Term 3 - Week 6 (18th August)

Student Protection Contacts

From The Principal

Challenge is good for learning - At Sacred Heart, our learners are very familiar with language to do with ‘being in the pit’. This ‘learning pit’ image is a way of explaining and reflecting with children on what strategies lifelong learners need when they find themselves challenged. Talking about what strategies they’ll need for a particular lesson or day, or going over what they had to use when challenged, helps them to understand what ‘tools’ they might need next time.
The research into challenge and learning is conclusive. One group of students studying a concept for an assessment the traditional way by practice and repeat, might get it ‘right’ in the test, but loose the knowledge quickly. Those that are challenged and challenged to go deeper in their learning, by discussing, debating, drawing and creating, retain the information for much longer.
When we ensure that there is the right amount of challenge for a child in any learning task, and provide them with the right supports and strategies in a safe and caring environment, their brain develops new pathways and stronger connections that they continue to use. In basic terms, they are less likely to forget the information and better still, are able to transfer the new knowledge and skills to other challenges. The ‘learning pit’ is the tool or model that we use to create challenge through discussion so that a learner can go from having only one or two ideas about something, to having many different ideas and perspectives. More simply, they go into the ‘pit’ and come out of it at a ‘higher’ level.
In reality though, we believe that there is only one answer and one way of doing things. While this might be the case in many circumstances, we respond to children’s ideas with an evaluation of their efforts, often accidentally. We also tend to jump straight to helping them, usually because we don’t like seeing them struggle or getting things wrong. Some of our children have even become quite good at shrugging their shoulders or waiting long enough for you to give them the answer.
The next time your child is challenged in their learning, don’t go straight to solving the issue for them. Encourage them to explain their thinking and respond with; “That’s interesting, tell me more about that”. Keep this going with ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions and see if by the end of the chat they have more than the one idea that they started with.

Communication and collaboration is key - At Sacred Heart, we believe that spotting and acknowledging good learning and social choices brings about more of these behaviours in all. We also believe in the learning associated with making the right choices. Part of this learning begins with a consequence, followed by the conversation that includes what they should have been doing at this time and what they will do differently next time. This work is most impactful when both school and home are having these conversations. To achieve this partnership, communication is key.
When a child receives a minor behaviour consequence, you will receive a text message from the school and your child will have 5 minutes out of play. Encourage your child to explain to you what happened and what they’ll do differently next time. When a child receives a major behaviour consequence, you will receive a call from a member of school leadership. A voice message may be left or an email indicating our attempt to contact you will be sent. In both minor and major cases, the intention is to let you know what has happened so that the conversation can begin at home.

God bless.
Mr Tyronne Maher

From The APRE

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Our Year 5s participated in a special Mass with our Sacred Heart Parish on Tuesday the 8^th August to celebrate the feast day of St Mary MacKillop. These students have been learning about our pioneering Catholics so it was timely that they could join with our parishioners to celebrate this important feast day of St Mary MacKillop as she is the first Australian to be recognised by the Catholic Church as a saint.

Celebrating Learning at Sacred Heart
Our Year 4 students lead a beautiful prayer during our Week 4 Assembly which celebrated their learning journey about the water cycle. The class showed resilience when Technology was not our friend, and I was so proud of the way the Year 4 students remained calm and pivoted to make sure they were still able to lead the school in prayer and share their song with the school community.

Father’s Day at Sacred Heart
Our next Assembly will be dedicated to celebrating Father’s Day! On Monday the 28^th August at 2.15 pm, 3C will lead a Prayer Celebration and all families are most welcome!
This year as part of our celebration, we will be sharing a photo story of our amazing Sacred Heart fathers and those who are like fathers to us. All Sacred Heart families are invited to send in a maximum of two photos to be included in this photo story. All photos must be sent into Mrs Lucas via email (Alice.Lucas@twb.catholic.edu.au) by Friday August 25th at 3.00 pm. Late photos may not make the photo story, so start getting them in ASAP!

Relationships and Sexuality Education
In Week 8, the relationships and sexuality education (RSE) lessons will be taught to children from Prep to Year 6. Please have a conversation with your child/children and clarify any questions that they have after these lessons.
These lessons are part of the Australian Health and Physical Education (HPE) Curriculum of our school and all schools across Australia.
Please be assured that this material will be handled with sensitivity. Below are the learning intentions for each year level which are derived straight from the Australian Health and Physical Education (HPE) Curriculum. You will also receive a note home with further details for each year level. If you have any questions or concerns about the content being covered or your child's participation in these lessons, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Families play an important role in your child’s relationships and sexuality education. Please take the time to maintain an open dialogue with your child by being a good listener, giving honest answers and trying to understand your child’s point of view and feelings.

