Dear Parents and Caregivers

Firstly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Greg Haire. Although I only had the opportunity to meet Greg twice, it was clear that his commitment and contributions to the lives of students, staff, and families over 40 years in Catholic Education were truly remarkable.

We all have teachers who leave a lasting impression, and hearing the stories shared about Greg fills me with joy. It’s evident that his positive impact touched the lives of many students and helped shape the community we cherish today.

As a faith community, we continue to pray for Greg, and for the family and friends he leaves behind.

Change

Barack Obama once said, “Change is never easy, but always possible.” As we begin the new school term at Holy Name, both students and staff have experienced change firsthand.

As your children may have mentioned, we’ve adjusted our break time routine: students now play first and eat second. This shift was prompted partly by the building project, which has temporarily reduced our play spaces, and partly by contemporary research supporting this approach.

Since implementing the change, staff have observed several positive outcomes:

• Students return to class more regulated, settled, and ready to learn.
• Children are resolving conflicts independently before re-entering the classroom.
• More children are eating their lunch, resulting in less food waste.
• There is noticeably less litter in the playground.

As the term progresses, I look forward to sharing further changes planned for 2026. Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to helping students Belong, Learn, and Serve, and to strengthening our school community.

As the quote reminds us, change can be challenging—but with our shared focus on the students, I know Holy Name will continue to deliver the quality Catholic education we are all proud to be part of.

Kind regards

Ben Doyle
Principal