Principal’s Message

Dear St Ursula’s community

Welcome back to Term 2. The term began with beloved community celebrations such as Girls Night In and Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast. We look forward to our wonderful College musical, Roald Dahl’s Matilda JR! This term promises to be inspiring, creative and engaging for all.

🕊️ In Memoriam: Pope Francis (1936–2025)

It is with profound sadness that we mark the passing of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025. As the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church, his papacy was deeply shaped by the principles of St Ignatius of Loyola, particularly the Ignatian spirit of discernment.

A Legacy of Faith and Justice

Pope Francis will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to compassion, humility, and service. His ability to listen deeply, reflect thoughtfully, and act decisively left a lasting imprint on the global Catholic community. Through his leadership, he championed:

A “Church of the poor”, urging Catholics to serve the marginalised and vulnerable.
Environmental stewardship, most notably through his encyclical Laudato Si’, which called for moral responsibility in addressing climate change.
Interfaith dialogue, fostering peace and mutual understanding among diverse religious communities.

A Papacy That Redefined the Church

Pope Francis redefined the role of the Church in the modern world—making it more inclusive, accessible, and engaged. His leadership was not only pastoral but prophetic, calling the faithful to live out the Gospel through action, justice, and mercy.

As we reflect on his remarkable papacy, we give thanks for his enduring wisdom and the path he has paved for future generations. May his legacy continue to inspire a Church that listens, discerns, and serves with love.

Pope Leo XIV

We have warmly welcomed our new leader of the Catholic Church with the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th pontiff. His election marks a significant moment in history, as he becomes the first American-born pope. His choice of the name Leo XIV pays homage to Pope Leo XIII, a leader renowned for his contributions to Catholic social teaching and his advocacy for workers’ rights.

In his first address as Pope, Leo XIV emphasized the importance of humility in leadership, the responsibility of spreading Christianity, and the need for unity and peace in a divided world. As Pope Leo XIV embarks on his papacy, his leadership is anticipated to bring renewed focus on faith, unity, and service to communities worldwide. His deep understanding of global cultures, his commitment to justice, and his pastoral experience position him as a bridge-builder in a time of change. We keep Pope Leo, our Good Shepherd in our prayers as he guides and sustains our Church.

Purposeful Use of Technology

On Day 1 of term 2, the whole staff engaged in a professional learning day focussed on Wellbeing. One of our speakers for the day was Dr. Danielle Einstein who is a clinical psychologist and researcher. She presented staff with a range of data on social media use and its impact on wellbeing. Danielle Einstein is assisting us with a community consultation into technology use and how we can be more purposeful with its use in the future. Thanks to parents, staff and students who have volunteered to be part of our Working Parties. Our first meeting with Danielle will be on 12 June and we will update you on the process afterwards.

Girls Night In

This year’s Girls Night In was an extraordinary success, setting the tone for an inspiring Term 2. Our senior students went above and beyond to ensure that this much-anticipated event on the College calendar was more than just a night of fun and connection, but also about raising both awareness and funds to support women’s cancer research and initiatives. With 55 vibrant stalls, our student creativity and generosity shone through demonstrating Serviam in Action. The stalls sold everything from baked goods, sweets and jewellery to beautifully crafted cards and hand-knit items. The energy and generosity of our community was truly remarkable, and thanks to everyone’s efforts we are thrilled to announce that we raised $21,675. For a full recap of the evening, be sure to check out the detailed report in this newsletter.

Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast

The Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast was a truly heartwarming celebration! It was beautiful to see so many mothers, grandmothers and mother figures gathering in Our Lady of Fatima Church to celebrate the Eucharist with their daughters and granddaughters. A highlight of the Mass was hearing our two co-captains’ mothers Loubna Fadel and Nikki Suters-Sly reflect on the profound meaning of motherhood.

Following the Mass, we enjoyed a delightful breakfast in Merici, where students and their mothers embraced the opportunity to capture special moments through photos and the atmosphere was filled with warmth, gratitude, and a strong sense of community—a perfect way to honour the incredible women in our lives.

St Ursula’s Parents Association (SUPA) Meeting

Our SUPA meeting on Thursday 15 May was well attended. The College Leadership Team provided parents with updates on Teaching and Learning, community events and new initiatives such as the Year 11 Empower Study Skills Program. We were able to consult and receive feedback from our parents on our upcoming Inquiry and Review Process and our SUPA Committee provided updates on upcoming events: Mother Daughter Movie Night on 28 May, Gala Parent Dinner on 30 August and Father Daughter Bowling Night on 11 September.

Enrolments for 2027

Last week, the College Leadership Team and Middle Leaders conducted enrolment interviews for Year 7 2027. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet prospective families as well as our current families. If you have a daughter for our Year 7 2027 intake and you have not yet placed an Application for Enrolment Form, I encourage you to prioritise this as soon as possible.

Upgrade to facilities

Lastly, we are excited to announce that our Student Amenities Block near the Canteen is being refurbished. The builders will begin the task from the end of next week and it will take approximately ten weeks to complete. We have also installed new seating at the front of the school and cold water refill stations will be installed next Monday. The students were very excited when these upgrades were shown to them at the last assembly. I cannot wait to see their excitement once the Amenities Block is complete. It will be beautiful.

Many blessings to you all.