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As Term Three comes to a close on Friday 18 September with an early dismissal at 2.30pm, our students and staff are looking forward to a well-earned change of pace and time for rest, relaxation and renewal.

Mercy Day

Last week, we celebrated the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mercy. Across the Mercy world, preparations are also underway. As mentioned in last week’s Principal’s Update, the official feast day falls during our Term Three break on Thursday 24 September 2026. Please take a moment to view the video message below prepared by our Sacred Heart students. This message will be sent to the Sisters of Mercy in Geelong and Melbourne next Thursday to honour their enduring commitment to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy – serving the poor, sick and uneducated through schools, hospitals, shelters and clinics. It also highlights how our students continue to carry this legacy forward.

 

VCE Unit 3/4 Practice Exams

While most of the school community prepares to take a break, our students completing VCE Units 3 and 4 will be hard at work preparing for their practice exams. These begin with English on Friday 18 September and continue into week two of the holiday break, running from Tuesday 29 September through to Friday 2 October 2026. All VCE Unit 3/4 Practice Exams will take place in McAuley Hall and the HP rooms. Individual timetables are available for each student on Compass.

Staff Farewells/Leave

We extend our best wishes to Narelle Dickson (Student Engagement Leader and VCE/VM Teacher) as she departs Sacred Heart to continue her work in VCE VM at MacKillop Education. We also say farewell to Skye Barton (Food Technology Assistant) at the end of Term Three. Additionally, we acknowledge staff members taking leave:

  • Josh Guy and Trish Morgan – on leave for Term Four.
  • Sonia Conroy – on Long Service Leave (LSL) until Friday 6 November.
  • Julie Tucker (Education Support Staff) – on LSL until Thursday 19 October.
Congratulations to Our 2027 College Captains

We are proud to announce our newly elected College Captains for 2027:

These outstanding students underwent a rigorous selection process and they bring courage, determination, action and innovation to their leadership roles. We look forward to the energy and vision they will bring to our College community.

Uniform and College Expectations

Uniform standards and College expectations remain high priorities for Term Four. During the break, please take time to ensure your student’s uniform meets our guidelines. For some, this will mean lowering the hem of the summer dress. Please click the links below for more information.

 

Enjoy your Holiday Break

Looking ahead, the next Principal’s Update will be emailed on Thursday 8 October 2026.

I wish all the students and staff a safe and happy holiday break and I look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 5 October for the start of Term Four.

End of Term Information

For your reference, I have repeated the end-of-term arrangements and holiday information from last week below. 

Bus Travel Last Day of Term

Term Three concludes on Friday 18 September 2026, with an early finish at 2.30pm.

  • McHarry’s Bus Lines will accommodate this early dismissal, with the first buses departing at 2.35pm.
  • CDC Bus travellers are advised to confirm departure times directly with their bus driver.

Term Three Holiday Information

  • Student Holidays Begin: Friday 18 September at 2.30pm.
  • College Reception: Open Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October, from 8.30am to 4.00pm. (Please note: Reception will be closed on Friday 25 September for the Grand Final Friday public holiday, as well as Monday 28 September).
  • The Learning Centre: Open during the second week of the holidays from Tuesday 29 September to Friday 2 October, 8.30am to 3.30pm.
  • IT Helpdesk and Laptop Repairs: Available from Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October via helpdesk@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au.
  • VCE Unit 3/4 Practice Exams: All exams will take place in McAuley Hall and the HP rooms. Each student can view their personalised timetable on Compass. If a student undertaking a Unit 3/4 trial exam needs to contact the College regarding their attendance, please email Georgia Thompson (gethompsona@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au) and Elizabeth Coutts (elcoutts@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au), or phone 0409 356 744.

All students and staff return on Monday 5 October 2026.

Wellbeing and Safety During the Break

During the holiday break, if you have any concerns regarding the safety of a young person from the College, please contact 000. Additional support is available from the following external services:

  • Someone Health: Telehealth/video bulk-billed psychology appointments for young people aged 13 to 17. Offers a wide variety of practitioners, including psychologists and clinical psychologists. (Requires a Mental Health Care Plan to access up to 10 bulk-billed sessions.)

Other Useful Services:

  • Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
  • Suicide Line: 1300 651 251
  • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
  • Lifeline: 13 11 14