Dear Sacred Heart Families,

Working Together in Mission

At the beginning of 2021, the governance model for Catholic schools in Melbourne shifted from being one that was parish governed to a centralised governing body, the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools. Whilst the governance structure changed, the importance of school and parish partnerships remained as important as ever.

A key document entitled "Working Together in Mission" is a charter from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) that outlines how parishes and schools can collaborate to realise the mission of Catholic education. It clarifies the roles and responsibilities of parish priests and principals in a partnership designed to strengthen the link between the parish and school communities, with support from staff, parents and students.

There are many examples of how the Parish of St Joseph, Sacred Heart Primary School and St Margaret Mary's Primary School work together to bring the 'Working Together in Mission' charter to life. Collaborations such as the School Advisory Council with parish representation and the Parish Pastoral Council with school representation are just two examples of this.

Last week, Fr Samuel, parishioners and school leaders from Sacred Heart and St Margaret Mary's gathered at SMM to talk about connection between parish and schools and how we can work together to strengthen the partnerships for the benefit of all, including our children and families. Central to the conversation continues to be a deep respect for the history of our parish and two schools and a commitment to continue to provide a Catholic education for our students through which they can encounter the living God in Jesus Christ.

As Principal, I am both inspired and nourished through these conversations and feel well supported in leading the religious mission of the school community and I thank all those involved in this important work and partnership.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations to our Year 3 students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation last night at Sacred Heart church. Led by Fr Samuel, our children, families and school came together to acknowledge this significant step in the faith journey of our children and pray for them as they continue to strengthen their relationship with God and one another.

Thank you to Cath, Ava and Isabelle for their faith leadership as educators in preparing the children for this special sacrament.

UR Strong Launch Day

Recently, we officially launched our UR Strong program at Sacred Heart — a wellbeing initiative designed to help students build healthy friendships and positive relationships.

The day was filled with energy, excitement and fun as students engaged in activities that helped them understand what makes a good friend, how to resolve conflicts respectfully, and how to stand up for themselves and others in kind and caring ways.

At Sacred Heart, we believe that strong relationships are the foundation of a happy and successful school life. Programs like UR Strong provide our students with a common language to talk about friendships, strengthen their social-emotional skills, and create a culture of kindness and respect across the school.

We look forward to continuing this important journey with our students and families throughout the year and into 2026.

Our Life Size Sacred Heart Friend-O-Metre

Classes for 2026

As we approach the end of the year, our educators begin the thoughtful process of planning class groupings for the year ahead. This is a task we approach with great care, as creating balanced and supportive learning environments is a complex process. We consider a range of factors when forming classes, including friendship connections, individual learning needs and the ways students influence one another’s learning and wellbeing.

We recognise that parents and carers know their children best and may have insights that can help us make informed decisions. If there is information you feel would be helpful for us to know, please reach out via email to your child’s teacher, Erin, Rosy (P-2), Lisa (Year 3-6) or myself. While it’s not always possible to meet every request, please be assured that all feedback is carefully considered as part of the decision-making process.

Qustodio Parent Tools Available Now

We’re excited to share that the Qustodio Parent App is now available! As part of our ongoing commitment to Student Digital Wellbeing, we invite you to set up your parent account and take an active role in fostering healthy digital habits and a safe online environment for your child.

By linking your account to your child, you’ll gain valuable insights into their online activity and have access to tools that support positive digital behaviours - both on their school-provided learning device and an additional personal device of your choice.

With the Qustodio parent app, you'll have the ability to apply:

✅ Content Filtering – Control which websites and content categories your child can access.

✅ App & Game Management – Block distracting or inappropriate apps to keep your child focused.

✅ Custom Schedules – Set tailored rules for different times of the day, such as Homework or Bedtime.

✅ Comprehensive Activity Reports – Gain insights into your child’s online behaviour, including search history.

✅ Expert Online Safety Advice – Receive guidance from professionals to support your child’s digital well-being.

How to Get Started

Click the link below to create your Qustodio Family Account:

https://auth.qustodio.com/en/my-school?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=OSHub&utm_campaign=shnewport-au

Important Notes:

One parent/guardian must create the account first. After setup, additional parents or guardians can be invited to co-manage the account.
Split families will be invited to create separate accounts for each parent.
This offer allows you to protect ONE additional personal device per child (e.g., mobile phone, tablet).
You will be sent a validation email when creating your Qustodio account. Please check your spam or junk folder if you have not received it.

Need Help?

Video Resources Watch the videos below to help you successfully create your Qustodio Family Account:

Introduction to Qustodio parent tools video to find out how these tools will help you keep your child safe online
Part 1: How to create a Qustodio Account & Connect with my child's school account
Part 2: Inviting an additional parent/guardian to join your newly created Qustodio parent account

Where to get help For any Qustodio-related support queries, contact the Qustodio Support team: e: myschool@qustodio.com or use the Qustodio Help Form

Thank you for partnering with us on this important initiative. Together, we can create a safer, healthier digital experience for our students!

AFTER SCHOOL PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION

At Sacred Heart, student safety and wellbeing are our priority. In line with MACS policy, our school grounds are supervised from 8:30am before school and until 3:25pm after school.

After school (3:10–3:25pm), we ask all families to support the following expectations while students remain on-site:

✅ Adventure Playground may be used only under parent supervision
❌ No ball games
❌ No use of the Gaga Pit
❌ No running games
❌ No riding of bikes or scooters

After 3:25pm, no supervision is provided, and students still on-site will be directed to the school office so parents can be contacted.

We thank all families for reinforcing these expectations to ensure a safe and respectful school environment for everyone.

Secondary School Information

EMMANUEL COLLEGE

ST MARY'S COLLEGE