Principal News
What's Coming Up ...
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| Thursday 11th Dec | Moving Up Day 9:30am-11am. |
| Friday 12th Dec | Final P-6 Assembly inc.Presentation of Victoria Award - Yr.6 student |
| Final 'brief' newsletter inc. key dates, farewells & thank yous | |
| Monday 15th | Yr.6 Assembly & Guard of Honour 3pm. Graduation from 5pm |
| Tuesday 16th | Last Day P-5. Mass |
| Mass 9am | |
| Final Assembly 12, and dismissal | |
| 29th January, 2026 | Students First Day |
Dear Families and Friends,
Principal Announcement
This week, we were thrilled to finally announce the appointment of our new principal, Mrs Cathy Ferrari, to lead Sacred Heart into its next exciting chapter. Cathy is an exceptional fit for our community. Pastoral, compassionate and deeply empathetic, with a strong commitment to achieving the highest academic and wellbeing outcomes for every student.
An experienced and impactful principal, Cathy leads with heart, integrity and an unwavering belief in the potential of children and staff. While she will be greatly missed by her current school community, St Mary's, we are delighted that she has found her new home here at Sacred Heart, a stunning community in every sense: thriving, united, deeply proud and ready for the future, the next chapter.
We ask that you warmly welcome Cathy as she joins a school that continues to set the benchmark across the bayside. We look forward with great confidence to seeing the bar lifted even further under her leadership.
School Review 2025
Every four years, all Catholic primary schools participate in an external review conducted by independent reviewers, typically experienced former principals from beyond our immediate system. This process is essential in informing each school’s four-year School Improvement Plan, guiding future strategic priorities and areas for development.
Last week, we met with key MACS personnel and our Leadership Team as our reviewer presented the final report. Attached below is the Executive Summary from our most recent review. We are immensely proud of all we have collectively achieved: the practices we have embedded, the strategic improvements we have made, the strengths we have built upon, and the reputational gains our school now enjoys. With this strong foundation, our focus now turns to the opportunities ahead as we continue striving for excellence.
Well done, Team Sacred Heart!
LONG MAY IT CONTINUE
From the weekly requests to hold the coveted birthday box, to the months-in-advance reminders from eager students, the tradition of presenting our birthday pens at Sacred Heart assemblies has become something truly special. Long may it continue.
This photo appeared on my social media recently, and it resonated in more ways than one. We certainly have a generation of children longing for the latest iPhone. For context, my three girls didn’t receive theirs until they began secondary school, nor did they have social media accounts before that point, and even then, I’d argue it still felt too early. Thankfully, they remain really grounded in what can be a challenging space for many teens/young adults.
Yet despite the very real pull of technology, I’m delighted to say our students still look forward to receiving the simple, multi-coloured birthday pen at assembly.
It’s a wonderful reminder that the simple things in life still matter.
All Star Hoop Time State Champions – Congratulations!
A huge congratulations to our senior girls All Star HoopTime team, who have been crowned State Champions! This is an outstanding achievement and a testament of the quality of this team. They have had quite a remarkable year across many sporting pursuits in their final year of primary school. A special thank you to Coach Zey, who has been instrumental in supporting the girls to perform at their very best. The energy and positivity surrounding this team has been pretty special.
Well done, girls, our whole community is so proud of this remarkable achievement! 🏀👏
It is worth noting that many of these girls have also enjoyed an extraordinary string of sporting achievements throughout their final year of primary school. Their commitment and teamwork have truly shone across multiple disciplines. Not a bad final year of primary school!
Their impressive achievements include:
- Girls Senior Basketball – Hoop Time State Finalists & Champions
- Dendy Mixed Senior AFL Lightning Premiership Champions
- Senior AFL 9s Beachside Carnival
- Dendy District Cross Country Carnival Champions
- Girls Senior Netball Lightning Premiership Champions
- Girls Senior Primary School State Netball Champions
A remarkable list of accomplishments from a remarkable group of students—well done, girls!
Some very exciting news for Audrey S, she has been selected in a Victorian Team for Basketball, they compete in January. What a fabulous, and well deserved achievement for this very humble superstar.
