Term 1 - Week 2 (2nd February 2024)

Student Protection Contacts

From The Principal

Feeling Safe – The Importance of Routines -  Our learners have made a great start to the year. Our teaching staff have been working hard to help the children understand the rules and routines of their classrooms and our school. A big reason for children knowing the rules and routines is to create an environment for them that is safe and predictable. An environment that all children need to learn. Expectations, once known by the children, provide them with a roadmap to success; a guide that they will use to experience success each day. A big part in setting up this success, is children knowing what it looks like, or does not look like, when making positive learning choices in the classroom. 

Our school's ‘Positive Behaviour for Learning’ approach (PB4L) works alongside our school’s behaviour support plan. As part of our PB4L approach, children are rewarded for their positive behaviours with in-class reward systems and ‘hearts’. Hearts are ‘saved up’ to be used at the end of each term at the ‘Heart Shop’. ‘Gotchas’ are tickets we use in the playground (or class) that are entered into the gotcha weekly draw. Winners of each week in a term are invited to the ‘Pizza Party’ at the end of each term. These things help children identify those behaviours we want to see more of. 

When it comes to correcting poor learning or behaviour choices, like many schools we use ‘Minors’ and ‘Majors’. The difference between the two comes down to the intent of the behaviour.  If the choice was a lapse in judgement that did not cause anyone large amounts of disruption, we may issue a minor. A ‘minor’ will result in a chat with your child and loss of 5 minutes of play. A ‘major’ will result in a conversation and loss of a recess time (morning tea or lunch – whichever is closest). In both cases, families will be contacted. For a minor, you will receive an email, text message or Sentral notification. The Principal or Assistant Principal will contact you directly by phone or in person for major behaviours. Communication with our families is key towards ensuring that we are working together to support our children in their learning choices. 

School Leaders – Congratulations to those Year 6 students who ran for 2024 leadership positions. All of these learners managed to weave into their speeches, the ways that they have helped and will help their fellow students under our school’s values of ‘Compassion’, ‘Hospitality’, ‘Excellence’ and ‘Integrity’. Our Years 4-6 students were then tasked with voting the new school leaders. Voting was close across all positions. Congratulations to the following Year 6 students on their election to their respective leadership positions for 2024.  We look forward to working with them this year: 

School Captains:
Anita Juac and Ben Barron 

Sporting House Captains:
Byrne House Captains: Kaidence Bill and Kevin Hargens 
Kattie House Captains: Kiera Jurd and Liam Buckle
Kelly House Captains: Alia Fraser and Manny Ayoung 

C- Block Refurbishment – Stage 1 Complete! 

The long awaited stage 1 refurbishment to C- Block has been completed and the difference to the learning environment for our children is ‘amazing’ (as explained to me by one of our Year 4 learners).  These rooms were due for a facelift to reflect the needs of the learning environment for this day and age. Storage for resources and devices and acoustic panelling for noise reduction are but a few of the amendments to these learning spaces. Stage 2 is planned to occur in the near future to complete the remainder of the rooms in this older building.  

BEFORE:

AFTER:

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God bless, 

Mr Tyronne Maher

From The APRE

Welcome to 2024, I cannot believe we are already near the end of week 2! What a busy two weeks we have had and the term does not seem to be slowing down.  

The week before the students started, staff were involved in a Faith Formation Day where we explored the history and charism of our school. After discussing our values and what it means to be part of the Sacred Heart Community, staff worked in groups to paint their reflection. These artworks have been taken into the classrooms to use in their prayer spaces. The staff did an amazing job and have taken this knowledge into their classrooms and are now working with the students to unpack our history, charism and values. 

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Last week we welcomed all the new students into our school and they have been busily making friends and it seems as though they have always been here.  The year 6 students have been participating in a variety of leadership activities. Today we had our Welcome and Induction Liturgy in the hall. 

On Monday we said “Godbye” to Fr Roque who has been part of the School and Parish life for over 11 years. Students made little messages for Fr to read. We wish him all the best for his long service leave and future endeavours in the Philippines. 

 Mrs Katie Horne

Prayer of the Week

From the Learning Support Teacher

The Role of the Learning Support Teacher 

Welcome to the 2024 school year.  I have enjoyed catching up with the children and the stories from their holidays and it has been great to get to know our new students. 

