From the Heart Newsletter

Dear Parents,

While our core business is teaching and learning, some of the greatest joys of school life come from the opportunities we have to gather as a community and celebrate together. Events such as our School Sport Carnival create lasting memories, strengthen friendships, and bring a sense of joy and belonging to all who attend.

We are sincerely grateful to the many parents, grandparents, and family members who joined us throughout the day. Your presence, encouragement, and support mean so much to our students and helps make these occasions even more special. It was wonderful to see our community come together in such a positive and uplifting way.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr Dobson for his dedication, organisation, and hard work in ensuring this year’s carnival ran so smoothly. We also extend our gratitude to our Sports Captains for their leadership and enthusiasm, and to all students who participated with determination, teamwork, and school spirit. Whether competing, cheering on their peers, or supporting the event in other ways, every student contributed to making the day a success.

This week also marked the conclusion of our Performing Arts Festival entries for 2026. We extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Vinci and Mrs Harns for their outstanding leadership, commitment, and encouragement of our students through the Dance Performing Arts entries. We are especially delighted to share that our Liturgical Dance Troupe received an Excellence Award for their moving performance of The Annunciation. This beautiful and prayerful dance paid tribute to our Blessed Mother Mary and reflected the faith, strength, courage, and trust she demonstrated when called to become the Mother of Jesus.

Mr Allis and I also had the pleasure of accompanying Suri Yin Minh Khing to the Angelico Art Awards, where she was recognised for her creative artwork. It was a proud moment for our school community and a wonderful acknowledgement of Suri’s talent, dedication, and artistic gifts.

These achievements remind us of the many ways our students are encouraged to discover and develop their God-given talents. At Sacred Heart, we are committed to nurturing the whole child and providing opportunities for every student to flourish academically, spiritually, creatively, physically, and socially. We give thanks for the gifts of our students and celebrate the way they continue to strive for excellence while sharing their talents with others.

As a Catholic community, we are blessed by opportunities such as these that bring us together in friendship, gratitude, and celebration. Thank you to everyone who contributes to making Sacred Heart such a vibrant, faith-filled, and supportive community where every child is encouraged to reach their full potential.

God Bless,

Mrs Darlene Min

Principal

Our annual Athletics Carnival was held last Friday, 28 August, with the Field Events taking place earlier in the week on Monday, 24 August. We were fortunate to enjoy perfect weather on both days, creating excellent conditions for competition and participation. It was inspiring to see so many students embracing the spirit of the carnival and giving their very best effort.

Congratulations to Murphy House on winning overall!

House results were:

1st Murphy

2nd Maguire

3rd Wright

4th Welch

Congratulations to our runner up and champions:

Year 6 Boys

Runner up= Franklin

Champion= Miguel

Year 6 Girls

Runner up= Trinity

Champion= Ella D

Year 5 Boys

Runner up= Lachlan R

Champion= Cooper B

Year 5 Girls

Runner up= Ava W

Champion= Harper V

Year 4 Boys

Runner up= Dhyan

Champion= Lucas C

Year 4 Girls

Runner up= Arohi

Champion= Celestina

Last Tuesday 18 August, the liturgical dance troupe performed at Mercy College in the Christian Dance section for the Catholic Performing Arts Festival.

Their piece, ‘Chosen by Grace’ represented the annunciation of Mary. It tells of the moment the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary announcing that she would bare the Son of God through the Holy Spirit. Faced with a Devine calling, Mary responds with courage and humility, embracing her role in God’s plan.

The students performed with reverence, grace and were all extremely emotive in their movement and storytelling. We had wonderful comments from the judge, parents and other schools at how beautiful the performance was and we could not be prouder of our liturgical dance troupe. Congratulations to everyone involved!

The Hearts Junior Combined Choir performed at the Vasto Club on Wednesday 26 August. The Choir is made up of 60 choir members from Years 3 to 6. They rehearse every Thursday morning at 7:30am with Mrs Vinci and Ben Samuels the Pianist. They are a selected, two-part, auditioned choir who enjoy singing as a big group.

