Dear Sacred Heart Families,

This morning, I had the privilege to gather at Mass with the other Principals from Melbourne's West to give thanks for the year gone by and to look forward with hope and optimism for the year ahead with. It was even more special as the mass was celebrated by Fr Binh, and his homily, giving thanks for the important work of Principals as servants of God, bought a few tears to my eyes for the love and gratitude I have for the school and parish community of Sacred Heart and how blessed I am to serve as your School Principal.

Throughout the mass, we reflected on our united mission to nurture the minds, hearts and spirit of the children you, as parents and carers, have entrusted to our care. Through the gospel of Mark, we were reminded that we, as Catholic Principals, are called not just to lead but to serve - following the example of Christ, the ultimate teacher and shepherd. We prayed for guidance, wisdom and strength as we continue the important work in our schools and communities.

As we continue to prepare for the end of year celebrations including the School End of Year Mass, Year 6 Graduation Mass, Christmas Carols and more, may we also take the time to pause, breathe and make space for reflection in the Advent season. As a community, may we take this time to recentre ourselves, appreciate the blessings around us and prepare our hearts for the Christmas season ahead.

Yours in faith,

Kaylene

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Class Lists 2026 - Step Up Day

Our 2026 class lists have now been confirmed. Students will learn who their teacher/s will be on the afternoon of Tuesday, 9th December followed by Step Up Day on Wednesday, 10th December.

Each year, significant care and professional judgement guide the formation of classes, with many elements carefully weighed to support the needs of all students. Thank you to families who shared insights or considerations with classroom teachers, myself, or school leaders. While all requests are thoughtfully reviewed, it is not always possible to meet every preference. We appreciate your understanding and trust as we work to make well-balanced and supportive placements for every child.

You can read more about how to support your child as we approach this special time at the end of the school year in the Ways of Being Together section of the newsletter.

Staffing News

Educators new to Sacred Heart in 2026

Next year, we warmly welcome four new educators to our Sacred Heart community - Brighid Deamer (SEL Specialist Role), Breanna Moller (Classroom Educator), Laura Heaver (Classroom Educator) and Eleanor Crawford (Classroom Educator).

I have invited each of the educators to share a little bit about themselves with the school community which you can read below.

Brighid Deamer

Hello Sacred Heart Family, my name is Brighid Deamer and I will be the SEL P-6 Educator in 2026.

I have been a teacher at Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School in South Melbourne since 2015 where I have taught Prep, Years 1, 2, 4 and and even a Term of Art! I have held various leadership roles including Learning Diversity, STEM and Community Partnerships. I have completed my Masters in Special Education and I have a passion for student wellbeing.

My husband, Kyle, is from the UK and is a Project Manager. We have a 17 year old son, Patrick, our daughter Rosie is 4, and we welcomed our twin boys Samuel and Harry into the world in 2024. We also have 2 dogs! We moved to the west just over 2 years ago and we are lucky to have family and friends close by. I love baking, hosting family events, swimming and adventures with my family. I am so excited to be able to teach all the students at Sacred Heart next year and I am really looking forward to getting to know all the families.

Breanna Moller

Hello! My name is Breanna Moller and I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Sacred Heart community in 2026! For the past five and a half years, I have been teaching at Saint Joseph's School in my very small hometown of Kaikōura, New Zealand, and I'm excited to be returning to Melbourne.

Melbourne isn't new to me - I lived here from 2011 to 2018, with a magical break in the middle when I worked as a performer at Walt Disney World in Florida! I love singing, dancing, and playing the ukulele, and I'm always looking for opportunities to share my love of music with students.

Outside of teaching, I'm very active and sports-obsessed! I'm an avid squash player and runner, and I love watching rugby, netball, and tennis. I'm just learning the rules of AFL and will definitely need some help picking a team to support!

I also have a huge love of travel and exploring new places, which has taken me all around the world.

What I love most though is teaching and getting to be a part of the learning journeys of so many children. I can't wait to get to know all of you and become part of the Sacred Heart family.

See you all next year!

Laura Heaver

Hi, my name is Laura, and I am very excited to be joining the Sacred Heart community. I bring eight years of Primary School teaching experience and I am passionate about my work, creating a happy, safe and inclusive learning environment where every student feels supported. I value building strong, meaningful connections with my students, colleagues and families. My mission is to create an environment where children thrive both academically and personally.

Outside of school, I love spending time with family and friends, going for walks, travelling and relaxing by the beach. I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming part of the Sacred Heart community in 2026.

Eleanor Crawford

My name is Eleanor and I am thrilled to be joining the Sacred Heart school community and teaching in Prep E next year.

This school holds a special place in my heart—I attended here myself, my children now do as well and being able to work here is truly meaningful. I love teaching, especially in the junior years, and feel so inspired watching children grow as they learn new things. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking our dog, heading to the beach, or going on hikes.

I’m excited for the year ahead and can’t wait to contribute to the warm and welcoming spirit of Sacred Heart.

Farewells

Rita McEwen

I am so privileged and thankful to have received the love and warmth of this Sacred Heart Community, and for allowing me to be part of you all for such a long time. Through the years I have come to learn that ‘Sacred Heart’ is such an appropriate name for this community because I know that as each child enters our space, we ALL truly hold the sacredness of every child in our hearts. And it’s because of every moment that I have been here, every colleague I have worked alongside with, all my encounters and all my experiences but especially because of the heart of every child, that I have been entrusted with to wash over with colour, that my time here has been an integral part of my path, and it will continue to sprinkle its presence in my life as I write new stories. I’ll take away with me the experiences, the challenges, the growth and the learning, but especially, the laughter and the love I have received.

To each of you, I say, Thank You

Rita

Breanna Wells

It is with a heavy heart that, after three wonderful years, I am saying goodbye to Sacred Heart. Thank you all for the support and joy I’ve experienced while teaching here, especially with my Year 3, Year 2 grades and SEL classes. It has truly been a privilege to be part of this community and it is a chapter I will always cherish. I wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and I send my best wishes to all students and members of our community for their future endeavours.

Jacob Mills

Jacob has chosen to send a personalised message to the children and families of Year 4J.

Brett Henderson

I would like to thank the Sacred Heart Community for the opportunity to return to the school after a long hiatus of 11 years. I really enjoyed being back in such a vibrant and caring school community. Whilst I am sad to be once again leaving, I have been able to forge new memories of Sacred Heart to go with the existing ones from my previous stint. I really look forward to hearing how the Grade 6 Children progress next year. I wish you all a great Christmas and hope that next year is fantastic. Thanks for having me.

Kind regards,

Brett

Sports Updates

Skipping