PRINCIPAL
Mr Leo Di Gregorio
TOURNAMENT OF MINDS (TOM) FINALISTS AND CREATIVITY STATE WINNERS
Our Gifted and Talented program is truly flourishing. Last Saturday, the College entered nine teams in the TOM Regional Finals. TOM is a fantastic program that provides opportunities for students to work in teams to problem solve in areas of STEM, Language/Literature, Arts and Social Science. I was delighted that five of our teams have now progressed through to the State Finals. One of the Language/Literature Teams teams consisting of Year 10 students Xavier Prentice (Barlow), Jay Wilson (O'Reilly), Niamh Hackett (O'Reilly), Chris Baker (Hannan) and Year 8 students Maria Nasr (Thu Duc), Neave Norman (Hannan), Savannah Lauri (Thu Duc), won the State Trophy for the best spontaneous response last week. This is an outstanding achievement. My thanks to all the staff coordinators and senior student facilitators that assisted the participating students in their preparation for last Saturday’s event. A more detailed wrap-up is available in this newsletter.
FAMELAB FINALIST
The Fogarty Foundation has partnered with the Foundation for the WA Museum to establish FameLab Academy, a schools initiative for Years 9 and 10 students to encourage their interest in STEM and develop their science communications skills. The finalists tell science stories in just three minutes, with no props, jargon or no slideshow. The students explain a scientific concept in ways non-science audiences can understand. Despite only being in Year 8, GATE student Hayley Cavanagh (Thu Duc) has been selected as a State Finalist. The Top 9 students from WA will appear at the Heath Ledger Theatre to present their speech on Tuesday 20 September. Congratulations and best of luck Hayley!
UNAAWA 2022 YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Congratulations also to Year 11 student, Kayah Swiatopelk-Mirski-Smith (Trinity), who has been selected to attend the prestigious UNAAWA 2022 Young Women's Leadership Development Program. Topics covered will include a focus on leadership confidence, communication skills, goal setting, career exploration and strengthening community involvement and advocacy. This is a wonderful opportunity as Kayah will be mentored by prominent women leaders from around Perth to help her reach her full potential as a future leader.
What amazing opportunities for all of our students. Thank you and congratulations to Head of Gifted and Talented, Mrs Tanya Atherton, for her ongoing dedication to the GATE program at the College.
ROBOCUP STATE FINALISTS
Our Year 10 teams performed to a very high standard at the recent RoboCup State Titles, finishing first and second in Maze Rescue. The two teams will now be representing WA and the College at the RoboCup Nationals in Adelaide during the school holidays. Congratulations to Thomas Hunt (Normandy), Campbell Herbert (Hannan), Nicholas Di Falco (Carden), James Neal (Normandy), Jordan Watson (Normandy), Jordane Sharafizad (Barlow) and Luca Calcei (Carden) who will be competing in the National Finals. My thanks to Mr Neil Gray for his work with the students in this competition.
SPIRIT OF THE ARTS PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
The Spirit of the Arts Performing Arts Festival is now drawing to a close. On Wednesday night, our Senior Chorale, Junior Choir and Sorrentones performed at Trinity College in the Secondary Choral Singing category. Our students were outstanding and all in attendance were very proud of their polished performances on the evening.
My thanks Mr Mark Martino, Head of Music, and Ms Martine Lewis for preparing the students so well for their performances. You can watch the performances, filmed by Mr Sam Di Nucci, below:
Earlier this week, I was informed that Year 12 students Luke Manning (Thu Duc) and Cultural Captain Carrig Plane (Normandy) are Shield Finalists in the Secondary Instrumental Duet category of the Performing Arts. Luke and Carrig played the bass guitar and piano respectively and performed Spain by Chick Corea. They are currently at a 'playoff' for the Shield with other finalists from other schools. Good luck!
COASTAL BRAVERY AWARD
Congratulations to sisters Beth (Year 10) and Jade (Year 11 O'Reilly) Bamforth who have been nominated for a Coastal Bravery Award by WA Police. Both students did not hesitate to put their skills into practise when two exhausted adult males got into trouble in a rip at Mullaloo just before their board training session. Beth and Jade displayed our Core Value of Courage and were immensely brave in their actions. Well done, we are so proud of your community spirit.
AUSTRALIAN TEACHER AIDE APPRECIATION WEEK
This week is Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week, an occasion where the school community can show thanks for all of the hard work of teacher aides, or Education/Teacher Assistants as they are known at Sacred Heart. At Sacred Heart, we are fortunate to have 24 amazing and dedicated Education/Teacher Assistants working within the Mary MacKillop Centre, Learning Support and individual learning areas. These wonderful people assist those with special educational needs and help teachers in the classroom. Our students would not be able to flourish as much as they do now without them and the College is very grateful for their work. Thank you.
NATIONAL R U OK? DAY
Next Thursday, the College will be recognising and promoting National R U OK? Day. This day is promoted annually by the students and staff at the College and is a reminder that every day is the day you ask "are you OK?"
During PCG, students will be given different tools and strategies to help them feel confident to ask their friends if they are OK.
As the College has many lunch time activities planned for the students participate in, all students are allowed to wear their Sports or House uniform next Thursday. Friday will be a normal House Shirt Day.
2024 YEAR 7 SIBLING INTERVIEWS
I am now in the final stages of interviewing the sibling students for Year 7, 2024. I am delighted that many of the students interviewed are very excited about coming to Sacred Heart College and I am impressed by the many gifts and talents across our Four Pillars that they will bring to our College. I am looking forward to the Class of 2029 starting at the College.
As our Year 12s are fast approaching the end of their time with us, we now start the process of preparing for Year 7 students for 2023. On Monday 5 September (Week 8) we will commence with the Music Information Evening. This is then followed by the Parent Information Evening for these students on Tuesday 20 September. Details will be emailed to all relevant families.
God Bless.
Mr Leo Di Gregorio
Principal