Hearts News – Week 8 Term 1 2026

Thursday, 19th Mar 2026

The Class of 2026 embraced the opportunity to reflect, engage with eachother and have a little fun during their Year 12 Retreat in Week 6, strengthening friendships and deepening their sense of Family Spirit as they journey through their final year of school together.

To our Sacred Heart College community

It has been a rich and full fortnight in the Hearts community with a diverse range of activities and events happening across the College. Our students in Years 7 and 9 engaged in the NAPLAN testing, whilst our Year 12 students participated in their annual retreat program. We have celebrated International Women’s Day and also hosted 10 students from Okayama Sozan High School (in Japan) as part of our annual cultural exchange. We are about to embark upon the Summer Intercol with Rostrevor College next week before we commence the Marist Girls Cup, hosted by Cardijn College, the week after. Our performing arts students are preparing for their dance and drama night in Week 10 whilst our musicians continue rehearsing for next term’s performance night.

In addition to these wonderful events and activities, we are about to embark upon the first Learning Conversations for the year. These conversations begin at Marcellin Campus across Weeks 9 and 10, before continuing at Champagnat Campus early in Term 2. We are very proud to promote student agency in these conversations and expect students to lead the dialogue about their learning. Students should be present at face-to-face interviews or available on speaker phone to join the Learning Conversation if it is occurring by phone. It is important we remember the phrase ‘don’t have a conversation about me, without me’ and support our students in developing the skills they need to discuss their learning and academic progress. Thank you, in advance, for your support of these important conversations.

Danielle Greig
Acting Deputy Principal

Strengthening connections and Family Spirit at the Year 12 Retreat

The Class of 2026 spent time in reflection and connection during Week 6 as they travelled to various locations across the state in House groups for their Year 12 Retreat. Over the three days, the Retreats provided a wonderful balance of fun and celebration, including games, talent shows and op shop dress up dinners! These experiences allowed students to further build their sense of Family Spirit. Alongside these moments of joy were opportunities for quiet reflection, small group activities and meaningful conversations, enabling the Year 12 cohort to strengthen their relationships with one another in their final year of schooling.

Upon returning to school, the Year 12 students were invited to reflect on their Retreat experience. Some of their responses can be read below:

“I extremely enjoyed my Retreat. It was so incredible seeing everyone, including teachers, getting out of their comfort zones and sharing their experiences.”

“The connection between the students and young adults was beautiful. Being able to cry and just sit with one another, both in happy moments and the lows, without judgment or sticking only to our usual friendship groups, was absolutely amazing. I loved being able to open up and give affirmations, seeing my cohort stay up late just to sneak in a few more letters daily to put a smile on another’s face and truly appreciate their talents, kindness, or any beautiful traits they possess.”

“The most life-changing part of Retreat for me was the impact of my small group. I was chosen into a group with individuals I had not talked to before, but throughout the three days, we all opened ourselves up to each other. This was emotional, vulnerable, but above all, it showcased a deep sense of trust and Family Spirit. Not only did I make new friends and connections, but I was able to see the positive significance of making new relationships.”

“I really enjoyed the time to switch off my brain and relax. I liked not having my phone and having contact with other people. I really liked opening up to people and I felt so respected and acknowledged when I was vulnerable. I didn’t feel judged by a single person. I loved getting closer with everybody and just showing genuine Family Spirit as a House.”

The Year 12 cohort are to be applauded for their engagement and enthusiasm on Retreat. They returned to school following the weekend more unified, caring and respectful of each other’s stories.

A huge thanks to the staff who expertly prepared for, led and guided our Year 12s through the Retreat.

Meet our Student Leaders – 2026 Sports Leaders

In each Hearts News, two of our 2026 Year 9 and Year 12 portfolio leaders will take part in a brief Q&A so you can get to know them a little better. This week we meet 2026 Year 9 Sports Leader, Summer Bauer and Year 12 Sports Captain, Tom Connelly.

Summer Bauer 2026 Year 9 Sports Leader

What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership to me means listening to everyone’s ideas and leading by example.

