This week’s prayer was prepared by the College FIRE Carrier students (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) and follows the recent celebration of NAIDOC week across the country. At Sacred Heart College, we remember the call to walk gently and justly on the journey of reconciliation. We recognise the special place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have cared for the land, waters, and sky for more than 60,000 years, and we honour their deep spiritual connection to Country.

Term 3 commenced with a student-free day allowing staff to complete the annual Faith Formation Day. The day was facilitated internally and focused on two themes: (i) the Christian ideal of the Human Person which underlies the fundamental premise of education at Sacred Heart, educating the whole person; and, (ii) how this ideal informs a range of learning and wellbeing programs at the College including consent, respectful relationships and the school’s social justice initiatives. Congratulations to Mr Saul Travers-Hucker for his leadership of the day and the SHC staff who led the various sessions.

A reminder to all families that the annual Student Wellbeing Professional Learning Day is scheduled for next Friday 31 July with no classes for Year 7 – 12 students. The day is focusing on the College’s Restorative Practice program which guides all wellbeing and behavioural management at Sacred Heart College.

Mobile Phone Free School

Thank you to all parents and families for the support offered as the College’s new mobile phone quarantine program is introduced. The arrangements for students each day are working well and the College’s leadership will continue to update families on progress in coming weeks.

Welcome to Sacred Heart College

The new semester saw a number of new staff join the College and we welcome each of them:

Tim Hughes Teaching Mathematics

Sarah Kippen Teaching English and French

Oscar Lidgerwood Learning Support team

Louise Seager Learning Support team

Subject Selection and Subject Expo

This week, Quambi has been the epicentre of much excitement and discussions with students in Year 9 – 11 determining their subjects and pathways for 2027. In particular, Wednesday evening’s Senior School Subject & Pathways Expo was a highlight with the breadth of the school’s Senior School subject offerings on display. Prospective students and parents were able to talk with the subject teachers, Learning Area Leaders, as well as current students completing these subjects. Alongside the subject offerings, the Expo also included a large number of displays from tertiary institutions, the Australian Defence Force, Victoria Police etc.

Phone-Free School: Two Weeks In

It’s now been two weeks since the College introduced the phone-free school day, providing an opportunity to reflect on how our students and staff have settled into this significant change.

Each morning, students submit their phones during Homeroom, where they're placed in individual Lock Boxes and kept in locked, CCTV-monitored storage for the day, before being returned during Afternoon Homeroom. Two weeks on, this routine is becoming second nature. While some students are still adjusting - reaching for a pocket that's now empty or remembering to hand phones in on time - the overwhelming majority have embraced the new procedure with maturity and good grace.

We want to acknowledge and thank our students for how they've approached this change. Adjusting to a new daily routine takes time, and it's entirely normal for habits to still be forming this early on. What has stood out to staff is not that the transition has been perfect, but that students have been genuinely willing to give it a go, following the process, supporting one another, and accepting the shift with a positive attitude.

Staff continue to notice the flow-on effects around the College. Anecdotally, the conversation among staff is that students seem genuinely more engaged with each other during breaks -talking, laughing, and interacting in ways that a phone in hand can quietly get in the way of. Relationships between students and teachers have benefited too, with phones no longer the source of everyday friction they once were in the classroom. And in lessons themselves, students generally seem more engaged in their learning. These are early signs, and we know two weeks is just the beginning, but they point in a very encouraging direction.

We're conscious this is still a process. There will be days that run more smoothly than others, and pockets of the routine that need fine-tuning as we go. That's expected, and we'll continue to work through it with patience and consistency. What hasn't wavered is our confidence in the change itself: a phone-free school day gives our students the chance to be more present with each other and more focused on their learning.

Thank you to our students for the way they've taken this on, and to our families for the support and encouragement you've given at home. It's making a real difference.

Subject Selection for 2027

While 2027 may seem to be a distant horizon, early preparations are now underway for the coming school year. 

This week, our Year 10 students have each taken part in their individual subject selection interviews, as they embark on a process of discernment and decision making ahead of stepping more fully into the VCE programs. For many of our Year 10 students, this is one of the first occasions when they have been tasked with making significant choices about their lives, and we encourage them to recognise that they are not alone in the decision making process. 

All students from Years 8-11 will be submitting their 2027 subject selections in the coming weeks, and we invite families to familiarise yourself with the materials that will be provided to support this process. Our staff are very much invested in making sure that each student can make well-informed choices that speak to their own areas of strength and interest, and we welcome any questions you may have to support the process.

A key step in this process was our Subject Selection and Pathways Expo held earlier this week, and I encourage you to read the report in this newsletter from Mr Nic Melaisis, Director of Curriculum Operations, about this special event.

