Newsletter No. 2

Thursday, 2nd February, 2006

 

2006 is the National Year of Community.  Tomorrow we gather to celebrate our diverse and vibrant school community at our Opening School Mass.

 

A Prayer for the Journey

 

Lord, You have given us the task to help your children learn

About you and about the world in which they live –

 

Help us to bring that world alive for them,

To enable them to see its beauty,

To wonder at its wonders,

To live with its life,

To rejoice in achievements,

And

To take their rightful place with confidence in themselves as God’s people.

 

Everyone in the school community is invited to be with us tomorrow at our Opening School Mass where we ask God’s blessing on all that we do in guiding our children’s journey.  Badges will be presented to the new school captains and sport captains at the mass.  Mass starts at 9:00am.   Morning tea will be provided after mass back at school in the big shed.  It will be a great opportunity for old friends to meet and for new families to our school to meet and make new friends.   Feel free to ‘bring a plate’ to help with the morning tea.  Food can be dropped off at the staff room at school before mass.  Thanks to UB for leading our celebration and the Sacred Heart Friendship group for organising the morning tea.  See you there!!

 

PARENT INFORMATION EVENINGS – WEEK 3 (In the Library)

 

Day/Date

Stage

Time

Monday, 6 Feb.

Middle

5.30pm

Tuesday, 7 Feb.

Preschool & Year 1

5.30pm

Wednesday, 8 Feb.

Lower

5.30pm

Thursday, 9 Feb.

Upper

5.30pm

 


From the Principal’s Desk

 

SCHOOL CAPTAINS & HOUSE CAPTAINS

Badges will be presented at Mass tomorrow.

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected as School Captains for Semester 1.

Claudia Jones

Madeline Ryan

Mitchell Dare

Bradley Jeffrey

 

 

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected as House Captains for Semester 1.

Norman

Hannah Duivenvoorden

Martin Kay

Freeman

Lucy Sullivan

Nicholas Sommerfeld

Border

Charlotte Boyd

Alister Shaw

Riley

Trudy Roberts

Joseph Svendsen

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. Any families that applied for a concession last year must apply again this year.  Interview times will be arranged upon the return of completed application forms.  The closing date for Fee Concessions is tomorrow,  Friday 3 Feb. 2006.

School Fee Accounts for Term One will be sent home next week.

 

In the family

Our thoughts and prayers are with the following families at this sad time.

Shereen Svendsen (Upper Stage Teacher & Joseph, UB) grandmother passed away.

Shellaan Valk’s family and the students from the Diamond Dance Academy on the tragic death of Shellaan last week.

Also please keep in your prayers the Braun Family, (Josh UW) as Ron Braun’s mum is ill in Brisbane at the moment.

 

Congratulations to Corkery family on becoming Australian citizens at the naturalisation ceremony on Australia Day.

 

Please inform the school, in writing, about births, deaths, sickness and/or achievements of students.

 

Positions to be Advertised

Sacred Heart Outside School Hours Care is advertising for a new coordinator and another assistant. The coordinator must be over 18 and have a qualification or be studying towards a qualification in child care. The assistant must be over 18 but does not require a qualification. The assistant position suits university students who would be available to work a couple of days per week. Working hours each day are 2:45 to 6:00. Further information on these positions and closing dates are available at the office.

 

Car Park Safety

A number of complaints have been received from parents about other parents in the car park. A parent has been booked by the police for parking in the “drop off” zone and the police are continuing to make regular visits. Please be patient, obey the rules and ensure that safety is the priority.

 

Pupil Free Day

Please note that the staff will be attending the Bishop’s Inservice Day on Friday February 17 so the school will be closed. Outside School Hours Care will be open. Bookings are being taken now.  The cost will be $25 for a full day or $12.50 for a half day. Bookings are essential as there are limited places. Phone Jennifer on 0409337725.

 

TERM PLANNER -Term 1 Term planner will be going home with this newsletter.

 

Nut Free School

Good progress is being made towards our school becoming A Nut Free Zone. A number of parent enquires have been received. Some clarifications: The two allergic students can have a serious, potentially life threatening allergic reaction after minimal contact with nuts. They don’t necessarily have to eat nuts. Many children who are allergic to peanuts are also allergic to other types of nuts so we are asking that no nuts of any sort, nut spreads or nut bars be included in children’s lunches. Many food items have traces of nuts in them and these products are safe as long as not actually consumed by the allergic children. Further information is available on www.allergyfacts.org.au.

