Newsletter 2

21 February 2025

Newsletter 2

21 February 2025

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,
May the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within
both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

This week’s prayer continues to highlight the significance of 2025 as a Special Year of Jubilee for the Universal Church. This prayer was written by Pope Francis and includes foci on the needs of God’s creation as well as humanity. Sacred Heart College itself looks forward to be a “cultivator of the seeds of the Gospel” across all aspects of school life in 2025.

New Senior Leaders

Following the resignation late last year of Craig Minter, there have been a number of new appointments made for the 2025 school year. Some of these have important student-focused responsibilities:

  • Anthony Diamond has been appointed as Head of Senior School (Year 10 – 12)
  • Mary-Anne Bratovic has been appointed as Year Eleven Level Leader
  • Paul Matthews has been appointed as College Timetabler with an expanded set of responsibilities including students’ subject selection

College Reception

Parents and members of the broader College community visiting the school in recent weeks will have noticed significant changes to the College Reception area. Front Reception and Student Reception have been consolidated at the front of the school. Students who are being dropped off and/or collected are able to do so via the front of the school with a single area catering for all Year 7 – 12 students.

Mercy Principals’ Retreat

Last week, I enjoyed the privilege of spending four days on retreat with the twelve other Mercy Education principals as well as Mercy Education Chief Executive, Louisa Rennie. The retreat was held in Katoomba, NSW and focused on the theme of “Walking Together”. It provided an extended opportunity to reflect on the particular responsibilities that principals have as faith leaders in our Mercy communities as well as to discuss a range of contemporary issues affecting our schools and system.

Student and Staff Activities

With the school year already into week four, a number of significant activities and events are underway:

  • On Thursday last week, Sacred Heart College celebrated the commencement of secondary education for our 167 Year 7 students through their Commissioning Mass. Thankfully, the weather has cooled somewhat for what will be a very special occasion.
  • Following on from their Commissioning Mass, all Year 7 students head off on their Year 7 Camp at Kinglake this week. The camps are split with 7A, 7B & 7C at Kinglake from Monday – Wednesday and 7D, 7E & 7F from Wednesday – Friday. The week also includes Reflection Days on Monday and Friday. I look forward to visiting both groups at camp this week.
  • Last Thursday morning, the whole school had the opportunity to celebrate the high achievers of 2024 across VCE, VCE-VM as well as a number of other areas.
  • Last week also saw the College welcome more than 20 very excited students and staff from our French sister school, Notre Dame du Roc. Students and staff will spend almost three weeks in Australia and will experience the normality (or chaos) of family life in their home-stays.

Bereavements

Your prayers are asked for the following families who are mourning the passing of a loved one recently.  The Heenan family on the passing of John Moran, grandfather of Ella 7C and Michael 8A.  Also, the Meldrum family on the passing of Maxwell 'Tom' Bacon, father of Debbie Meldrum, staff member of SHC. 

Yours in Mercy,

Dr Darren Egberts

Principal

VCE Awards Assembly

Our recent VCE Awards assembly was a time of great celebration. Firstly, it was a celebration of individual stories - for that is what our school is: a collection of remarkable young people, all with their own stories, who gather together each day to live and learn as a community. 

Secondly, it was a celebration of personal excellence. Each of the students and graduates who were recognised and awarded at the assembly had worked hard in the pursuit of their own personal excellence.

Finally, it was a celebration of the transformative role that education plays in our lives. From the time of Catherine McAuley until our own time, the Sisters of Mercy have understood the enormous power of education to enrich our lives and empower our communities. In that same spirit of Mercy, we celebrate not only the education our graduates have received, but also the positive impact that they will go on to have in the world around them, equipped with the life lessons they take with them from their time at Sacred Heart College. For many reasons, every graduate from the Class of 2024 can be proud of their endeavours, and of their personal accomplishments. We are proud of their contributions to Sacred Heart College, and we have no doubt that they will continue to serve as people of Mercy as they move more fully into the world beyond the school gates. We look forward to hearing about all of the adventures they will undertake as they move on into new chapters of their lives.

