Principal's Message

ISSUE 9 | 2 April 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

Last Wednesday as I walked across the courtyard there was a discernible excitement in the air as students from all years waited for their call up to catch the bus to a camp or retreat. On Friday afternoon those same students and staff returned looking both exhilarated and exhausted having experienced learning outside of the classroom. To take the whole school away at one time has been our way of maximising the residential experiences for students and minimising the loss of teaching time. It does create, however, logistical challenges, and for the wonderful, hardworking problem solvers on the staff, I am exceptionally grateful. The preparation before the experiences ensures that everyone is cared for and that everyone can participate in the experience to their full abilities. Our teachers and support staff design and supervise engaging, challenging and enjoyable experiences. The year 9 endeavouring to Broken Hill will take place for the first two weeks of term 2. This extended programme to Broken Hill has quickly become a signature experience of the Middle Years at St. Vincent's College. I would like to express my genuine appreciation to all our own staff who left their own families and homes for three days to make this possible for our students.

This last week of the term has coincided with Holy Week. This week is the holiest week in the Christian calendar where we accompany Jesus through his passion. Students and staff have participated in liturgy and reflection as a preparation for the great celebration of the Easter resurrection that occurs at the weekend. I hope you and your family will have the opportunity to participate in the great liturgies of the Easter vigil. The journey of Holy Week is about finding our own place near the cross of Jesus. Every year as we read or listen to stories of the death of Jesus, we find ourselves drawn into them in a different way. From these encounters may we each learn more about ourselves and our need for Jesus in our lives. Yesterday the college community gathered in the Caritas Christi courtyard for a reenactment of the key moments of the passion story. It was a simple but powerful shared experience for students and staff to take with them into the holy days and holidays of Easter.

Amidst the anxiety of the war in the Middle East, and the direct and indirect havoc this is causing, it is easy to stay in desolation. The resurrection of Jesus consoles us that life triumphs over death, that light is stronger than darkness and that good has more power than evil. I wish you the blessings of the season,

Anne Fry
Principal

Principal's Message

ISSUE 8 | 20 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

Yesterday the College opened its gates for our annual "Open Day" - primarily targeting year 7, 2028. This cohort will graduate in 2033 which is way beyond my time at the College but yesterday I was able to speak confidently about the very bright future ahead for St Vincent's College. When something is built upon the strength of the Sisters of Charity, it is destined to endure and flourish. It was a wonderful showcase of our Heritage, Catholic Identity, Pastoral and Academic, Boarding, Co-curricular and community engagement. Such an enormous logistical and creative event is the work of many from the Advancement Team, our Registrar, my COR colleagues, Heads of Learning Areas, Co-ordinators of Co-curricular Sport & Performing Arts, Deans and the real stars of the show, our student guides, who impressed all with their authentic Vinnies' Spirit. The future of the College is in very safe hands!

Harmony Week has been well celebrated here by the SRC. The theme of "We all Belong" has added a joyful and inclusive note to the week as bells were replaced with music that carried the theme of belonging into the stratosphere!

Next week, our extensive program of Retreats, camps, and Urban challenges will be held from Wednesday through to Friday. The work of our Deans and staff in providing such opportunities is quite immense and as a College Community we are so very reliant on their generosity of spirit (and body) that allows us to take on engaging all our students in learning beyond the classroom. In return, we ask for full support from parents. Costs are included in the Resource fee and we do not refund for students who do not attend. It is disappointing to the teachers and the peer groups when individual students do not engage in the activities that are designed specifically for them.

Congratulations to our Swimming Team, who were named as "most improved" last week at the IGSA carnival, and our Tildsely Tennis team, who got through to the 4th round of the highly competitive tournament.

Good luck with sport this weekend as semi-finals emerge on the horizon for the summer season.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry
Principal

Principal's Message

ISSUE 7 | 13 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

This week NAPLAN was front and centre of schools across Australia as Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students completed testing in Numeracy and Literacy.  The tests have evolved remarkably from their early iteration as meta testing of intervention strategies to what they are now perceived by many to be achievement tests.  This year across the country there were many issues with the online platform which caused delays and rescheduling for many students.  Our team here at St Vincent's managed all the extra logistics in a calm and professional manner, and I would like to thank Ms Boyd-Boland, Mr Harris and Mrs Cartmer,  for their agility and problem-solving in real time.  At the same time, students across all Years were completing assessment tasks in all their subjects.  The setting and marking of assessments are a vital part of our successful learning culture and our teachers are very skilled in ensuring outcomes are being covered, that differentiation is making the assessment task accessible to students with special provisions; that creativity in design ensures a variety of different learning strengths are recognised and that the feedback given is growth focussed.  Our students too need to be affirmed for their approach to assessment and their use of growth mindset when receiving and acting upon feedback.

