Term 1 - Week 6 (3rd March)

Student Protection Contacts

From The Principal

Every Minute Counts – We have often heard the saying in our schools that ‘every day counts’. This is true, however late arrivals and early departures impact your child’s academic and social emotional progress too.

The first six to seven weeks of a school year is, understandably, very heavy with the teaching of routines. Teachers work hard with your children to build these routines. We know that our children need to know the routines and expectations to have them feeling safe, setting them up for success in the year. When a child is late by 20 minutes each day in a week, this equates to an hour and forty minutes of learning per week. It is in this same 20 minutes each day, that the day is set up in the minds of learners, preparing them emotionally and getting them ‘ready to learn’. Arriving 20 minutes late, also means that children miss their play time. This is a time where friendships are formed through sharing and problem solving – valuable learning for every child.

Getting all children to school on time is extremely important.  This is especially important for those children that experience some anxiety in separating from families. Delaying arrival for those children that are experiencing anxiety is something we do, thinking we are supporting our children. However, arriving late, can increase anxiety in our children. Think of how we feel when we are running late for an appointment.

If you are having difficulty getting your child to school on time, please make a time to see your child’s teacher. There are strategies that we can introduce that will help your child navigate this difficult transition. Let’s make every school minute, learning time.

Term 1 Disco – Next Thursday 9th March, our ‘Parent Engagement Network’ are running our first 2023 disco for the children to enjoy. Please note that younger siblings are very welcome however only primary school aged older siblings can attend (i.e. attending another primary school). Parents are welcome to ‘drop and go’ with the disco starting at 6pm and finishing at 7:30pm. For their safety, children will not be able to leave the hall (except to toilet) unless accompanied by an adult . All children will be supervised in the hall until a parent arrives to escort them out.

Late Arrivals - Occasionally we have children that are running late for school. Please note that the school day starts with the first bell at 8:30am. Children can be seated in the silver seat area from 8.00am onwards. When arriving late; after 8:40am; children are to be escorted by an adult family member to the office so that a late slip can be completed (by the adult). From here, your child will be sent to class. Children arriving after 8:30am but before 8:40am, can quickly make their way to class without the need for a late slip. Family members are not to be escorting children to class past 8:40am. Very young children (Prep and year 1 students) will be shown to their class by a member of staff. This procedure will take effect immediately.

2024 Prep Enrolment Interviews – The first day of enrolment interviews for Prep 2024 will be on Friday 24^th  March, with more interview days scheduled next term. The purpose of the enrolment interview is to gather from our families as much information as we can to support each child in a smooth move to ‘big school’. If your child is set for Prep in 2024, please complete the online application form, located on our school’s website. Once we have received this, our office staff will contact you to organise the interview.

God bless,

Mr Tyronne Maher

From The APRE

Mini Vinnies
On Monday 23 students were officially commissioned as member of our Mini Vinnies! These students should be so proud of themselves; they are stepping up to help others. We had our first draw at this week's assembly for the invites to the Mini Vinnies Lunch Time Dance Party!

Free Dress Day
On Tuesday 14^th March, the Mini Vinnies group will be holding a free dress day. For a gold coin donation, students can wear sun-safe clothes in the Mini Vinnies colours of red, yellow, blue or green. The money raised will be used to make little care packages for families in need this Easter. Students will need to wear closed in shoes. This will be a wonderful day to think of others.

International Women’s Day – 8^th March
International Women’s Day (IWD) provides us with an opportunity to educate and inspire students about gender equality. It is important to this cause that we celebrate the achievements of women and challenge gender stereotypes and bias. Here at Sacred Heart we have shared these messages in the classroom and the playground, to supplement the conversations that families have over the dinner table. We asked our students to help ‘Embrace Equity’ (this year’s IWD theme) and we adopted the ‘Embrace Equity’ pose. We learnt that collective activism is what drives change. This means creating inclusion and success for all. Equality is the goal, and equity is the means to get there.

Gotcha – walking with Jesus!
Congratulations to this fortnight's winners to the Pizza Party with Mr Maher. Thank you for making our school a better place Grace, Benji, Kyle and Maddie D (who was absent on Monday).