What does being a Marist Leader mean to you?
Being a Marist Leader means that you lead the way St Marcellin Champagnat would, which means being a kind and caring leader.

What Marist characteristic do you resonate with the most and why?
I resonate the most with the characteristic of Presence because to be a great leader, you must be present in the community and in the lives of others.

As a Leader this year, what is your main focus for the Hearts community and what do you hope to achieve?
My main focus as a Leader for the Hearts Community is building up the sport spirit at our school and I want to make sure that most of our students are involved in a sport.

A teacher I admire at SHC is:
A teacher I admire is my Homeroom teacher, Mr White because even though we can be annoying at times, he always makes Homeroom a fun and enjoyable place to be.

The best thing about attending SHC is:
The best thing about attending SHC is the beautiful oval and sports facilities that I get to train and play at.

Three (3) words that describe my personality are:
Energetic, sporty and kind.

My favourite book is:
‘We are Wolves’ by Katrina Nannestad.

My favourite song is:
‘The Scientist’ by Coldplay.

Someone I admire is:
Someone I admire is my Mum because even though she works very hard and has to look after three kids, she always makes time for me.

On the weekend you will find me:
At a basketball stadium or down at the beach.

My greatest accomplishment OR sporting moment so far is:
My greatest sporting moment so far is making it to nationals and getting to play on the national stage.

The most memorable moment in my life so far was:
The most memorable moment of my life are all the weekends I’ve spent down the beach.

What is your most prized possession?
My most prized possesion is my old photos.

What is on your bucket list?
Travelling overseas.

What skill would you most like to learn?
I really want to learn how to cook really nice restraunt quality food.

If you were a superhero, who would you be?
Spiderman because it looks really fun zipping around the city.
Tom Connelly 2026 Year 12 Sports Captain

What does leadership mean to you?
To help guide and inspire others to reach a shared goal and act as a role model for the community.

What does being a Marist Leader mean to you?
To me, a Marist Leader means embodying a leadership inspired by Mary and St Marcellin Champagnat, focused on nurturing family spirit, humility, and simplicity.

What Marist characteristic do you resonate with the most and why?
Family Spirit. As a boarder I feel a strong connection to Family Spirit.

As a Leader this year, what is your main focus for the Hearts community and what do you hope to achieve?
My main focus is to make sport a place for people to have fun, express themselves and connect with their peers. I hope that I can encourage our community to fill as many teams as possible.

A teacher I admire at SHC is:
I like how Mr Williams always brings an upbeat and positive attitude to Homeroom.

The best thing about attending SHC is:
The best thing about SHC is the people. Everyone is nice and friendly.

Three (3) words that describe my personality are:
Kind, easy going and fun.

My favourite song is:
‘River of dreams’ by Billy Joel.

Someone I admire is:
I look up to Aryna Sabalenka as she is my favourite tennis players and I like how she plays.

On the weekend you will find me:
Hanging out with my mates.

My greatest accomplishment OR sporting moment so far is:
My greatest sporting moment would be playing A-grade with my older brother at 15.

The most memorable moment in my life so far was:
Starting boarding school.

What is your most prized possession?
My car.

What is on your bucket list?
Going to a World Darts Championship one day.

What skill would you most like to learn?
I’d like to learn how to surf.

If you were a superhero, who would you be?
I’d be Groot because I like how he grows and overcomes the need of having to restart his life.

‘Everyone belongs‘ – Harmony Week 2026

Harmony Week (16–22 March) is a time to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity and promote inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. This year’s theme is ‘Everybody belongs’.

To acknowledge and respect the many cultures that make up Sacred Heart College, our student leaders distributed orange ribbons to our community today. The Languages Learning Area also organised a visible display to celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity at Champagnat Campus. The display was created using information collected from staff and students.

During Harmony Week, the colour orange is used as it symbolises connection and communication. We were grateful to celebrate Harmony Week as it reflects and encourages the importance of open, meaningful conversations, the sharing of ideas, and promoting respect between people.