Colour Run
What an unforgettable way to close out our week at Sacred Heart, with our Colour Run transforming the playground into a dazzling sea of colour and joy. The atmosphere was superb, albeit it VERY hot as the students 'slowly' motioned their way through clouds of vibrant colour. Days like this remind us of the magic that happens when community, fun, and celebration collide at Sacred Heart.
A special thank you goes to our wonderful families, who always support with enthusiasm to make the event such a success for the students. To our incredible staff, thank you for once again stepping in without encouragement, getting messy, joining the fun, and making the day special for every child. Your willingness to participate so enthusiastically never goes unnoticed.
And of course, a very special thank you to Pam, whose organisation and endless commitment brought this beautiful event to life. From planning and preparation through to the last splash of colour, Pam’s hard work ensured the day ran seamlessly and was enjoyed by all. We are deeply grateful for the joy and the 'slime' she brought to our students, staff and our school community. What a day!
Goldstein Award
Congratulations to Milla B who was chosen for the Goldstein Award. Milla was acknowledged for leadership, kindness and humility. She never seeks recognition but consistently shows care, respect and thoughtfulness towards others.
STAFFING NEWS
| LEADERSHIP | FTE | RELEASE | ||
| Cathy Ferrari | Principal | 1 | ||
| Sarah Rafferty* | Deputy - Teaching & Learning | 0.8 | Mon - Wed & Fri Maternity Leave T.1-2 | |
| Kate Stroud | DP & Literacy 3-6 | 1 | ||
| Bronagh Maloney* | *Deputy & REL Leader | 1 | Mon-Wed T1&2 | |
| Brigid Pennington | Learning Diversity | 1 | inc. Intervention 3&4 | |
CLASSROOM TEACHERS | ||||
| Hanna Wood | Prep | Wellbeing (Thurs-Fri) | 1 | Thur & Fri |
| Tiffany Levy | Prep | Thurs - Fri | 0.4 | |
| Zoe Porter | Prep | 1 | ||
| Sophie Prosser | Yr.1 | Literacy P-2 (Wed) | 1 | Mrs McKeon (Wed) |
| Ciara O’Meara | Yr.1 | 1 | ||
| Kate Flynn | Yr.2 | 1 | ||
| Louise Donnelly | Yr.2 | Junior Leader (Thurs) | 0.8 | Miss Maloney (Th-Fri) |
| Jo Collins | Yr.3 | 1 | ||
| Mak Bulte | Yr.4 | Maths Leader (Wed) | 1 | Miss Moloney (Wed) |
| Tilly Tench | Yr.5 | Senior Leader (Mon) | 1 | Mr Jaynes (Mon) |
| Darcie Bull | Yr.5 | 1 | ||
| Luke Homer | Yr.6 | 1 | ||
| Kate Newey | Yr.6 | 1 | ||
| Lisa McKeon | Yr.1 | 0.2 | Yr.1 Wednesday | |
| Orla Moloney | Yr.4 | 1 | Yr.4 Wed & P-6 Cover | |
SPECIALIST STAFF | ||||
| Theo Jaynes | Yr.5 | Physical Education | 1 | Yr.5T - Monday |
| Liz Hyslop | Visual Arts | 0.6 | Tuesday - Thursday | |
| Mary Caliri | Italian | 0.6 | Tuesday - Thursday | |
| Stephen Coutts | Music | 0.6 | Tuesday - Thursday | |
LEARNING SUPPORT OFFICERS & ADMIN | ||||
| Karen Matthiesson | Office Administration | 1 | Mon - Fri | |
| Cat Kranz | LSO | Mon, Tues & Wed | ||
| Karin Hartnett | LSO | Mon - Thurs | ||
| Louise Robertson | LSO | Mon - Wed | ||
| Joshua Smedley | LSO | Tues - Thurs | ||
| Anne Starke | LSO | Mon & Wed | ||
| Mary Bedford | LSO | Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri | ||
| Sharon Gerussi-Lock | LSO | Mon - Fri | ||
| Lola Allen | LSO | Mon - Thurs | ||
| Jane Bertacco | LSO | Mon - Thurs | ||
| Oscar Cowen | LSO | Mon - Thurs | ||
| Alicia Smith | LSO | Mon - Fri | ||
| Ashleigh Chambers | LSO | Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri | ||
Leave in 2026
- Sarah McGrath - Maternity 2026
- Sarah Rafferty - Maternity - Semester One
- Carol Mathias - Leave for further studies
- Stacie Stewart - Proudly pursuing a teacher career after recently finishing her studies
LITERACY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Congratulations to Kate Stroud who has been successfully appointed to the MACS Literacy Consultation Group for 2026. Kate has been acknowledged for demonstrating a strong expertise in literacy leadership and a clear commitment to evidence-based instructional practice.
