Principal News 

Dear Families and Friends,

What a tremendous week of celebration it has been at Sacred Heart. While we are absolutely thrilled with the outcomes of all four sporting carnivals this week, the true highlight was the outstanding behaviour and attitude of our students. Across each event, their effort, team-first mentality, and respectful conduct stood out above all else - all we can ask for!

Our students continue to rise to these occasions, leading by example and proudly upholding the values of Sacred Heart. Once again, they showed us exactly who we are and who we aspire to be as a school community, committed to being the best versions of ourselves (win, lose or draw), and the best school in the Bayside. So proud of what we have achieved already in 2025, the skies the limit. Well done Team Sacred Heart! 

While we’re certainly not taking our eye off other important school matters, it was pretty special to have three champions from Prep drop by on Friday to showcase their impressive Teddy Bear Picnic writing. I jokingly asked, “Is this Grade 6 work?”

With big smiles, Roy proudly replied, “No Mr Collis, we’re only in Prep!”

GRANDPARENT'S DAY

The best day of the school year...

As many in our community know, Grandparents’ Day is my favourite day of the school year. While the first day for Preps and the Year 6 Graduation are undeniably significant milestones, the warmth, emotion, and spirit of Grandparents’ Day is like no other.

The influence of our grandparents, past and present, on our children is profound, often matched only by that of their parents. These relationships are filled with rich stories (and the importance of passing on these stories), guidance, and enduring love, continuing to shape our families across generations.

On Friday, we were overwhelmed by the incredible turnout, by far our biggest yet. Some grandparents even postponed overseas or interstate travel or flew in from interstate or abroad to be here. Such efforts speak volumes about the value of this day. We also acknowledge those who were unable to attend, whether due to distance, health, or other reasons. For families with grandparents living overseas, we know this day can be especially bittersweet, and we’re grateful to the many special friends and extended family members who stepped in on these special occasions, it means the world.

Looking ahead, we’re planting the seed to explore live streaming options for next year so we can better connect with families from afar and give them a glimpse into the joy of the day and their grandchildren’s classrooms.

A special moment this week was seeing Simon and Faustina at express drop-off on Monday morning, FaceTiming their beautiful grandparents all the way from Argentina. While the Grau Molina grandparents couldn’t be with us in person this year, we’ve loved having them visit in the past. Like all our grandparents, they are an integral part of our Sacred Heart family and are always welcome to visit our classrooms, not just on Grandparents’ Day but any day of the year. 

A special thank you to our stunning Preps and the Prep Team for melting the room, as only you know how, with a delightful flashback to The Sound of Music, a favourite for many in the hall. We are also deeply grateful to our staff for creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our special visitors in your classrooms, and to our many parent volunteers who helped on the day with the lovely morning tea. Without this level of generous support, events like these simply wouldn’t be possible. It was so greatly appreciated by all!

LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIPS

BEYOND PROUD❤️🏆

Congratulations to our senior football team for their outstanding success in taking out the Dendy AFL Lightning Premiership Championships on Tuesday! We couldn’t be prouder of this group.

Their selfless approach on the field was the standout highlight from the sidelines. Time and again, they chose to share the ball, often passing up opportunities to shine individually in favour of a 'team first' mentality. This quality was particularly evident in the grand final and was a defining feature of the day. 

Win, lose, or draw, the most affirming trait of our students in recent years has been their exceptional conduct and manner when representing the school offsite. On Tuesday, they once again exemplified this attribute.

It was, without doubt, one of the most complete team performances we’ve seen from a school side, with consistent effort and impact spread across the entire group.

A special acknowledgement to Mr Jaynes and his enthusiastic assistant and motivator, Oscar, for guiding and supporting the students superbly throughout the carnival. It was truly a joy to watch both staff members in action. We also extend our sincere thanks to Anthony McCabe for his quiet, ongoing mentoring of the team each week. This level of support does not go unnoticed.

We are so fortunate to have such committed family support, with several parents attending and cheering throughout the day on Tuesday.

Next stop—Beachside!

And not to be outdone, our netball superstars backed it up the following day by taking out two titles at the championships - the Mixed and All Girls divisions. Both teams were outstanding, and we couldn’t be prouder of what they achieved. These victories mark our first-ever netball titles in the Dendy District, a truly special milestone for SH! What a year our seniors are having. 

A huge thank you to Miss Newey and Miss Bulte for their support on the day, and to the many parents who dropped in to cheer the teams on.

While we didn’t quite get the trifecta this week, both our girls’ and boys’ soccer teams made it to the district grand final, only to narrowly miss out on the silverware. We sincerely thank Paul Riddex, Miss Bull, and Mr Jaynes for coaching and guiding the students throughout the day.

As stated above, across all three lightning premiership carnivals, the true highlight remained consistent: the outstanding behaviour of our students. Once again, they represented our school to the highest standard. Absolutely first-rate, and better than any silverware!

