Hearts News – Week 4 Term 3 2026

Celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of Mary

​Today, Marcellin Campus gathered for Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This important feast honours Mary’s welcome into heaven and reminds us of her deep faith, courage and trust in God.

Mary holds a special place in the Marist tradition. Through her example, we are called to live with humility, simplicity and compassion, bringing the presence of Jesus to others through our words and actions.

The Mass provided a meaningful opportunity to pray together, give thanks and reflect on how we can follow Mary’s example in our daily lives.

The celebration also provided a valuable opportunity to formally introduce our 2026 Immersion Teams to the Marcellin community and ask God’s blessing upon them as they prepare for the journeys ahead.

We were pleased to welcome Br Neville Solomon, Director of Australian Marist Solidarity, who shared valuable insights into how our fundraising and service contribute to positive change in communities around the world.

We extend our sincere thanks to Fr Pastor for leading us in this meaningful celebration. Tomorrow, we look forward to celebrating the Feast of the Assumption Mass at Champagnat Campus, also led by Fr Pastor.

Introducing our 2026 Immersion Teams

After a lengthy and rewarding selection process, we are delighted to announce the Year 11 students who have been selected to represent Sacred Heart College on our 2026 Immersion experiences to India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and the Solomon Islands, listed below. These students were blessed and commissioned by Fr Pastor at today’s Feast of the Assumption Mass at Marcellin Campus, encouraging them to travel safely, serve others and live out our Marist values.

We would like to sincerely congratulate all Year 11 students who applied. The selection process was a challenging one with an outstanding calibre of applicants who demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment, compassion and a genuine desire to serve others.

Those selected have already hit the ground running preparing for what promises to be an incredible experience. Travelling alongside staff and immersing themselves in the lives and communities of our Marist communities overseas, students will have the opportunity to learn, serve, build relationships and deepen their understanding of what it means to be part of the global Marist family.

We look forward to supporting our 2026 Immersion teams as they prepare to lead and represent Sacred Heart College with humility, compassion and a strong sense of Family Spirit. We know they will embrace the experience wholeheartedly and return with new perspectives, meaningful connections and stories to share with our College community.

Walking A Mile to raise awareness of homelessness

Champagnat Campus Leaders and Chavoin House Leaders proudly represented the College at the Hutt Street Centre’s Walk a Mile in My Boots event in the city last Friday.

Our students had an early start, arriving at the College at 6.15am before travelling to Victoria Park to participate in the event. They joined thousands of South Australians in walking together to raise awareness of homelessness and recognise members of our wider community who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

The event raises vital funds to support the Hutt Street Centre in providing essential services, including meals, housing support, healthcare, employment assistance and opportunities for connection and community.

Our students valued the opportunity to participate in this meaningful event and gained lifelong lessons about compassion, empathy and the challenges faced by South Australians experiencing homelessness.

Holdfast Habitat Heroes

Last Wednesday a group of Year 10 and 11 Game Changers students demonstrated their Family Spirit by joining forces with a group of local volunteers to repair and restore the sand dunes along the Seacliff coastline.

The Holdfast Habitat Heroes is a volunteer program run by the City of Holdfast Bay, formed to protect and restore the local coastal environment. Members contribute nearly 1,000 hours every year to regenerate sand dunes, plant native seedlings and remove invasive weeds.

Our amazing Game Changers spent two hours with the volunteers by planting the last plants of the season and began the weeding process. Samantha Buxton Stewart, an amazing council worker, shared wonderful wisdom to our students and expressed her sincere gratitude to our students for their continued support of the program.

Year 8s visit Parliament House

Year 8 students participated in a highly successful excursion to Parliament House in Week 2. Throughout the visit, students engaged in a range of experiences, including guided tours of Parliament House led by MPs Alex Dighton and Nadia Clancy, as well as visits to the Centre of Democracy, the State Library, and the Museum.

Students were also provided with opportunities to rest and reflect on their learning in outdoor spaces such as Esther Lipman Gardens and Elder Park, allowing for a balanced and enriching day.

A large number of students attended across several HASS Core classes, supported by a dedicated team of teachers who supervised and facilitated learning throughout the excursion. The program was carefully structured using smaller group rotations, enabling students to fully participate in each activity and interact more closely with the learning environments.

Students demonstrated high levels of enthusiasm and engagement, making the most of the opportunity to explore Australia’s parliamentary system in a real-world context. Overall, the excursion was a valuable and enriching experience, reinforcing key civics concepts from the HASS curriculum while providing an engaging and memorable learning opportunity beyond the classroom.