Year 10 2027 Course Manual

Year 11/12 2027 Course Manual

Wednesday 22 July, saw members of our College community share in an inspiring and informative evening, as we staged our Senior School Subject Selection and Careers Expo.

It was a joy to see Sacred Heart families filling the gym and theatre to explore Senior School Pathway options and a wide range of Learning Area subject offerings.

Walking through the Expo, I was struck by the positive energy and excitement that permeated the night as senior pathways and subjects were brought to life with inspiring display stalls, fruitful conversations and advice, alongside the opportunity for families to also engage with an array of external tertiary providers, including universities, colleges, apprenticeships, the Australian Defence Force and Victorian Police.

Special mention to our Year 9 and 10 students for interacting so thoughtfully with teachers, and our invited tertiary providers. Likewise, thank you to our Year 11 and 12 student subject ambassadors who represented different Learning Areas, in a wonderful display of Student Voice, agency and positive peer-to-peer exchanges.

Thank you also to our parents and guardians, for attending in impressive numbers. Your presence and support of the Expo reinforced the integral mutual bond between Home and College that together encourages our young people of Sacred Heart to flourish.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Sacred Heart staff whose preparation made the night a wonderful success.

This year’s Senior School Subject Selection and Careers Expo stands as a powerful reminder of the adages – That it takes a village to raise a child and to go far, we must go together.

Student Reflections from the French Model UN Excursion

We arrived at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership in North Melbourne, and Germany (Allemagne) came to stamp their authority as the powerhouse we were/are. Through some peaceful and not-so-peaceful debate (especially from the Democratic Republic of Congo), we made our position crystal clear, and after a long but enjoyable day, we were able to resolve some issues surrounding AI and make a final resolution that all nations were happy with. This experience gave us a new perspective on leadership, improved our language skills and confidence while also having fun with other like-minded French speakers. A ‘merci beaucoup’ to Madame Slootjes and Monsieur Melaisis for facilitating the day, a great way to start Languages Week.  From Luke, Caitlin, Heidi and Elena

On Monday 20 July, the Year 11 French students represented SHC in a model UN experience, spoken in French. South Korea was represented by Elizabeth, Ralema, Ameliah and Levi. With the help of Adrien, our French exchange student, we gained a greater understanding of what was being spoken in French. We were able to communicate with other states, such as the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Germany, Estonia and many more. It was a great day of strengthening our French knowledge and improving our speaking and listening skills. It was a bit scary talking in another language in front of many other students, but we gained the confidence to continue to input throughout the day. It was also good to get to know other students from other schools.

The French Model UN was a very fun experience because it allowed us to meet and interact with other VCE French students and participate in a debate about relevant global issues. We caught an early train into North Melbourne where the event was held at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, and joined 11 other schools in representing various countries. It allowed us to strengthen our understanding of the French language, and practice using our French conversational skills. We had to prepare a position statement about our chosen country in regards to the issue of Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, and debate amendments to management of the issue - Estonia.  From Georgia, Lucy, Natalia and Simone

Information regarding ‘Period 5’ Assessment Task Afternoon Catch-Up Sessions

Sacred Heart College is pleased to continue our ‘Period 5’ Assessment Task Afternoon Catch-Up Sessions in Semester 2, 2026 (Terms 3 and 4).

Purpose: These sessions provide a dedicated, supervised space for students to complete missed Assessment Tasks without missing further class time. This initiative specifically supports Year 10 and 11 students who do not have scheduled study periods, as well as students needing to reschedule Unit 4 SACs.

Key Information for Families:

• When: Sessions will run on alternate Monday (Day 1) and Thursday (Day 9) afternoons during Terms 3-4. Kindly see schedule provided further below.

• Time: 3:45pm – 5:00pm (Supervision begins at 3:35pm in the Study Hall/Multi-Purpose Room).

How the Process Works: If your child needs to attend a ‘Period 5’ Assessment Task Catch-Up Session, the process is:

1. Consultation: The subject teacher will discuss the catch-up requirement with your child.
2. Notification: As the Parent/Guardian you will receive a 'Rescheduled Task Letter', outlining the specific date and time of your child’s scheduled session.
3. Completion: Once the task is finished, the supervising teacher will ensure your child’s Assessment Task is securely returned to the relevant subject teacher for marking.

