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A Prayer in Remembrance of Pope Francis – The Pope of Mercy
Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
You gave us Pope Francis to guide Your Church with mercy and love.
He was a servant of the Gospel, a voice for the poor, a bridge-builder, a man who sought not greatness, but goodness.
He showed us what it means to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with You, our God.
Through his witness, we saw the Church as a field hospital open to the wounded, the lost, the seeking.
He reminded us that mercy is not weakness, but the heart of Your love for the world.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
This week’s newsletter begins with a prayer reflecting on the passing of beloved Pope Francis on Easter Monday. The global outpouring of grief following his death was testament to the profound influence that Francis had on the universal Church as well as the world itself. His essential quality was to be a simple human being who gave witness to authentic Christian values such as humility, respect, compassion, simplicity and love. His papacy was one that brought the world’s poor and disadvantaged to the centre of the Church’s mission while also emphasising that care for our common home is an unconditional part of a faith-filled life.
As a school community, Sacred Heart College joins the millions of other Catholic organisations across the world in praying for the College of Cardinals who will shortly gather to discern and elect the next Bishop of Rome. May whomever is chosen be a worthy successor to Pope Francis!
ANZAC Day Commemorations
A large vote of thanks to the significant number of students and staff who gathered at various ANZAC Day commemoration services around the Macedon Ranges last Friday. It is remarkable to see how these services continue to grow in size despite the wars they recognise being so long ago. The service that our young people give in supporting the RSL as part of this is a small but important affirmation of the broader service of everyone who is and has been a part of Australia’s Armed Forces.
“Our servicemen and women have left us a splendid heritage. May we and our successors prove worthy of their sacrifice.” (from the Kyneton ANZAC Day service)
Alongside the many commemorations on Friday, the College came together last Thursday for our annual ANZAC Day assembly. Congratulations to everyone involved and a special thanks to Mr Craig Byrne from the Kyneton RSL who spoke eloquently of his own experiences as an ex-serviceman.
New Staff
The start to second term has seen a number of new staff join the College. As a group, we welcome:
- Genevieve Archibald - Teaching Art and Visual Communication Design
- Jessica Roan - Teaching Health and Physical Education
- Rene Spence - Wellbeing team
- Noah Camilleri-Seeber - Learning Support
- Rylee Bone - Learning Support
Grade Five Visits
This week has seen the College’s classrooms and schoolyards abuzz with the noise of Grade Five students from local parish primary schools. Sacred Heart College has hosted students and staff from St Mary’s Lancefield, St Mary’s Castlemaine, St Brigid’s Gisborne, Holy Cross New Gisborne, St Ambrose Woodend and Our Lady of the Rosary Kyneton. I am sure that our guests enjoyed the range of activities that were planned as well as the company and friendship of the SHC Peer Support students who accompanied them.
Yours in Mercy,
Dr Darren Egberts
Principal
ANZAC Day is an important time of remembrance and commemoration of the sacrifice upon which the everyday freedoms we enjoy as a nation, rest. In a time where freedoms are being challenged in many countries around the world, our College service was a reminder to our young people not to take our civil liberties for granted. We are very grateful to Mr Craig Byrne of Kyneton RSL who joined us for our service. Craig spoke about our connection to the ANZAC conflict as a community by highlighting the story of one of the soldiers named on the Kyneton cenotaph. He encouraged students to stop by the Cenotaph in our townships and do our own research.
We thank all student leaders involved in the ceremony, particularly Alex Price, who performed a moving rendition of the Last Post and Reveille, as well as the members of the College Choir.
Our students also represented the College at a number of ANZAC Services across our local area on Friday. We thank them for their contribution in commemorating the very first ANZACS and all who have served in the generations since. 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙚 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩
Grade 5 Discovery Day at Sacred Heart
This week, we were delighted to welcome Grade 5 students from our local primary schools to Sacred Heart for a special Discovery Day. The students enjoyed a fun and engaging program, which included hands-on classes and an exciting paper plane competition. One of the clear highlights was the making (and tasting!) delicious apricot balls with our Hospitality Students.
Lunchtime was another memorable moment, with our Peer Support Leaders playing games and spending time with the visiting students, helping them feel welcomed and included. It was a joy to see so much energy, curiosity, and laughter throughout the day.
A huge thank you to all the teachers, staff, and students who contributed to making the day such a success.
The visiting students left with big smiles on their faces and were clearly delighted with their experience at Sacred Heart.
Sadness and Hope
This Easter season, we find ourselves caught between hope and sadness.
Hope because Christ is risen, but sadness because we have farewelled Pope Francis, the Pope of Mercy, whose life and final blessing pointed us again to the heart of the Gospel.
On Easter Sunday, even though he was frail, Pope Francis found the strength to offer his final Urbi et Orbi blessing, a blessing “to the city and to the world."
