Lent is a “time to change ourselves”. The Year 10 students will conduct the Burning Branches liturgy on Tuesday in preparation for Ash Wednesday. We are sticking to the original planning (before restrictions were talked of being lifted) in that we will have individual class prayer services to distribute ashes. We will also be marking Rice Day in our cohorts to minimse interaction. Please send a gold coin donation in with the students as we remind them about the people who go without and survive on less than a bowl of rice a day. Fr Kevin used to wish us a happy Lent because it is time to reflect on all we have been given and to be grateful. Hopefully as the year progresses we will be able to celebrate all of our important celebrations and moments in a traditional way when restrictions are totally lifted and life goes back to a new normal.

The end of the school day is always typically manic and our most important focus is that our students are safely crossing roads. We encourage students to be crossing at street corners and not from behind parked cars or buses. We pray

Our first Uniform free day was well supported. Students and staff were decked out in their loudest shirts to raise funds for Tonga. Thank you for your support for this important venture. The money will be sent directly to a school in Tonga to help them rebuild.

A reminder that uniform expectations remain in force and we are trying to maintain an equitable and fair approach. The uniform expectations are laid out in the uniform policy in regards to haircuts, jewellery, nail polish, socks, hats, facial hair and all other aspects of our policy. We are very proud of our uniform and the way our students present themselves to the community. Please support us with this standard.

Words of wisdom from Dr Seuss: “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get the chance, take it! If it changes your life, let it! Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it!”

Ms Trinder

Principal

Newsletter Weeks 4

Yr 6 Reflection Day

On Wednesday our Yr. 6 students gathered together to enjoy their year’s Reflection Day. The theme of the day is” Let your Light shine.” The focus of the day was that all of us have amazing gifts and talents that allow the light of Jesus to shine through.

Parish Sacramental Program

Session 1: 24th February

Session 2: 3rd March

Session 3: 10th March

Session 4: 17th March

Session 5: 24th March

Session 6: Twilight Retreat: 31st March 3.30pm-7.00pm (including shared supper)

Sacrament of First Eucharist Celebration: Sunday 3rd April 11.00pm

Lent: Project Compassion

Wednesday of Week 5 (2nd March) Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is Church’s season of Prayer, Fasting and Alms-giving. As part of this season Sacred Heart support the Caritas’s Project Compassion. Families will receive a letter and a Project Compassion Box next week. Your support is always greatly appreciated.

Ash Wednesday: Rice Day

Ash Wednesday at Lunch Time we will be holding our annual Rice Day lunch. This lunch serves a twofold purpose. Ash Wednesday is traditionally a day of penance where we do an act of self-denial and offer this up to God. We are asking our students to forgo their usual lunch and buy a bowl of rice. Individual classes will prepare their own rice. The money from this day is given to the Mercy Works Foundation who support the needs of children in some of the poorest parts of our world. The lunch also provides the students with a sense of walking in the shoes of a child from a developing country who only gets one bowl of rice to eat for a day. This exercise in empathy also allows our students to recognise how blessed we are to have what we do – plenty of food, an education, freedom and safety. In 2017 Sr Frances Fitzpatrick and Sr Angela Jordan came and spoke to the students about what Mercy Works does around the world. They spoke about how through “Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Results” can happen. That even our small donations can make a difference.

Please support our Rice Day – a bowl of rice for $2. The tuckshop will be closed at lunchtime and no lunch orders will be available. Drinks however, will be available to order. If your child is unable to eat rice, please notify his/her teacher in writing. If your child has particular nutritional needs, please follow their usual program. For our younger students – parents can use their discretion for their food intake.

Swimming Carnival Results

Thank you to all those who participated in last week's Swimming Carnival. It was a great day even with all our restrictions. 

Most importantly thank you to all the parents and families who came and assisted on the day with timekeeping. As well as those who came and cheered on all the competitors. 

Results

Broken Records 

Congratulations to the following students for their record breaking swims. What an amazing record haul!

