Principal’s Message

Welcome to our College newsletter, highlighting many significant events our community has celebrated recently.

Week 5 was a Celebration of Books

Our Library staff brought Book Week to life across the entire College, sparking excitement and creativity throughout the campus. The festivities reached their peak on Friday 22 August with a lively dress-up day, complete with engaging activities and a vibrant parade in the Library.

Students and staff alike embraced the theme with enthusiasm—Wallys were spotted everywhere! From the office to the classroom, and even out in the playground, the College was awash with red-and-white stripes and playful shouts of “Where’s Wally?” echoing through the halls. It was a joyful celebration of literature, imagination, and community spirit.

A huge thank you to our Library staff for orchestrating such a memorable week and to our staff for embracing the dress up opportunity. Here’s to keeping the magic of books alive all year round!

Week 6 Events

Archbishops Award for Student Excellence

I am delighted to announce that Stephanie Paino was this year’s worthy recipient of the Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence. Ms Celeste Martinez, Year 12 Coordinator, and I attended this very special event at St Mary’s Cathedral with Stephanie and her family. Year 12 student, Jacinta Drummond, performed her original song, ‘A Call to Hope’, and our College Co-Captain, Zara Sly, read the citation for Stephanie.

Congratulations Stephanie. The St Ursula’s community is very proud of your true Serviam spirit.

St Ursula’s Day

Our College came together in joyful celebration for our Feast Day, honouring the legacy of St Ursula. We were especially delighted to welcome our Ursuline sisters who joined us for our special Mass, making the occasion even more meaningful:

• Sr Kari Hatherell, Ursuline Provincialate
• Sr Leone Pallisier, Principal 1976–1982
• Sr Mary O’Neill, Principal 1989–2007
• Sr Frances Milledge
• Sr Joan Brennan
• Sr Patty Andrews
• Sr Venera Nicolosi

Their presence was a beautiful reminder of our rich Ursuline heritage and the enduring spirit of service and community.

Following the Mass, students and staff embraced the sunshine with a spirited walkathon to raise funds for the Mother of Peace Primary School in Cambodia. The generosity and energy on display were truly inspiring.

Once back at the College, our Year 10 Commerce students showcased their entrepreneurial flair by running vibrant market stalls for lunch—an impressive effort that added flavour and fun to the day.

The celebration concluded with a concert that, true to tradition, was full of talent, heart, and joy. It was a fitting finale to a day that brought our community together in faith, purpose, and celebration.

Week 7 Events 

Year 9 2026 Subject Selection Evening

Our Year 8 students, along with their parents and carers, attended an informative Subject Selection Evening in preparation for Year 9 in 2026. These information evenings provide a valuable opportunity to explore the wide range of subjects available, understand course structures, and gain insights into future academic pathways. Year 8 were also able to learn more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program offered at the College. The collaborative atmosphere on the night encouraged meaningful conversations between students and their families, so they can make informed decisions that ensure choices align with personal aspirations and future opportunities.

HSC Visual Arts Showcase Evening

The talent of our Year 12 Visual Arts students was clearly on display at this year’s Showcase Evening—a celebration of creativity, dedication, and artistic growth. The event offered a wonderful opportunity to exhibit the culmination of each student’s HSC journey, with major works that reflected months of exploration, experimentation, and refinement. The gallery space was transformed into a vibrant reflection of student imagination and perseverance demonstrating not only technical skills but also the courage to express complex ideas and emotions through art. Thank you to our Visual Arts faculty for their guidance and support.

HSC Music Showcase Evening

On Wednesday evening, we had the pleasure of witnessing our talented Year 12 students take the stage for the HSC Music Showcase Evening. Their performances were a testament to months of dedication, creativity and passion, and each piece reflected the unique musical journey of our students. It was a truly inspiring night that highlighted the depth of talent within our College community. Thank you to Ms Josifovski for her guidance of these students and the the Music and Creative Arts Department for their support during the evening.

Father’s Day Mass and BBQ Breakfast 

Today we celebrated all the incredible men in our community – fathers, grandfathers, uncles and carers – with a beautiful Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church, followed by a joyful breakfast at the College. It was truly heartwarming to see our community come together in appreciation and love. I know your daughters truly value sharing these events with you. Thank you to Mrs Nader and our Religious Education faculty for their organisation of the Mass and to our volunteer staff and students for their true Serviam spirit, arriving from 7.00 am to start cutting 500 x bread rolls, cook sausages and serve with a smile.

