History:
Sacred Heart Parish School was established by the Presentation Sisters in 1912 and was under their direction for 70 years. In 1989, the first lay principal was appointed.
While the community regretted the passing of the involvement of the Presentation Sisters, the dedicated group of lay teachers continues to look after the children in their care, striving to provide a warm community atmosphere and a caring pastoral approach, well supported by the parish priest, Fr Frank O’Loughlin.
Description:
Sacred Heart School caters to approximately 240 children. It is situated on the corner of Sandringham Road and Fernhill Road North, Sandringham, close to Port Phillip Bay, within walking distance of the beach, the shopping centre and the railway station. The school has well-maintained facilities and grounds, 12 separate classroom areas, a library, an MSL intervention room, an Arts studio, an Outdoor Learning Area – a hall, a large multipurpose facility and meeting rooms available for parish and school use. Sacred Heart also offers Before & After school care, STEM, running, art, and gardening clubs before school for students in Yrs 3–6, and extra-curricular music lessons.
Features:
Sacred Heart School offers a broad inquiry-based curriculum, with particular emphasis on the importance of a well-structured Religious Education program from Prep to Year 6. The Victorian Curriculum is implemented throughout all the Learning Areas and Capabilities, thus providing a holistic, comprehensive education for students.
The school curriculum embraces the Catholic social teachings as well as the gospel values of love, honesty, justice and compassion and is well supported by co-curricular programs, such as Religious Education, a whole-school literature-based program – Cafe/Daily 5, 1:1 iPad program from Foundation – Yr 6, Japanese, Physical Education and Sport, Visual & Preforming Arts, a Student Welfare Support Group, a gymnastics program, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, interschool sport, a secondary school transition program, a Year 6 Caritas leadership program, local community interaction, and an assessment and reporting policy which brings together many other disciplines and aspects of life.
Facilities that support these programs include an art studio, modern well-equipped computerised resource centres and classrooms, excellently maintained facilities and grounds, church and parish hall, multipurpose hall, boardroom and meeting rooms, a new and extensive adventure playground, oval and most importantly, a caring and supportive staff and an active parent and parish community.