A Gentle Reminder to Pause and Remember the Moments and Values that Have Shaped Us in the Years Gone By-the Laughter, the Lessons and the Light that Binds Us Together as a Community

It has become a tradition for my team and I to pause and reflect on the year gone by, but this time, I find myself looking not only at the year - but at my entire journey here.

This year, as I prepare for my retirement at the end of the first term in 2026, I find myself reflecting not only on the year that has passed but also on the decades that have shaped my journey at Loreto School Queenswood.

It feels appropriate to reflect with gratitude: gratitude for the faces that have passed through these gates, for the lessons learned both in and out of the classroom and for the steady hand of God that has guided us through every season.

When I think of my time here, I do not see years or milestones; I see moments, small, sacred and human, moments that together tell the story of a life deeply intertwined with the heart of this school. These are the moments that linger in my mind and heart: the laughter echoing down the corridors, the morning prayers whispered in faith, the quiet victories and the shared tears. They are memories that will stay with me forever, and ones I hope might inspire you, too, to pause and reflect on the quiet, beautiful ways that God works through all of us.

A Journey of Faith and Purpose …

When I first walked through the gates of Loreto School Queenswood on the 1st of January 2002, I could never have imagined how deeply this place would shape me. What drew me here was not just a career opportunity, but a calling. The Christian principles that anchor this school resonated with me from the very beginning.

I still remember standing on the senior field that first morning, looking out toward the koppie behind the school. The view took my breath away. A calmness settled over me, a quiet assurance that this was where I was meant to be.

Over the years, I’ve been blessed with countless memories, but one that will stay with me forever is my trip to Kolkata, India. In 2002, I attended the first Loreto International Meeting and was privileged to help discern and compile the IBVM Kolkata Guidelines. It was more than a professional milestone; it was a spiritual experience. Standing on the soil where Mary Ward’s vision took root reminded me of the vastness of our shared mission and the global heartbeat of Loreto.

  Faith in the Future

… As I prepare to close this chapter, I am comforted by one truth: Catholic Education will always have a place in the world. In the next 10, 20 or even 50 years, I believe it will remain vital because it forms the whole person,  body, mind and spirit.

Catholic Education does not simply prepare children for exams; it prepares them for life. It teaches them compassion, courage, humility and hope. It gives them roots in faith and wings to serve.

Guided by the Scripture

Scripture has been my compass through every decision and every challenge. Some the following verses have walked with me through the years:

• Joshua 1:9  

“Be strong and courageous … for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

• Psalm 23 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

• Proverbs 3:5–6 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

• Matthew 5:14 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

• Jeremiah 29:11 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.”

These verses have carried me through joy, uncertainty, and growth and I share them now as reminders that we are never alone in the work we do.

To our parents and guardians, I offer these verses as guiding lights for your journey in raising children who are both kind and courageous:

• Proverbs 22:6 

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

• Proverbs 20:7 

“The righteous who walks in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.”

• Ephesians 6:4 

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

• Proverbs 19:18 

“Discipline your son, for there is hope.”

• Joshua 24:15 

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The Value That Anchors It All

Of all the values we uphold at Loreto, Respect remains my cornerstone. It is, for me, the root from which all other virtues grow. Without respect, there can be no truth, no compassion, no peace. Respect is the quiet, enduring strength that allows us to listen, to understand and to live with grace.

This belief shaped one of my favourite traditions at Loreto- the naming of our school streets after our values. Each path we walk reminds us that these are not just words on banners; they are choices we live out daily.

Songs, stories, and stillness... things that inspire me

Over the years, music has been my companion. From the thoughtful hum of "The Sound of Silence" to the joyful rhythms of "Sweet Caroline" and "Dancing Queen".  Songs like American Pie" (by Don McLean) and"Let It Be" (by The Beatles), carry nostalgia, humour and heart. Much like the life of our school itself.

When I reach for books that inspire me, I often reach for The Shack by William Young, The Bible, or The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Each of these works, in its own way, conveys themes faith, perseverance and the courage to journey on, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

… And when I seek peace, I find it in two places … our chapel and the playground. The Chapel, where faith breathes quietly in every corner and the playground, where joy rings out freely in every laugh. Both remind me why we do what we do.

As we bid farewell to another year, I am filled with gratitude, for the staff who have stood beside me with unwavering dedication, for the parents who have trusted us with their children’s growth and for the learners who have filled these grounds with energy, laughter and possibility.

May we carry forward gratitude for what has been and hope for what is still to come.

May our Loreto light continue to shine,  bright, steadfast and kind, wherever we go.

If I could leave you with one final thought to end the end, , it would be this:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

Simple, timeless and true. It has guided me all my life and continues to remind me that kindness and integrity are the real markers of success.

My hope is that as you walk through these gates, whether for the first time or the last, you will experience the same feelings I had on that first day on the field: a sense of calm, a clear purpose and the assurance that God is with you wherever you go.

May you discover, as I have, that the most significant aspects of our lives are not the grand events, but rather the quiet moments of connection, faith, and grace that transform this school into a true home for many learners and families.

As Loreto School Queenswood turns the page on another year, may we carry forward the same light that has guided us through the decades, faith-filled, courageous and kind.

With gratitude and blessings,Mr. M. PallozziHead of School, Loreto School Queenswood

Author and Creative Direction: NS Nyamane for Loreto School Queenswood