Fresh for Kids

10 Favourite Sandwich Fillings

1.       Crunchy lettuce with sliced tomato and tasty cheese (place the tomato between cheese and lettuce to prevent the bread from becoming soggy).

2.       Mashed banana, cream cheese, sultanas and a drizzle of honey.

3.       Avocado, thinly sliced cucumber and shaved ham.

4.       Baked bean with finely sliced celery.

5.       Crunchy lettuce with flaked tuna mixed with mayonnaise and finely chopped celery.

6.       Crunchy fresh salad with tasty cheese, chicken or shaved ham.

7.       Crisp iceberg lettuce or snow pea sprouts with egg and mayonnaise.

8.       Chopped fresh dates with reduced fat cream cheese.

9.       Cheese spread, sultanas and grated carrot.

    10.   Flavoured tuna with crunchy fresh salad.

 

Parent / Teacher communication

Teachers are at school by 8:15 but are not always in their classrooms before school due to preparation and photocopying, meetings and staff prayer (Wednesdays). If you wish to briefly speak to a teacher and they are not in their classroom please go to the office and Marg or Helen will assist you. An appointment should be made with the teacher if there are issues that require extended discussion. Formal timetabled parent/teacher meetings are scheduled for the end of Term 1. Please come along to the Parent Information nights next week to meet the teachers from each stage.

 

Instrumental Music

Mrs. Griffin’s timetable for next week will be given out tomorrow.

Mrs. Sheppard – Due to Mass commitments on Friday, lessons missed will be caught up on Monday 6th Feb. These students are:- Denny Kim, Nikola Davies, Emma Power, Hazel Bowden, Annabel Dunphy, Kara Davies.

 

Student Banking

Are you aware the school offers student banking with dollarmite savings accounts with the Commonwealth Bank.  Invest now for your child’s future and help them learn the advantages of saving.  This also assists the school.  For every new account opened $5.00 is donated by the Commonwealth Bank and 5% of all deposits goes to the school.  Account forms can be obtained and returned to the school office.  For more details please contact Marion Price on 49398027.

APRE NEWS

The Sacred Heart Friendship Group met this week to send out welcome cards to all new families and to invite them to our Opening School Mass and morning tea.  The group are very keen to ensure every new family is made to feel welcome and to organise opportunities for families to get together throughout the year.  A date to keep free in your diary is the 21st March, Harmony Day, when they plan to organize the next ‘meet and greet’ opportunity.  Thank you to all those people who have volunteered to be a part of this very important group.  If anybody else wishes to be involved in the group, please let me know.

More dates to mark in your diaries are the following for the sacraments of Eucharist, Confirmation and Reconciliation.

Eucharist and Confirmation:    

Information Night            20th March

Enrolment                     25/26th March

Celebration                    21st May           

Reconciliation:

Information Night            21st August

Enrolment                     26/27th August

Celebration                    16th-20th Oct

More detailed information closer to the actual dates.

 

Literacy Blocks 2006

The literacy block is designed to respond to information gathered about your child and their learning achievements and needs in English. Purposeful, well-designed learning and teaching strategies will support, challenge and extend each student’s learning.

 

All teachers from Early to Upper Stages are relying on your support in the literacy block sessions to make learning focused. You can help by spending time reading with students, guiding small groups of 4 or 5 students, helping change readers, making resources at home or in the classroom etc.

Please let your child’s teacher know if you are available to help out in any way.

 

Journey Groups

This Friday students will be moving into proposed Mathematics and English journey groups for 2006. Our dedicated teachers have spent many long days ‘moderating’ (reviewing past assessment and work samples, discussing with past teachers, observing report cards and appraising the level of new children) to place students. The whole child has been considered in the allocation of students to classes.  At this time of the year allowances have been made for teachers to familiarise with their students and determine whether they are appropriately placed.  Therefore we ask for your patience as this flexible grouping occurs for approximately one month.

 

 

Planning Meetings

any thanks to our teachers who have worked together as stage teams to develop units of work for their home classes. The contextual organiser for this term is “Technology and Communication”.  Many varied experiences using the exciting technology available in our school has been utilised, including the “Visual Communicator”, “Inspirations Program”, “Advanced PowerPoint” and “Photo story”.  Parents who are willing to assist in any way to support students in the classrooms are invited to see their homeroom teachers.

 

Sacred Heart Student Achievements

Congratulations to Madison Wilson who received the Junior Sport Award at the Australia Day Awards last Thursday.

