Newsletter / Newsroom - Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College

Important Dates

Thursday 20 August

Year 9 Reflection Day

Tuesday 25 August

College Tour 9:30am

Tuesday 1 September

Dental for Schools

Wednesday 2 September

Year 10 Outdoor Education Bushwalking Camp

Friday 4 September

Student Free Day

Thursday 10 September

Year 7 Walk-a-Mile Event

Friday 11 September

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Feast Day Mass

Friday 11 September

Early Dismissal 12:30pm

Tuesday 15 September

College Tour 9:30am

Wednesday 16 September

Dance Night

Friday 18 September

Year 7 Reflection Day

Wednesday 23 September

Effort Assembly

Thursday 24 September

Year 11 RAA Streetsmart Excursion

Friday 25 September

End of Term 3

Table of Contents

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principal

From the APRIM

Learning in Action

Drama Club Highlights: Creativity and Success

Showcasing Artistic Excellence

Oliphant Science Awards

Sports Update

Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

OLSH College in the Media

Exploring Career Pathways Through Try a Trade

Information and Reminders

From the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students, Staff and Friends of OLSH College,

Last Tuesday 11 August 2026, our OLSH College community had much cause to be proud as we officially opened and blessed the Hartzer Building, new playing field, outside courts, and beautifully landscaped surrounds. The occasion was a significant milestone in the life of the College and was met with an outpouring of positive feedback, with numerous congratulatory messages received from guests, families, alumnae, and friends of OLSH College.

The occasion brought together many special guests, including Archbishop Patrick O'Regan, Fr Selva Raj, former Principals Sr Elaine Troy (1993-1994) who travelled from Sydney for the event and Mrs Joy Bedford (1995-2015), OLSH Sisters, Executive Director of Catholic Education South Australia (CESA), Dr Neil McGoran, Chair of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS), Mr John Neate, Member for Enfield, Laurence Ben, Mayor of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, Claire Boan, alumnae, principal colleagues, benefactors, and friends of the College. Their presence reflected the deep connection that generations of people have with OLSH College and its enduring legacy.

The ceremony provided an opportunity not only to celebrate these outstanding new facilities, but also to reflect on the rich history and enduring legacy of those who have shaped our College community over the past 75 years. Drawing on the inspiring words of Standing on the Shoulders, we recognised that this achievement is possible because of the vision, faith, courage, and dedication of those who came before us.

We honoured the legacy of Fr Jules Chevalier, founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and Mother Marie Louise Hartzer, whose leadership and unwavering faith helped establish a mission that continues to transform lives through education. We also acknowledged the pioneering OLSH Sisters who arrived in South Australia in 1947 and laid the foundations for what would become a thriving educational community.

Since welcoming its first secondary students in 1951, OLSH College has remained committed to forming girls and young women who are known, valued, and loved. Our new facilities represent far more than bricks and mortar; they are an investment in future generations and a visible sign of confidence in the future of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College.

As we celebrated this historic occasion, we did so with deep gratitude for our founders, the OLSH Sisters, staff, families, alumnae, benefactors, and all who have contributed to the College’s story. Together, we remain committed to honouring their legacy and ensuring that the spirit and mission of OLSH College continues to flourish for generations to come.

The official opening of the Hartzer Building prompted many messages of congratulations and appreciation from guests, alumnae and members of the wider community:

“What a fabulous event. Your choir is very good!”
“Thank you for inviting me today. It was a truly delightful occasion, a triumph of organisation, music and celebration. The students were outstanding, and I found the experience quite moving.”
“The Hartzer Building represents far more than the completion of a physical space. It stands as a lasting investment in the future, supporting learning, connection, innovation and opportunity for generations to come. The care, thought and dedication evident throughout the building are a testament to everyone who contributed to making this achievement a reality.”
“The experience of the College spirit was so uplifting. The address demonstrated exactly what the College stands for and, in its 75th year, staff and students have every reason to be proud of their College. May the College continue to be blessed in the years ahead.”
“It was a lovely event, the building is looking great, and the students did everyone proud.”

Terms 2 and 3 Winter Saturday Morning Sport

What a good season of Saturday Morning Sport! We congratulate all our students, coaches, and families for the energy, commitment, and team spirit they brought throughout Terms 2 and 3. Win, lose, or draw, our teams represented OLSH College with pride, determination, and sportsmanship. Their enthusiasm, resilience, and support of one another have been a wonderful reflection of our College community. Thank you to everyone who played, coached, supported, and cheered from the sidelines. Together, you have made this season one to celebrate!

