From the Principal
A Prayer for a New School Year
Almighty God
We give you our school.
We give you all the teachers and staff who work here,
We give you all the children who study here.
We pray our school would be place of great discovery, adventure and creativity.
May it be a place where we love to learn and where we learn to love,
A place where every one is respected and all are deeply valued.
We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Venerable Nano Nagle, Pray for us
(A modern prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/family/back_to_school_prayer.html)
As the new school year unfolds, it brings forth a myriad of emotions for each of us.
For some, it may spark feelings of excitement, fascination, and even a sense of adventure, while for others, it might evoke apprehension, trepidation, or even dread. Regardless of the emotions the girls may be experiencing, it is with genuine enthusiasm that the staff and I extend a warm welcome back to each and every young women.
I hope the summer break was rejuvenating, filled with ample rest and lots of fun. As we embark on another exciting academic year, I trust that we are ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead. Every new year brings with it a sense of hope, the opportunity to set fresh goals, and a chance to illuminate past challenges with newfound understanding. It is a time for new beginnings, where the lessons we’ve learned about ourselves and our learning processes can be applied to conquer new academic heights.
Let us tackle this academic year together, with determination and a hunger for knowledge. Let us push the boundaries of our capabilities, explore the depths of our potential, and emerge stronger and wiser with each passing day. Together, let us make 2024 an extraordinary year to remember, filled with wonderful achievements that surpass even our highest expectations.
As Presentation people, we embody the values of welcome, hospitality, and compassion. It is with great joy and sincerity that we extend a warm welcome to all new members joining our community today. A special welcome to our new Year 7 students, the Class of 2029, as well as to new students from Years 8 to 11 and their families who join our Domremy community.
As new parents, I welcome you to our school community! We encourage your active participation in your daughter’s educational journey. Research shows that strong partnerships between schools and parents lead to better student achievements and well-being. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where your daughter’s can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. We look forward to building a strong partnership with you for the benefit of your daughter’s education and personal growth.
The new year has started with great energy and enthusiasm, bringing a sense of calm and positivity throughout the College. Students and staff alike have embraced the year with eagerness, anticipating another remarkable journey ahead. Our Year 7 Welcome, Stage 4 Assessment, Stage 5 Assessment & Year 11 Assessment evenings over the last couple of weeks received a fantastic response from parents, with strong attendance and positive feedback. We are grateful for the affirmations and support we have received from our parent community.
HSC Class of 2023
I am thrilled to highlight the remarkable successes of our 2023 HSC cohort, a group of 105 fine young women whose tenacity and hard work have truly paid off. From this cohort, 86 students received ATARs, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey. Among them, we are proud to announce we had an astounding 85 Band 6 performances and 33 of our students have been recognized as Distinguished Achievers.
Similarly, I am delighted to highlight the outstanding accomplishments of several of our students. Krystal Cheers was named Top Achiever, demonstrating her exceptional dedication and commitment to academic excellence. Moreover, Krystal Cheers and Eva Kolokotsas have been recognized as All Rounders, a testament to their well-rounded abilities and excellent performances across multiple subjects. Additionally, Monique Gatt received a nomination in Encore, while Sabrina Dunn received an ArtExpress nomination, and Carla Coluccio & Emilia Ginardi received nominations in SHAPE. These achievements exemplify the breadth of talent and creativity within our student body.
Furthermore, I am proud to share that our students gained four first places in the Archdiocese of Sydney. Sabrina Dunn excelled in English Extension 2 & Visual Arts, Krystal Cheers in Business Studies, and Eva Kolokotsas in History Extension. These accomplishments are exceptional and reflect the dedication and hard work of our students and teachers alike.
It gives me immense pleasure to announce that Krystal Cheers has been officially declared as the Dux of Domremy College for 2023. Krystal’s extraordinary performance, with an ATAR of 99.65, is a testament to her staunch commitment to academic excellence and serves as an inspiration to us all.
The collective performance by this tremendous group placed Domremy College 103rd in NSW. Their achievement demonstrates the most significant learning growth by far and Domremy’s best result to date with respect to our position in NSW. Congratulations and well done ladies!

