Issue 1 - 9th February 2012 - Sacred Heart Primary School

Educating for Life
SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL
Issue No 1 NEWSLETTER February 9 2012
‘Thinking to Learn
Learning to Think’
Camp Australia OSHC 0401188896
Parish Administrator – Fr John Magri - Ph. 9568 1206
Principal – Mrs Maree Ryan
2 Mora Avenue Oakleigh 3166
Telephone 8574 4500
Fax 8574 4555
website: www.shoakleigh.catholic.edu.au
Email office@shoakleigh.catholic.edu.au
As we begin the new year with our first official newsletter, on behalf of all staff, I would like to warmly welcome
all families, especially our new families, to Sacred Heart School Community and invite you all to be as involved as
you can in the school activities and to support you child in their learning at home. Please do not hesitate to
contact the teacher, the deputy Jan Morice or me if you have any concerns and we will do our best to work
together to reach a solution. It is important that we forge a strong partnership to work together to achieve the
best development for your child.
Newsletters are a great source of communication and are again produced each fortnight on a Thursday. Please
ensure that the eldest child brings this home for you and places it in a designated place where it can be referred
to easily. The newsletter is also available on the school website. The ’Term 1 Dates to Remember’ is included
with this newsletter.
IMPORTANT DATES
The first event for the year will be the Welcome and Commitment Mass tomorrow Friday 10 th February at 9am,
where we induct the new school leaders and teachers and call on the Holy Spirit to guide us in making our
decisions throughout the year and pray for encouragement to always model and live out the values that Christ
outlined so clearly in the Gospels so that this will become second nature for the children in our care..
The next important events are the traditional ‘Fish and Chip’ Nights where families from each level bring along a
picnic tea of your choice and meet the teachers and the families of the children who are in the same level as
your child. The children love these relaxed evenings and it is a great way to build a stronger school community
and get to know each other.
I urge all families to make the effort to attend and look forward to meeting with you all.
Parents of year 6 Students,
If you are intending to send your child to a Catholic Secondary school and have not yet enrolled your child , you
should do so immediately as the applications for enrolment for Year 7 in 2013 close on March 2 nd 2012.
Year 5 parents may like to start looking at the options for your child for the following year. More details were
sent home with the year 5 /6 students during the week.
PARENT INFORMATION BOOKLETS
This year we are again trying different format in a bid to find the way that reaches the most people most
effectively. We realise that families are very busy and find it difficult to find the time to attend school meetings.
As the attendance at the Parent Information nights for each level has been dwindling we have decided to:
1. Send out the ‘Information About Your Child’ sheet for each child for you to complete and return to your
child’s class teacher, as teachers found this very informative and helpful last year.
2. Each level will send home a Parent Information Booklet regarding activities, expectations of children and
parents in the learning process at each level.
3. There will be an opportunity for parents to follow up any specific information that you need to share with your
child’s class teacher. The dates for these will be attached to the ‘Information About Your Child’ form that will go
home. This meeting is for you to discuss special concerns with the teacher and is not a meeting for the teachers
to inform you about your child as they have only commenced in the class.
Parents will have the opportunity to meet socially with the teacher on the Fish & Chip nights.
LOST PROPERTY
There is still a great supply of lost property in the box from last year. Any that is left by the end of next week will
be washed and sent to the second hand shop for sale.

PLEASE MARK ALL PROPERTY THAT CHILDREN BRING TO SCHOOL INCLUDING CLOTHING, LUNCH BOXES ,
DRINK BOTTLES AND SHOES AND SOCKS.
If it is labelled it can be returned to the students straight away.
Education Maintenance Allowance / School Start Bonus – please see attached sheet re eligibility for
this government allowance. If you are eligible please collect an application form from the school office,
complete and return by 29 February at the latest. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED.
2011 End of Year Reports
There are a number of student reports awaiting collection. Parents may collect the
report from the office, after returning the red folder.
SCHOOL FEES
School Fee accounts will be sent out in the new few weeks. Anyone wishing to commence periodic payments
may collect a Direct Debit form from the school office.
MUSIC CLASSES
Music Classes will be run by the School of Creative Music. Classes will operate on Wednesday nights in the
meeting room at the back of the church and in the portable classroom in the Mora Ave playground.
Entry to the lessons in the portable classroom will be through the double gate in Mora Ave. The meeting room is
behind the church in Johnson St. Lessons include Violin, Keyboard and Guitar at present. If you wish another
instrument to be taught, please contact the music office. Brochures are available from the school office.
Children who are attending classes are NOT to be waiting for classes without adult supervision or playing in the
junior playground.
The cost of these lessons is not included in school fees and are by arrangement with the music school.
Creative Music School Program
Learn keyboard, guitar, violin, here at Sacred Heart. Come and join in the fun of learning to play music, here at the school.
Creative Music for School conducts and instrumental Music Program of small group classes at school each week airming to
give children an excellent grounding in music. Children will learn to read music and play their chosen instrument. Tuition
costs from $14.00 per lesson (payable per term) and enrolments are now being accepted for term 1. Interested parents
should call Samantha during office hours on 9818 2333 for more information or visit our web page at
www.creativemusic.com.au
School Policies and Procedures
We urge you to read the Operations Manual carefully again to take note of the procedures that are in place for
the safe and smooth running of the school. There will be an update of this during the term.
The following are a reminder of some procedures for the safety of all.
Contact Details.
Please inform the school office as soon as your address or phone numbers are changed to ensure contact in case
of emergency.
Medical details
Please ensure that all medical details are up to date and have current directions from your doctor. These
forms need to be updated each year and forwarded to the school by 13 th February please.
Asthma Action Plan
Allergy Form
Anaphylaxis information treatment form if an Epipen is required. This must be supplied by the parent
and in current date status at all times.
All Parents Please Note
As we have a number of children who have an allergic reaction to nuts we are requesting that you please refrain
from sending peanut butter sandwiches, nutella sandwiches or any nuts to school with your child.
We discourage children from sharing food and we limit the occasions when this will happen Therefore if you are
intending to send along a treat for your child’s birthday we suggest that you send a sticker or special pencil or
eraser etc and not food. We feel that this is a reasonable request to ensure the wellbeing of all of the children.