The Choir sang two contrasting songs. The first piece was a song by Nancy Price and Don Besig called 'My Own Special Way', a two-part Christian choral song about recognising that each person is created unique and has their own gifts and purpose.

The second song was called "Changamano" a Swahilli piece that describes unity, joining together and being interconnected. It was a fast and lively two-part song with some Swahili language.

Congratulations to the Choir on achieving an "Outstanding: result. The Choir performed beautifully and presented our school in a professional manner and to a high standard.

We are excited to share that Sacred Heart Primary School has entered the Quality Catholic Schools Awards, showcasing the significant improvements we have made in student learning through our whole-school numeracy initiatives. This submission celebrates the dedication of our students, the expertise and commitment of our staff, and the strong partnership we share with families in supporting learning.

Over recent years, our students and teachers have worked tirelessly to strengthen mathematical understanding, confidence, and achievement. Through high-quality teaching practices, targeted support, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement, we have seen outstanding growth in student outcomes and engagement in Mathematics.

We invite all members of our Sacred Heart community to support our school by voting for our entry. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work, perseverance, and success of our students and staff. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved together and would be grateful for your support as we share our story with the wider Catholic education community.

To vote for Sacred Heart Primary School, please follow the link below:

Sacred Heart Mathematics Improvement Initiative – CEWA QCE Awards

Thank you for helping us celebrate the achievements of our students and staff and for your ongoing partnership in making Sacred Heart a place where every child is encouraged to strive for excellence.

Important dates for diaries:

• 28 August - Athletics Carnival - PP to Year 6
• 4 September - Donuts with Dad & Father's Day Mass
• 24 September - Footy Colours Day (note this date has changed)
• 25 September - Last day of term 3 and P&F student event (more information to come)

Sacramental Dates 2026

First Holy Communion - Year 4

• First Holy Communion Retreat Day: Thursday 3 September
• First Holy Communion: Sunday 13 September 12pm

Baptism

Thinking of having your child Baptised? Baptism inquiry forms are available in our school office.

Our Year 3 students spent Thursday, 20 August, at the Schoenstatt Shrine for their Reconciliation Retreat Day. It was a reverent and reflective experience that provided students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and prepare spiritually for this important milestone.

Congratulations to our Year 3 students who celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the Church on Tuesday 25 August. It was a beautiful and meaningful evening for the students and their families.

Weekend Mass Times

Saturday

Reconciliation 5.00 - 5.30pm

Mass 6pm

Sunday

Mass 8am and 10am

Children’s Liturgy available for students aged 5-8 years old at 6pm and 10am Masses.

We want our school to remain the respectful, welcoming place it is. This year, CEWA launched the revised Parent Code of Conduct. Please ensure you have read and abide by this Code of Conduct. Respectful relationship between all community members is an expectation. This ensures we have a safe and happy school community. It is what makes Sacred Heart such a lovely community to belong to. The Parent Code of Conduct can be viewed on our website at:

https://policy.cewa.edu.au/executive-directive/parent-and-carer-code-of-conduct/

Book Week

Our school was bursting with imagination today as we celebrated Book Week with our annual Dress-Up Day and Parade!

Students arrived dressed as their favourite book characters, bringing beloved stories to life with creativity, enthusiasm, and plenty of colour. It was fantastic to see such a wide range of characters and to share in the joy that books inspire.

We are so proud of our students and their enthusiasm for books and storytelling!

Dr Justin CoulsonJune 22, 2026

Children are spending up to 90% of their lives indoors. The Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll of 2,036 parents found that most Australian preschoolers (55%) don’t play outdoors every day. Data on adolescents is hard to come by, but international surveys all suggest the same thing: time outdoors for our kids is plummeting.

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the main reasons children spend more time indoors are:

• a lack of suitable outdoor spaces
• parental concerns about safety, traffic and crime
• children spending more time on electronic devices
• study being prioritised over play (e.g. spending time learning spelling or maths rather than playing – whether at home or at preschool).

There are few things more valuable for your child’s wellbeing, however, than getting them outside, touching grass. The research on kids and nature is substantial.

