Catholic School Culture

 Sacred Heart Primary School is a Catholic school in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy.

Sacred Heart is a distinctly Catholic school within a wider Sacred Heart Parish community. We invite our students and their families to celebrate God’s presence in their daily lives. Our everyday practice is grounded in the good news of the Gospels; God loves us and we are called to love one another. We promote and strive to enact a philosophy grounded in scripture and Catholic tradition.

Catholic schools provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment focused on your child’s wellbeing, achievement, challenge, creativity and enjoyment. Catholic school leaders and teachers are committed to an education that integrates and celebrates faith, learning and life. They provide religious education and opportunities for faith development in communities where prayer and sacramental celebrations are integral to life. Students are encouraged to engage in civic and public life, involving community service and working for social justice.

Religious Education is delivered from Prep-Year Six to all students, with a focus on ‘recontextualisation’ rather than literal belief. This means (very simply) that we encourage our students to consider the spiritual truths in the stories of God and Jesus, and to reflect upon how these truths can relevantly guide and enhance our lives in the 21st Century. The ‘Awakenings’ document informs all R.E in the Ballarat diocese and aims to support students as they explore life experiences within the context of Church teachings and traditions.

Baptised Catholic children in the Sacred Heart Parish have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation during their primary school years. These Parish-based events are supported by the school and connect closely to the school curriculum. Sacramental preparation in a family setting is the most desirable way for children to complete their Christian Initiation; this is based on the following Church teachings:

• The family lies at the heart of Church life
• Parents are the first teachers of their children in all things, including faith
• For the most part, faith is celebrated in a family context Sacraments, as the high point of the celebration of faith, are best expressed as a family celebration.
• We have many opportunities during the school year to come together at Church to celebrate the Eucharist.

Our regular Masses include (but are not limited to) the Beginning of Year Mass, Ash Wednesday, Feast of the Sacred Heart, Catholic Education Week, Grandparents’ Day, NAIDOC Week Mass, Mission Mass, Feast of the Assumption and End of Year Mass. Parents and families are always welcome to join us at these celebrations as well as Year-Level Masses.