SURSUM CORDA | LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
The Sacred Heart Difference
At Sacred Heart, student engagement is at the centre of how we support every child to learn, grow and flourish.
Guided by the MACS Vision for Engagement, our multidisciplinary Student Engagement team takes a proactive, whole-school approach to ensuring every student feels safe, connected and confident in their learning.
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Our team brings together specialised expertise across the key pillars of student engagement – Learning Diversity, Wellbeing, the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative, Learning Behaviour and Cyber Safety. This collaborative approach is recognised as leading practice, creating a cohesive support system where every child is known, understood and equipped to thrive.
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By drawing on the strengths of each discipline, we ensure students are not only cared for, but genuinely set up for success – academically, socially and emotionally – and prepared with the skills, confidence and resilience they need for the future.
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Our Student Engagement Team
Student Engagement Leader – Learning Diversity – Mrs Claudia Neale
Student Engagement – Wellbeing – Ms Kerry Neilson
Student Engagement – Learning Behaviour & MHiPS – Ms Mel Roberts
LEARNING DIVERSITY
At Sacred Heart, student engagement begins with understanding how each child learns. Every learner is different - and that diversity is something we value and celebrate. Our dedicated Learning Diversity Team, led by Mrs Claudia Neale, works alongside other staff, classroom teachers and families to understand each child’s strengths, needs and learning style, ensuring they can participate fully and feel confident and successful at school. A Strength-Based Approach Learning Diversity isn’t about identifying deficits - it’s about recognising that students think, learn and process information in different ways and ensuring our teaching meets their needs. Some students may benefit from extra support, others from extension, and many simply need strategies that align with their individual learning style. By understanding this, we can make learning purposeful, achievable and engaging for every child. Comprehensive Support, All In One Place Sacred Heart is proud to offer in-house screening and support services that many other schools outsource. This means students can receive tailored support quickly, without long waits or needing to leave the school day. • Early screening to identify strengths and needs • Targeted intervention to build skills and confidence • Extension opportunities for advanced learners • Individualised plans co-designed with families • Onsite allied health collaboration - speech, OT and psychology professionals are welcome to work in our dedicated support spaces This coordinated approach enhances engagement, strengthens learning and supports student wellbeing. Setting Every Child Up for Success When students experience learning that matches their readiness and strengths, they feel: • A strong sense of belonging • Increased confidence and independence • Higher motivation and engagement • Greater emotional regulation • A deeper connection to their teachers and peers This sits at the heart of our broader engagement approach - complementing Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL), Team Teach, wellbeing initiatives and our cyber safety program. An Inclusive Environment Where Every Child Thrives We are proud of our commitment to Learning Diversity. By combining early identification, personalised support and positive partnerships with families, we create an environment where every child feels valued and capable - academically, socially and emotionally. At Sacred Heart, every learner is supported to flourish in their own unique way.
STUDENT WELLBEING
At Sacred Heart, student wellbeing is central to learning and engagement. We are committed to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where every child can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Our approach, led by Ms Kerry Neilson, Wellbeing Leader, integrates several evidence-based frameworks and initiatives: • Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL): A whole-school approach that sets clear behavioural expectations, fosters positive relationships, and explicitly teaches social and emotional skills. • Social Emotional Learning (SEL)/Open Parachute: Programs that build resilience, self-awareness, empathy, and collaborative skills, helping students navigate challenges and develop strong interpersonal relationships. • Team Teach: A proactive behaviour support strategy that equips staff with the skills to manage challenging situations calmly and positively, maintaining safety and trust across the school community. • Respectful Relationships Lead School: Sacred Heart is recognised as a lead school in the Respectful Relationships initiative, modelling and promoting respectful interactions and gender equity across all aspects of school life. Through this integrated approach, our students experience a consistent and positive school culture that supports mental health, encourages engagement, and empowers them to be confident, capable learners and citizens.
LEARNING BEHAVIOUR
At Sacred Heart, learning behaviour is central to student engagement. We focus on developing the skills, habits, and mindset that enable students to take ownership of their learning, stay focused, and persist through challenges - skills that will serve them not just at school, but throughout life. Our approach, led by Ms Mel Roberts, Learning Behaviour Leader, combines Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL), classroom routines, and targeted support strategies to promote consistent, positive learning behaviours across all year levels. Students are guided to understand expectations, make responsible choices, and reflect on their own learning, helping them become independent, motivated and resilient learners. By fostering strong learning behaviours, Sacred Heart creates an environment where students are equipped to thrive academically, socially and emotionally, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and success.
