Term 1 - Week 8 (15th March, 2024)

From The Principal

Dear Families, 

Supporting our children - Important to creating an optimal learning environment, is the need for children to feel safe and included. We often speak to our learners about the need to be a responsible member of our community. We talk about how here, at Sacred Heart, we aim to ‘walk with Jesus every day’. We connected this idea of walking with Jesus, to being the best that we can be for one another.  

It is important when things are challenging for our students that they seek the assistance of their teachers to support them in the challenges they experience when interacting with their peers. This support is most powerful and useful when it is provided immediately. Unfortunately, both parents and teachers hear of things happening well after they have occurred, making it very difficult to support the child. In a letter to some families recently, when speaking about these challenges with families,  I offer the following advice: 

If the problems continue, don’t ignore your child’s report or tell them to ‘stay away’ from the other child/children. In doing so, we are telling our children to ignore bad behaviour or to exclude other people; both of which could get them into trouble. Instead, make time to speak with your child’s teacher. Of course, if you feel like you have exhausted all methods, make a time to come and have a chat with a member of our leadership team. While these times can be difficult, we must remind ourselves and our children, that we learn new strategies when we overcome challenges. 

 Parent/Teacher Meetings - these will be held on the 15th of April. This is a professional learning day for our staff however we are going to begin parent teacher interviews at 1pm on this day. This year, we will set these up in the hall so that families can see the teachers they need to see in one spot. This meeting with your child’s teacher is the only one that we expect all parents to attend. Later in the year we offer another formal opportunity however. Of course, we are always open to other meetings that may need to happen in between – both formal and informal. Registration for these meetings will be available soon through the Sentral Parent App. If you have not registered your family key to access the portal, it would be best to do this as soon as possible. Please contact the office should you require assistance with registering your key. We look forward to meeting with you to celebrate your child’s successes while sharing their challenges and next steps in their learning. 

God bless, 

Mr Tyronne Maher

From The APRE

Our school motto ‘walking every day with Jesus’ reflects our desire to be like Jesus in word and action.  We are a faith community who strive to be the Jesus of today through the interactions that we have with others in our school and the local community. Jesus was well ahead of his time. In a world of segregation, Jesus reached out and touched the lives of many people in the community who were marginalised. Who are the marginalised in our community? How do we reach out and show our support to them? 

Linking to our Mercy Charism and following in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley, we show compassion and hospitality to those less fortunate than ourselves. Catherine and her Sisters of Mercy, reached out to the homeless, hungry, sick and the abandoned uneducated women and children of Dublin. They were known as ‘the walking sisters’ as they did not wait for the needy to come to them, they walked through the community to seek them out. Do we sit back and wait for the oppressed and needy to come to us or do we seek out those who are in need? 

With these role models, how can we ensure that the poor and oppressed are cared for? This is a constant reflection for the Student Representative Council (SRC), Mini Vinnies groups and each class in our amazing school. Over the course of the year, we will endeavour to hold a few small fundraising activities to support our local community. However kindness and compassion for others is something that we live daily. Morgan Freeman once said “how do we change the world?...with one random act of kindness at a time!” Every act of kindness is an act of humanity- what random acts of kindness have you or will you share this year?  

 Mrs Katie Horne

Prayer of the Week

From the Learning Support Teacher

Oral language and child development 

Learning language is the most important thing a child will ever do.  It is often assumed that all children learn language and to communicate.  However, this is not always the case.  Children need adults to encourage and support their development. 

Language is vital in order to learn, make friends and feel confident.  Poor language puts children at risk of poor reading and writing, poor behaviour and a lack of success in school.  It can also result in long term difficulties including poor social skills, limiting career and lifelong success.   

Children with speech language and communication difficulties may 

• have difficulty following instructions and understanding what is being said to them. 
• have a limited number of words in their speech or be unable to put words together to form sentences.  
• have speech that is difficult to understand.  They may mix up or miss out sounds in words, making their speech unclear. 
• have hesitations in their speech or may prolong or repeat sounds and parts of words or sentences.  They may struggle to get their words out at all.   
• have a good vocabulary and can put sentences together but they may struggle to know how to use their language to have conversations, play and socially interact well with others. 

 How you can help your preschool child… 

• Add words to children’s sentences to show how words fit together eg If a child says ‘brush dolly hair’ you can say ‘Lucy is brushing dolly’s hair.  That looks great. 
• Share books and talk about the story and characters. Have children join in with you when you read. 
• If children say words that are not clear, repeat what they have said using the right words and sounds.  There is no need to make them say it correctly. 
• Songs and rhymes help children to learn the patterns of speech and language, important skills when learning to read. 
• Have conversations about real things with children.  Let them start the conversation, listen carefully to what they say and follow their interests. 
• Join children in pretend play. Play alongside them, let them take the lead.  Listen and talk about what they are saying and doing rather than asking lots of questions.  
• Give longer instructions for them to follow. 