Madison is a member of the Qld. Swimming Team who participated in the Pacific Schools Games in Melbourne from the 26th November to 5th December 2005. These games are held every 5 years are were attended this year by teams from all Australia’s States and Territories plus 25 other countries including China, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.  Madison contested the 11 years 50m Freestyle, Backstroke, 4 x 50m Freestyle relay and the Girls All Age 8 x 50m Freestyle relay.  Her efforts were rewarded by bringing home 2 Silver Medals from the relays and a Bronze medal in the 50m Freestyle. She also placed 6th in the Backstroke final. It was a great experience to meet and participate with children from other countries and cultures.  (Report by Andy Wilson)

Recognition of Achievements – The school wishes to acknowledge the achievements and successes of members of our school community via this newsletter.  We therefore request that parents forward, in writing, to the office, relevant information (brief) for inclusion in future newsletters.

 

LIBRARY NEWS
A big thank you to Pam Cuffe, Rosie Stevens, Kym Bowden and Rosa Slattery who have assisted in the Library during the past week. 

There are many new library and reading resources to be processed prior to student and teacher use.  If anyone is able to assist in any way could you please see Wendy or Alison in the school library.

MISSING READING BOOKS

A number of reading books missing from last year have been returned this week.  However there are still approx 40 books missing.  Please check at your house and return any books found to the library ASAP.

BOOK CLUB NEWS

Leaflets for Issue 1 of Wombat, Lucky, Arrow and Star Book Clubs were sent home last week. All orders together with correct payment are due back at school TOMORROW, Friday 3rd February. Please check that your child’s name and class is on all orders. Payments may be made by Cash, Cheque or Credit Card. Cheques are to be made payable to “SCHOLASTIC”. Family orders can be included in one payment if all order forms are submitted together. Please enclose payment and completed order form in a sealed envelope.

All orders from Book Club support our school. From points received we are able to purchase many resources for the library. Last year approximately $2900.00 worth of books, posters, games and DVDs, were purchased. A BIG THANK YOU to all who supported Book Club last year.     (Wendy Hudson)

 

 

Community News

 Keppel Coast Gymnastic Club (located at Yeppoon Showgrounds) SIGN-ON DAY 9am-12noon Saturday, 28 January.

 

BABYSITTING AVAILABLE: Experienced, responsible 14 yr old babysitter. Rates neg. Phone Jessica 49 337822 or 0415659884.

 

EMU PARK SWIM CLUB6pm Thursday. Old and new members most welcome. BBQ tea.

 

Emu Park Shotokan Karate – Cultural Hall, Hill Street. Phone Robyn 49 393446.

Yeppoon Shotokan Karate – St Ursula’s Hall, Queen Street. Phone Noel 49 396701.

 

Speech & Drama and Singing – Nola Smith. Classes re-commence Monday 6 Feb. Phone 49 395822.

 

Brothers Netball Club Sign-On Day and AGM 3-5pm Saturday, 4 February at Brothers Club, Lion Creek Road.  Phone Lynda 0400 553643 or Paula 0408 737419.

 

Ordination of Andrew Chase

An invitation is extended to all to attend the Ordination to Priesthood of Andrew Chase at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, William Street, Rockhampton on Thursday, 9th February 2006 at 7.00pm followed by refreshments in The Cathedral College Multi-Purpose Hall.

The Mass of Thanksgiving will take place at St. Vincent’s Church, Herbert Street, Wandal on Friday, 10th February at 6pm and will followed by supper at the Hall in Rundle Street. All Welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

AWARDS FOR WEEK TWO – Term One

Early StageKimberley Evans-Barlow, Lachlan Dean, Finn Stephensen, Zara Craggs, Kate Fry, Aaron Dawson

Lower Stage – Emily Bond, Beau Pearson, Rowena Barlow, Zac Close, Carl Mappas, Ella Beatty, Charissa Hanlon, Shania Moulds, Lachlan Whitehand

Middle Stage – Thomas Billman, Meg Neven, Michael Blyde, Alesha Tennant, Nicholas Butler, Gabrielle Bond, Maddison Twidale, Samantha Lorraway, Georgia Coburn, Wyatt Petith

Upper Stage – David Oberg, Martin Kay, Catherine Campbell, Vaughan Buckett, Stacey McMahon, Charlotte Boyd, Nicholas Sommerfeld

Learning Network Queensland – Capricornia Training Co.  in conjunction with Learning Network will be conducting training over the next six months to assist people returning to the workforce. Register now if you are interested – 49 222008 or 49 250067.

 

Free Information Session (by Dr Lisa Ann Gershwin) – MARINE STINGERS at Emu Park Surf Lifesaving Club 5.30pm Wednesday, 15 Feb.