Hearts News (Week 8 Term 4, Thursday 7 December 2023)

Families came together last Friday to celebrate the Class of 2023 at the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony.

To our Sacred Heart College community

As we conclude the 2023 school year, we again thank you for journeying with us this year. Christmas time is, for many, a time to reflect on the year that has just been and begin to imagine ‘what next’? Over the 200 school days we’ve had this year, every member of our community will have experienced highs and lows, challenges and successes, friendships made and relationships tested. It’s my hope that these coming weeks provide time to reflect on the key events that form us over a year, as well as imagining what 2024 can bring. At Christmas time we are reminded of Mary’s courageous response to say “yes” to God’s plan, and so our Christmas reflection might be to wonder what God’s plan is for each of us.

Daniel Head
Deputy Principal

Year 12 Graduation Ceremony

Last Friday, our Sacred Heart College community came together to celebrate the Class of 2023 and reflect on the year that was. It was a time for our Year 12 students to celebrate all of their achievements with family and friends. Our College Principal, Daniel Lynch, presented each student with their Graduation Certitifcate, testimonials, and a gift from the College. Families were also treated to heartwarming videos highlighting the milestones and activities our students have experienced this year including Sports Day, Year 12 Retreat, the collection of Year 12 hoodies, and so much more. After the formal proceedings, our community joined together to celebrate over some nibbles and drinks. 

We thank the Heads of House, Assistant Heads of House, Year 11 Student Leaders, and all of the staff behind the scenes that worked to make the Year 12 Graduation such a spectacular event. We wish our Year 12s every success in their next chapters! Once a Heart, always a Heart. 

Year 12 Graduation photos

2023 Year 12 Graduation photos will be available tomorrow and can be viewed, purchased or downloaded from the Festival Photography website here. 

Enter the Access Code: SHC2023 (case sensitive)

Prints and High Res Digital downloads are also available to purchase.

For the next 2 weeks Festival Photography are running a special promotion – purchase any 5 High Res digital downloads from the website for only $50 or 10 for just $80. Simply add the Package in your shopping cart. 

Rite Journey ‘Rite of Passage’

Last Thursday we celebrated our Year 9 students at their Rite Journey Homecoming ceremony, held in the St Joseph’s Centre. This ceremony was an opportunity for Year 9 students to share with their families the key events and learnings of the Rite Journey Program in 2024. Some particular highlights included the description of the various outreach and social justice activities, as well as the accounts of the gruelling hike along the Heysen Trail, which was one of the final and most memorable events of the program.

Well done to the Year 9 students who organised and led the special ceremony; excellent representatives of their cohort.

2023 Immersions

Following a four year hiatus, two groups of 17 students and three staff, including Br Des Howard, recently returned from the SHC Immersion experiences to Fiji and The Philippines, spending time within local communities and working on local projects. Here are their reflections.

Fiji Immersion

Across the span of two weeks, the Fiji Immersion team spent time staying with the Marist Brothers in  Suva and taking part in school life daily at the Marcellin Champagnat Institute, Marcellin Primary School and the Marcellin Angels Kindergarten. The team were also treated to cultural experiences including visiting the museum, cooking a traditional Fijian lovo, participating in local sports trainings and going to Mass at the local parish. At Marcellin Champagnat Institute, our students were fortunate to be allocated a buddy for the week, where they visited their home to see the selfless and minimalist lifestyle, which they quickly learnt was the Fijian way of life. Our students were teachers in the morning and celebrities in the afternoon following their performance of One Direction at Marcellin Primary School, a real highlight of their time in Suva. Many have treasured memories of the Marcellin Angels Kindergarten where they were able to share games with the kindergarteners and help in their preparation and transition to primary school through learning performances. When their time in Suva came to an end there were tearful goodbyes, particularly to the Moce family and their Marcellin Champagnat Institute buddies, who captured a part of everyone’s hearts. Upon departing Suva, the team spent three nights at the Marist Brothers in Lomari where students had the opportunity to visit more schools, as well a local village where Sacred Heart College was welcomed as their first ever visitors. It was a highlight for many to be a part of a traditional welcoming where everyone felt moved and respected. Being able to witness the selfless work of the Brothers in both communities, and the way of life of Fijians, was inspirational to see, particularly when many families are experiencing times of challenge and still manage to go out of their way to support one another. Everyone was beyond grateful to have the opportunity to take part in this life changing experience.