A 2023 overview pulled together 36 systematic reviews on the topic. One review looked at six “schoolyard greening” projects – basically, making school outdoor spaces more natural – and found real improvements in students’ physical activity and social and emotional health. Another systematic review focused specifically on nature exposure and emotional and behavioural outcomes. Every randomised controlled trial in the review – all five of them – pointed in the same direction. More nature, higher wellbeing, less stress.

If my brief overview with links to incredibly useful studies has convinced you that outdoor time matters, even as we approach the cold of winter, the question becomes “how do I get the kids outside”?

The critical element will be relationships. Kids want to be where people they love are hanging out. If you’re inside holding a hot cup of cocoa, they’ll want to be there. But if you’re brave enough to rug up and step outside (or if their friends are doing something outdoors), the battle is all but won.

Here are ten ideas for getting our kids (and ourselves) outside.

This will, of course, depend on what is accessible near you.

1. Go for a walk or hike. Simple, free, and underrated. For younger kids, turn it into a scavenger hunt — make a quick bingo card with things like birds, flowers, pinecones, or different coloured letterboxes. For older kids, just being side-by-side on a walk can open up conversations that would never happen face-to-face at the kitchen table. Some of my best chats with my kids have happened while we were both staring at the footpath ahead of us.

2. Get moving. Dig the bikes out of the garage. Dust off the scooters. If you’re feeling brave, find the skateboard. Getting moving outdoors — even just around the block — often turns out to be more fun than anyone expected. Fair warning though: if you haven’t been on a skateboard since 1987, take it steady. They disappear from underneath you faster than you remember. Ask me how I know.

3. Find a park or open space. State parks, national parks, city parks, local reserves — parks are genuinely one of Australia’s great underused resources. Hikes, waterfalls, skate parks, caves, green space, abseiling… yes, and also leeches, mozzies, and the occasional spiderweb to the face. That’s what makes it memorable. The greener the space, the better — for the kids, obviously. Not for you. You’re fine.

4. Water play. Beach, river, creek, backyard sprinkler, or just a bucket and a hose. Kids and water are a combination that never really fails. And yes, it might be getting cooler — but have you noticed that children are apparently immune to cold water? They’ll be in it regardless. Let them.

5. Go rock pooling. With some of the most accessible coastline in the world, Australians are criminally underusing rock pools. All you need is low tide, a pair of old shoes, and a curious kid. The combination of water, wildlife, and the hunt — what’s under that rock? what’s in that crack? — keeps kids absorbed for far longer than you’d expect. It’s also a surprisingly good workout for adults who spend the whole time crouched down going “ooh, look at this one.”

6. Have an outdoor picnic. Grab a blanket and take a meal outside. It doesn’t need to be fancy — a pizza from down the road counts. There’s a headland near our home on the Sunshine Coast where families gather at sunset, eat whatever they’ve brought, and let the kids roam. It happens every single week and it never gets old. Something about eating outside just makes everything taste better and everyone feel calmer.

7. Get outside after dark. Camp in the backyard. Head to a campground for a couple of nights where you can light a real fire and actually see the stars. Go stargazing on the trampoline. Or simply take the kids and the dog for a walk after dinner. We call it the “digestion walk” at our place — and some of the best conversations happen on those quiet evening loops around the neighbourhood when everyone has eaten and nobody has anywhere to be.

8. Outdoor art. This one lands particularly well with kids up to around age 12. Chalk on the driveway or footpath is always a hit — you end up with an entire neighbourhood canvas. Paintbrushes and spray bottles work brilliantly too, either with water on concrete or paint on paper pinned to the fence. Get the shoes off, get the aprons on, and accept that something is going to get stained.

9. Grow something. A vegie patch, a pot of herbs on the balcony, or even just a seed in a cup on the windowsill. Gardening is one of the most well-researched nature-based wellbeing activities we have, and for Australian kids with any outdoor space at all, it’s enormously accessible. There’s something quietly powerful about a child who plants something, tends to it, watches it grow, and then eats it. It teaches patience and care in a way that very little else does.

