Sacred Heart Academy Newsletter

Communication between the home and school is very important to us. We use the SchoolMessenger notification service to quickly send phone calls, email and push notifications to the SchoolMessenger app regarding school related events, weather delays, transportation issues, last minute cancellations, emergencies, and daily attendance issues. The program takes information from our PowerSchool database, so it is very important that we have up-to-date and accurate contact information for families.

The primary contact for home communication using SchoolMessenger will be your home number. When activated SchoolMessenger will contact your home (primary number) and if the call is not answered it will continue to call the multiple contact numbers in the PowerSchool database until one of the designated contacts is reached. Please keep in mind that you must listen to the message and wait for the instruction to end the call. Hanging up before the end of the message will result in the system redialing.

To use the SchoolMessenger app:

• Use the new SchoolMessenger website, https://go.schoolmessenger.ca Please ensure that you go to the .ca site (not the .com site). The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account using your email address. Your email address must match the email address on file at the school.
• Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the App Store (iOS) or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.ca). Be sure to download the SchoolMessenger app with the BLUE icon (not the yellow icon). Use your new login information to access your account.

Finally, school closures and re-openings will also be announced on the school district website (www.nlesd.ca). Should you not receive a phone call and you are unsure of a closure, the school district website will be your back-up notification.

Sacred Heart Academy employs the student absence reporting system called SchoolMessenger Safe Arrival. This system reduces the time required to verify student attendance, makes it easier for families to report student absences and allows staff to promptly respond to unexplained student absences. Families are asked not to email homeroom teachers to report student absences and to follow the procedures outlined below.

There are THREE ways to report a student absence:

(1) Call the SafeArrival Toll-Free Number: 1-844-408-9360

(2) Use the new SafeArrival website: https://go.schoolmessenger.ca The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account using your email address. Your email address must match the email address on file at the school. Select Attendance to report an absence.

(3) Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the App Store (iOS) or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.ca). Be sure to download the SchoolMessenger app with the BLUE icon (not the yellow icon). Use your new login information to access your account. Select Attendance to report an absence.

By reporting your child absent in advance using the SafeArrival toll-free number or SafeArrival Portal website/app, you will NOT receive a call.

Our school photograph vendor Lifetouch has been working with the school district to develop a service-specific Covid-19 school plan on how they will ensure compliance with public health directives. Once a date for our school photographs has been confirmed we will communicate the information to families.

Students need as much opportunity as possible to go outside for lunch hour play. This is a vital part of the school day. It is a time for students to burn off some of that “energy” they have stored all morning, get some exercise, and simply socialize with their peers. When the weather is appropriate for outdoor days, students must have appropriate winter clothing. This means heavier jackets, boots, hats and gloves. We will continue to go outside daily during lunch time when the weather conditions permit us to do so. Families should ensure that their children are dressed for the elements prior to sending them to school each morning so they can take advantage of outdoor play opportunities.

My name is Lindsey Power and I am Sacred Hearts’s school counsellor. I hope you and your family had a fun and relaxing summer under today’s global circumstances. Our last school year was shortened due to Covid-19 and I am sure as we all prepare for our return to school we are met with mixed feelings. Our return to school and how this year will unfold is uncertain but there is certainty in our schools approach to provide our students with warmth and support as we journey through this coming year. My hope is that we can work together to help our students navigate the uncertainty this school year presents. We are so lucky to have such positive relationships amongst our parents, teachers and students which will be crucial this year as we work together to provide our children with the best possible education. I am excited to be returning to work in my role as school counsellor at Sacred Heart Academy and I look forward to reconnecting and working with such a wonderful group of students, staff, and parents.

What does the School Counsellor do?

Our School Counselling program at Sacred Heart Academy is comprehensive in scope, preventative in design and developmental in nature.

Our program works to help ALL students achieve success in school and develop into responsible, contributing members of our society. School counsellors offer:

Individual Counselling to address the following areas:

• Personal/Social, Educational, Crisis Intervention/debriefing, Behavioral/Attitudinal and Career Development.

Student Group Counselling the counselor facilitates student groups that usually consist of 3-7 students that meet with the counselor once per cycle. Each group is usually focused on one topic, such as, grief, social skills, friendship or coping with family changes. Focus groups will be developed according to the needs of the students.

Psychoeducational assessments using standardized tests to meet student needs (ie programming, student placement, learning strategies)

Consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, administrators and outside agencies assuring each student learns to their potential.

Organization and implementation of lessons (sometimes to whole school/classes) on topics such as bullying, career awareness, character education, drug and alcohol awareness and tolerance, interpersonal skills etc.

All students have the opportunity to meet with me, as needed and they are instructed to leave me a note which outlines their concerns and helps with scheduling a time for us to meet. I have a form outside my door that students can fill out and slide underneath my door if I’m away from the office.

Lastly, I am available to meet with parents. I regularly attend IEP meetings and parent-teacher conferences. As needed, I can meet with parents individually to discuss specific concerns or to serve as a liaison for families needing community resources.

Please feel free to contact me at (709) 279-2051 or via email at lindseypower@nlesd.ca if you would like to set up an appointment. I look forward to working with you and your child’s teacher to create a positive and supportive environment for your child at school as well as at home.

Thank you for your support.

Lindsey Power M.Ed C.C.C

Our "Grab and Go" breakfast program allows students to eat in their classroom cohort. The program serves juice, milk, granola bars and fruit. "Grab and Go" tables are setup next to the school library and the main office. Due to COVID-19 health restrictions we were unable to hold our Walk to Breakfast fundraiser this year. To help support our Breakfast Program families have two options this year:

• Families can drop off recyclables to the Green Depot in the name of Sacred Heart Academy.
• Families can donate using the Kids Eat Smart Foundation Website: https://www.kidseatsmart.ca/donate-now/ If you choose this option please remember to complete the section where you designate your donation to a specific school.

We concluded the courtesy seat application process on Friday, October 2nd. We have a considerable number of courtesy seat requests that we are unable to process due to reaching the 46 capacity limit on the following bus routes: Route 24, Route 31, Route 34 and Route 36.

Schools can accept written documentation from the parent/guardian of an eligible student rescinding (opting out) their seat on the bus to create an extra seat on the school bus that can be allocated by the School Administrator through the Courtesy Seating Protocol. Any such rescission would require the parent/guardian to rescind their seat in writing for the entire school year by emailing sacredheartacad@nlesd.ca. The rescinding parent/guardian cannot give their seat to another student of their choosing.

For more information visit our school website at: sha.nlesd.ca

Sacred Heart Academy

Home of the Sabres

Email: sacredheartacad@nlesd.ca
Website: sha.nlesd.ca
Location: 1 Columbia Drive, Marystown, NL, Canada
Phone: (709)279-2051
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sacred-Heart-Academy-445779129137917/
Twitter: @SHA_NL