As I sit down to write this week’s newsletter I have a lot to reflect on and give thanks for. We have really the most amazing country, opportunities and people. Over the last two weeks I was lucky enough to enjoy some Long Service Leave in sunny Queensland. I was able to see Far Northern QLD at its very best, in between their extreme weather events, and had a very restful and wonderful time. I was very grateful to be given the chance to have this quality time and I was very confident that I had left the school in capable hands. I thank Mr Mooney and the rest of the Leadership team and staff for an exceptionally good job whilst I was away. It is good to be back, even though it is cold and wet. There is much to look forward in the remaining weeks of Semester 1.

One of our goals this year is to address the issue of attendance. It is obvious that students cannot learn effectively unless they are at school. They have a better chance of developing the skills and understanding that they will require if they are present in the classroom to utilise the expertise of the teacher and the classroom dynamics. We will be making contact with parents to discuss any continual absences (that are not related to COVID) that are impacting on their child’s learning and progress. We have some students who are regularly away to avoid certain subjects and certain events. If there are significant issues that prevent a student coming to school then we need to have informed conversations about what we as a school can do or need to be aware of in regard to the student. It is a legal responsibility to attend school for the majority of the year. Curriculum is designed to be sequential and consistent, and should take the bulk of the year to complete the required content and skills. If students miss too many days it is very difficult to master the content necessary to develop lifelong skills. Without regular attendance, levels of attainment suffer and opportunities are missed to obtain maximum benefit from education. So too, it is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that the child is encouraged to go to school every day and is on time and prepared for class. Again, if this is an issue please contact the school so that we can support you in making this happen. Lateness also compounds lots of different issues as well around consistency and a thorough understanding.

However, on the most obvious flip side, we also encourage you to keep students home who are sick, especially if they are showing COVID-like symptoms. Influenza A is rampant in many larger centres and there are already some cases apparently in town. We hope to remain relatively COVID-free over the troublesome winter months but we need students and families to abide by the COVID protocols and test close contacts each day and provide them with a mask if appropriate. There are some nasty viruses going around at the moment, that despite not being COVID, still require some convalescence before returning to school.  

Next week we hope to hold our annual Athletics Carnival if the weather is kind to us. Traditionally our carnivals are a wonderful day of community building and celebration. If you could assist in anyway by helping on an event please make contact with the front office. If you are unable to help we hope that you might drop into Albert Park to join us throughout the day. Surely it is O’Shaughnessy’s year!

Monday is hopefully the last day of NAPLAN 2022. It is always a logistical feat to manage all of the tests and all of the technology and all of the extra stresses for our students. Thank you to the staff for their smooth running of the testing program and especially to Mr Mooney and Mr Winsor for the preparatory organisation. Monday will be the final numeracy tests and any of the catch up tests that need to happen.

Next Tuesday night at 6pm we will be holding the P & F AGM where we will elect office bearers for the next 12 months. We will also be farewelling one of our longest serving members – Mrs Jody Miller who has been on the P&F for over 16 years – most of the time she has served as the Treasurer. We are very grateful for any parent who supports the P&F but Jody has given a continuous 16 years of dedicated service and we are appreciative and thankful for all that she has given to our school. The P&F is a lovely collection of dedicated and committed parents who want the very best for our school and work tirelessly to make sure our students have resources, facilities and opportunities to enrich their educational experience.

We continue to keep families who are struggling with illness in our prayers and hope that God continues to hold them in the palm of his hand.

“Be kind. Be fair. Be honest. Be true. And all of these things will come back to you. Remember what goes around, comes around.” Kindness is never wasted.

God bless

Ms Nicky Trinder

Year_2_Reflection_Day.pdf

Year_4_Reflection_Day.pdf

Sacred_Heart_K_10_Athletics_Carnival.pdf

Pupil_Free_Day_Dates.pdf

Canberra_Goulburn_Secondary_Netball_Carnival.pdf

Mortimer_Shield_Year_5_6_Competition.pdf

Futsal_Championships_Wagga_Wagga.pdf

Congratulations Canberra Goulburn Cross Country at Stromlo ACT

Well done to the students listed below who represented Sacred Heart at the Archdiocesan Cross-Country trials in Canberra on Monday 9 May.

PRIMARY: Alex Byrne, Craig Stanley, Jake Harris, Sophie Knewstub, Polly Manwaring, Sacha McLeod, Ava Sannazzaro, Sophie Sannazzaro, Eamon Sutherland, Harry Winsor and Max Winsor

SECONDARY: Nellie Ward, Joshua Harris, Oliver Hall, Hannah Drum, Ellie Lake, Declan Kerrison, Ryan Peacey, Ashlee Peacey, Chase Cullen, Joshua Lubke, Angus Hunt, Scarlett Wilson, Blair Roberts, Riley Mills, Zachary Godber, Lily McLeod, Cooper Jones and Jake Winsor.

It was again another very successful sporting event for the students at Sacred Heart. Congratulations to Sacha McLeod, Sophie Sannazzaro, Alex Byrne, Max Winsor, Jake Harris, Ava Sannazzaro and Sarah Harris, Lily McLeod, Cooper Jones, Joshua Harris, Nellie Ward and Jake Winsor who will represent the Archdiocesan of Canberra / Goulburn at Eastern Creek on 7 June 2022.

A special Congratulations to Sophie Sannazzaro who placed first, Alex Byrne placing second and Sacha McLeod who placed third.

Athletics

This term we have both our SHC Athletics carnival (Friday Week 4 - 20th May) and the Western Region Athletics carnival (Thursday Week 8 - 16th June). Notes will go out with more information. 

SHC Carnival Program 2022 - Click here 

** Seeking Helpers **

If you are available to assist with the Athletics carnival please contact us at your earliest convenience.

If anyone has a small/camping sized generator they could loan to the school for both Athletics carnivals, we would greatly appreciate it. 

Please contact Megan Withers (megan.withers@cg.catholic.edu.au or 69422612) if you can assist in anyway. 

Thanks in advance.

Primary Sport

Rugby 10s

Congratulations to both stage two and three, who participated in the Rugby 10s in Wagga This Friday. As a result Our stage 2 team has qualified for the Championships in Canberra. Our stage 3 team only missed out by one try. 

Mortimer Shield

Stage three students will have the opportunity this term to participate in the Mortimer Shield League gala day. This is open to both boys and girls. Girls will be playing league tag. Notes will go today with more details. 

Basketball Sessions

We have been lucky enough to secure Basketball Wagga, this term to help facilitate our sporting lessons. This will be on Thursdays from week 6 k-6. Keep an eye out for photos once we start. 

Primary Sport Dates

Secondary Sport

Sacred Heart Team Nominations for Gala Days

Please keep checking the Secondary SPORT @ SHC google classroom for forms to complete. These are expressions of interest only, and so further information can be distributed.

Please return all notes as soon as possible so teams can be finalised and nominations entered on time.

CG Netball Gala

Please return notes for the CG Netball Gala day asap please. This is scheduled for Monday 23rd May. If there are any volunteers in the community that have experience and would be willing to umpire for the day, please contact Megan Withers at the school. Thanks in advance.

CG Basketball Gala

This event has been postponed. New notes will be distributed when a new date has been confirmed.

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.

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