The Philippines Immersion

The Philippines Immersion team were given the opportunity to embark on the experience of a lifetime, visiting many different communities and taking part in experiences like no other. With Br Des from the Marist Brother’s Community at Sacred Heart College accompanying the team, they were given the opportunity to see the true Philippines. The trip started by spending one morning working in a local rice paddy field with students demonstrating their ‘Love of Work’ by embracing the messy but surreal experience knee deep in mud! The chance to visit Magsaysay Memorial College of Zambales, Inc. was one that could not be missed, with our students having a fantastic two days there. The days were made up of games, song, dance and cultural assemblies where they performed dances for the Immersion group, before taking the time to teach our students some of their traditional dances. The team then moved to spend some time at organisations including PREDA and Kuya Centre for Street Children; both moving experiences for our students who had indescribable experiences. Many of our students reflected that this experience forced them to learn a lot about themselves in the process as well as how important it is to take time out to listen to individuals and live simply in the moment. The unwavering hospitality of those around us at both the Brothers homes and the organisations we visited was kind-hearted and genuine.

There is plenty of Marist Spirit being shared around the world, and our Immersion teams are fortunate to have been able to witness the kindness and care being shared in what was an experience like no other.

Welcome to our new 2024 students

On Friday 24 November, we welcomed the newest members of our Hearts community who will begin at Sacred Heart next year, for our annual Orientation Day. With the aim of building connections, meeting key staff and touring their new school environments, the new students visited their relevant campus.

Year 6 and new students from more than 30 schools arrived at Champagnat Campus, taking part in campus tours and a range of activity rotations including making “elephant toothpaste” in the science labs and contributing to a year level art installation that will be presented at the beginning of next year. Team building activities saw students working together, using problem solving and communication skills to undertake a variety of challenges including hoop relays and puzzles. Students also participated in a session where they learnt more about their house identity and made personalised keyrings in their house colours.

On the day, we also welcomed students who will be beginning at Champagnat campus in year 8 and 9. These students participated in an orientation session, led by our Director of Students, Beth Caldwell, to help prepare them to join current cohorts in 2024. This was followed by cooking and music sessions with current students at the college and a chance to meet some of their soon to be peers. At lunchtime, students were treated to a performance by SHC’s latest band, Show & Tell. The performance was very well received and showcased some of the amazing talents of our students. 

At Marcellin Campus, we welcomed our new Year 9 students, and new Year 10-12 students, including our new Boarding families, to the College. This orientation morning saw students assigned to their House groups, and partake in a range of activities to build their House family spirit. A range of 2023 and 2024 student leaders also attended the day to support our new students, answer any questions they had, and conduct school tours. We concluded with an assembly that provided information about the opportunities and supports available at Marcellin Campus.

It was a wonderful day full of energy and enthusiasm, and students left excited for the next phase of their highschool journey. We look forward to officially welcoming our new students in 2024!

2024 Student Leaders gathering (Marist Youth Mission)

On Sunday 26 November, 10 Year 11 students set off to Perth to represent Sacred Heart College at the Marist Student Leaders Gathering. Along with four students from Cardijn College, students were treated to a visit to King’s Park and Hillarys. During the three-day camp, students collaborated with students from Marist schools in Western Australia, including Bunbury Catholic College, Newman College, and St Joseph’s School, Northam, participating in a range of sessions led by Marist leaders which provided time to learn more about our Marist values and how these can be embedded into a 2024 vision, Australian Marist Solidarity, and servant leadership. As well as this, students undertook a variety of student leadership activities that centred on problem solving and communication.

We thank Andrea Grant, Senior Leader in Formation and Ministry, for her organisation of the trip. We also thank Brother Tony, the Marist Youth Leaders and volunteers who gave up their time to both work with, and develop our student leaders. It was a memorable camp that allowed our student leaders to bond with eachother and other students in Marist community. We know that these friendships will last a lifetime.

Welcome Mr Banks, Sacred Heart’s wellbeing dog

This week we welcomed Mr Banks, our new College wellbeing dog. Mr Banks is a 5 year old Golden Retriever who joined our current Year 9s as they transition to Marcellin Campus this week in preparation for starting their senior years schooling in 2024. Our students and staff were greeted with a wagging tail and a loving smile as they entered the gym for their opening assembly on Tuesday, where they were formally introduced to Mr Banks and given a brief introduction to his role as a wellbeing support dog for the three transition days. Yesterday Mr Banks sat in on a debrief with our immersion students and then spent some time in the counselling space, having a big rest before visiting some classrooms. He then went out and mingled with the students at lunchtime.