On this note, it is a great joy to report that all graduates from 2024 have shared with us their chosen directions for the year to come, whether this be further study, apprenticeships, moving into the workforce or seeking other adventures. Our Careers Team and wider Senior Pathways team are thanked for their ongoing support of our students, as they take their secondary school learnings out into the world. 

Included below is a graph depicting the post-school destinations chosen by each percentage of students, and a graph illustrating the range of tertiary courses that have been offered to graduates embarking on further studies.



VCE Awards Booklet

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Called to Be Light for the World

On Thursday 20 February, members of our College community gathered for the Year 7 Commissioning Mass, a special time of prayer, reflection, and commitment to the Mercy values that shape our community. During this sacred moment, our newest students were called by name and presented with a candle—a symbol of their call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

As they begin their journey at Sacred Heart College, our Year 7 students are invited to embrace their gifts, seek wisdom, and grow in faith, leadership, and service. They are called to live out the Mercy values and become beacons of light in the world around them.

It was fitting that this Mass coincided with the World Day of Social Justice, which serves as a reminder of our Catholic commitment to justice. Throughout His ministry, Jesus proclaimed the Good News to the poor, lifted the lowly, and called His followers to transform the world through love, mercy, and recognition of the dignity of every person. He showed us that true discipleship means serving the most vulnerable and standing with those in need. As a Mercy community, we are called to do the same—to act with compassion, seek justice, and build a world where all can flourish.

As a College, we put our faith into action by supporting organisations that serve those most in need, including:

Through these partnerships, we strive to live out the Gospel call to justice, mercy, and service, ensuring that those in need are met with compassion and dignity. We encourage our Sacred Heart College community to explore how they can also support these initiatives.

Inspired by Catherine McAuley, who wrote, “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us,” we pray that our Year 7 students and our entire College community embrace their call to be people of hope and justice, bringing light to those in need.

Together, may we build a world where mercy, justice, and compassion flourish.

The Sacred Heart College Parent Engagement Partnership aims to strengthen the collaboration between school, families, and the broader community by providing Professional Learning through quality presenters on a variety of current educational topics. These opportunities can provide parents with knowledge, strategies, and skills to support their child. We are thrilled to have Dr Billy Garvey as the first speaker for 2025 on Wednesday 12 March and know that all that attend will find the evening both enjoyable and informative. Links to Billy’s website and podcast are provided in the information below. These events are open to all in our local community so please feel free to share information about this event with friends and family.

Billy Garvey is a developmental paediatrician with over 20 years of experience working with children and families in various settings. As a senior specialist at one of the largest tertiary paediatric hospitals in the world, he works with families, trains clinicians and professionals who support children, and conducts research in child development and mental health. Billy is also the founder of Guiding Growing Minds (GGM), a social enterprise dedicated to giving all children the opportunity to reach their full potential and live rich, meaningful lives, and hosts the Pop Culture Parenting Podcast, which blends expert insights with pop culture references to provide practical strategies for parents and caregivers. 

NAPLAN 2025 at Sacred Heart College

All students are required to have their laptops fully charged and to have plug-in listening devices. VCAA regulations prohibit the use of blue-tooth devices; either Mice or Listening devices.

Students will have practice prior to the formal schedule beginning on Wednesday 12 March, and students who do not have plug-in devices will be provided with plug-in listening devices, and this cost will be billed to the school account for each family. Students will keep the plug-in listening device.

All tests will be conducted in their Homerooms under examination conditions.

Click on the link below to go to the VCAA website for information on the upcoming On-Line NAPLAN assessments Parent Information for NAPLAN

The School schedule is below:

To wrap up an exciting week of transition activities, our Year 7 students ended their first week of secondary school with a fun-filled day at Splash Aquatic Centre.

Students had the opportunity to enjoy the water park, take on some amazing giant slides, paddle in canoes, and test their team skills in the thrilling crocodile novelty games. Laughter and excitement filled the air as students embraced the day, making the most of the activities and the chance to connect with their peers.