Upcoming community events

SUPA Father Daughter Bowling Night

We hope to see many dads, grandfathers, uncles, and carers sharing in the joy, connection, and spirit of our College community on Thursday 11 September. This is one of our most loved events and it is nearly full! For $30 per person, enjoy bowling, shoe hire, unlimited pizza, hot chips, and soft drinks. Don’t miss this special night for dads and daughters. Grab your tickets before they sell out!

Parent Forum – Purposeful Use of Technology Survey Results

Thank you for taking the time to complete the parent survey. We truly appreciate your time and thoughtful responses. The collective results will be shared at a special interactive evening in the Merici Hall on 17 September, from 6:00 to 8:30pm. I hope you can join us.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the parents, students, and staff who were part of our working parties alongside Danielle Einstein and myself this term. Their collaboration and commitment have been instrumental.

I wish all members of our community a wonderful weekend and to our fathers and father figures a very happy Father’s Day.

Warm regards

Vivienne Awad
Principal

Gospel Reflection

This week’s Gospel from Luke calls us to embrace humility and see the world through a different lens. In this Gospel passage, Jesus shares a simple, yet profound, teaching on humility. He observes guests at a dinner party scrambling for the seats of honour, and he uses this moment to offer a new perspective on how we should approach our place in the world. Instead of seeking the highest position, Jesus advises us to take the lowest place. He promises that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” He goes on to tell the host not to invite only friends and family, but also the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, because they cannot repay him. In doing so, he teaches that true reward comes from serving without expectation of return.

In a world that constantly encourages us to push ourselves and our children forward, this message can feel counter-cultural. Social media often rewards those with the most followers, likes, or public achievements. For parents, our greatest desire is often for our children to succeed and have a life of honour, and we can easily fall into the trap of seeking places of honour for our families.

Jesus offers a different path. True humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself, but about thinking of yourself less often. As parents, our role is not just to advocate for our children’s success but to teach them the value of grace and kindness. It’s about helping them understand that their worth isn’t tied to their achievements but to the person they are becoming. It’s about letting go of our own pride and trusting them to find their way, knowing that a humble spirit is a far greater achievement than any award or title.

For teenagers, this means celebrating a friend’s success without feeling jealous. It means being willing to ask for help when you don’t understand something in class. It means serving others on a team even if it’s not the most glamorous role. Humility allows us to be truly present for others and to find our value not in a high rank, but in the simple act of being a kind and genuine person. By taking the lowest place, we create space for authentic connection and true joy.

This passage is a gentle reminder for us all that our worth is not measured by how high we climb on the social or economic ladder. Jesus’s teaching calls us to a different kind of life—one where we model humility by apologising for our mistakes, serving our community quietly, and being grateful for the simple blessings in our lives. When we teach our children that true honour comes from a heart of service, we give them a foundation that can never be shaken. We are teaching them that in God’s kingdom, the last are first, and those who humbly serve are the ones who are truly exalted.

Antoinette Nader
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

St Ursula’s Day Celebrations

St Ursula’s Day is a wonderful day of celebration at the College and 2025 was no exception. As a community we celebrated the lives of St Ursula and St Angela Merici, who have inspired us to live a life of Serviam. The day began with Mass, followed by the Walkathon and food stalls in the Piazza. The day concluded with a wonderful concert.

We extend our great appreciation and thanks to the following organisations who contributed to the success of the Year 10 commerce student’s food stalls that took place after the Walkathon.

• Oiboba Bubble Tea Australia
• Woolworths Rockdale
• Woolworths Marrickville Metro
• Aldi Wolli Creek
• Coles Brighton Le Sands
• Muffin Break Burwood
• Fruit World Roselands
• Coles Oatley West
• The Burg Five Dock
• Coles Clemton Park
• Coles Earlwood
• Lloyd’s IGA South Hurstville

Walkathon and its connection to Cambodia

I have been asked a few times this week why we walk on St Ursula’s Day in solidarity with our Cambodian community? The see-judge-act method is a three-step process for social analysis and action and this formed the foundation of our immersion. First, one sees the social issue by immersing themselves in the situation and gathering facts. Second, one judges the situation by reflecting on it using moral and ethical principles such as those found in faith traditions. Finally, one acts by developing and implementing a concrete plan to address the root causes of injustice. The following is the presentation shared by three of our remarkable Yr 10 students who travelled to Cambodia. I hope their hearts may be heard as you read their reflections. 

SEE…

When we arrived at Mother of Peace Primary School in Cambodia, we were filled with a mix of emotions that are hard to put into words. There was joy in the way the kids ran up to us with open arms and even bigger smiles. They threw themselves into our laps, held our hands, played games and laughed with us. Even though there was a language barrier, connection came so easily. It was so pure and so real. Being there opened our eyes.

