Term 4 - Week 6 (8 November, 2024)

From The Principal

Dear Families, 

While attending the Term 4 Toowoomba Catholic Schools Leadership Forum last week, our Executive Director, Dr. Pat Coughlan, challenged us as leaders to “Tell a better story.” He urged us to meet our communities where they are and to share a narrative that celebrates what it means to be a Catholic school. 

In a time when more Australians are identifying as “other” or “no religion,” many still choose our school for their children because of our unapologetically Catholic values. Even if many of our parents do not identify with a particular faith, they want their children to connect with something greater than themselves. 

At our school, we talk about God and the belief that we are made in God’s image, encouraging our students to embody God’s love for one another. We discuss what Jesus would do in challenging situations and inspire our children to “Walk with Jesus Every Day.” Equally important, we model the values derived from our Mercy background—Integrity, Hospitality, Compassion, and Excellence—in our interactions. 

I am grateful to our families and teaching team for living out these values visibly every day. When our staff show care and genuine interest in our students’ lives, they demonstrate our Catholic faith. When families volunteer to support learning or other initiatives, they show our children that all adults in our school community care for them. Thank you for partnering with us in nurturing your children. Together, we will continue to “tell a better story.” 

*In its beginnings, Sacred Heart Primary School was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy (Nuns). 

Parent Engagement Network (PEN) Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Our AGM for the PEN was held on Monday night. As was mentioned in a recent email to all families, the AGM is where we accept nominations for the positions of Chair (or President) and Secretary. Given that Bernie Laherty and Amber Grandison are in their first year of their possible two-year tenure, they both agreed to continue on into 2025. In our AGM next year, we will be looking for two new parents to take on these roles.  

On behalf of our community, I would like to thank Bernie and Amber for their work and for all of you who either ran the working parties for different events, or simply came along to help out. The goal this year was to increase engagement for our parents in the learning of their children and continue to build the sense of community we have here at Sacred Heart. In supporting our special days (e.g. Father’s Day), and running our events like our discos and Trivia Night, the PEN helped to achieve these goals. Just for some icing on the cake, in addition to some funds raised through these events, and the levy that all families pay as part of their fees, the PEN have contributed over $10000 to reading resources for our Library. With our focus on reading and the ‘Science of Reading’ specifically, this will go a long way towards supporting the teaching and learning, going into 2025. What an outstanding achievement. 

God bless, 

Mr Tyronne Maher

From The APMI

Grandparents’ Day  

We had such a great turn out for our Grandparents’ Day! Thank you to everyone who sent in photos or shared the event with their loved ones. Thank you also to Ms Campbell and the students of 3C for leading us in a prayer celebration and to take the time to acknowledge the wonderful gift our grandparents are in our lives.  

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Christmas Concert

Please mark the 29th of November on your calendars (if you haven’t already done so!) for our Christmas Concert. This is always one of the highlights of the year for our school community and not a night to miss! 

Mini Vinnies – Christmas Appeal 

Thank you to the families who have already brought in Christmas goodies which have started off our hampers for the St Vincent de Paul’s Christmas Appeal.  

 The Hampers will be delivered to families in our local community who have called upon Vinnies for a hand-up. To uphold the dignity of those receiving the hamper, please check that all food items are not due to expire for at least 6 months. All items must be non-perishables and undamaged.   

Below are some ideas you might like to consider putting into a family hamper.  

• Christmas pudding 
• Long-life custard, juice or milk
• Tea and coffee 
• Milo 
• Packeted biscuits 
• Christmas Lollies 
• Fruit cake 
• Tinned fruit 
• Cordial 
• Cereal 
• Shortbread 
• Jelly 
• Spreads – Jam, Vegemite 
• Pancake mix 
• Tinned vegetables 
• Gravy mix 
• Soup 
• Dried pasta 
• Pasta sauce
• Christmas bonbons and decorations
• Christmas gifts (new)  

Each class has received an empty washing basket, and the aim is for each class to fill the basket with festive goodies.  

Colour Fun Run  

On the day that our newsletter gets published, we will be running our Colour Fun Run! Thank you to everyone who has supported their child to participate in this fun afternoon; be it donating money, sharing the fundraising link with family and friends or even coming along to cheer on the children. We will share photos from the Colour Fun Run in our Week 8 newsletter.  

