Principal’s Message

Welcome to our end of Term 2 College newsletter, highlighting many significant events our community has celebrated recently.

Matilda JR

Our highly anticipated 2025 College Musical “Matilda JR” was a resounding success with audiences wowed by the talent and professionalism of our actors, singers, dancers and musicians. The sell-out production not only showcased the talents of our performers but of all the students working behind the scenes, whether it be in set design, hair and make-up, backstage, lighting and sound, front of house or hospitality. We are extremely proud of all students involved. The production would not have been possible without the wonderful staff who dedicated their time and efforts into putting it all together. Thank you to everyone who came along to watch the performance.

Please click here to view a highlights reel of this wonderful production.

Winter Sleepout

Congratulations to the students involved in the Vinnies Winter Sleepout Appeal. Our generous community raised an incredible $24,000 approximately for this worthy cause. The students spent the evening engaged in activities and listening to speakers to raise awareness on the number of people in Sydney sleeping rough. A special thank you to our Outreach and Service Co-ordinator, Mrs Antoinette Nader, for organising this event and to all the staff who assisted to make this event possible.

Year 11 Empower Retreat

Our recent Year 11 Empower Retreat provided our students with the opportunity to further deepen what it means to be a servant leader within a Catholic and Ursuline school. The students looked at leadership lessons from Jesus, Mary our Lady, St Ursula and St Angela Merici. Students also reflected on the qualities needed to lead the school in 2026 as Year 12 and the impact they can have on younger students as the most senior student role models.

I was delighted to attend this retreat, engaging with students throughout as they reflected on their leadership journey so far. The retreat program highlighted the  importance we place on student voice, responsibility and our shared commitment to nurturing faith filled, confident and compassionate leaders of service.

A highlight was celebrating mass with Fr Tom from the Holy Family Menai Parish and we are grateful to Father Tom for coming to Stanwell Tops to be with us. We are incredibly proud of our Year 11 cohort and look forward to seeing their involvement in the leadership discernment process during Term 3.

Year 12 Preparation for HSC Trial exams

As our Year 12 students prepare for their upcoming HSC Trial exams commencing in Week 3 next term, we commend them for their commitment to their learning. These trials are an important milestone and our staff are working closely with students to ensure they feel confident and well-supported. Revision sessions, study strategies and wellbeing resources are all in place to help them navigate this busy time. In addition, the College Library will be open Monday to Thursday until 6.00 pm in weeks 1 and 2 to provide Year 12 a space to study independently or in groups with their peers.

Families can continue to support their daughters by encouraging healthy routines, balanced study habits and plenty of rest these school holidays. We’re incredibly proud of how our Year 12 cohort is working together to rise to the challenge so that everyone achieves their best.

Mock Trial

Our Year 11 Legal Studies students competed against Domremy College in the latest Mock Trial Round. St Ursula’s won the case 269-268!  A special thanks to Mr Steve Baker for his commitment to ensuring the students are enriched through experiences such as this competition.

Reports – Parent Teacher Conferences – Year 7 to 10 Awards Assembly

By now, Year 7 to 10 students will have received their Semester 1 Reports. These reports offer valuable insight into each student’s progress and achievements, and I hope parents and carers have had the opportunity to review with their daughter and her teachers at this week’s Parent Teacher Conferences.

We look forward to the Year 7 to 10 Awards Assembly on Friday 25 July, Week 1 Term 3. This is a special occasion to recognise and celebrate the outstanding effort, growth and accomplishments of our Year 7 to 10 students. Parents are invited to join us at this assembly.

Gala Dinner

I look forward to seeing parents and friends at our Inaugural Dinner on Saturday August 30. Details are enclosed in this newsletter.

Wishing all our wonderful families a joyful and relaxing holiday. Keep warm and may your days be filled with laughter, love and well-deserved rest. For those traveling, we hope your journeys are safe and memorable. Thank you for being such a special part of our College community — we look forward to seeing you refreshed and recharged in Term 3.

Warm regards

Vivienne Awad
Principal

Gospel Reflection

The first thing that is striking about this gospel passage is the fact that there are 72 disciples whom Jesus sends out on mission. We can often have an image of Jesus strolling around Galilee with just a small group of followers, but this passage makes it clear that a significant number of people were engaged in his ministry. The gospel writer has not just made an error in naming 72 rather than the Twelve because just one chapter earlier the Twelve were sent out. 

This sending out to mission is a significant element of the gospel of Luke. The first sending of the Twelve represents the mission to the Jews – the twelve tribes of Israel are frequently used symbolically to represent all of the Jewish people. The sending of the 72 then represents the mission beyond the Jewish people to all nations and all people. He sends them in pairs. In the Law of Moses two witnesses were needed for a testimony to be credible. It was probably also a safer way to travel.