One of the biggest takeaways we gained from the immersion was learning the true meaning of PERSPECTIVE. Perspective means being able to see life through someone else’s eyes and recognising that our way of living isn’t the only way. We saw perspective by witnessing the true realities of life for the people in the community: through our time with the students and sisters at Mother of Peace Primary School, conversations and dinner with university students, and being welcomed into the homes of four families. We saw that while they had little in a material sense, they were rich in spirit, hope and kindness.

I want to share the story of a girl in Year 5, Chan, who deeply impacted me. We had the privilege of visiting her home and witnessing the true reality she faces each day. She brings so much joy and energy to the classroom and it became clear that school is her safe space, a place where she can have fun and learn. But at home, the sadness in her eyes told a very different story. Sister Kresnthia who accompanied us informed us of her situation at home. Her father, who separated from her mother when Chan was very young, lost his vision and became reliant on his two kids, a 12 year old and a 10 year old, to do daily tasks. Sister suggested that, to lift the cost burden off the father’s shoulder, she could put Chan into a scholarship program to allow her to continue her education. The father’s response broke our hearts. He said “But who will be my eyes?” In that moment, we saw his deep love and growing dependence. Letting her go meant losing his connection to the world.

Her story was a powerful reminder that her education is not just hers, it’s her family’s hope. Walking away from that home, I realised that perspective isn’t just about seeing life through someone else’s eyes, but also about carrying their stories with you. Chan’s courage, her father’s love and the resilience of the community will forever shape how I view the world and what truly matters in life. I am deeply and forever grateful to have witnessed firsthand what life is truly like in a third world country. We arrived in Cambodia hoping to change the children’s lives but what we didn’t expect was how much they would change ours. The love and strength we felt touched our hearts deeply and with that, we opened our hearts. A piece of us will forever remain with the courage and hope of the people we met.

JUDGE…

Being in Cambodia and seeing the suffering started to make us question everything. It opened our eyes not only to joy, resilience and kindness, but also to the deep injustices. We were truly humbled. We found ourselves asking very difficult questions that we’d never considered before. How can a country so full of spirit and community be healing from so much pain? We saw the lasting scars of Cambodia’s history. The devastating effects of the Khmer Rouge genocide still leaves its mark. More than four million lives were lost and entire systems were destroyed. Education, health and Government were impacted brutally. Old aged citizens living in Cambodia still had to work long hours to eat at least one meal a day and to pay for things. From our bus we drove past pollution and many street-side stores which was heartbreaking. Most of us may have never heard of landmines before but unfortunately for Cambodians, it’s a deadly legacy. 

At least 10 million landmines remain buried beneath the soil and continue to injure hundreds of thousands of people, especially those in rural areas. We met countless people with disabilities as a result of the landmines. We are lucky to live in Australia. Our government provides ramps, mobility aid, and healthcare. In countries like Cambodia, that’s practically non-existent.  The immersion gave us such great insight into not just life in Cambodia, but the systems of poverty and inequality that exist all over the world. In fact, the average income is $6 a day and most families live on less than $150 a MONTH. The more we saw, the more we questioned. Why is basic education still considered a ‘privilege’ and not a reality in many of these communities? Why is there such a lack of government support for those living with mixed abilities? Why is the burden of genocide still being carried by children who were never apart of it? Why are children being forced to grow up too soon to support their families? These are uncomfortable truths but ones we can no longer ignore. 

Even in the face of these hard truths, what stood out the most in these communities was love. Pure and honest bubbling love. At the Mother of Peace Primary School where we were surrounded by children so full of joy and laughter, we were reminded that happiness doesn’t come from what you have but from who you choose to be as a person. Even though we felt sadness at the hardship they faced, we felt inspired.

We returned home as changed women with fresh eyes. Things we once saw as normal, like school, clean water, a safe home, we learnt are actually privileges that many people live without. And yet, the people we met still found a reason to smile, to hope and to love. We all left a piece of our hearts in Cambodia. We’ve all grown not just as individuals but together as Cambodian sisters. So today from my heart to yours, let’s walk with appreciation, compassion and open hearts. Because together we can really go out and make a difference in the world. 

ACT…

For most of us, when we think about the Walkathon we think of a day of mufti, food stalls, walking – just another event on the calendar. But it’s so much more than that. 

It’s a chance to act for change and use our privilege for good. To help you understand more about your potential for change, I’d like to share a part of a poem we heard whilst we were on immersion. It goes like this:

“It’s not just what you’re born with, it’s what you choose to bear. 

It’s not how big your share is, it’s how much of it you can share.

It’s not the fights you dreamed of, it’s those you really fought.

