Hearts News – Thursday 21 November 2024 (Week 6 Term 4)

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.” Last Monday we celebrated the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of our fallen soldiers and those who have served in war.

To our Sacred Heart College community

It is remarkable to think that in just a couple of weeks, the 2024 academic year will draw to a close!

Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!

2024 has been a wonderful year, with many highlights and success stories, and while there have been challenges along the away, I am grateful for the support of our families, who continue to work with us (College staff) to achieve the best for your sons and daughters. 

This Friday we will welcome our new Year 7 students for 2025, and will commence the transition process of our Year 9s into Year 10 at Marcellin Campus. This is an exciting time for these current Year 6 and Year 9 students as they prepare for the next step in the educational journey.

Following the cessation of formal classes, we will bid farewell to a number of staff who will be leaving the Hearts Family at the end of 2024. To each of them I offer my heartfelt thanks for their commitment to our students, and to the Marist way, and wish them every success for what lies ahead.

This Saturday, we also bid farewell to the first of the 2025 Immersion teams as they set off for the Philippines, followed by the second group, who will depart for Fiji on Monday. We wish these students and staff all the best as they embark on an unforgettable journey, serving Marist communities in these countries and creating lifelong memories with the locals and each other.

I wish all members of our community a peaceful and holy Christmas, surrounded by the love of our families and friends, and a restful break, and I look forward to seeing you all again in 2025.

Daniel Lynch
Principal

Commemorating Remembrance Day

On Monday 11 November, students and staff on both campuses gathered to commemorate Remembrance Day. The Marcellin community gathered on the Heart Lawn, whilst Champagnat gathered near the campus flag poles. As a part of the commemorative ceremonies, we recognised old scholars who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Listening to ‘In Flanders Fields’ was a timely reminder of the devastation of war and the sacrifice of so many, while the ‘Ode of Remembrance’ and the ‘Last Post’ provided a moment of reflection and silence.

Year 10 and 11 End of Year Assembly

At the Year 10 and 11 End of Year Assembly, the College recognised a number of student awards and bursaries, which are sponsored by families, benefactors and organisations. These awards have special meaning to the College as they remind us of the long-standing connections we have with past students, past staff members and their families.

We thank the families, Marist Brothers, and invited guests who were in attendance to celebrate these accomplishments with us. Congratulations to the Award and Bursary recipients listed below.

Year 11 2025 Leadership

At the of the Assembly we had the privilege of inducting our recently elected Year 11 leaders for 2025. Leadership at Sacred Heart College values our Marist values; Presence, Simplicity, Love of work, In the way of Mary and Family Spirit. We look forward to this group of young leaders contributing positively to our College community in 2025 with our Marist values underpinning all that they do.

We also acknowledge the great work of our current Year 10 leadership group and the contributions they have made in 2024. Their recent leadership legacy saw them attend Champagnat Campus on 15 November to run a House based Q&A session with our Year 9 cohort to assist with their transition to Marcellin Campus. The 2025 Year 11 Leadership team is listed below.

Year 10 & 11 Award Recipients and 2025 Year 11 Leadership team

Immersion Commissioning Ceremony

Last Friday night, we gathered in the Debourg to celebrate our 2025 Immersion teams as they make their final preparations to live and work in Marist communities in Fiji and the Philippines. The Commissioning Liturgy was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the gifts that each of these students bring to the Immersion experience, the Family Spirit that they share with each other, and to bless them for the journey ahead. This was followed by a shared dinner with their families, with the students debuting the songs and dances they will share with the communities overseas.  

Thank you to Sarah Doyle, Joel Ramirez, the Maintenance team and the Immersion Staff for their work to prepare the Commissioning Liturgy. Our prayers go with the students and staff; with the Philippines team departing this Saturday (23 November) and the Fiji team on Monday (25 November).

Helping those less fortunate this Christmas: Vinnies hampers

As Christmas and the season of giving approaches, students and staff at Sacred Heart College have generously dug deep to help those less fortunate, donating gifts and items for those less fortunate than ourselves.

At Marcellin Campus, each House has been busy gathering toys and gifts to create Christmas hampers for the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies). These hampers have been donated to local Vinnies branches, including Brighton, Seacombe Gardens, St Mary’s, Glenelg, and Morphett Vale. Thanks to the generous donations from students, disadvantaged families will be able to bring some joy to their children this Christmas. A special thank you to everyone who contributed, as well as to the Student Leaders and Heads of House for their efforts in assembling the hampers.

