From the Principal’s Desk

Welcome to Sacred Heart for the 2006 School Year. Particular welcome to new families in Preschool and throughout the school. New families into the Yr 1 to 7 are:

Joseph Bennett, Hazel Bowden, Tamara Bowker, Emily Brown, Keisha Browne, Jackson & Maddison Carey, Chloe Clark, Abby Cooper, Hayley Crowe, Cade & Chase Cullen, Katie-Lee, Natalie and Steven Dobson, Alon Ebro, Kirsten Fouche, Benjamin, Joseph and Kate Fry, Matthew Graham, Charissa, Emily and Meg Hanlon, Maggie Hillman, Mitchell Jensen, Jaimie & Lochlainn La Rue, Shartai Many, James Mason, Sarah Memmott, Georgia Milfull, Sam Miller, Paris Page, Johnny & James Paikan, Cameron Rea, Dylan & Felicia Slattery, Emily & Jonathon Souantha, Finn Stephensen, Joseph Svendsen, Alesha Tennent, Gemma Traynor, Daniel Williams, Caitlin Wishart, James Zerk.

Welcome to new staff: Donna Bennett (Early); Tanya Wilkie (Lower); Kellie Couper (Middle); Brendan Daunt, Shereen Svendsen and Debbie McGuire (Upper)

SCHOOL GARAGE SALE

The school is having a clean out on Friday afternoon and old furniture, monitors etc. will be going cheap from 7am on Saturday, 28^th January in the carpark.

Year 7 Graduation Shirts

The Grad. Shirts that have been ordered and paid for arrived and were distributed to the students today. If anyone has not ordered their Grad shirt this must be done by this Friday, 27^th January at the latest. There will be no more orders taken after this date.

Peanut Allergy

Two students in our school have a severe allergy to peanuts. (Anaphylaxis). Staff have been trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and EpiPens are available in the school. We are seeking the assistance of the whole school community and ask that our school become a Peanut Free Zone. Steps to achieve this have already been taken. Peanut products are no longer available in the tuckshop and will be removed from the OSHC menu. Students in Year 1 are washing their hands and faces before returning to class. We are asking parents to ensure that no peanuts, peanut butter or nutella are brought to school in children’s lunches. (Thank you to Warren Kellett, a dad and ambulance officer who has assisted us in the last week)

Car Parking

The building of the Bottlebrush St car park has commenced so there is no parking available for staff or parents on that side of the school at the moment. Staff are now parking on the hill near the Administration Building. Parents are to park in the Barracuda Cres car park only. This area is very busy and parents are asked to drive with patience and care. Please use the pedestrian crossing and observe the rules of the drop off zone.

Oval

The oval is almost complete. The grass requires a few more weeks to fully cover and toughen up before the children can play on it. Thank you to Mark Effeney, Mick McLaughlin and Mark Byrne who watered and fertilized over the holidays. Thank you to Livingstone Shire Council who granted an exemption from the water restrictions to allow the watering to occur.

OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE SERVICE

Sacred Heart Outside School Hours Care Service re-commenced operation this week. The service runs every school day between 2.45 and 6pm. For more information contact the service on 49337725 (After 3pm) or 0409337725 (anytime). Enrolment forms and information sheets can be collected from the school office.

Staff: Jennifer King is commencing the year as co-ordinator but will move to Brisbane for Uni at the end of February. Kirsten Honor and Amy Cullinan are the current assistants but also have other work commitments. We will be advertising for a co-ordinator and other assistants in the next few weeks.

2006 BELL TIMES

Time Purpose

8.35am -Warning Bell – Assemble in shed

8.40am -Assembly 9.00am Lesson 1

10.00am - Lesson 2 10.45am Lunch Bell

11.20am-End Lunch/Play 11.25pm Lesson 3

12.10pm-Lesson 4 12.55pm Lesson 5

1.40pm-Afternoon Tea 1.55pm End tea/Play

2.00pm -Lesson 6 2.45pm End lesson/pickup

2.50pm - Bus Bell 2.55pm Final Bell

Parents are also reminded that students are not to be at school prior to 8:00am., with teacher supervision in the shed beginning at 8:15am. Teachers are on supervision duties each afternoon from 2:50-3:20pm or until the last bus pick-up. The Duty Teacher will attempt to contact the parents/caregivers of students not picked up by 3:20pm. If parent/caregivers cannot be contacted or suitable arrangements made by 3:30pm, the student will be placed in the care of the Sacred Heart Outside School Hours Care Service at the parents/caregivers expense.

Teacher In-service Days 18-20 Jan.

Teachers officially commenced work for 2006 last Wednesday and attended a Maths workshop on the new Maths Syllabus and the program Go Maths which is being used throughout the school this year. On Thursday the teachers discussed the new English Syllabus and the implementation of the Writing Hour into our school. On Friday staff attended the Opening School Mass in Rockhampton and set up for the new school year.

Mark Effeney’s New Role

Best wishes to Mark as he has commenced his job at DCEO as Special Projects Officer (Technology) and is assisting with capital projects this year. Mark is continuing to oversee our oval and carpark projects and will oversee the building of our Prep, classroom and Administration extension this year.

Uniform Shop

Thank you to Rosie Stevens and others parents who have worked long and busy hours over the past week ensuring that uniforms have been available.

Preparation for School Year

Thank you to ground staff especially Bob Gardener, cleaners, teacher assistants, library assistants and office staff who have worked throughout last week to prepare for the new school year. Thank you to Noel King who has installed 8 new computers in our school.

P&F Meetings

Parents and Friends meeting are usually held on the first Tuesday of the month. A parent Information evening is scheduled for next Tuesday. The first P&F meeting therefore scheduled for Tuesday March 7.

