Last week all the principals in the diocese were in attendance at the Director’s System Day in Canberra. We were privileged to hear from the South Australian Director of Catholic Education Dr Neil McGoran. He was quite an impressive speaker and very learned, and he made good sense! He spoke about the Top Skills that will be required in 2030 and the indictors of success for students. Interestingly, there was no mention of how they went in any test, there was no reference to the number of A’s that they received on a report, nor of the subjects that they studied. The top skills for 2030 were identified as judgement and discernment, creativity, complex problem solving, self-efficacy and most importantly, people skills. He spoke that schools needed to be in the business of training humans to be humans and not machine like and that the kind of things that are easy to teach are now easy to automate, digitize or outsource. This makes the challenge for teaching all the more complex because we are in the business of shaping students’ identity – ‘who are you going to be?’ ‘what impact are you going to have on people? This is an important responsibility and teachers have to continue to try to find the way to enable success for each child and that each child is thriving. This is no easy task. He made the comparison that – “we never beat up the doctors who are trying to cure cancer because they haven’t done it yet, we are just grateful that they keep trying”. This is our motivation, we need to keep trying to shape “successful learners who are confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens”. Our students are works in progress and we are privileged to share in their lives and we will continue to try.

Satisfaction Survey

At the principals’ meetings we also spent time unpacking trends and areas of growth and concern that were obvious in our School Satisfaction Surveys. Thank you to the parents, students and staff who completed the survey several months ago. The data informs the school about areas where we can devote resources, time and funds into improving and growing certain areas. This also informs our Annual School Improvement Plan. I will expand in more detail in subsequent newsletter some of the areas we intend to focus on for the coming year. The student and parents voice is very important in planning future directions so we do value constructive input!

Parish Mass and BBQ/200 Club

This Sunday 10 November Sacred Heart Parish will hold its yearly Parish celebration after 11am Mass. This is a lovely time to mingle with the Parish community and share a BBQ lunch. If you would like to attend please contact the Front Office for catering purposes. If you are able to bring a salad or sweet to share all meat and some drinks will be provided. Hope to see you there! It will also be the time when the 200 Club tickets are drawn with $3000 as first prize.

Staffing and planning for 2020

We continue to juggle staffing demands and needs for next year and hope to have all staffing finalised pretty much by the end of the coming weeks. At this time it is also important to recognise that Mrs Kerrie Murphy will be finishing up in her position as Wellbeing Project manager after several years of dedicated service to the position. Mrs Sky Gay will also be having another year at home with her family before she returns in 2021. Our school is so blessed to have such dedicated and devoted staff who rise to the challenges of our students needs each and every day. Long after the school bell sounds at the end of each day our staff are still working at providing the best learning opportunities to our students.

Year 10 Exam Week

Next week our year 10 students will sit their final exams at Sacred Heart. While this seems at odds with my opening paragraph the constraints of the NESA requirements dictates that students complete mandatory hours and assessments. This will allow them to qualify for the ROSA (Record of Student Achievement) and they will receive their final report and testamur at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday 11 December. We encourage the students to make the most of their preparation to demonstrate their understanding and skills but to recognise that this is the culmination of 13 years of work and shaping. We are very proud of our Year 10 students and what they can achieve. Never give up trying to be the best version of yourself.

Go gently and if you can be anything…be kind!

God Bless

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal

World Mission Rosary - Day of Many Colours Catholic Mission

Last Wednesday our school held a Day of Many Colours- Catholic Mission prayer liturgy and fundraiser. In all our school raised $979.15. A fantastic effort by all. Congratulations to Stage 3 who raised the most per student closely followed by Stage 2.

O’SHAUGHNESSY HOUSE MASS

On Saturday night O’SHAUGHNESSY students lead the parish Mass. We are proud of all these students in the way they celebrate their faith and actively take on the role of service for others. Thank you to the families who supported our students and joined in this celebration.

Kindness_and_Connection_Project.pdf

Primary_Sport_Swimming_T4.pdf

Year_5_Reflection_Day.pdf

Year_9_Leadership_Day.pdf

Infants Athletics Carnival

A fabulous day at the Infants Athletics Carnival on Friday. All students K-2 participated wholeheartedly in running races, novelty and relays. Thank you to Mrs Gale and her PASS class and the Primary School Leaders for their efficient and encouraging support on the day.

Thank you to the Canteen and their helpers who also supported the carnival, and cooked the BBQ.

Congratulations to Mercy, who were the overall winners of the day.

Primary Sport – Weeks 2-5

Students in Years 3-6 may bring their own tennis racquet on Thursdays for their class tennis session if they wish to do so.

Primary Classes – Years 3-6 will begin swimming for sport on a Thursday in Week 6. A note will go home with students this week detailing information.

Secondary Touch Carnival

We are holding our annual Secondary Schools touch carnival on Friday 15/11/19. We are looking for the assistance of a high number of referees. If anyone is able to offer their time, please speak to Patrece Maxwell.

Year 10 parents assist with running the canteen. Offers of Parent assistance can be directed toward Erryn Marsey.

Primary Dates:

TERM 4

Secondary Dates:

TERM 4

SHS Touch Carnival 15/11/19