Principal’s Message

As we come to the end of Term 3, I wish all our students and families a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break. It has been a busy and productive term across the College, and I am grateful for the energy, commitment and spirit our students continue to bring to school each day.

We offer our congratulations and best wishes to our Year 12 graduates. Their theme, Set Sail into Sisterhood has inspired the student community and provided a strong reminder that a journey travelled in the company of others is far more rewarding than taken alone.  As Serviam women, our motto has become part of who they are. Their strength of character, compassion, generosity, gratitude, school pride and sense of fun has been evident and they leave a lasting impression on our community. It was a pleasure to celebrate this exceptional group of young women through our graduation events this week.

We began on Monday with a Graduation Assembly to recognise the Class of 2026’s many achievements.The Assembly concluded with a moving Guard of Honour, as the entire College community came together to send off our graduates.

In the evening, Year 12 students and their families gathered for a beautiful Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, followed by a celebratory Supper in Merici Hall. It was a magical day from start to finish, and we were thrilled to see so many parents and family members join us.

Here is the final part of my graduation address, a  blessing for Year 12:

Remember as you set sail from our familiar harbour……

Christ travels with you.

The Ursuline sisters pray for you.

Your families cheer for you.

Your Year 12 sisterhood journeys beside you.

And this entire Urshie community believes in you.

Set Sail in Sisterhood—together, boldly, joyfully, faithfully………now and always.

God bless you and congratulations……..our amazing class of 2026.

This edition has a special focus on our Year 12 students including the recipient of the Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence, our HSC Onstage and Callback Drama and Dance nominations, some individual triumphs in the wider community, Year 12 Community Day and reflections from our graduates on their time here at the College. Enjoy reading about our talented students.

2027 Senior Student Leadership Commissioning

Last Friday we commissioned our 2027 College Senior Student Leadership Team at a special Assembly followed by morning tea in the Year 12 garden with both the outgoing and incoming leaders and parents. 

I reminded our new leaders of the importance of shared leadership, service, encouraging each other, the power of teamwork and the privilege of representing their peers. I know our new leaders will rise to the challenge and embrace the Serviam spirit.

I also extend my heartfelt thanks to our outgoing College Co-Captains, Ava  and Olivia, as well as our Committee Co-Captains and Senior Captains for their outstanding service to our community in Term 4 2025 and 2026.

Our new leaders for 2026/2027 can be viewed with photos in this newsletter.

Over the last few weeks we have had the pleasure of hosting many community events including Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast and St Ursula’s Day. Please look for these articles and photos in this newsletter.

Father Daughter Bowling Night

Last week, the College Leadership Team and I attended the Father-Daughter Bowling Night, organised by our SUPA committee members Lou Lou Fortunato and Theresa Shafik. The event was lots of fun and a resounding success, with dads and daughters enjoying a joyful evening of bowling, connection and fun.

We wish the members of our community a joy filled break, and we look forward to welcoming students back for Term 4 on Tuesday 13 October.

Warm Regards,

Vivienne Awad
Principal

Gospel Reflection

Cultivating the Vine: Faith, Action, and Our Community

In our Catholic tradition, Jesus often turns to the imagery of the vineyard to describe the Kingdom of God – a place of life, growth and purposeful labour. His parables remind us that faith is never passive. In the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28–32), Jesus calls us beyond polite promises and into genuine action, inviting us to step into the vineyard through daily choices that reflect God’s love.

The Ursuline Tradition: Cultivating the Vine

This image of the vineyard holds a treasured place in our Ursuline identity. Saint Angela Merici drew deeply from Jesus’ words, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5), and offered enduring wisdom in her Eighth Counsel:

“Never cease to cultivate this vine which has been entrusted to you. And after that, leave the rest to God, who will do marvellous things in His own time.”

For Saint Angela, a school community – its students, staff, families and relationships – is the vine entrusted to our care. Cultivating it requires attention, patience and a willingness to nurture each branch so that it may bear fruit in Christ.

Living the Vine in Our Daily College Life

Nurturing the Soil:  

Just as a vine needs nourishment, our students flourish when surrounded by encouragement, care and high expectations. Every kind word, every moment of support and every act of guidance enriches the soil of our community.