Remembrance Day  

This coming Monday is Remembrance Day, November 11th, which marked the end of World War 1 over a hundred years ago. We will gather as a school community on Monday afternoon at 2:15 pm for a whole school Assembly and 2J will lead us in prayer and a time of reflection.  

Jumble Sale  

Join us in supporting our parish at the upcoming Jumble Sale at Sacred Heart on November 24 from 7 AM to 12 noon! If you have any unwanted items at home, please consider donating them to the parish office by November 1. On the sale days, we’ll also have a delicious sausage sizzle and baked goods available. Thank you for your continued support—Fr. Hermi and the parish community truly appreciate it! 

 Mrs Alice Lucas

Prayer of the Week

Student Protection Contacts

School Student Protection Contacts (SSPC) 
Our school has five School Student Protection Contacts. Mr Maher, Mrs Jackman, Mrs Lucas, Mrs Barrett and Ms Campbell. These are nominated staff members to whom students, staff and parents can raise concerns related to student safety. Although School Student Protection Contacts receive additional training, all school staff receive regular training and information to enable them to respond to student protection concerns. 

From The Middle Leader/Curriculum Co-ordinator

Celebrating Curriculum Development and Achievement Standards  

As we approach the end of the school year, it's a great time to reflect on the significant progress our students have made in their learning and development. Our curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging educational experience, ensuring that students not only acquire essential knowledge but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Throughout the year, our dedicated teachers have worked tirelessly to implement this curriculum, adapting their teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of our students. This dynamic approach has helped create a stimulating learning environment where every student can thrive.  

The ACARA achievement standards are benchmarks that outline the expected knowledge and skills which students should attain by the end of each grade level. Striving to meet these standards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both our students and teachers. As we work towards these accomplishments, we also look forward to continuing our commitment to high quality education, ensuring that every student is well prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students achieve their best! 

Mrs Charlie Barrett

From the Learning Support Teacher

Executive Functioning Explained 

Executive functions are brain processes that help us manage our thoughts and actions. These include the ability to organise and plan, shift attention, be flexible with thinking, and self-regulate, which can all impact how a young person copes with daily tasks.  Executive functioning involves the following skills: 

• Planning – how to complete a task, what the finished task may look like.
• Organization – thoughts, equipment, time.
• Working memory – remembering information whilst working on other tasks.
• Emotional regulation – managing emotion.
• Cognitive flexibility – being able to change plans and adapt to new situations.
• Attention – paying attention to a task even if we are bored, tired or it is not interesting.
• Task initiation – the ability to start a task quickly or with relative ease.
• Persistence – the ability to keep going to finish a task and re-visit the task if necessary. 

Children who have difficulty with the above skills may find learning difficult.  Deficits in these skills can (but not always) present in children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Children who have hearing loss may also appear to have executive functioning difficulties as their hearing loss can make the task of following instructions and completing activities more challenging.  Students do not need to have a diagnosis to have difficulty with executive functioning.  It can also be a developmental problem that students outgrow.  

The following class activities have been identified as challenging for students with executive functioning difficulties: 

• Planning for assignments
• Working as part of a group
• Handwriting and being neat
• Coping with change
• Staying calm when the classroom is busy
• Copying information from the board 

Every teacher at Sacred Heart has made adjustments in their classrooms for students who have executive functioning difficulties.  These may include the following:  

• Clear visual timetables, outlining activities.
• Clear, concise explanations and instructions, with regular check-ins for students who may have difficulty.
• Chunking tasks – breaking down large tasks into smaller more manageable parts.
• Graphic organisers and visuals to explain tasks and enable students to check their progress. 

These adjustments not only benefit students with executive functioning difficulties but all students in the classroom. 

Parents can also help develop their child’s executive functioning ability by giving them responsibilities and tasks that require the above skills.  These may include: 

• Cooking, setting the table, cleaning the house, planning the shopping
• Making their own lunches
• Packing their school bag
• Using a calendar to know the day of the week and the items they need for school such as sports uniform, library bag, etc.   

