Principal's Message - Brendon Napier
Dear families,
We’ve hit the ground running this term, and it’s no secret that Term 4 will be our busiest yet.
Among the many important tasks this term is the process of organising class groups for next year. This is a significant undertaking that requires thoughtful planning and collaboration.
Class teachers, with the support of our Leaders of Diversity, will be working together to formulate classes in 2026. The teachers will be using their knowledge of the children and professional judgement to create class lists which include the individual needs of each child; a balance of academic abilities; a balance of social and emotional needs and abilities as well as a balance of gender. If your child has a particular need or there is some information that we should be aware of when considering class placement, it will be important that this information is made known to the classroom teacher and me no later than Friday, 31st October via email. Please do not assume that information from previous years will be on file. Please also note that requests for specific teachers or for your child to be placed with specific children will not be considered. It is important to note that once classes are established for the year, no alterations to allocations will be made.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to ensure the best possible learning environment for all our students.
Like many schools across the country, we have faced ongoing challenges in securing a qualified LOTE (Languages Other Than English) teacher. The number of available and suitably trained LOTE teachers continues to decline, and this has led the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) to revise its expectations. NSSAB now states that “Schools decide whether to teach, assess and report on Languages by considering access to appropriate resources.” In 2025, we trialed a purchased language program for teachers to implement in the absence of a dedicated LOTE teacher. However, after nearly a year of use, the feedback from staff has been clear the program has not met the needs of our students or teachers. With no LOTE teacher available again for 2026, we have made the decision not to continue with the purchased program. Instead, we will embed rich cultural experiences throughout the year to ensure our students continue to develop global awareness and appreciation for diverse cultures in meaningful and engaging ways.
A very BIG thank you to our amazing groundskeepers, Dan and Michael, who have done a phenomenal job transforming the area near the Prep classrooms. What was once a space housing our skip bins has now been beautifully reimagined into a timber decked area. This new space will serve as an additional outdoor learning environment for our Prep students, especially during the cooler months.
Tonight marks our P&F Annual General Meeting, and I invite all families to attend. Our P&F Executive Team has been instrumental in supporting our school community over the past 12 months. Their commitment, generosity, and continued efforts have made a real difference in making OLHOC great again! As all positions become vacant at the AGM, I’d like to acknowledge that two of our current Executive members will not be re-nominating as their time with OLHOC comes to an end. We thank them sincerely for their service and the part they have played and continue to in making OLHOC community the best in the diocese. I hope to see as many of you at the AGM tonight, your involvement helps shape the future of our school.
As we navigate this busy term together, let us be reminded of the strength we find in community and encouragement: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Let’s continue to support one another, celebrate our progress, and look ahead with hope and purpose.
As always, I look forward to seeing you around the school whether it’s at the Mestrez Street gate or the Balaclava Road entrance. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to chat.
Respect, Love, Mercy and Community
We’ve hit the ground running this term, and it’s no secret that Term 4 will be our busiest yet.
Among the many important tasks this term is the process of organising class groups for next year. This is a significant undertaking that requires thoughtful planning and collaboration.
Class teachers, with the support of our Leaders of Diversity, will be working together to formulate classes in 2026. The teachers will be using their knowledge of the children and professional judgement to create class lists which include the individual needs of each child; a balance of academic abilities; a balance of social and emotional needs and abilities as well as a balance of gender. If your child has a particular need or there is some information that we should be aware of when considering class placement, it will be important that this information is made known to the classroom teacher and me no later than Friday, 31st October via email. Please do not assume that information from previous years will be on file. Please also note that requests for specific teachers or for your child to be placed with specific children will not be considered. It is important to note that once classes are established for the year, no alterations to allocations will be made.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to ensure the best possible learning environment for all our students.
Like many schools across the country, we have faced ongoing challenges in securing a qualified LOTE (Languages Other Than English) teacher. The number of available and suitably trained LOTE teachers continues to decline, and this has led the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) to revise its expectations. NSSAB now states that “Schools decide whether to teach, assess and report on Languages by considering access to appropriate resources.” In 2025, we trialed a purchased language program for teachers to implement in the absence of a dedicated LOTE teacher. However, after nearly a year of use, the feedback from staff has been clear the program has not met the needs of our students or teachers. With no LOTE teacher available again for 2026, we have made the decision not to continue with the purchased program. Instead, we will embed rich cultural experiences throughout the year to ensure our students continue to develop global awareness and appreciation for diverse cultures in meaningful and engaging ways.
A very BIG thank you to our amazing groundskeepers, Dan and Michael, who have done a phenomenal job transforming the area near the Prep classrooms. What was once a space housing our skip bins has now been beautifully reimagined into a timber decked area. This new space will serve as an additional outdoor learning environment for our Prep students, especially during the cooler months.
Tonight marks our P&F Annual General Meeting, and I invite all families to attend. Our P&F Executive Team has been instrumental in supporting our school community over the past 12 months. Their commitment, generosity, and continued efforts have made a real difference in making OLHOC great again! As all positions become vacant at the AGM, I’d like to acknowledge that two of our current Executive members will not be re-nominating as their time with OLHOC comes to an end. We thank them sincerely for their service and the part they have played and continue to in making OLHOC community the best in the diocese. I hope to see as many of you at the AGM tonight, your involvement helps shape the future of our school.
As we navigate this busy term together, let us be reminded of the strength we find in community and encouragement: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Let’s continue to support one another, celebrate our progress, and look ahead with hope and purpose.
As always, I look forward to seeing you around the school whether it’s at the Mestrez Street gate or the Balaclava Road entrance. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to chat.
Respect, Love, Mercy and Community
God Bless
Brendon Napier
Principal