Principal News 

Dear Families and Friends,

The circuit breaker, long weekend, including the Melbourne Cup, typically signals that we’re on the home stretch, a final sprint toward the end of another busy school year. Alongside a full suite of assessment tasks, our swimming program will commence in the next fortnight, so we can certainly expect some VERY tired students in the weeks ahead.

Please note that we will aim to continue to maintain a full academic program during this period. With the added mix of extra-curricular activities and social gatherings that often fill this time of year, we ask families to keep in mind that it can be a tricky period for some students to navigate. Emotions and energy levels can fluctuate, so your support and understanding in helping students stay balanced and well-rested will be greatly appreciated as we move through this busy and exciting final stretch, and dare we say transitional thoughts to the new school year i.e. uncertainty and change.

This Prep legend (Archie) absolutely made my day on Thursday after solving the Rubik’s Cube in what I’d call record time, at least in my world, where I spent countless hours in my youth trying (and often failing!) to do the same. Thanks for sharing your impressive talents, Archie. Some things truly never get old. In a world where our children are so often surrounded by technology and screens, it’s wonderful to see simple, timeless challenges like this still capturing their imagination and focus.

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Sacred Heart Art Show – A Celebration of Creativity

Sacred Heart Gallery

What an incredible evening! Our newly furbished school was transformed into a vibrant gallery for our annual Sacred Heart Art Show, bursting with creativity, colour and talent. Every artwork told a story, from our youngest Preps to our senior students, showcasing the imagination, skill and effort of our amazing learners.

Even Patricia the Cow received a stunning makeover, and each class’s collaborative art piece was sold to help raise funds for our exciting new playground upgrade. A wonderful example of art making a real difference!

A sincere thank you to the wonderful Mrs Hyslop (the best art teacher going around) for her passion, creativity and dedication in bringing this event to life. The art just keeps getting better every year.

Finally, a big thank you to all our families who came along, celebrated the students’ achievements and joined in the joy of their children’s education. Your support and presence make events like these truly special.

🇮🇹 Italian Day – Una giornata fantastica! (A fantastic day!)

Last week, Sacred Heart was transformed into Italia! and what a day it was! Under the wonderful leadership of Signora Mary Calira, our school was immersed in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Italian culture.

Mary’s warmth, kindness, and meticulous planning ensured that every moment reflected her deep passion for Italian language and culture. From the “airport experience” complete with creative costumes, props, and “passports,” to the engaging activities that transported students through the different regions of Italy, it truly felt like we had all taken a trip abroad.

Students enjoyed a full day of gioia e apprendimento (joy and learning), embracing every opportunity to speak Italian, explore traditions, and celebrate this beautiful culture. We definiely love a dress up opportunity at Sacred Heart! Of course, no Italian celebration would be complete without pizza e gelato, and both were enjoyed con grande entusiasmo! (with great enthusiasm!).

A very special grazie mille (thank you very much) to Laura Fonti and her family for their generous support and authentic Italian connections, which added even more richness to the day. And to our wonderful staff who assisted and supported whenever asked, it is always a team effort at Sacred Heart. 

Bravissima, Mary, sei una stella! (you are a star!) Your dedication and creativity made Italian Day an unforgettable experience for all.

ANNUAL SLEEPOUT & STALLS

Our Year 6 students, along with Miss Newey, Miss Bulte, Ms Tench, and Oscar, bravely participated in the St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout, spending Thursday night at school, outside to raise awareness and funds for those experiencing homelessness. This was a powerful opportunity for students to develop empathy and reflect on what it means to live out the Gospel call to serve others.

On Tuesday, as part of their fundraising efforts, our Year 6s organised a range of fun stalls and activities at school, many of which were generously funded by the students and their families. All proceeds went to St Vincent de Paul, Sandringham. Students across the school brought along small amounts of cash and coins to join in the fun and support this wonderful cause, and, quite remarkably, our Year 6s raised $1,982 for Mini Vinnies to assist those in need within our community. In addition, they made over 200 hygiene packs to be distributed to people experiencing homelessness in the coming weeks. Changing lives, one action at a time.

