This Saturday 16 students and staff members – Christina Symons, Mark Pleasance and Narelle Dickson – will depart from Tullamarine Airport to embark on the 2026 Timor-Leste Kolega Immersion. The students and staff will be supported by World Expeditions. The 12-day program begins with an overnight stay in Darwin, moves on to Dili, and then to our community partners (CTID) in Baucau. We wish all involved well as they embark on this life-changing journey.
In 2027 our Year 7 enrolments will increase from 286 to 312 students. This represents one more stream than this year. The decision to accept 312 students is in response to increased demand for Year 7 places. This year Sacred Heart received 344 applications from prospective families indicating our College as their first preference. Currently we have 21 families on our Year 7 waiting list.
We began Semester Two with a uniform audit and a whole-school assembly, where students were reminded of College expectations regarding uniform, punctuality, respect, litter, mobile phones, classroom behaviour, interactions with staff (both inside and outside the classroom) and social media content. So far, we have had 155 instances of uniform infringements entered onto Compass and have confiscated 121 items of jewellery. This week students who have been repeatedly late to school have had emails sent home. The school day begins at 8.50am with a warning bell at 8.45am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays the school day begins at 9.00am with a warning bell at 8.55am.
As a College we are continuing to address these issues. I ask for assistance from families in working alongside our staff so that our students can become the best versions of themselves. Please remind your daughter of the uniform expectations and the need to arrive at school punctually and ready to commence class.
The My Learning Journey subject selection portal has now closed for all students in Years 7 to 11, who should have submitted their subject choices for 2027.
On Saturday 8 August we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross, marking the anniversary of her death in 1909. She was Australia's first canonised saint, recognised for her lifelong dedication to educating poor and rural children.
It is not too late to submit an expression of interest for the College Advisory Council Sub-Committees.
Catherine McAuley was a visionary who defied the status quo, founding the Sisters of Mercy to provide education and healthcare to women and girls. Known as 'the walking nuns,' they served directly within their communities, embodying courage and forward-thinking leadership.
Continuing this legacy in a rapidly changing digital world, Sacred Heart College is establishing a new ICT and Cyber Risk Sub-Committee. This committee will advise the College Advisory Council (CAC) and the College Leadership Team (CLT) on cybersecurity strategy, key projects, cyber risk management, privacy and compliance.
We invite expressions of interest for this new committee, as well as our existing sub-committees:
(Terms of Reference for each sub-committee are available via the College portal).
How to Apply: Please email your expression of interest no later than Friday 7 August 2026 to brvos@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au.
| This Week | |
|---|---|
| Week Four | |
| Thursday 6 August (Tonight) | Artificial Intelligence Parent Information Evening 6.00pm to 7.00pm McAuley Hall | Sacred Heart College |
| Saturday 8 August to Wednesday 18 August | Timor Immersion |
| Next Week | |
|---|---|
| Week Five | |
| Monday 10 August to Tuesday 11 August | Seeds of Justice Camp |
| Friday 14 August | Years 9 and 10 Faith Day |
| Saturday 15 August to Sunday 23 August | Dadirri First Nations Immersion |
| Future Planning | |
|---|---|
| Week Six | |
| Monday 17 August | Student Progress Communications Published |
| Wednesday 19 August | SHC Arts Day |
| Thursday 20 August | Clairvaux Feast Day |
| Friday 21 August | Student Free Day |
| Date | Thursday 6 August 2026 |
| Time | 6.00pm to 7.00pm |
| Location | McAuley Hall – Sacred Heart College |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how we live, work and learn. At Sacred Heart, we are committed to guiding our students through this evolving digital landscape with confidence, integrity and balance.
