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Prayer
Come, O life-giving Spirit, transform us,
Stir up in us the flame of love which is your gift
Give us wisdom to see as you see.
Give us understanding to hear as you hear
Give us courage and strength to walk the way of justice and integrity.
Kindle in us wonder and awe, that we may have grateful spirits.
You who dwell within us, praying unceasingly, fill us with love and devotion.
Holy Wisdom, guide us in the choices we must make.
Give us discerning hearts that we may choose what is good, in accord with your desire.
Lord God of mercy, finish in us the work you have begun.
Amen
This week’s prayer reflects the significance of Tuesday 11 November – a day of national importance as Remembrance Day (107 years after the armistice was declared concluding the First World War) while simultaneously being a remarkable political anniversary, 50 years since the sacking of Australia’s Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.
Yet for Mercy communities across the world, November 11 marks the anniversary of Catherine McAuley’s death in Dublin in 1841. Her life and words continue to inspire Mercy ministries more than two hundred years after her passing.
Thanks to the Sacred Heart College students and staff who represented the school community at local remembrance ceremonies around the Macedon Ranges.
Sacred Heart College Fees – 2026
Yesterday, I distributed a letter to current and prospective Sacred Heart College families detailing the 2026 College Fee Schedule. As has been mentioned in previous newsletters, the annual increase for 2026 is higher than average reflecting a new industrial agreement for Victorian Catholic school staff expected next year. Copy of this letter is attached below.
Mercy Education CEO Visit
On Monday, Sacred Heart College hosted the interim Mercy Education Ltd Chief Executive, Mr Andy Kuppe. During visit, Andy was able to meet with senior College staff, share morning tea with student leaders and enjoy a tour around the College’s wonderful campus.
End of Year Assessments
Yesterday, Year 10 & 11 students commence their end of semester examinations; these important assessments offer insight into how students performed during the second semester, as well as important preparation for VCAA examinations to be completed for all Unit 3-4 subjects. The examinations will be followed by a fortnight of Step Up classes for all students undertaking Unit 1 – 4 classes in 2026.
Semester 2 Instrumental Music Evening
On Wednesday evening, I was privileged to attend the final music event for the year, with almost one hundred students performing musical solos and ensemble works across three venues at the College. The evening provides a wonderful affirmation for the students and particularly the work they have done at home and at school with their instrument(s). The evening is also a great testament to the guidance and encouragement students receive from our outstanding group of instrumental music staff under the leadership of Head of Music, Josh McGuffie.
Bereavements: Your prayers are asked for the following families who are mourning the loss of a loved one recently. The Singh family on the passing of Vimla Singh, Dadi, grandmother of Rohan Year 11 and Arjun Year 8, and the Hewitt family on the passing of Margaret Montgomery, grandmother of Ruben Year 11. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Yours in Mercy,
Dr Darren Egberts
Principal
Semester 2 Exams
Our Year 10 and 11 students have now begun their Semester 2 exams, and our Years 7-9 students will begin preparing for their own exams soon. This is a time for students to be attentive to developing their revision strategies and time management practices. All students are encouraged to be confident and positive in their self-talk in the lead up to their exams, and to see the experience as an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and to become familiar with the exam process.
Step Up
Following their Semester 2 exam period, our Year 10 and 11 students will begin their Step Up Program. The Step Up program will run from Friday 21 November -Thursday 4 December, during which time Year 10 and 11 students will participate in a full cycle of their 2026 timetable. Within their Step Up lessons, students will complete introductory work for their 2026 courses, and be provided with homework tasks for completing over the summer holidays. This is an exciting time, and a chance to be looking forward at what the new school year will bring.
Academic and Special Awards Assembly
All students in Years 7-11 will gather together on Thursday 27 November to celebrate our Academic and Special Awards Assembly. This occasion will be a time to congratulate and commend those students who have accomplished outstanding academic achievements throughout the school year, and will feature the announcement of the Dux and Dux Proximus for each Year Level. This special assembly will also feature an array of special awards, which celebrate the rich diversity of student life and achievement at the college. Families of students receiving an award at this assembly will be notified prior to the event.
Supporting Our Students Learning Through the Social Media Delay - Tina Fattori, Library Teacher
As you may know, the Australian Government has announced a significant change regarding young people and social media. Sacred Heart College is being proactive with this transition to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment for all students. The library team aims to ensure access to safe, high-quality digital learning content that directly supports the curriculum. We’ll be supporting staff and students in using ClickView and World Book Online which provide curated educational video content, as well as seeking out additional learning resources.
Why is this Social Media Delay Happening?
The government has mandated that, from 10 December 2025, children under 16 will be prevented from creating or maintaining accounts on major social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X.
This decision is driven by a commitment to protect young people from:
- Harmful or unsafe content that is often easily accessible.