How you can help your school age child… 

• Play board games that involve taking turns as this helps children to listen. 

• Play around with words and sounds eg think of words that begin with the same sound. 
• Get children to think of words that belong to the same category eg as many different animals as they can think of. 
• Introduce new words and phrases eg think of lots of different words that mean a similar thing eg words for ‘big’. 
• Play around with rhyme eg cat, fat, hat, splat.  
• Encourage your child to respond to you in complete sentences. Eg Instead of say just ‘Yes’ in response to you asking a question, they might say ‘ Yes. I would like to go to the park’. 

Supporting your child with their language development is one of the greatest gifts you can give. 

Mrs Genny McNair

From The Middle Leader/Curriculum Co-ordinator

HPE CURRICULUM 

Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum combines physical and personal development. The amalgamation of personal development and HPE fosters a comprehensive approach to nurturing students' physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

Within the HPE framework, students gain valuable insights into the importance of leading an active and healthy lifestyle. They learn about the significance of physical activity, nutrition, and overall well-being. This integrated approach ensures that personal development extends beyond the emotional and mental spheres to encompass the physical aspects of health. Through a combination of personal development and HPE lessons, students acquire the tools to make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle choices. 

Furthermore, the HPE curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing students' interpersonal skills and fostering positive relationships. Personal development lessons, in conjunction with HPE, contribute to the cultivation of effective communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills. As students engage in physical activities and group exercises, they learn to collaborate, empathise, and appreciate the diversity of their peers—an essential aspect of their overall development. 

The curriculum recognises the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By integrating personal development lessons with the HPE learnings, we are not only promoting physical health but also addressing the holistic development of students. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that students leave Sacred Heart Primary School with a well-rounded understanding of themselves, their health, and their ability to navigate the complexities of life with resilience and confidence. 

Mrs Charlie Barrett

From the Guidance Counsellor

The Zones of Regulation 

At Sacred Heart Primary School we teach children the Zones of Regulation to help them learn strategies to regulate their emotions. The Zones refers to four different types of energy levels and are described below. You can help your child, by naming, how they are feeling, identifying what zone they are in and then choosing an appropriate strategy that either increases or decreases their energy appropriate to the situation. 

 The Blue Zone encompasses our lowest level of energy or alertness and can be helpful when we have goals such as falling asleep. It also includes when we have sad, bored, or lonely feelings. When we are in the Blue Zone and our goal or task requires more energy, such as focusing in class or playing at recess, it can be helpful to use a tool to provide us with more energy. Some examples of Blue Zone tools are drinking water, standing or stretching, talking with a friend, or even chewing something crunchy. 

In the Green Zone we have more neutral feelings, energy, and levels of alertness. This Zone works well when your goal is to learn, listen or process information. We may feel calm, content, happy, or focused in the Green Zone. Although this Zone is often associated with pleasant feelings, it is not the “best” or “good” Zone. Yes, it can be helpful to be in the Green Zone during classroom reading time, for example, but if you are trying to fall asleep, it can be more helpful to have a lower level of energy. And, of course, when playing a competitive sport, it’s helpful to have more energy. Some of tools to support being in the Green Zone include getting enough sleep and exercise, eating healthy foods, and connecting with loved ones. 

When we are in the Yellow Zone, we have higher levels energy and stronger emotion, such as feeling excited, fidgety, anxious, or frustrated. Although our feelings are becoming more intense, we usually still have a sense of control when in the Yellow Zone. Being in this Zone can be helpful when competing in a game, doing a school performance, or playing with friends because higher energy or level of alertness helps us engage and perform in these activities. We might decide to regulate our Yellow Zone when our goal is to complete an assignment, try to get some rest/sleep, or study. Some Yellow Zone tools include taking deep breaths, using a fidget, positive self-talk, and connecting with someone for support. 

The Red Zone is the highest and most intense Zone, ranging from elation to anger. It’s an important Zone because it helps us when we’re in a situation where we need to react quickly and keep ourselves safe, such as when we are in danger. Learning how to manage these big feelings is important. The Red Zone does not only encompass uncomfortable feelings, it also includes overwhelming positive feelings as well, such as overjoyed and elated. Tools for the Red Zone help us gain a sense of control or stay safe. They tend to be calming in nature and might include taking a break, breathing, mindfulness, and physical activity like running or yoga. 