We invite all interested parents and carers in our College community to join us for a comprehensive Information Evening dedicated to AI and e-safety. The evening will cover many topics devoted to this, including:
Our panel of experts include:
Whether you are highly tech-savvy or just beginning to explore these tools, this evening will provide you with practical insights and strategies to support every student. We look forward to seeing you there as we partner together to support our students.
| Event Details | |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday 7 September 2026 |
| Time | 6.00pm |
| Location | Sacred Heart College Geelong |
| Tickets | $50.00 per attendee (this includes students) |
Tickets for our highly anticipated Fifth Quarter Father’s Day Dinner are ON SALE NOW!
With both Geelong Cats legends Stevie J and Cameron Ling officially out of the bag and locked in for an exclusive live Q&A, this is shaping up to be the biggest event of the Term.
Whether you’re celebrating with your dad, grandfather, or a special father figure, join us for a fantastic night of great food, legendary footy stories, fun trivia and great company!
Tables are strictly limited and will close on Monday 31 August (unless sold out prior). Don't wait until the last minute – lock in your table before it's too late! We can't wait to see you there for an unforgettable evening!
The Sacred Heart College Alumni Association are once again offering subsidised yoga exercise classes for our mature alumni this term.
| Event Details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Tuesday 11 August Tuesday 18 August Tuesday 25 August |
| Time | 9.00am to 9.45am |
| Location | Sports and Wellness Precinct Sacred Heart College Geelong |
| Tickets | $10.00 - Places are limited so book quickly! |
Interested? Contact Jo Welch – Alumni and Development Officer
P. 5222 0464
E. alumni@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au.
Please refer to the Compass News Feed for all year level reminders.
Compass will continue to be our primary form of communication with families, where we will share information for events, booklists, photo days, student reports, updates etc.
Students can access their timetables via Compass.
Students wishing to discuss potential changes to programs of study should contact Amanda Moody, Timetable Coordinator. Contact can be made via email at mljsubjects@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au.
It is important to remind our College community of the high expectations we have of each other. The 'SHC Way' emphasises the importance of commitment to excellence and respect, including following school expectations.
Being a part of a community involves committing to the same norms and values. Please ensure you are aware of and commit to the following:
Students and visitors can enter and exit the College grounds via the Retreat Road pedestrian gates.
A reminder to families that the George Street gate is not to be used for student drop-off or pick-up. This entry is for staff and construction contractors only as it is not a designated pedestrian entrance. In the interests of safety, please use the Retreat Road pedestrian gates.
Alternatively, students may also enter via the Court Precinct on Aphrasia Street between 8.00am and 9.00am.
Notifying Absences via Compass
Families are asked to notify the College of absences via the Compass App. This can be completed by logging in through a web browser or via the app if on a device.
After selecting the reason for absence, you may wish to add further information about the absence.
While Compass will be the preferred method for notifying absences moving forward, families are still welcome to notify the College via SMS 0419 959 693 or via email info@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au
Financial Assistance
I encourage our families who are experiencing financial hardship to please contact the College so that we may assist. Further details are available here.
College Policies
The following Mercy Education policies are available here: College Policies. They can also be accessed by clicking the links below:
Reception
For general inquiries, absences, or if you require assistance in being directed to a specific department, please contact Reception at:
Phone: (03) 5221 4211
Email: info@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au
Mentor Group Teachers
For matters related to your student's education, the Mentor Group Teacher should be the first point of contact. Please refer to your child's timetable for their Mentor Group Teacher’s email address.
House Leaders
For any inquiries regarding your student's House, please contact the respective House Leader:
Finance
For all fee-related queries, please contact the Finance Department:
Email: areceivable@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au
IT Help Desk
For IT-related assistance, please reach out to our Help Desk:
Email: helpdesk@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au
College Admissions Officer:
For all inquiries regarding student admissions, please contact:
Email: admissions@shcgeelong.catholic.edu.au
To access 2026 Semester One Principal's Updates, please click here.
Ever-generous God, You inspired Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
You made her constant in bringing hope and encouragement to the disheartened, the lonely and the needy.
We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust, and openness.
Through her intercession, we place our personal needs before You today.
May her example teach us to notice the needs of others and respond with active compassion.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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