As we draw nearer to the end of another term and begin to see the buds of spring, we can enjoy a little more time outside in the warmth. On Monday that warmth was evident as we welcomed Marty Ogle our MJR champion. Marty worked with our years three to six staff and students using the theme ‘Transforming HOPE into reality. Marty reflected on the magic of conversations, feeling privileged, listening to students' dreams for themselves and their families for the future. Marty also unpacked the word ‘EMPATHY’ – walking in someone else’s shoes. He asks that families talk to their children about what they heard and learnt. Marty explained that some of the children may have come home with ‘OK with a smile’ drawn on their hands, so when you ask them to do a chore, they will answer ‘OK with a smile’.  Marty left students with a sense of hope in making Jesus real in our lives every day.

As mentioned previously this year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope. Hope can be more than just wishing for good things to happen – it is trusting that even in challenging times, God walks beside us and leads us toward joy and peace. For families, hope gives us the strength to keep going when life is difficult, and it inspires us to look forward with courage and confidence. For children, hope helps them dream big, try again after mistakes, and believe that the future is full of possibilities. As Pope Francis said, hope is “the light that never disappoints.”  As a school community, we are called to carry this hope into our classrooms, our playgrounds, and our families. By fostering a spirit of hope, we give our children not only confidence in themselves but also the resilience to face challenges and the imagination to dream of a brighter tomorrow.

A reminder that from the end of Term 3, uniform items will no longer be available for purchase from the school office. Wearing the school uniform is an important way for all students to feel a sense of belonging, equality, and pride in our school community. It helps create a level playing field where every student is represented fairly, without distinction based on fashion or brand. As we transition to purchasing uniforms online, we encourage families to read our SHU Uniform Guidelines carefully to ensure students are dressed consistently and in line with expectations. To view images and updates for online purchasing, please see the excerpt in this week’s newsletter.

Thank you to our parents and families who consistently keep us informed about their child’s attendance. Clear communication and a positive partnership help us support students more effectively. Regular attendance is vital for every child’s success—when students miss school, they also miss key teaching and learning opportunities that form the building blocks of their education. We encourage all families to familiarise themselves with our CET Attendance Policy and SHU Attendance Guidelines. Please make an appointment if you would like to discuss this further.

It has been exciting seeing many of our classes celebrating their heart rewards over the past few weeks.  Students have worked hard to demonstrate and role model the expected behaviours of SHU. Thank you to our students and our community who consistently action our values and demonstrate positive behaviours.

A reminder that term three finishes on Friday, the 26th of September, and students return on Tuesday, the 14th of October, in summer uniform.