Champagnat Campus is currently promoting its annual Christmas Appeal. Each House is busy collecting Christmas gifts, food and monetary donations for those in need. A number of Catholic charities are being supported by the various Houses including: Chanel – Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons; Chavoin – Hutt St Centre; Fourviere – St Vincent de Paul; Marian – Centacare’s Louise Place; and Montagne – Catherine House. Donations can be made in the lower Marymount building near the Christmas tree.

Rite Journey Community Outreach at Minda

Two Year 9 classes recently volunteered at Minda, a disability service provider, as part of their Rite Journey Community Outreach. The students spent the day interacting with and supporting clients in the MyPathway To Day Programs, engaging in activities such as cottage crafts, visual arts, pottery, and fitness. They enjoyed building connections and engaging in meaningful conversations with clients, who attend the program to learn new skills and foster social connections.

For lunch, the students visited the Inclusive (Inc.) Cafe, which provides employment opportunities for people of all abilities, with profits reinvested to support individuals with disabilities. The students also contributed to gardening tasks, including mulching, alongside Envirocare staff who care for Minda’s extensive grounds.

The experience was both rewarding and enriching, helping the students develop a stronger sense of community, empathy, and a greater appreciation for inclusivity and supporting others.

Girls on Track Experience

Girls from the College Pedal Prix team and Year 9 STEM students were invited to participate in the annual ‘Girls on Track’ experience at the Vailo Adelaide 500 last week. The experience started early giving the girls the opportunity to embark in an engineering based (STEM) activity and take part in a Reaction & Fitness Challenge. They were also able to perform a Pit Stop Challenge.

The opportunity enabled the girls to develop their public speaking skills and create content for social media, as well as engage with female role models who currently work in motorsport. The girls had a great time immersing themselves in all things Motorsport!

Year 7 visit to Oaklands Wetlands

On Tuesday, 12 November, Year 7 Science students visited the Oaklands Park Wetlands, a vital local ecosystem, as part of their study of ecosystems. The excursion provided a hands-on opportunity to explore the interactions between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in their own community.

Through activities like data collection, sound observation, and classification, students observed and recorded the behaviours of various organisms and reflected on the importance of wetlands in supporting biodiversity. This experience highlighted the value of conserving local natural spaces and their role in sustaining ecosystems.

Arts News

Hearts Festival: A celebration of creativity and community

The Hearts Festival brought Champagnat Campus to life last night with a whirlwind of creativity, energy, and a family spirit reminiscent of the Adelaide Fringe. The event showcased the incredible talents of our students across multiple disciplines, leaving audiences inspired and thoroughly entertained.

“It was like being at the Adelaide Fringe,” one parent shared, as the festival transformed the oval into a hub of vibrant activity. Music filled the air, with student bands and soloists delivering outstanding performances that added to the lively, festive atmosphere. Families spread out on picnic blankets, creating a warm and welcoming environment that perfectly captured the essence of community.

Food Technology students from Year 8 ensured no one went hungry, catering the event with delicious treats that were a hit with the crowd. Meanwhile, Year 8 and 9 Dance students wowed audiences with their high-energy performances, impressing with their enthusiasm and teamwork.

Drama students took their turn in the spotlight, presenting three diverse and captivating plays. The abridged Shakespeare Soup was a delightful romp through the Bard’s greatest hits, while The Internet is Distract – Oh Look a Kitten! had audiences laughing and relating to its modern-day humour. The student-devised production, The Crimson Crusade, was a bold and original piece that highlighted the creativity and courageous hearts of its performers.

“It’s amazing to see the students juggling multiple performances across venues while still giving their all,” one teacher remarked. The constant movement between the oval, classrooms, and the theatre added an exciting dynamic to the festival, with attendees trekking back and forth to catch as many performances as possible.

The Hearts Festival wasn’t just an event – it was an experience that brought our community closer together. From the extraordinary talents on display to the infectious family spirit, it was a day to remember. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such a resounding success!

2025 CEA Nominations – Music, Sport and extra curricular activities

The Sacred Heart College Curriculum Extension Activities (CEA) Nomination Forms for 2025 are now available via the College Website.

Students attending Sacred Heart College in 2025 in Years 7 – 12 are invited to make a nomination in a range of Curriculum Extension Activities across Music, Sport & Activities/Clubs. Please ensure you have read the Sports Handbook & Music Handbook prior to completing the nomination forms.

For sports, only summer season nominations are open at this stage. A nomination form for winter sports will be made available early in Term 1 2025. 

CEA Nominations for 2025 are to be completed by 30 November 2024.

2024 Arts & Music dates and events

Champagnat Campus (Term 4 2024)

No upcoming Marcellin Arts & Music dates

Click here to view the full College calendar of events.