Mrs Alice Lucas

Prayer of the Week

So, God made mankind in his own image...male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

From The Middle Leader/Curriculum Co-ordinator

INTERNET SAFETY AND CYBER BULLYING – Managing Cyber Safety and Digital Citizenship

At Sacred Heart, students in all classes participate in lessons throughout the year that focus on Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying. As many components of our world are increasingly growing an online presence, it is crucial that our young citizens are equipped with the knowledge of how to navigate the online world safely. While it is important that families closely monitor their children’s activity while online, it is also essential that we equip students with the knowledge of how to keep themselves and their information safe.
Students learn about the importance of strong passwords and recognising warning signs of ‘Stranger Danger’ online. They also discuss ad pop-ups, being careful what we click on, and when to ask for help. As the grades go up in the school, we look at creating stronger passwords and Cyber Bullying – what it is, what it looks like, and how to block and report. Years 5 and 6 address the same issues as the lower years and then move into deeper aspects of Cyber Bullying, including being mindful of what they say and post online, and understanding that their digital footprint is something that will continue to follow them (and potentially have ramifications) into the future. The Daniel Morcombe Curriculum is accessed by Toowoomba Catholic Schools to support the learning in these child safety areas.
Alongside the government’s eSafety program, the older students will have the opportunity to explore the world of Interland. This program was created by Google, and teaches students about many aspects of the online world through engaging activities and games. Our students will thoroughly enjoy using Interland, which is free and accessible on all devices – even adults can learn something from this fantastic resource!   

https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/interland

Families, we strongly encourage you to take a moment to consider your household’s use of the internet and technology. The online world is constantly updating, and such reviews should take place on a regular basis to ensure safe and healthy online experiences for our children. Below are some key messages and actions for parents to consider: 

1. Communicate with your children
2. Set clear rules and boundaries
3. Stay up-to-date with apps and programs
4. Consider and use parental controls
5. Be the one who makes the final decisions – be their protector!

 As parents we decide: 

• what programs, apps and websites can be downloaded 
• when to impose time limits on internet use
• where the online world can and cannot be used 
• who to connect with and who not to 
• language that is acceptable 
• what we can do to solve problems online

If you would like more advice or information on how to help your child navigate the online world safely, please contact the school or visit: Homepage | eSafety Commissioner

From the Learning Support Teacher

Vision and Hearing - Free Prep Vision Screening

Registered nurses will be providing free vision screenings for Prep students at Sacred Heart School on Monday 20^th March. 

The Prep vision screening service aims to give Queensland children the best possible start to their education as they transition into primary school. Screening provides the opportunity for visual abnormalities to be detected and treated early and, in turn, minimise the impact on a child’s learning.

More information including a video, you can watch with your child, can be found at https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/service-primary-school-nurse-health-readiness-program/

We encourage all children in prep to take part in the screening.  Please register via the following QR code.

Vision screening is an important first step in detecting vision problems.  Optometrists, Behavioural Optometrists and Ophthalmologists are also involved in diagnosing and treating eye and vision problems.

What is the difference between an optometrist and a behavioural optometrist?

Both optometrists and behavioural optometrists work in a similar field of health care.  Optometrists examine eyes to diagnose eye disorders and diseases, investigate vision disorders, analyse and treat eye coordination and focussing problems and prescribe glasses.

A behavioural optometrist is able to do all of this, but they specialise more in diagnosing vision problems in the following areas:

• Focus and eye coordination problems which can impact reading and writing.
• Measurement of near and distance focus – ie changing focus from desk to board.
• Assessment and treatment of eye tracking abilities for reading fluency.
• Assessment and treatment of skills of vision perception or processing which may impact a child’s ability to learn to read and write.

Students experiencing difficulty with their schooling, particularly in reading and writing may be referred by the school to a behavioural optometrist.  Please contact myself, or your class teacher, if you have concerns with your child’s vision.

More information about behavioural optometry can be found at

https://www.acbo.org.au/for-patients/evidence

Hearing screening will also be conducted for Prep students later this term.  More information will be contained in the next newsletter.

Mrs Genny McNair
Learning Support Teacher

Class Awards

Class In Focus

Year IJ

In Mathematics, Year 1J have counted, recognised, modeled, and ordered numbers to 120.  Over the last two weeks, they also had the opportunity to partition two-digit numbers (e.g., breaking numbers up into more manageable parts).  For one activity, they were asked to find the total number of paddle pop sticks in a box.  It was great to see the children working together to find the total number by partitioning the paddle pop sticks into groups of tens and ones for ease of counting.