Welcoming our Japanese exchange students from Okayama Sozan High School

This week Sacred Heart College welcomed 10 students and two staff from Okayama Sozan High School in Japan for a week-long immersion program. Whilst this year’s format looked a little different from previous years, we were deeply appreciative that our guests made the long journey to practise their English, learn about school life in Australia and foster meaningful cross- cultural connections with Sacred Heart students.

On Monday the travelling party were welcomed to Marcellin Campus with an orientation session before beginning their timetabled classes. Some highlights of the school week have been an Australian landscape painting workshop, an AFL class, and a Science Alive lesson.

The group also visited Champagnat Campus on Wednesday, engaging with some of the middle school Japanese classes. After classes, our guests enjoyed opportunities to explore our beautiful local area, share meals with some of the boarding students, and hear from some past Immersion students.

A huge thank you to Ms Oka and Ms Lonergan for their work on the program, and to Ms Ewer, Mr Kay, Mr Hildyard, Mr Macgregor, Ms Chapman, Ms Deegan, and Ms Santrac for organising the specialist lessons that the group was able to engage in. Special thanks to our Hearts host students, the Japanese classes, and the wider student and staff body for the warm Marist hospitality you extended to our visitors.

We extend our sincere thanks to our Okayama Sozan High School guests for visiting Sacred Heart College and wish them a safe trip home tomorrow. Although their visit has been brief, the connections that have been formed have made a meaningful and lasting impression on our students. We know the friendships built here will be remembered fondly, and our students eagerly hope to meet again in the future.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026

To celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), our students were proud to represent our College at two prestigious events. Our Year 11 girl boarders were invited to attend the The Rise & Lead: Youth International Women’s Day Breakfast at Partridge House on Thursday 5 March, a youth-led event dedicated to celebrating and showcasing young in the City of Holdfast Bay community.

The following day, three of our students had the privilege of attending the 2026 Adelaide International Women’s Day Breakfast at the Adelaide Convention Centre. They heard inspiring insights from speakers including Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong and Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first astronaut to represent Australia.

We continued the celebrations at each campus during recess and lunchtime with a bake sale, selling IWD merchandise and cookies, and honouring the incredible women in our Hearts community.

You can read reflections from the students who attended the special IWD events below.

The Rise & Lead: Youth International Women's Day Breakfast student reflection by Maddie Irvine and Ruby Schubert (Year 11 Boarders)

The Rise and Lead: Youth International Women’s Day Breakfast at Partridge House on Thursday 5 March was a really inspiring event that celebrated achievements and contributions of women in our community. Organised by the City of Holdfast Bay, it brought together students, teachers and guest speakers to recognise the importance of equality and empowerment. The morning started with a welcome speech that explained why the day matters and how much progress has been made for women’s rights, while also reminding us that there is still more to be done.

One of the best parts of the event was the guest speakers who shared their personal experiences and the challenges they had faced in their careers. They talked about working in male dominated industries and what it took for them to succeed. It was very motivating and eye opening. Their stories showed a lot of determination and resilience, and I really enjoyed learning about women who have made a difference and created opportunities for others.

Overall the breakfast was both enjoyable and meaningful. It helped us understand the importance of supporting gender equality and showed that even small actions can help make a positive difference.
International Women's Day Breakfast student reflection by Pearl Mead, Maddi Limmer & Hannah Durante

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we were lucky to be selected to attend the Adelaide International Women’s Day Breakfast, granted by the City of Holdfast Bay. We were accompanied by Dana Wilkinson.

Throughout the morning we listened to several speakers, including Penny Wong and Katherine Bennel-Pegg, the first astronaut to represent Australia. These speakers highlighted the importance of resilience and standing up for what is right, particularly gender equality. We found listening to Katherine’s journey inspiring as she was transparent with the fact that her path was not linear. She spoke about the setbacks and challenges she faced along the way, and how her persistence, curiosity and determination ultimately brought her to pursuing her dream of being an astronaut. As the first Australian astronaut, she had no one before her to model the path, yet when she least expected it, her persistence paid off and she was selected. Katherine had dreamed of this opportunity since childhood. She quotes: “If we envision ourselves where we want to be, we will get there.”

This was a moment of realisation for us, as we need to dream big, and make it happen, as anyone can make a difference. This day showed us stereotypes can be broken and strengthened our ambition to drive for gender equality in the world we live in today. Towards the end of her talk, she left us with a powerful final message:

“They say that the first person to walk on Mars is sitting in a high school classroom right now. Maybe it’s in an Australian classroom… maybe it’s in your classroom… maybe it’s you.”– Katherine Bennel-Pegg.

Year 8 students take on the future at Bright Ideas Summit

On Tuesday, 10 Year 8 students travelled to the National Wine Centre for the Bright Ideas Summit. Presented by Future Anything and Flinders University’s New Venture Institute, the one-day experience offered students a space to explore how ideas become action, and how action creates impact.

The day started with a presentation from the Minister of Education, the Hon. Blair Boyer, followed by a discussion Q&A from local innovators and entrepreneurs on how to approach a problem with a futurist point of view.

The students then identified an issue that they are passionate about and made groups with students from other schools that are passionate about the same issue. After brainstorming the symptoms of the issue and identifying the root causes, the students were given time to think of a potential solution. Students learnt that the solution may be a product, to raise funds, or a service, to raise awareness regarding the issue.

The groups then presented their solutions in a ‘Shark-Tank’ style format, where they had 60 seconds to pitch their solution and to explain how their chosen issue impacts young people.

Hearts to Hawthorn: Old Scholar Will Day (SHOC ’19) inspires Workplace Practices class

Will Day (SHOC ’19)

Our Stage 1 and Stage 2 students undertaking the Workplace Practices (AFL) course were privileged to hear from Old Collegian and AFL star, Will Day (SHOC ‘19) on Monday via Zoom. Will generously gave up his time to speak with our students about a range of his experiences in the AFL from both a playing and non-playing perspective. Will provided rare and authentic insights into the day-to-day life of an AFL footballer but, importantly, also shared many of the challenges associated with being a high profile elite athlete, which was powerful for our students to hear.

Will also spoke passionately and with enormous pride of his connection to our Hearts Family and shared many fond memories of his time both as a student but also representing the Blue and Blue out on the football field. This was an amazing opportunity and experience for our students who are now reflecting on the interaction in their summative assignments.

Arts & Music News

Year 9 Dance students experience Adelaide Fringe Dance perfomance: Student reflection

On Friday 6 March, the Year 9 Dance students visited the Adelaide College of the Arts to watch ‘Rip, Drag and Ruminate‘, performed by their second and third year students. The showcase featured four pieces, each demonstrating a high level of skill and creativity. A highlight came from the final performance, Metamorphosis choreographed by Mia Hocking. This piece powerfully explored the theme that identity can be connected to the transformation of a butterfly. The use of production elements in this performance was especially impressive, as liquid poured from the ceiling and dripped onto the dancers. This excursion was a great opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of what they can achieve in future years.

By Ruby Sandercock and Bella Sherman

Marcellin Campus Performing Arts round-up

This term our Performing Arts students have had the amazing opportunity to attend several inspiring live performances across Adelaide’s major arts festivals.

Our Senior Drama students began the term at the Adelaide Festival where they watched ‘A Giant’s Garden‘ by Slingsby Theatre Company. This visually rich production combined storytelling, puppetry and music to create a magical theatrical experience. Students also attended ‘POV‘, a thought-provoking production that explored perspective and storytelling through innovative staging and performance.

Later in the term, they visited the Adelaide Fringe Festival to watch ‘DNA‘. This production held special significance for our students as it was directed by former Sacred Heart Drama teacher, Majo Bogatec, and featured past Sacred Heart scholars in the cast. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to see alumni continuing their journeys in the performing arts industry and to experience a powerful contemporary play performed at a professional level.

Our Senior Dance students also attended the Adelaide Fringe Festival where they watched ‘Everybody’s Got a Bomb‘, performed by a Sydney-based dance company. The contemporary dance work explored the descent into chaos in the modern world through striking choreography, movement and physical storytelling. Yesterday they were also privileged to attend the Leaps and Bounds Dance Programme at the Adelaide Festival Centre where they participated in two dance workshops, led by professional dancers and choreographers. They attended a jazz workshop with Zoe Komazec-Kermond and a contemporary workshop with Adelaide Dance Theatre.

These excursions are an important part of our Performing Arts program. Experiencing live theatre and dance allows students to deepen their understanding of performance, observe professional techniques, and reflect on how stories and ideas can be communicated on stage. It also encourages students to think critically about the role of the arts in reflecting and responding to the world around us.

2026 Music dates and events

Champagnat Campus (Term 1 2026)

Week 8	Friday 20 March – Hearts Radio commences at Sports Day
Week 9	Monday 23 – Friday 27 March – Arts Week Monday 23 March – Adam Page Incursion Monday 23 March – Group 1 SACE Art Expo Excursion Tuesday 24 March – Group 2 SACE Art Expo Excursion Thursday 26 March – Come and Try Dance Academy (7.30am – 8.20am) Friday 27 March – Live Music in the QUAD
Week 10	Monday 30 March – Year 9 Dance and selected Drama students to attend Senior Dance/Drama Dress Rehearsal Performance

Marcellin Campus (Term 1 2026)

Week 8	Friday 20 March – Champagnat Sports Day Performance (Drumline)
Week 9	Friday 27 March – Champagnat Arts Week Lunchtime Performance (Rock Band, Studio Band, Motown Band)
Week 10	Friday 3 April (Good Friday) – Stations of the Cross (Liturgy Band) (12 noon)

Sports News

Our Hearts show their basketball skills in 36ers Tournament Showcase

As part of our partnership with the Adelaide 36ers, on Tuesday 10 March, Sacred Heart College students took part in the Adelaide 36ers Senior Program Tournament at the State Basketball Centre, Wayville. Sacred Heart was represented by two girls’ teams and two boys’ teams, competing against other partner schools involved in the Adelaide 36ers school program.

It was a fantastic day of basketball and a great opportunity for our students to get out on the court and showcase their skills. The tournament also came at the perfect time, with our Marist Basketball teams preparing to depart for Perth next week for competition. The day provided a valuable chance for players to spend time together on court and continue building strong team connections.

A highlight of the day came in the girls’ competition, where both Sacred Heart College teams progressed through the rounds to meet each other in the Grand Final. It was a terrific achievement to see two Sacred Heart teams competing for the title. SHC 1 emerged victorious with both teams demonstrating excellent teamwork, skill and sportsmanship throughout the day.

The boys had a tougher start to the tournament but showed great determination and improvement as the day progressed. It was also wonderful to see Hugh Strachan recognised as the tournament’s MVP after a strong performance across the day.

Overall, it was a successful and enjoyable day of basketball for all involved, and we congratulate our students on the way they represented Sacred Heart College both on and off the court.

Success at School Sport SA Golf Championships

Last week, 20 Sacred Heart College students competed in the School Sport SA Individual Golf Championships held at The Vines and The Pat Golf Club. It was a great day for golf, with students enjoying the opportunity to compete against other schools while developing their skills on the course.

Congratulations to Louis Willoughby, who finished 5th overall in the B-Grade Championships and Ashley Couzin, who finished 3rd overall in the B-Grade Championships. Well done to all students who represented the College on the day.

Semi-Final success at Tennis Championships

On Friday 6 March, three students from Champagnat Campus, Will, Nyle and Charles, competed in the Individual Tennis Championships held at Peake Gardens Tennis Club. The boys displayed excellent sportsmanship and determination while facing strong competition throughout the day. Congratulations to Charles (Year 8) for an outstanding performance in reaching the semi-finals.

CEA Statewide Knockout Sports (Champagnat and Marcellin)

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

Open Girls T20 Knockout Cricket Round 2: SHC (3/73) def Seymour (10/72). The team now progresses to the finals, to be held on Wednesday 25 March.

Student Sporting Achievements

Congratulations to the following student on their outstanding sporting achievement, listed below.

Connor Gregory (Year 11)

Selected to attend the Cricket Australia 2026 U19 Male Talent Camp in Adelaide from 29 March to 2 April. The four-day program starts Australia’s preparations for the 2028 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup cycle.

2026 Sports dates and events