Dear Sacred Heart Community,

As we journey through Lent, a time of reflection and preparation, we are reminded of the importance of community, faith, and growth. Last week, we marked Ash Wednesday, beginning our Lenten journey together. This season invites us to deepen our spiritual lives and embrace acts of kindness, prayer, and self-discipline.

Swimming Carnival Success

Yesterday, we had a fabulous day at Stromlo Leisure Centre for our annual Swimming Carnival. The event successfully showcased our students' amazing talents and sportsmanship. A huge thank you to Laura Stumbles for coordinating the entire day and to all the parents and staff who supported us. It was truly a wonderful community day. Thanks for your support, I bet all kids slept well last night!

NAPLAN

Today marks the start of NAPLAN for our Year 3 and 5 students. We wish them the best of luck as they undertake these assessments, which will continue until the end of next week. NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) provides valuable insights into our students' progress in key areas such as reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. These assessments help us identify strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring we provide the best possible education for our students.

Community Council Meeting AGM- tomorrow at 6pm

We invite all parents to attend the Community Council Meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m., where we will hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the decision-making process and contribute to the future direction of our school. Your input and support are invaluable, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

During our meeting tomorrow, we will invite people to nominate to fill positions on the Council Executive. A list of these positions is below. Commitment for any position on the Executive Committee is one meeting per term. We invite you to consider how you could be involved in the council for 2025. If you wish to discuss any of these positions, please get in touch with me or a current member of our Community Council.

Council Chair

Our Council Chair liaises with the principal, often planning the agenda with them in the week before a council meeting. They chair the meetings of the CC. They coordinate any communication with the wider community following the meeting, liaising with School Executive and the Communications Officer to publish items.

Deputy Chair

The Deputy supports the Chair. They step in to chair the meeting if the Chair is away.

Secretary

The Secretary takes the minutes for each meeting. They are responsible for sending the minutes out to committee members.

Parent Reps Coordinator

This role involves communicating with the team of Parent Representatives. They are the liaison between Parent Reps and Council.

Please consider coming along and supporting our school, it is not onerous, promise!

Sacred Heart Boys Meeting

We understand that many parents consider transferring their sons to one of the all-boys schools in Canberra after Year 3. However, we would love for all boys to stay at Sacred Heart until Year 6 but understand we are very blessed in Canberra to have choice in education.

To discuss the benefits of remaining at Sacred Heart and to dispel some myths, I will be hosting a meeting next Tuesday at 5:30 pm (no longer than 45 minutes- promise!)

One common myth is that ‘most boys go’ to Marist after Year 3. This is not true. In Year 4, we have seven boys out of 19 students; in Year 5, we have 10 boys out of 26 students; and in Year 6, we have nine boys out of 23. This represents just under 40% of the students in these year levels.

We are pleased to confirm that Mr. Matthew Hutchison, Headmaster at Marist College, has assured us that all boys who remain at Sacred Heart until Year 6 are guaranteed enrolment at Marist in Year 7, regardless of religion. He has stated, “I am writing to offer our assurance that all boys from Sacred Heart Primary School, regardless of their religion, will be offered a place at Marist College Canberra in Year Seven should they elect to remain at Sacred Heart for the entirety of their primary school education.” I have an excellent relationship with Mr. Hutchison, and we support each other as two schools in the same parish. I appreciate his generous support.

I encourage all parents with boys in Kinder, Year 1, 2, and 3 to attend this important meeting. Your presence and input are invaluable as we discuss the future of our boys' education at Sacred Heart.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we can ensure that Sacred Heart remains a nurturing and enriching environment for all our students.

Working Bee – Friday 21st March (3:30-5pm)

We are planning a Working Bee for Friday, March 21st, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm and encourage parents and students to come along and help spruce up the school! Please mark this in your calendars. Many hands make light work!

Jobs earmarked for the Working Bee include topping up sand in sandpits and weeding and mulching garden beds. Please bring along any tools to assist (shovels, spades, rakes, weeding equipment, wheelbarrows, etc.). This is a great way to contribute to our school community, and it’s only for 90 minutes! Please join us—I’ll shout you refreshments afterwards! Claim the date!

Staffing News

Following a recent recruitment process for the position of Religious Education Coordinator (REC), the panel has decided to extend Mrs. Laura Stumbles' contract for the remainder of the year. The REC position will be advertised extensively towards the end of the year. Congratulations, Laura, on your appointment!

After staffing is finalised, further information will be sent to families in 2 White and 3 White.

In faith and partnership,

David Austin

Principal