10. Follow your child’s lead. Ask your kids what they want to do — as long as it’s outside. Sports, flying kites, building sandcastles, climbing trees, digging holes for absolutely no reason, throwing a frisbee, setting up a cake stall on the corner of the street. There are as many ways to be outside as there are kids who need to be there. Sometimes the best thing you can do is open the back door and see what unfolds.

At Sacred Heart we are proud of the many talents our students demonstrate outside of school. Whether it's a sporting triumph, a milestone achievement or a personal best we would love to share and celebrate these moments with our community.

If your child has recently achieved something special, please email admin@shthorn.wa.edu.au a photo of your child engaged in the activity and a short write up on their achievement for us to share to celebrate the diverse gifts of our students.

If your child was born between 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 they will start 4 Year Old Kindergarten in 2027.

Enrolment forms can be obtained from the school office or via our website https://shthorn.wa.edu.au/enrolment-process/ We have had a wonderful response for kindy 2027, don't forget to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure a position. Enrolment interviews are well underway and there are a limited number of positions available.

Did you know we have a 3 Year Old Kindy at Sacred Heart? It is run through our Childcare Centre which means you are able to claim the childcare benefit. It is a great starting point in preparation for your child attending 4 year old kindy at Sacred Heart. Your child can attend once they turn 3 years old. For further information please contact Megan in our Childcare Centre on 9251 3014 or refer to our website https://shthorn.wa.edu.au/three-year-old-programme/

SCHOOL FEES

School fee accounts for 2026 have been emailed home to all families. Accounts must be kept up to date with the payment option you selected at the start of the year, reminders are being sent out regularly.

The due date for the third and final instalment is coming up in September:

• payment in 3 instalments: the last payment is due 18/9/2026

Other payment arrangements ie; weekly/fortnightly/monthly by Direct Debit or BPAY must be approved by the school. Please contact Lindy Munnings on accounts@shthorn.wa.edu.au for a confidential discussion regarding payment plans or if you are experiencing difficulties in meeting your school fee commitments.

HEALTHCARE CARDS

It is the responsibility of the parents to present their new card at the school office (so a copy can be taken) to ensure that discounts are not cancelled because the card has expired. If you have received an updated Health Care Card recently, please bring it in to complete the forms as soon as possible.

Lindy Munnings

Finance Officer

Winter Menu for Term 3, 2026

Canteen is open Monday, Thursday & Friday

RECESS & LUNCH orders available online via www.quickcliq.com.au or via the class lunch order box.

To contact Abi please call 9251 3007

Check out our wonderful canteen volunteers helping to prepare for a very busy day in the canteen! Thank you to our amazing canteen volunteers, your help is always very much appreciated.

New School Uniform Reminder

As we continue our transition to the new school uniform, which will be fully implemented from January 2027, we encourage all families to begin pre-ordering uniform items now to ensure they are ready for the complete changeover.

It has come to our attention that some students are currently wearing clothing items that are not part of either the existing uniform or the new uniform. During this transition period, we kindly ask families to ensure that students wear only approved uniform items. Maintaining a consistent uniform standard helps foster a sense of pride, belonging, and identity within our Sacred Heart community.

As all new uniform items must be purchased through Uniform Concepts and may require shipping time, we strongly recommend placing orders well in advance to avoid delays. Being organised now will help ensure a smooth and successful transition for all students at the beginning of the 2027 school year.

Uniform Concepts Cannington Super Store
30 Kembla Way, Willetton WA 6155
Phone: (08) 9270 4650
Website: www.uniformconcepts.com.au

Orders can be placed online, in-store, or by appointment. We encourage families not to leave purchases until the end of the year, as demand and delivery times may increase closer to the commencement of the 2027 school year.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we work together to uphold the high standards and sense of pride reflected in our school uniform.

Students proudly wear the uniform, as a symbol of belonging in the Sacred Heart Community. The Uniform is designed to allow students to maximize their participation in learning and is appropriate to seasonal weather.

