Principal’s Message
Welcome to our latest College newsletter. I am delighted to be able to celebrate and share with you our latest news and events that have taken place over the last fortnight.
ST URSULA FEAST DAY
Monday 21 October is the feast day of St Ursula. The College community celebrates her feast day earlier during Term 3 so all students including Year 12 can participate. It is timely to remember the remarkable story which inspired a young Italian girl named Angela Merici.
St Ursula was martyred in Cologne because she would not renounce her faith. Angela was inspired by St Ursula and devoted her life to create a new way for women to be in the world in service of God. A woman whose focus was on faith, love and relationships, Angela founded the Company of Ursula in 1535. Her company started with just 28 other women. Today there are Ursuline schools all over the world.
On St Ursula’s Feast Day, I take this opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude our Ursuline sisters who have served this community and the many other Ursuline communities in Australia and abroad. These good women truly know the value of service and continue to do God’s work with gentleness, love and patience.
As we look to the future, to what will be our contribution to the enduring story of St Ursula and St Angela Merici, the feast day of St Ursula is a reminder to our College community that we are committed to the person of Christ; we are a place where the dignity of each person is treasured and where each member of the community is called to courageous leadership, always in the service of others.
UK LITERATURE TOUR
Over the holidays I accompanied 22 students from Years 10 and 11 to the UK for a wonderful immersive trip based on literature. From Wordworth to the Bronte Sisters, from Shakespeare to Jane Austen to Harry Potter, the trip was magical on so many levels. The students were a real credit to the College and to their families. They were a pleasure to travel with and a special shout out to Mrs McCarthy for her organisation of the trip and to Ms Glynatsis.
HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY – 25 OCTOBER
Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers’ Day. On behalf of the College community, I want to thank all our teachers for their professionalism and unwavering dedication. Your hard work ensures that our girls are inspired and empowered to be their best every day.
STUDENT LEADERS RETREAT
Last Thursday and Friday I had the privilege to attend the Senior Student Leadership Retreat along with Ms Sukkar, Mrs Fisher and Ms Martinez. Cultivating our next generation of leaders is a priority at the College and I always look forward to this time away with our leaders. I loved getting to know the students, to hear their ideas and to listen to what they value about our College and the importance they place on giving back to the school through their service and leadership. We are in exceptional hands for 2025.
NEW STAFF
I would like to introduce and warmly welcome two new leaders to our College this term:
Ryan Zammit – Leader of Teaching and Learning Innovation
It is a great privilege to be joining St Ursula’s, a school with a proud tradition of excellence in education and a deep commitment to nurturing the potential of young women. I bring 20 years of experience in education, including 15 years in all-girls Catholic secondary schools. My teaching background covers PDHPE and Religious Education, and I have held leadership roles such as Head of Department, Head of Year, and Leader of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum. I am truly excited to be part of a school renowned not only for its outstanding academic results but also for its holistic approach to empowering young women to lead, serve, and thrive in today’s world. I look forward to contributing to this inspiring and dynamic community.
Nicole Wirth – IB Program Coordinator
I am grateful to be commencing at St Ursula’s at such a pivotal point for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. I am extremely passionate about the philosophy behind the development and delivery of the DP program and the benefits it offers to both students and teachers. I gained a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science Degree at the University of Wollongong and a Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Sydney and began teaching in the Sydney Catholic Schools system 28 years ago. Most recently I have been employed at Caringbah High School as the Head Teacher of TAS for the past 3 years. At Caringbah, I introduced STEM education, coordinated the Duke of Edinburgh award and began the Girls in Engineering initiative. Before this, I taught at MLC School for 16 years where I taught a variety of TAS and VET subjects and began my IB teaching journey in 2011 with Psychology, CAS and as an EE supervisor as part of the Diploma Program. I am excited to advocate for a program I feel teaches students and staff how to be lifelong learners, with an inquisitive and analytical mindset. I hope to see student numbers grow and am looking forward to meeting all the students and families of St Ursula’s.
VALE ELIZABETH ALDERTON
It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my friend, former staff member and ex-student of the College, Elizabeth Alderton, who died this week after a long battle with ovarian cancer. From 2008 to 2015, Liz served as the Religious Education Coordinator. Her preparation of liturgies and retreats continues to be fondly remembered by staff and students. In 2016, she took on the role of Assistant Principal, working closely with the new College Principal, Mary Leask, to ensure a smooth transition during her first year. Liz wholeheartedly embraced the Ursuline way of living and significantly contributed to the College’s strong social justice initiatives. When she left St Ursula’s in 2017 to join the Sydney Catholic Schools office, to pursue her passion for supporting teachers in their professional development, she left behind a well-prepared Religious Education team that benefited greatly from her expertise and professionalism. Liz will be deeply missed.
We continue to keep our Year 12 students in our prayers as they complete their final HSC and International Baccalaureate examinations.
I wish all our families many blessings and thank you for your support.
