As Term 3 draws to a close, the sun is shining and spring has arrived, bringing fresh energy as we reflect on all we have shared at Kildare. Across classrooms, on courts and fields and in creative spaces, our students have continued to grow, discover their strengths and find the courage to try something new.
Our Year of Justice calls us to make the needs of the vulnerable paramount. This begins with noticing. Who needs a friend? Whose voice is missing? How can our choices make life a little better for someone else?
The Vinnies Sleepout invited us to consider the experiences of people facing homelessness. Bullying No Way and R U OK? Day reminded us that justice lives in our everyday interactions: including someone, listening without judgement and speaking up when something is unfair. Brigidine Day connected us with our values, traditions and lots of fun, while Cultural Day, a significant day in our College calendar, celebrated the diversity of our community and the stories we each bring.
There was much joy and discovery, too. Book Week saw students and teachers embrace the fun of dressing up, bringing favourite characters to life. Creative Industries Week, National Science Week, the Futures Fair, STEM Racing and sporting competitions encouraged students to explore possibilities. Our Academic Awards Assemblies celebrated achievement and effort, while the Year 12 Retreat offered time to pause and connect.
We are so proud of our students, including the moments others may never see: asking for help, trying again or persevering when learning feels difficult. Being an adolescent is not easy. Amid competing demands, friendships and expectations, together we are helping our young people feel known, supported and encouraged to become themselves.
We finish the term grateful for our students, for the care of our staff and for the trust and partnership of our families. Thank you for the many ways you make Kildare a place of belonging.
Last week, our College came alive with colour, compassion and connection as we celebrated our annual Cultural Celebration Day. This year’s event was a lively reflection of our 2026 Core Value, Justice, as students and staff embraced the richness of our diverse community with open hearts and joyful spirits.
The day began with a moving Acknowledgement of Country by Lynette Taylor, proud Kaurna woman, and daughter of Uncle Robert Taylor who welcomed us to Country at last year’s Cultural Day. Lynette has been following the footsteps of her father since a little girl, learning and sharing culture and knowledge from her four Aboriginal groups, Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Nganguruke and Narungga. Our assembly also showcased powerful student-led performances, emotive speeches centred on our Core Value of Justice, multilingual speeches, and musical talent from West Africa’s Bortier Okoe, who had our whole school community dancing and clapping in unison. Our Year 12 Prefects and Captains ended the assembly by hosting the final round of our Cultural Jeopardy. Congratulations to the winning house Kildare!
Throughout the day, students immersed themselves in a variety of cultural activities including Latin, Greek and Italian dancing, Chinese lantern making, Roman Mosaics, Rangoli designs and Aboriginal art and weaving. Students also had the opportunity to learn about the Vinnies Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service and create handwritten notes for newly arrived Refugee and Asylum Seeker families.
Guest presenters provided an authentic cultural experience for students to enjoy. Year 8 and 10 students were immersed in Aboriginal storytelling and art with Nikki Carabetta and Lydia Gauci. Year 9 students enjoyed a drumming session led by Bortier Okoe. Year 10 students got creative with Jainul from Adelaide’s Jai Henna, learning the history of henna and practicing their own designs.
Our lunch time Festa once again offered a delicious array of cultural dishes, with Sushi, Bubble Tea, Loukoumades, Yiros and Bushtucker Icecream on offer.
Cultural Celebration Day continues to be a highlight of our school year, where our core values are a lived experience. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Chai and Chat, Nunga, and Living Justice | Living Peace groups and the 2026 Australian Refugee Association’s Ambassadors for their dedication in bringing this day to life. Thank you also to the Parents and Friends Committee for their contribution to the day. Funds raised will support the Australian Refugee Association and the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, further extending our spirit of welcome beyond our school gates.
