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Prayer
Loving God,
We thank you for this moment of light and love.
As our candles continue to burn, may their light remind us of your love that surrounds us and the Mercy that unites us.
Bless the students, staff, and leaders here today. Strengthen within us the values that guide our Mercy communities.
May our words today be thoughtful, our listening deep, and our hearts open to truth and justice.
Set our hearts on fire to be bearers of your light in the world— in what we say, in how we act, and in who we are.
We make this prayer in Jesus’ name, your Word made flesh.
Amen.
This week’s prayer is taken directly from the Welcome and Opening Prayer of last week’s Frayne Public Speaking Festival hosted by Sacred Heart College Kyneton.
This year’s Frayne Festival was a significant event for the school with more than 200 students and staff from thirteen Victorian and South Australian Mercy schools represented (the full list of participating schools is included below). The festival is a celebration of public speaking, debating and voice choir and has been held annually since 1996. The quality of competition was very high and the shared spirit across so many young people was a true testament to the quality of Mercy schools.
Competing Schools
Academy of Mary Immaculate, Fitzroy
Catherine McAuley College, Bendigo
Damascus College, Ballarat
Emmanuel College, Warrnambool
Mercy Regional College, Camperdown
Mount Lilydale Mercy College
Notre Dame College, Shepparton
Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg
Padua College, Mornington
Sacred Heart College, Geelong
Sacred Heart College, Kyneton
St Aloysius College, Adelaide
St Aloysius College, North Melbourne
A very special highlight for Sacred Heart College was winning the blue riband Voice Choir competition. Sixteen students from Year 7 – 9 competed against voice choirs from four other schools, each of whom had significantly more experience than our students. Notwithstanding this, the Sacred Heart students won by a substantial margin. Congratulations to the students involved and special thanks to the staff leaders – Hannah Monagle and Freya Egberts.
Voice Choir
Grace Batkovic, Year 7
Anna Dunn, Year 7
Angus Jewell, Year 7
Liv Norman, Year 7
Charles Ramselaar, Year 7
Ava Ryan, Year 7
Jonah Sacco, Year 7
Grace Sinclair, Year 7
Archie Turner 7
Keto Westman, Year 7
Lucinda Bowen, Year 8
Georgia Morelli, Year 8
Charlie Agar, Year 9
Stella Egberts, Year 9
Kate Hemphill, Year 9
Matilda Matthews, Year 9
Sacred Heart College also had a team participating in the Debating competition as well as Catherine Mahoney (11D) in the senior Public Speaking competition. I would like to thank all the Sacred Heart College staff and students who contributed to the success of a fabulous day with special thanks to the key staff leaders – Jennifer Baldwin, Loretta Hanns, Andrea Knight and Laura Shepherd.
SHC competitors
Debating
Levi Gordon, Year 10
Danika Wozniak, Year 10
William Sacco, Year 10
Public Speaking
Catherine Mahoney, Year 11
2025 Frayne Speech Festival - Winners
Public Speaking - Winner
Florencia Herrera, Academy of Mary Immaculate, Fitzroy
Public Speaking - Runner Up
Fadzai Bako, St Aloysius College, North Melbourne
Debating - Winner
St Aloysious College, North Melbourne
Debating - Runner Up
Mount Lilydale Mercy College
Debating – Overall Best Speaker
Polly-Jean Butterfield – St Aloysius College, North Melbourne
Voice Choir - Winner
Sacred Heart College, Kyneton
Voice Choir – Runner Up (Tied)
Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg
St Aloysius College, North Melbourne
Student and Staff Activities
Alongside last week’s Frayne Festival, it has been a remarkably busy few weeks at Sacred Heart College:
- The two Alpine Camps for 2025 have been held at Falls Creek and Howman’s Gap with Year 10 students in the week of August 17 and Year 9 students this week. The two camps in three weeks reflects the changes announced in 2024 with SHC year level camps transitioning to Year 7 – 9 by 2026. On the mountain, students and staff have been blessed with excellent snow and plenty of sunshine.
- This week, most Year 10 students are undertaking a week’s Work Experience locally and around the state. This opportunity is a very important one as students move formally into senior school and are giving consideration to academic and vocational pathways.
- Last Tuesday saw the culmination of two rounds of the annual Sacred Heart College Junior Chef competition. It was fantastic to see teams from each of the Macedon Ranges Catholic Primary Schools involved (St Mary’s Castlemaine, Our Lady of the Rosary Kyneton, St Mary’s Lancefield, St Ambrose Woodend, St Brigids Gisborne and Holy Cross New Gisborne). Special congratulations to St Brigid’s Gisborne who celebrated their first win in the competition.