Embracing the Pruning:  

Growth involves challenge. In viticulture, pruning clears what hinders new fruit. For our young people, pruning takes shape through learning from mistakes, accepting feedback and developing resilience.

Bearing Fruit in Service (Serviam):  

The fruit of the vine is meant to nourish others. In our Ursuline community, the life flowing through our branches is the love of Christ, calling us to serve, act with compassion and stand for justice.

Trusting the Master Gardener:  

Saint Angela reminds us to do our part and trust God with the rest. We teach, support and accompany our students, confident that God is quietly shaping their hearts in His time.

As we move through this term, may we hold fast to the True Vine. Let us cultivate our community with joy, patience and love, trusting that God will bring forth a rich harvest in each of our lives.

A Prayer for Our Community

Lord Jesus, You are the True Vine and we are Your branches.

Keep us grounded in Your love so our College community may flourish.

Grant us the grace to cultivate the vineyard entrusted to us,

living our faith through service, care and unity.

St Angela Merici, pray for us.

St Ursula, pray for us.

Amen.

Antoinette Nader
Religious Education Coordinator

Class of 2026 – Graduation

On Monday, 21 September, we beautifully celebrated our 2026 Year 12 cohort with a graduation assembly during the day, followed by an evening Mass and Supper. As the Class of 2026 prepares for their upcoming HSC and IB examinations, we wish them every success.

Please click on the below link to view to view all our 2026 graduates and award recipients:

• Year 12 Graduation Assembly slide presentation

Here is a “sneak peek” of the many graduation photos taken this week. Please note that a full album of graduation photos will be sent out next term.

Year 12 Community Day

The Year 12 Community Day brought colour, laughter and heartfelt connection to the College as our graduating students celebrated their schooling journey and the community that has supported them along the way. This year’s theme, Dress as Your Younger Self, invited students to recreate childhood outfits based on old photos, filling the Clune Centre with everything from tutus to 2000s fashion throwbacks. The result was a joyful reminder of how far they have come.

The morning began with a warm welcome from staff before students settled in for the ‘Funny Awards’, where students were celebrated with light‑hearted titles such as Future Olympian, Most Likely to Become Famous, and other favourites that highlighted their personalities and shared memories.

A special moment in the day came with the visit from local primary schools, who presented Year 12 with HSC prayer packs, a gesture of encouragement and community support as students prepare for their final exams. This connection between past and present schooling experiences added a meaningful layer to the celebration. Another highlight was the Teacher Trivia, a crowd favourite that tested how well Year 12 really knows the adults who have guided them.

Staff also joined the cohort for a provided morning tea, offered as a thank you from Year 12 for their teachers’ support, guidance and encouragement. The relaxed atmosphere allowed students and teachers to share stories, reflect on the year, and enjoy time together before the busyness of HSC exam preparation begins.

These moments of fun and connection captured the spirit of the Ursuline sisterhood that has shaped their senior years. Community Day concluded with gratitude, laughter and a sense of pride, a fitting celebration of the journey Year 12 has taken and the exciting chapter that awaits them.

Brittany Hemmings
Year 12 Coordinator

SCS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student Graduation Assembly

Ms Awad and I attended this event which celebrated the achievements of 81 students across the Sydney Archdiocese who will complete Year 12 in 2026. The outstanding guest speaker was ex-student Jasmine Lattouf (St Ursula’s 2024), who lifted the spirits of every graduate with her encouraging advice to take all opportunities that come their way and never miss an opportunity to be the person in the room who is willing to represent. Her own burgeoning career as an undergraduate engineer provided great evidence of what can be accomplished with a positive mindset and enthusiastic work ethic.

St Ursula’s is extremely proud of Maya Robinson (Barkindji) and Isabella Muc (Wiradjuri) who have both shown great commitment to their studies and the school Serviam motto while representing their Indigenous cultures with pride. Maya was keynote speaker at the 2025 St Ursula’s Reconciliation assembly where she outlined the way her relatives fought as gallant soldiers in both WW1 and WW2 and thrived through the generational trauma of forced removal to Brewarrina Mission. Her call to accept the truth of Australia’s past and to move forward together as a nation was inspirational. Isabella was awarded 2026 First Nations Sportsperson of the Year for her achievements across NSW, CCC and SCC Athletics in Cross Country and Steeplechase. Both students are outstanding role models who have made an amazing impact on our St Ursula’s community. We can’t wait to see what they achieve in the future!