- Addictive algorithms designed to maximize screen time.
- Negative mental health impacts including anxiety, sleep disruption, and issues with self-esteem.
What Does This Mean at Sacred Heart College?
This legislative change requires adjustments to how digital resources are used in the classroom:
- Platform access: Your child may no longer be able to access platforms they currently use during school hours.
- Teacher adaptation: Our teachers are already adapting lessons that previously relied on YouTube or similar platforms for video content.
- Safe alternatives: Sacred Heart College is introducing and utilising safe, curriculum-aligned alternatives to ensure that high-quality digital resources continue to support learning without the risks associated with general social media.
How This Will Affect Your Child
We anticipate several positive impacts from this transition:
- Increased focus: reduced distractions should lead to more concentration in class and deeper learning.
- Better protection: students will have stronger protection from exposure to unsafe content and algorithmic manipulation while at school.
While there may be a transition period as teachers finalise shifts in lesson plans, we are working proactively to ensure minimal disruption. The library team remains committed to ensuring that students have access to a range of reliable, authoritative learning resources and will support teachers through this transition.
At home, parents still play a key role: while platforms will be required to prevent under-16s from maintaining accounts from December 10, 2025, we encourage you to reinforce healthy digital habits and open communication about online life.
Tips for Parents from eSafety Guidance
We encourage you to use this period as an opportunity to review and model healthy digital boundaries at home. The eSafety Commissioner offers these key tips:
- Talk Early, Talk Often: Ask your child how they feel about these upcoming changes and their online activities in general.
- Model Positive Use: Show balance and intention in your own device habits. Your children watch what you do!
- Offer Safe Alternatives: Encourage educational platforms, hobbies, reading, and family activities that do not involve social media.
- Set Clear Boundaries: Agree on specific times and places (like no devices at the dinner table or in bedrooms after a certain time) for device use.
- Watch for Wellbeing Signals: be alert to changes in your child’s sleep patterns, mood, or social withdrawal, as these can be signs of underlying issues.
More information for parents can be found at: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
2026 Academic Year Booklist
It's time to prepare for the 2026 academic year! To ensure your child has all the necessary resources, please follow the instructions on the How To Order Flyer in the link below. Booklists are now available on the Campion website. You can also access these booklists via PAM in Documentation for Families - Booklists.
Key Information & Dates:
- Resource list code for Sacred Heart College: G97F
- Order online by 19 December 2025 for $12 home delivery.
- Orders placed after this date will incur an increased delivery cost, and stock availability cannot always be guaranteed.
We encourage all families to refer to the guide and place their orders by the deadline to ensure a smooth start to the 2026 academic year. Need Help? Visit the Parent Hub for hints, tips, and helpful videos at campion.com.au/parents.
Since 2009, Sacred Heart College has been blessed to share a special relationship with the Jarlmadangah Burru community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Each year, eight Year 11 students are invited to journey to Jarlmadangah Burru—immersing themselves in Country, culture, and community. The experience offers a unique opportunity to learn from the deep wisdom of First Peoples and to walk in the spirit of Mercy Justice and reconciliation.
The 2026 Jarlmadangah Burru Journey will take place from 26 June – 5 July 2026.
During the immersion, students work with the local primary school, prepare meals together, and take part in daily reflection and community life. The journey continues our College’s long-standing partnership and our shared commitment to reconciliation and respectful relationships.
Applications are now open for current Year 10 students. While the College continues to keep costs as low as possible, families should anticipate an estimated cost of $3,500. Application Form is available on Daily Message for your student to complete.
Families are encouraged to discuss this meaningful opportunity together and support their child’s application. Further details will be provided to shortlisted applicants.
On Wednesday 12 November students learning stringed instruments made the trip across to our neighbours at the RM Begg Aged Care Home. Accompanied by Pauline Griffiths, our incredible string teacher and Josh McGuffie, Head of Music; the students performed a 30 minute concert that delighted the residents. From the formal strains of Handel to jaunty Irish dances and nostalgic scenes from childhood by Schumann, the program received hearty applause. After the concert students were then able to stay and chat to the residents and promises were made to return soon. We thank Pauline Griffiths for organising this important community outreach event and the staff and residents at RM Begg for their warm welcome and appreciation.
On the evening of Wednesday 12 November, the Sacred Heart Music Department presented their annual Instrumental Showcase Recitals across the School. Three recitals ran concurrently. Performing in the Chapel were vocal students of Jess Demare, piano and brass students of Sue Morris and woodwind students of Sarah Gill. In the Mary Moloney Theatre were drum students of Elizabeth Dynon and Andrew Rousch, string students of Pauline Griffiths and piano students of Anna Zuidland. In the Music Classroom were guitar students of Mark Roberts and Tim Allan. As Head of Music, it was a joy for me to see our music students taking the stage in all three venues. I saw some students bravely undertaking their very first live performances, others expertly delivering complex music that had required hours of dedicated practice and, most importantly, all students supporting and encouraging each other throughout.