The Wellbeing Dog program being rolled out across both Champagnat and Marcellin campuses in 2024 is facilitated by Dog’s Connect, a training program derived from research and evidence-based practices to improve the wellbeing of a school community by implementing a support dog. The dogs will be based within each campus’s wellbeing and LEC spaces, as well as spending time with our students during break times, formal gatherings, and in the classroom. Mr Banks has been welcomed as our newest employee of the Hearts Community and will play an important role facilitating our College-wide wellbeing plan.

Further information regarding Mr Banks’ role and the Dog’s Connect program will be available to our families at the start of 2024 in our beginning of year correspondents and parent information evenings, where you will have the opportunity to meet Mr Banks and ask our staff any questions you may have.

Girls in STEM

Congratulations to the outstanding students selected to represent the College in the UniSA Girls in STEM: Creative Challenge – Evie Bierbaum, Ellen Cowley, Emilija Visockis, Isabella Lamb, and Leah Aldrich.

Last Friday marked the culmination of their project at UniSA Mawson Lakes Campus. Commencing at the start of the term, the challenge tasked students with addressing the problem: ‘How can satellites and technology minimise the negative impacts of bushfires in Australia and support the UN sustainability goal on climate change.’

Meeting weekly, the students navigated the design cycle – empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test, and implement. Their innovative solution involved using satellites and underground sensors to alert landowners before the onset of bushfires, preventing harm to land, animals, and homes. Encompassing a pilot program for the Lobethal area in the Adelaide Hills, the proposal covered 40.72km² with fiber optic cables extending 3.6km from the centre, each housing three sensors spaced 1km apart. The girls developed a budget and presented a prototype to a panel, including Fleet Space team members as well as the other schools in attendance. 

As part of the Creative Challenge, the students explored UniSA facilities, engaging with 3D Printing, the Earth Observation Centre, and the IVE sandpit. A highlight was their hands-on challenge – constructing a rocket fueled by a chemical reaction – and learning that even the best plans can face unexpected challenges!

Throughout the challenge, the girls demonstrated persistence, resilience, critical and creative thinking, and an impressive team spirit. They represented Sacred Heart with pride and they should be proud of what they have accomplished.

Premiers Reading Challenge 2023

“The more you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
~ Dr Suess.

This year, 24 students from Years 7 to 11 participated in the 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge. Their achievements were celebrated last week with a morning tea and they received their certificates/medals, presented by Jacqui Cookes (School Liaison for Dymocks, Glenelg).

Research tells us that students who read independently have greater reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general knowledge than those who do not. Reading is a gateway to learning anything about everything. You can find a book on just about any subject you can imagine, dive in and start learning.

When you watch television or a movie, all information is presented on the screen. A book in its pure form brings the imagination to life, which does wonders for developing creativity.

Books can be a perfect escape from reality. They can cheer you up when you’re down, motivate you when you’re sad, and even keep you company when everybody else is busy. Another benefit of reading is that it relaxes your mind and body, recharging energy levels – the best way to end the day on a calm note.

In the words of former US President, Barack Obama: “Reading is important. If you know how to read, then the whole world opens up to you.” Books are like windows. By looking through them, you can see different views on humanity, current events, history, culture, and more.

We congratulate our students who have delved into the world of reading to become informed global citizens with the knowledge to become activists for change as they go out into the world with courageous hearts.

Arts News

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of education, it’s paramount to recognise the indispensable role of the Arts in shaping resilient, innovative leaders. ‘Creativity is intelligence having fun,’ said Albert Einstein, across the College, we wholeheartedly embrace this sentiment. Our commitment to fostering real-life skills through Media Arts, Visual Arts, Dance, Music, and Drama is evident in the myriad events that have unfolded – from inspiring excursions to galleries, professional productions, and engaging incursions.

The remarkable surge in class sizes across all Arts subjects signifies the burgeoning growth of the Arts at Champagnat. Highlights such as Arts Week, Champagnat’s Got Talent, Semester 1 Arts Exhibition, Battle of the Bands, and the recent Hearts Festival showcase the vibrant tapestry of creativity flourishing within our College walls. This engagement then flows onto Marcellin Campus where the students are involved in all facets of the Arts, including bringing the 2023 College Musical, ‘Legally Blonde Jr.’ to life this year.

