Term 3 2024 Weeks 5&6
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Friends,
Welcome to Weeks 5 & 6 of Sacred Heart's Newsletter!
We've had an exciting few weeks, starting with our amazing students participating in the Diocesan Athletics, where they put forth incredible effort and spirit. The ICAS tests were also a highlight, with our students giving their best and showing their academic strengths. Looking ahead, Parent-Teacher Interviews are just around the corner, so don't forget to book your slots. It's a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's progress and set goals for the remainder of the term.
Underpinning every method and philosophy of education is a view of the human person. For Catholic schools, the touchstone of authenticity is Jesus Christ and so we find expressed inthese educative communities a gentle invitation to live, love and serve in the way Jesus did.
We reflect on the invitation, "Come walk with me," which encourages us to consider the faith-life of our Catholic school. We are prompted to explore the opportunities we can and should provide to facilitate a journey from mere conformity to genuine commitment, and from belonging to true belief. This journey is essential, for the "treasure in the field" is the personal discovery of the living presence of the resurrected Lord in all things. It’s a call to deepen our faith and to recognise the sacred in our everyday experiences.
God Bless,
Kylie Scott
Religious Happenings
Our Kindergarteners have been having an exciting time exploring their faith and learning about the presence of God in their daily lives. Recently, Bishop Michael McKenna, accompanied by Fr. Pius, paid a warm and engaging visit to Sacred Heart. The Bishop started his day by visiting the Kindergartens' classroom, where he shared delightful conversations with the youngest students. They talked about farming and the various animals they’ve been learning about, such as sheep, cows, and llamas. The discussions also touched on the differences between living on a farm and in town, which sparked the children’s curiosity.
In addition to these fun topics, our Kindergarteners were thrilled to discuss their recent learning about how "God is everywhere," a concept that the Bishop helped bring to life during his visit.
Meanwhile, our Years 3 and 4 students have been diving into the Book of Psalms as part of their religious studies. Did you know that the Book of Psalms is one of the most profound and beloved books of the Bible? Here are some interesting facts:
Number of Psalms: There are 150 Psalms in total, each serving as a song or prayer that expresses a wide range of emotions—from joy and thanksgiving to sorrow and supplication.
Themes and Purpose: The Psalms cover various themes, including praise, worship, lamentation, and thanksgiving. They reflect the human experience in all its complexity and are often used in personal and communal prayer.
Catholic Perspective: In the Catholic tradition, the Psalms are considered an essential part of the Liturgy of the Hours and are recited or sung during Mass. They are seen as both a reflection of the human soul and a means of connecting more deeply with God.
Book Division: The Psalms are divided into five books, each ending with a doxology, which is a short hymn of praises to God. This structure is believed to mirror the five books of the Torah, emphasising the Psalms' importance in Jewish and Christian worship.
By studying the Psalms, our students are learning not only about the history and significance of these sacred texts but also how to apply the timeless lessons of faith and trust in God to their own lives.
Bishop McKenna
Important Dates
Term 3
19/8/24- Kindy Interviews
20/8/24- Kindy Interviews
20/8/24- ICAS exams
23/8/24- DIO Athletics- Dubbo
28/8/24- Father's Day Stall
30/8/24- Fathers Day Liturgy and breakfast
12-13/8/24- Polding Athletics Newcastle
11/9/24- Coolah MPS Resident visit
12/9/24- Greenday Mudgee 3-6
Reminders for parents
-Please remember that no supervision is provided at school before 8:30am
- Please send fruit cut-up in a separate container, ready for students to have at fruit break.
SPB4L Focus
Weeks 5&6
Responsible -
We pack healthy food and water for the school day.
News with Kindergarten and Mrs Hallet
English
The students in Kindergarten engage in phonics lessons 5 morning a week and I am so proud how far they have come. Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing by helping children understand the relationship between letters and sounds. By mastering phonics, students gain the tools they need to tackle new words on their own. Here’s how this skill set translates into independent literacy:
- Decoding Skills: Students learn to break down words into their component sounds, which allows them to read unfamiliar words with ease.
- Spelling and Writing: Understanding phonics rules helps students spell words correctly and apply these principles to their own writing.
Confidence: As students see their progress in reading and writing, their confidence grows, leading to a greater willingness to explore new texts and express themselves.
Religion
KIndergarten students have been exploring the question: Where is God? They found that:
Mathematics
Student’s have been learning about ordinal numbers and position in our mathematics lessons. Bee-Bots are small robots designed to introduce young children to the basics of programming and sequencing.
Our students have been learning about the order of objects using terms like "first," "second," "third," and so on. In addition to ordinal numbers, our young programmers have been exploring positional language, such as “in front of,” “behind,” “next to,” and “on top of.” By using Bee-Bots, they physically see and experience how these positional terms apply in a fun and hands-on way.
Dio Athletics Dubbo
On Friday, August 23rd, our athletes headed to the Dio Athletics Carnival in Dubbo. The weather was perfect, creating an ideal setting for a day of competition and camaraderie.
Our students gave their best performances, and many achieved impressive personal bests. It was a day full of enthusiasm and excitement, showcasing their hard work and dedication.
Congratulations to all who participated and represented our school with such spirit.
Sacred Heart Gets into the Olympic Spirit!
As the world came together for the 2024 Olympic Games, Sacred Heart School buzzed with excitement and enthusiasm, bringing the Olympic spirit right into our school grounds!
To celebrate this global event, each class immersed themselves, in all things Olympic. From learning about the history and values of the Olympics, to getting creative with Olympic-themed artworks, to following the medal tally, the Olympic period was educational and exciting for the Sacred Heart Aussie cheer squad.
The Sacred Heart Mini-Olympics during sport was a definite highlight of our Olympic celebrations. The students' enthusiasm and sportsmanship were truly inspiring as they participated in a variety of fun and friendly sporting events. The ‘wheelbarrow’ and ‘sock wrestling’ were among the favourites. Our Aussie athletes competed with great energy, cheering each other on and embodying the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and effort.
For Kindergarten, the 2024 Olympics is their second Olympics, but the first one they’ll remember. To help make it memorable for them, Mrs Pettet had them design and make their own Olympic torch, plus an Olympic wall/window mobile display. Each of the students also created their own Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. The catch was that each medal had to include a symbol that represented the sport they would like to win a medal in one day. With pig hunting, bronc riding and sheep shearing not being Olympic sports, quite a few of them resorted to awarding themselves with medals in shooting and archery. Show jumping was also popular, so it is predicted that some parents may be asked to purchase them a horse so they can start preparing for a future Olympics.
With the Olympics now over, Sacred Heart’s ‘Aussie Olympic Spirit’ is sure to return with the Paralympics starting on the 28th of August.
Community News and Events