Another theme that is significant in the gospel of Luke is the message of hospitality. Jesus teaches on it frequently and tries to convey a message that the hospitality of God is available to all. In the sending of both the Twelve and the 72, Jesus tells them to take nothing with them for the journey. He is telling them to rely on the hospitality of strangers. If they are welcomed and shown hospitality then they are to bless the household and carry out their ministry. The ability to show hospitality to the messengers of God is a sign that the household will welcome the message of God. However, wherever they do not receive hospitality they are to leave the town, shaking the dust from their feet, as their ministry will not be welcomed by people who are not ready to hear it. It is an excellent message about not wasting your efforts in unproductive ways – not hitting your head against a brick wall!

This Sunday’s gospel passage immediately follows the passage used last week that spelt out the difficulties of discipleship. Having explained how hard it is to be a disciple, Jesus sends his followers out to ‘have a go’ at being a disciple. When they come back successful he tells them not to be boastful or proud at their achievements but rather to be happy that their ‘names are written in heaven’. In other words, anything they accomplished was because they were ‘known’ by God and that God was working through them. Disciples make themselves ‘known’ to God and God works through them to accomplish great things!

This gospel reading is often used to make a point about the need for vocations to priestly and religious life. Jesus makes the comment that ‘the harvest is rich but the labourers are few’. This image of labourers in the harvest is often applied to the work of priests and other religious vocations. It is certainly true that the days of most Catholic families having a family member who is a priest, brother or nun are long past. However apt the image may be, when we read it in the context of the whole passage we can see that this sending out of the 72 was a general challenge to live out the call to discipleship – to go out into the world and bring about the kingdom.

Through baptism we have all been commissioned to go out to live and proclaim the Good News of Christ, to keep journeying on to all our sisters and brothers and prepare the way for Christ to come into their lives. The number of labourers for this harvest has never been greater. We have never had more Christians in the world than we have right now. If all of us who have been baptised in Christ were living out the Gospel and bringing it to bear in our personal, family, social and national life, then the world would be transformed.

Jesus reminds us that to live out this commission we need to depend on each other for support, hospitality and kindness. He challenges us to travel light and stick together, because as our theme for 2025 says, “Together we Rise”.

Prayer (inspired by Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20)

Loving God, we come to you as a people who know your love.
For that we give thanks and praise.
But Lord, we know there are many men and women in our world who don’t know you. 
We bring before you those who are lost,
who feel alone, abandoned, and hopeless.
Some live in our own neighbourhoods, our own city.
We pray that we may be able to reach them with the message
that through your grace they might know a different life,
in which restored and renewed, loved and fulfilled,
they might in turn go on to reach others.

Amen. 

~ written by the Rev Dr Philippa Horrex of Wanganui, and posted on the Presbyterian Church Aotearoa New Zealand website.

Julie Monk
Religious Education Coordinator

Youth Ministry News

As we draw closer to the end of June and the end of another term, here are just some of the exciting things coming soon.

What’s On

• Friday 1 August: 10:10 Parish Night

A request for consent has been sent to parents/carers whose daughters have expressed interest in attending this event.

• Wednesday 13 August: Year 7, 8, 9 Evangelisation Day

A request for consent has been sent to parents/carers whose daughters have been selected to attend the event.

Australian Catholic Youth Festival – An Invitation to Faith and Fellowship

This year, our students have the incredible opportunity to be part of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), a three-day celebration of faith, community, and inspiration. From 30 November to 2 December 2025, thousands of young people from across the country will gather to grow in their relationship with Jesus, deepen their understanding of Catholic values, and connect with others through shared experiences of worship, music, and learning.

The Festival offers a vibrant program including keynote speakers, engaging workshops, live music, and the chance to meet fellow students, youth leaders, bishops, and passionate Catholic voices. It promises to be a powerful and uplifting experience for any young person looking to explore and live out their faith more fully. Please click on the image for more information.
Applications for this event will open in Term 3.

Wishing you and your family a safe and relaxing break.

Nicole Katacos
Youth Ministry Coordinator

Service and Outreach

On behalf of our community, we sincerely thank the families who generously supported our Term 2 outreach. Your kindness has made a real difference in the lives of those in need, embodying the true spirit of compassion and service.

Your contributions directly support the Ignite Food Store, a vital initiative of Jesuit Social Services in Emerton. This social enterprise provides quality, low-cost food to the local community, ensuring that individuals and families facing hardship have access to essential groceries. Through your generosity, Ignite Food Store can continue to promote health, wellbeing and social inclusion, offering dignity and support to those in need.