Embrace the arts, for they are the heartbeat of success in future careers.

Champagnat Hearts Festival

On Thursday 23 November, Champagnat Campus came alive with the vibrant showcase of our students’ artistic achievements for the Champagnat Hearts Festival, marking a milestone for this campus, highlighting the profound impact of amalgamating the Arts. Attendees experienced solo musical performances by our instrumental students, observed captivating visual displays from Year 7’s Ku Dogs, Year 8’s Artist-inspired plates, and Year 9’s Art Nouveau Vases and Pop Art. Simultaneously, audiences enjoyed drama performances and dances while indulging in a delightful spread prepared by our Year 8 Food and Technology students.

Across Champagnat, the quad resonated with the rhythms and harmonies of magnificent bands and ensembles. Students, filled with nerves and excitement, poured their souls and best efforts into their performances, creating memorable moments that will resonate for years to come, and imparting the valuable life lesson of realising achievement through persistent rehearsal and practice.

Some comments from participating students are included below:

“I enjoyed the food at the event. The learning that occurred through the event was that the performance atmosphere is much different then practice.”

“The Hearts Festival evening was really enjoyable. If you were not performing you could watch other performances on the TV in the Hearts Village classrooms. Then after you performed you could go through the arts exhibition and look at the art that had been done during the past semester. It was a lot of fun hanging out with friends and other families as well.”

A heartfelt thanks to all students, teachers, and parents/caregivers who contributed to making the night truly memorable.

2023 Arts photos

Photos from Arts events across the year can be viewed, purchased or downloaded from Festival Photography website here. Hearts Festival images will be available in the coming days.

Enter the Access Code: SHC2023 (case sensitive)

To download FREE low Res Digital images, select images and add them to your shopping cart, selecting  Facebook Low res JPEG in the order screen.

Prints and High Res Digital downloads are also available to purchase.

Hearts Drumline Glenelg Christmas Pageant performance

Well done to our combined Champagnat and Marcellin Drumlines who combined to spread some Christmas cheer down Jetty Rd Glenelg as part of the annual Glenelg Christmas Pageant this year.

Directed by Will Rana, the ensemble was expertly led by Year 12 Snare Drummer, Joel Pinson along the parade route with large crowds of excited children and families cheering them on. It was brilliant to see so many faces in the crowd clapping along to their beat whilst eagerly anticipating the arrival of Father Christmas. This year’s pageant saw 2,500 participants from local community groups, businesses and schools sharing the Joy, Hope, and Peace of the Christmas season.

The Glenelg Pageant will be replayed on local Channel 44 in the coming weeks. Check their TV Guide for more info as it’s released.

SHC Band wins third place in Marion City Council’s Battle of the Bands

Congratulations to Sacred Heart’s latest student-led Band, ‘Show & Tell’, who took out third place in the Schools category of Marion City Council’s Battle of the Bands on Sunday 26 November. Year 9 and 10 band members, Ashton Wickers, Myles Barnett, Max Hansen and Cameron Moore, performed a set of five songs, including an original and some thrilling covers. 

The event was organised and run by young people involved in the Marion City Council’s Youth Collective Committee, who did an amazing job coordinating all aspects of the inclusive event which included the provision of a sensory space, market stalls, and heartfelt enthusiasm for every band that took the stage.

Although they missed out on taking home a prize by only 1 point, the band made a huge impact on the local audience who were blown away by their skill and professionalism on stage. This is surely just the beginning for this up and coming band! Watch this space.

Arch D Radio Awards

Up against 31 participating schools, Sacred Heart College Stage 2 Drama students, Cristian Martinez Taliangis, Lily Shanahan, Jazzy Kilsby and Liam Ragless took out ‘Senior Most Creative Podcast’ and ‘Senior Artwork of the Year’ Awards while Isabeau Bottroff and Joseph Tregenza were presented with the ‘Principal’s Podcasting Award’. The students participated in the Arch D. Awards as part of their Assessment Type 2: Evaluation and Creativity task, worth 30% of their grade for Stage 2 Drama.

2024 Arts dates and events

Marcellin Campus (Term 1 2024)

Click here to view the full College calendar of events.

