Message from the Director of Schools

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back to Term 3. It was wonderful to start the term all together at our whole of system meeting. As we pass the half way point of the Curriculum Reform, I want to thank you all for your hard work in this space. It is a huge undertaking and the professionalism and quality of your work is outstanding. Thank you to Kerrie Priddis and Carrie Watchirs for leading this work at a system level. The video prepared by Carrie Watchirs emphasises the importance of your work and I include it for your reference. The complete slides shared can be accessed here. 

It was a perfect opportunity to showcase some outstanding data. Attendance of our young people continues to improve as shown in our Semester 1 data. The number of students in the no risk (95% and above) has shown huge growth. Attendance is everyone’s work and is a strong indicator of a student's sense of belonging. Data is not about judgement, when used well, it generates great questions to explore further. Working together we can ensure our young people are connected, learning and cared for. 

Attendance Update - Semester 1 2026

Students in “No Risk” has improved. 

For the same period in 2025 -  732 in Primary and 231 in Secondary.

Primary Attendance Secondary Attendance 

Congratulations - St Joseph’s Tenterfield

On the second last day of Term 3, NESA conducted a random inspection at St Joseph’s Tenterfield. The scope of the audit included the following areas: Curriculum Alignment; Curriculum Reporting; Child Protection; and Discipline. The school was found to be compliant in all areas. The school's preparation for the inspection was highly commended, with strong evidence of system support and well-established diocesan processes. The diocesan template for short-notice inspections was commended. Huge congratulations to Cherie Yates and the team at St Joseph's Tenterfield, and to John O'Connor and the ACS team

NAIDOC Week

Last week, I attended St Michael’s, Manilla celebration and it was wonderful to see so many parents, families and community members present. The local preschool and long day care students and staff also attended which was lovely to see. Fr Damien, Parish Priest, blessed the community. The students participated proudly showcasing their culture through leading the liturgy and dancing. Bronwyn Underwood gave a great address to the community highlighting the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their culture to our country. Congratulations to Breanna Todd, Renae Catlett and Ashlen Rae, Aboriginal Education Assistants for planning and preparing such a wonderful celebration.

Opening of O’Connor Catholic College

On the last day of Term 2, Bishop Peter Murphy blessed and opened the new and refurbished facilities at O'Connor Catholic College. This one is close to my heart having worked on the project as principal for 5 years and seeing it completed as director. This incredible $20+ million project represents a visionary 10-year endeavour, blending the rich heritage of the Ursuline Sisters and De La Salle Brothers with an agile, contemporary learning environment designed for the future. As Pope Leo reminds us, education is a "we" endeavour. These new spaces are a physical investment in our young people, built to foster collaboration, community, and excellence.

Thank you to the Commonwealth Government and Catholic Block Grant Authority for their vital support, and our school families, leadership teams, staff, and project partners who made this dream a reality.

Thank you to school principal, Phil Gibney, past principals Charlie Allen, Clare Healy, and Robert Holstein, Assistant Principals, past and present, Steve Chapman, Mellissa Bell, Damian Roff, Eli Simpson, Simon Fleming, to Chris Smyth (former Director), Laszlo Szoboszlay, Neil Mangelsdorf, Linda Page and the late Gary McSweeney for their leadership in creating these spaces for inspired learning. To the teachers and support staff who have spent countless hours working on this project, thank you for your resilience and patience.

Regina