There is much valuable learning time remaining in the term and it is important that student attendance and participation in all aspects of their learning remains high.  Camps, retreats and learning experiences for Years 7-12 are scheduled for Week 9 (25-27 March).

The great water challenge took place today on the Caritas Christi Courtyard. To highlight the plight of many young women around the world who still carry heavy buckets of water over long distances, relay teams competed in the water challenge. It also helped raise funds for Project Compassion. Thanks to Cater House for organising a great activity during a warm Summer lunchtime.

I hope you enjoy the weekend and have some success in predicting whether you might need sun or rain protection during Saturday Sport.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry
Principal

Principal's Message

ISSUE 6 | 6 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

Yesterday the College celebrated the Inter-House Swimming Carnival at Ashfield Pool. It was exceptionally hot and humid but despite this the students paraded a specticle of spirit, colour, competition and sound. There were so many positive comments made by members of the general public who were also enjoying the facilities. Congratulations to all the Houses but particularly Williams for winning the overall Championship and O'Brien for the Spirit Shield. Thank you to Ms Harmanis and the PE team for their excellent organisation of the Carnival; the House Co-ordinators and House teams for the cheering and participation, and all the staff for their goodwill and generosity of spirit in challenging circumstances.

Sunday is International Women’s Day and the theme this year is “Give to Gain”. This is such a perfect fit for our College Value of Generosity of Spirit, as both promote a mindset of generosity and collaboration.

Give to Gain emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organisations and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a deficit; it is about abundance. “When women thrive, we all rise!Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and inter-connected world.” (Give to Gain Campaign)

It was fortuitous that in the same week as International Women’s Day, we hosted Ms Gemma Sisia (St Vincent’s Class of 1989). Gemma is the founder of St Jude’s School in Arusha, Tanzania which aims to fight poverty through education. The quote above from the Give to Gain Campaign materials could be written about Gemma – it is a description of the methodology she has used to build St Jude’s from an enrolment of three to an enormous, no fee independent College on three sites. The alumni of the College who she also supports throughout their university education now includes doctors, engineers, lawyers, international advocates, teachers, nurses. Gemma’s “Give to Gain” has advanced the opportunities for women in Tanzania in the most extraordinary ways. Our pride in Gemma is immense. She has taken what she gained from her education at St Vincent’s College (and our boarding school) and given it abundantly to the people of Tanzania. The greatest beneficiaries of her program are the poorest of a poor country and tragically we know women are always over-represented in that category. If you would like to know more about Gemma’s remarkable story that brings to life the “Give to Gain” message, please click this link.

I am delighted to share with the community that we have a wonderful new P&F Executive:

President - Jaime Carey

Vice President - Robert Paridis

Treasurer - Kellie Kouts

Secretary - Davina Greenberg

I look forward to seeing you at the Cocktail Party on Saturday Night. Come rain, hail or shine (we have experienced all of these at previous cocktail parties!) we will gather to celebrate our extraordinary community!

The events of the weekend in the Middle East have been felt deeply within our community. Many of our families have been part of the expat communities of Australians living in Dubai or Doha and probably most of us have, at some point, transited through one of the major aviation hubs. It feels very real, and very close and we join our voices to the worldwide prayers for a peaceful negotiated resolution.

Loving God, look with mercy upon the Middle East

Heal wounded hearts,

Protect the innocent,

Comfort the grieving,

Convert those who choose violence.

Grant wisdom to leaders,

Courage to peacemakers,

And hope to all who live in this ancient and culturally rich region.

Through the intercession of St Vincent de Paul, St Ignatius of Loyola and the Venerable Mary Aikenhead, we pray for reconciliation, justice and peace.

Amen

Yours sincerely
Anne Fry

Principal's Message

ISSUE 5 | 27 Feb 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

It felt like a build up to a monsoon with the high levels of humidity last week and that this week that monsoon broke with torrential rain. I hope you were not too impacted by the flash flooding that occurred on Thursday night.

We reached the half way point of the term this week which is a marker of time. There are many major milestone events in the second half of the term:

• Of interest to all families will be the evening with Gemma Sisia on 3 March. Gemma is an internationally renowned humanitarian and, most importantly to us, an ex-student of St Vincent's College. Her story is a great one to celebrate on the prepicice of International Women's Day of a determined, visionary, compassionate woman who has fought poverty through education in Tanzania. RSVP
• Thursday 5 March is the Inter-house Swimming Carnival. This is always a very colourful carnival with both competitive and novelty events. There is an event for everyone, regardless of swimming ability. It is always a day of leadership by our senior students. We are seeking the support of parents to ensure full attendance on the day.
• Saturday 7 March is the P&F Cocktail Party and your turn to come and enjoy the good company of other parents.
• Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 March are the dates of the Retreats, Camps and Experiences for all years. Again we ask for your support in ensuring all students participate in their specific program. The Year 9 Endeavouring is in Term 2 but they have a preparation program scheduled during this week (25-27th). Apart from the Year 9 preparation period all other experiences are residential and are fees covered in the Resource Levy you have paid they are non-refundable.
• 28 March sees the Tanzanian Immersion depart after a postponement last year. The opportunity to experience an immersion is a unique offering at St Vincent's and we know this group will continue the tradition of building great relationships with the host communities at St Jude's and the Christian Brothers of Arusha.
• 2 April will see the departure of the students and staff on the European Study Tour. This is multi-disciplinary experience of place-based learning in the great galleries, historical sites and world listed heritage sites of Italy and France. This will be an extra-ordinary opportunity for the 22 students travelling.
• 2 April is also Holy Thursday and the end of Term 1 classes will conclude at 12:40 pm. Time to enter into the Easter Triduum and celebration of the Paschal Mysteries.