The Year 9/10 National All Schools In Action Netball Team travelled to Queensland for the annual three-day National All Schools In Action Tournament and produced an outstanding performance. After winning all three matches on day one and two more on day two, the team finished on top of their pool heading into finals. They then played a thrilling preliminary final against a Central Coast team, with scores locked at 23-23 at full time. Despite a courageous effort in extra time, the girls narrowly went down 30-27 to finish as silver medallists. The team represented Kildare College with pride, determination and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
Congratulations to our Year 11/12 Knockout Soccer Team, who finished as Division 2 State Runners-Up. The girls recorded a strong win over Cardijn College before advancing to the final against Adelaide High School. While they fell just short of the championship, they demonstrated exceptional teamwork, skill and resilience throughout the competition. An impressive aspect of this achievement was that the team included students from Years 8 to 12, competing in a Year 11/12 division. They represented the College exceptionally well and should be proud of their efforts.
Our Open and Year 7/8 Knockout Netball Teams competed in the Statewide Finals at The Lights, with both teams representing Kildare College superbly. The Open Team finished third in Division 2 after narrowly missing the gold medal match on percentage, despite losing just one game throughout the tournament. They sealed third place with a strong 39-34 victory over St Peter’s Girls’ School. The Year 7/8 Team also performed strongly against quality opposition, finishing fourth in the state after defeating Tenison Woods College in their final match.
Our Schools Cup Volleyball Team has claimed an outstanding bronze medal, finishing among the top teams in the state. The team’s only losses came against eventual powerhouse Brighton, while also recording impressive victories over specialist volleyball schools, including Paralowie. In a thrilling bronze medal match against Westminster, Kildare won the opening set 25-15 before bouncing back from a second-set loss to claim a nail-biting decider 16-14. The team’s dedication, resilience and sportsmanship were on full display throughout the competition, making this a fantastic achievement for Kildare College.
Congratulations to all players and coaches on their fantastic achievements and outstanding representation of Kildare College.
Term 2/3 Weekly Sport Results
The Badminton teams enjoyed an outstanding season, with multiple teams finishing as premiers and demonstrating exceptional consistency throughout the competition.
- The Senior B1 Badminton Team, coached by Andrew Duffield, delivered a dominant season, dropping just one match all year. They capped off their campaign with a commanding 5-1 Grand Final victory over St Dominic’s, showcasing their strength and depth across all matches.
- The Middle C2 Maroon Team, coached by Miyuru Ranasinghe, achieved the remarkable feat of going undefeated throughout the entire Weekly Sport season. Their Grand Final against Marryatville was a tight contest, finishing 3-3, with Kildare doing enough to secure the premiership after an outstanding season-long performance.
- The Middle C1 Team, coached by Tim Kenefick, also enjoyed an exceptional year, losing only one match during the season. They finished on the highest note possible, claiming a hard-fought Grand Final victory over OLSH, securing the win by just two points in a tense and closely contested decider.
Netball teams across multiple year levels enjoyed great success this season, with several teams progressing to Grand Finals and premiership victories.
- The Year 9A2 Netball Team, coached by Rebecca Ferguson, stepped up after moving up from B1 competition. Their hard work and determination paid off with a Grand Final win over Sacred Heart, claiming the premiership by four goals.
- The Year 8C1/B Team, coached by Suzanne Placanica had an impressive campaign, losing just one game throughout the season. Despite a strong effort in the Grand Final, they were defeated by St Michael’s College by six goals to finish as runners-up.
- The Year 8C1/A Team, coached by Jodie Freund, finished their season in emphatic fashion with a 10-goal Grand Final victory over Sacred Heart, producing a dominant performance to secure the premiership.
- The Year 7C2/B Team, coached by Jemma Yucel, should be congratulated on an outstanding season. They fought their way into the finals and produced an exceptional Grand Final performance before narrowly falling to Sacred Heart.
- The Year 7C1/B Team, coached by Scott Austin and Jade Lock, also enjoyed a strong season. They battled hard in their Grand Final and were defeated by only a couple of goals by Norwood International, finishing the season as deserving runners-up.
- A special mention goes to the Year 7B1 Team, coached by Sally Page, who produced a fantastic Grand Final performance to defeat Sacred Heart by 10 goals. Making the victory even more impressive was the fact they had lost to Sacred Heart in the final minor round before turning the tables when it mattered most.
Congratulations to all players, coaches, and officials on a fantastic season. Their commitment, sportsmanship, and resilience have been outstanding, and the success achieved across both Badminton and Netball is a testament to the strength of Kildare’s sporting program.