I also thank the 90 students and 10 staff members who came together in a powerful act of solidarity with those experiencing homelessness and hardship in our community for our annual Serviam Sleepout. What began as a night of sacrifice unfolded into a deeply moving experience, shaped by moments of stillness, learning, and shared conviction.

Participants took part in a guided workshop on Catholic Social Teaching, led by Mr Chris Nolan, Social and Ecological Justice Animator for Caritas Australia. This was followed by Lectio Divina, where students prayerfully reflected on the Gospel’s call to justice. These moments not only deepened their understanding of faith in action but also inspired them to embody the values of service and justice in tangible ways.

Thanks to this initiative, $24,000 was raised for Vinnies Kingsgrove and NSW Vinnies Vans, offering practical help and hope to those most in need. The Serviam Sleepout reminded us all that while one night cannot replicate the experience of homelessness, it can ignite compassion and deepen our commitment to justice.

Antoinette Nader
Service and Outreach Coordinator

Purpose Festival

On 2 July, students from different grades attended the Purpose Festival 2025 at Rosebank College. 

The day was filled with activities, games, songs, a Q&A, speeches and many other wonderful opportunities. Students from a variety of Sydney Catholic Schools gathered together and started the day in song. This was followed by an eye opening address from Archbishop Anthony Fisher. He discussed the importance of faith in an ever changing world, an insightful and inspiring speech.

The students then got the opportunity to mingle, whilst enjoying the numerous stores, food trucks, inflatables and live music. From rosary beads to Catholic apparel, the students could purchase a variety of goods. There was an ‘Against the Grain’ talk available, where parish, students and NRL players united, in a talk and fuming ball passing challenge. 

A VR experience with the Blessed Carlos Acutis was available, making for a truly immersive and unforgettable experience. The sacrament of Reconciliation was also available, providing students with a critical aspect of Catholic life.

The highlight of the event was being able to participate in Mass, hosted by Archbishop Anthony Fisher and accompanied by Priests such as Father Greg Morgan. Through this special celebration of the Eucharist, students were given the opportunity to open their hearts to Christ in a more personal and deeper manner to help strengthen their relationship with God and their overall faith. 

This day was much more than activities and speeches, but it was about taking in the words of His Grace Archbishop and Father Greg. Through this the students could discover within themselves how to apply what was said and preached throughout the whole day, and apply it to each of their lives, to become the best disciples they can aspire to be. Purpose Festival was an eye opening experience, one that students can hold close to their hearts. It provides a guideline and practical example to remind them what being faithful Christians is truly about.

Anastasia Hill & Isabella Xenos
Year 11

A Magical Triumph: St Ursula’s College Presents Matilda Jr

St Ursula’s College was alive with music, magic and mischief as students brought Roald Dahl’s beloved story Matilda to life in a spectacular musical production that dazzled audiences and warmed hearts—despite the winter chill! We were thrilled to welcome over 350 primary school students to our special matinee performance, introducing a new generation to the magic of musical theatre. Across three sold out evening performances, over 960 audience members from the College community and beyond, braved the cold to support our students and were rewarded with a heartwarming, professional and high-energy show that left everyone smiling.

From the moment the curtain rose, it was clear that this was no ordinary school production. The cast, led by a talented group of student performers, delivered powerful vocals, heartfelt acting and infectious energy. Our lead actors captured the spirit of their characters with charm and confidence, while the ensemble and dancers filled the stage with vibrant movement and joyful expression, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for all.

The pit band, composed of skilled students from Years 7-12, Amadeus tutors and professional musicians, brought Tim Minchin’s score to life with flair and precision, adding depth and emotion to every moment. Behind the scenes, the stage crew worked tirelessly to ensure every scene change was seamless and every technical cue was spot-on. Working alongside the professional lighting and audio team, their professionalism were the backbone of the production’s success. 

The students have been working on this production since Term 3 2024 and the show really ramped up production this year. The students have given up countless hours to rehearse and prepare for the show, and their commitment and passion was clearly visible over the performances. We also had a talented team of set designers join the team in 2025. They helped to decorate and make set pieces to bring Crunchem Hall and the Wormwoods house to life. 

This production would not have been possible without the unwavering support and guidance of our dedicated teachers, who mentored, directed, choreographed and inspired every step of the way. To our Co-Directors, Ms Anne Sukkar and Ms Stephanie Josifovski, thank you for working magic with the leads and ensemble to bring the story and lyrics to life; to our Music Director and Assistant Music Director and Piano Conductor, Ms Sarah Olsen and Ms Danielle Buiaroski, thank you for leading the phenomenal pit band, which consisted of so many junior students; to our costume designer Ms Kate Hoegh-Rasmussen, thank you for capturing the spirit and joy of the show; and Emma Harrison our fantastic choreographer, who worked with the dancers and student choreographers; and to Mr Jamie Valente and Mr Chris Ninni – our fantastic production assistants who worked behind the scenes to ensure the shows ran smoothly. Their passion for the arts and commitment to student growth shone through in every detail of the show.

