Dear Families/Carers

Welcome to spring! A time when we begin to enjoy longer days and the beauty of new beginnings.

On Sunday, August 24th, eight Sacred Heart students, along with their families and sponsors, attended a very special Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Each student affirmed their commitment to continue their faith journey in the Catholic Church.

Confirmation is a Sacred Sacrament in the Catholic tradition, where young people receive the gift of the Holy Spirit more deeply. It strengthens the promises made at Baptism and helps them to live their faith with courage, kindness, and love. During the celebration, Archbishop Tony anointed each student with holy oil and prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide them. This is a significant step in their faith journey, as they become more fully part of the Church and are called to share God’s love in their daily lives.

Archbishop Tony also spoke about the importance of spreading the Good News and living out the kindness and love of Jesus in our everyday actions. He shared a powerful image with the children, likening the Good News to a cupboard full of delicious spreads—peanut butter, jam, honey, Vegemite, and even Nutella. He explained that if we never opened the jars, we would miss out on their nourishment and the joy they bring. In the same way, if we keep God’s love, grace, and the teachings of Jesus to ourselves, we miss the opportunity to share that joy and hope with others.

Just as spreads bring flavour and delight when shared, the Good News of Jesus nourishes our hearts and brings light into the lives of those around us. By living with kindness, compassion, and hope, we reflect Jesus in our words and actions, making the world a brighter and more compassionate place.

We warmly congratulate our students on this important step in their faith journey and thank their families, sponsors, and teachers for walking alongside them with love and support. A special thank you to Mrs Elizabeth Cox, Miss Tess Locket, and Mrs Katherine Crouch for the time and care they dedicated to preparing the children.

Finally, please take the time to read the uniform update in our newsletter and familiarise yourself with the Sacred Heart Uniform Guidelines. It is important that all students adhere to our uniform expectations, as this ensures equity and consistency across the school. I appreciate your support in maintaining the high standards of our school community.

Charlene Best
Principal

Year 3/4 Science Week Celebration with Scientists from the University of Tasmania!

As part of our PBS and celebrating success, staff look to catch our students actioning our school values of being Compassionate - Honest - Inclusive - Grateful - Sustainable.

Congratulations to our Heart Reward recipients:

• Archer Y, Logan G, Otis P, Demi F, Peyton D, Harriet H, Hamish G, Aaliyah, Cody C, Nixon R

As a reward for their kind gestures, these students enjoyed an afternoon surprise with Mrs Lane and Ms Richards.

Congratulations to Mrs Hanson and Family on the arrival of baby Logan. We wish you all the very best for now and the future.

From The Anxiety Project - (NSW Primary Principal's Association Inc.)

You're probably already aware that today's Australian children are more anxious in comparison to previous generations.

Many people think that children have become more anxious as a result of the pandemic, however, child anxiety has been problematic for over a decade. The good news is, most childhood anxiety is treatable not only by psychologists, but by significant adults in their lives like parents and teachers.

While The Anxiety Project being implemented in our school can't fix all child anxiety it does provide strategies for the key adults to use to stop anxiety from becoming worse.

"A child's anxiety will not usually fix itself. Unless something changes, it will tend to worsen. However, the good news is that seemingly-modest interventions delivered by significant adults can make a difference and turn that progression around."

Michael Hawton -  MAPS Psychologist

Some facts about childhood anxiety:

• Most anxiety is learned. Yes, you read that right; it's mostly a set of learned habits. The good news about anything that is learned is that these habits can be changed.
• Children can learn 'return-to-calm' skills that can help them overcome their anxiety. while this is not often taught, children equipped with these well-researched skills can build resilience under their own steam.
• Children can be taught how to be the 'boss' of their anxiety and with each successful attempt at doing this, they can become emotionally stronger and manage their anxiousness.
• A child's anxiety will tend to get worse across over time, if it's not attended to early.
• Mentors, teachers and parents are important trainers of children's emotional wellbeing, and it is not as hard as you think to change the trajectory of childhood anxiety.

TAP Student Lessons

Our classes are well on their way through TAP lessons and at all levels have learnt about their amydala and its role of processing emotions in the brain, particularly fear and anxiety. Children are learning how they can work to calm their own amygdalas by taking control and employing calming techniques.

TAP Parent Development Course

We wish to extend our thanks to all parents that attended our first TAP Parent Development Course session last Monday. This session was a great introduction to Anxiety and how parents and educators can significantly alter the impact of anxiety on children.

Last Monday we explored:

1. The importance of parents assisting their children to reach maturity over their childhoods
2. The importance of fostering an internal locus of control
3. Identifying reasons to NOT use reassurance when they notice their child behaving anxiously
4. Parent behaviours that may contribute to a reduction in anxiety and an improvement in resilience
5. That for children to become resilient they must experience some difficulties
6. The difference between fear and anxiety
7. Brain development and how calming techniques can improve with age and strengthened with the right practice

TAP Parent Information Sessions

We encourage all parents to engage their children in conversations about their learning in this area and to consider attending one of our TAP Parent Information offerings detailed below.

Please note: All welcome, at any session!

For those parents who would like to know more about anxiety, and supports for their families, who are unable to attend the TAP Child Development Course you are invited to register for...

We look forward to working together during this journey!

Join eSafety's free 45 minute live webinars for parents and carers. 

For more information and to register visit: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars 

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. 

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.

Please click on the link to view our updated uniform guidelines.

Please click on the link to view information from Midford.

Please see attached our attendance guidelines. Please ensure if your child/ren are absent fro school that you mark them absent via the compass app or email or phone the school prior to 8.45am.

Thank you.

Our school canteen is requiring volunteers for Term 3 on a Friday from 9am -11.30am.

If you have a current WWVP card and would like to volunteer please contact the school office.

Congratulations to Eddy Peach who won 2nd place of the grade 1 piano at TMTA North and North West Music Awards 2025.