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- Acknowledgement of Country
- Prayer
- From our Principal, Mr. David Graham
- From our Assistant Principal Religious Education, Mrs. Hannah Coburn
- From our Leader of Learning & Teaching, Mrs. Karen Zabel
- From Kirriri, Miss Michelle Comino
- From Waiben Prep, Mrs. Alex Peacocke
- From Waiben Year 1, Mrs. Briohny Jones
- From Waiben Year 2, Ms. Katherine Presley
- From Waiben Year 3, Mrs. Luella Tyler
- From Waiben Year 4, Mrs. Renate Bates
- From Waiben Year 5, Mr. Jake Nelson
- From Waiben Year 6, Ms. Judy Hart
- From the Hub & Life Skills, Mr. Jonathan Beales
- From Sports & Science with Mr. Lochie Dunford
- From the Library, Mrs. Christine Bell
- From our Guidance Counsellor, Ms. Tosca Grainger-Dee
- Reminders, Events & Safety notices
Sew Ngapa. Maiem. Welcome!
We acknowledge God our Father, and give thanks for the blessings He showers on our community. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Waiben and Kirriri, the Kaurareg Nation. We pay our respects to elders - past, present and emerging. We commit ourselves to providing our students with a world class Catholic education so they may live life to the full.
God of our journey,
We are all pilgrims of hope
brought together by your love
and your wish that we may all be one.
We pray that in this Year of Jubilee,
when we are called to greater justice
and care for our common home,
that we may Unite Against Poverty.
May we work in unity for the freedom of the oppressed
and the renewal of creation.
May our compassionate minds and generous hearts
help bring about a world where all can live in peace.
May our Lenten pilgrimage of fasting, almsgiving and prayer
bring us closer to your loving heart.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen
Dear Sacred Heart Community,
As we conclude Term One, I want to thank our students and staff for their dedication and hard work. Your commitment has made this term both productive and enriching.
Recently, I had the privilege of travelling to Brisbane for the official launch of our innovative STEM partnership with St Finbarr’s School in Ashgrove and St. Thomas More College in Sunnybank. The launch was a resounding success, and touring these schools has provided valuable insight into how we can continue to grow and offer the best possible education for our students here in the Torres Strait. This collaboration, which aims to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education by fostering connections between our students and staff throughout 2025, is a testament to our commitment to excellence. Guided by the First Nations perspectives of the Kaurareg Nation and Zenadth Kes Elders, this partnership promises to open exciting new opportunities for learning and cultural exchange. If you want to read more about this initiative, visit this link.
As we approach the Easter holidays, I encourage everyone to take this time to reflect on the true meaning of this season; the resurrection of Christ and the hope it brings to our lives. May this time deepen your faith and bring renewed joy, as we remember the sacrifices made for us.
Finally, I want to acknowledge Karen Zabel, our Leader of Learning and Teaching, for her tireless dedication to our community. As she prepares to welcome her new baby, we are grateful for her contributions and wish her abundant blessings. In her absence, we warmly congratulate Mrs. Hannah Coburn, who will step into the LLT portfolio. We know she will bring great passion and expertise to this role, and we thank her for taking on this important responsibility.
Wishing you all a restful holiday.
Best regards,
Mr. David Graham
Principal
At Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, we take pride in nurturing leadership, faith, and service among our students. This term, our Student Representative Council (SRC) has been actively working to represent their peers, ensuring every student's voice is heard. Through regular meetings, they have shared ideas to enhance school life, from improving lunchtime experiences to supporting Project Compassion. Their commitment to leadership and service reflects the values we uphold in our school community.
Our students also embraced the Lenten season with great reverence, particularly during our Ash Wednesday liturgy. With hearts open to reflection and renewal, they participated prayerfully, marking the beginning of Lent with a renewed commitment to kindness, prayer, and sacrifice. It was inspiring to see them understand the significance of this sacred time.
A highlight of this term was our school’s incredible effort in raising funds for Project Compassion. Through a true spirit of giving, our students helped make a real difference for communities in need. Their enthusiasm and compassion were truly inspiring, and we thank our families for their generous support.
As we approach Holy Week, we reflect on Jesus’ journey—His suffering, death, and glorious resurrection. Easter is the cornerstone of our faith, reminding us of God's immense love for us. It is a time of renewal and hope, as Jesus’ sacrifice grants us the promise of eternal life. We encourage families to take time to reflect on the true meaning of Easter and consider ways to live out Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, and compassion.