Before & After School Drop Off and Collection
Children are not to be at school, before 8:20 in the morning unless they are attending Outside School Hours
Care, (OSHC) which operates in the rooms adjoining the prep area and opens from 7am to 8:30 in the morning
and from 3:20 until 6pm in the afternoon. This program is operated by Camp Australia and enrolments are
through them. Please obtain an information pack from the school office if you wish to make arrangements for
your child to attend any sessions. There are regular and occasional places available and generous Government
rebates are available. Access to and collection from the program is through the double glass doors in Mora
Avenue.
Children may enter the classroom from 8:30 when the teacher is in the classroom but they must be there by
8:40 when the music starts to put their bags away and be ready on the mat to commence classes by 8:45am.
This means that parents leave the class as the music commences to allow the classes to commence. If you wish
to speak with the teacher please make a time when the teacher can give you her/ his full attention as before
school the teacher is legally responsible for all the children and therefore needs to give them full attention. A
note to the teacher or a phone call to the office to arrange a time would be helpful. After school is a better time
to speak with the teacher.
Parents who have been trained and rostered on to assist in the classroom may stay. Notices will be sent out
shortly to parents who wish to do the Literacy training with the times and dates.
Unfortunately, for safety reasons, younger siblings cannot be in the class when you are helping or going on
excursions with the class.
After school when the bell rings at 3:20 children are not permitted to play in the yard or on the play equipment
as they are to remain with the teacher until their parent arrives and then stand with or go home with their
parent.
If you wish to stay behind to supervise your child playing in the playground you are welcome to do so after the
second bell at 3:30. This ensures that all children are accounted for. We thank you for your cooperation with this.
When the second bell rings at 3:30 any child who has not been collected is to go to the area outside the office
where parents will be contacted. If children have not been collected by 3:35 and we cannot contact parents a
message will be left for parents and the children will be taken to O S H C and can be collected from there.
Staff have meetings on several nights per week which commence at 3:35pm.
Please let teachers know if someone else is collecting your child or if they are going to O S H C. If this is a regular
occurrence just put this in writing and it will suffice for the duration. This applies particularly to the Prep to Yr 3
students. Also let the class teachers know if your child has permission to go home on their own.
If you need to change arrangements during the day due to unforeseen circumstances you may ring the office to
have a message sent to your child.
If there are any court orders regarding access to children please notify the principal and give the school a copy
of the documents as we cannot enforce/ deny access without a copy of the order.
The safety of your child is of utmost importance to us and that is why we have all the above arrangements in
place.
Parking
Please note that parking officers are VERY diligent around the school. The parking around the boundary of the
school in Mora Ave & Davey Ave is permit parking only and only the teachers have permits and parents have
been fined when just stopping to drop off children. Parking is permitted further down and on the opposite sides
of Mora Ave and Davey Street and on the church side of Johnson Street but there are time limits.
We have been able to set up a “2 Minute Drop Off Zone” outside the school gate in Davey Ave, however you
MUST not leave the car or park for longer than 2 minutes. This area is most useful especially if you do have
younger siblings in the car. After school children can see you as you arrive and go to the car.
Please be mindful of our neighbours and do not park over their driveways or in their driveways.
The area behind the parish house is NOT available for parking as this is restricted to permits.
Classroom Coordinators
Each class has two classroom coordinators whose role it is to keep the parents informed of activities that relate
to their class. Some activities are related to the specific class and others are of a social nature and others involve
the whole school. We do encourage ALL FAMILIES to be involved in school learning and social activities. The
coordinators will send home letters with your child during the term.