- Currently, a significant number of Year 10 & 11 students are involved in the election process for the College’s 2026 Senior Cabinet. Congratulations to each of them for having the courage to apply!
Bereavement: Your prayers are asked for the Byrne family, with the passing of John Byrne, grandfather of Darby, Year 10. Our thoughts are will you at this sad time.
Yours in Mercy,
Dr Darren Egberts
Principal
Information for Parents
At Sacred Heart, we want every student to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been reviewing how we approach behaviour in the Junior School, especially low-level behaviours that can quietly impact learning and classroom culture.
We believe every student has the right to learn, and every teacher has the right to teach, without ongoing disruption. Our new Behaviour Management Framework supports this by providing a clear, consistent process that focuses on student choice, fair consequences, and opportunities to reflect and reset.
What’s Changing?
We’re introducing a stepped approach that responds in the moment and supports students to take ownership of their actions. You’ll see this visualised in the attached flowchart, which will also be displayed in classrooms.
The Steps:
Remind – A quiet redirection to help a student get back on track.
Warn – A clear explanation that a continued choice may lead to consequences.
Act – If behaviour continues, the student is exited from class to reflect and reset.
What Does This Address?
We will use a rolling 14-day window (aligned to our two-week timetable) to track behaviour patterns. This helps us spot trends early and follow up when needed. We will monitor:
Low-level classroom behaviours
Uniform expectations
Punctuality
This helps us intervene early and fairly when students may need extra support to achieve their best.
Changes to Parent Communication
We will no longer notify families about each individual incident. Instead, we will be in touch by email or phone when repeated behaviours occur that trigger reflection sessions. This gives teachers time to focus on students in the moment, while still keeping families informed and involved when needed.
Celebrating Growth
We’re also increasing how often staff send commendations, to highlight and celebrate when students show great effort, growth, or values like compassion and respect. This is an area we see great potential in and will continue to develop.
This approach is about helping students reflect, take responsibility, and return to learning. If you would like to talk it through, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s Year Level Leader.
Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF)
We are excited to announce that Sacred Heart College will be offering Year 9–11 students (aged 14+) the opportunity to attend the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), taking place in Melbourne from 30 November – 2 December 2025.
ACYF invites students to grow in their faith, strengthen their relationship with Jesus, and be inspired to live out Catholic values in everyday life. The three-day festival brings together thousands of young people from across Australia to celebrate and deepen their faith in Jesus Christ through prayer, liturgy, music, keynote speakers, social action opportunities, and workshops designed to inspire, challenge, and encourage.
Program Highlights include:
- An opening day urban pilgrimage from St Patrick’s Cathedral to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
- Daily plenary sessions featuring keynote speakers, musicians, and Church leaders
- Opportunities for prayer, Adoration, the Sacraments, and liturgical celebrations
- Workshops, forums, and breakout sessions covering contemporary faith issues and leadership
- The Expo and Justice Centre, where young people can engage with social justice organisations and take part in service-based activities
For our students, this will be an exciting and life-changing opportunity to grow in faith, connect with other young Catholics, and explore how they can live out the Gospel in the Mercy tradition of our College.
To make this opportunity accessible, the College will cover a portion of the cost, meaning that the price for students is only $100. Transport options will be finalised depending on numbers, and students will be accompanied by staff throughout the event.
There will be an application process, including a short interview, for those students interested in attending. Details about how to apply will be shared in the Daily Messages, so we encourage students to keep a close eye on these updates.
We encourage students to prayerfully consider being part of ACYF 2025. This is a chance to encounter Christ, celebrate our faith, and join with thousands of young people in building a future filled with hope.
Seeds of Justice Conference: Care for our Common Home
By Lila Ely, Chloe Cestina, Harper Collinge, Molly Ramselaar, and Scarlett Booth
On 14August, we went to the Seeds of Justice Conference in Anglesea, and we were excited for two days of learning, meeting new people, and having fun.
When we got there, we went on a beach walk and did some mindfulness activities. It was nice to slow down, relax, and enjoy being outside in nature.
One of the best parts was hearing from Juliet Talarico, a former Mercy student and eco-justice advocate. She spoke about how we can care for the environment and live more in harmony with creation. We also learned about Laudato Si’ and how our faith calls us to look after our world.