May these Easter holidays be a time of peace and joy for all our families.
Yours in faith,
Mrs. Hannah Coburn
Assistant Principal Religious Education
As we wrap up Term 1, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and families. It has been a term filled with learning and growth. I am so proud of the students and the growth we have seen across Term 1. I look forward to hearing about the continued growth and success through teacher excitement.
As I prepare to take maternity leave for the next year, I leave knowing that our school’s learning and teaching is in excellent hands.
Hannah Coburn will step into the role of Acting Leader of Learning and Teaching while continuing her responsibilities as APRE. Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for curriculum and pedagogy. Peta Mawn will be taking on the leadership of our EALD students, ensuring continued support and growth for all of our learners. Peta has an extensive knowledge of diverse learners and is determined for every student to feel successful.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our school community for your ongoing support and commitment to student learning. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful achievements that lie ahead.
Wishing you all the best for 2025.
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Karen Zabel
Leader of Learning & Teaching
Hello Families, Carers and Our Beautiful Community,
Kapu Bathaynga, Debe Idim, Good Morning.
The school year has begun, and our students are settling into their routines! They are learning how to listen carefully, follow instructions, and take turns during activities. Each day starts with our school prayer, helping us come together as a class. In literacy, students are practicing reading and writing simple sentences. In maths, they are exploring statistics and solving word problems in "Pirate Maths," making learning fun and engaging. We are also learning about families and the different materials around us. Through hands-on activities and games, students are developing key skills for learning!
Au Esoau, Koeyma Eso, Many Thanks,
With love,
Ms Seba, Ms Lillah and Ms Michelle xx
What an amazing last few weeks of school for our prep students! For me, the greatest gift in teaching prep is watching the joy as students make huge strides with their learning. We have had so many smiles in our room as students begin to know their letter sounds and make those first connections in reading and writing. The lightbulb ‘a-ha’ moments as students realise they are truly doing it for themselves is something wonderful to witness! We have also had many other tremendous times such as our swimming carnival last week; the first of many visits to connect with our Elders at Star of the Sea; and a family picnic in the park to finish off the term and celebrate learning all about families in our HASS unit. I cannot wait for term 2 and more growth and wonder in the prep room! Have a safe and happy Easter.
Mrs. Alex Peacocke
Wow! Can you believe how quickly 10 weeks have flown by? I’m excited to share what our Grade 1 students have been learning!
? Maths – We’ve been exploring counting patterns and identifying repeating sequences, building a strong foundation for future maths skills.
? English – Students have been practicing recount writing and developing their reading skills by decoding different word types, including CVCC, CCVC, and digraphs.
? Religion – We’ve been learning about making good choices, showing respect, and caring for others and our world—just as God calls us to do. A big highlight was our discussion on kindness and caring for the planet. How wonderful was our assembly presentation on this?
✝️ As we prepare for Easter, we’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice and the values of love and gratitude that it teaches us.
? Farewell Leo & Lucia – This week, we say goodbye to Leo and Lucia as they move on to a new school. We wish them all the best!
Thank you for your ongoing support in your child’s learning journey!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Briohny Jones
What an amazing term we have had. I am so proud of all Grade 2 for their efforts fundraising for Project Compassion. Children completed jobs at home to raise money. We also sold biscuits. The combined total raised is over $450. An amazing effort for such a small class.
We enjoyed learning about traditional instruments and using them to represent animals as we read and sang the story, ‘Crocodile Beat.’
As part of our focus on The Heat Way, we have been handing out Heart Way Leaves to each other and hanging them on string. Our room looks like a forest in Autumn!
We loved having Officer Pete, Uncle James and Auntie Dedrie visit and share with us how they show the Heart Way in their jobs. Children also presented their interviews with someone significant to them about how that person shows the Heart Way in their job.
Students loved visiting Elders at HAAC and Star of the Sea. We made Easter Cards and sang our Kapu Bathaynga song. Akka Tessi and Akka Del even gave us an impromptu concert which we loved.
Poor Toad lost his Snow Holiday Luggage and crashed his plane. He really has had a hard time. Children were excited to discover the clues Toad left behind and write about his adventures. We also enjoyed presenting our play, ‘Toad’s Swim,’ at assembly.
We loved swimming lessons and cheering on everyone at our Swimming Carnival. We cheered for everyone, even our friends in other teams because, as one student shared, ‘We are all God’s children.’