A special thank you goes to our incredible TAS team and hospitality students, who transformed the foyer in Salo into a festive and welcoming space. Their delicious catering and creative presentation added an extra layer of excitement and community spirit to the event. Thank you to the group of student volunteers who helped usher our audiences and the the College Leadership Team, support staff and College teaching staff who volunteered their time to support the students and team during the weeks leading up to the show. 

To our entire College community—students, staff, families, and friends—thank you for your encouragement, your applause, and your belief in the power of the creative and performing arts. Matilda Jr was more than a show; it was a celebration of talent, teamwork, and the joy of storytelling.

We can’t wait to see what magic the next production brings in 2027! 

Gemma Baldwin
CAPA Coordinator

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC week 2025 starts on Sunday 6 July and is celebrated during the first week of the school holidays. The theme this year is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, celebrating not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead.

St Ursula’s students and their families are encouraged to participate in activities which celebrate First Nations cultures, histories and languages. There are festivities at every council, including Tallawoladah The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Gunnamatta Bay Cronulla, Paul Keating Park Bankstown, Dharanggang Park Wolli Creek, just to name a few.

St Ursula’s started early with 95 students volunteering to contribute to painting a mural guided by Aboriginal artists in residence during week 10. We will also be celebrating during the first week of Term 3 with pass the Marngrook ball competition, painting personal disks and sampling indigenous jams.

Please remember to donate pancake mix
on the first day back so every student can enjoy
a free pancake with jams from native plants
(fingerlime, quandong or rosella flavour)!

Discover these NAIDOC Week activities and find more on the NAIDOC Week website:

• Free family activity at The Rocks Discovery Museum
• The National Indigenous Art Fair
• CB City NAIDOC Family Day
• NAIDOC event

Karen Horder
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student Support Teacher

Aboriginal Art Project for Bardwell Valley Golf Club

St Ursula’s started NAIDOC Week early with 95 students volunteering to contribute to painting a mural guided by Aboriginal artists in residence during week 10!

The completed artwork will be on display at the Bardwell Valley Golf Club tee off area. Aboriginal and non-Indigenous students worked together with Aunty Emma and Coral Fay Peel and Uncle Frank McLeod to create a mural of gigantic proportions – over 7 metres long! It features the eighteen holes of the golf course as meeting places just like Aboriginal traditional gathering circles. 

Also included is the flora and fauna of the Bardwell Valley, such as a magnificent kookaburra painted by Maya Robinson and a vibrant rainbow lorikeet by Leanne Trinh. The red-bellied black snakes, sulphur crested cockatoos, black cockatoos, goanna, ducks and kangaroo tracks jumping through bottle brush and waratah were a group effort that resulted in a mural that will make every golfer smile and hopefully give them good luck!

Karen Horder
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student Support Teacher

Ex-student Jessie-Marie Rifkin took time out of her National Art School course to contribute.
“I enjoyed coming back for this project – I feel very connected to the Serviam spirit.” 

Melina Anagnostellis – Year 7
“It’s really good to bond with the Aboriginal people and their culture because they give a good example and I got to experience it rather than being told about it.”

Lilliana Haddad and Mary Rose Semrani – Year 7
“Overall, it was really enjoyable experience to be able to connect with Aboriginal culture and to learn about the way they use symbols to represent how they tell stories.”

Emily Le – Year 8
“I had a really great time participating in this artwork and I feel grateful to be able to help out.”

Emirea Shrestha – Year 8
“Overall it was an amazing experience and I’m so grateful to be part of this artwork.”

Year 7 explore the liveability of Sydney

Year 7 enjoyed a wonderful excursion to Lavender Bay, Miller’s Point and Milson’s Point to complement their current unit of study of ‘Place and Liveability’ in Geography.

Students are currently learning about urbanisation and this Geography excursion was the perfect opportunity to understand and experience our city of Sydney. In particular, the excursion focused on the different places to live and work. The focus of the excursion was on urban liveability. Some key questions explored were:

• What effect does environmental quality and access to services have on people’s wellbeing?
• How can strong community identity and social connectedness enhance the liveability of places?
• What approaches can be used to improve the liveability of places?

Students were able to do first-hand physical testing of sites (noise meters, thermometers and light meters) and there were further opportunities for various observations on the
factors that make a place liveable.

