Merry Christmas & Thank You

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

As this is the final newsletter for the year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for another wonderful year at Sacred Heart. Our students, staff and families have continued to embrace all that is unique and precious about our school community, with an overwhelming sense of welcoming and warmth that filters through the school. In a year of a school review, we have had many opportunities to evaluate many aspects of our school and I am very proud and grateful for all we have achieved together.

We farewell our Year 6 graduating class of 2024 and wish them every success and happiness as they take the next step in their young lives, knowing that they will always be a part of the Sacred Heart family. For those families leaving Sacred Heart, we also wish you all the very best and thank you for being such an important part of our school community in your time here.

I would also like to thank the amazing Sacred Heart staff. I feel truly blessed to come to work each day and lead such a wonderful group of people who show every day that the child is at the centre of all we do. Thank you!

To the staff who either retiring, taking up new roles or seeking new experiences in different school settings, I would personally like to thank you for your dedication and commitment to our children and your friendship as a colleague. You have each brought your own unique skills, knowledge and passion to the craft of teaching and we have all benefited from your strengths. We wish you much happiness in your new venture. The teachers have written their own farewell message to the school community below.

In 2025, we welcome Rosy Cubero, Holly Peters, Isabelle Maher, Jacob Mills and Andrea O'Keeffe to Sacred Heart. Rosy will be working in Prep - 2 in Learning Diversity and brings a wealth of knowledge, particularly in early literacy acquisition. You can read more about our new teachers below.

I would also like to thank the members of the School Advisory Council for their commitment and contributions over the course of the year. Their work and contributions to the school has been very much appreciated. Thank you also to Fr Samuel for his ongoing support and commitment to building on our school and parish partnership that is a strength of Sacred Heart school.

And finally, as we prepare to celebrate the season of Christmas, I encourage you to reflect on the true meaning of this special time – the birth of Jesus Christ. His arrival brings hope, peace and light into our world, reminding us of God’s love for us. May this Christmas season fill your hearts with peace and gratitude.

Wishing you all a safe and peace filled Christmas season in 2024.

Yours in faith,

Kaylene

Kaylene Carlin

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Christmas Carols

Our Sacred Heart Christmas Carols were an unforgettable evening of joy and togetherness this year. The evening reminded us of the love, hope and peace of Christmas. As we sang together, we celebrated the sense of community and unity that makes Sacred Heart such a special place. Each song, each smile and each moment created memories that we will cherish. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event so magical—from our amazing students who sang beautifully, the dedicated Sacred Heart staff and to all the families who joined us in spirit and song.

Handover Conversations

Over the past week, Sacred Heart educators have been engaging in Handover Conversations from your child's 2024 teacher to his/her 2025 teacher. These conversations are crucial for ensuring continuity in students' learning, well-being and development. They also help your child's new teacher build a strong understanding of him/her, allowing them to build a relationship and ensure the learning environment suits your child from the start of the school year. Importantly, educators who are new to Sacred Heart in 2025 have also been part of the conversations.

The kind of information passed on may include information relating to academic achievements and goals, social emotional strengths and supports that may benefit the child, any modifications to support the child, interests and talents etc. Facilitating structured and thoughtful handovers fosters a cohesive educational experience and helps students feel valued and supported and is an important part of our end of year routines at Sacred Heart.

Educators new to Sacred Heart

Next year, we warmly welcome new educators to our Sacred Heart community - Holly Peters (Year 2H), Isabelle Maher (Year 3I), Jacob Mills (Year 4J) & Andrea O'Keeffe (Year 5A). All of the new teachers have already spent some time at Sacred Heart, joining in our Sketching 2025 school closure day and at Step Up Day, meeting their new class for 2025. We also welcome Rosy Cubero who will be joining the Learning Diversity/Ways of Being Together team working in the P-2 year levels.

I have invited each of the educators to share a little bit about themselves with the school community which you can read below.

Holly Peters - Year 2H

Hello everyone! My name is Holly, and I am very excited to be joining the Sacred Heart Primary School community as a Year 2 teacher in 2025! I am a recent graduate of The University of Melbourne with a Master of Teaching (Primary) degree and have been teaching at Warreen Primary School in 2024. I look forward to getting to know the students and families at Sacred Heart and contributing to the school community. In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends, family and my two dogs Lulu and Koda. I am also a big Collingwood supporter and during the AFL season enjoy attending games on the weekends. I can’t wait to get started and am excited about what the 2025 school year will bring!

Isabelle Maher - Year 3I

Hi, my name is Isabelle, and I am thrilled to be joining the Sacred Heart community as a Year 3 teacher. I bring four years of teaching experience, including time in classroom teaching and specialist roles, and I am passionate about creating a positive and engaging learning environment where every student can thrive. I value building meaningful connections with students, families and colleagues. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy being active, reading a good book and spending time down at the beach. I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone and contributing to the wonderful culture here at Sacred Heart.

Jacob Mills - Year 4J

Hi everyone! My name is Jacob Mills, and I’m thrilled to be joining the Sacred Heart community in 2025 as a Year 4 teacher. I currently live in Brooklyn with my wife and our two cats. Over the past year, I’ve been a specialist teacher, focusing on dance and performing arts, and I’m excited to bring my passion for creativity back to the classroom. Prior to working as a specialist teacher, I was a Year 3/4 classroom teacher. In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, playing video games, carpentry, and watching anime. I love building strong relationships with my students, and my wide range of hobbies often helps me find common interests with them. I’m looking forward to becoming part of this wonderful community and can’t wait to meet you all!