Karen Horder
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Support Teacher

Reflections, Aspirations & Advice

We asked our Year 12 cohort to share their thoughts on what their best memory was from their time here at St Ursula’s. We also asked them to share their aspiration for their future as well as offer one piece of advice for students in younger years! We hope you enjoy reading a selection of these reflections.

Best Memory

Sonia – Being with friends and singing with the whole school.

Lily – During year 12 retreat when we all wrote in each other’s notebooks, I realised just how amazing my cohort is. People who rarely spoke interacted with each other and all the messages highlighted just how supporting and kind our year group is.

Talia – Attending the Girls’ Night In, as I enjoyed having the whole school community come together to raise money for a worthy cause.

Ava – My best memory was from the 10:10 retreat. This was the first school activity with other schools where everyone came together in faith with a genuine desire to learn more about the Gospel rather than for ‘just another camp/retreat’. I think that whoever gets the opportunity to go on this retreat must go – I will never forget those few days.

Amelie – Laughing with my friends after our last Christmas concert.

Valentina – My fav memory from here was when I talked to teachers about my fav band and how my sisters and I met them. I also loved so much memories my sisters and I made in our art room as it was a huge blessing to have had a room just for my triplet sisters and I. Overall very thankful for all the teachers.

Georgia – Athletics carnival this year (year 12), during the year 12 lap, running in the rain was so much fun. Having everyone together really amplified the feeling of all being in it together, but also building an atmosphere of happiness and joy. To feel the rain on our faces felt freeing accompanied by the but-loads of laughter as everyone ran together.

Hanna – When my Visual Arts classmates and I stayed back until 6PM to work on our Body of Work and we watched the sunset together and left the school at night and it was pure “vibes”.

Jean – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical was most certainly a core memory, especially as a lot of my friends were also involved in the production.

Olivia – Year 12 retreat, playing tips as a cohort on the grass oval.

Aspirations

Sarah – To help people.

Lily – I want to make a difference in the world, working in social work, but in particular, I want to ensure that I do what is best for me and will make me happy.

Olivia – My future aspiration is to become a paediatric oncology nurse, a goal shaped deeply by my own experience with cancer and the care I received. I want to be someone who brings compassion, strength and reassurance to children and families during the hardest moments of their lives. As I move forward, I hope to grow into a person who leads with empathy, advocates for vulnerable patients, and uses my lived experience to make others feel seen, supported and safe. My aspiration is not just a career path, it’s a commitment to giving back to the community that helped me heal, and to making a meaningful difference in the lives of young patients.

Alana – To be successful and to make a positive and meaningful impact on others.

Ataliah – I hope to go into the allied health field doing my best to help those where I can.

Virginia – I want to be in a band with my sisters – we all can sing.

Elle – After school, I plan to go to university to complete a Bachelor in Education (Primary) where I start my journey to becoming a primary school teacher. I aspire to be a teacher students feel encouraged by, comfortable with, and well educated.

Alana – To be successful and to make a positive and meaningful impact on others.

Abigayl – I hope to be working toward solving the worlds biggest issues, and making it a more enjoyable and safer place to live in.

Jean – To be able to help other people in a direct and impactful way, and I would really love to do this through a career in healthcare and continuing to fight for inequality and injustices by volunteering and uplifting the less fortunate.

Advice

Olivia – My advice to younger students is to never give up, even in your darkest or most difficult moments. Life will throw challenges at you, but there is always a path forward waiting for you, even if you can’t see it yet. Try your hardest in everything you do, because effort is what builds strength, confidence, and resilience. Remember that your parents and the people who care about you are always there to support you, no matter what.

Have confidence in yourself. It’s OK to make mistakes, everyone does. What matters is how you recover, learn, and grow from them. Sometimes a mistake can even push you in a new direction that leads to something better than you imagined. Don’t waste your energy worrying about what others think; most people are too busy figuring out their own lives. Be true to yourself, live authentically, and trust that life is a rollercoaster with ups and downs, but you will get through every single one.

Mia – Be less serious, have fun.