It was a fantastic way to celebrate the beginning of their high school journey, and beyond the fun and adventure, many great friendships were formed. What better way to dive into Year 7 than with a splash!

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Dwyer was buzzing with excitement on Friday when the Class of 2025 received the much-anticipated rugby jumpers. They’ve since been worn with great pride and unity!

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Year 12 VCE Food Studies

Year 12 Food Studies students recently took part in a hands-on activity called 'Gum to Bum' to learn about the digestive system. Despite some laughs and a few gross-out moments, the activity helped us visualise how food is digested both mechanically and chemically. 

We saw how bile (salt), acids and enzymes (food coloured water) work together to turn food into broken down macronutrients, and how leftover waste gets a dose of good bacteria (100's and 1000's) before leaving the body. This experience should help us remember key knowledge for our upcoming SAC.

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Intermediate Boys Volleyball 

The Year 9/10 Girls and Boys volleyball was a great experience.

The boys’ team had high spirits all day, starting with the bus ride to Craigieburn. The boys almost made it into the grand final, winning 2 out of 3 games. Both winning games had close results, and they went into a third set each time. The first game we played was our only losing game and our opponent made it into the finals of the whole competition. 

While watching the last game of our Pool B competition the vibe and energy was really fun. The whole day involved everyone having a great time, enjoying themselves with their friends and teammates. Overall, this was an amazing experience going out of school to represent SHC. It was a little unfortunate that we didn’t get into the final, but the day was filled with great memories, with new connections and friendships being made.
- Jonathan Bartlett

Intermediate Girls Volleyball 

On Wednesday the Girls 9/10 Volleyball team traveled down to Craigieburn where we played some fiercely competitive games. After a quick warmup, our first game was against Wallan, and it was an extremely close game. In the end we lost even with Rose’s awesome plays. Next, we played Edgars Creek, which we all did great in and worked together to win! Special mention to Ciara’s amazing serving in this game, winning about 6 in a row. After this we played an intense match against Elevation Secondary College which eventually was lost but was super fun. Lastly we played against our rivals Kyneton which was very fast paced and had some great rallies, but we unfortunately lost, but not without a fight. Considering most of us has never played volleyball before, we all tried our best and had a super fun day with lots of laughs and funny moments -  like Jewel attempting to learn to spike the ball!

- Amelia, Elena, Ciara

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Senior Girls Volleyball 

On Monday 10 February the senior girls Volleyball team headed to Epping. The girls had a great warm-up and had made their game plan. They played 2 great games against Craigieburn and Edgars Creek, Genevieve Eames was a stand out in both games with her amazing serves and Jasmine Short had some great moments throughout the day. All the girls played amazing and put up a great fight in both games, unfortunately losing both. Overall the girls had a great day out.

- Amy Vandenham

2025 Junior Country Championships

Across the weekend of 15/16 February, four of our students represented the Macedon Ranges playing in the U18 MRBA team, competing in Division 1 of the Junior Country Championships held in Bendigo.

The team played with great heart all weekend showcasing their talent, determination, and teamwork. After five hard fought matches the team made it to the Grand Final which went into a nail-biting overtime, only to see them miss out on the win by just 4 points against the Ballarat team. The Junior Country Championships are a prestigious event on the country tournament calendar, hosted by Basketball Victoria. We congratulate the MRBA team, in particular our SHC boys on this fantastic achievement.

Victorian Sub District Cricket Association - 2025 JG Craig Shield

Year 10 student, Luke Cameron, has had a fantastic summer of cricket. Luke who plays in the 15&U Coburg team captained them to great success during the recent JG Craig Shield competition. Luke has also recently been invited to try out for the State 15&U cricket team.

Luke was listed in the top 30 of the best performers in the Herald Sun ‘s coverage of the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association - 2025 JG Craig Shield competition. Luke is predominantly a batsman but proved himself as an allrounder with his stunning hat trick ending the match. His listing in the top 30 reads: “Luke Cameron, Coburg – Enjoyed a stunning run with bat and ball. Hit two half-centuries and won a game with a hat-trick.” Herald Sun 15 January 2025.