Parent Association
The Parent Association meets twice per term and arranges social activities for the parents and children
throughout the year. All parents are automatically members of the P A and are all most welcome to attend the
meetings and volunteer to assist in the running of the various activities.
New ideas are always welcome as are new faces to the team and the meetings.
School Education Board
The School Education Board is an elected advisory group of parents who meet together with the Parish Priest,
Principal and Deputy Principal to discuss matters pertaining to policy, finance, organisation and governance of
the school.
I do hope that you will take note of the above issues to support the safe and smooth running of our school. The
staff and I look forward to working with you during the year.
Warm Regards
Maree Ryan
Sacramental Program 2012 as at 06/02/2011
Event Eucharist Confirmation Reconciliation
Enrolment
25 th &26 th Feb
3 rd & 4 th March
11 th February 5:30 Mass at
Sacred Heart
May 26 th & 27 th
2 nd & 3 rd
& June
Parent Info’n Night 18 th April 7:30pm at 16 th Feb 7:30pm at Sacred
Venue SH
Heart
Family Night Wednesday 16 th Tuesday 6 th March 7:00 at
May th at 7pm at SH SH School
Talking Mass
Reflection Day Monday 21st May Tuesday 20 th March SH
school
Sacrament Sunday 27 th May 23 rd March at 7pm
11:30 am
in S H church
& 2:30pm
Assembly Monday 28 th May March 26 th at 2:20pm in
Hall
5 th June @ 7:30pm
At COHR
Wed July 18 th @
7:00 pm at S H
Tuesday 24 th July
July 28 & 29 th
August 4 th & 5 th
August 11 th & 12 th
Monday August 14 th
2:20pm
Prayer
God, our Father,
Give us boldness of spirit and expansiveness of heart
as together we lead our school community.
May those who lead
see certainty and purpose in all we do,
as we work in Your name
and are guided by Your Spirit. Amen

EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE & SCHOOL START BONUS:
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS / GUARDIANS
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) provides assistance to eligible families by helping with the costs
associated with the education of their children.
The School Start Bonus (SSB) is a one off payment of $300 for students commencing Prep and Year 7 in 2012 to
assist parents with the start up costs of students starting school.
In 2012 the EMA payment for parents/guardians is $235 for primary school students and $470 for secondary
students. This amount is split evenly between the parents/guardians and the school and is paid in two
instalments as per the schedule of payments set out in the table below.
The SSB payment of $300 is paid in full directly to the parent/guardian by EFT (electronic funds transfer).
Instalment Portion payable to Primary school rate*
One (70% of EMA) Parent $82.25
School $82.25
Two (30% of EMA) Parent $35.25
School $35.25
Total for 2012 $235.00
*Student year level (or age for ungraded and
special school students) forms the basis for
calculating the amount payable. Students turning
sixteen during the year will be paid on a pro rata
basis up to and including the month they reach the
age of sixteen.
The first instalment will comprise 70 per cent of
the EMA and will be paid from March 2012. The
second instalment will comprise the remaining 30 per cent and will be paid from August 2012. This payment schedule
recognises that families incur the highest educational costs at the start of the school year.
Eligibility for EMA
To be eligible to receive the EMA, you must:
be either a parent or guardian of a primary or secondary school student up to the age of sixteen; and
be an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink pension, allowance or benefit within the meaning of the State
Concessions Act 2004 or be a Veterans Affairs (TPI) pensioner or be a foster parent; and
submit your application to the school by the due date.
The eligibility criteria must be met as at the first day of 1st Term (1 February 2012 which is the first day for teaching staff)
for the first instalment and the first day of 3rd Term (16 July 2012) for the second instalment. Any applications based on
Centrelink payments that are not income tested (e.g. Carer Allowance) are not eligible unless the claimant, in their own
name, complies with the second dot point above.
The EMA is payable up until the age of 16 years. Once a student turns 16, you may continue to be eligible for financial
assistance from Centrelink.
For further information visit www.centrelink.gov.au. Financial assistance may also be available through the Education
Tax Refund which is administered by the Australian Taxation Office. For further information visit www.ato.gov.au.
The one off SSB payment of $300 is deposited into parents nominated bank accounts from mid January 2012 onwards.
Eligibility for SSB
To be eligible to receive the SSB, you must:
be an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink pension, allowance or
benefit within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004 or be a
Veterans Affairs (TPI) pensioner or be a foster parent; and
submit your application to the school by the closing date of 29 February
2012.
Application forms
A combined EMA/SSB application form is available from your child’s
school. A separate application is required for each school if you have children
attending different schools.
Please submit your application to your child’s school by 29 February 2012
for the first instalment of the EMA and by 3 August 2012 for the second
instalment of the EMA unless your child remains enrolled at the same school and
you were paid the first EMA instalment.
Payment methods
EMA Direct Bank Deposit (EFT) payment
option: EFT payments can only be made to
the parent’s nominated bank account for
parents choosing the EFT payment option.
Please advise your child’s school if your
nominated bank account changes during the
year.
EMA Cheque payment option: Cheques
payable to parents will be sent to the school
for distribution for parents choosing the cheque
payment option. Please advise your child’s
school if your address changes during the year.
SSB can only be made by Direct Bank
Deposit (EFT) payment: EFT payments can
only be made to the parent’s nominated bank
account.

