Message from Mrs Catherine O'Kane
Term 2
The term has commenced with energy and spirit this week as students and staff returned to campus, sharing stories from their holidays and clearly refreshed, ready and excited for the start of Term 2.
Term 2 is always full of action and activity, and the first weeks of the term are no exception. For our older students, our Year 11 students enjoy their Soiree this Saturday night at Victoria Park and in Week 2, our Year 12 students will spend three days at their annual Retreat, which is always a highlight of their senior year.
Additionally, our winter co-curricular sports activities begin in earnest, and I have no doubt that with the encouragement of their peers, parents and coaches, our students will embrace their individual and team pursuits with great spirit and enthusiasm. This term also has Culture Week, the first week of our Arts Festival, our combined musical with Terrace Footloose and a series of concerts later in the term, so our extensive Culture program is also highly active.
These complementary curriculum (cocurricular) activities are only possible through the dedication and expertise of our staff, and I would like to thank all of the staff who will give so generously of their time across all of these programs to ensure that our students enjoy the many benefits of our extensive cocurricular programs during the coming term.
School Board
Our school’s Annual General Meeting was held in March, and I would like to acknowledge the dedicated service and leadership of Board Chair, Ms Ann-Maree David and Board Directors Mr Glen Cranny (Deputy Chair), Ms Liz Addis, Ms Morag Ingham, Mr Brendan Rehbein, Ms Sarah Rush, Dr Kerrie Tuite and Ms Jemima Welsh.
We are deeply grateful to our Board Directors for their outstanding voluntary service through which they share their expertise in support of the mission and vision of our school. Their deep commitment to providing exceptional governance oversight plays a vital role in guiding our school’s enactment of our Mercy charism and overall strategic direction. We also extend our sincere thanks to Mercy Partners, our school’s canonical sponsor, for their continued interest in and support of our school. In particular, we thank Mr Kieran McCarthy, a past All Hallows’ parent, for his ongoing interest and continued support as our Mercy Partners liaison.
Community Events
Next Tuesday, 29 April, our Past Pupils’ Association is hosting a network event as part of their ongoing ‘Sisters in’ series; the focus next week is ‘Sisters in Business’. This event provides an outstanding opportunity for current and past AHSisters to hear from their AHSisters who have forged paths of innovation and progression in the world of business.
I give thanks to our inspirational panellists Emily Bitkow (Class of 2004), Felicity Furey (Class of 2003), Monica Arce Garcia (Class of 2001), Kate Knapp (Class of 1986), Stephanie White (Class of 1983), Serena Varendorff (Class of 1986) and guest speaker Rhonda White AO (Class of 1957).
Thanks also to Past Pupils' Liaison, Ms Maree Nugent, and our Past Pupils’ Association Committee Member Katy McGree for their leadership of this important networking and information sharing event.
On Friday 2 May, more than a thousand members of our community will gather to celebrate the Mothers’ Network May Morning Tea. I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Kerrie Taylor, this year’s May Morning Tea Coordinator, for her outstanding leadership and care in bringing this cherished event to life. I also extend our sincere gratitude to the Mothers’ Network President Justine Douglas and the many dedicated volunteers whose time, creativity, and generous service ensure the continued success of this well-loved event each year. The May Morning Tea is always a special opportunity to gather in community and celebrate the mothers and mother figures who play such a vital role in our lives and the lives of our students. It is their love, guidance, and presence that we honour with warmth and gratitude.
ANZAC Day
Tomorrow, as a nation, we will mark ANZAC Day - a day to remember the strength of the human spirit and the value of mateship, but above all else, it is a time to remember those who have fallen.
During the week, our students will represent our School at both the ANZAC Day Schools’ Ceremony at ANZAC Square today and at the ANZAC Day Mass at the Cathedral and our School assembly today provided an opportunity for our whole community to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many.
In this week, we pray for peace in our world and peace in our hearts, and we remember Pope Francis’ pontificate of peace:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
May God bless you this week,
Mrs Catherine O’Kane (Principal).
