Principal’s Message
Welcome to the start of the 2026 school year.
A special welcome to our new students and families who have joined St Ursula’s College this year. We are thrilled to have you as part of our vibrant school community and we can’t wait for you to experience all that the College has to offer. We are also welcoming new staff to our College. Later in this newsletter you will find an introduction to each of them.
Pope Leo has declared 2026 as the year of St Francis to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. We are encouraged to follow the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, and become a “model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.” Pope Leo XIV said the example of St Francis was needed now more than ever in our troubled world. Helping our students recognise the importance of peace and seeking peaceful conversations in their relationships at school and at home is a valuable life lesson and one way of giving witness to the Year of St Francis.
It has been a busy start to our new school year with events such as the Year 7 Meet and Greet Evening, Student Leaders College Theme Launch, High Achievers Assembly, Swimming Carnival and our College Opening Mass. Please enjoy reading about these events in this newsletter.
Year 7 Meet and Greet Evening
We thoroughly enjoyed meeting our new families at our Year 7 Meet and Greet evening. Thank you to St Ursula’s Parent Association representatives – A special thanks to Peter Shori, Theresa Shafik, Sabean Chalhoub and Deborah Cheung for setting up and cooking the BBQ for our families. This allowed our new families to meet and get to know each other before heading off to meet their daughter’s Pastoral Care teachers.
College Theme Launch
Congratulations to our student leaders on their successful theme launch. The theme for 2026 is “Set Sail in Sisterhood” and you can read more about this theme in this edition.
High Achievers Assembly
On 4 February we celebrated our annual High Achievers Assembly and the outstanding success of the Class of 2025 in both the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Higher School Certificate (HSC). It was a delight to have so many family members and friends join us to celebrate the wonderful achievements of our high achievers. In this edition you will find a more comprehensive report on this event. Stephanie Paino attained the highest ATAR of 99.25. She inspired the students with her achievement as well as her words of wisdom. Here is a copy of her speech.
Opening Mass
It was wonderful to be able to gather as a whole school community once again at St Mary’s Cathedral for our Opening Mass last week. Thanks to parents who came along. We were delighted to have Bishop Danny Meagher preside over Mass and a special thanks to Mrs Nader, Mrs Katacos, Ms Josifovski, Ms Hong and the students involved for their leadership of a beautiful liturgy. More details in this edition.
St Ursula’s Parent Association (SUPA)
Our first SUPA meeting for 2026 is on Thursday 19 February at 6:00 pm at the College. All parents are invited to come along and find out more. We will be seeking two to three Year 7 parents to join SUPA as Year group representatives. SUPA is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow parents and the College Leadership Team, and contribute to the College community.