Ava – Try your hardest but have the most fun you can! Finding that balance sooner rather than later helps immensely. The way you treat others is the way they will treat you so it is important that kindness, respect and empathy are what lead your words in conversation.

Ataliah – Never give up, it is never too late to start. DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER STUDENTS!

Amelie – Value every memory you make in high school, and try your very best in every test or assignment.

Ava – Enjoy the time you have at school with your friends, because time goes by quickly.

Stella – Have fun respectfully, don’t be mean to teachers and you have to earn their respect. Also believe In God and nothing bad will happen.

Marisa – Never study 24/7 like its your only purpose in life, give yourself breaks to do things you enjoy, you will only burn out if you don’t choose yourself first. Don’t beat yourself up over marks, they don’t define you as a person and how hard you work. You’ve got this!!

Zoey – Don’t put pressure on yourself to be or perform a certain way, do the best that you can and be your most authentic self because that is the most rewarding thing to do. Take each tumble as motivation to try harder next time 🙂

Jean – Enjoy making memories with the people around you, and it’s okay if you don’t immediately find your people at school, there is always someone out there who would love to be in the front row seat of your life. Live in the present, don’t become too caught up in your studies, and remember to take care of yourselves.

2026/2027 Senior Student Leadership Commissioning

To celebrate both our outgoing and incoming Senior Student Leaders, our College community gathered for a special commissioning assembly on Friday 18 September.

Warmest congratulations to the newly inducted 2026/2027 Senior Student Leadership team! As they step into their new roles, we wish them the very best and have every confidence they will flourish as leaders of our College.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to the 2025/2026 student leaders for their remarkable dedication and service over the past year. By living out their inspiring motto, “Set Sail in Sisterhood,” they have set an extraordinary example for our entire community.

Introducing our 2026/2027 Senior Student Leadership Team:

Student Advisory Council

Ciara A
Sara C
Wendi F
Tiffany M
Zoe D
Chrystalla K
Jorja H

Student Prefects

Wellbeing Prefect – Georgia T
Community Prefect – Siosi’ana L
Sport Prefect – Angel-Jade S
Debating Prefect – Yvonne P
Creative Arts Prefect – Peggy H
Performing Arts Prefect – Ereana P
Liturgy Prefect – Olivia K
Outreach Prefect – Olivia G
Environment Prefect – Tyra T

Committee Co-Captains

Amaroo Co-Captain – Tabitha C
Amaroo Co-Captain – Tiara L
Dulkara Co-Captain – Molly N
Dulkara Co-Captain – Charlize K
Girralong Co-Captain – Joliene C
Girralong Co-Captain – Dimitra T
Mirrabooka Co-Captain – Aalia E
Mirrabooka Co-Captain –Charlene E

College Co-Captains

College Co-Captain – Lianna K
College Co-Captain – Indiana U
College Co-Captain – Keira Y

Please enjoy this selection of photos from the event.

Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence

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Brigid is a compassionate, faith‑driven leader whose commitment to the Catholic community is evident through her involvement in parish life, youth ministry and service. Through the Youth Group at St Brigid’s, Marrickville, she has deepened her faith, built strong connections and grown in confidence while embodying her catholic values. For more than five years, she has volunteered with St Vincent de Paul Marrickville, supporting their Christmas and Winter Appeals, and assisting families experiencing hardship with dignity.

Within St Brigid’s parish, she contributes to Children’s Liturgy, parish events and initiatives supporting people with disabilities. She has enriched the Church’s prayer life by helping lead the Stations of the Cross, participating in First Saturday devotions and serving as a reflection reader during Holy Thursday Mass. At school, Brigid supports liturgies by being an active choir member, assisting with technology at masses, and regularly attending Mass, while leading with humility as Senior Captain. Her commitment to social justice is evident through her support and participation in One Meal, Vinnies Sleepouts, the 10:10 project, and preparing Zonta Care packages. She has recently been recognised for her service by being awarded the Insieme Gold Service Award in 2025.

Zonta – Young Women In Leadership

College Co-Captain Olivia was a finalist in Zonta Young Women in Leadership Awards. The topic was “an initiative where you have demonstrated strong leadership and the impact you feel you made”. Here is a copy of her powerful speech.