Our Year 7 students should be commended because they were perfect representatives for our College with their mature behaviour in the city and their respect shown towards the guides from the Auseco Company that led the walks. Students were overwhelmingly positive about the experience, including visiting the magnificent secret garden at Lavender Bay, the walk across the footpath of the Harbour Bridge and the observations done in the various areas around Milson’s Point.

Joe Russo
HSIE Coordinator

The Orbispace Initiative – Future Female Leadership Forum

On Thursday 26 June, 11 Year 8 students attended the Future Female Leadership forum run by The Orbispace Initiative. The goal of The Orbispace Initiative is to inspire and equip the next generation of female leaders with the STEM skills, experience and networks to thrive as innovators across future industries. Students have been attending workshops this term learning soft skills such as building confidence, creativity and communication skills to be empowered in the area of STEM. With a focus on sustainability and stewardship, this program prepares young women to solve the defining challenges of their generation from climate and energy to AI. 

The future female leadership forum is a full day event involving multiple workshops and networking sessions. Students began the day with a tour of Sydney Startup Hub followed by mindset and communication coaching run by leading Women in Industry. Students then attended a workshop exploring technology and design with a focus on User Experience and User Interface within apps. Students designed and placed visual elements of an app to create a positive and effective user experience.

Over lunch students networked with female leaders, including Cathy Foley, an Australian Physicist who from 2021-2024 was the Chief Scientist of Australia. Here students practiced their soft skills of communication and asking open questions to understand the challenges and success for Women in STEM. The day ended with students participating in an Engineering and Maths challenge followed by an AI session. The AI workshop was presented by CJ Jones, the Head of Design for Generative AI at Canva. In this workshop students coded with AI to bring their design ideas to life.

Students will be using all the skills from the Future Female Leadership Forum to solve a sustainability problem and pitch their idea in term 3 at the Pitch for the Planet.

Kaitlyn McDougall
Assistant Science Coordinator
Newman Teacher in Charge

A culinary delight for Year 8 Language students

Year 8 recently had one of the best experiences in our Japanese class, a yakisoba cooking incursion! Some professional chefs came in and taught us how to make this awesome Japanese noodle dish. All the ingredients were already prepared for us, so we got straight into cooking it ourselves. We even wore chef hats and aprons, which made us think we were real chefs and made this even more exciting. It was exciting to cook the noodles, sauce, and veggies and see everything come together. The smell while we cooked was amazing. We had so much fun learning new skills and seeing how food connects to Japanese culture.

The best part? Getting to eat the yakisoba we cooked, it was absolutely delicious! This incursion was definitely one of the highlights of the term, and we’d love to do something like it again.

Isabel El Jouni

This term in Japanese, our Year 8 class took part in an exciting incursion where we got to cook Yakisoba, a popular Japanese stir-fried noodle dish. We were really looking forward to it, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! The vegetables were already pre-cut, so we focused on cooking the meat and noodles ourselves.

It was such a fun and hands-on experience, and the amazing smell made us even more excited to try it. The final result was delicious, and it was a great way to learn about Japanese culture through food.

Mari-Lyn Youssef

Bonjour! Year 8 French classes were able to participate in an incursion, taking a look at the French food and culture. This was a very fun and interesting experience. We were taught how to make traditional French crepes and could see them being cooked right in front of us. It was very exciting to be involved, the instructors were very kind and helped us to cook and even spoke to us in French words, expanding our French vocabulary! The best part was when we got to eat them!

Overall, it was an amazing, fun but still a very informative experience, we cannot wait to continue French for the rest of the year!

Jada Zahri and Arianna Tahhan

Year 9 Camp at Collaroy: Unite in Action

Year 9 Camp was a chance for students to step beyond their comfort zones, build meaningful connections and support one another through every challenge. Guided by our Ursuline value of “Unite,” students faced their fears in a safe and positive way—and even found joy in the company of a few Colloray locals including inquisitive bush turkeys and vibrant rosellas.

Students threw themselves into team-building challenges like the high ropes and the heart-pounding drop pole, where confidence and courage were tested high above the ground. The giant swing had everyone screaming and laughing mid-air, while the vertical challenge demanded balance, communication, and a whole lot of teamwork.

Students also took on classic outdoor adventures like rock climbing and abseiling, mastering their fear of heights with determination and support from their peers. Others showed off their skills in competitive and light-hearted games such as laser tag and archery tag. We also cannot forget the challenging problem-solving tasks that pushed students to think, collaborate and lead. Every challenge offered a chance to build resilience and connection.

A standout moment was our disco night—a lively celebration of unity as the whole group hit the dance floor together. It was the perfect finale to a big day filled with laughter, rhythm and a few unforgettable dance moves!