Year 9s walk in the footsteps of a young Saint

A group of Year 9 students travelled to St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in the city to view and venerate a relic of St Carlo Acutis. During their visit, they also had the opportunity to explore an exhibition about the Eucharistic Miracles. The relic is currently travelling throughout Australia and New Zealand as part of a pilgrimage.

St Carlo Acutis was canonised by Pope Leo XIV in 2025. He died in 2006 at the age of 15 from leukemia and became the first millennial saint. He is renowned for being a role model for the young people of today through his deep devotion to the Eucharist and for using digital technology to share the Catholic faith.

From social media showdown to lunchtime DJ set

It all started with a social media competition, and ended in a lunchtime DJ dance party at Marcellin Campus.

In a social media battle of the Colleges, hosted by DJ duo, JW Beats, Sacred Heart College was matched against Brighton High School to win a live DJ performance. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of votes from our students and community, Sacred Heart College was selected as the winning school.

At lunchtime last Friday, JW Beats delivered a 30 minute DJ set, creating an enjoyable and energetic atmosphere for students. Opportunities such as this provide valuable moments for connection and relaxation, supporting student wellbeing and fostering a strong sense of community within the College.

JW Beats, which includes Old Scholar Will Donaghey (Class of 2022), has developed a strong online following for their mobile DJ service, performing from their ute outside of schools across South Australia.

We thank JW Beats for visiting the College and providing a memorable experience for our students.

Marcellin Winter Season CEA Photos (Thursday, 27 August – Week 6)

Marcellin Sports, Music and Curriculum Extension Activity (CEA) Winter Season photographs will be taken on Thursday 27 August 2026. A schedule for the day can be accessed here.

Students are asked to pay particular attention to the full uniform and sports uniform requirements (including shorts, socks, shoes, etc.) which are outlined in the schedule, and their personal appearance on the day. If students do not bring their required sports uniform to school they will not be able to be included in the team photograph.

All photographs taken will be included in the College Yearbook which is available to all students next year.

Arts & Music News

Celebrating success at the ABODA School Band Festival

This week our Drumline and Concert Band ensembles proudly represented Sacred Heart College at ABODA’s SA School Band and Orchestra Festival achieving Silver and Bronze level!

The Combined Drumline (Champagnat and Marcellin students), directed by Sacred Heart Old Scholar Lachlan Durrans (SHOC ‘22), was awarded Bronze level and achieved an impressive second place in the Intermediate Drumline category. With students ranging from Year 7 beginners to experienced senior performers, the ensemble has worked hard to build their confidence, technique and passion for Drumline. The students were inspired not only by the opportunity to perform, but also by watching the Advanced Drumline ensembles throughout the festival. Seeing the skill and musicianship of these groups has given our students plenty to aspire to as they continue developing their own performance skills.

The Champagnat Concert Band, also known as The Saba Project, enjoyed a wonderful festival experience, performing Wellerman by Nathan Evans and The Ash Grove by Thomas Oliphant. For many students, this was their first year learning an instrument, with most beginning through the Year 7 Music Performance Program. Despite rehearsing for just 30 minutes each Wednesday morning, the band has developed a strong enthusiasm for playing together and performing as an ensemble. Vanessa Saba has been expertly leading this ensemble for many years and is also the woodwind/brass teacher of most of our students in this ensemble.

The students particularly enjoyed the opportunity to perform on a professional stage in a venue designed with ensembles such as theirs in mind, making the festival feel like a special occasion for these emerging musicians. Competing in the Novice Band category alongside 12 schools, the students enjoyed hearing the many different ways bands interpreted the set piece The Ash Grove, with ensembles ranging from large groups to much smaller bands. The Saba Project was awarded a silver level at the festival, a wonderful recognition of the progress and commitment shown by our young musicians.

Both ensembles should be very proud of their achievements and the enthusiasm they brought to the festival. We thank Vanessa and Lachie for their dedication and passion in leading these ensembles and we also thank our families for supporting students to be involved in these opportunities.

Stage 1 students inspire Year 9 dancers

Last Friday, our Stage 1 Dance students visited Champagnat Campus to lead a dance workshop with the Year 9 Dance classes. It was a fantastic opportunity for students across both campuses to connect through their shared passion for dance while developing their confidence, leadership and teaching skills.

