Principal News
Dear Families,
This term now feels like it is flying past, as we look towards the end of the term and Term Four not too far away. At Sacred Heart we celebrate another action packed fortnight, with learning at the centre of all that we do. It seems crazy that the AFL home and away matches have now finished, and it is great to see the AFLW matches underway and how exciting they are. Good luck to those with teams in the finals! We also look forward to our Sacred Hearts Dad’s Footy Day next Saturday 5th September. Please feel free to watch or reach out to Ant McCabe if you would like to be involved.
Sacred Heart District Athletics
Today, many of our students proudly represented Sacred Heart at the Dendy District Athletics Carnival at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve. It was wonderful to see everyone giving their best, encouraging their teammates and connecting with students from other schools. As always, I was particularly proud of the exemplary manners and sportsmanship our students demonstrated as they arrived at their events and congratulated others at the end of each race.
We also congratulate our own Mr Jaynes, who coordinated the carnival for the eight schools across the Dendy District. He has worked incredibly hard, both in selecting and preparing our Sacred Heart team and in organising the overall event.
We are also thrilled to share that Sacred Heart finished as runners-up in both championship shields, an outstanding achievement and a wonderful reflection of the effort, determination and team spirit shown by every student. Congratulations to our athletes on representing Sacred Heart with such pride and achieving an exceptional result!
It was also fantastic to see so many students attend relay training at the Sandringham Athletics Track on Tuesday afternoon. A special thank you to David for generously sharing his time and expertise with the students.
Book Week - A Symphony of Stories
Please read the Book Week section of the newsletter for a deep dive into all things literacy from Mrs Stroud and Miss Prosser as we have celebrated Book Week. I was really looking forward to experiencing a Sacred Heart Book Parade and I loved every minute. To see the students proudly and confidently walk in front of an audience and share their character and costumes was such a highlight. A huge congratulations to our respectful and caring audience.
Extended Science Week 🧪
We have had an extended Science Week, with experiments with Miss Allen at lunch and recess time. Today I was working with the Wool Craft people and when the announcement came over for all Prep and Year One students interested in making sherbert to line up outside the STEM room; I had no friends left! Miss Allen’s passion for this important curriculum area enthuses all of us and we constantly learn. This week the students have had the opportunity to learn about electricity, look at and feel a sheep’s brain and how to make sherbet and the chemical reaction of the ingredients. On Tuesday we had a visit from the MACS film crew, as they recorded a few of Miss Allen’s Science activities.
Professional Development Day
Thank you once again for supporting our recent Professional Development Day. Staff participated in professional learning led by MACS on Opportunities to Respond (OTRs), a research-based, best-practice approach designed to strengthen student engagement, increase active participation and provide teachers with immediate feedback about student understanding.
Staff also examined our NAPLAN data and considered how these insights will inform our teaching priorities and school planning for 2027. We sincerely thank Ms Rafferty and Mrs Stroud for their Learning and Teaching leadership throughout the day.
You can learn more about Opportunities to Respond and how this approach supports student learning on the Deputy Principal’s pageof this newsletter.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Luisa and Marielle for generously providing a delicious morning tea and lunch, which was greatly appreciated by everyone.
Blessing of Playground 🙏🏽
Please save the date for the Blessing of Playground - Thursday 10th September Playground Blessing- 2:30pm. Please take a jar or plate from the office for our Bake Sale.
Father’s Day morning and Assembly - Friday 4th September
We look forward to our families, Dads and Special Friends joining us next Friday for our morning tea at 8:30am in the hall. This will be followed by an assembly at 9:00am, where the senior students are sharing a song with us. All visitors are then warmly welcome to visit the classroom with the morning finishing at approx 10:30am. Thank you to our P & F for making this possible. We also thank Hee who has kindly organised the Father’s Day stall on Wednesday 2nd of September. We can’t wait to see you all there!
Dance Workshop & Last day of term update
We are looking forward to a fun-filled final day of Term 3 on Friday 18 September. Students are invited to come dressed in the colours of their favourite football or sporting team. This may include a team jumper, scarf, beanie or team colours. Please ensure clothing and footwear remain suitable for participating safely in school activities.
We will begin the celebrations with our Footy Colours Parade at 9am, where students will have the opportunity to proudly show their team spirit.