Read the full article here 

Congratulations Luke, we look forward to following your sporting achievements.

Victorian Champions  -  Tyler and Piper Fynch

Our students, brother and sister Tyler and Piper Fynch, won gold at the Victorian Country Championships held at Lar Birpa Athletics track in Bendigo on the Australia day long weekend.

Tyler competed in the U16 1500m and 3000m run, claiming gold in both events with 12 year old sister Piper victorious in the U16 2K steeplechase.

The event was a great shakedown before the upcoming Victorian track and field championships held later this month at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park.

Tyler has also been successful in qualifying for The Australian Track and Field Championships to be held in Perth this April.

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Gastroenteritis

There have been several reported cases of Gastro within the College and our local community. Gastro is highly contagious so if your child is unwell with possible Gastro symptoms, please don’t send them to school. If your child presents to First Aid with any Gastro symptoms, you will be notified to collect your child. Please help us as a College to stop the spread of Gastro. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jalna Holmes, Health Care Coordinator on 5421 1200.

School Fee Payment Plan 2025

If you have not returned your School Fee Payment Plan for 2025, please return ASAP or contact 

accountsreceivable@shckyneton.catholic.edu.au should you require a form.

Early Payment of School Fees Discount

If school fees are paid in full by 28 February 2025, you will receive an early payment discount of $200.00 per student.

Concession Card Holders – Camps, Sport & Excursions Fund (CSEF

School Saving Bonus

Camp, Sport & Excursion Fund (CSEF) is a $250 payment provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families with the cost of camps, excursions and sporting funds. To be eligible you will need to hold a means tested concession card or you are a temporary foster parent. Should your application be successful the college will match the $250.00 funding.

Eligible parents receive a $900 Credit Per Student on their 2025 school fees, when the above funding and discounts are applied.

The 2025 Application Form is now available on the College Website or attached below - https://www.shckyneton.catholi...

CSEF Application Form

Website - My SHC

The MY SHC section of the Sacred Heart Website (www.shckyneton.catholic.edu.au) is a quick ‘go to’ area for our current parents. The items you will find in MY SHC are:

  • Booklists - Campion Website
  • Digitech Support
  • PAM/SIMON login
  • SHC Calendar
  • My School Connect (login for lunch orders)
  • Wellbeing Support
  • Uniform
  • Parent Handbook

College Handbook 2025

The College Handbook is a comprehensive guide to all information you will need as a parent at Sacred Heart College.

KYNETON FNC

Senior Netball Training commences on Thursday 20 February at 6.30pm at the Showground courts. Come along and meet our new A & B Grade Coach, Dave O’Hare (Head Coach VNL Ariels, Coach of Vic Open Mixed).

Season commences April.

Enquiries: Loryn Savoia 0476 913 367

                                             Click above on the Orienteering Championships for full details

Become a Scout today!

Do you love outdoor adventures, making new friends, and challenging yourself then Scouts is the place for you!

The 1st Romsey Scout Group caters to a wide range of ages across different nights.

Anyone can give it a go! Youth members can have 3 free trial sessions. You can give the Group Leader a call or turn up on the night! Our program runs in line with school terms and our first week back in 2025 commenced on the 3rd February.

We are also always looking for adult volunteers, it is a fantastic way to get involved in the community, feel free to give the Group Leader a call to chat - 0400 210 052.

NOTE: Our district has many groups operating and your home might be located closer to another group. You can access information on your closest group at the Scouts Victoria site https://scoutsvictoria.com.au/locations/.

Section nights
Joeys (ages 5-7)
When: Wednesday, 6.30 - 7.30pm
Cubs (ages 8-12)
When: Thursday, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Scouts (ages 11-14)
When: Tuesday, 6.30-8.30pm

Where: The Scout hall on Barry St, Romsey VIC 3434


Group Leader: Michelle Hager 0400 2100 052 / michelle.1stromsey@gmail.com