A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful Year 9 Pastoral Care team, along with Emma Smith, Phoebe Johanessen, Jennifer Hespe, and Janet Cairncross, for coming along to camp. Year 9 enjoyed sharing their camp experience with you all.

Margaret Amore
Year 9 Coordinator

Over the two days, we participated in a wide range of exciting and challenging activities, including the giant swing, abseiling, drop pole, challenge course, rock climbing, laser tag, archery tag, and the vertical challenge. Each of these experiences allowed us to try something new, support one another, and grow both individually and collectively. Camp gave us the chance to step outside our comfort zones, build confidence, and strengthen our friendships. It was a time filled with laughter, teamwork, and lasting memories. We are thankful for the opportunity to come together as a grade in such a fun, supportive, and enriching environment.

Natalia Georgoulas
Year 9 

“In the Loop” Unit Wrap-Up: A World of Textile Innovation

Year 9 Textiles students have done an incredible job completing their “In the Loop” unit, delving into the fascinating world of textile design and manufacturing! This unit was all about understanding the “Properties and performance of textiles” – crucial knowledge for any budding designer.

Throughout “In the Loop,” students explored how textile designers develop innovative and commercially-appealing creations. They gained a working knowledge of fibres and fabric construction methods, which is essential for making informed and well-justified choices as designers.

We’re so proud of the dedication and creativity they have shown while learning many new techniques and a variety of manufacturing processes including felting, weaving, crochet, and knitting.

Get ready to see the amazing work from “In the Loop” – a testament to Year 9 growing skills and understanding of textile properties and uses.

Kate Hoegh-Rasmussen
TAS Teacher

In our assessment task, ‘In the Loop’, we learnt a wide range of techniques involving different fibres, which included wet felting, needle felting, weaving and crochet or knitting. Learning these new techniques was really fun, although it was frustrating when the end result wasn’t perfect but we knew we can improve with more practice. We really enjoyed finding new ways to create items, for example making a bookmark from weaving, a figurine from needle felting or a plushie from crocheting. We gained many skills from this task but I personally really enjoyed crocheting!

Natalie Chaksai
Year 9 

Year 11 Retreat: Together we Rise

In Week 7 our Year 11 students and a number of staff attended the Year 11 overnight retreat at The Tops Conference Centre at Stanwell Tops. 

The aim of this retreat experience was to engender a sense of Christian community, one that is based on growing trust, openness and friendship and in keeping with our College theme of “Together we Rise” and College Motto of “Serviam”.  The retreat allowed students to step away from the pressures of ordinary life, their busy study and work schedules and to reflect upon what it means to “Lead with a servant heart”.  Through a range of experiences such as prayer, staff-directed inputs, student discussion and community time, students had the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the ways that they can be women of Christian service and leaders in their families, school, parishes and workplaces.

The retreat also focused on our Year 11 Ursuline value of Empower and marked the beginning of the leadership process for this group for 2025-2026.

We are very grateful to the staff who attended retreat; Mrs Monk, Mrs Nader, Ms Awad, Ms Sukkar, Ms Neumann, Ms Magee, Ms Kattos, Ms Baker, Ms Butcher, Mrs Guiffre, Ms Demel, Ms Worth, Mrs Brooks and Mr Bozikis. We are also are grateful to Fr Tom, from Holy Family Parish at Menai, who joined us to celebrate a year group Mass to conclude the retreat.

Julie Monk
Religious Education Coordinator

Our Year 11 retreat was an inspiring one-night camp where we explored the idea of servant leadership and what it means to be a part of the Ursuline community. We learned that leadership isn’t about having a title or holding a position of authority; it’s about influencing others through kindness, generosity, and sharing our passion for countercultural, radical social justice. This impacted us significantly as we reflected on how anyone can make a positive difference, no matter their role.

Throughout the retreat, we had opportunities to connect, collaborate, and reflect as a year group. We united through prayer before meals and enjoyed engaging presentations from our teachers and Mrs Awad, who shared their personal leadership journeys. The retreat also included fun group activities that encourage teamwork and helped us bond closer as a cohort. It was a great balance of meaningful discussion and time with friends to listen and learn from each other in a beautiful setting with stunning views. This retreat was the perfect, peaceful break before our Year 11 exams, rejuvenating and refreshing us for the sprint ahead. 

This retreat was a time of faith development and spiritual growth . We learnt more about ourselves and the types of leaders we want to be, while also learning about each other. We put aside our past differences and empowered each other to share and dream about our future leadership prospects. Every girl enjoyed the time to quietly affirm and uplift those around her, and every individual was reminded of our connectedness as a part of St Angela Merici’s company of women. We had the opportunity to step back and focus on our spiritual journey as we engaged in a year’s mass and discussions on how we can integrate Mother Mary virtues and Jesus’ love into our lives. 