During the final two weeks of Term 3, students in Prep to Year 4 will participate in a dance program delivered by Dance Curriculum as part of the Physical Education curriculum. The program will commence on Monday 7 September, and students may wear their sports uniform each day throughout the program. The term will conclude with the Prep–Year 4 Dance Concert and our final school assembly at 12pm in MacKillop Hall. Families are warmly invited to join us as students showcase what they have learnt and we celebrate another wonderful term together.
Jump Rope for Heart❤️
Following the success of Jump Rope for Heart last year, we are excited to participate in the program again. It was wonderful to see students enthusiastically developing their skipping skills, challenging themselves, staying active and enjoying time outdoors with their friends. The program encouraged many children to continue practising during recess, lunchtime and at home, with the occasional impromptu dance party on a Friday afternoon!
Mr Jaynes will share further information in our next newsletter. Students will participate in a range of fun and engaging Jump Rope for Heart activities during Physical Education lessons next term. In the meantime, please visit the link below to learn more about Jump Rope for Heart.
Celebrating Learning at Sacred Heart
On Friday afternoon, while many of our students and staff were attending the District Athletics Carnival, it was wonderful to visit our Year 1 and 2 classrooms and see students so actively engaged in their mathematics learning. Across each classroom, students were focused, enthusiastic and confidently explaining their mathematical thinking.
It was also particularly pleasing to see our pre-service teachers leading learning across three of these classes. Supported by their mentor teachers, they delivered purposeful and engaging lessons, established clear expectations and responded thoughtfully to students’ needs. Their confidence and professionalism reflected both their commitment to developing their practice and the generosity of our teachers, who invest significant time in coaching and mentoring the next generation of educators.
These moments are worth celebrating. They highlight the positive learning culture at Sacred Heart, one in which students are challenged and supported, teachers learn from one another, and professional growth is valued at every stage of a career.
This week, I would like to acknowledge the key leaders across our school who continue to drive improvement, set high expectations and model exemplary practice. Whether stepping forward without being asked, coaching and mentoring colleagues, responding to the needs of students, families and staff, or going above and beyond for their teams and leadership portfolios, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a cohesive and high-performing leadership team at Sacred Heart.
I often say that our leaders wear many hats, but never seem to have enough hooks on which to hang them! Despite the competing demands of their roles, they continue to raise the bar and demonstrate what it means to bring the best version of ourselves to our work each day. As we work together to sustain a positive and high-performing school culture, I sincerely thank them for their dedication, energy and unwavering commitment to our community.
Clash of the Courts & Dad's Camp – Save the Dates!
Bayside school communities are coming together for Clash of the Courts, a fun and family-friendly netball fundraiser featuring more than 200 players across two competitions.
Come along to watch Bayside’s women in action while supporting Team Sports 4 All, an organisation that helps children from disadvantaged families participate in community sport.
Sunday 15 November, from 1:00pm
Bayside District Netball Association
Holloway Road, Sandringham
Player registrations will open in the first week of Term Four. Please see the attached flyer for further information and updates.
Dad's Camp - Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th October 2026
We’re heading away for a relaxed weekend by the Yarra River and would love you to join us! Families are welcome to arrive straight after school on Friday or make their way there on Saturday. If the weather is warm, we’ll spend time floating down the river and enjoying the beautiful countryside. If it’s cooler, we’ll gather around the fire with a cup of tea. Either way, it promises to be a wonderful weekend of fun and connection.
A group booking has already been made with the campsite, and families from all year levels are welcome. Children must be accompanied and supervised by their dad, grandfather or another special adult. We’ve enjoyed this weekend several times before, and it is always a fantastic experience. For further information or details about booking a site, please contact one of our dads, Tom—well known across Years 1 and 2—who will be happy to assist!
💎Little Gems of Sacred Heart💎
We congratulate Isabelle and Noah for their recent athletic achievements. Isabelle placed first in the state for the 1500m race and Noah fifth place for the 2km. We congratulate them both and are very proud of them.
🦘Staffing News🦘
We warmly congratulate Mr & Mrs Bohannon on becoming an Australian citizens. This is a very special milestone, and we were delighted to celebrate this proud and memorable occasion with her. On behalf of the entire Sacred Heart community, congratulations, Bohannons!
Take care and wishing God's blessings and peace upon each of you.
Mrs Cathy Ferrari
