Dear Sacred Heart Community,

Prayer for the Week – 2nd Week of Advent

As we enter the second week of Advent, we light the candle of Peace. This is a time to pause, breathe, and make space for God’s calm presence in our busy lives. May we open our hearts to peace in our homes, our classrooms, and our world.

Prayer

Loving God,

In this second week of Advent, we ask You to fill our hearts with Your peace.

Bring comfort to all in our community who are grieving the loss of someone dear, and surround them with Your gentle care.

Help us to slow down, to listen with kindness, and to bring calm to those around us.

Bless our students, families, and staff with gentleness in our words and patience in our actions.

As we prepare for Christmas, may Your peace guide our choices and rest within our community.

Amen.

Christmas Carols

A very big thank you to Kate, Marty and all the staff for their wonderful preparation of our Christmas Carols. It was such a joy to see our beautiful students singing so confidently and beautifully on Tuesday night. A heartfelt thank you also to our amazing families for your support, encouragement and for sharing this special celebration with us. Your presence helped make the evening truly memorable.

Farewells and Celebrations

As we approach the end of the year, we take a moment to extend our heartfelt thanks to some very special members of our Sacred Heart community.

We warmly thank Ann for her many wonderful years of teaching, care, and commitment. She has touched the lives of countless students, and we wish her every joy as she steps into a well-earned and exciting retirement. After a long teaching career and many years as part of the Sacred Heart family, Ann has decided to hang up her hi-vis vest and whiteboard markers and welcome the world of retirement!

We also celebrate Rosemarie, our amazing bursar, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service across several schools. Her kindness, support, steady presence, and good humour have blessed our community. We wish her happiness, rest, and wonderful adventures as she enjoys retirement.

We farewell Giulia, who will be moving to Mary MacKillop of the Cross. Her warmth, creativity, and love for students have left a lasting impact, and we know she will continue to shine.

A special thank you to Filomena for her gentle, caring support of students and staff, which has enriched our school each day.

We are grateful for all of these wonderful members of our Sacred Heart family and wish them every blessing in the next chapters of their lives.

Year 6 Graduation & Farewell Mass

All families are warmly invited to join us on Tuesday 9th at 6.30pm in Sacred Heart Church for our Year 6 Graduation and Farewell Mass, as we come together to celebrate our graduating students and give thanks for the staff and families who will be leaving Sacred Heart. This special liturgy will be a beautiful time of reflection, gratitude and celebration for our whole community.

School Advisory Board 2025

A vital part of our school community is the School Advisory Board. This group meets at least six times a year to discuss school initiatives, provide feedback, and generate ideas to ensure Sacred Heart continues to grow and thrive. Their work helps us reflect on our practices and maintain our focus on providing the best possible primary education for our students.

I would like to sincerely thank the Board members for their dedication and support throughout the year. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference to our school community.

Allocation of Class Groups

Towards the end of each school year, teachers begin the careful process of organising class groupings for the following year. This important task has been underway over the past two weeks and is approached with diligence, care and the understanding that every decision must be made in the best interests of our students. Our school mantra, “Our students are at the heart of everything we do”, is most evident in this process.

A range of considerations is taken into account during several meetings before class groupings are finalised. All teaching staff are actively involved, ensuring that the composition of each class supports learning, wellbeing and positive social connections.

In 2026, our class structure will include Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, two Year 3/4 classes and two Year 5/6 classes. Our specialist program will continue to provide rich learning experiences in STEAM, Italian, Music and Physical Education. Library sessions will also continue, supported by classroom teachers and a Library Assistant, ensuring students develop strong reading and research skills across all year levels.

Social Media Changes for Under-16s

From 10 December 2025, many social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube, will no longer allow Australians under 16 to create or keep accounts. These changes are designed to keep young people safer online.

To help families understand what this means, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has created a short 30-minute video explaining the new rules, why they’re happening, and how they may affect students.

You can watch the video and find helpful resources here: eSafety Social Media Age Restrictions Hub

Chloe’s Hair Donation

Monday 8th December

Chloe, in Year 4, will be donating her hair to support children experiencing medical hair loss. Her hair is now long enough to be snipped and donated to help create a wig for a child in need. Chloe’s kindness and dedication have truly inspired our school community.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we raised $210 from selling icy poles over the past two Fridays, all of which will go to Hair with Heart.

Chloe will have her hair cut at the School Student Assembly on Monday 8th December at 11:40 am, where she will share her motivations. Families are warmly invited to attend and celebrate this special moment.

To donate directly, please visit: Chloe's fundraising page - Chloe

Thank you for supporting Chloe’s incredible effort. You are a star, Chloe! ⭐

Free Community Event

All Families Welcome Christmas in the West 2025

Saturday, 13 December 2025

3:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Footscray Park (Eastern Lawn), 40 Maribyrnong Blvd, FootscrayJoin us for a festive, multicultural celebration featuring carols, cultural performances, kids’ activities, market & food stalls, Santa visit, and fireworks. Free entry. Family friendly and alcohol free.

More info: iinfo@christmasinwest.com.au | 0478 173 534

Helper's Morning Tea

We would like to acknowledge and thank all the parents and families who have generously supported our school throughout the year; whether through the School Board, Parents and Friends initiatives, working bees, classroom help, or assistance on excursions. Your involvement makes a wonderful difference in the life of our school.

To show our appreciation, a special morning tea will be held on Tuesday 16th December at 11:00 am.

Wishing everyone a great week!

Warmest wishes,

Antoniette