STAFFING NEWS

Many thanks to Mrs Pennington, our Learning Diversity Leader, for coordinating this week’s important PSG (Program Support Group) meetings with families. These formal meetings take place each term and bring together families, teachers, and LSOs to review student goals and progress.

It’s a comprehensive process that requires significant time, careful planning and coordination of many moving parts. Most importantly, it’s a valuable opportunity to celebrate the progress and efforts of our students, and acknowledge the dedicated team supporting them.

It truly takes a village, and we’re lucky to have one of the best.

This week, two of our outstanding educators, Miss Prosser and Jane Bertacco (LSO), have been offsite attending MSL (Multisensory Structured Language) training. This professional learning will further equip them with the best instructional strategies for the direct and explicit teaching of literacy. The training is grounded in the latest research and provides a clear bridge between the science of reading and classroom practice.

We are proud to acknowledge that the following staff members are, or will soon be, accredited MSL instructors: Mrs Kate Stroud, Miss Sarah Rafferty, Mrs Brigid Pennington, Miss Hanna Wood, Miss Bronagh Maloney, Mrs Karin Hartnett (LSO), Miss Sophie Prosser and Mrs Jane Bertacco (LSO).

Our wonderful Yr. 6 teacher Miss Bulte has been working with the Academy, an association promoting best practice in teaching and learning. I requested that she write a small reflective piece to acknowledge the terrific work she is currently focusing on in this capacity.

Following my participation in the Teaching Excellence Program in 2023, I am grateful to have been selected for the Teaching Impact Fellowship with the Victorian Academy of Teaching. The Fellowship offers a valuable opportunity to collaborate with teachers and experts from government, catholic, and independent sectors to drive meaningful change within our school context, supported by dedicated project funding.

As Mathematics Leader, my vision is to empower teachers, students, and the community to confidently engage with mathematics by establishing clear, effective structures and routines that promote success and enthusiasm. Thanks to the generous support of the Academy, I have been able to access professional development sessions, participate in learning communities, and provide staff with release time and resources to support their growth.

Since the start of the Fellowship, we have strengthened our Mathematics practice by embedding Times Table Rock Stars and daily fluency activities into our routine. Our overall Mathematics processes have been streamlined and enhanced through regular professional development sessions. We have also introduced a whole-school approach to solving worded problems using the CUBES strategy, further refining the strong foundations already in place. In addition, we continue to celebrate student growth through our Gone Green certificates and regular Mathematics highlights in our school newsletters.

With the collective support of our dedicated teachers and staff, we are excited to work alongside the Academy this year to create lasting, meaningful change. Together, we are committed to ensuring that every student receives high-quality, evidence-based mathematical learning that fosters deep understanding, confidence, and long-term success.

P&F NEWS

LITTLE GEMS💎

More Cross Country Success...

Congratulations to these three superstars, Amelie S, Emily H and Noah J, for progressing through to the State Championships! Amelie & Emily placed an impressive 12th overall, and Noah achieved an outstanding 3rd place overall. Congratulations also to Sadie Sm for placing 20th, just missing out on the State Championships. 

As we always say, this is a really tough competition. The further you go, the tougher it gets. It’s no small feat (feet) to make it through to this level, and we are incredibly proud of these students for this phenomenal achievement.

What a team...

We had one big Prep class on Tuesday and Wednesady this week, as Miss Wood, despite feeling well and still ably supporting her class, was battling a croaky winter voice. True to form, this adaptable and supportive team came together to lead the morning session, which relies heavily on direct instruction. Their ability to interchange seamlessly and support one another ensured the children’s routines were maintained and learning continued without disruption. A wonderful example of teamwork in action, and reflective of their year to date!

Spot the two biggest kids in our playground! Jack and Byron, adored by our students, are with us as part of their community program with St Bede’s. Since last year, they’ve been supporting our staff and students in a variety of ways and continue to make a wonderful impact each week.

We absolutely love their ongoing involvement and the energy they bring to Sacred Heart!

It was lovely to see Mr Coutts drop in on Friday, on his day off, no less, to kick off rehearsals for our upcoming production. We can’t wait to see it all come to life!

And finally...

Next week, I will be out on Wednesday to attend the funeral of my dearest colleague and friend, Mrs Michelle Moore. Michelle was, without question, one of the most exceptional instructional leaders and educational visionaries I have had the privilege to work alongside in the past 20 years in education in the bayside.

As my former Deputy Principal at Elsternwick, Michelle later went on to lead as Principal at St Joseph’s in Malvern. I am incredibly grateful to have crossed paths with her, as her influence continues to shape my own leadership and commitment to best practice in teaching and learning. "Teach the stuff, not the fluff" was our mantra. 

Long may it continue.

 In loving memory of the best in the business. 

Simon C

Principal