I had just joined ‘Share The Dignity’ as a volunteer, collecting period products for our August Dignity Drive. I decided to manage the Woolworths Ashfield collection point. In truth, I didn’t expect much from Ashfield but as I stood in front of Woolworths Ashfield, collecting donations from an overflowing collection point, and wondering how I’m going to explain this to my dad waiting in the carpark, an older woman approached me carrying even more donations. I thanked her and she paused, just briefly, and when she looked at me, she said “It’s okay love, I know what it’s like”. 

In that moment, I didn’t know what to say to her. Here was a woman who knew what it was like to go without and had still chosen to give. That was the moment I truly understood what dignity meant.

A period is not a choice. It is not something that can be postponed until payday. Yet for many Australians, dignity still comes with a price tag and often, people have to endure in silence. 

Because menstruation is embarrassing. We whisper the word ‘period’ and hide products up our sleeves, teaching young people that menstruation is shameful. Something that must be hidden. 

This is not a ‘women’s issue’. This is about dignity. About health. 

I know we’ve been asked to stand here and talk about our own leadership qualities but if you want an example of leadership, look to your own communities. Look at the individuals who notice a problem and quietly decide to do something about it. Look at the people who give their time and money simply because they know someone else needs it. 

By taking responsibility for the collection point, I learnt that leadership isn’t about standing at the front but it’s about being willing to stand up for what matters. More often than not, the greatest impact you can make is giving someone else the dignity of knowing that they are not alone because ultimately, history will not judge us by the speeches we deliver in this room but by the lives we improve beyond it. 

As I walked away from Woolies Ashfield that day, pushing a shopping trolley filled to the brim with pads, tampons and period underwear, I remembered that woman. I often think of what she had to do to get by. The shame she must have carried. She reminded me that hardship isn’t a distant issue, it’s happening right now in our own communities, to people we don’t give a second thought to. She also taught me that we don’t have to simply witness it. We can respond to it.

I went to Woolies thinking that I was there to make a difference but her leadership made the real difference in me. Standing there, meeting that woman, I realised that leadership is about caring enough to act because leadership begins when we stop waiting for someone else to act, and decide that we will. It’s about recognising where your community needs you and having the courage to respond. So as you think about the needs in your own community, I leave you with one question:

What are you going to do about it?

2026 HSC & VET Achievements

CALLBACK Nominations (Dance)

Olive M – Core Composition, Core Performance and Major Study Performance.

Leah A – Core Performance and Major Study Performance.

Ekaterini M – Core Performance and Major Study Performance.

Alessia S – Core Composition.

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2026 VET Excellence Award

Year 11 student, April, received a 2026 VET Excellence Award, presented by The Youth Partnership, during a ceremony at NSW Parliament House. This award recognises her outstanding dedication and professionalism throughout her Hospitality studies and work placement experiences. We congratulate April on this exceptional accomplishment!

 

St Ursula’s Day

St Ursula’s Day is always a huge highlight of our College calendar – a time to celebrate our Ursuline heritage and enjoy the incredible community we share. This year’s celebrations perfectly captured what it means to live out Serviam, blending faith, action, and plenty of fun.

We started the day together with our St Ursula’s Day Mass. Gathering as a whole school is such a special way to begin. It gave us a chance to reflect on the courage of St Ursula and the vision of St Angela Merici, reminding us to be grateful for our gifts and to stay connected in faith and purpose.

After Mass, we put that faith into action with our Walkathon for Cambodia. Seeing students and staff out walking together was a fantastic display of Serviam in real life. Every step taken and dollar raised goes towards supporting education for children in Cambodian villages, a great reminder that our care and compassion reach far beyond our school gates.

We wrapped up the day with the concert. The talent, energy, and school spirit on display were amazing. From the brilliant performances on stage to the massive support cheering from the crowd, it highlighted the strong sisterhood and deep sense of belonging here at the College. It was the perfect way to celebrate each other’s God-given talents and simply enjoy being together.

St Ursula’s Day shows us that a thriving Ursuline community relies on three things: a prayerful heart, hands ready to serve, and a spirit ready to celebrate. Thank you to all the staff and students who made it such a memorable day.

May St Ursula and St Angela continue to watch over and inspire us.