Within each newsletter I will aim to explain various aspects of learning support at Sacred Heart, as well as provide general information on disabilities and disability services. 

Learning support falls within a 3-tier framework, commonly known as the Response to Intervention Framework (RTI). 

Tier 1:  All students receive instruction on the core curriculum.  The teaching, learning and assessment activities are however differentiated for the individual students through our personalised learning processes. This requires for teachers to make adjustments to enable all students to access the learning.  Adjustments may include changing question complexity, ensuring students are given time for processing before responding to questions, using visual supports in class for daily routines and learning activities, just to name a few. 

Tier 2:  Students who are below grade level receive additional instruction in small groups.  This is conducted with either the Class Teacher, School Officer or Learning Support Teacher (LST) and is generally done within the classroom or a quiet space nearby.  These activities are planned by the teacher in collaboration with the LST, based on information they gather through the day-to-day assessment and monitoring of the students. 

Tier 3:  Students who are unresponsive to instruction in Tiers I an II also receive individualized instruction.  Again this can be conducted by the class teacher, school officer or LST.  These are generally intensive, short cycle interventions aimed to catch students up in particular learning or skill areas.   

As the learning support teacher, I work across all of these areas, helping teachers understand the strengths and challenges of their students and suggesting adjustments to support them. 

Other responsibilities of the Learning Support Teacher include: 

• Monitoring the progress of students across the school (in collaboration with teachers, middle leader and principal. 
• Supporting students and their families to access supports when needs are identified at school.  These may be speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and paediatricians etc. 
• Administrative duties within the school including processes for NCCD (Nationally Consistent Collection of Data)* which enables us to better understand the needs of students within our school and how they can be best supported at school. 
• Supporting teachers in their Planning for Personalised Learning* to ensure that their programs are inclusive of all students in their classes. 

*More information on these areas will be provided in upcoming newsletters. 

If you have concerns about your child’s learning or development or are wanting assistance in accessing services, please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to support you. 

Mrs Genny McNair

From The Middle Leader/Curriculum Co-ordinator

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2024! As we embark on this exciting journey of learning and growth together, I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to each member of our primary school community. 

The year ahead promises to be a dynamic and enriching one, marked by innovative approaches to education that align with the ever-evolving landscape of 21st-century learning. Our dedicated team of educators is committed to fostering an environment where curiosity and positivity is celebrated, growth mindset and creativity are nurtured, and every child feels empowered on their educational journey. 

In 2024, we are embracing new methodologies and technologies to enhance the learning experience, ensuring that our students are well-equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for the challenges and opportunities of the future. From revised Australian Curriculum initiatives to personalised learning pathways, our classroom curriculum is designed to inspire a love for learning and instil a sense of curiosity that lasts a lifetime. 

As we venture into the academic year, I encourage open communication and collaboration between school and home. Your support is invaluable, and together, we can create a positive and engaging learning environment that enables each child to thrive. 

Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of shaping your child's educational journey. We look forward to a year filled with discovery, growth, and shared accomplishments. 

Here’s to an exciting year ahead at Sacred Heart. 

Mrs Charlie Barrett

From the Guidance Counsellor

Helping your anxious child. 

Childhood anxiety is one of most common difficulties affecting children. It is usually heightened at the beginning of each year/ term or when a child perceives a change or adjustment in their life. If your child is showing ongoing signs of anxiety, you can support them at home in the following ways: 

• Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and let you know when they get overwhelmed. It might help to explain these feelings are common – we all feel worried or scared sometimes. 
• If there is a particular situation your child finds challenging, support them to gradually do the thing that makes them anxious. For example, if going to a crowded shopping centre makes them anxious, start with short trips to the local shops, building up to visiting a shopping centre in a quiet period. 
• Make a practical plan together for coping with anxious feelings in the future, such as breathing techniques or reassuring phrases to focus on. 
• Take time out to have fun together and take the focus off feelings of anxiety. 
• Help your child to have healthy routines that include enough good-quality sleep, regular outdoor exercise, eating well and avoiding excessive screen time. 
• Prioritise your child attending school. Attending and participating in school will help your child develop important skills and knowledge to help them learn, as well as building their social and emotional skills. 

