Dear Parents and Caregivers,

When I was a child, my family had a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, similar to the one pictured, hanging in our dining room.  As a child I did my homework at the dining table each afternoon and often caught myself looking at the picture of the warm, friendly Jesus pointing to His exposed heart. 

The longer I looked at the picture, the more I felt that Jesus was inviting me to look even closer into His heart. Despite the image of the cross, the crown of thorns and the visible wounds on His hands, whenever I looked at that picture, I felt somehow embraced, loved and cared for — as if Jesus was inviting me to step into the joy and peace that was reflected on His face. 

That picture remains hanging in the same spot in my parent’s home today and I have caught my own children and now my grandchildren looking at it in a similar way that I did when I was a child. 

The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the highest human expression of divine love. The Sacred Heart of Jesus – a heart wounded and surrounded with a crown of thorns, with flames showing his suffering love for humanity – has been honoured since the twelfth century. 

In the Christian Scriptures Jesus is presented as a person of heart and, as his life and ministry unfolded, he demonstrated compassion personified. The Sacred Heart serves to remind us about all that the human heart is capable. A heart which teaches us that, through grace, we too can be capable of loving God, ourselves, others and creation to a degree which we may have thought impossible. We are reminded that love is not something soft, occasional, and sentimental, but strong, enduring and sacrificial. It was the human heart of Christ which loved to its fullest extent, and it is the Sacred Heart that challenges us to move outside ourselves by radiating love. St Ignatius pointed out two essential criteria about love. The first: that love is expressed more clearly in actions than in words. The second: that there is greater love in giving than in receiving. Like the Sacred Heart, love radiates outward, not inward.

Mrs Marie Debusch, the second Principal at Mary Immaculate (1993 - 1996) was a faith filled leader who had a strong personal connection with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She would often include the words “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you” when engaging in prayer with both staff and students. During her tenure as Principal, Marie introduced in 1995 the inaugural Sacred Heart Award. This wonderful legacy continues to the present day and on Friday one student will be presented with this very prestigious school award. The criteria staff must consider when they consider nominating a student includes the ways that the student displays values and attitudes that reflect Gospel values and specifically our school values in their daily interactions, along with their acts of service to others and the resulting impact of consistently demonstrating the qualities of love in action including patience, empathy, initiative and selflessness has made within our community. The student who receives the Sacred Heart Award on Friday will join a long list of fellow Mary Immaculate students who have consistently brought to life our school motto by making Christ Their Way and Life in their everyday words, actions and interactions. Enacting Christ’s Way and Life takes great courage. These sentiments were beautifully expressed and shared in a poem written by Izaiah C in 4 Green.

The Courage Poem

Courage is bravery, confidence and persistence.

Everybody wants to have it, with no resistance.

It tells you to stand up, for what's right.

People do it all day and all night. 

Courage is a gift Jesus taught us to use.

Everybody has courage from me to you! 

Courage is something everybody will witness.

It’s something that will strengthen your mental fitness! 

Tina Murray

Principal

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal – Mini Vinnies - Each year St Vincent de Paul has a Winter Appeal. This year the focus for the St Vincent de Paul’s Appeal is "Help save a child from homelessness this Winter." As a team, Mini Vinnies have contributed ideas to consider how to raise as much money as we can so we can make a donation to the St Vincent de Paul Society.  This year, we have decided that, on Thursday 24 June in Week 10, we will have a winter dress up Mufti Day.  This means that students can come to school wearing their casual winter clothes including scarfs, beanies, and gloves. 

https://donate.vinnies.org.au/winter-appeal 

If you participate on this day this means that we will have a chance to raise the most money we can for this amazing foundation. You can help do this by filling a sock with small change or bringing in a gold coin donation on the Mufti Day. Feel free to ask family and friends to help you collect extra loose change.

In order to raise as much money as possible we will also be hosting a 'Guess the Lollies in the Lolly Jar' competition. Students can meet the Mini Vinnies team on the playground near the canteen to have a guess.  Each student will be able to guess as many times as they like, for only 50c for two guesses (one of each jar).

The winner will be announced on Thursday 24 June during the Mufti Day event. Over the next two weeks keep checking your pockets for loose change.

We look forward to your support.

Abigail S (President) and Jack B (Vice President)

In last week’s newsletter I included some strategies about communicating with your children taken from the Friendly Schools Programme.  Please find below further tips about communicating with children. 

Communicating with your children

Here are some tips for talking with your children.

• Be supportive and encourage them to talk.
• Show your children you enjoy talking with them.
• Let your children know you are always interested in what is going on in their lives, not only when they are in trouble or having problems.
• Arrange opportunities to share time with your children when you can talk while doing an activity together, for example, cooking, craft, going to the football, family meal times or family meetings.
• Get down to their level and make eye contact. When talking with younger children, get down to their eye level by sitting or bending down.
• Talk shoulder to shoulder. Older children will often talk more freely when you sit or walk shoulder to shoulder. Travelling in the car is a good place for a chat.
• Set an example to your children in the way you speak to your family and other adults. Children learn from watching people they love and admire.
• Encourage and role model positive language, for example: “I really like the way you asked your brother if you could borrow his bike.”
• Use positive words. Explain to your children what to say and do rather than what not to say and do. Try: “Please speak to me in a quiet, calm voice,” rather than “don’t yell at me.”
• Acknowledge your children’s efforts to communicate. When your children have told you about a challenging issue; tell them you are proud of them for talking to you about it.
• Ask open-ended questions that need a sentence answer. For example, questions that start with “what” or “how”, rather than ones that can be answered with “yes” or “no”. Try some of these:

* What happened today?