Antoinette Nader
Religious Education Coordinator

Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast

Our annual Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast was a wonderful success, and we were delighted to welcome so many dads ot the College. The event provided a special opportunity for students to express their gratitude and enjoy meaningful time together with their father figures. We hope you enjoy these pictures from the morning.

Youth Ministry News

10:10 Youth Night

On Friday 21 August, St Ursula’s College hosted the 10:10 Youth Night. The evening saw over 300 students from Years 7-12, along with Year 6 students from OLF Primary School, connect with peers from neighbouring schools where they engaged in meaningful interactions through prayer, meals, and fun activities. Here is a reflection from one of our Year 8 students:

This was an enlightening faith experience in which the youth of the community were able to come together, enjoy a meal together and adoration in the Church. This provided a valuable opportunity for spiritual growth and community building, through prayer, discussion and shared activities. We were able to reflect on the healing nature of the Catholic faith, and the empowerment that comes when it is journeyed together. The event fostered a sense of unity and belonging within the community, and revealed the importance of connection within the Church and the strength that is found when we live it out together. Overall, the parish youth night was an incredible and enlightening faith experience that brought with it community connection and faithful reflection. 

Amelia F
Year 8

10:10 Conference

The 10:10 Conference is an annual gathering of over 1300 Year 10 students from across Sydney Catholic Schools who participate in the 10:10 Project, a Catholic Youth Ministry initiative promoting consent education, dignity, and respectful relationships through Christian values. The gathering, hosted by Good Samaritan Catholic College, Hinchinbrook gave students the opportunity to deepen their faith, build community, and grow in their discipleship journey. Here is a reflection from our Year 10 student Mikayla:

The 2026 10:10 Conference was a meaningful and memorable experience that encouraged me to reflect on my faith, relationships, future, and personal growth. Father Burke’s speech really resonated with me and one of the key messages I took was that life does not need to be completely figured out right now. This reminded me that it is okay to be uncertain about the future and that genuine growth happens through the experiences and challenges we face in the present. Additionally, Chris Keryakos’ “Music from the Heart” testimony and Sofia Mifsud’s keynote, “Love That Lasts: Relationships That Actually Work,” taught me that healthy relationships require important choices, communication, strong faith, and emotional presence rather than only relying on feelings. Koe’s musical performances with the band were amazing and deeply spiritual, creating a powerful atmosphere throughout the conference. The consistent opportunities for adoration, prayer, and personal reflection allowed me to slow down, think about these messages and strengthen my relationship with God. The welcoming venue also contributed to a positive atmosphere where students could connect, relax, and enjoy the day together. Overall, the conference was a valuable experience because it gave me the opportunity to reflect on who I am, what I value, and how I want to approach my faith, relationships, and future with greater purpose and confidence. 

Mikayla G
Year 10

Pray with Mary this October

October is traditionally celebrated as the Month of the Holy Rosary within the Catholic Church, a time dedicated to honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary and meditating on the mysteries of Christ. Throughout the month, Catholics are encouraged to deepen their spiritual lives by reflecting on the core events of Jesus’ life through prayer, meditation and the Rosary. 

There are many ways in which you can honour Mary in your daily routine. Some ideas include:

• Creating a dedicated prayer space at home with a picture or statue of Mary, a candle, and fresh flowers. This serves as a beautiful visual reminder to pause and reflect. 
• Gathering as a family each evening to pray the Rosary together, meditating on the mysteries of Christ and Mary. 
• You can also focus on memorising and reciting classic Marian prayers like the Hail Mary or the Memorare during morning or bedtime routines.

Nicole Katacos
Youth Ministry Coordinator

Year 9 Reflection Day

On Tuesday 8 September, Year 9 students participated in a special day of reflection revolving around the Ursuline charism value of UNITE. Students listened to inspirational guest speaker, adventurer and author of Walk4one and Road to Adolfo, Sam Clear. They also participated in an interactive drumming experience and worked on community building activities. We hope you enjoy reading these reflections from the Year 9 PC classes.

