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Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
This week’s prayer is the very well-known Prayer of St Francis of Assisi and celebrates peace; its call to peace is universal yet particularly compelling as the world is catapulted into further conflict. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent families – parents, children, grandparents – whose lives and communities are destroyed by the violence of others regardless of the intent behind the attacks.
Related to this, the College took the difficult decision this morning to cancel the scheduled College Language tour to France. This decision is in response to the travel risks that have arisen from the current international conflict, and by the challenges with flights that have also resulted from the conflict.
Sacred Heart College Open Evening
Later this month (Thursday 26 March) is a special opportunity for the College to showcase its capacity to offer a holistic, contemporary and engaging education to prospective students and families. The College’s Open Evening will see all areas of the College’s academic and co-curricular programs on display. The evening is directed towards families considering secondary school options and, in particular, targets primary school children (aged 9 – 11) with activities that provide tasters of life at Sacred Heart College.
Additionally, the evening includes presentations by the Principal, the College’s Head of Junior School and other key staff.
Parent Involvement – College Advisory Council and College Finance Committee
Two important groups that support the operations of Sacred Heart College are the College Advisory Council and the College Finance Committee. I am looking for additional members for each committee with the departure of some longstanding members. A summary of the responsibilities of each group (as detailed by Mercy Education) is included below:
- The College Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where parent voice and community perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are paramount.
- The Finance Committee is responsible for the oversight of and summary reporting to College Advisory Council of the following aspects of school finances: financial performance of the College; policy matters relating to finance or capital works; recommendations on the annual budget.
I would welcome expressions of interest for either group from interested parents with appointments at the discretion of the Principal. Membership of each group is normally for two year cycles with two or three cycles preferred. Interested parents are invited to email the Principal’s Executive Assistant, Loretta Hanns (lhanns@shckyneton.catholic.edu.au).
College Music Captains
Sacred Heart College has a long and proud history of excellence in Music education with outstanding students and a fantastic teaching team. This year, the College has decided to formalise the appointments of senior students as Music Captains (and include these as part of the Senior Student Cabinet). I would like to congratulate Inga Foerster and Levi Gordon on their appointment to these roles.
College Activities
Congratulations to our Year 8 students who are enjoying the balmy autumn weather on the Surf Coast with a long weekend ahead for rest and recovery. The chance to experience the breadth of activities available in Anglesea as well as reinforcing friendships from Year 7 is a special one. There will be student reports and more photos in the next newsletter.
Last week, I was privileged to be a part of the annual Year 7 Commissioning Mass, and it is always special to reflect on the journey that these young people and their families have in front of them over the next 5 – 6 years. The next time the whole cohort will gather together at this type of event will be their Graduation Mass in October 2031!
Next week, the national NAPLAN testing period commences for students in Year 7 & 9. Although the College does not explicitly prepare students for the tests, they provide important diagnostic information for students on their learning progression as well as for Sacred Heart College on the efficacy of our pedagogy and curriculum.
Bereavements: Your prayers are asked for the following families who are mourning a loved one recently. The Byham family on the passing of John Emerson, grandfather of Henry Year 9 and Claire Year 12. Also the Whykes family on the passing of John Emerson, grandfather of Heidi Year 7. The Stewart family on the passing of Phillip Cowen, grandfather of Oscar Year 11. The Oliveri family on the passing Yvonne Kingley, grandmother of Kye Year 10.
Yours in Mercy,
Dr Darren Egberts
Principal
