Hearts News (Week 4, Thursday 23 February)

To our Sacred Heart Community

Beginning of Lent (Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday)

On Shrove Tuesday (21 February), MSol (Marist Solidarity) teams at both campuses held a small pancake stall in support of Project Compassion. The word ‘Shrove’ is derived from ‘Shriven’, which means to be freed from sin. The consumption of pancakes symbolises a day of feasting before the Lenten period of sacrifice and fasting.

On Ash Wednesday (22 February), all students participated in a liturgy run in House groups. The focus of the liturgy was to launch the Caritas Project Compassion theme for 2023, ‘For all future generations’. Jesus brought the promise of hope to all people so that we may, “have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). As we live into that fullness, we are also challenged during Lent to act with love and tenderness, ‘now and for all future generations’.

Students and staff also represented Sacred Heart College at the launch of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Lenten appeal which was held at Mercedes College. This event included a liturgy led by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan and a speech by South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas.

Families can support Sacred Heart’s Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Lenten appeal here.

2023 Opening Mass and commissioning of new College Principal

On Friday 17 February, all staff and students across the College gathered at Marcellin Campus to formally commence the school year with a Beginning of Year Mass. This was an important occasion for cross-campus interaction where we celebrated our Marist spirit and Catholic tradition. Mr Daniel Lynch was also officially commissioned as our new Principal by Dr Frank Malloy (National Director of Marist Schools Australia). The focus of our Mass was the 2023 Marist theme: ‘Created and Called: A revolution of love and tenderness‘. 

Laureate Assembly and Hall of Honour induction ceremony

Last Wednesday (15 February) we welcomed our 2022 Laureates along with former Principal, Steve Byrne, to celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of our Class of 2022.

The 2022 Year 12 cohort successfully achieved 40 Merits, with 40 students gaining an ATAR of 90 or above. College Dux, Samuel Beck spoke to our Hearts Community about the importance of learning from your mistakes, staying determined and doing all you can to fulfil your aspirations. We congratulate Samuel on his achievements as Sacred Heart’s 2022 College Dux. 

We also congratulated 2022 Dux Proxime Accessit, Sara Amirghiasvand; Governor of South Australia Commendation recipient, Beau Hope; 2022 Year 10 DUX, Madalyn Petruzzella; and 2022 Year 11 Dux, Tigerlily Santry.

Following the Laureate Assembly, we welcomed back old scholar, Robyn Verrall (SHOC ’82), who was inducted into the Sacred Heart College Hall of Honour.

As the 28th inductee into the hall of Honour, Robyn spoke of her significant career change into agriculture after marrying a Sacred Heart old scholar and farmer from Keith. Robyn has become an executive of multiple farming enterprises in South Australia, distributing meat products to Australian and international markets. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation, with a seat representing the Agricultural sector on the Board of SA Leaders for Gender Equity. In 2019 she was awarded ‘Member of the Year’ from SA Woman Australia and in 2022 she was the recipient of SA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

Congratulations to our 2022 Laureates and our Hall of Honour inductee on their wonderful achievements!

Year 9 Student Leaders Camp

On Monday and Tuesday of Week 3, the Year 9 leadership group enjoyed participating in a leadership camp at West Beach. The camp experience provided the leaders with an opportunity to forge bonds as a group, learn about leadership and set goals for the year ahead. Courageously these young leaders explored topics such as, ‘Why do we lead?’, vulnerability, group dynamics, faith leadership and goal setting. 

The 2023 Champagnat leadership group looked critically at their student experience and discussed how to be a voice for the student community. We were fortunate to be joined by a number of our Year 12 student leaders for part of the camp. The Year 12s provided a wonderful example of leadership in action and supported the Year 9s to plan initiatives for the year ahead. One of the most powerful session of the camp was time spent with Mr Lynch providing a student voice to our new Principal and discussing the goals of the group and issues that are important to them as student leaders.  

We look forward to witnessing the good work of this wonderful group of student leaders as they strive to INSPIRE and CONNECT.  

Year 7 Camp

The Year 7s set off on camp in Week 2 – a fabulous opportunity to forge new friendships, solidify existing relationships and build positive relationships between our newest Hearts and the staff. 

The students set out in House groups to Wallaroo, Port Hughes, Blewitt Springs and Victor Harbor. Over three days students enjoyed a range of activities from bike riding to raft making, all the while developing collaborative skills and having fun.   

