As we move slowly through to the end of the term it is timely to be aware of how our students and families are travelling in these challenging times. For a long time teachers had wished for fewer interruptions to their teaching time so that they could meet all the syllabus demands. ‘You should always be very careful what you wish for’ because for the first time we have had no interruptions to class time, nothing to break up face-to-face teaching and our students have not marked the past six months with the many and varied traditional activities. We have had no Cross Country, no Athletics carnival, no interschool sport, no discos, no public speaking, no school production and so many other activities that have been fixed events on our school calendar for so many years. Our students are still so positive in the manner with which they come to school each and every day to learn, and our teachers have tried to inspire and enthuse our students each and every day to learn. But it has been a long term and we are already in week 8 of a 10 week term and we live in the hope that our last term of 2020 will include some of the activities that we used to take for granted. For many of our students and families we need to check in and make sure that they are OK in this current climate. RUOK day was traditionally at this time of year and it is obvious that the importance of mental health is now paramount. There has been much in the media in recent days and weeks about the strain that our communities are under. Please make contact with anyone at the school if you have concerns for the mental health and wellbeing of our student and/or their families. We will always try to support and find other avenues of professional support for those in need. Currently we have no counsellor on site but are able to access video-conferencing linkups for our students with an excellent counsellor in Canberra. Please call or email if you would like to go on the list to access these services.

In planning for the beginning of Term 4 the first TWO days of the term will be staff professional learning. We were to have had two days at the start of Term 2 but these were lost to COVID and it has been transferred to Term 4. As a staff community we will meet to learn about legal and compliance obligations and the important areas of child protection and mandatory reporting. We will also spend time unpacking new curriculum directions and the Microsoft TEAMS platform for staff and students. The second day will be spent online with a forum coordinated by James Nottingham. Nottingham is a world leader in pedagogy and classroom practice and whilst it will not quite be the same as when he was supposed to visit us in person we will have to be satisfied with a video link up from England. Please mark in your diaries that the first day for students Term 3 will be WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER.

A reminder about the current directives around COVID-19:

A significant change to the guidelines is in regard to COVID-19 testing requirements. We need to continue to exclude any students (or staff) if they display any flu-like symptoms, even if mild. Students (and staff) with even mild flu-like symptoms are now required to be tested and can only return to school upon a receipt of a negative test result that must be provided to the school.

Thank you to those families who have been very supportive of this directive and have, without question, organised the testing and complied with all instructions. It is greatly appreciated.

It is also timely to thank our families for their continued commitment to the payment of school fees. We strive to offer all our students a quality education in a small town setting that will rival any other school no matter how big their budget. We rely on the fee commitment of our families to continue to offer resources, facilities and an environment that supports learning. In the recent satisfaction survey many parents noted that it would be beneficial to refresh or update many of the different buildings, and only with the continuing fees can we budget to make the necessary improvements and repairs. We are an old school and many of our buildings are very old and we have inherited old problems but we will work towards the cyclical maintenance and improvement to make our school the best place to learn. However, if at any time you have issues or concerns about fees please make an appointment to speak with me confidentially as we can always look to support families in this uncertain times. The Catholic Education Office is committed to making sure that fees do not prohibit anyone from receiving a catholic education.

We will not be able to host any kinder 2021 orientation sessions at this stage but hope to mail out some information and packs to be used with our newest enrolments to help them make the transition to school as smooth as possible. Maybe in Term 4 restrictions may be relaxed to allow some on-site visits but this is still to be confirmed pending the spread and activity of the virus. We are looking to create some informative videos to be used with the new students to help them recognise and relate to important people, locations and events that will be part of their experience of Sacred Heart in Kindergarten 2021

In a world where you can be anything…. Be kind! And remember – kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the world no matter what you look like!

God Bless

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal

The NSW Children's Week 2020 Art Competition is open to all children and young people up to the age of 18 living in NSW. Children and young people can enter by creating an artwork to show how they are keeping safely connected with their family, friends and community during this time. Artworks can include drawings, paintings, photographs, digital illustrations or videos.

Yr 3 Reflection Day

This Thursday of Week 8, Year 3 will celebrate their reflection day for this year. The students will participate in a day full of playing game, doing craft and praying based on the theme of Praying Creatively with God.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The sessions for Confirmation will take place on Thursday afternoons, over a period of four weeks (3 lessons plus a twilight retreat), as indicated below. With the obvious time constraints, it is critical that your child attend all the preparation sessions and the final Twilight Retreat, to adequately prepare our candidates for the reception of Confirmation. If there is the unplanned inability to attend a session, please advise Fr Lolesio as soon as possible.

Venue: Sacred Heart School Library

Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Session 3: 10th September

Session 4: 17th September (Twilight Retreat)

Twilight Retreat: 3.30pm - 6.30pm (including shared supper)

Sacrament of Confirmation Celebration: Sunday 20th September (11.00am Mass)

Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist

The sessions for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will take place on Thursday afternoons, over a period of 5 weeks (4 lessons plus a twilight retreat including First Reconciliation), as indicated below. With the obvious time constraints, it is critical for your child to attend all the preparation sessions and the final Twilight Retreat, to adequately prepare our candidates for the reception of First Reconciliation which will be held at the Twilight Retreat and First Eucharist. If there is an unplanned inability to attend a session, please advise Fr Lolesio as soon as possible.

Venue: Sacred Heart School Library

Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Session 1: 15th October

Session 2: 22nd October

Session 3: 29th October

Session 4: 5th November

Session 5: 12th November (Twilight Retreat)

Twilight Retreat and First Reconciliation: 12th November 3.30pm - 6.30pm (shared supper.

Sacrament of First Eucharist Celebration: Sunday 15th November (11.00am Mass)

Year_10_Jersey_2021.pdf

Science_Fair.pdf

Goldenfields_Water_National_Water_Week_Com_entry_Form.pdf

Primary Sport - Golf Sessions

If you are looking for good quality winter and summer clothes, sizes from 4 through to 24, shoes sizes kids 11 through men's 11. Please email Kylie Winsor on kylie.winsor@cg.catholic.edu.au with sizes and requirements and she will have a look and get back to you and leave them in the Front Office to be collected and paid for in cash. 

In anyone has any clothes that their children have outgrown, they would be very much apprieciated (particularly size 6-10 sizes).

 Many thanks,

Kylie