One of Australia’s most elite all-girls schools is rocked to its core after principal’s heartbreaking announcement about a Year 9 student
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- Year Nine student died by suicide over the weekend
- All Hallows’ School in Brisbane closed on Tuesday
An elite private all-girls Catholic school in Brisbane has been rocked after the tragic death of a student.
All Hallows’ School closed on Tuesday after making the heartbreaking announcement that Year Nine student Stella Medeiros-Hodge had died by suicide over the weekend.
The Fortitude Valley campus has a reputation as one of the best girls schools in the country, with parents charged upwards of $35,000 each year for domestic students.
Catherine O’Kane, the principal of the 159-year-old institution, revealed the tragic news in an email sent to parents, caregivers and the extended school community.
She said Ms Medeiros-Hodge had died on Sunday, in the correspondence sent on Tuesday afternoon.
‘It is with profound sadness I share news of the passing of Stella Medeiros-Hodge, Year 9 (Whitty), overnight on Sunday,’ the email, seen by the Courier Mail, read.
‘Stella is the beloved daughter of Lucia and Iain and the sister of Isabella (Year 12).’
Understandably, the email told the school community Ms Medeiros-Hodge’s family had requested privacy. ‘I know that our community will respect this with the utmost sensitivity and care,’ the email continued.
Principal Catherine O’Kane (pictured) announced the news of the tragic death in an email sent to parents, caregivers and the extended school community on Tuesday
Elite Catholic all-girls private school All Hallows’ (pictured) temporarily closed on Tuesday
The principal confirmed some scheduled school activities have been postponed and did not say when they would resume.
Spirit week activities would not continue as normal and the Adderton house mass scheduled for Wednesday morning has been postponed, she said.
Other scheduled school activities would continue as planned.
Ms O’Kane encouraged parents to speak with their daughters about how they can sensitively react to the news on social media.
On Tuesday, parents were seen arriving at the school to pick up their children at 2pm.
The principal warned parents to monitor their children’s interactions with social media and the amount of time they spend online.
Details of Ms Medeiros-Hodge’s funeral will be shared with the school community when available.
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