Sports News

2023 Marist Cricket Carnival

On Saturday, our First XI Cricket team travelled from Adelaide to Bunbury, WA for the 49th Marist Cricket Carnival. Welcomed by Bunbury Catholic College on Saturday evening, students and staff gathered for the opening Mass and dinner.

The Hearts team demonstrated their strength during the first two days of the carnival, securing victories against St John’s Woodlawn, NSW and Our Lady of Mercy College, WA. Witnessing the team settle into the competition early was encouraging. On day 3, they faced a challenge from Marist College Ashgrove, QLD, experiencing their first loss but demonstrating resilience. Regaining momentum on Day 4, the Hearts team secured another win against St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton, NSW, emphasising the importance of teamwork.

The final match was SHC v Bunbury Catholic College, WA and it was an exciting game to watch. The Hearts team just got over the line, taking the victory from the hosts with a final score of SHC (8/64) defeating Bunbury Catholic College, WA (10/63). Final results of the carnival will be determined by opposition matches still currently underway. 

Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding performance over the past week and for proudly representing Sacred Heart in the 49th Marist Cricket Carnival: Logan Banyer, Will Calvert, Tom Dermody, Jackson Heidenreich, Archie Jones, Jacob Lewis, Cormac McCarthy, Jude Pope, Joseph Raphael, Jayden Scroop, Ryan Sharma, Daniel Stewart and Caleb Tregenza.

Results:

Round 1: SHC (6/92) defeated St John’s Woodlawn, NSW (10/90)

Round 2: SHC (7/213) defeated Our Lady of Mercy College, WA (10/135)

Round 3: SHC (7/164) fell short against Marist College Ashgrove, QLD (2/168)

Round 4: SHC (7/276) defeated St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton, NSW (10/74)

Round 5: SHC (8/64) defeated Bunbury Catholic College, NSW (10/63)

School Sport SA Triathlon State Championships

On Tuesday 5 December, 20 Sacred Heart athletes travelled to West Lakes to compete in the re-scheduled Triathlon. The first event scheduled in Term 1 was cancelled due to extreme heat so it was nice to finally have comfortable conditions to race in. The day started well with seven athletes in the individual races across the junior and intermediate categories. The junior athletes in the State Championship race, along with all ‘Come and Try’ athletes covered the following distances (300m swim, 8.85km cycle and a 2.5km run), while the intermediate State Championship athletes completed a 500m swim, 17.5km cycle and a 5km run. All of the individual athletes placed in the top 10 for their category which is an outstanding achievement.

The second half of the day comprised of the teams event where one person completed only one of the disciplines. Teams could be all girls, boys or mixed. The distances covered for the junior and intermediate teams was the same distance as the individual race. This meant that for five of the seven individual athletes they had to do one of the disciplines again, making for a tiring day. All teams raced well and once again, all teams placed in the top 10. Following on from these excellent results, Sacred Heart College gained the most points for the day and were awarded the Sam White Trophy for the winning school! This is a great achievement for the 20 talented athletes and I look forward to seeing them race this time next year.

Individual Results:

Jessica Osborn – 1st Junior Girls State Championship race
Jobe Bevan – 1st Junior Boys Come and Try race
Emilija Visockis – 2nd Junior Girls Come and Try race
Maddy Humphry – 4th Intermediate girls State Championship race
Malachi Varcoe – 7th Intermediate Come and Try race
Fletcher Langeluddecke – 9th Junior Boys State Championship race
Nelson Meehan – 9th Intermediate Boys State Championship race. 

Team Results:

Emilija Visockis, Levi Liddle, Alexis Thiele – 1st Intermediate Mixed team
Cooper Newbold, Austin Chilcott, Ava Kelsh – 2nd Intermediate Mixed team
Jessica Osborn, Fletcher Langeluddecke, Jobe Bevan – 2nd Junior Mixed team
Oskar Saunders, Jack Hanton, Henry Raymond – 5th Junior Boys team
Jack Martin, Nelson Meehan, Luca Floreani – 7th Intermediate Boys team
Mitchell Carr, Liam Freeth, Fletcher Hall – 10th Intermediate Boys team.

CEA Knockout Sports (Champagnat and Marcellin)

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

Year 7/8 Girls Knockout Tennis (Finals) – Finished 5th overall in the competition (win against Unity College, beaten by Henley High School and Maitland Lutheran School).

Student Sporting Achievements

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