Enrolments

A reminder to our current OLSH College families who have a daughter in Year 6, 5, or 4 please ensure you have an application in our system if you wish for your daughter to start in Year 7, 2027, 2028, or 2029 respectively. If you need assistance in this area, kindly email our Registrar Mrs Benita Bailey, at [email protected] or apply online.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Everywhere Loved,

Maria Urbano
Principal

Tue 18 Aug

From the Deputy Principal

Leadership Beyond the Badge

As we begin the nomination process for the 2027 Student Leadership Team, it is always encouraging to see so many Year 10 and 11 girls aspiring to leadership. Often, when students think about leadership, they picture organising carnivals, leading assemblies, or running College events. While these are important aspects of the role, they represent only the visible side of leadership.

True leadership is built on the qualities that strengthen and enrich a community. It is found in the girl who reaches out to a classmate who is struggling. It is demonstrated by those who have the courage to speak up when actions or behaviour do not reflect the OLSH spirit, or to make a conscious decision to make positive choices. It is evident in the girls who willingly give their time in service of others, not for recognition or accolades, but because they genuinely want to make their community a better place.

I have the privilege of witnessing these qualities firsthand through my work with the 2026 Student Leadership Team. While each of the 14 young women bring different strengths, ideas, personalities and talents, they share a common purpose: a commitment to leaving a legacy that makes our community stronger than it was at the beginning of the year.

This commitment is reflected in many ways. Whether through social justice initiatives that positively impact the wider community, events that bring staff and students together, or simple acts of kindness that make a difference to an individual, our leaders are helping to shape a community of which we can all be proud.

Leadership is not always easy. To create meaningful change, leaders must be committed, courageous and visionary. They must be willing to work hard, persevere through challenges, and remain focused on what matters most. Above all, great leaders understand that meaningful achievements are rarely accomplished alone. They work collaboratively, drawing on the strengths of others to bring shared visions to life.

These qualities were witnessed by many guests during the recent Blessing and Opening of the Hartzer Building. Our student leaders welcomed guests with warmth, confidence and professionalism, ensuring that visitors felt a genuine sense of belonging. The same spirit has been displayed through their enthusiastic participation in the CESA Student Leadership Program, where they have generously shared ideas and embraced every opportunity to learn and contribute.

There are many OLSHies, not in Leadership positions, that demonstrate a warmth of welcome felt by guests to the College in events such as the Blessing and Opening of the Hartzer Building, College Tours, and Excursions. This emphasises that leadership is not defined by a badge or title. Every girl has the capacity to lead through her actions, choices and relationships with others. Living with purpose, kindness, service and intention is the foundation of authentic leadership and the first step on any leadership journey.

As nominations open for the 2027 Student Leadership Team, I encourage all OLSHies to reflect on the type of leader they aspire to be. Leadership begins long before a position is awarded. It begins with the everyday decision to positively influence the lives of others and contribute to a community where everyone can flourish.

Sonia Venour
Acting Deputy Principal

Tue 18 Aug

From the APRIM

Can AI be a pathway to the Divine?

A few weeks ago, I was sent a video music clip by a friend, someone approaching 60, who had long distanced himself from the Catholic faith in which he was raised. Like many, life has had a way of humbling him, bringing him, metaphorically, to his knees. In recent years, he has become more open to the presence of believing in God. He sent the clip above with a simple message: “This brought me to tears.” Having watched it myself, I can say it had a strikingly similar impact on me. I sent it to another friend of mine who commented “Brilliant, it’s like Moses had walked in off the street”

Click to watch:

What makes this even more fascinating is that the song, the voice and the editing appear to be generated by artificial intelligence. And yet, despite not being created by a human artist in the traditional sense, it carries a deeply human and spiritual resonance. AI systems are trained on vast collections of human-created text, music, and imagery. They learn patterns, structures, and emotional tones, and then generate new content by predicting what should come next in a sequence. Despite this, even AI-produced works are built upon the foundations of human creativity and experience, without which, AI would have nothing to draw upon.

Tue 18 Aug

Learning in Action

Year 8 Vietnamese - From the Classroom to the Kitchen

Year 8 Vietnamese students recently took their learning beyond the classroom through an exciting excursion to Thuan Phat Supermarket, followed by a hands-on Vietnamese cooking session at school.