Very often we are in such a rush with our children, that we as parents find it easier to do everything for them.  But in the long run it is far better to take time, to provide encouragement and praise to support our children to do these tasks for themselves.  Not only does it build their executive functioning but also their independence as they become older. 

Mrs Genny McNair

From the School Counsellor

Dear Families

This week the school will invite you to participate in a research project titled “Healthy Minds Happy Hearts”.

Our goal is to offer free, accessible digital technologies for mental health screening to support your children. This project seeks to help families support children by addressing social, emotional and or behavioural concerns. The research team includes, Professor Sonja March, Dr Kirsty Zieschank, Dr Jamin Day (Technical expert), Dr Arlen Rowe, Dr Michael Ireland, Ms Hannah Matthews and Mrs Sarah Jackman our School Guidance Counsellor. Together, we have the experience and skills to ensure the project’s success.

We are currently inviting families from both Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes for their voluntary participation.

Your involvement would be invaluable in helping us make mental health support more accessible for children and their families.

We welcome your feedback and support in getting this project off the ground. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Sarah Jackman at sarah.jackman@twb.catholic.edu.au

To access Healthy Minds Happy Hearts: Guiding Children to Emotional Wellness, you can either scan the QR code on the flyer below or at https://healthymindshappyhearts.unisq.edu.au

Sacred Heart School Code is ACTI

Your participation is voluntary, and we sincerely appreciate your time to participate in this research project.

By participating you can also win one of 5 $50 gift cards to say thank you for your time.

Thank you for your kind support,

Mrs Sarah Jackman

Library News - Reader's Cup Finalists

Prep:

• 1^st Greyson Farrugia
• 2^nd Alexander Lonie
• 3^rd Korbin Flanagan
• 4^th Dorcas Mirimo

Year 1:

• 1^st Eli Willett
• 2^nd Ella Nissen
• 3^rd Laura Channing
• 4^th Aeris Griinke

Year 2/3:

• 1^st Gak Juac
• 2^nd Maeve Lonie
• 3^rd Ella Clarke
• 4^th Garang Madut

Year 4:

• 1^st Juac Juac
• 2^nd Phoebe Cherry
• 3^rd Amiya 
• 4^th Gabrielle Faulkner
  

Year 6:

• 1^st Benji Swindells
• 2^nd Alia Fraser
• 3^rd Ben Barron
• 4^th Kimberley Alston

Sacred Heart Parent Engagement Network Report

Classroom Awards

Meal Deal - Term 4

MEAL DEAL for Term 4

Funds raised support the 2024 Seniors and their end of year Grad Mag publication 

 Week 7 of Term 4  -  Wednesday, 13 November 2024 

 $5 meal deal – Sausage in Bread & Snow Cone 

Gluten free option available 

Orders on Flexischools - Link below

Prep Enrolment

The Arts

CHOIR:

Every Thursday afternoon 2.55-3.30pm in the Music Room.  

The choir is available for all students in Year 3 to 6. We are currently working towards preparing new songs for the Christmas Concert and starting repertoire for 2025. 

Choir members will be dressed as local Bethlehem people for the Christmas Concert. They will require a plain over coat/dressing gown and a tea towel or scarf as head dress. Can you please start sourcing these items and let me know if you have any concerns. 

If you would like your child to be involved in the choir, please contact Cherie Runciman, cherie.runciman@twb.catholic.edu.au  or send them along next Tuesday after school.   

DANCE CLUB:

The students have been busy working towards their performance for the Christmas Concert: An Animals’ Christmas Carol on the 29th November. 

 Junior Dance Club - Moths and Spiders 

Senior Dance Club- Black and White Dogs 

Junior Dance Club Equipment 

Black bike shorts for girls or plain shorts for boys Bike Shorts - Kmart 

Long sleeve black t-shirt Plain Long Sleeve T-shirt - Kmart Please bring by Friday 8th November. (We need to sew things to the shirt) Please let me know if you are happy to donate this shirt to our dance costumes. 