The Importance of Attendance:

• A significant amount of coordination goes on behind the scenes to organise these sessions and prepare the necessary materials.
• We ask for your support in ensuring your child attends their scheduled session.
• Attending a scheduled ‘Period 5’ Assessment Task Catch-Up Session is a necessary step for students to complete their course requirements.
• Subsequently, attending a scheduled ‘Period 5’ Assessment Task Catch-Up Session takes priority over part-time work, sports training and social commitments.
• Catch-Up Assessment Tasks should be completed at the nearest possible time following the initial due date.
• Attendance at a scheduled ‘Period 5’ Assessment Task Catch-Up Session helps students avoid the stress of falling behind in their studies

"I came that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

These words of Jesus framed our recent Staff Faith Development Day as we began preparing for the introduction of the revised Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum.

Rather than beginning with lesson content, we stepped back and asked two questions: What does it mean to flourish? and What is the Catholic vision of the human person?

The Catholic tradition begins with the belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, each person is "not just something, but someone." It is a simple idea, but one with profound consequences. How we understand the human person shapes how we educate, how we relate to one another, and how we build our communities. History reminds us that whenever people are reduced to objects rather than persons, dignity is diminished and injustice follows.

We also reflected on a popular view of Jesus as little more than a non-judgemental buddy who simply accepts people as they are. The Gospels reveal something far richer. Jesus always begins with encounter. He meets people with compassion, restores their dignity and calls them to conversion. We often remember his words, "Neither do I condemn you," but forget what comes next: "Go, and sin no more." Christ meets us where we are, but he does not leave us there. The goal of the Christian life is not simply to feel accepted, but to be transformed, becoming ever more like Christ.

This understanding lies at the heart of our College. As a Catholic School in the Mercy tradition, we seek to educate the whole person, helping every young person discover the fullness of life that Christ came to offer.

With a new semester underway, our Digital Technologies students in Year 7 and 8 have started the Term by asking a pretty simple question "What actually is a computer"?

To get the answers, students have been getting hands-on, dismantling old computers and seeing for themselves what is inside. Motherboards, hard drives, RAM, cooling fans and a fair bit of dust have all been unearthed, and students have enjoyed the rare licence to pull something apart without getting into trouble for it.

It has been a great reminder that the devices we use every day are not magic boxes. They are collections of parts that each do a job, and understanding those parts is the first step towards understanding the technology that shapes so much of our world.

Learning on Country: Our Cultural Immersion Experience

For almost 20 years, Sacred Heart College has sent a group of Year 11 students to teach at the Nykinia Mangala Community school in the Jarlmadangah Burru Community as part of a weeklong cultural immersion. As a group, eight students and two teachers, travelled to Western Australia over the winter holidays to participate in this 10 day trip. We spent a few days in Broome -  kayaking at Gantheaume Point (spotting a sea turtle), driving around Broome and of course doing the ‘Big Shop’ to prepare for our time in the community.

On Sunday afternoon, we arrived at Jarlmadangah and settled in to the school as some of the kids wandered down to meet us. Even with plenty of great stories and advice from past students and teachers, the kids still managed to surprise us. Ranging from ages 3 to 14, there were up to 21 kids attending school each day, many more than past years. We quickly learnt how much they loved playing basketball, line tiggy and piggybacks, and as the sun set on the orange cliffs this quickly became a nightly routine.

Getting to know the kids inside the classroom was sometimes a challenge as they greatly outnumbered us, but it was fun moving between the younger and older classes and planning activities like cooking, spaghetti ‘engineering’ and volcano experiments. It was lovely to get to know the students personally and learn more about them.

We were warmly welcomed by the Principal, Ms Wiki, and teacher, Ms Katie and are very grateful for their help guiding us through the teaching during the week. We also had the opportunity to go out On Country with Mr Wayne, who although shy at first, soon became our tour guide to all things Kimberley. It was extremely special to visit the local caves and the Fitzroy River wetlands and try different bush foods (like the boab nut and conkerberries). We will forever be grateful for all he taught us about the land and the Jarlmadangah Community.

We finished our trip with another few nights in Broome and got to enjoy a morning camel ride, visit the Broome museum, and spend time on the beach and at the jetty.

We won’t forget our time in the Kimberley, it definitely ‘gets under your skin’ as everybody says. It was so special to be able to make such great connections with the kids of JBAC and the friendships we made with the staff of the community school, our own teachers and each other will not be forgotten. Our time spent at Nykinia Mangala School, the red, rocky ranges and boab trees and the sound of the kids laughing and playing barefoot in the red dirt will forever be a treasured memory.

Written by Millie Erwin & Inga Foerster, Year 11 Immersion Participants

Intermediate Girls Basketball

On Tuesday 21 July the Year 9/10 girls competed in three games of basketball for the Mickleham Division. Macey, Frankie and Zara all showed their ability to get to the basket and finish strong. Gracie and Emilia impressed everyone with their 3’s. Molly and Ellie’s amazing work in the key was much needed.