It’s not what you’ve been given, it’s what you do with what you’ve got.

What’s the use of two strong legs, if you only run away?

What’s the use of the finest voice, if you’ve nothing good to say?”

We all have the power. We all have the privilege. We need to become the sources of change our world needs. So I urge each and every one of you to partake in the upcoming Walkathon for the sake of change. 

With each dollar we raise, a child is able to continue their education, a family is supported and a future is made so much brighter and filled with possibilities.  In fact, if you donate just $15, the cost of breakfast and a coffee, you can fund a month’s worth of schooling for a child. School is a gift, a source of opportunities. More often than not, we take school for granted. But for someone else, it’s a dream. A chance for a brighter future. That’s why we must make the most of what we have, embrace every opportunity school provides, and do what we can for others, because in doing so, we hold the power to transform another life. 

For us, the Walkathon is no longer just something we do, it’s something we believe in. This year, as ‘Cambodian Sisters’, we will be walking in solidarity with all the people we met, with the children and the families whose lives touched ours so deeply. We will be walking, not just with our feet, but with our hearts, knowing that love and compassion can travel across oceans and create real change. Let today be a reminder to be grateful. To maximise all the opportunities we are given. And to commit ourselves to using our privilege to uplift others. Because together, we rise. This is what it means to be Serviam in the world. 

Keira Yazbeck, Indiana Udit & Liana Kazzi 
Year 10

Father’s Day Mass

Archbishop Awards

As a College community we are proud to celebrate the 2025 recipient of the Archbishop of Sydney Award for Student Excellence – Stephanie Paino. 

From a young age, Stephanie has been actively involved in parish life at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Peakhurst. She is an altar server, Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, cantor, musician, and Children’s Liturgy assistant. Since its inception, Stephanie has been a member of the OLF Youth Choir, helping teach younger members, promoting worship through music. Stephanie regularly attends the Oasis Youth Group for Bible study and volunteers as a Holiday Bible Club leader, guiding kindergarten children in religious activities. 

She contributes to the faith life of the school by participating in Masses as a cantor, musician, lector, and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. A personal highlight was when she sang the Responsorial Psalm at the Cathedral for the school’s Opening Mass this year. For three years, Stephanie has volunteered with OneMeal Kingsgrove, providing meals to the underprivileged, and also participated in the Zonta Birthing Kit Day, helping prepare kits for women in developing countries. Stephanie truly exemplifies the spirit of ‘Serviam’ through her faithful service.

We thank Zara Sly, College Captain for reading the citation and Ms Awad and Ms Martinez who accompanied Stephanie and her proud family to St Mary’s Cathedral to receive the award.

Youth Ministry News

Over the past month, our students have embraced wonderful faith-filled opportunities, and have shared their experiences below.

Year 7, 8, 9 Evangelisation Day – 13 August

In Week 4, we had the privilege to attend the Sydney Catholic Schools Evangelisation Day for Year 7, 8 and 9. This day was held at Mount St Joseph’s in Milperra and over 800 students attended.

The day deepened our understanding of the Chrisitan faith and encouraged us to live a life with Christ. Guest speaker Emily shared a powerful message about embracing our natural and inner beauty, rather than masking it to fit social media standards or changing your personality for others.

Throughout the day, we participated in singing and dancing, Reconciliation and Adoration. The 10:10 Project led us in music and dance, with John Burland performing several of these songs. Multiple priests were on site to answer any questions about the Christian faith or for Reconciliation. Adoration allowed us to have a quiet moment to reflect and strengthen our spiritual relationship with Jesus present in the room with us.

We also learned about Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint awaiting to be canonised. His devotion to God was truly inspiring as he was dedicated as a young boy. A talk-show inspired discussion, ‘Chat with Chez’, allowed us to hear how people incorporate God into their daily life. It was followed by a fun trivia game about Pope Leo.

It was a great opportunity to connect with students from other schools and overall, the day was uplifting and strengthened my relationship with God. I highly recommend this event to Year 7 and 8 students next year.

Sophie Steel
Year 9

10:10 Parish Night – 28th August

Last Thursday evening, students from St Ursula’s, along with many other schools, gathered at St Vincent’s College for a fun and inspiring youth night. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by a team of enthusiastic hosts and quickly found our seats among a crowd of young people. The evening was filled with opportunities to meet new friends, enjoy delicious food and take part in a range of engaging games and activities. Beyond the fun, we also had the chance to learn new things, reflect on our faith, and share meaningful conversations with others. As the night drew to a close, we walked together to St Vincent’s Church, where we participated in a beautiful time of Adoration. Reconciliation was also available, offering a quiet moment of personal reflection and spiritual growth for those who chose to receive it. Overall, it was a memorable experience, and we’re all looking forward to the next Youth Night.

