This year’s Wellbeing Week was guided by five key pillars of mental wellbeing – emotional, spiritual, social, mental and physical – with each day offering activities that supported our students in a truly holistic way.
The week began with plenty of excitement as Farmer Darryl arrived on campus, giving students the chance to cuddle and connect with lambs, sheep, goats, rabbits, a calf and more. To foster the spiritual pillar, students embraced a calming mindfulness meditation and wrote heartfelt letters to their future selves during homeroom – a reflective activity that encouraged peace and self-awareness.
The social pillar came to life through a shared breakfast of donuts and fruit, creating a warm space for students to connect with friends and peers. On Thursday 11 September the school joined the national conversation for R U OK? Day with a sausage sizzle and the symbolic act of painting a single nail yellow – a simple but powerful reminder to check in with one another.
The week finished with an energetic burst of school spirit: a lively junior dodgeball tournament and a senior footy match, celebrating the physical pillar through fun and friendly competition.
A huge thank you goes to our dedicated Student Wellbeing Captains for their creativity and leadership in bringing Wellbeing Week 2025 to life.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.