He reminded us that the Resurrection is the foundation of true hope: "Hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit!"
This is not wishful thinking. It is the promise that through Christ’s victory over death, life and love will always have the final word.
At Easter, we also hear the story of Peter, the Rock, who denied knowing Jesus three times, and yet is met with forgiveness, not condemnation.
The risen Jesus simply asks him, "Do you love me?"
And Peter answers, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you,"
Peter is then sent out to feed and tend the flock.
Peter’s failure wasn't the end of the story.
It was love, not perfection, that restored him.
It is the same for us. Easter calls us to trust in God’s mercy, to stand up again, and to follow Christ with renewed hearts.
Pope Francis lived that journey.
He called the Church to be a "field hospital,” to be close to the wounded, open to all, but especially those on the margins, never tiring of showing mercy.
Even in his final Easter message, he urged the world to reject violence and hatred, and to be builders of peace and hope.
As we continue this Year of Jubilee, a year for Pilgrims of Hope, we are invited to live mercy, proclaim freedom, and trust that God’s love is bigger than our fears.
The last image we have of Pope Francis is him blessing us from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica — a shepherd pouring out everything he had for those he served.
Now, as the Cardinals gather in Rome to pray and discern who will lead us next, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide them.
May the Church continue to be a beacon of faith, hope, and love for the world.
And may we, too, walk as Pilgrims of Hope, carrying Christ’s light into every place we go.
SPIs: Thank you for your partnership
A vote of thanks for your participation in our first round of Student Progress Interviews last week. As a rough estimate, more than 2000 conversations took place over the 3 days of SPIs, all of which were centered around the learning journeys of our students. Thank you for the spirit of partnership that you brought to these conversations, and for your ongoing support in our shared work to ensure every student can flourish.
Communicating and disconnecting
At Sacred Heart we appreciate that learning is a communal endeavour, and we welcome ongoing channels of communication between teachers, students and families. Modes of electronic communication, particularly emails, are helpful resources to clarify, check-in, and share feedback. It is often at the end of the day when we might find time to sit down and compose an email for sending to a teacher or other member of college staff. We ask that you remember that an immediate response to emails should not be expected, and that our staff have a right to disconnect. Time outside of school hours spent away from the duties of the working day allows our teachers to be at their best when they are in the classroom. Partly for this reason, our view is that 1-2 working days after receiving an email is a reasonable window of time for teachers to have an opportunity to reply in most circumstances. We ask that you please also consider that, for part time staff, 1-2 working days may be spread differently to a full time staff member. In a similar spirit, we encourage all students to find regular times to disconnect, including times for stillness and silence, and times for living gently within the present moment.
This May, we’re running a goods drive to support McAuley Community Services for Women and Children, who provide safety and support to those facing homelessness or family violence.
In the Catholic tradition, May is the Month of Mary. When Mary found herself young, pregnant, and vulnerable, she travelled to her cousin Elizabeth—who welcomed her without judgement. That story of care and compassion still matters today.
🧺 What we’re collecting:
Week 1:
• Toiletries (shampoo, body wash, toothpaste)
• Period products (pads, tampons, reusable underwear)
• Gift cards (Coles, Woolworths, petrol, Big W)
Week 2:
• Toiletries and Period Products
• Books for women, teens, and children
• Gift cards for family outings (cinema, zoo, aquarium)
Week 3:
• Arts & crafts supplies (paints, pencils, brushes, canvas)
• Sensory toys (fidget toys, playdough, kinetic sand)
• Children’s books (diverse and inclusive)
Week 4:
• New kitchen utensils and cooking items
• Grocery and fuel gift cards
• Any donations from previous weeks
💡 While we’ve set a focus for each week, you’re welcome to donate any items from the list at any time throughout May.
📍 Drop-off point: The Chapel
Let’s live out our Mercy values this May💙
Year 7 students are eligible for free vaccinations as part of the National Immunisation Program. These include:
✔ Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine – helps protect against cancers and diseases caused by HPV.
✔ Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (dTpa) vaccine – provides protection against these serious infections.
These vaccines are provided through the Secondary School Immunisation Program and will be administered by nurse immunisers from Macedon Ranges Shire Council at school.
Parent/Guardian Consent Required
To ensure your child receives these important vaccines, you must complete the consent section via the Central Immunisation Records Victoria (CIRV) portal or another relevant online platform. Consent can be yes or no—if you do not wish for your child to receive the vaccines, please decline online through CIRV.