Taylor Francis
Year 8

10:10 Conference – 3 September

On Wednesday, 3 September, students from the 10:10 Youth Group attended a youth conference dedicated to deepening faith, reflecting on values, and strengthening the bonds of community. The day provided students with the opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with a variety of speakers who shared their insights on living as young people of faith in today’s world.

John Nguyen and Rachel Vala delivered keynote addresses about their lives and modesty, discussing how it can be lived out. Their messages challenged students to reflect on the ways in which they can carry themselves with dignity and respect, and how modesty extends beyond appearance to the way we interact with others and uphold our values.

A panel discussion followed, featuring a Year 10 student, a Year 12 student and Father Sonny. This diverse panel offered perspectives across different stages of life and faith journeys, with the younger students reflecting on the challenges of living authentically in a school environment, while Father Sone Tominiko provided wisdom and guidance from his pastoral experience. Together, they highlighted that faith is not limited to a single moment in time but is a lifelong journey of growth, resilience, and community support.

Beyond the formal presentations, the conference also provided valuable opportunities for fellowship. During the breaks, students were able to connect with peers from other schools, exchanging stories, discussing ideas, and sharing their own beliefs. These conversations helped to foster a strong sense of unity and mutual respect, demonstrating that despite coming from different schools and backgrounds, the students were united by a common purpose and faith.

The atmosphere throughout the day was one of encouragement and inspiration. Many students left the conference not only with a deeper understanding of their own faith but also with a renewed appreciation for the role of community in supporting them along the way. Events such as this highlight the importance of creating spaces where young people can engage in open discussion, explore important topics and feel empowered to live out their values in everyday life.

The conference strongly reflected the mission of the 10:10 Youth Group, which takes its name from John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The day encouraged students to consider how they can embrace this message by living out their faith with joy, courage, and integrity. Through prayer, learning, and fellowship, the youth were reminded that Christ calls each of them to a life that is rich in meaning, strengthened by community, and grounded in God’s love.

Olivia Katacos
Year 10

RESearch Podcast

Answering the big questions about the Catholic faith.

RESearch is a collaboration between the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and Sydney Catholic Schools. Each week, they search for answers to questions that students and teachers ask about the Catholic Faith. Click on the link to access a wide range of podcasts.

Pope Leo XIV on Protecting Creation

From his earliest days as a missionary, Pope Leo XIV has shown a deep care for the environment and the people most affected by climate change. He reminds us that the earth is not just a resource; it is our common home, a gift from God entrusted to our care.

Pope Leo XIV teaches that:

• Creation is sacred – every mountain, river, and tree reflects God’s beauty.
• Caring for creation is caring for people – especially the poor who suffer most from environmental damage.
• Small actions matter – choosing less waste, saving energy, and caring for local spaces all honour God.

“Let us be guardians, not exploiters, of the earth that God has given to us.”  – Pope Leo XIV

Source: SCS Youth Ministry Newsletter

Nicole Katacos
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Assistant REC (Acting)

NAPLAN Results

Our Year 7 and Year 9 students sat the NAPLAN tests in March of this year, and we are very pleased to acknowledge their strong achievements. These results reflect the focus and effort students have applied to their learning, not only this year but over a number of years.

Both cohorts achieved results that were well above the NSW state average and also above the results of statistically similar schools across the domains of Reading, Writing, Numeracy, Grammar and Punctuation, and Spelling. A particular highlight is that around 80% of students in both Year 7 and Year 9 were placed in the Strong or Exceeding bands across the domains.

This success reflects the sustained effort of both teachers and students over the past three years, with a clear emphasis on strengthening literacy and numeracy across the school. A particular focus has been placed on developing students’ reading and writing skills, alongside a whole-school approach to embedding numeracy in every subject area. These strategies are making a genuine difference, and our students should feel proud of their achievements.

NAPLAN provides a snapshot of our students’ literacy and numeracy achievement at a moment in time. While this information is valuable, we use it alongside a variety of other data sources to gain a holistic view of student learning. This approach allows us to celebrate areas of strength, identify opportunities for growth, and ensure all students are supported to reach their potential.

We congratulate our students on these excellent results and thank staff for their ongoing commitment to building a strong learning culture. We look forward to using these insights to further strengthen teaching and learning this year and beyond.

