Term 2, 2023 Weeks 1-2

Principal's Message

Welcome back to Term 2.

I hope you all had a meaningful Easter break, spent with loved ones and full of reflection and rejuvenation. As we enter into a new term, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of Easter and the new beginnings it represents.

Easter is a time of renewal and rebirth, a time to let go of the old and embrace the new. As we move into this new term, let us take this spirit of renewal with us and approach each day with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.

For our students, this new term is an opportunity to continue their journey of growth and learning. It's a chance to build upon the knowledge and skills they've acquired so far, and to discover new interests and passions. Let us encourage them to approach each day with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn and grow.

For our staff, this new term is an opportunity to continue their dedication to teaching and supporting our students. It's a chance to build upon the successes of the past and to explore new and innovative ways of engaging our students and fostering their academic and personal growth.

As we begin this new term, let us all be mindful of the new beginnings and opportunities that lie ahead. Let us work together to support one another and to create a positive and supportive learning environment for our students.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and here's to a great term ahead!

God bless,

Kylie Scott

Annual School Improvement Survey 2023

The Annual School Improvement Survey  (2023) will be sent to Staff, Parents and Students.

Parents will receive their survey and information on Friday 5th May.

This survey is an important component to the school and CEDB (Catholic Education Office Bathurst). Please keep your eye out for this survey. Closing date is the 15th of May.

ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day is a solemn occasion to reflect on the sacrifices and courage of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. It is a day to remember the ANZAC spirit, which embodies qualities of bravery, mateship, and sacrifice.

This day is an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have served our country and to honour those who have given their lives for our freedom. It is a time to reflect on the impact of war and conflict, the loss of life, the physical and mental scars, and the ongoing struggles faced by veterans and their families.

ANZAC Day reminds us that freedom is never free, and we should always be grateful for the sacrifices of those who have served our country. It is a time to reflect on the lessons of the past, and to commit ourselves to creating a peaceful future for all.

As we reflect on ANZAC Day, we should remember the words of the Ode of Remembrance: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."

ANZAC Day

Catholic Schools Week

Important Dates

Term 2 

Diocesan Cross County- Tuesday 2 May

Catholic School Week- Week 2

Year 6 Christian Living Camp Excursion- Wednesday 3-5 May

CEDB  Annual School Survey- Friday 5 May

Mother's Day stall- Thursday 11 May

Mother's Day High Tea- Friday 12 May -10am -12pm

Do It For Dolly Fundraiser- Friday 12 May

SPB4L Focus

Weeks 1 & 2

Respect -Our Church expectations We sit, stand and kneel at the appropriate time in the church.

Respect -Our environment - We use the correct bins.

Dio Cross Country

Yesterday we held our annual Diocesan Cross Country carnival. Sacred Heart school hosted more than 800 competitors from all over the Bathurst Diocese. All students gave 100% and competed with great sportmanship. A big thank you must go to the parents, relatives and friends of Sacred Heart. Our P&F committee who did an amazing job in the canteen, Sacred Heart Staff, who always go above and beyond, and members from the Coolah community who volunteered to help on the day. Without your generous support the day would not happen.

Reports

Dear Parents and Carers,

We write to inform you of changes made to student reports from Semester One, 2023.

In 2016, NESA outlined a number of reforms relating to Literacy, Numeracy, Curriculum and Assessment. As part of this reform, Geoff Masters from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) completed a review of the curriculum. His final report was released in June 2020 and proposed that the NSW curriculum focuses on:

• Prioritising depth rather than breadth of learning
• Better integration of knowledge and skills
• Greater flexibility for teachers to respond to the learning needs of individual learners
• Every student making excellent, ongoing, progress in their learning. (Source) 

In order to respond to Masters’ proposals, the New South Wales’ Education Standards Authority (NESA) announced changes to syllabuses with the aim of making the curriculum clearer, decluttered, and with closer links between planning, teaching, assessing and reporting in order to provide students with strong foundations for life-long learning.

Further to this, Masters’ found that research into the effectiveness of school reports had been under researched. The Kathleen Burrow Research Institute, part of Catholic Schools NSW, responded to this and conducted a review of schools reports looking into the degree to which parents find school reports valuable and how reports can enable teachers to provide more valuable, insightful, and timely feedback to parents about their child’s achievement and progression. Their research found that:

• Parents value school reports and want to keep them as part of the broader spectrum of parent-teacher engagement
• Reports should accurately indicate the level of attainment (knowledge and skill) a student has reached in an area of learning
• It is important, regardless of age or year level, to report achievement separately from rewards for effort and the conscientious completion of classwork.
• Existing research that stated reports complement parent-teacher meetings was supported
• Parents found that report commentary can sometimes lack constructive critique of students (Source)

In response to the findings in both the Masters’ Review and Kathleen Burrow Institute Report, the Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst has made some changes to our school reports.   You will see this explicitly in your child’s Religious Education, English and Mathematics report this semester with learning reported using the sub-headings Learning Strengths and Learning Goals. This is in response to the findings that state the need for clear, objective reporting on student achievement and goals rather than “soft language” (p.15). The Learning Strengths will provide an overview of student achievement, what students can do, in line with syllabus outcomes. The Learning Goals section will provide 1-3 key areas that students can work on in order to move their learning forward. 

See below a sample of the new format (Year 2). An explanation of the Common Grade Scale and the language used in it can be found on the first page of your child’s report, as it always has.

It is proposed that the new report format will allow for clear dialogue between students, teachers and parents/carers at Parent, Teacher, Students Conferences (change to your school’s phrasing) in regards to recognising achievement and future goal setting.

It is hoped that all stakeholders find the new format for reporting beneficial.

Yours Faithfully,

Kylie Scott

Do it for Dolly

We are excited to announce a special fundraiser to support the Do it For Dolly Foundation. The foundation's mission is to create positive change and prevent bullying in schools.

As a community, we can come together to make a difference and support the important work of the Dolly Foundation. We will be holding a fundraising event on the 12 May. Students may wear blue and donate a gold coin donation.

Let's show our support and stand up against bullying in our schools. Together we can make a positive impact on the lives of young people.

Thank you for your support!

NESA 2023 WriteOn Competition Now Open (CSNSW Ref: 73/23)

The competition is open to all students in Years 1 to 6, including home-schooled students. Students write an imaginative text of up to 500 words using the image as stimulus. Teachers are encouraged to consider the stimulus image for discussion across learning areas, and to also include the competition as part of their Term 2 English program with the NSW English syllabuses.

Each school/home-school can submit a maximum of 3 entries – one entry per Stage of learning (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3).

Apply via the online entry form here.
Entries close at 4.00pm on Friday 16 June.