We spent some time learning about the Fire Carriers program too, and how it helps schools walk alongside First Nations peoples on the journey of reconciliation.
Across the two days, we joined workshops, met students from other Mercy schools, and made lots of new friends. We talked about justice, sustainability, and how we can make a difference back at school and in our communities.
On the way home, we stopped at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, which was a fun way to finish the trip.
Overall, the conference was fun and inspiring. We learned so much, met great people, and came away with new ideas about how to be leaders for justice in the Mercy tradition.
Expanding the Trial Religious Education Curriculum
Sacred Heart College has been selected to continue and expand our involvement in the Trial Religious Education Curriculum, which will now run across all Year 7 classes.
In Term 4, students will engage with the unit 'Ancestors in Faith,' exploring the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. Beginning with Abraham’s journey of faith and God’s covenant, students then follow Jacob’s story of rivalry and reconciliation, and finally the dramatic narrative of Joseph, whose rise to leadership in Egypt shows God’s providence and forgiveness at work.
Each unit of work is supported by a detailed framework for teachers, including content for explicit instruction, guiding questions to check for understanding, activities for deeper learning, and opportunities for revision and assessment. The emphasis on deep learning invites students not only to know these ancestral stories but to consider their ongoing meaning for faith, covenant, and God’s presence in human history—pointing ultimately to their fulfillment in Christ.
This expansion is an exciting opportunity for our students to experience a contemporary, story-rich approach to Religious Education that is both academically rigorous and deeply grounded in Scripture and Catholic tradition.
Year 12 RE Service Groups
As a part of their Religious Education program this term, Year 12 students have started taking part in a service based group project, which run over five RE lessons. These groups are giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and practical application of everyday courage, and to live out the values of the Kingdom of God. The groups are underway, and students are making the most of their experiences so far.
Groups include:
Cooking for Camp Campaspe
Caring for the environment through tree planting and sustainability
Caring for the vulnerable through visits to R M Begg in Kyneton
Caring for women and children by making toys for McAuley Services
We look forward to hearing more about these project groups as the term goes on, listening to what students have learnt about themselves and others, and seeing some of their finished products.
Year 7 MACS Curriculum Trial
Earlier this year, it was announced in our College newsletter that a new RE curriculum would be developed for schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne, with Sacred Heart taking part in its trial phase.
As part of this trial, four Year 7 RE classes have been exploring a new unit of work focused on Moses and the Exodus. It has so far been a valuable opportunity for both our students and staff to contribute to the future of RE, and to support excellence in teaching and learning at Sacred Heart. We look forward to sharing teacher feedback with MACS next month.
Thank you to Mrs Freya Egberts, Mrs Andrea Knight, and Ms Tara Wilkes for their commitment in teaching the trial. Their creative resources and collegiality has been very appreciated, and enjoyed by students.
Please check out some of the creative work produced by our students!
Junior Chef 2025 – A Celebration of Young Talent
Sacred Heart College was thrilled to host the 2025 Junior Chef Competition, welcoming enthusiastic primary school teams into our kitchens for a day of creativity, teamwork, and culinary fun.
The competition was incredibly close, with students impressing our judges through their organisation, collaboration, and passion for cooking. Dishes were praised for their flavour, texture, and vibrant presentation — a true showcase of skills beyond primary school expectations.
Congratulations to the winning team from St Brigid’s, who claimed the 2025 Junior Chef title!
We also extend our thanks to all participating schools, students, and staff. Every team should feel proud of their achievements, and we hope this experience becomes a highlight of their school years.
The Junior Chef Competition reflects our commitment to providing fun yet challenging opportunities for students, while also giving our hospitality students the chance to mentor and support younger learners.
We were delighted to welcome our incredible Guest Judges, who generously gave their time to support and inspire our Junior Chefs. It was an honour to have them at the event, and we were truly grateful for the expertise, encouragement, and passion they brought, helping to make the day both memorable and inspiring for all participants.
Henry - A former Sacred Heart student, Henry is a recently qualified chef working at Fook Shing, Henry has learned from some amazing chefs and loves sharing his passion for food.
Morgan – A Sacred Heart graduate, Morgan specialises in desserts and pastries, currently leading the cake and dessert section at Fed Foodstore and Catering, with experience gained while completing her Certificate III in Commercial Hospitality and Cookery.
Josh Murray – Founder of Josh's Rainbow Eggs, Josh is passionate about sustainable farming and ethical food production, providing free-range eggs of the highest welfare standards across Victoria.
