We welcomed our students back from the Term 2 break as Melbourne reminded us how winter looks and feels. The cheerful greetings and friendly chatter warmed us all as we gathered to reconnect, socialise and learn.

We look forward to the celebrations of the significant milestone of Kilbreda’s 120 years and the very popular Brigidine Day.  These events will give us the opportunity to come together as a community in gratitude for all who have helped shape the College with their contributions over the many decades.  Many were instrumental in continuing the legacy of Saint Brigid and the beliefs of faith, a love of learning, inclusiveness, compassion, wisdom and stewardship. The ‘lamp of learning’ has been passed on to us to continue the work with strength and kindliness.

Term 3 Assembly

At our Term 3 Assembly we heard from our student leaders about the range of events and activities that will be rolled out over Term 3 that will highlight important wellbeing themes:  

• Bullying No Way: National week of action on 12-16 August
• Hospital Card Making
• Sustainable Fashion initiatives
• ‘Net Zero’ environmental action;

in addition to our ongoing fundraising efforts for BASP (Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project), Wellsprings for Women and Saltbush.

Finding Hope

Hope is a core value at our College and it refers to finding a sense of purpose that goes beyond the challenges they face.  Hope can act as a guiding light that illuminates the path for our students on their learning journey. It is the belief that their efforts today will shape a better tomorrow.  Hope can fuel determination to overcome obstacles, encourages them to dream big, and empowers them to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits. Hope instils resilience in the face of setbacks and inspires creativity in finding solutions. It is the heartbeat of optimism, reminding students that with dedication and perseverance, they can achieve their aspirations and make a positive impact on the world around them.

For our Year 11 students who embarked on the recent Northern Territory Immersion, climbing Kings Canyon took resilience and determination to overcome obstacles as they challenged themselves. Our Year 10 Futures Week program also highlighted the importance of being hopeful, giving students a sense of purpose and encourages them to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits as they look to their future. 

Focus on Child Safety

As part of Kildare Ministries we are committed to providing an environment that is caring, nurturing and safe for the children who attend our school. Our focus remains on:

•  creating a child safe and child friendly environment where all students are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for their safety

• teaching students about what they can do if they feel unsafe and enabling them to understand, identify, discuss and report on child safety. We listen to and act on any concerns students, or their parents or carers, raise with us.

In line with Child Safe Standards legislation, we will survey students every 6 months with questions related to safety to ensure we are vigilant in identifying and addressing any areas of concern.

On a personal note, I feel humbled and privileged to have the position of Acting Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement and very much look forward to leading an exceptional group of wellbeing staff as we support and encourage our students to develop their sense of purpose and passion as they grow into strong, independent and self-aware young people.

Jane Delahunty

Acting Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement