We have made a flying start to the year and we are very quickly filling up the days with a myriad of different experiences for our students. However, at the very core of our business is the teaching and learning of our students. Positive attitudes, homework routines, regular attendance and assignment work are imperative to our students making progress and improvement in their outcomes. We aim for a shared relationship with the student, home and school in making this as seamless as it possibly can.  If there are protracted absences from school arrangements can be made with the teachers to ensure that the continuity of teaching is as consistent as it can be and there is an expectation that a student will “catch up” on any work that is missed. This will require open communication between the student and the teacher.

Secondary Study

Next Monday the Secondary Study program will begin for years 7, 8 and 9. It will begin in the library from 3.30pm until 5.30pm and will be supervised by a roster of different teachers. We are grateful to the staff for supporting this opportunity to embed solid study habits and hope that many students avail themselves of this opportunity to complete and seek help with their class and assignment work. The senior (Year 10) study will be confirmed later in the week. All students are to be collected by an adult.

Welbeing

Over the past several decades education has shifted to focus on literacy and math learning, largely due to high stakes tests measuring those two elements of school and the recognition that these skills are vital for future academic success and functioning. But teachers have long known that while reading, writing and maths are important to academic success, they are far from the only qualities students need to go forth and lead productive lives.

In recent years, the pendulum of education trends have swung back to emphasise the importance of wellbeing to learning. As a school we are investing in programs and initiatives to help our students, parents and staff maintain a positive “wellbeing” to support their learning journey. This Thursday we will host John Coutis to provide students, staff and the community to recognise that a positive mindset and resilience can help anyone overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Please give some thought to joining us at 8am in the secondary rooms 7 & 8 for what promises to be an inspiring challenge to attitudes and challenge.

Uniform Free

Our enthusiastic and excited Student Leadership Team are already heavily involved in a range of different school activities. Their support for the Information sessions, swimming carnival and Breakfast Club has been invaluable and they have many many more ideas to make 2019 the best year yet!. Next Wednesday 27 February we will be holding our first Uniform free Day and Community breakfast. All funds will be directed to the McGrath Foundation. A splash of pink and a gold coin donation will mark the fundraising day. Please join us from 8.30am for muffins and fresh fruit.

Breakfast Club

Our very popular Breakfast Club has resumed operation in a different format to meet a number of requirements. Every Tuesday and Thursday toasties will be available in front of the canteen. We hope that this new site will encourage students to make connections with others across the school as they mill around and enjoy their toasties. We are grateful to Mrs Maher and the student leadership team for leading this initiative.

We love to celebrate the success of all those connected with Sacred heart. Please contact the school there is anything that we can acknowledge and celebrate.

God Bless

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal

Angela Read: Youth Minister:

We welcome Angela Read, our school and parish's resident Youth Minister for this year. This is a new program started by the diocese and the CSYMAA team. It will be wonderful to have a young adult to work with us, our students and the parish in the faith formation of our students. We will have two youth ministers based in Cootamundra and working with our youth in the local area. They will be living in the old Mercy convent. Angela be in and around Sacred Heart a great deal. She is very excited about to meeting students and families and becoming part of our community. 

We are on the lookout for a 2-3 seater sofa or lounge to go into the old convent, as it only has a couple of arm chairs at the moment. If you have one that you would like to offer or know of someone who may have one available, please do not hesitate to let me know. Patrece

Parish Weekend Mass:

Infants Weekend Mass 2^nd March. All families and students are welcome to attend. 

Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

We prayer for our Yr 4 students who continue their preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist this Thursday night. We thank and prayer for parishioners and school staff who are leading and assisting with this very important faith journey of our students.

Ash Wednesday- Mercy Works Rice Day

Ash Wednesday Mass: 10:00am Wednesday 6^th March (Week 6)

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. 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 canteen will be closed at lunchtime and no lunch orders will be available. Drinks however, will be available. 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.

Yours in Faith

Mrs Maxwell

PRIMARY SPORT Week 4 – SWIMMING

Students in Years 3-6 are swimming this Thursday for sport. Please ensure that your child comes to school with their swimming gear (including a rash top), a hat and $2.50 entry money.

Secondary Sport Week 4- Swimming

Students in Years 7-10 are swimming this Friday for sport. Please ensure that your child comes to school with their swimming gear (including a rash top), a hat and $2.50 entry money.

Archdiocesan Touch Trials

Primary and Secondary Archdiocesan Touch Trials will be held on Friday 8^th March in Cootamundra at Nicholson Park, 10 am- 2 pm. All students wishing to trial for these team must use the online nomination process. (See below)

REMINDER: Archdiocesan Representative Pathways

Starting from this year all nominations for sporting representative pathways, except for Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics will be carried out online through the CE, MacKillop (Primary) and CCC (Secondary) sports websites. If you and your child are interested in trialling for any of sports, please take the time to visit these sites for further information on dates, location and nominations.

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au (Archdiocesan Sports)

https://www.csss.nsw.edu.au/nswcps-home.aspx (Primary)

https://www.csss.nsw.edu.au/nswccc-home.aspx (Secondary)

Western Region Swimming Carnival

The Western Region Swimming Carnival was held on Friday 15 February in Tumut. Sacred Heart students showcased their amazing swimming talents, competing in a range of events. Many students accomplished personal bests with their times. Congratulations to all students who competed in the carnival, you were outstanding!

Thank you to those parents who attended the carnival, supporting our students, timekeeping throughout the day and transporting other students.

We have 10 students that will now complete at the Archdiocesan Carnival in Narooma on 4/3. We wish you all the very best for the next level!

Primary Dates:

TERM 1

Archdiocesan Touch Trials -Cootamundra 8/3/19

Archdiocesan Netball Trials - Lyneham 12/3/19

Archdiocesan Rugby League (11’s and Opens) - Lyneham Trials 12/3/19

Archdiocesan Soccer Trials - Lyneham 12/3/19

McTaggart Rugby Cup - Wagga 3/4/19

Young Soccer Carnival - Young 5/4/19

Secondary Dates:

TERM 1

Secondary Archdiocesan Swimming - Goulburn 26/2/19

Archdiocesan Touch Trials - Cootamundra 8/3/19

Secondary Rugby League 15’s and Opens Trials - Forbes 2/4/19

CCC Touch Championships - Nelsons Bay 9/4/19