2,4185 Principal’s News Dear Parents and Friends of Sacred Heart, A warm welcome back to what is shaping up to be a very busy fourth term at Sacred Heart. The children have certainly settled in very well to the new term. In the first assembly of the new term last Tuesday I reminded them that our learning should be exciting, engaging and fun, using the examples of the Kindergarten, Year 5 and Year 6 Learning Expos at the end of last term. A high point for me last week was my visit to the Year 4 rooms to listen to the children talk about their learning in their science projects on the theme of Space. I was greatly impressed by the level of engagement shown by the children and their enthusiasm for the topics that formed the basis of their inquiry questions. When children are given the autonomy to make informed choices into their areas of interest in a particular topic or theme, they become highly motivated and invariably work with great delight. You can see examples of Kinder, Year 6 and Year 4 children talking about their learning on my last couple of blog posts. One of the great challenges for teachers is to give students the opportunity to experience a state of ‘flow’ in their learning. Such engagement is akin to an athlete being ‘in the zone,’ think of Roger Federer or Raphael Nadal in full flight, or indeed the German football team’s mesmerizing performance against Brazil in the recent World Cup. The state of ‘Flow,’ according to renowned psychologist Csikszentmihalyi (say – cheeks sent me high), is a state in which one is immersed in an experience that is rewarding in and of itself, a state in which we feel we are at one with the experience, in which “action and awareness are merged.” When in a state of flow we enjoy both peak experience and peak performance and demonstrate the very best versions of ourselves. Csikszentmihalyi’s studies of ‘flow’ with children and adults show that the often quoted piece of homespun wisdom, “No pain, no gain,” is based on a myth that only through extreme and sustained overexertion can we perform at our best. His research shows that pain is not the optimal condition for peak performance. Rather, there is a specific zone, a line between overexertion and underexertion where we not only perform at our best but enjoy what we are doing. We reach this zone when our activities provide the appropriate level of challenge, when the task at hand is neither too easy nor too hard. When the task is too hard our children (and we ourselves) get anxious. When the task is too easy our children get bored, listless and they mess around. They will experience ‘flow’ when the learning task corresponds to their level of ability or skill. Research from Csikszentmihalyi and others, including Harvard’s Tal Ben-Shahar, indicates that because many students experience either anxiety or boredom at school, they neither enjoy it nor Wednesday, October 15 2014: Term 4 Week 2 perform at their best. In short – a stressful environment leads to anxiety and an environment devoid of challenge leads to boredom. A note of caution, however. Tal Ben-Shahar, professor at the most popular course ever at Harvard, lays out the challenge for all those involved in helping our children to learn effectively: “Educators, especially parents, confuse struggle with pain; wanting to protect their children from pain, they cater to their children’s every wish and rescue them from every challenge. In trying to provide a ‘privileged’ life for their children, these parents deny them the opportunity to struggle, thereby keeping them from experiencing ‘flow’ as well as the satisfaction of overcoming challenges.” (Happier – by Tal Ben-Shahar 2008) Parenting Strengths Reading: Towards the end of this newsletter is a short eNewsletter from Professor Michael Bernard, University of Melbourne, on ‘Parenting Strengths that make a difference.’ The reading explores a number of the points made by Dr Steve Zolezzi at his recent presentation to Sacred Heart parents in our school hall. I commend it to you. st Positive Parenting Talk – Friday November 21 at 9.00 am in School Library: I have invited Danielle Buckley to speak to parents after Friday assembly on the above date. Danielle is a registered psychologist with a passion for positive psychology and how it can be used to support parents to bring out the very best in children, focusing on their strengths, working on their areas for development and building resilience in a tough world. National Rosary Day: October is traditionally celebrated as the month of the ‘Holy Rosary’ and yesterday, National Rosary Day, the whole school gathered in the school hall and we recited and reflected on the five decades of Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. It proved to be a lovely and meditative experience for many children who were truly ‘in the zone’ throughout the whole experience. In a busy, noisy, fast-paced world it is wonderful to provide our children with opportunities to tap into the spiritual sides of their nature. Bring Your Own Designated Device (BYODD) Meeting for parents of children who will be in Years 3, 4 and 5 at Sacred Heart in 2015: Parents of children currently in Years 2, 3 and 4 are invited to an information evening in the school hall next Wednesday evening at 7.00 pm. During the evening you will hear about the school plans to extend the current iPad initiative to incorporate Years 3 – 6 in 2015. There will be feedback from the iPad survey that parents of Years 2 – 4 recently received as well as information provided by representatives from the Sydney Catholic Education Office. Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4312 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 1 A number of our Year 5 students who have been using iPads this year will be present and will talk about their experiences of using the iPads as learning tools. Staffing : On a final note, I am happy to be able to inform you that planning for staffing at Sacred Heart for 2015 is well underway. Wishing everyone a great week and thanking you for your support for Sacred Heart. Vince Campbell Principal Leaving Sacred Heart at the end of 2014 If your child will be attending another school in 2015 would you please notify the school office, in writing, at your earliest convenience. Yr 6 – Selling Ice Blocks Yr 6 will be selling ice blocks to raise money for their graduation from this Friday, October 17. Ice blocks will be sold for $2 each at second lunch break. Yr 6 – Reach Foundation and Life Lessons General News 2015 Kindergarten Orientation Dates A huge thank you to Mosman Council, in particular to Jerome Valencia (Youth Program Officer) for liaising funding and facilitating workshops for Year 6 this year. Kindergarten 2015 Orientation dates are as follows: 1. Wed, October 15: Parent Meeting in School Hall @ 7pm 2. Tues, October 21: Orientation morning 9.00am – 11.30am 3. Tues, October 28: Orientation morning 9.00am – 11.30am Yeronga School Uniforms: Pop-Up Shop Yeronga School Uniforms will be visiting the school on Tuesday, October 28 to sell the new summer uniform from 9.00am – 1.30pm. Their Pop-Up Shop will be set up in the Parish Hall. Year 6 have participated in workshops run by 'Rookys' which is part of the 'Reach Foundation' and 'Life Lessons'. These workshops focused on student well being especially resilience building, positive peer dynamic, bullying, cyberbullying, self esteem and getting ready for the transition to high school. Socktober Socktober is an initiative of Catholic Mission and one way which our school can fundraise and engage in advocacy and formation activities for Catholic Mission during World Mission Month in October. School iPad Initiative This has been implemented this year in the Year 5 classes and we are looking to extend the program to other classes in 2015. There will be a parent meeting at 7.00 pm on Wednesday, October 22 to provide more information on this. At this meeting a number of the Year 5 students will be showcasing their learning experiences using the iPad devices. Spring Fair News Spring Fair – Saturday, November 15 Save the Date for this year’s Spring Fair – Saturday, November 15 from 2-6pm. We are going to hold a 'Crazy Sock Day' in Week 3 on Friday, October 24 and every child can wear crazy socks on this day with their uniform and make a gold coin donation for Catholic Mission. Children can wear crazy socks all over their body—what is the most creative way they can wear socks? Spring Fair – Pre-Loved Clothes The holidays are over...and we now have the Fair to look forward to! We would love your generous donations of kids clothes and toys in need of a new home. You can leave them in the specially marked baskets in every classroom. If you need us to collect, just contact Julie Dodson and Michelle Giglio Spring Fair – Bookstall Donate excellent quality Books, CDs and DVDs to Sacred Hearts Spring Fair Book Stall. Clear space for new purchases from Spring Fair. Know that your favourite, hard to part with, books, CDs and DVDs will find good homes and profits go back to the school. Boxes for donations are available in each classroom. Mission Captains 2014 - Zoe, Ella, Eliza, Chessie and Sophie Double Dutch Skipping Program Sacred Heart has run an advanced skipping program for the past 8 years. This program is designed for advanced skipping skills, fitness and fun. The program is run of a Thursday: Years 1 and 2 first break and Years 3-6 second break. For more information go to: www.trybooking.com/7782 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 2 Christmas Challenge Reading Competition The Christmas Challenge reading competition begins this week. We are looking forward to many pages being recorded and beginning a wonderful Christmas display around our school. We are looking for donations of any spare (will not be returned) red or green tinsel to help keep down the costs of our display this term. Any tinsel donated can be brought directly to Mrs Edwards’ classroom (Mon-Wed) in Year 4 Blue. Thank you and Happy Reading! Sam Edwards Drivers are not allowed to make a U-turn across any of the following: 1. a single continuous dividing line 2. a single continuous dividing line to the left of a broken line 3. two parallel continuous dividing lines. New School Uniform As you already are aware, Sacred Heart is completely transitioning to the new school uniform in 2016. Regardless of what year the student is going into ALL students are required to be in the new school uniform as of the first day of Term 1, 2016. We will have a pop-up store available on Tuesday, October 28 with try-ons available. If you have a child in Yr 4, this might be the best time as they will have 2 years in the new uniform. Please note the old school uniforms or non-Sacred Heart jumpers, shorts, pants, socks and/or jackets will not be acceptable as the correct uniform and all students will be required to adhere to the new policy. Should you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to [email protected] Lost and Found Could all parents look through their children's belongings for any