GIRLS’ UNIFORM

• Blue school short sleeve shirt
  
• Navy school skirt / shorts / trousers
  
• Navy school jumper
  
• Navy school socks
  
• Navy tights
  
• Navy school hat
  
• Black leather school shoes / black leather Mary Janes
  

BOYS’ UNIFORM

• Blue school short sleeve shirt
  
• Navy school shorts / trousers
  
• Navy school jumper
  
• Navy school socks
  
• Navy school hat
  
• Black leather school shoes
  

SPORT

• Navy sports shorts (Unisex)
  
• House coloured Polo shirt
  
• School Polo shirt (class sport, interschool team and excursions if required)
  
• Navy school tracksuit – jacket and track pants
  
• Navy school hat
  
• White socks
  
• Predominantly white sports shoes with white laces.

Sacred Heart requires students to wear a school hat all year during break times and sport lessons.

For further information, please refer to our Full Uniform Policy

Download the Uniform Pricelist

School uniform can be purchased from the offsite location of:

Uniform Concepts Willetton Super Store

30 Kembla Way

Willetton WA 6155

Tel: 9270 4669

Email: willetton@uc.nellgray.com.au

Website: nellgray.com.au

Our main fundraising goal for this year is to rebuild the Amphitheatre. All fundraising efforts will support this project. The project is currently in the planning stage, and we will share the final plans once they are ready so you can see what we are working towards.

OP Shop Ball

Our OP Shop Ball has unfortunately been cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. We will run another adult event next year but, in the meantime, if anyone has any ideas for another adult event, please let us know. All tickets have been refunded. If you have not received yours let the office know and we will sort it out for you. Thank you to everyone that did support the event.

VIP Tent Raffle

Congratulations to our Lucky winner Diane Kim. We hope you enjoy your VIP Day at the Athletics Carnival this Friday 28 August.

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for this raffle. It is always a popular one and will be back next year.

Father's Day

The Father’s Day Raffle will be going Live tomorrow Friday 28th August and will be drawn at the Donuts with Dad on Friday 4 September. Tickets are $1 each. We have some awesome prizes up for grabs and with that we would like to thank our school community and local businesses for their generous donations. It is so appreciated.

Father’s Day Pop up Shop

The Father’s Day Pop Up Shop will be open for the students on Tuesday 1 September. (KB - Monday 31 August).

We have lots of lovely things to purchase all ranging from $1-$15. Students can purchase a maximum of 2 items. Students can bring a maximum of $20 in a zip lock bag with their name clearly written on it. Students are also encouraged to bring a reusable shopping bag to take home their gift. If anyone misses out on Tuesday, the pop-up stall will be open again at lunchtime on Wednesday 2 September.

Sponsor a Spot in our Luna Wellbeing Calendar 2027!

Do you have a business that would like a year's worth of advertising for just $50?
The Luna Wellbeing Calendar 2027 is coming - and as a valued sponsor you can display your logo and website/Facebook url. Think of all those potential customers seeing your logo for the whole year - you'll be first in their mind! More details to come so keep your eye out as spaces will be limited.

Containers for Change – Support our P&F

Were excited to share our new Containers for Change QR Code, making it easier to support our fundraising. Refer below for the QR Code.

Simply scan our QR code when returning your containers and any Containers for change refund point and your refund will be donated directly to the P&F. Every container counts and all the funds raised is going towards our fundraising goals and projects for our school community. A huge thank you in advance to everyone who contributes. We really appreciate your support.

**Watch this space!! Term 3 Colour Run Fundraiser coming soon**

Colour Run is back for 2026 more information will be released soon!

Next Meeting is Monday 14 September, 6pm

If you have been considering joining the P&F, come along to our next meeting to find out more. The meeting will be held on Monday 14 September at 6:00pm in the staff room, with entry through the school office. We hope to see you there.

‘Sacred Heart Thornlie P&F’ Facebook Page

To keep up to date on all the exciting events that are happening at the school, ‘Like’ our Facebook Page. This is a great way to keep up to date on the latest events, when forms are due back and to ask any questions the P&F may be able to assist you with.

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