Best wishes for a happy holiday,
Miss Presley
We have reached the end of the first quarter of year 3. What an amazing term of growth for our students. There has been solid dedication to work, especially in writing and mathematics. I am feeling very proud of the effort put in by every student.
I apologise for not getting to either HACC or SOS, however I have been so unwell for so many weeks, as have the students and I did not wish to share this with our elders.
We will be sad to say goodbye to Evelyn and to Adea and possibly Brancis and wish all students who are leaving Sacred Heart the very best in the future.
NAPLAN is now behind us and the children did a great job emotionally and in trying hard to do their best. They played by the rules and handled the online parts of the assessment with courage and success.
Year 3 have managed to master logging in quickly to their email accounts, to their accounts on reading express, ixl and essential assessment this year and seem to be using their devices with responsibility and respect.
What a fantastic term of swimming culminating with such a successful swimming carnival. I felt proud and impressed watching the organisation and readiness for our lessons each Friday. I also feel impressed in general with the level of independence and organisation students have shown with assignments; assessments and various activities.
Although we have missed some library lessons for various reasons in Term 1, the ones we have had have been lessons resulting in so much learning about books, authors, genres and characters. Thank you, Ms Chris, for this and for the support you lend to teachers and what they are trying to achieve in the classroom.
Thank you, Mr Lochie, for the wonderful and creative Science and Technology lessons and of course Sport.
We will study EASTER when we return as Easter Sunday falls on the last day of holidays.
Children learned to make a slide presentation for HASS and successfully made an oral presentation to the class about their chosen Community Hero. We enjoyed around 8 different visitors to class to talk about life before and after on Hammond Island; Ergon; Rebel; The island electrician, The T I hospital, our Federal Member for Leichhardt, and our local council and rural fire fighters. If I have missed someone I apologise. All visitors were amazing and very different.
Enjoy your holidays and again, thank you for your imput and support.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Luella Tyler
As Term 1 comes to a close, we look back on an incredible start to the year filled with learning, creativity, and teamwork.
We were lucky to have two special guest speakers, Miss Hayley, a zookeeper, and Miss Bec, a marine biologist, who shared their expertise on wildlife and marine conservation. Their inspiring talks helped us understand the importance of looking after our environment and the role we all play in protecting it.
Celebrating Harmony Day was another highlight of the term. We explored the importance of self-acceptance and accepting others for who they are. These discussions helped us build an even stronger classroom community, where kindness and respect are at the heart of everything we do.
Our visit to Gab Titui Cultural Centre gave us a deeper appreciation for the incredible talent of local artists. This experience inspired our Sea Country art project, where we created meaningful artworks using sand and shells from Thursday Island, making connections with our culture and environment.
We ended the term with an energetic Swimming Carnival, where it was fantastic to see everyone giving their best effort and cheering on their classmates. The team spirit on display was a perfect way to wrap up a term full of support and encouragement.
It has been a wonderful start to the year, and we are so proud of all the learning and growth in Year 4. We hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable holiday, ready for more exciting adventures in Term 2!
Happy holidays!
Mrs. Renate Bates
As Term 1 comes to an end, I would like to extend my congratulations to all Year 5 students on a successful and enriching start to the academic year. It has been a pleasure to watch the students approach their learning with enthusiasm, resilience, and a positive attitude.
A major milestone this term was the completion of NAPLAN. I would like to commend the students for the calm and focused manner in which they approached each assessment. Their dedication to doing their best was evident and reflects their growing maturity and commitment to learning.
In literacy, our focus has been on narrative writing and reading comprehension. Students developed their understanding of character development, structure, and descriptive language. They explored the themes of empathy and kindness through our shared reading of Wonder by R.J. Palacio, engaging in thoughtful discussion and reflection.
In mathematics, students worked diligently to improve their times table fluency while also exploring angles, location, and coordinates. These topics encouraged both practical application and critical thinking, laying strong foundations for future mathematical concepts.
In Health, students learned about the importance of making healthy choices. They researched and designed informative posters that highlighted the benefits of balanced eating and active lifestyles. These creative projects showcased their understanding in a meaningful and visually engaging way.
Our Religious Education program focused on the season of Lent. Through scripture, discussion, and personal reflection, students gained a deeper understanding of the significance of this time in the Church’s calendar.
This term also saw fantastic participation in sporting events. Students proudly represented our school at the swimming carnival and during the AFL clinics. Their sportsmanship, effort, and enthusiasm were outstanding and are to be highly commended.
