Message from the
School Principal

Dear Sacred Heart Families,

Welcome back to everyone as we begin the 2026 school year together. Our staff, students and families have returned to school with a contagious enthusiasm and readiness for a new year of learning and growth.

A very special welcome to our new Prep children who are starting their school journey with us, as well as to students across all year levels who begin their school journey at Sacred Heart Primary School. I also warmly welcome the families who are new to Sacred Heart and thank you for choosing to join our beautiful school community.

As Principal, I am deeply committed to my responsibility to lead our Catholic school community with faith, integrity and a strong focus on nurturing each child to reach their full potential. I feel incredibly fortunate to lead such a dedicated staff who focus on excellence in learning, building relationships with the students in their care and nurturing the wellbeing of each child. As a school leader, I am very excited for what promises to be a wonderful year ahead!

I would also like to thank you, our parent community, for your continued support and partnership as we embark on another exciting year together. Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time, if needed, so that we can continue to strengthen the solid foundations of partnership we already have.

Wishing everyone a great year ahead!

Yours in faith,

Kaylene

Kaylene Carlin

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Launching our new "Purpose, Vision and Mission"

Over the past six months, we have been thinking deeply about who we are as a school, why are we here and what makes Sacred Heart unique. Having a clear purpose, vision and mission ensures that our decisions remain grounded in Gospel values and that we continue to move forward with shared direction and hope. It reminds us that education at Sacred Heart is not only about learning skills and knowledge, but also about forming compassionate, confident and faith-filled young people.

At Sacred Heart, our purpose, vision and mission help guide everything we do as a school community. Our purpose is our reason for being, our vision looks to the future and describes the kind of community we hope to grow together and our mission is how we bring this to life in our daily actions. It shapes the way we teach, the way we care for one another and the partnerships we build with families and parish.

We are very excited to share with you our new Purpose, Vision and Mission. We look forward to unpacking this with our school community more fully over the coming months.

"Defining & Strengthening our Learning Landscape"

Staff Professional Learning Days Update - 27th & 28th January

At the beginning of each school year, Sacred Heart staff participate in dedicated professional learning and development to ensure a strong and purposeful start for all students.

After a short welcome to the start of the school year, Cath Palmer (Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Pedagogy) led us in a prayer that reminds us to begin the year with trust, humility and a strong sense of shared purpose. It called us to recognise that we are not working alone, but are guided in our roles and responsibilities and invited to place our work, decisions and relationships in God’s care. The prayer highlighted the importance of being a steady, reassuring presence for students and families, modelling compassion, listening deeply and using our individual gifts in service of the wider community. Through the language of clay, we created representations of how we represent our community, the qualities and gifts we bring and how we hope to grow over the coming year.

An important area of reflection for the day was our Image of the Child. Staff considered how our understanding of children and learning has evolved over the past five years and whether our current statement continues to genuinely reflect our connection with, and relationship to, each child. Drawing on our Reggio-inspired approach, discussions explored how we view children as capable, curious and active participants in their learning. This work included rewording and refining our shared language so that our Image of the Child remains meaningful and relevant to Sacred Heart in 2026, clearly expressing our belief in the dignity, potential and voice of every learner. This collaborative preparation enables our staff to begin the year aligned, confident and focused on nurturing strong relationships and high-quality learning for every child.

Staff also engaged with our new Sacred Heart Instructional Playbook, reviewing key teaching approaches, expectations and common language so that learning experiences remain consistent and high-quality across all year levels.

A significant focus was placed on strengthening our “Ways of Being and Working Together,” which guide how we build respectful relationships with students, families and one another, and how we collaborate as professionals.

Teams engaged in thoughtful planning for the first weeks of Term 1, designing engaging learning environments, establishing positive routines and preparing targeted learning sequences in English and Mathematics to support assessment and responsive teaching.

Time was also devoted to student safety and wellbeing, including online safety protocols and child-safe practices, ensuring that every child learns in a secure and supportive environment.

This collaborative preparation enables our staff to begin the year aligned, confident and focused on nurturing strong relationships and high-quality learning for every child.

2026 Classes & Specialist Educators

Student Leaders 2026

It is with great pleasure that I announce the school student leaders for 2026. I congratulate all students who put their hand up for a role. The speeches reflected how important the opportunity is and how much it meant to each of them. I am confident that the leaders of 2026 will continue to show the outstanding leadership qualities that they have shown to date and wear their badges with both pride and honour.

School Advisory Council 2026 - Calling for Expression of Interest

What is the School Advisory Council?

School Advisory Councils (SAC) are advisory bodies which form an important expression of the educational partnership that exists between parents, schools, parishes and the wider community to support all students.

The SAC provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent voice and perspective are available to influence the decisions made by the principal and parish priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount.

More specifically, the role of the School Advisory Council includes:

encouraging the partnership and participation of school, parish and the wider community in the life of the school and parish
allowing school principals, parish priests and parents to work closely in the common mission they share.
providing a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest for the good of School and Parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount
ensuring that, at the local level, Catholic schools will remain 'actively embedded in the life of the faith communities of the local Church

When: The meetings are on Tuesdays at 6.00pm in the staffroom and the dates for next year are as follows: 10th March, 5th May, 16th June, 11th August, 13th October & 24th November (includes AGM)

VACANT POSITIONS

There are currently three positions available on the School Advisory Council and I strongly encourage you to put your hand up to join the group. All are welcome!

There will be a selection process as per the MACS guidelines for the operation of School Advisory Councils.

Please email Kaylene at principal@shnewport.catholic.edu.au with your Expression of Interest or if you have any questions.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST PERIOD WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY 13TH FEBRUARY AT COB