Weekes' Weekly News

Dear Sacred Heart Kew Families,

The 2026 Sacred HeART Show - A TREMENDOUS Sacred Heart Kew celebration!

The colours, the tones, the atmosphere, the engaging conversation. What a wonderful school celebration and event we all shared together. Thank you for attending over the two days, and thank you for your support of our school and children. Your presence is very much appreciated and gratefully received. 

Obviously, for an Art Show of this quality and magnitude, this doesn’t just happen. I would like to acknowledge and thank a few key people who contributed to this fantastic school event. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank our very creative and artistic children for all their efforts and artworks. Without their efforts and talent, we would not be able to host an Art Show (or run a school). And to our drummers and musicians (and their teachers Mrs Mulhall and Jenny Stokes) thank you for welcoming us and sharing your talents last Friday afternoon. Thanks also to our Year 6 Arts Captains (Grace Nesbitt and Alexia Saade) for helping Mrs Burnes plan and prepare the Art Show, and to all Year 6 children who helped set the Art Show up last week. 

Thank you to the PA and our Year 2 Parent Reps who organised the art themed lunch for all our children to enjoy, and who provided our visitors with delicious popcorn and fruit box treats after the Art Show. Thanks also to Chelsea Bateman for baking her delicious handmade art inspired cookies. 

Thanks to all our teachers and staff for all their work and support of our Art Show this year. My thanks to our extremely talented teacher artists who have guided our children and created some stunning year level pieces which you can bid on. 

Every second year, the Art Show raises funds for our Visual Arts program, with a particular focus on supporting art incursions and excursions for all our children to enjoy, and all money that was raised will go directly to our children and their learning program and provisions.

Thank you to all our families who bid in our online auction for one of the beautiful collaborative year level artworks or our special guest artist pieces (Dawn Tan and Graeme Peebles) and for purchasing raffle tickets to win the Ultimate Creative Arts Prize Pack and packs of greeting cards featuring stunning Year 3 watercolours. Congratulations to all our winners! 

A huge thank you to our wonderful families, students, artists and local businesses for your incredible support. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to raise $9600, which will go towards supporting art excursions and incursions for our students next year.

And finally (and yes I’ve kept Nicole to last), a VERY BIG thank you to Nicole, our extraordinary Visual Arts teacher. 

On behalf of the whole school community, I thank Nicole for all her energy, enthusiasm and vision for yet another wonderful Art Show. We are most grateful for Nicole’s artistic flair and passion, that she so warmly imparts upon, not just our children, but on our staff and families. 

Nicole’s inspiration and love of art always shines so brightly, and as everyone witnessed, shines brightly through the minds and hearts of our little people. We are blessed to have such a dedicated and talented Visual Arts Teacher at our school. The quality of artwork that was on display should really be hanging in a National Gallery. 

2027 Changes and Parent Information Sessions next week

Thank you to those parents who have sent emails, had conversations with me and passed on their thoughts, opinions and questions, since receiving the letter that outlined our 2027 changes on Monday afternoon. 

Thanks also to those parents who have sent emails offering their support of our school leadership and staff, as we navigate these changes within our school and community. As mentioned in the letter, these changes are in line with MACS directives and guidelines, and unfortunately, we could not consult with families regarding any of these changes. 

As was communicated in the letter, we look forward to providing families with greater detail regarding these changes at our Parent Information Sessions next week. These upcoming Parent Information Sessions will provide an opportunity to explain these arrangements in greater detail, and to address questions families still may have, after these presentations. 

These will be very comprehensive information sessions, explaining the factors that have contributed to these changes. These sessions will also provide information regarding, what composite classes will look like in practice at Sacred Heart, particularly in relation to curriculum planning, personalised learning, differentiation, extension, assessment, student wellbeing, class placements, and our continued efforts to ensuring that each child continues to be appropriately supported, and challenged. We look forward to seeing all families at one of these sessions. 

Staffing changes 

As outlined in previous communications, there will be enforced staffing changes next year. I share with you the following information regarding staffing for next year. 

Gabbi Pigatto

Gabbi Pigatto (3CH Classroom Teacher) has worked at Sacred Heart Kew over the last few years in various roles. She was a Learning Support Officer in 2023 & 2024, and a Year Two Classroom Teacher in 2025. Gabbi returned to Sacred Heart Kew in Semester Two this year, replacing Mrs Charlotte Hoogeveen, as she commenced her maternity leave. Next year, Gabbi will be undertaking CRT roles at Sacred Heart Kew and other schools, alongside some travel plans in the first part of 2027. 

We thank Gabbi for all her guidance, patience and support of our children here at Sacred Heart Kew over the last four years and we look forward to Gabbi continuing to work here at Sacred Heart Kew next year, as a CRT, in between her exciting travel adventures.

Holly Burke 

I also share the news that Holly Burke has accepted a classroom teacher position at St Lawrence of Brindisi Weir Views for 2027. 

We thank Holly for all her contributions to Sacred Heart Kew over the years, and for teaching and supporting the 2HB children this year, after returning to Sacred Heart Kew in Semester Two 2025. I thank Holly for the care, compassion and kindness she has shown our children in her time here with us. We wish her all the very best with this new role. 

We also congratulate Holly and Jethro on the exciting news that they are expecting a baby! We wish you both every happiness as you prepare to welcome your little one. What an exciting time for your growing family. 

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend. 

Thanks for your ongoing support and trust in all that we do (and will continue to do), at Sacred Heart Kew. 

Kind Regards, 

Ed Weekes 

School Principal