Hoop Time Regional Champions

Off to the State Finals! Congratulations to our talented senior students for earning their place in the State Basketball Championships. Such an incredible achievement and no small feat! This remarkable group has enjoyed an outstanding year, celebrating so many sporting successes in their final chapter/s at Sacred Heart. We’re so proud of you all and can’t wait to see you shine on the big stage!

Principal Appointment Process Update

The next stage in appointing a new principal has begun as the panel met to review questions/criteria and the process when considering the best possible leadership for Sacred Heart.

In the coming weeks the panel will carefully assess each applicant against the selection criteria before conducting interviews in the weeks ahead.

Families can be assured that this is a highly professional and values-driven process, focused on finding a leader who will continue to nurture the strong sense of care, connection, and high expectations that define Sacred Heart. The goal remains continuity, stability, and ensuring that the school’s best days continue well into the future.

Prep Orientation #3

This week, we once again welcomed our newest and youngest learners for their final Orientation session, an exciting milestone as they take their last steps toward beginning their school journey. It was wonderful to see so many happy and increasingly confident preschoolers engaging comfortably with their teachers (Miss Wood, Miss Levy, and Miss Porter) and new classmates.

A special thank you to our Prep team and support staff for creating such a warm, engaging, and welcoming experience, and to our families for sharing in this special transition. Miss Wood and Miss Porter have already gone above and beyond in their preparations for 2026, visiting and contacting kinders, meeting with families, and connecting with specialists to ensure the smoothest possible start to school life. This level of care and investment has been exceptional and is deeply appreciated by all, particularly our leadership team.

On Thursday the teachers divided the children into two extremely well considered classes to trial, and early indications would suggest they have nailed it!

The beautiful photo above captures Jack C from Year 1 dropping in to say a special hello to our new Preps. Jack shared some wonderful insights about what it’s like to be a Prep student. What made the moment even more special is that Jack’s sister will be starting Prep in 2026!

☘️Meanwhile in County Sandringham🇮🇪

What a truly stunning all-Irish assembly we enjoyed this morning, though perhaps it’s no surprise with Miss Rafferty leading the charge! Some days, it feels as though we’ve established our very own Irish county here in Sandringham, given the ever-growing number of Irish families now part of our Sacred Heart community.

Adding even more magic to the morning, we were blessed with a special visit from acclaimed Irish musician Brídín (from County Sligo), a gifted Celtic harpist and singer connected to one of our families. Her mesmerising performance captivated everyone.  What an unforgettable experience for our students and staff alike.

A huge thank you to Arina (Josh S – Yr.1) for making this wonderful connection and facilitating such a beautiful opportunity for our community.

A few special Irish helpers above holding the microphone. 

The group photo below captures just a small portion of our Irish families and staff, with Miss Maloney, Mrs McKeon, Miss Donnelly, and many more parents missing from the shot. Truly, what a blessing and special part of our Sacred Heart family they are!

School Playground Proposal 2026

Our focus over the coming weeks and months is to raise sufficient P&F funds to bring this exciting project to life in time for the start of the new school year. Your support and efforts will be greatly appreciated by our students as we work to replace the outdated playground equipment. The children simply cannot wait! Don't forget to view the school instagram story and the barometer in the school foyer should you wish to generously donate outside the upcoming fundraising initiative. 

Teacher Spotlight

STAFFING NEWS

We wish Miss Bulte every success as she represents Victoria at the National Indoor Netball Championships next week. What a fantastic achievement for our superstar Year 6 teacher — we’re all so proud and cheering her on!

Life Long Learners

Oscar, one of our exceptional Learning Support Officers, is in the home stretch of his psychology degree. His ability to connect with every student is truly remarkable, and his energy and love of life have been infectious. Oscar is deeply valued (adored) by our staff, students, and families alike.