Last week, Year 1J visited Healthy Harold.  Healthy Harold made it clear that, ‘Never before in time, and never again in time, will there be another person just like you!’  With this important message, the children looked at ways to keep healthy and how to make healthy food choices. 

In History and Social Science, the children have been exploring terminology such as past, present, and future and referred to these words in their own lives. One activity that the children completed was to think about their future and what they want to be when they grow up.  I love hearing what the children aspire to be and look forward to seeing them in the future as vets, race-car drivers, artists, nurses, and scientists plus many more professions.   

Every Friday, the Year 1J class have Library where they have the opportunity to find books to take home.  It is great to see the enjoyment the children have for reading and making the most out of borrowing books linked in with their interests.

Years 1J and 1/2T have sent home a raffle book to the eldest in every family for the Easter Raffle.  The Easter Raffle raises money for Caritas and will be drawn on Thursday 30^th  March at the Easter Pageant.  Thank you to the families who have already sold their raffle book and sent in Easter eggs.  If you would like to donate, please hand all donated items to your child’s teacher.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs Hannah Jesshope

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Year 4G

This term, Year 4G has begun the exploration of living things, in particular plants.  We depend on plants for the oxygen we breathe, many foods, fibres, building materials, medicines and fuels, and for the pleasure of beautiful flowers.  The students have shared their understandings and beliefs about flowering plants and through conducting scientific investigations and collecting data we have confirmed and challenged some of these beliefs.  The students found great joy in exploring our school grounds in order to dissect and annotate a diagram of a cross-section of a flower from their collection.  In doing so we discovered the reproductive parts of flowers and their role in pollination. 
Over the past two weeks, Year 4G have also successfully grown their own bean seed, observing the changes that occur in a germinating seedling and discussing how these stages form part of the life cycle of plants.

Mrs Rhonda Gath and Mrs Jodie Manley

From The Arts

KEEP THE DATE:

Easter Pageant

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
 Thursday 30^th March at 9.00am (School Hall)

This event showcases each class with an item, a choir item and class and whole school singing. This year our focus has been incorporating Auslan (Sign Language) to our class prayers. The students have really enjoyed learning key words and being able to represent these words in a physical and visual way.

I am looking for some help in building/creating some props. I need four long spears and a crown of thorns made. If this is something that you would be able to help with, please contact me asap. cherie.runciman@twb.catholic.edu.au

Choir

Every Tuesday at 2.55-3.30pm in The Arts Room (near the school hall)

Students in Year 3 – 6 are welcome!

 We are currently working towards the Easter Pageant (March), the Toowoomba Eisteddfod (May) and the Catholic Arts Fest (June) where the students will have the opportunity to perform in a mass choir of 300 students and involved in a concert that includes 1000 students from around the Toowoomba Diocese.

If you would like your child to be involved in the choir, please contact me or send them along next Tuesday after school. 

Instrumental Program 

There are still spots available for this year. If you would like to enrol your child, please fill in the online form below or contact me directly via email.
Cherie.Runciman@twb.catholic.edu.au

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_f1LV0RCBUK3EBaPWwxYDVbF2GR6D2hAo-dL1hpSKMRUQTBXNEcwWURNTk05MlgxNVJBRkRUQjI4Sy4u

Ms Cherie Runciman
Music Teacher

Sport News

Soccer
We have loved having Ray from Football Australia coaching the students in Football (soccer)! He really enjoyed his time here at Sacred Heart! It was great to see the majority of students’ willingness to get in and have a go. Our Upper Years will have a make-up day with Ray next Wednesday.

Year 4 Gala Day – T Ball
Please find below information relating to our Term 1 Grade 4 T BALL Gala Day.

SPORT: Modified Aussie T Ball
DATE: Tuesday 28th March 2023
VENUE: Kearney’s Spring Touch Football Grounds, Ruthven St Toowoomba
STARTING TIME: Opening – 9:15 am - Competition Commences - 9.40am
FINISHING TIME: 12:50pm (approx.)
FORMAT: Minimum of 9 Players on the field at a time 

There will be information sent out in the coming weeks regarding the Gala Day.