It is important to remember that there are NO BAD ZONES! Adults and children of all ages move through a wide range of emotions, energy, and alertness throughout the day. Our goal is to notice our feelings and regulate them in order to take care of ourselves and meet our goals. All feelings and Zones are a natural part of being human; sometimes we need to regulate them to navigate situations to get a desired outcome, and sometimes we don’t. 

Mrs Sarah Jackman

Student Protection Contacts

School Student Protection Contacts (SSPC) 
Our school has five School Student Protection Contacts. Mr Maher, Mrs Jackman, Mrs Horne, Mrs Barrett and Ms Campbell. These are nominated staff members to whom students, staff and parents can raise concerns related to student safety. Although School Student Protection Contacts receive additional training, all school staff receive regular training and information to enable them to respond to student protection concerns. 

The Arts

SAVE THE DATE

Easter Pageant 
Friday 22nd March, 9am (School Hall) 

This event showcases each class with an item and whole school singing. This year the Year 6 students will be bringing the story to life through drama, with each class enhancing the performance with their song. 

I am looking for some help in building/creating some props. I need 12 palm leaves made or sourced and costumes 12 disciples, Jesus and 4 guards. If this is something that you would be able to help with, please contact me asap. cherie.runciman@twb.catholic.edu.au  

The whole school will be wearing their school uniform for the performance, except for 6B who will need costumes. Their requirements will be sent through weekly words and through Parent Sentral notices. 

Choir 
Open to students in Grades: 3-6 
Thursday after school 2.55 – 3.30pm (Music Room)   
2024 Performances: Easter Pageant, Toowoomba Eisteddfod, Sacred Heart Idol, Christmas Concert, School Masses. 

Dance Club 
Junior Dance Club (Year 3 and 4) – Thursday during lunch 1 – 1.40pm (Music Room)   
Senior Dance Club (Year 5 and 6) -  Friday during lunch 1 – 1.40pm (Music Room)   
2024 Performances: Easter Pageant, Toowoomba Eisteddfod, Sacred Heart Idol, Christmas Concert 

Sacred Heart Band
Open to students in Grades: by invitation by Miss Jessie Joy 
Wednesday during lunch 1 – 1.40pm (Music Room)   
2024 Performances: Easier Pageant, Sacred Heart Idol, Christmas Concert 

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

Welcome to the Scholastic Book Club

Please take the catalogues home and have a look at the great books!!!!

You need to place your completed order online by
3pm, Monday 18th March 2024

“Book Club Loop” is the ONLY method for ordering and payment.

Please do not send any orders or cash to school.

                                            All orders will be delivered to school for distribution to your child’s classroom.

Please refer to the list below for your child’s class name:

HAPPY READING!!!!!

Follow the steps for ordering by referring to the information below:

Meal Deals for Term 1

MEAL DEAL for Term 1 

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

 Weeks 9 of Term 1 

Wednesday: 20th March 2024 

 $5 meal deal – sausage in bread & snow cone 

Gluten free option available 

Orders on Flexischools - See the link below to register

Class Awards

Easter Raffle

2024 Fee Schedule

Term 1 School Fees have been charged to family accounts and sent via email and were due on 27th February 2024.    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

Pietra Kids - Celebrating Parks Week

St Ursula's College Scholarships and Open Day

2025 Scholarship Applications are now OPEN

Available for girls who are:

• Entering Years 7, 8, 9 & 10 in 2025
• Entering Year 7 in 2026

Academic Scholarship Registration is open NOW

Sport and Cultural Scholarships will be offered in Term 2

Applications and all supporting documents must be received by 3:30pm, Friday 15 March 2024

Our Academic Scholarship Examination will be held on Saturday 23 March 2024 from 8:30am – 11:30am, at St Ursula’s College B Block Rome Street.

For further information, please click here  Scholarship | St Ursula's College Toowoomba (st-ursula.qld.edu.au)

Tarzan the Stage Musical

This is a brilliant (FREE) opportunity to come and learn what the musical is all about, how to put together your audition information and an opportunity to learn from some very talented creatives who volunteer for TCSYC Productions. 

 Please email to register your interest in attending as we need to know numbers for the day to flow smoothly. 

 ⏰ WHEN - Sunday 24th March. 8:45am for a  9am start and ending at 12pm. 
🗺️ WHERE - Choral Hall – located at the corner of Raff & Bridge Streets, Toowoomba 
🫵🏼WHO - The workshop is open to anyone interested in Youth Choir and the Production. 

You don’t have to join the Youth Choir to be part of the Production 

🎭 WHAT - Opportunities to find out more, meet the team and get valuable tips on singing, dancing and acting for an audition 
📧 HOW - SIGN UP NOW!! Email your interest to choralyouthholidayproduction@gmail.com or sign up through the Holiday 

Sacred Heart Parish

EMFIT Bootcamp

Tennis Coaching 2024