Staff and students alike enjoyed this time away from the traditional learning environment to start the year connecting, taking the opportunity to share some time outdoors and start building the relationships that will support students across their time as a student of Sacred Heart.  

Transform a child’s life through Marist Solidarity

Our Marist mission calls us to ‘go to the margins’ and ‘be a beacon of hope in a
turbulent world’ to ensure that every child can claim their right to education.

As part of the Australian Marist community, Sacred Heart College invites you and your family to be part of this community of change-makers and make a contribution to ensure that the dream of education becomes a reality for even more of our young neighbours.

Donation details are included here and are tax deductible.

Arts News

We have a vibrant Arts program at Sacred Heart College and this year we have hit the ground running. We are excited for the year ahead as we showcase our curriculum subjects – Dance, Drama, Music, Photography and Visual Arts, along with our CEA offerings. Students can still get involved in CEA Music ensembles and choirs, and there are still places available in our instrumental lessons.

Please contact Director of Music, Robyn Brookes at robynbrookes@shc.sa.edu.au for more information.

Photography

The work of Year 12 Photography and Visual Arts student, Fleur Mew has been selected as one of the top 30 in the National High School Photography Awards 2023.

Her photograph, titled, Half Sick of Shadows, will be exhibited from 24 February – 17 March at the Light Gallery, Centre of Creative Photography in Marleston. We encourage interested families to visit the exhibition, and if unable, more about the exhibition and Fleur’s photograph can be found here.

Fleur is a talented and passionate VET student, studying at the Centre of Creative Photography, and is continuing her Certificate 4 this year. 

We congratulate Fleur on this amazing achievement!

Visual Arts – Student’s work to feature in 2023 Year 12 SACE Art Show

Year 12 2022 graduate, Amelia Bau’s artwork and folio has been selected to feature in the Year 12 SACE Art show for 2023!

Amelia is a highly talented artist and her painting is a deep and intricate representation of femininity, coupled with what it means to live with the pain of severe endometriosis. Amelia used very fine and detailed brush strokes as well as tiny embroidery stitches to portray her message. 

Amelia’s artwork, titled ‘With the Wattle’, and can be seen at the 2023 SACE Art show at the Australian College of the Arts, Light Square from 21 March – 14 April 2023. 

Instrumental lessons

Instrumental lessons have begaun and we have a range of professional music tutors come to the school to work each week with students. It is exciting to see so many students keen to learn music.

If you would like to learn an instrument, and haven’t started yet, we take applications at any time throughout the year. Students can start mid-term or at the start of a new term.

For more information, please visit the College website here.

Music ensembles

Sacred Heart College has a rich and vibrant ensemble program at each campus and we are always welcoming new members. Being in an ensemble has many benefits including making friends, interacting with others and having fun.

If you don’t play an instrument, join one of our choirs! Singing in a choir is great for connecting with others and is beneficial for wellbeing, lowering stress and boosting confidence. 

We encourage ensemble students to perform at all our events, including the Music/Arts Night at the end of each semester, as well as band festivals, Catholic Schools Music Festival, primary school band tour and more!

Music is proven to help increase student academic performance and there are a myriad of amazing cognitive benefits that come from playing/singing in an ensemble. The research is strong! View this clip, ‘How playing an instrument benefits your brain’ by Dr Anita Collins.

View the 2023 Music Ensemble timetable here.

2023 College Musical

Rehearsals are underway for our 2023 College Musical, with some great singing and movement already taking place. The cast and production team are very excited and can’t wait to share more details with our community soon!

Sports News

In 2023 we have been lucky enough to experience our first “normal” year of return to sport since 2020, which has been a welcome change. This week sees the next round of summer season sports continue in Cricket, Badminton, Basketball, Swimming, Tennis, Touch Football, Volleyball and Water Polo. It has been pleasing to witness the new Year 7 students engage in the Sport Program with enthusiasm and energy, while the older students have been warmly welcoming and supporting their new team mates.

This week we celebrate Blue Round, an opportunity to promote mental health awareness in schools and within our community. Teams will come together in a variety of sporting fixtures to play, compete and do their best whilst being encouraged to make the time to check in on their teammates, classmates, family and friends.

In 2023 we offer a warm welcome to Nathan Armiento (Champagnat Boys Sport Coordinator) and Maggie Kerr (Marcellin Administrative Assistant to the Sport Coordinators) to the Sacred Heart College Sport team. Their contributions have already been significant.

Student Sporting Achievements

Upcoming dates and events

Champagnat Campus

Marcellin Campus