Year 11 students participated in a reconciliation activity to strengthen bonds with friends or build a new friendship. This retreat allowed the girls to grow as individuals based on respect, love, unity which we are called to live out as serviam women. The retreat reminded us that true leadership begins with compassion and the courage to serve others selflessly. It inspired us to carry forward the Ursuline legacy by being agents of change in our school and wider community. We as a cohort left the retreat feeling empowered and united as a year group, as we continue our senior years. 

Mary-Anne El Azzi, Ava Zygouras and Olivia Holt
Year 11

Year 12 investigates industry claims

This term, our Year 12 Investigating Science class turned a critical eye to the promises made by industries we interact with daily — pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food. Each investigation helped students practise scientific inquiry while learning to question how data is presented to consumers.

A favourite among students was a case from New Zealand, where two schoolgirls famously challenged the vitamin C claims made by Ribena. After conducting their own tests, they found the drink contained far less of the nutrient than advertised — a discovery that led to widespread media attention and legal consequences for the brand.

Students selected consumer products and investigated their marketing claims using a mix of experimentation, research and analysis. One project looked into the popular trend of charcoal toothpaste. The student set out to determine whether it was truly more effective at whitening stained teeth compared to regular toothpaste. After carefully designing a fair test and analysing the results, their findings showed that charcoal toothpaste did in fact perform better at whitening — a revelation backed by evidence, not advertising.

Another investigation tackled the pharmaceutical world, examining the claim that Panadol Rapid acts twice as fast as standard paracetamol. Through time trials and comparative analysis, the student found convincing evidence to support the company’s assertion, giving the marketing slogan some solid scientific grounding.

Proving that sometimes the fine print sells itself short, a third investigation tested the popular claim that Dettol disinfectant wipes kill 99.9% of germs. In their laboratory test, the student found that the wipes eliminated 100% of detectable germs on the test surfaces — suggesting that the actual performance might even exceed the promise.

Whether testing local products or analysing international case studies, our budding scientists are learning to think critically, question boldly and back up claims with evidence.

Linda Steel
Science Teacher

Gymnastics Gala Day Comp

Well that’s a wrap! This year’s gymnastics season is over…….and what a fantastic term our gymnastics squad has had! The squad trained during Thursday Sport time and many girls went as far as training every Tuesday at 6.30am. Considering the early start time, freezing weather conditions and expectation for parents/grandparents to drive their children to the gym and back to school, it was an impressive effort.

The day of the competition was another early start, but our team arrived on time, enthusiastic and raring to compete. They were nervous yet excited. All girls had done their utmost to prepare and all team members were encouraging and supportive of each other.

The convener of the event complimented St Ursula’s on their team spirit and encouragement of not only their own team members but competitors from other schools. I was very proud of the way our girls demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout the gala day.

St Ursula’s 2025 Gym Squad: Charlotte Saoud, Abigail Wright, Catherine Erwin, Melina Anagnostellis, Elaria El-Magrisy, Lauren Macan, Suki Yim, Arianna Panagopoulos, Allanah Nehme, Eve Nangle, Miriam El- Magrisy,  Mikayla De Leon, Tiara Lie, Eva Gremos, Sofia Hassapis, Sienna Greensmith, Victoria Galic, Glorianna Yudhistira, Abbey Kozub, Gemma Tavares, Monika Kozub, Hannah Kazzi, Kira Bourke.

The competition was very tough this year. However, our girls successfully secured third place.                  
St Ursula’s gymnasts achieved some outstanding results:

Level 8

•  Gemma Tavares (Yr 11): 1st Beam, 1st Floor, 2nd Vault, 4th Bars, 1st Overall
•  Kira Bourke (Yr 12): 2nd Beam, 3rd Floor

Level 6

•  Lauren Macan (Yr 8): 1st Vault, 1st Beam, 3rd Floor

Level 4

•  Monika Kozub (Yr 12): 3rd Vault

Level 3

• Glorianna Yudhistira (Yr 10): 2nd Bars, 2nd Beam, 4th Floor, 2nd Overall
• Victoria Galic (Yr 10): 3rd Vault, 3rd Bars, 3rd Beam, 3rd Overall
• Allanah Nehme (Yr 9): 1st Floor, 4th Beam, 4th Overall

These amazing results would not have been possible without the help and excellent coaching of Antoine Rizzo and his daughter Satine from the Australian Academy of Gymnastics. Thank you Antoine and Satine for your expertise in skill development and apparatus routines. Also, a big thank you to all the parents and grandparents who were able to take the girls to and from training on Tuesday mornings.