An evening of such complexity requires a team and I send my heartfelt thanks to the Instrumental Music Staff for their expert teaching and their support in setting up and managing each venue, and the programming of each recital. Thank you also to Freya Egberts for logistical and photographic support and to Steven Huntly for, amongst many other things, helping to move two very heavy pianos!
Finally, a dedicated thank you to the many families and friends who attended the evening. The study of an instrument is a very private and personal thing, until it comes time to share that work with an audience, whereupon it becomes a very human, and very special connection with others. You taking the time to attend the evening creates the atmosphere for this connection to blossom and is deeply appreciated. The Sacred Heart musicians greatly look forward to seeing you all at the next performance!
FIRE Carriers - By Benjamin, Alexander, Ava, Angus, and Will
On Monday 10 November, 13 students from our school were chosen to become FIRE Carriers, which stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. The ceremony began with opening prayers and a short talk about what being a FIRE Carrier really means in our school community. We spoke about the importance of reconciliation and how each of us can play a part in it. Afterwards, we spent time reflecting on our responsibilities and discussing ways we can promote awareness, understanding, and respect within our school.
It was a special moment that reminded us how small actions can make a big difference in bringing people together. This was especially clear when we heard how much previous and current FIRE Carriers from other schools had achieved through fundraisers. These fundraisers helped support First Nations Australians and their children to achieve positive educational outcomes.
We ended the day with the Commissioning Ceremony, where we officially became FIRE Carriers. We stood around a fire with our certificate and a copy of our school’s covenant, which holds our vision for the future and the core values of being a FIRE Carrier: Spirituality, Cultural Recognition and Awareness, and Practical Reconciliation and Justice. During the commissioning, everyone felt a strong sense of pride, knowing that what we were doing would make a positive impact on our school and the wider community.
To finish, we all read a pledge that will guide us on our journey towards becoming better allies and promoting reconciliation for the First Peoples of this country and helping to create a more equal Australia where everyone is valued and treated with respect, and where the wounds of our past can begin to heal.
Our Year 9 Reflection Day this year focused on the theme of homelessness and housing insecurity. We started the day in the Chapel where we learned and talked about homelessness by answering questions and reflecting in writing. This was an informative part of the day.
We had our break as normal before going to the theatre to see a guest speaker named Sammy. Sammy is a singer and songwriter who explained his journey with homelessness and his struggles through life. Afterwards, he performed some songs for us and encouraged us to join in!
For our third session, we had a guest speaker named Hayley from McAuley Services for Women, who described some of the realities and options that people with high risk of homelessness face, and the facilities the services offer.
We then moved onto a shared lunch on the oval, which was just for Year 9s - we liked the donuts! After lunch, we reflected on the day in some booklets and participated in meditation and Year Level prayer in the Chapel until the day came to an end.
Overall, the day was a good chance to learn about homelessness and the effects of it on society, as well as providing a good day away from classes to reflect before exams.
by Seamus Mahony and Thomas Goodsall 9A
At lunchtime last Thursday our VCE Science students had the opportunity to listen to Dr Greg Willis give a presentation on producing posters for scientific investigations.
Dr Willis is a professional neuroscientist and physiological psychologist and is the Director of The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, he has presented countless posters at scientific forums and conferences in Australia and around the world.
It was an excellent opportunity for our students to listen to and learn from a professional scientist and we are extremely grateful to Dr Willis for giving up his time and expertise to help further prepare our students to produce their own scientific investigation posters as part of their VCE studies.
Year 7s are well into their curriculum trial in RE, developed for schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne. They are studying Ancestors in Faith, featuring the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. These stories highlight the promises of God throughout the Old Testament, and the faith demonstrated by these ancestors.
Our Year 7 RE teachers - Ms Boorman, Mrs Dugdale-Walker, Mrs Egberts, Mrs Knight and Mrs Wilkes - are showing much creativity in their classrooms, with Joseph’s multicoloured coat as one example of bringing student learning to life.
Thank you to Mrs Andrea Knight for sourcing this coat, and to the Kyneton Theatre Company for generously lending it to us for our study.
Congratulations to Year 9 student Tyler Fynch who represented SHC at the Victorian All Schools State Track and Field Championships. These Championships were held over two weekends at the end of October at Lakeside stadium, Albert Park.
Tyler delivered impressive performances in challenging weather conditions to be crowned State Champion in both the 1500m and 3000m. 🥇🥇
These results qualify Tyler to represent SHC and Victoria at the Australian All Schools National Titles held from 4 to 7 December. Making it Tyler's 8th Australian National competition in under 3 years! Well Done and Good Luck Tyler.