Finally, Georgia’s defence was amazing and kept up all day. Even though our girls didn’t make it through to the second round, we are still extremely proud of their efforts and positive energy throughout the day.

Sadie and Audrey

Intermediate Boys Basketball

Losing our first game by just one point was tough, but the way the boys responded was something special. They stayed positive, backed each other, and worked hard every game, going on to win every match after that. 

I'm so proud of the effort, teamwork, and determination they showed throughout the tournament. They never gave up, always played for each other, and represented Sacred Heart. Highlights included:

• Jono finding points when most needed
• Oscar for throwing himself at every rebound
• Curtis for being safe and reliable on both ends of the floor getting stops and scoring points
• Jordan for creating excitement when he almost dunked
• Dan for always doing the team thing and when his opportunity came he took it
• Maino bringing his athleticism and reacting quicker then everyone else to get to high spot first
• Bailey for being a big part of our defensive zones and preventing scores in the paint
• Patty for always being an option for his team to bail out and reset controlling the tempo.

Well done everyone!

Nicholas Tricarico

Intermediate Boys AFL

After winning the first round of our pool back in May, our Intermediate Football Team competed again on Wednesday 22 July and had an awesome day! After winning our first two matches, we secured a spot in the grand final. 

We were unfortunate however, to lose the grand final. We tried our best and cooperated with each other during the entire day. The grand final was something to be proud of, and it was a fantastic learning experience.  Well done everyone!

James Beattie

Languages Week

The festival of Languages has continued into this week, following our kick-off with our Year 7 students studying Japanese, who participated in a Japanese drumming excursion last week.

This week, students had the opportunity to try some Japanese games of Kendama (cup and ball) and Tama-ire (throwing bean bags into a hoop attached to a stick) during lunchtime and recess. We had a good group of students challenge themselves to build the Eiffel tower out of popsicle sticks. There are some outstanding results!

Our Languages quiz for both staff and students is well underway, along with our postcard competition, which is seeing some amazing entries for both Japan and France. We have been celebrating the diversity of Sacred Heart by having a map in the library where both students and staff can place a star on the location of their family's heritage.

On Monday, our Year 11 French students represented the College so well, and did an outstanding job at the Model United Nations conference, in which the entire day was held in French.

Today, we saw our Year 12s participate in the annual Berth Mouchette Poetry competition, which will complement their preparations for their final French Oral Exam at the end of the year. 

Next week, our Year 8 Japanese students will complement their studies on martial arts with a Kendo incursion, whilst our Year 8 & 9 French students will participate in a Djembe incursion, gaining an understanding of the French culture and language in Africa.

Benefits of Learning a Language

There has been a buzz with the Subject Selection Expo, and discussions around Languages pathways and the advantages of pursuing your language to VCE and beyond. Learning a language develops communication skills, confidence, cultural understanding, problem-solving, memory, concentration, and flexible thinking. These cognitive benefits support learning across all subject areas and strengthen students' first language. Speaking another language also opens future career opportunities, as employers across industries increasingly value people who can communicate across cultures.

Since Semester 2, 2025, our Year 7 and 8 Japanese and French teachers have been implementing the Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) method of teaching a language. Using sentence builders, students learn language patterns as a whole, reducing cognitive load and building confidence through repeated listening, speaking, and meaningful communication. It has been wonderful to see students using Japanese and French more naturally and confidently with their teachers and classmates.

Have Your Details Changed?

Have you recently moved house, changed your phone number or email address, updated your employment details, or had a change in your family's living arrangements?

It is essential that the College has your most up-to-date contact information to ensure we can reach you quickly in the event of an emergency and communicate important information regarding your child's education.

If any of your details have changed, please take a few moments to update your family information using the link below.

Change of Details Notification Form

Thank you for helping to keep our records accurate and up to date.

Lachlan Paag - Australian Gridiron Team

Lachlan has just returned from representing Australia in Gridiron at the championships in New Zealand.  After a gruelling training camp in Sydney he headed to New Zealand for more contact training sessions followed by hydro and physio sessions.  

Both our junior teams came home with the win. The U18s game was close, but we got over the line. The final score Aus 34 Def NZ 22.

Lachlan played well and had some really good tackles. He learned a lot from this experience and is looking forward to taking his new skills into the upcoming home and away season. He also hopes for re-selection next year.  Well done Lachie, fabulous achievement!

Games can still be viewed on YouTube NZ U18 vs AUSTRALIA U18 (Festival Of Football)