Thank you to Ms Jessica Magee for joining us at the competition and for assisting with the braiding of hair.

It was lovely to have a number of parents attend and cheer on the girls. It was also nice to have one of our ex-students and former team members join us…….thanks for your support Joscelyn.

It is with sadness that we say farewell to three of our Year 12 students and senior team members who have competed for the last time for St Ursula’s College. Kira Bourke, Hannah Kazzi and Monika Kozub have always been fierce and brave competitors on the gym floor and have represented their school with great pride from Year 7 through to Year 12. We wish them good luck in their future endeavours.

Jenny Hespe
PDHPE Teacher
….and always remember, ”Go the “Grove!” 

THOUGHTS FROM THE TEAM MEMBERS:

“Tuesday and Thursday gym was the highlight of my week – we laughed and learned new skills, it was something I actually looked forward to. I’d 100% recommend gymnastics to any girl thinking about it!”
 Glorianna Yudhistira
Year 10 

“Best experience ever! Loved the support and encouragement throughout the season!”
Victoria Galic
Year 10 

“We had so much fun learning new skills, making friends, and supporting each other. Training was filled with laughs, encouragement, and great team spirit. The loud cheering during competitions showed how proud we were of one another!!”
Mikayla De Leon
Year 10

Thursday Sport

Remembering Sr Joanna Healy OSU (1934-2025)

Sr Joanna taught at St Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove in the early 80’s (1981-1982). She came to St Ursula’s after several years teaching at the Catholic Girls High School Canberra, now known as Merici College. Sr Joanna brought with her good knowledge of the current curriculum and the teaching methods being implemented in the 80’s. Above all what characterised Sr Joanna’s teaching was her zest, energy and concern for each student.

We thank Sr Joanna for the contribution she made to the education of our students in the early 80’s. We remember with gratitude the part she played in building the strong educational fabric of St Ursula’s as we remind ourselves that we walk in the steps of the good educators who have gone before us.

Sr Patty Andrew OSU

Gala Dinner

It is with great pleasure and anticipation that I personally invite you to join us for a very special occasion – St Ursula’s First-Ever Gala Dinner – a night of celebration, community, and purpose.

This inaugural event is more than a dinner – it is a celebration of everything we value as a College community: connection, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the success and wellbeing of our students. We hope the evening will provide a rare opportunity for parents, staff, alumnae, and friends to come together in a spirit of joy and unity.

The Gala will feature entertainment, three-course dinner and drinks and plenty of opportunities to connect with one another. Above all, this evening serves to support a significant enhancement to our facilities — the installation of air conditioning in Merici Hall, ensuring the space remains inviting and functional for all members of our College community. Together, we can create lasting improvements that will benefit current and future students alike.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday 30 August 2025
• Time: 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm
• Venue: DOCKSIDE, Balcony level, Cockle Bay, Darling Park
• Attire: Formal
• Ticket Cost: $150 per ticket (Includes, 3 course meal, drinks and entertainment)

Tickets for the Gala Dinner are now available for purchase.

We encourage you to secure your place early, as seating is limited and interest is expected to be high. Tickets can be purchased via  https://www.trybooking.com/1410970. Tables may be booked individually or in groups, so feel free to invite extended family or friends to share in this memorable occasion. Please see flyer below for more information and QR code for ease of booking your tickets.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school’s journey. We look forward to celebrating with you as we strengthen the bonds that make our community so special.

Warm regards

Vivienne Awad
Principal

MyStrengths

MyStrengths is a strengths based program that we have been running at the College with both our staff and students. They have a background in positive psychology and positive wellbeing, and have become an integral part of our Pastoral Care program. 

St Ursula’s has a subscription to the full MyStrengths Parenting package. This is now active for all members of our community, both parents and staff.

MyStrengths parents provide short parenting courses, workshops and resources which provide easy practical steps drawing on a strength-based approach.

To access this fabulous resource simply go to: http://stursulas.mystrengths.com.au/ 

We encourage you to go online and explore.

Anne Sukkar
Leader of Wellbeing

Archbishop Fisher’s Newsletter

Please click here to view the latest newsletter from Archbishop Anthony Fisher.

Follow us on socials

Members of the school community are invited to follow St Ursula’s on Facebook and on Instagram. If you know anyone considering high schools for their daughter, you may also like to share our accounts with them. 

Our social media platforms feature photos and videos of our students’ many achievements and learning experiences, latest events and other exciting news from around the school.

Our handle on both Facebook and Instagram is @stursulascollegekingsgrove