MHIPs
At Sacred Heart, supporting students’ mental health is a key part of ensuring they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Our Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHIPs) program supports students to develop resilience, emotional regulation and effective coping strategies, helping them feel safe, supported and ready to learn. To deliver and oversee the MHIPs program, Sacred Heart has a dedicated Mental Health & Learning Behaviour Leader, Ms Mel Roberts, who works closely with teachers to build capacity in early identification, prevention and intervention to support student mental health. MHIPs is a statewide initiative funded by the Victorian Government and delivered in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The program strengthens whole-school wellbeing structures, ensuring evidence-based mental health strategies are embedded across classroom practice and school culture. By prioritising mental health, Sacred Heart supports students to build confidence, maintain positive relationships and engage fully in their learning.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
At Sacred Heart, student leadership is an important part of our Education Excellence framework. It develops confidence, responsibility, collaboration and community-mindedness while giving students a meaningful voice in shaping their school environment. • Junior School - Foundation-Year 2: Each term, every junior class selects two class leaders, introducing students to leadership responsibilities and fostering confidence and a sense of contribution within their classroom. • Middle School - Years 3/4: Students select two class leaders each semester through speeches and a class vote, helping them develop public speaking, decision-making, and peer engagement skills. • Senior School - Year 5/6: Two Year 6 students are elected as School Leaders for the year via a transparent process that reflects the voice of both students and staff. Leadership positions are awarded on merit, ensuring every student is recognised fairly based on character, leadership qualities and the confidence placed in them by the community. Class Leaders are announced at Assembly and presented with a badge to wear for their term or semester of leadership. House Leaders Three House Leaders are elected each year to represent our school houses: MacKillop (Red), Bunjil (Blue), and Cordner (Green). These leaders help foster school spirit, teamwork and house-based initiatives. Action Teams All Year 6 students also participate in Student Action Teams, giving each child a meaningful leadership role. While teams have one named leader, all members contribute to planning, decision-making, service projects, and activities that strengthen school life and community spirit. • Engagement Team: Promotes a positive, happy, and inclusive school environment through events, competitions, and fundraisers. • Excellence Team: Celebrates and models school values, recognising examples of academic, effort, and behavioural excellence. • Community Team: Raises awareness of social justice issues, honours Indigenous culture, and promotes equity and inclusivity within the school and wider community. Leadership at Sacred Heart is designed to ensure every student matters, every voice matters. By participating, students grow in confidence, develop important life skills, and make a positive impact on their peers and the wider school community.
CYBER SAFETY
At Sacred Heart, we prioritise equipping students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Our proactive cyber safety program empowers students to understand the risks and opportunities online, develop critical thinking around digital content, and make responsible choices when using technology. Through curriculum-based learning, workshops and school-wide initiatives, students gain practical strategies for protecting themselves and others online. They also build resilience and digital citizenship skills that extend beyond the classroom - essential for life now and in secondary school. By embedding cyber safety into our broader student engagement framework, Sacred Heart ensures that every child can explore, create and communicate online in a safe, confident and informed way, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of a connected world.
TRANSITION PROGRAMS
We welcome new students at all year levels at Sacred Heart and have many programs to support smooth transitions. Foundation (Prep) students benefit from our: • FUNdamentals for Foundation program: An optional 6-week orientation program run in Terms 3 & 4 for preschool-age children commencing the following year. • Orientation Program: A formal 4-week program run in November and December where students meet their teacher and Buddies. • Small group school commencement: For a calm and supported start. • Buddy program: Paired with a Year 5 student to support transition and connection. • Daily brain food: Provided at 10am each day.
PARENTS AS PARTNERS
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENT At Sacred Heart, student engagement sits at the heart of our approach to learning, wellbeing and behaviour. Families choose our school for our commitment to excellence, strong values and high expectations - and for our collaborative approach to caring for and nurturing each child. We know that students thrive when there is mutual respect, clear communication, and shared responsibility for learning and behaviour. By enrolling at Sacred Heart, families agree to work in partnership with the school to support every child’s engagement, growth and success. Our Approach We work closely with parents to support students socially, emotionally and academically. When additional support is needed, we focus on gaining understanding. We: • Contact parents promptly to discuss strategies and collaborate on solutions. • Use a restorative approach to help students understand their choices and develop positive behaviours. • Ensure consistent understanding and communication between home and school. Our Commitment to Families • We will: Communicate openly, honestly and respectfully about your child’s progress and any concerns. • We will: Provide clear expectations for behaviour and learning. • We will: Involve families early if additional support is needed, including meetings to develop support plans and gain understanding of the student’s needs. Family Commitment • Families will: Support the school’s Code of Conduct. • Families will: Engage in constructive communication and attend meetings when requested. • Families will: Reinforce the school’s behavioural and learning expectations at home. • Families will: Act promptly if the school requests a child to be collected immediately due to safety or wellbeing concerns. By working together, we create a safe, supportive and positive learning environment where all students can flourish. Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education.
