College Principal

I want to begin by thanking our entire community for coming together after the tragic death of Year 7 student, Charlotte O’Brien. Your support and compassion have been invaluable, and we will continue to stand by one another in the weeks and months ahead. As a College and a community, we remain committed to supporting Charlotte’s family, our students, parents and staff at this time of great sadness. 

I also want to thank the Police for their support and for their efforts on an ongoing investigation. And I want to thank Headspace and all the other experts including the NSW Department of Education and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW who have worked with the College to ensure we offer the right support for staff, students and families. 

For me, this has truly demonstrated the healing power of our Catholic Dominican community that is united in an expression of love, compassion and inclusivity. The words ‘thank you’ seem to fall short, but please know that they come from deep within my heart. 

I know that there has been extraordinary commentary around this matter, and I want to emphasise that I am limited in what I can say publicly as there is an ongoing police inquiry and I will never breach the privacy of any student or family at the College. All I can say is that this is very complex, and naturally as a school and as individuals, we have reflected on what we could or should have done differently.  

Our Anti-Bullying Policy and procedures are best practice and are continuously reviewed to ensure we provide the best possible care for students and staff. These policies were approved by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) earlier this year, and clearly outline our commitment to act quickly whenever concerns are raised, and to always handle matters in a manner which is appropriate and supportive for young people.

Suggestions of a culture of bullying at the College are confronting and go against the very fabric of our faith and the way we live our lives – they are certainly contrary to what we have witnessed in our community over the last few weeks. This week alone, I have received so many messages from families that talk about their children feeling safe and cared for, that I can authentically say that I know every staff member holds the care of your children close to our hearts.

We continue to work with students experiencing a range of issues including friendship, family and mental health to educate them on reporting matters and developing strategies to help them manage the complexities that life invariably presents. When concerns around bullying or friendship issues are raised, we respond to these  with age appropriate consequences according to our policies, procedures and pastoral care programs.

I would also like to reiterate that if you are aware of any issues with your child, please report this to the College immediately so we can investigate and offer the appropriate support to you both. And if you have any questions about our processes or the support you are receiving, please come to me directly.  

This week, Headspace has worked alongside the College to deliver sessions with students to help them work through grief, sadness, uncertainty and confusion. This evening’s online Headspace session will provide valuable support to you as parents on how to talk to your child about grief, loss and their own mental health and I encourage you to register via this link. 

On a separate note, as we approach the graduation of our Year 12 students, this week marks GRADitude Week. It’s a time for our students to reflect on their journey and express their appreciation for those who have been part of it. We wish them the very best as they prepare for their final school events and the upcoming HSC/IB exams.

Our recent HSC/IB major works showcase was a truly exceptional evening, celebrating the culmination of our students’ hard work and creativity. The quality of the projects presented was nothing short of outstanding. Below is an example of the work presented on the evening.

Meanwhile, our Year 6 students are currently enjoying a memorable camp experience. They have explored Canberra and they are now enjoying time at Tallong, immersing themselves in learning beyond the classroom.

Paulina Skerman
College Principal