Dear Community,

Our Mothers’ Day breakfast last Friday was a resounding success, with a great turnout. I hope all the mothers and grandmothers enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and were truly spoiled on Sunday. I want to extend a special thank you to the staff for their invaluable coordination of the event. Many parents and staff stepped up to the breakfast—your efforts were greatly appreciated! These community events truly make our school the special place it is.

This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, a significant day in our Christian calendar. It marks the fiftieth day of Easter, when Jesus fulfilled his promise to send the Holy Spirit to unify and strengthen his followers. This is a powerful reminder of our shared faith and the values we hold dear at Sacred Heart School.

ENROLMENT TIME

It is enrolment time, and we held a successful Open Day last week. After speaking with many visitors to the school, I have been reflecting on what we expect of our school. We have over 140 families here at Sacred Heart, and undoubtedly, everyone has different expectations at different times. But there is something special about parents sending their children to a Catholic School: a choice has been made. As a family, you have chosen this school for your child. For many in the Government education system, the choice of school is based mainly on the local offering, the most convenient school. But why have you chosen Sacred Heart for your child’s education?

Over the past years, I have interviewed many prospective parents and children and have had the privilege of listening to many reasons why this school has been chosen. Some of the reasons are purely practical: it’s on the way to work, my carer can collect easily from here, and it’s a feeder school to various Catholic high schools. For others, the reasons are philosophical; we want “values-based” education, we like the style of education here, and we want structure or discipline for our child. Sometimes the reasons are bizarre; we like the uniform or the range of lunch treats available from the school canteen.

Mostly, however, people speak deeply from their spirituality and psyche. We want our children to belong; we want him/her to feel safe, to be loved and valued for themselves. We want our children to hear and know the stories of Jesus and to feel that they are part of a wider community – the Church. We want them to know right from wrong, to be treated with dignity and to be in an environment where they learn to treat others with respect and dignity. We want our children to be known and loved, be part of daily life, and have special community celebrations.

We have a lot to offer here at our school. Enrolment time for all ACT Catholic schools finishes on Friday, 31 May. As I mentioned, we held our first Open Day a week ago and had some good interest. Our tour guides and student leaders did a fantastic job and were a credit to themselves, the school and their families. Well done! Please continue to inform interested family, friends and neighbours that it is enrolment time, and our final Open Day will be held next Wednesday, 22 May (9-11 am and 4-6 pm).

DISCO- Friday 31 May

We will be hosting a student disco on Friday, May 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. More information will be distributed next week. Please claim the date!

Staffing News

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our team at Sacred Heart Primary School: Mr. Paul Hyde, who has taken on the role of Grounds and Maintenance Officer. Paul officially joined us on Monday and will dedicate a few hours each week to ensure our school is kept in top-notch condition. With an impressive background, Paul brings over a decade of experience as a Building Services Officer with the Department of Education in Canberra. His wealth of knowledge and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to our school environment's continued upkeep and enhancement. Please join us in welcoming Paul to the Sacred Heart community.

Harmony Day

Today, we celebrated Harmony Day, which was held today because the official day for Harmony Day fell on our Swimming Carnival. Harmony Day in Australia celebrates diversity and inclusivity, fostering a sense of belonging for all. It's a time when communities come together to embrace the rich cultural tapestry that makes up our nation. Harmony Day encourages understanding, respect, and acceptance of different cultures, languages, and traditions through various activities and events. It serves as a reminder that despite our differences, we are united by our shared humanity.

Congratulations

Congratulations to one of our ex-students, Mikaela Warylo (sister to Matilda) who won her state qualifier and recently competed at the National Powerlifting Championships in Newcastle. There, she walked away with the win and the National Champion and National Record Holder titles, setting a new national squat record with a 151kg squat. She will now represent Australia at the World Powerlifting Championships in Malta in September 2024. What an extraordinary achievement!

Congratulations to Felix (Year 6), who will receive his First Communion in front of his classmates tomorrow at 9:30 Mass. Well done, Felix!

Congratulations to Zara (Year 6) who recently qualified to swim at the National Swimming Championships to be held in July, where she will represent the ACT. 

In faith and partnership,

David Austin

Principal