Dear Parents/Carers

As we near the end of the term, I would like to thank our families for their ongoing support in encouraging children to wear the correct uniform, show respect, and uphold our school values. Family partnerships are invaluable in creating a positive and enriching learning environment for our students. Together, we ensure that every child feels supported, encouraged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

As parents, teachers, and community members, we play a fundamental role in shaping our children's values, attitudes, and behaviours. At Sacred Heart, we believe that children learn not only through direct instruction but also by observing the actions and words of the adults around them. Our behaviour sets the standard for acceptable behaviour—children are always watching, listening, and learning. We instil these values in our children by demonstrating respect, kindness, honesty, and patience. How we communicate, resolve conflicts, and show gratitude has a profound impact. Our words and actions shape the culture we create together at school, home, or the wider community. As a Catholic school, we are called to live out the Gospel values of honesty, compassion, inclusion, sustainability, and gratitude in all that we do.

Thank you to those who have completed the Insight SRC survey sent home. Your feedback is invaluable and important in shaping our future decisions and strategic direction. Your voice helps us continue to improve and grow as a school community, ensuring the best outcomes for all.

To support our students effectively, it is important that if you have concerns regarding your child’s learning or well-being, you arrange a meeting with their teacher at a suitable time. Our staff is committed to working with you to find solutions in a focused and meaningful way. If further discussion is needed, you are welcome to schedule a meeting with a member of our leadership team.

The Mersey Leven Parish and school community warmly welcome Father Ashan Peris back. His presence will be a blessing to students, staff, and families as we continue to grow in faith together. His guidance, wisdom, and leadership will enrich our community, and he will play an important role in connecting with students. We encourage everyone to warmly welcome Father Ashan as he begins this journey with us.

Warm regards

Charlene Best

Principal

SHU Timetable:

As we communicated at the end of 2024, we have successfully implemented a change in our school timetable. Students now have two half-hour breaks: from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This has enabled us to have two two-hour blocks of non-interrupted key teaching and learning time.

Two-hour teaching blocks offer several benefits, including:

1. In-depth Learning: Longer sessions allow for more thorough exploration of complex topics. Students have more time to understand concepts deeply and engage in activities that promote critical thinking.

2. Less Disruption: With extended teaching periods, there are fewer transitions between lessons, which reduces the time spent on administrative tasks and minimizes disruptions to the learning flow.

3. Improved Focus: Students can stay immersed in a subject for longer without needing to switch between different topics, which helps with focus and retention of material.

4. Project-Based Learning: Longer blocks provide the time necessary for hands-on, project-based learning activities that encourage collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity.

5. More Breaks: Longer periods often allow for scheduled breaks within the block, preventing burnout and helping students stay refreshed during the lesson.

6. Flexibility for Differentiation: Teachers can adjust the pace of the lesson to suit different learners, providing extra time for those who need more support without rushing the rest of the class.

Playing in the Playground After School:

Please, parents, ensure you supervise your children after school hours while on the school grounds. It is important that we continue to work together to ensure that our expectations for behaviour align with our PBS Matrix and that we model appropriate adult behaviour. 

Uniform:

Please be aware that Uniform collection days will be Tuesday's and Thursdays only.

Please place and pay for orders as normal. On these days, uniforms can be sent home with students or collected from the office.

Term 2 will be full winter uniform, if requiring any uniform items please place orders at the office over the next couple weeks.

Thank you for your support.

Medical Condition Updates:

If students have updated Medical conditions could parents please notify the school office by sending an email to shu@catholic.tas.edu.au stating 'Update regarding students Medical Condition' as its imperative that the school is aware of a medical condition that your child may have.

End of Day collection changes:

Please advise the office by phone or by emailing by 2.15pm of any change to pick up arrangements for your child . Thank you for your support.

CAR PARK INFORMATION AND SAFETY

School community safety is of paramount importance to us and we have systems in place to reduce the risk of accidents happening and it is our combined responsibility to ensure these procedures are followed for the safety of all.

Signage is to be followed around the school on Buttons Avenue as well as in Tucker Street. Parking or Standing is not permitted in the turning circle of Tucker Street. Parking is not permitted in the bus stop area in front of the school hall on Buttons Avenue. Please ensure if you are using the Top Oval area for parking that you are meeting your children at the gate to accompany them to your vehicle. Students should not be walking amongst the cars without adequate supervision. 

Using the Car Park Safely

The car park is one way and has lines marked yellow for parking bays, crossing, walkways and also to indicate no parking. The stop signs ask you to stop and give way to pedestrians crossing in the car park, please strictly adhere to this. Students are taught to always stop and look before crossing and we ask that you also provide this message regularly.

The area that is pictured to the left is not a drop off or collection zone. If vehicles are stopped here, it means that the flow of traffic is affected with the potential of traffic overflowing onto Buttons Avenue which then causes safety issues.

Please ensure you are modelling and providing the message to your children to not walk behind parked cars and to use the yellow marked walkways to the crossing and entrance gate.

When waiting to park or exiting the car park, please ensure you are driving with caution, especially when reversing.

It is also expected that if you access school via Buttons Avenue and need to cross the road that the school crossing is used.

Should you have any concerns regarding our car park, please email our school office shu@catholic.tas.edu.au

Are you interested in supporting the Sacred Heart Community and being a supportive member of our SHU Advisory Board?

Our Advisory Board supports the Principal and Archdiocese in aligning values and actions to support the school community. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Advisory Board, don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Crowden in our office for further information.

Thank you.

Sacred Heart staff value the partnerships between home and school; effective communication is important to us. Please see below the expectations for using our platforms and communication channels. 

Please remember that our hard-working staff have the right to disconnect and will respond to communication within their hours of work.

Please see the updated policies from Catholic Education Tasmania Guidelines and Policies via this link.