As part of the workshop, the Year 11 students planned and delivered a technique class before teaching a fun and engaging routine to two different groups of Year 9 students. They demonstrated outstanding preparation, enthusiasm and professionalism, creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment for the younger dancers.

The Year 9 students embraced the experience with energy and enthusiasm, while our Stage 1 students rose to the challenge of leading others with confidence and maturity. It was wonderful to see the positive relationships formed between students and the genuine enjoyment shared throughout the day. We are incredibly proud of our Stage 1 Dance students for representing the Dance program so positively and look forward to creating more opportunities for collaboration across our campuses in the future.

Sharing the Stage: Year 11 Drama students inspire Year 9s

Our Year 11 Drama students recently led an engaging workshop for our Year 9 Drama students, providing an opportunity for students across the two year levels to connect, collaborate and share their passion for the Performing Arts.

The Year 11 students spoke about their experiences as senior Drama students at Marcellin Campus and gave the Year 9 students an insight into the opportunities available to them as they progress through their secondary schooling. They also introduced the range of Performing Arts courses available in Year 10, helping students to understand the different pathways they can explore and encouraging them to continue developing their creative interests.

Throughout the workshop, Year 11 students facilitated a range of practical Drama activities designed to build confidence, strengthen connections and develop skills in communication, collaboration and creative thinking. Working together, the students explored movement, tableaux, improvisation and creating short scenes from simple stimuli.

It was wonderful to see our Year 11 students step into leadership roles and share their knowledge and experiences with the younger students. The workshop highlighted the strong sense of community within our Drama program and demonstrated how the Performing Arts provide opportunities for students to grow in confidence, creativity and connection.

Some reflections from our Year 9 students are below:

• “The Year 11 students were kind, confident and funny, and created a welcoming and enjoyable environment. Overall, the experience was a great opportunity to learn more about Drama and develop new skills.” – Ruby
• “Something I learnt from the workshop is that by showing clearer facial expressions, body language, and having different levels of voices makes the scene more engaging.” – Havana
• “One thing I would like to pass on to Ms Wallace and the Year 11s is thank you for making time for us! It was great working with you. All the best to the Year 11s on their academics and SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!” – Kavish
• “Ms Wallace’s Drama Workshop ensured that my character authenticity and expression should not drown out other characters and unite with them rather than conflict.” – Josh
• “What I learnt from the Year 11s is that a more dramatic performance makes it funnier and will make the audience enjoy the performance more.” – Thomas

Senior Drama students experience live theatre

The Year 10, 11 and 12 Drama classes recently had the opportunity to see Logan St, a new production by State Theatre Company South Australia, at the Space Theatre. Written and directed by Kaurna and Narungga theatremaker, Jacob Boehme, the production explores friendship, culture, faith and resistance through stories connected to Adelaide’s Kaurna history and the Afghan cameleer community.

Set between contemporary Adelaide and the impact of colonisation in 1836, Logan St explores themes of racism, cultural identity, resilience, belonging and the importance of storytelling. The production weaves together the stories of Aboriginal and Afghan characters, highlighting the connections between people, culture and place.

For our Drama students, seeing professional theatre provided a valuable opportunity to experience contemporary Australian performance and observe how acting, design, lighting, sound, video and music combine to communicate complex ideas. It also encouraged students to reflect on whose stories are told on our stages and how theatre can challenge audiences to see familiar places and histories in new ways.

The performance prompted thoughtful discussion and reflection, demonstrating the power of live theatre to challenge, move and inspire audiences.

2026 Music dates and events

Champagnat Campus (Term 3 2026)

Marcellin Campus (Term 3 2026)

Click here to view the full College calendar of events.

Sports News

Getting ready for the 103rd Intercollegiate Round

This year marks the 103rd Intercollegiate Round between Sacred Heart College and Rostrevor College, with students set to compete across a range of winter sports including soccer, basketball, football and chess.

On Monday 10 August, SHC Year 12 College Captains Dihini Amaraweera and Leo Garcia, Sport Captains Charlotte O’Sullivan and Tom Connelly, and Firsts Team Captains Hugh Strachan (Basketball), Harry Butterworth (Soccer) and Jaxon Levins (Football) visited Rostrevor College to meet with their respective captains.

It was a great opportunity for our student leaders to come together ahead of the upcoming Winter Intercollegiate Round, reflecting on the theme ‘Respect Outweighs Rivalry’. The theme celebrates the rich history and vibrant school spirit of the Intercol, while highlighting the importance of bringing our two school communities together through friendship, sportsmanship and mutual respect.

