From the Office of the Executive Director.

Eleven of the 147 Catholic primary and secondary schools in the archdiocese of Sydney will have first-time principals to lead the teaching and learning this year.

After many years of educational leadership experience and two orientation sessions at the Catholic Education Office (CEO) at Leichhardt, they are more than ready to take on perhaps the most demanding roles of all in our schools.

Br Kelvin Canavan, the executive director of schools, congratulated all of the new principals on their appointments and thanked them for taking up this important new challenge.

"Appointment of the ministry of principalship is most significant occasion for an individual, and a most significant event in the life of a school," he said.

Br. Kelvin pointed out that day one is not usually the best time for a new principal to deliver her or his manifesto on Catholic education.

"New leaders need to gain an understanding of both the culture and the school and men and women who staff it. The first few months are an ideal time to ask lots of questions.

"My advice is to quietly focus your leadership on the core business - namely religious leadership and of teaching and learning," Br Kelvin said.

He concluded by reminding the new principals that students only get one shot at education.

"It is a privilege and a challenge to maximise the schooling opportunity for each student in the school you have been called to lead."