Letter from St Jude’s
Dear All at Sacred Heart Primary School,
Thank you for your fantastic fundraising efforts for the School of St Jude! Your kind donation of
$3,887 has been allocated towards our St Jude’s Appeal for Sports Field Land.
In 2011 we had an online appeal for a new sporting facility, science lab and volunteer housing. When
the appeal came to a close last year, even with a great response of generosity, we came in quite shy of
our goal. Therefore, we are so thankful for your donation that is bringing us one step closer to reaching
our target. Your wonderful contribution has been used towards our Appeal A: Sports Field Land!
There is nothing quite like a large green field in which to run and play and because of your support, the
students of St Jude’s will soon be given the opportunity to enjoy such a space.
The land directly adjacent to our Upper Moshono Primary Campus will be transformed into a facility for
the enhancement of sport and well-being. St Jude’s provides a free quality education to some of the
poorest children in Arusha. We will soon be able to further improve their opportunities for growth
through the utilization of the new sporting facilities. In order for the facilities to become a reality
however, the land is required first!
We hope you enjoy the attached certificate that is recognising your contribution to the St Jude’s Appeal
for new Sports Field Land. We will be sending an update and final completion report of this project as it
progresses.
Together we are Fighting Poverty Through Education!
Asante Sana,
From Everyone at The School of St Jude
Tiffany Castles
Donor Relations Team
Please see notices on foyer window or collect copy from school office.
Oakleigh Dragons Junior Football Club – U9 to U17 Registration date Sat 18/2 9.00am – 12.00,
Friday 24 th 5.00pm onwards. Please contact Anna Goodwill 0427054746 or oycfc@hotmail.com
BMX Australia Come and Try Day – Sat 25/2 9.30 – 12.30pm. – South Eastern BMX Club – Stan
Riley Reserve. southeasternbmx@hotmail.com
Ashburton Women’s Soccer Club – U8,9,11,12 teams looking for players.
Call Michael Gurfinkiel 0409235641 or info@ashburtonwsc.org.au
Oakleigh District Junior Football Club – new players wanted. New Player & Auskick Registration –
12/2 9.30-12 noon. 19/2 9.30am – 12.00. Contact Dom Lucarelli 0419 397 743.
Soccer - Monash City Football Club – currently has vacancies across all age groups for boys and
girls. U8 to U16 Contact 0410 175 341 or 0408 512 222 for more details. Venue – Argyle Reserve
Kinrade St Oakleigh.

OSHC AT SACRED HEART
We Make Kids Smile
Contact Us
OSHC Direct: 0401 188 896
Head Office: 1300 105 343
Hours of Operation
Before School Care: 7:00 – 8:30
After School Care: 3:20 – 6:00pm
OSHC News:
Welcome Back:
Welcome back to all the familiar faces and a big welcome to the new ones.
I hope everyone had a wonderful break and a Happy New Year.
Children attending After School Care in the afternoon will now be picked up by a Staff Member from the
OSHC Service.
The children are to wait out front of the School Office under the shelter.
The Prep teachers will liaise with OSHC staff and the Preps will be picked up from the grass
area.
Bookings Process.
Any on the day casual bookings please call the OSHC service before 9am in the morning so
appropriate child ratio staff can be organised. If you call after 9am it is too late to organise extra staff
and your child/children may miss out.
Any on the day cancellations please call the service so we don’t go looking for your child at 3.30pm.
Term 1- Activity Highlights
Monday- Outdoor Activities Tuesday- Board Games/ puzzles Wednesday-Ball Games
Thursday- Challenges Friday- Cooking Club (Art & Craft everyday)
To Enroll your child into Sacred Heart OSHC program, complete a Registration form ONLINE
which can be located at www.campaustralia.com.au. Here you can also manage your own
account, bookings and cancellations. No fee charges apply to cancellations made 7 days in
advance.
Before School Care Fees After School Care
Permanent $11.95 Please note: CCB and tax Permanent $17.75
Casual $16.95 rebate reduce fees Casual $22.75