The Sacred Heart and Rostrevor leaders enjoyed morning tea together before each having the opportunity to sign the 2026 Intercol Code of Conduct, committing to playing in a friendly, fair and respectful spirit under the banner of Respect Outweighs Rivalry.

We look forward to a fantastic week of competition and events, celebrating the spirit of the Intercol through great sportsmanship, respect and school pride.

Families can keep up to date with the 2026 Intercol Program of Events, Live Streaming & Results here.

2026 Girls First XVI Football Champions

Congratulations to the Girls First XVI Football team, who claimed the Premiership Shield for the fourth consecutive year on Wednesday 5 August. The team has worked incredibly hard throughout the season, and it was fantastic to see their efforts rewarded in a thrilling Grand Final against St Michael’s College.

These two sides have developed a strong rivalry over the past few years, and this year’s decider certainly lived up to expectations. Sacred Heart came out firing and held the lead throughout the first half before St Michael’s responded with a strong third quarter to edge ahead. Heading into the final term, just one point separated the teams.

In a tense final quarter filled with crucial moments, the Hearts girls held their nerve and kicked the match winning goal in the final 30 seconds to secure a memorable 4.2 (26) to 2.9 (21) victory. It was a true team performance, with every player contributing to the hard-fought win.

Congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff on an outstanding achievement, and a special congratulations to Scarlett Blethyn, who was deservedly named Best on Ground.

The game was livestreamed on the day and can be re-watched here.

Grand Final glory for our Hearts Year 9/10 Boys Knockout Football team!

The Hearts boys took on Immanuel College in the School Sport SA Knockout Football Grand Final on Wednesday 12 August at The Summit Sport & Recreation Park in Mount Barker.

Our Hearts came out strongly and built a solid lead across the opening three quarters, heading into the final term 9.4 to 5.2. Immanuel continued to challenge in the final quarter, but the Hearts boys responded well to finish the match strongly and secure the Grand Final win 10.5 (65) to 6.6 (42).

A fantastic result for the team after a successful Knockout campaign. Congratulations to all students and coaches involved on a well-earned Grand Final victory!

Supporting breast cancer awareness during Pink Round

Week 2 of Term 3 saw schools across the SAAS (Sports Association for Adelaide Schools), SACSGSSA (South Australian Catholic Secondary Schools Girls’ Sports Association) and IGSSA (Independent Girls Schools Sports Association) sporting competitions don shades of pink as they took to the courts and fields in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.

The initiative helps raise awareness for the 20,000 women and men diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia each year, while encouraging conversations about the importance of regular breast screening. It was fantastic to see so many Sacred Heart teams getting involved, with plenty of pink socks, hair ribbons and accessories proudly on display. Thank you to everyone who donated, dressed up and helped show their support in line with Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Congratulations to Harry Franz (First XVIII Football), Ryan Gentry (Open A Basketball) and Ollie Perkins (First XI Soccer) who were the SHC recipients of the Pink Round Medal as part of the SAAS Open A competition. These medals were awarded to the person in each team that their teammates love to play alongside, someone who gives their all for their team and teammates, encourages those around them, and genuinely cares for the people they play alongside.

CEA Statewide Knockout Sports (Champagnat and Marcellin)

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

Middle Boys Knockout Netball
SHC (27) def by Woodcroft College (35)

Open Boys Knockout Basketball (Round 2)
SHC (41) def St John’s (35). The team now progresses to Round 3 of the competition.

Open Girls Knockout Basketball (Round 2)
SHC (57) def Nazareth (37). The team now progresses to the finals day.

Open Girls Knockout Soccer (Round 1)
SHC (1) def by Brighton (2)
SHC (1) drew with Loreto (1)
SHC (3) def Scotch (2)

Open Girls Knockout Football (Round 2)
SHC (2.2.14) def by Henley (11.15.81)

Year 9/10 Boys Knockout Football (Grand Final)
SHC (10.5.65) def Immanuel College (6.6.42)

Year 9/10 Boys Knockout Soccer (Round 2)
SHC (0) def by Nazareth College (5)

Student Sporting Achievements

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

Images below are in order of names listed in the table above.

2026 Sports dates and events

Champagnat Campus (Term 3 2026)

Marcellin Campus (Term 3 2026)

Click here to view Sports Fixtures and Results.

Click here to view the full College calendar of events.