From the Acting Principal
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
On Friday 12 June, the Catholic Church around the world celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a feast that falls each year in June and focuses our attention on the deep and personal love Christ has for every person. In the language of our faith, the “heart” is not just a feeling or an emoji; it is the centre of the person, where decisions are made and love takes root. When we speak of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are really speaking about who Jesus is at his core: patient, merciful, courageous, and completely given for others.
For our students, that means this solemnity is not something distant. It is an invitation to trust that Christ walks with them in the everyday realities of school life; friendships, assessment pressures, sport, part‑time work, and the big questions about identity and future pathways. For our families, the Sacred Heart reminds us that our homes, with all their noise, routines, and challenges, are also places where Jesus’ love wants to dwell and bring peace.
Young people today navigate a world of constant comparison, digital distraction, and strong cultural messages about success and self‑worth. The Sacred Heart offers a very different message: you are loved first, not because of your grades, your achievements, or your popularity, but simply because you are a child of God.
At the College we try to echo this in practical ways:
Encouraging students to see mistakes as opportunities to learn rather than reasons to give up.
Promoting respect and kindness in our conversations, especially online, where words can wound quickly.
Supporting students to stand up for those who are excluded or treated unfairly, following Jesus’ example of standing with the vulnerable.
St Norbert Day
Our celebration of St Norbert Day on Friday 5 June was a joyful and faith-filled expression of who we are as a Norbertine community. There was a tangible sense of gratitude, service and togetherness as students and staff came together to celebrate the life and witness of St Norbert of Xanten.
It was heartening to see our students enter the ORC reverently and take their places, supported by staff who modelled the quiet respect appropriate to the Eucharist. I am especially grateful to our celebrants, Fr Peter and Fr John, our student readers, altar servers, choir and special ministers who prepared so carefully and led us so prayerfully in worship.
The popular Staff vs Students games were no disappointment once again this year. With soccer on the senior oval and volleyball on the junior courts, there was no shortage of competitive spirit, friendly banter and, most importantly, good sportsmanship on display from both staff and students. Congratulations goes to the Staff soccer team for taking home the win!
In keeping with our rotating St Norbert Day tradition, this year’s program took the form of off-site organised activities, giving students the opportunity to choose from a wide range of experiences across Perth. Groups headed out to venues including Perth Zoo, Bounce indoor trampolining, Cockburn Ice Arena, Zone Bowling, Pot Black, skating, escape rooms, a cyber hunt, robotics sumo, pizza making and an on-campus art gallery experience. Whether students were testing their balance on the ice, their teamwork in an escape room, their creativity in the art space or their courage on the trampolines, each activity offered a different way to build friendships, challenge themselves and simply enjoy being together.
Thank you to Aaron D’Souza for coordinating the day and thank you to every member of our community who contributed to making St Norbert Day 2026 such a memorable and grace-filled occasion.
2027 Academic Calendar – Three Week Mid-Term Break
As a Norbertine governed school, St Norbert College continues to align its planning with Catholic Education WA (CEWA) system-wide directions while supporting the wellbeing of students, staff and families.
From next year, St Norbert College will move to a three-week term break in the middle of the year, rather than the current two-week break between Terms 2 and 3. All CEWA schools will also adopt a three-week break at this time, ensuring consistency for families with children in multiple Catholic schools.
Key Term Dates
To support a smooth transition to this new pattern, the following start and mid-year break dates have been confirmed:
Term 1 commences on 27 January.
Year 7, Year 11 and Year 12 students will commence the school year on 27 January.
All remaining students (Years 8, 9 and 10) will commence on 28 January.
The mid-year term break will run for three weeks, from 28 June through to 16 July.
The remaining dates for terms will be sent to families via letter at the end of this term.
This change brings St Norbert College into line with CEWA schools, providing families with a common calendar across the Catholic system and making it easier to plan work, care and holiday arrangements.
Archbishops Forum for LifeLink
A group of students from St Norbert College recently had the privilege of representing our community at the Archbishop’s Student Forum for LifeLink. Gathering with student representatives from Catholic secondary schools across the Archdiocese of Perth, they joined Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Church leaders to reflect on how young people can respond to those in our community who are most in need.
The Forum is held each year as part of LifeLink Day for secondary schools and highlights the ongoing commitment of Catholic schools to the common good. Students hear directly from the Archbishop about the work of LifeLink and its affiliated Catholic agencies, which provide practical support, advocacy and care to people experiencing hardship across Perth. They are also invited to discuss questions of faith, social justice and service, and to share their own ideas for how schools can make a real difference in the lives of others.
Our students participated thoughtfully in table discussions with peers from other colleges, exploring how the Gospel call to “love your neighbour” can be lived out through concrete action in their own school communities. They were encouraged to see that, as young people in Catholic education, their voices and leadership are valued by the wider Church.
Presentation Night – Calling for Year 8 Alumni 1976
This year St Norbert College celebrates a significant milestone: 50 years since the College first welcomed girls into Year 8 and became co-educational in 1976. This decision has profoundly shaped our identity, enriching our community with the gifts and leadership of both young women and men.
As part of these golden anniversary celebrations, we are keen to reconnect with students who were part of that very first co-educational Year 8 cohort in 1976. If you were in this group, or if you know someone who was, please contact the College (marketing@norbert.wa.edu.au) so we can acknowledge and include this important group of past students in our Presentation Night production.
Looking Forward
Music Night – Tuesday, 23 June, 7.00pm
Have you got your tickets yet? The annual College Music Night will be held on Tuesday, 23 June at 7.00pm in the Xanten Theatre. Tickets are only $5, and you won’t find a more affordable live performance than this!
Careers Expo – Tuesday, 23 June
We have several exhibitors from a range of industries, including TAFE and university, at our school on Tuesday, 23 June. Students in Years 9–12 will visit the exhibition during the day. This is a great opportunity for students to explore different career pathways or find out more about the careers they may wish to pursue. Thank you to Mrs Gonsalves for organising the event.
Year 9 Camp
Year 9 students will attend their adventure camp in Week 11 of this term. The camp is designed to build relationships among teachers and peers, encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, and develop resilience. I thank Miss Anderson for all the work she has done in the lead-up to organising the camp.
Semester Reports
We are nearing the end of the first semester, and Semester One reports will be issued in Week 11. This is a great time for students to sit with their parents, celebrate their successes, and set goals for the second half of the year. Families will also have the opportunity to discuss their child’s learning with their teachers on the first day back of term, Monday 20 July. There will be no scheduled classes on this day.
Mr P Murphy
Acting Principal