items of the school uniform that don't belong to them. Please pay particular attention to their hats and jackets, and thoroughly check your child's school bag and at home for stray labelled items. Please return any found items to the school office or lost property box in the assembly area. Traffic Reminders Reminder No. 1: Please DO NOT DOUBLE PARK in Bardwell Road, Cardinal Street or in any streets surrounding the school as it is highly ILLEGAL. Please use the school’s designated Drop-Off & Pick-Up zone in Cardinal Street. FINE EXCEEDS $304 + 2 DEMERIT POINTS Does an accident have to happen before people take any notice? Please adhere to the road rules as the safety of our children is paramount Car Line Pick Up Times Where parents have children across the grades, younger children will wait with older siblings and be picked up with them. The times are as follows: • Kinder & Year 1 from 3.00 to 3.05pm • Years 1, 2 & 3 from 3.05 to 3.10pm • Years 4, 5 & 6 from 3.10 to 3.20pm Please display on your sun-visor your last name and the child/children’s grade e.g. LEE 5B & 2B Class Communication Network The Head Class mums will send out all weekly communication to the class mums on a Thursday, which will be issued to each year group Friday morning for the following week. All notices for the following week need to be submitted to the Head Class Mum’s by 9am on the Thursday at the latest to [email protected] Please submit notices in their finished format. Many Thanks Annette, Sally & Elisabeth Clothing Pool Listed below are the RTA’s safety tips for drivers using a ‘Drop-Off & Pick-Up’ area • Always drop-off or pick-up your child from the designated area, following the school’s procedures • Drivers should remain in their vehicles at all times in the ‘Drop-Off and Pick-Up’ area • Make sure the hand brake is applied when the vehicle is stationery • Never double park • Never park across a pedestrian crossing • Never undertake a U-turn in close proximity to the school Reminder No. 2: Please DO NOT MAKE U-TURNS in Cardinal Street. Not only are the U-turns dangerous and unacceptable they are also highly illegal. FINE EXCEEDS $304 + 3 DEMERIT POINTS The clothing pool is being run this year by Michelle Giglio and Julie Dodson. If you require any second hand uniforms please email them directly. All items $5. Email orders are always welcome. Please email: [email protected] Term Dates for 2014 Term 3: Mon, July 14 Term 4: Tues, Oct 7 to to Fri, Sept 19 Fri, Dec 19 Term Dates for 2015 Term 1: Term 2: Term 3: Term 4: Wed, 28 Jan 15 Mon, 20 April 15 Mon, 13 July 15 Tues, 6 Oct 15 to to to to Thurs, 2 April 15 Fri, 26 June 15 Fri, 18 Sept 15 Fri, 18 Dec 15 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 3 Sacred Heart School Uniform Community Notices The Sacred Heart-Online Uniform Shop is now live and on-line ordering can now commence. The purchase procedure is as follows: 1. www.yerongauniforms.com/shm 2. Select the item you wish to purchase 3. Choose your size 4. Add item to your cart 5. View your cart proceed to checkout 6. Log In – Register for purchase history 7. Select payment: Credit Card, PayPal, EFT 8. Select Delivery – Home: Roselands Store: Sacred Heart Exemption from Attendance at School Some important amendments to the Education Act 1990 have resulted in significant changes and procedures governing school attendance. Parents now wishing to exempt children from the legal requirement to attend school for any length of time, must apply to the Principal for an exemption. The Principal will consider the application and decide whether to grant a ‘Certificate of Exemption from Attendance at School.’ The Application for Exemption from Attendance at School Forms are available from the school office. Anaphylaxis & Food Allergies We have several children in our school who are severely allergic to various varieties of nuts and certain foods. Their allergies are actually life threatening, so we ask all parents to refrain from sending their children to school with the following foods: nuts, peanut butter sandwiches or dippers, nutella sandwiches or dippers, muesli bars with nuts or nut-based products in them, cakes or chocolate bars with whole or partial nuts in or on them, satay flavoured noodles, meat or other products, chocolate coated nuts, chocolate bars coated in or containing nuts (eg. Snickers or Picnics). Please tell your child not to swap or trade their food with others. Please also be mindful when sending in treats for your child’s birthday. We prefer water iceblocks only. Many sunscreens and lip balms contain certain nut oils which can also be harmful to anaphylactic children. Whole Day Absentees As the attendance rolls are now electronic it is essential that if you are late you or your child MUST sign in at the office before going to the classroom. If you arrive after the starting time of 8.40am they will be marked absent unless signed in at the office. Parish News Parish Bulletin To view the Parish Bulletin please click on the link below. http://www.shnparish.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=55 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 4 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 5 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 6 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 7 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow 8 Cardinal Street, MOSMAN NSW 2088 t: (02) 99696600 f: (02)9960 4213 e: [email protected] www.shmosman.catholic.edu.au Page 8
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