If you are a parent or carer with anxiety, it is important to also care for your own mental health and seek help when you need it. 

Useful resources 

• The Brave Program: An interactive online program aimed at 8–12-year-olds to help them overcome worries and learn coping strategies. 
• Fear-Less Triple P Online Course: A toolkit to help your child manage anxiety and become more emotionally resilient. 
• Cool Kids Program: An interactive online program aimed at 7–12-year-olds to help them overcome anxiety and build confidence. 
• The Beyond Blue Child Mental Health Checklist: A general tool to check your child’s symptoms and whether to get professional help. 
• Kids Help Line: A free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people. 
• Smiling Mind Kids Care Packages: A series of calming activities and audio recordings for children based on mindfulness meditation. 
• Mental health and wellbeing toolkit: Advice to support student mental health and wellbeing, aimed at students, parents and caregivers, and schools. 
• Parentline: A free phone counselling service where you can discuss parenting challenges and get support. 

Key points to remember; 

• It’s normal for children to feel anxious, worried, or fearful some of the time. 

• Anxiety can be hard to recognise in children, as the signs are varied and include common things such as tummy aches, recurrent headaches, tantrums, and difficulty sleeping. 
• It’s time to seek help if your child has severe, frequent, or ongoing symptoms, and if they are avoiding daily activities and situations that provoke their anxiety. 
• For help, discuss your child’s feelings and behaviour with their teacher, GP, or another health professional such as a nurse, paediatrician, counsellor or psychologist. 
• Let your child’s teacher know if you feel that your child has anxiety that is having an ongoing negative impact on their ability to function at school and discuss whether it is appropriate to refer to the student support committee where your child may be referred for a few sessions with the guidance counsellor. 

Mrs Sarah Jackman

The Arts

Extra Curricular Opportunities at Sacred Heart  

Here at Sacred Heart School, we are very lucky to offer students a range of different extra-curricular opportunities in music and dance. We have the following groups available for students to participate in and an instrumental program. 

Instrumental Program: 

We have been running the instrumental program here at Sacred Heart School for 2 years and currently have over 10% of the school population learning an instrument with our wonderful music tutor, Miss Jessie Joy. 

Thank you to all the parents who are supporting their child/ren in their music education and have enrolled them already in the 2024 program. There is wonderful research that shows that learning an instrument can help a child’s education and well being.  

“Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children’s education.”  – Yo-Yo Ma 

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  

Ms Cherie Runciman

2024 Shrove Tuesday - Fundraiser for Missions

Pancake/Shrove Tuesday is in Week 4 – 13/2/24 (the day before Ash Wednesday) and it is traditionally when Year 6 students sell pikelets to raise funds for the Missions. Pikelets will be sold for morning tea at 50c each. Note there is a gluten free option. 

ALL orders are to be made through Flexi-schools please - See link below

Meal Deals for Term 1

MEAL DEALS for Term 1 

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

 Weeks 5 & 9 of Term 1 

Wednesdays: 21st February & 20th March 2024 

 $5 meal deal – sausage in bread & snow cone 

Gluten free option available 

Orders on Flexischools - See the link below to register

Sport News

The last two weeks of sport have been very busy. Students have been participating in a variety of fitness, AFL and locomotive activities. The year 3-6 students are working on building their fitness in preparation for the cross country later this term. P-2 students have been developing gross motor and locomotor skills and learning how to Punt Kick an AFL ball. We have also been discussing the correct usage of different balls based on their designs. We have discussed which balls bounce best, balls that are good for throwing and catching and balls that are best to kick. 

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Mrs Katie Horne

2024 Fee Schedule

Term 1 School Fees will be charged to family accounts very soon.   The School accepts payment as a Bank Transfer, Direct Debit or Centrepay.  To set up an automatic payment please complete the Direct Debit Form below.  If you need assistance please contact the School Office.

The Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop hours:
Mondays (THIS INCLUDES PUPIL FREE DAYS) & Thursdays 8.00am - 10:30am 
If Monday is a PUBLIC holiday, the Uniform Shop will open on the following Tuesday.

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

School Zone Road Safety Advice for Motorists

Saints Netball Club - Sign on Day

Toowoomba Hockey Expo and Sign-On Day

EMFIT Bootcamp

Tennis Coaching 2024

Disability Camp Qld