Ryan Zammit
Leader of Teaching & Learning Innovation

Book Week – Book an adventure

The St Ursula’s community celebrated Book Week in style this term. There were daily competitions in the notices and in the library as well as a Kahoot and badge making. The week culminated in our annual dress-up day where staff and students got into the spirit of Book Week by coming to school dressed as a book character or as if they were going on an adventure. This year we had over 90 Wally’s teaching and working at St Ursula’s.

Year 7 and a selected group of Book Club students also had the opportunity to listen to and work with Kristin Darell. Kristen is an author and journalist who has written middle grade books about football and the zoo. Kristen shared with us how she has combined her love of sport and animals and her interest in research to write engaging books for young people. She gave the book club her insights into how to structure a story with a good beginning and a solid ending. We can’t wait to read her upcoming series called ‘It’s a twin thing’ due for publication in February 2026.

Thanks to all the library staff for organising a fun week of activities and the staff and students for their participation. Congratulations to all the competition winners who took home a new book or book shop voucher.

Elizabeth Lansdown
Resource & Information Co-ordinator

National Science Week

This year’s National Science Week at St Ursula’s was a journey into the unknown, guided by the theme – ‘Decoding the universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language’. Inspired by the 2025 United National International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and the International Mathematical Olympiad hosted right here in Australia, our students embraced the challenge of uncovering the secrets of nature through mathematics and quantum science that underpin our world.

Monday kicked off the week with a deep dive into genetics using DNA analysis to identify species, revealing how the building blocks of life can be decoded. Students also stepped into the shoes of a NASA ground controller in an immersive escape room challenge, solving scientific puzzles to rescue a stranded astronaut. 

Tuesday the garden became the laboratory as students explored the geometry of seed shapes and their evolutionary significance. Students decoded patterns in nature which was a reminder that all science doesn’t occur in the labs, when exploring the soil and seed of the environment around them.

Wednesday students were exploring light interference. Students observed the properties of light with an activity using a laser pointer and a hair. It created an interference pattern that allowed students to calculate the width of their hair as light acts as a wave that has diffracted around the hair into two waves which interfere with each other.

To wrap up National Science Week, students took on the Marshmallow Catapult Challenge. With marshmallows flying across classrooms, students applied the principles of physics, engineering and design thinking to build the most effective catapults.

A huge thank you to all of our Science teachers who supported National Science Week at the College. These activities bridged foundational science, showing students how to decode the world around them.

Kaitlyn McDougall
Assistant Science Coordinator & Newman Teacher in Charge

Year 9 Reflection Day

On Tuesday 2 September, Year 9 participated in Reflection Day, focusing on our core value of Unite. We came together in Merici to take part in a variety of engaging activities which were enjoyable and inspiring. The day began with a talk from guest speaker, Sam, who shared his journey walking across several countries over nearly two years to promote unity and prayer. His experience highlighted the importance of perseverance, faith in God, forgiveness and seeing the good in others as well as appreciating and being grateful for what we have after hearing the circumstances of others. Following this, we joined a drum circle led by three musicians, collaborating as a year group to create rhythms and work together. Finally, in our Pastoral Care groups, we reflected on our day whilst completing a jigsaw puzzle activity where each student decorated their own piece. Once assembled, the puzzles symbolised how although we are all different, every piece is essential to form a united whole, reinforcing the value of Unite.

Angelina Haklane
Year 9

Reflection day was a gorgeous day that allowed us to come together as a year 9 cohort and really stop to reflect on what unity really means. Sam gave a captivating story about all the trials and tribulations that came from the journey to unity, which showed us that unity is not easy but when it’s achieved it is truly beautiful. After recess we entered a fantastic drumming circle experience where we learnt what it means to work together and to be one. The drumming showed us that unity is not just our words but its our actions, what we do and a deeper spiritual bond. Finally after lunch we sat down together in our pc groups to spend time bonding as we each worked on our own puzzle piece that would fit into a pc puzzle. These events really showed us the meaning of unity and allowed us to really connect as a year group. Thank you Mrs Nader and Miss Katacos for all the work put into creating a memorable day. 

Lucia Corniola
Year 9

Year 9 Vivid Visions Bag Samples

Cielo Collaguazo
Year 9

Year 10 Reflection Day

Yr 10 were incredibly blessed to participate in their reflection Day hosted by amazing speakers and presenters including Luke Tobin from Catholic Mission. The girls participated wholeheartedly and immersed themselves in the understanding of others’ circumstances through understanding the ‘dignity of the human-being’. 

They worked together as a team to put together many snack packs that could be distributed to families in need. Individual notes were hand written to family members receiving these much needed packs. I could personally see the impact this was having on the girls and was very proud to watch them ACT together and be young Serviam women.