• From 9A: Reflection Day allowed our year group to bond and unite together as a community 
• From 9B: Reflection Day was such a rewarding day for our year group and PC. Together we listened, played and reflected on what unity means to us as a year group and how we can implement it in our day to day. Everybody’s enjoyment and participation meant we all got a chance to have fun and truly get something out of the activities. 
• From 9D: Reflection Day was a special day for our year group. Through various activities and a guest speaker we were able to reflect on our relationships with our peers and teachers and truly attempt to grow as a community with the idea of our school value ‘unite’ in mind. The collective participation of our year group made the experience truly memorable and very enjoyable for all. 
• From 9G: Reflection Day helped our whole year group come together and unite as a community. Through Sam Clear’s inspiring talk and the drumming activities, we learnt to listen to each other, work as a team, and appreciate the importance of unity. It was a fun and meaningful day that strengthened our connections with one another. 
• From 9M: Reflection Day was an amazing opportunity to come together as a year group, truly embodying our Year 9 value of ‘Unite’. The activities were very different from our previous Reflection Days, but the talk from Samuel Clear, the drumming session and the PC activity were all engaging and meaningful in their own ways. Each activity encouraged us to reflect, connect with one another and appreciate the importance of unity within our year group.
• From 9L: Reflection Day allowed our PC class to come together and truly unite as a community. We were all deeply inspired by our guest speaker Sam who shared his powerful journey and mission of connecting with God and people around the world no matter what the language barriers were. Through playing the drums and instruments together, we learnt to listen to one another and build a deep sense of mutual trust. It was a special opportunity where we could be our true selves and connect with each other in ways we never had before.
• From 9S: Reflection Day provided our PC class an opportunity to engage with one another and unite as one, while also reaching out and interacting with our grade. Our day started with an extremely inspiring and emotive speech from Sam Clear, who guided us through his journey around the world for unity. He reminded us that everyone must work together to achieve unity around the world. Our moods shifted from sad and reflective to joyous and excitable, as we took part in a drumming activity. Whilst this activity was exciting and fun, it allowed us to further reflect on our value of unity. Overall, our reflection day was fun and engaging and reminded us of the importance of uniting as one.

Japanese Visitors

From Monday 17 August to Wednesday 26 August, 23 students and 1 teacher from Sagami Women’s University Junior and Senior High School in Japan visited St Ursula’s College. During their visit, the exchange students buddied up with our Year 9 and Year 10 elective Japanese classes. We also had wonderful St Ursula’s families volunteer to host some of the Japanese students. Our visitors engaged in English lessons and accompanied their St Ursula’s buddies to their standard scheduled classes. To celebrate their visit, we also hosted an Aussie BBQ. As the exchange drew to a close, heartfelt farewells were shared, leaving both schools with cherished memories and new international friendships that will last forever.

Katie Fisher
Languages-Teacher In Charge

The Japanese exchange was a memorable occasion and was exciting to exchange culture and widen our understanding of Japanese culture. The experience was a home stay program and a school exchange where the Japanese girls were able to experience all of Australian culture. Many of us eagerly met the exchange students on Monday with a sign in Japanese. For the rest of the week they were here, they experienced our classes from English to electives. It was a rewarding experience for the Japanese students to see how Australian classes work and it was also a pleasant experience for us, as we Urshie girls got to learn a lot about Japanese culture. My buddy taught a lot of my classmates about Japanese culture and how they clean their schools at the end of the day. Each day the Japanese students had a period where they enriched their knowledge, playing Australian games and doing origami with the Australian Japanese classes. On Thursday we had an after school BBQ where we danced to cultural music and had a sausage sizzle. All of the Japanese girls were just so sweet and engaged, it was easy to become friends with them and the departure ‘sayounara’ party was filled with lots of tears. Many of the girls still keep in touch with their new Japanese friends and have learnt lots from them. It was an enriching experience and we hope to continue the experience and go to Japan next year.
Thank you to Miss Awad, Ms Fisher and Miss Onodera for making the exchange truly memorable. たのしかったです！

Lucia C
Year 10

This opportunity was truly unforgettable, cherishable and heartwarming. I could not have asked for anyone more pure and wholesome than the two Japanese students I hosted; Tsugumi and An. They each contrasted each other in their ability to express themselves in English, but both of them had their own ambitions that I was able to understand, from the brief time we spent together. Being able to share my lifestyle before, during and after school, being with them and/or talking to them, I felt like I should have treasured everything more than I should of because each moment spent with each of them deepened our relationship.