Stay dry this weekend,

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry

Principal's Message

ISSUE 4 | 20 Feb 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Tuesday night at the AGM of the P&F we farewelled our outgoing President Leisha Major who has served in that role for 5 years. Leisha has championed spirit, strategy and service in her capacity as President and she has left behind a great foundation upon which the new President can build. We have not yet received a nomination for the role of President, and I strongly encourage you to consider whether you have the time and energy for this important role. Please speak to Lyndal Rose community@stvincents.nsw.edu.au if you would like to nominate yourself or another (with their permission of course!) There is a strong executive committee, good support from the College and a well planned program of events for the year. The Art Exhibition committee have an independent team to organise and host the Annual Art Exhibition, the Boarder Parents' Association runs the Mothers' Weekend, and the College organises the Mother's Day and Father's Day Dinners. There is a tried and true methodology for the Cocktail Party and Spring Fair. The foundation is strong, and the future of the P&F is full of possibilities.

On Wednesday night we hosted the Year 9 Endeavouring Information night in the Hall. Stormy weather deterred some from travelling, but those parents who were there left very excited about this unique program offered to our Year 9 students. This year the Year 9 Cohort will travel in the first two weeks of Term 2 out into the Mundi Mundi Desert around Broken Hill to experience a "rite of passage" experience built around resilience, independence and adventure. Many parents wanted to participate in a "parent only" endeavouring - maybe I will leave that one in the intray of the new Principal.

Amazingly next week we will reach the halfway mark of Term One. A term goes so quickly and we very much want your support to embed the "every day, every lesson" matters mentality. Discretionary days off school, late arrivals and early exits all take a toll on active participation in class learning. Attendance rates across Australia have remained higher than they were pre-COVID, and while there were ample reasons during the pandemic to not be at school, these reasons have passed. We ask for your support in scheduling medical, dental appointments, driving lessons and holidays outside of the school day.

This is the first weekend of Lent with plenty of opportunity to take up the challenges of alms giving (generosity), fasting (intentional behaviour) and prayer. We are taking a positive approach to all of these pillars and at our Ash Wednesday services this week the students have been reminded of these great calls to action.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry

Principal's Message

ISSUE 3 | 13 Feb 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

Yesterday we officially opened our new academic year with a Eucharist at St Mary's Church in North Sydney. It was a warm, humid morning but that did not diminish the reverence of the students. I was exceptionally proud of them during Mass and also on their travel routes there and back. The logistics and liturgy were in capable hands under the direction of Mr Anderson and Mrs Blinco. There were so many who assisted in accompanying the students and in the preparation of the music and ministry. Leaders were comissioned and new students and staff were blessed. We are now spiritually enriched for the exciting year ahead and our student leaders at Wednesday's assembly eloquently articulated how each domain of College Life allows us to exercise Generosity of Spirit. In particular, our College Captain, Henrietta Dermody, spoke with extreme insight into society. We will publish her text in full in a future College publication.

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. As a College Community, we will observe Lent through abstaining from meat products on Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent; we will be supporting Project Compassion organised every year through Caritas, (an Agency of the Catholic Church) and through our RE and liturgical experiences. As House Groups, the students will receive Ashes on Wednesday. As students receive the ashes, they will be blessed and they will hear the words "turn away from sin and stay faithful to the gospel". They are always salutory words to hear and to be reminded that as Christians we are called to live a radical life. The Gospel calls us to be loving, forgiving, inclusive, compassionate and courageous. This is the real message of Lent rather than perhaps the very dated ideas of "giving up something". Lesnt provides us with the reminder we might need to attend to our interior lives as well as the care we take of our physical needs.

Enjoy the weekend, and for the romantically inclined, enjoy the great feast of St Valentine. Indeed, this was a Christian feast long before it became a feast of chocolate!

