Head of Primary P-6

This term has been rich with moments that remind us why we do what we do – moments of creativity, courage and connection that have filled our classrooms, our stages and our hearts. From engaging learning experiences to spectacular performances, our College has once again demonstrated that when young people are nurtured with dedication and love, they flourish in the most extraordinary ways.

Pope Leo XIV’s words, offered to the world at the beginning of this year, speak with remarkable resonance to the spirit of our community:

‘Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal: while to evil we cry out “Enough,” to peace we whisper “Forever.“‘

— Pope Leo XIV, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2026

It is in this spirit of peace, of light and of the enduring good we choose to build together – that I reflect on the close of this term, and in particular on the farewell we offer to Ms Skerman.

We bid a profoundly grateful farewell to Ms Skerman, who has served as the Principal of our College for almost seven years. Seven years of visionary leadership. Seven years of steadfast dedication. Seven years of shaping not just a school, but a community. Under her leadership, our College has grown in culture, in character and in aspiration. She has championed every child, stood beside every family in moments of joy and difficulty alike, and inspired her staff to reach higher and give more. Her door was always open; her commitment, never in doubt.

On behalf of every student who passed through these gates, every family who placed their trust in this College, and every staff member who had the privilege of working alongside her, I wish to express our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to Ms Skerman. The mark she has left on this place and on all of us will not fade. We wish her every happiness, fulfilment and joy in the chapter ahead, and we send her on her way with our love, our thanks and our warmest wishes. 

INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE — GALA CONCERT 

What an evening it was. The ‘Instruments of Peace’ Gala Concert at the Town Hall this week left audiences breathless and uplifted in equal measure, and stood as a powerful testament to the extraordinary musical talent nurtured within our College.

Our Del Monte and Gioia students absolutely dominated the stage – there is no other way to describe it. From the very first note to the final bow, they commanded the attention of every person in that grand hall, weaving together sound and artistry in a performance that was nothing short of phenomenal. To watch the students on that stage was to witness something truly special: young people not merely performing music, but living it and gifting that experience to all who were present.

Congratulations to every student who performed, to our dedicated Music staff, and to all families who supported and encouraged their children along the way. You made us so proud.

Dance Showcase

Last weekend, the College Annual Dance Showcase reminded us once again of the remarkable talent that graces our stage each year. Our dancers took to the spotlight and delivered a performance of breathtaking energy, precision, and discipline – a genuine celebration of the art of movement in all its forms. What shone through in every single routine was the hours of dedication behind it – the early rehearsals, the courage to step out of the comfort zone and perform. The audience was thoroughly delighted, and rightly so. Congratulations to each and every dancer, to exceptional Dance teachers, to the families who cheered so enthusiastically from the audience and to Ms Watkins, who wouldn’t stop even while on maternity leave. 

DOMINICAN AWARDS

This Thursday, we celebrated outstanding student achievement through our Dominican Awards Assembly – an occasion that captures the very heart of what we aspire to at the College. True to our Dominican tradition, these awards recognise not only what students have achieved, but how they have gone about it. This semester’s recipients are students who have shown consistent effort and perseverance, who have met challenges head-on, learned from their mistakes and found the resilience to keep going. We celebrated those who bring creativity and resourcefulness to their learning – approaching problems with curiosity, taking thoughtful risks and thinking differently. And we honoured those who simply give their personal best every day, not in comparison to others, but in faithful response to the gifts and potential they carry within them.

Congratulations to the following Dominican Awards Recipients:

ST THOMAS AQUINAS 

Kindergarten: Kriselle Ma
Year 1: Benjamin Eza-Smith
Year 2: Aaria Zhang 
Year 3: Jonathan Lin
Year 4: Sebastian Portelli

BLESSED FRA ANGELICO

Kindergarten: Archie Cong
Year 1: Hugo Zammit 
Year 2: James Trinh
Year 3: Claire Zhang
Year 4: Ophelia Song

ST MARTIN DE PORRES

Kindergarten: Elara Ribera
Year 1: Edward Tudehope 
Year 2: Noelle Tan 
Year 3: Oscar Shen
Year 4: Chloe Awit

ST DOMINIC

Kindergarten: Caitlyn Wong
Year 1: Jonathan Zhu-Kenny
Year 2: Jamison Wong
Year 3: Enzo Pensini
Year 4: Isla Thompson

ST ALBERT THE GREAT 

Kindergarten: Aaron Yoo
Year 1: Amelia Metledge 
Year 2: Ignatius Reyes
Year 3: Eva Di Ciaccio
Year 4: Axel Leung

ST CATHERINE OF SIENA

Kindergarten: Jamel Moussa
Year 1: Ariel Li 
Year 2: Ilyssia Lahoud 
Year 3: Sebastian Hidalgo
Year 4: Ollie Bezzina

BLESSED JANE OF AZA

Kindergarten: Giorgia Stavroulakis
Year 1: Chloe Tran 
Year 2: Anthony Chidiac 
Year 3: Chanel Seely
Year 4: Vincent Abraham

GIOIA HOUSE SEMESTER 1 ACADEMIC AWARDS 

We look forward to celebrating our Semester 1 Academic Awards on Friday 24 July at 9:00am in Siena Hall. This is a wonderful occasion to recognise the academic achievement and dedication of our students, and we warmly welcome the parents of recipients to join us. Award recipients’ families will be notified shortly with further details.

