Principal's Blog
The Lenten Journey听
Last week we听commenced听the听40 day听Lenten journey with our Ash Wednesday liturgy, led by our Year 12 students. This journey is a time for us to renew our hearts and turn back towards God. In his Lenten letter, Pope Leo encourages us to make room for 鈥榣istening鈥�,听just as God is a listener to God鈥檚 people.听as the foundation of genuine relationship with God and with one another. Listening to God鈥檚 word teaches us attentiveness,听openness听and respect for the truth of our shared reality.听听
We are also encouraged to embrace a meaningful form of fasting by refraining from harsh,听hurtful听or careless words. By choosing kindness, restraint and respect in our speech,听Pope Leo says听we create space for hope, peace and understanding to grow. Together as a school community, may this Lent help us listen more deeply and speak in ways that build compassion and love.听This is essential if we are to be people who 鈥�Walk humbly, love kindly and live justly鈥�.听The full copy of the Pope鈥檚 letter can be found here听听
Justice in Action听鈥� International Women鈥檚 Day Breakfast听Invitation听
Wellsprings for Women is a听Kildare Ministries听community听work听dedicated to supporting and empowering women, particularly those who are vulnerable and facing social disadvantage. Their work focuses on providing education,听advocacy听and practical听assistance听to enable women to build resilience, develop skills and access opportunities for a brighter future. Through programs such as English language classes, vocational training and support groups, Wellsprings actively promotes justice for women by fostering inclusion,听dignity听and equality in the wider community.听
We are pleased to remind everyone that听Dr听Dalal Smiley, CEO of Wellsprings for Women, will be our guest speaker at听our听International Women鈥檚 Day Breakfast听on听Friday 6 March. Further information including how to purchase tickets can be found in this week鈥檚 newsletter.听听
One Pace Beyond Strategic Plan 鈥� 2026 Annual Action Plan Implementation听
Implementation of our 2026 annual actions are well underway. These actions are informed by multiple measures of data reviewed and evaluated by听the extended leadership group of the College听to ensure we are data informed and evidence based. Our work this year听seeks听to听consolidate听and extend the directions of our past few years.听
Some of the key student focus areas听for 2026 include:听
- The introduction of New Metrics for Success at Year 10, including the credentialling of all Year 10 students with the Australian Learner Competency Credential听warranted听by the University of Melbourne听
- Targeted Literacy and Numeracy interventions for students in Years 7 and 8听
- The use of 鈥榗ircle pedagogy鈥� to build connection, belonging and positive problem solving听
- Engaging our students in developing their understanding of safe,听ethical听and effective use of AI听
- Understanding executive functioning and trauma informed practices to support students to be ready to learn听
- Exploring the Kildare Ministries value of 鈥榡ustice鈥櫶�听
Across the year our progress in these and other key actions will be shared through the听newsletter听so we encourage families to keep abreast of our progress.听
New Metrics for Success听
Earlier this week听a number of听staff spent听two听afternoons with the New Metrics Partnership.听This will be our sixth year in the research partnership. This commitment speaks to our commitment to a holistic education and the belief that听success for our students is more than what can be capture in a number,听letter听or rank. Whilst听knowledge and听skills are听critical听we believe, as does the听New Metrics听partnership,听that there are key transferable learning competencies that are critical to thrive in learning, in relationships and听our broader society.听听
Alongside strong academic results, our aspirations for our听students听are captured in our Graduate听attributes.听These are listed on our website听Vision Statement – 蘑菇视频听These attributes characterise graduates who Learn with Wonder, Live with Compassion and Lead with Courage.听The听New Metrics competencies听were听referenced听in the development of these听attributes.听听
It was heartening to see last year听in a survey of Year 10 students that听students听see they are growing in the development of these attributes through various aspects of school life.听Most students reported ‘Noticeable growth’ in all three graduate attribute areas, with ‘Significant growth’ being the next most common response.听The most听frequently听cited contributors to personal growth across all areas were ‘Subject learning’, ‘Sport’, ‘Wellbeing time’, and ‘Leadership opportunities’, indicating these experiences are central to students’ development. ‘Music’, ‘Extra curriculum programs’ and ‘Social justice activities’ also played听substantial听roles, suggesting a broad range of school activities support growth听in these attributes.听
AI Parent Workshop听
On听16听March Matt听Estermann听who is听partnering with the College on our AI learning journey will spend the day working with students and staff on the next steps in our AI听roadmap.听
Parents are invited to attend a workshop with Matt as a follow up to last year鈥檚 seminar.
Matt Esterman: AI Enhanced Education Family Session: AI in the World Update, 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Approach to AI
Monday March 16th
6.00 – 7.00 pm
Kildare Theatre, 蘑菇视频
Open Days听and Enrolments 2027听
A reminder to share with family or friends who may be considering 蘑菇视频 for their daughter鈥檚 secondary education that bookings are filling for Open Days. Enrolments are open for听2027听and we thank those families who have already听submitted听an application. We听remind听current families with siblings to please complete your enrolment application as soon as possible.听
Community Celebrations听
We look forward to听our annual swimming carnival tomorrow. House leaders have been working hard with their houses to promote team spirit and participation.听Parents,听please note that attendance by all students听is expected tomorrow. These events are important in building a sense of school spirit.听Note the school鈥檚 mobile phone policy applies whilst at the pool and phones are not to be听used.听
The excitement for Year 7听camp is听building听with the听cohort听spending听two听days together next week. I look forward to being with them for this time. A shout out听to our staff and Year 7 Leaders David and Anthony for their preparation and organising of this important milestone for the students.听
A reminder about our upcoming reunion. Whilst the classes of the years ending in 6s are our focus, this year given our 70th听anniversary celebration we are inviting any alumni to join us for this gathering.听
Blessings听
Luci听
听
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