Term 3 2024 Weeks 7&8
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Friends,
At Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, we are deeply committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive community that reflects the values and mission of Catholic education. With a focus on providing meaningful support for our families, we are pleased to announce the 2-Day Autism Workshop for Parents and Carers, happening in Dubbo, NSW, on 22-23 October 2024. This workshop will offer valuable strategies and insights for parents and carers of children with autism, ensuring that every child’s unique needs are acknowledged and supported, in line with our vision of care and compassion. Scan the unique QR code below for further information.
We also want to take a moment to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our Teacher’s Aides. Their incredible work embodies the spirit of our mission to serve with love and patience, enriching the lives of our students daily.
As we look toward the future, we are excited to welcome our new Kindergarten students during the 'Little Hearts' Kindergarten Transition Days in Weeks 9 & 10. These sessions are designed to help our youngest learners feel at home in our school environment, as we guide them to grow, learn, and develop in the light of our Catholic values.
God Bless,
Kylie Scott
Shoe lace focus
We are reaching out to you regarding an important safety concern that we’ve noticed at school. Many of our students are struggling with tying their shoelaces, and while it may seem like a small skill, it’s becoming a significant issue on the playground and during daily activities.
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) is a priority for us, and untied shoelaces are leading to preventable accidents, particularly with students running or playing on the playground. We have seen instances of children tripping over their laces, risking injury not only to themselves, but also to others around them. Additionally, untied laces are causing wear and tear on students’ shoes, leading to them wearing out more quickly.
We kindly ask for your support in teaching your child how to tie their shoelaces at home. This is an essential life skill that promotes independence and safety. To assist in this, we encourage practice sessions at home and suggest finding fun and engaging ways to help your child master this task. Velcro shoes may also be a good option for younger children or those still learning.
By working together, we can help ensure that our students stay safe, comfortable, and confident while at school. If you need any tips or support in teaching this skill, please feel free to reach out, and we would be happy to provide resources.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our school a safe and happy place for all.
Religious Happenings
Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with over 1.3 billion followers! At the heart of Catholic faith is the belief in the Holy Trinity—God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One of the unique aspects of Catholic practice is the seven sacraments, which are sacred rituals that mark key moments in a person's spiritual journey. These sacraments include Baptism, Eucharist (Communion), and Confirmation, which play a vital role in deepening one's faith and connection with God. Catholicism also emphasises social justice, with a focus on serving the poor, caring for the environment, and promoting peace and human dignity worldwide.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Vatican City, the headquarters of the Catholic Church, is the smallest independent country in the world? It’s only 44 hectares (110 acres) in size, yet it holds some of the most significant religious and cultural treasures in history!
Important Dates
Term 3
12/9/24- 3-6 Greenday at Mudgee
16/9/24- Breakfast Bacon and Egg rolls
17/9/24- Little Hearts Kindergarten Transition- 9:00- 11:00
18/9/24- Twilight staff meeting- Science and Technology
24/9/24- Little Hearts Kindergarten Transition- 9:00- 11:00
25/9/24- Mass- 12:15 all welcome
27/9/24- Mission stalls- 1/10-2.40- all welcome
27/9/24- last day of school Term 3
Term 4
14/10/24- School resumes K-6
15/10/24- Little Hearts Kindergarten Transition- 9:00- 11:00
16/10/24- Mass- 12:15 all welcome
22/10/24- Little Hearts Kindergarten Transition- 9:00- 11:00 + parent information session
24/10/24- P&F Meeting 3.30
25/10/24- Musica Viva- St Michael's Dunedoo
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 7&8
RESPECT
We show respect to others when we keep our hands and feet to ourselves.
Creative Clay Sculptures Showcase with 3-4!
This week, several of our talented students have been working on clay sculptures, showcasing not only their artistic flair, but also a range of important skills developed through the project. Guided by the Visual Arts curriculum, students explored shape, texture, and form, while considering how their artistic intentions influenced the look, details, and overall response their work might evoke from an audience.
Throughout this process, students selected and explored different aspects of subject matter, experimenting with various techniques, tools, and traditions in sculpture. With the teacher’s guidance, they experimented with techniques and artistic traditions, drawing from historical and cultural references. This hands-on experience helped them understand how an artist’s work interacts with the world, shaping the audience's interpretation of meaning.
The clay sculptures not only reflect the students' growing technical skills, but also their ability to interpret and express deeper connections between their artwork, the world, and their personal creative vision. We are excited to showcase their hard work and dedication!
Year 5/6
This term, Year 5 students have been focusing on using partitioning and place value to multiply 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers by one-digit numbers. They have also been working on determining products and factors, as well as selecting and applying both mental and written strategies to multiply 2- and 3-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. Additionally, they have practiced selecting and applying strategies to divide numbers with 3 or more digits by a one-digit divisor.
Year 6 students have focused on understanding multiplicative relationships and calculating the area of triangles. They have practiced using equivalent number sentences involving multiplication and division to find unknown values, explored representing and describing number patterns formed by multiples, and explored the use of brackets and the order of operations to construct and interpret number sentences (BODMAS).
In art, we have been colouring optical illusions, experimenting with both black and white and color designs. Students have been learning how to create visual effects techniques like contrasting colors, lines, and shapes to produce striking and mind-bending illusions.
In Science, we have been exploring the concepts of energy transfer and thermal expansion. We have been examining how energy moves from one form to another and understanding how materials expand or contract in response to changes in temperature.
Managing Screen Time
Many parents have reported excessive screen time as the number one health concern affecting kids, especially now in the hyperconnected world we live in. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that there should be no screen time at all for children under two, less than an hour a day for children aged from two to five, and less than two hours for five to 17 year olds. However, these guidelines have been disputed by experts and often ignored by families. Parents must play an important role in modelling a positive approach to using screens, and assisting children to navigate the content they access.