Dear Community of Scared Heart

It is my pleasure to contribute to our last newsletter for 2019. Mrs Staines wishes you to know she is recovering well and is wishing you a happy Christmas.

The theme of our graduation and end of year mass was ‘I Believe’, and the words of the mass are a fitting reflection to include here.

‘The American theologian, Joel Osteen once said, “I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see God open up new doors.” Today is our chance to not only celebrate our life at Sacred Heart but also to pay our respect and genuine thanks to all those people that have helped us to develop our talents and build belief in ourselves to find success.

We come here today to give thanks and to pray that our lives continue to be guided by God’s steadfast love and mercy and that we may use our gifts of the Spirit to spread God’s love to others.’

And so, may I share that blessing to you all in this joyful season when we celebrate the peace and joy of the birth of Jesus. We know that God puts the right people, in the right place, at the right time to support us, to bring joy and to nurture growth. At Sacred Heart we have talented and dedicated staff, amazing students and community-minded families who continually work to bring peace and joy into the lives of others.

Staffing and Classes

As announced earlier this week, Matt O’Dwyer has accepted a position in another school for 2020. We wish him all the very best and thank him for his work as a teacher and curriculum cooodinator. The work he has done to set up curriculum, carnivals and events will be felt for many years to come.

You can imagine the hole this has left in our staffing plans. Thanks for your patience this week in waiting for announcements of classes for 2020 as we made new arrangements. Staff have been very supportive. A list cannot be published until the new year, as we are yet to finalise all positions. Class lists will be displayed in the front office and kinder courtyard noticeboard from 3pm today. They are correct at the time of printing.

We join with Our Parish - Mary Help of Christians in praying for relief from the drought. (Orginally published in The Catholic Voice)

In a departure from previous years, Mary Help of Christians parish at South Woden has forsaken the traditional Christmas tree and installed the dead branches of a Eucalyptus tree for its season of Advent.

“It’s designed to serve as a powerful symbol and reminder of the plight of our farmers and others battling the drought,” says Fr Richard Thompson.

“In recognition of that suffering and instead of the customary star, the ‘tree” has an upturned umbrella at its apex,” he said. “The umbrella will stay upturned until we have rain and only then will we turn it the right way up.”

“A ‘Prayer for the Gift of Rain’ is alongside the display and we invite parishioners and visitors to spend a moment in reflection and prayer at the tree,” Fr Richard said

Yours faithfully,

Kerry Wode 

Assistant Principal

Please read and print the  End of Year Happenings for December 2019 and Beginning 2020 dates.

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PARISH NEWS

2^nd Rite of Reconciliation – Wed 18^th Dec,

St John Vianney’s Church, Waramanga, 7pm

The 2^nd Rite of Reconciliation is often celebrated in parishes during Advent and Lent. This communal form of the Sacrament of Penance begins with a celebration of the Word, followed by a call to repentance. Private confession and reconciliation follow. This is remarkable opportunity for us to know and love the forgiving power of God in the personal life of each of us.

Christmas Mass times, Sacred Heart Church 2019 The Mass times are as follows:

Tues 24^th Dec 6pm Youth Mass Tues 24^th Dec 9pm Vigil

Wed 25^th Dec 8.30am Wed 25^th Dec 10.00am  

Sacramental Dates 2020

Private Piano Tuition for 2020

Private Piano tuition is again being provided at the school next year. Mrs Hildegarde Mendoza will be droping one of her days of teaching and Mr Michael Dooley will be joining the piano teachers. 

Mr Michael Dooley

I am a professional pianist, composer and teacher based in Canberra. I have a wide range of musical experience and skills including 10 years of teaching at Canberra Music Tuition and Marist College, playing jazz and classical music, and composing for the screen and for the concert hall. In 2019 I was awarded the Citynews artist of the year prize and also received an APRA-AGSC award for best music for children's television for the score of "The Pilgrims Progress" animated feature. One of my greatest joys is helping young musicians at the beginning of their musical journey, encouraging them to explore the enjoyment and creative satisfaction of expressing themselves through music while developing sound technique, reading and aural skills. I will be teaching at Sacred Heart school on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m.

Please call on 0424987337

or email at mikedooleymusic@gmail.com

Those parents who are wanting their child/children to have piano lessons, can contact the teachers directly on the following contact numbers;

• Mrs Hildegarde Mendoza Phone: 0417 580 975
• Mrs Pam Cox Phone: 0418 442 203
• Mr Craig Mewett Phone: 0409 151 887 / 6278 7382
• Mr Michael Dooley Phone: 0424987337

Recycling

If you are recycling over the holiday period and would like the proceeds to go towards supporting the school, please use the code: 0123456789

Position Vacant

Sacred Heart Primary will have a Janitors position available in 2020. The position will be four hours per week. The hours will be negotiated with the successful applicant. The position will be advertised on the Catholic Education’s website in January 2020.

Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating their Birthday in January 2020

Sascha K, Annabel S, Bobby C, Harry W, Mia Y, Christian O, London S,

Caitlin L, Colin D, Eloise M, Olivier S, Matilda W, Killian M, Luke H, Matilda K

Hamish F, Layla V, Keira G, Selena L, Hayley L. 

From the Staff at Sacred Heart Primary, we would like to thank you for your support in 2019 and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. Goodbye and good luck to all the families that are leaving us this year, and to all the families that are continuing at Sacred Heart, we look forward to seeing you in 2020.