Sports News

This week sees Champagnat head into the final round of College sport for the year, while the majority of Marcellin sport was finalised last weekend. Term 4 has been a busy one with various knockout competitions, and a couple of  finals rounds still to come next week! Overall we have seen some outstanding team and individual performances. In what has been another action packed year, Sacred Heart has once again displayed a very high standard of sporting achievements. Most importantly though, we are proud of the way in which our students continue to represent the College in true Hearts spirit.

We take this opportunity to thank all our players, coaches, umpires and supporters for their continued support of the Hearts sporting program, without you our programs would not be possible!

Good luck to our Marist Cricket team who depart for Hunters Hill, NSW on Sunday 1 December to compete in the 50th Marist Cricket Carnival.

Year 9/10 Boys make Knockout Basketball Finals

On Tuesday, 12 November, the Sacred Heart College Year 9/10 Boys Basketball team competed in the School Sport SA Knockout Finals at the State Basketball Centre. The team earned their place in the finals  through two strong performances  in earlier rounds, showcasing their skill and grit. 

In game 1, Sacred Heart faced a formidable Concordia College, who would go on to become the Knockout Champions. It was a high-intensity match, with the Hearts keeping the game close throughout. Despite their strong defense and efforts, Concordia managed to pull away in the final quarter, resulting in a 14-point loss (51-65).

In their second game, Sacred Heart battled Tenison Woods in a thrilling contest. The game was evenly matched, with both teams exchanging leads. Tenison Woods had some excellent 3-point shooters who kept them competitive, but Sacred Heart showed resilience and fought hard until the end. Unfortunately, they fell short, narrowly losing 63-71.

Congratulations to the team for an outstanding effort in reaching the finals. It was fantastic to see the boys play with determination, proving they deserved their spot among the best. We are excited to see them return, stronger and even more determined in 2025!

Champagnat basketballers experience Adelaide 36ers GameReady High Performance Day

Through our partnership with the Adelaide 36ers, 20 Champagnat Basketball students had the unique opportunity to experience a ‘day in the life’ of a professional basketballer at the high-performance GameReady Centre. The day kicked off with fitness testing, followed by a strength and conditioning session in the gym. Students then honed their basketball skills in a development session led by professional player Nicole Romeo. The experience wrapped up with an exciting boys v girls basketball game and a rejuvenating hot-and-cold recovery session, including saunas, ice baths, and spa baths. The students thoroughly enjoyed the day, gaining valuable insights into the dedication and effort required to excel at the elite level.

Silver for Year 7/8 Boys and Girls Knockout Touch Footballers

On Monday, 18 November, Sacred Heart College participated in the Year 7/8 Touch Football Knockout Tournament at the City Touch Grounds, fielding both a Boys’ team and a Girls’ team. Both teams demonstrated outstanding skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship, finishing as runners-up and earning silver medals.

The Girls’ team put together a stellar campaign, advancing to the Grand Final. In a closely contested match, they were narrowly defeated by a strong Golden Grove High School team. Their resilience and determination throughout the day were commendable.

The Boys’ team competed in a challenging round-robin format, playing with consistency and heart to finish second overall. A standout moment was their match against Cardijn College, the only other Marist school in South Australia, where the friendly rivalry added extra significance to the contest.

Both teams displayed incredible support for one another, with games scheduled back-to-back. The shared encouragement on the sidelines was a highlight of the day, reflecting the unity and positive morale of the group. Congratulations to all players for their efforts and sportsmanship.

Year 9 Beach Volleyball Carnival

On Wednesday, 30 November a group of Year 9 Volleyballers competed in the Volleyball SA Beach Volleyball Carnival at Glenelg Beach. The four teams competed in friendly yet fiercely contested matches, displaying impressive teamwork, skill, and determination. 

From the very first serve to the final whistle, the competition was high-energy, with many close games.  Beyond the competitive matches, the carnival offered a vibrant atmosphere with music, the sun was out all day and our students had the opportunity to participate in some SHC v SHC friendly matches which was the highlight of the day for some!

Congratulations to our SHC 2 Boys team who won their respective division and came home with the Gold Medal.

CEA Knockout Sports (Champagnat and Marcellin)

Results from the last fortnight of Knockout Sports are as follows:

• Year 7/8 Boys Knockout Cricket – SHC (1/76) def Blackwood High School (6/75)
• Year 7/8 Boys & Girls Knockout Touch Football – both teams competed in the Division 1 Finals Round and finished in 2nd place overall.

Student Sporting Achievements

Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding sporting achievements, listed below.

Please note the images below are in order of names listed in the table above.

2024 Sports dates and events

Champagnat Campus (Term 4 2024)

Marcellin Campus (Term 4 2024)

Click here to view this term’s sports Fixtures and Results.

Click here to view the full College calendar of events.