This week’s prayer is taken from the Liturgy of the Word from yesterday’s Year 7 – 9 End of Year Mass and celebrates the eternal light that the Christmas season brings anew.

As the final newsletter for 2023, this edition highlights the events and activities that have brought the school year to its close. It has been a joy to share in the unbridled optimism of our young people as they reflected on the past twelve months, and look forward to the long Christmas holiday to come. I would like to thank every member of the Sacred Heart College community – students, parents, staff, families and friends – for the support you have shown us throughout the year.

Year 7 – 9 End of Year Awards and Mass

The school year concluded with Year 7 – 9 students together with many parents, family members and friends for the presentation of our End of Year Awards. These awards included Dux and Dux Proximus for each year level, subject level awards as well as a series of special awards recognising public speaking, citizenship, music and the College core values. The full list of student recipients is included later in this newsletter.

Following the awards, students and guests gathered again in Quambi to celebrate our End of Year mass with our College Chaplains. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this special liturgy and especially our Director of Faith and Mission, Sam Weir, for the many hours of work required.

2024 SHC Student Leaders

This newsletter also includes the 2024 student leaders who comprise the Senior School and Junior School Cabinet. Congratulations to each of these young people as well as all those who nominated for a position and were not successful. We look forward to welcoming all 2024 student leaders back to the College next week for a special leadership training day.

Year 9 Graduation

Congratulations to our Year 9 cohort who celebrated the end of the school year with a special assembly and presentation representing their graduation from Sacred Heart’s Junior School into Senior School next year. Special  thanks to Haley Galloway, Head of Junior School and those students who assisted in putting this excellent event together.

Farewell Julie Mortimer

Next Wednesday, the College will farewell Mrs Julie Mortimer after eight years at Sacred Heart College and almost forty years of teaching and leadership experience at a variety of schools across regional Victoria. Julie has been a remarkable leader at Sacred Heart College having transformed the school’s approach to Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing. She has an unconditional commitment to ensuring that Sacred Heart College provides a welcoming, safe and nurturing environment for young people and, especially, those who are vulnerable or have additional needs. On behalf of the many thousands of students, staff and families that Julie has supported personally and professionally, I thank her and wish her all the very best for her retirement.

Congratulations to Karina Wheeler

Special congratulations to Karina Wheeler, Head of the SHC Careers team who was inducted this week as a Fellow of the Australian Centre for Careers Education. Part of the nomination by Karina’s colleagues included the following:

“Karina has shown long term professional commitment to career education in Australia, including her work in building a strong car eer development culture at Sacred Heart College, delivering professional career education programs for a range of students and year levels, keeping students and parents aware of changes and updates in the workforce and tertiary opportunities, along with active involvement with local community groups”.

Staff Departures

The end of the school year also sees a number of staff finishing their time at Sacred Heart College. I would like to thank each of them for their service and commitment particularly those who have been long-standing members of the Sacred Heart College community:

Julie Mortimer   -  Retirement

Rachel Tanner   -  Catholic Regional College Sydenham

Shirley Duff   -  Retirement

Ella Unwin   -  End of Contract

Lynda McCord   -  End of Contract

A final blessing to all Sacred Heart College students, staff and families for the upcoming Christmas season and the New Year to follow. I hope the times are filled with joy, rest and good health.

Yours in Mercy,

Dr Darren Egberts

Principal