Deanna Peterson 
Yr 10 Coordinator

Our Year 10 Reflection Day was such a valuable experience, giving us the chance to pause and reflect on the Ursuline value of ACT, living out our faith through service, courage, and compassion. We listened to Luke Tobin from Catholic Mission, who spoke to us about issues of justice and faith, and really encouraged us to think about the choices we make and how they can impact others. One of the most meaningful parts of the day was taking part in service activities, where we worked together to prepare Snack Packs for Vinnies Vans and Breakfast Packs for One Meal. Knowing that these packs will directly help people who are experiencing homelessness and food insecurity gave us a sense of purpose. We also heard from Joanne Riakos from St Vincent de Paul Society, who showed how commitment and kindness can create real change. We are especially grateful to Mrs Nader, Mrs Peterson, and the PC teacher team for organising such a meaningful day, which reminded us of the importance of living out our faith through action.

Keira Yazbeck
Year 10

Year 10 Reflection Day was an eye-opening experience as we learned and explored different ways to give back to the community. Through making snack packs, listening to Joanne Riakos share her Vinnies Van experience and hearing from Luke and Dorothy from Catholic mission, we gained a completely different perspective on how other people live their lives. The reality is something most of us could never imagine. 

Through the work of Catholic Mission, Luke and Dorothy informed us about the work they have done to help others, both here and on a global scale. This reminded us that service isn’t only about giving, but about love, kindness and understanding.

Making snack packs for the less fortunate allowed us to put not only our hands, but our hearts to work. Knowing that something as simple as a snack pack can make a difference in someone’s day reminded us that small acts of kindness can be significant. Joanne’s stories about the Vinnies Van and how they have been able to reach and connect with many people showed us how small, simple gestures of kindness can bring dignity and comfort to those in need. 

This reflection day was a reminder to all of us of how blessed we are to have the opportunity to volunteer and participate in school initiatives to help those in need. It taught us that with a little bit of kindness and compassion we can make a big difference. This day encouraged us to act, to serve and to uphold human dignity as we have the ability to make a real difference in our world. It reminded us to always see others with compassion, to listen with an open heart and to never underestimate the power of caring for one another.

Kristy Chalhoub and Olivia Gois
Year 10

Year 10 French/Japanese excursions

Year 10 Japanese Excursion

On Friday 22 August, the Year 10 Japanese class went on an excursion into the city. Our excursion involved a fabulous lunch at KuraKura Japanese dining, followed by a shopping trip to DAISO. 

We had been anticipating this excursion since the start of the year and it is safe to say it certainly surpassed our expectations! It was not only an enjoyable experience that brought us even closer together in our already quite small class, but it deepened our understanding and respect for Japanese culture. We had three delicious options to choose from for our lunch: Simmered Beef, Karaage Chicken or Chicken Cutlet – All served with salad, takoyaki and miso soup. The staff were incredibly kind, and we cannot express enough how grateful we are that we had the opportunity to experience having lunch at KuraKura dining. Shortly after our lunch, we made our way over to DAISO to purchase all sorts of things; stationery, snacks, drinks, keychains, and other little gadgets that you don’t quite find in your regular shopping centre. 

Despite the slightly wet conditions, we all had an unforgettable day filled with delicious food and lots of laughter. This excursion was a wonderful experience that made us appreciate Japanese culture more than we already do.

Yvonne Pearce
Year 10 Japanese

Year 10 French Excursion

On Friday 22 August, Year 10 French had the opportunity to dine at the Little Snail French cuisine restaurant in Pyrmont. We enjoyed a three-course meal that included a variety of traditional French dishes, including escargot (snails) which we all tried for the first time!  

The excursion gave us the opportunity to see how French dining works in real life, including how meals are served and how people enjoy their food. It was a great way to connect what we have been learning in class with real French culture. We were able to experience the language, customs, and atmosphere that are an important part of life in France. It was a memorable experience that gave us the chance to practice our French speaking skills and learn about French culture in a different way together as a group.

Gabrielle Coorey
Year 10 French

Year 10 PDHPE – Stop it or Cop it

Seeing that this is the time for us to be getting our drivers licences, we have been delving into the topic “Stop It or Cop It” in Year 10 PDHPE, where we have been looking into the complexities of Road Safety and Driving Responsibilities. During this topic, we were introduced to an intriguing lifelike sculpture called ‘Graham’ as part of the campaign Project Graham. Graham’s otherworldly features make for a person who would be invincible to motor vehicle crashes. He was created to emphasise the dangers of car accidents, which is especially relevant today, as modern vehicles reach higher speeds and our bodies don’t have the physiology to absorb the impact when things go wrong.

