Welcome to Term 3. At Kildare, we are constantly amazed by our young people – they are determined, fiercely independent, and inspirational whilst constantly being challenged. Our role at Kildare is to continuously seek opportunities inside and outside the classroom to foster growth, creativity, and a sense of belonging in our students.
In today’s rapidly evolving society, innovation has become crucial for progress and growth, and this principle holds great significance at Kildare. The College takes pride in being contemporary, innovative, creative, and collaborative, always striving to enhance students’ connections, skills, and ability to find meaning. Our commitment to empowering girls to learn in their unique environments nurtures confidence and independence, shaping them into thoughtful, courageous and confident global citizens.
Innovation is not just a buzzword but an active and transformative process. At Kildare, our staff embrace the idea that learning is dynamic, not static, and adapting to new approaches is vital to staying relevant. This can manifest in various ways, such as introducing cutting-edge teaching techniques, leveraging technology for interactive learning, encouraging project-based assignments, and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
On 11 August 2023, we will attend the Australian Education Awards in Sydney, where Kildare is a finalist in the Innovation in Learning Environment Design category for our Tullow Centre. Within a year, the Tullow Centre has transformed how we learn, design, gather and create. It has been transformative for our College community. We hope to win, as we are the only South Australian school in this category, but being named a finalist is an honour. We will keep you updated on the results.
One crucial aspect of fostering innovation in schools is recognising that girls often have distinct learning preferences and needs. By understanding and catering to these preferences, we create an environment that encourages our students to thrive academically and personally. Nurturing an inclusive space where girls can freely and confidently express themselves is key to their development.
Ultimately, Kildare aims to produce not only academically accomplished individuals but also compassionate and thoughtful women of the world. By prioritising innovation in education, the College prepares students to face the complexities of the world with resilience, open-mindedness, and a desire to make a positive impact.
Innovation at Kildare means embracing change, seeking novel approaches, and creating new value through education. By staying at the forefront of contemporary, creative, and collaborative learning, our College equips students with the skills they need to become confident, independent, and considerate global citizens, ready to contribute to a rapidly changing world.
Thank you for choosing Kildare.
The Auditorium was abuzz with our eager and excited families, as we came together for our Parenting Teenagers Workshop, hosted by Joy Anasta. Joy has a strong connection to Kildare with over 26 years’ experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist. Throughout the evening, Joy captivated our community with her many engaging pearls of wisdom and entertaining anecdotes, as she guided, supported and encouraged our families in the most important role of their lives – parenthood.
Raising a teenager can be both rewarding and challenging, but parents should not be daunted, and rather embrace the hard work and privilege that comes with this important role. Your daughter is at the tender age where she is becoming her own person. Many families often share with us that they do not want to raise their daughters to be too fearful of the world, lest they curb her enthusiasm to engage in it as a young woman. By the same token, there is an ingrained instinct that tells you that you need to intervene and continue to fix the ache of big problems that sadly cannot be immediately fixed for them.
There is a prevalent proverb that every child is one caring adult away from being a success story, but it takes patience, perseverance and sometimes, punitive measures, to raise a child well. In loving children, we are sometimes also called upon to hold them accountable for their shortcomings and say no to them, so that they learn to understand that they are not perfect nor entitled, and it is okay to sit comfortably knowing that they, like the rest of us, are magnificently flawed.
Joy engrossed the room, as she shared with our families that the challenges of parenting a teenager can leave one feeling powerless and alone, but accepting and tackling these challenges is the only way to get to the other side. Life has evolved significantly for all of us, as we have learnt to embrace the new normal and adapt to a post-pandemic world and society. Mix in the endless commitments we must attend to on the daily, and it can often feel like we are spinning plates in a desperate attempt to strike that delicate balance – which always seems unattainable.
What to do? When you are feeling engulfed by it all? Remember that resistance and avoidance are their own pain, and so too, this shall pass. Love them, guide them, correct them, redirect them, be a good example to them, and hold them close. Teenagers need their parents, just as much, if not more than they needed you when you first nursed them as newborns. Reaching acceptance – that both your child and you will have to go through this and do the hard work involved – is the only way to get to the other side. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but one day you will look back from the other side and be thankful that you did. In the wise words of Joy: keep going… And remember, we are all in this together.
“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together” – Woodrow Wilson
International Friendship Day is dedicated to celebrating the importance of friendship as it transcends cultural, racial, religious, and geographical boundaries. It serves as a powerful reminder of the role friendships play in promoting peace, harmony, and understanding among diverse communities globally.
At Kildare College, friendships hold immense significance as they impact students’ overall wellbeing, personal growth, and academic achievements. Friends serve as a reliable support system during challenging times and provide a valuable platform for students to cultivate essential social skills, including compromise, cooperation, and conflict resolution. We also cannot underestimate the unifying force of friendship. The fun, laughter and enjoyment that friends often bring, and the lasting memories that are created and nostalgically remembered later in our lives are very precious. Use this day as an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the vital role that friends play in your life. By performing acts of kindness and fostering strong bonds of friendship and genuine connections, we can all contribute to creating a better and more compassionate world for all.
