What an amazingly wonderful Term 2 and first Semester it has been!

To close the semester, this week we have witnessed the enthusiasm and creativity of our authors and artists who participated in the Write a Book in a Day Challenge, we have enjoyed the vibrancy of our Winter Music Gala Evening and admired the courage, hard work, and resilience of our students in their application to assessment tasks and for some, exams.  Each of these events are exemplars of what we do and stand for as a College and highlight that through our careful guidance and nurturing of all students, our School remains steady and strong in its mission.

The Write a Book in a Day Challenge, held on Thursday 15 June, provided an opportunity for students from Years 7 – 10 to demonstrate perseverance and growth as they set about writing, illustrating, and publishing a book in one day.  Witnessing their journey and collective efforts was an absolute joy and for every student involved, a lesson in dedication, striving for one’s goals, believing in oneself and the collective effort of a team. 

On Tuesday 13 June, the magical world of music came to life before our very eyes in the most splendid way with a show-stopping evening of wonderful musical performances at our Winter Music Gala Concert.  From our Beginner Band with their opening number of ‘Centurion’ to our Kilbreda Chorale performance of ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ from Moana, we marvelled at the incredible talent, dedication and creativity displayed by our music students.  Each student involved is to be congratulated for delivering performances filled with passion, emotion, and an undeniable love for the art of music.  Their sheer enthusiasm radiated from the stage, and together, we celebrated their creativity.  I extend my gratitude to our music teachers, Ms Amanda Hargreaves, Mrs Rebecca Harkin, Mr Josh Hu, Ms Victoria Landy, Mr Marc Law, Ms Eugenie Lyons, Ms Jennie Mortimer, Mr Bernardo Soler, and our wonderful Learning Leader for the Performing Arts – Music, Ms Kara-Lee Rabbetts who have dedicated their time and expertise to guide our students throughout their remarkable music journey.  As we reflect on the incredible achievement of this Winter Music Gala Evening, we are reminded of the immense power of the arts to inspire, unite, and uplift our entire school community.

This week, our Junior Hockey Team was crowned CGSAV champions.  This was a remarkable achievement and testament to these students’ abilities to be brave, step out of their comfort zone, discover, and refine their passions and challenge themselves.  The courage and grit they displayed in the final to etch out a 2-goal win were a testament to their character and the hallmarks of a Kilbreda student.  Congratulations to Neve Hoult of 7.72 who was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the final.

Over the coming week, our Year 10 students will start to consider future pathway options, under the guidance of Ms Jessica Baddeley.  A suite of subject taster sessions has been developed, and along with opportunities to visit tertiary institutions, we hope that these authentic experiences will prompt conversations about life beyond the gates of Kilbreda and support our students to develop a level of independence, self-discipline and motivation to achieve success in the senior years.

Sitting in as the Acting Principal while Nicole Mangelsdorf has been on enrichment leave has been a rare privilege.  There are many things I will take away from this experience, the most significant being a greater appreciation of how extensive our school community is and the number of people working so hard to make Kilbreda College a great school.  I acknowledge our teaching staff for their wisdom, dedication and passion for teaching, and our general staff for their continued support of the College.  Their inspiration, encouragement and energy enable all of our students to flourish.

Refugee Week

Refugee Week in 2023 will take place from Sunday 18 June – Saturday 24 June, with the theme being ‘Finding Freedom.’  The celebration of Refugee Week showcases the resilience, adaptability, and the undying human spirit of refugees who have undergone the treacherous journey towards freedom.

Every day, countless refugees undertake a perilous journey to seek refuge and protection in a country other than their own, finding freedom from war, persecution, and inequality and bringing life to the communities that welcome them. Yet despite many communities standing in solidarity with refugees, upholding the commandment to welcome the stranger and celebrate the innate dignity of all, many refugees continue to be shackled by psychological distress, including depression and anxiety resulting from harrowing experiences.

The journey to freedom from psychological distress is, in essence, a journey towards healing.   It involves regaining trust, rediscovering safety, and the power to envision a future free from the haunting shadows of the past.  As part of our refugee celebrations, we will celebrate the strength and courage of refugees and commit to walking in solidarity with them, by sharing hospitality, dignity and support in a variety of ways.

Lord, make us bearers of hope,
So that where there is darkness,
Your light may shine,
And where there is discouragement,
Confidence in the future may be reborn.

Lord, make us instruments of your justice,
So that where there is exclusion, fraternity may flourish,
And where there is greed, a spirit of sharing may grow.

Lord, make us builders of your Kingdom,
Together with migrants and refugees,
And with all who dwell on the peripheries.

Lord, make us builders of your Kingdom,
Together with migrants and refugees and with all who dwell on the peripheries.
Lord, let us learn how beautiful it is to live together as brothers and sisters.  Amen.

Pope Francis, 2022

There is much to celebrate in the College’s achievements this semester and I remain incredibly proud of all our students as they continue to strive to be the best person they can be.  I wish all community members a safe and happy mid-year break and trust the well-deserved holidays for our students will enable some rest and relaxation.

Stephanie Smyth
Acting Principal