Principal’s Message

Welcome to our latest College newsletter. We continue to keep our Year 12 students in our prayers as they complete their final HSC and International Baccalaureate examinations.

Vale Geoff Laidler

The College community is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Geoff Laidler, a cherished and long-serving member of staff. Geoff dedicated 27 years to the HSIE department and served as Year Coordinator until he transitioned to retirement in 2023. Geoff was a wonderful colleague, friend, teacher and mentor. The Requiem Mass for Geoff will be held on Monday, 3 November at 12 pm at OLF Kingsgrove, where many former and current staff, students, alumnae and families will gather to farewell an inspirational educator. Please keep the Laidler family in your thoughts and prayers, especially his wife Pat and their son Christian, during this difficult time. Later in this newsletter, we have included a beautiful reflection written by Mrs Sandra Kasses.

Eternal Rest grant unto Geoff O Lord, Let perpetual light shine upon him, May he rest in peace, Amen.

Welcome to Fr Thu

It is with great joy that we welcome Rev. Thu Nguyen as our new Parish Priest at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Kingsgrove. Father Thu comes to us after faithfully leading the St Francis Xavier Parish, Lurnea, where he served his community for 12 and a half years. His warmth, compassion, and unwavering commitment to his parishioners are a true testament to his vocation. Father Thu’s faith-filled leadership and kind presence will undoubtedly bless our parish community. We warmly welcome him to Kingsgrove and look forward to his pastoral guidance in the years ahead.

Farewell to Amy Bosnich – Leader of Curriculum

Last Friday, we bid farewell to Amy Bosnich, our Leader of Curriculum. I would like to sincerely thank Amy on behalf of St Ursula’s for her outstanding service and leadership over the past seven years. Her contributions have made a lasting impact on our teaching and learning community. Amy is relocating permanently to Port Macquarie, and while we will miss her presence, we wish her every success and happiness in this next chapter.

Ms Claire Moroney will be Acting Leader of Curriculum until the end of the year.

Feast Day of St Ursula’s

Last Tuesday, 21 October, marked the feast day of St Ursula. Although our College community celebrated this occasion earlier in Term 3 to ensure all students—including our Year 12 cohort—could participate, this moment still invites us to pause and reflect on the legacy behind the celebration.

St Ursula’s story, steeped in courage and faith, inspired a young Italian woman named Angela Merici. In 1535, Angela founded the Company of St Ursula in Brescia, dedicating her life to the education and spiritual formation of young women. Her vision was revolutionary for its time, and her commitment continues to shape the values and mission of Ursuline communities around the world.

To deepen this reflection, I’ve included insights from Sr Deirdre O’Sullivan osu, a former Pastoral Care Coordinator and teacher of English and Religious Education. Her words offer a personal and grounded perspective on how the spirit of St Ursula and Angela Merici continues to resonate within our College today.

Angela chose Ursula for the moral stance she took against what she saw as the destructive elements of her time. Also, her faith and prayerfulness, which came naturally to her and the belief in her possibility to effect change. A positive model of ‘Serviam’. She became an inspiration for 16th-century women in Europe. A cathedral is dedicated to her in Cologne.

We are grateful to our Ursuline Sisters for their devoted service to this College and to Ursuline communities across Australia and around the world.

Happy World Teachers’ Day

Today we celebrate World Teachers’ Day with gratitude and pride. On behalf of the entire College community, I extend heartfelt thanks to our teachers for their professionalism, passion, and unwavering dedication. Their tireless efforts inspire and empower our girls to strive for excellence every single day. A special thank you also goes to our Senior Student Leadership team for helping make this day truly memorable.

Ms Vivienne Awad will return to the College next week, and we look forward to hearing the inspiring stories and reflections from her Ursuline pilgrimage.

It has been a great opportunity to be here for three weeks and once again experience the wonderful educational community of St Ursula’s. Whilst there have been many changes to the campus and staff across the years, the spirit of Angela and Serviam is tangible in our students and the staff, with relationships being at the heart of the community. I have loved every minute.

Thank you for your support, and I wish all our families many blessings.