Thank you for your support as Term 3 Ends

It has been a wonderful Term where our Music, Dance and Drama students truly shone - performing across The World of Movies, Eisteddfods and at QCMF.  

 Our LHC sport stars have run, jumped, rowed, bounced and kicked their way to personal bests, premierships and team successes and our aerobics teams once again were crowned the 2025 FISAF National Aerobics School Champions.

Our Outreach and Service programs have continued to bring our values to life, providing opportunities for students to engage in the practical aspects of our faith through Social Justice Forums, Outreach, Immersions and Appeals. We have celebrated Catholic Education Week and spent time in Prayer, Contemplation and Liturgy.  

 Our Junior School students have had a rich and rewarding term as well - travelling to Canberra, exploring Indigiscapes and hosting students from the Towo Eiwa Primary School in Japan.  

 In the classrooms from Year 5-12 students have engaged in new learning experiences, content and activities and have completed exams and assessments. I would like to congratulate the students for the way they have engaged in Term 3 and the teachers and support staff for all their preparations and support. 

 It has also been wonderful to see our Positive Recognition Program come to life in the Middle and Senior school. A big thank you to our  students, teachers and the broader community for embracing these initiatives.  

Student Voice Initiatives
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Student Voice initiatives for Term 3: 

• Time Out Project
• Outreach High Tea
• Social Justice Forum and the Clothing Swap
• Ponytail Project – where 56 students and 2 staff rocked the chop raising $70,264 for cancer research
• Mini Vinnies Up Late
• Book Week Parades 

2026 College Student Leaders
One of the most anticipated moments on the College calendar each year is the announcement of our Student Leaders. We are delighted to introduce our 2026 College Captains, Emma and Samara along with our Portfolio and House Council Captains.

2026 Student Leadership Positions

We look forward to the enthusiasm, dedication and leadership they will bring to our College community.  Congratulations to all our new leaders - we are excited to see the impact you will make.

As this term comes to an end, we are grateful for the continued opportunities to grow and improve as a College. Below, you’ll find several important updates that reflect our ongoing commitment to our Strategic Priorities. 

Culture Review 

Over the past year, we have worked closely with Staff, Students, Parents, and the wider Community to complete a comprehensive Cultural Review of our College. This review has given us valuable insights into what we are doing well and areas we can continue to improve, ensuring our College is an even better place for learning, growth, and connection. 

 Our Strengths 

• Many families value the College’s focus on Pastoral Care, Wellbeing, and Co-Curricular opportunities.
• The Leaderships’ change in focus and presence in the College Community.
• The College’s Service, Outreach and Immersion programs, our Catholic values, and opportunities that foster connection across the college such as Big Sister–Little Sister and House Sister programs.
• The extensive Co-Curricular opportunities provided by the College. 

 Our areas of Focus and Attention/Improvement 

• Strengthening our Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care systems, particularly in Years 7–9, so that every student feels known, safe, and supported.
• Examining the Senior Leadership model to ensure a dedicated and focused Student / Pastoral role at the Deputy level.
• Implementing a robust Anti-Bullying Strategy co-created with Students, Parents and Staff, supported by clear reporting and follow-up processes.
• Reviewing Behavior Management processes to ensure clear consequences and consistency.
• Establishing a Positive Reward Recognition structure that promotes spirit and living College values.
• Refreshing Teaching and Learning practices to ensure that classrooms are engaging, contemporary, and responsive to diverse student needs.
• A renewed focus on Pedagogy, Teaching quality and Consistency of Practice.
• Building School Spirit and Student voice by creating more opportunities for student-led activities and leadership.
• Enhancing communication and transparency between families and the College, to strengthen trust and partnership 

I thank all members once again for contributing to this review and I look forward to sharing with you the implementation and action plans during Term 4. We are confident that by working together we are, and will continue to build a future-ready College where every student can thrive. 

Senior Leadership Structure 

At the end of Term 2, I announced that a review of the College’s Senior Leadership structure would be undertaken and thanked all members for their contribution to the reviews that had been completed which has directed the College to examine the current Senior Leadership model. 

This work has now been completed and I extend my gratitude and thanks to our Staff Consultative Committee and the Board for their valuable feedback and input throughout the process. Their contributions have helped ensure that the new structure will strengthen our College's future direction enabling our school to flourish. 

From the commencement of 2026, the College Leadership structure will be as follows: 

Principal
Senior Deputy Principal – Head of School
Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning (new position)
Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing (new Position)
Dean of Mission 
Director of Business, Finance and Operations  

The recruitment process will commence this week for the roles of Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning and Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing and we will announce these appointments throughout Term 4. There are several other Middle Leadership roles that will be reshaped to support the implementation of these key appointments and our strategic priorities. I will share more information around this early in Term 4. 

IT and Media Updates 

I encourage you to read the updates provided by Mr Andrew Russell relating to changes to our IT monitoring and Media (photo) Management in this newsletter. As a College we are continuously looking to implement best practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and Term 4 will see us begin the implementation of two key projects. 

Staff Update 

We wish the following staff all the best as they take periods of extended leave - Mr Richard Hart, Ms Joanne Brash-McPhee, Mrs Grace Civitarese and Ms Rebecca Malli. We congratulate Ms Jacinta McIntosh on her appointment as Acting Dean of Student Wellbeing and look forward to welcoming her to the Leadership Team. 

Mr Steven Smyth leaves us to take up a Leadership position at the Australian Trade College North Brisbane and we wish him all the very best. 

This term, we also welcomed the following staff to LHC: 
Support Staff - Renea Stone, Ellen Reid, Hannah Macklin, Emma Kiel-Chisholm, Lucy Fyfe, Donna Knight and Oliver Gower
Counselling Team -  Marnize Verreynne, Shelby Price and Senior Counsellor Eimear Cleary
Teaching Staff - Leah Condoleon (Mathematics and Science) and Jenna Tagney (HPE team) 

Term 3 Break Activities 

I wish everyone involved and participating in the following College activities over the holiday break all the very best including;

• Open CBSQ Basketball as they compete in the Division 2 State Championships
• Selected rowers and crews will compete in the School State championships
• Our HoPE Service Program extends their hospitality this break by facilitating a school holiday program for Refugee Primary School Students.  A very big thank you to the students and staff who dedicate time to this important Ministry.
• Duke of Edinburgh adventure journey
• Students and staff heading off on The Good Samaritan Education Immersion to the Philippines: Mrs Elizabeth Rastegorac, Imogen Morgan and Samara Ryall
• Year 12 students who have the opportunity to engage in tutorials, study groups and practice exams in our Benedict Library as they prepare themselves for external exams
• Mr Bill Cooney as he heads off to Taipei to attend the Austrade event. At the same time, I will be travelling overseas to meet with Agents and Families in Shanghai.

I pray that during this Term break our Students and Teachers have time to pause, reflect, bask in the Spring sunshine, try something new and engage in something they love. I wish all Students and Teaching staff a restful and fulfilling break and I look forward to hearing all the stories and tales as we begin Term 4.  

With kindness, peace and hope
Mrs Kay Gleeson