Zoe Lake

9yr Girls 50m Freestyle 39.28 Old Record - 44.78 2006 Holly Meadows

Sub-Junior Girls 200m Freestyle 3:46.15 Old Record - 3:47.64 1994 Kym Yale

Jake Harris

Junior Boys 100m Freestyle 1:15.83 Old Record - 1:16.16 2020 Jake Winsor

11yr Boys 50m Freestyle 34.70 Old Record - 35.16 2004 Sam Lucas

Junior Boys 50m Butterfly 37.23 Old Record - 37:41 1997 Joel Bryant

Josh Harris

Int Boys 100m Breaststroke 1:32.02 Old Record - 1:33.66 2021 Tom Peacey

Int Boys 100m Backstroke 1:17.06 Old Record - 1:18.13 2004 Joshua Black

Int Boys 100m Butterfly 1:20.12 Old Record - 1:23.00 2018 Lachlan Sedgwick

Halle Johnson

Junior Girls 100m Freestyle 1:10.50 Old Record - 1:14.16 2021 Halle Johnson

12yr Girls 50m Freestyle 31.51 Old Record - 34.66 2001 Vericia Godbee

Junior Girls 50m Backstroke 38.30 Old Record - 41.28 2021 Halle Johnson

Junior Girls 50m Butterfly 33.84 Old Record - 41.52 2019 Lucy Smirl

Junior Girls 200m Ind Medley 3:13.85 Old Record - 3:18.15 2019 Lucy Smirl

PHOTOS

Primary Sport 

C&G Sporting Representatives

This program is an opportunity for our Stage 3 students to trial and represent their sport at a higher level. It is up to parents to register for these events. If you have missed the closing date, please let us know and we will contact the organisers. 

Primary Triathlon 

Our primary Triathlon is next Thursday the 3rd of March (Week 5). A note has gone home with more details. Students are encouraged to participate within the event, to the best of their ability. Don’t forget your bike and helmet. 

Western Region Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to all our participants in our Western Region Swimming Carnival. Our team included:

 

Zoe	Lake	Archie	Byrne	Ava	Sannazzaro	Jake	Harris
Polly	Manwaring	Joseph	Walker	Hallie	Johnson	Jett	Johnson
Sarah	Lake	Max	Winsor	Eve	Bucknell	Harry	Blackman
Ella	Gammon	George	Clark	Rose	Kiely	Roy	Dunk
Sophie	Sannazzaro	Ned	Hazlett	Daysie	Leahy	Harry	Winsor
Emerson	Jones	Thomas	Hazlett	Lily	Peacey
Toby	Westaway	Lucas	Walker

We had a very successful meet Yesterday. All competitors swam their best and there were many PBS. We had Four swimmers place in the top two overall and many close behind. 

Age Champions

Zoe Lake Junior Girls- 3rd Place

Jake Harris 11yrs boys- Runner Up

Halle Johnson Senior Girls- Champion

Broken Records

Congratulations to the following students for their record breaking swims. What an amazing record haul! 

Toby Westaway 

9Yr 50m Freestyle 39.67 old record 1989 T Rigney Young

Zoe Lake 

9yr 50m Freestyle 39.55 old record 40.10 Brooke McGovern Temora 

Halle Johnson

Girls Open 100m Freestyle 1:10.88 old record 1995 Carla Logan Grenfell

12yr Girls 50m Freestyle 32.00 old record 33.53 2007 Anna Bewley Borrowa

12yr Girls Backstroke 37.8 old record 38.97 Carla Logan Grenfell 

We also placed in second overall against the other Western Region schools with St Mary’s only winning by 5 points!. 

Congratulations to the following for qualifying for the next level which will be in Queanbeyan on the 8th March.

Zoe	Lake	Daysie	Leahy	Ava	Sannazzaro	Jake	Harris
Polly	Manwaring	Joseph	Walker	Hallie	Johnson	Jett	Johnson
Sarah	Lake	Lucas	Walker	Toby	Westaway	Harry	Blackman
Ella	Gammon	George	Clark	Rose	Kiely	Lily	Peacey
Sophie	Sannazzaro	Ned	Hazlett

Primary Sport Dates

Regards

 

Wendy Van Kerk Oerle 

Primary Sports Coordinator

Secondary Sport

A note went home week 2, for any students seeking more information regarding the representative sport pathways on offer this year. This should have been returned by Thursday 10th February. There are more copies of the Expression of Interest note in the front office. Some nominations for sports have passed and some are due very soon.

Secondary Sport Dates

For further information, see Ms Withers or go to:

• CSNSW Sport: website (https://csnsw.sport/)
• CG Sport: Canberra Goulburn Sport nominations page (https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations)
• Sport @ SHC: Secondary Google Classroom (student code - xcdqo3f) https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/Njk2NjYzNTMxM1pa 

For school teams to go away to gala days and competitions, students must return their note and money by the due date to be eligible to attend the excursion.

Expressions of Interest forms for Small Schools Rugby League, Opens League Tag, All Schools Teams Triathlon and CG Netball Gala days have been posted to the secondary Sport @ SHC google classroom.

As always, if you are concerned about anything to do with PE or Sport, please arrange a meeting or get in contact with me so we can work out a solution. We want everyone to be involved in all aspects of school life, to the best of their ability and feel good about their experience.

I can be contacted at megan.withers@cg.catholic.edu.au or on 02 69422612 during school hours. 

Regards

Megan Withers

Secondary Sports Coordinator

Primary_Triathlon.pdf