Andrea O'Keeffe - Year 5A

My name is Andrea O’Keeffe, and I am a teacher originally from Ireland. For the past year, I have been living in Australia, embracing new opportunities and immersing myself in a different educational environment. With extensive experience in the Irish education system, I am eager to build upon my career in Australia, bringing my knowledge and enthusiasm to help my students realize their full potential academically, socially and personally.

Outside of the classroom, I have a deep passion for sports, particularly hurling. I have had the honor of representing both my club and county, achievements that have instilled in me a deep appreciation for teamwork, resilience, and community spirit. These values, learned through sport, strongly influence my approach to teaching. I look forward to meeting you all in 2025.

Rosy Cubero - Learning Diversity/Ways of Being Together P-2

Hello everyone! My name is Rosy Cubero. I have two sons, 21 year old Noah and 19 year old Joel. In my spare time I love spending quality time with my family and friends, attending concerts, camping, travelling and taking my dog Tigger for walks. I have been teaching for over 30 years and during this time, have grown a deep passion for & interest in Literacy and Learning Diversity. I feel so excited and immensely blessed to be joining the beautiful community of Sacred Heart. I believe Mary MacKillop is at the centre of Sacred Heart and her spirit has called me to work alongside incredibly gifted educators to help every child in my care reach their full potential. I look forward to meeting you all in person at the beginning of the new year. Merry Christmas & have a safe & relaxing holiday.

Farewells

Jeanette Bloxsom

To the Sacred Heart Community,

It is very difficult to put into words how I am feeling as I retire at the end of the year. It was a difficult decision to make as I have loved working with your fabulous children, both in the classroom and the library.

As I prepare to leave, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of my journey here. I’ve learned so much from each of you. To the wonderful parents who’ve worked with me and supported me along the way. That’s what makes the Sacred Heart community so special. It has been a great place to end my 40+ years of teaching. I wish you all the best.

With heartfelt thanks,

Jeanette Bloxsom

Kirstyn Morgan

After seven wonderful years at Sacred Heart, I’m bidding farewell to a school community that has truly felt like family. Throughout this time, I’ve been privileged to work alongside inspiring, creative, caring, passionate teachers, connect with families who have become friends, and teach incredible children who have filled my days with laughter, curiosity, and joy. Sacred Heart’s close-knit community is such a special one and I’m truly grateful for the memories we’ve created together. I have been so fortunate to begin my teaching career at this wonderful school and though I’m moving on, this chapter will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for the love and support—I’ll carry you all in my heart.

Andrea Finlay

While I am very sad to be saying goodbye to the Sacred Heart community, I am very excited to be taking on a new role at another primary school, working in Well Being full time. It has been my absolute privilege to have been a part of the education of the children at Sacred Heart over the past 7 years. I have also loved getting to know the families, many of whom l have made strong connections with. And finally, to the staff, l have been very fortunate to work with amazing educators and become very close friends with many of them. The Sacred Heart Community has been like a second family to me and you will always be in my heart.

Christy Mak

After these three wonderful years, I am embarking on a journey to a new school. I want to express my greatest gratitude to all the staff, families, and students for being extremely welcoming, warm, and supportive. I am incredibly thankful for the relationships I have built with everyone in the community, which has made each day meaningful and rewarding. I will miss all our little chats in the yard, the laughter, and the bond we have shared. Thank you so much for trusting and nurturing me to become a better teacher. I will remember these days with fondness.

Will Finlay

We also farewell Will who has been working at Sacred Heart this year as a Learning Support Officer. Will has had a positive impact on the children he has been working with and we wish him all the very best as he continues his studies to become a teacher. Thanks Will!

2025 Classes & Specialist Educators

Education/Learning Support Educators

Kellie Tapping, Noelene Satalich, Penny Fenech, Virginia Oqueli and Traci Flint

Library Support Staff

Penny Fenech

Christmas Hamper - A collaboration between Sacred Heart & the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

This year, the Year 6 Indigenous Perspectives Leadership group organised a Christmas drive to collect donations to go towards supporting others in the community who are less fortunate than ourselves.

The wonderful donations you have provided again this year will be gratefully received by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. A huge thank you to our wonderful community for supporting the drive, which has included a fundraiser through icypole sales and casual clothes day raising money to purchase gift cards for needy families. Congratulations also to the student leadership group for a wonderful effort!

Social Emotional Learning in the Catholic School Communities

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions (CASEL). The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) notes that promoting students’ social and emotional competency has direct and indirect influence on numerous scholastic factors including individual student’s attachment to school, better academic performance and success in school life.

Explicit Instruction of SEL

In 2025, Sacred Heart students will engage in one hour per week of explicit instruction in a social emotional curriculum as a specialist area of the curriculum, in addition to developing social skills through other aspects of the curriculum eg Faith Life Inquiry, collaborative learning opportunities and exploring the Ways of Being Together each day with their classroom teacher and peers. The specialist educator teaching SEL will be Bre Wells.

This will be in place of the curriculum that was occurring in Library time. Students will continue to develop a knowledge and appreciation of literature through the English curriculum. Students will also visit the library with their classroom teacher at different times as determined by the classroom teacher. SEL lessons will also take place in the library. A library technician will be engaged to maintain the library, returns etc.

At the end of 2025, we will evaluate the program and determine if this a model we will continue with or explore other options.

Secondary School Information

EMMANUEL COLLEGE

ST MARY'S COLLEGE