Counselling Services

As part of the Pastoral Care Program at Sacred Heart School, we offer counselling services coordinated by Centacare Rockhampton. This service is available by appointment to all members of the Sacred Heart School community. It is a confidential, professional service that aims to support individuals and families. Our counsellor can provide support and advice on a range of issues including coping with grief and loss in adults and children, anxiety separation and conflict resolution. We encourage you to access this service as needed.

Mr Michael Conaghan will continue as our school based counsellor for 2006 and will be available each Thursday between 9:00am and 2:00pm by appointment.

SCHOOL FEE CONCESSION APPLICATIONS FOR 2006

Application forms for School Fee Concession are now available from the office. Families experiencing genuine financial difficulties may apply for a reduction in school fees payable. Any reduction given will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and in keeping with the family’s current financial circumstances. Concessions given are for the current year only, and must be negotiated annually with the school principal. Interview times will be arranged upon the return of completed application forms. The closing date for Fee Concessions is Friday 3 Feb. 2006.

School Fee Accounts for Term One will be sent home in Week 3.

UNIFORM SHOP

Opening hours this year will be the same as last year, 8.15am – 9.15am, Monday and Thursday mornings. If either of these days fall on a public holiday or pupil free day the uniform shop will open on the following day at the same time. Volunteers are needed to help in the uniform shop. If you can spare one hour per month please contact Rosie on 0409 767 201, drop into the uniform shop or leave a message at the office indicating which day is preferable and your contact details.

LIBRARY NEWS

Many new library and reading resources received at the end of last year and this year need to be processed ready for teacher, student and classroom use. Could you help? Please see Wendy or Alison in the Library if you are able to assist in any way.

Thank you to those families who have returned readers overdue from last year.

There are still approx. 50 readers outstanding.

APRE NEWS

Welcome to another year. On Friday the Upper School will be attending and participating in the Capricorn Parish Combined Catholic Schools Opening Mass at St. Brendan’s. You are most welcome to attend the Mass being held at the St. Brendan’s College Hall. Upper school students are asked to wear their red and navy uniform.

On Friday 3^rd February at 9.00am we will be having our own Opening School Mass at the Sacred Heart Church. Mr Byrne’s class will be leading us in the celebration of this liturgy. All parents are invited to join us and pray for God’s blessing on our school year. A cuppa will be provided after Mass at the Church. This is a great opportunity for new families to our school to meet others from our school community. Hope to see you there.

OUR NEW TEACHERS FOR 2006

Left to right: - Tanya Wilkie (LWi); Kellie Couper (MCo); Brendan Daunt (UD); Donna Bennett (EB); Shereen Svendsen (US); Debbie McGuire (UM)

A new alter server roster will be going home next week. If you wish your child to be added to this roster, please leave their name at the office by next Monday. It is wonderful to see so many children involved in our weekend masses in this very special way.

Our school Friendship Group welcomes new families to our school at the beginning of the school year and as the year progresses. This group also assists in the pastoral care of families in our school. If you wish to be part of this group please contact the office. We would love to hear from you.

Have a great week!

Pam Iafrati

Instrumental Music Program 2006

Enrolments for Instrumental Music, Speech and Drama and Vocal lessons will be finalised over the next few weeks. Each teacher will contact the parents of new students personally to confirm enrolments. Continuing students are reminded to complete a re-enrolment form if you haven’t already done so. Re-enrolment forms are available at the office. Mrs Macala Sheppard will commence lessons in week 2. The remaining Instructors will commence lessons in week 3.

In the Family

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the following families;

Amanda O’Brien and family on the sad passing of Amanda’s father;

Simon Dash and family on the sad passing of Simon’s mother;

Reilly Stokes (MCO) and her family on the sad passing of Reilly’s grandma last Sunday night.

We also keep in our prayers, Pixie Cranny, who is in Brisbane undergoing surgery at the moment. Pixie has grandchildren at Sacred Heart, Tom Cranny (ER) and Zara Craggs (EC).

Community News

UPDATED CONTACT DETAILS
Please contact the school office if your contact details have changed recently.

Yeppoon Gymnastics Sign-On – 28 January at 34 Jabiru Drive, Yeppoon. Vacancies exist in Kindergym, Beginner Girls 5 yrs +, Girls levels and adult gym.

(New Junior Recreational gymnastics Tues./Thurs. 5.30-7.00 pm 11-15 Girls. )

Come’n’try – no obligation or cost. Just turn up. Birthday parties also organised. Phone 49 392389.

Paul’s Collect-A-Caps: Please continue to collect the specially marked milk bottle caps. Money raised from these caps is used to buy classroom resources. Caps can be deposited in the blue bin in the office.

CQ TAFE – The Semester One course list is now available on www.cq.tafe.qld.gov.au or phone 49 336200.

WANTED TO BUY

1/8 Violin - Phone Kate Blyde 49 250877.

TUCKSHOP NEWS

If you wish to become a volunteer tuckshop helper please phone Tracey 49 395234 or leave your name and number at the School Admin Office.

Tuckshop will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning Monday, 30 January.

The Tuckshop Menu for 2006 is included with this newsletter. Please note there are price rises for some items and some items have been added to last year’s menu. The Tuckshop menu is the same for each tuckshop day.

Please read the reverse side of the tuckshop menu for more important information about our ordering process.

Thank you and welcome to all our volunteer helpers for this term. Without you our tuckshop would not be able to run and valuable income would be lost to the school.

Upper Stage Fundraising – Any parents interested in helping phone Helen Oberg on 49395997 at home or leave your name at the school office.

Potential

2006 BELL TIMES

Time Purpose

SCHOOL FEE CONCESSION APPLICATIONS FOR 2006

LIBRARY NEWS

APRE NEWS