* What was the best thing you did at school today?

* What do you think about …?

* It sounds like you are pretty unhappy, what has been going on?

* What do you think you could try to make things better?

* What can I do to help you to make things better?

• Allow for ‘cooling off’ time. When you or your children are feeling very angry or upset, consider using a ‘cooling off’ time before you try to talk.

MRS LILLIAN DEL GIUDICE

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS / PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Semester One Reports will be available to parents via COMPASS on Friday 18 June.  Parent Teacher Interviews will take place the week beginning 21 June.  Booking times for Semester One Parent Teacher Interviews are now open on COMPASS. Time slots are 15 minutes each. Please use the COMPASS online booking system to book in your time with class teachers.  If for some reason you are unable to attend during this week, please contact the class teacher directly.  Online bookings will close Friday 11 June at 3.00 p.m.

Upcoming RE Events:

Sacred Heart Mass - Friday 11 June 2021

Sacred Heart Mass

Every year we hold a very special Mass on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. During this Mass we award one student our very special Sacred Heart Award. This is awarded to a student who has displayed loving, caring and empathetic qualities towards others and who opens their heart to the needs of others.

Mrs Kirsty Simpson

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Congratulations again to those students who have returned their books – well done, keep it up!!! We just need to remember to bring our Library Bags in and return our overdue books – there are still 315 books overdue! If the students remember to bring in their Library Bags and books and it is not their Library day, they can come to the Library at Lunch 2 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to return and borrow.

A reminder of Library days: 

Thursday 10 June  - Year 1

NEXT WEEK

Tuesday 15 June – Year 6

Wednesday 16 June – Year 5

Thursday 17 June – Year 2

Friday 18 June – Year 4

Damaged Books: Another reminder - if a book is damaged or torn at home, please do not attempt to repair it. While we appreciate your efforts, we have the correct materials at school and it is easier for us, and better for the book, if we repair it here.  Using sticky tape to attach torn or loose pages is not ideal.  Please just ask your child to let us know, and we can fix it.  The students do not get into trouble if a book is accidentally damaged, we would rather know about it so we can do something about it!  If a book is damaged beyond repair, then we do ask that it either be paid for or replaced by something similar. Please try to keep the books away from younger siblings – we have had a number of books lately which have had to be thrown out because they have been scribbled in and torn, or water-damaged. Thank you for your support in this matter.

Premiers' Reading Challenge: Keep up the good work, we have quite a few students now who have already completed the challenge, and many more well under way who have logged in and registered their books read so far. Remember if you are having difficulties logging in to register the books we can help at lunchtime. The Library is open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Lunch 2. The PRC website has the list of books as well as the login: 

https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html

You can also go to our Oliver home page at http://oliver.dow.catholic.edu.au/miev and click on the link to take you to the website. Remember Kinder – Year 2 must read 30 books, and Years 3 - 6 must read 20, with only 5 Personal Choice books allowed.

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." 

Maya Angelou, Poet

Happy reading!

Mrs Susan Bryant - Teacher Librarian

JUST A REMINDER TO CONSENT TO YOUR CHILD ATTENDING THE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL ON COMPASS TO GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO ATTEND.  YOU WILL NEED TO ANSWER THE COMPULSORY QUESTIONS TO PROCEED TO THE CONSENT TAB.

ANY CHILD THAT DOES NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO ATTEND THE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL WILL BE STAYING AT SCHOOL AS A NORMAL SCHOOL DAY.

Parents are able to drop off students to the Athletics Stadium between 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. 

Selected 800m and High Jump competitors MUST be at the stadium by 8:30 a.m. to begin.

Bus will depart school at 8:45 a.m. SHARP.  The carnival concludes approximately 1:45 p.m.

The Cost of your child's Entry into the Athletics Stadium is included in the Sport Levy. This is part of the School Fees, please ensure this is paid prior to the Athletics Carnival.  IF YOUR CHILD IS CATCHING THE BUS TO OR FROM THE CARNIVAL THE COST IS $15.00 AND MUST BE PAID TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE PRIOR TO FRIDAY 18 JUNE SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM BUS NUMBERS.  PLEASE ENCLOSE THE $15.00 IN AN ENVELOPE WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME AND CLASS ON IT.

• All students will be participating in athletics and games rotations. 
• Students can NOMINATE for the Junior and Senior 800m events and  Junior and Senior High Jump.  Both of these events will be the first events of the morning. Students who nominate for this will have their participation confirmed before the carnival. Students need to have regularly participated in these events prior to the carnival in order to nominate. Competitors in these events MUST be at the stadium by 8:30 a.m. 
• A canteen will be available for parents and spectators.  Students must be with a parent if using the canteen. 
• Parent helpers are required - please complete the questions to indicate if you are able to assist and staff will be in contact with you regarding your role.

COVID REQUIREMENTS

All spectators will need to sign into the Campbelltown Athletics Stadium using the Service NSW App QR Code.

Parents and spectators are encouraged to social distance at all times.

The NSW Government is helping kids get creative with the new Creative Kids Program.

Parents, guardians and carers can apply for a voucher with a value of up to $100.00 per calendar year for each student aged 4.5 to 18 years old enrolled in School.

The voucher may be used with a registered activity provider for registration, participation and tuition costs for creative arts (such as craft packs), drama, dance, digital design, coding, and music lessons and activities.

The voucher can be used at any time during the calendar year it was issued.

To use the voucher, give the details to your registered activity provider.

The program runs year-round, so kids can get creative at any time.

Further information regarding applying for the vouchers can be found on the My Service NSW website or following the link:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher