Taking it to the stage for RU OK? Day
SHC came alive across both campuses last week as students and staff came together to celebrate the talent, courage and creativity of our students through our annual R U OK? Day celebration with Battle of the Bands.
Battle of the Bands returned to Marcellin Campus on Thursday 3 September for the first time in more than six years, followed by an energetic and action-packed event at Champagnat Campus on Friday 4 September. Across the two campuses, more than 15 student bands and two staff bands took to the stage, displaying incredible musical talent. Performing in front of an audience is no small feat, and every student who stepped onto the stage reminded us of what is possible when we have the courage to take a risk and share our talents with others.
The events were also a celebration of the unique spirit of each campus and the inclusive nature of music. At Marcellin, students gathered in the Quad to enjoy live performances alongside a BBQ and photo booth, with many donning yellow ribbons in recognition of R U OK? Day. At Champagnat, the afternoon was loud, energetic and full of fun, featuring five judges, audience challenges, trivia and surprise performances.
After an incredibly tough competition, Shockwave took out the overall Champagnat Battle of the Bands title, Zak D was awarded Best Individual Performer, while Heartbeat were named runners-up for their performance. At Marcellin, The Senior Rock Trio took out top spot, with Legal Studies teacher, Mr Morris taking home the MVP Award.
R U OK? Day Art Competition at Champagnat
The themes of creativity and emotional expression were celebrated through this year’s R U OK? Day Art Competition through the 2026 theme, “I feel…”, inspiring an incredible collection of artworks across a wide range of artistic mediums. The range of skill, creativity and talent across all entries made it a difficult task for the Art Leaders to select the winners. The theme was powerfully reflected through the emotional depth of the artworks and their shared message about the importance of checking in with one another and looking beyond the surface.
Congratulations to our winners:
1st Place – Beatrix T (Year 8)
2nd Place – Saina S (Year 7)
3rd Place – Jake E (Year 9)
Battle of the Bands reminds us that whether or not we consider ourselves musicians or artists, music and creativity are shared human experiences, and powerful ways to connect, express ourselves and remind one another to ask the important question: R U OK?
Photos from the 2026 R U OK? Day Battle of the Bands are able to be viewed and downloaded via the Festival City Photography website.
Password is SHC2026
Announcing the 2027 College Captains, Mission Captains and Boarding Captains
Last Thursday, the 2027 College Captains, Mission Captains, Boarding Captains and Deputy Boarding Captains were officially announced at the R U OK? Day College Assembly at Marcellin Campus.
We congratulate the following students on being voted to lead Sacred Heart in 2027:
2027 College Captains
Owen Basey & Pearl Mead
2027 Mission Captains
Hannah Durante & Jessica Heffernan
2027 Boarding Captains
Lachlan Maguire & Poppy Kay
2027 Deputy Boarding Captains
Sam Hayes & Lilly Grimston
We give thanks to all students who nominated for a leadership position in 2027. As we continue to go through the nomination process for House and Portfolio leaders, we look forward to announcing the rest of the 2027 Leadership team in the coming weeks.
Celebrating the significant men in our lives
Last Friday we welcomed fathers, grandfathers, and significant family members of our Year 7-12 students to Champagnat Campus in celebration of Father’s Day. It was a wonderful turn out with our students and their special people coming together to enjoy a coffee and a variety of sweet and savoury treats. Guests in attendance were also gifted a small book of ‘emergency dad jokes’, created by our Marist Solidarity (MSol) group.
Our guests were also treated to performances by some of our talented student musicians: Kara, Angelica, Elise, Lyra, Sophia, Sonia, Ivy, Ava, Evie, Oliver, Kevin, Alice and Victoria. A special thank you to everyone who joined us. It was wonderful to celebrate together as a community.
Photos from the 2026 Father’s Day celebration are able to be viewed and downloaded via the Festival City Photography website.
Password is SHC2026
Around the World at the Immersions Quiz Night
What a wonderful night celebrating our Hearts Community and raising more than $53,000 to support the community projects and initiatives that will form part of our 2026 Immersion experiences in Sri Lanka, India, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines later this year!
Dressed in their ‘Around the World’ best, families, students and staff came together for an evening of fun, laughter and trivia, with our staff ‘flight crew’ helping to make the night one to remember at the 2026 Immersions Quiz Night. The evening was a wonderful celebration of our Hearts community, while also raising vital funds to support the communities our students will visit as part of their Immersion experiences, providing significant resources and practical support.
A huge thank you to our generous sponsors, everyone who attended and all those who donated to the silent auction and supported the event. Your generosity, enthusiasm and community spirit helped make the evening such a great success.
We wish our 2026 Immersion teams all the very best as they prepare for their journeys and look forward to hearing about their experiences later this year.
Our College Captains represent Sacred Heart at Government House
Our 2026 College Captains, Dihini Amaraweera and Leo Garcia, joined Year 12 student leaders from across metropolitan and regional South Australia on Monday at Government House for the annual Student Leader’s Reception.
Hosted by the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, and husband, Mr Rod Bunten, the Reception provided an opportunity for student leaders to share insights into their schools and discuss some of the issues facing young people today. For Leo and Dihini, the evening was also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their final year as College Captains and the privilege of representing Sacred Heart College.
In her address, the Governor spoke about the positive difference young people can make, encouraging students to use their voices, embrace opportunities and remain open to where life may take them. It was a memorable evening celebrating the leadership, perspectives and potential of South Australia’s young people, and we thank Dihini and Leo for proudly representing our Hearts community.
Connecting to culture and growing as leaders at Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP)
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) brought together emerging First Nations leaders from across Australia for four days of cultural learning, leadership development and connection in Sydney this week. Select students participating in The Smith Family program were invited from five states and territories to attend the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern for a Gadigal Welcome ceremony, art, dance and wellbeing sessions, a traditional Circular Quay Rocks tour, Tribal Warrior river cruise, and finally a formal award event.
Year 10 student Zipporah, and mentors Ruby (Year 11) and Kobe (Year 12) represented their families, language groups and the College with pride. The program provides the opportunity for young people to strengthen their cultural identity, develop leadership skills and learn from First Nations leaders who are making a difference across corporate, not-for-profit and volunteer sectors. Students were equipped with cultural, historical, and self-regulation knowledge, with bonding activities stretching across meals, events and discussions (yarns).
Zipporah gave a speech at the formal Gathering Award evening on Wednesday, expressing her gratitude to the directors of the IYLP. Her takeaways were centred around learning more about herself, stepping out of her comfort zone, and learning traditional ways, specifically song and dance. She, and her two mentors, highly recommend this trip to upcoming students coming through the Aboriginal program.
Sacred Heart Army Cadets achieve best Commander’s Day result in four years
The Sacred Heart College Australian Army Cadets (431 ACU Sacred Heart) have achieved an outstanding second-place result in the 43 Battalion Commander’s Day Challenge, their highest placing in the competition in the past four years.
The annual Commander’s Day Challenge brings together cadet units from across the battalion for a series of practical activities designed to test the skills, teamwork and leadership abilities developed throughout the year. Cadets are challenged to work under pressure and apply their knowledge in areas including navigation, radio communications, first aid, problem-solving and leadership.
For 431 ACU Sacred Heart, the challenge provides the opportunity for cadets to put their training into practice while representing their unit. Rather than simply testing individual ability, the activities are designed to assess how effectively cadets operate as a team and how well they can apply their training in challenging situations, along with recognising excellence in cadet skills and encouraging continuous improvement across the battalion.
This year, Sacred Heart finished second out of six units, marking a significant achievement for the unit. The result reflects the commitment and hard work of our cadets and staff, alongside the significant improvement shown throughout the year. The unit also set a new record for cadet attendance, highlighting the strong engagement and dedication of its members.
The Commander’s Day Challenge is an important stepping stone towards the next major event on the cadet calendar, the Annual Field Exercise (AFX), held during the first week of the Term 3 school holidays. The AFX provides cadets with the opportunity to take the skills developed during parade nights, weekend activities and competitions and apply them in a larger field environment alongside cadets from across the region. Whilst this is a camping experience, the AFX focuses on practical training, teamwork and leadership development, with activities including navigation, fieldcraft, first aid, communications, leadership and command, problem-solving, physical challenges and outdoor living.
Congratulations to all members of 431 ACU Sacred Heart!
A wonderful evening of connection, community and all things Hearts at the Mid North Boarding Catch Up
Our 2026 Mid North Boarding Catch Up brought together 72 members of our Sacred Heart boarding community, including Old Collegians, current, past and future families, prospective families and College staff.
It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with old friends, meet new members of the Hearts community and celebrate the wonderful boarding experience Sacred Heart has to offer.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a memorable evening. We loved bringing our Mid North boarding community together and look forward to continuing to strengthen these connections well into the future.
And the boarding catch-ups don’t stop there!
We’re heading to Kangaroo Island later this year for our 2026 KI Boarding Catch Up on Friday 23 October. If you’re part of our KI Hearts community, we’d love to see you there!
RSVP here: https://www.trybooking.com/DNFVN
Arts & Music News
Celebrating our Senior Dance students
Last Thursday, our Stage 1 and 2 Dance students took to the stage for a wonderful evening celebrating the talent and creativity of our senior dancers. The event also marked an important occasion for our Stage 2 dancers as they presented their final Performance Portfolio works, showcasing the dedication, artistry and growth they have demonstrated throughout their dance journey at Sacred Heart.
