Dear Parents,

The commencement of this school year has brought about an atmosphere of excitement and industriousness. It's heartening to witness our students settling into their new environments, fully engaged in their learning experiences.
The initial days of a new term are inevitably charged with a mix of emotions as both students and teachers adjust to their new classes and build connections. I find myself part of this "settling in" period this year, and I'm appreciative of the time taken by students and parents to say hello and introduce themsleves.

For students, this marks a step up, with more challenging work and increased expectations, encouraging them to mature and gain independence. Each student will navigate these challenges and relationships in their unique ways, requiring our patience and reassurance as they navigate these situations. I extend my gratitude to the beautiful school community for the warm welcome. Embracing change becomes smoother with friendly smiles and conversations!

Several parents have inquired about my professional journey leading me to SJKB. This marks my 24th year in education within the diocese, with over half spent in leadership roles across seven different schools. My commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, including a Master's in Education in 2011 and ongoing coursework in the education sector. Presently, my studies involve collaborative engagements with colleagues from both the independent and systemic Catholic sectors across all of NSW. Twice a term, I actively participate in sessions held at our state CSNSW head office in Sydney, further enriching my understanding of what is evidence- based 'best practice' in the current educational landscape.

I was fortunate to be appointed to the 2024 Principal role half way through last year. This gave me time to become very familiar with all our school data sources and the SJKB 'data dashboard'. In addition to this, late last year I attended the Annual School Visit with our Head of Catholic Schools, COO and diocesan business partners. Following on from these discussions the Leadership team and I met with the School Improvement Team and Curriculum Educations Officers. We have a very clear improvement agenda for the next 3 years and I am looking forward to sharing this with you in further detail.

My school experience, coupled with educational research and student data, has shaped my core beliefs as a leader of learning, always placing students at the forefront of decision-making. Leadership involves managing conflicting priorities, policies, and compliance. My foremost priority is fostering a Catholic culture of care to ensure our students thrive. I urge you to collaborate with me in supporting this mission, emphasising the significance of our positive interactions and collaboration for the well-being of our students.

I am very mindful that there has been a number of changes to leadership over the past years and I wish to put your mind at ease. At assembly last week I had a student tell me that he is soon to have a baby brother or sister. I am looking forward to meeting our future kindergartens and hope that I can recall with delight this conversation during the first day of Kinder for our 2029 cohort!

There will be some small tweeks and reimagining of how we do things at SJKB. I know that good processes help engender school environments where students can flourish.

Recognising that challenges may arise or decisions may be made that require understanding, I encourage open dialogue. Listening to each other and working together in a spirit of collaboration and partnership yields positive results. 

I eagerly anticipate working with you, your children, and the staff this year to uphold St. Joseph’s commitment to nurturing the potential of each student in a quality Catholic learning environment.

With every best wish,