We can’t wait to welcome schools back for Junior Chef 2026!
The Year 10 Ski Camp was a memorable experience for everyone involved! Many students saw the snow for the first time, and it was a fantastic opportunity for them to learn new skills on the slopes. The camp fostered great bonding between students and staff, especially during the Fancy Dress Theme Night. Awards were given for good teamwork and most improved on the slopes, and a special liturgy helped us all reflect on the week's events. The resilience and teamwork skills learned during the camp are qualities students will carry with them for years to come.
Baked Goods Fundraiser a Sweet Success for Threatened Species Day
On Tuesday 26 August, our Sustainability Leaders and Green Team hosted a delicious baked goods fundraiser in recognition of National Threatened Species Day on 7 September. The stall was brimming with cookies and brownies, lovingly baked and eagerly snapped up by students and staff alike.
Thanks to the generosity of our school community, we successfully raised funds that will go directly to the Campaspe River Landcare Network. This contribution will support their important ongoing work in managing and protecting our local threatened species, ensuring that these unique plants and animals continue to thrive in our environment.
The event was not only a fundraising success but also an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges faced by threatened species in our region. A special thank you goes to the Sustainability Leaders and Green Team for their organisation, creativity, and commitment to making a difference.
Every cookie and brownie sold has helped make a positive impact – proof that even the smallest actions can help protect our natural environment.
This week the 2nd year Certificate II in Cookery students completed a unit on eggs where they are required to use eggs in various applications, some of which include binding, enriching, emulsifying and thickening.
This week the focus was aerating. The students made a delicious chocolate sponge and used their own flair and ideas to decorate.
This cake was beautifully decorated with blueberries and freshly whipped cream. The finishing touch of the edible fresh pansy’s were picked from the college vertical herb garden.
In 12 RE this term, students have chosen a group to work on as part of a service project. One group of students working as part of the ‘Caring for the Environment’ group recently did some tree planting, and are currently looking at the effects of fast fashion on the environment.
As part of this research, they will be visiting local Op Shop’s next week, and next Monday we will run our own 'Op Shop and Swap' at Sacred Heart College.
As part of 'Op Shop and Swap', students are encouraged to bring in clothes they no longer wear. All proceeds will go to McAuley Family Services. Students could also choose to do a swap with another student, for an item of similar value.
Senior Boys Basketball - Lauren White
In a magnificent display of skill and teamwork, the Senior Boys' Basketball Team dominated their competition, winning all three games to cap off an undefeated campaign with a grand final victory. The team's success was built on a foundation of exceptional play at both ends of the court. Ben's incredible strength down low was matched by Ruben's persistent inside drives and a masterful defensive effort that neutralised the opposing team's key player in the grand final, despite Ruben battling significant pre-game cramping. Sam and Rohan were lethal from beyond the arc, while Sam and Tyler thrilled the crowd with powerful dunks. Tyler's shot-blocking was a game-changer, swiping away numerous attempts from the opposition. The tireless one percent efforts of Murphy, Xavier, Rhys, and Jordan were crucial to the team's success, highlighting their commitment to the campaign. Under the valuable coaching of Isaac, the team's professional approach and delightful play made them a joy to watch, a sentiment shared by the supportive parents who cheered them on.
Mickleham Athletics - Damian Zanic
Friday 15 August saw 70 students represent the college at the Mickleham Athletics Carnival held at Meadowglen Athletics Track, Epping. Our largest attendance in many years showing the great talent of athletes Sacred Heart has. Another successful day with 35 students winning both individual events and relays to go through to the NMR round on Wednesday September 10. Thank you to Ms Vandenham & Mr Ryan for their attendance and support on the day.
Netball News - Jodie Wattie
Senior Girls Netball
On Friday 1 August our senior girls went to their Northern Metropolitan Championship Day, after winning all games in the first round. They played great netball and demonstrated excellent sportsmanship. They narrowly missed the final but had a great day representing the school, many of them for their final time.
Year 8 Girls Netball
On Monday 25 August our Year 8 girls went to their Northern Metropolitan Championship day. They won all their pool games and played Viewbank College in the final. It was the tightest final we have ever seen. The teams were equal at full time, which meant we went into extra time. The two teams were still even at the end of extra time! This meant we went into a ‘golden goal’ scenario – first goal to be scored was the winner. Unfortunately, our girls came home runners up. They played absolutely brilliantly. They were brave and courageous to the final whistle. Our racing hearts are only just recovery from such an epic final. This group of girls will be ones to watch as they move through school, having already made it to State Finals last year. Well done girls. We are enormously proud of you!