Mrs Alice Lucas

Prayer of the Week

From the Learning Support Teacher

The Role of the TCS Speech Pathologist
Within our Toowoomba Catholic School’s (TCS) we have a number of specialist support staff in the areas of Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Physical and Sensory Impairment.
Currently we only have 2 Speech Pathologists for all the schools in our Diocese.  They are therefore only available to work in a consultancy capacity, rather than provide speech therapy to students.
In Term 1, the Speech Pathologist does an observation of the Prep classes to identify any students who may require support and monitoring.  This is then discussed with the Class Teacher and Learning Support Teacher and parents are contacted to seek private speech therapy support.
Speech sound and language screeners are conducted by the Learning Support Teacher during the prep year, and with consultation with the TCS Speech Pathologist, recommendations may be made for those students who are not already receiving services.
Support from the TCS Speech Pathologist may be requested through the Student Support Committee Process for students who are not progressing as expected and where possible developmental language problems (ie listening, speaking, reading and writing) may exist.  The TCS Speech pathologist may in specific cases conduct a full language assessment of a student.  As the Speech Pathologist is only available for one visit each term, they are not able to conduct many assessments, so priority must be given to those students with the greatest need.
Speech difficulties including incorrect pronunciation and stuttering are best supported by a private Speech Pathologist.  Many students come into our school already receiving speech services through NDIS Early Childhood funding.  It is preferred, if parents do have concerns with their child’s development, that this support is received prior to entering school, as early intervention can be most effective in resolving problems. NDIS funding is also more accessible for below school age children.
The school is happy to communicate with private Speech Pathologists, so we can provide reinforcement and support of the student’s speech goals within daily class activities.

Mrs Genny McNair

From The Middle Leader/Curriculum Co-ordinator

At Sacred Heart we embrace the opportunities presented by the Australian Curriculum's focus on teaching Design and Digital Technologies. Our teachers have been working diligently to integrate these subjects into our primary school curriculum, nurturing our students' creativity and fostering their digital literacy skills.
Design and Digital Technologies have become integral parts of our daily lives, shaping the way we communicate, learn, and interact with the world around us. The Australian Curriculum recognises the importance of equipping our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Through Design and Digital Technologies, our students are encouraged to become problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and innovative creators. These subjects empower our young learners to explore, experiment, and express their ideas using a wide range of digital tools and resources. They learn to collaborate, communicate effectively, and harness technology to bring their visions to life.
In our classrooms, students engage in hands-on activities that encourage them to think imaginatively and approach challenges with a design-thinking mindset. They develop an understanding of the design process, learning how to identify needs and opportunities, generate ideas, and develop prototypes. By experimenting with different materials, technologies, and techniques, students learn to iterate and refine their designs, experiencing the joy of innovation firsthand.
Digital literacy is a crucial component of the Design and Digital Technologies curriculum. Our students are exposed to various digital tools, software, and platforms that enhance their ability to create and communicate effectively. They learn the fundamentals of coding, enabling them to understand the language behind digital technologies and giving them the skills to program and build their own interactive projects.
To ensure a well-rounded education, Design and Digital Technologies are integrated across other subject areas, such as Mathematics, Science, and The Arts. Students explore connections between different disciplines, discovering how technology can enhance their learning experiences.
As parents and guardians, you play an essential role in supporting your child's journey through Design and Digital Technologies. Encourage their curiosity, celebrate their creativity, and provide them with opportunities to explore digital tools and technologies at home. Together, we can foster a love for learning and equip our children with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century workforce.

Mrs Charlie Barrett

Classroom Awards

Class In Focus

Year 2A

2A have had a busy week of learning!
The children are working hard at identifying which mathematical strategy they can use to solve different problems. The children are using real world scenarios such as using money to shop to practice their problem-solving skills. 
The English focus for this term is Poetry. This week the students have been creating their own Acrostic Poems, using lots of descriptive language. 2A went for a ‘Nature Walk’ to get some inspiration and wrote Acrostic Poems for the Sun, trees, leaves and clouds.
In Visual Art, 2A have been experimenting with different methods and materials. During the ‘Nature Walk’, students collected different materials such as bark, leaves and flowers and created an artwork about the poetry that they wrote about the Sun, trees, leaves and clouds. These artworks all looked spectacular, and the children were so creative!
Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,
Miss Gabby Brac

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Sport News

West Zone Trials – Track and Field
Last week, 14 students joined our fellow West Zone athletes to trial for selection in the West Zone Track and Field team. I would like to congratulate all the students who trialed, they should be proud of themselves!

Please see below for the students who placed in one or more of their events:

Darling Downs Trials for Track and Field
Congratulations to both Lilly and Justin for making the West Zone Track and Field team and trialing for the Darling Downs team this week! Lily finished 7th overall in both the 80 m sprint and the 200 m race and Justin finished 4th in his 200 m heat. We are so proud of both Lilly and Justin! 

Inter-School Sport
Last week our Year 5s and 6s returned to Inter-School Sport after having a week off for the Bishop’s Inservice Day pupil free day. I love the buzz that Inter-School Sport creates on a Friday – so many students are excited for the day ahead and when they return to school, they can’t wait to share the score of the game. Our Year 5 girls won their game 5 – 0 and our Year 6 girls had a close, low-scoring game of 2 – 1. Our Year 5 and 6 boys both had good wins! The Year 5s won convincingly 9 – 3 and our Year 6s won 4 – 3.

