Dear Families

Welcome to the end of week three. I hope you and your children are settling back into routines and all are making the most of the glorious weather we have been experiencing.

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of the Lenten season. As we enter the season of Lent, we begin a time of being more; it is not just about giving up sweets or indulgences; it is about embracing a deeper sense of reflection and renewal as a family. Lent offers us a precious opportunity to journey inward, to examine our lives, and to grow spiritually.

Rather than merely focusing on what we might abstain from, it may be a time to consider what we can add more of into our lives: more kindness, more gratitude, more patience, and more time spent together as a family in prayer and reflection. Lent invites us to simplify our lives, to detach from distractions, and to recenter our focus on what truly matters.

In this season of sacrifice and self-examination, let's not lose sight of the essence of Lent—the journey toward a more meaningful and authentic connection with our faith, our loved ones, and ourselves. May this Lenten season be a time of profound growth, deepened spirituality, and abundant blessings for our families.

Next Tuesday, the 27th, there will be parent/teacher conferences; this is a time to meet your child’s teacher and check in to clarify any questions you may have. As partners in your child's educational journey, your collaboration with us at school plays a pivotal role in their success. Positive partnerships between home and school foster an environment where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Your involvement in your child's education sends a powerful message—that learning is a priority and a shared responsibility. Whether it's attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering in the classroom, or simply engaging in conversations about their day, your active participation demonstrates the value of education and instils a sense of importance in your child.

Talking with your child about school is important. Research shows that the way parents communicate about school significantly impacts a child's attitude, motivation, and resilience. Whether offering encouragement during tough times or discussing academic achievements, your words matter. By fostering a positive and supportive dialogue, you can equip your child with the tools they need to navigate the ups and downs of their educational journey with confidence and resilience.

As we progress through the year together as a community, it is important that we all understand the value of working together to sustain a culture where we can all feel safe, connected, and have a sense of belonging. 

Yours in partnership

Charlene Best

Principal

Essential Assessment:

Our teachers have begun implementing an online assessment platform that allows them to pre-assess students within each strand of the Mathematics Australian Curriculum. Student results are automatically compiled, advising the teacher of each student’s current achievement level and analysis of the achievement standards that have been understood and misunderstood for each student, group and class.

Teachers can differentiate the curriculum within each sub-strand based on each assessment result and create a tailored paper-based and online curriculum (My Numeracy) for each student or class. My Numeracy is a differentiated and personalised formative assessment model with an interactive teaching and learning function that enables students to progress through each content description and their four proficiency strands of the curriculum.

The post-assessment identifies each student’s new Australian Curriculum achievement level demonstrating the growth achieved by each student. Continued analysis of class and cohort data within each strand and sub-strand is provided along with guidance on the developed Numeracy progressions within each sub-element.

Term One is always a busy term for staff as they get to know the students in their
classes and establish their routines for the year. Teachers conduct many
learning assessments, to build their understanding of individual student need
which in turn supports their planning and teaching focus. Teachers are supported
in the delivery of programs and adjustments by a team of experienced Teacher
Assistants. Currently we have 19 Teacher Assistants employed across the K-6
classes.

Learning Plan Meetings
Sacred Heart is an inclusive school community, welcoming and supporting
students with diverse social, emotional, and academic needs. School staff work
collaboratively with families and specialist services to support both neurotypical
and neurodiverse students. We support students with a range of disabilities and
incorporate adjustments and recommendations as part of NCCD requirements
into student learning plans. Staff regularly attend Professional learning
opportunities to broaden their knowledge of disability and to ensure adjustments
and programs reflect evidence-based research and best practice.
Over the last three weeks, over 60 families have attended individual learning plan
meetings. Attended by parents, the class teacher, myself and in some cases
specialist support providers, these reflect the positive partnership and
collaboration that occurs at Sacred Heart. Our goal is the same, and that is for
each student to achieve the best possible outcomes, celebrating their unique gifts
and equipping them with the skills to function successfully in life. At the
conclusion of these meetings, Teachers will be provided with some release time
to finalise these learning plans. These will be sent home for parents to review
and sign.

Speech News
The Tasmanian Catholic Education Office provides speech support for students
in kindergarten through to the end of Year Two. To be eligible for this support,
students must meet strict criteria and demonstrate articulation difficulties that are
not age appropriate. Conditions such as stuttering or myofunctional disorders
such as a tongue thrust disorder are treated independently by a Speech
Pathologist.
Speech Screeners have now been completed with all kinder students and any
new students in the P-2 area identified by teachers. These screeners are sent to
Hobart and reviewed by a team of Speech Pathologists. Eligible students are
funded for a speech assessment and school-based speech program.

Parents will be notified once this information has been communicated to the
school.

Lee McCormack
Student Support Coordinator

Congratulations to the following students who have been chosen as Class Captains for Terms 1 and 2. These students will receive their badges at Assembly on Monday 26th February at 2:15 pm in the MPR. 

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. 

NAPLAN will be commencing in Week 6 on Wednesday 13th March. Below is an information sheet for parents and carers:

TOP OVAL DROP-OFF AND COLLECTION

SUPERVISION - DUTY OF CARE

School starts at 8:30am. Students are not to be dropped off at school prior to 8:30am as there is no supervision before this time. 

TENISON WOODS CENTRE CARPARK

This car park which is located near the school's blue shed is not to be used for school drop off or pick up.

Mersey Leven Catholic Parish Sacramental Program

The Mersey Leven Catholic Parish Sacramental program runs between May – October 2024 and will include preparation and celebration of the Sacraments for First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion.  

A Parent Information Session is on Monday 18^th March – 5pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Devonport.

A more detailed letter from the Parish was sent out to families with children in Grades 3-6 next week, via Compass last week.

For more information please contact Miss Davis through the school office.

REMINDER:

Parent-Teacher conversations will be conducted as follows:-

Kinder Joeys — Grade 6 – Tuesday  27^th February 2023 - Between 3:10pm — 7:30 pm.
Kinder Kookaburras – Wednesday 28^th February 2023 — Between 3:10pm — 5:00pm.

Bookings will need to be made through the Compass app.

To make a booking:-
1/ Make sure you have downloaded the Compass App and logged on via your mobile device or iPad.
2/ Open the app and click on the 3 bars at the bottom of the screen
3/ Click on the conference link
4/ Click on the meeting you are wanting to book an appointment for
5/ Click done once you have read the information
6/ Click on the child you are booking for and then the times and dates will appear that are available at the time of booking
7/ Click on the time that suits you and then click on confirm booking
8/ Click on the arrow in the top left if you need to make another booking for more students and follow the prompts as per above.

These conversations will be for 10 minutes to allow you to meet with the teacher and discuss the year ahead for your child/ren.

Families who have a Learning Plan meeting already booked in Term 1 do not need to make a booking.
If you encounter any problems please contact the school office during office hours on 64252680.

New Student ICT Agreement

Our student ICT agreement has been updated and sent out as a compass event. Can all families please read through this agreement with their child/ren and give permission on this event to acknowledge and agree to the terms of the agreement. Students have also discussed the expectations of using technology at school in their classes. 

Safer Internet Day

Classes across the school have been engaging in a range of activities to equip students with the knowledge and skills on how to engage online safely. They have particularly explored the difference between personal and private information and what sort of information is and isn't okay to share online.

Here are some tips on how students can online, reflect and protect themself online. 

Sports Equipment:

Please note that students are not to bring personal sports equipment to school.