Ceana T
Year 9

Meeting with my Japanese buddies was honestly such a memorable experience. I had so much fun getting to know them and I hope they will be back here soon. Tsugumi: I’m pretty glad I got to know Tsugumi after meeting her. She seemed more talkative and lively than An. I remember the time when I felt very proud of her when she made a speech during the Sayounara party because she had the confidence to try to speak.
English in front of an audience alone. How I wish I could get to see her again 🙁 An: I’m also pretty glad about meeting An too. She seemed a bit shy, so it felt a bit awkward talking to her but she also seemed sweet and polite, and also tried some small talk to get to know her. She also gave me some candy before the Sayounara party, which was really nice of her.

Maria Ysobel A
Year 9

Our experience with the Japanese exchange students was quite fun, especially with Yukino as our buddy. When we first met with Yukino, all of us were a bit shy yet excited to meet each other. It didn’t take long before we started to become good friends and could start to communicate with each other properly. When we introduced Yukino to our friends, they were all welcoming and eager to see her. Especially bringing her to classes, lots of people were happy to see her. Although it wasn’t long before Yukino had to leave Australia, so we held a party for all of the exchange students, which was really fun, especially since they got to try special Australian foods. Although a couple days before this, at the sausage sizzle party I (Trinity) was so excited to meet her friends and sit in her group and exchange contacts with them. We had so much fun and we hope to see them sometime next year.

Trinity C and Jeslyn C
Year 9

Meeting the Japanese exchange students was a great opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and language. My friend and I were lucky enough to have Rinna as our buddy, and we really enjoyed getting to know her throughout the week. It was lovely to connect with someone from a different country through language and share our different experiences. At the end of the week, we had a Sayonara Party to celebrate before the Japanese students returned home, where they got to try different Australian snacks. It was a fun way to celebrate the friendships we had made and share a part of Australian culture with them. Overall, we really enjoyed the experience and are grateful that we had the opportunity to meet Rinna and make such great memories together.

Gabriella M and Amy M
Year 9

The exchange program was a very rewarding experience and allowed me to connect with new people from different backgrounds. It also enabled me to practise my Japanese naturally and learn more about the Japanese culture that isn’t included in textbooks, such as modern slang and internet jokes. This program has also brought my Japanese class closer. One memorable moment was at the Sayounara Party, where I met many others involved, such as the other Japanese students and the other Japanese classes. I am also sure that the Japanese students would cherish the week we have had together.

Chloe T
Year 9

Year 9 Food Technology Excursion

On a beautiful sunny spring Monday the Year 9 Food Technology students participated in a Food in Australia tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Led by Indigenous guide Scott, the students investigated and tasted a range of bush foods, including native raspberries, black apples & Davidson plums which Scott buried underground for a week to ripen before we came. Students learned about traditional and modern culinary uses of this produce and how First Nations’ peoples diets began to evolve when European people first farmed food in Sydney.

Emma Smith
TAS Coordinator

While exploring the garden, we were given the opportunity to taste the different ingredients, which was a really exciting experience! Each ingredient had an original taste and was unique in its own special way. It was a significant experience for me (and likely others) as I had never tasted these foods before. This excursion gave me the opportunity to learn much more about Indigenous culture, food and their way of life; it was also an enjoyable day out of the classroom.

Susannah J
Year 9

The highlight for me was walking around the garden and discovering how many native indigenous plants there were and how they were used. We learnt that the majority of the plants were used for medicine and food and how they used it in their daily practice, we even got told some dreamtime stories, and their history of ancestors and culture.

Kirana L
Year 9

Dancing success for Cara

On behalf of the College community, congratulations to our recently graduated Year 12 student, Cara M, who managed her gruelling HSC trial exams whilst simultaneously participating in the State Championships for Irish Dancing.

Cara said “I’m very proud to have achieved 2nd place at the NSW Irish Dancing Championships this year. It was a great achievement after all the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my dancing whilst completing my HSC trial exams a week in advance. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.” Cara has also qualified again for the 2027 World Championships to be held in Belfast, Ireland and she says she looks forward to expanding her dance career after school.

We wish her all the best for her ongoing success.

Photo courtesy of Milton Baar https;//swoose.net

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