PRINCIPAL

FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART

Today the Church celebrates the annual Feast of the Sacred Heart. The feast day falls on a different day every year as it occurs 19 days after Pentecost, which is seven weeks after Easter. The day is a special one in the liturgical calendar of the Church as it symbolises Christ’s unconditional love for all. The Feast of the Sacred Heart is also a special day for the Sisters of our Lady of the Missions (RNDM Sisters), and hence many of the schools founded by the Sisters are named Sacred Heart College. 

Whilst we will celebrate this day at the end of this Term, our sister school, Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Oakleigh (Melbourne), are observing it today with a Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral with the RNDM Sisters. Traditionally, since 2013, Sacred Heart Oakleigh and Sorrento would send staff and senior students in leadership positions to the respective schools for Sacred Heart Day celebrations. Sadly, over the last few years this has not been able to occur. This year, along with our Head Boy and Girl and the Mission and Ministry Captains, I had the pleasure of making a short video to wish all in Melbourne well on this important day in their calendar. Both schools are remaining hopeful that we can return to our exchange program in 2023. 

YOUNG VINNIES BACKPACKS 

Following the Year 10 Winter Sleepout last Friday evening and Saturday morning, where our Year 10s learnt a lot about the homeless, our Young Vinnies group were hard at work yesterday, filling over 60 backpacks of essential goods to support the homeless. These backpacks will be distributed to various organisations to ensure the homeless receive these goods as soon as possible. I am in awe of the Young Vinnies' drive and passion to make a difference in our world, particularly to the marginalised. Thank you to Mrs Rossana Hywood, the Young Vinnies and all involved in this wonderful work. 

TRINITY FEAST DAY

On Wednesday, Trinity House students and staff celebrated their Feast Day by watching a short liturgy during PCG time and enjoying a sausage sizzle at lunch. The motto for this House translates to ‘Extended Mission’. The RNDM founding Sister, Euphrasie Barbier, used the image of God as Trinity.  In the Trinity there are no boundaries to love. This is the source of the Trinitarian Spirituality that runs through the RNDM life that, as partners, we are called to be part of.

YEARS 11 AND 12 ASSEMBLIES

Congratulations to all students in Years 11 and 12 who received Academic Honours and Sacred Heart Learner Awards today at their year group assemblies. These are prestigious Awards and the Academic Honours are extremely challenging to achieve, particularly in Years 11 and 12. All students who reached or surpassed their potential in the recent exams should be proud of themselves, as we are. The list of recipients will be featured in next week's Newsletter. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE TEAM

Congratulations to our Year 10 Engineering students and our Years 9 and 10 GATE students who participated in the 2022 Science and Engineering Challenge at Claremont Showgrounds yesterday. This national competition challenges students to problem solve in several areas. I am pleased to say our students represented themselves and the College well and by Thursday had received the highest score of the week, winning the day. We await to hear which team from WA will be selected to go to the Australian Finals in VIC.

STAFFING

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Ms Sasha Wells. Sasha will work directly with Aboriginal students and families to enhance and support student learning outcomes within the College. We extend a warm welcome to Sasha as she commences her role at the College.

We are also delighted to announce that Miss Sophie Brouwer has been appointed to the role of Acting Barlow House Coordinator for Term 3 and wish her well.

HeARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVALS

I am looking forward to the launch of the HeARTS Festival later this afternoon and to the Music Festival on Sunday. I hope many of you are able to join us to enjoy the talents of our Arts students.

God Bless.

Mr Leo Di Gregorio

Principal