As part of the At an Asian Grocery unit, students worked in groups to choose a Vietnamese dish, research the ingredients, write their recipes in Vietnamese and prepare shopping lists. At Thuan Phat Supermarket, students put their language skills into practice by locating ingredients, reading Vietnamese labels, and communicating with shop assistants in Vietnamese. This provided an authentic opportunity for students to develop their confidence in speaking and listening while connecting with the local Vietnamese community.

Tue 18 Aug

Drama Club Highlights: Creativity and Success

Success in the Co-Curricular Drama Club

After completing a number of film projects, Drama Club members recently turned their attention to developing their scenic painting skills, while waiting with bated breath for the announcement of next year’s musical!

Bich-Ngan (Nikita) (11 Hildegard) has been actively involved in all activities. She recently took the initiative to apply for, and has subsequently invited to join, the 2026 Adelaide Film Festival Youth Jury, which will determine the winners of the 2026 Statewide Filmmaking Competition.

Tue 18 Aug

Showcasing Artistic Excellence

ASAP Exhibition, SALA & Exhibiting work in Port Adelaide

The SALA Festival provides a wonderful platform for our students to showcase their creativity, talent, and artistic excellence. This year, 20 OLSH students from Years 9 to 12 from both Creative Arts and Visual Arts had work selected to exhibit in the annual ASAP (Australian Schools Art Prize) Exhibition as part of the SALAL Festival.

All pieces selected reflect the dedication, creativity, and technical skill of our young artists. The exhibition highlights some of the finest student artwork from across South Australia, and we are incredibly proud to see such strong representation from OLSH College.

Adding to this exciting success, OLSH College has been invited to participate in a further exhibition opportunity. Following the ASAP Exhibition, OLSH student artworks have been chosen, alongside works from one other school, to be displayed at the Port Adelaide Information Centre, which has been temporarily relocated to 171 St Vincent St. This exhibition will open on 5 September and will provide an additional opportunity for the wider community to experience and celebrate the creativity of our students.

Tue 18 Aug

Oliphant Science Awards

Oliphant Science Awards

A big congratulations to our 10 entrants in the Oliphant Science Awards which were judged at Science Alive. While the calibre of entries was incredibly high, Emily managed to take home both a Highly Commended and Rowe Scientific award for her dynamic Spriggina model! What a fantastic achievement! While our other student's entries didn't place, they still showed the academic and scientific prowess of our OLSHies and we are all very proud of them.

Robyn Clifford
Leader of Teaching and Learning

Tue 18 Aug

Sports Update

At OLSH College, the heart of our Co-curricular Sport program is participation. We believe that success is not defined by elite athleticism, a flawless winning record, or a top spot on the ladder. Instead, our focus is on encouraging students to get involved, fostering a culture of commitment, and nurturing essential skills. Through sport, our students learn to demonstrate leadership, build strong team bonds, and improve their overall well-being and self-worth. When our teams compete with these values, they can hold their heads high, knowing they have achieved the true accomplishments of team sports.

With all that being said and although there were no premierships this winter season, there were a number of teams that did very well and came close to the top prize.

Congratulations to our Open and Year 9 Netball teams on an outstanding season! Both squads demonstrated incredible skill and determination to secure hard-fought semi-final places. A special mention goes to the Open team for claiming 3rd place overall, and to our Year 9 team for finishing an impressive 4th. We extend our sincere gratitude to the players and their families for their exceptional commitment. Travelling to distant venues like Sacred Heart, St Michael's, Cabra, St Ignatius, and Mercedes College required some very early mornings. Thank you to the girls for your effort on the court, and to the parents for your dedicated support on the sidelines.

Our Badminton season was a resounding success, with four out of our five teams advancing to the semi-finals. Congratulations to Senior OLSH 1 (A Grade) and Senior OLSH 3, who both secured impressive fourth-place finishes in their respective competitions. The Middle OLSH Gold team wrapped up a fantastic season and clinched third place. Finally, a special mention goes to the Middle OLSH Navy team, our sole grand finalists. After dominating the league ladder all season, they narrowly missed the title by just two points in a thrilling grand final. It was an incredible effort, and the girls should be immensely proud to finish as runners-up.

Quin Scacchitti
Saturday Sport Co-ordinator

Tue 18 Aug

Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

🌸 Invitation 🌸

On Friday, 11 September 2026, the OLSH College community will gather for one of the most cherished and significant traditions in our College calendar, the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, affectionately known as the Babies Mass.

We warmly invite families who have welcomed a new baby or young child into their lives, or who have a small child who has not yet been presented to our College community, to join us for this special celebration of life, family, and faith.