Our Stage 2 students were joined by the Stage 1 and Year 10 Dance classes, creating a vibrant performance that showcased the talent and enthusiasm developing across our senior Dance program. It was exciting to witness students from different year levels sharing the stage and supporting one another throughout the evening.
Our Year 8 Dance students, together with members of Champagnat Dance Academy, also enjoyed the opportunity to attend the final dress rehearsal of the Senior Dance performance, a wonderful chance to build cross-campus connections, celebrate the thriving Arts programs across the College, and give younger students a first glimpse of the pathways available as they move towards Year 10 and, for the first time, SACE Dance. The experience left many students excited about the possibilities ahead in Dance.
Congratulations to all of our dancers on an outstanding performance. Their energy, commitment and passion made the evening a wonderful celebration of Dance at Sacred Heart College. A sincere thank you also goes to the families, staff and members of our community who attended and supported our dancers.
Champagnat Dance Academy
Dance Academy at Champagnat Campus is a new CEA opportunity this year and runs every Thursday morning from 7.30am–8.50am in the Champagnat Dance Studio. Students from both Year 8 Dance classes and Dance Academy will also take to the stage at the upcoming Hearts Festival on Wednesday 18 November, a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the creativity and talent of our dancers.
Art competition Merit winners on display at 2026 Royal Adelaide Show
Sacred Heart College is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of 16 talented Marcellin students, who have received Merit awards for their work in the Junior Art, Craft and Design and Junior Photography competitions at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show.
Adding to this success, Photography students Jacob B and Indiana P have each been awarded a Special Prize for Best Overall Exhibit in Photography, an exceptional achievement.
The students’ work will be exhibited in the Goyder Pavilion at the Royal Adelaide Show until Sunday 13 September. We encourage members of the Sacred Heart community to visit the exhibition and celebrate the creativity and achievement of our students if attending the Show.
Photography Merit Recipients
Jacob B – First (x2) + Special Prize
Indiana P – First + Special Prize
Fabian L – First (x2)
Nakaisha B – Second
Tia T – Second
Flossy Y – Second
William M – Third
Skyelah P – Third
Lola W – Third
Art, Craft and Design Merit Recipients
Sabrina S – Claywork
Coco P – Craft
Alexia F – Painting
Charli-Rose Sr – Painting
Elena C – Printmaking
Siena D – Sculpture
Eden P – Sculpture
The achievements of these students reflects not only their talent, but also their hard work, creativity, and passion for the arts. Special thanks to Visual Arts teacher, Ms Ewer, and Photography teacher, Ms Melhuish, whose guidance and encouragement have played an integral role in nurturing the creativity and talent of our students. We are incredibly proud of these students and look forward to seeing their continued growth as artists.
2026 Music dates and events
Champagnat Campus (Term 3 2026)
| Week 9 |
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| Week 10 |
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Marcellin Campus (Term 3 2026)
| Week 9 |
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| Week 10 |
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Click here to view the full College calendar of events.
Sports News
Boys Winter Sport wrap-up
This season has seen many teams entered in the Sports Association for Adelaide Schools competition and also the School Sport SA Statewide Knockout Competitions. Sacred Heart entered teams in Basketball, Football, Soccer and Table Tennis and had a highly successful season across most teams.
The season concluded with the 103rd Intercollegiate Round vs Rostrevor. All matches were played with the right spirit highlighting the “Respect outweighs Rivalry” theme.
We thank all our coaches, parents and players for their support throughout the season. Go Hearts.
CEA Statewide Knockout Sports (Champagnat and Marcellin)
Results from the last fortnight of Statewide Knockout Sports are as follows:
Year 7/8 Girls Knockout Soccer
SHC (9) def Tenison Woods College (2)
SHC (6) def Adelaide Botanic High School (1). The team now progresses to the Finals Round.
Open Boys Knockout Basketball (Round 2)
SHC (37) def by PAC (45)
Student Sporting Achievements
Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding sporting achievements, listed below.
| Will Fuller (Year 8) and Brock Harding (Year 8) | Recently competed in the Little League (Intermediate) World Series for Baseball in California, USA. Their team, Adelaide Armada, won the Australian Intermediate Baseball Championships in Lismore, NSW in May, winning the right to represent Australia at the Little League World Series. |
Images below are in order of names listed in the table above.
2026 Sports dates and events
Champagnat Campus (Term 3 2026)
| Week 8 |
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| Week 9 |
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Marcellin Campus (Term 3 2026)
| Week 8 |
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| Week 9 |
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| Week 10 |
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Click here to view Sports Fixtures and Results.
Click here to view the full College calendar of events.