We’re also thrilled to celebrate the wonderful Lola (#stillmyfavourite), who has committed to beginning a teaching degree next year. While working at Sacred Heart, Lola has completed a nutrition and health degree, but clearly has found her calling. Lola’s adaptability, genuine care for children, and passion for making a difference have been recognised by all. Look out, Sacred Heart, we’ll be waiting patiently for this degree to be completed!

In addition, we’re delighted to acknowledge that Stacie, another member of our exceptional LSO team has completed her teaching degree in recent weeks, and Jane and Karin, our incredible LSO superstars are close to completing their accreditation as MSL instructors. What a brilliant team we have in our Learning Support staff, whose expertise and dedication are every bit as valuable as our teachers.

Class Placement Process for 2026

In the coming weeks, we will invest significant time in finalising class placements for 2026. This process involves careful consideration of each child’s social, emotional, behavioural, and academic needs. Teacher judgement, combined with a deep understanding of what is best for each student and cohort, will guide these decisions to ensure balanced and effective classroom dynamics. While friendship groups are taken into account, our foremost priority is to create the best possible learning environment for all students.

As part of this process, teachers will ask students to nominate five classmates they work well with for the following year. Students will be encouraged to consider peers from other classes to support positive connections across the cohort. Every effort will be made to ensure that each child has at least one of their nominated friends in their 2026 class.

Parents who wish to make an educational request regarding their child’s placement are asked to submit this in writing to the principal@shsandringham.catholic.edu.au (not to the classroom teacher or admin email account) by no later than Friday, 14 November.

Finalised class lists will be confirmed following the ‘Moving Up Day’ in Week 10, on Thursday, 11 December.

ANNUAL CLASH OF THE COURTS

We are so proud to support the upcoming TeamSports4All Charity Event on Sunday 16 November at the Bayside District Netball Association (Holloway Road), with the first centre pass at around 1pm. With a remarkable 11–12 school communities involved and more than 200 participants expected, this promises to be a fantastic day of sport, community spirit, and support for such a worthy cause. A heartfelt thank you to Amanda Molony and her dedicated team of mums for championing this initiative. From little things, big things truly grow. What began with just 3–4 schools in 2023 has now blossomed into 12 in 2025, an extraordinary achievement.

What's Coming Up in Term 4...

For the Fridge 

LITTLE GEMS💎

These amazing Year 3 students (Lilah, Ellie and Faustina) set up a stall on the weekend to raise money for various charities, including one very close to their teacher, Mrs McGrath, supporting heart research. Taking on this initiative entirely on their own speaks volumes about the quality and compassion of these socially aware students. We are so very proud of their efforts and achievements.

Thanks for dropping by, Florienne, and sharing your self-motivated research completed in your own time over the weekend. Another one of Mrs McGrath’s rockstars, your enthusiasm and effort are perfectly reflected in that wonderful smile!

Sporting Superstars!

We’re so proud of Geneva (Yr.5), who after four recent trials has been selected to represent South Melbourne Football Club in the U12s PRE-NPL Girls Team for 2026 — an incredible achievement! Geneva had multiple offers from Alamein, Glen Eira, Bentleigh Greens, and Sandringham, ultimately choosing South Melbourne.

Adding to the excitement, Madeline (sister Yr.2) was the highest-ranked 8-year-old in the Sandringham Sabres girls’ basketball tryouts and has earned a spot on the Under 12.4 team. 

Congratulations, girls, we are so proud of you both! 👏⚽🏀

And finally...

While it was a shorter week than usual, it somehow felt like a full five days with everything we managed to pack in! From the Hoop Time success and the Year 6 Sleep Out for the Homeless, to Prep Orientation #3 and the stunning harp performance at Friday’s assembly, it’s been another spectacular week at Sacred Heart, truly the best school in the Bayside!

Don’t blink, families, the school year will be over before you know it!

With much pride and gratitude,

Simon C

Principal