 Cross Country
The Sacred Heart Cross Country will take place on the morning of Wednesday 29^th March!

The cross country will be conducted here on the school oval.  The students will have had the opportunity to run the course multiple times during PE lessons.

The Parent Engagement Network are taking the opportunity to run a bake stall on the day. It would be great to see as many families as possible support this initiative.  

The school realises not all children enjoy long distance running and they often find cross country quite challenging.  ‘Participating and trying your best’ is what the school expects.  

Students 10 years and older have the choice to participate either in the competitive race (as per the distances listed below) or in a 1km ‘Fun Run’.   Children can wear their house colours in the form of a plain polo shirt (Byrne – Blue, Kattie – Yellow, Kelly- Green). For those children wishing to wear lighter running shoes for their event, they may bring these and change into them when appropriate. 

Any students wishing to be considered for the West Zone Cross Country must participate in the competitive events.  Age champion medallions will be awarded to students who win events in the 9, 10, 11 and 12 Years competitive races.  

Please see below to see how far your child will run:

5 Years: Born 2018 – 500m 
6 Years: Born 2017 – 500m 
7 Years: Born 2016 – 1000m 
8 Years: Born 2015 – 1000m 
9 Years: Born 2014 – 1000m
10-12 Years Fun Run Born 2010-2012 – 1000m
10 Years: Born 2013 – 2000m 
11 Years: Born 2012 – 3000m
12 Years: Born 2011 - 3000m 

Training
We will be running the cross country track during our weekly PE lessons and children who are aged 9 – 12 years this year will also be able to run the track before school on Wednesdays and Fridays before school. I will conduct these training sessions from 8.10 – 8.30 am. Students will gather at the silver seats as per usual and then come up onto the oval with the teacher on duty.

Mrs Alice Lucas

Library News

Library borrowing/returns

Please find below the days for class library borrowing:

• Tuesday – Prep C, Prep N, 3C
• Wednesday – 4G
• Thursday – 5R, 6B
• Friday – 1/2T, 1J, 2A

Please note that Friday classes MUST return their library books and readers on Thursday.

It has always been the school expectation that students have a library bag in which to take home their books.  Could you please support your child by providing them with the black school library bag or a suitable waterproof bag that is big enough.

Mrs Jan Watkins and Mrs Becc Wheeler

Scholastic Book Club

TERM 1 SCHOOL FEES

The first instalment of school fees was due on Tuesday. To pay via a bank transfer, our bank details are at the bottom left of your statement.  Please make the reference, your account number and name, ie. SAC111 Johnson. Your account number can be found at the top right of the statement.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the office for assistance.

The school also accepts payment via a direct debit or Centrepay.  Our preferred method of payment is direct debit.  To access the direct debit form, please click on the link below.  Thank you to those families who have already actioned the direct debit form.

Book Covering Assistance

To support the latest update of the English curriculum, the school has recently purchased a considerable number of decodable readers. The library staff are steadily adding them to the database but would appreciate some assistance with the covering ….. so if you are keen and able please contact the library at sacredheartlib@twb.catholic.edu.au or alternatively ring the school office. We are happy for the covering to happen at school or home.

Many Thanks
Mrs Jan Watkins 
Teacher Librarian

The Uniform Shop

*We accept EFTPOS only - NO CASH OR LAYBY*  
Thank you for your continued support of the school’s uniform shop.
Normal Uniform Shop hours:
Mondays & Thursdays 8.00am - 10:30am.
If Monday is a holiday, the Uniform Shop will open on a Tuesday.

SCHOOL BAGS: School Bags are COMPULSORY to the WHOLE SCHOOL. Do you have the correct bag? Available from the Uniform Shop for $39.50 
SCHOOL PULLOVERS - This is a compulsory uniform item for Years 1 to 6.

FREE BUTTONS available for Boys’ red shirt, girls’ red and white blouse & Prep red polo.
The uniform shop carries donated pre-loved items (including Prep).
Thank you for all the donations to the uniform shop these are greatly appreciated. Please continue to support the uniform shop with donations. These can be left at the office.
Ms Betty Davison
CONVENOR

Sacred Heart Parish

Community Notices

ST URSULA'S COLLEGE 

2023 Open Day 

Please book using the link below
https://www.trybooking.com/CEQER