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry

Principal's Message

ISSUE 2 | 6 Feb 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Wednesday, we welcomed back the Graduating Class of 2025 to celebrate the success they and the accelerants of the Class of 2026 had achieved in the HSC. It was so good to see them and hear of their plans for the year ahead. Everyone who worked with the Class of 2025 spoke of the respectful learning culture that each member of the cohort contributed to throughout the two year HSC journey. It was with that culture that the students supported each other, collaborated with each other, took on feedback, persevered, made learning social, appreciated the need for relaxation and built lifelong friendships. We had much to celebrate and consolidate before this remarkable group of Vinnies' girls set out now on their tertiary and vocational pathways. The highlight of the assembly was the address given by Chelsea Cannes. Chelsea received many accolades - Dux of the College, Grace Robinson Prize for highest ATAR, Mary Aikenhead Principal's Award for highest ATAR across the Australian schools and First in Course in Studies of Religion II, an All Rounder and an ATAR of 99.85! Despite this, Chelsea spoke with humility and gratitude about her education at St Vincent's College. Chelsea's oratory skills were exceptional and she had the audience completely spell-bound. Congratulations to Chelsea and thank you for your wisdom. You have inspired the Year 11 and 12s who now undertake their own HSC journey. A big vote of thanks to Ms Boyd-Boland, Mrs Brooks, Ms Newbond, all the teachers and support staff who accompanied the Class of 2025 in their academic and pastoral care.

The Year 12 Formal last Friday night was a wonderful night spent in the good company of the Year 12 students and their guests. The relaxed, friendly vibe of the night was a comfortable space for conversation (even over the DJ), the girls looked sensational and their partners were respectful and mature. A very positive endorsement from the venue staff made me realise it was not just my built-in bias making me think it was a very successful night!

I have just come into my office from "blowing bubbles" with my Year 7 Tutor group. I am indeed so fortunate to be in a role that provides such rich and wonderful experiences in one week!

Enjoy your weekend and the first round of sport fixtures.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry

ISSUE 1 | 30 Jan 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back to our continuing families and a warm welcome to the new families who have joined St Vincent's College Community in 2026. It is a year in which we are focusing on the value of Generosity of Spirit - a sorely needed grace we all need in our lives. It is a disposition of kindness, empathy, compassion, and open-mindedness that allows us to be free of envy, possessiveness or judgement.

We need look no further than the terror at Bondi to see the horrific toll created out of an absence of generosity of spirit, and around the world, the increasingly radical and polarised positions people hold are creating tension and conflict.  The magnanimous ethos that allows harmony to exist in communities is under threat for a variety of reasons. It is a deficit we will try to rebalance throughout 2026.

We have appointed many new staff this year and they have been warmly welcomed into our community.  Our new team have been inducted and has begun to learn the extraordinary story of the Sisters of Charity and the College.

Mr Joseph Alam - Information and Leader of Information and Communication Technology

Ms Monic Basallote - Accountant

Ms Niamh Bennett - Science Teacher

Mrs Carolyn Blinco - Director of Mission and Identity

Mrs Tamara Bliznjakovic - Library Technician

Ms Tia Brown - Science Teacher

Mr John Gregory - TAS Teacher

Ms Greta Harrison - Learning Support Officer

Mrs Jennifer Keys - Dean of Students - Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Ms Kelsey Latham - Boarding Coordinator

Ms Kelly McLaughlin - Science Teacher

Ms Lily Nguyen - Mathematics Teacher

Mr Christopher Pocock - Leader of Data Driven Pedagogy

Ms Julie Steyn - PDHPE Teacher

Ms Antonia Sullivan - Mathematics Teacher

Mr Rob Graham - Physics Teacher

It was a joy to see the College Community together on Wednesday for our first assembly.  It was a chance for our Mission Captains and College Captains to introduce to the students our College value for 2026 and to extend a welcome to new students and staff. I spoke to the students about "generosity of spirit" being polar opposite of the "mean girl" syndrome and made it explicit that we all have a responsibility to make sure such behaviours were not tolerated here at St Vincent's College.

Thursday saw the return of the always popular presenter, Paul Dillon, who spoke to Year 10, 11 and 12 students about Drugs and Alcohol.  Paul's messages are always well supported with the most current research and he delivers in a way that is credible, positive and reassuring to the students.  They are always pleased to hear that it is only a small minority of young people who are misusing drugs and not alcohol and not the mythical "everyone else".  He also stresses that all responsible parents, not "only you" who are checking on hosts, providing pick up from parties, avoiding all night sleep overs or supplying alcohol to underage young people.  It is always good to reinforce his messages with follow through at home, and an open mind with which to hear your daughter's reaction to Paul's presentation.

Tonight, the Year 12's will celebrate the beginning of their last year at high school with their FORMAL.  We all wish them a magical night of memory making.  Having been to more school formals than I care to remember, the only fashion advice I can provide is to bring a comfy pair of shoes to change into (after the photos).

I look forward to sharing the year with you,

Yours sincerely,

Anne Fry