📅 Immunisation Date: Friday 13 June 2025
🔗 Submit your consent here: CIRV Portal - https://portal.cirv.vic.gov.au//PrivacyCollection/?id=3ac8a188-04a3-ef11-8a6a-000d3a79bab1&Year7
🗓 Deadline for consent: Wednesday 11 June 2025
For more details about these vaccines, visit: The Better Health Website
Should you require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Health Centre Coordinator, Jalna Holmes at the College on 54211 200 or via email jbholmes@shckyneton.catholic.edu.au
Year 9 & 10 Falls Creek Alpine Camps
Information for Families:
Dates:
Year 10 – Monday 18 – Friday 22 August
Year 9 – Monday 1 – Friday 5 September
Whilst August and September may still seem a while off, in the next few weeks we will be beginning the preparations for Ski Camp with all Year 9 and 10 Students.
Students will have an information session in Assembly in the coming weeks, outlining the camp and what it entails, as well as the equipment required.
Equipment:
With regards to equipment required on the mountain, students are provided with hired skis, boots, poles, and a helmet. All students, however, are required to have their own waterproof snow gloves and eye protection in either the form of sunglasses or snow goggles. Whilst many families may not already have these items, these can be borrowed from family or friends at other year levels. In the coming months retail stores such as Anaconda and Aldi will begin having sales on ski gear and will have these items available for purchase at good prices.
Students also have the option to either bring their own waterproof snow jacket, and waterproof snow pants, or they have the opportunity to hire these items. If students choose to hire these items these are covered under the costs of the camp, however, they will need to indicate this in the coming weeks, so it is important that you discuss this requirement with your student.
After students have had their information session regarding camp in Assembly, students will need to complete a Google Form via their Google Classrooms outlining their details and past skiing experiences. On this form they will be able to indicate if they need to hire the waterproof snow jacket and/or pants. This information will then be used to finalise our bookings with Falls Creek.
Snowboarding Applications:
All students will undertake Down-hill and X-Country Skiing. If students wish to snowboard on the down-hill days of the camp, they must have snowboarded before and complete an application form. Application forms will be made available after the Year Level Assemblies. The snowboarding application form must detail the students’ ability and understanding of the Alpine Safety Code. Parents/guardians will be required to sign this form acknowledging their student’s ability. Unfortunately, numbers are capped for snowboarding and applications will be used to create these groups. If a student misses out on the opportunity for snowboarding they will join in with the majority of students who will be skiing.
PAM
Further information, including PAM permissions and the Camp Handbook, will be available for families next Term closer to the date.
Sacred Heart College is seeking expressions of interest from families who would be willing to host a Japanese language assistant as part of the Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language Program. The language assistant will be a Japanese university student, most likely female.
The hosting period will be for three weeks from 9 – 30 August, with the language assistant working every school day for the duration of that time. Host families will be expected to assist with transport to and from school each day and provide all meals. Host families will be provided with a modest payment to assist with the cost of hosting.
This is a wonderful opportunity open to all Sacred Heart families, whether or not your child is studying Japanese. Hosting is an excellent way to open up cultural exchange from the comfort of your own home! If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, or would like more information, please contact Kim Twilley, Languages Learning Area Leader, at ktwilley@shckyneton.catholic.edu.au.
During the final part of last term, Year 12 Food Studies students delved into the critical topic of food allergies and intolerances. Their studies focused on developing a comprehensive understanding of several key areas: the common triggers for these conditions, suitable ingredient substitutions for recipe adaptation, and the symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, along with effective management strategies.
To solidify their learning through practical application, students participated in the following hands-on activities:
- Allergy-Friendly Baking: Creating biscuits free from common allergens, including gluten, lactose, eggs, and nuts, while also adhering to low FODMAP dietary requirements.
- Expert Insights on Allergic Reactions: Jalna, the SHC school nurse, provided invaluable first-hand knowledge. She clearly explained the distinctions between mild and severe allergic reactions and, crucially, detailed the immediate steps required to manage anaphylaxis.
- Sensory Evaluation: Students conducted a sensory analysis comparing traditional chocolate Tim Tams with their gluten-free counterparts.
The knowledge and skills gained throughout this key knowledge were recently assessed in a School Assessed Coursework (SAC) task, providing students with an opportunity to apply their understanding.
On Wednesday April 30, SHC Unit 1 & 3 Media Studies students, Mrs Matthews and Mr Gallagher, embarked on an inspiring excursion to Melbourne, immersing themselves in the world of film, media and design.
The first stop was the Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI), where students were treated to a screening of the Top 13 Films of 2024 VCE Media. This provided valuable insights into the
high-calibre work being produced by their peers, and offered inspiration for their own projects. The 'Meet the Filmmaker' session afterwards gave students the unique opportunity to hear firsthand from past students about the creative process, challenges and rewards of their filmmaking.
Melbourne Museum was our next stop where we enjoyed a quick stroll through the Top Designs exhibition. This showcased a diverse range of outstanding student work, including films, photography, print productions and accompanying folios.
This excursion was particularly relevant for our Year 12 Media students who are currently deeply involved in the production of their major projects. The exposure to exemplary work at both ACMI and the Museum provided a tangible benchmark and sparked new ideas as they refine their own creative visions.
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