❤️ A Special Blessing for Our Youngest Community Members ❤️

During the Mass, each child will be presented to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and receive a special blessing as we officially welcome them into the OLSH family. It is always a beautiful and memorable occasion as we celebrate the newest members of our community together.

Event Details

🗓️ Friday, 11 September 2026
🕘 Please arrive by 9:15am, for 9:30am Mass
📍 Sacre Coeur Centre, Hartzer Building
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College (enter via Corralyn Tce)

This long-standing OLSH tradition provides a wonderful opportunity for families, staff, students, and friends to come together and celebrate the values that are at the heart of our community.

RSVP

If you would like your baby or young child to be presented during the Mass, please complete and return the letter that has been sent home with students or contact [email protected] by Friday, 4 September 2026.

We would be delighted to share this special moment with you and your family as we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and welcome our youngest members into the OLSH community.

All are welcome. We look forward to celebrating with you.

Tue 18 Aug

OLSH College in the Media

Girls Who Dream Change the World: The Southern Cross

What does it take to become Australia's first female astronaut? According to Dr Katherine Bennell-Pegg, it starts with a dream, determination, and the courage to persevere when the path is not straightforward.

We were proud to host students from girls' schools across Adelaide at OLSH College for the International Coalition of Girls Schools event, Unstoppable Girls: Girls Who Dream Change the World. During the event, Dr Bennell-Pegg shared her inspiring journey and encouraged students to pursue ambitious goals and embrace opportunities in STEM and beyond.

The event was featured in The Southern Cross, highlighting the powerful message that today's students could be tomorrow's pioneers, innovators, and changemakers. Read more

Catholic Schools Open Week: The Advertiser

At OLSH College, a letter can be much more than words on a page. For students, it is an opportunity to capture hopes, goals and aspirations, creating a lasting connection between who they are today and who they hope to become in the future. This tradition was recently featured in the Catholic Schools Magazine in The Advertiser during Catholic Schools Open Week. It also highlighted the inspiring journey of OLSH alumna Flying Officer Kbora Ali, who continues to write letters as a way of setting intentions and pursuing her goals. Kbora's remarkable story is also the subject of her newly published book, First of Her Kind, which shares her journey from refugee to Australian Air Force officer. Read more

Tue 18 Aug

Exploring Career Pathways Through Try a Trade

Short courses and Try a Trade programs provide students with valuable opportunities to explore career pathways, develop practical skills, and gain firsthand experience in different industries. These experiences allow our girls to test potential careers before making decisions about their future study and employment pathways.

Recently, one of our Year 11 students participated in a three-day TAFE SA Try a Trade course, gaining practical experience in bricklaying, carpentry, and tiling. Read about Anneka's experience below and how the program helped shape her future career goals.

"As part of my studies in Workplace Practices, I have explored a range of careers of interest to me. While I had considered a university pathway, I realised that TAFE or a trade could be an exciting option that aligns with my interests, skills, and strengths.
After researching career pathways and seeking advice from community experts, my Workplace Practices teacher, and the Flexible Learning Pathways Coordinator, I chose to undertake a three-day Try a Trade course to explore different trades and broaden my future career options. Before attending, I thought I would be the only girl; however, it was motivating to see other girls there.
During the course, I tried bricklaying, carpentry, and tiling. I love working with my hands, and carpentry was my favourite activity. This experience has inspired me to pursue carpentry as a career.
I'm glad I took the risk and enrolled in this course because it showed me that girls can do anything they put their minds to and do not need to be limited by stereotypes." Anneka (11 Hildegard)

Anneka's experience is a wonderful example of our motto, "You can't be what you can't see." By providing opportunities for our girls to explore a range of industries and career pathways, we help them discover possibilities they may never have considered. Through hands-on experiences such as Try a Trade, students gain confidence, challenge stereotypes, and make informed decisions about futures that align with their interests, strengths, and aspirations.

Rose Cecere

Flexible Learning Pathways Coordinator

Tue 18 Aug

Information and Reminders

Fri 21 Aug

Tue 18 Aug

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College is located on Kaurna Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and recognise their enduring cultural, spiritual and historical connection to Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

496 Regency Road, Enfield, South Australia 5085

+61 8 8269 8800 | [email protected]

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principal

From the APRIM

Learning in Action

Drama Club Highlights: Creativity and Success

Showcasing Artistic Excellence

Oliphant Science Awards

Sports Update

Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Event Details

RSVP

OLSH College in the Media

Exploring Career Pathways Through Try a Trade

Information and Reminders