Intermediate Netball - Madelyne Brennan
On Friday 15 August a group of nine Year 9-10 girls played in the Northern Metropolitan Sports Region Netball competition in Bundoora. This was their second round, after winning our first round a few months ago.
After a bumpy start to the day with a last minute change of venue, the girls played 3 games and won all three. They played against Preston (17-8), St Helena's (22-18) and Pascoe Vale (36-11). After winning all the games in our pool we played a final against Diamond Valley.
Despite playing a great game and demonstrating excellent sportsmanship we lost 32-19, coming away with the red runners up flag. It was a great day with all of the girls showing amazing respect, teamwork and dedication.
Year 8 Girls Basketball - Indi Eveleigh-Trotter
The Year 8 Sacred Heart College girls basketball team had a very successful day at inter-school competition, winning all four of their games. They played strongly against Mickleham, Edgars Creek, Elevation, and Mt Ridley’s Team 2, before facing Mt Ridley’s Team 1 in the final. The girls worked well together, showed great skill and teamwork, and finished the day undefeated, making the school proud!
Year 8 Boys Basketball - Lauren White
The Year 8 boys' basketball team committed to a term's worth of training as they prepared for their tournament under the guidance of Jordan. In their first game, their teamwork paid off with a decisive victory. Maino and Heath led the charge, running the court with speed and precision, while Harvey and Curtis played both ends with tenacity, driving into the gaps and shutting down opponents on defense. Will and Bailey dominated the boards with impressive rebounding, and Sam's sharpshooting from the outside added a crucial dimension to their attack. However, their second match proved to be a tougher challenge, and despite a valiant effort, they were unable to advance. The boys should be proud of their performance. A big thank you to Sam and Ben for their support on the day.
Josephine Salanitri - Year 11
On 18 August, my horse 'Stetson Blue' aka ‘Slider’ and I, had the amazing opportunity to represent Sacred Heart College at the August Interschool Dressage Day at Boneo Park. We competed at the Novice level, riding two dressage tests each made up of a combination of movements judged for precision, rhythm, and partnership.
We came third in our first test and second in our second test, and our combined scores won us Reserved Champion. It was such an incredible result for our first time competing at a higher level together, and I’m so insanely proud of my boy!
Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way, Slider and I couldn’t have done it without you!
We’re so excited to represent Sacred Heart again at the October Interschool Dressage Day and at the Interschool Dressage Championships in January 2026.
Matthew Skewes Year 8
We would like to congratulate Matthew Skewes on his achievements while representing SHC this year. Matthew competed in the Petstock Equestrian Victoria Interschool State Championships 2025, held at Boneo park Equestrian Centre in early April. Matthew proudly represented Sacred Heart College in Dressage and Show Horse events with horse ‘Veuve’ (Charlie) an off the track retired race horse. Together they were awarded the broad sash for Champion in the Dressage and Reserve Champion Show Horse.
Matthew was selected to represent Sacred Heart College and Victoria as a member of team Vic at the School Sport Australia Aquatic Games 2025. The National level event saw teams competing from all Australian states and Fiji. Competing in nine events, Matthew placed top 10 in all events managing to break five Victorian state records and one national record during the six day competition held in Brisbane.
Swimming Victoria’s Country Short Course Championships were recently held in Bendigo. Competitors from across the State came together to compete, with Matthew taking home Bronze in the 50m Butterfly and 50m Backstroke.
Matthew has now turned his focus to training for the Victorian Age Championships to be held in Melbourne during September.
We done Matthew, what great achievements.
Teen Yoga & Relaxation at Over the Moon Studio
New classes for secondary school students are starting in Term 4 with Edna Reinhardt. These classes combine movement, relaxation, and practical tools to support strength, calm, and focus. We’re excited to offer a 6-week block of Teen Yoga & Relaxation classes at Over the Moon Studio. ✨ Early bird discount of 15% until 15th September.
- When: Wednesdays, 8 October – 12 November 2025
- Times:
• Year 7–9: 5:15–6:15 pm
• Year 10–12: 6:15–7:15 pm - Cost: $25 per class – $150 for the 6-week block
- Early-bird special: $127.50
These classes, taught by Edna Reinhardt, are designed to support teenagers with strength, flexibility, and relaxation during the busy school years.
Enquiries: enquiries@overthemoonstudio.com