The Literacy Consultation Group brings together highly skilled literacy leaders from across MACS to provide advice, share school-based insights, and shape system-wide resources and professional learning. Members play a vital role in strengthening the connection between classroom practice and the MACS Vision for Instruction.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Kate representing Sacred Heart in this impactful group. Our students and staff continue to benefit from her expertise, passion and leadership in literacy. What a blessing for our community!
While we proudly celebrate this achievement and the significant impact Kate will have on literacy across the system, we are equally delighted that she will remain a full-time member of staff at Sacred Heart, continuing to strengthen and extend the outstanding work she has already led in this essential space.
Congratulations also to Miss Bulte, who was invited to speak this week at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Learning on the theme Pathways, Impact and Connection.
We are incredibly proud of her contribution and of the outstanding staff at Sacred Heart who continue to shape the educational landscape beyond our own classrooms.
Year 3 Literacy - Fluency & Poetry
What a wonderful mid-week surprise awaited me in Year 3 on Wednesday! Mrs McGrath invited me down to witness her amazing class, my favourite Year 3s, as they launched into their daily fluency practice. Students began by working in pairs, before coming together for a very special whole-class fluency session featuring the classic poem Mulga Bill’s Bicycle.
Their expression, confidence and collective energy were impressive, but what stood out most was the rich discussion that followed. The students unpacked some of the poem’s more complex vocabulary with maturity and insight, demonstrating just how far their literacy skills have grown this year.
Below is a small snapshot capturing the magic of their whole-class recital, a moment of joy, learning and literacy in action.
This was pretty special...
The Prep baking on Wednesday was such a highlight with so many in attendance. Be sure to check out Miss Prosser's Junior School News. A must read!
School Playground Proposal 2026
Our focus over the coming weeks and months is to raise sufficient P&F funds to bring this exciting project to life in time for the start of the new school year. Your support and efforts will be greatly appreciated by our students as we work to replace the outdated playground equipment. The children simply cannot wait! Don't forget to view the school instagram story and the barometer in the school foyer should you wish to generously donate outside the upcoming fundraising initiative.
LITTLE GEMS💎
Running Superstars
Check out these running superstars who continue to thrive beyond the school gates! Several students have impressively qualified for the State Championships, and we were thrilled to celebrate Evie C’s achievement in completing the 5km event at nothing less than the New York Marathon.
While her dad, Dan, completed the full marathon, he was understandably most proud of Evie’s incredible effort, running her first 5km non-stop and creating a pretty special family memory. Not a bad place to achieve this milestone.
They say a picture tells a thousand stories, and there is no greater example than the journey of our Year 3 students pictured above, Chloe, Lucy, Elwood, Mary and Emily. This Yr.3 cohort was the first to experience our tightly structured, evidence-informed literacy approach, and their growth over time speaks for itself.
We are beyond thrilled to see the ripple effect this approach is now having across all year levels. Our junior data sets this year have been exceptional, reflecting the collective effort, expertise and commitment of our staff, and the hard work of our students.
A little bit of Advent joy from Zara, Ellie & Elle. These students continue to inspire and shine.
It was a real highlight this week to have Alfie drop by my office and ask if he could practise his Year 6 leadership speech. He did a fantastic job speaking confidently from the heart and reflecting on his deep connection to Sacred Heart.
Next week, we look forward to our Year 5 students presenting their speeches to the Year 3–6 cohort, as they put themselves forward for leadership opportunities in their final year of primary school.
Thanks Xavier for sharing your fabulous self-motivated report on the importance of Mental Health. Xavier took this upon himself to research and prepare outside school hours. Love it!
And finally...
Please note that there will be one more brief newsletter next week to close out the year. It will include some key dates and reminders for 2026, along with my farewell message. Thanks for your understanding and patience.
With much pride and gratitude,
Simon C
Principal