I would like to thank you for your ongoing support throughout the term. The partnership between home and school is vital, and your encouragement plays an important role in your child’s growth and success.
Wishing you all a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break. I look forward to another exciting term ahead.
Best Regards,
Mr. Jake Nelson
Our Year 6 students at our local school have been busy bees, showcasing their talents and community spirit in various activities. Their recent visit to Star of the Sea have not only brought joy to many but also highlighted their growing skills and leadership qualities. The Year 6 students read their beautifully crafted language stories and shared their lino print designs. The visit was a heartwarming experience, bringing smiles and cherished memories to the elders. Both the students and the residents enjoyed their time together, creating a bond that bridged generations.
Journalism was put into action when our students had the unique opportunity to interview our local Member of Parliament, Warren Entsch, via Zoom. The students bombarded him with insightful questions about government and politics, demonstrating their keen interest and understanding the roles and responsibilities of government. Mr. Entsch was so impressed by their enthusiasm that he graciously donated $500 to their camp fundraising and books he found on government suited for their age group, a gesture that was met with heartfelt gratitude from the students.
Ezmay and Scotty were all smiles holding the trophy as sports captains for Doyle House at the swimming carnival, celebrating a fantastic win for all their sports team… Go Doyle! Meanwhile, Areti and Esta showcased their netball skills during a quick visit to Cairns with Miss Bec, enjoying the competition, camaraderie and yummy food during their Cairns visit. Our students this week have enjoyed the experience of playing NRL and competing against other teams. The class continue to be amazing by actively supporting their Prep buddies, building wonderful relationships, and stepping up to support their buddies. Congratulations to year 6 for a great Term 1. Happy holidays!Miss Judy
Life Skills
Hands-On Learning Experience – Exploring Japan
In our hands-on learning sessions, students have continued to explore Japan and its connections to the Torres Strait and Australia. We’ve gained valuable insights into life in Japan and compared it to our own way of living in Australia.
Our journey into Japanese culture included delving into its cuisine. The students learned to identify key ingredients used in various Japanese dishes and explored the cultural significance of food in Japan. As part of the experience, they compiled shopping lists of ingredients to create their own dishes, although not all students liked the flavours.
In addition, the students designed and crafted Bento Boxes, incorporating their names in Japanese and featuring characters from Japanese folklore and stories to decorate their lunchboxes. To further enhance their understanding, we visited IBIS, where students shopped for snacks to include in their Bento Boxes.
The students also enjoyed learning about Duifugo (Grand Millionaire), a traditional Japanese card game. We had a great time playing and learning the rules together. Another highlight was studying Japanese fan designs, which inspired the students to create their own decorative fans.
This unit has been a fantastic learning experience. The students worked hard, gaining not only practical skills but also a deeper appreciation for Japan’s culture. They also learned several Japanese words and phrases, which helped them connect even more with the material.
The Hub
Our Year 2-4 students who have participated in The Hub this term have made significant progress in our “Learning to Learn” program. The students have developed strong skills in listening attentively, following instructions, and sticking to our daily timetable.
In addition to becoming more confident in joining group discussions, the students are now able to speak in front of the group and even take the lead in activities. Another key component of our program this term is guided writing. The students have been working on reading stories, then writing and editing passages based on what they’ve read. Through this exercise, they’ve become adept at identifying errors in sentence structure and correcting spelling mistakes.
As we approach Term 2, some students are ready to return to their regular classes, and we are excited to welcome new students to The Hub for the next round of our “Learning to Learn” sessions. We look forward to continued growth and success in the coming term!
Best Regards,
Mr. Jonathan Beales
It has been an incredibly busy and rewarding end of term in both Science and Sport, with students across all year levels putting in an impressive effort to demonstrate their learning.
In Science, our upper primary students have been fully immersed in project-based assessments, each featuring a hands-on component that has made their learning both engaging and meaningful. They have been exploring chemical reactions and investigating the properties and uses of different materials in the world around them. Our Year 6 students had the exciting opportunity to design and conduct their own experiments, testing hypotheses and drawing conclusions from their findings. Year 5 students have been delving into the fascinating world of solids, liquids, and gases, learning how particles interact and how changes occur between different states of matter. Year 4 students took on a creative challenge, designing new products using recycled materials, reinforcing the importance of sustainability. Meanwhile, our Year 3 students explored insulation and material properties by designing and testing different esky prototypes to determine how effectively they could keep an ice cube from melting.