Black canvas shoes or black jazz shoes 

Senior Dance Club Equipment 

Black long leggings Plain Full Length Leggings - Kmart 

White t-shirt Short Sleeve Plain T-shirt - Kmart Please bring by Friday 8th November. (We need to sew things to the shirt) Please let me know if you are happy to donate this shirt to our dance costumes. 

Cheap black or white tutu shirt Adult Tutu -Black - Party planet (choicethediscountstore.com.au) This is something that will be returned to students. 

Black canvas shoes or black jazz shoes 

If you have any concerns about the costume, please contact Ms Cherie Runciman. 

INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM:

We will be holding a Twilight Concert this term on Wednesday 13th November, 5.30-6.30pm. This concert is to showcase all the hard work the students have done over the year and to give them an opportunity to perform, which is a skill in itself. Please keep this date free! 

Lessons will continue on Wednesday with Miss Joy for Term 4.

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 

Christmas Concert: An Animals’ Christmas Carol 

We are currently working towards our Christmas Concert on Friday 29th November. This is a very big event for the student, as they will perform on a large stage with lights and sound and in front of all their wonderful family and friends. 

Your class teachers have been sending out information regarding what your child needs for their costume. Please start sourcing these items early. 

Below is a table that lists each class and the item they need. Can I please reinforce that the clothing needs to be plain and have no patterns. You may be able to turn the clothing inside out. I have supplied links for some items. 

Ms Cherie Runciman

Sport

PE – AFL  
This term our students have been focusing on striking and all the different ways we strike in sports. This week and next week, we have Development Officers running introductory sessions in our PE lessons for AFL. There was a real buzz of excitement at PE this week and I wouldn’t be surprised if several students may be coming home to ask their parents if they can sign up for AFL next year!  

Swimming Carnival  
On Thursday the 21st of November, we have our Swimming Carnival at The Glennie Aquatic Centre! This week, students born in 2011 - 2016 will nominate for the events they would like to participate in. There are both competitive races as well as a participation event. The Glennie swimming instructors have assessed the students to determine which events they would recommend the children nominate in. By the end of next week, I will share with parents the events that each child has nominated in and there will be a chance for parents/carers to then provide me with feedback if you would like to adjust the events that your child has nominated in.  

Please see below for more details around the guidelines for the Swimming Carnival:  

GENERAL RULES 

• Students must wear appropriate swimwear. 

• Students are not permitted to use zinc, body paint or coloured hair spray. 

• A two-start rule will apply. 

• All students must wear a swimming cap (either the one provided in the swimming lessons from Glennie or their own). 

• Students can only swim in the events they are nominated in and cannot opt into events after the nominations close. 

• Only students aged 8 and older can participate in our Swimming Carnival. This is because only students born in 2016 and later can participate in both the Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival and the trials that follow in 2025.  

• All children aged 8 years and older are expected to attend the swimming carnival and to participate in the participation event at the least.  

AGE CHAMPIONS 
The 8 years to 13 years age groups will have both a boy and girl champion. Age champion points are only calculated using 50m events and the Individual Medley (IM). House points are calculated from both 25m and 50m events. 

  Age champion points are allocated using the following points system; 

Thank you for taking the time to read over the information about our Swimming Carnival!  

 Mrs Alice Lucas and Mrs Kara Wann

Tiny Hearts Playgroup

HAIR WITH HEART - RUBY'S BIG CHOP

You can help by joining 'Team Ruby' and register for a chop yourself or by making a donation to help with wigs or other vital equipment. Time, date and Venue of Ruby's big Chop is to be advised.

Vera Lacaze Kindergarten - 60 Years Celebration

The Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop hours:
Mondays (THIS INCLUDES PUPIL FREE DAYS) & Thursdays 8.00am - 10:30am.  If a Public Holiday falls on a Uniform Shop day, the Uniform Shop will be closed.

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.

SPRAY JACKETS are compulsory for students in Years 1-6 only.
PREP STUDENTS DO NOT REQUIRE SPRAY JACKETS!

FREE BUTTONS available for boys’ red shirt, girls’ red and white blouse & Prep red polo.

Thank you for your continued support of the school’s uniform shop.

 Mrs Fay Rhodes
Uniform Shop Convenor

Sacred Heart Parish

Tennis Coaching 2024