Principal News
Dear Families and Friends,
As we close out another terrific fortnight and move swiftly through the remaining weeks of Term 3, we have much to celebrate across all areas of school life at Sacred Heart. This week finished with a full-capacity assembly and classrooms buzzing with joy as our special visitors dropped in and engaged with their children - these moments are priceless. Once again, our community rose beautifully and we sincerely thank our families for taking the time outside of their busy schedules.
A sneaky highlight this week was dropping into Prep W and seeing Phil G lead a “dad joke” session. While a few of the punchlines may have fallen on deaf ears, Sophie was pretty chuffed to see her dad holding the room!
We also extend our thanks to Mr Jaynes, Miss Bulte, and our parent volunteers for supporting our team of 26 senior students at HoopTime. While no silverware was won this time, staff were thoroughly impressed by the students’ behaviour, teamwork, and conduct during these representative events. As Mr Jaynes often says, they are an absolute joy to take to these occasions.
Life at Sacred Heart is a blessing, as our students and families continue to benefit from so many rich and engaging opportunities on offer. Well done Sacred Heart Community!
How wonderful it was to see Miss Donnelly on Monday as she gently re-engages with teaching before her full return from maternity leave in 2026. Swamped by her adoring students, it was a small glimpse of just how much she has been missed. Staff also noted her energy and joy for teaching and school life, which spread so infectiously along the corridor. We cannot wait to welcome Miss Donnelly back four days a week next year.
Showing Gratitude to Our Local Police
This week, our School Captains visited the Sandringham Police Station to present letters of gratitude written by all students (P-6), expressing appreciation for the ongoing support and service provided to our community.
Last week, our staff also contributed a coffee vouchers for the local police members to enjoy, a small gesture to acknowledge the important work they do in keeping our community safe.
This week, I’d like to shine a spotlight on the key leaders across our school who continue to drive change, set high expectations, and model transformational practices and standards. From stepping up without being asked, to coaching, mentoring, attending to student, family and staff needs and going the extra mile for their teams and leadership portfolios, we are fortunate to have such a cohesive and high-performing leadership team at Sacred Heart.
I often say our leaders wear too many hats and don’t have enough hooks to hang them on. Yet, despite the many demands, they continue to raise the bar and model what it means to be the best version of ourselves. As we work together to sustain a high-performing culture, I sincerely thank them for their dedication, energy, and commitment.
Please make sure you read the Staffing News this week.
Sacred Heart Recognised for Best Practice in Teaching and Learning
This week, I was contacted by the Manager of Curriculum Development at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), following a referral from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). Sacred Heart has been identified and recognised for our exemplary curriculum delivery and high-impact teaching practices.
As part of this recognition, we have been invited to participate in the upcoming English Version 2.0 Professional Learning Modules. In October, a team from the VCAA, Ochre, and a film crew will spend a day at Sacred Heart capturing classroom learning in action, teacher planning sessions, and interviews with staff. This material will be used to showcase high-quality literacy practice across the state and support professional learning in schools throughout Victoria.
This acknowledgment is a testament to the commitment, expertise, and collaboration of our staff, along with the enthusiasm and engagement of our students. We are proud that the exceptional teaching and learning taking place at Sacred Heart will now inspire and support educators and learners beyond our own community. A special shout to Kate Stroud and Sarah Rafferty for driving these standards with our responsive teaching team.
Father’s Day Celebration 💙
What a wonderful morning we shared today for our Father’s Day celebration! It was fantastic to see so many dads, grandads and father figures at our assembly, possibly our biggest turnout yet.
Our students thrive when their parents and families are part of their learning journey, so it was very special to have you join us in classrooms after the assembly.
A big thank you to our Year 3/4 students who entertained us with a sneak preview of their upcoming musical performance. It was a real highlight and a taste of the wonderful things to come at our school musical later this year.
We are also incredibly grateful to our mums who worked behind the scenes to prepare both our Father’s Day breakfast (thanks Karen for organising the special treats) and our Father’s Day stall (Amazing mums: Emily C-H, Sarah G, Laura F & Sonia H). You truly outdid yourselves, we couldn’t have done it without you!
Father's Day Stall 2025
MACSISS Surveys
Thank you to the families who have already taken the time to complete the MACSISS survey. Some families should have received an email link—if you haven’t yet done so, we kindly ask that you complete it. This survey is an important opportunity to share your voice and will help guide the ongoing improvement of our school.
School Advisory Council – Expressions of Interest
We are seeking expressions of interest from parents who would like to join our School Advisory Council. This is a valuable opportunity to work in partnership with the Principal and leadership team to help shape the future direction of our school.
The Advisory Council acts as a supportive voice, offering guidance on areas such as school improvement, financial governance, community engagement, communication, and the wellbeing and learning of our students.
If you are interested in contributing your skills and perspective, please contact the principal - principal@shs.catholic.edu.au
What's Coming Up in Term 3...
For the Fridge
- Dad's Footy Match - 6th Sept
- School Production - 17th & 18th Sept
LITTLE GEMS💎
One of Yr.4 risk-takers, Cole, has been accepted into the Mount Hotham Free Ski Team! He is absolutely thrilled, although Mum perhaps a little less so. After an interview and a full trial, Cole has earned his place on the team.
Free Ski provides young athletes with the skills to confidently and competently ski all mountain terrains worldwide. It also offers Australian athletes the opportunity to follow their dreams through a competitive pathway, with the potential to succeed at local, state, national, and even international levels.
Thanks Anna for dropping by to showcase your 'own' research without any prompting. Spot the Freddo Frog.
It was great to see Samuel extending his language skills in his recent writing. He was the only student in Year 3 to use the word ‘despite’ when working on oppositives, a wonderful example of stretching his vocabulary and thinking.
An absolute must to walk the length of our corridors and see the stunning art gallery showcasing the incredible work done in Mrs Hyslop's art classes.
And finally...
Wishing all our dads and the special role models in our children’s lives a wonderful day on Sunday. I have a sneaky suspicion that for some of our dad-footballers, the best gift might just be an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas on Sunday morning!
Thank you once again, families, for making our community the best it can be. We’re doing OK!
With much pride and gratitude,
Simon C
Principal