Our lower primary students have also been busy with their own scientific discoveries. They have been exploring the water cycle, learning how to predict the weather, and making connections between their observations and real-world weather patterns. Year 2 students have been investigating different scientists and the vital roles they play in our society, while our Prep students have been developing their understanding of various materials and learning to navigate different technologies in the classroom.
Students in Years 2 to 6 have also been honing their digital skills through block coding with Microsoft MakeCode. They have been creating an impressive variety of digital projects, including interactive games and even musical instruments, showcasing both creativity and problem-solving skills in the process.
Sport has also been a major focus this term, with students participating in swimming lessons to develop their confidence and skills in the water. These lessons culminated in our highly anticipated Swimming Carnival, where students put their practice to the test in a fun and supportive environment. Our upper primary students worked on refining their freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke techniques, while our younger students focused on building water confidence and mastering their freestyle and backstroke strokes. The Swimming Carnival was a fantastic day, filled with enthusiasm and team spirit, and we would like to extend a huge thank you to all the parents, carers, and staff who came along to support and assist.
In addition to swimming, our Year 5 and 6 students recently took part in the AFL Gala Day, where they had the chance to showcase their skills and teamwork. Students who excelled at the event had the opportunity to trial for the Crusader boys' and girls' teams, which will go on to compete against schools from Cairns and the Sunshine Coast. It was an action-packed day, and we are incredibly proud of all who participated.
Looking ahead, we have our Cross Country Carnival coming up in Week 3 of next term. This year, the event has been moved forward to give our 10, 11, and 12-year-old students the chance to qualify for the Atherton Regional Carnival. We encourage all students to get involved, give it their best shot, and most importantly, enjoy the experience.
As we wrap up this term, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work of our students. Their eagerness to learn and participate has made this term a memorable one, and we are looking forward to an equally exciting and enriching term ahead!
Best Regards,
Mr. Lochie Dunford
As the end of Term 1 draws closer it has been great to see the number of children who are still keen to borrow books to read. It has been a whirlwind 10 weeks. We have looked at many types of picture books and Fiction stories and will begin to pay greater attention to Non -Fiction Texts next term.
Congratulations to the following students who will represent the school for Reader’s Cup- Esta-Ann, Angelene, Oliver and Madoc. They have been very enthusiastic and are ready to read five novels and discuss the stories over the next 10 weeks before the competition in Cairns. The children will receive the books this week and photos will follow next term as the books remain a secret.
Thank you to all the students who come and use the space in the library for various activities during first and second breaks. It is a hide of activity with many children choosing the same activity and working with children of different ages. It is great to see how the older ones are always willing to help the younger students with construction and drawing.
Next term there is much to discuss with Reconciliation Week, MABO Day to celebrate, NAIDOC and new books to read and enjoy to prepare for Book Week in Term 3. This year’s theme is Book an Adventure!. Ms Zabel is already ordering the books for this year’s theme so start planning your adventure costume now. This might be a great holiday activity to do as a family.
Looking forward to another great term of reading. Enjoy the holidays as one of the young, Year One students said today, “It is a time to rest and refresh.”
Wishing everyone a safe, happy and Holy Easter,
Mrs. Christine Bell
Tosca
Term Dates
Zenedth Kes Boxing
ZKRL Rugby League
Wongai Ball
Tuckshop Menu
In 2025 our tuckshop is open both lunches! Make sure you download the flexischools app to order today!
Sign In/Out
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students it is a requirement that all visitors sign in & out when visiting the school. Parents needing to collect their child during the day must inform and sign out their child at administration.
Safety reminders - Food allergies, helmets and shoes
Food allergies - We are an allergy-aware school. To support childern with various food allergies, we have a no-food sharing policy. We also provide non-allergen alternatives in the tuckshop. As some children can have severe allergic reactions to even contact traces of peanuts, we ask that parents avoid sending foods containing peanuts or peanut butter to school. Thank you for your support.
Helmets - Any students who ride a bike or scooter to school must wear a helmet. Even though we live on a remote island, the Queensland Road rules still apply. Helmets save lives and seriously reduce the risk of brain injury in the event of an accident. Students must dismount their bike and walk it along the footpath when entering the school.
Shoes - We wear shoes to school every day. Sometimes shoes become too wet to wear. It may be more suitable to wear sandals during wet weather. If a child must wear thongs for the entire day (e.g. due to injury), they may not be able to fully participate in sport or play due to safety reasons.
