Mrs Catherine O'Kane
Dear Parents and Caregivers
We are so blessed! Last Thursday we held our annual Giving Day, dedicated to supporting students’ access to an All Hallows’ education through the Catherine McAuley Bursary Fund.
The caring, generosity and service of our remarkable community shone through in every contribution, phone call, social media post and coffee that sustained our volunteers. To each member of our community who contributed in any way, we say a heartfelt thank you.
Your efforts brought our 2024 Giving Day theme, Imagine, to life. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of young women, providing access to new opportunities through our bursaries.
A special acknowledgement goes to Ms Jo Lovett, Director of Community Relations and Development, whose meticulous planning and boundless energy were instrumental in the success of Giving Day, as well as our All Hallows’ Foundation Chair Ms Sarah Rush and the dedicated members of the Foundation Board. I would also like to give thanks to the many volunteers who assisted on the day.
Musical performances
Performance nerves and last-minute rehearsals abound this week, with a number of musical recitals designed to showcase the many talents of our students.
Concerts featuring bands and instrumental, strings, percussion and piano ensembles, and a choral concert will reverberate in our Claver Theatre each evening at sundown. These performances are the culmination of many hours of practice, and we commend our students on their dedication and hard work. We also extend a special thank you to our staff, who share their talents and instil in our students a lifelong love of music.
We look forward to seeing many proud parents and caregivers at these wonderful events.
Years 5-12 Interhouse Athletics Carnival
In a fitting farewell to Term 2, our Years 5 to 12 students will channel every last ounce of their energy and House spirit at our Interhouse Athletics Carnival this Friday.
For many of our students, this event is the culmination of months of training, drills and practice. We wish all our participants an exhilarating experience as they are swept up in the excitement and camaraderie that define this rousing event.
A special thank you to our staff for their countless hours of instruction and for the enthusiasm and leadership of our Sport Team and all staff involved in the organisation that ensures the success of the day. Our House Captains and Heads of House have also done a wonderful job fostering a community of inclusion and encouragement leading up to the carnival. We thank them for exemplifying our Mercy values and wish all competitors a great day of competition and participation.
Holiday camps and trips
Some of our students will use the upcoming holidays to further develop their sporting abilities across a range of sporting competitions and camps including Athletics Camp, Rowing Camp and a range of representative trips. Additionally, a group of Year 12 students will brave the cooler temperatures on the annual ski trip to Queenstown.
We wish all our participants an enjoyable time and pray for a safe journey for our students and staff.
These wonderful opportunities are only possible due to the kindness of staff who forgo time with their own families for the benefit of our students. Their generosity is truly appreciated, and we offer a special thanks to the following staff for their service and dedication:
Rowing Camp: Mr Brown (camp leader), Mr Simmons-Bliss
Queenstown Ski Trip: Ms Fletcher (tour leader), Mrs Gibbs, Ms Harvey, Ms Havers, Ms Hooi, Mrs Robinson, Ms Rowland, Ms Tutchener, Ms Walls, Ms Wilson, Ms Xu, Mr Yeats, Ms Zhangzhou.
Staff Professional Learning Days
As our students enjoy a well-deserved three-week break from classroom learning, our dedicated staff will remain on-campus next week for professional development. These sessions are designed to ensure All Hallows’ continues to be a leader in girls’ education, as we explore topics including GenAI for teaching and learning, Inclusive learning practices and Student protection training.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all member of our wonderful community a safe and restorative break. If you are fortunate to be travelling during this period, I wish you a safe journey and hope that all students, parents and caregivers, and staff have an opportunity to spend time with loved ones. I commenced three weeks of leave today and am looking forward to travelling to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Uluru; Ms Carolyn Liddy will be Acting Principal and Mrs Claire Easton will be Acting Deputy Principal while I am on leave.
For all members of our school community, I wish you a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday break and every blessing until we are reunited with renewed energy in Term 3.
Mrs. Catherine O’Kane (Principal).