SEMESTER 1 REPORTS

Semester 1 reports were released to families on Monday, offering a valuable snapshot of each student’s progress so far this year. Every student is on their own unique learning journey – we encourage families to take a moment to acknowledge their child’s work ethic and effort and to sit down together to discuss their goals for the semester ahead. As we head into the holiday break, we also encourage you to keep the learning momentum going by setting aside some time for reading each day. Journaling is another wonderful habit to nurture over the holidays, offering a relaxed way to practise writing skills. Both reading and writing carry enormous benefits for our mental health and wellbeing – making the holidays the perfect time to embrace them.

K-6 ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Our Primary Athletics Carnival was a fantastic success, filled with energy, enthusiasm and community spirit. It was wonderful to see so many families join us to cheer on the students and share in the excitement of the day. The weather was absolutely stunning, setting the perfect scene for a full day of races, games and fun. Students gave their all, whether sprinting down the track, participating in novelty events, or cheering for their peers. Thank you to Mr Dunlop, our staff and parent volunteers for making the day so memorable.

TALLONG COMES TO DEL MONTE

Our Year 2 students recently enjoyed a fantastic outdoor education experience at Del Monte, complete with an overnight sleep at school. They threw themselves into every activity with enthusiasm, learning new skills, building new friendships, and stepping outside their comfort zones with real courage. Highlights included a surprise visit from our celebrity Chef, who arrived with freshly baked muffins, a torch-lit night treasure hunt, and a much-loved barbecue for lunch.

None of it would have been possible without our wonderful team. Thank you to Mr Walker for an outstanding program, to Ms Nicotina for leading the students so beautifully, to Mr Dunlop for his engaging team games, and to all staff who stepped up to supervise and support. A heartfelt thank you also to our parents for so generously organising and serving the food. 

GOLD FOR FOR GIOIA HOUSE FOOTBALL

Congratulations to our Gioia House representative football team on winning a Gold Medal and earning their place to compete at the Sydney Catholic Schools Football Championships. Throughout the competition, the girls displayed outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship and skill, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievement. It is a wonderful reflection of their dedication and hard work, both on and off the field. We wish the girls the very best of luck as they represent the College at the final on 30 July!

COMMENCEMENT OF TERM 3

School for Del Monte and Gioia House students resumes on Tuesday 21 July.

P-6 PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT INTERVIEWS

Parent-Teacher-Student interviews will be held on the last day of Term 3 – Friday 25 September from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

2026 YEARS 2-6 ICAS TESTS

We sent you a detailed letter last week regarding ICAS registration and the LockDown Browser. This is a friendly reminder that online registrations will close at midnight on Monday 27 July. 

100 DAYS OF KINDERGARTEN – TUESDAY 28 JULY, 9:00-10:30am

We are also looking forward to a very special milestone – celebrating 100 Days of School with our Kindergarten students, under the joyful theme of 100 Days Brighter. It promises to be a wonderful occasion marking just how far our newest students have come since their very first day. 

FEAST OF ST DOMINIC – FRIDAY 31 JULY

The College will gather as a community to celebrate the Feast of St Dominic, marking a special moment in our shared heritage.

GRANDPARENTS DAY – THURSDAY 6 AUGUST

We warmly invite the grandparents in our community to join us for a special celebration in their honour. This year’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is themed ‘I will never forget you‘ (Is 49:15) – a beautiful reminder of the irreplaceable place grandparents hold in our families and our faith.

ONLINE SAFETY

We encourage families to be vigilant and continue monitoring their children’s use of devices and online activities during holidays, especially the apps that have online game and chat factions. Please reinforce respectful communication while messaging or emailing friends. Please check the eSafety Commissioner website for advice on keeping your children safe online.

TERM 3 CO-CURRICULAR

Registration for all Co-Curricular programs on the Del Monte Campus are now open.

As we head into the term break, I wish our whole community rest and the chance to reconnect with friends and family. Term 3 holds much to look forward to, and I cannot wait to see what we will create and celebrate together. Wishing every family a safe and joyful holiday.

In faith and gratitude

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6

CALENDAR EVENTS

For detailed information about upcoming College events, please refer to the communications sent directly to families via email.

Important dates

• Tuesday 21 July –Term 3 Commences
• Thursday 23 July – Assembly
• Friday 24 July – GH Semester 1 Academic Awards
• Tuesday 28 July – 100 Days of Kindergarten
• Friday 31 July – Dom’s Day
• Thursday 6 August – Grandparents Day
• Friday 7 August – Gala Dinner
• Monday 10 August – Healthy Harold Incursion begins
• Thursday 13 August – Children’s Kindness Convention
• Tuesday 18 August – Father’s Day Stall Wrapping
• Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 August – Year 5 Outdoor Education Experience
• Thursday 20 August – Assembly
• Wednesday 26 August – Discovery Tour
• Thursday 27 August – Sport and extra-curricular Photos K-6
• Friday 28 August – Book Character Parade
• Monday 31 August – GH Father’s Day Stall
• Tuesday 1 September – DM Father’s Day Stall
• Wednesday 2 September – DM Stage 2 Football Gala Day
• Thursday 3 September – Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast
• Tuesday 8 September – Junior Ethics Olympiad
• Wednesday 9 September – DM Stage 3 Football Gala Day
• Thursday 10 September – Year 3 Incursion
• Friday 11 September – DM Social Justice: Crazy Sock Day
• Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 September – Year 6 Canberra/Outdoor Education Experience
• Thursday 24 September – Term 3 concludes
• Friday 25 September – Parent Teacher Student Interviews P-6