Principal News 

OFFICIAL SCHOOL BUILDING OPENING

Friday 16th @ 3pm

All Families Welcome

Dear Families and Friends,

Where Has the Term Gone?

It’s hard to believe that our simply amazing first term has come to a close! Reflecting on our ‘bookends,’ our Preps and Year 6 students have truly set the tone for what has arguably been the best start to a school year I have ever experienced.

From settling into our final three newly refurbished classrooms to the Year 3 Reconciliation and the unforgettable Year 5 Camp, this term has been nothing short of remarkable. And the best part? We’re only just getting started! With three more terms ahead, there’s so much more to come. I'm beyond proud of all we have achieved and the way our students, staff and families have embraced this term together.

Here’s just a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished so far:

• 👟 Running Club – 90+ participants hitting the ground running!
• 🏊 Swimming Carnival – 4 students progressing to the next stage!
• 🎳 Dad’s Bowling & Camping Weekend – Bonding at its best!
• 💻 Safer Internet Parent Night – Empowering our families online.
• 🥞 Shrove Tuesday Breakfast Pancakes – A flipping great success!
• 🙏 Ash Wednesday – A time for reflection.
• 📊 NAPLAN – A milestone moment for our students.
• ☘️ St Patrick’s Day Assembly – Best assembly yet!
• 🍞 Breakfast Club – A warm and welcoming start to Fridays.
• 🧘 Calm Club – A space to reset and recharge.
• ✝️ Year 3 Reconciliation – A truly special celebration - thanks Mrs McGrath & Miss Maloney
• ⛺ Year 5 Camp Rumbug – Adventure, resilience, and lifelong memories.
•  ✝️  6 Stations of the Cross – A moving and meaningful reflection.
• 🏗️ Stage 2 of the Building Program – Just one week away from handover!

What a term it has been! Thank you to our amazing students, dedicated staff, and commited families for making it so incredible. Here’s to an even bigger and better Term 2! 

RECONCILIATION

What a truly spectacular celebration we had last week as our wonderful Year 3 students made their Reconciliation!

As one of the three sacraments our students prepare for and receive during their journey at Sacred Heart, this was a truly special milestone. We are incredibly grateful to Mrs. McGrath, Miss Maloney, and Fr. Martin for their outstanding support and guidance in the lead-up to and on the day itself.

As mentioned during the celebration, we cannot thank our families and staff enough for making this such an inclusive and meaningful experience. This sense of community was perhaps the true highlight of the day, reinforcing who we are as a school.

While I often say (tongue-in-cheek) that they are my favourite Year 3 cohort, after witnessing this celebration and their moving rendition of True Colors, it’s easy to see why!

Year 5 Camp Rumbug

What a way to close out the term for our Year 5 students with an unforgettable three-day outdoor adventure camp at Rumbug! With the weather on their side, the students had an incredible time tackling the treetop ropes course, conquering the notorious mud run, and embracing their first 'big' camping experience away from home.

A huge thank you to the amazing camp team—Ms. Tench, Miss Bull, Miss Moloney, Mr. Jaynes, and Oscar—for their care, support, and energy. Giving up their time for this experience is no small task, and we are truly grateful for their dedication in making it such a memorable adventure for our students.

BREAKFAST CLUB

Well done to our Year 6 leaders for organising our first Breakfast Club at Sacred Heart! This wonderful initiative, generously supported by families, was a tremendous success last Friday. A special mention to the parent reps, Miss Newey, and Miss Bulte for their invaluable support in making this such a successful venture.

Stations of Cross

Oh wow! Congratulations to our fabulous senior students for their stunning and traditional re-enactment and recontextualisation of the Stations of the Cross. Supported by so many families throughout the morning, this annual liturgical highlight was once again beautifully presented by our students and staff. Can I say, the best yet?

A heartfelt thank you to Miss Newey, Miss Bulte, and Miss Maloney for the incredible energy and dedication they poured into this significant presentation. Their efforts ensured a powerful and meaningful conclusion to our term, leading us beautifully into the Easter story.

HARMONY DAY

The picture above doesn’t do justice to these Harmony Day superstars! Our Wellbeing Leaders and Miss Wood organised an incredible day for our whole school, celebrating the importance of Harmony Day in the best way possible.

With thoughtfully planned rotational activities, our students had an absolute blast on Thursday. A huge thank you to our passionate Wellbeing Leader, Miss Wood, for driving this wonderful initiative—we loved every moment!

Junior Easter Bonnet Parade

A huge thank you to Miss Prosser for organising the VERY special Easter Bonnet Parade to close out the term for our junior school. The creativity and quality of the bonnets were next level, and we sincerely appreciate our parents for sharing this special time with their children in bringing these stunning pieces to life.

It was the most joyous celebration and perfect way to start our day and finish the term! 🎩🐰🌸

Language News 

Earlier this term, we shared that Mrs. Evans would sadly be stepping away from her incredible Japanese program due to family commitments. Since then, we have carefully explored our language options, prioritising continuity with secondary school offerings and securing the best possible educator.