This week, our Year 6 girls will verse Fairview Heights and the Year 5 girls team will verse St Thomas More’s. Our two boys teams will verse Darling Heights! This will be our last round for Inter-School Sport for Term 3!

PE LESSONS - Hockey
Our Year 1s to 6s have been learning to adapt movement skills to the game of Hockey. We have been incredibly fortunate to receive funding from the Sporting Schools program to fund two Hockey coaches from the Toowoomba Hockey Association to run 4 PE lessons for all our classes.

Mrs Alice Lucas

From The Arts

Sacred Heart Idol
Tuesday 29th August

Sacred Heart Idol 2023 Finalists

Helpful hints for finalists to remember……..

• Speak clearly when introducing yourself.
• Make sure you connect with the audience. Eg. eye contact, smile, good posture and stand confidently.
• Singers
  • Prepare a Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus in length.
  • Make you know the words.
  • Practice with a mic and remember it needs to be up close to your mouth.
  • Stand confidently, you will get a better sound.
• Instrumentalists
  • Make sure you have your instrument.
  • Come before school to do a sound check.
• Variety
  • Speak slowly so people understand your words.
  • Hold the mic close to your mouth.
  • Make sure you have a good length of material. 1-2 minutes’ worth.
• Dancers
  • Make sure you are together with the music.
  • Make sure you are working with your partner and not having to look at them all the time.
  • Use the space available.

Sacred Heart Idol 2023 Judges
Sandra Neale
Before Mrs Neale began teaching Speech and Drama in schools, she was a classroom teacher with the State Education Dept. She then taught at St Joseph's as a Lay teacher and then decided to specialize in Speech and Drama, teaching at many different schools.  Mrs Neale has adjudicated at Eisteddfods throughout Queensland, been an examiner with the Australian College of Music and has directed quite a number of Theatre restaurants. 

Mike Escober
Mike is an actor and singer, having performed in Toowoomba venues since 2003, most recently in Empire Theatre Productions major musical The Boy From Oz. For the last several years, he has also been touring throughout Queensland in a number of shows (Wind in the Willows and Charlotte’s Web with RAVA Productions), helping bring theatre to thousands of patrons from Southeast Queensland all the way to Mount Isa and many points in between! Mike also enjoys singing and being a part of a band that can be seen around Toowoomba. He also works as a primary teacher in the Darling Downs district and is happily calls many schools his own.

Sarah Holcombe
Sarah is a primary school teacher who has been singing, dancing and acting from a very young age. A true devotee of the local Arts scene, she has been involved in numerous shows including: The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Evita, Grease, Shrek-The Musical, Big Fish and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Sarah is currently rehearsing in the Toowoomba Choral Society’s production of Les Miserables. Sarah is passionate about young people getting access to the Arts and strongly believes in its long-term benefits to health, well-being and academic learning.

Ms Cherie Runicman

From the Library

BOOK FAIR: Students have been viewing the Book Fair over the last two days and have brought home a wish list. If you approve their choice, payment can be cash, EFTPOS or online. If you are paying cash, could we please ask that you send along as close to the correct amount as possible.

BOOK WEEK: 21st – 25th August 2023

Our Book Week activities will be held in Week 7 (21st - 25th August)
The theme for Book Week this year is “Read Grow Inspire” 
There will be the usual favourites:
Book Week Dress Up Parade – Thursday 24th August at 8.30am in the school hall. Students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character or dress up around this year's theme. 

• Short Listed Titles: Reading of shortlisted titles & follow up activities.
• Reader’s Cup Competition: Tuesday 22nd until Thursday 24th August
• Book Fair opening times:
  * Monday 21st August:  CLOSED
  * Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd August:  8.00 - 8.30am and 3.00 - 3.30pm
  * Thursday 24^th August:  8.00 - 8.30am, 9.30 – 10.00am (FOR PARENTS ONLY) and 3.00 - 3.30pm
  * Friday 25^th August:  8.00 - 8.30am ONLY

We will be holding our annual Book Warehouse Book Fair during this week. There will be a large variety of books for sale at prices to suit everyone. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy some great books and help the library gain new resources as the school receives 30% of the total sales as our commission. 

We are looking for volunteers to assist with the running of the Book Fair. Our busiest times are during the first two days. Please contact the library if you can help during Book Fair opening times.

PEN Disco - 24th August

Father's Day Stall & Raffle

The Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop hours:
Mondays (THIS INCLUDES PUPIL FREE DAYS) & Thursdays 8.00am - 10:30am 
If Monday is a PUBLIC holiday, the Uniform Shop will open on the following Tuesday.

PLEASE NOTE: WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT DONATIONS OF PRE-LOVED ITEMS
Thank you for your understanding in this regard.

*We accept EFTPOS only - NO CASH OR LAYBY*  

SCHOOL BAGS: School Bags are COMPULSORY to the WHOLE SCHOOL.
Do you have the correct bag?  These are available from the Uniform Shop for $39.50 

SCHOOL PULLOVERS - This is a compulsory uniform item for Years 1 to 6.

EMFIT Bootcamp

Sacred Heart Parish