In short, these are phenomenal results. As we reflect on the journey that has brought us to this moment, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. The Class of 2023 has distinguished itself not only through academic prowess but also through their relentless commitment to excellence in all endeavours.
Our 2023 College Dux, Krystal, delivered a beautiful address at our whole school High Achievers Assembly this morning, speaking from the heart and imparting valuable and learned experiences to our student body and in particular to the Class of 2024. With her permission her speech has been reproduced later in this Newsletter.
College Leadership Team
Leadership at Domremy is a collaborative and collegial approach that fosters a growth mindset. The College Leadership for 2024 is as follows:
- College Principal – Antoinette McGahan
- Deputy Principal – Matthew Ryan
- Religious Education Coordinator – Jane Sullivan
- Curriculum Coordinator – Alison Galia
- Instructional Specialist – Lucy Silva
- Leader of Learning & Teaching – Kelly Smit
- Leader of Wellbeing – Badya Gabrael
- Business Manager – Lisa Barnsley
Leadership Appointments for 2024
We congratulate the following staff on their appointment to the following positions for 2024:
- Badya Gebrael – Leader of Wellbeing
- Alison Galia – Curriculum Coordinator
- Bridget Malloy – Year Coordinator
- Claudia Carbone – Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Diana Arida & Jade Lynch – HSIE Coordinators (2024)
- Stephanie Ricciuti – TAS Coordinator (2024)
- Sarah Bermingham – VET allocation
- Mark Pangilinan – Maths Coordinator
- Basil Capizzi SCS – HSC Specialist
New and Returning Staff
It is my pleasure to warmly welcome our new staff, recognising that each of them will bring to our community new energy, enthusiasm and a wealth of expertise and experience:
- Connie Abi-Khattar – Learning Support Officer
- Isabella Bechara – HSIE/RE
- Claudia Carbone – –HSIE/RE
- Alison Galia – Science/Maths
- Badya Gabrael – HSIE
- Rebecca Godfrey – Japanese
- Rosalyn O’Halloran – HSIE
- Genevieve Malloy – Learning Support Officer
- Kosta Tsanidis – Maths
- Carol Vassiliou – Administration Officer
All new staff were presented with a lantern symbolising the carrying of Christ’s light forward in our vocation and as Presentation people.
We also welcome back Andrianna Hagios.
2024 College Theme
Our Year 12 Leaders recently unveiled our College Theme for 2024, “In the Fireworks, Find your Flair!”, which encourages each student to embrace their uniqueness and self-expression. This theme celebrates diversity and individuality within our community, likening each person to a firework, with their own distinct qualities to offer.

Just as fireworks symbolise transformation and growth, “In the Fireworks, Find Your Flair” encourages personal growth and self-discovery. It urges students to shine brightly, inspiring others and making a positive impact on the world. By finding their flair, students discover what truly excites and fulfils them, contributing to the joy and celebration within our community. Through this theme, we encourage all students to explore and embrace what inspires them.
On a final note…
We had a beautiful Opening Mass at which we launched our Learning and Wellbeing Framework. This will be the focus of our next Newsletter.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our inaugural Parent Welcome Social Evening next Friday 23 February from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. If you still need to RSVP, please check the Parent Weekly.
It has been wonderful to see many of you at recent school events. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities to meet and collaborate with parents and carers throughout this year, ensuring success in your daughters’ journey at Domremy.
In the coming weeks, we have several exciting events lined up, including the introduction of the SCS Amadeus Music Program for Year 8, the College Swimming Carnival on Friday 1 March, and Open Day on Sunday 10 March.
Open Day is a highlight of our calendar, offering a chance to showcase our school, facilities, and most importantly, our students and staff. Look out for information about Open Day in Compass and The Parent Weekly, with a reminder that Friday 15 March will be a day in lieu for all staff and students.
In the next fortnight, I will be visiting our Feeder Catholic Primary Schools with some of our Senior Student Leaders and Year 8 students as College ambassadors, sharing details about their fabulous experiences here at Domremy.
If you know of family or friends considering a high school education for their daughters, please extend an invitation to them to join us for Open Day. It promises to be an exciting, fun-filled, and memorable day for all who attend.
Blessings on you and your families,
Mrs Antoinette McGahan
College Principal