After reviewing numerous applications, we are thrilled to welcome Signora Caliri, a dynamic and highly experienced Italian teacher, who will commence in Term 2. While this marks a shift from Japanese, Signora Caliri brings a wealth of expertise and a proven ability to successfully introduce Italian into schools with existing language programs. Her engaging approach will focus on both language and culture, seamlessly aligning with our literacy program—Mrs. Stroud has even called it "a match made in heaven!"

We truly appreciate your support during this transition and look forward to embarking on this exciting new chapter together. In the meantime, we extend our deepest gratitude to Mrs. Evans for her outstanding work this term and wish her all the best. What an exceptional program she delivered this term. 

Japanese News

Below is a message and some photos shared by Mrs. Evans after her recent Japanese sessions. We had some very special guests work with our senior students on their language skills.

"The Year 6 students were absolutely amazing today! They all took a deep breath and showed incredible strength and composure as they 'travelled to Japan'—many even travelled twice! Our Japanese guests were in awe of their language ability and deeply appreciated the kindness and respect shown to them. I was beyond proud of them—brilliant work!"

Staffing News 2025

This term, we have transitioned into our stunning new learning spaces—albeit at different stages—while maintaining our highly disciplined and uninterrupted approach to our academic program. Through it all, we have ensured consistency, upheld our calm routines and rhythm, and remained focused on what works best for our students and community.

This success is a testament to our exceptional staff, who have never wavered in their high expectations and shared commitment to be the best we can. Their dedication to student wellbeing, a core priority at Sacred Heart, has ensured that every student is supported socially and emotionally. I can proudly say we have never been better positioned in this critical space and continue to build upon these invaluable practices and approaches.

I extend my deepest gratitude to my dedicated team—from our incredible LSOs to our inspiring teachers and influential leaders, many of whom have stepped into new roles this year. They have all risen to the challenge, setting an exceptional standard for their teams and portfolios. The quality of their newsletter contributions offers just a small glimpse of their tremendous impact.

A special mention to our new staff, who have seamlessly embraced our ‘Sacred Heart Playbook’—we are truly fortunate to have you on board. Finally, congratulations to Miss O'Meara and Miss Porter, who have successfully navigated their first term as full-time teachers. How lucky are we to have you on our team!

Hello from Tiwi Island

It was just so lovely to hear from Miss McKay this week and hear about her amazing and unique experiences working on remote Tiwi Island. No surprise that she is fully embracing this remarkable opportunity and continuing to make a lasting impact on the lives of those in her care. #Inspiring

Sacred Heart Dads Club – Term 1 Wrap-Up

A huge thank you to Ant McCabe for his outstanding coordination of the Sacred Heart Dads Club and for sharing this fantastic update on two standout Term 1 events.

🎳 Bowls Night saw 45 dads, including a dozen newcomers, enjoying a night of friendly competition, great banter, and community spirit. With impressive shots, a surprise fox cameo, and delicious pizzas from Hello Bello, it was a night to remember. Congratulations to Paul Brady, Andrew Corbett, and Luke Conquest, this year’s champions!

⛺ Dads & Family Camping Trip at Doon Reserve was another huge success, featuring river adventures, campfires, caving, and four-wheel driving. With kids running free, parents unwinding, and a strong sense of community, it was the perfect weekend getaway. Special thanks to Mark Jackling and all involved!

📢 Join Us! Interested in future trips? Join the WhatsApp group for updates—we’re planning another big trip in Spring before Christmas, with possibly a few smaller ones in between!

Easter Raffle

A huge thank you to Kate Shawcross, Kristy Akerman, and Lucy Butlin for preparing the fabulous Easter hampers for our annual raffle, made possible by the generous donations from our families. This much-loved tradition raised over $2,500, and we are incredibly grateful for the community’s generosity.

A special shoutout also to our 'Hot Cross Bun' ladies, Andy & Adele, for organising our very first Hot Cross Bun Drive—a fantastic initiative that was so well received by our families! 🐰🥕🍫

Building Update - It's coming together!

Key Milestones:

• 98% complete!           
• Admin offices and STEM facilities set for completion by Easter weekend
• Builders scheduled to be off-site by Easter weekend

P&F News

LITTLE GEMS💎

Love your Japanese work Morris & Felicity.

Such impressive work from Annabelle C on the impacts of deforestation.

And finally...

Thank you, Team Sacred Heart, for your collective efforts this term, in particular the manner and responsiveness of students across all grade levels. While it’s impossible to fully capture these achievements in a fortnightly newsletter, not a day goes by where I don’t proudly reflect on all we have accomplished—and continue to achieve—at Sacred Heart.

This term has brought yet another phenomenal uplift in how we do things at the best school in Bayside, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds. With our building program finally handed over in Term 2, rest assured—the wait will have been well worth it!

A very proud principal,

Simon