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Friday 18th September |
Stage 3 Leadership Experience |
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Friday 25th September |
Last Day of Term 3 |
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Friday 9th- Thursday 15th October |
National Recycling Week |
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Monday 12th October |
School Returns for Term 4 |
Gratitude Day is September 21st. In this extraordinary time when we could be so focused on the negative let us make time to count our blessings.
The celebration started in 1965 in Hawaii when an international gathering decided that it would be a good idea to have one day per year to formally express gratitude and appreciation for the many wonderful things to be found in the world. Following the meeting in Hawaii, many attendees marked Gratitude Day on 21st September 1966 back in their own countries. Ever since then, the number of people celebrating Gratitude Day across the world has grown and grown.
The awareness of the benefits of having time in one’s life for gratitude, appreciation and positive reflection have become increasingly apparent. The hope of the founders of Gratitude Day is that by taking time, one day a year, to reflect on the many amazing things we have in our lives, it would positively impact our well-being and make us happier, more contented people.
There are so many different ways that you can be thankful on World Gratitude Day. This includes simply being thankful for the fact that you have woken up and experienced a brand new day. There are lots of other things that you could be thankful for and many other blessings as well.
We offer this prayer that has embodied 2020 for many of us and thank God for the gift of community. Our best is quite often exactly what is needed, and also a gift to others.
Math Anxiety Is Real. Here's How To Help Your Child Avoid It
Sharing a little gem that popped up in one of my feeds this week. It does have American references, but the advice is great, particularly as we come into assessment periods. Kerry Wode Click here
Friendships
‘Emotions are contagious …Being responsible for the feelings you bring into a space is another important part of growing up and developing your emotional intelligence.’
A big part of our week has been helping students manage friendships, especially changing (or the prospect of changing) friendships. This article, from Generation Next, captures some great advice.
11 tips for making friends through a confident mindset and social emotional intelligence: Helping young people make friends through primary, middle, high school and beyond by building a confident mindset and social emotional intelligence.
Click Here to read the full article
Road and Carpark Safety
We have had a couple of near-misses with children and staff crossing the roads around the school and in the school car park.
We ask all our community to slow down and keep a look out for others during those really busy drop-off and pick-up times for the safety of all.
Book Week ( 19th – 23rd October)
BOOK WEEK CHARACTER PARADE
Our Book Week Character Parade will be held on Thursday 22nd of October (Term 4, Week 2). Students are invited to dress up as their favourite book character and bring along either the book or a copy of the front cover.
BOOK WEEK ART DISPLAY - Westfield Woden
In Library this term, the students have been busy creating artwork based on the Shortlisted books. The art will be displayed at Westfield Woden, in Centre Court for the duration of Book Week from Friday 16th October to Friday 23rd of October.
Learning to live with change and loss
Every family will receive a notice in the near future with more details about the Seasons for Growth program. If you think your son or daughter would benefit from Seasons for Growth we would encourage you to talk to him/her about participating in the program.
Sacred Heart is pleased to be able to offer this important program and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those who request to be involved. If you require further information please email the Front Office email
Targeted Kindergarten Health Check Concentrating on Vision and Hearing
For Parents and Carers of Kindergarten that missed screening for hearing and sight due to COVID we remind you of the below service. Please let the Kindergarten teacher know the results of the testing.
Canberra Health Services is offering a targeted kindergarten health check concentrating on vision and hearing.
These health checks are performed in clinics at the City Health Centre, Mondays and Fridays and there will be appointments most days in the school holidays.
An appointment can be made by phoning the Central Intake Line on 51249977.
Community Council Connections News
2020 School Survey Results
Parent/Carer Response
This year we received 84 responses from parents and carers, from 170 families in our community.
Overall our Parent/Carer community is very positive about all aspects of the school with an increase in satisfaction every year since 2018. It was fantastic to read the positive feedback about the schools handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recognition that this has impacted some of the events and opportunities normally available during the school year.
The children’s progress reporting scored high in the agree to strongly agree categories. There are indications that parents would like to see more detailed and comparative data. Sacred Heart uses the Catholic Education Office reporting format. Our teachers will continue to work on making these reports as informative as possible within that format. It was also noted that some respondents felt that improvement could be made in the format and frequency of the parent/teacher meetings.
Many parents responded that they do not know enough about the Community Council and their engagement with the school community. We would encourage all parents/carers to attend the open community council meetings held in Week 2 each term. Dates and times are published in advance in the school newsletter, on the school website, and Facebook page. COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to successfully hold these meetings virtually, and this is something we endeavour to continue going forward.
Student Views
Stage 2 and 3 students were invited to provide feedback on their school experience.
As in the past, the results were overwhelmingly positive. The children are made to feel welcome and safe at school, due to the friendliness and caring nature of the entire staff and the encouragement they provide. The majority of students find the learning interesting, with teachers providing easy to understand information and help in setting learning goals.
The students would like to see more maths, more sports and sporting equipment, improvements to the toilets (there are plans in progress but have been delayed due to COVID) and further feedback from teachers.
There was a concern raised by a small number of students on behaviour management. These are being addressed by the school as a priority action.
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ACT Junior Chess activities during the school holidays
If your child is interested in chess, there are a number of activities and competitions during the October school holidays within Canberra.
Please visit the ACT Junior Chess League website for more information or see Mrs Wode for a flyer.
www.actjcl.org.au/actjcl/ or http://groups.google.com/group/ACT-JCL
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Drop Off and Pick Up
When signing in or out your child/children please remember to only enter the school via the Front Office. A reminder that parents should not be entering the building to collect or drop off their children to classrooms.
- Clothing Pool - Organise your summer uniform now
Clothing Pool this term is by appointment only. Please phone the Front Office to book an appointment time. The days and times available are: Monday morning 8.30-9am, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon 12-2.15pm and Friday afternoon 12-3pm. Orders can also be made through the Qkr! App and then delivered to your child.
- YMCA School Holiday Program
Holiday Care is confirmed for the October school holidays! Check the YMCA website for details. The program allows you to enrol for days that your children will love.
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
Sacred Heart is WIN News 'School of the week!
To support the students' inquiry work into significant landmarks and features of the Canberra region this term, Sacred Heart was provided with the opportunity to take part in the Greening Australia Ngadyung Program on Monday. 'Ngadyang' is the Ngunnawal word for water. This program, which is sponsored by Icon Water, supplied the school with 30 native bush tucker plants and a 30 minute presentation from Aaron Chatfield, an indigenous plant expert. This presentation provided students with information about cultural plants and tools used by the local Ngunnawal custodians of our region.
The children learnt about the importance of looking after Canberra water for health, environment and culture.
Follow this link to find out more - Click Here
Follow this link to see the children on WIN News School of the Week participating in the "Ngadyung Program". Click Here