The sculpture was created by a road safety engineer, a trauma surgeon from the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and a local Australian artist, to help people really understand how vulnerable our bodies are in accidents. With how fast and high-tech modern cars are getting, our bodies just aren’t made to handle that kind of force. As we dove into his exaggerated features, we were extremely curious about his bizarre, crash-proof body. Seeing Graham for the first time was certainly not what we expected, really making us stop and think about the risks we take every time we get into a car, and how important it is to take road safety seriously – especially as we start learning to drive ourselves. Graham reminds us that our bodies aren’t built for crashes — they’re built for living. Staying safe on the road isn’t just a rule, it’s a responsibility.

Olivia Gois and Gabrielle Coorey
Yr 10 students

Year 11 IB Spanish Ab Initio Excursion

During our Spanish Ab Initio excursion to Instituto Cervantes, we immersed ourselves in Spanish culture through various engaging activities and explored the extensive Spanish library that was there. The experience provided a wonderful opportunity to practice our language skills and deepen our understanding of the Hispanic world.

We attended a Spanish Class where we completed activities based on food, recipes, and restaurants. This experience allowed us to practice our speaking and writing skills with the Spanish teachers, including re-writing a recipe of the traditional Spanish dish ‘Gazpacho’ and memory competitions.This was followed by a trip to the Gabriela Mistral Library to learn about Spanish cryptography, and have a go at creating crypto codes of our own. There, we participated in cryptography activities in Spanish to practice our understanding skills. 

We ended the excursion with a visit to “La Hacienda”, a traditional Peruvian restaurant that offered various traditional snacks such as Colombian and Peruvian empanadas.This excursion was a fantastic and unique experience that allowed us to engage with many people from various Hispanic cultures and improve our Spanish skills. 

Spanish translation:

Durante nuestra excursión de español ab initio al Instituto Cervantes, nos sumergimos en la cultura española a través de diversas actividades interesantes y exploramos la extensa biblioteca de español del lugar. La experiencia nos ofreció una maravillosa oportunidad para practicar nuestras habilidades linguísticas y profundisar nuestra comprensión del mundo hispánico.

Asistimos a una clase de español donde realizamos actividades basadas en comida, recetas y restaurantes. Esta experiencia nos permitió practicar nuestras habilidades de expresión oral y escrita con los profesores de español, incluyendo la reescritura de una receta del gazpacho, un plato tradicional español, y participar en concursos de memoria. A continuación, visitamos la Biblioteca Gabriela Mistral para aprender sobre la criptografía española e intentar crear nuestros propios códigos criptográficos. Allí, participamos en actividades de criptografía en español para practicar nuestra comprensión de lectura.

Finalizamos la excursión con una visita a “La Hacienda”, un restaurante tradicional peruano que ofrecía diversos bocadillos tradicionales, como empanadas colombianas y peruanas. Esta excursión fue una experiencia fantástica y única que nos permitió conectar con personas de diversas culturas hispánicas y mejorar nuestro español.

Year 11 IB Spanish Ab Initio Class

Tournament of Minds

Tournament of Minds (TOM) was founded in Victoria, Australia, in 1987, as an initiative by the Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented children by Justice Michael Kirby. Its purpose was to foster creative and cognitive thinking, and collaborative problem solving in students. 

On Saturday 30 August, ten students from Years 7-9 participated in the Tournament of Minds. At the start of TOM, we got into two teams of five and chose a long term challenge from either: Language literature, Social Sciences, Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) or Arts. My team chose the Social Sciences. Each team for each task (long term) was given 6 weeks to prepare and complete. My task was called TOMunity Tackles Down Tensions. We had to create a recreational facility that people across all ages would enjoy and two sites where we could place this new facility. We also had to write a speech, telling the judges what and how we planned, created and thought of our design. On the day of the Tournament of Minds challenge, we are also given a short term spontaneous challenge, in which we are given four minutes to discuss, then one minute to present. The whole point of the challenge is to work collaboratively under a strict time limit, then finally present your ideas to the judges. 

Overall, this challenge was extremely fun. Although it did take lots of work, with six weeks to prepare and complete, I thought that it really boosted my collaboration skills, time management skills and cooperation skills. Within these 6 weeks, I learnt so much and gained so many new ideas, skills and this definitely helped push my boundaries even further. I feel like TOM was such an amazing experience and although it did take a lot of hard work, time and energy to put in, I would definitely do this next year!

Chelsea Serrano
Year 7

Thursday Sport results

As well as our Thursday representative AFL and Rugby 7’s teams, On Thursday 4 September, we had three teams compete at the Conference 3 Tennis Gala Day. Our Intermediate team came away with first place and our Senior team with second place!

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.

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